Remove Ads

Meet the "Big Daddy": Roadtripping US-20, the Longest Road

12 states and 3,365 miles of transcontinental American awesomeness...

  • 23
  • 58:09
  • 2,917 mi
  • $455
Take This Trip

Created by aliciadug - August 28th 2018

Route 66 might be known as America's Mother Road, but U.S. Route 20 is, without question, the Big Daddy. It's America's longest road, stretching from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon. That's 12 states and 3,365 miles of transcontinental American awesomeness to explore. Go big and then go home with a mega road trip along this epic route!

Start off by admiring the singular beauty of the Pacific Coast at Newport's Yaquina Bay. Oregon's wild beaches, with their seastacks and tidepools, are unlike anything anywhere else in the country (and set the West Coast apart from the East Coast's beaches on the Atlantic). Then bid adieu to the shore (for now) and prepare yourself to drive right through the beating heart of America!

1
153mi 03h 11m
Photo of Salt Creek Falls
4.9

Willamette Highway, Oakridge, OR, US

Salt Creek Falls

1

Just off US-20 is one of Oregon's tallest waterfalls. Salt Creek Falls is the perfect spot to pull over, have a picnic, and prepare yourself for beginning the road trip of a lifetime. Or, if you started in the East, then this is a fantastic scenic point to breathe a sigh of relief at having conquered the Longest Road.

2
84mi 01h 53m
Photo of Crater Lake National Park
4.6

From Medford - Route 62 north and then east. From Klamath Falls - Route 97 north to Route 62 north and then west., OR, US

Crater Lake National Park

2
3
104mi 03h 21m
Photo of Newberry National Volcanic Monument
4.5

1645 Hwy. 20 E Deschutes National Forest, Bend, OR, US

Newberry National Volcanic Monument

3
4
528mi 10h 09m
Photo of Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
3.5

17970 US 30, Hagerman, ID, US

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

4

As you make your way through Idaho, be on the lookout for fossils. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is one great place to see how the rocky Idaho landscape hides tons of ancient remains. The fossil bed has been an important archaeological site since the 1920s, and still produces thousands of fossils and shards a year. Learn about the intriguing animals like massive ground sloths, saber-tooth cats, and mastodons that are now extinct but once called Idaho home. The visitor center has tons of great information on the site's past and how to explore!

5
99mi 01h 44m
6
78mi 01h 21m

130 NW Main St, Blackfoot, ID, US

Idaho Potato Museum & Gifts

6

And you can't drive through Idaho without paying tribute to the state's most famous product. The Idaho Potato Museum. You'll learn everything you never knew about the root veggie, from various potato-related anecdotes to its place in Idaho's culture to how it's been grown throughout history. See a collection of potato peelers, antique farming equipment, and, of course, the giant potato statue out front. Grab some fries and the "free taters for out-of-staters" before you head back out on your way.

7
141mi 03h 09m
Photo of Grand Teton National Park
5.0
7
8
74mi 02h 14m
Photo of Old Faithful And The Geysers
4.5

Yellow Stone National Park, WY, US

Old Faithful And The Geysers

8
Photo of Yellowstone National Park
4.7

S Entrance Rd, WY, US

Yellowstone National Park

9
287mi 05h 24m
Photo of Hell's Half Acre
4.0

Hell's Half Acre Rd, Powder River, WY, US

Hell's Half Acre

9
10
33mi 00h 36m

1501 N Poplar St, Casper, WY, US

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

10

Wyoming is also known for its pioneer past. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is a fascinating look back at settling the prairie. Hands-on, interactive exhibits keep kids engaged while adults can browse the collection of artifacts. The story of the American Western migration is also told through performance and videos. You won't just learn about what life was like in a wagon or on a homestead... you'll get insight into wildlife, native cultures, and natural history as well.

11
195mi 03h 29m
Photo of Oglala National Grassland
4.0

Harrison, NE, US

Oglala National Grassland

11
12
84mi 02h 28m

Crazy Horse, South Dakota, United States

12
13
31mi 01h 01m

13000 Hwy 244, Keystone, SD, US

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

13
14
67mi 01h 16m
Photo of Badlands National Park
4.8

25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD, US

Badlands National Park

14
15
59mi 01h 16m

510 Main St, Wall, SD, US

Wall Drug Store

15
16
0mi 00h 02m
Photo of National Grasslands Visitor Center
4.5

708 Main Street, Wall, SD, US

National Grasslands Visitor Center

16
17
222mi 02h 55m

604 N Main St, Mitchell, SD, US

World's Only Corn Palace

17

Of course, summer is a great time for a trip along US 20... the weather might get hot, and some spots (ahem Yellowstone) might get crowded, but many roads and attractions close during the winter. Spring and fall provide mild weather, which is always nice, but can be rainy, and the variable weather might making packing a little tougher. Either way, it'll take you at least a few weeks to fully appreciate everything offered along US 20, so leave yourself plenty of time... and just enjoy the ride!