Ultimate National Parks Road Trip

1

Grand Canyon National Park

National ParkStart location

AZ

Deep red rock layers and the winding Colorado River stretch for hundreds of miles across this Arizona landscape. You can hike down to the riverbed or drive along the rim to see the scale of the erosion firsthand.

2

Petrified Forest National Park

National Park

AZ

You will find massive deposits of colorful petrified wood scattered across red badlands and wide grasslands. It is a great place to pull off the highway to see ancient fossils and walk through old Puebloan sites.

3

Saguaro National Park

National Park

AZ

Huge saguaro cacti dominate the Sonoran Desert landscapes across two separate districts surrounding Tucson. You can drive between the Tucson Mountain and Rincon Mountain areas to find wide desert views and sightings of local wildlife.

4

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

National Park

TX

High desert limestone peaks and ancient fossil reefs define this stretch of West Texas. You can hike through pinyon pine forests up to Guadalupe Peak or follow the old stagecoach routes near the Frijole Ranch ruins.

5

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

National Park

NM

Deep limestone caverns and desert canyons define this stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert. You can hike down the natural entrance or take the elevator to see the massive underground chambers formed by ancient sulfuric acid.

6

Big Bend National Park

National Park

TX

Deep limestone canyons and the Rio Grande cut through a desert landscape that feels like the true edge of Texas. You can spend your days tracking bird species through the mountain ranges or waiting for the pitch-black night skies to clear.

7

Hot Springs National Park

National Park

AR

Thermal springs and historic bathhouses line the streets right in the middle of town. You can switch from hiking forested mountain trails to soaking in old-school architecture without ever leaving the city limits.

8

Mammoth Cave National Park

National Park

KY

You can spend your days hiking through rolling hills and deep river valleys or head underground to navigate the world's longest cave system. It is a massive network of limestone passages that offers a completely different landscape than the Kentucky greenery above.

9

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

NC,TN

Dense forests and blue-tinted ridges cover the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. You can hike the Appalachian Trail or look for rare wildlife across these ancient mountain peaks.

10

Everglades National Park

National Park

FL

You will find endless stretches of sawgrass prairies, mangrove forests, and shallow saltwater marshes spread across these wetlands. It is the best place to track alligators and wading birds from an airboat or a boardwalk.

11

Dry Tortugas National Park

National Park

FL

You can only reach these seven small islands by boat or seaplane, leaving you with nothing but open water and the massive brick walls of Fort Jefferson. It is the best spot in the Keys to snorkel undisturbed coral reefs and watch migratory birds far from the mainland.

12

Biscayne National Park

National Park

FL

This park is mostly water, consisting of massive mangrove forests, coral reefs, and a few low-lying islands like Elliott Key. You'll want to bring a boat or kayak if you're heading out to dive the reefs or scout the old shipwrecks scattered across the bay.

13

Congaree National Park

National Park

SC

Congaree is a massive stretch of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest sitting right in the middle of the South Carolina floodplain. You can hike through dense river swamps to see some of the largest champion trees in the country.

14

Shenandoah National Park

National Park

VA

Skyline Drive cuts straight through the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering constant views of the Shenandoah River valley below. You can spend your days hiking toward Hawksbill Mountain or spotting black bears along the wooded ridgelines.

15

Acadia National Park

National Park

ME

Granite headlands and rocky Atlantic coastlines define this stretch of Maine, where you can drive historic motor roads or cycle through miles of carriage paths. Most people head here to hike the coastal trails or catch the sunrise from the highest peaks on Mount Desert Island.

16

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

National Park

OH

You will find thick forests, rolling hills, and open farmland cutting through the space between Cleveland and Akron. Most people head here to hike the Towpath Trail along the old canal route or to paddle the winding Cuyahoga River.

17

Isle Royale National Park

National Park

MI

Isle Royale is a remote stretch of wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior defined by dense forests and ancient volcanic rock. You can spend your days paddling between islands or hiking deep backcountry trails that feel completely disconnected from the mainland.

18

Voyageurs National Park

National Park

MN

This park is a massive network of interconnected lakes and waterways cutting through the northern Minnesota woods. You will need a boat to get around, but it is the best way to reach the remote islands and quiet channels for camping and fishing.

19

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

National Park

ND

Badlands canyons and sweeping prairie grasslands define this stretch of North Dakota. You can drive through the remote terrain to spot bison, wild horses, and prairie dogs along the river breaks.

20

Badlands National Park

National Park

SD

Sharp, eroded ridges and deep canyons cut through the South Dakota prairie, making for some of the best driving views in the state. You can track fossil beds from ancient rhinos or scan the grasslands for bison and bighorn sheep along the loop roads.

21

Wind Cave National Park

National Park

SD

Rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides sit directly above one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems. You can spend your morning tracking bison and elk across the plains before heading underground to see the rare calcite boxwork formations.

22

Rocky Mountain National Park

National Park

CO

Over 300 miles of trails crisscross this high-altitude landscape where meadows, alpine lakes, and peaks above 12,000 feet meet the Continental Divide. Rocky Mountain brings together hiking, wildlife watching, and raw mountain scenery in 415 square miles straddling Colorado's Front Range.

23

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

National Park

CO

Massive sand dunes rise sharply against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, offering some of the highest elevations for sand climbing in North America. You can spend your days trekking the dunes or wandering through the nearby wetlands and alpine lakes, then stick around after dark to see the stars in an International Dark Sky Park.

24

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

National Park

CO

Deep, dark walls of ancient rock drop straight down to the Gunnison River in this narrow gorge. You can spend your days hiking the steep rim trails or watching how little sunlight actually reaches the canyon floor.

25

Mesa Verde National Park

National Park

CO

High desert mesas and steep sandstone cliffs house the well-preserved cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo people. You can hike directly into these ancient stone villages or spend the night under some of the clearest dark skies in the country.

26

Canyonlands National Park

National Park

UT

Red rock canyons, deep mesas, and sharp spires define this massive stretch of Utah desert carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. You will need to plan your route carefully because the four distinct districts are separated by miles of open terrain with no connecting roads between them.

27

Arches National Park

National Park

UT

You will find over 2,000 sandstone arches and massive rock fins spread across the red desert landscape just north of Moab. It is the best place to hike among salt-formed spires and catch the light hitting Delicate Arch at sunset.

28

Capitol Reef National Park

National Park

UT

The Waterpocket Fold stretches across this landscape like a massive wrinkle in the earth, creating a hundred-mile stretch of red rock canyons and sandstone domes. You can drive right through the heart of these cliffs or stop to hike through the narrow slot canyons carved into the folds.

29

Bryce Canyon National Park

National Park

UT

You will find the largest concentration of orange and white hoodoos on Earth spread across these high-altitude amphitheaters. The rim sits between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, offering clear dark skies and steep trails through the sedimentary rock columns.

30

Zion National Park

National Park

UT

Red and tan Navajo Sandstone walls rise hundreds of feet above the Virgin River, creating deep slot canyons and massive monoliths. You can spend your days hiking through the desert and riparian zones or navigating the narrow paths of Zion Canyon.

31

Great Basin National Park

National Park

NV

Wheeler Peak rises sharply out of the sagebrush desert, offering high-altitude hiking and ancient bristlecone pine groves. You can spend your days wandering through limestone caves or watching the stars from some of the darkest skies in the country.

32

Grand Teton National Park

National Park

WY

The Teton Range rises sharply from the floor of Jackson Hole, offering steep granite peaks and clear alpine lakes for hikers and photographers. You can drive the length of the valley to spot moose or elk before heading south toward Yellowstone.

33

Yellowstone National Park

National Park

ID,MT,WY

On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal wonders. Today, millions of people come here each year to camp, hike, and enjoy the majesty of the park.

34

Glacier National Park

National Park

MT

Glacier is all about high-altitude lakes and the winding Going-to-the-Sun Road that cuts through the Montana mountains. You can spend your days hiking through alpine meadows or checking out the old historic lodges scattered around the valleys.

35

North Cascades National Park

National Park

WA

You will find over 300 glaciers cutting through jagged peaks and deep, forested valleys filled with rushing water. It is a massive alpine landscape where the terrain shifts from wet western forests to drier eastern slopes.

36

Mount Rainier National Park

National Park

WA

This massive active volcano sits high above the surrounding Cascades, covered in more glaciers than any other peak in the lower forty-eight. You can spend your days hiking through old-growth forests or wandering across subalpine meadows that ring the base of the mountain.

37

Olympic National Park

National Park

WA

You can drive from glacier-capped peaks and wildflower meadows straight down into old-growth temperate rainforests. The peninsula also features seventy miles of wild Pacific coastline that's perfect for anyone looking to trade mountain trails for sea stacks.

38

Crater Lake National Park

National Park

OR

Deep blue water fills this massive volcanic caldera left behind by the collapse of Mount Mazama. You can drive the rim road to catch views of the depth and clarity that only rain and snow provide.

39

Redwood National and State Parks

National Park

CA

You will find massive old-growth forests, coastal prairies, and winding rivers stretching along the northern California shoreline. It is the best place to drive through groves of the world's tallest trees and walk along untamed beaches.

40

Lassen Volcanic National Park

National Park

CA

Lassen is all about active volcanic features like steaming fumaroles and bubbling hot springs set against high mountain lakes. You can hike through wildflower meadows to reach jagged peaks that still show the scars of past eruptions.

41

Yosemite National Park

National Park

CA

Granite cliffs and massive waterfalls define this stretch of the Sierra Nevada. You can spend your days hiking through giant sequoia groves or driving up into the high wilderness to find quiet alpine lakes.

42

Kings Canyon National Park

National Park

CA

Deep glacier-carved canyons and massive giant sequoia groves define this stretch of the southern Sierra Nevada. You can spend your days hiking through high mountain meadows or navigating the steep granite peaks that rise above the river valleys.

43

Sequoia National Park

National Park

CA

Giant sequoias and steep Sierra Nevada canyons define this stretch of California high country. You can drive through deep foothills to reach Mount Whitney or wander through massive groves of ancient trees.

44

Pinnacles National Park

National Park

CA

Sharp volcanic spires and deep, shaded canyons define this stretch of central California coast. You can spend your days hiking through oak woodlands or tracking condors above the rock formations.

45

Channel Islands National Park

National Park

CA

Five separate islands sit off the coast of Southern California, offering a mix of steep cliffs and sea caves accessible only by boat. You can find endemic species and ancient archaeological sites here that have evolved in total isolation from the mainland.

46

Joshua Tree National Park

National Park

CA

You will find a mix of Mojave and Colorado desert landscapes defined by massive granite boulders and twisted Joshua trees. It is a prime spot for stargazing and navigating wind-sculpted rock formations under dark southern California skies.

47

Death Valley National Park

National ParkDestination

CA,NV

You will find massive salt flats and deep basins sitting well below sea level across the California and Nevada border. It is a land of extreme temperature swings where you can catch wildflower blooms after a rare rain or find shade near a desert oasis.