If there’s anything positive about the US being a country you need a set of wheels to get around in, it’s the opportunity to go on endless national park road trips! Seriously, you could live in your car or in an RV and explore national parks across the country — and even venture up into Canada.
With so much geographical diversity, deciding where to go for a national park road trip in the
USA is hard, but we’ll get you covered. Below are eight road trips covering almost all corners of the US — from the rolling mountains of the Appalachians in the East to the wild and dry rock formations in the South West.
Keep in mind these road trips are only suggestive itineraries — so you can extend them to more destinations and switch up the routes. Our goal is to inspire you to rally your friends or family, plan the adventure of a lifetime, and get yourself a set of wheels to make that dream a reality.
Resources for National Park Roadtrips
America the Beautiful Pass
When entering National Parks, there are a few options for passes you can get. You can either pay for a standard pass for one National Park, get an annual pass for one National Park, or grab the America the Beautiful Pass which covers entry to ALL National Parks and Federal Recreation Sites for a whole year. If you are visiting multiple National Parks or explore the USA often, it’s really a no-brainer to get this pass.
While you can cruise around in a normal car and camp (or stay in hotels when available) the obvious best way to explore American National Parks is in an RV where you can have your own little home on wheels to be cozy in while immersed in nature.
Whether you have or need an RV, the best platform to rent one is RVshare – where you can rent other people’s RV’s at a nightly price or put your own RV up for sale. If you are just visiting, find an RV on there to fit your needs. If you live here and finish your road trip, make some extra money afterwards (or between trips) by listing your RV on there!
AllTrails App
AllTrails is one of the best hiking apps out there! Not only can you explore and view pretty much any possible hiking trail on the app, but you can also track your location on the trail the entire time and different route variations with altitude built-in. It’s a hiker’s best friend!
Utah & Arizona National Parks: Zion to the Grand Canyon (to Sedona)
Distance: 500 miles (not including starting/end points)
Starting Point(s): Las Vegas (or can do reverse order from Phoenix)
Days: 8
Stops: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, Sedona
This southwestern national park road trip covers the US’s most iconic and dreamy landscapes. At least for me, it’s someone who comes from the East Coast!
Overlooking vast canyons, hiking dry, dusty cliffs, and exploring rock formations that look like paintings are genuinely magical. So, if you have yet to visit the South West, this is one of the national park road trips that should be at the top of your list.
Plan at least 8 days for this road trip; if you have less time, you could cut some stops from this itinerary, such as Bryce Canyon or Sedona.
You can kick off this trip by starting in Las Vegas (or even Phoenix — and do the stops in reverse order). Beginning in Zion National Park — the first national park in Utah — the hiking options are aplenty! Zion National Park is home to 28 waterfall trials and other famous hiking paths, such as Angel’s Landing and the Emerald Pools trial. If you’re not keen on too much hiking, there’s also a shuttle to take you to the sights.
After Zion National Park is Bryce Canyon, which looks like Mother Nature tried to carve a porcupine into the earth. In fact, those ‘quills’ I’m talking about are rock formations called hoodoos, and Bryce Canyon has one of the highest concentrations in the world. It’s located about a two-hour drive from Zion, and while we’ll have to backtrack to go onwards to Antelope Canyon, you could visit while the opportunity is there.
From Bryce Canyon to Antelope Canyon is about a three-hour drive, and you’ll need to plan for Antelope Canyon as there are many canyons in the area — most of which require a guided tour. Be sure to research and use your creative photo-taking skills, as the Antelope Canyon is very insta-worthy! Get there early so you can proceed towards the Grand Canyon that evening.
Ahh, the Grand Canyon! It’s one of the most bucket-list-worthy places you can see in your lifetime. I visited on a day trip from Sedona to the South Rim and was just mind-blown. It felt unreal to be sitting on the edge of it — which I only recommend doing at your own risk. I even saw some big-horn desert sheep below me! You can also go river rafting and go on various hiking trails.
Finally, unwind in Sedona! It’s a little town with some big riches (you could roadtrip just looking at fancy houses there) and insane views. My favorites in Sedona were hiking seven sacred pools, driving along the Red Rocks Bypass, and the Montezuma Castle, among more unique things to do.
And after all of this national park road trip, if you still have it in you, you can extend your road trip even further by visiting the old mining town of Jerome, about an hour from Sedona!
Majestic Northwest Roadtrip: Olympic Peninsula Loop
Distance: 300 miles (inside the park!)
Starting Point(s): Seabrook, Olympia, Seattle
Days: 3 Days
Stops: Olympic National Park
Unlike other national park road trips on this list, which connect multiple national parks, this road trip is within one national park itself! With 300 miles to wind along, the Olympic Peninsula Loop is ideal for those who can’t commit a whole week to a road trip but want plenty of landscapes to explore.
The Olympic National Park is serene but fierce, with beaches, forests, waterfalls, and lakes, and you might even spot a whale! Yes, there are whales here!
Want to visit the beaches? Include Ruby Beach, Shi Shi Beach, and La Push on your road trip.
Or does getting lost (not for real, though) in some magical woodlands sound up your alley? Olympic National Park has lush and mosey forests with towering trees, canyons, and swimming holes.
Wyoming National Park Road Trip: Grand Tetons and Yellow Stone
Distance: ~700 miles depending on starting point and road closures
Starting Point(s): Salt Lake City, UT or Boise, ID
Days: 7 Days
Stops: Grand Tetons and Yellow Stone Park
While the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks look super close on the map, don’t be fooled; you can easily spend a week on this national park road trip. As these national parks are at the whim of the seasons, look out for road closures and make reservations ahead of time for the summer months!
Start off with a few nights in the Grand Tetons — there are many accommodations available, and you can even camp, which is the most immersive and least expensive option. The Grand Tetons National Park has lakes, alpine mountain views, and waterfalls, so if you’re into hiking, you’ll feel right at home here. Some popular trails include Death Canyon, Jenny Lake, and Cascade Canyon.
The drive (road closures pending) from the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone should take about an hour, with views along Jackson Lake. And as you enter Yellowstone, let’s say Grand Tetons National Park is just a warm-up for what Yellowstone offers. The park, which is 3,468 square miles, is comparable to visiting another planet without even leaving Earth.
Kenai & Denali, Alsaka: Galcier Spotting and Back Country Adventures
Distance: 500 miles
Starting Point: Anchorage
Days: 5-7 days
This national park road trip in Alaska is one for the bucket list. After all — not only does Alaska have unique landscapes you can’t find anywhere else in the US, but how often do travelers pick it as a destination? This is your chance to really go off the beaten path when it comes to unique US National Park road trips.
From Anchorage, it’s only a 2.5-hour journey to the small town of Seward, where the Kenai Fjords National Park is. You can even take a 15-minute detour just before arriving to see the Exit Glacier. Spend the first day in Seward soaking in bay views and stop by the SeaLife Center to learn about the local aquatic species.
The next day, it’s time to get into Kenai Fjords National Park! The must-do thing is to go on a boat cruise because to see the park (and glaciers!), you’ve got to be on the water. If you’re interested in doing more at the park, such as hiking at Harding Ice Field (about 6-8 hours) or kayaking, you can take an extra day in Seward. Beware, though, that both of these are not-so-beginner activities, so be prepared if you plan to do either of them.
From the Kenai Fjord National Park to Denali State Park is a 5-hour drive North, passing back through Anchorage. For where to stay, you can decide to stay in Talkeetna, just outside Denali State Park, or stay in the park, where there are six campgrounds. If you stay in Talkeetna, the town itself offers plenty of things to do, like kayaking, snowmobiling, and flightseeing — if you’re around, you should stop by!
As for Denali National Park, you could spend two or more days exploring the almost 10,000-square-mile natural wonder. For those who love outdoor action, Denali is a very much create-your-own adventure kind of park where you can hike, go on ATV tours and even cycle. If you want to explore the backcountry, permits are available so you can wander (& camp out) until your heart’s content.
Utah Mighty 5 (Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Arches & more)
Distance: 1,000 miles
Starting Point: Las Vegas
Days: 7-10 days
Stops: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands, Arches National Park
The Mighty Five is the ultimate Utah road trip, stringing together national park after national park. One thing is for sure: Give yourself at least a week for this road trip, including time on the first and last day to spend time at the starting and end point of Las Vegas. With that said, if you can do it for even longer, you should! It’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of rest between each park, especially if you want to do lots of hiking!
The Utah Mighty Five National Park road trip is one massive loop that starts with Zion National Park, going onwards to Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park, the Canyonlands, and finally, Arches National Park. While a bit far from the starting point of Las Vegas, what makes this road trip convenient is the proximity of each park to another once you reach Zion.
If you love hiking, camping, and getting those brag-able shots on your camera roll, this is an amazing national park road trip to embark on! As the last park in the loop is Arches National Park, you could continue to Colorado to extend the road trip into new territory instead of returning to Las Vegas.
California: Joshua Tree to Death Valley, Yosemite & More
Distance: 500 miles
Days: 10 days
Stops: Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia National Park, King’s Canyon, Yosemite
California is famous for its incredible variety of National Parks, and there’s no better variety than driving through these five inland National Parks in this state. You will leave one unique desert for another before climbing up into the mountains for incredible mountain and massive tree views, and end at the iconic Yosemite.
Joshua Tree is beautiful, with amazing hikes, views, and boulders to climb. Death Valley, the lowest point on earth, is known for its heat but also its colorful and sweeping rocky desert landscapes.
Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks are adjacent to each other and known for having the largest trees in the world and incredible hikes and views of the Sierras (including Mt Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48)!
And, of course, Yosemite National Park is world-famous for good reason – its sheer cliff rock fqaces and incredible waterfalls make it stand out. It’s great for camping, tons of hikes, and more!
These are some of the most important stops on a California road trip – see my whole California road trip itinerary here with cities and coasts too. You can also combine it with a Pacific Coast Highway road trip to see the best of California.
The Blue Ridge Parkway: From Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains
Distance: 350 miles (not including starting point and return)
Starting Point: From North (Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia) or South (Atlanta, Charlotte)
Days: 5 days
Stops: Shenandoah National Park, Great Smokey Mountains National Park
Finally, an East Coast road trip is on this list! As someone from the East Coast, without a doubt, the best time for this road trip would be in the fall to experience the insane, colorful foliage along the winding mountain roads. That said, summer and spring are also fine times to do this road trip! Depending on where you’re starting from, you could do this road trip beginning in Shenandoah to the Great Smokey Mountains or vice versa.
This route covers two national parks, but it’s really about the scenic drive along one of America’s most famous routes: the Blue Ridge Parkway. The small towns along the way will be some of the highlights of the trip for their history and Southern culture (Floyd & Roanoke, VA, are two to remember!)
As for the national parks, both are dreams for hiking with sweeping views and hundreds of miles of trails and waterfalls galore. With both easy and off-the-beaten-path trails, anyone can scratch that outdoor itch — no matter how bad the itch, haha.
This national park road trip is about more than the destination as much as the journey. Yes, that sounds cheesy, but it’s so true when it comes to the Blue Ridge Parkway and all the nature and historical towns and cities you can find along the way.
South Dakota & Wyoming: Badlands & Black Hills
Distance: 400 miles
Starting Point: Rapid City, South Dakota
Days: 4 days
Stops: Devil’s Tower, Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park
This national park road trip is perfect for those who need more time but still want to see some of the most iconic US geographies. Want to do more than 3 days? You can venture onwards into Wyoming to visit Bighorn National Forest or Yellowstone National Park — talk about the roadtrip of a lifetime!
This road trip starts in Rapid City, South Dakota, which connects easily to every destination along this route. You could even use Rapid City as a base to sleep over the couple of days — but for a more authentic road trip feel (and less back-tracking), you can rent an RV or camp to rest your head.
Wind Cave National Park is an hour’s drive South of Rapid City. While it’s not the star of the attractions in the area, it deserves more recognition as it’s home to very different above and below-ground worlds. Along the 33,000 thousand acres of grasslands, you can spot elk and bison and tour the massive cave system below ground. The National Park Service recommends reserving your cave tour online to ensure you get a spot if you travel during high season!
After exploring Wind Cave National Park, stay somewhere in the area for the night as the next day; we’ll head right over to the Badlands National Park (about a 1-hour drive East). We recommend at least one night with lots of RV and camping areas. With a unique geology and captivating landscapes, Badlands National Park is one to run free in! You can drive the Badlands Loop Road, go hiking (the Notch Trial is one of the most popular), and star gaze at night.
The next day, you can fit the rest of the sights, including Mount Rushmore and the Devil’s Tower. Now, if you want to spend time in the Black Hills National Forest (by Mount Rushmore), you can extend the trip another day.
From the Badlands National Park to Mount Rushmore, it only takes an hour and a half. Not everyone is interested in the giant carvings of men from back in the day who did some pretty awful things, but while you’re here, why not at least take a look? Then, from Mount Rushmore to the Devil’s Tower, it’s about a 2-hour drive that crosses the border into Wyoming.
While it is a bit further out than the destinations listed so far, it’s a national monument that stands out — literally. Among the grass and shrubbery stands the 867-foot tall butte that you can hike around and even climb (for those with experience!).
Which of these National Park Road Trips will you choose? Let us know in the comments below!
