Favorite National Park Road Trips!

I’m a big fan of planning national park road trips. There’s just something magical about getting in the car, rolling down the windows, and watching the scenery change as you travel between stunning destinations. Plus, it’s one of the best ways to skip airport chaos and see more of what the United States (and Canada) has to offer!

We rounded up five of our favorite national park road trips, each with a little something for everyone. Whether you’re craving waterfalls, red rocks, towering trees, or even some international adventure, there’s a road trip on this list for you!

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Podcast Episode Overview

Ready to rev your engines and explore the best of America’s (and Canada’s!) national parks? Join us in this episode of Exploring the National Parks as we round up our all-time favorite road trips- perfect for this road trip season! 

From the stunning peaks of the Pacific Northwest to the iconic landscapes of the Southwest, we’re sharing our top tips and must-see destinations. And because every great road trip needs great snacks, we’re even pairing each route with a fun potato-themed dish!  

Join us as we discuss:

• A 10-day adventure through Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky
• An epic journey through the Pacific Northwest, featuring towering redwoods and fiery volcanoes
• A 14-day trip through the Canadian Rockies, complete with jaw-dropping glaciers
• A jam-packed Black Hills road trip in South Dakota, where you can experience a ton of amazing sites without spending too much time in the car
• A grand tour of the Southwest, hitting nine national parks in 14 days and encountering landscapes so otherworldly, you won’t believe they’re on Earth

We hope you found this episode helpful and that it inspires you to plan your own perfect road trip this summer! You can find more details on each of these road trips in Episode 87, Episode 21, Episode 25, Episode 29, and Episode 15. And don’t forget your potato delicacies!

For your task today, let us know which road trip you’re most excited for! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and share your pick!

Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky Road Trip

We took this road trip last summer, and it easily ranks as one of the best we’ve ever done. It hits a really fun mix of big cities, scenic drives, and incredible national park sites. You’ll start in Nashville, head to the Great Smoky Mountains, cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway, check out Asheville and the Biltmore Estate, and then finish with Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.

This route is especially great because it’s tricky to connect eastern national parks into a road trip due to how spread out they are. But this one ties everything together beautifully and feels really cohesive. 

If you want a taste of southern charm, some gorgeous forested drives, and time in the mountains, this is your pick. This region of the East Coast is also home to amazing gateway towns and easy access to nature.

Fun fact: while we couldn’t find a signature potato dish from this trip, Nashville does serve up rabbit rolls made with house-made rabbit spam at a restaurant called The Black Rabbit. It’s weirdly famous and something we might just try next time we’re in town.

Be sure to check out Episode 87 for the full breakdown and itinerary tips for this incredible road trip!

Pacific Northwest National Parks Road Trip

This one takes you through Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, and we’ve done this trip multiple times because we love it that much. If you want volcanoes, rainforests, dramatic coastlines, and the tallest trees in the world, the Pacific Northwest delivers!

You’ll start at Lassen Volcanic National Park and travel north through the Avenue of the Giants, Redwood National Park, and Crater Lake National Park. Then you follow the Oregon coast up to Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades National Park in Washington.

We recommend at least two weeks if you want to hit all the parks, but we also share ways in Episode 21 to break the trip into smaller chunks depending on how much time you have. Some of our favorite stops include quirky mountain towns like Leavenworth, Winthrop, and Chelan. You’re also close to Seattle, Portland, and even gateway towns that offer access to national forests and old-growth forest experiences.

As for the potato connection, tater tots were invented in Oregon by the folks at Ore-Ida. So yes, this trip comes with a side of nostalgia for anyone who grew up on school lunches!

Listen to Episode 21 to get the full details, route suggestions, and helpful tips for planning your Pacific Northwest adventure.

Canadian Rockies Adventure

This one technically crosses international borders, but we couldn’t leave it off the list. The national parks of the Canadian Rockies are unreal. This 14-day road trip includes Waterton, Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay. And if you want to add a U.S. park on either end, Glacier National Park makes a perfect addition.

Banff is the most famous Canadian national park, but Jasper and Yoho are actually our favorites. Jasper is peaceful and expansive, while Yoho offers solitude and huge mountain views without the crowds.

The Icefields Parkway connects Banff and Jasper and is one of the most scenic drives on the planet, with glaciers clinging to the mountains the entire way. It truly feels like you’ve entered a fantasy world. This stretch through the Rocky Mountains is the ultimate national park road trip for exploring North America’s iconic alpine landscapes.

And the best part? You can enjoy all this with a hot plate of poutine. Canada’s iconic potato dish, made of fries, gravy, and cheese curds, is soul-warming and unforgettable.

Don’t miss Episode 25, where we walk you through this epic Canada itinerary from start to finish.

South Dakota’s Black Hills Loop

This is a shorter road trip, just three to five days, but it’s packed with stops. If you want maximum adventure without tons of driving, this is the one. The Black Hills are full of amazing things to see in a compact area, and you can base yourself in one spot the whole time.

Some of the highlights on this route include Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, and Devils Tower. If you have more time, you can even add on a visit to Badlands National Park, which is just a short drive away.

This is also a favorite with our kids, and every time we go, we discover something new. South Dakota has some fun food stops, too. Wall Drug serves a hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy that’s not exactly fine dining, but it hits the spot after a full day of exploring. This route through the Great Plains offers incredible access to both state parks and national treasures.

Tune into Episode 29 for the full Black Hills breakdown, and learn how to fit all these stops into one unforgettable trip.

The Grand Circle Road Trip Through the Southwest

If you’re ready for a mega road trip, this 14-day itinerary through the Southwest is the crown jewel. Known as the Grand Circle, it includes nine national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon.

You can also break it down into shorter trips. We have an episode dedicated to just the Utah Mighty Five (Episode 71) if you want to focus on those. But if you have time to do the full loop, it’s one of the most breathtaking and diverse road trips you can take. 

The desert landscapes are mind-blowing, and you’ll often feel like you’re driving through another planet. Monument Valley, hot springs, and small towns add even more color to this American Southwest experience.

This route is also a great one for wide open roads, quirky roadside stops, and long stretches of jaw-dropping scenery. Unlike some of the other trips on this list, this one feels remote in the best way. You can see for miles in every direction!

And of course, the potato tie-in here is Utah’s famous funeral potatoes. It’s a cheesy hash brown casserole that’s a staple at every family gathering. Not exactly something you’ll find in restaurants, but if you get invited to a potluck in Utah, now you’ll know what it is.

Episode 15 is your go-to for the whole Grand Circle plan. It’s packed with tips and details for tackling all nine national parks and more!

Which Road Trip Will You Take?

Whether you’re headed east, west, north, or south, there’s a route on this list that will blow your mind and leave you with incredible memories. From Zion to Grand Canyon and Lassen to North Cascades, the best road trips really are in the national parks.

If you’re ready to start planning, all of these road trips have full podcast episodes packed with tips, logistics, and itinerary advice. Happy road tripping!

You can find more details on each of these road trips in Episode 87, Episode 21, Episode 25, Episode 29, and Episode 15.

And as always, get out there and get some dirt in your shoes!

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Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

• Nashville, Tennessee
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Biltmore Estate
• Mammoth Cave National Park
• The Black Rabbit Restaurant, Nashville 
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Avenue of the Giants
• Redwood National and State Parks
• Crater Lake National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Mount Rainier National Park
• North Cascades National Park
• Leavenworth, Washington
• Winthrop, Washington
• Chelan, Washington
• Waterton Lakes National Park
• Banff National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Yoho National Park
• Kootenay National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Wind Cave National Park
• Jewel Cave National Monument
• Wall Drug, South Dakota
• Badlands National Park

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!