The enormous, changing landscapes of the United States are home to some amazing national parks. From coast to coast, the extreme diversity of these parks makes road trips a great way to see all the parks the U.S. has to offer. Every park offers a different experience, ranging from magnificent coastlines and dramatic gorges to the majesty of alpine treks and the bare beauty of the desert.
So, how do you even begin to craft a route to visit these national parks? Which parks deserve a spot on your itinerary, and which ones will have to wait for another adventure? How do you make the most of your time in each park?
It’s important to have an itinerary set out before you pack up the car and start driving towards your dream park. Each national park road trip itinerary on this list focuses on a distinct region or a type of landscape, all while promising the delightful chaos and fun that makes a road trip memorable.
1. Southwest Canyons Circuit
States Covered: Arizona, Utah
Parks Included: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands
Consider this the Holy Grail of national park road trips. Start your road trip in Las Vegas or Phoenix, and from there, loop your way through the red-rock royalty of the Southwest. Each park you visit will feel like a different planet. The Grand Canyon will amaze you with its sweeping scale, while Zion’s tight slot canyons will transport you to a completely different world.
From here, head to Bryce Canyon for a surreal sunrise. See the Sinking Ship with wide views, and the hoodoos light up like Christmas trees, making cool shadows on the canyon walls. Capitol Reef is a quiet stunner with fewer crowds, while Canyonlands delivers Martian vibes and backcountry soul. The Arches are a completely different universe with their unique rock formation.
This road trip guarantees a fulfilling national park experience as it is overflowing with scenic beauty and equally stunning stops. Spring or fall are the best times to go on this road trip if you want to avoid intense heat and crowds.
2. California’s Crown Jewels
States Covered: California
Parks Included: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree
California has everything from waterfalls, deserts, to granite cliffs and ancient forests. For a California-specific national park road trip, start in San Francisco or Los Angeles and create your own triangle through the wild heart of the state.
Yosemite is non-negotiable. Drive through Tioga Pass, gaze up at El Capitan, and hike to Glacier Point. Next, head south to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. It’s amazing to see trees that are as tall as skyscrapers here and rivers roaring through glacial-carved canyons.
For a completely different scenic view, drop into Death Valley, the hottest, lowest, driest place in the country. Finally, end this epic California national park road trip adventure with some stargazing in Joshua Tree.
3. The Pacific Northwest Wonderland
States Covered: Washington, Oregon
Parks Included: Olympic, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake
If moody coastlines, moss-draped forests, and snow-capped volcanoes are your thing, the Pacific Northwest Wonderland route is perfect for you.
Start by flying into Seattle. From Seattle, get your road trip started by driving west to Olympic National Park. This park is unique because it allows you to walk from a rainforest to a beach and then to alpine meadows in a single day.
Next, head to Mount Rainier. It’s a beast. Hike the Skyline Trail for views that’ll break your brain. Then, continue south into Oregon and witness Crater Lake — a deep blue volcanic lake that looks fake even when you’re standing next to it.
Go on this road trip in summer when the roads are open, and the fog lifts long enough for epic views.
4. Rocky Mountain High Country Traverse
States Covered: Colorado, Utah
Parks Included: Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Arches
For the Rocky Mountain High Country Route, start in Denver. Then, drive west into the heart of the Rockies.
Rocky Mountain National Park is an excellent national park for hiking out to alpine lakes and take part in exciting wildlife sightings. You can also drive along Trail Ridge Road, which is one of the highest paved roads in North America.
From Rocky Mountain, make your way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This leg is steep, dark, and dramatically underrated. Next, head to Mesa Verde, a park unlike any other, filled with ancient cliff dwellings and ancestral Puebloan history. You’ll end your road trip in Arches, Utah. The place is excellent for hiking through sandstone arches amidst a red desert landscape.
This route is best done in late summer or early fall when the leaves are golden, and the mountain passes are clear.
5. Wild North: Glacier to Yellowstone
States Covered: Montana, Wyoming
Parks Included: Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton
This national park road trip is for the wild hearts. Start in Glacier National Park near the Canadian border. You will be blown away by the sight of turquoise lakes and snowy peaks in front of you. The landscape makes every photo look edited.
Then take the Going-to-the-Sun Road, arguably the most scenic drive in America. From there, drive down into Yellowstone for geysers, bison, hot springs, and one big supervolcano. Watch Old Faithful erupt, then lose your mind over the colors of Grand Prismatic Spring.
Next on this road trip is Grand Teton, Yellowstone’s elegant next-door neighbor. The Tetons’ ascent from the valley floor is a revelation in person. The beauty of the jagged peaks hits you with a force that no photograph can quite capture.
6. Desert Dream Trail
States Covered: Texas, New Mexico
Parks Included: Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands
This road trip may seem weird, but it is vast, engaging, and wildly underrated. Start your road journey in Texas with Big Bend. Take time to admire the impressive canyons that the Rio Grande River has carved through the desert mountains. When night falls, the dark sky areas provide a memorable stargazing experience.
From there, head to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There are many lesser-known hiking trails here that make the visit worthwhile. Plus, the park is also home to the highest peak in Texas. Next, cross into New Mexico to explore Carlsbad Caverns, which is a literal underground kingdom, and then finish strong with White Sands to see the gypsum dunes glow white as snow.
This trip is best in winter or early spring before the heat kicks in.
7. East Coast Scenic Circle
States Covered: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
Parks Included: Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, New River Gorge
Think the East Coast can’t hang with the West when it comes to national parks? Think again. For the East Coast Scenic Route, start with Shenandoah and the legendary Skyline Drive. It’s particularly suitable for a beautiful fall-season drive.
Then, head south to the Smokies to watch the magic of the mist, the mountain music, the elk sightings, and the firefly displays.
From there, loop up to West Virginia’s New River Gorge, one of the newest national parks and a whitewater mecca, which is perfect for rafting. Or you can take on the trails, which are perfectly suited for mountain biking.
8. Alaska’s Road-Accessible Parks
States Covered: Alaska
Parks Included: Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords
For the ultimate wild road trip, you’ll need to head to Alaska. You’ll need to rent a car in Anchorage and time your visit for summer, but the reward is next-level.
Denali is home to North America’s tallest peak, endless tundra, and grizzly bears that don’t care you’re there. You should then head over to Wrangell-St. Elias, which is the largest national park in the U.S., with rugged roads and fewer people than a Target on Super Bowl Sunday.
Finish with Kenai Fjords. It’s a cruise-worthy coastal park filled with glaciers, puffins, and maybe even orcas. It’s raw, wild, and unforgettable.
9. Florida’s Tropical Trio
States Covered: Florida
Parks Included: Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas
Think national parks are all forests and mountains? Not in Florida. Start in Miami and explore Everglades National Park to get an excellent mix of alligators, airboat rides, and birdlife galore.
Then, head to Biscayne, a mostly underwater park perfect for snorkeling and kayaking. For a more remote experience, take a ferry or seaplane to Dry Tortugas, a historic island fort surrounded by clear blue water.
This trip is best done in winter to avoid hurricane season and the brutal heat.
10. The Great Lakes Explorer Route
States Covered: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
Parks Included: Voyageurs, Isle Royale, Sleeping Bear Dunes
This underrated route is packed with fresh air, fresh water, and fewer crowds.
Start in northern Minnesota’s Voyageurs. While it is best accessed by boat, you can cover it on a road trip by visiting nearby visitor centers and lakeside campsites.
Then, take a ferry from Michigan to Isle Royale for its moose and remote, roadless appeal. Finish with Sleeping Bear Dunes along Lake Michigan’s coast. The park has numerous quiet beaches, forest trails, and dunes with unlimited beauty to provide a sensory reset. Plus, the park often provides a less intensely crowded national park experience compared to some of the major Western parks.
This route shines in late summer when the weather is warm, and the crowds are gone.
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