We Took the Ultimate National Park Road Trip—Here Are 6 Must-See Spots We Recommend

I'm just going to address the elephant in the room: Yes, taking a national park road trip seems like a lofty feat. But maybe this trip was just lofty enough to work. At least that's what we thought as we stared at our itinerary. My wife and I had been itching to get out west and witness the beautiful landscapes we'd seen online. Plus, I have a goal of visiting all the national parks, but so far, we have only seen four.

The national parks road trip was simple: We were going to spend 17 days on the road, camping in a new place every night, and visiting 12 different national parks along the way. Pretty easy, right? It felt ambitious, but now that it's over and I look back, I think I would do it all over again. Here's how we prepped, six of the 12 spots we explored, and what we learned on this fantastic weeks-long trip.

How We Prepped for Our National Parks Vacation

Over 6,000 miles of roads, 11 different states, 40 miles of trails, and 12 national parks. These are just some of the stats of our massive trip, and we couldn’t have been more excited on day one. We packed our car as full as we could with camping equipment, food, and hiking supplies. This was the largest trip we had ever planned, but we felt prepared.

The national parks on the list (and in this order) were: Gateway Arch, Rocky Mountains, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Hot Springs. We mapped out the best lookouts, trails, and vistas we wanted to visit, and planned our camping and accommodations around that. Having your own national park trip planning guide certainly helps!

Stop #1: Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado

Colorado was the first state to completely blow us away. Rocky Mountains National Park ended up being one of my favorite locations on the trip. The 14,000-foot mountains felt unreal—after all, I'd only seen 6,000-foot ones before. The rugged terrain and shimmering lakes took my breath away. I especially loved the Emerald Lake Trail, where the scenery got better and better with each step.

Visit in the morning to see the first glimmers of light shine through the mountains. You'll spot critters starting their day, like elk and bighorn sheep, and tons of cool trees and plant life. Drive along the Trail Ridge Road—the main highway leading from Estes Park to Grand Lake. It's a stunning drive, but it's elevated (over 12,000 feet at certain points!). If you're getting woozy, hydrate and descend slowly to prevent altitude sickness.

Stop #2: Arches National Park, Utah

Next up on our national park bucket list was Arches National Park in southeastern Utah. This was our first real taste of seeing the desert, and I fell in love with it right away. I was mesmerized by the monoliths, mesas, and red rock arches everywhere we looked. It was just as crowded as we thought it'd be—but understandably so, it's incredible here.

Unlike other well-known national parks in Utah, like Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion, Arches was surprisingly small, which allowed us to see a lot of arches in a very short amount of time. The feel of the soft sand under our hiking shoes, the endless desert landscape, and the fascinating rock formations made for an amazing experience. I was so exhausted after the first day of hiking in the sun that I lay on a flat rock and thought to myself, "It wouldn't be so bad to just sleep on this rock all night!"

We did set up camp, eventually, and enjoyed a night in the national park before another fun-filled day in Arches. Our packs included plenty of water, sun protection, snacks, and hiking poles to help us get over the rocky terrain.

Stop #3: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

As we continued on our trip through the Mighty Five, I became more acclimated to desert hiking. One day, we were standing on the edge of a huge cliff overlook; the next, we were picking rare apples in the middle of a desert fruit tree oasis. I woke up each day with a renewed excitement for what would come next.

Our next stop was Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its Dr. Seuss-like hoodoos, which we got a brief preview of the night before while watching the sunset. Witnessing the amphitheater from an overlook was one thing, but hiking right through it? It was one of the top three hikes I'd ever done. Every corner was filled with rocks more jagged and unique-looking than the smooth curves at Arches. We were sad once the hike was over—it was one of the biggest highlights on our trip.

We spent our last Utah day exploring the majestic beauty of Zion National Park, which is only about an hour south of Bryce Canyon. Then, it was time to see the Grand Canyon.

Stop #4: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Ah, the Grand Canyon. This iconic world wonder is every bit as impressive as reputed to be, but seeing it in person still blew my expectations out of the water. Standing on the edge of the canyon, I was overwhelmed by the size of the wide-open range. As I peered into the endless rock layers, I still couldn’t believe I was actually doing this. It made me thankful to be on a national park trip, adventuring with my family.

The best overlooks at the park are typically within the South Rim, located in northern Arizona, or Grand Canyon Village viewpoints like Lookout Studio. We enjoyed Grand View and Mather Points, which are pretty accessible and have clear, sweeping views of the canyon. If you're visiting for the first time, like us, you might want to consider a guided hike or tour, so you can have a trained pro teach you all about this incredible natural attraction.

Stop #5: White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Eventually, we made it to New Mexico for the most unique desert experience yet. White Sands National Park was one of the most beautiful and bizarre places I've ever been. We took the Alkali Flat Trail, where the only thing that could be seen was miles and miles of powdery white dunes. It felt like we were on another planet—being alone out there also gave it another other-worldly feel.

After walking a bit through the sand, we made it to Trinity Site, the infamous missile site where the world's first atomic bomb was launched in 1945. It felt eerie looking at a sight of such historical significance, and to know it's a missile site for the U.S. Army to this day. That part's not open to the public, so we just looked from afar. After walking back in the heat of the day, we were exhausted but fully satisfied. 

It can get windy at White Sands, so bring sunglasses or bandanas to cover your face and protect yourself from blowing sand. We highly suggest planning out the hikes you want to take while there, as there are several different trails. Or, go sand sledding at the Alkali Flat trailhead!

Stop #6: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

We had plenty of unique experiences on our trip, but one of my favorites was when we left the heat of the sun and traveled underground in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It's about three hours southeast of White Sands, yet the landscape couldn't be more different. Also, we had been to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky before, so I was curious to compare the two.

Carlsbad Caverns was a true geological wonderland filled with spectacular rock formations. I loved the freedom we had to explore the caves; you don't need to be part of a tour, so we spent three hours taking pictures and wandering at our own pace. This massive cave system has over 119 known caves; each one we explored had me hypnotized with its enchanting details.

It's echoey, cool (about 56 degrees Fahrenheit at its deepest point), and has absolutely amazing stalagmites and stalactites. Bring your sweaters to keep warm! There truly is beauty hidden in the darkness when you know where to look. 

What We Learned After Visiting 12 National Parks in 17 Days

While this road trip itinerary didn't list all of the stops we made on our national park trip, it gives a pretty clear picture of all the major sites we hit. The biggest thing we learned on this trip is that planning out our routes, whether for hiking or driving, is imperative. We used the AllTrails app at each stop—it saved us so much time on the trail and kept us from getting lost. The America the Beautiful pass was also a must-have; this one card grants access to all of the national parks for an entire year! That way, you can visit the best national parks by season.

I highly recommend having these resources on your next trip. They made our road trip so much more enjoyable, and we think they'll make yours, too. On our way home, our bodies were tired, but our hearts were full. I looked over at my wife as I was driving and said, "You know, I could easily do this for another 17 days." She grabbed my hand, smiled, and said, "Me, too." We make an amazing travel team—with her by my side, we really can reach the goal of visiting all the national parks someday.

Until then, I am going to soak up every single previous moment I have with my family as we adventure. Hopefully, we can take more ultimate USA road trips soon, filled with scenic national park drives.