The Best National Park Road Trips in America provide endless vistas and exciting trails to discover. Hike through Bryce Canyon with its striking hoodoos; traverse Zion with its towering canyon walls; or discover millions of years of geological history at Grand Canyon.
Determining how long a road trip lasts will depend on how much time you have available; 2-3 weeks should be plenty.
1. Death Valley
Death Valley may not be high on most visitors’ radar as a national park destination, but its wild beauty cannot be denied. From dunes and craters to sandstone boulders and stands of Joshua Trees – Death Valley offers visitors plenty of sights and activities.
Fall is an ideal time for this type of excursion, when parks come alive with vibrant hues and cooler temperatures – although 2-3 weeks should still provide enough time.
On your one day in Death Valley, be sure to make time for Badwater Road detour and visit Devil’s Golf Course with its salt flats and man-made structures. Also spend some time at Stovepipe Wells area, Mosaic Canyon, Mesquite Sand Dunes and Dante’s View before saving some time for sunset at Zabriskie Point if possible.
2. Sequoia
Yosemite may get all of the glory, but California offers several incredible national parks – Sequoia being one of them – offering stunning old-growth scenery. A short drive from Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are best explored together so as to appreciate their most impressive mountains, cliffs and sequoias.
Start your adventure at Lodgepole Campground in Giant Forest and explore on foot. Don’t forget to hike along the 1.6-mile paved trail that takes you directly to General Sherman, the world’s largest tree (and give him a big hug!), take in Moro Rock’s incredible view, or visit one of the park’s scenic meadows for lunch or an outdoor picnic.
Be sure to visit the Giant Forest Museum, check on hiking conditions, road closures and visitor centers at the park as well as purchase an America the Beautiful Pass as this offers coverage for all national and federal recreation areas in America for just $80 annually.
3. Yosemite
Yosemite National Park offers a classic California road trip experience. There, you can gaze upon celebrated splendors such as El Capitan and Horsetail Fall (which turns fiery red briefly during winter).
From there, head westward to Sequoia National Park for breathtaking groves of giant trees like General Sherman. Enjoy hiking the Mist Trail or splashing through Vernal Falls before continuing onward to Yosemite Valley with postcard-worthy views of its granite cliffs and expansive valley floor.
Colorado boasts many unforgettable national parks, from Mesa Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison to Rocky Mountain National Park and Pike’s Peak National Park. Mesa Verde stands out as an unforgettable national park while Black Canyon of the Gunnison is famed for its mysterious canyon filled with Ancestral Pueblo people dwellings, offering rugged hiking and fishing trips; Black Canyon of Gunnison offers even more. Meanwhile, Mesa Verde features historical and archaeological treasures from thousands of ancient ruins in Colorado while Pike’s Peak National Park makes Colorado’s own presence known.
4. Bryce Canyon
How long you have for a road trip will determine how much of it you can see and do. Two or more weeks is ideal, although even one week could suffice for a national park road trip.
Utah’s Bryce Canyon is an extraordinary blend of red rock deserts and lush alpine forests adorned with hoodoo spires, where red rocks meet vibrant alpine forests teeming with life. Explore breathtaking viewpoints such as Natural Bridge or take advantage of hiking trails leading to unique perspectives.
No matter if you plan to visit just a few or all 47 national parks, epic national park road trips offer incredible landscapes in relatively little time. Data scientist Randal Olson designed one such journey to connect all 47 parks efficiently across America as part of the celebrations for their Centennial. If you have the time, take it!
5. Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of America’s iconic national parks. Unlike many of America’s other national parks, visiting it doesn’t require you to be prepared for an exhausting hike but instead offers breathtaking views and easy-to-follow walking trails that provide memorable sightseeing experiences.
Colorado may be best known for Rocky Mountain National Park, but Mesa Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison national parks also deserve praise in Colorado as treasure troves. Both offer cultural treasures like early cliff dwellings and hiking trails as well as panoramic mountain views in an astounding landscape.
Utah’s “mighty five” include Zion and Bryce Canyon with their iconic hoodoos, but lesser-known Monument Valley and Capitol Reef National Parks should also receive your consideration. Although these parks receive less visitors than their more-famous counterparts, they’re definitely worthy of being on your itinerary – plus Horseshoe Bend makes for an additional stop along this itinerary as does Valley of Fire State Park!
6. Channel Islands
Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary is a national park and marine sanctuary that acts like the Galapagos for North America, where wildflowers bloom under sunshine while seals and sea lions breed. Untouched by humans, unique species such as adorable island foxes are indigenous to these remote islands that make an amazing backdrop. You can explore one of two largest sea caves worldwide here or simply hike through landscapes that appear painted by an artist!
This road trip offers the ultimate California national park experience. Death Valley, Carlsbad Caverns, Redwoods… all await discovery here. Just remember to adhere to trail etiquette and park regulations during your adventure.
