Road Trip Across the United States: 9 Week Itinerary
In our quest to travel to all 50 states and see all the National Parks in the U.S., we decided to build our DIY campervan. We wanted to be as independent and free as possible when we took off for our 9-week road trip across the United States!
We traveled from coast to coast to explore America. From New York to California and back. Crossing through 19 states, traveling on major highways to unmapped dirt roads in a journey to see what many people dream of.Not only did we try to check out the major highlights within each area but also some hidden places that are less traveled.
Time passed too quickly and we could have explored the United States for some more weeks or even months. But unfortunately we had to come back to New York after 67 days living the van life and having the road trip of our lifetime (so far 😉 ). I guess that means we just have to take another road trip through the United States!
We have split our 9-week itinerary up week by week to give you a better idea of what we were able to accomplish in one week on our United States road trip. We will provide you with a list of the highlights we explored, other things you may want to check out, and travel times between each destination.
Don’t wait any longer to see what the United States has to offer, get out there and see it for yourself. Here is our itinerary to help you plan your dream road trip across the United States.
Our 9 Week Road Trip Itinerary
This United States road trip itinerary can be done within this time frame, however, it can be easily altered to accommodate your travel needs. You can also use parts of it for a 2 or 3-week road trip in certain areas.
Week 1: Cave Explorations, Music Cities, and a Traditional Bathhouse
German Village, OH – Mammoth Cave National Park, KY – Nashville, TN – Memphis, TN – Hot Springs National Park, AR
We drove just over 8 hours from the Hudson Valley to our first destination Columbus, OH to start our road trip across the United States.
German Village, Ohio (1 day, 1 night)
We decided to make this our first stop on our road trip across the United States because Dana is from Germany. This historic village is prided on its German past. For myself, this was the first place in the U.S. that gave me an authentic feel and image of being in Germany.
Highlights: Schmidt’s Haus, Schiller Park, Walk the Brick streets
We ate brunch at First Watch. It was a great little cafe that served a variety of breakfast and lunch options. It is worth checking out the menu even though it doesn’t offer German food!
Next Stop: Mammoth Cave National Park, KY – Travel Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky (1 day)
Our first National Park on our journey! Here you get to check out the longest known cave system on earth.
Highlights: Doing a cave tour
We chose to do the Mammoth Cave Historic Tour. Tickets cost $17 each and the tour lasted 2 hours. We felt this tour provides you with a good overview of the cave system at Mammoth Cave. However, the National Park does have a variety of tours for you to choose from if you are more interested in other aspects of the cave. Especially during the high season, it is highly recommended to book your tickets online in advance.
Next Stop: Nashville, TN – Travel Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Nashville, Tennessee (2 days, 2 nights)
Highlights: Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, Music Row, Tootsie Orchid Lounge, Legends, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, Music City Walk of Fame, Printer’s Alley, Farmer’s Market, and check out the murals of Nashville.
We purchased the Music City Total Access Pass for $99 and picked it up at the Visitor Center so we did not have to pay the additional money ($2.50) for shipping. We loved being able to pick the attractions we wanted to visit from their long list of attractions. Our recommendation is to check out what the pass has to offer to see if it fits with your ideal Nashville experience!
Next Stop: Memphis, TN – Travel Time: just over 3 hours
Memphis, Tennessee (1 day, 1 night)
Home of the blues and the birthplace of Rock n Roll. A can’t miss for a good time!
Highlights: Graceland, Beale Street, Metal Museum, I Love Memphis Mural, Sun Studio, Tom Lee Park, Light Show on the Hernando de Soto Bridge and Big River Crossing
Memphis is a great city and has a lot to offer. We spent 1 day and 1 night in Memphis. There is a lot of entertainment to take part in depending on your interests. Beale street is an experience within itself!
Seeing Graceland and getting to know more about Elvis’ life is a great experience. Since it easily takes around 3 hours to tour his property and see his planes, Memphis would be a great place to add a day to your United States road trip to enjoy other attractions.
Next Stop: Hot Springs National Park, AR – Travel Time: 3 hours
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas (1 day, 1 night)
Hot Springs is not a typical National Park when you think of activities you ‘normally’ do in National Parks, like hiking or wildlife viewing. Nicknamed “The American Spa”, this park provides you with a different experience by enjoying the thermal water of their hot springs.
Highlights: Bathhouse Row – Buckstaff Bathhouse, Fordyce Bathhouse
We enjoyed our visit to Hot Springs National Park by relaxing at the Buckstaff Bathhouse. We purchased the traditional bathing experience, which costs $82 per person. When you see the price of this activity, you could think it is too much, but it is worth it. We truly think you should look past the monetary value and look at this unique experience. Where else can you get a bathing experience from the early 1900s?
Next Stop: New Orleans, LA – Travel Time: 7 hours 40 minutes
Week 2: Ghost Stories, Mountain Views and a Private Sunset
New Orleans, LA – Drive Day – Big Bend National Park, TX – Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM – Guadalupe Mountain National Park, TX – White Sands National Monument, NM
New Orleans, Louisiana (2 days, 3 nights)
Known for their French history, Mardi Gras, exciting nightlife, and hauntings. New Orleans is a must-see city in the United States.
Highlights: French Quarter, Jackson Square, Frenchman Street, Mississippi Riverfront, Jazz Music, Food Tours, Ghost Tours, Jazz Cruises on the Mississippi, and Bourbon Street
Our time spent in New Orleans was filled with traditional New Orleans activities. We tried the typical New Orleans cuisine on our food tour around the city, got spooked on our ghost tour, and listened to jazz music while cruising on the Mississippi.
We did our ghost tour with freetoursbyfoot.com. This is a great company that offers some good tours in the U.S. and Europe. The best thing about it is you can pay as much as you wish at the end of the tour! Maybe you will even want to do another tour with them in another city on your United States road trip.
In the Area: Cajun Pride Swamp Tour, Oak Alley Plantation
If you are looking to get outdoorsy, we strongly recommend checking out the Cajun Pride Swamp Tour to see some alligators. Visiting the Oak Alley Plantation to learn more about the area’s plantations and slave history is very impressive too.
Next Stop: Drive Day to Big Bend National Park – Travel Time: 15 hours
Big Bend National Park, Texas (1 day, 1 night)
The park encompasses the entire Chisos mountain range and borders Mexico. This was the first time we experienced the change in the landscape in the United States. The park is incredible in size and offers a variety of activities for its visitors. What most visitors fail to realize when visiting some of the National Parks is how long it takes to drive from one place to another.
Therefore, if you plan to visit National Parks remember to check out driving times to the places you want to see.
Highlights: Panther Junction Visitor Center, Hot Springs Trail, Nature Trail at Rio Grande Village, Window View Trail, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and Santa Elena Canyon Trail
While at Big Bend, mother nature decided it was a good time to have a thunderstorm, which ended up impacting us more than we thought. We saved the Santa Elena Canyon Trail for the end of our day, which happened to be after the thunderstorm! As we journeyed down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, we noticed “some” water on the roads but we didn’t think too much about it. Until we reached the point where we couldn’t go any further because the road was impassable!
Our advice when going to Big Bend it would be good to check the weather because heavy rain can impact your experience!
In the Area: Terlingua Ghost Town (just outside the park, worth checking out!)
Next Stop: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM – Travel Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico (1 day, 1 night)
This cave blew us away! It is by far one of the coolest caves we have been to! Walking into the natural entrance of the cave was an incredible experience.
Highlights: Natural Entrance Trail, Big Room Trail, Bat Flight Program
If you plan on taking a trip to Carlsbad Caverns, we highly recommend staying for the Bat Flight Program. It is a free program that occurs from Memorial Day weekend through October. The time of the program changes based on the sunset time for the day.
This was one of the coolest natural spectacles we have ever seen! While waiting for the bats to fly out of the cave, a Park Ranger is in the amphitheater providing information about the bats, as well as, answering questions you may have. This program is great for everyone! But don’t forget to stay quiet when the hundreds of thousands of bats are flying out. You don’t want to scare them away!
Next Stop: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX – Travel Time: 30 minutes
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas (1 day)
If you’re looking for mountain views and canyons, you are in the right place!
Highlights: McKittrick Canyon Trail to Grotto
We chose to hike the McKittrick Canyon Trail to Grotto, which was 6.8 miles in length and took us just under 4 hours to complete. While on the hike we only saw two other groups, tons of lizards, and a snake! So if you are looking to connect with nature, this was a great place to do it!
Next Stop: White Sands National Monument, NM – Travel Time: 3 hours
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico (1 day, 1 night)
White Sands National Monument is known for the breathtaking landscape of the rare white gypsum sand dunes. If you are planning to go in the summer, you should be aware of how hot it can get during the midday hours so that you can plan your visit accordingly.
Highlights: Interdune Boardwalk, Dune sledding, Backcountry camping trail
Want to experience White Sands differently? Get a backcountry camping permit and spend the night between the dunes! However, there are only ten permits each day on a first come first serve basis, therefore, make sure to get to the park in the morning to secure your permit! And the best thing about this experience is that it comes cheap at $3 per person.
Don’t know how to spend the whole day at White Sands? Hike, sled, and enjoy the view of the dunes in the morning hours before the temperatures rise! Then take a few hours and grab a bite to eat and do a load of laundry before heading back to enjoy the sunset on top of the dunes.
Next Stop: Saguaro National Park, AZ – Travel Time: 5 hours
Week 3: Weird Looking Plants, Beach Time and Being a Kid Again
Saguaro National Park, AZ – Joshua Tree National Park, CA – San Diego, CA – Disneyland, CA
Saguaro National Park, AZ (2 days, 1 night)
Highlights: Cactus Forest Drive (east), Bajada Scenic Loop (west)
We chose to explore both sides of the park. However, one side is probably enough if you are interested in seeing the cactus, especially in the summertime. Since the temperatures get very hot during the day, you should not spend much time hiking around! And there is not that much else to do!
Next Stop: Joshua Tree National Park – Travel Time: 5 hours 45 minutes
Joshua Tree National Park, California (1 day
As a result of its name, Joshua Tree National Park, you could guess the park is famous for the Joshua Tree! These trees are very interesting and do not resemble a tree you may be thinking of.
Highlights: Skull Rock Trail, Barker Dam Trail, and Scenic Drive through the park
One of our favorite things to do, when entering a National Park, is to look at the visitor’s map and read about the wildlife in the park. Then we go out and try to spot as many animals as possible.
This time, we found a Chuckwalla and a rattlesnake, so make sure to always have your camera ready if you want to capture one of these animals!
In the Area: Salvation Mountain (1 hour 15 minutes from Joshua Tree)
On our drive to Joshua Tree, we decided to take a pit stop to see Salvation Mountain. While doing our research for the trip we came across this visionary tribute to God which we wanted to check out. It was an interesting art project to visit and it is in the middle of nowhere! If you are into sights which are off the beaten track and if you have the time, we think it was a fun sight to check out!
Next Stop: San Diego, CA – Travel Time: 3 hours
San Diego, California (3 days, 3 nights)
Our favorite California city! San Diego is made up of multiple areas which each offer a wide range of activities for its visitors. Whether you have 1 day, a few days or a whole week for San Diego, the city will have you wanting to come back for more! Also check out the events of San Diego for the time you are there.
Highlights: Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Artisan Market in Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Street Food Market, Pacific Beach, Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla Cove, and Ho Chi Minh Trail
Want a unique experience and enjoy the beach at the same time?
Try the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The beginning of the trail is located in a neighborhood in La Jolla on La Jolla Farms Road. It is a little tricky to find, so be patient. Parking is found on the street for 2 hours, which may limit your beach time if you are looking to spend the whole day. The trail is less than half a mile but it includes climbing through sandstone formations and steep natural steps. It is a lot of fun and you won’t regret taking a little longer to finally relax at the beach.
Next Stop: Disneyland, CA – Travel Time: 2 hours
Disneyland, California (2 days, 2 nights)
You are never too old to go to Disney, right? Why not go to the original Disney theme park in California. This is the only theme park that was fully designed and built under the supervision of Walt Disney. Yes, the price tag may be high on this destination but the experience is worth the visit. After all, we are convinced that it is the “happiest place on earth.”
Highlights: Disney’s California Adventure and Disneyland Park
Besides purchasing our admission tickets to Disney, we also purchased the Max Pass. The pass includes the Fast Pass for rides and unlimited downloads of the pictures on your Photo Pass. With the Fast Pass you can book and redeem reservations for a ride from your mobile device. The Max Pass costs $20 a day per ticket. We mainly loved it because of the download of the pictures. How often do you get the possibility to let professional photographers take pictures of you for that price!
Next Stop: Los Angeles, CA – Travel Time: 35 minutes (depending on traffic)
Week 4: Hollywood, Screaming and Curious Foxes
Los Angeles, CA – Universal Studios, CA – Channel Island National Park, CA – Big Sur, Ca – Pinnacles National Park, CA
Los Angeles, California ( 2 days, 3 nights)
The entertainment city! The first thing you think about when you hear Los Angeles is Hollywood but Los Angeles offers way more! Visiting this city has something for everyone!
Highlights: Stars & Homes Tour, Dolby Theater Tour, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, Warner Bros Studio Tour, Queen Mary, Venice Beach Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Griffith Observatory and Runyon Canyon
If you are interested in seeing a lot of the city’s main attractions, you may want to consider purchasing the L.A. Go City Card. We purchased the pass for 3 days, which included admission to Universal Studios (Prices vary based on how many days you want the pass for. Wait until the passes are discounted!) This was a great option for us and it could be for you!
Next Stop: Universal Studios, CA – Travel Time: 15 minutes
Universal Studios, California (1 day)
We love theme parks, so we couldn’t miss the opportunity to go to Universal Studios on our United States road trip.
Highlights: The Simpsons Ride, Despicable Me, Transformers, Jurassic Park, Water World, Studio Tour- Behind the Scenes Tram Ride and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Waiting times can get a little long, especially in the middle of the day. Since Universal is also a film studio, they do not have as many rides as other theme parks. But that does not mean that these rides are any less incredible! We accomplished almost every ride in the park by heading to the park early and getting the heavy-hitting rides done before the long lines could start.
Next Stop: Channel Island National Park – Travel Time: about an hour (to Ventura Harbor where the ferry boat leaves for the Channel Islands). The ferry ride to the island takes about 1 hour
Channel Island National Park, California (2 days, 1 night)
A can’t miss National Park! This should be on everyone’s travel list. The park is made up of 5 channel islands, we visited Santa Cruz. You can go for a day or you can decide to stay in the campground.
Highlights: Sea kayaking tour, Snorkeling, Sunset @ Caverns Point, Hike to Potato Harbor, Point Loop Trail and Relax on the beach
Our favorite activity while on the island was doing a sea kayaking tour. This adventure did come at $298 for two people, which most of you will say is too expensive. But we believe it to be one of the best ways to see the island. You can get up close and personal to the island’s cliffs and even explore inside the caves.
If you do plan to visit the island, watch out for the foxes. They are cute little animals but they are not afraid of people and they will try to get inside your bags and tents to find your food. Therefore, it is super important to put your belongings in the food containers on your campsite when you stay overnight.
Don’t forget to catch a sunset at Caverns Point!
Next Stop: Big Sur, CA – Travel Time: 5 hours
Big Sur, California (1 day)
Highway 1 is one of the most scenic routes in the United States and is best for a road trip with its dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean. There are many pull-offs on the route that allows you to get out and admire the beauty of the California coastline.
Highlights: Elephant Seal Vista Point, Big Sur, McWay Falls @ Julia Pfeiffer State Park, Partington Cove Trail and Bixby Creek Bridge
Next Stop: Pinnacles National Park, CA – Travel Time: about 2 hours
Pinnacles National Park, California (1 day, 1 night)
The park is a result of a volcanic eruption. Pinnacles National Park is filled with beautiful rock formations that divide the park into the East and West districts which are connected by trails.
Highlights: Bear Gulch Cave Trail, Balconies Cliff Cave Trail, High Peaks to Balconies Cave loop
Since we did not spend that much time in this park and it was over 100 degrees (F), we decided to pick 1 trail to hike. On our arrival we stopped at the Visitor Center and spoke with a Park Ranger. After listening to the Park Ranger’s advice, we chose the Bear Gulch Cave Trail which was a 1.5-mile hike out and back.
Deciding what to do in National Parks can sometimes be overwhelming. Doing your research is a great idea, but we also found it extremely helpful to stop in at the Visitor Centers to get advice from the Park Rangers. They can provide you with a different insight on what you should see in the parks based on the recent weather, temperature, and closures.
Next Stop: San Francisco, CA – Travel Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (depending on traffic)
Week 5: Flying High, Going to Prison and Diving Under
San Francisco, CA – Napa Valley, CA – Lake Tahoe, CA – Yosemite National Park, CA
San Francisco, California (2 days, 1 night)
Home to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cool breezy weather, fog, and the famous Alcatraz Island!
Highlights: Twin Peaks, Lombardo Street, Cable Car ride, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Painted Ladies, Mission District Murals, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point, and Alcatraz Island
A not to miss activity while in San Francisco is touring Alcatraz Island!We chose to do the night tour to see the old high-security prison in daylight and darkness. All of the tours are self-guided audio tours, which allows you to explore Alcatraz at your own pace.
In the Area: Winchester Mystery House
If you are interested in doing something different, we would recommend stopping at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, located about an hour south of San Francisco. You learn all about how and why Sarah Winchester decided to build more than 160 rooms with some architectural oddities like trap doors, secret passages, and the famous door to nowhere in her house.
Next Stop: Napa Valley, CA – Travel Time: just over an hour
Napa Valley, California (1 ½ days, 1 night)
Take a stroll through California’s wine country. Explore your way through the area by stopping at the wineries for wine tasting, delicious food, and relaxing vibes.
Highlights: V. Sattui Winery, Oxbow Public Market, Hot Air Balloon ride, Napa Valley Wine Train and Wineries
We explored Napa Valley from above in a hot air balloon! After doing some tastings at the wineries, the next morning we got a bird’s eye view of the vineyards. We loved watching the sunrise over the mountains and shine light down on the vineyards. If you are not afraid of heights, this is a fun way to see Napa Valley!
Next Stop: Lake Tahoe, CA – Travel Time: 3 hours
Lake Tahoe, California (2 days, 1 night)
A large freshwater lake dividing California and Nevada. Lake Tahoe is split into North Lake Tahoe and South Tahoe.
Highlights: Emerald Bay State Park- Rubicon Trail, Overlook Trail, Inspiration Point, Vikingsholm Castle, D.L Bliss State Park- Balancing Rock Trail and Lester Beach
The lake has an adventure for everyone: relaxing on the beach, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, and hiking. It is known for the clear blue-green water surrounded by the beautiful mountain landscape.
Next Stop: Yosemite National Park, CA – Travel Time: 3 hours
Yosemite National Park, California (2 days, 1 night)
Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, granite cliffs, and valleys with beautiful meadows. It is one of the top-visited National Parks in the U.S.
Highlights: Tuolumne Meadows, Olmstead Point, Tenaya Lake, Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Tunnel View, Glacier Point (sunset), Vernal Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan
Every view and experience within the park was indescribable. Our hike up to Vernal Falls was difficult and crowded but one of our favorites! Once we finally reached the top we were in awe of the view.
If you don’t arrive early, parking can be very difficult to find. Once you have a spot, using the buses is the best way to get around if you plan on doing a bunch of things in one day!
Next Stop: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA – Travel Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Week 6: Feeling Like an Ant, Getting Low and Letting Loose
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, CA – Death Valley National Park, CA – Las Vegas, NV – Hoover Dam – Havasupai, AZ
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, California (1 day, 1 night)
Located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains and known for the giant sequoia trees. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park is the land of the giants! Walking through the parks can make you feel like a tiny ant next to these massive trees.
Highlights: General Grant Tree, General Sherman Tree, Congress Trail, Moro Rock Trail, Tunnel Log, Zumwalt Meadows and Crescent Meadow
One of the fun things to do in those National Parks is driving through a tree log. We debated back and forth for a while because we were not sure if we could make it through the tunnel log due to the height of our van before actually deciding to get in line to give it a try. However, when it was our turn the van made it through!
Next Stop: Death Valley National Park, CA – Travel Time: 5 hours
Death Valley National Park, California (1 day)
North America’s hottest and driest spot and home to the lowest point of this continent!
Highlights: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist Drive & Artist Palette, Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, Father Crowley Overlook and Ubehebe Crater
Traveling in summer can be a challenge with the heat. Therefore, you need to be prepared. Don’t spend too much time outside and always take water with you. As a result of the 115 degrees (F), most of our trip to Death Valley was spent driving from one spot to the next with limited time outside.
Next Stop: Las Vegas, NV – Travel Time: 2 hours
Las Vegas, Nevada (2 ½ days, 3 nights)
After spending so many days on the road, you will be ready to let loose and have some fun! Las Vegas is the best place to do it!
Highlights: High Roller, Stratosphere, Eiffel Tower Experience, Bellagio Fountains, NY, NY, Mirage Volcano, The Venetian Casino, and Grand Canal, Fremont Street, Blue Man Group, Helicopter Ride over the Strip, Pop Culture Walking Tour and Wicked Spoon Buffet
Of course, we all know the city is known for The Strip, 4.2 miles of hotels, spectacular casinos, and entertainment but there are other exciting areas not to miss.
We specifically loved to explore Fremont Street on a pop-culture tour which provided us with information about the old Las Vegas and how everything began in 1905. You have to come back to Fremont Street at night when everything is lightened up to experience their nightlife.
Just like Los Angeles, we decided to purchase the Go City card for Las Vegas. This pass helped us save a lot of money on many different attractions! We think it is worth checking out to see if this pass would work for you while visiting Vegas.
Next Stop: Hoover Dam – Travel Time: 45 minutes
Hoover Dam (½ day)
With it being such a short drive from Las Vegas, you can have a quick stopover to check it out!
Highlights: Mike O’Callaghan Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and Lake Mead Lake view Overlook
Next Stop: Havasupai, AZ – Travel Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Havasupai, Arizona (3 days, 3 nights)
Havasupai Indian Reservation is home to the Havasupai Native Americans. If you are interested in traveling here, you will need to do some careful planning. February 1st of each year is when you can make reservations for the entire year and usually within the first 2 hours all the reservations are gone.
Read more: Best Way to Plan a trip to Havasu Falls and 8 Things to Know Before you go to Havasu Falls
Highlights: Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, Navajo Falls, and Fifty Foot Falls
Next Stop: Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – Travel Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Week 7: The Largest Canyon, Surreal Landscapes and a Very Wet Hike
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, AZ – Wupatki National Monument, AZ – Horseshoe Bend, AZ – Antelope Canyon, AZ – Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, AZ – Zion National Park, UT – Bryce Canyon National Park, UT – Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, UT
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (2 days, 1 night)
You don’t want to miss a chance to see the largest canyon in the United States and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Highlights: Grand Canyon Village, Rim Trail, Mather Point, Desert View Drive, Grandview Point, Tusayan Museum & Ruins, Desert View Watchtower, Hopi Point and Yavapai Point
The Grand Canyon is comprised of the North Rim and the South Rim. It takes about 5 hours to drive from one to the other. The South Rim is open all year long, while the North Rim has a designated season because it is more secluded and harder to get to.
Every view of the canyon is more spectacular than the next. Make sure to catch a sunset over the canyon!
Next Stop: Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – Travel Time: 3 hours
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona (1 day)
Not sure what petrified wood is? Us either, until we visited Petrified Forest National Park and learned about how the wood became petrified.
Highlights: Giant Logs, Crystal Forest, Agate Bridge, Blue Mesa, Puerco Pueblo, Lacey Point, Newspaper Rock, and Painted Desert Rim Trail
It is very easy to drive around in your car and just checks out the viewpoints and attractions, but don’t forget to get out and take a quick walk around, you never know what you may see! We didn’t expect a lot of this National Park but were truly surprised by its beauty.
Don’t forget to watch the sunset at Lacey point! After that, you have to hurry a little to leave the park since it closes when the sun sets down.
Next Stop: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument & Wupatki National Monument, AZ – Travel Time: 2 hours
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument & Wupatki National Monument, Arizona (½ day)
Originally, we did not plan to stop at these monuments on our road trip across the United States. But while doing more research on the road, we came across these two monuments. Always be open to check out spontaneous discoveries because you never know what you could miss!
Highlights: A’a Trail, Lava Flow Trail, and Wupatki Pueblo
Next Stop: Horseshoe Bend, AZ – Travel Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona (½ day)
An incredible natural landscape! A few years ago, this natural wonder was free of charge but unfortunately there is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle now.
Highlights: Hike to the Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, and Wahweap Overlook: Lake Powell
We chose to enjoy the views later in the day when the sun was starting to set. When you take your time to pass by the crowds, you can find a couple of nice spots to enjoy the view of the bend in the Colorado River for yourself.
Next Stop: Antelope Canyon, AZ – Travel Time: 15 minutes
Antelope Canyon, Arizona (a few hours)
Ever wondered where “The Wave” screen saver from Microsoft was taken? ake a tour of Upper Antelope Canyon and you can see it for yourself. Then you will have the million-dollar photo right on your phone!
Highlights: Touring Upper Antelope Canyon
When you want to visit the Upper Antelope Canyon or the Lower Antelope Canyon, you always have to book a tour! We highly recommend booking your tickets months in advance and for the early hours of the day, you are visiting. The earlier you go, the more you will be able to explore the canyon with small crowds which allows for better photos! However, people do say if you want to see the famous light beams in the Upper Antelope Canyon, then you should go midday. But be prepared for crowds!
Next Stop: Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, AZ – Travel Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona (¾ day)
Highlights: Coyote Butte South
Originally, we wanted to explore the famous sandstone formation “The Wave” but unfortunately we were unlucky and didn’t win the lottery to purchase a permit. That is why we decided to try to win permits for Vermilion Cliffs. You can apply online and you have the choice to get a permit to three areas: Coyote Butte South, Aravaipa Canyon, or Paria Canyon. However, there is a limited number of permits that are given out to protect the landscape and wildlife.
Note that there is no visitor center or cell service around the National Monument and that you travel down a long dirt road to get to your destination. When you don’t have a 4 wheel drive, you also have to hike the last 2.5 miles just to get to the cliffs. This may be scary to some but the experience is amazing!
This adventure requires a little more research and planning but it is well worth your efforts!
Next Stop: Zion National Park, UT – Travel Time: 2 hours
Zion National Park, Utah (2 days, 1 night)
Utah’s first National Park and the fourth most visited National Park in the U.S. This is a must-see National Park and it ranks at the top of our list. You can’t miss an opportunity to hike up Angels Landing or trek through the Narrows!
Highlights: Angels Landing, Lower Emerald pools, The Narrows, Court of the Patriarchs and Weeping Rock
When you want to hike Angels Landing or The Narrows in the summertime, your day needs to start as soon as the park opens. Then you can avoid the crowds as much as possible and you get done with your hike before it gets too hot. You must use the park’s shuttle service to get around!
Next Stop: Bryce Canyon National Park, UT – Travel Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Read more: Ultimate Itinerary for Zion National Park for 2 Days
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (1 ½ days, 1 night)
This National Park is known for its crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spiraled shaped rock formations. Here you can find the largest concentration of hoodoos on Earth!
Highlights: 18-mile Scenic Drive, Inspiration Point, Bryce Amphitheater, Natural Bridge, Rainbow Point, Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop Trail and Mossy Cave Trail
Next Stop: Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, UT – Travel Time: 30 minutes plus 8 miles down a bumpy dirt road
Read more: Must See in Bryce Canyon National Park
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah (½ day)
This National Monument contains approximately 1 million acres of America’s public lands. It was one of the last places in the continental United States to be mapped due to its rugged landscape and remote location.
Highlights: Zebra Slot Canyon
Since this is on BLM lands, the entrance is free. However, you can get permits for overnight and backpacking.
To reach the canyons you have to take Hole in the Rock road. Depending on your vehicle this can take a while. The road is unpaved and extremely bumpy! We had to take it very slowly with our van because we were afraid to damage something.
Next Stop: Capitol Reef National Park, UT – Travel Time: 1 hour
Week 8: Free Spirits, Natural Arches and Bear Country
Capitol Reef National Park, UT – Monument Valley, AZ – Mesa Verde National Park, CO – Four Corners Monument – Arches National Park, UT – Canyonlands National Park, UT – Salt Lake City, UT – Grand Teton National Park, WY – Yellowstone National Park, UT
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah (½ day)
This National Park is filled with colored cliffs, hidden arches, large domes, deep canyons, and bridges. The park surrounds a long wrinkle in the Earth known as the Waterpocket Fold. Go discover this amazing geological feature!
Highlights: 10-mile scenic drive, Gifford House, Fremont Petroglyph, Hickman Bridge Trail, Cassidy Arch, and Cathedral Valley
Next Stop: Monument Valley, AZ – Travel Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Read more: Perfect 1 Day Itinerary to Capitol Reef National Park
Monument Valley, Arizona (½ day)
One of the most photographed places on Earth. On your trip here you can try and recreate your own Forrest Gump photo! However, have some patience because you won’t be the only one waiting on the road to capture this shot.
Highlights: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, 17 miles drive through the monuments
Check out The View Restaurant while visiting Monument Valley and try the Navajo Taco! Plus you can’t beat the view of the monuments from your dinner table.
Next Stop: Mesa Verde National Park, CO – Travel Time: 3 hours
Mesa Verde National Park, CO (1 day)
This place is known for the preserved cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people, especially the massive Cliff Palace. The park helps provide you with an image of the stories and lives of the people who once called this place their home.
Highlights: Spruce Tree House, Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Tour of the Cliff Dwellings, Mesa Loop Road, Square Tower House, and Fair View Sites
This is one of our favorite National Parks. We chose to do the one-hour Balcony House tour because it had a little more adventure to it than the other tours. You have to climb ladders and squeeze through tight spaces!
Next Stop: Four Corners Monument – Travel Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Four Corners Monument (about an hour stay)
It is the quadripoint where the states Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado meet. Four Corners is the only point in the United States that is shared by four states!
Highlights: The monument and take a moment to check out the vendors
Don’t forget to take a stroll around the monument to check out the vendors. Here you can find beautifully handcrafted Native American gifts and listen to the vendors tell the stories of their work!
Next Stop: Arches National Park, UT – Travel Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Arches National Park, Utah (1 day)
Arches is best known for the natural sandstone arches. Take your time to marvel at the sight of these amazing natural features that have been created through natural rock fractures from water and wind.
Highlights: Park Avenue Viewpoint, La Sal Mountain Viewpoint, Delicate Arch Trail, Fiery Furnace Viewpoint, Landscape Arch Trail, Double Arch Trail, Balanced Rock, Window Section, and Double O Arch
Get out of your car, hike around, climb an arch, and sit back and gaze at the beauty of the arches. Don’t forget your camera to capture some breathtaking moments.
Next Stop: Canyonlands National Park, UT – Travel Time: 30 minutes
Read more: Visit Arches National Park in 1 Day
Canyonlands National Park (1 day)
Canyons formed by the Colorado River make up Canyonlands National Park. As a result, the rivers have divided the park into four distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves.
Highlights: Mesa Arch Trail, Upheaval Dome, Buck Canyon Overlook and Grand View Point Overlook
Next Stop: Salt Lake City, UT – Travel Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Read more: The Best of Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park
Salt Lake City, Utah (1 day)
The capital of Utah. Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountain Range surround this city. Take a minute to admire the views of the mountain range!
Highlights: Utah Olympic Park, Temple Square, and Red Butte Garden
Unfortunately, we did not spend that much time exploring Salt Lake City. Instead, we used our visit to Salt Lake as a relaxing one. We took a break from doing the touristy things in the city and went shopping at the Outlets at Traverse Mountain. If you are more interested in the city, you should add more time to your United States road trip!
On our trip to the Havasupai Indian Reservation we met a family from Salt Lake and they recommended this fast-food restaurant, Cafe Rio, which is based in Salt Lake City but can also be found in other states. Since we love Mexican food, we thought we should give Cafe Rio a try for lunch and didn’t regret it.
Next Stop: Grand Teton National Park, WY – Travel Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (1 day)
Grand Teton National Park encompasses the Teton Mountain Range, home to an array of wildlife, and a remarkable landscape.
Highlights: Taggart Lake, String Lake, Jenny Lake Overlook, Gros Ventre Road, Antelope Flats Road Loop, Mormon Row, Elk Ranch Flats, Schwabacher’s Landing, Leigh Lake, and Oxbow Bend
When you plan on visiting Yellowstone National Park, check out Grand Teton National Park for at least a day. This would be a great place to even add an extra day to your United States road trip itinerary to explore Jackson Hole, admire more of the Tetons, or search for wildlife!
In the Area: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Next Stop: Yellowstone National Park, WY – Travel Time: 40 minutes
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (2 days)
The world’s first National Park. The park has many different features to explore: from hot springs, geysers, and valleys to see wildlife. Therefore, make sure to stay for a couple of days. The park is also huge, so plan some time to travel to the sights you want to see.
Highlights: West Thumb Geyser Basin, Upper Geyser Basin, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring & Overlook, Gibbon Falls & Artists Paintpots, Norris Geyser Basin: Steamboat Geyser, Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces, Lamar Valley, Tower Falls, North Rim Drive, South Rim Drive: Uncle Tom’s & Artist Points and Mud Volcano
Yellowstone is a must-see spot on your road trip across the United States!
Next Stop: Devils Tower National Monument, WY – Travel Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
Week 9: The National Anthem, Fossils, and Crime
Devils Tower National Monument, WY – Mount Rushmore, SD – Badlands National Park, SD – Amana Colonies, IA – Chicago, IL – Indiana Dunes State Park, IN – Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH
Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming (about an hour)
America’s very first National Monument. A geological feature that rises out of the prairie surrounded by the Black Hills. This is a sacred place for the Northern Plains Indian and indigenous people.
Highlights: Hike the loop around the monument
Don’t miss the prairie dog community! Just park in one of the paved pullouts and watch them from a distance.
Next Stop: Mount Rushmore, SD – Travel Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota (2 hours)
The famous sculpture of the Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt can be seen carved into Mount Rushmore.
Highlights: Nature Trail, President Trail, and Illumination Ceremony
Gutzon Borglum, the artist of Mount Rushmore, unfortunately, died 7 months before the sculpture was completed. However, his son, Lincoln was able to finish the project to completion. The project started in 1927 and finished in 1941.
Unfortunately, during our visit there was a lot of construction going on around the monument. We arrived about an hour before the Illumination Ceremony, which takes place every night. During the ceremony they light up Mount Rushmore, play the national anthem and an audio clip, as well as honor the veterans.
We highly recommend taking part in this ceremony!
Next Stop: Badlands National Park, SD – Travel Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Badlands National Park, South Dakota (1 day)
The landscape of Badlands was shaped by water and the visible stripes in the rock formations are the layers of different sediments left there by the rivers and seas. Therefore, the area is well known for a large number of fossil remains.
Highlights: Badlands loop road: stop at the many overlooks, Fossil Exhibit @ Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Notch Trail, Door Trail, Yellow Mounds and Window Trail
In the Area: Wind Cave National Park (45 minutes from Mount Rushmore and 1 hour 15 minutes from Badlands National Park)
Originally, we wanted to stop at Wind Cave National Park to do a cave tour on our United States road trip. However, due to technical difficulties with the elevator which brings you into the cave, the park was closed on the day we wanted to visit! But we will be back another day to explore this National Park.
Next Stop: Amana Colonies, IA – Travel Time: 9 hours 20 minutes
Amana Colonies, Iowa (3 hours)
Another German stop!
These German colonies are divided up into 7 different colonies: Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana, Middle Amana, and Homestead.
Highlights: Walk around the colonies and check out the local restaurants and shops
We decided to make a quick stopover here to see what the area was all about because of German history. We walked around for a little and checked out some of the local stores. This is not a typical place to stop on your road trip across the United States but it has a some great German charm.
Next Stop: Chicago, IL – Travel Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
Chicago, Illinois (2 days, 2 nights)
The city of bold architecture, wind, deep-dish pizza, and gangsters. Chicago sits on Lake Michigan and is the third-largest city in the United States. As a result, you want to go there to see all its amazing features on your own!
Highlights: Chicago Theater Tour, Shedd’s Aquarium, Chicago Bean, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Architecture Cruise Tour, Chicago Crime Tour, Connie’s Pizza and the Original Pizzeria Uno
Chicago was not on our original road trip across the United States itinerary either, but since we had to skip some other places and it was on the way anyways, we added it to our trip.
Just like in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, we purchased the Go City Card for Chicago as well. It helped us save a lot of money on different attractions as well as introduced us to activities we didn’t think about doing before!
Next Stop: Indiana Dunes State Park, IN – Travel Time: 50 minutes
Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana (½ day)
Indiana Dunes State Park is filled with beaches, dunes, marshes, swamps, forests, and white pine groves. We were interested in the beaches and relaxing by the water before our road trip came to an end.
Highlights: Hiking, Beach
The beach was extremely windy and at points it felt like we were in a sand storm. We tried to ignore it but after a while, sand whipping to the face was not that relaxing even with the beautiful view we had.
Next Stop: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH – Travel Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio (½ day)
Cuyahoga Valley National Park lies along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland. It was first established as a National Recreation Area and then later named a National Park.
Highlights: Brandywine Falls and Ledges Trail
This park is a great place for a peaceful hike through nature. It may not be as exhilarating in its landscape as other National Parks but each park has its beauty if you take the time to see it.
Last Stop: Hudson Valley, NY (home) – Travel Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Read more: How to Create a Road Trip Packing List
Make Traveling Fit into Your Lifestyle!
We know not everyone has the time and the money to take a road trip across the United States for 9 weeks. That is a perk of being a teacher and working in schools! But don’t let that stop you! If you have 1 week or 2 weeks or maybe even more, use this information, and create a road trip itinerary for the United States that works for you!
This looks like an awesome adventure. My and my girlfriend want to go to New Orleans and other places in the US. She has been but I haven’t to any, so very excited for her to show me around New Orleans. Thank you for sharing your experience.
We had such a great time traveling around the U.S. There are so many great places to see! New Orleans is on the top of our favorite cities list for the U.S. Definitely make sure you get there!
Wow this is such a cool road trip. I’m from the US and haven’t been to a lot of these places. I’m from Ohio (Cincinnati), so I appreciate you all stopping in Ohio! Also Mammoth in Kentucky is an amazing place to visit! This is a great post for someone wanting to plan a US road trip but who doesn’t know where to start.
Thank you! Planning a road trip in the US can be a little overwhelming. You can easily travel for a whole year without seeing all of the beautiful places. Unfortunately we didn’t do a lot in Ohio yet but we went to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park which was super pretty. We are always up for more Ohio inspiration…
Wow this road trip looks amazing! We are hoping to do a USA road trip in the next year or so, definitely bookmarking this so we can follow your guide! If you only have 6 weeks, what would you cut out?
Thank you! It is difficult to tell what we would cut out. It depends on the time of the year you want to travel, your interests and where you are located. If you would like to get more information, we would be more than happy to send you more details. You will love your road trip in the USA, it’s so beautiful!
These spots are all amazing! I loved exploring the USA this summer. There are still so many spots I want to visit in this country. Definitely keeping this post handy. 🙂
Yes! The USA has endless possibilities. We planned on traveling overseas this summer but had to stay in the USA due to the pandemic, so we explored a lot of new beautiful places in this country too.
Unreal! I absolutely love a good road trip… The US has always been one of those places I wanna do a proper road trip but just haven’t done so yet. Really love how you’ve broken it down into weeks so I can bite size trips 🙂 Thanks for sharing… the problem now is so many places to visit, not enough time!
Thank you! We love road trips too! Unfortunately not everyone has 9 weeks to do a road trip and the USA is massive. But depending on your interests, you can start with a smaller trip and always come back. 🙂 Before I moved to the US, I would have never expected that there are so many beautiful and diverse landscapes over here.
So incredible!! I stopped at many of the same places on my road trip from CA to NC, but we stayed more in the Southern states. I loved seeing everything! I can’t wait to stop at the places on the second half of your trip – Wyoming, etc. It seems like it was so much fun.
Unfortunately we missed out on some of the southern states and the north/northwest so far but we will be back on the road next summer. Wyoming is absolutely stunning! This year we traveled to Colorado and loved it too!
That was an epic road trip! I loved seeing all the nature and hiking stops. Totally agree that you need to plan well in advance to see Havasu Falls, but it’s so worth it if you ever get the opportunity. Fantastic post!
Thank you! Havasu Falls was one of our absolute highlights. It is unreal that a landscape like that can exist in the middle of the USA. We would love to go back one day!
I love this post so very much. I have been living in the US for 14 years now, and I travel a lot overseas, but with the travel restrictions, I have been doing more road trips. This guide is so inspiring and there are some places here that I really want to visit, saving it for my road trip in the US.
Thank you! We’re so glad that we could inspire you! Due to the travel restrictions we did some more road trips in the USA this summer too. And there is still so much more to explore in this country!
Such an awesome road trip itinerary! Love this post. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! There are so many road trip adventures in the USA that we will be busy for some more years. 😉
Such an epic road trip! I am definitely going to consider hitting a bunch of these places, so thanks for the inspiration!
All of the places were beautiful, so you can’t go wrong. 😉 Enjoy them!
A USA road trip is one of my dreams. There are so many places to see you could literally spend months traveling there (or longer). This is such a great guide and so many sites I want to check out. Now I just the borders to open and a long vacation
Yes, you can spend a year or even more exploring the USA. There are so many stunning places we didn’t see so far. Hopefully the borders will open soon and you will be able to fulfill one of your dreams! 🙂
Oh wow! That was quite a whirlwind trip! You got to visit some amazing places. I’m impressed that you went to Havasupai Canyon. It’s probably one of the most beautiful and hard to get to spots in the U.S. Thanks for all the great info!
The permits for the Havasu Falls were tricky to get and you have to plan ahead but it was absolutely worth the effort. That place is unreal! We didn’t see anything comparable in the US so far.
Wow this looks like an epic road trip! Can’t wait to do something similar.
It was definitely epic and a once in a lifetime adventure! Hopefully you will be able to do a road trip in the USA soon!
Love this road trip and hope you share your future trips. I plan on doing a similar trip in a couple years . I’m 75 and it will be just me and my small dog as copilot. Will probably get a camper van for this trip. I live on the west coast of Florida and will not be flying. Any suggestions for where to hop on this trip snd do it all with out having to backtrack?