When most people think of a US road trip, they think of a cross country trip which will take a full month to complete. Here are 5 US road trips from major cities around the country (all of which are out west). Each city features a major airport and is relatively accessible by airplane, where you can rent a car and embark on your journey.
Some notes and tips before you begin reading:
To maximize your dollar, ensure you buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. At $80, it will pay for itself in only a few park visits.
Cost estimates below are not inclusive of airfare and rental car costs.
Recommendations are based on my preferences. I'm a very quick mover and I'll find a way to visit multiple national parks in one day. Most people will want to stay in each park much longer than the suggested times I've noted.
Read 60 Essential Road Trip Packing List Items to prepare yourself for the trip of a lifetime.
Los Angeles, California
Days: 11
Stops: 8+
Drive Time: 35 hours
Distance: 1,631 miles
Time of Year: Spring-Fall
Budget: $1,500+ for Glamping/Hotel or $600+ for Camping
Suggested Itinerary from Los Angeles, California
Day 1
Joshua Tree National Park
Drive Time: < 3 hours from Los Angeles, California
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: Cholla Cactus Garden, Split Rock Loop Trail, Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail, Barker Dam Nature Trail, Skull Rock Nature Trail
Must-see Attractions: Skull Rock, Jumbo Rocks, Cholla Cactus Garden, Keys View (must see during sunset)
Day 2
Death Valley National Park
Drive Time: 5.5 hours from Palm Springs, California
Time at Stop: 12 hours+
Trails to Hike: Each stopping point and overlook has it's own trail, so I'd recommend following each of those
Must-see Attractions: Badwater Basin, Artist's Palette, Zabriskie Point, Dante's View
Day 3
Yosemite National Park
Drive Time: 6.5 hours from Furnace Creek, California
Time at Stop: 48 hours+
Trails to Hike: John Muir's Mist Trail, Yosemite Grand Tour, Diving Board
Must-see Attractions: Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tuolumne Meadows, Vernal Fall & Nevada Fall
Day 4
Yosemite National Park
Time at Stop: 48 hours+
Trails to Hike: John Muir's Mist Trail, Yosemite Grand Tour, Diving Board
Must-see Attractions: Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tuolumne Meadows, Vernal Fall & Nevada Fall
Day 5
Yosemite National Park
Time at Stop: 48 hours+
Trails to Hike: John Muir's Mist Trail, Yosemite Grand Tour, Diving Board
Must-see Attractions: Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tuolumne Meadows, Vernal Fall & Nevada Fall
Day 6
Sequoia National Park
Drive Time: 3.5 hours from Yosemite Valley, California
Time at Stop: 16 hours+
Trails to Hike: See Trails
Must-see Attractions: General Sherman Tree, Tokopah Falls, Big Trees Loop, Moro Rock, President Trail, Tunnel Log,
Day 7
Kings Canyon National Park
Drive Time: 1.5 hours from Three Rivers, California
Time at Stop: 12 hours+
Trails to Hike: See Trails
Must-see Attractions: General Grant Grove, Kings Canyon Panoramic Point, Kings River Canyon, Grizzly Falls
Day 8
Pinnacles National Park
Drive Time: 5 hours from Grant Grove, California
Time at Stop: 12 hours+
Trails to Hike: See Trails
Must-see Attractions: Bear Gulch Cave, East District, West District
Day 9
Big Sur, California
Drive Time: 2.5 hours from Paicines, California
Time at Stop: 24 hours+
Trails to Hike: See Trails
Must-see Attractions: McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach, Bixby Creek Bridge, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Day 10
Channel Islands National Park
Drive Time: 4.5 hours from Big Sur, California
Time at Stop: 24 hours+
Trails to Hike: See Trails
Must-see Attractions: Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Rosa Island
Day 11
Los Angeles, California
Denver, Colorado
Days: 7
Stops: 7+
Drive Time: 23 hours
Distance: 1,080 miles
Time of Year: Summer
Budget: $1,200+ for Glamping/Hotel or $800+ for Camping
Suggested Itinerary from Denver, Colorado
Day 1
Rocky Mountain National Park
Drive Time: < 2 hours from Denver, Colorado (3 hours+ on holiday weekends)
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: Bear Lake, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake
Hotels: See hotels in Denver, Colorado
Day 2
Aspen, Colorado
Drive Time: 4 hours from Denver, Colorado
Time at Stop: 24 hours
Hotels: See hotels in Aspen, Colorado
Day 3
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park & Telluride, Colorado
Drive Time: 3 hours from Aspen, Colorado
Time at Black Canyon: 5 hours+
Trails to Hike: Be sure to take the little hikes at every stop. Due to the dramatic features of the park, long hikes down into the canyon are not possible.
Must-see Attractions: Painted Wall, Pulpit Rock, Warner Point
Day 4
Mesa Verde National Park
Drive Time: < 2 hours from Telluride, Colorado
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: See trails
Must-see Attractions: Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Long House, Petroglyph Point
Hotels: See hotels in Durango, Colorado
Day 5
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Drive Time: > 3 hours from Durango, Colorado
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: See trails
Activities: Go sledding, Hike the dunes
Hotels: See hotels in Pueblo, Colorado
Day 6
Pikes Peak & Colorado Springs, Colorado
Drive Time: < 1 hour from Telluride, Colorado
Time at Pikes Peak: 3 hours+
Must-see Attractions: Pikes Peak Summit Complex
Day 7
Denver, Colorado
Las Vegas, Nevada
Days: 9
Stops: 8+
Drive Time: 20 hours
Distance: 893 miles
Time of Year: Spring-Fall
Budget: $1,500+ for Glamping/Hotel or $600+ for Camping
Suggested Itinerary from Las Vegas, Nevada
Day 1
Valley of Fire State Park
Drive Time: 1 hour from Las Vegas, Nevada
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: Fire Wave Trail, White Domes Trail, Rainbow Vista Trail, Elephant Rock Trail, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: Elephant Rock, White Domes, Fire Wave
Hotels: See hotels in St. George, Utah
Day 2
Zion National Park
Drive Time: 1 hour from St. George, Utah
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: Angels Landing Trail, Riverside Walk, Emerald Pools Trail, The Subway Trail
Must-see Attractions: Angels Landing, Zion Narrows
Hotels: See hotels in Glendale, Utah
Day 3
Bryce Canyon National Park & Red Canyon
Drive Time: 1 hour from Glendale, Utah
Time at Bryce Canyon: 7 hours+
Trails to Hike: Navajo Loop, Wall Street, Peekaboo Loop, Inspiration, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point
Hotels: See hotels in Page, Arizona
Day 4
Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Drive Time: 15 minutes from Page, Arizona
Time at Antelope Canyon: 3 hours+
Trails to Hike: Only one trail at Antelope, guided!
Must-see Attractions: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Day 5
Grand Canyon National Park
Drive Time: 15 minutes from Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Time at Stop: 48 hours+
Trails to Hike: Rim to Rim, North Kabab, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: North Rim, Helicopter Tour,
Day 6
Grand Canyon National Park
Drive Time: 15 minutes from Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Time at Stop: 48 hours+
Day 7-8
Havasu Falls
Drive Time: 1.5 hours from Peach Springs, Arizona
Time at Stop: 36 hours+
Trails to Hike: Havasu Falls Trail
Must-see Attractions: Supai, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, Colorado River
Hotels: One hotel, I recommend you set up camp! Here is the only lodging in the area.
Day 9
Hoover Dam & Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive Time: > 3 hours from Havasupai Trailhead
Time at Hoover Dam: 1 hour+
Must-see Attractions: Hoover Dam
Hotels: See hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada
Salt Lake City, Utah
Days: 5
Stops: 6+
Drive Time: 20 hours
Distance: 967 miles
Time of Year: Spring-Fall
Budget: $1,000+ for Glamping/Hotel or $600+ for Camping
Suggested Itinerary from Salt Lake City, Utah
Day 1
Zion National Park
Drive Time: 4.5 hours from Salt Lake City, Utah *leave early AM*
Time at Stop: 10 hours+
Trails to Hike: Angels Landing Trail, Riverside Walk, Emerald Pools Trail, The Subway Trail
Must-see Attractions: Angels Landing, Zion Narrows
Hotels: See hotels in Glendale, Utah
Day 2
Bryce Canyon National Park & Red Canyon
Drive Time: 1 hour from Glendale, Utah
Time at Bryce Canyon: 7 hours+
Trails to Hike: Navajo Loop, Wall Street, Peekaboo Loop, Inspiration, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point
Hotels: See hotels in Bryce Canyon, Utah
Day 3
Capitol Reef National Park
Drive Time: 4 hours from Bryce Canyon, Utah *leave early AM*
Time at Stop: 9 hours+
Trails to Hike: Hickman Bridge Trail, Cassidy Arch Trail, Grand Wash Trail, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: Hickman Bridge, Grand Wash Baths, Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
Hotels: See hotels in Moab, Utah
Day 4
Canyonlands National Park & Dead Horse Point State Park
Drive Time: 45 minutes from Moab, Utah
Time at Canyonlands: 9 hours+
Trails to Hike: Mesa Arch Trail, Grand View Point Trail, Upheaval Dome Trail, White Rim Overlook Trail, See more trails at Canyonlands, See trails at Dead Horse
Must-see Attractions: Mesa Arch, White Rim Overlook, Upheaval Dome
Hotels: See hotels in Moab, Utah
Day 5
Arches National Park & Salt Lake, Utah
Drive Time: 15 minutes from Moab, Utah
Time at Arches: 8 hours+
Trails to Hike: Delicate Arch Trail, Double Arch Trail, Devils Garden Loop Trail, Landscape Arch Trail, Sand Dune Arch Trail, Windows Loop, See more trails
Must-see Attractions: Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch
Seattle, Washington
Days: 4
Stops: 4+
Drive Time: 14 hours
Distance: 577 miles
Time of Year: Spring-Fall
Budget: $700+ for Glamping/Hotel or $300+ for Camping
Suggested Itinerary from Seattle, Washington
Day 1
North Cascades National Park
Drive Time: < 2 hours from Seattle, Washington
Time at Stop: 6 hours+
Trails to Hike: See trails
Must-see Attractions: Diablo Lake
Day 2
Olympic National Park
Drive Time: 2.5 hours from Seattle, Washington (ferry optional)
Time at Stop: 8 hours+
Trails to Hike: See trails
Must-see Attractions: Hoh Rain Forest, Sol Duc Falls
Day 3
Whale Watching
Drive Time: 15 minutes from San Juan Island, Washington
Time at Stop: 6 hours+
Must-see Attractions: Whale Watching, San Juan Island National Historical Park
Day 4
Mount Rainier National Park
Drive Time: 4.5 hours from Seattle, Washington (ferry mandatory)
Time at Stop: 8 hours+
Trails to Hike: See trails
Must-see Attractions: Mount Rainier
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