Looking for the best USA road trips for adventurers? Here are the top 10 best USA road trips, filled with the best hikes, landscapes, overlooks and mountain ranges of the entire country.
Highway 89
Route US-89 is hands-down one of the best and most underrated road tripping highways in the entire country. This western US highway runs from central Montana all the way to southern Arizona. From massive mountain ranges to jaw-dropping desert landscapes, there is an adventure for every type of traveler on this route. In addition, there is a large variety of national parks can border this highway — such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon National Park — making it one of the most epic road trip routes in the United States.
Best Highway 89 Road Trip Stops
1. Yellowstone National Park, Montana.
2. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
3. Pink Lake, Utah.
4. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.
5. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.
6. Zion National Park, Utah.
7. Kanab, Utah.
8. Horseshoe Bend, Arizona.
9. Lake Powell, Arizona.
10. White Pocket, Arizona.
11. Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
12. Grand Canyon National Park.
13. Sedona, Arizona.
This route might be best split into separate week-long trips. Otherwise, you will need 3-4 weeks to see all of US-89’s best stops. This road trip route is easily my personal favorite of the list, which is why I had to mention it first. Whether you visit the northern portion of the highway, the Utah portion or the Arizona portion, you will be utterly wowed by what you see here. My favorite US-89 road trip stop of the list above is probably White Pocket, but Pink Lake and Antelope Canyon are very close seconds.
Arizona Road Trip
Now, this best USA road trips guide would not be complete without expanding on the Arizona and Utah portions of Highway 89. Starting off with Arizona, an Arizona road trip offers a classic American southwest experience full of desert hikes, giant canyons and otherworldly sights.
Best Arizona Road Trip Stops
1. Scottsdale, Arizona.
2. Subway Cave, Sedona, Arizona.
3. Devil’s Bridge, Sedona, Arizona.
4. Birthing Cave, Sedona, Arizona.
5. Soldier’s Pass, Sedona, Arizona.
6. White Pocket, Arizona.
7. Lake Powell, Page, Arizona.
8. Lower Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona.
9. Upper Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona.
10. Glen Canyon Dam, Page, Arizona.
11. Grand Canyon National Park.
You will likely need at least one week for a well-rounded Arizona road trip. My husband, best friend and I took a week-long Arizona road trip last September, starting in Phoenix, moving north through Sedona and Flagstaff, and ending in Page, Arizona. It was an incredible trip that I would highly recommend to everyone. Even more than the famous Grand Canyon National Park and Flagstaff area, my personal favorite Arizona road trip stops are the White Pocket, Page and Sedona areas.
Utah Mighty 5
Likewise, a Utah Might 5 road trip has to be at the top of every US traveler’s bucket list. Whether you’re an avid backpacker or a luxury vacationer, you will be amazed by the hikes (both long and short), parking lot overlooks and otherworldly views of Utah. The Utah Might 5 refers to the five national parks that reside in the state of Utah: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park.
Best Stops On A Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip
1. Arches National Park.
2. Canyonlands National Park.
3. Capitol Reef National Park.
4. Bryce Canyon National Park.
5. Zion National Park.
6. Kanab, Utah.
7. Rainbow Mountains, Utah.
8. Pink Lake, Utah.
9. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.
10. Corona + Bowtie Arches, Moab, Utah.
In addition to the Utah Mighty 5, Utah is home to some of the most epic non-national-park road trip stops in the entire country. My favorite places in Utah are continually Pink Lake, Rainbow Mountains and the Bonneville Salt Flats. I suggest spending at least one week on your Utah road trip. Check out my one week Utah road trip itinerary here.
Road To Hana
On the contrary, a road trip through the tropical Road To Hana and the Hana Highway, located on Maui, Hawaii, will bring you on a beautiful coastal journey through black sand beaches (Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach), red sand beaches (Kaihalulu Beach), volcanic craters (Haleakala crater), bamboo forests (Pipiwai Trail) and impressive jungle waterfalls (Waimoku Falls, Paihi Falls and more).
Best stops on the Road To Hana
1. Ho’okipa Lookout.
2. Ho’okipa Beach.
3. Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees.
4. Nahiku Landing.
5. Haleakala National Park.
6. Pipiwai Trail.
7. Waimoku Falls.
8. Pools of ‘Ohe’o.
9. Makapipi Falls.
10. Twin Falls.
12. Kaihalulu Beach (Red Sand Beach).
13. Wai’anapanapa State Park (Black Sand Beach).
14. Paihi Falls.
15. Palapala No’omau Congregational Church (Charles Lindbergh’s Grave).
16. Saint Joseph Church.
Clearly, there are a ton of noteworthy stops to make on the Road To Hana. I highly recommend downloading the Shaka Guide Road To Hana audio tour to help you navigate the Hana Highway and all of its most impressive stops. I also have a free guide on where to take photos on the Road To Hana as well as a guide on what to wear on the Road To Hana. You only need 1-2 days on the Road To Hana to see most of the best spots.
Washington State National Parks
For the mountain lovers, a Washington State National Parks road trip is an epic way to see some of the country’s most iconic mountains, a rainforest and the Pacific Coast. The best Washington State National Park road trip covers all three of the state’s national parks: Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park.
Best Washington Road Trip Stops
1. Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park.
2. Hall Of Mosses, Olympic National Park.
3. Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park.
4. Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park.
5. Reflections Lake, Mount Rainier National Park.
6. Mount Fremont Fire Lookout, Mount Rainier National Park.
7. Myrtle Falls, Mount Rainier National Park.
8. Diablo Lake, North Cascades National Park.
9. Maple Pass Loop Trail, North Cascades National Park.
Don’t be fooled, though. You will need at least a whole week to explore all three of the Washington national parks. The parks are huge, which means driving from trailhead to trailhead can take hours. Likewise, the drive time between each national park will take multiple hours.
Columbia River Gorge
Slightly south, you could easily tack on a road trip through the Columbia River Gorge to your Washington national park road trip, which is exactly what we did. You only need 1-2 days in the Columbia River Gorge area, yet you will witness some of the most impressive waterfalls in the continental United States here along the Columbia River Highway.
Best stops on the Columbia River Gorge
1. Multnomah Falls.
2. Latourell Falls.
3. Bridal Veil Falls.
4. Wahkeena Falls.
5. Skamania Lodge.
I was truly shocked with how much we enjoyed the Columbia River Gorge. Between the tall waterfalls, basalt columns, and greenery it felt like we were transported back to Iceland or Ireland. My favorite waterfall was definitely Latourell Falls, although all of the falls are worth visiting. We stayed at Skamania Lodge and fell in love with the property. Watch my full hotel review and Columbia River Gorge vlog here.
Grand Teton + Yellowstone National Parks
Another USA road trip that pleasantly surprised me was a road trip through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. As previously mentioned, both of the US national parks are situated along Highway 89, making them both easily accessible in one trip. Here, you’ll see jagged mountains, glacier lakes, authentic cowboy lifestyle, Mormon settler ruins, rainbow-colored geysers, Old Faithful geyser and more.
Best Grand Teton + Yellowstone Road Trip Stops
1. Delta Lake, Grand Teton National Park.
2. Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park.
3. Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park.
4. Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
5. Grand Prismatic Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
6. West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.
7. Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
8. Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park.
9. Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park.
To see both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park in one trip, I suggest planning at least two days in each park. We saw both national parks in one weekend, and, although it was certainly doable, we were not able to see everything. Grand Teton’s Delta Lake was my favorite hike of this road trip, and I look forward to visiting Grand Teton National Park again in the future!
Needles Highway
Next, in South Dakota, you’ll find the famous Needles Highway. Between the wildlife, unique mountain rock formations and historic sites like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, there is something in store for the whole family on this USA road trip. Nearby, you also have the opportunity to visit Badlands National Park too.
Needles Highway Road Trip Stops
1. Custer State Park.
2. Mount Rushmore.
3. Crazy Horse Memorial.
4. Badlands National Park.
5. Buffalo Ridge Glamping Resort.
You can see the majority of the best Needles Highway stops in 1-2 days. However, I recommend adding an extra day or two if you want to add Badlands National Park or any other neighboring national park to this road trip. We stayed in a canvas glamping tent at Buffalo Ridge Resort and had so much fun! You can find my full resort review here.
Door County + Washington Island
I may be biased as a Wisconsin local, but I couldn’t finish this list of the top 10 USA road trips without adding Wisconsin’s Highway 42 through Door County and Washington Island. This road trip is one of America’s best kept secrets and provides quintessential east coast vibes even though it’s in the Midwest. Here, you’ll get to see countless adorable seaside towns (technically lakeside, but Lake Michigan genuinely feels like a sea), cute souvenir shops, beautiful bluffs, Scandinavian architecture and one of the clearest beaches in the USA.
Best Stops In Door County + Washington Island
1. Cave Point County Park.
2. Peninsula State Park.
3. Door County Wineries.
4. Highway 42 Windy Road.
5. Downtown Fish Creek (souvenir shops).
6. Sister Bay.
7. Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm.
8. Schoolhouse Beach.
9. Washington Island Stavkirke.
10. Whitefish Dunes State Park.
11. Bailey’s Harbor.
12. Ellison Bay.
13. Cana Island Lighthouse.
14. Rock Island State Park.
15. Ephraim.
You can easily experience Door County in one day trip, but at least a whole weekend here would be ideal, especially if you would like to see Washington Island and/or Rock Island too. This would also be the perfect destination for a lake house stay. To get to Washington Island from Door County, you will have to take the Washington Island Ferry Line located at the tip of the Door County peninsula. You can find everything you need to know about visiting Washington Island here.
My personal favorite spots in Door County are Sister Bay, Fish Creek, Schoolhouse Beach and the Washington Island Stavkirke. If you’re hungry, Al Johnson’s and Wild Tomato Pizza are arguably the best restaurants on the whole peninsula.
California National Parks
California is home to a whopping nine US national parks: Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, Death Valley, Sequoia, Channel Islands and Joshua Tree National Park. So, there’s no wondering why a California national park road trip would be unforgettable. Or, if you’re not keen on exploring the national parks, Highway 1 is another fabulous coastal city California road trip route to add to your bucket list.
California National Parks (From North To South Consecutively)
1. Redwood National Park.
2. Lassen Volcanic National Park.
3. Yosemite National Park.
4. Kings Canyon National Park.
5. Pinnacles National Park.
6. Death Valley National Park.
7. Sequoia National Park.
8. Channel Islands National Park.
9. Joshua Tree National Park.
If you’re hoping to visit all of the California national parks in one road trip, I would plan at least two weeks to road trip the state. You can easily spend several days at most of these national parks, thus my two-week-minimum recommendation.
Which of these best USA road trips are you adding to your bucket list? Let me know in the reply section below!
More Best USA Road Trip Guides
Washington Road Trip: How To Visit 3 Parks In 3 Days
Utah Road Trip Itinerary: 7-Day Ultimate Tour Of Utah (With Map)
Grand Teton Yellowstone Itinerary For A Quick Trip
10 Day Trips From Salt Lake City That Are Out Of This World
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