The best part of a road trip is making detours along the way. Pre-planned stops to see classic attractions and unexpected adventures are what make a road trip truly great. But taking the absolute most epic road trip across America? That's easier said than done. Luckily, we know our fans are a wanderlust-y sort, so with the help of Holiday Inn, we turned to them to show us their favorite places to go on a road trip.
Because we can't possibly fit EVERY single amazing place into one epic cross-country American road trip, we've singled out the best of the best, based on user submissions to our "America's Most Epic Road Trip" contest with Holiday Inn. These hidden gems and perennial favorites are user approved and Roadtrippers tested. Buckle up, roll down the windows, and turn up the radio, because we've got the definitive route for the most epic American road trip.
Camp Verde, Arizona, United States
Rounding out the most epic American road trip is a visit to Grand Canyon National Park, the most popular spot that showed up in our Holiday Inn contest submissions. Drive between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View for some amazing scenic overlooks. The National Park Service takes exceptional pride in this park and does an amazing job at keeping it well-maintained and clean. A few insanely cool hikes are the hike down South Kaibab Trail toward Phantom Ranch, the North Rim hike to the river, and the South Rim Trail, which provides unbelievably beautiful sunsets.
From Vegas, drive to Monument Valley. This is home to what’s arguably the most iconic landscape of the American West.If you go to The View Hotel and pay $10 per person, you can get some insane pictures of the valley from the Visitor Center balcony. This is absolutely an essential stop on any great American road trip.
Arches National Park is one of the most jaw-dropping geological wonderlands in America, so it's no wonder that it was the second-most popular place users added to their trips in our contest. Plan to spend a day exploring the many arched rock formations. A few highlights are Balanced Rock and Tunnel Arch. If you take Exit 204 towards Cisco, it will take more time to get to the park but the drive way more scenic. The park can get pretty busy during the day, but it empties out just before sunset, when you can get some amazing photos.
Next stop is Grand Teton National Park, home to one of America’s most beautiful lakes, Jenny Lake, as well as the majestic Teton mountains. If you visit in summer, it can get pretty hot during the day, but then cool down considerably at night, so be sure to pack accordingly. If you drive in from the South Entrance you’ll get a fantastic view of the Tetons as you approach the park. Another great tip is to hop on a boat and take it across Jenny Lake, and from there, hike a mile to Inspiration Point for one heck of a panoramic view.
Then it’s just a few-miles drive to Yellowstone National Park, and seriously, this park is no joke. It’s a geothermal playground of epic geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, and deep boiling pools. The entire park is one big adventure. Also, be prepared to see wildlife everywhere, including roaming herds of buffalo, that will walk right past your car. Some can’t-miss Yellowstone wonders: Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Falls, and of course, Old Faithful. Definitely grab lunch at the Old Faithful Inn, one of the world’s oldest and largest log buildings. No wonder it was the third most-added stop on our fans' Most Epic Road Trips!
Grants Pass, Oregon, United States
There you have it: The most epic American road trip as voted by road-trippers just like you during our Most Epic Road Trip contest, powered by our friends at Holiday Inn. Happy travels!
