The national parks stretching along the spine of the country, from Canada to Mexico, along the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau, offer some of the most magnificent vistas on the North American continent, and there’s no better way to see them than on a fantastic US national parks road trip. We know you can’t see them all in one trip, but we’ve curated an itinerary for you to follow that hits many of the high notes.

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.

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Table of Contents

1. Glacier National Park

You will start your U.S. road trip through the national parks of the continental divide at Glacier National Park – the “Crown of the Continent.” Glacier is a stunning Rocky Mountain jewel on Montana’s Canadian border.

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Straddling the continental divide, Glacier is home to some of the most picturesque scenery in the lower 48 states.
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Thanks to its elevation and latitude, snow and ice, are present in Glacier all year long during most years - as the park’s name implies.

This leads to striking panoramas of glacial lakes and scenic snowmelt waterfalls during warmer weather.
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
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Many of the continent’s most charismatic species of megafauna call the park home. Big horn sheep and mountain goats are most commonly seen by visitors, but keep your eyes open for black and grizzly bears, both of which are denizens of Glacier.

Hiking in Glacier is incredible. The Continental Divide Trail transects the park, and the miles and miles of front country and backcountry trails lead hikers to little hidden gems, like waterfalls and viewpoints, you can’t see from the park's roads.

2. Yellowstone National Park

From Glacier, you’ll travel the width of Montana and head toward Yellowstone National Park. Established in 1872, Yellowstone was not only the first national park in the United States, it was the first park of its kind in the world.

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Yellowstone is an extremely large park and has several entrances, such as this one at Sylvan Pass, to help accommodate its millions of annual visitors.

Note: After the historic flood event of 2022, portions of the northern part of the park may be inaccessible.
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They come for the sheer majesty of the park and its stunning scenery, like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its magnificent falls.
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It's the parks geothermal features, though - more than anywhere else in the world - that won its initial protection. Now visitors flock to see its geysers, like Old Faithful, and thermal pools, such as the Grand Prismatic Spring.

Wildlife watching in Yellowstone is unparalleled. In fact it may be - along with neighboring Grand Teton - the best place in the country to see large mammals ranging from moose, elk, and bison to grizzly bears.

3. Grand Teton National Park

Leaving Yellowstone from its south entrance, you’ll drive down the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway and enter the basin and range topography of Grand Teton National Park.

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The landscape is dominated by the peaks of the park's namesake mountain range.
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Many of Yellowstone's iconic animals migrate between the two parks, earning the greater ecosystem the nickname of "The American Serengeti."
Moose in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
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In addition to its multitudes of majestic fauna, folks flock to Grand Teton for hiking, mountaineering, boating, fishing, and - as it's adjacent to the world-famous Jackson Hole - skiing.

4. Rocky Mountain National Park

From Grand Teton, you’ll head eastward across Wyoming, then dip south into Colorado toward Rocky Mountain National Park.

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With its close proximity to the Denver metropolitan area, Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited national parks in the system. As such, the park occasionally requires reservations. Be sure to check the National Park Service website for more information on the timed entry permit system and to make reservations before you go.
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Rocky Mountain is, as you've likely surmised, dominated by mountains - many of which are 12,000 feet and higher. In the alpine section, of the park, you're treated to sweeping views across tundra-like meadows to the peaks.
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In springtime, Rocky Mountain explodes with wildflowers, as well as young elk and moose, which frequent the park's valleys and lowlands.

Hiking, camping, fishing, and climbing are all popular activities within the park - which is stunning in just about every season.

5. Great Basin National Park

After zigging over to Rocky Mountain, your national parks road trip will zag you back across Colorado and Utah to Great Basin National Park, which sits along the Utah border in Nevada.

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Given its remote desert location, Great Basin National Park is a perfect dark skies destination. With little light pollution and clear skies much of the year, astronomy buffs will marvel at the firmament.
Bristlecone Pine in Great Basin National Park, Nevada
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Great Basin is home to a grove of ancient bristlecone pines, which are among the oldest living organisms on Earth. Some trees can be 3,000 to 4,000 years old.

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Inside the well decorated Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park, Nevada.
National Forest Development Road 448, NF-448, Nevada 89311, USA
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Along with hiking, climbing, and stargazing, ranger-led tours of Lehman Caves are also a popular activity for visitors to Great Basin.

6. Zion National Park

Your next stop is stunning Zion National Park, which is located south of the Great Basin, in the southwestern corner of Utah.

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Zion is another of the most popular parks in the system. It receives millions of visitors each year, but the space for them is constrained by the park's unique topography. Spring and fall are the best times to visit. There is currently no reservation or timed entry system to visit, but parking is limited, so it's best to arrive early in the morning and to take advantage of the park's shuttles that run the length of the scenic drive through the canyon.
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Zion National Park protects an incredible canyon carved over eons by the north fork of the Virgin River as it winds its way across the Colorado Plateau.

The canyon is at its widest near the visitor center, and as you follow the river upstream it decreases in width until you reach the end of the trail at the park's famous "Narrows."
Zion National Park, UT, Springdale, UT, USA
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Hiking, climbing, horseback riding, and backcountry camping are some of the most popular activities in the park.

Many of the park's most popular hikes, like Angel's Landing and portions of the Narrows, require permits and are subject to special regulations. Visit the National Park Service website for more information or to learn how to obtain permits.

7. Grand Canyon National Park

From Zion, you’ll make your way to the magnificent Grand Canyon National Park.

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Although the North Rim is technically closer to Zion, most of the park's amenities and most famous points of interest are along the South Rim.
The Bright Angel Trail is one of the most scenic walks in the world.
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Sunsets at the Grand Canyon are incredible and are a perfect time for a walk along one of the rim trails.

The park is an excellent destination for hikers, who will find plenty of picturesque trails. Bright Angel Trail, for example, is a heart-wrenchingly gorgeous hike - and a lung and leg buster on the way back up. Be sure to bring lots of water, and, if you intend to camp below the canyon's rim, you'll need to get a backcountry permit.
Colorful sunset overlooking the Colorado River deep in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
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Although it's clearly dominated by a single, unmissable feature, there's much to see, do, and explore at Grand Canyon National Park. So be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to give this most-amazing natural wonder its due.

8. White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park, in southern New Mexico, is the next stop on your US national parks road trip.

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White Sands is one of the newest national parks in the system, but it’s by no means a rookie. White Sands was designated a national monument in 1933, but it did not become a national park until more than 80 years later in 2019.

The park's historic visitor center was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and today, it's where you'll learn about the park's unique topography.
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White Sands was established to protect a portion of the rolling white gypsum dunes of the Tularosa Basin.
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At 275 square miles, the area comprises the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The park protects approximately 115 square miles of the dune field.

Today, visitors enjoy hiking, camping, stargazing, and even sledding down the dunes. (A concessionaire in the park rents the sleds, so you don't have to worry about bringing your own.)

9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The next stop on your road trip, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, is just a few hours away, on the other side of the Guadalupe Mountains.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Sign
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Established as a national park in 1930, Carlsbad Caverns has been attracting tourists for more than a century, and native peoples used the area for thousands of years prior.
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The park protects more than 46,000 acres of rugged North Chihuahuan Desert landscape, including more than 100 caves carved into the rocks by naturally occurring sulfuric acid and water.
Alien. Surreal. Mesmerizing. Fantastic. All of these adjectives, and many more, have been used to describe the caverns beneath the Chihuahuan desert near Carlsbad, New Mexico. I have travelled extensively (above ground I might add), but never have I seen anything remotely resembling the scenery that these caves have to offer. A step into the caverns is a step into another world.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, NM, USA
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The park's massive cave system is home to the third-largest (known) cave chamber on the continent. Visitors can explore the caverns on a self-guided tour or join a ranger-led tour to learn more about the geology and history of the cave system. In addition to the caverns, the park also features a range of hiking trails and picnic areas, as well as backcountry camping.

10. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in far west Texas and only about half an hour south of Carlsbad Caverns – and, sadly, it’s the final destination on this fantastic national parks road trip.

Scenic Guadalupe Mountains stretch from Texas to New Mexico, in the United States. Entrance to the National Park on road 62/180.
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Established in 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects more than 86,000 acres of unique West Texas landscape.
Texas Highway 62 leading to El Capitan with Guadalupe Mountain in the background
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The Guadalupe Mountains rise more than 3,000 above the surrounding desert. El Capitan, a 1,000-foot limestone cliff is the most striking natural feature in the park, which is also home to the four highest points in the Lone Star State.

The park is a haven for nature lovers, hikers, and adventure seekers, offering visitors the opportunity to explore unique geological formations, rare wildlife, and beautiful vistas. McKittrick Canyon, for example, which is known for its vibrant fall colors. It's considered one of the best places in Texas for fall leaf peeping. The canyon - and the park, in general - is also home to a variety of plant and animal species that are unique to the area, thanks to its singular landscape.
Sunset from summit of Guadalupe Peak, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Dell City, TX 79847, USA
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One of the park's most popular hikes is Guadalupe Peak, which, at 8,749 feet, is the highest point in Texas. Hiking to its summit is a challenge that's rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and desert. The hike will take you through a variety of ecosystems, including desert terrain and alpine forests. Hikers may catch a glimpse of elusive wildlife, like the peregrine falcon or the Mexican spotted owl along the trail.

Before going on your road trip to US National Parks get all of your National Park questions answered in this video from OnlyInYourState:

We think this US road trip itinerary highlights the best of our national parks along the continental divide, as well as some of the most spectacular natural places on the planet. And we certainly hope you agree. If you need help packing for your national parks road trip, check out OnlyInYourState’s packing list here.

How many of these parks have you visited? Are there any on this itinerary that you would swap out?

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

More to Explore

More Epic US Road Trips

Chris Muras | April 10, 2024

What are some iconic road trips in the US?
Topping our best National Parks is a hard task, but there are so many beautiful and amazing natural wonders to explore in the US. Here are a few iconic road trips in the US that we think you'll love just as much as we do:

  • Route 66: You can't get much more iconic than traveling Route 66. This Midwest to the West Coast drive was created in 1926. It was one of the first paved highways of its kind and has taken on a legendary status. At 2,448 miles long there is plenty of time to not only discover small-town wonders, scenic overlooks, and many interesting people, but perhaps a new layer of your own soul.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway: One of our favorite fall drives is this incredible stretch of highway between North Carolina and Virginia. Follow the spine of the Great Smoky Mountains in this gorgeous drive that will take your breath and hide it in an antique box filled with gold. Driving along this 469-mile road in the clouds will change your life - unless, of course, you aren't a fan of epic views and jaw-dropping fall colors.
  • Lake Superior Drive: Head to the gem of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan for beautiful views of Lake Superior. Tackling the whole drive will set you on a 1,300-mile adventure, but any part of this iconic drive is pretty special. This drive is for you if you love hiking, scenic overlooks, and iconic stops like the Split Rock Lighthouse or the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. We may not have any ocean-front property here in the Midwest, but Lake Superior sure makes it feel like we do.

Just thinking about these iconic road trips gets us excited to fuel up the RV and head out to explore the wonderful world around us. If you feel the same, pick up a few travel companions, rent an RV from RVShare, and see where the day takes you.

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