rv travel western us

The Wandering Road

Usa rv road trip travel blog.

The Ultimate Western USA Road Trip Guide

Our 10-week rv route through montana, wyoming, and the pacific northwest – including detailed itinerary and expense breakdown.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Quick stats, cost breakdown.

The American west was made for road trips. We spent the better part of 10 weeks exploring this wonderland of big skies, open roads and small towns. Our early summer trek, first through the mountains and later along the coast, kept us in temperatures that peaked in the 70s. Such a difference from the summers of our recent past spent in the humidity of Washington, D.C. or the 100 degree+ temperatures of the Sacramento valley.

The route included some of our favorite places along with some new discoveries. While Montana will always have my heart, I have a new found appreciation for Idaho’s unsung beauty. And I think everyone should drive down the Oregon coast at least once.

Living in D.C. for so long, one of the small talk questions I got the most when people learned I was from California would be: “which coast is your favorite?” My default answer was always that I like the west, and I like the east, for different reasons. But if I am honest with myself, there is something that just feels right when I am in the western states. Maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s all that space, maybe it’s the wild west and gold rush history that didn’t happen all that long ago. If you haven’t had a chance to get out there and see it for yourself, what are you waiting for?

Read on for a detailed account of our 10-week trip, including destinations, campground reviews, and costs to help you plan a road trip through the American west.

Looking for more travel ideas? Read my detailed coast-to-coast itinerary here or check out my other USA destination guides here .

• Days On the Road: 69.
• Miles Traveled in RV (not counting the additional miles put on the car when exploring): 3,427.
• States Driven Through: 6.
• National Parks Visited: Crater Lake National Park, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, Redwood National and State Parks.
• Number of Campgrounds Parked At: 21 (9 county/state/national parks, 9 private, 3 free camping spots).
• Visitors: 9, for a total of 20 nights. Life at The Chateau became like adult summer camp!
• Repairs: Oil changes for both vehicles, sealant for a leaky roof seam. The Chateau got its first road scars after we backed it into a campsite all wrong and scratched the back bumper. Nothing serious, thankfully.
• Grand Total Travel Costs for 10 Weeks On the Road: (read later in post for more details): $6,6775

Campground Price Guide:

$ = Free $$ = $10-$30/night $$$ = $30 – $50/night $$$$ = Over $50/night

Departure: We kicked off the summer road trip by rolling out of Sacramento at the end of May 2019.

Klamath Falls Four Mile Flat Quarry – GPS: 42.431503, -122.160638 $ Review: We started the trip with some free camping. It was hard to find info about this spot online but it exceeded my expectations. Kind of middle of the nowhere. A rocky parking lot by the water with more camping spots tucked along a rough road. I would stay here again for a night but wouldn’t make this a destination in itself. Local attractions: Crater Lake National Park (about an hour away). Miles from previous location: 360 miles.

Sweet Roystone Hot Springs – 7882 N. Hwy 52 Sweet, ID 83670 $$ Review: A very nice family-owned campground with renovated bathrooms and wifi. My favorite part was the hot springs that you can access for a minimal fee. Local attractions: Boise. Miles from previous location: 400 miles.

Bellevue Riverside RV Park and Campground – 403 Broadford Road, Bellevue, Idaho $$ Review: An older, small private campground with lots of long-term guests. Good wifi and close proximity to Sun Valley. Local attractions: The charming towns of Hailey and Ketchum (the nation’s first ski resort and the final resting place of Ernest Hemingway), Craters of the Moon National Monument. Click here to read about our visit. Miles from previous location: 195 miles.

Jackson Area

Spread Creek – Forest Road 30290 $ Review: This is our favorite boon docking spot to date! No amenities, unbeatable views and an unmatched location for exploring the northern part of Grand Teton National Park. We stayed in spot #3 and it was great for our rig. The road to spots #5-10 gets really rough so might not be a good fit for larger RVs. Read more about our visit here. Local attractions: Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. Miles from previous location: 267 miles.

Kelly Gros Ventre Campground – 100 Gros Ventre Campground Rd, Kelly, WY 83011 $$$$ Review: After four nights of boondocking, we decided to try out our first National Park campground. We snagged a spot without a reservation. This is a nice woodsy spot with electric hookups but no showers. We found showers at the Colter Bay Campground and at a gym in town. There’s a great spot to see moose near the campground. Local attractions: Jackson, Grand Teton National Park. Miles from previous location: 44 miles.

West Yellowstone Baker’s Hole Campground – 3 mi NW of West Yellowstone on US 191 $$ Review: We were torn about where to stay during our visit to Yellowstone National Park. Our priorities were 1) staying as close to the park entrance as possible; 2) avoiding “parking lot” campgrounds and 3) paying a reasonable fee. This campground fit the bill! We found a first come first serve electric hookup site. No showers available. No cell service, either. Local attractions: West Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park. Read my guide to help you avoid the crowds in Yellowstone here . Miles from previous location: 124 miles.

Cody Buffalo Bill State Park, North Fork Campground – near Cody, Wyoming off US 14 W/ US 16 W / US 20 W $$$ Review: One of the best state park campgrounds I have ever seen. Located about 15 minutes from downtown Cody. We were able to find a walk-up site with electricity but were told that it is hard to get in without a reservation later in summer. Nice views of the surrounding rocky cliffs (some of the formations reminded us of southern Utah). Coin operated showers. Local attractions: Cody is the quintessential wild west town. Read more about our visit here. Miles from previous location: 132 miles.

Livingston Osen’s RV Park – 20 Merrill Lane, Livingston, MT 59047 $$$ Review: We picked this campground for its proximity to downtown Livingston, which also made it a good launching point for exploring both Yellowstone and Bozeman, Montana. It is clean and well-maintained but the spots are pretty close together. Management closes the entrance gates at 9 pm each night but you can open and close them manually as needed. Local attractions : Ben and I love Livingston; it’s just about the perfect small town. It was the original gateway city to Yellowstone. Be sure to check out the Murray Bar and Neptune’s. Bozeman is about 30 minutes away. It’s a larger college town with a very walkable main street. Miles from previous location: 178 miles.

Helena Cromwell Dixon Campground – 15 miles west of Helena at MacDonald Pass off Highway 12. $$ Review: Quiet, rustic camping on the top of a mountain just outside of downtown Helena. Local attractions: The state capitol building is gorgeous. Visit quirky Lewis and Clark Brewery and Broadwater hot springs. Miles from previous location: 123 miles.

Great Falls Dick’s RV Park – 1403 11th St SW, Great Falls, MT 59404 $$$ Review: This is an urban campground with older facilities and lots of long term guests. That being said, it is the most convenient place to stay while exploring Great Falls. Local attractions: Great Falls feels like a city on the rise. Read my guide to the Electric City here. Don’t forget to visit the mermaids. Miles from previous location: 121 miles.

Kalispell Rocky Mountain Hi Campground – 825 Helena Flats Road, Kalispell 59901 $$$ Review: Glacier country is a whole other (unbelievably gorgeous) world. This campground is spacious and has a full laundromat on site. It gets busy with families and kids on the weekends. Local attractions: Glacier National Park, Whitefish, Kalispell. Read more about our visit here. Miles from previous location: 227 miles.

*** If you want, add a stop in Wallace, Idaho on your way to Washington. It’s a much-celebrated small town with a big personality that I look forward to visiting in the future.

Spokane Area Peaceful Pines – 1231 W 1st St, Cheney, WA 99004 Review: We stayed about 20 minutes outside of downtown Spokane in the sleepy college town of Cheney. This private campground is small with recently updated bathrooms and showers. We had some issues with the wifi connection. Local attractions : Spokane is an under-the-radar city with a charming waterfront and beautiful architecture. Read my guide to the city here. Take a day trip to the nearby resort town of Coeur D’Alene. Miles from previous location: 250 miles.

Yakima Area Horn Rapids Park – 78410 Overlook Dr, Benton City, WA 99320 $$ Review: Inexpensive and spacious with electric hookups. Kind of in the middle of nowhere, yet convenient for exploring Yakima wine country. Local attractions: Highly recommend stopping by some wineries (like WIT and Col Solare) or breweries (Bale Breaker) and a trip into Yakima proper for some of the award-winning tamales from Los Hernandez. Miles from previous location: 154 miles.

The Dalles Area Rufus Landing $ Review: Free boon docking on the river. I was surprised by how busy this gravel parking lot gets! We stayed here two nights. Local attractions : The Dalles is a quaint small town; there’s hiking in a state park nearby; Hood River is a good stop for breweries and outdoorsy fun. Miles from previous location: 120 miles.

Tillamook Air Museum Grounds – 5005 Highway 101 South, Tillamook, OR 97141 $$ Review: A no frills and inexpensive camping spot next to the tiny Tillamook airport and air museum. Super close to town. Local attractions: Tillamook was our first stop on the Oregon coast. Be sure to visit the famous Tillamook Creamery – it lives up to the hype. From this home base we also explored Cannon Beach and Pacific City. Click here to read my complete guide to the Oregon Coast. Miles from previous location: 157 miles.

Yachats Cape Perpetua Campground – 2200 US-101, Yachats, OR 97498 $$ Review: This is it. The perfect campground in the perfect coastal town. (As long as you don’t need cell service.) I fell hard for Yachats. Local attractions: Redwoods, fresh sea food, and tide pools galore. Click here to read my full guide to Yachats. Miles from previous location: 93 miles.

Coos Bay Bastendorff County Park – 63379 Bastendorff Beach Rd. Coos Bay, OR, 97423 $$$ Review: We were excited to get a last minute spot at this campground but it came with serious pros and cons. It’s a great location for checking out Charleston, North Bend, Coos Bay, and the surrounding area. It’s also very busy and crowded and the bathrooms leave much to be desired. Local attractions: Be sure to check out the nearby adorable beach towns of Florence and Bandon. Click here to read my complete guide to the Oregon Coast. Miles from previous location: 74 miles.

Brookings Sea Bird RV Park – 16429 Highway 101 South Brookings, OR 97415 $$$ Review: Truth be told, we planned to state at Harris Beach State Park but turns out everything was full because there was a kite festival that weekend (true story). Sea Bird is a small private campground with a mix of travelers and long term residents. Local attractions: There’s no shortage of stunning views along Oregon’s southern coast. Be sure to stop by Crazy Norwegian’s Fish and Chips in Port Orford. Miles from previous location: 107 miles.

Trinidad Emerald Forest Cabins & RV – 753 Patricks Point Drive, Trinidad, CA, 95570 $$$ Review: What a wonderful campground, with camping spots tucked in among tall evergreens! Great for families. Just outside of the quiet fishing town of Trinidad. Local attractions: It’s a short drive to Redwood National and State Parks or Eureka. Read more about our visit here. Miles from previous location: 86 miles.

Fortuna Area Van Duzen Campground – Swimmers Delight – 12 miles east of Highway 101 on Highway 36 $$ Review: This was a last minute find for us. While we only stayed for one night, this would be a fun spot to spend a long weekend. The spots are large and quite literally surrounded by giant redwoods. Local attractions: Soak up the nature, and visit the charming Victorian village (and dairyland) of Ferndale. Miles from previous location: 40 miles.

Fort Bragg MacKerricher State Park – West Pinewood Campground – three miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1, near the town of Cleone $$$ Review: IMHO this is the best place to stay in Fort Bragg, by far. Huge campsites within walking distance to the beach and only a short drive to downtown. However, in our experience, California state parks are more expensive to dry camp in than other states, and the amenities are limited. Local attractions: Fort Bragg is a charming coastal town with shops, restaurants and North Coast Brewing Co.. Enjoy fresh seafood, beach hikes, and wildlife watching. Read more about our visit here. Miles from previous location: 117 miles.

Arrival: We returned to Sacramento at the end of July 2019, just in time to see friends and family and then fly back to Washington, D.C. for a work trip.

Just like “normal” life, you can pretty much spend as little or as much as you want while living the full-time RV lifestyle. I was very curious to compare our costs during this leg of the trip with our expenses from April 2019, our mad dash across the country. (You can read about that itinerary and why we had to travel across the whole USA in one month here .)

And you guys, guess what? I think we are figuring out this whole full-time RV thing! In June and July, we stayed at several pricey campgrounds out of necessity while visiting popular destinations like the Tetons or the California coast. But we also found some great deals at state park campgrounds and boondocked whenever we could. We found our travel speed sweet spot, moving every five days or so and limiting drive days to around three hours (most of the time). That schedule helped us balance time for work with time for fun. We are loving how RV travel allows you to experience an area the way the locals do.

I added a new “health” category to our expense tracker this month. We had our first dog health scare this month when Hobbes had a flare up of a past back injury. I shared more about how we keep Hobbes healthy on the road in this blog post for the Pet Food Institute. My top recommendation for RVers (or anyone traveling with their dog) is to keep a file of past health diagnoses and vaccination records with you. It was so helpful to be able to share this information with the new-to-us vet so they had some context for his symptoms.

Western Road Trip RV Travel Expenses At a Glance:

10 Weeks/69 Days on the Road

Gas: $1,497 This included fuel for both The Chateau and our car. Let’s just say the difference in gas prices between Montana and the California coast was “significant”. Ouch.

Campground Fees: $1,922 This breaks down to $28/day. Not bad. We stayed at a mix of free campsites, state and national parks, and private campgrounds. This total also includes parking fees in the few cities we visited with parking meters. In comparison, we spent $1,300 for just 30 days in April.

Eating and Drinking Out: $1,585 Mostly includes meals in the $15-30 range (and lots of coffee). We admittedly spend a lot in this area since trying new restaurants is one of the best ways to get to know a new city, IMHO.

Entertainment: $282 A minor league baseball game, bowling, the Cody Nite rodeo, and visiting a dinosaur dig.

Groceries: $1,288 This number also includes random household supplies purchased along with groceries at Walmart.

Health and Wellness: $165 Mostly day passes for gyms (and showers)!

RV and Car Maintenance: $213 Oil changes, etc. Also includes some organizational supplies and a new ottoman!

Connectivity: $451 My phone plan, a wireless jetpack for wifi, and our mail forwarding service.

Grand Total: $6,775

This breaks down to $98/day or $1.98 per mile.

Our primary goal in embracing the full-time RV lifestyle is to see and experience as many new places as possible (rather than saving money) – and clearly that shows. Adjusting your speed of travel or avoiding eating and drinking out are the easiest ways to save money on the road.

I hope this information is helpful if you are planning to jump into fulltime RV living or just an extended road trip across the American west. Feel free to send me a comment or an email if you have any questions about the itinerary.

I am currently planning the next leg of our journey : fall in the USA’s upper Midwest… your recommendations would be much appreciated! Be sure to click here to read my latest dispatches from the road and follow me on Instagram for more updates!

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5 Great RV Road Trip Routes in the United States

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RV camping is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to explore the United States. Few modes of transport allow travelers to cover so much distance for little money while coming face-to-face with the nation's natural treasures.

We've come up with five route suggestions for folks looking to hit the road and tour America's most beautiful natural preserves.

» Learn more: The beginner’s guide to renting an RV

California loop

Distance: 2,226 miles

California offers a cornucopia of natural beauty, from towering redwood forests to dusty deserts to breathtaking seascapes and shorelines. This 14-destination loop will take RV travelers across the entire state. While we start our journey just northeast of San Diego and go in a clockwise loop, you can use any location as your starting point. We've highlighted some of the top nature and camping destinations across California, but feel free to improvise as there is no shortage of parks and preserves in the Golden State.

A. Anza-Borrego State Park

B. Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park.

C. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

D. Big Basin Redwoods State Park

E. Point Reyes.

F. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

G. Klamath National Forest.

H. Shasta National Forest.

I. Lake Tahoe.

J. Grover Hot Springs.

K. Yosemite National Park.

L. John Muir Wilderness.

M. Death Valley.

N. Joshua Tree National Park.

Rocky Mountains

Distance: 2,826 miles

The Rocky Mountains stretch over 3,000 miles from New Mexico to British Columbia and offer a life's worth of exploration opportunities. You could spend weeks at Yellowstone and Grand Teton alone. We've chosen just a few of the more popular destinations and suggest you set aside a hefty chunk of time for this trip. Again, the locations are ordered clockwise, but you can jump in at the most convenient destination. We begin in southern Idaho.

A. Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho.

B. Craters of the Moon Monument, Idaho.

C. National Elk Refuge, Wyo.

D. Grand Teton National Park, Wyo.

E. Yellowstone National Park, Mont.

F. Glacier National Park, Mont.

G. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Mont.

H. Devil's Tower National Monument, Wyo.

I. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo.

J. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colo.

K. Mesa Verde National Park, Colo.

L. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colo.

Distance: 2,332 miles

The classic American road trip, Route 66 spans from Chicago to Los Angeles. Unlike the other trips we list here, Route 66 is less a nature excursion and more a nostalgic cruise along a collection of museums, diners and roadside attractions. Route 66 has hundreds of potential stops; we've chosen just a few. If you plan on taking Route 66 both away from home and back toward it, remember to leave plenty of attractions for the return trip.

A. Chicago, Ill.

B. Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum, Ill.

C. Lincoln's Tomb, Ill.

D. St. Louis, Mo.

E. Mark Twain National Forest, Mo.

F. Galena Mining and Historical Museum, Kan.

G. Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum, Okla.

H. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Okla.

I. Palo Duro State Park, Texas

J. Cadillac Ranch, Texas

K. Route 66 Auto Museum, N.M.

L. Red Rock State Park, N.M.

M. Petrified Forest National Park, Ariz.

N. Meteor Crater, Ariz.

O. The Grand Canyon, Ariz.

P. Los Angeles, Calif.

New England loop

Distance: 1,515 miles

A road trip around New England offers a balanced blend of verdant forests, rocky seascapes, colonial history and gorgeous seaside towns. We start our loop in upstate New York, heading east and north into the parks of upper New England. After Acadia, head south along the coast for breathtaking ocean views. A collection of historic New England towns (Salem, Cape Cod and more) will provide a break from the greenery and a lesson in American history. Pick up the route at the location closest to you.

A. Adirondack State Park, N.Y.

B. Green Mountain National Forest, Vt.

C. White Mountain National Forest, N.H.

D. Allagash Wilderness Waterway State Park, Maine

E. Acadia National Park, Maine

F. Minute Man National Historic Park, Mass.

G. Salem, Mass.

H. Boston, Mass.

I. Cape Cod, Mass.

J. Jamestown, R.I.

K. Fort Adams State Park, R.I.

L. Mystic Seaport, Conn.

M. Hammonasset State Park, Conn.

N. Fort Hale Park, Conn.

O. Ferris Lake, N.Y.

Distance: 5,776 miles

The Southern states have plenty to offer in terms of nature, culture and relaxation. A satisfying southern RV expedition will sample forests, beaches and everything in between. This loop starts in historic Savannah, drops down into Florida and meanders along the Southern coast before launching back east into Tennessee and Virginia. The last leg of the journey comprises a series of beaches for a proper cool down at the end of a long journey. Of course, you can begin anywhere along the route and eventually end up back where you started.

A. Savannah, Ga.

B. Ocala National Forest, Fla.

C. Big Cypress National Preserve, Fla.

D. Everglades National Park, Fla.

E. Apalachicola National Forest, Fla.

F. Blackwater River State Park, Fla.

G. De Soto National Forest, Fla.

H. New Orleans, La.

I. Kisatchie National Forest, La.

J. Houston, Texas

K. Sam Houston National Forest, Texas

L. Ouachita National Forest, Ark.

M. Ozark National Forest, Ark.

N. Memphis, Tenn.

O. Nashville, Tenn.

P. Cherokee National Forest, Tenn.

Q. Chattahoochee National Forest, Ga.

R. George Washington National Forest, Va.

S. Virginia Beach, Va.

T. Myrtle Beach, S.C.

U. Hilton Head, S.C.

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Mighty 5: Utah & the Grand Canyon

Yellowstone, grand teton & jackson, yosemite, sequoia & kings canyon.

• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park

• Port Angeles
• Olympic National Park
• Sol Duc Hot Springs
• Hoh Rainforest
• Pacific Coast
• Mount Rainier National Park

• Glacier National Park USA
• Flathead Lake
• West Glacier
• Many Glacier
• Two Medicine
• Missoula, Montana

• Great Falls

• Yosemite National Park
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

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 The Shevlin Family rocking our  Grand Canyon & Sedona  trip in 2017

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RV Itinerary West Coast – 26 Epic Places To Stop

The west coast is a gorgeous place that is perfect for exploring by RV in the United States. The only problem? Knowing where to go and what to see. That’s where our RV Itinerary West Coast comes into play.

This post is brought to you by  Good Sam parks.

Below, we’ve compiled all of our favorite west coast stops into one easy-to-read road trip itinerary plan. This outline is sure to help you start planning your own west coast adventure. Whether you change things up to meet your own needs and wants or stick to the plan exactly, you’re sure to have an amazing time exploring this incredible part of the country. 

Table of Contents

Stop 1: San Diego, CA

San Diego is a must-see location in SoCal. There are tons of amazing things to see and do in the city, and the culture of the place is unique and interesting. 

We recommend spending at least three to four days in San Diego, but you could easily fill two weeks in the area. Some of our favorite things to do in the city include the San Diego Trolley Tour, San Diego Seal Tour, USS Midway Museum, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Botanical Garden. 

For even more recommendations of things to do in San Diego, check out our post:  15 Fun and Exciting Things to Do in San Diego With Kids .

Where to Eat

Where to stay.

• Campland on the Bay

Stop 2: Los Angeles, CA

As you move north, the next must-visit spot is Los Angeles. We recommend stopping for at least 4-5 days here, but a whole week (or even two) wouldn’t be uncalled for. 

Los Angeles may not be the prettiest city in the world, but it certainly is exciting, and it’s jam-packed with excellent attractions. These include the famous Hollywood sign, Malibu, the Santa Monica Pier, the Walk of Fame, California Science Center, and Venice Beach. Of course, you’ll also want to take a day to visit Disneyland while in the area. 

Want more ideas for things to do in Los Angeles? Check out our post:  The 36 Most Epic Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids .

• Orangeland RV Park

Stop 3: Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs is next on our list. This beautiful area has plenty to see, and we think it’s best to spend at least three to four days exploring. Some might even find they need more time. 

Some of the best things to do in and around Palm Springs include the amazing Joshua Tree National Park, Coachella Valley Preserve, the Canyon Ladder Hike, and Anza Borrego Desert State Park. 

• Palm Springs RV Resort

Stop 4: Death Valley National Park

Despite its name, Death Valley National Park is actually a beautiful place that everyone should visit at least once. We recommend spending two or three days in the park if possible. 

Not sure what to do during your visit? You’ll want to check out Badwater Basin, Dante’s View, and Devil’s Golf Course. More ideas can be found in our post:  14 Awesome Things to Do in Death Valley National Park. 

• Stovepipe Wells

Stop 5: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are sister parks that often get overlooked. We get it; Yosemite is the one that everyone talks about—but trust us when we say these parks are worth seeing and can even fill two or three entire days. 

In Sequoia, we recommend seeing the General Sherman Tree, visiting the Giant Forest Museum, and hitting some hiking trails. During your time in Kings Canyon, be sure to see the General Grant Tree, drive the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, and check out Grizzly Falls. 

More info on both parks can be found in our post:  19+ Unforgettable Things to Do in Sequoia National Park .

• Lemon Cove Village RV Park

Stop 6: Morro Bay

Need some beach time? Morro Bay is the perfect place for you. This small town is located right on the beach and is the perfect place to enjoy the salty air and explore tide pools. 

In our opinion, it’s best to spend two days in this adorable town in order to have time to walk the beach, try your hand at surfing, and explore the awesome aquarium. You could fill more time in the area by driving over to San Luis Obispo. 

• Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort

Stop 7: Big Sur

One of the prettiest places in the state of California, you absolutely must make a stop to see Big Sur. The beautiful rolling hills and amazing coastline are unlike anything else we’ve ever seen in this country. 

In order to check out the great hiking trails and incredible beaches in this area, we think you should spend a couple of days here at the very least. 

See what there is to do in Big Sur in our post:  18 Fun Things to Do in Big Sur California . 

• Marina Dunes RV Resort

Stop 8: Pinnacles National Park

Hike through caves and incredible rock formations at Pinnacles National Park. This one is a smaller park but is still worth visiting, and we could easily fill a couple of days exploring the park.

While in Pinnacles, make sure to hike the Juniper Canyon Trail for some amazing views. You might also want to see the Balconies Cliffs-Cave Loop for more awesome views and a hike through a cave (watch for bats!). 

If you want more info on Southern California, check out our post:  11 Awe-Inspiring Things to Do in Southern California . 

• San Benito RV and Camping Resort

Stop 9: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is another one of those must-see locations that should be included in all west coast road trips. The views here are awe-inspiring, the hikes are incredible, and there is so much to see and do that you will definitely want to spend five, six, or even more days there. 

One of our favorite things to do in Yosemite National Park is the Mist Trail. In fact, this might even be one of the best hikes we’ve ever done anywhere. More amazing Yosemite experiences can be found in our post:  21 Epic Things to Do in Yosemite National Park with Kids . 

• Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Resort

Stop 10: San Francisco, CA

Historic sites, awesome museums, and lovely historic homes make San Francisco an interesting place to visit. We spent several days in the San Francisco area, and we feel one would need at least four to five days to really get a feel for the place. 

Some of the best things to do in this city include checking out Chinatown, seeing the most crooked street in America, strolling Pier 39, and touring museums. We also highly recommend driving over to Muir Woods and Point Reyes Seashore. 

Want more ideas? Check out our post:  17 Unforgettable Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids . 

• Marin RV Park

Stop 11: Lake Tahoe

When you finish checking out San Francisco, escape the hustle and bustle of the big city by heading to the gorgeous Lake Tahoe. We could spend many days relaxing in this area, but if you’re on a tight schedule, you could probably stay for just a few days and still have a blast. 

We highly recommend doing some paddle boarding or kayaking out on the lake. Hiking and biking around the lake are also great options. Of course, you might want to try your hand at skiing in the winter. 

Those who need more suggestions should check out our post:  32 Spectacular Things to Do in Lake Tahoe . 

• Tahoe Valley Campground

Stop 12: Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley is another fantastic escape into nature, Russian River Valley is the perfect place to go for some fun in the water. You see, the main attraction here is the beautiful Russian River, which offers opportunities for tubing and swimming that the whole family can enjoy together. 

We recommend spending at least two or three days in the area, but you’ll want more if you plan to drive into Santa Rosa or any nearby town. 

• Russian River Brewing Company
• River Bend Resort

Stop 13: Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg may not be the biggest city in California, but it is still one that is worth stopping for. Here you can check out the amazing Glass Beach, where bits of colorful sea glass litter the sand. You can also visit Russian Gulch State Park from this location. 

To do these things, you will need at least two or three days in the Fort Bragg area. Of course, it’s always possible to find more fun, so staying longer is not a bad choice. 

• Pomo RV Park and Campground

Stop 14: Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Redwood trees are some of those things you really need to see for yourself to understand just how spectacular they are. This state park features a lovely forest made up of plant giants, and we recommend giving yourself a few days to really explore the place. 

While in the area, make sure to drive to the town square and herb shop in Arcata. Other spots that are worth day trips include the Loleta Cheese Factory in Loleta and Humboldt Cider Company in Eureka. 

• Loleta Cheese Factory
• Humboldt Cider Company
• Ancient Redwoods RV Park

Stop 15: Redwoods National Park

For more redwoods fun, be sure to take the time to visit Redwoods National Park to view the redwood forest. It should be noted that this park is not like most other national parks in that it is spread out with multiple sections along the coast. If you want to see the entire park, you will need several days to do so, but even just seeing one section is worthwhile. 

Really, any section you choose to visit will be fantastic. We especially enjoyed the Fern Canyon trail because this is where scenes from one of the  Jurassic Park  movies were filmed. 

• Kamp Klamath RV Park Campground

Stop 16: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Another wonderful national park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, is an awesome place to explore. Give yourself at least one full day in the park, and plan to stay longer in order to see “the most beautiful waterfall in California” at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park.

During your time in the national park, make sure to watch the video in the visitor center to learn about the different volcanoes found in the park. After that, drive the length of the park to admire the many volcanoes. Making time for a hike is also a good idea!

More awesome ideas for a Northern California road trip can be found in our post:  12 Epic Things to Do in Northern California . 

• Hat Creek Resort & RV Park

Stop 17: Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is a stunning place that you will definitely want to visit. Take a day to drive around the lake and take in all the amazing views. Add an extra day to do some hiking.

While parked near Crater Lake, make sure to head a bit south to see Lava Beds National Monument. This awesome park offers guests the opportunity to explore 20+ caves. Make sure you bring your own headlamp, as they are pricey at the visitor center!

• Waterwheel RV Park and Campground

Stop 18: Southern Oregon Coast

The Oregon coast is 100% magical, and we highly recommend exploring as much of it as you possibly can. That’s why this itinerary includes three stops along the coast. 

You will want to plan at least three to four days for your southern Oregon coast stop. During this time, you should visit and hike the beautiful Humbug Mountain State Park, take in the views at Coquille Point, explore the small town of Bandon (and get some food and ice cream there), and hop on a boat with Jerry’s Rogue Jets. 

• Tony’s Crab Shack
• Cranberry Sweets and More
• Face Rock Creamery
• Cypress Hills RV Campground

Stop 19: McKenzie River National Recreation Area

Once you get a taste of the Oregon coast, it might be tempting to stay on the coast, but trust us when we say you won’t want to miss the McKenzie River National Recreation Area. 

The scenery here is breathtaking, and the city of McKenzie Bridge has some fun stuff to check out. We especially love the Dee Wright Observatory, the Blue Pool, and the Waterfall Loop. One could easily fill two or three days exploring this gorgeous place. 

Want to learn more about this magical place? Check out our post:  How To Spend 3 Amazing Days In Mckenzie River Oregon .

• McKenzie General Store
• Eugene Premier RV Resort

Stop 20: Mid Oregon Coast

After your visit to the recreation area, you will head back west and check out the middle of the Oregon coast. We think it’s best to plan to spend three to five days here, depending on what you plan to see. 

First, you definitely want to see the town of Florence and try your hand at sandboarding. The sand dunes in the Oregon Sand Dunes National Recreation Area are also great for riding ATVs and even sledding.

You will definitely want to take the time to see Thor’s Well and make sure to do some tidepooling while you’re there. Newport and Yacht are both cool beach towns that are fun to explore as well. 

• Yachats Brewery
• SeaPerch RV Resort

Stop 21: Portland, OR

We love visiting Portland, Oregon. It has such a great vibe and so many great things to do and places to eat. Some of the best things to see while in the city include Powell’s Books, the International Rose Garden, and Forest Park. That said, we have a lot more ideas listed in our post:  32 Epic Things to Do in Portland with Kids . 

We also really enjoyed exploring outside of town and highly recommend driving the Hood River Fruit Loop. If you aren’t sure where to stop along the loop, check out our post:  The 10 Best Stops on the Hood River Fruit Loop . 

• Voodoo Doughnut
• Blue Star Donuts
• Pip’s Original Donuts and Chai
• Afuri Ramen and Dumpling
• Slappy Cakes
• Salt and Straw
• Bollywood Theatre
• Sandy Riverfront RV Resort

Stop 22: Northern Oregon Coast

After Portland, you’ll return once again to the coast. This time you’ll be exploring the northern part of the coast, and you should plan a stay of three or four days at least. 

While you’re on the northern coast, we highly recommend seeing the town of Tillamook and trying the ice cream and cheese at Tillamook Cheese Factory. Visits to the adorable towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach are also in order. The tide pools at Indian Beach are fantastic, and Ecola State Park offers lovely views of the pacific ocean and sea stacks. Finally, make sure to visit the  Goonies  house in Astoria. 

More great Oregon coast info can be found in our post:  26 Oregon Coast Road Trip Stops You Don’t Want to Miss . 

• Buoy Brewery
• Astoria Brewing Company
• Pelican Brewing
• Public Coast Brewing
• Cannon Beach RV Resort

Stop 23: Mount Rainier National Park

A beautiful place, Mount Rainier National Park is a must-see for anyone taking a west coast road trip. Unfortunately, because of snow in the winter and fog on certain days throughout the year, it can be difficult to see the mountain. Still, it is worth a try, as the mountain and the park are magnificent. 

In addition to seeing Mount Rainier, we also recommend taking a day trip to see Mount St. Helens and learning all about the relatively recent eruption of this volcano. We especially enjoyed exploring the lava tubes in this park. 

If you choose to do both parks, we recommend allowing two to three days for this stop. 

• Rainier Wings / Packwood RV Park

Stop 24: Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is an interesting stop because it is such a diverse park. Here, you can explore a rainforest, gorgeous beaches, mountains, and waterfalls. Make sure you give yourself at least three days so you can see all of the different environments, as each one has its own special kind of magic to offer. 

Not sure what to do in the park? We recommend the Hall of Mosses Trail, Ruby Beach, and Sol Duc Falls area. More suggestions can be found in our post:  12 Fun and Exciting Things to Do in Olympic National Park .

• Hoquiam River RV Park

Stop 25: Seattle, WA

Seattle is an awesome city with a unique history that is worth learning about located in Washington State. Spend at least a couple of days here in order to give yourself time to explore the many great attractions the city offers.

To learn about that aforementioned history, we recommend a stop at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Of course, you will want to get a photo in front of the Space Needle and visit Pike Place Market, Don’t forget to play on the playground located outside of the Museum of Pop Culture, and if you can swing it, a visit to the Museum of Pop Culture is also worth putting on your to-do list. 

• Issaquah Village RV Park

Stop 26: North Cascades National Park

Last but definitely not least, we must add North Cascades National Park to our RV travel lineup. This is an incredibly beautiful park that offers amazing views, bright blue waters, fun hikes, and lots of opportunities for wildlife viewing. 

Some of our favorite things we did in this park were Diablo Lake Overlook, Blue Lake Trail (where the kids could get in the water), and the challenging Sahale Glacier Trail. 

You can learn more about our visit to North Cascades in our post:  17 Amazing Things to Do in North Cascades National Park . 

• Grandy Creek RV Campground

There you have it, an itinerary that will help you know where to go as you explore the beauty of the west coast. Happy trails, and we’ll see you down the road!

More Info Check Out:

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12 Fun and Exciting Things To Do In Olympic National Park

17 Amazing Things To Do In North Cascades National Park

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101 Must-See RV Camping Spots In The Western USA

Trade likes for lifelong memories: the west's unforgettable parks.

Ever flipped through a travel guide and felt like you were reading paint drying? Yeah, us too. That’s why we ditched the generic intro and crafted a guide that sparks your inner explorer. Buckle up, because we’re taking you on a wild ride through the West’s 101 MUST-SEE parks!

Picture this: sun-kissed canyons stretching into the horizon, geysers erupting like nature’s fireworks, and ancient redwoods towering overhead. The western US isn’t just scenery, it’s an adventure playground. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker kayaking through rapids, a stargazer searching for cosmic dust, or a family picnicking under giant sequoias, there’s a park here with your name on it.

So ditch the boring lists and generic descriptions. This curated guide is packed with insider tips, hidden gems, and stories that’ll make you want to lace up your boots and hit the trail. Ready to trade screen time for epic memories? Scroll down, adventurer, and discover why these 101 parks belong on your must-explore list!

Yosemite National Park, California

Yellowstone national park, wyoming, grand canyon national park, arizona, glacier national park, montana, zion national park, utah, arches national park, utah, bryce canyon national park, utah, grand teton national park, wyoming, rocky mountain national park, colorado, sequoia national park, california, joshua tree national park, california, death valley national park, california, olympic national park, washington, crater lake national park, oregon, redwood national and state parks, california, great basin national park, nevada, canyonlands national park, utah, petrified forest national park, arizona, saguaro national park, arizona, capitol reef national park, utah, mount rainier national park, washington, denali national park, alaska, acadia national park, maine, big bend national park, texas, everglades national park, florida, olympic peninsula, washington, pacific coast highway, california, lake tahoe, california/nevada, sedona, arizona, durango, colorado, jackson hole, wyoming, banff national park, alberta, canada, glacier bay national park, alaska, olympic national forest, washington, mount hood national forest, oregon, tahoe national forest, california, sawtooth national forest, idaho, flathead lake, montana.

• Lake Powell, Arizona/Utah

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

Antelope canyon, arizona, mono lake, california, carlsbad caverns national park, new mexico, badlands national park, south dakota, coconino national forest, arizona, lake mead national recreation area, nevada/arizona, zion canyon scenic drive, utah, monument valley navajo tribal park, arizona/utah, san juan islands, washington, napa valley, california, sonoma valley, california, mount rushmore national memorial, south dakota, mount shasta, california, big sur, california, mammoth lakes, california, olympic coast national marine sanctuary, washington, valley of fire state park, nevada, canyon de chelly national monument, arizona, painted hills, oregon.

• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, California

Death Valley, California

California route 1, pacific coast highway, red rock canyon state park, california, mount whitney, california, great sand dunes national park, colorado, monument valley, arizona, lake chelan, washington, mount rainier, washington, mount baker, washington, mount st. helens, washington, oregon coast, oregon, crater lake, oregon, columbia river gorge, oregon/washington, mount hood, oregon, mount jefferson, oregon.

• Mount Bachelor, Oregon

Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Deschutes river, oregon, cascade lakes scenic byway, oregon, newberry national volcanic monument, oregon, hell’s canyon, idaho/oregon, sawtooth mountains, idaho, city of rocks national reserve, idaho, craters of the moon national monument, idaho, shoshone falls, idaho, payette lake, idaho, sun valley, idaho, devils tower national monument, wyoming, bighorn national forest, wyoming, wind river range, wyoming, flaming gorge national recreation area, wyoming/utah, dinosaur national monument, utah/colorado, goblin valley state park, utah.

Buckle up, nature lovers and adventure seekers! The open road awaits, leading you to a treasure trove of national parks across the western United States. Each park offers a unique blend of landscapes, wildlife, and activities, perfect for exploring by RV.

Let’s delve deeper into some of these must-see destinations, where towering trees, breathtaking vistas, and unforgettable experiences await…

101 Must-See Camping Spots In The Western USA

Channel your inner Ansel Adams and stand awestruck before Yosemite’s granite titans – Half Dome and El Capitan. Hike mist-kissed trails, like the legendary Mist Trail, and immerse yourself in the soul-stirring beauty of Yosemite Valley. It’s not just a park; it’s a pilgrimage for nature lovers.

Witness the raw power of Earth at Yellowstone! Old Faithful erupts skyward, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone carves a dramatic path, and diverse wildlife roams free. Bison thunder across the plains, elk bugle in the valleys, and grizzly bears might just become your unexpected neighbors.

Peer over the precipice of wonder at the Grand Canyon National Park. The vastness will leave you speechless. Hike into the depths on trails like the Bright Angel, and witness the ever-changing canvas of the Colorado River bathed in the golden light of sunrise or sunset. This is a landscape that etches itself onto your soul.

Swap asphalt for alpine meadows as you navigate Going-to-the-Sun Road in your RV, with vibrant wildflowers painting the landscape. Hike past turquoise lakes mirroring snow-capped peaks, keeping an eye out for grizzly bears and nimble mountain goats. After a day of adventure, unwind at your campsite, the crisp mountain air whispering lullabies under a canopy of stars. Glacier National Park offers an unforgettable RV adventure where nature reigns supreme.

Embrace your inner explorer and conquer Zion’s slot canyons in your RV. Hike The Narrows, feeling the cool spray on your face as you navigate through towering red rock walls. Or, challenge yourself with Angels Landing, its breathtaking panoramic views rewarding your effort. Evenings spent around a crackling campfire, sharing stories and stargazing, make Zion an unforgettable RV adventure for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike.

Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch. RV adventurers can hike through surreal rock formations, marvel at the fiery hues of sunrise and sunset, and experience the otherworldly beauty of Utah’s desert landscape.

Picture a forest of towering stone spires painted in hues of orange, red, and pink, all visible from your RV campsite. Hike along the rim, gazing out at Bryce Amphitheater, a natural masterpiece unlike any other. As night falls, relax under a sky brimming with stars, their brilliance magnified by the clear desert air. Bryce Canyon National Park offers an RV experience that combines stunning scenery with serene tranquility.

Mirror-like lakes reflect the majesty of the Teton Range as you set up camp in Grand Teton National Park. Paddle across Jenny Lake in your kayak, its cool embrace refreshing after a hike through wildflower-filled meadows. Capture the iconic silhouette of Mount Moran at sunrise, its golden glow painting the perfect postcard. Grand Teton offers an RV escape where majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife create lasting memories.

Breathe in the crisp mountain air from the comfort of your RV as you drive Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in North America. Hike to Emerald Lake, its emerald waters a jewel nestled amongst snow-capped peaks. Keep your camera handy for marmots basking on rocks and bighorn sheep scaling cliffs. Rocky Mountain National Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, offering the perfect setting for an unforgettable RV adventure.

Imagine towering over the world’s largest tree, General Sherman, as you explore ancient sequoia groves in your RV. Hike the Congress Trail, sunlight filtering through the canopy, and marvel at the silent giants that have stood for millennia. Sequoia National Park is a humbling experience, a must-visit for nature lovers seeking awe-inspiring grandeur.

Trade city lights for star-studded skies in Joshua Tree National Park. Hike amidst surreal desert landscapes dotted with iconic Joshua trees, their twisted limbs reaching for the heavens. Explore hidden oases, their emerald green a stark contrast to the arid plains. Joshua Tree is a photographer’s paradise, offering endless opportunities for capturing the otherworldly beauty of the desert.

Craving adventure in the land of extremes? Death Valley beckons! Explore vast salt flats shimmering like mirrors under the desert sun. Hike through colorful sand dunes, their ever-shifting landscapes a testament to nature’s power. Camp under a sky ablaze with stars, the silence broken only by the howl of a coyote. Death Valley is a stark yet captivating landscape, an unforgettable experience for those who seek adventure off the beaten path.

Immerse yourself in the diverse beauty of Olympic National Park. Hike through lush rainforests, their emerald ferns and towering trees creating a cathedral-like atmosphere. Relax on windswept beaches, the Pacific Ocean roaring its lullaby. Soak in natural hot springs, letting the mineral-rich waters soothe your soul. Olympic National Park is a haven for nature lovers, offering a kaleidoscope of ecosystems waiting to be explored.

Gaze into the depths of the deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake, its vibrant blue waters reflecting the surrounding volcanic peaks. Drive the scenic Rim Drive, stopping at breathtaking viewpoints like Watchman Peak for panoramic vistas. Hike through ancient forests, their silent beauty whispering stories of the eruption that formed this natural wonder. Crater Lake National Park is a testament to nature’s raw power and beauty, a must-visit for those seeking a scenic adventure.

Feel dwarfed by the towering coast redwoods, some of the tallest trees on Earth. Explore old-growth forests where sunlight filters through the canopy, creating a dappled wonderland. Hike amongst these ancient giants, their silent presence a humbling reminder of the enduring power of nature. Redwood National and State Parks offer a unique opportunity to connect with the past and appreciate the majesty of the natural world.

Great Basin National Park is a hidden gem in the Nevada wilderness, featuring ancient bristlecone pines, rugged mountains, and pristine alpine lakes. RV adventurers can hike to the summit of Wheeler Peak, explore underground caves, and experience the solitude and beauty of the Great Basin Desert.

Canyonlands National Park is a rugged wilderness of deep canyons, towering mesas, and stunning rock formations carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. RV travelers can explore the park’s remote backcountry, hike to breathtaking overlooks like Mesa Arch, and experience the raw beauty of Utah’s canyon country.

Petrified Forest National Park is home to one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood in the world. RV adventurers can hike among ancient fossilized trees, explore colorful badlands, and marvel at the natural wonders of this unique and fascinating landscape.

Saguaro National Park is a desert oasis filled with towering saguaro cacti, rugged mountains, and diverse wildlife. RV travelers can hike scenic trails, drive along picturesque loops, and experience the beauty and solitude of the Sonoran Desert.

Capitol Reef National Park boasts stunning geological formations, including the Waterpocket Fold, colorful canyons, and natural bridges. RV travelers can enjoy hiking, scenic drives, and stargazing in one of the less crowded national parks.

Mount Rainier National Park offers breathtaking views of the iconic Mount Rainier, diverse ecosystems, and extensive trail networks suitable for all skill levels. RV travelers can hike, camp, or simply marvel at the beauty of wildflower meadows and cascading waterfalls.

Mount Rainier National Park offers breathtaking views of the iconic Mount Rainier, diverse ecosystems, and extensive trail networks suitable for all skill levels. Visitors can hike, camp, or simply marvel at the beauty of wildflower meadows and cascading waterfalls.

Denali National Park is home to North America’s highest peak, Mount Denali, surrounded by vast wilderness and abundant wildlife. RV travelers can explore the park’s rugged terrain, spot grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep, and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.

Acadia National Park offers a unique blend of rocky coastline, granite peaks, and lush forests along the Atlantic Ocean. RV campers can enjoy scenic drives along the Park Loop Road, hike to panoramic vistas atop Cadillac Mountain, and explore historic landmarks like Jordan Pond and Bass Harbor Head Light.

Big Bend National Park encompasses a diverse desert landscape, deep canyons, and the winding Rio Grande River along the Texas-Mexico border. RV adventurers can hike through rugged terrain, soak in hot springs, stargaze in designated dark sky areas, and witness spectacular sunsets over the Chisos Mountains.

Everglades National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique ecosystem of mangrove forests, sawgrass marshes, and diverse wildlife, including alligators and endangered species. RV travelers can explore the park’s waterways by boat, hike scenic trails, and experience the tranquility of one of the largest subtropical wilderness areas in the United States.

Olympic Peninsula offers a diverse range of landscapes, from rugged coastline and temperate rainforests to snow-capped mountains and pristine lakes. RV adventurers can explore Olympic National Park’s stunning natural beauty, soak in hot springs, hike through old-growth forests, and spot wildlife such as elk and bald eagles.

Pacific Coast Highway offers one of the most scenic road trips along the California coastline, with breathtaking ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and charming coastal towns. RV travelers can drive along iconic routes, stop at picturesque beaches and landmarks like Big Sur and the Golden Gate Bridge, and experience the laid-back coastal lifestyle of California.

Lake Tahoe is a stunning alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and pristine forests, offering a wide range of outdoor recreational activities year-round. RV campers can enjoy hiking, boating, fishing, skiing, and snowboarding, while taking in the breathtaking scenery of one of the deepest and clearest lakes in North America.

Moab is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise, known for its iconic red rock landscapes, world-class mountain biking trails, and thrilling outdoor activities. RV travelers can explore nearby national parks such as Arches and Canyonlands, embark on scenic drives along the Colorado River, and experience unforgettable adventures in the heart of Utah’s canyon country.

Sedona is renowned for its stunning red rock formations, spiritual energy, and vibrant arts scene. RV visitors can explore numerous hiking trails, admire breathtaking views from scenic viewpoints, and experience the town’s unique blend of natural beauty and cultural charm.

Durango is a picturesque mountain town nestled in the San Juan Mountains, offering outdoor adventures, historic charm, and scenic beauty. RV travelers can ride the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, explore nearby national forests, and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and river rafting.

Jackson Hole is a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with world-class skiing, wildlife viewing, and outdoor adventures in Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding wilderness areas. RV visitors can explore the charming town of Jackson, take scenic drives through the Teton Range, and experience the beauty of the Wyoming wilderness.

Banff National Park is a breathtaking wilderness playground in the Canadian Rockies, known for its stunning mountain scenery, turquoise lakes, and abundant wildlife. RV travelers can explore scenic drives, hike to alpine meadows and towering waterfalls, and soak in natural hot springs amidst the beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

Glacier Bay National Park is a pristine wilderness area in southeastern Alaska, renowned for its stunning glaciers, fjords, and diverse marine wildlife. RV travelers can cruise through icy waters, witness calving glaciers, spot humpback whales and sea otters, and explore remote wilderness areas teeming with natural beauty.

Olympic National Forest offers a diverse range of outdoor recreation opportunities, from hiking and camping to fishing and wildlife viewing. RV visitors can explore lush rainforests, rugged mountain peaks, and pristine lakes, and enjoy scenic drives through old-growth forests and along the rugged coastline of the Olympic Peninsula.

Mount Hood National Forest is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with opportunities for hiking, camping, skiing, and wildlife viewing amidst the stunning beauty of Oregon’s tallest peak. RV travelers can explore scenic drives, visit historic timberline lodges, and embark on outdoor adventures in the shadow of Mount Hood.

Tahoe National Forest encompasses a diverse landscape of alpine lakes, lush forests, and rugged mountains in the Sierra Nevada range. RV visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, and boating in scenic wilderness areas, and explore historic towns and cultural sites nestled amidst the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada.

Sawtooth National Forest is a pristine wilderness area in central Idaho, known for its jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and rugged backcountry terrain. RV travelers can explore scenic drives, hike to stunning viewpoints, and enjoy outdoor adventures such as camping, fishing, and mountain biking amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, offering stunning scenery, recreational activities, and outdoor adventures in northwest Montana. RV visitors can enjoy camping, boating, fishing, and swimming in crystal-clear waters, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and picturesque wilderness areas.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument showcases stunning geological formations, slot canyons, and expansive desert landscapes. RV adventurers can hike remote trails, discover hidden arches and waterfalls, and marvel at the rugged beauty of one of the last untouched wilderness areas in the contiguous United States.

Antelope Canyon is a mesmerizing slot canyon known for its narrow passageways, swirling sandstone walls, and stunning light beams. RV travelers can explore the canyon’s unique formations on guided tours, capturing breathtaking photographs of nature’s intricate artwork carved by wind and water over millions of years.

Mono Lake is a fascinating saline lake renowned for its otherworldly landscape, ancient tufa towers, and diverse birdlife. RV visitors can observe the lake’s unique ecosystem, hike scenic trails, and witness stunning sunrises and sunsets casting vibrant colors over the tranquil waters, making it a photographer’s paradise.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park features a vast underground network of limestone caves, adorned with spectacular stalactites, stalagmites, and other geological formations. RV adventurers can explore the caverns on guided tours, hike scenic trails, and witness the breathtaking sight of thousands of bats emerging from the cave at sunset.

Badlands National Park showcases a unique landscape of rugged rock formations, colorful buttes, and vast prairies teeming with wildlife. RV travelers can hike scenic trails, admire panoramic views from overlooks, and explore the park’s fossil-rich terrain, offering a glimpse into the prehistoric past of North America.

Coconino National Forest encompasses diverse ecosystems, including ponderosa pine forests, red rock canyons, and high desert plateaus. RV travelers can explore scenic drives, hike to ancient ruins and petroglyph sites, and camp beneath the stars in one of Arizona’s most picturesque and accessible wilderness areas.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers year-round recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing amidst stunning desert landscapes and the azure waters of Lake Mead. RV adventurers can explore historic sites, such as Hoover Dam, and enjoy outdoor adventures in the heart of the Mojave Desert.

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive offers breathtaking views of towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and cascading waterfalls within Zion National Park. RV travelers can embark on scenic drives, hike iconic trails like Angels Landing and The Narrows, and experience the majestic beauty of one of Utah’s most popular national parks.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is an iconic landscape of towering sandstone buttes, mesas, and spires, immortalized in countless films and photographs. RV visitors can explore the park’s scenic drives, take guided tours led by Navajo guides, and witness unforgettable sunrises and sunsets over the vast desert terrain.

San Juan Islands offer a tranquil escape with stunning coastal scenery, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife, including orcas, seals, and bald eagles. RV travelers can explore the islands by ferry, kayak along scenic waterways, and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, whale watching, and beachcombing.

Napa Valley is renowned for its picturesque vineyards, world-class wineries, and culinary delights set against the backdrop of rolling hills and scenic landscapes. RV enthusiasts can embark on wine tasting tours, dine at gourmet restaurants, and enjoy leisurely drives through the valley’s charming towns and countryside.

Sonoma Valley offers a laid-back wine country experience with boutique wineries, artisanal eateries, and scenic vineyard views. RV travelers can explore charming towns like Healdsburg and Sonoma, sample award-winning wines, and savor farm-to-table cuisine amidst the rolling hills and picturesque countryside of Northern California.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an iconic symbol of American history and democracy, featuring the sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents carved into granite cliffs. RV visitors can marvel at the monumental sculpture, explore the museum and interpretive exhibits, and witness the patriotic Evening Lighting Ceremony against the backdrop of the Black Hills.

Mount Shasta is a majestic stratovolcano rising dramatically above the surrounding landscape, attracting outdoor enthusiasts with its scenic beauty and spiritual significance. RV adventurers can hike pristine trails, fish in alpine lakes, and marvel at the stunning vistas of one of Northern California’s most iconic natural landmarks.

Big Sur is a rugged stretch of coastline along California’s Highway 1, renowned for its dramatic cliffs, panoramic ocean views, and pristine beaches. RV travelers can drive along scenic routes, hike through redwood forests, and explore iconic landmarks like Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls, experiencing the breathtaking beauty of California’s central coast.

Mammoth Lakes is a year-round outdoor playground surrounded by majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and abundant wilderness areas. RV adventurers can enjoy skiing and snowboarding in winter, hiking and fishing in summer, and soaking in natural hot springs amidst the stunning alpine scenery of the Eastern Sierra region.

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary protects a rich and diverse marine ecosystem along the rugged coastline of the Olympic Peninsula. RV travelers can explore tide pools, watch for migrating whales, and discover remote beaches, lighthouses, and sea stacks while experiencing the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Valley of Fire State Park is renowned for its stunning red sandstone formations, petrified wood, and ancient rock art dating back thousands of years. RV adventurers can hike scenic trails, photograph unique geological features, and camp beneath the starry desert sky amidst the otherworldly landscapes of Nevada’s oldest state park.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument preserves ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and stunning sandstone canyons, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural history of the Navajo people. RV visitors can explore scenic overlooks, hike into the canyon, and learn about the area’s indigenous heritage through guided tours and interpretive exhibits.

Painted Hills in Oregon showcases breathtaking colorful rock formations, created by volcanic ash deposits over millions of years. Visitors can marvel at the vibrant hues of red, gold, and black layers, explore scenic trails, and witness a unique geological wonder.

Channel Islands National Park, California

Five rugged islands whisper adventure off California’s coast. Kayak through emerald kelp forests, snorkel vibrant reefs, and hike trails with ocean panoramas. Spot playful dolphins, majestic whales, and unique island wildlife. Camp under a star-studded sky, lulled by crashing waves. Escape the ordinary, discover the extraordinary. Channel Islands await!

Death Valley in California is a land of extremes, featuring the lowest point in North America, vast salt flats, rugged mountains, and surreal desert landscapes. RV adventurers can explore unique geological formations, hike through canyons, and witness breathtaking sunsets over the barren terrain.

California Route 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, offers one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world, with breathtaking ocean views, rugged cliffs, and charming seaside towns. RV travelers can embark on a memorable road trip along this iconic highway, stopping at picturesque beaches, state parks, and landmarks along the way.

Red Rock Canyon State Park in California features stunning rock formations, colorful cliffs, and scenic desert landscapes. RV campers can explore hiking trails, photograph unique geological formations, and camp under the stars amidst the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert.

Mount Whitney in California is the highest peak in the contiguous United States, offering breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada mountains and surrounding wilderness. RV adventurers can challenge themselves with a hike to the summit, explore pristine alpine lakes, and experience the majesty of the High Sierra backcountry.

Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, set against a backdrop of majestic mountains. RV travelers can hike, sandboard, or sled down the towering dunes, explore diverse ecosystems, and camp under a canopy of stars in the heart of the Colorado wilderness.

Monument Valley in Arizona is an iconic landscape of towering sandstone buttes, mesas, and red rock formations, sacred to the Navajo Nation. RV adventurers can drive the scenic loop road, explore the Navajo Tribal Park, and witness the dramatic beauty of the American Southwest immortalized in countless films and photographs.

Lake Chelan in Washington is a pristine alpine lake nestled amidst the Cascade Mountains, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and scenic beauty. RV travelers can enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and wine tasting in the charming lakeside town of Chelan, surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas.

Mount Rainier in Washington is an iconic volcano towering over the Cascade Range, surrounded by old-growth forests, alpine meadows, and glaciers. RV adventurers can explore the national park’s extensive trail network, marvel at wildflower blooms, and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of one of the tallest peaks in the contiguous United States.

Mount Rainier offers stunning alpine scenery, including glaciers, meadows, and old-growth forests. RV travelers can hike numerous trails, marvel at colorful wildflowers, and enjoy panoramic views of the majestic peak.

Mount Baker is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, featuring snow-capped peaks, pristine lakes, and lush forests. RV adventurers can hike, ski, snowboard, or simply relax and take in the breathtaking beauty of the North Cascades.

The San Juan Islands are a scenic archipelago known for their stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and charming coastal communities. RV travelers can explore the islands’ pristine beaches, kayak through tranquil waters, and spot orcas and seals in their natural habitat.

Olympic National Park offers diverse ecosystems, including lush rainforests, rugged coastline, and alpine meadows. RV campers can hike through old-growth forests, relax on scenic beaches, and soak in hot springs while experiencing the beauty and tranquility of one of America’s most diverse national parks.

Mount St. Helens is an iconic volcano known for its dramatic eruption in 1980. RV adventurers can explore the volcano’s blast zone, hike through recovering landscapes, and learn about the geology and natural history of one of the most significant volcanic events in U.S. history.

The Oregon Coast offers rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and picturesque seaside towns. RV travelers can explore iconic landmarks like Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock, hike scenic trails, and indulge in fresh seafood while experiencing the beauty and charm of Oregon’s coastline.

Crater Lake is a stunning natural wonder, known for its deep blue waters and towering cliffs. RV visitors can drive along Rim Drive, hike to panoramic viewpoints, and marvel at the beauty of the nation’s deepest lake, formed in the caldera of an ancient volcano.

The Columbia River Gorge offers spectacular scenery, including towering waterfalls, lush forests, and dramatic cliffs. RV travelers can explore scenic drives, hike through picturesque landscapes, and visit historic sites while experiencing the beauty and grandeur of one of America’s most scenic river canyons.

Mount Hood is a prominent volcanic peak and a popular destination for outdoor recreation. RV adventurers can ski, snowboard, hike, or climb the mountain, explore alpine meadows and pristine lakes, and take in panoramic views of the Cascade Range and surrounding wilderness.

Mount Jefferson offers rugged terrain, alpine lakes, and breathtaking vistas in the Central Oregon Cascades. RV travelers can hike through old-growth forests, scramble over rocky ridges, and summit the second-highest peak in Oregon while experiencing the beauty and solitude of the Pacific Northwest wilderness.

Smith Rock State Park is a haven for rock climbers, offering challenging routes against a backdrop of stunning volcanic rock formations. RV adventurers can also enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and birdwatching amidst the scenic beauty of the Crooked River canyon.

Deschutes River offers a picturesque setting for outdoor recreation, including fishing, whitewater rafting, and scenic float trips. RV travelers can camp along the riverbanks, explore hiking trails, and relax in the natural hot springs dotted along the river’s course.

Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway winds through the breathtaking Cascade Range, passing by pristine alpine lakes, snow-capped peaks, and lush forests. RV adventurers can enjoy camping, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing along this scenic drive through Oregon’s stunning wilderness.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument showcases the volcanic landscape of central Oregon, featuring lava flows, cinder cones, and calderas. RV travelers can explore hiking trails, visit unique geological formations like Lava Butte and Paulina Falls, and learn about the area’s volcanic history at interpretive centers.

Hell’s Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge, offering unparalleled opportunities for outdoor adventure and exploration. RV adventurers can enjoy whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing amidst the rugged beauty of this remote wilderness area.

Sawtooth Mountains are a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and pristine wilderness to explore. RV travelers can hike scenic trails, go fishing or boating on mountain lakes, and camp beneath the star-filled skies of Idaho’s stunning backcountry.

City of Rocks National Reserve is renowned for its unique rock formations, towering spires, and excellent rock climbing opportunities. RV adventurers can explore scenic hiking trails, discover pioneer history at historic sites, and enjoy camping amidst the stunning natural scenery of southern Idaho.

Craters of the Moon National Monument showcases a surreal landscape of ancient lava flows, cinder cones, and volcanic craters. RV travelers can hike along lava trails, explore lava tubes, and marvel at the otherworldly terrain of this unique geological wonder.

Shoshone Falls is often referred to as the “Niagara of the West,” cascading over rugged cliffs in a dramatic display of natural beauty. RV adventurers can visit scenic viewpoints, enjoy picnics in the park, and witness the power and grandeur of one of America’s most impressive waterfalls.

Payette Lake is a picturesque alpine lake nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, offering a serene setting for outdoor recreation and relaxation. RV travelers can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, and camping along the lakeshore, surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery.

Sun Valley is a premier destination for outdoor adventure and leisure, with world-class skiing, hiking, and biking opportunities year-round. RV adventurers can explore scenic trails, relax at luxurious resorts, and soak in the stunning natural beauty of Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains.

Yellowstone National Park is America’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its geothermal wonders, wildlife diversity, and stunning landscapes. RV travelers can explore iconic attractions such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Yellowstone Lake, while enjoying opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping amidst the wilderness.

Grand Teton National Park boasts towering mountain peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. RV adventurers can enjoy scenic drives along the Teton Park Road, hike to breathtaking viewpoints like Inspiration Point, and experience world-class fly fishing and wildlife watching in this natural paradise.

Jackson Hole is a charming mountain town nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by the majestic Teton Range. RV travelers can explore historic downtown Jackson, enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and wildlife tours, and experience the authentic western hospitality and culture of this iconic Wyoming destination.

Devils Tower National Monument is a striking geological feature, rising dramatically from the surrounding landscape and sacred to Native American tribes. RV adventurers can hike around the base of the tower, enjoy scenic views from overlooks, and witness the beauty and significance of this iconic natural landmark.

Bighorn National Forest offers pristine wilderness, rugged mountain terrain, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities in northern Wyoming. RV travelers can explore scenic drives, hike through alpine meadows, fish in mountain streams, and camp beneath starry skies in this hidden gem of the Rocky Mountains.

Wind River Range is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and endless opportunities for hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering. RV adventurers can explore scenic trails, fish in pristine mountain lakes, and marvel at the breathtaking beauty of one of the most rugged and remote wilderness areas in the United States.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a scenic wonderland, with deep canyons, emerald green waters, and towering red cliffs along the Green River. RV travelers can enjoy boating, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing in this pristine natural paradise spanning the border between Wyoming and Utah.

Dinosaur National Monument is a treasure trove of fossilized dinosaur bones, ancient petroglyphs, and stunning river canyons. RV adventurers can explore scenic drives, hike along trails showcasing dinosaur fossils, and raft or float the scenic Green and Yampa Rivers through rugged canyon landscapes.

Canyonlands National Park is a rugged wilderness of colorful canyons, towering mesas, and dramatic rock formations carved by the forces of the Colorado River. RV travelers can explore iconic landmarks such as Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze, while enjoying opportunities for hiking, stargazing, and backcountry camping in this breathtaking desert landscape.

Goblin Valley State Park is famous for its otherworldly landscape of bizarre rock formations known as “hoodoos” or “goblins.” RV adventurers can hike among the whimsical rock sculptures, explore hidden slot canyons, and marvel at the unique geological wonders of this surreal desert playground.

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Road trips in Western USA

Road trip usa.

Explore the diversity of the American West on this captivating road trip ! From the hustle and bustle of the big cities to the majesty of the canyons, you'll travel through breathtaking landscapes.

USA by Motorhome

Discover the richness of the American Southwest on this memorable trip. Experience the freedom to explore these varied lands, where breathtaking landscapes reveal themselves at every turn.

Book your road trip with us and get $75 off! Offer valid for bookings made before April 28th 2024.

USA Family Vacation

Make memories with the whole family along the winding roads of the West, where wonder blends with the cultural and natural diversity of this incredible American region.

The American West

Take time to discover some of the most impressive desert landscapes in the American Southwest. Soak up the timeless spirit and rich culture of the Wild West.

California, a living canvas of natural contrasts, marvels at its diversity. From endless beaches to snow-capped peaks, rolling vineyards to arid deserts, every corner offers a unique tableau.

The American Dream

Travel the great classics of the American West on this colorful road trip through the national parks!

On the Road

Discover the great national parks of the Southwest with a motorhome as your nomad base, and experience adventure in complete freedom, between arid deserts, tranquil lakes and snow-capped peaks.

West coast National Parks

A unique journey, between wilderness and urban pulse. Follow mythical roads linking some of the most beautiful national parks in the American West.

Unspoiled Nature

Wake up in the heart of the great outdoors, with nature as far as the eye can see. Discover some of the most spectacular and iconic landscapes in the American West.

Cowboy Route

In the comfort of your motorhome, soak up the spirit of the Wild West on this short trip through the mythical desert landscapes of the American Southwest.

Best of the West

Unique rock formations, natural arches, deep canyons, rocky ridges: this is the recipe for a road trip in the heart of spectacular natural landscapes.

Seattle to San Francisco

Diverse landscapes, lush forests, a rugged coastline and an eclectic culture combine to make the Pacific Northwest a unique and captivating region to discover.

Larger than Nature

Encounter fascinating wildlife on this road trip that promises an unforgettable outdoor adventure, where every bend in the road reveals the raw, untamed beauty of the American West.

Hit the Road

Cross breathtaking landscapes from vast plains to majestic rocky mountains on this road trip. Camp under a starry sky that seems to stretch on forever.

California Escapade

Between the scenic drive along the Pacific coast, the iconic waterfalls and the majestic giant redwoods, you'll have plenty to see on this short stay in California.

California Coast

Highway 1 is one of the most scenic roads in the United States. Running along the Pacific coast, it winds its way between mountains and cliffs, offering spectacular views of the panorama.

California Dreamin'

This dream California getaway promises a harmonious blend of nature, culture and adventure, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The Rockies

Embark on an unforgettable road trip through the majestic Canadian and American Rockies. From snow-capped peaks to crystal-clear lakes, every turn reveals a breathtaking landscape.

The Far West

A memorable week discovering the classics of the American Wild West. A real immersion in the desert landscapes and traditions of this mythical and unique region.

The Great Explorer

My custom road trip.

Explore the USA your way with a 100% tailor-made road trip. Create your ideal itinerary by selecting the iconic destinations, must-see attractions and experiences that most resonate with your desires.

Top 10 places to visit with the family in the American West

The best 2-week usa self-drive holiday, california trip: where to go, the narrows hike in zion park from a to z, zion national park: the complete guide, the top 10 instagrammable spots in the american west, the best 3-week usa road trip holidays, top 10 most beautiful sunsets in the american west, the 5 most beautiful parks in california, what to do in san diego: our top 10, the best los angeles neighbourhoods, what to do in san francisco our top 10, five reasons not to visit the american west in 2023, top 10 campgrounds on the american west coast, bright angel hiking trail in the grand canyon: the complete guide, the best california family tour, highway 1 between los angeles and san francisco: the complete guide, the ultimate western us road trip, top 5 campgrounds in the american west, the best 2-week road trip in the american west, the best 10-day california road trip itinerary, the ultimate family road trip in the american west, the 7 wonders of the american west, top 5 parks in the american west [with map + photos], the ultimate rv road trip in the american west, top 5 forgotten parks in the american west, driving playlist for your western american road trip, top 10 out-of-the-ordinary accommodations in the american west, visit the american west for free... through 10 pictures, faq on road trips in the usa, when should i visit the u.s..

It is possible to enjoy a USA road trip all year round, depending on the region you are travelling to.

For a Western USA road trip for example, peak season is from mid-July to mid-August . That is also when there are the most travellers on the road and prices are at their highest. It is also possible to travel in winter ( mid-December to mid-March ), but it is important to note that some destinations, such as the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, may even see snow.

Travel in Florida is enjoyable all year round but be aware that hurricane season is from August to October.

Visit our " When should I visit? " section to learn more.

Driving in the U.S.

It's a good idea to learn about the American highway code before setting out on your USA road trip .

And our blog article " Driving in the U.S ." contains useful information, driving tips and some things you'll need to watch out for when driving in the land of Uncle Sam.

When should I book my trip to the U.S.?

For your road trip to California or elsewhere in the U.S., it is best to book at least 6 months in advance .

To be sure of availability, or to at least make sure that the top attractions are not sold out, you need to book early. For some destinations, such as the American West , many travellers book up to 1 year in advance .

Availability isn't the only reason to book in advance. The earlier you book, the more you save.

So there is really no good reason to wait until the last minute to book your trip to the U.S.!

Visit our " When should I book my trip? " section to find out more.

How do I choose between a road trip by car or by RV?

Should you take to the American roads in a rental car or RV ? There is no wrong answer.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessarily cheaper to travel by RV.

Check out our " Car vs RV " section to help you make an informed choice!

See all FAQ about U.S. road trips

Consult our complete list of FAQ about road trips in the U.S. or our " Practical Information " section to help in planning your trip to the land of Uncle Sam.

Customize your canadian road trip on the Authentik Canada trip planner .

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9 Wildly Beautiful Road Trips in the Southwest U.S.

Many of our rv lifestyle fellow travelers know that there are few places in the country as scenic and wildly beautiful as the southwest..

• 1 Many of our RV Lifestyle Fellow Travelers know that there are few places in the country as scenic and wildly beautiful as the southwest.
• 2 RVing in the region is truly a must for your bucket lists.
• 3 Sedona to Scottsdale, Arizona
• 4 Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
• 5 Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
• 6 Santa Fe to Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
• 7 The Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon, Arizona
• 8 Roswell to White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
• 9 Rocky Mountain National Park to Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
• 10 Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
• 11 Black Rock Desert to Goldwell Open Air Museum, Nevada
• 12 Want to REALLY connect to the RV Lifestyle?
• 13 Curious about the gear, gadgets, accessories, and RV products Mike & Jennifer use and recommend?

RVing in the region is truly a must for your bucket lists.

Of course, not everyone can do it all at once.

That being said, I compiled some past RV Lifestyle reports with other sources to come up with 9 Great Roadtrips in the Southwest U.S. (in no particular order):

Sedona to Scottsdale, Arizona

Start: Sedona, Arizona End: Scottsdale, Arizona Distance: 125 miles

Sedona is known for towering red mountains and amazing giant Saguaro cacti. There's no shortage of hiking trails, and it's a serene place for you to relax and unwind.

When you are “natured-out,” consider making a pitstop in Scottsdale, right outside Phoenix. The area is known as a wellness hub, perfect for travelers looking for a relaxing spa treatment, a round of golf, or a reset with stuff like daily guided meditations and yoga classes.

Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

Start: Salt Lake City, Utah End: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah Distance: 111 miles

The “old” Olympic Park offers fun outdoor activities year-round, from bobsledding and luge to rock climbing and ziplining. Looking for a unique hike? The community-funded Red Butte Garden is a beautiful place to go for a walk to admire Utah's stunning foliage. Ninety minutes west of Salt Lake City are the Bonneville Salt Flats, which look like something out of a dream.

Time it right and you'll see how the endless white fields are even more majestic when there is water on top of them, creating a glassy, mirror-like finish. You can easily view the flats from the highway, but if you want to stop and look around, park your RV at the rest area and proceed on foot through wildly beautiful spaces.

Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Start: Las Vegas, Nevada End: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada Distance: 48 miles

When you're done gambling in the city or checking out a show, head an hour over to the Valley of Fire, one of the most scenic state parks in the region. The fiery red rocks that eerily tower over the sides of the highway might make you feel like you're driving through another planet. Plus, if you have time to stop for a quick hike, the Fire Wave Trail is a beautiful formation of rocks that “waves” through shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink for a breathtaking view. It's the perfect add-on to a Vegas trip if you're craving some time in nature.

Santa Fe to Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Start: Santa Fe, New Mexico End: Taos Pueblo, New Mexico Distance: 73 miles

New Mexico's Capitol features traditional Pueblo-inspired architecture and an impressive collection of Native American handicrafts. Art buffs will enjoy the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, which displays thousands of her works. New Mexico is known for its rich Native American history, of course, and one of the best places to experience it first-hand is in Taos Pueblo, 70 miles north of Santa Fe. The 1,000-year-old adobe village has been certified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a rich cultural experience that you may not be able to participate in elsewhere.

The Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Start: The Grand Canyon, Arizona End: Antelope Canyon, Arizona Distance: 125 miles

Wildly beautiful and grand just aren't strong enough superlatives to describe the jaw-dropping majesty of the Grand Canyon . I’ve flown over it, seen other people’s photos and always been impressed. But not until we set foot in and on it did I truly understand the incredible beauty of this top-of-everyone’s-bucket-list destination.

We chose the North Rim. The north side is generally considered the least crowded and commercial and arguably offers the best views. Forget about camping there. You need reservations or the patience of Job to sit out in front of the camping check-in office all day long to gobble up any rare cancellation or early departure.

A little more than 100 miles down the road is Page, the gateway town for two of the most stunning natural landmarks in the southwest — Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Antelope Canyon is known for smooth, rippling walls, narrow walkways, and of course, stunning purple, orange, yellow, and pink colors that filter through tiny cracks at the top. Just make sure you book your tour well in advance. Then, Horseshoe Bend is a 20-minute drive away from Antelope Canyon and offers a killer snapshot of a giant rounded gorge.

Roswell to White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Start: Roswell, New Mexico End: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico Distance: 132 miles

In addition to the world-famous International UFO Museum & Research Center, there are plenty of other historic museums that you can visit while you're there, including the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and Roswell Museum & Art Center. Once you've had your fill of Roswell, make your way over to White Sands National Park , which I just wrote about and you can find here.

Rocky Mountain National Park to Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Start: Rocky Mountain National Park End: Mesa Verde National Park Distance: 537 miles

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most stunning places in the country. Those who are brave enough can climb the summit to Longs Peak, which stands at a towering 14,000 feet. Or to see moose, head to the North Park of State Forest State Park, which is known as Colorado's moose capital.

Along your way to Mesa Verde, you'll pass ski hubs like Keystone and Breckenridge (and Avon and Vail are only a quick detour away). If you're not visiting in the winter months, the scenic drive will be lush with greenery. Mesa Verde National Park is an incredible place to explore some of America's rich native history. Pro RVing tip: The Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park is nestled into a scenic canyon some four and a half miles off US 160 from the park entrance. With 267 sites, it seldom fills up.

Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Start: Zion National Park, Utah End: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Distance: 72 miles

Zion National Park is so spectacular and beautiful that the early pioneers called it Zion, like the Holy Place in the Bible. And indeed, standing under the soaring, multi-colored sandstone cliffs, gazing down into the canyons or hiking upstream in the strong current of the Virgin River to get deep into where Zion canyon starts to narrow, there is no way to describe it other than intensely mystical, almost religious in its awesomeness.

To continue on your nature-filled adventure, head to Bryce Canyon , which has the highest concentration of hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) in the world. The Bryce Amphitheater is an absolute must-see, of course, and if you have the time, check out the hiking trails for the routes you can take to explore beyond the plateau's rim.

Black Rock Desert to Goldwell Open Air Museum, Nevada

Start: Black Rock Desert, Nevada End: Goldwell Open Air Museum, Nevada Distance: 424 miles

The dark, cracked sand and endlessly flat landscape that disappears into the horizon is the perfect setting for you to completely unplug and unwind at Black Rock Desert. Try taking a mountain bike around the desert during the day, and lay out and stargaze at nighttime.

From Route 95, check out some of Nevada's gorgeous rock formations, including the peak of Mount Grant. Arrive at The Goldwell Open Air Museum and you'll notice the ghost town, the giant sculptures, and great views of the Mojave Desert. The sculptures in the museum were built onsite by a group of Belgian artists in 2000, and they're definitely worth a pitstop so you can stretch your legs and explore a bit. The best part? The museum is totally free and open 24/7.

Want to  REALLY  connect to the RV Lifestyle?

Become a supporter of the RV Lifestyle and get inside access to exclusive tips, trip planning ideas, how-to RV info, private member-only campouts with Mike & Jennifer, and special perks, giveaways, and discounts.  CLICK HERE for info.

Curious about the gear, gadgets, accessories, and RV products Mike & Jennifer use and recommend?

On this  RV Lifestyle Travel blog , our  RV Podcast , and our  RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel,  we mention all sorts of RV-related products and gear that we use, So we created a special page links to them. We update this all the time.   CLICK HERE to go to it directly. 

Published on 2020-02-10

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

One Response to “9 Wildly Beautiful Road Trips in the Southwest U.S.”

February 10, 2020at8:44 pm , Mike Spivey said:

US 395 from Ridgcrest to Bodie Ghost Town. You could easily spend 2 weeks seeing it. From Myanmar, Movie Flat Rod with Mobius Arch, Mt whitney, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forrest, Mono Lake, Bodie, and so much more. A crime not to include it.

Comments are closed.

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Hi we just got back from a 8 day trip this month from Vegas to Grand Canyon, to Sedona, and stops in between. We stayed at 4 different campsite during our travel and each one was planned out perfect and booked with out a hitch. Our complete intermarry that she put together was flawless. Could not have asked for a better experience. Will be using Tumbleweed Travel in the future. Thank you Brooke!!

Brooke did an EXCELLENT job with our 3.5 week trip around the American Southwest. We always had the most amazing campsite, and she responded really well to our high/low requests, sprinkling in great hotels and activities. She is super organized, responsive and has personally stayed in all the places she sends you. Highly recommend!!!

Brooke at Tumbleweed helped us plan a 10-night trip this summer to Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. We were novices to RVing and Brooke took care of planning a great trip – from perfect campsites to amazing activities to side trips along the way. All details were provided well in advance and with a great app that had our trip details and links to all activities and sites. We could not have done this trip without her help. We were a group of 11 – two RVs – and Brooke made very good age-appropriate recommendations. Some or our favorites were whitewater rafting down the Snake River, Horseback Riding in Yellowstone, rodeo in West Yellowstone. If you are looking for a great trip without the headaches and time to plan every detail I’d highly recommend Tumbleweed.

Brooke is an all-star organizational trip planner! We wanted a non-cookie cutter trip and she delivered. She arranged the MIGHTY 5 UTAH RV trip with a pickup in Vegas, drop off in Provo so we could do our loop in the 9 days that we had off from work. A lot of RV rentals won’t do one-way rentals. The trip itself was perfect. THE APP SHE UTILIZES IS AWESOME!! We always knew exactly where we were headed, how long it would take to get there, the check in info, places to eat, and fun side trips along the way if we wanted (and could access the app w/ no cell service). I am a super planner and Brooke was better than me. It’s so comforting to actually relax, not spend hours planning a trip and be able to trust someone else to do the work for you and it turn out better than I could have planned!! Brooke can you teach my husband & employees?! 🤣 I will absolutely use Tumbleweed again. I’m also frugal and she was worth every penny.

Thanks Brooke! From day one you made all the details clear, and all the recommendations were spot on for our trip. We didn't have any issues with reservations and felt that every detail of our adventure was taken care of - so that we can enjoy the family time! I especially loved the app with all our details and points of interest easily accessible, which also made connecting to google maps seamless. I would highly recommend Brooke and Tumbleweed Travel and will look forward to our next adventure with their help!

My wife and I recently did a week-long, bucket-list trip to Zion, Bryce and North Rim Grand Canyon national parks on a rental RV. Hiring Tumbleweed was the smartest thing we did to make the experience so easy and enjoyable. Brooke (the owner) handled all the planning, campsite selections and reservations. This saved us countless hours as well as the rookie mistakes we no doubt would've made on our own. We also loved the detailed itinerary, directions and recommendations packed into an easy-to-use app that works even offline (which is essential in parks without wifi or cell coverage). The overall experience was so great that we've hired Tumbleweed to arrange a second RV trip - to Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef parks.

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Ultimate RV Trip Planner: A Guide to Planning your RV Road Trip

Post Updated June 2021

This post contains affiliate links, if you click one of them we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information please read our disclaimer on affiliate links .

RV travel is one of the best ways to explore the United States! Planning an RV vacation can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the RV life. Not to worry! Two years of full time RV living taught me how to easily plan an RV adventure, and in this ultimate RV trip planner you’ll find a complete guide to planning your RV road trip!

Best Time to RV Across America

The good news is that you can RV the USA any time of the year. If you want to RV across the whole country then a shoulder season like Fall/Spring is best. Alternatively, you can plan your trip based on my seasonal recommendations for the best RV destinations below!

The best time for your RV vacation will depend on the type of scenery you’re interested in seeing. Below I share the best areas of the country for each season.

If you’d like to include Canada in your RV adventure I highly recommend it. Read about the best Canada road trips !

Summer RV Trips

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is absolutely glorious, and not to be missed. If you want to experience gorgeous forest waterfalls, pristine coastal scenery, and crystal clear mountain lakes then summer in Oregon and Washington is your best bet.

Fall RV Trips

New England is known for it’s striking fall foliage, where the leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow. Fall also brings milder weather to the humid east coast, and it’s a great time to explore the Eastern United States.

Winter RV Trips

Snow and ice make RVing much more difficult so for the winter months I’d recommend heading to the southern USA where temperatures are mild and comfortable.

Southern Florida is a popular winter RV destination, but be prepared to pay high prices for campsites and activities.

If you prefer a more affordable, and, in my opinion, more beautiful option, consider RVing the Southwestern United States. In the Southwest free and cheap campsites are plentiful, the dry air makes outdoor activities easier, and some of the most beautiful desert national parks become more accessible.

Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks are two excellent options for a winter RV vacation.

Spring RV Trips

Spring is when the high desert really shines, and this is a perfect time to explore all of the beautiful scenery in Northern Arizona and Utah.

If the Grand Canyon and Utah’s Zion National Park are on your bucket list then a springtime RV trip is the way to go!

Should you Rent an RV or Buy an RV for your RV Trip?

Whether you should rent or buy an RV for your USA RV travel is a very personal question. Here I’ll discuss some of the pros and cons of either choice!

How long is your trip?

If you’re only traveling for a week or two then renting an RV makes the most sense. While renting an RV is the more expensive option, it saves a lot of hassle, and is certainly more simple than purchasing an RV.

RV rentals provide you with the peace of mind that the RV is in good condition, and if you run into any mechanical issues the rental company will have you covered.

If you’re traveling for a month or more then you may want to consider purchasing an RV and re-selling it when you finish traveling. We met many travelers on the road who used this strategy for their RV journeys.

How Much Money can you Invest Upfront in your RV Trip?

The major advantage of purchasing a used RV then re-selling it is the fact that you can save the rental fees so that you will only be paying for travel costs (gas, campsites, etc), since you will recoup the cost of the RV at the end of your trip.

The downside to purchasing an RV rather than renting is that you will likely need more money upfront, and you will need to educate yourself on what to look for in a used RV. However, when you’re considering a savings of $7,000 or more (the amount you can expect to spend on a one month RV rental), it may be worth the extra hassle to buy and sell rather than rent.

Where to Rent an RV?

If you decide that RV rental is the best option for your trip then I recommend checking out the rentals on Outdoorsy.

Outdoorsy is a company that manages the rental of privately owned RVs when the owners are not using them.

Renting with Outdoorsy tends to be quite a bit cheaper than renting with a traditional RV rental company, and since you’re renting privately owned RVs you will have lots of different makes and models to choose from.

For more information check out this complete guide to RV rental in the USA!

Best RVs for Families, Singles, or Couples

Whether you’ve decided to rent an RV or purchase an RV for your RVing adventure, you’ll want to consider the type of RV that best meets your needs. RVs come in many shapes and sizes, and the RV you choose will directly impact the cost of your vacation, as well as the types of campsites you can visit on your travels.

Best RV for Family of 4

For families with children, a traditional motorhome makes the most sense, because they tend to provide the most space and the most sleeping options.

Class C motorhomes are an excellent option for families because they feature an over-cab bed that really makes the most of the space in the RV (plus kids love to sleep in these fun, lofted beds).

There are plenty of decent Class C motorhomes on the market, and if you’re purchasing an RV you should be able to find one for less than $20,000. Lazy Daze, Gulf Stream, and Jamboree are all brands to keep an eye out for when you’re searching for your class C RV.

Best RV for Couples

If you’re planning to travel as a couple, and you’re going to purchase an RV, then I am definitely partial to Toyota motorhomes for roadtripping the USA. Toyota motorhomes are micro-RVs, which means they are about the same size as a campervan but thanks to an over-cab bed they feel much more spacious than a campervan.

Read about why we chose a Toyota Motorhome for our RV travels here!

Toyota motorhomes are the best small RV, and they also hold their value well, making them easy to re-sell quickly. The downside to Toyota motorhomes is their age, as the last ones were built in 1993. This means that you need to VERY thoroughly inspect a Toyota motorhome before purchasing it.

If you’d prefer to purchase (or rent) something newer, a campervan is the best RV choice for a couple. Campervans have exploded in popularity lately, and for good reason! Campervans are smaller than traditional RVs, which means they are easier to drive, easier to park, and they get better gas milage than a motorhome.

Campervans are also cheaper than a motorhome, so you can easily find one for less than $15,000 if you’re planning to purchase an RV for your trip. Trusted campervan brands in that price range include Road Trek, Dodge Pleasure Way, and Horizon.

If you’re planning to rent an RV, Outdoorsy features LOTS of campervans, and they are cheaper to rent than a motorhome!

Best RV for Singles

If you’re planning to take a solo RV trip then your options are endless because the smallest RV options will work for you.

Campervans, converted mini-vans, SUVs with rooftop tents, and truck campers are all excellent choices for solo travelers since you won’t need as much space as a couple or family would. You can easily find an RV in this category for around $10,000.

If you’re renting an RV, you will be able to find most of these options on Outdoorsy, especially campervans!

For detailed information on all of the different types of campers, tips for purchasing a camper, and the very best tips and tricks for long term RV travel check out my Ebook- Nomads in Campers: A Step by Step Guide to Living Your Nomadic Adventure.

RV Trip Planner Apps

There are a few apps that make RV trip planning a breeze, and that we use CONSTANTLY on our RV road trips. If you’re the RV road trip planner for your family, then you need these four apps!

Google Maps

This is an app that most people already have on their phone, and if you don’t it’s free to download.

Click here to download Google Maps for Android , and click here to download Google Maps for Apple IOS .

After trying several different mapping apps that claimed to be “the best”, we always found ourselves using Google Maps as our primary mapping app. Google Maps has the most data of any mapping app, and that really makes a difference when you’re in remote areas of the US.

A sweet hack for Google Maps is to check when you’re going to lose cell phone coverage (use the next app in our list for this), and before you reach that point have Google Maps start the directions to your destination. Once you lose coverage Google Maps will still pick up your GPS signal, and it will complete the directions even though you no longer have cell service!

Maps.Me is a great secondary app for when you will be outside cellular coverage for long periods of time. It allows you to download maps to access when you’re offline.

Occasionally we will spend several days in an area with no cellular coverage, and in those cases Maps.Me is great as long as we remembered to download a map of the area before we lost coverage!

Coverage is a free and simple app that allows you to check where you will or will not have cell phone coverage. You can filter the maps by cellular carrier and signal type (LTE, 4G, etc), making it easy to figure out how good your cellular coverage will be in any location.

Trail Wallet

Trail Wallet ROCKS for budgeting your RV trip! This vacation budgeting app was designed by travel bloggers for travelers. It allows you to set a daily budget, or a budget for your entire trip, and it alerts you when you’re overspending.

You can select the categories and currency you want to use for your budget, and it’s free to download!

Best RV Camping Apps

There are two camping apps that will cover all of your RV trip planning needs. These are the only two apps we ever needed while RVing the United States (we certainly tried plenty of other apps, but these two were the BEST).

AllStays is not free, but it is WELL worth the cost. Allstays lists nearly every single official campground and RV park in the USA, both private and public. This app allows you to filter by all kinds of parameters including cost, facilities, campground type (BLM, KOA, etc.), and much more.

AllStays will help you find the best RV parks on your route, and it also lists free overnight parkings spots like Walmart, Cabelas, and casinos.

The app will use your GPS signal to locate all of the nearby campgrounds in seconds, and the provided campground reviews make it easy to choose a place to park for the night!

Unfortunately, this app is only available on Apple IOS at this time ( download it here ), but you CAN use the Allstays website on your Android phone to locate the same information.

iOverlander

iOverlander is the best RV app for finding free campsites. This app is free to download, and crowd sources its information. This means that real RV travelers contribute the GPS coordinates for places they camped, and you can contribute to the app as well!

iOverlander features reviews and photos of campsites, and it also lists services that are useful to RVers such as truck stops, mechanics, and dump stations.

We used iOverlander constantly to find good boondocking sites in both the United States and Mexico.

Best RV Campgrounds

In our experience the best RV campgrounds are not RV parks (in fact, we wrote a whole article about why we avoid RV parks ). Instead, we prefer state and federally run campgrounds which tend to be quiet, affordable, and beautiful!

With that said, sometimes you will have to bite the bullet and stay in an RV park. When this happens be sure to read the reviews beforehand, and don’t forget to ask about discounts! Tom often received a discount at RV parks for being a retired firefighter.

The AllStays app lists BLM, USFS, and state park campgrounds when you search for a campsite, and that’s the easiest way to find publicly owned campgrounds.

Check out this guide for all the information you need to find beautiful, affordable RV campsites!

Best RV Road Trip Routes

The most fun part of planning an RV road trip is choosing where you’ll go! There are so many incredible road trips in the USA it can be tough to choose one!

Here I’ll list our favorite US RV road trips by region. If you have a few months you may be able to do all of these in one trip!

Best RV Route in the Eastern United States- Gettysburg and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is one of the famous historical sites in the United States. Here you can learn all about the history of the American Civil War, and walk the fields of Gettysburg, where one of the most infamous Civil War battles took place.

There are tons of RV parks around Gettysburg, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a campsite, though the camping in this area is quite expensive.

After Gettysburg make your way south to Shenandoah National Park where you can hop on the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s longest scenic highway!

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches for 469 miles, and I recommend taking 7 days for this road trip so you can really enjoy all the beautiful sights. The best time for this drive is in the fall when the trees will turn bright red and orange all along the parkway.

Best RV Route in the Southwestern United States- Joshua Tree National Park to Lake Tahoe via Highway 395

Highway 395 is my favorite US road trip for RVers! This spectacular drive begins in Joshua Tree National Park, then takes you north to Death Valley National Park, and along the mind blowingly beautiful Eastern Sierras to Lake Tahoe in California.

I can’t think of any other US road trip as jam-packed with beautiful scenery, while also offering plenty of uncrowded, quiet stops.

This route also features tons of gorgeous, affordable campsites, making it a great option if you’re RVing on a budget!

Be sure to stop in the Alabama Hills, just north of Bishop, CA. There you’ll find several BLM campgrounds that cost just $5 per night, and feature the most beautiful mountain views I’ve seen in ANY United States campground. (Just check out the view from our RV window in the picture below!)

I recommend giving yourself two weeks for this RV trip so you can spend a few days in each national park and still have plenty of time to visit the many sites along the highway (Bishop, the Alabama Hills, Mono Lake, and Lake Tahoe are all must-see stops)!

This drive is best done in the late spring because it will be cool enough to enjoy Joshua Tree and Death Valley, but still warm enough to avoid snowfall in the mountains!

Best RV Route in the Western United States- Highway 101 from Olympic National Park, WA to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA

Highway 101 runs along the Pacific Ocean from Washington all the way to southern California.

Most RVers only ever drive the southern portion of Highway 101 in California, and that is a huge mistake! Highway 101 is actually at its best along the Oregon coast, where the lack of mansions lining the coast means that you’ll actually get to ride along the ocean for most of the drive.

Also, Washington and Oregon both feature well-managed state park systems with beautiful, clean, and affordable RV campsites all along this route. While I do recommend you head all the way to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in California (the redwoods are AMAZING), prepare to be disappointed by the campgrounds there.

I recommend taking at least two weeks to complete this epic RV trip so you can spend time hiking, swimming, and really enjoying all of the scenery you encounter! This trip is best done in late spring, summer, or early fall, as the rest of the year will be cold and rainy in this area of the country.

Best RV Route in the Northern United States- Yellowstone and Glacier National Park

Yellowstone and Glacier are two of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, and you can visit them both in one epic RV vacation !

Begin this 962 mile journey in Yellowstone National Park, then make your way through Southwest Montana and up to Missoula. From Missoula you’ll make your way to Glacier National Park, and then loop back to Yellowstone.

Expect to encounter epic scenery, incredible wildlife, and plenty of delicious local food and drink options on this trip. There are many campgrounds along the route, but if you want to stay in the national parks reserve in advance- they fill up fast!

I recommend at least three weeks for this trip, and it should be done in the summer when you won’t have to worry about snow and ice.

Essential RV Road Trip Accessories

There are a few items that you must have with you for a successful RV road trip (no, a cute dog is not required, just highly recommended)!

These are especially important if you plan to spend any nights in remote, wilderness camping areas (BLM land, for example). In our experience, wilderness campsites are the most beautiful and peaceful campsites in America, so you’ll want to be able to enjoy them!

RV Leveling Blocks

You NEED leveling blocks for any RV road trip. These are an absolute essential item. Leveling blocks slip under the wheels of your RV to make sure that it’s completely level.

Keeping your RV level is really important because RV refrigerators don’t work like a normal, in-home refrigerator. RV refrigerators use an internal chemical reaction to cool them down, and the chemicals won’t combine properly unless your RV is level.

If you try to run your refrigerator when your RV is not level it will break, and RV refrigerators are one of the most expensive items in the entire RV.  A new RV refrigerator costs at least $1000 so be smart and keep your RV level!

Click here to check prices on leveling blocks!

Suitcase Style Portable Solar Panel

Solar power gives you so much more freedom in your RV adventures!

Why? Well, when you have solar power you don’t need to search out campsites with electrical hookups or run a loud, stinky generator to meet your basic power needs!

A 100 watt folding suitcase-style solar panel is plenty to run your RV’s basic necessities like your lights and your water pump. This panel easily clips on to your coach battery, so there’s no technical know-how required to use this free, clean power source!

Since this solar panel folds up and has a handle, it’s easy to transport. Another huge perk to a portable panel like this is that you can park in the shade, and then set the panel in the sun!

Click here to check prices on a suitcase style 100 watt solar panel!

Quality Camping Chairs

Camping chairs are SO important when you’re traveling by RV! Sure, a lot of campsites will have a picnic table, but that won’t allow you to sit around the fire, or turn your chair in the direction of the sunset, or take a nap outdoors…you get the idea.

Having a comfortable camp chair is an absolute must on an RV vacation. Once you’re parked in camp you don’t want to have to sit inside your RV all day!

There are two camp chairs that we always travel with, and that we highly recommend:

Zero Gravity Camp Chair

This is the most comfortable camp chair we’ve come across, and we always travel with at least one of these (sometimes two, because we end up fighting over the one)!

This chair reclines back far enough to allow you to take a nap, which means it’s also awesome for reading, sunbathing, and any other relaxing activity.

On a warm night you could easily put a pillow and blankets in this chair and sleep under the stars!

Click here to check prices on zero gravity camp chairs!

Director’s Camp Chair

This camp chair provides the best back support of any camp chair we’ve tried, so if you tend to run into back pain this is the chair for you!

This chair is sturdy, and the seat and backrest stay firmly in position, unlike most camp chairs which tend to buckle a bit under weight. This chair also has a side table with a cup holder, which is really convenient for morning coffee, afternoon beers, evening beers…

Click here to check prices on director’s style camp chairs!

Now you’re armed with plenty of information to prepare you for your first big RV trip!

For much more in depth information on camper travel around North America, check out our Ebook, Nomads in Campers , where we share all of our very best tips and tricks, and tons of other useful information to make your RV travels a success!

For information on taking your RV off the grid, check out my complete guide to RV dry camping and boondocking !

We traveled North America full time for two years in a Toyota Dolphin micro-RV! Read about our favorite RV destination, Baja California, Mexico !

We don’t just travel by RV! Last winter we spent 6 months traveling Southeast Asia with only carry on backpacks! Read all about that adventure here .

Every summer we return to the western United States for our favorite festivals, including Burning Man !

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About The Author

7 thoughts on “Ultimate RV Trip Planner: A Guide to Planning your RV Road Trip”

What a treasure trove of the most interesting and useful information. I plan on using all the apps. Wife and I starting soon with our new tiny camper. It will be ready next month. Maybe we will upgrade to a class c in the future. Thanks for people like who inspire all of use to venture out.

Jake and Cynthia

Thank you so much for the tips, just bought a Dolphin, here we go!

Yay!! Dolphins are the best 🙂 Always happy to hear from fellow Toyota Motorhome owners!

Thanks so much for the comment Jake! And congratulations on your new camper! Camper travel really is the best 🙂

Hola! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic work!

This article was really helpful! We’re planning a 2 month road trip in our class C Winnebago from GA to….somewhere! We haven’t decided where to go yet but this gave me a few ideas. Also THANK YOU for the solar panel link! We don’t have solar and haven’t wanted to install it yet so we may buy this before we hit the road!

Hi Brianna! Glad this was helpful. We LOVE our solar panel, it’s so awesome getting free, clean power! 🙂

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The Complete 2 Week Road Trip Guide To The Western United States

Want to see the most beautiful landscapes in the US? Keep reading for the best Western road trip itinerary. While Highway 1 in California , also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, takes the cake as America’s best coastal road trip, The Grand Circle road trip is the ultimate National Park road trip. For everyone who enjoy road trips and there is no better place to visit in the United States than the West Coast, home to a majority of the National Parks. The Western United States is full of amazing landscapes ranging from deserts, mountains, amazing rock formations, coastal views and dense forests.

➳ Read More: The Ultimate Road Trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco

In this guide of how to plan a trip out west we include our favorite state parks, national parks and the best cities in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Some of the highlight destinations include the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon , Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Las Vegas , Death Valley, and the Valley of Fire .

There is no better way to explore the Western US than in a car or RV, so you can visit every destination at your own pace and stop at any hidden gem between. While you can honestly spend months exploring this region of the US, we have created the ultimate two week road trip itinerary to the Western United States.

USA Road Trip Travel Video

Important travel information to plan your west coast road trip.

The best way to explore the southwest and west coast of the United States is with an epic road trip. We recommend renting a campervan or RV instead of a car so you can have more freedom on planning your trip as you can sleep anywhere where it is allowed. If you already own a van make sure to have the perfect van accessories to make your trip even more fun and easy.

For this trip we rented a campervan from Travellers Autobarn and had a fantastic experience! We were able to sleep in gas station parking lots, camping areas and BLM land. Even though the upfront cost of renting a campervan is more expensive than renting a small car, you will save more money in hotels and being able to cook your own food. We spent around $500 USD in gas and $1,000 USD in the van.

Travellers Autobarn has three locations in the USA: Los Angeles , San Francisco, and Las Vegas , which are perfect starting points for your epic road trip to the Western United States. The campervan comes with free unlimited miles on all rentals, which is very convenient as road trips are full of fun detours and unexpected destinations.

If renting a campervan is not your road trip style can always rent a small car that consumes less gas, but requires additional camping gear or more hotel stays.

14 Days US Western Road Trip  Itinerary :

Day 1: arrive to las vegas, nevada.

Depending on where you are flying from traveling to Las Vegas Airport is often the cheapest option. It has been the best choice for us when flying from Europe, South America and even domestically.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to explore the city that never sleeps, check out our complete guide to the Las Vegas .

Use the first day of your western road trip itinerary to pick up the van, go grocery shopping and rest! If you prefer staying in a hotel in Las Vegas instead of sleeping in the van the first day look for hotels that offer free parking and that have free outside parking. If you want to start the road trip immediately you can sleep at the Pilot Gas Station, which is half way to Valley of Fire State Park and it is free!

Day 2: Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park

Wake up early in the morning and head to Valley of Fire State Park, which is located about 50 miles northeast from Las Vegas. 

Valley of Fire is one of the most beautiful state parks in the United States and the oldest and biggest state park in Nevada. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset and the entrance fee is $10 USD per vehicle per day.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park

We recommend to spend a full day at the Valley of Fire State Park to complete the Fire Wave Trail and see Elephant Rock. If you book in advance you can even camp at the Valley of Fire that night or drive two hours to the campground near Vermillion Cliff. 

Day 3: Valley of Fire State Park to Vermillion 

The next morning wake up super early to head to the Vermillion to apply for the lottery to visit the Wave. Only 10 people will get the chance to go to this amazing natural spot and get their number drawn. 

The Wave is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and to protect this natural monument, only 20 people are able to do the hike per day. To hike the Wave you must have a permit and be on the list. Otherwise, if caught you face fines up to $10,000 per person. 

You can get the hiking permit by applying to the lottery online or by showing up to the visitor center office the day before you would like to hike. If you choose to apply online you do so through the BLM’s official website but to be honest you have lower chance to get the permit as thousands of people apply from around the globe for a handful of permits. The online lottery cost $5 per person and you can apply up to 4 months in advance for your desired date.

If you choose to apply in person it is free to enter the lottery and you will have higher chances of winning as there are normally at most 200 people applying. Keep in mind that the permits are dispensed for the next morning, not for the same day hiking! To apply in person you have to been in the office between 8:30 to 9:00 AM. 

Also apply to visit the South Coyote Buttes. It is as fantastic as the Wave but less popular, so you have a higher chance to win the permit lottery. Keep in mind that you will need to have a 4WD car to reach this hike as it is really sandy the way there. This is not possible in our campervan, but we made friends with other lottery winners who offered us a ride.

After the lottery, whether you were chosen or not to visit the Wave, we recommending spend the rest of the day hiking. We hiked the Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch and loved it! You go through so many canyons and with so few visitors you have the opportunity to get fantastic photos.

Another great option is to visit White Pocket. It is a fantastic area with deep red and orange rock formations but can be hard to reach as you need a 4WD car. 

Day 3: The Wave or Coyote Buttes South

We unfortunately did not win the lottery to visit the Wave, but were picked for a permit to the South Coyote Buttes. If you have an extra day, you can always show up again to the permit lottery and test your luck.

Otherwise, spend the day hiking through the breathtaking landscapes of Coyote Buttes South or the Wave, if you won permits, or there is more time to visit White Pockets if your previous day was full.

Day 4: Coyote Buttes South to Grand Canyon 

A full day at the Grand Canyon is never enough to enjoy the majestic views of one of the most popular National Parks. Make sure to take the free shuttle bus to see some of the best viewpoints in Grand Canyon as well as drive along the Desert View Drive. In one day you will only have time to enjoy the views from the rim along with some short walks down into the canyon itself.

There is only so much time to spend at each destination during a complete two week road trip out West to the four corners states. While you do get a good view from each stop, this road trip itinerary can easily be extended to a full month if you have the time!

Day 5: Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Make sure to reserve a spot for Antelope Canyon as the tours are generally fully booked year round. Antelope Canyon has two spots you can visit the lower and upper slot canyons. Both sides are amazing, each with its unique features. The Lower Canyon is more tight and you cannot bring a tripod with you while the Upper Canyon is wider and they offer photography tours.

Either Canyon can only be visited with a tour guide. The best time to visit Antelope Canyon is during the summer the and it is recommend to get a tour between noon and 1PM to see the light rays shine through the canyons. The entrance fee for Antelope Canyon costs between $55 to $75 USD depending on the tour you choose. Antelope Canyon is a must on your western road trip itinerary.

For us, the best time to visit Horseshoe Bend is right before sunset to enjoy the rich colors of the sky. Please take a lot of water as it can get super hot! Parking costs $10 per vehicle per day but does not allow for re-entry as you will have to pay again.

As evening rolled in we kept on driving and slept in a Burger King parking lot, with permission, right before arriving to Monument Valley. 

Day 6: Monument Valley

Wake up early and head towards Forrest Gump Point to get the iconic photos from Monument Valley and avoid the crowds. It is spectacular to see the sunrise there! The entrance fee for Monument Valley is $20 USD per vehicle.

Spend the day exploring Monument Valley enjoying the vast red sandstone landscapes and dramatic viewpoints.

Day 7: Monument Valley to Arches National Park

Valley of Fire State Park is is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park located about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. This is a popular place to witness the bright red-orange sandstone formations, the iconic Fire Wave hike and thousands of years of human history.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Arches National Park

Day 8: Arches National Park to Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah and it is a short drive from Moab, where you should refill your car and stock up on supplies. This remote national park has three main sections: Island in the Sky, the easiest section to reach, the Needles and the Maze.

The Island of Sky  visitor center  is your last stop for water, as there are no services further into the park. The park offers many hiking trail from less than a mile to up to 17 miles and plenty of spots to just relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Canyonlands National Park

Day 9: Canyonlands National Park to Capitol Reef National Park

A two hour drive west is Capitol Reef National Park in southern Utah, encompassing the Fruita Historic District and the Capitol Reef scenic drive. Capitol Reef offers sweeping sandstone landscapes with iconic features including the Capitol Dome, Navajo Formation and Chimney Rock, a 400 foot tall sandstone pillar. Capitol Reef National park is definitely a stop you must include on your Western road trip itinerary.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Capitol Reef National Park

Day 10: Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful parks we have visited in the United States. It features an 18-mile scenic route to access 13 different viewpoints from the rim of the canyon over the bright red sandstone hoodoo formations. All of the viewpoints are on the left side of the road, making them easier to to reach by first driving all the way to the end of the scenic road and pulling off on the way back.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Bryce Canyon

Day 11: Bryce Canyon to Las Vegas

Las Vegas is best known for the Las Vegas Strip, lined with iconic casinos for gambling and home to extravagant shows. Do not miss out on the historic center of Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience.

➳ Read More: The best things to do in Las Vegas

Day 12: Las Vegas to Death Valley

Death Valley is the lowest point in elevation in the United States and the holds the record for the hottest temperature on record. It might sound extreme environment, but this National Park offers beautiful and unique landscapes. With vast salt flats and colorful mineral rich mountain ranges, there is so much to enjoy. Just make sure to stay hydrated and cover up in the bright sun!

Camping within Death Valley is not for everyone as nighttime lows in the summer can remain over 100 F, but it does make for a beautiful night.

Day 13: Death Valley to Las Vegas

Unfortunately the end of your two week road trip to the Western United States is coming to an end. Drive back to Las Vegas and enjoy the last few hours of adventure.

Depending on the time of your departing flight, spend the last few hours of your road trip exploring the Las Vegas Strip. If you rented a campervan from Travellers Autobarn make sure to return it with enough time to get yourself to the airport. I hope this guide helped you plan your next Western road trip itinerary.

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The Ultimate Western US Road Trip

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Ready for an adventure? Pack your bags, get your vehicle ready to go, and let’s hit the road!

As a world traveler who’s always on the search of the next bucket list destination, I realized I didn’t know my home country, USA, nearly as well as I knew many others around the world. I had traveled it some but for short weekend getaways or snowboarding trips but not much else.

When the time came to leave Vietnam, after living there for 3 years , we had our first pause in our travel plans for as long as I could remember. We knew the next step was to apply for our freelance visas in Portugal but knew those would take a few months to process. Instead of staying still and relaxing at my parents, we knew it was the perfect time to explore the US.

And what better way than in a van we converted ourselves? 

I’ll dive into our van build and how you can customize your own house on wheels another day. Today is all about the trip, not so much the technicalities getting us ready for said trip. 

A few tips to make your road trip excellent:

• Don’t rely on hotels, it’s fun to camp, whether in your car or a tent, and will save you loads of money.
• Know where to camp for free: Campendium and iOverlander were lifesavers.
• Keep meals simple and cheap with easy recipes you can make with minimal ingredients and cooking gear.
• Don’t get lost on the trails and use AllTrails instead. No need to pay to download the maps offline, just have the trail open you want to follow before you lose service and your GPS will continue to work. 
• Save money on gas with GasBuddy. Another app that helped us find the lowest gas prices in the area, just know it’s not always 100% accurate.
• Genuinely like the person or people your road tripping with. Trust me, it’s a lot of together time and choosing the person you make the trip with isn’t something I’d take lightly.
• If you travel with your dog, use GoogleMaps to find dog parks in the area on driving days so your furry friend can burn his/her energy before a long day in the car.

We had talked about vanlife years before, both agreeing that we’d like to try it in the US, just never knowing exactly when that time would be. After getting back to Nashville, we quickly scourged the area for a van we could convert, finally finding Wanda, our 2003 Ford Econoline with the best paint job we could have hoped for. 

After spending a few tiring months building her out and getting her ready, it was time to hit the road.

I’ll be honest here, Raf and I are not the planners it might seem we are. We both typically dream big and latch on an idea together and just go for it, hoping for the best along the way. That’s what this van trip was. We didn’t really know where we were going except west.

And I’m so happy we did it this way.

Not planning meant being able to go where we pleased, work around the weather, and spend more or less time in a place depending on how we felt about it. I’d highly recommend you not plan as much as you can get away with so you can build your itinerary while you’re in the midst of it. 

The only thing we knew was we had to be back in Atlanta, GA for a wedding mid-November then back to Nashville two weeks afterward for Thanksgiving. That gave us 2.5 months to travel as much as we wanted. And it turns out, we wanted to travel a lot.

I’m talking 9,000 miles of road and 21 states. 

We couldn’t see everything and we did have to make some big decisions on what to choose and what to pass on but we did see a lot- far more than I thought we’d see- and it was spectacular. 

If you have some time to spare and want to see truly breathtaking sights, pull out your map and save these places for your road trip of a lifetime through the Western US.

Heading out of Nashville, our first big destination was Denver, CO. We passed through the midwest (Missouri and Kansas) as fast we could, and apologies to you from those places, I don’t feel like we missed out by getting through them quickly. It wasn’t the most exciting way to start our trip but we were eager to hit the mountains and that gave us the motivation to keep us going. 

I’ll highlight the 11 states we spent the most time in and share my favorite parts of each of them. Keep in mind, we were traveling in a van and prioritizing nature, hiking, and national parks. Plus, we had our dog, Bandido, with us that we always strive to keep happy.

If you’re also traveling in a van or plan to sleep in your vehicle, use iOverlander and Campendium to find free campsites near you. We didn’t pay for a single night on our trip, minus the 2 nights we opted for hotels.

At a quick glance, our western road trip itinerary went like this:

• Colorado (again)

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Colorado: Widest Variety of Adventure Sports

We actually passed through Colorado twice on the trip, once at the beginning and again at the end. I’ll cover both times though here so all things Colorado stays together.

Our main highlights in Colorado were:

• Great Sand Dunes National Park

Denver is a really great city to spend the day in. If you’ve never been, an easy place to see the city, walk around, grab a beer and some good food is Larimer Square and 16th Street Mall. Probably some of the more touristic places in town but if you’re just here for a day, I really like walking around there. 

From Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs aren’t too far away. We didn’t go to either of these towns this trip but I’ve been before and they’re both nice mountain towns in Colorado .

Vail and Aspen are both high-end mountain towns that are seriously picturesque, especially in the fall when the aspen trees are bright yellow. Unless you have a much bigger budget than us, I’d recommend heading to these towns for hiking more than anything else. 

In Vail , we loved (and struggled through) Berrypicker Trail. It’s straight up a popular ski slope and since we had only been at altitude for 2 days, it hit us harder than I expected. We made it up and enjoyed the challenge though. You get rewarded by being able to take the gondola down, too. 

In Aspen , I highly recommend Maroon Bells. If you only have time for 1 hike, this should be it. You have to reserve a ticket in advance and take a shuttle to the park but in my opinion, it was worth the fee. It was more crowded than other hikes we did, but I understand why. There are a few different trails in the area. We opted for Crater Lake. It’s nice and not too difficult. You can always add on some distance too by following a backcountry trail and turning around when you’re ready to head back.

From Aspen, we drove to Jackson, WY. We opted for the more scenic route through NW Colorado, instead of driving back through Denver, and I’m so glad we did. We were really in the middle of nowhere most of the drive and it was fantastic.

But before I jump into Wyoming, at the end of our road trip, between Utah and New Mexico, we swung back into Colorado to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park . It’s exactly what it sounds like, except for a more mountainous backdrop than I was expecting. 

We rented a sandboard for the day and that made the park so much fun. It’s also one of the few national parks that’s dog friendly so be sure to bring your pup along for the journey! In October the weather was chilly and the sand was cool but be careful with your pup’s paws in the summer- sand tends to heat up quickly!

Wyoming: Best (& Most Unusual) Wildlife

Our main highlights in Wyoming:

• Grand Teton National Park (and surrounding area)
• Yellowstone National Park

Our first real taste of Wyoming was The Grand Tetons . They brought me to tears the first time I saw them because they pop out of nowhere and gave me the most wonderful surprise. It’s really a treat to see these mountains in person. We stayed in Jackson longer than we expected but really enjoyed the town to be able to catch up on some work and take a break from a long previous week of driving. 

Jackson also has a plethora of free campsites in the Grand Tetons National Forest that were all really wonderful. 

Wyoming is for you if you love epic views and unusual wildlife. 

Unfortunately, we couldn’t do any hiking in either national park (Grand Tetons or Yellowstone) because like most national parks, the trails are not dog friendly. Regardless, if you’re traveling with your pup, you should still drive through the parks and take in the views.

Between the Tetons and Yellowstone, get ready to see moose, bison, bears, and elk. Although maybe it was lucky, I seriously couldn’t believe the wildlife we spotted with just 3 days total in both parks. 

Beware, it's probably colder here than you expect. We were greeted in early September by snow in Yellowstone so be sure to pack accordingly!

Montana: Most Views That'll Kill

Our Montana highlights:

• Yellowstone National Park (it’s split between Montana and Wyoming)
• Glacier National Park
• Flathead National Forest

We entered Montana through Yellowstone and headed towards Bozeman. Bozeman is a small yet cute town to spend a day or two. We enjoyed exploring their downtown, grabbing a bison burger, and some local beers. 

From Bozeman, we decided to head north to Glacier National Park . This was a last-minute decision but one I am so happy we made.

The drive through Glacier was seriously epic. If you’re scared of heights you probably shouldn’t be the driver though as much of the “Going to the Sun” road is narrow with little room for error. We spent an entire day driving through the park, pulling over at nearly every turn. 

The area around Glacier is stunning, too. We spent 3 nights in different parts of Flathead National Forest and had free mountain views and solo spots each night.

Standard Peak is a solid dog-friendly hike that we all 3 really enjoyed. Plus, you can stay overnight on the same road as the trailhead so you can use it as an off-day from driving, too. At the peak, you’ll get views of Glacier as well. 

While you're already so far north in the US, it's easy to cross the border and take advantage of epic spots in Canada. From Glacier National Park, it's only a 4.5 hour drive to Banff National Park where you can explore the beauty of Lake Louise and surrounding areas.

Idaho: Friendliest People

Our Idaho highlight:

• Coeur d’Alene (we didn’t actually spend much time here but it was recommended to us multiple times)

From Montana, we knew we wanted to go to Washington. To get there, we needed to pass through Idaho. To be blunt, I knew nothing about Idaho except they have great potatoes so I thought we’d just pass right through the state.

On the way, we needed to stop to work so I found a cute, dog-friendly coffee shop in Sandpoint, Idaho . I thought we would just stay for the day to turn in some work then head off but the locals had other plans for us.

In that coffee shop, we ended up making friends with a few locals that were interested in our journey. The most interested being an 82-year-old world traveler and adventurer who had made similar trips as us (plus far more) in his lifetime. He quickly invited us over for a hot shower, a place to sleep, and the promise of great stories.

We were skeptical and didn’t take up his offer immediately. The next day though, he called and said he had invited some friends over to meet us and to use his words, “be here or be cursed.” We went. 

And I am so glad we did. Larry and his wife are salt-of-the-earth people who have treated us like family. We ended up staying 2 nights with them and loved them both. Since then we’ve kept in touch and really feel a deep connection with them. Sometimes strangers aren’t so nice but sometimes they’re better than you could ever imagine.

Also in Sandpoint, we did our biggest hike yet: Scotchman Peak . We were greeted by a moose on the trailhead, saw bear prints in the snow on the way, but unfortunately, didn’t see any of the mountain goats that are usually at the summit. 

This trail is tough but fantastic. We hiked in tennis shoes which I would not recommend. The summit in October had about a foot of snow that quickly iced our toes. We made it but would have been far more comfortable had we been properly prepared.

Washington: Best Enchanting Forests

Our Washington highlights:

• North Cascades National Park
• Rockport State Park
• Olympic National Park

What I loved most about Washington was definitely the landscape, mainly the rainforest. I’ve spent a few months living in the Amazon Rainforest and it was the same... but completely different.

The hikes we did there, namely the Evergreen Trail in Rockport State Park , were simply fantastic. It wasn’t tough at all but was so unique with the giant Redwoods covered in moss, ferns, and mushrooms. We felt like kids in awe strolling through this area.

I’m happy we went to Seattle and drank all the coffee we possibly could , but it didn’t wow me like Portland later would. 

After Seattle, we drove the highway around Olympic National Forest , stopping at the rocky beaches along the way. We also did a few coastal hikes but in our opinion, nothing topped the Evergreen Trail.

Oregon: Best All Around

Our Oregon highlights:

• Cannon Beach
• Smith Rock State Park
• Crater Lake National Park

We drove down the coast to Oregon and crossed the bridge to Astoria . We had a great lunch of clam chowder and watched seals (or maybe sea lions) play in the water next to us. It was a perfect welcome to what soon became our favorite state of the road trip. 

From Astoria, we continued along the coast to Cannon Beach . This beach was gigantic and more dramatic than I had thought from pictures. It was also far, far colder with the wind ripping off the coast without prevail. Still, we loved it.

After Cannon Beach, we swung inland to Portland. Portland stands out as our favorite city from the road trip so if you have the time, I suggest you check it out as well. 

Our favorite area in Portland was Hawthorne Avenue . There you’ll find a wide variety of thrift stores with great clothes and even better prices. Be sure to stop by Hawthorne Asylum for food pods with a wide variety of food and drinks. Be sure to save room for a donut at Blue Star Donuts, a local favorite compared to the overhyped VooDoo Donuts downtown.

I’d also recommend Mississippi Avenue for another, similar option, with more shopping and food pods.

After Portland, we faced another issue: stay on the coast or head inland. It was a tough one, and although I don’t know what the coastal route had in store, inland did not disappoint. The drive to Bend was full of snow-covered mountains, camping spots, and great hiking. 

Namely, hiking at Smith Rock State Park . There are a few different trails at this park as well but we opted for the Wolf Tree Trail . There are harder ones in the area and had it not been so cold, we probably would have gone for them but this one was relatively easy but beautiful. The end of the trail especially provides great views. 

If you’re in the area, visit Bend . It’s smaller than I thought but their downtown and greenway are especially picturesque.

Really though, the star of inland Oregon to us was Crater Lake. Crater Lake is exactly as described, a lake surrounded by mountains with a little island in the middle. What made it so special though was the snow. The contrast of bright white snow, clear blue sky, and deep blue water was better than expected. Although it was cold and most trails were closed, if you’re not there to hike, I really loved seeing this spot in winter weather.

California: Most Disappointing

Our California highlights:

• Redwoods National Park
• San Francisco 
• Carmel-by-the-sea
• Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1)

Here I am to possibly burst your bubble: California did not live up to its hype.

After visiting so many fantastic states, California left us feeling let down and honestly, disappointed. We had this idea in our heads that California was the mecca of vanlife and dog parents and people looking for a little bit of hippie-esque fun. That wasn’t the reality we found.

Overnight parking was tough and always done in parking lots or on the street, which after months of being in nature, wasn’t a change for the best. 

Most beaches we came across, with the exception of Carmel-by-the-sea which was doggo heaven, were not dog-friendly. This is understandable but just didn’t line up with the imagine we had perceived of California.

To top it off, gas was almost $1 more per gallon than other states and food and drinks were also pricier, even just at the grocery store. 

All of that considered, we cut out time in California short. Turning towards Vegas halfway down Hwy 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

I will say, it’s a beautiful state. The Redwoods, Yosemite and Hwy 1 are really spectacular but the state, all in all, didn’t match up with it’s neighbors. We were craving something more raw, less privatized, and with a lot more room for adventure.

Nevada: Most Likely to Take Your Money

….so we headed to Las Vegas!

Well, kind of. We did go to Las Vegas yet but not for those reasons mentioned above. We wanted to gamble a bit and see what the Sin City had in store for us before heading deeper into the desert. 

Here we opted for a hotel and let Bandido stay with a Rover sitter so we had the night to ourselves. It was extremely fun bouncing around hotels on the strip.

My biggest suggestion: learn Craps before you go. It’s a great game, much more fun than Black Jack, easier to hop in than Poker, and way less mind-numbing than slots. 

Let loose, toss the dice, and have some fun!

Arizona: Most Iconic Scenery

Our Arizona highlights:

• Grand Canyon
• Horseshoe Bend
• Monument Valley

After shockingly doubling our money in Vegas (definitely beginner’s luck), we headed to Arizona. 

Arizona was a desert dream come true. After doing 1 hike in Sedona , we stretched our time there to do another before heading out of town. It seemed to me everywhere you looked, Sedona was surrounded by epic desert views. The sunsets here were especially rewarding.

I’d recommend both hikes to anyone willing to walk around 8 miles each time. Cathedral Rock Loop: Hiline and Templeton Trails and Boynton Canyon Trail were both great. The loop was much quieter than the other trail and provided fantastic views the entire time. Boynton was much more crowded but understandably so. Just be sure to take a slight detour and head to the Subway Cave for an extra special view. Even if heights scare you, I’d recommend pushing yourself on that one. It won’t disappoint!

From Sedona, we headed north to check off the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend . Both of extremely well-known and popular but for good reason. Find a quiet spot and enjoy the views!

If you want to see giant cactuses, like ones in cartoons, head south to Tucson . We didn’t have time for this detour but would have potentially made time had I known we weren’t going to see them all throughout the desert. 

Utah: Most Inconsistent Views

Our Utah highlights: 

• Arches National Park

We really had one big reason to go to Utah and that was Moab. Monument Valley was a lucky bonus that I’m glad we included but not the reason we made the turn north.

If you want to visit Monument Valley , do note it closes earlier than expected. We were unable to enter in to drive the scenic loop after 3pm. Online it states it closes at 5pm but do to off-season and I’m sure pandemic restrictions, the time is now earlier.

We were definitely bummed that we weren’t able to do the scenic loop but just north of the entrance, further into Utah, we were able to get some great views to pull over for lunch. Also further up the highway is the iconic Forrest Gump viewpoint that really was just as beautiful in person, if not even more so. 

Moab though was the jewel of Utah in our eyes. Again, we stayed longer than planned and really took it easy in Moab, enjoying the campsites and amazing desert views backdropped with snowcapped mountains.

In Moab, be sure to drive through Arches National Park . Again, we didn’t do any hikes in the park because we travel with our dog, but the drive was fantastic.

We opted to hike Corona Arch trail and would recommend you do the same. Great landscapes, few people, and dog-friendly. Need I say more?

There were some reviews on AllTrails making the hike sound more intimidating than it was. At times there is a rope to help you up a rock and right after a ladder to climb up, but both are short, and neither felt scary in our eyes. Bandido also handled these parts like a champ. We opted to take him off the leash for this since no one was around and to let him find his own way up, which he did, issue-free.

After Moab, we circled back into Colorado before heading south again to New Mexico.

New Mexico: Most Dog-Friendly

Our New Mexico highlights:

By this point in the trip, we were exhausted. We had been moving at a quick pace and had seen a lot. This state though was one I was looking the most forward to so instead of trying to rush it and do too much, we chose to spend more time in Taos and Santa Fe and really soak them up.

My favorite parts of New Mexico were absolutely the architecture and the food. Between those two things, we were content simply walking around town and taking it slow. 

Taos Pueblo was unfortunately closed due to the pandemic but if it's open when you drive through, it seems like a really beautiful, historic place to visit. Otherwise, enjoy walking about Taos and Santa Fe. Both have plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes to keep you entertained. Beware though, the price tags in Santa Fe were far higher than I ever imagined!

From there, we made the long drive back to Atlanta, spending a night in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi along the way. 

As tired as we were, this road trip was seriously epic. We saw a lot, experienced a lot more of my home country than I thought possible in one go, and had a lot of fun living in the van and camping each night. 

Save this road trip to add to your bucket list or grab inspiration from it, making it your own along the way. I will say, the US is a big, beautiful country with so much to see, doing it on land instead of air is the way the go.

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Planning a 10-Day West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary

Home | Travel | North America | United States | Planning a 10-Day West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary

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Traveling along the West Coast of the United States  had been in my head since the day I found out I’d be moving there for work. Who hasn’t dreamed about a road trip across the Western US? For me, the landscapes that automatically come to mind are the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Death Valley among others, as we have seen again and again in a bunch of movies.

Grand Canyon

In addition to nature, the American West Coast also offers you visits to symbolic cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

My favorite part of this trip was definitely the National Parks where natural wonders of this incredible country are concentrated within. I had been taking note of them on a  Western US  map   for a long time so that I could visit them as soon as I had the chance.

That’s how I started planning the 10-day West Coast USA road trip that we took in August.

THIS WAS OUR 10-DAY WEST COAST USA ITINERARY:

Our 10-day West Coast USA road trip itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Las Vegas.  Beginning of our 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip.
• Day 2: Monument Valley + Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend.  The most popular places in the Western USA.
• Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park. One of the less touristic national park in the West Coast USA.
• Day 4: Zion Canyon National Park. One of the places we like the most during our 10-day West Coast USA trip.
• Day 5: Grand Canyon,  a must-visit place on the West Coast.
• Day 6: Mojave National Preserve + Death Valley,  the best of our 10-day West Coast Itinerary.
• Day 7: Yosemite Valley, the best attraction in the Western USA.
• Day 8: Upper Yosemite Falls,  the best hike of our West Coast America road trip.
• Day 9: Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. You cannot skip this highlight of West Coast USA:
• Day 10: Return flight from San Francisco.  En of our 10-day Western US trip.

If a Western US road trip is also one of your dreams, you will find everything you need to prepare your trip here:

• 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip

Best places to visit in West Coast America

• Our West Coast USA 10-day itinerary
• How to plan a self-drive trip to the Western US

How much does it cost a West Coast USA trip?

• Map of Western US

10-day west coast USA road trip

One of the first things I am sure you will be wondering about is how long a West Coast trip could take. My opinion is that you could be discovering the American West Coast for months and would still have things to do.

Death Valley – Zabriskie Point

When looking at a West Coast USA map, it may initially seem that the best tourist destinations are close to each other. However, distances in this country are huge, and you will spend a lot of time on the road during your trip.

Keep in mind that the US public transportation system is very scarce outside of the big cities, so the only practical option is to rent a car and prepare for a West Coast USA driving holiday.

On our West Coast USA road trip, more than ¼ of the trip was spent driving and still, along with the Canadian Rockies trip , it was one of the best trips of our life.

Another highly recommended option is to take a West Coast RV trip , as this country offers all kind of facilities for those who like to travel with their motorhome. You can check the best RV rental companies in the USA here.

Although it takes a long time to travel across the West Coast in depth, if you don’t have too many days or prefer to combine them, I encourage you to spend in West Coast America at least 10 days.

Grand Canyon – Plateau Point

There are thousands of West Coast USA tours you can take, so the first thing you have to choose is a few must-see places. It may seem complicated to plan this trip at first, especially when you do not have much time.

To help you choose your perfect West Coast America itinerary, you will discover the main tourist attractions in this section. Then, you can design the West Coast USA holiday itinerary that best suits your needs.

I suggest that as you read through this article, write down  the things to do in West Coast America  that interest you most on a map to help determine the best itinerary.

SAN FRANCISCO

If you like to visit cities, one of the places you cannot miss on the West Coast America is San Francisco. This popular city of California, is characterized by the steep slopes and the well-known Lombard street.

The most popular thing to do in San Francisco is visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most famous bridges in the US and a classic in many American films, as seen in Godzilla and Superman.

In addition, another interesting activity to do is visiting the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary whose best-known prisoner was Al Capone. It was said that nobody could escape from this maximum-security prison island since the only way was by swimming almost two kilometers in cold and treacherous waters.

If you are visiting this city, stay in one of the best hotels in San Francisco.

Las Vegas,  also known as “Sin City”, is one of the American classics famous for its countless casinos, open container laws (aka public drinking), and legalized prostitution in nearby counties.

The largest city in the state of Nevada welcomes both domestic and global tourism, where vice is a right. It is not surprising to hear the old saying: What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas.

Welcome Las Vegas

Whether you like gambling or not, it is a must-see Western American city. It is also a good place to celebrate your (fake) wedding if being married by Elvis is also one of your dreams. Here you can find the ultimate list of things to do in Las Vegas.

If you are visiting this city make sure you know where to stay in Las Vegas , since its hotels are some of the most amazing in the World.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS to do in las vegas

• Los Angeles

Los Angeles , also known as LA, is the most populous city on the West Coast of USA. The City of Broken Dreams and Hollywood stars is located in California.

The Walk of Fame and the Hollywood sign are probably the main tourist attractions in Los Angeles , although a visit to Santa Monica , the beach where Baywatch was filmed, is also recommended.

Another place of interest is the Warner Bros. studios , where you can visit the film sets of a lot of movies, as well as Venice , where the canals remind you of those from the Italian city with the same name.

LA is a stop that you cannot miss on your 10-day West Coast US trip if you happen to enjoy both cities and film. You can find where to stay in Los Angeles here.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS TO DO IN LOS ANGELES

Grand canyon.

If we had to choose just a single place to start, visiting the Grand Canyon  would probably be the first that we recommend to do in West Coast USA.

The Grand Canyon is in Arizona and was shaped by the Colorado River over millions of years. In some points, the Canyon reaches a depth of more than 5250 feet.

Grand Canyon – Helicopter Tour

If you don’t have much time, taking a Grand Canyon helicopter tour is a good option, as we told you in that article about our experience. However, if you have several days, I advise going down the canyon  through one of the many different hikes to discover the Colorado River.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS TO DO IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK and best places to stay in Grand canyon

Havasu falls.

If you like adventure, visiting the Havasu Falls is an essential of West Coast USA.

The Havasu Falls, along with others in the area, belong to the Havasupai Indian Reservation and are guarded by a tribe of Native Americans. They are inaccessible by car, so you must be in excellent physical condition to visit as you will be hiking in and out.

Plan well in advance for your visit, since you will need a permit that usually runs out shortly after the beginning of the  reservation  period which starts in February of each year. In addition to the permit, you will have to book a camping spot, as it is mandatory to stay there when visiting the falls.

SANTA BARBARA

Back at the coastal area, Santa Bárbara, located 150 kilometers north of Los Angeles, can be another interesting stop.

The main beach largely resembles Santa Mónica, except Santa Bárbara is not as popular.

However, Santa Bárbara is not just a beach: its architecture with Hispanic colonial roots is an important tourist attraction.

MONUMENT VALLEY

Between Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley is another one of the supernatural landscapes in the American West. It is a huge valley where very interesting geological formations rose with reddish colors. This was also a scene featured in many classic western films.

Monument Valley

This desert valley is located within the Navajo Nation, a territory that belongs to the Navajo natives who are responsible for both maintenance of the reserve and collection of entrance fees, which is not included in the US National Parks pass.

The best time to photograph the valley is during sunrise when the sun is behind the monuments, or during sunset when the monuments are illuminated by the last rays of the sun. In addition, there are different hiking trails that bring you closer to the main monuments of the valley, or you can even take a Jeep tour with one of the Navajo guides.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS TO Do IN Monument Valley and WHERE TO STAY IN MONUMENT VALLEY

Page: antelope canyon and horseshoe bend.

Page is a town inside the Navajo Indian Reservation, located in Arizona.

The most interesting attraction here is the Antelope Canyon , a geological feature formed by consecutive floods throughout history, which eroded narrow labyrinths of sandy rock into its terrain.

Antelope Canyon

Do not miss our Guide to antelope canyon TOURS

In addition, if you visit Page, you cannot miss a sunset in  Horseshoe Bend, which is named after its shape. It is probably the most famous bend of the Colorado River.

Horseshoe Bend

Do not miss our Guide to VISIT horseshoe bend

Here we leave you the best guide to know where to stay in Page.

The Wave in Arizona is another attraction to see in Western America.

To see this solidified wave-shaped dune, you must have a permit issued  four months in advance and by lottery (only 20 visitors per day are allowed).

It is one of the few virgin wonders that remain in the United States, so if you missed the date of the draw, it is always a good idea to check if someone has canceled his or her tour on the calendar. Visit this booking website both to participate in the lottery and to check the calendar.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Bryce Canyon National Park is a reserve located in Utah and is popular for the peculiar rock formations also known as “Hoodoos”. This park should be included in any Western US National Parks itinerary.

Due to the reddish color of the terrain, the best time to contemplate the main amphitheater viewpoint is at sunrise and sunset.

Bryce Canyon

There are also several hiking trails that will take you through the formations, where you can discover some with very interesting forms and names like Thor’s Hammer or Queen Victoria.

Do not miss THE BEST HIKES IN bryce canyon and the BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BRYCE

Close to the Mexican border, we will find San Diego, the second largest city in the state south of Los Angeles

This city is a good stop on your 10-day West Coast US road trip if you are more interested in beach areas. La Jolla Cove is the most popular beach and you can find all kinds of wildlife including sea lions there.

In addition to the beach, there are other places of interest, such as Old Town San Diego, where you can find original buildings of the first Spaniards that arrived here, and Balboa Park, where many museums are concentrated, or the Coronado Island , where you can find the best views of the city.

ZION NATIONAL PARK

In Utah, one of the most important landmarks of the state is  Zion National Park, where the main interest here is an 800-meter-deep canyon carved into the reddish terrain for 24 kilometers by the Virgin River.

There are different hikes that you can take in this park. One of the most popular is Angels Landing, where you can get a full view of the canyon after three hours of hiking and up the Via Ferrata section.

Zion Canyon

Another longer route is The Narrows , which can be completed in 8 hours or done over several days. The route goes through the narrow gorges carved in by the virgin river, so you always need to check river flow the day before at the visitor’s center, and also to get water shoes.

Do not miss THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IN zion national park and WHERE TO STAY IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

Joshua tree national park.

Located in a desert area in southern California, Joshua Tree National Park stands out for its unique rocks and mountain shapes.

Although its name comes from the unique Joshua Tree , what makes this park really interesting are the infinite rock-climbing possibilities .

Whether or not you are a climber, if you decide to visit Joshua Tree National Park on your West Coast USA trip over 10 days, you will experience the feeling of finding yourself on another planet.

DEATH VALLEY

On your 10-day West Coast America self-driving tour, you cannot miss the Death Valley that is located in California.

Death Valley

This immense desert is famous for Badwater, a dry area with the highest negative elevation within North America, situated at 262 feet below sea level. In addition, it is one of the hottest places on earth during summer, with a maximum recorded temperature of 58ºC.

Zabriskie Point

If you are going to cross it, be sure to fill the fuel tank and bring plenty of water to survive the extreme desert temperatures during the day.

Do not miss tHE bEST tHINGS TO DO IN Death Valley and where to stay in Death Valley

Mojave national preserve.

The Mojave Desert  spreads across Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley, Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) and the Mojave National Preserve.

While you will find Joshua trees all over in this vast extension of land, the world’s highest concentration is located within the Mojave National Preserve .

Mojave Desert

In addition to the flora, the fauna is abundant and diverse, from reptiles like snakes, lizards, and turtles to mammals like bobcats or hares.

Do not miss WHAT TO DO IN mojave desert

Arches national park.

Arches National Park , located in Utah, has the highest concentration of stone arches in the world, however, there is no record of how many arches there are in this extension. This is the reason why it’s one of the most beautiful places to visit in Utah.

In addition, we can find another type of geological formations that defy gravity here, such as the Balanced Rock, a rock that seems to be falling at any time, yet has been standing for thousands of years in the same position.

The best way to go across Arches National Park is through a park ranger-guided tour that takes you to the purest and most virgin area of the park, where you cannot access on your own. You can book it here.

This park is one of the most acclaimed by photographers since the impossible shapes of the arches are very easy to use in any composition.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

An essential stop in West Coast USA is Yosemite National Park , located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.

This park is remarkable for two of the most important climbing sites in the United States and the world: the big granite walls of El Capitan and the Half Dome. In addition, we can find the American Giant Sequoia, one of the largest trees in the world, as well as extensive fauna that includes raccoons and black bears in this park.

Yosemite Valley

If you are a lover of nature, outdoor activities, and camping , this is surely going to be one of your favorite places near West Coast of the United States.

Do not miss all you have to do in Yosemite and WHERE TO STAY IN YOSEMITE

Sequoia national park.

In Sequoia National Park, you can find the largest concentration of giant sequoias in the world. These are grouped within what is known as the Giant Forest.

The park is located about 10000 feet above sea level, a critical altitude for this type of trees to grow. However, it may be closed during the winter because of the snow.

In addition, here we can find the giant sequoia known as General Sherman standing at 275 feet. While it is the largest single-stem tree, the Hyperion , located in Redwood National Park, California, stands taller at 379 feet as the tallest living tree known in the world.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the oldest national park in the United States. It stands out for the incredible volcanic activity in the area and for the abundant fauna that inhabits the park: buffalo, grizzly bears, black bears, moose… If you want to enjoy the authentic American wildlife and landscapes with a smell of sulfur taken from another world, Yellowstone is an essential place to visit on the American West Coast.

I didn’t visit it during my first trip to the West Coast in the United States in 10 days, but during my next trip in which I toured Yellowstone and Grand Teton for 10 days, a great plan if you are looking for an alternative itinerary.

Check WHAT TO DO IN YELLOWSTONE and WHERE TO STAY IN YELLOWSTONE

Grand teton national park.

The mountains of Grand Teton National Park are one of the most haunted landscapes by photographers on the West Coast. If you like wildlife, hiking, and want to flee the typical 10-day US West Coast itineraries , I recommend visiting this national park that promises a quiet vacation away from the masses even in peak tourist season.

Grand Teton adjoins Yellowstone National Park, so taking a 10-day tour of the US West Coast combining these two parks is quite popular.

Check what to do in grand teton and WHERE TO STAY IN GRAND TETON

Our 10-day west coast usa itinerary.

As we stated above, our West Coast USA trip was focused on national parks and all the natural wonders of this area in North America.

Cities in the west coast are for sure some interesting destinations, but, without a doubt, if we had had more than 10 days to travel the American West Coast, we would have kept exploring the natural places that this country offers, each one so different and full of contrasts.

DAY 1 – West Coast America Trip: FLIGHT TO LAS VEGAS

We arrived in Las Vegas at noon, picked up the rental car and made a quick route to see the highlights of the city.

After a mandatory stop to make the classic photo with the Welcome Las Vegas sign, we headed to Monument Valley (6 hours driving) where we spent our first night.

DAY 2 – West Coast America Trip: DAWN IN MONUMENT VALLEY + ANTELOPE CANYON + HORSESHOE BEND

We photographed the sunrise in Monument Valley to see the incredible geological formations of the Navajo Reservation tinted in beautiful reddish colors.

Monument Valley (Our 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip)

In the morning we went to Antelope Canyon , in Page (2 hours driving) to take both the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours.

Antelope Canyon (Our 10-day West Coast USA Trip)

In the afternoon we had a rest at  Lake Powell. Then we went to Horseshoe Bend from where we watched and photographed an unforgettable sunset.

Horseshoe Bend (Our 10-day Western US Road Trip)

We drove 2.5 hours until our next stop on our 10-day route along the West Coast.

DAY 3 – West Coast America Trip: BRYCE canyon NATIONAL PARK

We woke up in Bryce Canyon National Park , where we took pictures of the twilight from Sunrise Point overlooking the amphitheater.

We hiked the Rim Trail, seeing different Hoodoos as Thor’s Hammer.

Bryce Canyon (Our 10-day WesternUSA Road Trip)

At night, we returned to photograph the amphitheater under the Perseid Meteor Shower, and camped inside the park.

Bryce Canyon – Sunrise Overlook

DAY 4 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: ZION NATIONAL PARK

We arrived in Springdale (2 hours driving), parked our car and took the shuttle to Zion National Park.

We did the Angels Landing trail to get the best views of the valley.

Zion National Park (Our 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip)

In the afternoon, we drove 4 hours to the next stop on our 10-day Western US trip.

DAY 5 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: GRAND CANYON

We watched the sunrise at the Grand Canyon from Mather Point in probably the most epic light display we have ever seen during a sunrise.

Grand Canyon (Our trip to West Coast USA for 10 days)

In the morning we take this tour , as we tell you in this article about Grand Canyon helicopter rides . Without a doubt, I enjoyed my visit the most.

In the afternoon, we descended the first section of the Bright Angel Trailhead trail.

In the evening we drove to the next stop of our 10-day Western US trip, Mojave National Preserve (4 hours driving), where we spent one of the best nights of our life camping in the wild desert.

Mojave National Preserve

DAY 6 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: MOJAVE DESERT + DEATH VALLEY

We photographed the first sun rays of the day through the branches of the Joshua trees in the Mojave National Preserve.

We filled the tank to cross the Death Valley and made stops at the main viewpoints.

Death Valley (Our 10-day West Coast USA Self-drive Trip)

We arrived at Yosemite National Park where we set up a bivouac to spend the night in order to get accommodation the next morning at the historic Camp 4.

This day we drove a total of 10 hours, more driving hours than any other day of the entire trip.

DAY 7 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Once settled in Yosemite National Park valley we went to discover the main viewpoints of the valley, from which we would photograph the last sunrises and sunsets of our 10-day trip to the West Coast USA.

Yosemite (Our 10-day West Coast USA holidays)

We took the opportunity to enjoy the real camp life,  cooked on the bonfire at night and raccoon watched with our campmates so they didn’t eat our food.

DAY 8 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

On the eighth day, we did the most strenuous hike of our 10-day West Coast USA trip. We climbed to the Upper Yosemite Falls, where we had a bath in one of its natural pools.

Yosemite Falls (Our 10-day West Coast USA vacations)

In the afternoon we took refuge in the tent as a hail storm fell – remember that weather in Yosemite, like any high mountains, is quite unpredictable even during summer season.

DAY 9 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

On our 9th day, we decided to try one of the small hiking trails in Yosemite National Park, such as the hike that takes you to Bridal Veil Falls or the Taft Point viewpoint.

In the afternoon we visited Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, where we could see these giant trees.

Tuolumne Grove (Our 10-day West Coast USA self-drive holidays)

DAY 10 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: FLIGHT BACK FROM SAN FRANCISCO

We left Yosemite National Park to head to San Francisco , where we took our return flight home.

Our initial idea was to have the last day to discover the city. However, we liked Yosemite so much that we ended up leaving just enough time to catch the flight back. It took us 4 hours to get to the airport.

How to plan an self-drive trip to the Western US

Although many travel agencies offer West Coast USA holiday packages, this destination seems more appropriate to be planned on your own (unless you are interested in photography and decide to take a photo tour to the West Coast America ).

In any case, we will explain step by step how you can plan a trip to the West Coast USA on your own in this section:

• Choose your best West Coast USA itinerary
• Plan how to get to West Coast USA
• Get your US tourist visa
• Hire the best travel insurance for traveling to the United States
• Book a rental car
• Buy America the Beautiful Pass to enter the US National Parks for free
• Book the best accommodation  on the West Coast

HOW TO CHOOSE THE best West Coast USA itinerary

From the previous section where we highlighted the best places to visit in Western US, choose 8 (if taking a 10-day West Coast road trip) or 15 places (if taking a 20-day trip) that interest you most.

Jot them down on a map of  West Coast USA (I suggest using  Google MyMaps ).

Connect the different points and check on our map below to see if there is any tourist attraction that is on your way or that you can easily reach.

Finally, check that the driving hours are compatible with the itinerary or else leave them out of your list.

Driving in the West Coast USA

Do not be frustrated, no matter how long you stay on the West Coast, you will always leave something to explore for the next trip 😉

how to get to the West Coast of USA

In order to define our itinerary, we must know how to get to the Western US.

The best way is by flying to one of the following three airports:

• San Francisco

If you want to find cheap flights to the West Coast , the best time to book them is 3 months in advance. You can find here the best cheap flights hacks . My favorite search engine is Kiwi.com.

Also, if you want to visit too many places in the West and do not have much time, I suggest that you do a one-way trip , starting at a different airport from where you will return home through. This will increase the travel budget a bit, but you don’t get to travel to the Western US every day, do you?

VISA FOR THE UNITED STATES

There are two ways to travel as a tourist to the United States. If you belong to one of these countries you can travel to the US without a visa, but must obtain a travel authorization called “ESTA”.

HOW TO PROCESS THE ESTA

The ESTA is very easy to obtain. Simply fill out the application form on iVisa and you will receive the approval in about 6 hours by email.

We have a step-by-step guide on how to apply for the ESTA to the USA.

HOW TO PROCESS TOURIST VISA B2

If you do not have a passport from one of the countries mentioned above, you need a B2 visa to travel as a tourist to the United States.

This type of visa is more difficult to obtain. In addition to preparing the required documentation which proves that you are not going to travel to the United States with the intention of living or working, you will have to go through an interview at the embassy.

A more extensive explanation of how to process this visa can be found on the US Department of State website.

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR THE UNITED STATES

Living in the USA, I know how important is to have good travel insurance for the USA. Since health care cost in this country is very high, hospitalization without insurance can easily make your bill rise above $100,000.

So when we moved here, we bought long-stay travel insurance , although we are currently using annual multi-trip insurance.

Death Valley dunes

Although I always recommend buying the best travel insurance wherever you go, you must have extraordinary coverage for the US (never consider hiring anything that covers below $30,000 if you travel to the United States).

You can get the best quality-price insurance with Heymondo .

5% OFF your travel insurance

western USA car rental

As we have said, the only practical way to travel the Western United States is by renting a car.

Driving in Death Valley

If you do not have too much time, consider taking a  one-way instead of a round-trip  along the West. We picked up the car in Vegas and left it in San Francisco. Although this meant an increase in the budget because of the drop off-fee, we were able to visit more places during our 10-day West Coast trip.

The cheapest way to rent a car is using DiscoverCars , where we hired the rental car in Las Vegas.

FIND CHEAP RENTAL CARS IN THE US

ANNUAL NATIONAL PARKS PASS – AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

If you are planning a Western US National Parks itinerary, I recommend that you buy an annual America the Beautiful pass.

This pass allows access to all US National Parks, as well as other state parks.

The pass is valid for one year from when it is purchased and covers entry for one vehicle with up to 5 passengers. Display pass by hanging it over the rear-view mirror).

In addition, the pass is issued for two owners who must sign behind the card to use. A very good option is to buy the annual pass, leave one signature blank, and resell it to a second owner at the end of your Western USA tour.

Even if you don’t resell the pass, you will get your money’s worth just by visiting 3 or 4 National Parks (Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite …).

The pass can be purchased online from here or directly at the ticket office of the first national park you visit.

ACCOMMODATION ON THE WEST COAST US

It is difficult to find cheap and very good quality hotels at the same time on West Coast America. Therefore we will try to help you by listing the best places to stay, considering different budgets, tastes, and needs.

Best accommodation in West Coast USA

Keep in mind that accommodation will be one of the major expenses of your trip to  West Coast America. On the other hand, sometimes a good hotel can even be one of the best attractions you can enjoy during your trip.

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

• HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel: Hostel in the heart of San Francisco that has both shared and private rooms at a very low price. Free WIFI. Includes breakfast and a kitchen for those who want to cook.
• Buena Vista Motor Inn: Hotel with complimentary parking in the middle of Lombard street. Wi-Fi and breakfast included. Totally safe area to walk at night. Just a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf.

Guide on where to stay in San Francisco

WHERE TO STAY IN LAS VEGAS

• Venetian:  Venice-themed casino resort with gondoliers included.
• Circus Circus: Casino hotel with circus theme, with its own indoor amusement park that runs throughout the year.
• Stratosphere:  Casino hotel that includes vertigo attractions at 350 meters high.
• Bellagio: Inspired by Italy, it is one of the most luxurious resort and casinos in Las Vegas.
• New York – New York:   Resort casino inspired by the big city where we can find a miniature statue of liberty.
• Paris Las Vegas:   Perfect casino hotel for honeymoon or couple trips with miniature Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.
• Excalibur:  You will find yourself in the Middle Ages in this casino resort within its castles.
• Planet Hollywood:  Modern hotel and casino where you will feel the essence of the West Coast.

Guide on where to stay in Las Vegas

WHERE TO STAY IN LOS ANGELES

• Hollywood Travelodge:  Located very close to the walk of fame. Includes breakfast, Wi-Fi and free parking.
• Samesun Venice Beach:  The best option if you want to enjoy the Venice boardwalk and its beach. They have bicycle rental service.
• Cal Mar Hotel Suites:  If you prefer to be close to Santa Monica beach this option is very well priced.

Guide on where to stay in Los Angeles

WHERE TO STAY IN GRAND CANYON

If we visit the South Rim, the most touristic edge of the Grand Canyon, it is quite important to stay in the Grand Canyon Village, since two of the main attractions of this jewel of Western US is their sunrise and sunset. So, the closer we are to the edge, the easier it will be for us.

We camped in the Grand Canyon, at the  Mather Campground on the South Rim.

If you prefer to stay at a hotel, all accommodations at Grand Canyon Village are run by the company   Xanterra ,  and you can make reservations on whose website.

Guide on where to stay in Grand Canyon

WHERE TO STAY IN PAGE

• Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell: This hotel is located in the center of Page. As it is highly valued, you will have to book it well in advance, since rooms tend to run out being such a small and tourist place at the same time.
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson: Without a doubt the best hotel in Page, both the price and the charm of its rooms. It is not in the center but is closer to Horseshoe Bend.

Guide on where to stay in Page

WHERE TO STAY IN BRYCE

Bryce is one of the best places to camp in the Western US. In addition to two conventional campsites ( North Campground and Sunset Campground ), there are 12 backcountry campsites.

If camping is not your thing and you prefer to stay in one of the best hotels in the West, then I recommend the Best Western Ruby’s Inn , a historic hotel at the gates of the national park that also has a camping area.

Guide on where to stay in Bryce

WHERE TO STAY IN ZION

• Bumbleberry Inn:  One of the few hotels near Zion whose price is below $200 a night and with a great value.
• La Quinta Inn and Suites : Another hotel that also has good prices and is highly rated near Zion, known for its buffet breakfast that includes delicious homemade waffles.

Guide on where to stay in Zion

WHERE TO STAY IN MONUMENT VALLEY

If you want to enjoy dawn with the best views of the valley, I recommend that you camp in the Monument Valley. The campground is called The View Campground and the only way to reserve it is by calling +1 435-727-5802.

This campsite belongs to  The View Hotel , a hotel run by the Navajo Indians with equally amazing views.

Guide on where to stay in Monument Valley

WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA BARBARA

• Hotel Santa Barbara: One of the best hotels in Santa Barbara with a great location in the city center and very close to the beach. Includes Wi-Fi, breakfast and free parking.
• The Eagle Inn:   On the beach of Santa Barbara and in a beautiful historic building. The price is a bit higher but it includes a jacuzzi in the room.

WHERE TO STAY IN YOSEMITE

We decided to camp at Camp 4 during our visit to Yosemite. Here, the hippy movement was born in the 60s and spread throughout the United States.

However, if you don’t want to camp, don’t worry. There are very good hotels in Yosemite. Some of the best are:

• The Ahwahnee
• Yosemite Valley Lodge
• Curry Village

Guide on where to stay in Yosemite

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN DIEGO

• Staypineapple at Hotel Z: One of the best hotels in downtown San Diego. Modern design and quite affordable. It offers free bicycles to its customers.
• HI-San Diego Point Loma Hostel: Hostel with shared rooms, very good price and located next to the beach. Ideal if you visit San Diego with the intention of meeting other travelers.

WHERE TO STAY IN JOSHUA TREE

The best place to stay in Joshua Tree is in one of its campsites. There are 4 campsites throughout the national park that can be reserved, and another 4 first-come, first-served campground. All the information regarding the Joshua Tree campgrounds can be found on the National Parks Service website.

WHERE TO STAY IN DEATH VALLEY

• The Inn at Death Valley: This Oasis in the middle of the desert is the most luxurious resort you’ll find here. Refresh between your palm garden and its spring water pool and relax in your spa area.
• The Ranch at Death Valley: Run by the same company as The Inn at Death Valley, it is the familiar and informal complement of the previous one. If you want to relax in a unique environment but without too many pretensions, this accommodation is for you.
• Panamint Springs Resort:  This resort offers both tourist resorts and lodging in tents. It’s close to the west entrance of the national park, from where you’ll have stunning views of the sand dunes.

Guide on where to stay in Death Valley

WHERE TO STAY IN MOJAVE DESERT

There are no motels inside Mojave National Preserve. The only way to stay is camping. There are two family campsites, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground and Mid Hills Campground. Both are first-come, first-served campgrounds.

There is also the possibility of doing backcountry camping. If you want more information, check the US National Parks Service website.

WHERE TO STAY IN ARCHES

There are no campsites or hotels within Arches National Park. The best thing to do is to stay somewhere close to the entrance:

• Red Cliffs Lodge:  All rooms have views of the Colorado River. In addition, you have access to a private living room with a fridge and microwave. This accommodation is the best you’ll find if you visit Arches National Park from the west. Do not miss its western cinema museum.
• Under Canvas Moab:  This accommodation is located east of Arches National Park and offers already pitched tents, some with private bathrooms. If you are not a fan of the camps, but you would like to try, this is your place. In addition to the bed linen, the hotel will lend you towels and a flashlight. A very comfortable way to learn a little about the American camper culture.

WHERE TO STAY IN SEQUOIA

• Montecito Sequoia Lodge: This rustic mountain accommodation offers a place to relax, surrounded by lakes, forests and rugged peaks. It has a restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet.
• Bearpaw High Sierra Camp: This established camp has 6 canvas tents with wooden floors. The views of the surroundings are amazing. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price of the accommodation.
• Wuksachi Lodge:  It is the emblematic hotel of Sequoia, an amazing mountain hut made of stone and cedar located in the heart of the park, surrounded by a powerful sequoia forest and towering peaks of the sierra.

WHERE TO STAY IN HAVASU FALLS

As we commented, if you visit Havasu Falls, it is compulsory to spend at least one night in one of its campsites, since you cannot make excursions exclusively for one day. Book both the tour and the camping permit from the official website of the Havasupai Indian Reservation.

WHERE TO STAY IN YELLOWSTONE

There are only  9 hotels within Yellowstone National Park , so in peak tourist season, most travelers only find accommodation outside the park.

You can find the best options on our guide on where to stay in Yellowstone National Park, but my favorite hotels are:

• Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
• Yellowstone Gateway Inn
• Stage Coach Inn
• Al’s Westward Ho Motel
• Travelodge by Wyndham
• Absaroka Lodge

WHERE TO STAY IN GRAND TETON

There are many places to stay in Grand Teton National Park but my favorite ones are:

• Colter Bay Village 
• Jackson Lake Lodge  
• Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch 
• Jenny Lake Lodge

To calculate  how much a road trip along the West Coast cost, keep in mind that gasoline in the United States is quite cheap compared most European countries, so even though you will drive many kilometers, this is not something you have to worry too much about when planning your itinerary.

Regarding the food , going to restaurants or going out to have a drink is very expensive; especially when you are looking for somewhere that serve healthy and quality food. If you’re willing to eat fast food, your West Cost travel budget will decrease since the United States is the paradise for junk food.

Regarding accommodation , while it is more expensive in the US than other countries, there are ways to make it cheaper .

Consider camping during your West Coast America tour. In addition to being cheaper, it is very fun and do not forget that there is no country in the world with such an active camping culture as in the United States. You will enjoy watching all the American accessories that make camping more comfortable, and the amazing motorhomes that are better than many houses. You can check some tips for traveling by rv in the USA here.

If you want to know how much we spent during out trip, you can check our West Coast travel budget for 10 days.

West Coast USA combinations ideas

In case you have more time, you can combine the West Coast of the USA with other destinations. Some of the most popular combinations are the following.

West Coast America and Hawaii holidays

If you love nature, combine  West Coast USA and Hawaii to enjoy the most active volcanoes in the United States. These wild islands in the middle of the Pacific, offer a native culture totally different from any other place in the world, in addition to beautiful beaches. The Western US and Hawaii landscapes are an excellent combination for the more adventurous.

RIVIERA MAYA and WEST COAST USA honeymoon

Riviera Maya and West Coast America honeymoon trips are very popular.  With this travel itinerary, we can enjoy a mix of the natural American West Coast landscapes with turquoise water beaches and the history of ancient civilizations. This is the best combination for honeymoons or for travelers interested in a mix of all-inclusive vacation packages.

WEST COAST AND ROUTE 66 road trip

If you want to travel the most famous road in the United States, plan a Route 66 – Western US road trip. With this tour, you will have a chance to visit my favorite city in the US: Chicago. I don’t recommend this combination if you do not like driving since much time of this trip will be spent inside the car.

West Coast USA tours from New york

Another very popular combination, especially if you are traveling from Europe. A New York & West Coast America fly-drive itinerary mixes the Western US National Parks with the busiest city of the East Coast. This option is perfect for those who also enjoy visiting big cities, since there are plenty of things to do in New York City.

With any of these combinations, I recommend spending at least 10 days in West Coast America .

However, if you only plan to travel to the West Coast and can afford it, I would recommend spending 2 or even  3 weeks.

map of West Coast USA

Finally, it is very useful to plan your trip using a map of Western US , marked with your places of interest. Then check the following map to see if there is any other attraction on the way.

SEE you ON THE WEST COAST and do not hesitate to ask if you need help preparing your itinerary!

Don't miss a 5% discount on your HeyMondo travel insurance  

and the only one that pays all your medical bills upfront for you!

Ascen Aynat

80 replies on “ Planning a 10-Day West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary ”

We are from Singapore and planning a 20 days trip in June to West Coast of US and would be our first drive trip to the US. We wanted to cover Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, route 66, UTAH but not sure if we are able to (or worth to) cover up till Seattle. We love your advise as it will be our first trip to West Coast of US and accommodation recommendations will be helpful plus itinerary. regards Melvin

Hi Melvin, Wow, that sounds amazing! There is so much to see the western United States. I think you’ll find our road trip itineraries from Las Vegas to be super helpful. As for accommodation, it depends on whether you’re renting a car or RV since an RV will take care of accommodation for you. Otherwise, the hotel recommendations above in this article are a great place to start. 🙂

Hi! Wow, relieved i came accross this blog. Thank you for sharing this.

I made an almost similar itinerary and posted it in trip advisor.

we are arriving early morning in Vegas on March 10 and flying out late night from San Francisco March 20. For the 10 day trip, we’d like to see Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Most of the comments says most of the time will be spent driving hence the trip might not be an enjoyable one. Some even suggested dropping Yosemite as this is too far from the rest of the places we’re hoping to see.

With all the driving you did on this trip, do you think you still spent a good time exploring the parks?

Thanks heaps!

Yes, it was a lot of hours driving but it was a trip of a lifetime. I won’t change any of the stops I did so I highly recommend it specially if you don’t mind driving at night and you don’t have more time to spend on the West Coast USA.

Hi, very informative post there ! May I know what route did u take to travel to yosemite from death valley ? I supposed you travelled when the tiogo road was closed ?

We traveled in August when the Tioga Road was open. So we just drove Nort through the Eastern Sierra and enter from the Northeastern part of the park 😉

i am planning to go to a trip with my friends but iam confused where should i go.

It’s difficult to choose when there are so many great options! My recommendation is to check the places and pictures and just pick the 4/5 places that you find more interesting 😉

Hi Martin from Australia here. I am busy planning an 8 day self drive tour in April starting in, and returning to Las Vegas. I stumbled on your website and found it to be a fantastic resource, full of very helpful information. One thing that is puzzling me with your route. Why did you go to Monument Valley first and then criss-cross south to Antelope Canyon, north to Bryce Canyon and then south again to the Grand Canyon. This appears to add an additional 400 miles (appx). I had originally been planning a circuit through Bryce Canyon, Monument Park, Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon. Then Back to Las Vegas via Mojave Desert and Death Valley. Thank you

We did that itinerary because we were traveling in August (high season) and wanted to camp in Monument Valley and Grand Canyon, so we book the only days available hehehe

Your itinerary sounds great. Let me know how you do it finally.

Hi! I would love your help in planning my itinerary for my West Coast Roadtrip Honeymoon. We would love to check as many of the same locations off our list as you have in this post. Would love to get your thoughts on cost efficiency, glamping/camping vs. RV rentals and what we HAVE to see, and what we could skip. We definitely don’t want to spend the majority of our trip in the car. Thinking of flying into Vegas and then going from there. We would be going from June 12-20th. This is by far the most helpful article I have found online so far! Thanks for writing!

We will be happy to help. Let me know any questions you may have and we will help.

we are a couple, 60 years+ but able to drive and planning a trip next Sep. 2020. However we note that at some places you had to camp. I don’t think we are up to camping and wonder how to achieve the trip you made without camping.

You don’t need to camp if you don’t want to. There are many hotels where you can stay 🙂 Let me know your itinerary and I will give you some hotel ideas.

I wish more people would post valuable content like this. This is the first time I’ve been on your website, but after this, I doubt it will be the last time.

Thanks Robert!! You are always welcome 😉

Planning a trip in mid December. Is your 10 day trip feasible at this time of year ? Thanks.

Yes, it’s perfectly fine. Just bear in mind that you might find snow in some places like Bryce and Yosemite and the main roads to Yosemite from the east (Tioga road) is gonna be closed.

Hope you have a beautiful trip!

Have you ever thought of planning a trip of the Four Corners States of the Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado & Utah). There are so many sites that would be a tough decision. New Mexico has the Gila National Forest, City of Rocks in the southwest, Carlsbad Caverns to name just a few, Colorado, Arizona, Utah you could go on and on. This would also the sunrises and sunsets, rivers canyons. It is so vast that each state could provide what every photographer would want to see and shoot. Just think about it. if you more information, please contact me.

Sure! We still have a bunch of places we want to visit!

Thank you It was very useful

Thanks Isabel!

Great post, thanks for the info I’m considering doing this trip with my dad, how fit do you have to be to do this trip? He can’t really walk a whole lot at a time.

Hi Emiliano,

You don’t need to walk if you don’t want to. Just visit the main lookouts accessible by car.

Let me know if you have any other question.

Well, that was a pretty fascinating read, not going to lie. I really hope you continue to write. Probably one of the more informative pieces I’ve read on this subject. Thanks!

Thanks Justin! Glad to see our USA West Coast article was useful and you enjoyed it reading!

You know if you are not on Instagram, you should be. I know you can’t put text up, but just throw in a few pics and build an audience there. I think you’d find a ton of people who would be super interested in your blog here.

Thanks for the advice. We already use Instagram, our account is: @Capturetheatlas

Well… consider yourself added to my blogroll. I have like six other blogs I read on a weekly basis, guess that number just increased to seven! Keep writing!

Thanks Chris! and Welcome to Capture the Atlas! 😉

Way to go on this post man. Really killer stuff. I’ll be back to read your other posts.

Thanks Travis! Glad you found the information helpful!

Wow! What a scenery. I hope I can visit those place in the future too! People on your newsletter must love you. This content is pure 100% gold

Thanks Matthew for your kind words! I am sure you will be fascinated by the West Coast USA landscapes when you visit them.

Feel free to join our community and receive our newsletter 😉

Hi, My family of 3 will be travelling to West of USA for about 12 to 14 days this coming September month 2019. Can you help us to plan the trip visiting all the interesting places and also advise us the cost.

We give a lot of piece of advice on our blog. Please read it and let us know if you have any question.

I am flying from Toronto, Canada and am unsure which airport to arrive and leave in. I am planning on visiting Zion, Bryce Canyon, Cathedral Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Grand Canyon (South Rim). I am unsure whether to fly to Las Vegas and leave from Arizona, or vice versa, or do a loop. Any suggestions?

Amazing blog by the way!

Which airport in Arizona are you considering? Las Vegas in quite close to those places you want to visit and usually there is cheap flights to go there.

Let me know if you have any question

Thank you for your reply! I was thinking Phoenix airport. Just not sure the best route and will be renting a car!

Also, do you know if its possible to rent a car at one airport and return it to another?

Hi, i am traveling with 6 adults. Planning to arrive in New York, then fly to LA and hoping to have a glimpse of the city and its surrounding and fly to vancouver . We will fly back home from Vancouver.

How many days do you think is good for us? I am travelling with my parents aged 60yo.

Can you give me any recommendations

Hi Felicia,

I would say to book at least 10 – 15 days. As recommendations I would suggest hiring good travel insurance for the USA and check the different articles we have at the blog.

Let me know if you need something else,

Hello there,

We have about 8-9 days along the West Coast after a conference in Vegas. Looking at the following itinerary/places we want to visit. Do you think this is something workable/have any comments? Thanks so much!

Day 1: (From Vegas) Antelope Valley/Horseshoe Bend (Find somewhere to stay for the night – is there a recommendation where we can stay in that area?) Day 2: Grand Canyon Day 3: Travel back to Vegas, fly to San Francisco. Day 4: San Francisco Day 5: San Francisco -> Monterey, Big Sur (Find somewhere to stay?) Day 6: Travel to LA Day 7: LA Day 8: LA

Thanks very much for your message and for reading us!

Until day 4 your itinerary is gonna be very intense but definitely doable, as we made a very similar itinerary at the beginning of our trip. You can find recommendations for the night near horseshoe bend/Antelope Canyon in this section of our article.

As for the second part of your trip, We didn’t travel from SF towards the south so don’t know if that would be something possible.

Please let me know if we can help with any other questions.

Best regards,

Hi I am trying to plan a trip with my son for September 2019 have i left enough time to do this? And could you help us with an itinerary Also if we choose to camp do we purchase this in the USA as we are travelling from the UK Thanks

Hi Richard,

Thank you very much for your message.

You are still in time for planning the trip, so I ‘d definitely try to do it!

You can see different itineraries in our US articles depending on your days and preferences. Hope that helps.

As for the campings it depends on the campsite, some accept online reservations like the one in Monument Valley while others are filled in a first-come first-served basis like Camp 4 in Yosemite.

Please let us know if we can help with any other questions.

Hi everyone! Could you help me to make a itinerary with the time and 10 destinations?

We will need some more information to help you. When and where are you starting your trip, days, preferences and so on.

Hi guys, Love your work. I’m a photographer and looking to do a road trip through the west cost of the USA, covering as much of the national parks as possible (Yellowstone a must). We only have a 2 week gap during July to do this. Do you have any tours available for July 2019 for 2 super fun people?

Me, along with spouse and 13 year old son, are planning for a 10 day trip to LA, LV & SFO from India during June last week.

Request if you could help build us an itinerary for First Timers to US. It would be with a driver if we have to hire a car.

Do you deal in hotel accommodations too – 4 star?

Could you please let me know a rough expenditure on all this.

Kindly do mention your charges too for helping us out with a good itinerary and any help on ground that you could provide during our stay.

Thanking You, MOHAN

I have sent you an email with our service rates.

Have a nice day!

I am planing with my boyfriend our trip in June to California for 10 days. We are landing in LA and we would like to visit Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and San Diego. Could you please give us some tips? We are afraid that Tioga Pass might not be opened at the beginning of June..

Thanks a lot!

Hi Anabel, I think you have enough time in 10 days to visit the cities and NP you mentioned. You can do 2 days for LA, 3 days for Yosemite, 1 day for Death Valley, 1 day for Las Vegas, 2 days for Grand Canyon and 1 day for San Diego.

As you said, Tioga Pass maybe is still close in June, so I recommend you booking a hotel around Fresno (in case Tigoa Road is close) and other around Mammonth Lakes (in case it is open). And cancel the one you are not going to use once you know the Tioga Road status?

Let me know if you need anything else.

Hello, Thanks for the detailed analysis of west coast. We are planning to visit west coast from Philadelphia and would like to cover California/LA/SFO/Las Vegas. We would however fly to Seattle from PHL and take our trip to west coast from Seattle.

Please provide us with an itinerary.

We are planning 10 days for this trip and would like to over not just national parks but also Golden gate bridge/Hollywood/Alcatraz etc. We don’t want to do the theme parks.

Sure, I have sent you an email with our planner services rates.

Hi, Thanks for itinerary! We are going on a trip from LA in September for 16 days, and this helped a lot! If you could give some tips on showering…it’s not available in a lot of camp sites. Also, if you have some experience with laundry service, I would appreciate some info. Thanks!

Hi Soma! Thanks for your message and words!

You can check beforehand which campsites offer shower utilities and plan according to your needs. We booked camping with showers in Grand Canyon and Yosemite, taking a shower at least every 2 days. As for laundry service, I would suggest doing the same. We went just for a week and didn’t really need to do any washing but if you are staying 16 days some campings have some sort of place for washing. As an example again, you can find those utilities in Grand Canyon and Yosemite, and I am sure there will be more in other important campgrounds.

Hope that helps and have a wonderful US West Coast trip!

Hi we are planning a 15 day stay flying into LA hiring a car can you recommened a route then we fly back out from LA.Thanks

The US West Coast is huge and there are endless possibilities doing a round trip from L.A.

Depending on your personal taste and the number of miles that you are willing to drive, there are many itineraries.

I recommend that you check all the main attractions explained throughout the article and once you know your preferences, you can design your own route.

Hope it helps and you make the most of your trip!

Planning on driving to monument valley and staying at View hotel I need driving directions from Salt Lake City

Take I-15 S, US-6 E, US-191 S and US-163 S to Main Monument Valley Rd/Monument Valley Rd in Oljato-Monument Valley

Hi my husband and I are planning a trip to tour the west coast next June/July next year for 4 weeks starting in San Francisco driving down the coast then across to Vegas by car then possibly hiring a camper van to visit the national parks, would you be able to advise us of some places to stop and stay and give some advice as to how long we should stay at certain places, we would also like to spend a week in Washington and New York at the end of our stay but we will fly to the east coast, thanks Tracey

Sure, I have sent you an email more information about our trip planner services. I can also help you to plan your visits to NYC and Washington. I live in Philadelphia, that is 2hours from NYC and two hours from Washington, so I know these cities very well and I can help you too.

Hello Jaz, thank you for the useful information. I am planning for the west coast trip but could you confirm will it be too much to digest if I cover all/most of the destinations mentioned in your article above in just one trip?

Or shall I split the trip in multiple trips to enjoy and assimilate the delightful view which each destination has to offer?

That is up to you. How much time do you have? Where are you coming from? If I could, I would do it in one trip (3-4 months).

Let me know if you need something else, Ascen.

We are planning a tour of West Coast starting and ending at LA. Can you suggest a good travel itinerary for family of 3 or 6 pxs. for 8-12 days sometime in June or July 2019. Thanks Jaz

Hi Jasmine, I have sent you an email with our rates. Ascen.

Planning to gravel to west coast of USA Visiting friends & also travelling (self drive) . I have 14 days from Sep15 to Sep30 Would like to visit Yosomite, Death Valley Coastal Drive & Las Vegas and Grand canyon. Thanks for your help with an itinerary.

Sure! I will help you to plan your West America trip. I have sent you an email.

Hi, I am planning for west coast tour for 10 days in July. I would like to start from San Francisco . Could you please suggest road trip plan

Hi Rajan, I will be happy for helping you to plan your west coast USA itinerary.

I have sent you an email regarding our travel planner services.

Hi, I am planning a 15 days trip to USA with my family of 5 (2 sons aged 24, 25, Daughter 18). What route would you recommend us to take? We are looking to rent a car and drive around ourselves. Thank you.

Hi Sharon, I have sent you an email regarding our travel planning services.

Thanks, Ascen.

Hi.. myself and 2 friends are planning a trip up the west coast from San Francisco in April.. We are renting an RV ..we would like to try and go as north to Portland maybe Seattle.. could you advise of the best route and places we should try to see.

Hi we are planning to Visit West coast in the month of June 19 . Not sure about self drive option but could u please suggest some best places to explore in 10 days . We are landing at San Francisco & leaving to New York from LA .

Would appreciate if u could help us to arrange our trip .

Thanks Sunil

I have sent you an email regarding our travel planning services.

Hi Loved reading your information on USA! My husband and I want to travel the west coast in September this year. We have booked so far return flights from Sydney to San Francisco. We would like to see Yosemite Bryce Zion Death Valley Redlands Lake Tahoe Sequoia and Grand Canyon. Not interested in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. We thought we would return via The big Sur to San Francisco. Do you think we can do this in a month? What would be the best driving route to do all this. Can we also purchase driving maps? Any help you could give I would be most grateful! Thanking you

Hi Cath, I have sent you an email regarding our travel planning services.

Hi, thanks a lot for your details itinerary which is very much appreciated. I’m planning my self-drive trip to west coast USA for about 12 days, in May 2019. Just wondering any tips on what to wear? Will it be cold in the Yosemite national park? I’m planning for Grand Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon + Horseshoes band, Yosemite, is it still worth to get the annnual pass? There are total 6 of us.

Hi Joey, If you are only visiting two national parks (Yosemite and Grand Canyon ) it is not worth getting the annual pass. Pay just for the standard fee in each of them. Horseshoe Bend is free and Antelope Canyon is private, so you will have to pay the Navajo fee.

In 12 days you have enough time to visit Death Valley, Bryce and Zion too.

Regarding what to carry in the backpack, please check the camping and cold weather section of this post.

P.S: Next sunday we will be posting our Guide to Yosemite and I am sure you are going to find it interested!!

Best, Ascen

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Travels with Ted

10 Epic Bucket List RV Road Trips in the US

This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate disclaimer here.

I’ve lived in an RV since 2016, and traveled thousands of miles across the country (and into Mexico and Canda). In this guide to the best bucket list road trips in the USA, I share my favorite RV road trips.

Ready to start planning your own RV trip across America? Let’s get started.

• 1.1 Renting an RV
• 1.2 Finding Campgrounds
• 1.3 Buying Gear for your RV Road Trip
• 2.1 Olympic Peninsula
• 2.2 Utah National Parks
• 2.3 Route 66
• 2.4 California’s Pacific Coast
• 2.5 Blue Ridge Parkway
• 2.6 South Florida
• 2.7 Upper Peninsula of Michigan
• 2.8 Columbia River Gorge
• 2.9 Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon
• 2.10 North to Alaska

Planning your RV Road Trip

If you already an experienced or full-time RVer, go ahead and skip down to the bucket list RV road trips . Otherwise, here are some key planning tools to utilize before your first RV trip.

Renting an RV

If you do not already own an RV, it is best to rent a rig for your first RV road trip in the USA. A rental RV allows you to test drive the type, layout and travel style of an RV before you make a large investment.

RVshare allows you to rent fifth wheels, travel trailers and motorhomes directly from local owners. They have every type of rig available, and you can filter by price and features to pick the perfect RV.

Finding Campgrounds

After you’ve secured an RV, you need to find places to sleep. Fortunately, there are several great apps to help you find campgrounds and RV parks in the USA. If you are visiting an area during the peak season (i.e. Winter in Florida) you will need to make campground reservations in advance.

However, if you are traveling during less busy times, it is best to leave a few open days between reservations so you can be more spontaneous.

To find RV parks and campgrounds, download the AllStays Camp & RV app ($9.99). The AllStays app has an interactive map that allows you to find campsites directly along your route.

AllStays has the most comprehensive list of campgrounds and RV parks for people RVing in the USA. The app also shows truck stops, dump stations and RV services so you can easily find fuel and supplies.

For free RV camping , use the Campendium website to find no cost RV campsites. Free camping is a great way to save money and find more secluded locations.

However, most free campsites do not offer water, electric or sewer hook-ups, so you should be prepared to “rough it.” If you plan on dry camping or boondocking at free campsites, choose a rental RV that has a generator on board.

If you are planning an extended RV round trip, consider joining one or more RV membership clubs to enjoy discounted camping fees.

Buying Gear for your RV Road Trip

The last step in the planning process for an RV road trip is buying all the gear you need. Review our Amazon list of must have RV supplies and either buy them or verify that your rental RV comes equipped with the proper gear.

I also highly recommend buying a road trip journal to record your adventures and experiences RVing in the USA.

10 Best RV Road Trips in the USA

Olympic peninsula.

Driving highway 101 around the Olympic Peninsula is a short but sweet RV road trip. The complete Olympic Peninsula rod trip is just over 300 miles, so it can easily be completed in a few days.

On the other hand, there is so much to see in this region you could also stay for weeks. The main attraction on the Peninsula is Olympic National Park which features a lush rain forest, stunning mountain peaks, crystal clear lakes and the Pacific Coast.

There are plenty of RV campground options in the area. There are several private campgrounds just off highway 101 and there are 10 campgrounds in the National Park that can accommodate RVs.

Most National Park campsites are designed for RVs up to 21 feet long, and none of them accept rigs over 35 feet. If you plan to camp in the park, make sure to travel in a smaller RV.

While the National Park is the main feature, there are several other sights to see along this route. For incredible views, take a side trip to Cape Flattery, the most northwesterly tip of the contiguous 48 states.

To reach Cape Flattery, first head to the town of Neah Bay from highway 112. In Neah Bay, go as far west as you can, follow signs to Cape Flattery Road and head south. After 7.7 miles the road will take you to the trail head parking lot.

Don’t forget to stop in Neah Bay and purchase a Makah Recreation Pass , which is required to hike on the trail. The trail is an easy 1.5 mile round trip that winds through the forest and ends in stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

Utah National Parks

Utah has five National Parks with jaw dropping scenery. Combining all five parks into a single road trip is an unforgettable adventure, and one of my personal favorite experiences RVing in the USA.

Start your adventure in Zion National Park then drive on Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. Allot at least 2 days in each park to make sure you have ample time to hike and relax. Since most of the trails in National Parks are not pet-friendly, this is not a great RV road trip with dogs.

All of the Utah National Parks, except Canyonlands, have RV-friendly campgrounds that can be reserved in advance. Reservations are accepted 6 months ahead of time and should be made exactly 6 months in advance for summer reservations.

None of the NPS campgrounds offer electric hook-ups, so RVers looking for more comfort should stay in private campgrounds near the parks. Reservations for RV parks also need to be made at least six months in advance to guarantee availability.

Don’t forget to add a few Utah State parks into your road trip itinerary. Dead Horse Point State Park, located just outside of Canyonlands, offers dramatic views of the Colorado River and the pinnacles of Canyonlands.

This state park has two campgrounds with 30 and 50 amp electric outlets. An hour from Zion, Sand Hollow State Park is a great summer stop if you are looking to get in the water.

The main feature of this state park is a refreshing reservoir with boat rentals. Their Westside campground also offers spacious campsites with full hook-ups.

Route 66, also know as the Mother Road, is the most iconic and celebrated RVing route in the USA. Historic Route 66 covers over 2,400 miles, starting in Chicago and ending at Santa Monica, California.

For the classic experience, I would recommend sticking to the westernmost portion of the route. This area features many kitschy attractions that will take you back in time. Start your journey in Amarillo, TX and take Route 66 all the way to the Pacific Ocean in California.

There are many RV campgrounds along historical Route 66. Simply use the AllStays app to find campgrounds with good reviews at your desired stopping points.

State park campgrounds are a good option if you are looking to incorporate more outdoor adventures into your road trip. Consider camping at Santa Rosa Lake, Homolovi Ruins and Malibu Creek State Parks.

Hualapai Mountain Park, 11-miles off of the road in Arizona, offers a great break from the desert. The campground sits in the Hualapai Mountain Range, so you can enjoy views of the desert below from a cooler elevation.

You want to take your time driving down Route 66, so you have plenty of time to stop for roadside attractions and detours. Starting in Amarillo, check out the Cadillac Ranch, an art installation made using old Cadillac cars.

During your RV road trip, stop at the ghost town of Oatman, Arizona that has a friendly local population of wild burros.

California’s Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) hugs the Pacific Coast of California for 650 miles. The route is best driven from north to south, so you are on the ocean side of the road for the entire drive.

This coastal road trip is not for the faint of heart. The route features winding turns, small shoulders and big drop offs. I would recommend this RV road trip for more experienced drivers not first time RVers. Drive slow and plan short days to keep this drive fun and safe.

There are several state park campgrounds and private RV parks available along Highway 1. Spend a few days at the San Francisco RV Resort just outside of the city. This resort is pricey, but it features stunning ocean views, full hook-ups and easy access to the city.

Also stop at Doheny State Beach campground in Dana Point. This campground does not have any hook-ups, but there are campsites available right on the beach.

One of the most iconic stops along the California Coast is Big Sur. Plan to spend at least a few days of your road trip exploring this area.

The hike to McWay Falls should definitely be on your travel and adventure bucket list. The trail is less than a mile, but the views are incredible. You can access the trail head directly off of Highway 1.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches through the mountains from Afton, Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina (my home state). This road is an iconic route for people RVing in the USA.

There are plenty of overlooks and the speed limit never exceeds 45 mile per hour, making for a leisurely RV road trip. The route has many sweeping curves, but is generally easy to drive without many tight turns. The vistas are stunning during the peak fall season when the leaves are changing, but be prepared for crowds during this time.

There are eight National Park Service Campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Most of these campgrounds do not have hook-ups, but they offer potable water, bathrooms with flush toilets, picnic tables, fire rings and RV dump stations.

These campgrounds are open from May to October for a fee of $20 per night. If you are looking for higher-end accommodations, there a plenty of private RV parks a short drive off the parkway. Near Asheville, North Carolina, spend a night or two at the stunning mountaintop RV sites at Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Camp.

Views and hiking are the two main features of the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of our favorite hikes in the area is Crabtree Falls. The trail head is located at milepost 339.5.

There are two trail options: an easier 3 mile out and back hike on the same trail or a more strenuous 3.5 mile loop trail that climbs a ridge above the falls. The main feature of the hike is the 70 foot waterfall but there are also beautiful wildflowers in the early summer.

South Florida

If you are looking for a winter destination to RV in the USA, look no further than the Sunshine State. While many RVers park in one spot for the winter, a Florida road trip is a much better adventure.

I recommend starting your Florida road trip near Everglades National Park and driving down the Florida Keys.

Start your trip at the Miami Everglades RV Resort, a full hook-up RV park near the Everglades that offers amenities including a pool and game room. In the Keys, Sunshine Key RV Resort is another high-end RV park located right on the water.

For a more affordable camping option in the Keys, stay at Bahia Honda State Park which offers campsites with electric for $38 per night. Be sure to make your campground reservations six to twelve months in advance to avoid being stuck without a place to stay.

If you make it all the way to Key West, consider leaving your RV behind for the day to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. The park which is an island 70 miles west of Key West is only accessible by boat or seaplane.

Daily ferries shuttle visitors from Key West to the park, or you can arrive in style by flying in with Key West Seaplane Adventures. Once you arrive, you can spend the day swimming, snorkeling and exploring the 19th century fort.

Upper Peninsula of Michigan

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan (The U.P.) is a beautiful natural playground for campers RVing in the USA. Summer is the best time to visit when you can count on warm, pleasant weather.

The U.P. is accessed from I-75 on the lower peninsula of Michigan. From there, you can plan your own route around the U.P.

Straits State Park is a great place to start and end your U.P. RV road trip. Located right after the bridge onto the Upper Penninsula, the park has two campgrounds with electric hook-ups. From this location, you can easily access the ferry to car-free Mackinac Island.

Also consider staying at Indian Lake State Park which offers lake front campsites. There are also plenty of private campgrounds on the U.P. for the remainder of your road trip.

Just 10 minutes from Indian Lake State Park is The Big Spring ( Kitch-iti-kipi ) . The natural spring has crystal clear blue water that makes for a beautiful photo opportunity.

While you can’t swim in the spring, the park offers a self-operated observation raft that you can take out onto the water. Through observation windows on the raft floor, you can see trout swimming below. Also, don’t forget to eat a Pasty, a local meat pie delicacy.

Columbia River Gorge

The drive along the Columbia River Gorge is one of the most scenic drives in the Pacific Northwest. The gorge reaches heights of 4,000 feet, and the river serves as the boundary between Oregon and Washington.

I recommend starting in Troutdale, Oregon and driving on Interstate 84 to at least Hood River. This trip is a very short drive, but you can extend the trip by taking detours over the river to the Washington side.

This is a perfect first time RV road trip, allowing you to drive just 30 minutes between RV parks.

In Troutdale, stay at the Sandy Riverfront RV resort. This full hook-up campground offers direct access to the Sandy River where you can swim and float on hot summer days.

At the end of your trip, stay at the Blue Barn Grill & RV park on the Washington side of the river. In between, small RVs (20 feet max) can stay at the Eagle Creek campground within the National Scenic Area.

Even though the Columbia River Gorge is a short trip, it is not lacking in activities. There are stunning waterfalls, local breweries and hundreds of hiking trails to explore. One can’t miss hike along the gorge is Beacon Rock.

The trail is a one-mile hike up the 848 foot Beacon Rock, the core of an ancient volcano. The hike involves many switchbacks and steep drop-offs, but handrails make it safe for even casual hikers. At the top you are rewarded with vast views of the Columbia River Gorge.

Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon

If you are looking to incorporate both city life and the great outdoors into your RV road trip, consider driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The drive from Las Vegas to the south rim is just over four hours, but you can spend a significant amount of time at each destination.

If you are renting an RV , you can take a round trip route so you can fly in and out of Las Vegas. Alternatively, this trip can be combined with a Utah National Park or Route 66 road trip for a longer adventure.

There are many large RV resorts around Las Vegas that offer pools, outdoor activities and shuttles to casinos. If you want to stay right on The Strip, camp at Circus Circus RV Park. The campground offers full hook-up sites on the Circus Circus property, and campers have access to all the same amenities as hotel guests.

Once you reach the Grand Canyon , stay at the Trailer Village campground which offers full hook-up RV sites close to the south rim of the canyon.

Don’t forget to stop along the way to the canyon and explore Arizona a little more. Stop in the town of Chloride for some history and culture. The old silver mining town now features some interesting art with many residents creating junk art sculptures on their property.

Just outside of town, park the RV and walk 1.5 up a rough dirt road to see the murals of Chloride miner, Roy Purcell. Painted in 1966, these murals are a sight to see, covering 2,000 square feet of rocks and granite.

North to Alaska

Once you have completed some shorter road trips RVing in the USA, consider upping your road trip game and driving to Alaska. Leaving from Washington state, you can drive through British Columbia and The Yukon to reach Alaska.

Allow an absolute minimum of one month for this RV road trip, so you have plenty of time for driving and exploring. Ideally, this RV road trip would take two to three months so you have plenty of time to explore Western Canada as well.

On the route to Alaska, you will find plenty of RV parks off the highway. The AllStays app will help you find campsites in the US, as well as Canada.

Once you arrive in Alaska, the whole state is your campground. Alaska is one of the few places in the USA where it is legal to camp almost anywhere. Check out Call to Wander’s post for some Alaska campsite recommendations.

Once you reach Alaska, be sure to make it to Denali National Park. The park features Denali, the highest peak in North America, as well as plentiful wildlife.

The only entrance to the park is 240 miles north of Anchorage off Alaska Highway 3. There are RV-friendly campgrounds within the park, so you can enjoy the experience of camping right beside the natural wonders.

If you are new to RV travel, download our free RV setup and departure checklists to guide you when parking and packing up the RV.

Also, save our list of 250 road trip questions to help pass the time while you are driving.

Ready to hit the road and go RVing in the USA? Comment below to tell us which RV road trip is on the top of your bucket list.

Happy Camping!

Christina Pate is a seasoned full-time RVer who, along with her husband Justin, has journeyed across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Drawing from her extensive travels, RV repairs and RV renovations, she founded Travels with Ted to guide and inspire fellow RV enthusiasts. Christina is also the co-author of The Owner’s Guide to RV Maintenance and the creator of My RV Log Book .

The Complete Guide to Traveling the US by RV

Kristin Luna

July 20, 2023

The past few years have brought many changes to the way we travel as a society, with road trips closer to home all the rage and RV travel becoming an increasingly more popular method to get around, no matter the age group.   

In fact, more than nine million US households now own an RV, and the RV Industry Association reports that RV sales were up 31.2% in fall 2020 over the same period the year prior.  

Considering traveling by RV for the first time? Whether you’re buying or renting, here are some things you need to know before you hit the road.

Test drive the lifestyle first

RV travel is a convenient way to pack up your home and go—but it isn’t for everyone. Before you sell all your belongings and become a full-time van lifer—or even set out on a multi-week trip with the family—consider renting an RV for a weekend first and hitting up a state park close to your house (you know, just in case).   

Companies like Outdoorsy and RVShare have an inventory of campers and standard and compact RVs at locations across the country that allow you to test out various mobile rigs (and the concept itself) before signing up for a longer trip.

The most basic camping option is a towable pop-out trailer. These compact homes—well-suited for couples and solo travelers without a lot of baggage—expand beyond their size and can often be towed with a car instead of a truck until reaching a camping destination.   

The next step up in options is towable but with hard sides that, unless there are extensions, stay in place, even while mobile. These trailers come in two different towing configurations that are dependent on the hook-up you have on your full-size truck: The fifth-wheel attachment is within the bed of the truck while the standard trailer is attached at the hitch.   

The last option, a full-on motorhome, ditches the separate vehicle entirely and can also be considered a bus. These are self-contained units and come in an almost infinite array of options, with high-end models costing well over $1 million; they’re perfect for luxury travelers, larger families living on the road together or those who want minimal setup each time they reach a new campsite. 

Lengthen your stay

Looking to save on travel? (Let’s be honest—who isn’t?) Eliminating both the cost of flights and hotels, traveling by RV is a smart way to keep costs low and extend your time on the road. For example, the longer you stay in one place, the cheaper your stay will be at many RV parks and campgrounds thanks to heavily discounted weekly or monthly rates.   

Before you commit to your length of stay, do a cost comparison of a few days versus a few weeks, and you might find that staying longer works out to roughly the same price; even if you can only stay three weeks, sometimes it’s more economical to just book the month-long rate anyway. Another bonus: Staying put longer means you’ll save money on gas and really get to know your surroundings.

Whether you’re looking to hit the road full time, or just plan to be gone a few weeks, you’ll want to slim down your belongings for a couple reasons. First, unlike staying at a hotel, you won’t be unpacking on the other side, meaning everything you carry with you, well, stays with you (and there’s nothing like feeling claustrophobic in your own temporary home on wheels).   

Second, you’ll find you need a lot less than you think you do when traveling by RV, and the majority of campgrounds have laundry facilities where you can wash your clothing. You’ll also save money in the long run by your RV not being overweight should you have to check in at weigh stations. Weigh-station rules are state-specific and often only apply to commercial vehicles, so while weighing your rig is not something you’ll likely have to do often—if ever—there is a small chance depending on your rig and where you’re traveling. In some states, any vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds in Gross Combined Weight Rating (or GCWR) is required to pull over and be weighed at all weigh stations. The AAA Digest of Motor Laws explains the rules for each state. 

Park for free

Don’t want to blow your whole travel budget on RV campgrounds? You don’t have to. Many nationwide entities like Walmart, Cabela’s, and Lowe’s have company-wide policies in place that allow RVs a free place to park in their lots overnight. To be sure and cover all your bases, always call the store manager in advance to check that there aren’t any local ordinances or individual store policies that would prohibit overnight parking. 

Embrace boondocking

Once you’re comfortable in an RV, you might just be ready to level-up and try boondocking. Boondocking, or camping in the wilderness sans hookup, allows you to be closer to nature and further from the crowds, and it doesn’t cost a penny.   

The downside? You won’t have access to water, electricity or sewer, so you best plan in advance. Boondocking is particularly prominent on Bureau of Land Management land out West, and you can park for free in National Forest dispersed campsites and along many National Forest roads.   

One thing to note is that you are responsible for carrying all of your own trash out, meaning you need to be equipped with sealable containers and trash receptacles. Some of the best boondocking spots are remote with little to no cell service, so be prepared; pack an emergency kit with all first aid, navigational and roadside tool needs, and double-check you have enough water and power to get you through the number of days you’ll be off the grid.

Sign up for memberships

Many RV parks give discounts to Good Sam, AAA, or AARP cardholders, and if you’re prioritizing one campground experience, like a KOA, it may be economical to invest in that organization’s membership, too.   

Others to consider: The America the Beautiful pass from the US National Park Service, which allows a family—the pass owner and three accompanying adults age 16 and older (kids 15 and below are free)—entrance to all parks for just $80 a year. Harvest Hosts allows you to RV camp at more than 2,000 wineries, breweries, and farms in the US and Canada. If you’re 62 or older, you can take advantage of the Lifetime Senior Pass for $80.

Know before you go

While it can be tempting to learn on the go—and sure, that’s a lot of the beauty of this style of travel—you’ll want to do a test run with your RV or camper out of your own home or at a local campground before hitting the road for real so you can get to know where the electrical, water and sewage hookups are located and how to use each function. 

One of the benefits of staying at an RV campground (versus primitive camping or boondocking) is that you’ll be able to connect to your designated spot’s electrical and water hookup, which enables your appliances to siphon from this source of power rather than using your battery or propane; it also allows you to keep reserves of water onboard.

If you’re traveling by RV or mobile home, remember that you’ll be carrying around all your water and waste with you: both grey water (shower and sink) and black (toilet). You’ll want to dump both regularly at any designated spot: every RV campground will have one, and many truck stops, gas stations and nicer rest stops also have spots where you can flush your accumulated waste.

Rules of the road

Still nervous about setting out on your own? Don’t be. RV travel will soon feel like second nature after you’ve been doing it for a spell. Here’s a check list of road rules—and some camping know-how—to keep with you as you’re learning the ropes.  

• Always chock your wheels as soon as you arrive at a campground and before you leave your vehicle to explore by foot. Once a trailer is unhooked from a vehicle, it can shift dangerously.
• Balance and level out the camper to ensure a good night’s sleep.
• Always triple-check your hookups, and batten down any open windows or hatches before hitting the open road.
• Stay out of the fast lane unless it’s absolutely necessary to pass a much slower vehicle. Vehicles that are towing trailers are generally illegal to drive in the far left lane.

Looking for inspiration on where to go? Check out our list of the top bucket-list experiences in every US state or read about our favorite US road trips. Then join Going and get cheap flights delivered right to your inbox.

Freelance Writer

Published July 20, 2023

Last updated March 26, 2024

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7 Best RV Insurance Companies of 2024

S ince 2016, Money’s editorial team has been evaluating companies that offer RV insurance. Our research and analysis takes into account customer satisfaction, financial stability, coverage options, availability and more. We strive to provide accurate and informative recommendations customized to our readers’ needs.

Money’s Main Takeaways

• Insuring your RV is essential, whether you plan to live in your RV full-time or use it for occasional trips.
• The type, age and condition of your RV, where you live, and your own personal driving record are all factors that will influence the price of your policy.
• We settled on six companies including Good Sam as the best RV insurance broker, National General as the best for full replacement cost coverage and Auto-Owners Insurance as the best for customer service.

Why Trust Us?

Our editors and writers evaluate RV insurance companies independently, ensuring our content is precise and guided by editorial integrity. Read the full methodology to learn more.

• Reviewed 15+ companies
• More than 1,000 hours of research
• We prioritized coverage, discounts, customer sentiment, the NAIC complaint index and financial stability

Our Top Picks for the Best RV Insurance Companies

• Good Sam – Best RV Insurance Agency
• RVInsurance.com – Runner-Up
• Nationwide – Best for Multiple Discounts
• National General – Best for Full Replacement Cost Coverage
• Progressive – Best for Disappearing Deductibles
• Roamly – Best for Renting Out Your RV
• Auto-Owners Insurance – Best for Customer Service

Best RV Insurance Reviews

• Offers full-timer coverage
• Manage your policy online without having to contact an agent
• Membership gets you discounts on campsites, gear stores, fuel and more
• Not a direct insurer

Why we chose this company: Good Sam Insurance Agency is the best option for those who need help choosing coverage. It connects you with some of the best RV insurance companies and helps you get a comprehensive policy that fits your needs.

Good Sam works with well-known insurance companies like Progressive, Foremost, Safeco and National General. Some standard insurance options you can get through Good Sam include comprehensive, collision, liability, property damage and personal injury protection.

Good Sam is also an excellent option for people who drive their RV across the border to Mexico. The company partners with MexicoInsuranceOnline.com, which can pair you with one of three Mexico-based insurers. Agents can recommend add-ons for your cross-border travels based on your specific needs, and you can purchase policies for a single-day trip or longer.

The company also offers a storage discount, which lets you pause collision and liability coverage when your motorhome or trailer is stored for more than 30 consecutive days. This can help you save on monthly insurance premiums if you only use your RV for occasional road trips.

Lastly, the agency can help you customize a full-time RV insurance policy if you use it as a permanent residence.

Learn more: Good Sam RV insurance review

See rates on Good Sam’s Secure Website >>

Why we chose this company: RVInsurance.com can help you find a suitable policy, whether you use your RV for vacationing or as your residence.

• Specialists can help you find a policy
• Policies available for all types of RVs

RVInsurance.com works with Foremost, National General and Safeco. These companies cover all RV types, from motorhomes to campers. They offer several policy add-ons, such as full replacement cost, full-timers liability coverage and roadside assistance.

You can get an insurance quote online, but an insurance specialist can help you compare policies if you call.

See rates on RVInsurance.com’s Secure Website >>

• Free yearly insurance review to evaluate your coverage options and possible discounts
• Optional towing coverage includes lodging, transportation and meals
• Multiple policies available, making it easy to bundle and save
• Many customer complaints about the claims process

Why we chose this company: Nationwide Insurance offers over 10 different discounts, including discounts for staying claim-free during the previous policy period or installing safety devices, like smoke detectors.

Most RV insurers offer discounts that can help you save on premiums. Nationwide’s discount list, however, is particularly extensive. You can save money if you bundle your RV policy with your existing home insurance, take safety courses, belong to an RV organization (such as the National RV Association), pay your annual policy upfront or purchase the company’s full-time RV insurance package.

Note that not all discounts are listed on Nationwide’s website, and some only come up during the quoting process. For example, according to a customer service representative, the company also offers discounts to customers whose vehicles have safety features such as tire-pressure monitoring systems or fiberglass bodies.

Learn more: Nationwide RV insurance review

See rates on Nationwide’s Secure Website >>

• Coverage for specialized equipment such as solar panels
• Pause your coverage when your RV is in storage
• Experts help you find a new RV in the event of total loss
• Low mileage discount
• Eligibility, benefits, coverage and discounts vary per state
• Limited information about policies on its website

Why we chose this company: Full replacement cost coverage can usually only be bought during an RV’s first model year. National General, on the other hand, lets you get the rider within an RV’s first five model years.

With full replacement cost coverage, also known as total loss replacement, your RV gets replaced with a new or similar one if it’s totaled or stolen. You may also get reimbursed for the original purchase price of the vehicle.

This type of coverage is typically only available for newly purchased motorhomes or travel trailers up to one or two model years old. For example, a 2024 model would probably be eligible until 2026. So if you buy a used RV or don’t insure your new one as soon as possible, you risk your vehicle being considered ineligible.

With National General, on the other hand, RVs are eligible during their first five model years. The company can also insure your RV whether you’re the first owner or not — some companies limit this type of coverage to original owners.

The company lets you pause your coverage when your RV is in storage, an option that’s not available with many other providers. You can save money by suspending collision and personal injury riders, for example. However, your RV would still be covered against theft, fires, harsh weather and other non-collision accidents.

Learn more: National General RV insurance review

See rates on National General’s Secure Website >>

• Accident forgiveness for claims under $500
• Horse trailer coverage up to $50k
• Pet injury coverage available
• Add-on coverage available for roof malfunction
• Standard plan doesn't cover personal property replacement or emergency expenses
• Insurance rates can vary if you buy online or through an agent
• Discounts are not available in all states

Why we chose this company: Progressive offers disappearing deductibles, accident forgiveness and an extensive array of discounts.

With Progressive, you can save on premiums if you’re the RV’s original owner or if you pay your policy in advance, among other discounts. However, what makes Progressive’s discount list stand out are disappearing deductibles and accident forgiveness.

Not many companies provide these discounts, and if they do, they only offer one or the other. With disappearing deductibles, the longer you go without filing a claim, the lower your insurance deductibles get.

Progressive deducts 25% from your total deductible amount for every claim-free policy period. After four consecutive claim-free periods, your deductible will be $0. Other insurance companies that offer disappearing deductibles cap the discount to a maximum of $500 — if your deductible exceeds $500, you’d still have to pay the remaining amount.

Disappearing deductibles, also known as vanishing deductibles, have an additional cost.

However, the feature is included if your vehicle is valued at $25,000 or more and you purchase the comprehensive and collision coverage package. Both riders are recommended since they ensure the vehicle is covered for car accidents and non-collision events, like a fire.

Accident forgiveness — which keeps your premium rates from increasing if claims are for $500 or less — is included at no additional cost.

See rates on Progressive’s Secure Website >>

• Specializes in RV insurance
• Coverage even when renting out your RV
• Policies for full-time RVers are available
• Covers Canada rentals
• Only offers RV policies

Why we chose this company: Insurers typically decline coverage if you rent your RV to someone else. With Roamly, you can rent out your RV and still be covered for liability and damage to the vehicle.

Rented RVs require comprehensive commercial insurance because they’re exposed to more risk than personal vehicles. Renting out your motorhome or camper without insuring it can result in denied claims, especially if the renter doesn’t have coverage either.

With Roamly, your RV is always covered when listed in rental platforms like Outdoorsy (which owns Roamly). When someone books your RV through Outdoorsy, they can purchase a renters protection package. These policies can include trip protection, interior damage and travel medical insurance.

Roamly covers rented RVs for actual cash value during a rental period. Also, policies include $1 million in liability insurance protection during each trip.

Learn more: Roamly RV insurance review

See rates on Roamly’s Secure Website >>

• Premium reduction if RV is equipped with certain safety features
• Towing and roadside assistance in all 50 states and Canada
• Mobile app for Apple and Android
• No online quotes

Why we chose this company: Auto-Owners is our pick for personalized customer service because of its network of independent agents, online customer center and mobile app. Customers can access claims, billing and other important policy documents on their phone, tablet or computer.

Auto-Owners has an impressive customer service record, with fewer complaints on record with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) than most competitors. It also ranked above average in the southeast region in J.D. Power’s 2022 Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction study.

Unlike other companies, Auto-Owners only sells its insurance products through independent agents. Instead of contacting the company online, you work directly with local agencies which can better advise you regarding specific insurance requirements in your area. For example, bodily injury and property damage liability limits set by law vary by state.

Learn more: Auto-Owners RV insurance review

See rates on Auto-Owners’s Secure Website >>

Other RV Insurance companies we considered

During our research for the best recreational vehicle insurance providers, we narrowed down our initial list to 7 companies. The following didn’t make our final cut, not because they were lacking, but because other competitors had more standout features.

• Covers motorhomes, travel trailers and campers
• Membership plan includes roadside assistance, hotel discounts and more
• Extra coverage for lodging and transportation if your RV is damaged
• Coverage options are not standard across regions (southwest, northeast, etc.)
• RV policy not available nationwide
• Limited information available online

AAA offers coverage for different types of RVs and some of its policies also cover personal effects such as electronics. However, it didn’t make our list because their coverage is not available in all 50 states.

See rates on AAA’s Secure Website >>

• Discount if you transfer from another insurance company
• Discounts for drivers 55 years or older
• Gas price locator to help you find the cheapest gas
• Limited information on company website
• Online quotes not available

Allstate’s policies include emergency travel expenses if you’re over 50 miles from home when your RV breaks down and the issue is covered under the policy. Allstate is not on our main list because it only provides quotes through its sales agents and the information on its website is limited.

See rates on Allstate’s Secure Website >>

• Windshield deductible is only $50 for total replacements
• Personal effects replacement limits up to $100,000
• Free accident forgiveness for those who have been accident-free for 5+ years
• Limited information available on the company's website
• Enhanced RV coverage is not available in HI, MA, MI and NC
• Availability of total loss replacement coverage varies by state and vehicle value

While Geico offers coverage options comparable to those of other companies on our list (such as total loss replacement, emergency expenses coverage and vacation liability), its policies aren’t available nationwide. Its website also lacks crucial details, such as available discounts.

See rates on Geico’s Secure Website >>

• Loan or lease protection coverage available
• Deductibles diminish $100 per year up to $500
• Insures motorhomes valued at up to $1 million
• Coverage available for custom equipment
• Only covers vehicles used 250 days or less per year
• Limited information available on website
• No online quotes available

Safeco offers coverage for class A, B, and C motorhomes valued at up to $1 million, but it only insures these vehicles if you use them recreationally. Safeco didn’t make our list because its website doesn’t offer a lot of information and coverage is limited to vehicles used less than 250 days a year.

See rates on Safeco’s Secure Website >>

• Coverage for emergency expenses if camper is damaged or destroyed
• Pays for transportation of damaged RV to storage, repair shop or home
• Full-timer coverage for travel trailers, motor homes, luxury motorcoaches and more
• Special policies for USAA members
• Not available in DC or Hawaii
• Limited information on website

Foremost, a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance, has policies for full-timers as well as stationary travel trailers. It also covers personal-use motor homes that you occasionally rent, lease or loan. Unfortunately, this policy doesn’t cover the vehicle while it’s rented, leased or loaned.

See rates on Foremost’s Secure Website >>

• Part-time users can opt for storage-only insurance during the off-season
• Policy extends to travel anywhere in Canada
• Insures equipment permanently attached to your RV
• No information regarding discounts

Despite offering coverage in Canada, Farmers Insurance fell short of our list due to limited information on their website regarding specific coverages and discounts. This lack of transparency makes it challenging for consumers to assess the scope and value of its policies.

See rates on Farmers’ Secure Website >>

• Discounts for safe driving and original ownership
• Multi-vehicle discount
• Coverage for all RV classes, including slide-on campers
• Members get a 5% discount on policies
• Policies only available to military families
• 5% members-only discount not available in all states

USAA offers RV insurance through an alliance with Progressive, which covers almost all types of RVs. The drawback to USAA’s policies is that they’re only available to military families.

See rates on USAA’s Secure Website >>

Country Financial

• Multi-policy discount
• Mobile app for Apple and Android devices
• Only available through agents
• Operates in only 19 states

Country Financial’s RV insurance policies fall under home or auto insurance. That can be a drawback for consumers who already have a preferred auto or home insurer. Another notable snag in its coverage is that it’s available in only 19 states.

See rates on Country Financial’s Secure Website >>

National Interstate

• Options for RV full-timers
• 25% deductible discount for each consecutive claim-free year
• Windshield replacement coverage
• Coverage for commercial RVs
• Website lacks information about terms and discounts

National Interstate has policy options for RV full-timers and covers commercial RVs. This insurer is not featured on our main list because its website doesn’t provide details regarding policies or discounts.

See rates on National Interstate’s Secure Website >>

The Hartford

• Lifetime guarantee for repairs done in authorized repair shops
• 24/7 claims submission
• RV replacement if it's totaled in the first 15 months
• Only available to AARP members
• Not available in U.S. territories

The Hartford allows policyholders to customize their RV insurance coverage, and its lifetime guarantee for repairs in authorized shops is a highlight of its policies. However, coverage is only available to AARP members, which is a considerable drawback.

See rates on The Hartford’s Secure Website >>

RV Insurance Guide

Like auto insurance, an RV insurance policy provides financial protection in the event of accidents, injuries and other unfortunate scenarios. This means it can reimburse you for repairs, medical bills and liability expenses in the event you injure someone or damage their property.

Most RV insurance providers offer comprehensive policies covering everything from collisions, theft and loss of personal belongings to medical expenses and more. However, not everyone needs an all-inclusive policy, especially those who use their RVs occasionally.

Read on to find out how much RV insurance costs, learn about the different coverage options available and get tips on choosing the right coverage for your needs while saving on premiums.

Table of contents

How much is rv insurance, types of rvs, what type of insurance does an rv need, what does rv insurance not cover.

• How to buy RV insurance

Renting out your RV

According to Progressive, an RV insurance policy for a travel trailer (an RV that you tow behind your own vehicle) costs an average of $573 per year, while coverage for a motorhome costs an average of $958 per year.

The cost of an RV insurance policy is influenced by the following factors:

• The type of RV: Motorhomes are more expensive to insure than trailers (especially motorhomes with state-of-the-art components).
• Age and condition: Older trailers and motorhomes cost less to insure than their modern counterparts due to their reduced resale value.
• Type of RV insurance: A policy with just liability coverage is more affordable than a comprehensive policy that includes collision and personal property coverage.
• Where you live: As with most other types of insurance, your state and zip code affect your insurance rates. RVs in areas prone to extreme weather will be more expensive to insure.
• Driving experience and driving record: A first-time RV owner poses a higher risk than someone who’s been living the van life for years. Insurers will also look at your general driving record to determine an appropriate rate.
• Claims history: Just as with auto insurance, a lengthy claims history is a red flag to insurers. A driver who has never filed an insurance claim will get a much better rate than one who has cashed in on their policy in the past.
• Additional coverage: Purchasing add-ons that augment your standard coverage can substantially increase your premium. Additional coverage options may include roadside assistance, total loss replacement, vacation liability and full-timers coverage.

Recreational vehicles, more commonly known as RVs, can be classified into one of four categories: Class A, Class B, Class C and towable RVs. The first three are motorhomes, which means they’re drivable units equipped with living quarters and appliances. Towable RVs, also called campers or trailers, can have home amenities too. However, some are designed to transport animals or cargo.

Here’s the rundown of the different types of RVs available:

Class A motorhomes

Class A motorhomes are the most luxurious and spacious. They are similar to commercial buses, measuring anywhere between 24 to 45 feet in length and fitting as many as 12 passengers. However, their size can make them difficult to drive and limits their mileage to around 10 miles per gallon or less.

Class B motorhomes

Class B motorhomes, also known as “camper vans,” are the smallest and least expensive type, with a length of 17 to 19 feet. These are standard-sized vans usually packed with a compact kitchen, bathroom and foldable or fixed bed. Their limited living space makes them suitable for four passengers or less who enjoy minimalist traveling.

Class B+ or B Plus motorhomes

Class B+ or B Plus motorhomes are the big siblings of Class B camper vans. These vehicles measure between 17 and 30 feet, fitting bigger beds and more spacious bathroom and kitchen areas.

Class C motorhomes

Class C motorhomes are the middle ground between Class A and B RVs. They measure between 21 to 41 feet in length and are easily recognized by their over-cab sleeping or storage area.

Although smaller than Class A RVs, Class Cs are suitable for full-time occupancy, delivering better gas mileage and easier maneuverability. These vehicles can fit up to eight passengers and include a fully equipped kitchen and spacious dining, bathroom and living room areas.

Towable RVs

Towable RVs are pulled by hitches on SUVs, pickup trucks or any vehicle that can tow the RVs weight. Towable RVs that feature living quarters include fifth wheels, toy haulers, travel trailers and pop-up campers. These range from under 10 feet for pop-ups to 30 feet for fifth-wheel trailers.

Truck campers are also considered towable RVs, but you don’t pull them with a hitch. Instead, they sit on the bed of a pickup truck. Other types of towable RVs include utility, cargo and horse trailers.

Since RVs can be both a vehicle and a primary residence, there are special considerations when insuring them. Some policies only offer basic liability protection while others offer broader coverage for things like personal effects and emergency expenses.

Keep in mind that if your RV is self-propelled, your coverage should meet your state’s minimum liability insurance requirements. This applies whether you use the vehicle occasionally or as a residence.

If your RV is towable, the insurance policy on the vehicle used to tow it may extend to the RV. However, note that the towing vehicle’s policy usually only covers liability and not physical damage to the RV or attached accessories.

Best RV insurance features for part-time RVers

People who use their motorhomes for weekend getaways should at least have basic liability coverage that meets their state’s minimum requirements.

Other types of RV insurance for part-time RVers include:

• Property-damage liability coverage: Pays for damages that you cause to another person’s property or vehicle.
• Bodily injury liability coverage: Helps pay the medical expenses of those you injure in an at-fault accident.
• Collision coverage: Covers repairs to your RV after an accident with another vehicle, whether you’re at fault or not.
• Comprehensive coverage: Pays for damages caused by theft, vandalism, natural disasters, fire and other non-collision accidents.
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: Covers the cost of repairs to your RV and your medical payments if you’re in an accident caused by a driver that doesn’t have insurance or has insufficient coverage to pay your claim.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covers medical expenses for both you and your passenger in the event of an accident, no matter who was at fault. It may also cover lost wages.
• Campsite/vacation liability coverage: Helps pay for legal expenses if you’re found at fault for injuries or losses suffered by a non-family member while in your campsite area or inside your RV.
• Roadside Assistance: Offers around-the-clock repairs, towing and emergency assistance should your RV experience a flat tire, battery discharge or other malfunction.

Best RV insurance features for full-time RVers

For added peace of mind, full-time RVers should consider having a more comprehensive policy that includes some of the above-mentioned add-ons as well as any of the following:

• Personal property coverage: Covers the cost of replacing any damaged or stolen personal effects. This includes clothing, furniture, jewelry and computers, for example.
• Total loss replacement: Replaces your RV with an equal or similar model if your vehicle is ever stolen or totaled in an accident. In other cases, the insurer may reimburse you for the original purchase price. Note that lenders may require this coverage if you finance your RV.
• Full-time RV liability coverage: Adds additional coverage for liability and medical expenses if you live in your RV for six months or more each year.
• Emergency expense allowance: Covers up to a specified amount of living and travel expenses like car rentals, lodging and food if your RV leaves you stranded, usually more than 100 miles away.
• Specialized coverage: Can replace appliances like awnings, satellite dishes, and solar panels and can even provide coverage for any pet injuries that happen in the vehicle.
• Loss assessment: Helps cover fees charged by RV associations for damage to common areas in a campsite, for example.

RV insurance won’t cover the following:

• Normal wear and tear: RV insurance protects your vehicle against unexpected events, not routine maintenance or deterioration.
• Mold damage, fungi or rot: Insurers consider mold a sign of neglect and won’t cover damages unless it’s directly linked to water damage caused by a covered event.
• Certain types of water damage: RV insurance doesn’t cover water damage that’s caused by regular wear and tear, freezing temperatures or manufacturer defects.

Comprehensive RV insurance covers most natural disasters, including flash floods, storm surges and fire. Earthquake coverage varies by insurer — it may be covered under a comprehensive RV policy or you may need to purchase earthquake coverage separately.

How to Buy RV Insurance

Here are some tips on how to find and purchase the right RV insurance coverage for you.

Take time to shop around for insurance quotes

The cost of RV insurance will depend on your driving history, where you live, the type of vehicle you own and whether you intend to live in the RV full-time or use it for vacations. Adding optional riders like pet and accessories coverage will hike up your premium.

Requesting multiple RV insurance quotes can work out to your advantage. Those who compare estimates and coverage options before choosing often find the best rates.

If you don’t have the time to shop around, you can consult an independent insurance agent. They can help you choose the right coverage and guide you to companies with attractive rates and policy features that meet your needs.

Consider bundling multiple policies

Most insurance providers offer a multi-policy discount when you combine your RV insurance with other qualified policies.

You can save on premiums by combining your RV policy with your current auto, home or boat insurance . Some insurers also let you bundle your policy with renters or life insurance policies . Bundling multiple policies under one provider can also help you avoid the hassle of dealing with different companies come time to file a claim.

If you don’t want to pay two premiums, you can consider adding your RV to your existing auto insurance policy . Just know that the insurance you have on your car usually only extends to towable campers or trailers, not motorhomes. Also, keep in mind that car insurance may cover you against liability and damages to the RV, but not belongings or appliances inside the vehicle.

Homeowners insurance may also offer some coverage for RVs, but only when the vehicle is parked on the insured property’s premises.

Another option is getting umbrella insurance to cover your RV. This type of policy covers liability claims that exceed the limits of your primary auto, home or RV policy. However, this coverage only kicks in if your RV is covered by an underlying policy that meets the liability requirements of the umbrella policy.

Check for available discounts

While these may vary by company, most insurers offer rate discounts for:

• Paying the total annual policy upfront
• Making monthly payments on time
• Staying claim-free during the previous policy period
• Being the vehicle’s original owner
• Installing safety features in your RV (a tire pressure monitoring system, for example)
• Having a favorable loss history (the record of insurance losses associated with the vehicle)
• Being a safe driver (staying accident-free for at least three years)
• Taking safety courses
• Being a member of an RV association

Drivers aged 50 and up can snag a lower rate, as can parents or guardians who opt not to insure drivers under 25 on their policy.

Insurance when renting an RV

If you plan on renting an RV for a vacation, you should consider getting RV rental insurance. This type of policy is similar to car rental insurance since both usually provide liability, collision damage waiver, personal accident or personal effects coverage.

Policies can be purchased through the rental company or your own insurance provider — if it offers such coverage. However, keep in mind that your current car or RV insurance policy may already extend some coverage to the rented RV. Coverage may not be available in all states or for trips longer than 30 days, so you should call your insurer to verify before heading out.

Some insurance companies also offer RV coverage for trips to Mexico. While this type of policy can be useful for someone planning a vacation, it is more commonly recommended for RV owners who frequently cross the border.

If you rent your RV to others, it’s considered a commercial-use vehicle, and your insurance policy won’t cover the renter. The person must obtain their own rental insurance for the trip. If you’re merely lending your RV to a friend or family member, your existing coverage may extend to them, depending on the details of your policy.

However, note that some states — including Arkansas and Wisconsin — require drivers to get special licenses to drive RVs. If you live in one of these states and you lend your RV to someone, that person must have the required license if you want your insurance policy to cover them.

What kind of insurance do I need to rent out my RV?

To rent out an RV, you’ll need at least liability coverage, which pays for damages or injury you may cause to other people and their property in an at-fault accident.

With the exception of New Hampshire, all states and the District of Columbia, require that vehicles, including RVs, have some form of liability coverage.

Insurance for towable RVs is another matter. When you’re towing your RV behind another vehicle instead of driving it, you only have to worry about having enough coverage to protect your belongings, not about additional liability insurance.

RV Insurance FAQs

What states require trailer insurance.

Trailer insurance requirements vary by state and by type of trailer. Most local governments require liability insurance, while others also require uninsured motorist coverage.

There are currently only two states that don't require any type of trailer insurance. You can drive an uninsured vehicle in Virginia as long as you pay an uninsured motorist fee. In New Hampshire, you can drive uninsured if you prove you have enough money to cover liability expenses in an at-fault accident.

Do you need trailer insurance?

You don't need insurance for a non-motorized trailer that's hooked up to a towing vehicle. The vehicle's insurance coverage extends to the trailer attached to it. However, this coverage is typically limited to liability.

Talk to your auto insurance provider if you want to add property damage coverage for the trailer or purchase a separate RV insurance so that the trailer itself is insured against damage.

Who has the best RV insurance?

Does rv insurance cover water damage, what is vacation liability rv insurance, how we chose the best rv insurance.

• Coverage options and discounts. We picked companies that offer a comprehensive selection of coverage options and premium discounts.
• Customer satisfaction. We favored companies that had above-average scores in J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study. We also considered customer feedback from review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Financial strength. We considered the financial strength of each insurer as evidenced by their A.M. Best rating. A.M Best is a credit rating agency that assesses the creditworthiness of insurance companies.
• Complaint index. We looked up every insurer’s complaint trend report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and favored those with few complaints.

Summary of Money’s Best RV Insurance of 2024

© Copyright 2024 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

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14 Western-inspired Travel Clothes That Actually Go With Everything in Your Suitcase — From $15

Keep reading for our favorite cowboy boots, hats, denim, and more.

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Travel + Leisure / Reese Herrington

Western wear, cowboy aesthetic, country couture — whatever you'd like to call it — has taken the fashion world by storm, but it's not just a mere passing trend. As a New York City-based travel writer , it's hard to go a block without seeing studded belts and vintage washed jeans , and the trend has spread far beyond Manhattan; I've even spotted it on recent trips up and down the East Coast. Though its resurgence in pop culture features new spins on the traditional fashion genre, Western wear obviously has roots dating back centuries, but there's something about the classic look that will forever exude cool. With celebrities like Beyoncé and Bella Hadid showcasing the best of the Americana lifestyle, this latest resurgence is beckoning everyone (including myself) to give their travel clothes a refresh. 

Beyond looking sharp, the Western wear trend embraces easy-wearing, high-quality basics inspired by country living, making it a must-have for your travel wardrobe. It prioritizes timeless pieces like maxi denim skirts and cowboy boots that can be worn and reworn in a plethora of ways to maximize your travel outfit possibilities. These pieces are typically denim-, cotton-, leather, and suede-heavy, making them the ideal transitional garments that can be worn throughout spring (and some of our favorite finds can even be rocked in the summer). 

Don’t know where to start transforming your wardrobe to embrace a Western aesthetic? I’ve curated a selection of pieces that I’m absolutely loving this season that will look great anywhere, be it a serene getaway in Wyoming , an exciting rodeo, or even to a "Cowboy Carter" listening party.  

Tecovas The Annie Cowgirl Boots

Cowgirl and cowboy boots are undoubtedly one of the most prominent items emerging from the Americana fashion movement, and if you’re looking to embrace this shoe trend, then you should do so with the best: a pair of Tecovas . The Austin-based brand prioritizes authentic craftsmanship to make its top-quality, already-worn-in-comfy boots that are made to last. I’m utterly obsessed with this Annie style, the brand’s best-selling cowgirl boot, and am eager to add them to my collection because I know that they’ll be my comfortable go-to pair of boots that’ll last me years to come. Plus, they'll look equally wonderful with a pair of jeans as they would with a flowy dress. 

If you’re looking for a more affordable option to achieve the same look, consider shopping the Soda Reno Women's Cowboy Boots that boast a $50 price tag at Amazon.  

Madewell The Santiago Western Ankle Boots

Not quite ready for full-on cowboy boots? Or, maybe you're headed somewhere warm. Either way, if you want to dip your toes into the style, these Madewell ankle booties are the perfect way to start. Beyond their alluring 82 percent discount (thanks to an on-site double deal — just use the code SPRING30 to unlock an extra 30 percent off at checkout), they’re absolutely adorable. Country styles embrace shiny hardware and durable materials like suede, as seen on these boots, which’ll elevate any look that you have planned. And, because they’re crafted with elastic and a low block heel, they go on-and-off seamlessly and will be easy to walk in. Hurry, they're selling out. 

J.Crew Maxi Denim Skirt

Maxi denim skirts, and denim in general, are totally country-approved thanks to their utility style that is a bit more polished and put together than a mini skirt. I’m all in for embracing more maxi denim skirts into my wardrobe. They can be styled with T-shirts, blouses, vests, and more, making them a welcomed, versatile staple in your suitcase. In fact, denim skirts are among the first garments that I look for when preparing for a trip, because of the way that they can seamlessly elevate any look. If you want to test the waters on this trend, do so with this stunning, on-sale skirt from J.Crew while it’s 46 percent off. 

Wrangler Women’s Cowboy Cut Jeans 

Wrangler is among the original cowboy couture brands, selling high-quality denim that parallels the rise of country since the 1940s. Needless to say, you can’t go wrong with anything from the cowboy fashion pioneer to adapt your wardrobe to Western style, but I recommend starting with these Cowboy Cut jeans. They effortlessly blend classic aesthetics with contemporary details for unmatched comfort. Crafted with 98 percent denim and 2 percent spandex, these jeans exude vintage charm with the modern ingenuity of a comfortable pair of travel pants. And at just $50, they’re the perfect garment to wear on your spring adventures. 

Amour Vert Violette Organic Cotton Eyelet Dress

Amour Vert 

Flowy, flirty dresses add a feminine touch to an otherwise rather masculine trend. And this prairie-style dress not only embodies the essence of country living, but it also serves as the ideal white sundress for the vibrant seasons of spring and summer. Crafted with 100 percent cotton, adorned with delicate details, and featuring a fashion-forward corseted bust, this dress is a timeless and breathtaking addition to your wardrobe. And to complete the look, I recommend pairing with a pair of cowboy boots — duh! 

Sézane Women’s Amerie Shirt

This Western-style embroidered chambray snap shirt is an incredibly versatile choice that radiates versatility. With its long-sleeve design, this shirt offers year-round comfort while shielding you from the elements (without causing overheating). It’s also a stunning option to add to your collection of Americana-inspired garments, inviting endless styling options, whether paired with a denim skirt, jeans, or classic boots. 

Unfortunately, this stunning top is about to sell out. If you have your heart set on the look, check out the newly dropped Grosy Women's Embroidered Plain Tunic Shirt for $40 at Amazon.  

Free People Wilder Embellished Sling Bag

Free People 

Conchos are the focal points of any Western look. Instead of wearing the classic disc around your waist, you can sport it on your travel bag. Here, the historically rich accessory decorates the belt bag's strap to add that cowboy flair to any outfit. It also offers the spacious, hands-free functionality of a great belt bag; wear it as a crossbody, off the shoulder, or as a belt bag, and will confidently safeguard all of your items as you explore new destinations this year.  

Wrangler Western Shoulder Bag

For a larger option, this adjustable shoulder bag is winning over shoppers for boasting the " perfect size " and a " sturdy feel that feels well-made ." That also happens to be the ethos of Western fashion, prioritizing items that both look and feel good — just check out that stunning embroidery! And starting at just $52 and available in an impressive 50 different colors and prints, the Montana-styled bag is just waiting to be added to your cart. 

Mavi Venus Denim Vest

Denim is widely recognized as a premium and long-lasting fabric, making it an ideal choice for outdoor activities and country living. Western wear is known for its practicality, and as such, many denim styles are adorned with functional pockets and comfortable cuts that are perfect for all-day wear. Take this stunning denim vest from Mavi, which features front pockets and a straight fit that can be styled in various ways (and will look great in each of them). Whether you choose to store your lip balm in one of the frockets (front pockets) or utilize them for your ID and cards, you will never regret adding this versatile top to your collection.

Quince Women’s Suede Trucker Jacket

It would be wrong to share a list of high-quality Western wear to add to your travel wardrobe without including a buttery soft suede jacket, and this one from Quince is just what your transitional wardrobe needs right now. It’s warm enough to wear as the temperatures continue to dip and rise, but remains lightweight and soft for hot days ahead. And since the trademark of this style is practicality, you can bet that this jacket is equipped with a few functional pockets to hold onto some of your small belongings. 

Livingston Straw Cowboy Hat

Saddle up travelers! To bring your entire Western ensemble together, you need a cowboy hat. This iconic accessory not only exudes a relaxed and cool vibe, but it also serves a practical purpose. Originally designed to protect cowboys from the scorching sun while working outdoors, these hats have now become a versatile (and useful) fashion statement. This utility also lends them as the perfect accessory to shield your face from the sun at the beach, festivals, and beyond. 

This lightweight hat can also travel like a dream with the help of a convenient hat clip . Plus, it gives your outfit more style points than any old baseball cap or sun visor would. 

Steve Madden Women’s Recent Gladiator Sandals

Modern takes on Western wear draw inspiration from classic country accessories like the studded (and classic) concho belt — which are on full display in these Steve Madden sandals. I personally love a strappy gladiator for travel, as I find that they have more support and grip compared to other styles on the market. This pair caught my eye for its stunning look that I know would be a standout at any festival or vacation that I have planned this season.  

Superdown Robyn Strappy Back Top

Plenty of these styles possess a classic and timeless appeal due to their simple yet classy look. However, the recent revival of this style has inspired retailers to think outside of the box and explore incorporating Americana prints, like cowhide, to give a fresh twist to this country craze. For instance, try out this stylish cow print top from Superdown, which will surely make a statement at any music festival or evening event that you have on the schedule. 

Werforu Leather Belt

A true Western-inspired outfit is never truly complete without a concho belt. This $15 one from Amazon is embellished with beautifully etched hardware that’ll effortlessly pull together any look, while remaining understated enough to not cause too much attention. Style it with a pair of vintage wash jeans or wear it with a dress to give yourself some extra waist-cinching magic. 

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Construction begins on high-speed rail between Vegas and California

Brightline west will make the trip between las vegas and rancho cucamonga in a little over two hours.

Privately owned train company Brightline held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for a $12 billion high-speed rail project connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joined company leaders and other officials for the start of construction in Las Vegas.

Brightline West benefits from $3 billion in federal funds from President Biden ’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Trains could be running as soon as early 2028, in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Travelers have a lot to look forward to. Electric trains will depart every 45 minutes from a Las Vegas station south of the city’s storied Strip and a Southern California station in Rancho Cucamonga, a Los Angeles suburb about 40 miles east of downtown.

Traveling at up to 186 mph — faster than any other train in the United States — Brightline West trains will make the 218-mile trip in about 2 hours and 10 minutes.

“At long last, we’re building the first high-speed rail project in our nation’s history,” President Biden said of Brightline West in December. “We’ve been talking about this project for decades. Now we’re really getting it done.”

Other high-speed railroads that would carry passengers at 200 mph and faster are in the works in California, Texas and the Pacific Northwest.

“The bottom line here is we changed the trajectory,” Buttigieg said in an interview Monday. More than $30 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been awarded to date and more is on the way, he added.

The success of the Brightline West project could influence how future rail projects receive funding.

“It won’t be easy but I think they have all of the right things in place to get this done,” Buttigieg said.

Speed is Brightline West’s main selling point. Driving between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas takes at least three hours without traffic, according to Google Maps.

“You’ll be sitting there flying by on Brightline looking at all these brake lights on the highway and thinking, ‘It sucks to be you,’” said Jim Mathews, CEO of the Rail Passengers Association , said on Friday. “That’s what it’s going to be like for all those people trying to get from greater Los Angeles to Las Vegas.”

Brightline West trains will run along Interstate 15 for nearly their entire journey. They will make two intermediate stops in California: one in Hesperia and one in Apple Valley.

Travelers coming from Los Angeles will have the option of riding Metrolink , Southern California’s regional rail system, to the Rancho Cucamonga station located near the junction of Interstates 10 and 15. The trip between downtown Los Angeles and Rancho Cucamonga takes at least 50 minutes by car without traffic, or 1 hour and 15 minutes on the train.

“Getting it to a juncture where pretty much everybody who passes into the I-15 corridor goes through is a massive benefit from a climate perspective, a congestion perspective, and an economic perspective,” Buttigieg said.

Future plans include a direct connection for Brightline West to Los Angeles Union Station as part of the separate California High-Speed Rail project.

Speed won’t be the only reason to ride Brightline West.

Brightline’s Florida operation connecting Miami to Orlando opened in September , giving future customers out West an idea of what to expect. Before Brightline’s debut, Amtrak held a monopoly on intercity passenger rail travel for decades.

Stations are spacious with comfortable areas to sit, bars selling craft cocktails and a lounge for premium passengers. Onboard, travelers enjoy assigned seats and fast WiFi. Attendants come down the aisle serving snacks and drinks throughout the trip.

Brightline told investors that it carried a record 258,307 passengers in March, and that one in three of its trains were nearly full.

Brightline’s strong ridership, though slower than initially promised to investors, makes a strong case for building fast and frequent trains between major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Brightline West estimates that 6 million people will ride its trains during the first full year of operation, according to a federal environmental assessment . That number is projected to grow to as many as 9.2 million people within a decade.

The company estimates that, without the train, three-quarters of its riders would drive between Southern California and Las Vegas. Another 15 percent would fly, and the balance would not make the trip at all.

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

CDOT continuing to assess bridge damage, next steps on US 50 west of Gunnison

Travel advisory.

Gunnison and Montrose Counties — Colorado Department of Transportation officials are working with bridge engineers to determine the next steps for addressing cracks discovered Thursday, April 18 in the US Highway 50 bridge crossing the Blue Mesa Reservoir at Dillon Pinnacles. The bridge is located west of Gunnison at Mile Point 136.3. In the interest of public safety, travel on a section of US 50 between Montrose and Gunnison is restricted, and there is no estimated timeline for reopening the highway. Today a hotline and email were established to assist customers with questions about the closure. Anyone with questions can reach out via 970-648-4423 or [email protected] . Calls will be closely monitored and will receive a prompt reply. Information is also available on the project website at bit.ly/us50bridge . Travelers should refer to COtrip.org or the smartphone COtrip Planner app to plan an alternate route. A local alternate route is not open at this time.

During a Friday morning media briefing, CDOT officials detailed the inspections thus far and the specific concerns that required the closure of US 50. The extent of the cracking was noted Thursday during a special inspection needed for a specific type of steel bridges. The inspection is required by the Federal Highway Administration, and there is one other bridge in the state with these same characteristics, just a few miles west on US 50. CDOT is continuing with inspections of both of these bridges, and the results of those examinations will determine the plans for fixes, as well as the time frame to make those repairs.

The closure of US 50 creates a significant detour for commuters between Montrose and Gunnison. CDOT recognizes what a significant disruption this closure is for local residents, and we continue to work with local government partners to establish detour routes that are significantly less disruptive for local residents than the official detours we currently have in place. Crews are collaborating to deal with areas on seasonal roads that are water-logged from Spring runoff and will need repairs in order to support traffic. CDOT teams have been hauling gravel and equipment to help manage these trouble spots on the seasonal county roads. As the roads stabilized, they will first be available for local emergency services while plans are developed to support limited local travel.

Currently, the only detours are via Interstate 70 to the north or US 160 to the south and these detours add six to eight hours of travel time. CDOT is coordinating with emergency service providers to ensure emergency response is unaffected.

Traffic Impacts

• US 50 is closed between Montrose and Gunnison.
• Alternate routes include I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south.
• A local detour is not available at this time (Friday, April 19)

Project Contact Information

For additional information about this project, contact the project team.

• Webpage: bit.ly/us50bridge
• Information hotline: 970-648-4423
• Email: [email protected]

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!