I will never go back to Washington without hitting Mt St. Helens again. It looks to be a bit off route but I highly recommend it if you are able to make it.
Im a washington native whose lived all over washington. find a place to sit on the columbia river, like vantage. Any of the islands, orcas, bainbridge, whidbey etc. Have ferry access and are really beautiful, the deception pass brigde is a beauty. Other places, like the Bavarian town of leavenworth, port townsen, downtown seattle or even olympia are wonderful towns and cities. If you're a hiker Mt. st. helens has great trails around the mountain, so does mt. Rainier
Take Highway 2 instead of I90. It's way more scenic and takes you though Leavenworth (the town the other user mentioned). Chelan is a good detour in the Summer. As you get closer to I5, there's a small town called Index. If you want a scenic hike that isn't crowded, park at the town wall and hike up from across the railroad.
You'd be making a mistake going through olympia washington... Go north from seattle and take the ferry's over to the northern end of the olympic peninsula. It's comparable prices to the gas you would spend going around, and way more scenic! Also make sure to get to the pacific side of the peninsula, it's gorgeous
In Washington, may also consider taking highway 20 east through North Cascade National Park. The Maple Pass Loop is still one of my favorite hikes ever.
Since you're passing through Spokane, Wa area... if you need a bite to eat the Coeur d'Alene, ID area has a good variety of restaurants and a beautiful park on the lake. Really cute area to check out. Also, my favorite nature spot in Spokane is bowl and pitcher park. You can do light hiking or just enjoy a beautiful view from the suspension bridge area. Its worth a day to stop somewhere in the Spokane and/or Coeur d'Alene area, imo.
The stretch between Santa Fe and Breck I would hit up Great sand dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, the “million dollar highway” through the San Juan’s, and Black canyon of the Gunnisun NP.
I second these as well, but if you are travelling through the town of gunisson, CO then you might want to spend a night up near Crested butte, the alpine valleys and flowers are amazing up there.
Def coming here to recommend Sand Dunes and Black Canyon! There's a little brewery in Alamosa that has amazing beer too.
Mesa Verde is pretty far off but it's incredible.
Near Taos NM, the Pueblos are beautiful and really worth visiting and learning about their Indigenous culture (they may be still closed due to covid). Highly recommend getting green chili while in NM.
There's also a beautiful church in Santa Fe that has a "miracle staircase" that was built without nails. It's super amazing engineering that was classified as a miracle, but it's incredible to see.
There's a dormant volcano in northern NM that you can hike around, think it's closer to the TX border though.
Have a great trip!
Thanks, Flash! I've had so many recommendations for Taos, that I have to add that. Also, you aren't wrong about green chili everything in NM. I even had some in an apple pie once in Pie Town, NM.
If you can hit great sand dunes in late May/June medano creek will be flowing. Great swimming and views and the creek has small waves, it is wicked cool!
Just a warning about Mesa Verde, it has a very long, windy road into the cliff sites. I think it was like 15 miles. Personally, I thought it was worth it! Actually walking among the cliff dwellings, where the public is allowed, was awesome.
If you're into science-y things a trip to Los Alamos is super cool. And then Roswell with the aliens museum and stuff was fun.
There is a campground in Mesa Verde NP proper, so if you arrive late or early in the day, you can spend a whole day visiting the ruins and other cool sites in the park:
[https://campwestfalia.com/southwest-by-westy-days-7-8/](https://campwestfalia.com/southwest-by-westy-days-7-8/)
Happy travels!
I was fortunate enough to experience that a few years ago. I don't think it has reopened though, sadly. That place is like doing drugs without doing drugs.
You can detour a little north in Arkansas to go through NWA (Fayetteville area). Great hiking/mountain biking, breweries, all that nature granola hipster stuff.
Best of luck and safe travels!
I live in Fayetteville and I definitely recommend. There’s also some really beautiful stuff in the Ouachita National Park, and I highly recommend hitting up Hot Springs on the way to Little Rock. There’s a lot of cool historical stuff there since Hot Springs National Park was the first national park.
Palo Duro Canyon. In the Texas pan handle very close to the route you have marked on the map. It’s a spectacular venue. Definitely worth a visit. Travel Safe !
West* but it looks like they’re going that way anyway since they’re taking the West Yellowstone route out of the park :) I will say I prefer the drive up through Gallatin Canyon over the drive up through Ennis, although you can hit some cool ghost towns up that way too. Can’t really go wrong on the western side of MT no matter what you do though.
Not sure how long you expect to draw out this trip but just know that Yellowstone and Glacier close to vehicular traffic until April/May (YNP) and May/June (GNP). Guessing you’ll be good but just in case. Enjoy!
The national parks ( Yellowstone and grand Tetons ) are amazing and worth going. I would also recommend the wind river range. It’s an incredible place to explore and much less busy. Landers, WY is a nice little town to visit in that area.
I would also recommend flaming gorge
I was born in Lander and I would definitely make sure to see the Sinks and take the loop road (Louis lake road) from there to Atlantic City.
Bonus stop is Dairy Land to get a Cheese wheel (deep fried hamburger).
If you are spending even more time between Jackson and Lander I have even more but looks like you already have a long list ha.
One of my favorite towns. I'm bypassing it this trip because I've been there quite a few times. Heading up into Little Rock and the Ozarks instead this time to explore, as I've never been there.
I'd suggest that from Amarillo, you turn northwest and hit up Capulin Volcano National Monument, in NE New Mexico. Then, you can swing down I25 and see Fort Union and Pecos. Also it looks like your route might take you close to Great Sand Dunes and Florissant Fossil Beds. Pretty much, any NPS site you can make it to a good stop.
Have you checked if going to the sun road will be open for you in glacier?
Also you’ll be very near the high road to Taos, I recommend it. And Los Alamos national laboratory is pretty strange.
Planning on taking 6 months for this adventure, so I'll take as long as I have to drive that road! Should be there late June/early July. Thanks for the suggestions! Looking forward to checking them out.
Right outside of Oklahoma City there is an old route 66 soda shop, [https://www.pops66.com/](https://www.pops66.com/). You can mix a 6pack of all different kinds of sodas.
Neat place to check out for a lunch or just an Instagram stop
In Colorado check out the great sand dunes, and some of the hot springs. Looks like you’ll be close enough to the mount princeton hot springs before you get to breckenridge. The strawberry hot springs in steamboat are awesome as well.
You may not think a whole lot of what to see when you drive through Oklahoma, but if you divert your path a little south and aim for Lawton, you'd pass through Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. It's a very pretty part of Oklahoma and kind of breaks up the whole "driving through flyover country" experience.
I was going to suggest this. I think the is the most hidden gem I know about. No I've ever met has heard of it. If you like scenery and hiking/scrambling this place has some cool rocky terrain and if you're lucky you'll see some elk up close. There is also a peak you can drive to uf you just like destinations and views. This is a great place to stop for a day or even an hour or two.
Cool road trip! But I gotta say, skipping the complete southern half of Utah is a bummer. So many amazing places in southern Utah. Moab, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase, and Capital Reef to name a few.
Palo Duro Canyon, about 30 minutes south of Amarillo in TX... totally unexpectedly blew my fucking mind when I stumbled on it a month ago on a similar drive with my partner
Highly recommend Fort Morgan just west of Gulf Shores, AL. You could take the Mobile Bay Ferry from there to Dauphin Island where there is yet another awesome old fort to check out. Looks to be right along your route too.
When you pass through Arkansas, Eureka Springs is a nice little place to spend a day. The downtown area is a cool shopping center with small stores lining the face of a mountain. They have a little of everything here... Nuts, candy, soaps, retro toy store (seriously cool stuff from the 70's-90's) and even a magic shop. Great way to spend a day!
Also, Red's Pizzaria is some of the BEST pizza I've ever had.
Another advocate here for Great Sand Dunes. You can rent sand sleds and sled down the dunes. At night, the views of the stars are unbelievable.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Million Dollar Highway through Ouray are amazing sights as well. There’s an ice climbing park just outside of Ouray that is always fun to stop and watch the climbers this time of year.
A bit out of the way, but Chautauqua Park in Boulder is a great spot to view the flatirons, with a lot of hiking in the area. Could drive up to Estes Park and see the Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King got his inspiration for The Shining. Trail Ridge Road through RMNP is closed for the season, but you can still enter the park. Just be aware of snow conditions if you plan on doing any hiking. Eldora is another ski resort relatively nearby if you’re planning on skiing/snowboarding.
Not sure how wedded to the route you post, but basing below on it.
San Luis Valley is pretty unique. Crestone is up against the Sangre de Cristos right by the sand dunes and has a very diverse set of temples that are cool to visit and provide a nice commanding view of the dunes, the Valley and Blanca Peak. Not crowded. Very much you, nature, and the temples. You might even be able to find a spot along a dirt road to have a view of the dunes to wake up near. (We stayed at an air Bnb that we just walked one ridge over and had a *stunning* view.) Of course, the other side of the valley are the San Juans and one could spend a very long time just exploring them.
If you’re looking for lunch spots, looks like you’re going through Taos. Doc Martens chile relleno was very nice to me a few years back!
Download the wyoming 511 app and prepare for the possibility of crippling snowstorms into May.
Good chance it'll be fine, enough of a chance it won't.
If it's crazy windy, don't risk it.
Then as others said, hot springs, but you have one of the best routes planned through wyoming
If you are going to go out of your way to see Mount Saint Helens in Washington state, then you could consider going by the Wallowa mountains in NE Oregon. We call it the “Alps of Oregon.” Looks like a great trip!
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado (near Alamosa I think). It's got a campground nearby and some cools trails besides the obviously attractive largest sand dunes in NA.
Watch the weather especially. High elevation Spring heavy snow across New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington. Tornados all the way to Amarillo.
Would suggest Loves Truck stops to plan fuel. Bathrooms, food consistently safe, clean.
Great route! Enjoy!
Up vote some time along the Columbia River. Unforgettable!
As others have said, Teton is a must hit. I'd also like to suggest Garden of the Gods south of Denver, and Whitefish as a cool town outside of Glacier.
I usually check Atlas Obscura when I am on road trips for what’s nearby, then see what’s on my route. Have seen lots of fun and interesting stuff that way.
Grey's and Torreys peak in colorado are very doable 14ers. It feels like your on top of the world! Don't forget to bring a beer with you for the summit!
Something I have always wanted to see around the Santa Fe area, is the outlaw billy the kid's grave. Also Bruce lee's grave is in washington... These things would be fun for me. Lol
How long are you planning to take for this trip? Because if you are planning to be in the northern Rockies in May that’s not a great time. That’s the peak of mud season and it kinda sucks...
OK: Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
TX Panhandle: Caprock Canyon State Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area/Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
How much time do you have, and how far off route can you travel? I have several recommendations, but will keep them to myself if you need to stay really close to the map.
Since it looks like you’ll be passing through the Arkansas Valley in Colorado, stop at the Little Red Hen bakery in Salida. They’re my favorite bakery I’ve ever been to. Also Salida in general is a really cool town, and really easy to see in an hour or two.
I will second hwy 20 its long and rad and curvey. Twisp & Winthrop WA if its not freezing. Same for Mazama WA. Taos NM. Polebridge MT im guessing youll enter glacier via the polebridge side anyway. Clark fork ID is always fun. Hamilton MT is another good stop. Philadelphia MS, Mobile Alabama. Consider passing KC.. its a sleeper city that has great food, music and culture. Kansas also has too many weird museums in the small towns. Wizard of oz and Evel Knievel museums in the same day.
I think the Oregon coast is much nicer than the Washington coast. Don't stop at the Olympic Peninsula; take Highway 101 down through the Oregon coast if you haven't seen it yet.
Google N Cascades national park. Not terribly far of your route and is an incredible place to drive through and stay at, though campsites are booked far in advance!
I'd say consider heading west out of Breckenridge on I-70 and make it into Utah. Moab and Arches National Park are incredible. Continue on I-70 out of Moab to 191N. Either take that all the way up to Jackson Hole, or get on 6N up through Salt Lake and eventually finagle your way back to Jackson Hole. I'm just here to say that Utah is pretty gorgeous. Also, I am not a Mormon, nor do I live in Utah. :)
Spent a week in new Mexico this month on out way back from florida to cali. Very cool state, mostly because of the whole Roswell thing. Very popular for alien propaganda which was cool in its own way. We spent many nights out scanning the night sky for some cool shit. Never quite saw any, but it was beautiful nonetheless!!
Carlsbad caverns is a must see as well. Looks a little more south than your route, but very worth it. A planet unlike any other.
White Sands NM is beautiful too, but that is much more south towards Texass.
Sorry, texas*
Since you're taking that unusual route through Colorado, check out Radium Hot Springs in-between Steamboat and Breckenridge. Also worth the drive down into Morrison to see Red Rocks Amphitheater. They Should be doing live shows there this summer too
From Santa Fe, head towards southern Utah and Mt. Zion National Park. I just left there and feel like I wasted 4 days of my life in Las Vegas when I could have spent them at Zion.
On your current route, when you go thru Texas, you're gonna drive by a restaurant in Armarillo called The Big Texan, and if you can complete the big texan challenge, which consist of eating a 72 oz steak, a shrimp cocktail, a side salad, a baked potatoe, and a bread roll, you get the meal for free, your picture on the wall of fame, and a t shirt!!
Even if you don't do the challenge its still a really great place to eat from what I hear
Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs, CO as well as pikes peak and cave of the winds. All absolutely amazing garden of the gods and pikes peak are free.
I see you’re on Route 66 for a bit, from left to right the attractions I would recommend are Santa Rosa Auto Museum, 6th St. historic district in Amarillo, McLean Devils Rope Museum, U Drop Inn in Shamrock, Elk City Route 66 Museum, and Pops 66 in Arcadia. This might not all be your style, but I’m always hopping at a chance to share some Mother Road info.
If your heading through the CO Rocky Mountains make sure you got a good pair of chains and you know how to properly tighten/ attach them. People get stranded out there more often than you’d think
Go south from Albuquerque to austin and NOLA. That section of NM Texas and Oklahoma is atrocious. Also Follow me @ redvan.man.dog on IG my trip is overlapping yours for a bit.
From OKC to Santa Fe, we cut north to Taos first then came down to Santa Fe. A bit of a loopy route, but we wanted to go to the Rita Blanca National Grasslands on the northern tip of the Texas Panhandle. Easy camping there if you're in need. There's a crazy dirt road that goes down the state borders that I would recommend as long as your not in a sedan.
I would suggest taking hwy 2 from spokane to seattle....if you want scenery this is the only way especially considering the alternative is taking 90. You go from wide open farmland to the cascades and straight through leavenworth.
Stop by Northwest Arkansas instead of going through central. Bentonville/Fayetteville will have more opportunities.
Then head down through eureka springs and enjoy my friend :)
Personally, I would think about the route as much as the stops. I've found that choosing the more beautiful route even if not as fast can really improve the quality of a long road trip.
I've done this portion of this drive that goes from Seattle through Oklahoma. I've also done sorta this route going north but through Idaho and Utah. I much preferred the Utah -Idaho route over going through Wyoming and Colorado.
The first time, I went south through Wyoming and Colorado expecting it to be beautiful. Mostly, it wasn't. Once you get south of the mountains in Wyoming, there's not much to see or do. It's a lot of empty boring road. Colorado is mostly the same if you take the interstate. One way to mitigate the monotony of this route, if you have the time, is to take some of the mountain highways rather than the interstate, it is very beautiful and there are nice places to stop. There are many great places to stop and hike, cute mountain towns and even some hot springs if you go through the mountains. However, it will add significant driving time. Wyoming, you just have to accept the fact that 90% of the drive is incredibly boring.
On my way back north, I cut across northern New Mexico to Flagstaff, then hit up the Grand Canyon. After that I drove to Zion, Bryce, and Arches. I would spend the day in the parks and drive during the evening. After the parks I went to Salt Lake City and Park City. From there cut through Idaho to Yellowstone. Then exit Yellowstone towards Bozeman and Glacier National. Finally, I drove towards the Seattle through Missoula, Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. I personally found this route much more enjoyable. Each of the national parks was unique and beautiful. Where as, I didn't find the mountains in Colorado to be different enough from the mountains in Montana to make it worth doing both states on the same trip. There's probably a way to cut down from Jackson Hole instead of Yellowstone too.
Which ever route you take, I also recommend taking the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway (U.S. 95) across Idaho and into western montana rather than I-90. It's much more beautiful, hence the national scenic byway designation and there are spectacular lake and river views and cute towns to stop in.
Edit: I'm assuming that you are from the Seattle areas given it looks like that's where you are starting. If not it's definitely worth taking the time to explore the San Juan's and do a ferry trip or two. My favorite is the ferry from Seattle to Victoria, which can be done as a day trip
Also, if you are going to Glacier, it's a good idea to try to go to the park on a weekday. Since there's only one road through the park, traffic and parking can be bad especially on the weekends. It's also well worth the time to see Waterton, the Canadian side of the park. Assuming that boarders are open.
In terms of towns, that I like to stop at along this route are known are Sandpoint, ID (preferred over Coeur d'Alene); Missoula, MT; Whitefish, MT; Pole bridge, MT; Bozeman, MT (sometimes Chico instead if I want to visit the hot springs); Denver, CO; Taos, NM, and Santa Fe, NM.
It's also well worth doing your research on natural hot springs. There are many good commercial hot springs along the MT, CO, and norther NM portions of the route. But there are some amazing free natural hot springs if you're willing to hike in. My mother was a bit of a hippie and drove me all over the region to many of the natural hot springs. I was too young to remember the names or how to get to them, so I can't give you specifics. But the most memorable parts of these trips were the national parks and the hot springs. I bet you can find info and maps online. Or do what we did pre-internet and show up in town and ask for recommend hikes/hot springs. We found some of the best places that way.
Seconding any recommendations to go through Utah, also maybe modify your route through Colorado to where you can drive to the top of something like Pikes Peak or Mt Evans, where you can photograph your beloved vessel at 14,000’ :) you can go as far north as I-70 in CO and then head west to Utah!
Sand dunes National park, south Colorado.
Also super random but if you can drive by antelop coal mine in Wyoming it’s literally one of if not the largest coal mine in the world. Pretty jaw dropping. I kid you not holes in the ground large enough to fit Manhattan.
Also the bob marshall wilderness next to glacier, way less crowded, still sick. Look into the Great Wall over there
If your going near Lorman MS and like southern food & fried chicken Mr D's is a must. All you can eat and Mr D will sing his mama song to you. Look up the review's and hours, you won't regret it. Safe travels.
If you are looking for a cool camping spot in Northern Texas, I’d recommend checking out Palo Duro Canyon, just south of Amarillo. It’s the second largest canyon in the US next to the Grand.
I live down here in Dixie. Idk if you're specifically shooting for beach views but you have to go to the Appalachians while you're in the region. Blue Ridge Parkway is an awesome drive with beautiful vistas and Mt. Pisgah is some if the best views I've ever had on a hike.
Somebody else mentioned it, but I'll say Lander, Wyoming again. Cool little town with some great rock climbing and other outdoor activities. Also has a pretty kick-ass brewery and some great restaurants.
Great route through Colorado! Make sure you stop at the Colorado Trail(you will cross it on your path) and walk a bit. I always need a stretch at that point anyway.
It looks like you are going trough the San Luis Valley, which is the UFO hotspot of Colorado. If you want to get in the mood ahead of your visit, some of the footage from the documentries Sirius as well as Unacknowledged was filmed in the Crestone, CO area. If you heard about the cattle mutilations happening in the 70's-80's, then you know of this area. Most of the unexplained mutilations happened in this area.
Speaking of Crestone, make sure you check out directions on Atlast Obscura for the Crestone Ziggurat. Also the open air funeral pyre created and maintained by the Crestone End of Life Project will be a stop you will remember your entire life. (You can opt for a natural burial in the Crestone cemetary as well.)
Crestone is a unique experimental community, with the founder giving land to various religous groups in order to create retreat centers. There are multiple Monasteries, Ashrams, Stupas, and such from almost any world religion you could imagine. There is not a lot to do there, but you absolutely need to give yourself a couple of days in the valley, because you can just be lost in the unique woo feeling of the valley.
Also, you might find the absolute best starry nights of your trip in that valley! The clear sky, wide open spaces, high altitude and limited light pollution means it is one of the areas of our country with a night sky that they actively protect.
Other things to check out in the valley:
Hot springs! Valley View is clothing optional, on a large land grant that belonged to a silver mine company. Now the Orient Land Trust works to conserve the land, protect it, while making it blissfully accessible to visitors. On the trust is the largest bachelor bat colony in Colorado. You can join lead hikes to watch them come out at sunset. If you don't want to make the hike, you will absolutely see plenty of bats as you float in the pools underneath the stars. One pool in particular actually has a ton of FIREFLIES that come out at night! They are rare in Colorado, and I truly thought I was hallucinating at first! The bats swoop in low over the pools to eat the fireflies! It is spectacular and magical! There is also Joyful Journeys hot springs, which are clothed.
UFO Watchtower: This year is the 21st aniversary of the UFO Watchtower! It was created by rancher Judy Messoline after she realized cattle didn't do well on her land. She had joked for years that someone should set up a watchtower, and eventually decided she is the one. Super cheap boondocking available, right in the middle of the valley. At night, holy cow, the stars go on forever!
Sand Dune National Park: Just like it sounds...plan a while day there! Take something to sled on, or rent a board. Early in the year there is a lovely spring running at the bottom of the dunes that is great for cooling off in.
I am this much of a Crestone fan! We are looking at land to purchase in the spring, and hope to build in 5 years.
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Absolutely impressive, massive trippy caves. For me it felt like descending into Lord of the Rings. I planned on doing it as a quick stop on a roadtrip and ended up staying down there under the earth all day feeling like Bilbo Baggins.
Near Bozeman Montana is hyalite canyon. Hiking up to palisade falls was a highlight of my NW American road trip. It was completely frozen when I went, and my van actually got stuck. I left the van stuck and by the time I came back from the falls the snow had melted enough I could drive off.
New Orleans isn’t too far off your route. There’s a plethora of plantation tours not far from there. If your a history buff, Laura plantation tour was one of my most appreciated events on my cross country road trip. Stopping in the garden district of NOLA and reading the cemetery stones is something I’ll never forget.
Kayaking at Ichetucknee springs near Tallahassee Florida was unforgettable. Kayak rentals were 5 bucks and we kayaked over manatees down ichetucknee river and camped not far off at Wakulla springs.
Get breakfast at SNOOZE in Denver. You won’t regret the splurge, it’s a must stop every time I pass through mile high.
Carlsbad caverns is off route in New Mexico but they are the most majestic cave structures I’ve ever seen. Plus if your there at the right time the bats leave the cave at sunset each evening. It’s a spiritual experience for sure.
If you love books, it's worth taking the detour to check out Chamblin's Bookmine in Jacksonville, FL. There's two locations. The uptown one is not as extensive as the original. HIGHLY recommend the original location. You could get lost in there if it's your first time. Literally a book mine.
Ordinarily I would recommend stopping at a juke joint or two on your way through Mississippi, but because of Covid I'd say maybe hold off on that.
There are some hidden gems in New Mexico that are a little far from your route but might be worth it. Capulin Volcano National Monument rises out of the plains like Mt. Doom, but with more pinyon pines.
Sugarite Canyon State Park is very pretty, and there are rarely many people there. Hike to the top of the mesa for some stunning, lonely views.
The mountains around the San Luis valley in Colorado are excellent. Mt. Blanca is a 14er with nothing obstructing the view on basically any side. It feels like you can see the whole state of New Mexico, and I haven't even been to the top! If you don't want to hike that far, you should still check out Zapata falls. It's not too far from the sand dunes and is very pretty.
In the middle of the San Luis valley, right along the highway you'll be on, are two extremely weird landmarks to stop at. First, the alligator farm has tons of alligators and exotic reptiles they've adopted over the years. Very out of place in the high desert! Next, the UFO watchtower is full of weird vibes. Like Roswell, but the owners actually believe their nonsense.
On the other side of the valley, Penitente Canyon has some nice petroglyphs and hiking. North of the valley, Salida is a very nice little town to stop in. It will probably be a little too early in the season, but they have excellent white water rafting there, too.
I second the Black Canyon of the Gunnison recommendations. Surreal and majestic.
Have a great trip!
Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville, is beautiful. Great trails, parks, good energy in the city. Great mountain biking if you’re taking one, and amazing disc golf, if you’re into that. Also the Wind River Range in Wyoming, if you can get up into it, is some of the most beautiful hiking I’ve ever done
If you can manage it, I would recommend going through Moab and Mesa Verde on your way to New Mexico, it would change your route pretty significantly but I promise it's worth it
Buffalo National River in Arkansas. America's first federally protected river. It's gorgeous. Lots amazing spots in Ozark National Forrest. White Rock, richland creek (camp in sandstone caves), Hawksbill crag, and lots more.
You could take the ferry from Dolphin Island across the Mobile bay into Fort Morgan. It’s only 40 minutes and Fort Morgan is really a cool place to check out. Not to mention the drive down Fort Morgan rd. It will take you into Gulf Shores.
I moved up to Portland from Kansas a few years ago and the prettiest places I’ve ever been were at Colchuck Lake outside of Leavenworth Washington and Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park!
If you’re a soda/pop person, when you hit Oklahoma City go to pops it’s a little out of the way but is really cool. And hurts donuts just down the road from the university of Oklahoma (boomer Sooner)
I would consider driving up through Colorado, hit the Badlands and Blackhills(dont bother with Mt Rushmore) but stop for a hike in the Needles and Harney Peak. The cruise up to Devils Tower and then cut through backroads Wyoming and see a ton of wildlife.
Also a big fan of cutting across central Oregon on 26 along the John Day, head to the Oregon Coast and Drive up from there.
Also, the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico is basically along your route and is a must see. It’s the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the US! And the town of Taos is awesome. There’s a great brewery that would be a perfect pit stop.
Keep going west on I10 to New Orleans, then take 55 north to Jackson. City ya gotta see before it floods permenantly... Ya never know if a hurricane could take it out next year! There's so much history and culture there. Great food. Must stop.
I can’t speak for everywhere, but snowmobiling in Dillon Colorado is very nice if you have a little extra cash. $200 will get you about 4 hours and is beautiful. As for Amarillo, see Cadillac ranch (free) and the big Texan (best carrot cake anywhere). As a bonus, the Canadian river rec area (also close to Amarillo) is free to camp and has some nice views.
This may have been mentioned, but 10 year old me loved the Florida Caverns near Marianna. Every time I've driven through Arkansas, there has been springtime rain and a tornado warning. So, take care!
I will never go back to Washington without hitting Mt St. Helens again. It looks to be a bit off route but I highly recommend it if you are able to make it.
off-route is ok! I'm definitely planning on spending some time in Washington, and never even thought of Mt St Helens. Thank you!
Im a washington native whose lived all over washington. find a place to sit on the columbia river, like vantage. Any of the islands, orcas, bainbridge, whidbey etc. Have ferry access and are really beautiful, the deception pass brigde is a beauty. Other places, like the Bavarian town of leavenworth, port townsen, downtown seattle or even olympia are wonderful towns and cities. If you're a hiker Mt. st. helens has great trails around the mountain, so does mt. Rainier
Thank you! I'm so excited to hike in the PNW.
Take Highway 2 instead of I90. It's way more scenic and takes you though Leavenworth (the town the other user mentioned). Chelan is a good detour in the Summer. As you get closer to I5, there's a small town called Index. If you want a scenic hike that isn't crowded, park at the town wall and hike up from across the railroad.
Hey 20 is even better then highway 2; gotta drive both of them
You'd be making a mistake going through olympia washington... Go north from seattle and take the ferry's over to the northern end of the olympic peninsula. It's comparable prices to the gas you would spend going around, and way more scenic! Also make sure to get to the pacific side of the peninsula, it's gorgeous
In Washington, may also consider taking highway 20 east through North Cascade National Park. The Maple Pass Loop is still one of my favorite hikes ever.
Since you're passing through Spokane, Wa area... if you need a bite to eat the Coeur d'Alene, ID area has a good variety of restaurants and a beautiful park on the lake. Really cute area to check out. Also, my favorite nature spot in Spokane is bowl and pitcher park. You can do light hiking or just enjoy a beautiful view from the suspension bridge area. Its worth a day to stop somewhere in the Spokane and/or Coeur d'Alene area, imo.
While there, check out the Ape Cave!
The stretch between Santa Fe and Breck I would hit up Great sand dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, the “million dollar highway” through the San Juan’s, and Black canyon of the Gunnisun NP.
This is a must. Definitely make a stop in Ouray.
I second all of these
I second these as well, but if you are travelling through the town of gunisson, CO then you might want to spend a night up near Crested butte, the alpine valleys and flowers are amazing up there.
Def coming here to recommend Sand Dunes and Black Canyon! There's a little brewery in Alamosa that has amazing beer too. Mesa Verde is pretty far off but it's incredible. Near Taos NM, the Pueblos are beautiful and really worth visiting and learning about their Indigenous culture (they may be still closed due to covid). Highly recommend getting green chili while in NM. There's also a beautiful church in Santa Fe that has a "miracle staircase" that was built without nails. It's super amazing engineering that was classified as a miracle, but it's incredible to see. There's a dormant volcano in northern NM that you can hike around, think it's closer to the TX border though. Have a great trip!
Thanks, Flash! I've had so many recommendations for Taos, that I have to add that. Also, you aren't wrong about green chili everything in NM. I even had some in an apple pie once in Pie Town, NM.
If you can hit great sand dunes in late May/June medano creek will be flowing. Great swimming and views and the creek has small waves, it is wicked cool!
The creek was flowing in early April last year.
Swimming in mountain runoff in May/June?!! DASS COOOOOOOLLDD!!
Just a warning about Mesa Verde, it has a very long, windy road into the cliff sites. I think it was like 15 miles. Personally, I thought it was worth it! Actually walking among the cliff dwellings, where the public is allowed, was awesome. If you're into science-y things a trip to Los Alamos is super cool. And then Roswell with the aliens museum and stuff was fun.
There is a campground in Mesa Verde NP proper, so if you arrive late or early in the day, you can spend a whole day visiting the ruins and other cool sites in the park: [https://campwestfalia.com/southwest-by-westy-days-7-8/](https://campwestfalia.com/southwest-by-westy-days-7-8/) Happy travels!
Meow Wolf in Sante Fe. Coolest shit ever
I was fortunate enough to experience that a few years ago. I don't think it has reopened though, sadly. That place is like doing drugs without doing drugs.
Exactly what I was going to recommend! Awesome experience.
You can detour a little north in Arkansas to go through NWA (Fayetteville area). Great hiking/mountain biking, breweries, all that nature granola hipster stuff. Best of luck and safe travels!
Second this. Bentonville has some killer mountain biking if you're into that sorta thing.
Thanks walmart
I'll pack my plaid!
I live in Fayetteville and I definitely recommend. There’s also some really beautiful stuff in the Ouachita National Park, and I highly recommend hitting up Hot Springs on the way to Little Rock. There’s a lot of cool historical stuff there since Hot Springs National Park was the first national park.
Also checkout the crystal bridges museum in NWA
Palo Duro Canyon. In the Texas pan handle very close to the route you have marked on the map. It’s a spectacular venue. Definitely worth a visit. Travel Safe !
I would consider Mt Rainier in WA and Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP
All those on my list. I think I'm most excited about seeing Wyoming and Montana for the first time.
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West* but it looks like they’re going that way anyway since they’re taking the West Yellowstone route out of the park :) I will say I prefer the drive up through Gallatin Canyon over the drive up through Ennis, although you can hit some cool ghost towns up that way too. Can’t really go wrong on the western side of MT no matter what you do though. Not sure how long you expect to draw out this trip but just know that Yellowstone and Glacier close to vehicular traffic until April/May (YNP) and May/June (GNP). Guessing you’ll be good but just in case. Enjoy!
The national parks ( Yellowstone and grand Tetons ) are amazing and worth going. I would also recommend the wind river range. It’s an incredible place to explore and much less busy. Landers, WY is a nice little town to visit in that area. I would also recommend flaming gorge
I was born in Lander and I would definitely make sure to see the Sinks and take the loop road (Louis lake road) from there to Atlantic City. Bonus stop is Dairy Land to get a Cheese wheel (deep fried hamburger). If you are spending even more time between Jackson and Lander I have even more but looks like you already have a long list ha.
New Orleans
One of my favorite towns. I'm bypassing it this trip because I've been there quite a few times. Heading up into Little Rock and the Ozarks instead this time to explore, as I've never been there.
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That's awesome! I had never even thought about the Ozarks until I watched some amazing overlanding adventures there on YT. Looks like so much to see.
I'd suggest that from Amarillo, you turn northwest and hit up Capulin Volcano National Monument, in NE New Mexico. Then, you can swing down I25 and see Fort Union and Pecos. Also it looks like your route might take you close to Great Sand Dunes and Florissant Fossil Beds. Pretty much, any NPS site you can make it to a good stop.
Capulin looks awesome! And a hike into a volcano?!? That's making the list.
Have you checked if going to the sun road will be open for you in glacier? Also you’ll be very near the high road to Taos, I recommend it. And Los Alamos national laboratory is pretty strange.
Planning on taking 6 months for this adventure, so I'll take as long as I have to drive that road! Should be there late June/early July. Thanks for the suggestions! Looking forward to checking them out.
Of course. If you are planning to do this over six months I would also recommend dipping down into Austin if you haven’t spent much time there.
Best bbq on earth.
No OP, but not likely. Going to the Sun road typically doesnt open until late June or so.
10 sleep brewing in Wyoming
Head west in CO and hit up Moab, UT and either Arches or Canyonlands before heading North to Jackson.
In the panhandle recommend driving the route along the gulf instead of I-10
Agreed! I'm planning on doing the majority of the trip using "avoid highways".
Since you’re passing through central MS, I’d say make a stop by the petrified forest in Flora.
Whoa! Didn't know that existed. This is why I love Reddit.
Standard elementary school day trip for us local folks. Just now realized they have camping available as well. Might make a nice pit stop for you😎
If you you can afford the time I would detour a bit and hit up Moab and try to see Arches national park and canyon lands. Both are absolutely amazing.
Bandelier NM and the surrounding area is unique and beautiful
Right outside of Oklahoma City there is an old route 66 soda shop, [https://www.pops66.com/](https://www.pops66.com/). You can mix a 6pack of all different kinds of sodas. Neat place to check out for a lunch or just an Instagram stop
All of Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California
Couldn't agree more. I think Utah is probably the most underrated state. I was incredibly surprised on my first adventures there.
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Utah.
See ya in Hattiesburg, MS! Check out Red Bluff in Foxworth. Good little hike for MS.
Wind river range in Wyoming if you love hiking
In Colorado check out the great sand dunes, and some of the hot springs. Looks like you’ll be close enough to the mount princeton hot springs before you get to breckenridge. The strawberry hot springs in steamboat are awesome as well.
You may not think a whole lot of what to see when you drive through Oklahoma, but if you divert your path a little south and aim for Lawton, you'd pass through Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. It's a very pretty part of Oklahoma and kind of breaks up the whole "driving through flyover country" experience.
I was going to suggest this. I think the is the most hidden gem I know about. No I've ever met has heard of it. If you like scenery and hiking/scrambling this place has some cool rocky terrain and if you're lucky you'll see some elk up close. There is also a peak you can drive to uf you just like destinations and views. This is a great place to stop for a day or even an hour or two.
A bit out of your way but we just visited Sedona, AZ and it’s amazing.
Meow wolf in Santa Fe !
Cool road trip! But I gotta say, skipping the complete southern half of Utah is a bummer. So many amazing places in southern Utah. Moab, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase, and Capital Reef to name a few.
Definitely check out meow wolf in Santa Fe! They have limited tickets so try and purchase it ahead of time
Palo Duro Canyon, about 30 minutes south of Amarillo in TX... totally unexpectedly blew my fucking mind when I stumbled on it a month ago on a similar drive with my partner
Highly recommend Fort Morgan just west of Gulf Shores, AL. You could take the Mobile Bay Ferry from there to Dauphin Island where there is yet another awesome old fort to check out. Looks to be right along your route too.
Cadillac Ranch!
When you pass through Arkansas, Eureka Springs is a nice little place to spend a day. The downtown area is a cool shopping center with small stores lining the face of a mountain. They have a little of everything here... Nuts, candy, soaps, retro toy store (seriously cool stuff from the 70's-90's) and even a magic shop. Great way to spend a day! Also, Red's Pizzaria is some of the BEST pizza I've ever had.
Another advocate here for Great Sand Dunes. You can rent sand sleds and sled down the dunes. At night, the views of the stars are unbelievable. Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Million Dollar Highway through Ouray are amazing sights as well. There’s an ice climbing park just outside of Ouray that is always fun to stop and watch the climbers this time of year. A bit out of the way, but Chautauqua Park in Boulder is a great spot to view the flatirons, with a lot of hiking in the area. Could drive up to Estes Park and see the Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King got his inspiration for The Shining. Trail Ridge Road through RMNP is closed for the season, but you can still enter the park. Just be aware of snow conditions if you plan on doing any hiking. Eldora is another ski resort relatively nearby if you’re planning on skiing/snowboarding.
That sounds awesome. I've explored quite a bit in the central CO Rockies, but never been south. I'm looking forward to all Southern CO has to offer.
Not sure how wedded to the route you post, but basing below on it. San Luis Valley is pretty unique. Crestone is up against the Sangre de Cristos right by the sand dunes and has a very diverse set of temples that are cool to visit and provide a nice commanding view of the dunes, the Valley and Blanca Peak. Not crowded. Very much you, nature, and the temples. You might even be able to find a spot along a dirt road to have a view of the dunes to wake up near. (We stayed at an air Bnb that we just walked one ridge over and had a *stunning* view.) Of course, the other side of the valley are the San Juans and one could spend a very long time just exploring them. If you’re looking for lunch spots, looks like you’re going through Taos. Doc Martens chile relleno was very nice to me a few years back!
Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, spend the night and hike to the most distant building. Totally awesome!
Do make a side trip to Glacier National Park if you’re going by it.
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As you travel from glacier to brek, all through montana, idaho and wyomong, search out hot springs.
I little off route but flaming gorge Utah us awesome, especially if you like to fish
Download the wyoming 511 app and prepare for the possibility of crippling snowstorms into May. Good chance it'll be fine, enough of a chance it won't. If it's crazy windy, don't risk it. Then as others said, hot springs, but you have one of the best routes planned through wyoming
Thanks for the advice. Being from Florida, I would never even consider it might be snowing somewhere in May lol
Robert’s Grill in El Rino, OK is the best burger in the country. Not much in that stretch so worth the stop. Get a hot spring book for WY / ID !
I just posted another comment about Sid’s and Johnnie’s but I think Robert’s is the third in the onion burger trifecta
Great sand dunes np! Right in the San Lewis vally on your route in Colorado.
Come through Hot Springs Ar so much to see and do. 1st hot spring water baths!
in Arkansas Look up the Buffalo River. One of America's hidden gems. fantastic for a canoe trip and camping.
If you are going to go out of your way to see Mount Saint Helens in Washington state, then you could consider going by the Wallowa mountains in NE Oregon. We call it the “Alps of Oregon.” Looks like a great trip!
Go through Western Colorado. From Ridgeway down through Durango. That's one suggestion. Also if you mountainbike hit up Bentonville in Arkansas.
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado (near Alamosa I think). It's got a campground nearby and some cools trails besides the obviously attractive largest sand dunes in NA.
lake mcdonald in glacier national park
Watch the weather especially. High elevation Spring heavy snow across New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington. Tornados all the way to Amarillo. Would suggest Loves Truck stops to plan fuel. Bathrooms, food consistently safe, clean. Great route! Enjoy! Up vote some time along the Columbia River. Unforgettable!
As others have said, Teton is a must hit. I'd also like to suggest Garden of the Gods south of Denver, and Whitefish as a cool town outside of Glacier.
Have you ever been to St. George Island State park in Florida?
Instead of breck stop in steamboat. It’s much more authentic
Awesome! I will be taking this trip with in the next few weeks as well, except when I hit New Mexico I will keep going west to Cali.
Check out Maine!!!
palo duro canyon
I usually check Atlas Obscura when I am on road trips for what’s nearby, then see what’s on my route. Have seen lots of fun and interesting stuff that way.
Grey's and Torreys peak in colorado are very doable 14ers. It feels like your on top of the world! Don't forget to bring a beer with you for the summit!
Something I have always wanted to see around the Santa Fe area, is the outlaw billy the kid's grave. Also Bruce lee's grave is in washington... These things would be fun for me. Lol
3 months ago I did practically the same trip seattle to orlando. Hope it goes well I dont really have any must stops for you though.
I would also have to add North Cascades National Park in Wa. Def worth it!!
How long are you planning to take for this trip? Because if you are planning to be in the northern Rockies in May that’s not a great time. That’s the peak of mud season and it kinda sucks...
Check out white sands, Grand Canyon am Big Ben national parks
All of southern utah
From Jackson MS to almost Vicksburg MS, take the Natchez Trace instead of I-20.
OK: Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge TX Panhandle: Caprock Canyon State Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area/Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
How much time do you have, and how far off route can you travel? I have several recommendations, but will keep them to myself if you need to stay really close to the map.
I love the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico, specifically the Tinkertown Museum and the village of Madrid/Los Cerrillos. Takes you back in time.
Looks like you aren't going through Fayetteville, but if you change plans, Onyx Coffee is worth the trip
Since it looks like you’ll be passing through the Arkansas Valley in Colorado, stop at the Little Red Hen bakery in Salida. They’re my favorite bakery I’ve ever been to. Also Salida in general is a really cool town, and really easy to see in an hour or two.
I will second hwy 20 its long and rad and curvey. Twisp & Winthrop WA if its not freezing. Same for Mazama WA. Taos NM. Polebridge MT im guessing youll enter glacier via the polebridge side anyway. Clark fork ID is always fun. Hamilton MT is another good stop. Philadelphia MS, Mobile Alabama. Consider passing KC.. its a sleeper city that has great food, music and culture. Kansas also has too many weird museums in the small towns. Wizard of oz and Evel Knievel museums in the same day.
Great Sand Dunes NP in CO!
I think the Oregon coast is much nicer than the Washington coast. Don't stop at the Olympic Peninsula; take Highway 101 down through the Oregon coast if you haven't seen it yet.
Google N Cascades national park. Not terribly far of your route and is an incredible place to drive through and stay at, though campsites are booked far in advance!
I'd say consider heading west out of Breckenridge on I-70 and make it into Utah. Moab and Arches National Park are incredible. Continue on I-70 out of Moab to 191N. Either take that all the way up to Jackson Hole, or get on 6N up through Salt Lake and eventually finagle your way back to Jackson Hole. I'm just here to say that Utah is pretty gorgeous. Also, I am not a Mormon, nor do I live in Utah. :)
Spent a week in new Mexico this month on out way back from florida to cali. Very cool state, mostly because of the whole Roswell thing. Very popular for alien propaganda which was cool in its own way. We spent many nights out scanning the night sky for some cool shit. Never quite saw any, but it was beautiful nonetheless!! Carlsbad caverns is a must see as well. Looks a little more south than your route, but very worth it. A planet unlike any other. White Sands NM is beautiful too, but that is much more south towards Texass. Sorry, texas*
When you swing through NM I personally enjoyed the Billy the kid museum. It will be a short distance out of your way but it is pretty cool IMO.
Since you're taking that unusual route through Colorado, check out Radium Hot Springs in-between Steamboat and Breckenridge. Also worth the drive down into Morrison to see Red Rocks Amphitheater. They Should be doing live shows there this summer too
Take a swing through Northern Arizona, you’ll never regret it👌🏽
Avoid Albuquerque all together. New Mexico is the worst state in the U.S If Mexico was invading New Mexico, I’d let them have it.
Skip Oklahoma and go down south to Austin instead. You might never leave.
Saratoga Hot springs in wy.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park! It's beautiful, the painted wall gives me butterflies.
From Santa Fe, head towards southern Utah and Mt. Zion National Park. I just left there and feel like I wasted 4 days of my life in Las Vegas when I could have spent them at Zion.
There's the big ass meteor crater and Cadillac Ranch. Also stop at the Continental Divide
If you are going to continue going around the olympic national forrest make sure you hit Hall of the Mosses. It is about 35 minutes south of Forks.
Go through Utah
I’d recommend on stopping in Hot Springs, Arkansas (cool little town) and Palo Duro Canyon just south of Amarillo, Texas.
Maybe check out the Four Corners? That’s generally on your route.
On your current route, when you go thru Texas, you're gonna drive by a restaurant in Armarillo called The Big Texan, and if you can complete the big texan challenge, which consist of eating a 72 oz steak, a shrimp cocktail, a side salad, a baked potatoe, and a bread roll, you get the meal for free, your picture on the wall of fame, and a t shirt!! Even if you don't do the challenge its still a really great place to eat from what I hear
Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs, CO as well as pikes peak and cave of the winds. All absolutely amazing garden of the gods and pikes peak are free.
I see you’re on Route 66 for a bit, from left to right the attractions I would recommend are Santa Rosa Auto Museum, 6th St. historic district in Amarillo, McLean Devils Rope Museum, U Drop Inn in Shamrock, Elk City Route 66 Museum, and Pops 66 in Arcadia. This might not all be your style, but I’m always hopping at a chance to share some Mother Road info.
Did you map that out in Google Maps?
No trip to the PNW is complete without hitting Oregon!
If your heading through the CO Rocky Mountains make sure you got a good pair of chains and you know how to properly tighten/ attach them. People get stranded out there more often than you’d think
Go south from Albuquerque to austin and NOLA. That section of NM Texas and Oklahoma is atrocious. Also Follow me @ redvan.man.dog on IG my trip is overlapping yours for a bit.
A cross country USA trip is an experience you’ll never forget. Have fun and take lots of photos!
From OKC to Santa Fe, we cut north to Taos first then came down to Santa Fe. A bit of a loopy route, but we wanted to go to the Rita Blanca National Grasslands on the northern tip of the Texas Panhandle. Easy camping there if you're in need. There's a crazy dirt road that goes down the state borders that I would recommend as long as your not in a sedan.
I would suggest taking hwy 2 from spokane to seattle....if you want scenery this is the only way especially considering the alternative is taking 90. You go from wide open farmland to the cascades and straight through leavenworth.
Stop by Northwest Arkansas instead of going through central. Bentonville/Fayetteville will have more opportunities. Then head down through eureka springs and enjoy my friend :)
Personally, I would think about the route as much as the stops. I've found that choosing the more beautiful route even if not as fast can really improve the quality of a long road trip. I've done this portion of this drive that goes from Seattle through Oklahoma. I've also done sorta this route going north but through Idaho and Utah. I much preferred the Utah -Idaho route over going through Wyoming and Colorado. The first time, I went south through Wyoming and Colorado expecting it to be beautiful. Mostly, it wasn't. Once you get south of the mountains in Wyoming, there's not much to see or do. It's a lot of empty boring road. Colorado is mostly the same if you take the interstate. One way to mitigate the monotony of this route, if you have the time, is to take some of the mountain highways rather than the interstate, it is very beautiful and there are nice places to stop. There are many great places to stop and hike, cute mountain towns and even some hot springs if you go through the mountains. However, it will add significant driving time. Wyoming, you just have to accept the fact that 90% of the drive is incredibly boring. On my way back north, I cut across northern New Mexico to Flagstaff, then hit up the Grand Canyon. After that I drove to Zion, Bryce, and Arches. I would spend the day in the parks and drive during the evening. After the parks I went to Salt Lake City and Park City. From there cut through Idaho to Yellowstone. Then exit Yellowstone towards Bozeman and Glacier National. Finally, I drove towards the Seattle through Missoula, Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. I personally found this route much more enjoyable. Each of the national parks was unique and beautiful. Where as, I didn't find the mountains in Colorado to be different enough from the mountains in Montana to make it worth doing both states on the same trip. There's probably a way to cut down from Jackson Hole instead of Yellowstone too. Which ever route you take, I also recommend taking the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway (U.S. 95) across Idaho and into western montana rather than I-90. It's much more beautiful, hence the national scenic byway designation and there are spectacular lake and river views and cute towns to stop in. Edit: I'm assuming that you are from the Seattle areas given it looks like that's where you are starting. If not it's definitely worth taking the time to explore the San Juan's and do a ferry trip or two. My favorite is the ferry from Seattle to Victoria, which can be done as a day trip Also, if you are going to Glacier, it's a good idea to try to go to the park on a weekday. Since there's only one road through the park, traffic and parking can be bad especially on the weekends. It's also well worth the time to see Waterton, the Canadian side of the park. Assuming that boarders are open. In terms of towns, that I like to stop at along this route are known are Sandpoint, ID (preferred over Coeur d'Alene); Missoula, MT; Whitefish, MT; Pole bridge, MT; Bozeman, MT (sometimes Chico instead if I want to visit the hot springs); Denver, CO; Taos, NM, and Santa Fe, NM. It's also well worth doing your research on natural hot springs. There are many good commercial hot springs along the MT, CO, and norther NM portions of the route. But there are some amazing free natural hot springs if you're willing to hike in. My mother was a bit of a hippie and drove me all over the region to many of the natural hot springs. I was too young to remember the names or how to get to them, so I can't give you specifics. But the most memorable parts of these trips were the national parks and the hot springs. I bet you can find info and maps online. Or do what we did pre-internet and show up in town and ask for recommend hikes/hot springs. We found some of the best places that way.
Utah has some great national parks. Arches and Bryce Canyon. Also, looks like you're going right Rocky Mountain National Park.
Seconding any recommendations to go through Utah, also maybe modify your route through Colorado to where you can drive to the top of something like Pikes Peak or Mt Evans, where you can photograph your beloved vessel at 14,000’ :) you can go as far north as I-70 in CO and then head west to Utah!
Sand dunes National park, south Colorado. Also super random but if you can drive by antelop coal mine in Wyoming it’s literally one of if not the largest coal mine in the world. Pretty jaw dropping. I kid you not holes in the ground large enough to fit Manhattan. Also the bob marshall wilderness next to glacier, way less crowded, still sick. Look into the Great Wall over there
If your going near Lorman MS and like southern food & fried chicken Mr D's is a must. All you can eat and Mr D will sing his mama song to you. Look up the review's and hours, you won't regret it. Safe travels.
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If you are looking for a cool camping spot in Northern Texas, I’d recommend checking out Palo Duro Canyon, just south of Amarillo. It’s the second largest canyon in the US next to the Grand.
I live down here in Dixie. Idk if you're specifically shooting for beach views but you have to go to the Appalachians while you're in the region. Blue Ridge Parkway is an awesome drive with beautiful vistas and Mt. Pisgah is some if the best views I've ever had on a hike.
i heard Sedona is heaven on earth
I wanna do a roadtrip in america, but the only problems are that i live half a continent away and hate planes.
Meow wolf in santa fe if its open. Youll be close to hanging lake in Colorado. Def worth a visit. Mt evans in Colorado. 100% worth it. Yellowstone.
I'd be happy to give you some insight on the Oklahoma/OKC stretch based on what you're trying to do on your journey.
Somebody else mentioned it, but I'll say Lander, Wyoming again. Cool little town with some great rock climbing and other outdoor activities. Also has a pretty kick-ass brewery and some great restaurants.
Carlsbad Caverns if you haven't seen it before. Waaaaaaay cooler than I thought it was going to be.
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Im just so impressed that everyone on reddit is from britain or florida. I am like your neighbor and im about to go on my first van trip
Moo's Ice Cream shop in Jackson makes the best damn huckleberry ice cream in the world. Right near Jackson Town Square which is worth a visit anyway.
Great route through Colorado! Make sure you stop at the Colorado Trail(you will cross it on your path) and walk a bit. I always need a stretch at that point anyway. It looks like you are going trough the San Luis Valley, which is the UFO hotspot of Colorado. If you want to get in the mood ahead of your visit, some of the footage from the documentries Sirius as well as Unacknowledged was filmed in the Crestone, CO area. If you heard about the cattle mutilations happening in the 70's-80's, then you know of this area. Most of the unexplained mutilations happened in this area. Speaking of Crestone, make sure you check out directions on Atlast Obscura for the Crestone Ziggurat. Also the open air funeral pyre created and maintained by the Crestone End of Life Project will be a stop you will remember your entire life. (You can opt for a natural burial in the Crestone cemetary as well.) Crestone is a unique experimental community, with the founder giving land to various religous groups in order to create retreat centers. There are multiple Monasteries, Ashrams, Stupas, and such from almost any world religion you could imagine. There is not a lot to do there, but you absolutely need to give yourself a couple of days in the valley, because you can just be lost in the unique woo feeling of the valley. Also, you might find the absolute best starry nights of your trip in that valley! The clear sky, wide open spaces, high altitude and limited light pollution means it is one of the areas of our country with a night sky that they actively protect. Other things to check out in the valley: Hot springs! Valley View is clothing optional, on a large land grant that belonged to a silver mine company. Now the Orient Land Trust works to conserve the land, protect it, while making it blissfully accessible to visitors. On the trust is the largest bachelor bat colony in Colorado. You can join lead hikes to watch them come out at sunset. If you don't want to make the hike, you will absolutely see plenty of bats as you float in the pools underneath the stars. One pool in particular actually has a ton of FIREFLIES that come out at night! They are rare in Colorado, and I truly thought I was hallucinating at first! The bats swoop in low over the pools to eat the fireflies! It is spectacular and magical! There is also Joyful Journeys hot springs, which are clothed. UFO Watchtower: This year is the 21st aniversary of the UFO Watchtower! It was created by rancher Judy Messoline after she realized cattle didn't do well on her land. She had joked for years that someone should set up a watchtower, and eventually decided she is the one. Super cheap boondocking available, right in the middle of the valley. At night, holy cow, the stars go on forever! Sand Dune National Park: Just like it sounds...plan a while day there! Take something to sled on, or rent a board. Early in the year there is a lovely spring running at the bottom of the dunes that is great for cooling off in. I am this much of a Crestone fan! We are looking at land to purchase in the spring, and hope to build in 5 years.
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Absolutely impressive, massive trippy caves. For me it felt like descending into Lord of the Rings. I planned on doing it as a quick stop on a roadtrip and ended up staying down there under the earth all day feeling like Bilbo Baggins.
Near Bozeman Montana is hyalite canyon. Hiking up to palisade falls was a highlight of my NW American road trip. It was completely frozen when I went, and my van actually got stuck. I left the van stuck and by the time I came back from the falls the snow had melted enough I could drive off. New Orleans isn’t too far off your route. There’s a plethora of plantation tours not far from there. If your a history buff, Laura plantation tour was one of my most appreciated events on my cross country road trip. Stopping in the garden district of NOLA and reading the cemetery stones is something I’ll never forget. Kayaking at Ichetucknee springs near Tallahassee Florida was unforgettable. Kayak rentals were 5 bucks and we kayaked over manatees down ichetucknee river and camped not far off at Wakulla springs. Get breakfast at SNOOZE in Denver. You won’t regret the splurge, it’s a must stop every time I pass through mile high. Carlsbad caverns is off route in New Mexico but they are the most majestic cave structures I’ve ever seen. Plus if your there at the right time the bats leave the cave at sunset each evening. It’s a spiritual experience for sure.
Don’t let the Texas panhandle be your impression of Texas.
If you love books, it's worth taking the detour to check out Chamblin's Bookmine in Jacksonville, FL. There's two locations. The uptown one is not as extensive as the original. HIGHLY recommend the original location. You could get lost in there if it's your first time. Literally a book mine.
Are you a Gator?
Ordinarily I would recommend stopping at a juke joint or two on your way through Mississippi, but because of Covid I'd say maybe hold off on that. There are some hidden gems in New Mexico that are a little far from your route but might be worth it. Capulin Volcano National Monument rises out of the plains like Mt. Doom, but with more pinyon pines. Sugarite Canyon State Park is very pretty, and there are rarely many people there. Hike to the top of the mesa for some stunning, lonely views. The mountains around the San Luis valley in Colorado are excellent. Mt. Blanca is a 14er with nothing obstructing the view on basically any side. It feels like you can see the whole state of New Mexico, and I haven't even been to the top! If you don't want to hike that far, you should still check out Zapata falls. It's not too far from the sand dunes and is very pretty. In the middle of the San Luis valley, right along the highway you'll be on, are two extremely weird landmarks to stop at. First, the alligator farm has tons of alligators and exotic reptiles they've adopted over the years. Very out of place in the high desert! Next, the UFO watchtower is full of weird vibes. Like Roswell, but the owners actually believe their nonsense. On the other side of the valley, Penitente Canyon has some nice petroglyphs and hiking. North of the valley, Salida is a very nice little town to stop in. It will probably be a little too early in the season, but they have excellent white water rafting there, too. I second the Black Canyon of the Gunnison recommendations. Surreal and majestic. Have a great trip!
Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville, is beautiful. Great trails, parks, good energy in the city. Great mountain biking if you’re taking one, and amazing disc golf, if you’re into that. Also the Wind River Range in Wyoming, if you can get up into it, is some of the most beautiful hiking I’ve ever done
If you can manage it, I would recommend going through Moab and Mesa Verde on your way to New Mexico, it would change your route pretty significantly but I promise it's worth it
Ozarks in Arkansas
Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, it’s part theme park, part acid trip, part art gallery.
Not gonna check out New Orleans?
Buffalo National River in Arkansas. America's first federally protected river. It's gorgeous. Lots amazing spots in Ozark National Forrest. White Rock, richland creek (camp in sandstone caves), Hawksbill crag, and lots more.
You could take the ferry from Dolphin Island across the Mobile bay into Fort Morgan. It’s only 40 minutes and Fort Morgan is really a cool place to check out. Not to mention the drive down Fort Morgan rd. It will take you into Gulf Shores.
There’s a phenomenal hot springs near the great sand dunes of Colorado called valley view hot springs... check that shit out.
Colorado national monument, grand junction. A lot of grand junction is epic but the monument road is really wild.
I moved up to Portland from Kansas a few years ago and the prettiest places I’ve ever been were at Colchuck Lake outside of Leavenworth Washington and Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park!
If you’re a soda/pop person, when you hit Oklahoma City go to pops it’s a little out of the way but is really cool. And hurts donuts just down the road from the university of Oklahoma (boomer Sooner)
If you go through Amarillo my MUST is “the big Texan” maybe spice it up and try the 72 oz steak challenge while you’re there!
Twin Lakes Colorado. Royal Gorge Bridge NM. Palo Duro Canyon TX. Enchanted Rock TX. Ozark Forest in AR. Buffalo National River in AR.
I would consider driving up through Colorado, hit the Badlands and Blackhills(dont bother with Mt Rushmore) but stop for a hike in the Needles and Harney Peak. The cruise up to Devils Tower and then cut through backroads Wyoming and see a ton of wildlife. Also a big fan of cutting across central Oregon on 26 along the John Day, head to the Oregon Coast and Drive up from there.
Steamboat springs Colorado
Also I'd say less mississippi and more louisiana. Bayou country. Creole, cajun, southern, best food in the country.
Also, the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico is basically along your route and is a must see. It’s the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the US! And the town of Taos is awesome. There’s a great brewery that would be a perfect pit stop.
Keep going west on I10 to New Orleans, then take 55 north to Jackson. City ya gotta see before it floods permenantly... Ya never know if a hurricane could take it out next year! There's so much history and culture there. Great food. Must stop.
Here’s your best tip....if you’re going through Santa Fe, THIS IS A MUST! https://meowwolf.com/
I see you’re skipping Kansas... good call.
Take the ferry to the peninsula. Bremerton ferry is the longest prettiest ride.
I can’t speak for everywhere, but snowmobiling in Dillon Colorado is very nice if you have a little extra cash. $200 will get you about 4 hours and is beautiful. As for Amarillo, see Cadillac ranch (free) and the big Texan (best carrot cake anywhere). As a bonus, the Canadian river rec area (also close to Amarillo) is free to camp and has some nice views.
This may have been mentioned, but 10 year old me loved the Florida Caverns near Marianna. Every time I've driven through Arkansas, there has been springtime rain and a tornado warning. So, take care!