The best road trip to see all the US national parks

What a better way to explore the beauty of a country than taking a road trip! At some point in your life you have probably thought about taking a road trip across U.S., but it never seems possible to plan the perfect one. There’s always some point of interest that gets lost in the shuffle or a boring route taken rather than a more interesting one. 

Here is the route that would allow you to view each national park in the 48 continental states without wasting time.

This road trip is designed to be 14,498 miles long and is going to take about two months to be completed. So, all you have to do is get your friends together and drive.

Note that you can start the journey at any point and proceed whatever direction you like, as this road trip forms a circle around the U.S. If exploring the stunning beauty of  National Parks on a road trip is on your bucket list, this might be the perfect map for you; the natural beauty of national parks, unique geological features, unusual ecosystems meaning a perfect escape from the bustle of the big city.

U.S. National Parks

If you’re unfamiliar with the U.S. national park system, it consists of 59 protected areas across the U.S. that are managed by the U.S. National Park Service.
Many of the national parks are known for their natural beauty, unique geological features, unusual ecosystems, and/or recreational opportunities, which makes them ideal spots to visit if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

12 of the national parks are in Alaska, Hawaii, and other U.S. territories, which can make them difficult to drive to unless you have a flying car. Thus for road trip, we’re going to focus on the national parks that span the 48 contiguous states in the mainland United States. Don’t worry: that limitation still leaves us 47 national parks, which should be plenty for one road trip.

The optimal road trip to the U.S. National Parks

Here’s the Google Maps for the full trip: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Here’s the full list of national parks in order:

1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
2. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
3. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
4. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
5. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
6. Big Bend National Park, Texas
7. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
8. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
10. Everglades National Park, Florida
11. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
12. Biscayne National Park, Florida
13. Congaree National Park, South Carolina
14. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
15. Acadia National Park, Maine
16. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
17. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
18. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
19. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
20. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
21. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
22. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
23. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado
24. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
25. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
26. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
27. Arches National Park, Utah
28. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
29. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
30. Zion National Park, Utah
31. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
32. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
33. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
34. Glacier National Park, Montana
35. North Cascades National Park, Washington
36. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
37. Olympic National Park, Washington
38. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
39. Redwood National and State Parks, California
40. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
41. Yosemite National Park, California
42. Kings Canyon National Park, California
43. Sequoia National Park, California
44. Pinnacles National Park, California
45. Channel Islands National Park, California
46. Joshua Tree National Park, California
47. Death Valley National Park, California

Want to make your own road trip?

Contact Us!