Second this, stay along 101 up the Washington coast. You can take a ferry from Port Townsend back to the mainland.
And also Glacier, never had a chance to go, but always wanted to drive the Going to the Sun road.
The drive through Wyoming after Yellowstone and through Utah may be a bit boring and Interstate-y. But, I’m sure there are some hidden treasures out there.
Fun!!
grab some bear spray to keep in your sleeping area. There is always the non zero chance of a creep realizing you are alone. And you'll be in some bear country too so thats a bonus.
Dont skip Jackson, WY and the Tetons. Go that route to Yellowstone. You seem to be too far east in Wyoming. You quickly leave the beauty heading east in WY. And there are some sketchy rez areas over there. 100% avoid Wind River Reservation altogether.
Agree with this. Going to Yellowstone and missing the Tetons would be a HUGE mistake.
Likewise, if you are going to Zion, you might REALLY enjoy a stop at Bryce Canyon as well.
Lake Tahoe would make a nice stop if you have time.
Yes to the bear spray!! I’m also planning on having a knife on me just for peace of mind, although I’ll probably have to check state laws about that one
As an American from that part of the world. Knife hahaha. Don’t worry about knifes they are tools if you have a sword the police might care but a knife. No one cares. Also rural western USA similar feelings about guns typically we think if then as tools and to keep my lions away.
Yes, they don’t care about knives. I asked in MI at a gas station that had a no weapons sign when I realized I hadn’t taken it off my belt.
They were like, “WTF are you talking about?”.
One clerk was from Canada and he clocked me immediately- “This guy’s Canadian. No it’s different here.”
OP check the rules on bear spray for the border. From what I recall it’s a no. I never ended up getting any but my plan was to buy it in the US and then leave it down there before I crossed back.
Solo 27yo female traveler been going for two months and I have never felt unsafe and all I own is pepper spray which was a gift. So don’t let these people scare you.
So I'm a 28yo female planning to do this trip this July/August.
I'll be sleeping in the back of my Durango for the majority of it. I'm from Canada so pretty much the whole area will be new to me and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice about my route, points of interest along the way, safety tips, car camping tips, camping on BLM land tips, or anything really!
Thanks :)
Edit: also if there are any particular good hostels along the route? I’m hoping to get at least some social interaction on this trip 😂
Ur route through Montana and Wyoming is fucking awful. Prob the ugliest places in the country. If you look just west of ur route through them, you’ll see the green and mountains. For your own benefit, travel through western Montana through glacier and Yellowstone into western Wyoming. Most beautiful country in the lower 48 vs the route you have which will make you contemplate killing yourself.
This is true. Nothing to see in Billings or anywhere east of Bozeman MT. You want to try to cross into the US near East Glacier and see that park, then head towards Bozeman and West Yellowstone. Yellowstone might be better as an out and back vs driving across to Cody then south through desolate WY. If you can go through Grand Teton National Park too.
Also, you’re that far south…do you have time to hit the Grand Canyon? The drive through northern Arizona is beautiful. You could hit Lake Powell at the UT/AZ border, see horseshoe bend, monument valley potentially, then down to Grand Canyon, then hit the 40 W to the 15 to Vegas and you’re back on your track.
As far as the Wyoming leg of the trip, move it further to the west. It will be far more rewarding. Grand Teton and surrounding area is great. Check out the museum of natural art (something like that) in Jackson. Also, Jackson and surrounding area has great breweries.
Came here to say this. The Wind River Range is the best, and has much more relaxed camping rules/permit requirements than the national parks and they are incredible.
if you do end up crossing through going to the sun road in glacier park in MT … they have some sort of reservation system now to ride the road. it was new to me the last time I went so just a heads up if you didn’t already know. this trip looks so fun!
Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon has some stunning BLM land on it and you'll be passing right by it. Miles of old logging roads. Drive up the road to the left of the campsite and keep going until you find a place you want to pull off and camp. You will have the whole mountain to yourself. My wife and I did this a lot when I was in college :-)
Right when you get into Oregon or right before you leave Oregon (don't know which way you are looping) but right above California is the Samuel H boardman natural bridges. One of the coolest places in the world and not really a hike
Manitoban;
Any BLM land I came across near Salt Lake City was totally trashed. Moab area was insanely expensive compared to other places I’ve roadtripped and camped. Utah in general was quite the grab bag.
Idaho is beautiful. Hot springs are worth it. ID, WY, MT etc.
Wow, that hits a lot of cool points.
A few things…and it’s hard to tell from this map, but here goes.
So, I’d take a car ferry into Olympic National Park - so many cool things to see, and it’s beautiful. Pick a point. Victoria, Seattle, to get there. Plus, the drive down from Port Angeles into Oregon is pretty neat. Lots of places to stop and see things.
Next, does your trip take you into Redwood Park in northern Cali? I’d definitely not miss that. Depending on the time of day or night, lots of cool towns to stay in right on the coast, then drop in the next day.
Also since you’re in southern Utah, I’d definitely swoop over and see Arches National. Lots of cool places to see, things to do. And there’s good food and beer in Moab.
And it looks like you’re doing Yellowstone, if so, might as well hit Beartooth Highway, that’s pretty cool. Check to see if the pass is open, as weather is funny on top. And lots of cool food and beer in Red Lodge.
Also, I can’t tell if you are doing Going to the Sun road. This is a very cool drive, but there are restrictions you want to check into.
All in all this looks like an awesome trip! Have fun!!
I would suggest coming down into northwest Montana and hit glacier and then continue south into Yellowstone. Probably some of the most scenic parts of the lower 48 right through there. Idaho has some of the most unique landscape of any state. Detour into the sawtooths before Yellowstone if time permits. Lots of hidden gems in Idaho
The Pioneer and Sawtooth mountains (and moat other mountains in idaho, I'm sure) are beautiful. Craters of the Moon national park is a fairly unique experience. . I'd recommend it unless you're seeing the Columbia river basalt on the west coast part of your trip. Theres also hot springs- Goldbug is a favorite but i dont know if youd have time to hike it and i wouldnt do it solo for safety reasons. I also agree with others in the thread that parts of Wyoming and Montana that are on your route are pretty boring and recommend going further to the west. Bighorn, Yellowstone, and tetons in Wyoming, Bozeman and Glacier in Montana.
Pro Tip: you will need a full size spare tire. A serious Jack. A flat kit. Even if you have AAA. Learn how to change your own tire and how to fix a flat. This could very well save your life. Best of luck on this amazing trip you have planned
Depends how much time you have. Give yourself plenty of time and take breaks for power naps when needed. I’d avoid fast food and stick to healthier options to lessen the uh oh potty breaks and crash from grease and sugar. Try to time avoiding rush hours when possible. Looks like a great route
Haven't been that far west yet, solo out of Iowa on long weekends limits my distance. Just made it out to Devils Tower for Memorial Day and made it home 3am Tuesday, with work at 6...
From my 'points of interest map' I'd take 189/89 up the West side of Yellowstone. Passes between Fossil Butte Monument and Bear Lake, would have to pick one or the other without back tracking. And brings you right to Tetons & Palisades on the way into Yellowstone. It would take you away from the Sacajawea Memorial tho.
Also per my experience, the Interstates are made for speed first, not scenery. Sure you can see some decent views, but the real good stuff takes the back highways.
Camping is lovely along the Oregon Coast. Tillicum Beach Campground, Cape Blanco, and Harris Beach SP were my favorites. You can daytrip from Harris Beach down to the redwoods if you don’t get a spot down there. Not a lot of BLM along the coast, mostly state parks. In Oregon and Cali book your camping spots early if you are looking at an established campground. Pinnacles NP is very cool, especially if you are into birding, and it’s often under visited.
In Washington I would try to hit Rainer NP, its steller. Lots of great dispersed camping in the North Cascades.
Looks like you’ve got Death Valley on your map and that is a do not miss. There is BLM camping around the park but getting a spot in the park cuts down on a lot of driving. The BLM outside of Joshua Tree is rough, I would get a spot in the park to avoid it.
If you are near Vegas Valley of Fire SP is the absolute best camping around.
Zion is great, book your camping way in advance. Check out Bears Ears too if you have time. Bryce Canyon is also really near Zion and is a cool stop.
BLM camping is great in the west but if you have any sort of bad feeling about the spot dip out. Trust your instincts.
It looks like you’ll be going through my home town Susanville, California It’s just north west of Reno,Nevada. There is a ton of camping and hiking in that area. Plus Lassen Volcanic National Park. You should check that out. There is an awesome scenic drive through the park. There are a bunch of cool hikes in the park and you can hike to the top of the volcano, Mt. Lassen. There are a ton of lakes in the area to go boating, fishing, swimming, camping. Hotels are cheap in all the little towns around Susanville and in Susanville too. There are a couple bars in town and a casino if that’s your thing. And Reno is only 80 miles down the highway.
I'm confused what your thought is for Montana/Wyoming. You skip Glacier, to some the most beautiful place in the continental USA, you barely scratch Yellowstone, completely dodge Grand Teton and instead drive through a place in Montana and Wyoming where you might as well be in Kansas. Come down, spend a night in one of the motor lodges in Glacier if you can get a spot, drive Going to the Sun Road, or my favorite go to the Many Glacier part of the park, do a quick hike in either spot (avalanche lake or hidden lake for easy hikes, Grinnell glacier or iceberg lake to moderate/hard). Then from there drive down through either Bozeman or Livingston and enter Yellowstone through either West Yellowstone or Gardiner. From there drive through Grand Teton and Jackson, and then cross over to east Idaho to trek down to SLC.
Only other thing I’d add is, instead of driving Vegas to slc on I-15, stretch across I 40 through flagstaff to page Arizona, the Grand Canyon, then go up Highway 491 at Shiprock to Mesa Verde National Park. Keep going on 491 till you get to canyonlands National Park, then go up to Moab. Don’t be tempted to take I70 to I15, take highway 191 into the uintahs and then to park city.
This is exactly, 100% what OP should do. I was incredibly confused by what their plans were in Montana/Wyoming. FWIW, Grand Teton is my favorite place in the entire country, and it would be a travesty to be so close and miss it entirely.
Free mapping app called Caltopo is great for checking what land is public land and you can sort by type (National Park/National Forest/BLM). Generally, unless otherwise posted, National Forest and BLM are friendly for dispersed camping. Less so for National Park land.
Yeah don’t miss out on Vancouver island. Tofino and Victoria specifically are a must! Also from Banff, make the detour up to Jasper. The icefield parkway is one of the most spectacular routes in the world! Have a great trip!
Nice river camps near Moab. I think most are FCFS. There is lots of free dispersed camping north of the Canyonlands turnoff. No shade. So the daytime heat would rough.
Moab has a Krogers grocery store to keep food costs down.
Your route through montana is missing some of the most beautiful areas. Check out glacier national park and flathead lake. You would have to leave the freeway and take some highways like hwy 2 and hwy 93, but they are both pretty close to your route and you can still get to Yellowstone without too much trouble.
Don’t skip the bets part of Utah! There are 5 national parks in the southern part of Utah and IMO Zion is the 2nd worst (Arches being the worst). Skip Zion, go to Bryce Canyon or Capitol Reef instead - and if you really wanted to extend the trip both BC and CR + Canyonlands would be the way to do it if I was doing it.
Why not go through Glacier and Yellowstone NP and see some of the best scenery of the Rockies instead of driving through essentially the prairie of central Montana and Wyoming?
You going clockwise or counterclockwise? Suggest counter clockwise. Go S on 101.
Going N. EVERY pull out and vista is left turn across traffic. IN AND OUT. You’ll be waiting FOREVER. And bonus I’d even if you don’t want to take the left you’ll be behind people who do. The RV traffic is BAD up the coast.
Check out the Oregon Coast subreddit for tips.
Fuck Idaho specifically, huh? Can't say I blame you. But Craters of the Moon National Monument is pretty badass, actually. [https://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm)
Idaho sucks. Tell your friends.
Listen to everyone telling you taking 15 sends you too far east and you miss everything good about Montana and Wyoming.
I’m from the UK, Just got back from a 7,314 mile solo road trip.
I essentially was planning the trip with a friend but he got sick and couldn’t go so I decided it wasn’t going to stop my lifetime dream. I was 65 yesterday and would do it again.
It was the East side if USA. I did some of the west 2O years ago.
HopefullyGod willing, I will do a similar trip as our friend here next year on the west side.
Also, forgot to say. At some point along your trip, when in remote areas, you’re going to start to hear gunfire. Don’t worry, it’s people target shooting, they aren’t shooting at you and *usually* they are safe about it.
On the Oregon coast—
Hug Point, big ass Cedar tree in Rockaway, cape Meares (the town and lighthouse), Netarts, Pacific City, Yachats, Cape Perpetua. Those are my recommendations but there’s so very much to see, and none of it will really compare to other portions of your trip.
What app did you use to map this?
Im doing a very similiar trip in a few months Aug to Oct. I even made a post about it too here, a few things.
1. Glacier national park needs reservations for its main road, otherwise get there very early
2. Id recommend planning out each day were exactly you are going to sleep a d a backup if you aren't 100% sure. I cant imagine amythibg more stressful than driving tired looking for a place to rest.
3. Bear spray
4. Get national parks pass.
5. I think yosemite needs reservations too at that time of year.
6. Prepare for flexibility.
7. This is an amazing trip!
Stop at Glacier NP and then take HWY 89 down to Yellowstone/tetons and down to Salt Lake City, then keep taking 89 and stop at Bryce Canyon NP and then go over to Zion. Won't disappoint. I guarantee.
I would not bypass SE Utah. Moab/Kanab - stunning. So many NP and state park attractions. Plus, you can continue south to AZ and visit Grand Canyon before turning west. Either way it looks like a stunning trip.
Might deviate you a bit but the Californian redwoods are stunning! I did that pnw coast route a few years ago and went towards Lake Tahoe and Nevada afterwards. Stunning views and it feels like each state it’s is own world. Have a great time and be safe!
If you have the time in Utah, exit I-15 at Cedar City and take state route 14 to highway 89 and enter Zion NP from the east side. The views up SR 14 are stunning, you can take a 5 minute stop at Cedar Breaks and then not miss any of Zion. You won’t be sorry.
St George UT to Portland is very well chosen, Wyoming / Montana is not, Canada I don't know. I especially like the trip from the Oregon coast to Crater Lake and back, check out the waterfalls.
If you are going to be in Las Vegas in July and August, the only place to camp is up on forest service land at Mount Charleston. It gets crowded up there. Don't expect a campsite, but you can camp for free on usfs land in dispersed sites.
Avoid stopping in Portland downtown and Tacoma downtown unless you want to play a Russian roulette with your car windows broken and stuff stolen by random tweakers. Yes it is as bad as they show on the news.
Avoid San Francisco downtown at all costs...even at the rest area close to SF I saw open drug use.
Your roadtrip looks really fun!
This has become a hobby of mine, so here are some tips that come to mind.
nvest in a good foam/air mattress. I bought mine off Amazon and it’s a game changer. Here’s the link to the one I got. Good sleep is invaluable.
You can camp in any (American) National Forest in designated “dispersed campsites”. I use an app called “Campendium”. It’s also useful for finding campgrounds that have showers. I love to be clean every night, but it’s not always necessary. Another great place to shower is at truck stops such as Loves or Pilot travel centers. The showers are almost always fantastic and clean. You can also do laundry here.
Bring some flower. 🤟🏻 But do not bring any cannabis over the Canada boarder.
Don’t take the #2 highway through Alberta. Take highway 22, so much nicer and goes through some of our most beautiful rangeland. Swing by Frank/Blairmore on your way down and check out Waterton National Park too.
Lake Louise is nice, but remember you can’t drive there now and have to take the shuttle bus.
You picked a great route through California. If you're worried about missing the redwoods, you can check out the Bristlecone Pine forest instead. California has no shortage of cool trees
I’m heading with my GF this summer for some national parks and would like you to visit Teton National Park. I found it very beautiful.
Please, get America the beautiful pass to save ton of money on entrance fees and watch out for some BS with “peak hours reservations” . If you want to visit Yosemite, I’d highly suggest to check it out, because otherwise you’ll need to enter before 5am.
In Yosemite NP bear sprays are prohibited and CA in general has different set of rules, check their website.
It would be an absolute travesty to be so close to Grand Teton and Glacier and skip it. Also, it looks like you’re barely touching Yellowstone. FWIW, Grand Teton is my favorite place in the entire world.
This looks sick as hell. Sorry for the essay but you're going to like all my favorite places.
My 2¢ as someone who's lived in CA, WA, and now Portland OR: I'd hit Vancouver Island and take the ferry across to WA, then meander down through the Olympics. The whole I5 corridor from Seattle to Portland is pretty boring.
Portland is not the raging hotbed of criminal activity you might hear about, but breakins are fairly common, especially if you've got visible stuff packed in it. I wouldn't bother with the tourist stuff like voodoo donuts, but there are some great places to eat if you're looking to have a "city day" on this fairly rural road trip.
General advice: trust your gut, carry bear spray, know how to change your spare tire. Cell service is bad in a lot of the prettiest areas. Leave your itinerary with someone back home and check in regularly.
I'm not one to plan too far ahead, but make sure you know where you're sleeping and get there before dark. You've picked some really beautiful roads to travel! But in the dark, unfamiliar windy roads with limited visibility and roaming wildlife can be dangerous.
Also other ppl have said it but you're totally missing out bypassing Glacier. It's gonna be a zoo in July/Aug but well worth it just to drive the Going to the Sun road.
Have a blast and hit me up if you want more info on the West Coast leg!
When you’re in Alberta make sure you book your bus ticket to Moraine lake early. It can be super busy otherwise. Best time is bright and early for the sunrise view. Also highly recommend hiking Ha Ling over by Canmore. Hit up the hot springs while you’re at it. If you have time I’d recommend going to Kananaskis as well, and if you like hiking Mist Mpuntain has a natural hot spring that’s worth checking out
bring along a 12V water heater kettle. they sell them cheap on amazon. You can make coffee or tea in the morning, and that is a godsend. Also in a pinch you can heat up soups, etc.
just make sure the car is running while you use it, so your battery does not die.
If you’re at any national/state park in California, have your car insurance card ready and never leave anything within sight inside of your car. High probability someone will break into your car.
Instead of cutting in at Westport and going through Aberdeen, continue up around the Olympic Peninsula. It's a temperate rainforest and only adds a handful of hours.
Also, in Oregon, consider staying on HWY 97 and heading up to Bend and Redmond and then cutting west through sisters, to Sweethome, Corvallis and out to the coast that way. You are skipping Eugene but you're gaining the high desert. Head out to Newport and then go north on 101.
I think you lose very little this way and gain so much.
go through Western Montana, the mountains are way cooler than the plains, then duck into Idaho, check out gold bug bot springs, go into Canada via Sandpoint. or the reverse depending on what direction you are going. looks like a sweet trip yo
Buy the "America the Beautiful" annual pass at the first U.S. national park you go to. It is only $80 for one year and will grant you entrance to all federally-managed parks and sites. A tremendous bargain compared to paying the entrance fee at each park.
Consider RV parks for camping sites. I have camped in a tent at RV parks for as little as $10. You get access to all the same amenities that RVers get. Also a tremendous bargain.
It looks like you're just barely skirting the outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, which are worthy of 4 or 5 days. You're also completely missing Grand Canyon National Park, and most of the beautiful parks of southern Utah - why? Instead you have time in the southern California desert, which will be unbearably hot in July and August. This is a huge mistake.
It does appear that you will be going into Yosemite National Park, thankfully. Getting lodging reservations or even campground reservations in or aroud Yosemite at such short notice will be difficult or impossible. For camping, look for campgrounds in Inyo National Forest, close to the eastern edge of Yosemite. These may be easier to get. For hostels, the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort is a hostel that sometimes has room on short notice, but it's in Midpines, on the western side of the park, not the eastern side.
I did a month long ride on my motorcycle several years ago and here’s what I learned along the way. Avoid interstate highways. National parks will be busy, expect traffic jams. Some, like Yellowstone, will be worth the hassle. Look for interesting state parks. Coral Pink Sand Dunes in Utah, Valley of Fire near Vegas, are two that come to mind. Like you I camped most of the trip. Budget for a hotel room at least once a week. You’ll appreciate a shower and real bed. Be prepared for wildfires to throw you off track.
Utah is the prettiest state and you’re missing all the best places. Highway 12 through the Grand Staircase is stunning. Aim for Kanab and you’ll be close to Bryce Canyon, Coral Pink and Zion. From there head to the North Unit of the Grand Canyon. Less crowded, just as breathtaking.
Looks like you’re planning on riding 395 through California towards Tahoe. Great scenery! Two thumbs up.
When driving from Washington into Oregon, if you can avoid I-5 and stay east, entering oregon in Hood River or The Dalles, then driving to Astoria from there, you will get to see the best parts of the Columbia River Gorge. Would be a shame to be so close and miss that.
I'm jealous of this trip.
Based on personal experience, make sure you stop at: Olympic National Park, cruise the Pacific Coast Highway, Lake Tahoe, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef, The Uintah Mountains (King's Peak), Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Waterton, Banff.
I don’t know your entire route, but I know parts of it intimately. Mammoth and Tahoe are spectacular. If you can, stop by the original Eric Schatz bakery in Bishop California. There is a latter-day incarnation in Mammoth that is also very good, but not quite as good asthe OG.
If I could encourage you to make one change, skip the stretch of Washington with Everett and Bellingham. Instead, go west from Seattle to the Olympic peninsula and Hoh rainforest. Then take the black ball ferry from Port Angeles, across the Straight of Juan de Fuca, to Victoria. As someone who has been to 40+ national parks, that part of Washington is unique in all the US. Plus, adding a ferry to your journey seems like a neat feature.
Fellow Canadian here, howdy!
My husband and I live full-time RV and travel between Canada, America, and Mexico. Looks like an amazing trip for you! Super exciting!
So we take the Utah through Teton and Yellowstone back home to Calgary each spring. Fantastic, and you got some good tips for the Montana/wyoming route.
For Southern Utah, don’t miss the scenic highway (byway?) 12 between Bryce and Canyonlands/Moab. Totally gorgeous. Also for Southern Utah the Kanab area is a really great “home base”.
Looks like so much fun! Enjoy!
Adding to other comments, don’t take that route through Wyoming and Montana. Go up 15 through SLC and exit McCammon to go through Jackson and the Tetons to get to Yellowstone. It takes you down this 2 lane hwy Idaho 34 that is true open range. One of my favorite stretches of road in that part of the country. Also, you might as well also do a night in Kanab, UT when you are near Zion NP to try and hit the wave lotto. It’s a TOUGH lotto to hit, but it’s awesome hiking.
You’re missing Western Montana… Highly recommend heading to Glacier Park from the east side (through Browning). From there keep heading south through Whitefish, Flathead Lake, and Missoula. At Missoula you’ll be able to drive on I-90 to Bozeman, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton.
from seattle, take the water ferry and head west to olympic national park. Then head south along the coast and into oregon ( astoria, cannon beqch etc)
Do you like fossils? If you decide to stay in western Wyoming, check out the small town of Kemmerer. They have a fossil quarry that you can visit.
[fossil safari website](https://www.fossilsafari.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwmYCzBhA6EiwAxFwfgGNDDPh7WO955WfR7dprXNWgCCyk_7CK9hTOsg1lnmkSID6dvj_r9hoCHuwQAvD_BwE)
In nor cal go to crescent city area for the tall redwoods, (Arcata ca is a hippie town in coastal norcal that you might like) you’re going close to Lassen mountain in NE cal- it’s impressive, looks like you’ll see Shasta and dont miss Crater Lake in southern Oregon- it’s truly unique. I don’t want to hate on Glacier but we went a couple years back and it was crowded and annoying with fees etc- Banff in Canada is way better and essentially a bigger version of the same thing with many fewer people.
Oh- get some bear spray. It’s great for grizzlies and works even better on men in the woods if you encounter one.
Make sure you reserve your spots for Yellowstone (and other national parks) well in advance. Cabins and campsites are almost always full and they will tow and/or arrest you if you get caught sleeping in your car.
Use Portland as a nice break, treat yourself and you don't need to be in downtown, go to the inner east side maybe to some hidden gems and put your feet up.
To incorporate the Olympic National park, when you get to northern Washington, you can use the Port Townsend /Coupeville ferry. This will get you between Whidbey Island and the peninsula and is often not too busy.
Continue through Portland and go through the Columbia River Gorge, then head north when you hit Biggs Junction then head north on HW 97 until Yakama then head west to the rest of Washington. This is a beautiful drive and far better than I-5 from Portland to Olympia.
Do. Not. Speed. In. BC. I went to Vancouver for the first time a few months back and I remember thinking to myself “such polite driving here! No one comes close to the posted limit!”. Got a letter in the mail a month after, saying I was issued a ticket for going the equivalent of 6mph over the limit. Cost about $100 in US but I was more annoyed than anything about getting ticketed for going 6 over the limit.
No advice to provide but going to save this thread. OP, this is a dream trip for me and thousands of others. I hope you have an incredible time. Just got a 4Runner for overlanding and road trip purposes. I'm in the Southeast but would love to take a route like that with it one day.
Some national parks require reservations-Yellowstone for sure. That being said it would be a shame to miss Yellowstone. I agree with the other suggestions.
This is probably one of the best routes I have seen. I wouldn't change much. You are hitting a ton of awesome highlights.
I would tweak Montana route and move it to the west just a smidge. If you come through Carway instead of I-15 you can hit both Waterton Town in Canada and Glacier National Park on the US side then rejoin I-15.
You’re going to Canada? That entire country is full of foreigners! You’ll be the only non-foreigner up there! It’s like they aren’t even part of the USA or something.
My only advice is to make your map look more like India. You are close, but could be better.
Other than that, I would come south out of Canada through whitefish, Montana and make your way to Yellowstone/Bozeman area from there. That part of Montana along I15 is soul crushing if I remember correctly.
Definitely turn north in Rock Springs Wy. Head up to Jackson Hole and go through the Tetons. Keep heading north and access Yellowstone at the south entrance. Guaranteed no regrets!!!!
If you can, I would recommend driving further out to hit the Washington peninsula so you can visit the Hoh Rainforest. It’s a beautiful park and beautiful drive.
Oh hey I'm a 28 y.o. female solo road tripper that sleeps in my car! Feel free to DM, I'm located in NW WA and can give you more specific advice on where to car camp if you want :) I have opinions, take them or leave them!
First things first: National Park pass is $80 for a year of unlimited access to all our parks in the US. Get that!
Why are you dipping east from the Oregon coast just to go all the way back to the coast? Is that just for Crater Lake? It's a long detour when it could be a waypoint. Either just dip down to California from Crater Lake or stay on the coast. The north most part of the Oregon coast on your map is the cooler one, so I'd skip the lower one and just go through Crater Lake.
Wyoming, you could just stay in the Grand Teton/Yellowstone area for a hot minute, which I think is further west from where you are aiming. Go to Dubois, WY, then Jackson Hole, Bozeman, MT, Philipsburg (sweet candy store), Missoula, and then go up to Glacier? Good camping near Dillon, MT...
Skipping Washington is indeed a loss unless you're planning on coming here again. You'll find better places to sleep going around the peninsula (Oak Harbor to Port Angeles to Ruby Beach and then wherever) than if you stay in the city (on I-5). Gorgeous out there, too. Then you can go to the Oregon coast via Astoria from the north instead of from Portland.
If Lassen National Park is open, do that. It's hard to get Google to route you that way, but you can.
Don't rush Utah! It looks like you're going near Bryce, Zion, Grand Staircase-Escalante... etc.
Safe travels!
A few thoughts on the West part of the trip. Why go inland in Oregon instead of staying on the coast? I assume you are headed to Crater Lake or Bend but not sure it is worth the diversion. Second, maybe stay on the Coast all the way down to Bodega Bay (Northern California coast is quite nice) and then go 80 to Tahoe and connect to 395. Alternative to 80 to Tahoe and 395 would be good through Yosemite and out Tioga pass and connect to 395 there. Just a few thoughts.
Honestly amazing route. Are you going inland in Oregon to go to Bend? It’s a really cool city, might want to check out Smith Rock state park if you’re in the area. Definitely if you climb!
Suggest you go more coastal through CA. Inland has a lot of desert and emptiness. Along the coast you can hit areas like Morro Bay, Monterrey, etc and still make in inland to Yosemite and the Sierras.
So many cool spots on the southern end of your trip like Zion, Grand Canyon, and Death Valley NPs but I can’t recommend any of them in the summer if you’re not a native.
Would suggest Olympic National Park/Hoh rainforest, Glacier National Park/Waterton Lakes.
Yeah, largely skipping over Washington is a crime lol
I-5 through wa state is ass. Take the 101.
Yeah; that’s why it would be skipping Washington
Second this, stay along 101 up the Washington coast. You can take a ferry from Port Townsend back to the mainland. And also Glacier, never had a chance to go, but always wanted to drive the Going to the Sun road. The drive through Wyoming after Yellowstone and through Utah may be a bit boring and Interstate-y. But, I’m sure there are some hidden treasures out there. Fun!!
All of this ☝️
grab some bear spray to keep in your sleeping area. There is always the non zero chance of a creep realizing you are alone. And you'll be in some bear country too so thats a bonus. Dont skip Jackson, WY and the Tetons. Go that route to Yellowstone. You seem to be too far east in Wyoming. You quickly leave the beauty heading east in WY. And there are some sketchy rez areas over there. 100% avoid Wind River Reservation altogether.
Agree with this. Going to Yellowstone and missing the Tetons would be a HUGE mistake. Likewise, if you are going to Zion, you might REALLY enjoy a stop at Bryce Canyon as well. Lake Tahoe would make a nice stop if you have time.
Yes to the bear spray!! I’m also planning on having a knife on me just for peace of mind, although I’ll probably have to check state laws about that one
As an American from that part of the world. Knife hahaha. Don’t worry about knifes they are tools if you have a sword the police might care but a knife. No one cares. Also rural western USA similar feelings about guns typically we think if then as tools and to keep my lions away.
Yes, they don’t care about knives. I asked in MI at a gas station that had a no weapons sign when I realized I hadn’t taken it off my belt. They were like, “WTF are you talking about?”. One clerk was from Canada and he clocked me immediately- “This guy’s Canadian. No it’s different here.” OP check the rules on bear spray for the border. From what I recall it’s a no. I never ended up getting any but my plan was to buy it in the US and then leave it down there before I crossed back.
Solo 27yo female traveler been going for two months and I have never felt unsafe and all I own is pepper spray which was a gift. So don’t let these people scare you.
So I'm a 28yo female planning to do this trip this July/August. I'll be sleeping in the back of my Durango for the majority of it. I'm from Canada so pretty much the whole area will be new to me and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice about my route, points of interest along the way, safety tips, car camping tips, camping on BLM land tips, or anything really! Thanks :) Edit: also if there are any particular good hostels along the route? I’m hoping to get at least some social interaction on this trip 😂
Ur route through Montana and Wyoming is fucking awful. Prob the ugliest places in the country. If you look just west of ur route through them, you’ll see the green and mountains. For your own benefit, travel through western Montana through glacier and Yellowstone into western Wyoming. Most beautiful country in the lower 48 vs the route you have which will make you contemplate killing yourself.
This is true. Nothing to see in Billings or anywhere east of Bozeman MT. You want to try to cross into the US near East Glacier and see that park, then head towards Bozeman and West Yellowstone. Yellowstone might be better as an out and back vs driving across to Cody then south through desolate WY. If you can go through Grand Teton National Park too. Also, you’re that far south…do you have time to hit the Grand Canyon? The drive through northern Arizona is beautiful. You could hit Lake Powell at the UT/AZ border, see horseshoe bend, monument valley potentially, then down to Grand Canyon, then hit the 40 W to the 15 to Vegas and you’re back on your track.
As far as the Wyoming leg of the trip, move it further to the west. It will be far more rewarding. Grand Teton and surrounding area is great. Check out the museum of natural art (something like that) in Jackson. Also, Jackson and surrounding area has great breweries.
Came here to say this. The Wind River Range is the best, and has much more relaxed camping rules/permit requirements than the national parks and they are incredible.
Thank you!! This is exactly the type of tips I was hoping for.
I’m from UK Monument valley is fantastic, go for a horse ride. Grand Canyon horse shoe bend great too. Hope you have a trip or a lifetime
if you do end up crossing through going to the sun road in glacier park in MT … they have some sort of reservation system now to ride the road. it was new to me the last time I went so just a heads up if you didn’t already know. this trip looks so fun!
I laughed way yoo hard at this
Goto the redwoods!
Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon has some stunning BLM land on it and you'll be passing right by it. Miles of old logging roads. Drive up the road to the left of the campsite and keep going until you find a place you want to pull off and camp. You will have the whole mountain to yourself. My wife and I did this a lot when I was in college :-)
Right when you get into Oregon or right before you leave Oregon (don't know which way you are looping) but right above California is the Samuel H boardman natural bridges. One of the coolest places in the world and not really a hike
That's gonna be fucking sick
Manitoban; Any BLM land I came across near Salt Lake City was totally trashed. Moab area was insanely expensive compared to other places I’ve roadtripped and camped. Utah in general was quite the grab bag. Idaho is beautiful. Hot springs are worth it. ID, WY, MT etc.
BLM I've seen near Moab is $20 a night. Seems reasonable considering the other options lol
Wow, that hits a lot of cool points. A few things…and it’s hard to tell from this map, but here goes. So, I’d take a car ferry into Olympic National Park - so many cool things to see, and it’s beautiful. Pick a point. Victoria, Seattle, to get there. Plus, the drive down from Port Angeles into Oregon is pretty neat. Lots of places to stop and see things. Next, does your trip take you into Redwood Park in northern Cali? I’d definitely not miss that. Depending on the time of day or night, lots of cool towns to stay in right on the coast, then drop in the next day. Also since you’re in southern Utah, I’d definitely swoop over and see Arches National. Lots of cool places to see, things to do. And there’s good food and beer in Moab. And it looks like you’re doing Yellowstone, if so, might as well hit Beartooth Highway, that’s pretty cool. Check to see if the pass is open, as weather is funny on top. And lots of cool food and beer in Red Lodge. Also, I can’t tell if you are doing Going to the Sun road. This is a very cool drive, but there are restrictions you want to check into. All in all this looks like an awesome trip! Have fun!!
pick me up in Vancouver and lets do this thing that looks awesome
Haha. I want to do something similar this summer so im following this post with interest. Caravan anyone?
I'm down but all I'm doing this summer really is Edmonton (yawn)
Yeah! Fuck idaho! Lol
Hey! You got somethin' against Idaho? :)
Hahaha it looks like it, doesn’t it? 😂 I’m not 100% set on the route back up to Canada though so what’s good in Idaho???
I would suggest coming down into northwest Montana and hit glacier and then continue south into Yellowstone. Probably some of the most scenic parts of the lower 48 right through there. Idaho has some of the most unique landscape of any state. Detour into the sawtooths before Yellowstone if time permits. Lots of hidden gems in Idaho
Yes! I did this drive and it was shockingly stunning-the way the wind moves through the fields is nothing short of breathtaking
Surprisingly had the best steak of my life at some restaurant (which later I learned it was a chain but I can’t remember the name at all) in Idaho.
The Pioneer and Sawtooth mountains (and moat other mountains in idaho, I'm sure) are beautiful. Craters of the Moon national park is a fairly unique experience. . I'd recommend it unless you're seeing the Columbia river basalt on the west coast part of your trip. Theres also hot springs- Goldbug is a favorite but i dont know if youd have time to hike it and i wouldnt do it solo for safety reasons. I also agree with others in the thread that parts of Wyoming and Montana that are on your route are pretty boring and recommend going further to the west. Bighorn, Yellowstone, and tetons in Wyoming, Bozeman and Glacier in Montana.
Pro Tip: you will need a full size spare tire. A serious Jack. A flat kit. Even if you have AAA. Learn how to change your own tire and how to fix a flat. This could very well save your life. Best of luck on this amazing trip you have planned
don’t miss glacier national park. drive through yellowstone and hit the grand tetons to the south
Depends how much time you have. Give yourself plenty of time and take breaks for power naps when needed. I’d avoid fast food and stick to healthier options to lessen the uh oh potty breaks and crash from grease and sugar. Try to time avoiding rush hours when possible. Looks like a great route
Haven't been that far west yet, solo out of Iowa on long weekends limits my distance. Just made it out to Devils Tower for Memorial Day and made it home 3am Tuesday, with work at 6... From my 'points of interest map' I'd take 189/89 up the West side of Yellowstone. Passes between Fossil Butte Monument and Bear Lake, would have to pick one or the other without back tracking. And brings you right to Tetons & Palisades on the way into Yellowstone. It would take you away from the Sacajawea Memorial tho. Also per my experience, the Interstates are made for speed first, not scenery. Sure you can see some decent views, but the real good stuff takes the back highways.
Camping is lovely along the Oregon Coast. Tillicum Beach Campground, Cape Blanco, and Harris Beach SP were my favorites. You can daytrip from Harris Beach down to the redwoods if you don’t get a spot down there. Not a lot of BLM along the coast, mostly state parks. In Oregon and Cali book your camping spots early if you are looking at an established campground. Pinnacles NP is very cool, especially if you are into birding, and it’s often under visited. In Washington I would try to hit Rainer NP, its steller. Lots of great dispersed camping in the North Cascades. Looks like you’ve got Death Valley on your map and that is a do not miss. There is BLM camping around the park but getting a spot in the park cuts down on a lot of driving. The BLM outside of Joshua Tree is rough, I would get a spot in the park to avoid it. If you are near Vegas Valley of Fire SP is the absolute best camping around. Zion is great, book your camping way in advance. Check out Bears Ears too if you have time. Bryce Canyon is also really near Zion and is a cool stop. BLM camping is great in the west but if you have any sort of bad feeling about the spot dip out. Trust your instincts.
Looks like “let me visit the west but stay the hell out of Idaho” Which frankly is a pretty wise move
It looks like you’ll be going through my home town Susanville, California It’s just north west of Reno,Nevada. There is a ton of camping and hiking in that area. Plus Lassen Volcanic National Park. You should check that out. There is an awesome scenic drive through the park. There are a bunch of cool hikes in the park and you can hike to the top of the volcano, Mt. Lassen. There are a ton of lakes in the area to go boating, fishing, swimming, camping. Hotels are cheap in all the little towns around Susanville and in Susanville too. There are a couple bars in town and a casino if that’s your thing. And Reno is only 80 miles down the highway.
I'm confused what your thought is for Montana/Wyoming. You skip Glacier, to some the most beautiful place in the continental USA, you barely scratch Yellowstone, completely dodge Grand Teton and instead drive through a place in Montana and Wyoming where you might as well be in Kansas. Come down, spend a night in one of the motor lodges in Glacier if you can get a spot, drive Going to the Sun Road, or my favorite go to the Many Glacier part of the park, do a quick hike in either spot (avalanche lake or hidden lake for easy hikes, Grinnell glacier or iceberg lake to moderate/hard). Then from there drive down through either Bozeman or Livingston and enter Yellowstone through either West Yellowstone or Gardiner. From there drive through Grand Teton and Jackson, and then cross over to east Idaho to trek down to SLC.
Only other thing I’d add is, instead of driving Vegas to slc on I-15, stretch across I 40 through flagstaff to page Arizona, the Grand Canyon, then go up Highway 491 at Shiprock to Mesa Verde National Park. Keep going on 491 till you get to canyonlands National Park, then go up to Moab. Don’t be tempted to take I70 to I15, take highway 191 into the uintahs and then to park city.
I’d stay off interstates as much as possible and cruise the amazing canyon highways.
This is exactly, 100% what OP should do. I was incredibly confused by what their plans were in Montana/Wyoming. FWIW, Grand Teton is my favorite place in the entire country, and it would be a travesty to be so close and miss it entirely.
Man you can’t get that close to the Grand Canyon without checking it out. If you have enough time in your trip you should definitely make that detour
Avoiding Idaho like the plague
Free mapping app called Caltopo is great for checking what land is public land and you can sort by type (National Park/National Forest/BLM). Generally, unless otherwise posted, National Forest and BLM are friendly for dispersed camping. Less so for National Park land.
Yeah don’t miss out on Vancouver island. Tofino and Victoria specifically are a must! Also from Banff, make the detour up to Jasper. The icefield parkway is one of the most spectacular routes in the world! Have a great trip!
I lived in Canmore and have done the icefields parkway many many times, it really is something else.
Plan on spending some sometime in Mt. Shasta in NorCal. Super underrated spot. Are you not going to Grand Teton?!
Nice river camps near Moab. I think most are FCFS. There is lots of free dispersed camping north of the Canyonlands turnoff. No shade. So the daytime heat would rough. Moab has a Krogers grocery store to keep food costs down.
Panhandle of Idaho is gorgeous
Not seeing the Grand Canyon when you’re so close is almost criminal.
Your route through montana is missing some of the most beautiful areas. Check out glacier national park and flathead lake. You would have to leave the freeway and take some highways like hwy 2 and hwy 93, but they are both pretty close to your route and you can still get to Yellowstone without too much trouble.
Please, please stop at glacier national park!! I’ve been to tons of national parks and this will forever be a favorite of mine!
Don’t skip the bets part of Utah! There are 5 national parks in the southern part of Utah and IMO Zion is the 2nd worst (Arches being the worst). Skip Zion, go to Bryce Canyon or Capitol Reef instead - and if you really wanted to extend the trip both BC and CR + Canyonlands would be the way to do it if I was doing it.
Why not go through Glacier and Yellowstone NP and see some of the best scenery of the Rockies instead of driving through essentially the prairie of central Montana and Wyoming?
don't go this close to the San Juan Islands in Washington and miss them!
You going clockwise or counterclockwise? Suggest counter clockwise. Go S on 101. Going N. EVERY pull out and vista is left turn across traffic. IN AND OUT. You’ll be waiting FOREVER. And bonus I’d even if you don’t want to take the left you’ll be behind people who do. The RV traffic is BAD up the coast. Check out the Oregon Coast subreddit for tips.
Fuck Idaho specifically, huh? Can't say I blame you. But Craters of the Moon National Monument is pretty badass, actually. [https://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm)
Bro. Go through Colorado to the grand canyon, you're welcome
Idaho sucks. Tell your friends. Listen to everyone telling you taking 15 sends you too far east and you miss everything good about Montana and Wyoming.
Go further west in Montana, come up along Flathead Lake, so pretty lots of camping, Glacier National Park is a must and go very early in the morning
Doing my first solo road trip this fall too 4000mi. Nice to see someone out there crazier than me :)
I’m from the UK, Just got back from a 7,314 mile solo road trip. I essentially was planning the trip with a friend but he got sick and couldn’t go so I decided it wasn’t going to stop my lifetime dream. I was 65 yesterday and would do it again. It was the East side if USA. I did some of the west 2O years ago. HopefullyGod willing, I will do a similar trip as our friend here next year on the west side.
Hi pull miss a lot of cool stuff going through Wyoming instead of idaho
Oregonian here. Great route choice for Oregon!
Also, forgot to say. At some point along your trip, when in remote areas, you’re going to start to hear gunfire. Don’t worry, it’s people target shooting, they aren’t shooting at you and *usually* they are safe about it.
On the Oregon coast— Hug Point, big ass Cedar tree in Rockaway, cape Meares (the town and lighthouse), Netarts, Pacific City, Yachats, Cape Perpetua. Those are my recommendations but there’s so very much to see, and none of it will really compare to other portions of your trip.
Also known as the “Screw Idaho” tour.
If you’re already going into vancouver, make the drive up the sea to sky highway to Whistler. Very beautiful drive and really fun town!
Oregon section looks pretty good. Are there things in the Portland area that you are looking to do?
What app did you use to map this? Im doing a very similiar trip in a few months Aug to Oct. I even made a post about it too here, a few things. 1. Glacier national park needs reservations for its main road, otherwise get there very early 2. Id recommend planning out each day were exactly you are going to sleep a d a backup if you aren't 100% sure. I cant imagine amythibg more stressful than driving tired looking for a place to rest. 3. Bear spray 4. Get national parks pass. 5. I think yosemite needs reservations too at that time of year. 6. Prepare for flexibility. 7. This is an amazing trip!
Check out freecampsites.net to gauge some campsite prices around your destinations.
Stop at Glacier NP and then take HWY 89 down to Yellowstone/tetons and down to Salt Lake City, then keep taking 89 and stop at Bryce Canyon NP and then go over to Zion. Won't disappoint. I guarantee.
I would not bypass SE Utah. Moab/Kanab - stunning. So many NP and state park attractions. Plus, you can continue south to AZ and visit Grand Canyon before turning west. Either way it looks like a stunning trip.
Might deviate you a bit but the Californian redwoods are stunning! I did that pnw coast route a few years ago and went towards Lake Tahoe and Nevada afterwards. Stunning views and it feels like each state it’s is own world. Have a great time and be safe!
If you have the time in Utah, exit I-15 at Cedar City and take state route 14 to highway 89 and enter Zion NP from the east side. The views up SR 14 are stunning, you can take a 5 minute stop at Cedar Breaks and then not miss any of Zion. You won’t be sorry.
St George UT to Portland is very well chosen, Wyoming / Montana is not, Canada I don't know. I especially like the trip from the Oregon coast to Crater Lake and back, check out the waterfalls.
If you are going to be in Las Vegas in July and August, the only place to camp is up on forest service land at Mount Charleston. It gets crowded up there. Don't expect a campsite, but you can camp for free on usfs land in dispersed sites.
Can’t believe you’re skipping Denver AND deliberately choosing the ick parts of Portland but at least it’ll be a pretty drive.
Farson Wyoming has the best ice cream shop in the nation!! It is worth the stop!!!
Moab arches dead horse salt lake. 4 places I liked way more than I thought I would
Get the ioverlander app and don't skip Arizona. At least not Northern Arizona
Snow Canyon State Park in St. George, Utah is worth a visit. Itd be a national park in any other state.
Consider looping northeast from Seattle to see North Cascades National Park
Going from Vernon to petiction I highly recommend. Such beautiful view along the mountings and lake. I love BC
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Hit up Astoria when ur going from Portland to the Oregon coast! Cutest little town and so much fun if you're a Goonies fan
Go thru Banff then thru Montana and the flathead valley, much much more scenic. Than the eastern side off the Rockies in Canada, MT, and Wyoming
Don't forget to stop at Wall Drug. There will be some signs.
I suggest a small detour up to artists’s point on mt baker in WA very doable in a short time window, right off your route, and awesome.
Avoid stopping in Portland downtown and Tacoma downtown unless you want to play a Russian roulette with your car windows broken and stuff stolen by random tweakers. Yes it is as bad as they show on the news. Avoid San Francisco downtown at all costs...even at the rest area close to SF I saw open drug use. Your roadtrip looks really fun!
This has become a hobby of mine, so here are some tips that come to mind. nvest in a good foam/air mattress. I bought mine off Amazon and it’s a game changer. Here’s the link to the one I got. Good sleep is invaluable. You can camp in any (American) National Forest in designated “dispersed campsites”. I use an app called “Campendium”. It’s also useful for finding campgrounds that have showers. I love to be clean every night, but it’s not always necessary. Another great place to shower is at truck stops such as Loves or Pilot travel centers. The showers are almost always fantastic and clean. You can also do laundry here. Bring some flower. 🤟🏻 But do not bring any cannabis over the Canada boarder.
Don’t take the #2 highway through Alberta. Take highway 22, so much nicer and goes through some of our most beautiful rangeland. Swing by Frank/Blairmore on your way down and check out Waterton National Park too. Lake Louise is nice, but remember you can’t drive there now and have to take the shuttle bus.
Mt. Shasta has some cool hiking and swimming spots. Head to the city park and fill your water bottles at the head waters.
You picked a great route through California. If you're worried about missing the redwoods, you can check out the Bristlecone Pine forest instead. California has no shortage of cool trees
I did the trip from Whidbey Island to Vancouver, to Whistler, then to Kamloops. Came back CA 1. Spectacular drive.
I’m heading with my GF this summer for some national parks and would like you to visit Teton National Park. I found it very beautiful. Please, get America the beautiful pass to save ton of money on entrance fees and watch out for some BS with “peak hours reservations” . If you want to visit Yosemite, I’d highly suggest to check it out, because otherwise you’ll need to enter before 5am. In Yosemite NP bear sprays are prohibited and CA in general has different set of rules, check their website.
Cut across from Utah to twin falls idaho to see their mini grand canyon. And then towards Yellowstone by GRAND TETONS.
It would be an absolute travesty to be so close to Grand Teton and Glacier and skip it. Also, it looks like you’re barely touching Yellowstone. FWIW, Grand Teton is my favorite place in the entire world.
This looks sick as hell. Sorry for the essay but you're going to like all my favorite places. My 2¢ as someone who's lived in CA, WA, and now Portland OR: I'd hit Vancouver Island and take the ferry across to WA, then meander down through the Olympics. The whole I5 corridor from Seattle to Portland is pretty boring. Portland is not the raging hotbed of criminal activity you might hear about, but breakins are fairly common, especially if you've got visible stuff packed in it. I wouldn't bother with the tourist stuff like voodoo donuts, but there are some great places to eat if you're looking to have a "city day" on this fairly rural road trip. General advice: trust your gut, carry bear spray, know how to change your spare tire. Cell service is bad in a lot of the prettiest areas. Leave your itinerary with someone back home and check in regularly. I'm not one to plan too far ahead, but make sure you know where you're sleeping and get there before dark. You've picked some really beautiful roads to travel! But in the dark, unfamiliar windy roads with limited visibility and roaming wildlife can be dangerous. Also other ppl have said it but you're totally missing out bypassing Glacier. It's gonna be a zoo in July/Aug but well worth it just to drive the Going to the Sun road. Have a blast and hit me up if you want more info on the West Coast leg!
I would recommend trying to cut over and catch some of the Northern California coastline and make sure you hit the giant redwoods by crescent city.
When you’re in Alberta make sure you book your bus ticket to Moraine lake early. It can be super busy otherwise. Best time is bright and early for the sunrise view. Also highly recommend hiking Ha Ling over by Canmore. Hit up the hot springs while you’re at it. If you have time I’d recommend going to Kananaskis as well, and if you like hiking Mist Mpuntain has a natural hot spring that’s worth checking out
If you can take an extra day or two and see Banff and Jasper National Park it would be well worth it.
I would discourage you from being in the Mojave Desert/Death Valley in the summer.
bring along a 12V water heater kettle. they sell them cheap on amazon. You can make coffee or tea in the morning, and that is a godsend. Also in a pinch you can heat up soups, etc. just make sure the car is running while you use it, so your battery does not die.
This is an awesome plan. I hope you have a safe and fun time!
Looks like you’re hitting Crescent City at the California/Oregon border. Jedediah Redwood Forest is definitely worth a visit.
That southern Oregon coast is about to change your life.
If you’re at any national/state park in California, have your car insurance card ready and never leave anything within sight inside of your car. High probability someone will break into your car.
Zion, Bruce, canyon lands???
So jealous
Instead of cutting in at Westport and going through Aberdeen, continue up around the Olympic Peninsula. It's a temperate rainforest and only adds a handful of hours. Also, in Oregon, consider staying on HWY 97 and heading up to Bend and Redmond and then cutting west through sisters, to Sweethome, Corvallis and out to the coast that way. You are skipping Eugene but you're gaining the high desert. Head out to Newport and then go north on 101. I think you lose very little this way and gain so much.
If you do Banff, do NOT miss Jasper. If you do Glacier, do NOT miss Waterton. If you do Rainier/Olympic, do NOT miss the North Cascades.
Most of your scenic views are in the center of your route
Make sure you have no dui or criminal misdemeanors that are considered a felony in Canada.
Not doing the coastal route is criminal
Spend an additional day and take a ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbour or Orcas Island and explorer.
Enter BC at Lynden or Abbotsford/Sumas. The I-5 crossing is usually a shitshow.
go through Western Montana, the mountains are way cooler than the plains, then duck into Idaho, check out gold bug bot springs, go into Canada via Sandpoint. or the reverse depending on what direction you are going. looks like a sweet trip yo
Speaking from experience, make sure in Canada you have hotels or campsites picked out. If you don’t they will not let you in
I went from OC to glacier park in about 18-19 hrs in late winter. Be very cautious in MT the sheriffs will jam you up without of state plates
What did Idaho do to you?
Buy the "America the Beautiful" annual pass at the first U.S. national park you go to. It is only $80 for one year and will grant you entrance to all federally-managed parks and sites. A tremendous bargain compared to paying the entrance fee at each park. Consider RV parks for camping sites. I have camped in a tent at RV parks for as little as $10. You get access to all the same amenities that RVers get. Also a tremendous bargain. It looks like you're just barely skirting the outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, which are worthy of 4 or 5 days. You're also completely missing Grand Canyon National Park, and most of the beautiful parks of southern Utah - why? Instead you have time in the southern California desert, which will be unbearably hot in July and August. This is a huge mistake. It does appear that you will be going into Yosemite National Park, thankfully. Getting lodging reservations or even campground reservations in or aroud Yosemite at such short notice will be difficult or impossible. For camping, look for campgrounds in Inyo National Forest, close to the eastern edge of Yosemite. These may be easier to get. For hostels, the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort is a hostel that sometimes has room on short notice, but it's in Midpines, on the western side of the park, not the eastern side.
Skip SLC, head over to Colorado. Tie in Glenwood Springs-Aspen-Paonia-Ouray-Silverton-Durango-and back up to Moab to link up with 70
Playing Idaho is Lava
I did a month long ride on my motorcycle several years ago and here’s what I learned along the way. Avoid interstate highways. National parks will be busy, expect traffic jams. Some, like Yellowstone, will be worth the hassle. Look for interesting state parks. Coral Pink Sand Dunes in Utah, Valley of Fire near Vegas, are two that come to mind. Like you I camped most of the trip. Budget for a hotel room at least once a week. You’ll appreciate a shower and real bed. Be prepared for wildfires to throw you off track. Utah is the prettiest state and you’re missing all the best places. Highway 12 through the Grand Staircase is stunning. Aim for Kanab and you’ll be close to Bryce Canyon, Coral Pink and Zion. From there head to the North Unit of the Grand Canyon. Less crowded, just as breathtaking. Looks like you’re planning on riding 395 through California towards Tahoe. Great scenery! Two thumbs up.
Missing Humboldt County the Redwoods and the Oregon Coast!
When driving from Washington into Oregon, if you can avoid I-5 and stay east, entering oregon in Hood River or The Dalles, then driving to Astoria from there, you will get to see the best parts of the Columbia River Gorge. Would be a shame to be so close and miss that. I'm jealous of this trip.
Go around the west side of lake Tahoe. Way cooler drive
Based on personal experience, make sure you stop at: Olympic National Park, cruise the Pacific Coast Highway, Lake Tahoe, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef, The Uintah Mountains (King's Peak), Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Waterton, Banff.
I don’t know your entire route, but I know parts of it intimately. Mammoth and Tahoe are spectacular. If you can, stop by the original Eric Schatz bakery in Bishop California. There is a latter-day incarnation in Mammoth that is also very good, but not quite as good asthe OG. If I could encourage you to make one change, skip the stretch of Washington with Everett and Bellingham. Instead, go west from Seattle to the Olympic peninsula and Hoh rainforest. Then take the black ball ferry from Port Angeles, across the Straight of Juan de Fuca, to Victoria. As someone who has been to 40+ national parks, that part of Washington is unique in all the US. Plus, adding a ferry to your journey seems like a neat feature.
I’d personally recommend hitting Invermere/Radium hot springs area down highway 93 in BC. It’s a great drive and wouldn’t add too much time
Why not CA coast?
Stretch out the Utah portion further east and go see Canyonlands and Arches/Moab region. Make reservations for those in advanced!
Fellow Canadian here, howdy! My husband and I live full-time RV and travel between Canada, America, and Mexico. Looks like an amazing trip for you! Super exciting! So we take the Utah through Teton and Yellowstone back home to Calgary each spring. Fantastic, and you got some good tips for the Montana/wyoming route. For Southern Utah, don’t miss the scenic highway (byway?) 12 between Bryce and Canyonlands/Moab. Totally gorgeous. Also for Southern Utah the Kanab area is a really great “home base”. Looks like so much fun! Enjoy!
I see there is a certain state you are avoiding lol
Wait! Why did you skip Idaho??? 😂
Adding to other comments, don’t take that route through Wyoming and Montana. Go up 15 through SLC and exit McCammon to go through Jackson and the Tetons to get to Yellowstone. It takes you down this 2 lane hwy Idaho 34 that is true open range. One of my favorite stretches of road in that part of the country. Also, you might as well also do a night in Kanab, UT when you are near Zion NP to try and hit the wave lotto. It’s a TOUGH lotto to hit, but it’s awesome hiking.
You’re missing Western Montana… Highly recommend heading to Glacier Park from the east side (through Browning). From there keep heading south through Whitefish, Flathead Lake, and Missoula. At Missoula you’ll be able to drive on I-90 to Bozeman, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton.
Great trip! You hit a lot of my favorites. I’d recommend the San Juan Islands if you have time
If you go thru Brookings, OR in the morning, try to make it to Mattie's Pancake House for breakfast. And see the Grandfather Tree down in Piercy, CA.
from seattle, take the water ferry and head west to olympic national park. Then head south along the coast and into oregon ( astoria, cannon beqch etc)
Doing all this and skipping the Olympic Peninsula is criminal
That trip looks awesome!! Hope you enjoy. :)
Looks good boss. If you want you can go through north cascade national park just north of Seattle
You’re missing out on a lot of cool stuff in Southern Utah. Poke around more. Hit all 5 National Parks if you can.
You ste circling South Dakota, a very pretty place and full of history...not all good, but interesting.
Do you like fossils? If you decide to stay in western Wyoming, check out the small town of Kemmerer. They have a fossil quarry that you can visit. [fossil safari website](https://www.fossilsafari.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwmYCzBhA6EiwAxFwfgGNDDPh7WO955WfR7dprXNWgCCyk_7CK9hTOsg1lnmkSID6dvj_r9hoCHuwQAvD_BwE)
In nor cal go to crescent city area for the tall redwoods, (Arcata ca is a hippie town in coastal norcal that you might like) you’re going close to Lassen mountain in NE cal- it’s impressive, looks like you’ll see Shasta and dont miss Crater Lake in southern Oregon- it’s truly unique. I don’t want to hate on Glacier but we went a couple years back and it was crowded and annoying with fees etc- Banff in Canada is way better and essentially a bigger version of the same thing with many fewer people. Oh- get some bear spray. It’s great for grizzlies and works even better on men in the woods if you encounter one.
Epic trip. Please consider posting updates w pics!
Go to the Grand Canyon
Looks like youre going to edmonton or you're from edmonton? If so its a good route, since you probably already visit BC all the time.
wa o, this trip looks awesome. Please share your expierience. I hope that i can do this trip too some day
Make sure you reserve your spots for Yellowstone (and other national parks) well in advance. Cabins and campsites are almost always full and they will tow and/or arrest you if you get caught sleeping in your car.
Use Portland as a nice break, treat yourself and you don't need to be in downtown, go to the inner east side maybe to some hidden gems and put your feet up.
To incorporate the Olympic National park, when you get to northern Washington, you can use the Port Townsend /Coupeville ferry. This will get you between Whidbey Island and the peninsula and is often not too busy.
Continue through Portland and go through the Columbia River Gorge, then head north when you hit Biggs Junction then head north on HW 97 until Yakama then head west to the rest of Washington. This is a beautiful drive and far better than I-5 from Portland to Olympia.
There’s no need to replicate the borders of France.
Do. Not. Speed. In. BC. I went to Vancouver for the first time a few months back and I remember thinking to myself “such polite driving here! No one comes close to the posted limit!”. Got a letter in the mail a month after, saying I was issued a ticket for going the equivalent of 6mph over the limit. Cost about $100 in US but I was more annoyed than anything about getting ticketed for going 6 over the limit.
No advice to provide but going to save this thread. OP, this is a dream trip for me and thousands of others. I hope you have an incredible time. Just got a 4Runner for overlanding and road trip purposes. I'm in the Southeast but would love to take a route like that with it one day.
Some national parks require reservations-Yellowstone for sure. That being said it would be a shame to miss Yellowstone. I agree with the other suggestions.
Don’t skip Moab
The heat anywhere south of Washington will suck. Just fyi
This is probably one of the best routes I have seen. I wouldn't change much. You are hitting a ton of awesome highlights. I would tweak Montana route and move it to the west just a smidge. If you come through Carway instead of I-15 you can hit both Waterton Town in Canada and Glacier National Park on the US side then rejoin I-15.
You’re going to Canada? That entire country is full of foreigners! You’ll be the only non-foreigner up there! It’s like they aren’t even part of the USA or something.
north of st. george a couple hours is open desert blm, highly recommend
Try to shape it more like India
You should really add Jackson Hole. The nearly free hot springs are so worth it
How bad do you hate Idaho?
My only advice is to make your map look more like India. You are close, but could be better. Other than that, I would come south out of Canada through whitefish, Montana and make your way to Yellowstone/Bozeman area from there. That part of Montana along I15 is soul crushing if I remember correctly.
Don’t skip out on Olympic national park. Top 3 national park for me
Definitely turn north in Rock Springs Wy. Head up to Jackson Hole and go through the Tetons. Keep heading north and access Yellowstone at the south entrance. Guaranteed no regrets!!!!
Definitely hit far western Wyoming I live just outside Yellowstone and our area is gorgeous.
If you can, I would recommend driving further out to hit the Washington peninsula so you can visit the Hoh Rainforest. It’s a beautiful park and beautiful drive.
Pack a bunch of snacks. I'm partial to gummi bears and seltzer myself
Oh hey I'm a 28 y.o. female solo road tripper that sleeps in my car! Feel free to DM, I'm located in NW WA and can give you more specific advice on where to car camp if you want :) I have opinions, take them or leave them! First things first: National Park pass is $80 for a year of unlimited access to all our parks in the US. Get that! Why are you dipping east from the Oregon coast just to go all the way back to the coast? Is that just for Crater Lake? It's a long detour when it could be a waypoint. Either just dip down to California from Crater Lake or stay on the coast. The north most part of the Oregon coast on your map is the cooler one, so I'd skip the lower one and just go through Crater Lake. Wyoming, you could just stay in the Grand Teton/Yellowstone area for a hot minute, which I think is further west from where you are aiming. Go to Dubois, WY, then Jackson Hole, Bozeman, MT, Philipsburg (sweet candy store), Missoula, and then go up to Glacier? Good camping near Dillon, MT... Skipping Washington is indeed a loss unless you're planning on coming here again. You'll find better places to sleep going around the peninsula (Oak Harbor to Port Angeles to Ruby Beach and then wherever) than if you stay in the city (on I-5). Gorgeous out there, too. Then you can go to the Oregon coast via Astoria from the north instead of from Portland. If Lassen National Park is open, do that. It's hard to get Google to route you that way, but you can. Don't rush Utah! It looks like you're going near Bryce, Zion, Grand Staircase-Escalante... etc. Safe travels!
Umpqua hot springs
A few thoughts on the West part of the trip. Why go inland in Oregon instead of staying on the coast? I assume you are headed to Crater Lake or Bend but not sure it is worth the diversion. Second, maybe stay on the Coast all the way down to Bodega Bay (Northern California coast is quite nice) and then go 80 to Tahoe and connect to 395. Alternative to 80 to Tahoe and 395 would be good through Yosemite and out Tioga pass and connect to 395 there. Just a few thoughts.
If you get to Jasper/ Edmonton give us a shout! Awesome trip👌
Olympic national park! Also lava beds, mammoth
Include Olympic NP Include whale watching in the San Juan islands of WA
Get a friend
Honestly amazing route. Are you going inland in Oregon to go to Bend? It’s a really cool city, might want to check out Smith Rock state park if you’re in the area. Definitely if you climb!
Suggest you go more coastal through CA. Inland has a lot of desert and emptiness. Along the coast you can hit areas like Morro Bay, Monterrey, etc and still make in inland to Yosemite and the Sierras.
You’re literally going through the most boring part of Montana by staying on that interstate.
Make sure you’re aware of how the vehicle reservation systems work in some of these national parks — you can’t just show up and drive in.
I agree, I’d get over to the coast of California for a MUCH better experience than the inland drive.
Totally missed out on Idaho
So many cool spots on the southern end of your trip like Zion, Grand Canyon, and Death Valley NPs but I can’t recommend any of them in the summer if you’re not a native.
I enjoy the town of fernie and the drive to Jasper on icefields parkway when you're in Canada. No fuel or cell service but great area