Pack up your clothes, the kids, and your sense of adventure because it’s time for some of our favorite USA budget road trips! There are so many wonderful places to explore across this beautiful country of ours and doing it by car is noted by many as the preferred method of travel.  So whether you have a hankering to explore national parks, foodie cities, historic sites, or anything in between, this budget sojourn promises a wealth of truly bucket-list-worthy destinations.

Want to discover more USA road trips? You’ll love OnlyInYourState’s newest series, On The Road, which explores magnificent routes across America catered to nature lovers, foodies, budget travelers, adventurers, and more.

Encompassing 1,621 miles, this road trip will take about 27 hours. However, we know you’re not going to do it all in one fell swoop!
Google Map
This adventure is meant to be savored, one delicious destination at a time. We’ve created a road map to get you on your way.

1. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, North Dakota

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, 564 County Rd 37, Stanton, ND 58571, USA
Jasperdo/Flickr
First up on this Ultimate USA Budget Road Trip is the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. Located in North Dakota, the site shares the history of the Knife River Indian Villages that many Native American tribes once called home. Established over 500 years ago, they served as important trade hubs and, according to history, explorers Lewis and Clark met Sakakawea here.

2. Mount Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751, USA
Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Next, we’re headed south for about five hours and 45 minutes through 350 picturesque miles to the famous Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota. Located in Keystone, Mount Rushmore National Monument was built by a father and son team between 1927 and 1941. A hidden gem here is a 75-foot-long, 35-foot-tall chamber nestled behind President Lincoln's head.

3. Toadstool Geological Park, Nebraska

Toadstool Geological Park and Campground, Harrison, NE 69346, USA
stockphoto52/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Traveling a little further south for 105 miles, in about two hours just over the Nebraska border, you’ll reach Toadstool Geological Park. Today’s Toadstool Geological Park was formed when volcanic ash blanketed the area some 30 million years ago. As erosion took place, it left these bizarre rock formations that look like...well... toadstools!

Related Stories

This Foodie Road Trip Takes You To The 10 Best Food Cities Across The Eastern United States

This Foodie Road Trip Takes You To The 10 Best Food Cities Across The Eastern United States

 This Beach Town Road Trip Along America's West Coast Is The Ultimate Adventure

This Beach Town Road Trip Along America's West Coast Is The Ultimate Adventure

 This Iconic Road Trip Through The Eastern U.S. Features The Best Windshield Views In The Country

This Iconic Road Trip Through The Eastern U.S. Features The Best Windshield Views In The Country

4. Winnewissa Falls at Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota

Winnewissa Falls, Sweet Township, MN 56164, USA
PBouman / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Backtracking just a bit on this USA road trip, past Mount Rushmore again to Rapid City and then east, our next stop is at Winnewissa Falls. The drive is 7.5 hours, covering 486 miles. You’ll find the Winnewissa Falls at Pipestone National Monument. The falls and the landscape of this 282-acre park are simply stunning, and the trails are peppered with incredible pink quartzite stones that catch the light—particularly at sunrise and sunset.

5. Granddad Bluff, Wisconsin

Granddad Bluff, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
Jim Bauer / Flickr
Moving right along this budget road trip adventure, we now come to Granddad Bluff. The four-hour and 45-minute, 300-mile drive will take you just over the eastern border of Minnesota into La Crosse, Wisconsin. You’re in for dramatic panoramic vistas at the 600-foot-high Granddad Bluff! From here you can enjoy sweeping views of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, as well as La Crosse.

6. Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa

Maquoketa Caves State Park, 9688 Caves Rd, Maquoketa, IA 52060, USA
scgerding/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Only another three hours and 148 miles and you’ll arrive at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa. Scenic trails, dramatic beauty, and fascinating caves await you at Maquoketa Caves State Park. There are 16 caves in all across this 111-acre park—some connected by boardwalks and ramps, others standing alone in all their glory.

7. Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, IL 61348, USA
Todd Ryburn Photography/Moment via Getty Images
Crossing over into Illinois after another two-hour, 138-mile drive we come to Starved Rock State Park. Reputation precedes us at Starved Rock State Park which was once named the best in Illinois for its spectacular, natural features. Encompassing 2,630 acres, the park is chock full of trails, waterfalls, and 18 sandstone canyons.

8. Kankakee Sands, Indiana

Kankakee Sands - Bison Viewing, S 400 W, Morocco, IN 47963, USA
Dean Ricciardi/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
And last, but certainly not least, on this ultimate USA budget road trip is Kankakee River State Park. Situated about two hours and 101 miles away, just over the Indiana border, Kankakee Sands spans 4,000 acres and is a recreational playground for camping, fishing, equestrian, boating, and hiking enthusiasts.

Didn’t you just love these budget road trips in the US? Have you ever been to any of these fantastic places? If so, which were your favorites? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section. One of our favorite ways to travel in style is by renting an RV from RVShare because you don’t need to spend a fortune on your own.

If you’re still in the mood for more road trip adventures, take a look at this video about the Gunflint Trail & Scenic Byway in Minnesota:

To help you make sure you have everything you need, check out this Ultimate Road Trip Packing List.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Budget Road Trips

Chris Muras | April 09, 2024

What are some affordable road trips in the US?
A road trip doesn't have to be an expensive ordeal. There are plenty of beautiful and interesting places across the US you can get to within a relatively short drive from your current location. Here are a few affordable road trips in the US to give you some ideas for your next getaway:

  • A waterfall road trip: Just about every state has at least one waterfall. Some states are blessed with quite a few. Even if you are living in a waterfall-starved state, we bet there are some amazing trips you can take within a few hundred miles. One of our favorite waterfall road trips is in Oregon.
  • State parks road trip: Some of our favorite places on Earth are our beautiful state parks. Each state has them, so you are only a quick trip away from pure natural bliss. Take this Lake Superior road trip in Michigan for an epic state park tour.
  • Unique restaurant road trip: If you want a fun and easy road trip near you, try looking up some interesting restaurants in your state. We like to find a cute coffee shop or bakery in the morning, a cool lunch spot around noon, an interesting dinnertime restaurant, and a scenic sunset spot for drinks or dessert. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in Hawaii, we think you'll love this restaurant road trip along the coast of Maui.
  • Charming small-town road trip: Every state has its hidden gem small towns -  Minnesota, for example. If you are looking for a fun budget road trip that can be tailored to your interests try a small town getaway. Love cute shops, unique restaurants, natural wonders, historic tours, and brew pubs? Any interest you can imagine can be found in our small towns all across America. And the best part is that small-town attractions are often more affordable than those in our big cities.

Related Articles