America's National Parks are road trip heaven. They preserve the unique landscapes that make our country so special, and with so many different and individual parks, it can be hard to choose just one to visit. Why not, then, take the Greatest American Road Trip, stopping off at the country's most iconic National Parks, from the Everglades to Olympic, and everything in between? It's the adventure of a lifetime!
1922 Merlin Drive, Jefferson City, MO, United States
Named for early French-Canadian settlers, Voyageurs National Park is so filled with unspoiled natural views that it's not hard to imagine yourself as a 17th century explorer! The park is mostly lakes and streams. Rent a canoe and paddle out to the various islands for a quick hike, or even to camp out.
Follow in the footsteps of one of our most spirited presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. TR had a special love for the American West-- North Dakota in particular. Part of this park protects one of his old vacation retreats, and the rest encompasses the landscape he loved so much. Scrubby and scrappy, with wild rivers, prairies, and badlands landscapes and loads of wildlife, the park is a fitting tribute to Teddy.
You can never experience too much mountain beauty; every few feet you can see different view more stunning than the last. North Cascades National Park is no exception. Jagged peaks crowned with glaciers and verdant valleys filled with pine trees and flowers provide a landscape that's simultaneously serene and exhilarating.
Olympic National Park is another Pacific Northwest gem. Drive along Hurricane Ridge for sweeping panoramas of the Olympic Mountains; head to Ruby Beach to walk along the shore and explore the coves, seastacks, and tidepools; or hike into the lush Hoh Rainforest on the Hall of Mosses Trail. There's so much beauty in such a small area here!
The mountains of Washington state are a beautiful sight to behold. At Mount Rainier National Park, hike among alpine forests, fields of wildflowers, and glacier-studded mountains. Even if climbing mountains isn't your thing, you can visit the bubbling Christine Falls and Ohanapecosh forest and enjoy the Pacific Northwest's beauty.
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 is a very unique place. The calm waters of the deep, clear lake hide an explosive past: The lake is actually a filled in volcanic crater, left behind from a violent eruption. Drive around the rim of the lake for ever-changing and beautiful views of the landscape, or take a boat ride out to Wizard Island to experience what it's like right in the middle of it all.
For a more serene experience, head to Northern California's Redwood National Park. Home to stands of massive, stately redwood trees, the forests here are unlike anything anywhere else in the world. Trails take you through mossy, fern-covered woodland and past some of the country's tallest and thickest trees.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a science enthusiast's dream come true. The many geothermal features in addition to the fact that it's home to all four kinds of volcano (shield, lava dome, cinder cone, and composite, also known as stratovolcanoes) mean that there's tons to learn about and observe here. See geothermal power at work in the steaming geysers, bubbling mudpots, and strangely pigmented features across the park.
Yosemite National Park is almost too beautiful to be true, and once you reach Glacier Point or the Tunnel View Overlook and see the views into the valley, you still might not believe that it's all real. From Half Dome and El Capitan to the many waterfalls and stands of trees, the landscape of this Sierra Nevada wonderland is one of the country's most iconic parks.
Each National Park provides its own unique American landscape and its own unique view of the United States. America is truly a melting pot of different landscapes and different cultures, and it's part of what makes America such an exciting, road-trip-worthy place!
