US Road Trips

The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway winding through sandstone in Zion National Park

Routes · Drive times · Best stops

US Road Trips

Scenic drives and multi-day road trip itineraries through Utah’s national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, and the mountains of the East Coast.

Some of the best travel days happen between the big sights. The canyon you didn’t expect at mile 40, the overlook you nearly drove past, the small-town diner that becomes the story of the trip. That’s why we plan road trips as carefully as the parks themselves.

Every road trip guide below gives you the route, realistic drive times, the stops that are actually worth pulling over for, and a day-by-day plan you can follow or adapt. Pick a region to start.

Utah

Utah National Park Road Trips

Red-rock canyons, hoodoos and empty desert highways. Southern Utah’s parks sit close enough together to link into one unforgettable loop.

Highway heading from Las Vegas toward Zion National Park

Drive guide

Las Vegas to Zion

Route, drive time and the best stops on the way

Zion-Mount Carmel Highway on the drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon

Road trip

Zion to Bryce Canyon

Tunnels, scenic stops, RV rules and a one-day plan

Hollow Mountain store in Hanksville, Utah, a classic road trip stop

2–3 days

Hanksville Road Trip

Goblin Valley, Capitol Reef and the badlands

Short on time? Capitol Reef from Hanksville and Goblin Valley from Hanksville both make easy day drives, and our Zion itinerary and Bryce Canyon itinerary show how to spend your time once you arrive.

Wyoming

Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trips

Two of America’s most famous parks share a border, which makes them one of the easiest pairings for a week on the road.

Jackson Lake and the Teton Range on a Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip

5 or 7 days

Yellowstone & Grand Teton

Day-by-day route linking both parks

Scenic drive through Grand Teton National Park

1–4 days

Grand Teton Itinerary

Scenic drives, lakes and the best viewpoints

Mormon Row barn in Grand Teton National Park

Park guide

Things to Do in Grand Teton

Scenic stops to add along the way

East Coast

East Coast Scenic Drives

Mountain parkways, valley loops and fall color in the Blue Ridge and the Smokies.

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

Virginia

Shenandoah & Skyline Drive

The best hikes to pair with the drive

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina

North Carolina

Asheville & the Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Parkway stops and town highlights

Cades Cove Loop Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains

Cades Cove loop, waterfalls and wildlife

Road Trip Planning Tips

  • Drive less than you think. Map times assume no stops. Add at least an hour for every two or three hours of driving so you can actually enjoy the viewpoints.
  • Pick the right season. Desert parks are best in spring and fall, while mountain roads in Wyoming can close with snow outside summer. Check our best time to visit guides before you book.
  • Book your beds first. Lodging near popular parks fills up months ahead. Our where to stay guides show which towns make the best bases.
  • Fuel up early. In rural Utah and Wyoming, gas stations can be far apart. Top up whenever you pass one and the tank is below half.
  • Download maps offline. Phone signal drops out in many canyons and national parks.

Looking for a full plan rather than just the drive? Browse all of our day-by-day itineraries or explore national park guides.