Road Trip Itineraries

Multi-park adventures with detailed routes, timing tips, and everything you need to plan an epic trip.

Utah Mighty Five California National Parks Loop Pacific Northwest Adventure Southwest Grand Circle Southeast National Parks Alaska's Wild Parks

Utah Mighty Five

Hit all five of Utah's stunning national parks in one epic road trip through red rock country.

Duration
7-10 days
Distance
900 miles
Difficulty
Moderate
Best Time
April-May, September-October
Utah Mighty Five
Zion Bryce Canyon Capitol Reef Arches Canyonlands

Trip Highlights

✓ Angels Landing and The Narrows at Zion
✓ Sunrise at Bryce Canyon amphitheater
✓ Scenic drive through Capitol Reef
✓ Delicate Arch sunset at Arches
✓ Island in the Sky at Canyonlands

Day-by-Day Route

Day 1-2
Zion National Park
Fly into Las Vegas, drive 2.5 hours to Zion. Hike Angels Landing or The Narrows.
Day 3
Bryce Canyon
1.5 hour drive. Catch sunset at Sunset Point, sunrise at Bryce Point.
Day 4
Capitol Reef
2 hour drive via Scenic Byway 12 (stunning!). Hike Hickman Bridge, pick fruit in orchards.
Day 5-6
Arches National Park
2.5 hour drive to Moab. Delicate Arch at sunset is a must. Devils Garden for more arches.
Day 7
Canyonlands
30 min from Moab. Island in the Sky for incredible overlooks. Mesa Arch at sunrise.

Pro Tips

  • • Book Zion shuttle tickets and Angels Landing permits months ahead
  • • Stay in Moab for easy access to both Arches and Canyonlands
  • • Scenic Byway 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef is worth extra time
  • • Bring layers - desert temperatures swing 40+ degrees daily
  • • Download offline maps - cell service is spotty throughout

California National Parks Loop

From coastal redwoods to Sierra granite to desert dunes - experience California's incredible diversity.

Duration
10-14 days
Distance
1,200 miles
Difficulty
Moderate
Best Time
May-June, September-October
California National Parks Loop
Yosemite Sequoia Kings Canyon Death Valley Joshua Tree

Trip Highlights

✓ Yosemite Valley and Half Dome views
✓ General Sherman - world's largest tree
✓ Kings Canyon scenic byway
✓ Badwater Basin - lowest point in North America
✓ Joshua Tree stargazing

Day-by-Day Route

Day 1-3
Yosemite
Fly into San Francisco or Fresno. Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove.
Day 4-5
Sequoia & Kings Canyon
2.5 hour drive south. General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.
Day 6-7
Death Valley
4 hour drive east. Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point sunrise, Mesquite Dunes.
Day 8-9
Joshua Tree
3 hour drive south. Keys View sunset, Skull Rock, Hidden Valley.
Day 10
Return
Drive to LA (2.5 hours) or Palm Springs for departure.

Pro Tips

  • • Yosemite requires reservations May-September
  • • Sequoia and Kings Canyon are one park - get the combo
  • • Death Valley is best October-April (summer is dangerously hot)
  • • Joshua Tree has no gas stations - fill up in Twentynine Palms
  • • Consider adding Pinnacles NP between Yosemite and Sequoia

Pacific Northwest Adventure

Rainforests, volcanic peaks, and rugged coastline - the best of Washington and Oregon.

Duration
10-12 days
Distance
1,000 miles
Difficulty
Moderate to Challenging
Best Time
July-September
Pacific Northwest Adventure
Olympic Mount Rainier North Cascades Crater Lake

Trip Highlights

✓ Hoh Rain Forest - lush temperate rainforest
✓ Hurricane Ridge alpine views
✓ Reflection Lakes at Mount Rainier
✓ Diablo Lake turquoise waters
✓ Crater Lake's impossibly blue water

Day-by-Day Route

Day 1-3
Olympic National Park
Fly into Seattle, drive 2.5 hours. Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricane Ridge, Ruby Beach.
Day 4-5
Mount Rainier
3 hour drive. Paradise area for wildflowers, Sunrise for views. Book lodges early.
Day 6-7
North Cascades
3 hour drive. Diablo Lake overlook, Cascade Pass hike if conditions allow.
Day 8-10
Crater Lake
6 hour drive south into Oregon. Rim Drive, boat tour to Wizard Island, Watchman Peak.

Pro Tips

  • • Summer is the only reliable season - snow closes roads into October
  • • Olympic has three distinct ecosystems - plan for all three
  • • Mount Rainier's Paradise lot fills by 10am on weekends
  • • North Cascades is the least crowded park in the lower 48
  • • Crater Lake boat tours sell out - book at recreation.gov

Southwest Grand Circle

The ultimate American Southwest road trip hitting iconic parks across four states.

Duration
14-21 days
Distance
1,500 miles
Difficulty
Moderate
Best Time
March-May, September-November
Southwest Grand Circle
Grand Canyon Zion Bryce Canyon Arches Canyonlands Mesa Verde Petrified Forest

Trip Highlights

✓ Grand Canyon South Rim sunrise
✓ Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon (nearby)
✓ Monument Valley (Navajo Tribal Park)
✓ Mesa Verde cliff dwellings
✓ Four Corners Monument

Day-by-Day Route

Day 1-3
Grand Canyon
Fly into Phoenix or Las Vegas. South Rim, Desert View Drive, Rim Trail.
Day 4
Page, AZ
2 hour drive. Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon tour (book ahead!).
Day 5-6
Monument Valley
2 hour drive. Navajo-guided tour recommended. Sunrise is magical.
Day 7-8
Mesa Verde
2.5 hour drive. Cliff Palace tour, Balcony House (if not afraid of heights).
Day 9
Arches/Moab
2 hour drive. Delicate Arch sunset.
Day 10
Canyonlands
Island in the Sky district, Mesa Arch sunrise.
Day 11-12
Capitol Reef
2 hour drive. Often overlooked gem. Scenic drive, petroglyphs.
Day 13
Bryce Canyon
2 hour drive. Sunrise Point, Queens Garden/Navajo Loop combo.
Day 14
Zion
1.5 hour drive. Angels Landing or The Narrows. Return to Las Vegas.

Pro Tips

  • • This is a big loop - don't rush it
  • • Antelope Canyon requires Navajo tour guides - book weeks ahead
  • • Monument Valley is NOT a national park but worth the detour
  • • Mesa Verde cliff dwelling tours require tickets
  • • Summer is brutally hot - spring and fall are ideal

Southeast National Parks

From Florida's tropical wetlands to the misty Appalachian peaks.

Duration
10-14 days
Distance
1,100 miles
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Best Time
October-April (Everglades), May-October (Smokies)
Southeast National Parks
Everglades Biscayne Dry Tortugas Congaree Great Smoky Mountains

Trip Highlights

✓ Airboat through Everglades sawgrass
✓ Snorkeling Biscayne's coral reefs
✓ Fort Jefferson on Dry Tortugas
✓ Congaree's champion trees
✓ Cades Cove wildlife loop

Day-by-Day Route

Day 1-2
Everglades
Fly into Miami. Shark Valley tram, Anhinga Trail, flamingos at Eco Pond.
Day 3
Biscayne
1 hour from Everglades. Snorkeling tour or glass-bottom boat.
Day 4
Dry Tortugas
Ferry from Key West (2.5 hours) or seaplane. Fort Jefferson, amazing snorkeling.
Day 5
Travel Day
Drive or fly from Miami to South Carolina (10+ hours or short flight).
Day 6
Congaree
Near Columbia, SC. Boardwalk Loop, champion trees, firefly season in May.
Day 7-10
Great Smoky Mountains
4 hour drive. Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Roaring Fork Motor Trail.

Pro Tips

  • • Everglades dry season (Dec-April) is best for wildlife
  • • Dry Tortugas ferry books up weeks ahead - plan early
  • • Great Smokies is FREE but requires parking tags
  • • Cades Cove is packed on weekends - go at dawn
  • • Fall colors in Smokies peak mid-October

Alaska's Wild Parks

America's last frontier - massive wilderness, incredible wildlife, and the highest peak in North America.

Duration
10-14 days
Distance
600 miles (plus flights)
Difficulty
Challenging
Best Time
June-August only
Alaska's Wild Parks
Denali Kenai Fjords Glacier Bay Wrangell-St. Elias

Trip Highlights

✓ Denali (Mt. McKinley) - tallest peak in North America
✓ Grizzly bears and caribou in Denali
✓ Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield
✓ Whale watching in Glacier Bay
✓ Massive glaciers in Wrangell-St. Elias

Day-by-Day Route

Day 1
Anchorage
Fly into Anchorage. Explore downtown, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Day 2-4
Denali
4 hour drive north. Bus tour deep into park, look for wildlife. Book months ahead!
Day 5-6
Kenai Fjords
4 hour drive south to Seward. Exit Glacier hike, boat tour to see glaciers calving.
Day 7-8
Glacier Bay
Fly to Juneau, then ferry to Gustavus. Day boat tour or kayaking.
Day 9-10
Wrangell-St. Elias
Fly back to Anchorage, drive 5 hours to McCarthy. Root Glacier, ghost town of Kennecott.

Pro Tips

  • • Alaska's parks have VERY short seasons - July is peak
  • • Denali bus permits sell out 6+ months ahead
  • • Denali is only visible ~30% of days - be flexible
  • • Bring serious bug spray - Alaska mosquitoes are legendary
  • • Consider internal flights - distances are huge
  • • Book everything early - Alaska tourism is competitive

Planning Resources

Planning Guides
First-timer tips & more
Gear Guide
What to pack
Recreation.gov
Campground reservations
Park Map
Plan your route

Ready to Start Planning?

Explore all 63 national parks and find your perfect adventure.

Browse All Parks Parks by State