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National Parks of America

About this tour.

Experience the grandeur of the American West as you explore five fantastic national parks on this exciting journey. In Arizona, contemplate the vast beauty of the Grand Canyon, and in Yellowstone, relish iconic sights like Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake. Marvel at the magnitude and color of Zion’s cliffs and the hoodoos and spires at Bryce Canyon. Enjoy 2-night stays in Springdale, Utah (Zion) and Jackson Hole. Drive through the incredible Bighorn Mountains and the great Sioux Nations Territory before seeing Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument. Meet a local Lakota Native American at dinner and learn about their fascinating way of life, past and present. Gain new appreciation of the great outdoors on this journey that takes you from the Grand Canyon to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and everywhere in between.

Your Tour Includes

• 9 Handpicked Accommodations
• 2 Choice on Tour Options

Included Highlights

• Grand Canyon
• Lake Powell

Your Tour at a Glance

10 Breakfasts

2 - Moderate

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Optional Excursions

Starting at $110.00

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Extension Style

Travel styles, highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

Spend a night at the spectacular Grand Canyon.

Visit Yellowstone National Park, home to the famous Old Faithful Geyser.

• See one of the country's most famous landmarks, Mount Rushmore.

Cultural Experiences:

Explore the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a tribute to Buffalo Bill Cody.

Meet Native Americans and discuss their unique and colorful culture.

Culinary Inclusions:

Experience a chuck wagon dinner* and cowboy entertainment.

• Bryce Canyon
• Salt Lake City
• Jackson Hole
• Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks
• Old Faithful
• Bighorn Mountains
• Crazy Horse Memorial
• Mount Rushmore

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• Tour Extensions

Hotel-Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale

If your interests stretch beyond the beauty of downtown Jackson Hole, we have a special treat for you! Swing your own paddle for a thrilling ride through the white waters of the Snake River. An experienced guide conducts the trip, and you provide the paddle power. This unforgettable addition to your vacation is an experience you will talk about for many years to come.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Snake River on a gentle float trip. Your guide will paddle while pointing out interesting sights along the way. The trip is a great way to see the beauty of the river and the geology that forms the Snake River. The river is home to a variety of waterfowl and native animals including moose, deer and river otters. It is also the nesting area of our nation’s symbol, the bald eagle, as well as ospreys. You will enjoy an included picnic lunch.

See one of the country's most famous landmarks, Mount Rushmore.

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale From $90 per night

Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale

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Two Itineraries for Taking in the National Parks of the American West

By Frommer's Staff

Even though distances seem vast in the western United States, it's possible to visit more than one of the region's national parks in a single trip. In fact, people often combine visits to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Yosemite and Sequoia, and Zion and Bryce Canyon.

You can knit the parks of the California desert (Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Mojave Preserve) into a nice itinerary that might even leave you time to stop off in the resort town of Palm Springs. A popular trip for families is a drive through Badlands National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota, all the way through Devils Tower to Yellowstone. It's not a small stretch, but it's doable if you have more than a week.

Although it can be a lot of fun to combine several national parks in your vacation trip, try not to make the all too common mistake of attempting to see everything there is to see in too short a period of time. Be realistic about how much you want to see at each park, and create an itinerary that lets you thoroughly enjoy one or two aspects of a park rather than just glimpsing every corner as you speed by. And try to schedule a little relaxation time, especially for trips of more than a week -- perhaps loafing in the campground one afternoon, or lounging by the motel swimming pool.

Following are two of our favorite national park tours.

This long circle drive hits five states and involves a lot of driving (or flying regional airlines and renting cars), but it takes you to a fantastic variety of parks -- desert, cave, mountain, and deep canyon, plus one of the world's most fascinating archaeological preserves. We begin and end in Phoenix, Arizona, where almost all major airlines serve the airport, and car and RV rentals are available. We've laid it out for just under 2 weeks, but allowing more time would make it more satisfying.

Day 1: Phoenix, Arizona

After arriving and picking up your rental car or RV, Phoenix is a good spot to stock up on supplies. The city is also famous for its golf resorts, so you may want to hit a few balls before heading south.

Day 2: Saguaro National Park

This is one of America's few national parks dedicated to protecting one specific plant -- the saguaro cactus. Here you will see forests of them. But you'll also see a variety of other plants and animals, such as javelinas -- odd pig-like animals that have mouths so tough they can bite through prickly pear cactus pads. The park has two good scenic drives as well as numerous trails through the Sonoran Desert, including the Valley View Overlook Trail, which provides a close-up view of the desert, and the Signal Hill Petroglyph Trail, where you'll get a good look at some ancient petroglyphs.

Day 3-5: Carlsbad Caverns & Guadalupe Mountains National Parks

One of the largest and most spectacular cave systems in the world, Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico has practically countless cave formations, ranging from the fantastic to the grotesque. Be sure to take the Big Room Self-Guided Tour and the King's Palace Guided Tour. For a genuine caving experience, get your clothes dirty on the Slaughter Canyon guided tour. Just over the state line in Texas, Guadalupe Mountains is a rugged wilderness of tall Douglas firs, offering panoramic vistas and the highest peak in Texas. Recommended for experienced hikers is the trek to the top of Guadalupe Peak. Everyone can enjoy the colors in McKittrick Canyon -- either the trees in fall or the wildflowers in spring.

Day 6: Santa Fe, New Mexico

It's a long drive from Carlsbad Caverns to Mesa Verde National Park, so we recommend breaking it up with an overnight stop in Santa Fe, famous for its art, history, and picturesque adobe buildings. For information, see Frommer's New Mexico.

Day 7-9: Mesa Verde National Park

The largest archaeological preserve in the United States, Mesa Verde contains intriguing, well-preserved cliff dwellings, plus mesa-top pueblos, pit houses, and kivas, built by the ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) people hundreds of years ago. Recommended stops here are Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in the Southwest, and Balcony House.

Day 10: Petrified Forest National Park

Especially colorful after a rainstorm has washed away the dust, this national park is a fascinating look at an unreal world of wood turned to stone. Take the 28-mile scenic drive, stopping at the pullouts and walking some of the short trails. We especially recommend the Giant Logs Trail, where you'll see some of the park's largest petrified logs, and Blue Mesa Trail, one of the prettiest and most otherworldly hikes in the park. At Newspaper Rock, early inhabitants pecked dozens of petroglyphs into the dark stone, including an image of the famous humpbacked flute player, Kokopelli.

Day 11-12: Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim

The Grand Canyon truly is grand, and no matter how many photos you've seen, being there in person is an awe-inspiring experience. After stopping at the information center for a quick geology lesson, take the shuttle to some of the South Rim viewpoints, and perhaps walk the Rim Trail a bit. Then, if you're physically able, walk down Bright Angel Trail at least a little way, watching the vegetation and rock layers change as you descend. Unless you are in very good condition, however, it is probably best to not go beyond the One-and-a-Half-Mile House, which has restrooms and drinking water, before heading back up to the rim.

Day 13: Back to Phoenix

Back in Phoenix, you can practice your golf swing or visit some of the city's excellent museums before catching your plane for home.

Southern Utah has five delightful national parks and several national monuments, the North Rim of the spectacular Grand Canyon is just over the border in Arizona, and perched along the state line is an awe-inspiring Navajo Nation park. Together they form a somewhat circuitous loop. This jaunt begins and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is accessible by almost all major airlines and has car and RV rentals. You can complete this tour in 2 weeks, but it is much more satisfying in 3 weeks, as described here.

Day 1: Las Vegas, Nevada

Fly in, pick up your rental car or RV, lay in some supplies, and maybe try the slot machines for a half-hour or so. Then hit the road and head northeast into the mountains of southern Utah.

Days 2-4: Zion National Park

Famous for its mammoth natural stone sculptures and unbelievably narrow slot canyon, this park begs to be explored on foot. Hop on the shuttle bus that runs the length of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, getting off to take trails. We especially recommend the easy Riverside Walk, which follows the Virgin River through a narrow canyon past hanging gardens, as well as the Emerald Pools Trail. Especially pleasant on hot days, this walk through a forest of oak, maple, fir, and cottonwood trees leads to a waterfall, a hanging garden, and a shimmering pool.

Days 5-6: Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon receives far fewer visitors than the South Rim, but that doesn't mean it's any less spectacular. The North Rim (which is open in summer only) provides views of and access to the same overpowering canyon as the South Rim does, just from the other side. You'll want to stop at the Grand Canyon Lodge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and then hike a few of the Rim Trails. If you're in good enough physical shape, you might want to hike partway down into the canyon on the North Kaibab Trail.

Days 7-8: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Although not a national park, this Navajo Tribal Park is well worth a stop (and it's on your way). Monument Valley is, to many of us, the epitome of the Old West -- we've seen it dozens of times in movies and on television. Part of the vast Navajo Nation, the park has a 17-mile self-guided loop road that lets you see most of the major scenic attractions, or you can get a personalized tour with a Navajo guide. Either way you'll see classic western scenery made famous in movies such as 1939's Stagecoach, which starred a young John Wayne.

Days 9-12: Arches & Canyonlands National Parks

Famed for its massive red and orange rock formations, this area is home to two national parks and the lively town of Moab. Canyonlands National Park is a great hikers' park. Make sure you stop at the Grand View Point Overlook, in the Island in the Sky District, and hike the Grand View Trail, especially scenic in the late afternoon. Arches National Park is a bit more user-friendly. Take the scenic drive and walk a few trails -- on the Devils Garden Trail, you can see 15 to 20 arches, including picturesque Landscape Arch.

Days 13-14: Capitol Reef National Park

Relatively unknown, this park offers brilliantly colored rock formations and a bit of history. The Fremont River created a lush oasis in this otherwise barren land, and 19th-century pioneers found the soil so fertile that they established the community of Fruita, named for the orchards they planted. Today you can explore the buildings and even pick fruit in season. Hikers can examine Pioneer Register, a rock wall where traveling pioneers "signed in," and explore canyons where famed outlaw Butch Cassidy is said to have hidden out between train and bank robberies.

Days 15-18: Scenic Utah 12 & Bryce Canyon National Park

From Capitol Reef, go south on Utah 12 over Boulder Mountain and through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, possibly stopping for a short hike to Calf Creek Falls, before heading to Bryce Canyon National Park. Spend the night in the park or nearby so you can be on the rim of Bryce Amphitheater at sunrise, the best time to see the colorful and often whimsically shaped rock formations called hoodoos. Top hikes here include the colorful Queen's Garden Trail, named for a formation that resembles Britain's Queen Victoria.

Days 19-20: Cedar Breaks National Monument

This small, high-altitude park has an amphitheater reminiscent of Bryce Canyon's as well as a 5-mile road that offers easy access to the monument's scenic overlooks and trailheads. Hike Spectra Point Trail along the rim for changing views of the colorful rock formations. The trail also takes you through fields of wildflowers, which are especially colorful in late July and August, and past bristlecone pines that are more than 1,500 years old.

Day 21: Back to Las Vegas

Back in Sin City, you can catch a stage show or feed the one-armed bandits before boarding your flight home.

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Western United States

Welcome to the region of evergreen giants, painted deserts, and pink-hued stone citadels. Our Western USA tours immerse you in lands woven with legend and lore, cowboy culture, and steaming National Parks.

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Welcome to the West

Here legends larger-than-life loom over landscapes sculpted in sand. Rivers tunnel through time leaving cavernous canyons in their wake. Geysers steam like clockwork precision and rocks balance, arch and bridge in whimsical formations. Go west with Tauck and you'll find evergreen giants, painted deserts, pink-hued stone citadels as you ride with cowboys, hike with naturalists and raft with guides passionate about the places they roam. 

Yellowstone national park, seriously... there's no other place on earth like it – yellowstone national park.

There's everything else, and then there's Yellowstone; it's truly like no other place on Earth. Why? Because it sits atop the largest "supervolcano" on the North American continent – one of the hottest spots on the planet. It's called the Yellowstone Caldera, and it lurks beneath the surface, giving rise to Yellowstone National Park's host of gushing geysers, steaming fumaroles, hot springs, mud pot and more – nothing less than the largest concentration of geothermal features on Earth, spectacular in winter or summer. In an amazing setting such as this, pretty much anything you do – from a wildlife safari in the summer, to a snowcoach ride in the winter… or hike, climb, horseback ride, ski, snowshoe, watch a sunrise or a sunset – is something you'll never forget.

Yosemite National Park

Through a lens, brightly and darkly – yosemite national park.

What a young Ansel Adams saw through his lens as he trekked into the California wilderness more than 100 years ago – as John Muir did a half-century before him – has inspired countless visitors to explore its chiseled landscapes. Celestial bodies trump electricity. Running water falls from rocks. Residents are furred, finned or feathered. And skyscrapers with names like Half Dome and El Capitan are nature-made. Adams iconic photographs need no words or explanation. Even in black and white, they capture what he felt about places now immortalized for future generations.

Grand Teton National Park

Big sky, big mountains, big picture... grand teton national park.

Out here in the Great American West, everything is "big." For starters, Wyoming comprises part of "Big Sky Country"... where the heavens ranging above the region's vast grasslands, winding rivers and jagged mountain peaks do indeed appear to stretch on forever and ever. Then there are the mountains themselves – in this case the Tetons, crowned by Grand Teton (that's the "big" one that gives the national park its name; other peaks in the range include Middle Teton, South Teton, Mount Owen and Teewinot) – seemingly bursting right up out of the floor of the glacial valley we call Jackson Hole, to loom majestically over everything below.

Grand Canyon National Park

Coming to grips with the impossible... at grand canyon national park.

Surely you have stumbled upon some other planet... or at least it feels that way at Grand Canyon National Park. Your first glimpse of the enormous Grand Canyon strains credulity. What giants have been playing with the rock here? Or what cataclysmic force of the universe? Then the drama starts. Clouds, shadows, and the shifting sun keep transforming the landscape. As the sun flames in the west, canyon walls turn red while the giants paint the sky, creating masterpieces so beautiful they freeze you in your tracks. The Grand Canyon sprawls wide open, carved out by the Colorado River, revealing two billion years of Earth's history; here is where air meets land, where you meet what feels like destiny, with just the white-tailed Kaibab squirrel, only found here, as witness.

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Treasures of the American West

Our passion for and experience in the national parks of the West goes back generations; we pioneered air-land tours to the Western parks in the 1960s and haven't looked back since. In Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton and more, we stay at coveted inside-the-park lodges, know the best places to visit and explore, and the best ways to share our passion with you.

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The Ultimate Western National Parks Road Trip

Western national parks like Yellowstone, Zion, and Joshua Tree are among our most iconic, but it’s the journeys road-tripping in between them that provide the greatest opportunities for adventure. From Montana to Southern California, here’s how to make the most of this itinerary and avoid the crowds.

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From Yellowstone in Montana to Joshua Tree in Southern California, this road trip tags seven national parks, covers 1,270 miles, and offers epic adventures all along the way. We’ve come up with a fun-packed plan that includes hiking, mountain biking, paddling, and stargazing detours—but not in the places you might think. Because our national parks get so crowded come summer, this itinerary celebrates all the spectacular terrain in between the parks, the places to see as you’re road-tripping from one to another.

Do the whole drive, or pick off one portion of it and save the rest for another time.

Route: Big Sky, Montana, to Jackson, Wyoming

Park: yellowstone.

Yellowstone is best known for its valley-level sights—roaming wildlife and hydrothermal features—but the park’s mountains, which rise to 11,000 feet, are just as astounding. Many of the tallest lack established trails to the top, but 10,574-foot Avalanche Peak, on the quieter eastern border, is an exception. A 2.1-mile trail affords views of the Absaroka Range, Yellowstone Lake, and even the Grand Teton. You will likely have those views to yourself, but you’ll have to work for them, as the route ascends more than 2,000 feet. Need to know: You can climb Avalanche Peak without a permit.

Adventure: Teton Pass

Highway 22 connects the towns of Jackson and Victor, Idaho, and tops out at Teton Pass, where crews built a world-class mountain-bike trail system that traverses the roadway into Bridger-Teton National Forest. It’s a 12-mile pedal from either town, or you can hire a shuttle, then connect Fuzzy Bunny, Powerline, and Parallel for a downhill route that promises tight, rocky singletrack, epic scenery, and too many jumps to count.

Stay: Montage Big Sky

The Spanish Peaks provide the backdrop for this new alpine lodge, which opened in December with 139 rooms and suites, a worthy addition to Big Sky Resort’s 5,850-acre property. In winter that means ski-in, ski-out access; in summer you get lift-assisted hiking and mountain biking. Bonus:  The resort is within striking distance of five blue-ribbon trout streams. From $1,399

Eat and Drink: The Riverhouse

The food at this homey joint in Gallatin, Montana, is exactly what you need after a big day in the mountains: authentic Texas barbecue, with a menu full of brisket, smoked sausage, and mac and cheese (which you can load with fried chicken, bacon, and broccoli, if you’re into that).

Detour: St. Anthony Sand Dunes

Dip into eastern Idaho to check out this otherworldly landscape: 10,600 acres of fine white quartz ridges, some of which are 400 feet high. Rent a dirt bike or an off-road vehicle in the town of St. Anthony to explore the site, most of it accessible from April to January.

Route: Jackson, Wyoming, to Moab, Utah

Park: grand teton.

This park is all about the skyline—dominated by 13,000-foot peaks—but there are also a hundred stunning bodies of water within its boundaries, ten of which are open for boating. Bring a fly rod and an inflatable paddleboard and hike 2.5 miles to Taggart and Bradley Lakes, a pair of small, glacier-fed ponds that offer some of the most incredible views of the Tetons. Need to know: A $17 permit lets you take a boat onto any of the park’s waters, and with a Wyoming fishing license you can keep up to six lake trout per day.

Adventure: Evo’s Campus in Salt Lake

Outfitter, hotel, climbing gym, bike shop, art gallery—the gear retailer’s new Salt Lake City complex is all these things, which makes it the perfect base for exploring the nearby outdoor scene. Stock up on road-trip supplies, get your bike tuned, send lines in the 26,000-square-foot climbing area, and wind down in one of 50 artsy rooms (from $175).

Stay: The Virginian Lodge

The motor lodge is back in all the best ways, and they’re on full display at this renovated sixties-era hotel. Most rooms surround a heated pool, but there are also eight-person bunk rooms and an RV resort. The property revived Billy’s Burgers, an old-school Jackson staple, and boasts its own saloon—so you can stumble in after a packed day and never leave. From $139

Eat and Drink: The Bistro

At this yummy spot in Jackson, located within the new Cloudveil Hotel facing the town square, you’ll find elevated French fare without the pretension. There’s a great raw bar, but save room for hearty entrées like the bison tenderloin with huckleberry sauce.

Detour: The Plunge

Moab has long been the epicenter of desert mountain biking, but the newly built Palisades Plunge is drawing riders some 120 miles east to shred 32 miles’ worth of epic technical singletrack. The route, reached by shuttle, begins at the edge of 10,700-foot Grand Mesa and unravels in an undulating ribbon interspersed with plenty of slickrock, hairpin switchbacks, and the occasional stretch of nerve-racking exposure, and ends in downtown Palisade, where breweries and dispensaries abound.

Route: Moab, Utah, to Bryce, Utah

Park: canyonlands.

Want to get deeper into this backcountry paradise and ditch the crowds? You’ll need a boat. The 52-mile Stillwater Canyon section of the Green River is mellow, breathtaking, and canoe-friendly. Plan for at least four days, during which you’ll be flanked by red sandstone cliffs and camp on sandy beaches or slickrock ledges, depending on the water level. Organize a jet-boat shuttle with Tex’s Waterways to bring you from the take-out at Spanish Bottom back to Moab (from $60). Need to know: Book a flatwater overnight permit ($36), sold on a first-come, first-served basis, at least two days in advance.

Park: Arches

This park has gotten so packed in recent years that it adopted timed entry to spread visitors out. You can help by heading to the northern section, home to the Tower Arch. To get to the 92-foot-long formation, drive the gravel Salt Valley Road, then hike the Tower Arch Trail (2.5 miles out and back). Along the way, admire views of the Klondike Cliffs, a collection of towers known as the Marching Men, and the smaller Parallel Arch, all seldom-seen treasures. Need to know: Reserve a time slot at least three months before your trip.

Adventure: Capitol Reef National Park

It would be silly to drive past Capitol Reef and not drop in. The park protects the bizarre Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the earth’s crust. Unless you’re toting technical climbing gear, focus on slot-canyon hikes like Sheets Gulch. This remote, nine-mile out-and-back trek winds through narrow Navajo sandstone walls before opening up at a wide wash surrounded by Douglas fir.

Stay: The Moab Resort

It’s hard to beat the location of this new property, which is only a few miles south of Arches National Park. But the digs are just as scenic: adobe buildings that blend in perfectly with the surrounding red-rock canyon. You have your choice of a standard hotel room or a three-bedroom condominium with a kitchen. From $368

Eat and Drink: 98 Center

The happy side effect of Moab becoming an adventure epicenter? The food just keeps getting better. Case in point: this hot spot of Vietnamese fusion serves inventive dishes like kimchi deviled eggs and banh mi nachos.

Detour: The Rocky Mountaineer

This luxury train company, which got its start running multiday routes in the Canadian Rockies, recently debuted its first U.S. itinerary: the Rockies to Red Rocks. The two-day journey, which connects Moab with Denver, has you overnighting in Glenwood Springs. You’ll take in dramatic panoramas of canyons that carve up the Continental Divide (some of which can only be seen from a train car or a boat) and enjoy three-course meals and sweeping views from glass-domed coach cars. From $1,375 for two people

Route: Bryce, Utah, to Joshua Tree, California

Park: bryce canyon.

Bryce is known for its high-desert landscape, with towering hoodoos that rise like exclamation points from the amphitheater-like canyon. The park is blessed with a relative abundance of water and a rain-catchment system, which yields an interior full of fir, spruce, and aspen forests. Backpack the 23-mile (one-way) Under the Rim Trail through surprisingly lush meadows, which burst into blue from columbine flowers in late summer. Need to know: Secure a $10 backcountry permit at the visitor center, camp in one of seven designated sites, and arrange a shuttle. There are springs along the trail, but check with the ranger station about water availability before you set out.

Stay: Under Canvas

Perched on 750 acres of high plains, the newest property from this glamping operator is just 15 minutes from the park and located at 7,600 feet of elevation (which means summer temperatures in the seventies and eighties). Each tent has a bathroom, a king-size bed, a wood-burning stove, and views of John’s Valley. From $329

Detour: Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

This underappreciated preserve on the Arizona-Utah border features Zion-quality slot canyons without the throngs. The site’s signature adventure—backpacking Paria Canyon—guarantees solitude: only 20 permits are granted each day. The 38-mile, nontechnical hike follows a riverbed deep into the canyon, delivering you to narrows where rock walls rise 200 feet. You’ll need a four-wheel-drive rig with high clearance to really explore.

This sandstone stunner is a road cyclist’s dream, starting with the main thoroughfare, Zion Scenic Drive, which is closed to all vehicles except shuttle buses. The real gem is Kolob Terrace Road, a remote two-lane blacktop that traverses the park’s western edge for 25 miles, gaining 5,000 feet of elevation. If you have a gravel bike, you can add on Smith Mesa Road, a hardpack dirt track that forms a 25-mile loop around Smith Mesa. Need to know: Reserve a spot on the park’s free shuttle to explore Zion Scenic Drive.

Adventure: Lake Mohave

You’ve been in the desert for a stretch, and you’re heading into more of it, so a dip in a lake is mandatory. While Lake Mead is the busy backyard pool of Las Vegas, the lesser-known Lake Mohave, farther down the Colorado River, is ideally suited to paddlers. Launch at Willow Beach and head upriver along the Black Canyon National Water Trail to look for quiet coves that reveal hot springs, waterfalls, and caves. If you can, plan your trip for a Sunday or Monday, when motorboats aren’t allowed in certain stretches.

Stay: Zion Spirit

This wilderness retreat, recently opened on 1,100 acres in the Clear Creek Mountains, is just a mile from Zion’s eastern border. It’s outfitted with 40 suites and small cabins, all of which focus on sustainability—think solar-paneled roofs shaped like leaves—and each cabin has a wellness studio and wraparound terrace. Other amenities include a restaurant, a pool, and an aquaponics greenhouse. From $3,000

Eat and Drink: River Rock Roasting Company

This café in the tiny town of La Verkin might have the best coffee and most enviable views in southern Utah. Seek out a spot on the patio—it overlooks a basalt canyon carved by the Virgin River—and enjoy a morning breakfast burrito, then come back at night for a pint and a kale and sausage pizza.

Park: Joshua Tree

There are plenty of remote stretches you can reach by foot in this nearly 800,000-acre park, but triple-digit temperatures in the summer make any big adventure foolish at best, deadly at worst. The solution? Go underground and check out a handful of small caves and rock shelters that few visitors know about. Most dramatic is a quarter-mile passageway called Chasm of Doom. Technical climbing gear isn’t required, but you’ll be scrambling into cathedral-like rooms and squeezing through narrow corridors, so come mentally prepared. Need to know: Even if you’re hanging out in a cave, heat is no joke. Bring lots of water and, for the dark, a headlamp.

Stay: The Bungalows

Embrace the desert landscape at these new digs on the 152-acre campus of the Joshua Tree Retreat Center , designed by the late architect Lloyd Wright (who was almost as accomplished as his dad, Frank). The 14 rooms are decked out in mid-century modern furnishings, and the grounds feature hiking trails, a pool, and enough wellness activities to satisfy your inner yogi. It’s all just three miles from Joshua Tree’s entrance and village. From $250

Eat and Drink: Sam’s Indian Food and Pizza

The gateway town of Joshua Tree buzzes with an eclectic dining and cocktail scene, thanks to its proximity to Los Angeles. A Sam’s, you can get authentic chicken tikka masala and a curry pizza. After dinner, head to the Restaurant at 29 Palms Inn, where you can drink prickly pear margaritas by the pool.

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Western US National Park Road Trips

Road trips to the best national parks in the west.

Stuart Thornton

Amy Balfour

• In this guide
• Rocky Mountain road trip
• Utah's national parks
• Grand Canyon loop
• California road trips
• Skyline & Blue Ridge Parkway
• Western North Carolina
• West Virginia To Shenandoah NP
• Great Smoky Mountains
• NC's Outer Banks
• White Mountains & Falls
• Coastal Maine's Route-1
• Fall foliage
• Lakes Michigan & Superior
• South Dakota
• Chicago to the Ozarks
• Renting an RV
• West coast national parks road trip

Grand Canyon to Rocky Mountains road trip

Western national parks driving loop.

Combining the awe-inspiring national parks of the Western USA into a single road trip makes for a true Americana adventure.

From the Grand Canyon to the Rocky Mountains, here are a few spectacular long-distance routes.

Larger than life in Yosemite National Park

West coast national park road trip route

Take in the magnificence of the western United States mountains, while also walking among some of the world’s biggest trees and get sprayed by a few of North America’s largest waterfalls on this route. This inland tour of the best mountainous parks in Washington, Oregon, and California includes crowd favourites Olympic National Park, Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park.

Approx. distance: 1,700 miles

Duration: 14 days

Suggested route: Seattle, Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Los Angeles.

Just three hours from the northwest city of Seattle – including a ferry ride – is Olympic National Park, which is home to glacier topped mountains, rainforests and a wild and rugged coastline.

Another three-hour drive takes visitors from Olympic National Park to the year-round splendour of Mount Rainier National Park. The route heads south of Puget Sound and its tributaries.

Getting from Mount Rainier National Park in Washington down to Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon is a more involved 6 ½-hour drive. Luckily, the route passes through both Portland and Eugene, where you can stop for a few hours or overnight.

From Crater Lake National Park to northern California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park is a four-hour drive. Detour to Lava Beds National Monument to explore one of the preserved area’s 800 caves.

During summer, take US 395 alongside the eastern portion of California from Lassen Volcanic National Park to Yosemite National Park. It takes 5 ½ hours and passes through Reno in the state of Nevada, which is a perfect place for a stop or an overnight stay.

Less than three hours from Yosemite are the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which is less busy than Yosemite but almost as beautiful. The adjacent parks are about four hours from both San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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What to see

Olympic National Park

With nearly a million acres, Olympic National Park offers a variety of experiences including hiking, soaking in hot springs (Sol Duc Hot Springs and Olympic Hot Springs), and sliding down a snowy peak at the Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area. Port Angeles is the biggest city on the Olympic Peninsula and a great place to plan your trip into the park.

Mount Rainier National Park

While its namesake 14,410-foot-high (4,392m) peak dominates the scenery, Mount Rainier National Park also has worthwhile hiking in the Tatoosh Range and waterfalls in the Carbon River area. In springtime, the park has a profusion of blooming wildflowers and rushing waterfalls.

Try a day hike along the 5.5 mile-long Skyline Trail, which butts up against Mount Rainier. Check out the views at Panorama Point. Alternatively, take alpine lakes, mountain peaks and stunning views on the Snow Lake Trail, which is a much easier 2.5-mile round trip.

Mount Rainier National Park is well-known for its many waterfalls, but perhaps the easiest one to see is the 176ft high Narada Falls. It’s a short hike from the car park of the same name to the bottom of the waterfall.

Sierra Nevada mountain range

Crater Lake National Park

Oregon’s dazzling blue Crater Lake, a remnant of a volcano, is worth spending some time staring at. To see the water up close, take one of the park’s many boat tours. Another option is to do the 33-mile long (53km) Rim Drive for views down into the lake from different vantage points. Roads are generally open in the Crater Lake National Park between July and October. If you come in winter, the park’s North Entrance Road is excellent for snowmobiling, while some trails become passable for cross-country skiing.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

A hotbed of geothermal activity, Lassen Volcanic National Park has mud pots, boiling pools and fumaroles (an opening near a volcano which releases gas). There’s boating, kayaking, and fishing in the park, but hiking through a lava tube at Lassen is one of the park’s singular experiences. Try the wincingly-named Bumpass Hell Trail – so named for Kendall Bumpass who fell into scalding water here – for views of boiling mudpots, turquoise pools and Brokeoff Volcano. Alternatively, try the 4.2 mile Devil’s Kitchen Trail for steaming streams and alpine lakes.

Lassen is one of the best places in California to go star-gazing. Park rangers lead astronomy tours during the summer, and the annual Dark Sky Festival, held in August, offers nightly stargazing tours and talks by professional astronomers.

Bubbling sulphur pool, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Yosemite National Park

The most popular national park in California, Yosemite includes the world-renowned Yosemite Valley, which is beneath notable granite peaks including Half Dome and El Capitan – famous among rock climbers for their stunning views and difficult climbs. Head to the 7,214ft Glacier Point for views over Yosemite Valley, or head inside the granite Geology Hut for vistas of Half Dome. Come at sunrise or sunset, when the giant granite peaks turn a rosy pink. There’s more than just towering peaks in Yosemite. Mariposa Grove showcases giant sequoia trees, while Yosemite Falls is North America’s highest waterfall at 2,425 feet (739 metres). It is possible to hike up to the upper fall’s crest, but be aware that the water’s spray can be very cold.

Such is the diversity of activities in Yosemite National Park, that you can do anything from fishing and gold panning to spas and shopping.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

The adjacent parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon are a fine place to take in the splendour of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the towering sequoia trees, and geologic formations like Moro Rock. Sequoia is where you can find legendary trees including the General Sherman Tree (allegedly the largest tree on earth) and the General Grant Tree.

Spring and summer bring wildflower blooms to both parks and bears are plentiful. This is a great stop for those looking for wilderness away from the busier Yosemite National Park.

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Best of the West

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Southwest Highlights

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Horseshoe Bend, Colorado River in the Grand Canyon

Experience the dizzying peaks and deep canyons of the American southwest on this route. The drive includes the alpine scenery of the Rocky Mountain National Park and the mile-deep Grand Canyon, as well as stops to visit the tallest sand dunes in the United States (Great Sand Dunes National Park) and North America's oldest archaeological site (Mesa Verde National Park).

Approx. distance: 1,400 miles

Duration: 10 days

Suggested route: Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Grand Canyon, Phoenix.

Start your journey in Denver, Colorado, before driving an hour and a half to Estes Park, at the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. After a couple of days hiking and marvelling at the Rocky Mountains, it is a five-hour drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Consider detouring into the pleasant city of Colorado Springs and visiting Garden of the Gods, where you can walk around fanciful sandstone rock formations.

It’s a four-hour drive across southern Colorado to reach Mesa Verde National park from Great Sand Dunes National Park. Just 40 minutes from the park, Durango is a pleasant city at 1,981 metres with a historic downtown.

The drive to the Grand Canyon from Mesa Verde takes four hours with much of it passing through the Navajo Nation. Fans of western movies should detour off US Route 160 onto US Route 163 at Kayenta, Arizona to make the 45-minute drive to Monument Valley, a butte-studded desert featured in many western movies.

From the Grand Canyon, it’s an hour and a half to Flagstaff, a pleasant college town, and a four-hour drive to Phoenix, where there is a major airport.

Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountains National Park

One of the highest national parks in the United States, the Rocky Mountain National Park includes the 14,258-foot-high Longs Peak (4,345 metres) and 300 miles of hiking trails. Much of the park can only be accessed during the summer months, with winter snows closing mountain roads. During peak season of mid-June to Labor Day, consider spending time in the less crowded western side of the park. In that area are opportunities to hike, picnic, and visit the Holzwarth Historic Site, a homestead from the early 1900s.

Be aware that altitude sickness can be an issue in the Rocky Mountains, even when driving. For example, Trail Ridge Road is more than 3,500m above sea level, so go slow, drink plenty of water and pay attention to the signs of altitude sickness, such as headaches and shortness of breath.

A couple of hiking trails to consider are an easy two-mile hike through Dream, Nymph and Emerald Lakes (extend to Lake Haiyaha for an alpine lake surrounded by boulders and ancient trees), or a waterfall hike to Alberta Falls near Glacier Gorge Junction. Before starting any hike, it's worth heading to the Park's visitor centre to get maps, find out about road and trail closures and to speak to rangers.

Be aware of wildlife while hiking on more remote trails. The Rocky Mountain National Park is home to elk, deer, mountain lions and bears, and you are likely to encounter wildlife on your trip. If you see a bear, stand still and stay calm, giving the bear the opportunity to leave. If it doesn't leave, make yourself look as big as possible and throw small rocks to try to scare it away. If the bear charges, the advice from the US National Park Service is to fight back.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

One of Colorado's lesser-visited parks, Great Sand Dunes National Park has 30 square miles of dunes including one that is 750 feet tall (228 metres). You can hike up the towering dunes (it is a five hour round trip to the summit), or even better, ride down them on a sleigh, even in the summer. Also, the park is a great place to take in the Milky Way stretching across the night sky, with the park open all day and night.

Mesa Verde National Park

The reason to visit Mesa Verde National Park is to see one of its ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. Ranger-guided tours of the unique structures including Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, are offered in the park.

The park also has hiking trails including the 7.8-mile round-trip (12.5km) Prater Ridge Trail and the 2.4-mile round-trip (3.8km) Petroglyph Point Trail that goes to a petroglyph (rock carving) panel.

Grand Canyon National Park

Once in Grand Canyon National Park, there’s much more to do than stare into the amazing chasm. The Rim Trail offers different views from the top of the canyon on a mostly paved path. Though it’s 13 miles long (21km), hikers can utilize the park’s shuttle bus system in place of doing the whole hike. The Bright Angel Trail (12 miles round-trip, 19km) is one of the US national park system’s best-known trails. It heads to the bottom of the canyon, a marvellous experience for those with plenty of water and stamina. It is recommended that hikers do just a portion of the hike down Bright Angel and back up to the rim as there are many rescues each year for underprepared hikers who overestimate their abilities.

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California's Death Valley National Park

California has more national parks (nine) than any other state in the US The Golden State is diverse, and its national parks reflect that diversity with national parkland that preserves offshore islands, starkly beautiful deserts, and temperate rainforests with redwood trees. This route is designed to hit all nine national parks in a loop around the state.

Approx. distance: 2,000 miles

Duration: 18 days

Suggested route: San Francisco, Redwood National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Pinnacles National Park, San Francisco.

Start in San Francisco and make the drive six hours north to Redwood National and State Parks. Make sure to detour off US 101 just north of Garberville for a drive along the Avenue of the Giants, a roadway amongst redwood forest along the Eel River. The North Coast towns of Arcata and Trinidad are worth a stop on your drive too. Arcata, 45 minutes south of Redwood National Park, is a great place to stock up on groceries, especially at Wildberries Marketplace.

The drive to Lassen Volcanic National Park from Redwood National Park heads east for four hours and passes through miles of national forest land. Stop in Redding, an hour out from Lassen, for supplies.

In the summer, it’s a 5 ½ -hour drive from Lassen Volcanic Park to Yosemite National Park. Stop in Reno, Nevada for some gambling or a night’s stay.

Three hours from Yosemite is Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The drive dips into California’s Central Valley and passes through the city of Fresno.

Driving from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to Death Valley National Park involves a 5 ½ -hour route around the southern end of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The route passes through Bakersfield, where country music fans should stop into Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

To reach California’s other desert park, Joshua Tree National Park, from Death Valley, it’s a four-hour drive through the Mojave Desert.

For a wildly different experience, drive four hours from Joshua Tree National Park to Ventura Harbor, where you can reserve a ride on a boat run by the concession Island Packers out to one of the Channel Island National Park’s five islands.

From Ventura Harbor, it’s a four-hour drive to Pinnacles National Park in the Salinas Valley. If possible, stop in the pleasant California coastal cities of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara for a meal or to view some worthwhile sites including the historic Santa Barbara Mission.

To close the loop, drive from Pinnacles National Park 2 ½ -hours to San Francisco.

Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks are home to the world’s tallest trees, which grow more than 350 feet tall. See them from the national park’s Lady Bird Johnson Trail or within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park on Cal-Barrel Road or the Cathedral Trees Trail. Head out of the redwoods for a hike in Prairie Creek State Park’s Fern Canyon for a different kind of hike: a walk through a gorge with fern-draped walls that was the backdrop for scenes in Jurassic Park 2 .

Once you’ve worked up a thirst, head to Lost Coast Brewery for drinks and dinner.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a wonderland of volcanic activity including bubbling pots and lava tubes. Hikers should attempt to hike up 10,457-foot high (3,187 meters) Lassen Peak. A different way to experience the park is to kayak or stand-up paddleboard around Manzanita Lake.

It’s well worth seeing the world-famous Yosemite Valley. Some of the valley’s best hikes include the 2.4 miles (3.9 km) hike up Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Fall or the mile hike up to Columbia Rock for superb valley views. Head to the park’s Hetch Hetchy region or Tuolumne Meadows off Tioga Road for more solitude.

For a self-guided tour, hire bicycles at Curry Village and take a two-mile ride to Mirror Lake, or hire them at Yosemite Valley Lodge for a more strenuous 5-mile ride to Half Dome Village.

As ever, the climbing hotspots of El Capitan and Half Dome offer stunning walls of granite, which are best viewed at sunset or sunrise.

Giant Redwood tree in Redwood State Park

Sequoia National Park has forests of giant sequoia trees including the world’s largest, the General Sherman Tree. In addition to hiking through giant sequoia trees, visitors can go horseback riding or rock climbing in the park.

Death Valley National Park

In Death Valley, you will be in the largest national park in the continental United States. Take a scenic drive along Badwater Road to Badwater Basin, located 282 feet below sea level, or take a tour of the Star Wars filming locations within the park.

For hiking, take on the moderate two-mile Golden Canyon trail, or for something longer, head to Dante’s View for lookouts across the Valley to Telescope Peak and Badwater Basin below.

Death Valley’s arid climate and range of elevations mean it is home to lots of different animals, including roadrunners, lizards, coyotes and even bobcats. Visitors in spring to Salt Creek can see the pupfish – the only landlocked fish in the United States.

Joshua Tree National Park

Named for a unique looking desert plant, Joshua Tree National Park offers hiking, birding, and horseback riding along with climbing, bouldering, highlining, and slacklining on its many rock formations. Take the short Indian Cove walking trail for the best views of the eponymous Joshua tree, or head to Keys View – the highest point in the park – for views across the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs and peaks as far as Mexico. Come at sunset for orange and red hues that spread out across the desert.

Be sure to visit the nearby Pioneertown, a hip community built around a 1940s movie set, or cut short your California National Park loop by heading to Los Angeles, a two and half hour drive west.

Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park

Channel Islands National Park

Whether you visit the tiny Channel Islands National Park’s Anacapa Island or Santa Cruz Island, you’ll experience a California coastal landscape devoid of development. Recreational opportunities abound from hiking to sea kayaking to snorkelling and scuba diving.

Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park was formed from the eroded sections of an old volcano. Its unique scenery includes rock spires and talus caves. One recommended hike from the park’s western entrance is the 4.3-mile Juniper Canyon Loop, which includes a section of trail with stairs cut into a ridge of rock. Look out for the endangered California condor flying overhead. The condor is the largest land bird in North America.

Best times for Western US road trips

Climate, seasons, and how to avoid the crowds.

The seasons greatly affect travel in the national parks of the western United States. During the summer months between May and September, temperatures in desert parks like Death Valley can soar to 110 degrees and higher. These months are also the busiest times for visitors to national parks like Yosemite National Park and Crater Lake National Park.

Meanwhile, winter snowfall in mountainous parks (Yosemite National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park) results in facility closures and limited access, particularly between November and March. Destinations including Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows and Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road are closed during this time of year.

January and February are ideal times to visit Death Valley National Park. Daytime temperatures in the park hover around 60 degrees (15.5 Celsius), while nighttime brings cool but not freezing temperatures around 40 degrees (4.5 Celsius). February is when the desert’s many wildflowers begin to bloom, painting the park with colour.

Nearby Joshua Tree National Park is prime for visiting in March due to that month’s mild temperatures and wildflower displays. It’s also the best time to go hiking or rock climbing on the park’s granite rock formations.

With snow on the peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains melting, April and May is when Yosemite’s famed waterfalls roar to life. Though the park’s higher elevation areas will still be closed, visitors are treated to Yosemite Falls and Vernal Falls at their grandest along with blooming wildflowers and smaller crowds.

Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the country and ranges from 7,680 feet (2,396 metres) to 14,259 feet (4,346 metres) in elevation. The park’s popular Trail Ridge Road, which gives visitors access to alpine tundra, is only open from June to September. Likewise, the summer months of July and August are the best times to visit Olympic National Park due to less rainfall in the region and the park offering more activities to the public.

September and October are prime visiting times for Grand Canyon National Park, when there’s both cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. The autumn months also offer a window to visit rugged Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California. Before the winter rains come, the islands are warm and dry.

November and December bring cooler temperatures out west and snow at high elevations. For the unique experience of ice skating in a national park, head to Yosemite to glide around on the Curry Village Ice Skating Rink. Or, wait until mid-December to enjoy skiing or tubing at Yosemite’s Badger Pass Ski Area.

Festivals and events

In the summer months, western US national parks have a full schedule of guided hikes, talks, campfire presentations and more. The offseason find the parks hosting more specialised annual festivals and events meant to draw people into the parks during less busy times.

Spanning six sessions in January, Chef’s Holidays brings world-renowned chefs to Yosemite National Park’s Majestic Yosemite Hotel for cooking demos and multi-course meals. In February, Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park puts on a Winterfest, where visitors can explore the park in moonlight while being warmed up by hot chocolate and hot cider.

At the height of summer, Grand Canyon National Park throws the Grand Canyon Star Party in June, one of the best times of the year to see the night sky in all of its glory. Throughout the park, volunteer astronomers set up telescopes to bring stars, planets, and more into focus for visitors.

Celebrate the old, wild west at the Death Valley 49ers Encampment and Western Music Festival at Death Valley National Park in early November. Expect music, scenic horseback rides, blacksmithing, and gold panning at Furnace Creek inside the park.

Step back in time for the holiday season at Yosemite National Park’s Bracebridge Dinner, which has been going on since 1928. The December festivities in The Majestic Yosemite Hotel are meant to evoke Christmas Day in England in 1718 with song and a seven-course feast.

The Best East Coast USA Road Trips

About the authors.

Stuart is a California-based travel writer and guidebook author. His books include Moon California Road Trip , Moon Coastal California and the forthcoming Moon Northern California Road Trips . For more about Stuart and his books, visit his website.

Amy has authored or co-authored 26 books on the USA for Lonely Planet. Her articles and essays have appeared in Backpacker, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Houston Chronicle, Redbook, Southern Living, Women’s Health, Vegetarian Times, the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post.

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Western National Parks Road Trip: U.S.A

Embark on an epic Western National Parks Road Trip across the USA! Visit iconic parks like Yosemite, Grand Canyon & more for breathtaking views & adventures.

Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A. -  The  United States  has  61 Epic National parks,   which are looked after by the National Park Service. From the Grand Canyon National Park, to Yosemite National Park, each is as diverse, unique & scenic as the last.

The largest U.S National park is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska which spans a massive 13.2 million acres! Whereas the smallest is Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, Pennsylvania, which is just 0.02 acres.

On the West Coast of the U.S.A, are some of the most epic National Parks which stretch from Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park in the south west, to Olympic National Park & Mt Rainer National Park in the north west.

An spectrum of wildlife can be discovered at the western national parks! Mount Rainier National Park (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)[/caption]

Each of these you could spend a lifetime adventuring through the vast wilderness, but to make things easier for you here at Town & Tourist we have put together an EPIC west Coast National Parks Road Trip!

This is a simple route with maps & directions, to follow along. The epic road trip will take you to the best national parks in the west, which can easily be completed in a single vacation!

Cost Saving  Tip:

If you plan on traveling to alot of National Parks then I suggest purchasing a "America the Beautiful Pass" which renews annual for $80. This pass will get you into every national parks and also into any federal lands which charge fees.

1. Arches National Park - Utah

Arches National Park is located just north of Moab in Utah. The park has over 2000 naturally formed standstone arches, in a variety of reddish hues.

Many draw resemblances in color of the Arches National Park to the surface of Mars! But you don't have to travel 54.6 million Km to see them as the park Borders with the Colorado river in the south.  This is an epic location for hiking, camping & star gazing.

As night falls while camping , hope out your tent & feast your eyes on this natural wonder. A prime spot for star gazers. (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)[/caption]

Highlights of Arches National Park:

Delicate arch:.

A real Monster Arch.

Double Arch:

Double Arch is a unique pair of giant arches in the park.

Landscape Arch:

This is the longest arch in Arches National Park and resembles a bridge.

(This is a pretty easy 0.9m hike great for the whole family. Although it's not easy to photograph due the many rocks surrounding)

Balanced Rock:

A seemingly gravity defying rock balancing high in the sky. This is a easy 0.3 mile walk into the area and around the base of the rock where you can achieve suitable views.

Devils Garden:

Devils Garden is a spiked wonder of rock fins which look as though they have risen from the ground. The area includes many hiking trails, an ampitheatre and even a campground.

(The Main Hike around is incredible but also challenging so be prepared to bring lots of water & snacks...it can take a good few hours)

Cost of Entry:

Arches and Canyonlands National Park charge $30 for a vehicle seven-day pass.

2. Zion National Park - Utah

In the 1860s, Mormon pioneers settled in area and named it Zion, a bible reference meaning the city of god! Located in south Utah, Zion National park is famed for it's steep red cliffs.

Highlights:

• Angels Landing - Steep hike with incredible views.
• The Narrows - The Narrowest Section of Zion Canyon.
• Emerald Pools Trail - Which has cascading waterfalls & hanging gardens.

Tobias Alt | Wikimedia Commons

Best time to visit Zion National Park?

For more moderate weather head to Zion National Park during the Spring and fall. Popular months include, April, May, September & October which offer warm sunny weather with average temperatures between 60-90'F.

Can you drive through Zion National Park?

Yes! Drive through the Zion Mount Carmel highway which is open to tourists between (March- Octobers end). The drive takes just under 1 hour and is a bucket list experience.

Zion  and  Bryce Canyon National Parks  both charge $35 for a 7 day pass with a vehicle. If you just take a drive from Capitol Reef National Park is $15.

How long should I spend at Zion National Park?

At Town & Tourist, we suggest you allow between 4-7 days if you are a avid hiker, as the challenging hikes will definitely keep you busy!

Epic One Day Itinerary:

If you have just one day, then I suggest either a tour or this Epic itinerary.

• Wake up early & Start with Sunrise at Canyon Overlook
• Park up at the Visitor Center and take the shuttle into the Zion Canyon for an early morning hike.
• Have a lunch in the nearby town of Springdale
• Drive up to the Kolob Canyon for a afternoon hike
• Then watch the sunset before stargazing

Head to Bryce Canyon Before?

There is just 50 miles between Zion National park & Bryce Canyon. However, if you drive on the US-89 route it ends up being approximately 120 miles! This takes around 3.5hours , many say Bryce offers more scenic views, so I suggest heading here first then taking a drive through Zion National Park.

3. Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona

With over 6.38 million visitors in 2018, Grand Canyon National Park is the MOST popular National Park in the U.S.A. Of course, the this amazing popularity can make the experience of visiting the grand canyon a little less authentic so here are a few tips.

Visit the North Rim.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is much less crowded/touristic and the views are incredible! However, access can be difficult no matter which direction you are coming from & its only open for part of the year.

Opening Months - May 15th - October 15th.

(North Rim roads are closed to vehicles between December 1st and May 15th, and no visitor services are available. )  NPS

Highlights of the North Rim:

• Popular Hiking Trails - North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail & Bright Angel Trails.
• Camping at the North Rim Campground. Permits required.

If you really fancy exploring the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, I suggest doing it in a more unique way check out:

Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Grand Canyon? 5 Golden reasons to try it!

[caption id="attachment_2378" align="alignnone" width="900"]

Balloon Rides, Photo by: Jennifer C, Helena, MT) (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)[/caption]

4. Death Valley National Park - California

Death Valley had the highest temperature ever recorded in North America of 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius), which occurred in 1913 at Greenland Ranch. Thus the  best time to visit Death Valley National Park is between  mid-October and mid-May, which will ensure you won't get cooked alive!

Death Valley National Park, is also home to the lowest elevation in North America at Badwater Basin (-282 feet).

Brocken Inaglory | Wikimedia Commons[/caption]

• Badwater Basin
• Zabriskie Viewpoint

(Composed of sediments of Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up 5 million years ago)

• Mesquite Sand Dunes
• Devils Golf Course - Large salt pan spanning the floor of Death Valley.

5. Sequoia National Park - California

Driving towards the west coast now we arrive at Sequoia National Park, next to Kings Canyon National park in Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sequoia National Park is home to the domineering & towering Sequoia Trees and by volume it's  LARGEST single Stem tree on earth, nicknamed General Sherman!

General Sherman is definitely a must see, for any visit to Sequoia National Park, at a height of 84m and weight of 1.9 million kg!

Sequoia National Park  - California redwoods. Source: Shutterstock (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)[/caption]

You should also check out, Crystal Cave one of 240 known caves in Sequoia National Park it features many eye catching rock formations and underground streams!

Fun Fact:   Crystal Cave is around 50 degrees inside no matter what the temperature is outside!

• Mount Whitney -  (Highest Peak in California)
• Giant Forest
• General Sherman
• Crystal Cave
• Kings Canyon National Park  - Popular for daytime hikes.

Best time to visit Sequoia National Park?

The best time to visit Sequoia National Park is  between June and August . This is when the weather is most stable.

However, the park is open 24/7 all year round but it can be challenging during the winter season when snow can cause less minute re routes. During this season it's recommend you use snow chains/tires and check  weather updates  before visiting.

6. Yosemite National Park - California

Yosemite National Park is a real west coast highlight, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it is best known for it's massive sequoia trees and the granite cliffs of El Captain & half dome! Head up to the famed cliffs and you will find an incredible glacier valley with majestic waterfalls.

This is a great place for some challenging hikes, adrenaline pumping rock climbs and treks through the backcountry!

We love Yosemite National Park, here at TownandTourist!! The beast of the USA! (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)[/caption]

Fun Fact:  Lyell is the tallest peak in the Park (and all of Tuolumne County) at over at 13,100 feet.

Does Yosemite have Mountain Lions??

Mountain lions otherwise known as  cougars, pumas or panthers, roam Yosemite's mountains and valleys. There is also between 300-500 black bears, Mule deers and Bighorn Sheep which can be dangerous.  According to National Park Service, injuries/attacks by black bears Attacks are rare.

Driving through Yosemite National Park?

To drive through Yosemite National Park it will take around 5 to 6 hours if you drive at a relaxed pace and stop a couple of times. If you wish to head to Glacier Point that will take another hour.  The most popular scenic  drive  is along the  Tioga Road , a 39-mile (62 km)  drive  from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass.

Is Yosemite National Park Dangerous?

Yosemite can be a dangerous place, even in ideal conditions. From accidents & falls to animal encounters. In terms of driving a group of teenage hikers were driving from Yosemite to Marin County when their car came off the road & crashed...killing one of them! So be careful.

Yosemite-National-Park offers some great spots for camping but also some dangerous drops, so be careful on your adventure!  (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)[/caption]

Best time to visit Yosemite National Park?

The  best  time to  visit Yosemite  are between May and September. This is  when the  park  is accessible but not overly crowded.  In the winter many roads and trails in Yosemite due to snow.

How long should I visit Yosemite for?

Yosemite can be explored in one day check out our itinerary.

One Day Yosemite Itinerary:

• Glacier Point.
• Mariposa Grove.
• Tunnel View.
• Yosemite  Valley.
• Yosemite  Falls.
• Mirror Lake.

(This are must see highlights which you can stop off at as you drive through the park).  A weekend is ideal Yosemite and three days is perfect to see all the sights.

How much does it cost to enter Yosemite National Park?

A Yosemite National park pass costs $30/vehicle, which is valid for 7 days.  If you plan on visiting regularly you can purchase a $60 Yosemite pass for unlimited visits in 12 months.

7.  Lassen Volcanic National Park - California

Lassen Volcanic National Park is the dark horse of americas western National Parks, despite it's unique landscape and interesting history!

Highlights include, hydrothermal sites such as Bumpass Hell which offers acres of geothermal bubbling pools, steaming streams, lava tubes and Sulphur Springs!  src

The summit at Lassen Peak is a 10,457 foot high active volcano. It last erupted in 1917 and was the largest ever volcanic eruption in North America up until 1980 when Mount St Helens erupted!

Bumpass Hel | Wikimedia Commons

On the hikes up to the peak, you will walk through many animal habitats and have a chance to catch glimpses of the over 300 species of wildlife which live in the area.  From Black bears, to mule deer, woodpeckers, finches, bats and golden squirrels!

At the peak you will find epic panoramic views of the area, the perfect place for some wildlife watching.

Some draw comparisons in the volcanic activity here to Yellowstone national Park. However, I actually believe Lassen National park offers a greater Geothermal experience.

All the features are relatively densely packed compared to Yellowstone and can be easily accessed from paved roads! Interested in More volcano national parks check out:  Top 10 Volcanoes in Hawaii

8. Crater Lake National Park - Oregon

Crater Lake National Park, is Oregons only National Park and they are so proud of it! Highlights include the deepest lake in the United States (Crater Lake) (1,949 feet) which is also the ninth deepest lake in the world!

Popular activities here include hikes along the Rim,  Camping   and  cross country skiing  or snowshoeing during the winter. Boat tours are also a popular activity for many.

"Phantom Ship" rises above the surface of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon| By Glenn Scofield Williams, via Wikimedia Commons. (Western National Parks Road Trip U.S.A/Map/Route)

Can you swim at Crater Lake National Park?

Yes you can, but there is only when place which is safe & legal to do so. That is at the Cleetwood Cove trail which is open mid to late June.

Why is Crater Lake such an Incredible Blue??

The magnificent, bold blue of Crater Lake is caused by the sunlights rays. It's rays of Longer wavelength are absorbed by the deep water and it's shorter rays are reflected, creating an intense blue hue.

Best time to visit Crater Lake National Park?

The best time to visit Crater Lake National Park is in the summer, between July, August and September. This is the time of year when the parks trails, roads and visitor facilities are open.

9. Olympic National Park - Washington

As we drive further up the north west we enter the Olympic National Park. One of the most diverse in the United States. Here you can find everything from glacier clad mountains such as Mt Olympus to vast expanses of wilderness, rainforests and even secluded beaches!

Popular hiking & climbing areas head through the rainforests and along the pacific coast. If you can only visit one rainforest, be sure to explore Hoh Rain Forest.

Jason Pratt | wiki commons

• Quinault Rain Forest.
• Hoh Rain Forest. Lush, wet rainforest...a must see!
• Sol Duc Falls.
• Kalaloch beach.
• Rialto Beach.
• Lake Crescent.
• Hurricane Ridge.
• Lake Quinault.

When is the best time to visit Olympic National Park?

The best time of year to visit Olympic National Park is during the spring and summer. The spring is great for wildlife spotting while the summer is ideal for activities.

10. Mt Rainier National Park - Washington

We've left the biggest till last at 14,410 feet above Sea level Mount Rainier is one the  tallest peaks in the United States. ..it is also an ACTIVE volcano.  Mount Rainier National Park offers the most glaciated peak in Contiguous U.S.A. In addition to wildflower meadows, five meandering rivers, ancient forests and an abundance of wildlife.

Mount Rainier is ideal for daytime hikes, Riverside camping and epic glacier treks and climbs.

Best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park?

The best time to visit Mount Rainier national park is between July and August, when the wildflowers transform the sub alpine meadows!

How much does Mount Rainer National Park Cost?

Mount Rainer costs $30 per vehicle or $25 for each visitor aged over 16 on motorcycle. For individuals entering on bicycle, horseback or on foot the cost is $15 per person.

Western National Parks Road Trip Map:

Ultimate National Park Road Trip  - Use the Map above to follow the great U.S National Parks on the West coast. Simply share to your facebook using the link at the top and then open the maps from there.

If your a webmaster, feel free to embed this map into your website to help your readers. Just be sure to credit us at:  www.townandtourist.com/attraction/west-national-parks-usa/

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Western National Parks: A Summer Road Trip

Last Updated on February 19, 2024 by Grant

Looking to experience the American West in a summer road trip? Can’t decide where to start, how long to stay and where to go? Look no further. Here’s our ultimate western National Parks summer road trip. 

This trip will take you through some of the absolute best places this country has to offer. While we start in Denver, you could just as easily start in Wall, SD if coming by car from the east or Kalispell, MT if coming from the west. 

In this trip, you will see amazing sites in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. If you have never been to this part of the world, I guarantee it will amaze you. 

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

Why I Chose These Sites for the Ultimate Western National Parks Summer Road Trip

Folks who have spent a lot of time out West are going to take one look at this itinerary and say, “Wait! You left out _____! How can you leave out _____?” And, of course, those folks are right. 

There’s so much to see in the western National Parks and the distances are long. Omitting amazing places like Zion National Park in Utah, Great Basin National Park in Nevada and Yosemite National Park in California from this trip is a sin. Those places are amazing!

So, why did I choose what I did? 

Simple: I wanted to give you a more condensed, season-appropriate summer trip because I know not everyone can afford to spend eight weeks on the road. As it is, this western National Parks road trip is going to take you thousands of miles and you will see a truly staggering variety of sites along the way. 

With the four optional days, this trip will take you 40 days, including flying to and from Denver. Of course, if you don’t have six weeks to explore, you can always cut a few stops or spend less time in certain areas. This is what we would recommend for each park, though.

Ultimate Western National Parks Summer Road Trip Itinerary

Start – Fly into Denver, drive to Rocky Mountain National Park

3 Days – Explore Rocky Mountain National Park

1 Day – Drive west to Dinosaur National Monument

2 Days – Explore Dinosaur National Monument

Optional 1 Day – Camp in the backcountry of Dinosaur National Park and drive the unimproved roads

1 Day – Drive north through Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to Jackson Hole, WY

Optional 1 Day – Spend the day exploring Jackson Hole

2 Days – Explore Grand Teton National Park

1 Day – Drive the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway to Yellowstone National Park

4 Days – Explore Yellowstone National Park

1 Day – Drive the Beartooth Scenic Byway from Yellowstone National Park and then cut back to Cody, WY

2 Days – Explore Cody, WY

Optional 1 Day – Drive to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

1 Day – Drive through the Bighorn Mountains and then turn north to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, ending in Billings, MT

2 Days – Drive to and explore Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site and then on to Kalispell, MT

3 Days – Explore Glacier National Park 

1 Day – Drive US 2 east across Montana, stopping at the Bear Paw Battlefield (part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park) and on to Medora, ND

2 Days – Explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park

1 Day – Drive to Wall, SD

1 Day (optional) – Visit Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and Wall Drug

2 Days – Explore Badlands National Park

1 Day – Drive to Custer, SD

5 Days – Explore the Black Hills, including Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Devils Tower National Monument and Custer State Park plus several other amazing sites. 

1 Day – Return to Denver

Pro tip: If you want to spend the 4th of July in Cody, WY, which we HIGHLY RECOMMEND, arrive in Denver on June 15 if you are taking all of the optional days. 

Rocky Mountain National Park

When it comes to seeing western National Parks, you can’t go wrong driving through Rocky Mountain NP. Located north of Denver in the Front Range, it’s a beautiful introduction to the Rocky Mountains. With dramatic vistas, abundant wildlife and one heck of an epic drive, this park is gorgeous from top to bottom. 

Trail Ridge Road is one of the best drives in America. We suggest making a loop out of the Old Fall River Road (an easy gravel road) if it is open. We found lots of elk in both Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park, as well as moose on the East Inlet Trail.

Be sure to get out to for some great day hikes. We particularly loved the Bear Lake area and the East Inlet Trail. 

Read about our three days in Rocky Mountain NP here.

Pro tip: Purchase an America The Beautiful Pass when you get here. This will save you $190 in entrance fees on this trip alone and will remain good for an entire year. Yes, it will SAVE you $190 after you purchase the pass for $80. There are special passes available for seniors, active military, those with disabilities and children in 4th grade. Read more about all the National Park passes.

Dinosaur National Monument

If there is one spot on this Western National Parks summer road trip that deserves to be upgraded to a national park, its Dinosaur National Monument. 

Located in western Colorado into eastern Utah, the main attraction of this park is the massive number of dinosaur fossils. Indeed, the Quarry Exhibit Center has hundreds of fossils on display, including more than 1,500 embedded in the cliff wall. 

But once you get away from the Quarry Exhibit Center, that’s where this park shines. Head out Cub Creek Road to see amazing views of Split Mountain and the Green River. Also, be sure to make it out to the Josie Morris Cabin at the end of the Cub Creek Road. 

Josie Morris’ story is one of my absolute favorites from American history. The story of a woman who decides to strike out on her own and manage her own homestead is tremendous. I won’t spoil how it ends but just know it is worth your visit.

If you are driving a vehicle with four-wheel drive, spend a day driving out Echo Park Road and the Yampa Bench Road. I especially loved the Harding Hole Overlook, one of the prettiest views I have found.

One thing we haven’t done here but really want to go back for is the opportunity to raft the rivers. I think that would be a great way to see the backcountry and the river looks amazing. 

Read more about our visit to Dinosaur NM here.

Jackson Hole/Grand Teton National Park

Drive north through the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area up to Jackson Hole, WY. The drive is gorgeous with plenty of amazing views. A bit off the path further north is Fossil Butte National Monument. If you are a National Park geek collecting stamps, like we are, you won’t want to miss it. If not, while it is cool, it is nothing compared to what you just saw in Dinosaur National Monument.

Jackson Hole is one of the ultimate resort towns on this Western National Parks summer road trip. It’s also a good place to take care of anything you need to handle before disconnecting from the world. Once you start heading north into the Yellowstone area, getting any sort of cell phone or internet connection is tough to come by. 

Grand Teton NP is all about the views and they are more than worth the price of admission. There are spectacular views of the Teton Range, which seem to shoot straight up from the ground, everywhere you look. 

In terms of getting out on the trail, we loved the Jenny Lake Loop. The trail is not dfficult and the views are more than worth the sweat. 

While wildlife is not nearly as plentiful in Grand Teton NP as Yellowstone NP, there is still a lot of see and love. Indeed, one of my favorite pictures from any of our trips is a shot of bison grazing with the Tetons in the background (the cover photo for this article). 

Read about camping in Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP here.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone NP is easily one of our favorite places on earth. Seriously, there is so much to see and love, I am not sure where to start. 

Drive north on the John D. Rockerfeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway which connects Grand Teton NP to Yellowstone. If the National Parks bug has bitten you, be sure to stop at the lodge about halfway in between to get your passport stamped. 

We recommend four days in the park to really see and enjoy everything. You can do less but it will, likely, feel rushed. 

At the very least, drive the Grand Loop, stop at the thermal features at Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring, see Mammoth Hot Springs, drive the Blacktail Plateau Drive, look for the bison herds in Lamar and Hayden valleys, check out the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and do the Old West Cookout at Roosevelt Lodge . 

And that’s the shortlist!

Seriously, there is so much to see and do. We are already planning on spending a lot more time in Yellowstone during the summer of 2021. 

Read our top tips for visiting Yellowstone National Park here.

The Beartooth Scenic Byway exits out of the northeast corner of Yellowstone NP and ascends up to 10,947 feet. You will feel like you are on top of the world. Charles Kuralt called it the most scenic drive in America for good reason. Yes, you are going out of your way getting to Cody but it is worth it.

Cody, WY is another favorite of ours. It is truly the heart of the West. The town was founded by Buffalo Bill Cody and you can stay at the Irma Hotel he opened there. They even have a gunfight in front of the hotel every night. 

The Buffalo Bill Cody Museum of the West is probably one of our favorite museums. It has five different museums within it and a raptor center. While the natural history museum and Plains Indian museums are easy favorites, I particularly love the Western art exhibits and the firearms museum. 

At night, there is really only one place to be: the Cody Nite Rodeo. There is a live rodeo every night during the summer in Cody. As the motto says: “Cody is rodeo.” Over the week leading up to the Fourth of July, the rodeo world descends on Cody for the Cody Stampede, which takes the competition to the international level. It’s more than worth it!

Read more about Cody, WY here.

Bighorn Canyon, Little Big Horn Battlefield and Billings

Heading east from Cody, you will pass right by Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. This is a great optional stop on our ultimate western National Parks summer road trip. We found fantastic views and plenty of history in our visit to the southern end of this park. You can easily spend a day here. Be sure to keep an eye out for the wild horses!

Read more about Bighorn Canyon NRA here.

From Bighorn Canyon NRA, head east through the imposing Bighorn Range and then turn north on the Interstate towards Montana. Not far after you cross the border, you will find the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

No trip to the western National Parks is complete without seeing this iconic battlefield. This is where the famed cavalry commander George Custer and the 7th Cavalry were wiped out fighting against the Lakota (Sioux) and Cheyenne. 

What I love most about this place is how well the National Park Service tells both sides of the story. If you can manage to be there for a ranger talk about the battle, be sure to attend it. It’s worth your time. In all, plan on spending a couple of hours before heading to Billings. 

In Billings, be sure to check out the downtown area for some great restaurants.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

The drive across Montana on I-90 is actually quite beautiful. Once you get to Deer Lodge, be sure to stop for a few hours at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. This was the first cattle ranch in Montana and started an entire industry. 

It is preserved as a working cattle ranch with plenty of living historians demonstrating how the various parts of the ranch operate. Be sure to check the schedule for a tour of the main house which is more than worth your time.

You can stay in Deer Lodge, which we enjoyed, or you can head to Helena, which is not that far away for the night before heading to Glacier National Park.

Read more about Grant-Kohrs NHS here.

Glacier National Park

The drive north to Glacier National Park will take you through the Flathead Valley, which is one of the prettiest areas I have ever driven through. 

Glacier NP is often called the Crown of the Continent and for good reason. While Yellowstone’s main attractions are the thermal features and the wildlife, Glacier NP is all about the mountains, making it a perfect stop on our ultimate western National Parks summer road trip. 

Going-to-the-Sun Road will take you through the middle of the park and there are stunning views at every turn. Logan Pass and the crystal clear lakes along the way are jaw-droppers as well.

A hiker’s park, be sure to get out on the trail in this park. Avalanche Creek up to Avalanche Lake is a great hike. We also hiked some great trails in the Many Glacier area. 

On the east side of the park, be sure to stop at the Park Cafe for their scrumptious pies. Seriously, this place has some of the best pies I have ever had. 

Read more about visiting Glacier National Park here.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

I’m not going to lie… this is a long drive and it’s not nearly as scenic as some of the other drives on this trip. Still, there is a certain amount of romance about being out in the middle of nowhere… and that’s where you are on this drive. 

Do yourself a favor, though: stop at the Bear Paw Battlefield (which is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park) . This is where the final battle of the Nez Perce War occurred. It is where Chief Joseph famously said, “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.” 

I teach this piece of literature and I am really glad I stopped here on our visit in 2023. 

Keep on going until you get to Medora, ND . Alternatively, you could stop further north in Williston, ND and visit the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site . It’s a neat stop because the fort was built by a private company, not the Army, as a trading post for the local tribes.

If you take this detour, you can easily head south to Medora from there. You will pass through the Bakkan oil fields, which is an education in and of itself. 

Theodore Roosevelt, the man who did the most to create the National Park system, owned this land near Medora as a ranch, eventually donating it to the Park Service to create this park. 

These rugged badlands are home to tremendous vistas, herds of bison and wild horses plus some great hiking.

Read more about Theodore Roosevelt National Park here.

Badlands National Park

Wall, SD is home to the (in)famous Wall Drug, one of the most over-the-top tourist traps you will ever see. Still, it has some fun stuff and is an easy way to kill a couple of hours. This is especially useful in the summer when temperatures can easily climb over 100 degrees. 

Read about Wall Drug here.

Just east of Wall is another optional stop on this trip but well worth your time: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site . 

This park preserves launch sites for nuclear missiles from the Cold War. If you plan ahead and reserve a spot on a tour, you can take the elevator down to the launch control room. It’s a really cool bit of history you can’t see anywhere else. 

Just south of Wall is Badlands NP . This site has some of the most unique formations you will ever see. You can easily see why it is called the Badlands but there is serious beauty to be had here. 

I highly recommend doing the scenic drive. There are some amazing sites plus you will find bison, bighorn sheep and a prairie dog town! I could seriously sit and watch these little guys scurry about for quite a while. As Bonnie would say, “So cute!”

As for hiking, I recommend getting out early in the morning before the midday heat. There are some really good hikes and we really enjoyed exploring the trails. Indeed, if you get up really early, the Badlands really come alive with the light at dawn. It really is one of the best places to watch a sunrise or sunset.  

Read more about things to do when visiting Badlands National Park.

Black Hills

Head west from the Badlands into a completely different world: the Black Hills.

This is another one of our favorite spots on earth. There’s so much to do and love while you are in the Black Hills.

At the very least, I recommend you visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial , Wind Cave National Park , Jewel Cave National Monument and Custer State Park … that’s a bare minimum.

Be sure to book your cave tours at both caves in advance and we recommend taking a lantern tour for one of them. One of our favorite moments of that tour was where the guides had us extinguish our lanterns and sit in total darkness. It’s eerie not being able to see even a hint of light. 

There are several great hikes between Wind Cave National Park , Custer State Park and Black Hills National Forest , including Black Elk Peak, the tallest spot in the Black Hills. 

In terms of driving tours, be sure to drive the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park, the Iron Mountain Road, the Needles and Norbeck scenic byways and Spearfish Canyon. Deadwood is not far from Spearfish Canyon.

Read about our summer in the Black Hills here.

We always end up in Custer, SD and love the little town but there are plenty of other towns and a LOT more to do in the Black Hills.

Devils Tower National Monument is at the western end of the Black Hills in Wyoming and is more than worth the drive out. You can do that as an out and back trip or you can do that as a detour on your way back to Denver, whichever works best for you. 

Final Thoughts on the Western National Parks Road Trip

The American West is truly something to behold. This trip will let you experience a glimpse of the wonder to be had. From the Front Range of Colorado to the herds of Lamar Valley, across the plains of Montana to the badlands of the Dakotas, you will see some of the prettiest places in the country, much less the world.

I hope this itinerary helps you plan your western national parks road trip. My list of places to visit is by no means exhaustive but if you have never been out West and want to see a great representation of this amazing country, this itinerary will get you there and show you what you should see at the very least. 

Travel Resources

What do you use to find a flight.

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start. Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties , so we use the Hilton website . You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express. Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way. Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN , or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them. Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia . Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct . We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper. Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip. Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first. Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J. Click here to get a Good Sam membership. We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there. Click here to get a AAA membership.

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US National Parks Tours & Vacations

Embark on an unforgettable adventure in the United States' most spectacular national parks.

As far as national parks go, the  USA  has it all. From lunar-like deserts and striated canyons to snow-capped mountains and alpine valleys teeming with wildlife. With a local leader by your side, you'll explore the most iconic sections of the parks, as well as lesser-known gems you won’t find in the travel guides. Our United States national park tours offer something for all kinds of adventurers. Hike through slot canyons in  Zion , join a real-life wolf tracker in  Yellowstone , tick off bucket-list-worthy hiking trails in  Yosemite  or witness the most beautiful night skies you've ever seen in  Denali . It’s time to dust off those hiking boots... the parks are waiting! 

Our US National Parks trips

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US National Parks highlights

Us national parks tour reviews.

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The top 7 destinations for travel in September 2024

What to expect on a wolf tracking tour in Yellowstone National Park

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Yellowstone vs Yosemite: Which national park should you visit?

A feast for the eyes and stomach: Where to eat at the Grand Canyon

8 incredible hikes in Denali National Park

11 amazing things to do in Denali National Park

Take a walk on the wild side: 8 of the best hikes in Zion National Park

Popular US national parks

Us national parks travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

How many national parks are there in the US?

The US has 423 national parks, monuments, and protected sites. Of this number, 63 are classified as national parks.

What is the best time to visit national parks in the US?

The best time to visit a national park depends on what you want to experience on your trip. The US is a huge country with diverse weather, foliage, and wildlife. Most parks change quite dramatically from season to season. Our trips run all year round but spring through to early fall is the most popular time to go when the weather is mild, crowds are smaller, and hiking conditions are good.

What are the top 10 most visited national parks in the US?

The 10 most visited national parks (The National Park Service, 2020) are:  

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park  
• Yellowstone National Park  
• Zion National Park  
• Rocky Mountain National Park  
• Grand Teton National Park  
• Grand Canyon National Park  
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park  
• Acadia National Park  
• Olympic National Park  
• Joshua Tree National Park 

What is mobile/cell phone service and internet access like in US national parks?

Mobile phone service, Wi-Fi, and internet access vary, and some parks will have coverage while others may be completely cut off.

Most visitor centers, lodges, and restaurants will offer free internet access, but it’s worth reading up on coverage or checking with your guide before your trip begins so you can be prepared.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

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6 Departure Dates for 34 Day Western National Parks

2024 aug 19.

SELECT DATE

2024 Aug 26

2024 sep 05, 2025 aug 18, 2025 aug 25, 2025 sep 03.

Starts: Virgin, UT Ends: Grand Canyon Village, AZ

Rally Point: Virgin, UT

• 33 Camping Nights
• 0 Hotel Nights
• 46 Events & Meals

DEPARTURE DATES

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• 1175 Driving Miles
• 131 Avg Miles Per Travel Day

34 Day Western National Parks Highlights

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• Orientation & Get Acquainted Social – meet your Ambassadors and fellow guests
• Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
• National Park Pass – receive a complimentary annual America the Beautiful Park pass for entry into over 2,000 federal recreation sites
• Zion National Park – breathtaking red rock canyons, towering cliffs, hiking trails & diverse wildlife
• EN-ROUTE: Pipe Spring National Monument – showcases Native American history, a historic fort & desert landscapes
• Horseshoe Bend Float Trip – a tranquil journey along the Colorado River, surrounded by the breathtaking red rock formations of the Grand Canyon
• Antelope Slot Canyon Tour – a surreal adventure through narrow, winding sandstone canyons, creating captivating and otherworldly photographic opportunities
• Campground Cookout – food, fun and friends!
• Grand Canyon North Rim – a quieter and more secluded experience with breathtaking vistas, lush forests & unparalleled serenity, offering a unique perspective of this iconic wonder
• Bryce Canyon National Park – amphitheaters of hoodoos, unique rock formations & vibrant sunsets create a magical landscape
• OPTIONAL: Hiking, Mule Rides, Helicopter Rides, ATV Tours & More
• Western Dinner & Live Entertainment – a unforgettable evening of live country music and delicious BBQ dinner
• Kodachrome Basin State Park – a unique geological wonderland with sedimentary pipe formations & colorful sandstone layers
• EN-ROUTE: Goblin Valley State Park – explore surreal landscape with thousands of unique hoodoos & rock formations
• EN-ROUTE: John Wesley Powell Museum – honors the legendary explorer, displaying artifacts & insights into his pioneering Colorado River expeditions
• CanyonlandsTours
• Arches National Park Guided Tour – a red-rock wonderland, home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, striking formations & stunning vistas
• Canyonlands Dinner Cruise – a scenic 36-mile journey on the Colorado River, showcasing the unique geology & history of the Canyonlands area
• Canyonland Box Lunch
• Canyonlands National Park Tour – enjoy a private bus tour with lunch showcasing stunning canyons carved by the Colorado River
• Dead Horse Point State Park – a vast desert expanse featuring canyons, high desert forests & miles of hiking trails
• Horseshoe Canyon Petroglyphs – view some of the best-preserved pictographs & petroglyphs in the country
• OPTIONAL: Hiking, Jeep Riding, Hummer Tours, Zip Lines, River Rafting, Aircraft Tours, Float Trips & More
• Mesa Verde National Park – tour Spruce Tree House, a remarkably preserved cliff dwelling that offers a glimpse into the lives of ancestral Puebloans
• Free Time to Explore Mesa Verde National Park
• OPTIONAL: Ute Mountain Tribal Park
• Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – relax aboard the train, enjoying a historic & scenic journey through the San Juan Mountains
• Explore Durango – nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Durango offers outdoor adventures & historic charm
• EN-ROUTE: Four Corners – stand in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah all at the same time!
• Natural Bridges National Monument Tour – three majestic stone bridges sculpted by erosion, providing a glimpse into the Earth's geologic artistry
• Bluff Fort Historic Site Tour – preserves pioneer history, featuring historic buildings & exhibits, offering a glimpse into the life of early settlers
• Goosenecks State Park – breathtaking views of the San Juan River's deep canyons with meandering river bends carved over millennia
• Monument Valley – a beautiful tour of the famous red-rock monuments, plus explore private roads with natural arches and hidden vantage points
• Lunch at Goulding’s Trading Post – a museum filled with artifacts from local Navajo tribes and old west movies
• OPTIONAL: Helicopter Flight over the Grand Canyon
• Bus Tour - Desert View
• Grand Canyon South Rim – explore the most popular rim, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Grand Canyon
• Grand Canyon IMAX Theater – a remarkable film showcasing one of the world’s greatest natural wonders
• Farewell Dinner at Local Restaurant
• Goodbye Continental Breakfast – grab some food and coffee before we part ways

Price Includes

• All Items Listed in Itinerary
• 33 Nights of Camping Fees
• 0 Deluxe Hotel Night(s)
• Professionally Planned Route &  Itinerary
• Guaranteed Campground Reservations
• Expert Guides – WagonMasters & TailGunners*
• Printed Trip Log with Turn-by-Turn Directions
• Transportation to/from Most Included Activities
• Ferry Fees for Rigs up to feet
• $100 in Future Travel Credits
• Travel Briefings & Tips from WagonMasters
• Pre-Trip Information Packet & Vehicle Checklist
• Gratuities for Included Meals & Excursions

Pricing & Payment Options

Pay by check and receive a deep discount, or choose our 0% interest, affordable monthly payment plan!

2 Guests in RV

$10,595 (per person), 1 guest in rv, additional guest(s).

FULL PAYMENT is required for 34 Day Western National Parks - Aug 26, 2024 due to the departure date being 90 days or less away. Your payment is $8,916.75 USD* to secure your reservation.

MONTHLY PAYMENTS

Our exclusive, interest-free, monthly payment plan to budget your vacation. Your first monthly payment secures your reservation.

• Monthly Payment*
• 0 Monthly Payments
• Balance Due
• Monthly Payments are NOT available at this time.

15% DEPOSIT

A tour deposit of 15% and the $89.00 non-refundable processing fee confirms your reservation. Final balance due 120 days prior to departure.

• $1,678.25 USD 15% Deposit*
• $8,916.75 USD Final Balance*
• 04/28/2024 Balance Due
• 15% Deposit option is available at this time.

PAY BY CHECK DISCOUNT

If your original tour price is more than $2,000 and choose to pay your final balance by check, you will receive a discount according to the schedule below:

Original Tour Price

• $2,000 - $5,000
• $5,001 - $7,500
• $7,501 - $10,000
• $10,001 - $15,000
• $15,001 - $20,000
• $20,001 - $25,000
• $25,001 and up

Ways to Save

Take advantage of these special offers to maximize the value of your next RV adventure!

Activity Level - ACTIVE

• This trip has a group size up to 23 rigs plus WagonMasters & TailGunners* exclusive to 34 Day Western National Parks
• 131 Average Daily Miles
• 34 days, with 33 camping nights including 46 events & meals

Physical Requirements

Activity of 1 to 3 hours of low impact, physical movement (walking, stairs, paths while on excursions). May include walking on uneven or unpaved surfaces. Stairs are likely – good health is recommended.

Tours require that you are responsible for yourself and your ability to get on and off all Transportation Services.

Activity Ratings are intended to provide information for those who do not use mobility devices.

If you require a mobility device, please be aware that guests must travel with a companion that is responsible for loading, unloading and securing their device on all excursions.

Guests with mobility challenges and walking limitations may not be able to participate in all activities.

*TailGunners only on Caravans with 14 or more guest rigs

Freedom to Personalize Your Experience

More than ever, our guests are spending more time on the road and are excited to make the most out of their vacation. By choosing from the 142 pre- and post-trip extensions that we offer, or adding on optional activities to the itinerary, there are many ways you can personalize your experience to make it the vacation of your dreams.

Many Guests Choose Pre- or Post-Trip Extensions

Chances are, you’re traveling quite far to join us on one of our tours. Why not make the most of it with pre- and post-trip extensions? By adding on another tour, it will give you the opportunity to extend your vacation and maximize your time in the geographical region. On this 34 Day Western National Parks trip, you will have no pre- or post trip extensions; however, we have 142 trips we offer that do. 2 extensions to choose from: Rocky Mountains of the West , Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Opening Rally , .

Maximize Your Time in the Area

Consider building in extra time for yourself in Virgin, UT (Rally Point) or Grand Canyon Village, AZ (End Place) to relax and get adjusted or give yourself time to explore on your own before or after your 34 Day Western National Parks trip. Extending the length of your stay can truly make your trip everything you’ve ever dreamed about and give you the opportunity to enjoy more of what each destination has to offer.

Be part of an epic RV adventure through the Rocky Mountains on our guided caravan through Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana's Yellowstone corner. Witness the splendor of Pike's Peak, Grand Teton National Park, Badlands, and Mt. Rushmore. Feel the excitement at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Join us for an unforgettable journey through stunning landscapes and exhilarating experiences!

Immerse yourself in a breathtaking display of colors at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta RV Rally in New Mexico. As you camp at the Official RV Park, equipped with electric, water, and honey wagon services, the blue skies transform into a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors. Witness the enchanting evening glows, awe-inspiring mass ascensions, and thrilling pilot competitions that make the world's largest balloon festival a truly unforgettable event. Experience this spectacular festival by booking your spot today.

Optional Activities on Tour

Even though there’s an itinerary and planned route, we want you to enjoy your vacation to the greatest extent. With their unmatched understanding of the area and commitment to enriching your travel experiences, your WagonMasters will be there to help you choose and schedule the best optional activities that aren’t included in the itinerary. Here’s a sampling of the optional activities offered on the 34 Day Western National Parks trip:

• On Day 9: Hiking, Mule Rides, Helicopter Rides, ATV Tours & More
• On Day 17: Hiking, Jeep Riding, Hummer Tours, Zip Lines, River Rafting, Aircraft Tours, Float Trips & More
• On Day 22: Ute Mountain Tribal Park
• On Day 30: Helicopter Flight over the Grand Canyon

Flight Information

There’s no better way to learn what a trip is like than from the firsthand experiences of your fellow travelers. Our Traveler Reviews are the real deal—unbiased and unedited—giving you an honest appraisal of the experiences that await you on this trip.

Protect Your Travel Investment with Trip Cancellation Insurance

RV travel is fun and exciting, but the unexpected can happen. Losing the cost of a trip due to cancellation or an unexpected medical emergency during your trip can add the expense of physicians, hospitalization, or a medical evacuation, all of which can be overwhelming.

Travelers want to move about with confidence and peace of mind that comes from protecting both their health and finances. There are NO infectious disease exclusions - meaning that COVID-19 is covered as any other illness.

TME Travel Insurance provides a suite of insurance options for all styles of travel. Additional benefits are available when you purchase COMPREHENSIVE TRIP CANCELLATION , such as optional Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage on the TME Elite Plan when purchased within 14 days of booking your tour. Plans cover both domestic and international travel.

Learn more >>

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Traveling to mexico, can we bring my pet on a mexico tour.

Yes! We are a pet-friendly company. However, an up-to-date vaccination record is required to cross the border.

Do I need vehicle insurance for my RV in Mexico?

All vehicles, both your RV and your tow vehicle, are required to have a valid liability insurance policy when traveling in Mexico.

Where can I get vehicle insurance for Mexico?

First, check with your current policy provider to see if they provide coverage. If not, there are many online sources to obtain insurance. For our Baja Whale Watching tours, we partner with Vagabundos, who can also provide information regarding liability insurance for your vehicles.

Do I need travel insurance for Mexico tours?

Yes, we highly recommend obtaining travel insurance for our Mexico tours. To view our recommended travel insurance, click here .

Is it safe to travel to Mexico?

Yes. Traveling to Mexico can be a rewarding experience, and our tours are designed to enhance your safety and peace of mind throughout your journey. We understand that visa and border crossing procedures can be complex, so we take care of all the necessary paperwork to ensure you have a smooth entry into Mexico.

Our expert guides are with you every step of the way, including the border crossing, providing valuable insights and assistance as you navigate the various aspects of your trip. Whether it's understanding local customs or ensuring you have access to essential resources, our team is dedicated to making your travel experience as comfortable as possible.

In addition to handling documentation, we also provide convenient transportation to the activities and destinations on your itinerary. This means you can fully immerse yourself in the cultural and natural wonders of Mexico without the stress of driving in unfamiliar surroundings.

Traveling in a group, or caravan style as we do, offers not only safety but also the opportunity to forge connections with fellow travelers. You'll have the chance to share experiences, create lasting memories, and enjoy the camaraderie of exploring Mexico together.

When you choose to travel with us, you can expect a well-rounded and secure experience, with our services tailored to ensure your journey to Mexico is not just safe but also enriching and enjoyable.

What are Caravans and Rallies?

Fantasy RV Tours offers two different types of RV vacations: Caravans and Rallies. An RV Caravan is a professionally-guided tour that travels from destination to destination on a pre-planned route. A Rally is also pre-planned and led by professional Travel Ambassadors, but explores one area or event, e.g. Rose Parade or Washington DC. To learn more, click here .

What is a Travel Ambassador?

On each of our RV Tours, you’ll be led by professional leaders – WagonMasters and TailGunners – who are collectively known as Travel Ambassadors. To learn more and to meet our ambassadors, click here .

Will we travel caravan/convoy style or independent travel?

We often suggest scattered travel during a caravan with groups of 2 to 4 RVs traveling at a safe distance apart who may enjoy similar points of interest. Of course, you may travel independently at your own pace – enjoying sites and side trips. Your Travel Ambassadors are there to ensure safety for the entire group. It’s your vacation, so we offer options – we want you to enjoy safety, comfort and freedom. Typically, in Mexico, guests prefer to travel convoy style.

Do you limit the number of RVs?

Yes. You’ll want to make reservations early to reserve your space. Reservations are prioritized in the order received. Most of our caravans are limited to 22 RVs, while rallies are determined individually.

Do you offer an interest-free monthly payment plan?

Yes! Budget your vacation with our interest-free monthly payment program and reserve your spot with the first month’s payment. You can also secure your spot with just a 15% deposit and, no matter which payment option you choose, if you pay by check, you’ll receive a discount. For more details,  click here  or contact our Customer Support Team at 800-952-8496.

Do you have a frequent traveler program?

Yes. With every tour you take, it pays in savings! For each Rally, you’ll earn $50 in future travel credits. For each Caravan, you’ll earn $100 in future travel credits. You can also build your way up to different status levels that earn you additional benefits. For full program details, click here .

Do you have a referral program?

Yes. When a new customer is referred by you and completes their tour, you’ll receive $50 in future travel credits for a Rally and $100 in future travel credits for a Caravan. For full program details, click here .

Do I need to own an RV?

Yes and no. Caravans require an RV; whether owned or rented. Some of our rallies have an option to stay in a cabin or hotel, which is indicated in the tour information. If traveling in an Overseas caravan, an RV rental will be provided.

Tour Reservations

What does the price of a tour generally include.

Our tour prices include all RV site accommodations, meals, events and activities as listed on the itineraries. To see a full list of what’s included in all tours, click here .

Are prices per person?

No. The price listed (2 Person Price/Rig) is the total price for 2 people in 1 rig. The 1 person price/rig is the total price for 1 person in 1 rig. The Add’l Person Price/Rig is the price of each additional person beyond the 2 Person Price/Rig.

What are your payment options?

We have various payment options, some of which offer deep discounts. For more details,  click here  or contact our Customer Support Team at 800-952-8496.

Do you have a price guarantee?

Once you make your deposit, we guarantee the price! If our suppliers increase their prices, you will not be stuck with an additional cost for your trip. Beware of other tour companies that add a surcharge for tours purchased with a credit card or who reserve the right to raise their price after you make your initial reservation. We reserve the right to substitute accommodations, transportation and/or itineraries when we deem it necessary or advisable.

Can I transfer a reservation from one tour to another?

If you need to switch your tour up to 150 days prior to departure, your tour monies will be transferred less a switch fee. To view the full details, click here .

What is your cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call us at 800-952-8496. To view the full details of our cancellation policy, click here .

Do you sell cancellation/interruption insurance?

We facilitate trip cancellation insurance on our website via  TME Travel Insurance . To learn more,  click here .

Do you offer discounts?

Our partnerships with Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) , Good Sam Club, AIM Club & Winnebago allow us to offer exclusive discounts not available to the general public or any other tour company. Occasionally we offer additional discounts. Call 800-952-8496 for the latest offers.

Getting Ready for Your Tour

When will i receive the detailed itinerary.

You will receive a pre-rally information packet approximately 90 days before the tour begins, which includes the detailed itinerary, a vehicle preparation checklist, travel tips, medical forms and the contact information for your WagonMasters.

How should I prepare my RV before the tour starts?

Make sure your vehicle(s) is in top condition before you leave home. Have in your possession the warranty packet and information that came with your motorhome, fifth-wheel, or travel trailer. Know the name of the dealer and location of the original purchase, factory telephone numbers, warranty numbers, as well as year, make, and model in order to get parts delivered quickly, if necessary. Use the Vehicle Preparation Checklist (provided in the pre-rally information packet) to assure your equipment is ready for the tour. Most people travel without ever having a breakdown. In fact, you will probably complete your tour and never have any kind of mechanical problem. Your Travel Ambassadors will do a basic vehicle inspection before the tour begins and advise you of any potential problems or recommended things to do to help preclude any damage to your vehicle.

Should I bring a tow vehicle?

On traveling caravans, we recommend a tow vehicle to maximize your freedom. Most caravans have free days to explore but ultimately, it is an individual preference to tow.

Do I need a passport?

Passports are required for Canada, Mexico and Overseas tours. Please note: Some USA tours require passports if they travel into Canada.

What documents do I need for Mexico and Overseas tours?

You are required to have a Travelers Visa, but we’ll take care of obtaining and paying for the visa once we receive a copy of your passport. We’ll send this information to you a few months before the tour begins.

Is extra vehicle insurance needed in Mexico?

Yes. You must have a Mexico Liability policy for each motorized vehicle and we’ll provide you with information regarding purchasing the liability policy.

Are pets welcome?

YES! We are a pet friendly company. However, it is your responsibility to care for your pet. During Polar Bear tours – you will be away from your pet 3 nights. Canadian Atlantic Province tours with an overnight ferry crossing – you will be away from your pet 1 night. There are pet accommodations available for those tours. Pet care fees are your responsibility. Canada and Mexico require proof of rabies vaccination.

Will I get to speak with my WagonMaster before we depart?

On caravans with less than 25 rigs, your WagonMaster will make an introductory call to each guest on the tour after you receive your customer packet. On all other caravans and rallies, you will be contacted by email which will include direct contact information for your WagonMaster. 

Are flights included on Overseas tours?

No. Many of our guests enjoy arriving early or extending their trip once the Caravan is over, so we want to give you the freedom to do so. We’ve also found that guests prefer traveling on specific airlines, flying at certain times of the day or booking their flights with frequent traveler miles. We want to give you the ultimate freedom to fully maximize your vacation. Any in-country flights that are listed on the itinerary are included in the price of the tour.

While on Tour

Do you provide driving directions.

Before the tour begins, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive, up-to-date, field-researched Trip Log with turn-by-turn directions and popular landmarks.

Are gratuities included?

Tips for meals, bus drivers and special guides are included in the tour price. Customers should feel free to tip any service providers they feel go ‘the extra mile’. Gratuities are certainly welcome, but not required for your WagonMaster and TailGunner – they strive to provide exemplary service, above and beyond the call of duty during your entire tour.

Are ferry fees included?

Typically, ferry fees are included unless stated otherwise on the itinerary.

Can I get special meals for my dietary restrictions?

If you have special dietary needs, notify your WagonMaster before the tour begins. Some of the vendors we use will be able to accommodate and some do not have the ability to do so. Be prepared with your own food substitution for situations in which your special food need cannot be accommodated.

What are the physical demands of your tours?

To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable vacation, each tour has an Activity Rating, which is indicated in the tour information. Most tours include walking tours and guided excursions aboard buses, boats, trains, subways and planes. This scale will help you decide if you can participate in all activities included with each tour. Guests with mobility challenges and walking limitations may not be able to participate in all activities. Activity Ratings are intended to provide information for those who do not use mobility devices. If you require a mobility device, please be aware that guests are responsible for loading, unloading and securing their device on all excursions. Some of our tours prohibit the use of Scooters, which is indicated in the tour information.

Can I bring my mobility device?

Certain tours are not scooter or wheelchair accessible, which is indicated in the tour information. On tours where all mobility devices are allowed, guests relying on the aid of walkers, crutches or other mobility devices must travel with a companion capable of assisting. Guests with mobility challenges may not be able to actively participate in all activities included in the tour itinerary.

What amp service will be available at campgrounds?

We always strive to reserve as many 50 amp spaces as possible. However, some campgrounds will not have enough 50 amp spaces for everyone. At most campgrounds, 30/50 amp power is standard. Please note that some campgrounds in Alaska, Canada and Mexico may be more primitive than in the Lower 48. Be prepared to use limited power or dry camp on a few occasions.

How will I know where and when to meet for activities?

On most days, WagonMasters hold nightly travel meetings to brief you on the next day’s activity schedule. In addition, the WagonMasters will have a whiteboard in the front window of their RV that has the daily schedule and any changes that may have occurred.

How do I keep in touch with the WagonMasters and TailGunners?

We use family radios and cell phones. Your WagonMaster will explain the best means of communication for the next day’s travel at the nightly travel meeting.

Can I book optional activities on tour?

There may be opportunities in which you may want to enjoy side trips and optional tours that are not included in the price of the Caravan. Our WagonMasters & Tailgunners are available to assist you with suggestions of popular activities in the area to make the most of your vacation.

What if I have medical emergency or mechanical breakdown?

Our Travel Ambassadors are ready to help when a mechanical problem or medical emergency arises. However, if this prevents you from continuing the tour, you may receive a credit toward a future tour less any non-refundable expenses incurred by Fantasy RV Tours on your behalf.

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Two Girls Getaway

Travel tips for girls on a budget!

Awesome Itinerary for a Western National Parks Road Trip – Seeing the Best of the Best in 9 Days!

Country: USA States: Nevada, Utah, Arizona, California Sites: Las Vegas, Canyonlands, Moab, Arches National Park, Goosenecks State Park, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon National Park, Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park, Death Valley National Park, Rhyolite (ghost town), Gold Point (ghost town)

Are you dying to see the world but short on time? This 7 day itinerary packs in the best sites and hikes at various US National Parks in the western part of the country! Add 1 day at the beginning and end if you want to spend some extra time in Las Vegas!

We kept this itinerary budget friendly by renting a car and staying in Airbnbs. This particular itinerary starts and ends in Las Vegas, but it is also possible to have different start and end locations, depending on what’s cheapest for you!

Day 1: Getting to Las Vegas

The reason this trip actually happened is that I found a super cheap round-trip flight to Las Vegas from our home airport in Philadelphia using my award miles connected to my United MileagePlus Explorer credit card . (Check out the card to receive countless travel benefits and earn up to 40,000 BONUS miles!)

The flight was at the beginning of November, so we were a little worried about it being too cold, but it ended up being the perfect time to go! The parks were much less crowded than usual, the weather was beautiful (not too hot for a long hike), and accommodations were cheaper because it was the off-season.

We landed in Las Vegas in the evening and rented a van through Budget , although make sure to do your own homework and compare rental prices as these often change! That night we stayed at an Airbnb about a mile from the strip (to save money) which was on the way to the National Parks. Of course, we took some time to drive down the strip and take in the sites and sounds of Las Vegas while we could.

Day 2: Las Vegas to Moab

Make sure to get started early as this is a long day of driving! The drive without stops takes approximately 7 hours, but we made a full day of it as there was so much to see. There are several lookout points along the way, but one of our favorites was the Salt Wash View Area .

We also stopped at an adorable gas station with a Conestoga wagon and old farmhouse! This was right on the main road into Moab so you can’t miss it!

Our plan was to go to Canyonlands, but the sun had set faster than we expected so we checked into our Airbnb , which was actually a hostel-like accommodation. I was traveling with my aunt and mother who had never stayed in a hostel, and they loved this place! There was a shared bathroom and kitchen, but private sleeping quarters. There was also a fire pit and picnic tables, great for socializing with other travelers!

That night we drove over to Ken’s Lake to give me some time to play with my new DSLR lens (I am very much a newbie photographer!). The location was quite beautiful, and we all hung out and listened to coyotes howling in the distance until it was time to go to bed.

PRO TIP: If you are into photography, I used the Sony a6000 for most of this trip, along with this ultra-wide lens for nighttime photography.

Day 3: Arches National Park and Canyonlands

This day was one of my favorite days of the trip! Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to do the hikes, although a lot of beautiful scenery can just be seen from the car as well. First things first – you will need a pass to enter pretty much any National Park. The fees for Arches can be found here .

PRO TIP: If anyone in your group is over the age of 62, they should purchase an America the Beautiful lifetime pass (it covers all companions and most National Parks). If the cost is still too much, consider going on a “Fee Free” day, but note that the parks WILL be crowded on these days.

There is basically one main road to follow through Arches National Park, with multiple off-shoots to different attractions. The main scenic road is about 30 miles long and is where you will start once you enter the gates to the park. Just driving along this road is beautiful enough, but if you get out and hike at some of the stops, you will REALLY understand the magnitude of these formations.

The first turnoff you will come to is Park Avenue viewpoint and it’s one of the major viewpoints in the park. There is also a hike here, but we skipped it due to time.

Continuing along the road, there are several other viewpoints (take your pick!), but we decided to stop at Balanced Rock and do the short hike around it.The way this rock has come to be balanced still blows my mind, and walking under it actually was a little bit scary!

Next, we pulled off a side road towards Double Arch and The Windows . Don’t worry, the roads are all well marked so it’s easy to find your way (a map is also provided upon arrival)! This section is regarded by many to be the most beautiful of Arches National Park. First, we took the short hike to the Double Arch. Aptly named, the Double Arch is a unique geological formation in which two arches come together in one point.

If you climb up the Double Arch, you are rewarded with a beautiful view. But be careful, once we got up there, coming down was a bit scary!

Next, we drove over to the Windows, just a short distance away. There are technically 3 main arches in this section, including the North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. This hike was a bit longer than the Double Arch hike, but by no means strenuous.

Next we drove over to Delicate Arch . This is by far the most photographed arch in the park! However, it requires a 3 mile round-trip hike which can be a bit difficult at times (but definitely do-able, considering my aunt and mom made it!).

At the beginning of the trail near the parking lot, you will find Wolfe Ranch. This is a hut built by an early American explorer, and nearby you can easily find petroglyphs on the surrounding walls. This was an interesting little detour, and didn’t add too much time to the hike.

Continuing along the trail, there are a few sections that are a bit scary, but push through it! It’ll be worth it in the end.

At least we reached our destination – the Delicate Arch! There were LOTS of people in this area, and a line to get a picture under the arch (even in November). This is a great spot to stop and rest though, before your hike back down.

I should also mention that this entire area is shaped like a bowl into a giant dropoff. You will be walking on a sideways incline to get anywhere. This terrified my mom, who had to scooch on her butt to come take my picture (no judgement, it was scary!).

After taking many photos, we hiked back down to the trailhead and hopped in our car. The next stop would be the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint . There is a hike here, but we opted for the view from the parking lot.

Our next stop would be Sand Dune Arch . To get to this arch, there is a short hike (.3 miles) through the slot canyons. There were some narrow spots on this hike, but there were alternative paths marked as well.

The arch itself was a little underwhelming, but I enjoyed the hike very much.

Lastly we drove to Devil’s Garden . There is a nice hike here, but we skipped it due to time. Finally it was time to turn around and head back towards the entrance. On our way out, we stopped at Park Avenue Viewpoint one more time.

Leaving Arches, we drove 30 minutes to Canyonlands National Park . There are plenty of hikes and overlooks here, but it was getting dark so we drove towards the Grand View Point Overlook . We watched the sun set over the beautiful valley below.

We stayed for some time after sunset (I got to practice with my nighttime lens some more!) and the temperature turned to FREEZING. Remember to pack a sweater/jacket, as the temperature can change dramatically once the sun sets. After that, we ventured into downtown Moab, grabbed dinner at one of the many restaurants, picked up some souvenirs and went to bed.

Day 4: Moab to Page (Goosenecks State Park, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend)

The drive from Moab to Page takes about 4 1/2 hours without stopping. However, factor in all of the stops and this is an all day affair. We got on the road early and made our way out of Moab.

About 2 hours into our drive, we came to Goosenecks State Park . There is a $5 fee to enter the park, but we used this as our lunch stop as there are plenty of picnic benches around, and we had a great view!

We continued our drive and soon we could see Monument Valley in the distance. There are plenty of spots to pull over and take the infamous “Forrest Gump” photo, as many people were doing. In fact, it was a bit difficult to get a shot with no one else in it!

Continuing along towards Page, we came across the Utah/Arizona border. Of course we had to stop and take a photo to commemorate the event!

Next up would be Monument Valley. Monument Valley is a Najavo Tribal Park with many interesting geological formations. It has been featured in many movies and there are plenty of tour options , but we decided to do the self-drive Tribal Park Loop. This 17 mile loop takes you through some of the park’s most interesting sites, and although not recommended, we took our mini-van through it and were totally fine (4 x 4 is typically recommended).

Our first stop would be the Visitor’s Center, which not only had maps and souvenirs, but also great views of the entire park below.

Next, we hopped in our van and drove to the Tribal Loop. The map from the Visitor’s Center points out different interesting formations and their history, and it’s very easy to follow. Keep an eye out for West Mitten Butte (named for it’s mitten-like shape)!

After a short while, we got to John Ford’s Point. This is a popular lookout point made famous by it’s multiple appearances in Western movies. This spot was definitely the most crowded, and there was a Native American dressed as a cowboy that you could take pictures with for $5. There were also lots of traditional souvenirs sold here.

After spending some time at John Ford’s Point, we headed back the way we came and exited the loop. Our next stop would be John Wayne’s Cabin , just a short drive away. There was some fun movie history, as well as Najavo history, in this little museum. It was also FREE, but donations were accepted. (Also a great spot to use the restroom!)

After using the restroom, it was onto Page, Arizona! In Page, we’d be staying at the Best Western View of Lake Powell , because honestly it was the cheapest option we could find (and had a great view)!

But before checking in, we arrived in Page just in time to see Horseshoe Bend at sunset! There is a 3/4 mile hike to reach this incredible viewpoint, but it is not very difficult. It is also a popular tourist destination, and there is no fence, so be careful! Every year there are multiple accidental deaths because people were trying to get the perfect selfie.

After watching the sun set, we checked into our hotel and then ventured out into Page for dinner. We happened upon Big John’s Texas BBQ , which was affordable, delicious and had live music! I’d definitely recommend this place if you like authentic bbq food.

Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park

So full disclosure, I THOUGHT I booked Antelope Canyon on this day. When in fact, I had it booked the day after. If you are following this itinerary to a T, then book Antelope Canyon when you are in Page (this day). Unfortunately, once we got to the tour place and found out that we had booked for the day after, it was too late. The tour for that day was full and our tickets could not be rescheduled.

Instead, we opted to drive to Bryce Canyon National Park . It was about a 3 hour drive from Page to Bryce. Our first stop would be the Glen Canyon Dam . This is the dam that creates Lake Powell. Stop by the Visitor Center for information about the construction and history of the dam.

Once we arrived in Bryce Canyon, our first stop would be Bryce Point . This is a great overlook with 270 degrees of views! SO MANY HOODOOS! (Hoodoos are the rock formations found in these parks.) There are longer hikes here but we just took the short hike from the parking lot to the overlook.

Next, we drove to Inspiration Point . This is another short hike to a beautiful overlook!

Our next stop would be Sunset Point . Not only is this a beautiful lookout spot, but this is the starting and end point of one of the best trails in Bryce – Najavo Trail ! Take a minute to take in the views from this spot and then if you’re feeling up for it, start descending into the hoodoos for a 1.4 mile loop hike (rated moderate in difficulty).

We finished our hike right about sunset time, so we watched the sun go down over the park with many other tourists. I then got to use my nighttime lens some more. 🙂

That night we stayed at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites – Bryce Canyon .

Day 6: Antelope Canyon

Due to my booking error, we had to drive BACK to Page for our Antelope Canyon tour. Obviously if you were doing this correctly, today would be the day for Bryce Canyon. However, the drive back was TOTALLY worth it! Antelope Canyon was one of my favorite destinations of the trip. There are lots of different options for tours (which are legally necessary to see this canyon), but we opted for the Upper Antelope Canyon tour .

While VERY crowded in the canyon, it was still a beautiful site to behold and you shouldn’t miss it!

After Antelope Canyon, we headed towards our Airbnb for the night, which was my absolute favorite lodging of the trip! It was a “glamping” experience, which included a king size bed in a tent. You were given a heater, chairs, firepit and wood, etc – everything you needed to be cozy for the night! The bathrooms were only porta potties, so if you NEED a real toilet, then this may not be the place for you. The Airbnb was located right outside of Zion National Park, about a 2 hour drive from Antelope Canyon.

We spent the rest of the night relaxing around the fire and stargazing. It was the perfect spot for it!

Day 7: Zion National Park

This morning we woke up and made our breakfast over the fire in the shadows of Zion National Park . Our plan would be to get to the park and do some of the many hikes offered. Some of the most famous hikes are Angel’s Landing and the Narrows. Knowing that I wanted to do these, we stopped by Zion Adventures for gear rental. It was November and the water can be FREEZING at this time (although gear rental is probably a good idea year-round).

PRO TIP: If you plan to hike the Narrows from the top down, you will need a permit. You can request one here .

Once we arrived in Zion, we walked to the Visitor’s Center and found out that Angel’s Landing was actually closed due to someone defecating on the trail! Gross! We hopped on the free mandatory shuttle bus (no personal vehicles are allowed in the park) and headed towards the Temple of Sinawava, the last stop on the shuttle but the start of the Narrows hike.

I would be doing this hike alone, while my mom and aunt rode the shuttle bus and explored the other stops. You can go as far as you like or not into the Narrows. I geared up and started my way on the “trail”. Note – there is no actual trail, you will be walking in the water (sometimes above your waist) the entire time.

I’m honestly not sure how far I went, but I was hiking for several hours. It was very beautiful, but at one point I slipped and my top half fell into the water and I was starting to get very cold, so I headed back.

After the Narrows, we drove 2.5 hours back to Las Vegas and checked into our hostel for the night, Hostel Cat . Since we were close by, we walked to the infamous Little White Chapel and poked around before heading to bed.

Day 8: Death Valley National Park

After another early morning wake-up, we hopped in the car and headed towards Death Valley National Park in California. On the way, we drove past Area 51, so of course had to stop in the gift shop for some fun souvenirs!

Once entering Death Valley National Park, we drove towards Badwater Basin , the lowest point in North America. There are also very interesting salt formations here, so make sure to get out and look around (but bring water!)!

On the way out, we got stuck behind some odd wagon train. I still have no idea what was happening, but lots of people dressed in traditional clothing were driving Conestoga wagons.

Next, we wanted to visit some ghost towns! For this, we headed into the state of Nevada. The first town on the list would be Rhyolite , a town founded around 1904 due to the gold rush. At it’s peak, Rhyolite was home to three train lines, three newspapers, three hospitals and 53 saloons! Now only vacant buildings and remnants of a booming town still stand.

One of the main interest points in Rhyolite is the glass bottle house, built in 1906 by a man with limited building supplies and quite the imagination.

Our next ghost town would be Gold Point , a mining town founded in 1868 with a population today of 27 people. This town was a lot more in tact than Rhyolite had been, and significantly more creepy. It was probably my favorite of the 3 ghost towns we visited.

After exploring the town and nearby mine (be careful – there ARE mine shafts that are not completely closed off), we headed to the “downtown” of nearby “ghost town” (although more populated than the others) Goldfield . This town is known for the Goldfield Hotel , which is supposedly one of the most haunted hotels in the country.

We grabbed dinner nearby at the Hoist House , which was delicious but equally creepy. To be honest, the entire town just gave off a creepy vibe. So to all those ghost hunters out there, head to Goldfield!

After dinner, we drove back to Las Vegas. It took about 3 hours and by that time, my mom and aunt went directly to the airport to fly home. I was staying in Vegas for another night, so I went back to Hostel Cat and got ready for a night on the town! I met some friends at the hostel and we had a great night out!

Day 9: Las Vegas

What better way to spend my last day in Vegas than with some gambling, a show, and some In-N-Out ! I explored the different casinos, won big playing craps (enough to pay for my trip!) and treated myself to Animal Style burger and fries.

That night I had booked a show with Penn and Teller ! I always enjoyed watching them on TV and their live performance was not a disappointment! They even stayed afterwards to take pictures with everyone.

After a great day, it was time to head to the airport and head home.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us here !

About Caroline

Caroline is a lover of all adventures! Whether it's a weekend backpacking in the wilderness, or a night club-hopping in Paris, Caroline is always down for a good time. She is happily married and plays mother to two sassy cats - Pickles and Einstein!

@twogirlsgetaway

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U.S. National Parks Reviews & Ratings

Outdoor alaska.

Seeing the wonderful scenery of Alaska, particularly the Wrangell and St Elias National Park.

Trusted Customer

Really liked our guide Ken, He was full of knowledge, friendly and helpful. The highlight of our trip was either seeing three types of whales or walking a glacier. B...

Too much time spent in the minibus getting from A to B, however, I don't know how you mitigate this as the distances are so large. Very disappointed in the wildlife...

Kennicott and Seward plus Denali, for the variety of experiences.

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National Parks Tour 3 Days Small Group Tour from Las Vegas

The best tour company, Bindlestiff, ever!!! We did the three-day tour to the different national parks and it was the best ever. Indi our tour guide was so knowledgeable and kind. I need a special diet and he was so attentive of my needs. I love that in each park we have time to hike. Bryce Canyon was the most beautiful hike. Indi also was able to bring out group together, after couple of hours in the car, we were like old friends. He was just amazing. He also drove so carefully and every two hours he gave us a stop-break so the trip never felt long or that we were rushed. The pace was wonderful. We are planning to take more tours with Bindlestiff. What a great way to see and enjoy the southwest and other parts of the country - worry free--..

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Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Adventure

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Discover American Canyonlands National Geographic Journeys

Like many other businesses, they are having some staffing issues. This business was particularly affected by the pandemic as nobody traveled for a year and they had to lay off some people. We had some trouble getting through to them on occasion, but when the time came, they knocked it out of the park. It was a great trip from the beginning to the end. Their Nat Geo tours are a little bit higher end and, in my opinion, worth the money. We had enough time at multiple different locations to go on a very lengthy hikes. That was very nice because sometimes tours over program and you can only get as much accomplished as the slowest person on the tour. The portions of the tour that we did as a group were perfect. Coupled with the adequate time that we had to do our own thing, it made for a wonderful trip. We saw Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, the Grand Canyon and did some really cool smaller stops along the way. In each of the parks, we had six or seven hours to accomplish some major hikes. Nice hotels, great recommendations for dinners, wonderful people in our group and our tour guide (Megan) was fantastic. We went out to dinner with the group several nights and it was very pleasant. Some nights we did our own thing. Small groups no larger than 15. We had 13 people total. We brought our 13 and 15-year-old boys and they had a great time as well. I highly recommend.

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The tour guide Chris was amazing.

We thoroughly enjoyed the 7-day tour of the US southwest . We love the destinations included in the tour, every place we visited is on our bucket list. I wanted to pinch myself every day that I visited those iconic and beautiful places as shown in my photos below. We enjoyed all the extra, optional experiences that were suggested by the tour guide. They added more fun to the tour. The Hummer tour in Moab, Utah was one of the optional experiences and it was a blast! Not only it’s fun, you get to see the amazing scenery during the sunset. One previous review mentioned he or she was forced to participate in the Navajo taco dinner in Monument Valley. That comment is not true. You have a choice not to do that and the guide can make a different arrangement for you. The optional Navajo taco dinner is one of the highlights of the tour that we will remember for a long time. It would be a shame not to have this cultural experience when you get to meet Navajo people when you are in the Navajo Nation! Our tour guide, John did a fantastic job. He was full of enthusiasm and energy. He kept the tour well organized and always provided information we needed. We highly recommend the tour.

Awesome spring break trip! My husband and I had the absolute best time while visiting some of the prettiest country in our nation. The guide, Hogan was extremely professional, knowledgeable and prompt. Hogan knows history, and was able to share so much amazing information about the area and the sites we visited. We were the only two out of group that camped in the tent and Hogan stayed with us at the camp ground, just in case we needed anything, which put a whole other twist to the care that was provided. We were able to see the stars so brightly at night and wake up to a breathtaking sunrise. I can’t express enough how amazing that experience was. Every single stop offered something unique, yet equally stunning. Antelope Canyon was my favorite and Monument Valley was my husband’s favorite. The helicopter ride was out of this world. We shared the tour with total strangers, which became our new friends very quickly. Everyone on this tour was super respectful.

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This Is the Best Season to Visit the National Parks in the American West

Many of the magnificent national parks of the American West are at their best during this cooler, quieter time of year.

Every summer, millions flock to the red-rock landscapes of southern Utah. But the pro move is to visit in spring — the earlier, the better — to avoid the unbearable heat, the crowds, and the possible flash floods that can spoil a summer trip. To in-the-know locals, springtime goes by a few names. Best known is mud season, that time of year when mountain trails in the region are still boggy from snowmelt. But April and early May also signal the peak of what we in Utah call desert season, when the weather is more temperate and fewer people visit some of our region’s most stunning natural places . “Summer is too hot for these landscapes,” says Stephen Trimble, a former ranger at Capitol Reef National Park and editor of the book "The Capitol Reef Reader." “Spring is the best time of year to wander across the slickrock domes of the Navajo Sandstone. The season also softens the canyons with delicate green leaves,” Trimble notes, as well as the blooms of cottonwood trees and crimson Indian paintbrush.

Benjamin Rasmussen

For Colorado-based rock climber Luke Mehall, the author of "American Climber," Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument is the perfect desert-season destination. “Spring is my favorite time of year in my favorite place,” Mehall says. “Seeing the flowers and cacti come to life is absolutely amazing — there’s a sense of renewal.” This 1.35 million-acre sweep of land — which is held sacred by the Diné (Navajo), Hopi, and Ute peoples — is home to breathtaking landscapes and 100,000 archaeological sites. Notable trails include the path to Moon House Ruins, a 4.6-mile out-and-back to a millennium-old pueblo.

Zion National Park, one of the country’s most visited reserves and the home to world-famous hikes including Angels Landing Trail, is another desert-season winner. Both June and July see more than half a million visitors, on average; springtime months, by contrast, see significantly fewer arrivals. Avoiding busy trails is easier in the Kolob Canyons area, which is often overlooked — but shouldn’t be. As for Angels Landing, it’s best accessed via Zion’s less-trafficked east entrance.

Elsewhere in Utah, Arches and Canyonlands national parks are both within easy driving distance of Moab, which is particularly peaceful in the early spring. The Radcliffe , a new boutique hotel there, offers minimalist rooms designed for outdoorsy go-getters. Staff can help arrange biking, climbing, canyoneering, and hot-air-balloon adventures. Outside of Utah, Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park has two of the tallest dunes in North America, both topping 700 feet, as well as some seriously dark skies for stargazing. The place to stay is the historic Zapata Ranch , which is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Located just outside the park, it has a 17-bedroom lodge with a range-to-table dining room. Desert season is also prime time for White Sands National Park in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico. The park’s 275 square miles of alabaster sand constitute the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Trek the five trails, or pack buckets, shovels, and umbrellas for a day at New Mexico’s coolest “beach.” Wherever desert season takes you, know that these seemingly lifeless landscapes are anything but. April and May are the ideal time to see cacti flower and the ivory sego lily bloom. Another less-noticed but pivotal desert life-form lies underfoot: cryptobiotic soil, which is crucial to these ecosystems, often looks like a blackened, fuzzy crust on the dirt. Respect and protect it by staying on trails and observing park rules.

A version of this story first appeared in the March 2022 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Why Spring Is the Moment to Embrace 'Desert Season.'"

7 Best Yellowstone Tours from Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2024

Searching for the best yellowstone tours from jackson hole, wyoming.

Well then, this list is for you! As a van lifer who has traveled up and down the West Coast for years, Yellowstone is one of my favorite places to visit. 

After spending five days in the park, I totally understand why Yellowstone is so beloved. You’re in for a real treat if you haven’t yet heard of Old Faithful’s blast or the colors of Grand Prismatic Spring. It certainly is one of my favorite national parks in the country, and I’ve been to 28 of them.

Below, I’ve filtered through and ranked 7 of the best trips to Yellowstone from Jackson Hole, pointing out their unique features so you can find the perfect guided experience and itinerary for you. 

Just want the best?   This is my top pick . This Yellowstone Old Faithful, Waterfalls and Wildlife Day Tour is the best overall day trip with a perfect rating!

If you’d like to scout all your options,  below is a list of 7 excellent outings. Separated into day trips and multi-day excursions, each one has a tremendous 5 Star rating!

Top 3 Picks: Best Yellowstone Tours from Jackson Hole, WY

Yellowstone old faithful, waterfalls and wildlife day tour.

Best Overall Day Trip

• Cheapest Option Hitting All Highlights of the Lower Loop
• Small Group Trip up to 11 People

Best of Yellowstone Private Safari Tour

Best Private Day Tour

• Flexible Itinerary on the Lower Loop
• Great for Groups of 2-6 People

Yellowstone and Grand Teton 4 Day 3 Night Wildlife Adventure

Best Multi-Day Trip to Both National Parks

• 4 Days to See Everything Noteworthy in Grand Teton and Yellowstone
• All-inclusive experience

7 Top Yellowstone Tours from Jackson Hole

If you’re trying to avoid the drive or are short on time, here are the best Tours from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone. Again, because Yellowstone is huge and so close to Grand Teton, I highly recommend spending more than one day to see both parks if you have the time.

I’ve separated the following into the following categories: 

• Best Day Trip  Yellowstone tours focus on the main points of interest on the lower loop with small group or private trips.
• Best Multi-Day  Yellowstone tours go beyond just the popular attractions, and you can see more of Grand Teton.

Note that many day trips have nearly identical itineraries, so I’ll emphasize what sets each one apart and why you should choose them.

Tip!  Most roads (outside the north entrance) are  closed to regular vehicles from early November to late April .  Check here for the road closure schedules.

Best Yellowstone Day Tours From Jackson Hole

Take a day trip and check out some amazing views from the famous Old Faithful, the stunning Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and the Upper Geyser Basin.

1. Yellowstone Old Faithful, Waterfalls and Wildlife Day Tour

Best Overall Yellowstone Day Trip

Tour Length:   12 Hours |   Ratings:  5 out of 5 Stars |   Book now

Why You Should Join This Tour:

• One of the cheapest options, especially if you already have a National Park Pass
• Small groups of up to 11 people
• Visits the Highlights of the Lower Loop

Explore the Lower Loop of Yellowstone National Park in  this small-group guided tour from Jackson . In a very long, single day, you’ll see diverse wildlife and the park’s most famous landmarks. Travel inside a comfy, air-conditioned ride with a nature guide who’ll fill you in on the park’s history, ecology, and rocks while you explore all day.

The tour includes  several short, easy walks  to stops like Old Faithful, Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, colorful geothermal areas, and  several chances to spot big game.  There will even be a couple of photo stops at Grand Teton National Park.

With a  cap of 11 people , bask in the untouched ecosystems and check out some of Earth’s most active geysers. This full-day experience includes lunch, hotel pick-up, and a pair of binoculars to borrow.

However, note that  National Park fees are not included  but can be purchased upon arrival. 

2. Best of Yellowstone Private National Park Safari Tour

Best Private Yellowstone Tour For 2-6 People

Tour Length:  12 Hours |   Ratings:  5 out of 5 Stars |   Book now

• You want to customize your itinerary of the Lower Loop
• Your group is between 2-6 people

Join  this personalized Best of Yellowstone Park Safari Tour , witnessing the beauty of famous landmarks  for you and up to 5 of your closest friends and family.  While you take in this scenery, scan the horizon for roaming buffalo with your very own private guide.

On this full-day excursion, you can design your own itinerary and explore the highlights of Lower Loop Road . Along the way, a knowledgeable naturalist guide will point out rare animal sightings.

This tour includes  meals (breakfast and lunch), private transportation, and easy pick-up/drop-off of guests at all Jackson Hole & Teton Village hotels, condos, and private residences.

3. Private Full-Day Yellowstone National Park Tour

Best Private Tour For 5-11 People

Tour Length:  11 Hours |   Ratings:  5 out of 5 Stars |   Book now

• You have a big group of between 5-11 people

This private full-day Yellowstone National Park Tour  itinerary is quite similar to the one above, but is a  great option for larger groups  as it can accommodate up to 11 people. For smaller parties of up to 5, you’ll ride in style with a luxury SUV, while bigger crews will be transported in spacious Sprinter vans.

Hit the park’s most iconic places in just one day without worrying about logistics or directions. From standing above the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to standing in awe at Old Faithful, you’ll see all the famous sights like Firehole River and Hayden Valley.

This private tour provides  seamless transportation in a luxury vehicle.  With binoculars included, watch for the park’s diverse animal life while driving past the jagged peaked landscapes of the Grand Tetons too. 

4. Half-Day Group Sunset Wildlife Safari

Best Tour for Those with Very Little Time

Tour Length:   4 – 5 Hours |   Ratings:  5 out of 5 Stars |   Book now

• You have less than a day
• You are interested in seeing wildlife

So, with half a day, reaching and seeing any of Yellowstone National Park from Jackson Hole is impossible. So, while I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this since  you don’t actually set foot in the park , if you would like a taste of the local wildlife here, I can still suggest   this half-day wildlife tour through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem area.

Accompanied by an expert guide, you’ll be taken to the best places to encounter bison, elk, grizzly bears, bald eagles, and, with any luck, wolves. Usually, you can only observe big mammals from your car, but here, you can  scout for them in their natural habitat.

With frequent sightings, the  route varies daily  based on group interest and wildlife activity. 

Best Multi-Day Yellowstone Tours from Jackson Hole

Going on multi-day trips lets you really dig deeper. You get to stay overnight and check out some cool spots that aren’t on the usual tourist map.

Tip!  Hotel rooms fill up quickly inside National Parks . Most tours can only guarantee accommodation on bookings made within 30 days of travel. Otherwise, you may need to make arrangements outside of the park.

5. Yellowstone and Grand Teton 4 Day 3 Night Wildlife Adventure

Best Multi-Day Trip to See Everything in Yellowstone & Grand Teton

Tour Length: 4 Days |   Ratings:  5 out of 5 Stars |   Book now

• You want to see everything noteworthy in Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park
• You want an all-inclusive experience with food, lodging, and transportation handled
• Explore together with up to 9 new friends

Join  this exceptional 4-day tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks , where you don’t have to worry about planning the perfect itinerary, as your guide does that for you. With so many things to see, I’m so happy that you’re thinking of staying for more days! It’s certainly worth it!

Witness the best of both parks,  where you will have all the time you want to take pictures, go on some of the best Yellowstone hikes , and not feel rushed hitting all the sights.

This package is for a small group tour of up to 10 people and includes accommodation, breakfast and snacks, entrance fees, and transfers.

Trip Itinerary:

• Day 1: Best of Grand Teton National Park & Wildlife Chasing
• Day 2: Half of Lower Loop (West Thumb Geyser Basin, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone)
• Day 3: Best of Upper Loop
• Day 4: Wildlife Viewing & Other Half of Lower Loop (Lamar Valley, Old Faithful, Mammoth Springs, Fountain Paint Pots)

6. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Wildlife Adventure (2 Day/1 Night)

Best Multi-Day Trip to See the Highlights of Grand Teton & Yellowstone

Tour Length: 2 Days |   Ratings:  5 out of 5 Stars |   Book now

• You want to see the best of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park

Check into the ultimate wildlife adventure through the American Serengeti on  this 2-day expedition across Grand Teton & Yellowstone .  Let your guide show you some cool animals like wolves, bison, moose, and bears.

On the first day, begin your journey  through some of my personal favorite Grand Teton Valley panoramas,  like Oxbow Bend, Snake River Overlook, and Mormon Row Historic District. Keep your binoculars at the ready, as there are always herds of buffalo on the side of the road towards the Lower Loop. Rest overnight at a hotel in West Yellowstone or Cooke City.

On the second day, set out early in search of wolves and grizzly bears. Afterward,  take easy, short hikes  through geothermal features and geysers. 

Limited to 10 people,  this package also includes park entrance fees, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and overnight accommodation.

7. 2-Day Yellowstone National Park Upper and Lower Loop Exploration

Best Multi-Day Trip to Explore Yellowstone National Park In-depth 

• You want to see more than just the best of Yellowstone National Park by going to the Upper & Lower Loop
• You want a mostly inclusive experience with food and transportation handled
• Cheaper tour overall, but accommodation is not included in the price

Enjoy a leisurely  two-day exploration of Yellowstone National Park with this exclusive tour.  You will have  ample time to wander through the national park’s Upper and Lower Loops,  which is impossible during traditional single day tours. 

On day one, venture north from Jackson, Wyoming,  pausing for a few Grand Teton photo ops.  As you approach the South Entrance Station, observe all of the  attractions the Lower Loop offers,  such as the impressive hues of Grand Prismatic Spring, and lesser-visited sites like Firehole Canyon Drive or Golden Gate Canyon before reaching Mammoth Hot Springs!

After a restful  night at the historic Chico Hot Springs Resort,  begin day two by  heading around the Upper Loop  to Paradise Valley. From there, you will drive to Undine Falls, Blacktail Plateau Drive, Petrified Tree, and Lamar Valley. Tower Fall and Canyon Village Area are also must-sees, along with Lower and Upper Falls, Mud Volcano, and more.

This tour includes lunch, a knowledgeable guide, transportation, and hotel pick-up and drop-off from Jackson, WY.

Where to Stay in Jackson Hole, WY

Jackson Hole is a charming town, yet it can be pretty pricy for budget-minded roadtrippers and travelers. To help make you stay comfy, here are two highly rated options with varying rates, along with a map so that you may check all your possibilities. 

Tip!  Note that some tours do door-to-door pick up only at certified hotels, not private residences like Airbnb or VRBO. 

THE BEST HOTEL IN JACKSON WITH MOUNTAIN VIEWS – Hotel Jackson

In a prime location in the heart of Jackson,  book a stay at Hotel Jackson,  arguably the best hotel in the whole town. With the surrounding snowcapped mountains as the view for your spacious and elegantly appointed rooms, it can only be topped with its top-of-the-line amenities, like its sparkling indoor swimming pool and fitness center. 

HOMEY WESTERN-INSPIRED INN – Parkway Inn of Jackson Hole

Stay at the Parkway Inn of Jackson Hole  for a cozy and authentic mountain getaway. This homey, western-inspired inn is perfect for those seeking a warm and inviting retreat. Relax before the fireplace, take in the stunning mountain vistas from your balcony, or unwind in the indoor pool after a long day at the slopes.

Tips to Prepare for Your Tour

Before you head off on a Yellowstone adventure, make sure you’re all prepped up. Here’s what you need to know:

• What to pack:  Be sure to pack for the weather, including layers, comfortable walking shoes, and rain gear. Outside of summer, it is pretty cold for most of the year. 
• Best time to visit:  The best time to visit is May through September, when the weather is mild, and the park is actually open.
• Wildlife safety:  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PET THE ANIMALS! I’m not kidding; people every year get killed by buffalo. They are not pets. If they are in your way, go around. 
• Geothermal Safety:  DON’T POKE OR STEP ON THE GEOTHERMAL FLOORS! Yes, even if the wind blows your hat off the boardwalk. Aside from destroying the formation, you might literally fall in and get burned.

A Bit About Yellowstone National Park

Did you know that Yellowstone National Park is the  oldest national park in the United States ? Established in 1972, it spans 3,472 square miles of Wyoming wilderness, making it among the largest of the federal park system.

From its very own Grand Canyon to its geysers and hot springs, Yellowstone National Park is home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in America. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound with free-roaming bison on open prairies or grazing elk near bubbling thermal pools. This protected area promises outdoor enthusiasts hiking, camping, fishing, and boating adventures, or simply a tranquil scenic drive. 

How far is Jackson Hole to Yellowstone?

As a massive park,  Yellowstone sports five entrance stations,  and it takes several hours to drive between them. Jackson Hole is a popular jumping-off point to exploring Yellowstone, a  1.5 – 2 hour drive from the south entrance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most popular loop in the park is the Grand Loop (Lower Loop), which covers almost 142 miles and takes approximately 8 hours to complete. This loop takes visitors to the park’s most famous things to do, including Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Yes, as per the list above, it is possible to do a day trip to Yellowstone from Jackson Hole. However, keep in mind that Yellowstone is a large park. It would be difficult to see all the major attractions in just one day. Spending at least 2-3 days in the park is highly recommended to fully experience it.

Yes, Jackson Hole is a great place to stay when visiting Yellowstone. It’s only a 1.5 – 2 hours drive to the park’s southern entrance and filled with lodging, restaurants, and outdoor activities. Plus, it’s great if you are also in time for the end of the ski season, as it is home to one of the best ski resorts in the country.

The closest entrance from Jackson Hole is the south entrance, approximately 60 miles away.

The drive from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone is a scenic one. Be prepared for winding roads and possible delays due to herds of buffalo on the road, construction, or accidents. Many roads may be closed in the wintertime.

Many visitors to the area are often torn between which park to spend more time at, but, in my opinion, Yellowstone is way better. As subjective as I’m trying to be as Grand Teton does have an impressive mountain range and alpine lakes, Yellowstone’s geothermal and canyon sceneries are just so unique, I think every traveler to America should visit this park.

Jackson Hole is closer to Grand Teton National Park, approximately 20 miles away. Yellowstone’s southern entrance is about 60 miles from Jackson Hole.

The best time of year to visit is the summer months (June-August) with the warmest weather and the most things to do. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) have cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and a chance to see wildlife and changing foliage. Most roads are closed in the winter months unless you sign up for winter tours like cross-country skiing or snowmobiling.

Yes, Old Faithful is one of the most popular points of interest and will be visited on most tours. Check the eruption schedule in advance to plan your visit accordingly.

Final Thoughts: Best Yellowstone Tours from Jackson Hole

Yellowstone National Park will forever be an amazing place, and I hope to return soon! With geothermal features and plenty of wildlife to find, Jackson Hole is a great starting point for those looking to day trip or take a longer excursion. Plus, being close to Grand Teton National Park makes this location even more desirable! 

In case you’ve just scrolled to the end:

• To choose the best overall Yellowstone day trip,  join this tour from Jackson.
• To go on a private day tour,  book this lower loop tour .
• For the ultimate 4 Day/3 Night multi-day trip to see all of Grand Teton and Yellowstone,  book this all-inclusive tour.

No matter which way you go, Yellowstone is an absolute treat for the eyes. I bet you’re going to love it just as much as I did!

The post 7 Best Yellowstone Tours from Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2024 appeared first on Nomadicated .