Road Trip Planning and Pre Planned Routes

Below are a selection of pre-planned routes that have been put together by the US-Parks.com team to help you with your trip planning. Scenic routes are one of the best ways to explore some of the many US National Parks and Monuments.

You can visit multiple parks in one route and experience several different types of scenery. From Arches National Park to Yellowstone National Park, check out some of these wonderful trips.

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The Grand Circle
1 Week Grand Circle
Yellowstone Arches
Northern California
Yellowstone Badlands
Yosemite and Big Sur
Portland and Crater Lake
Olympic and St Helens

Approximate Mileage/Time:
Plan around 1200 Miles 10+ days.
The Grand Circle

This trip starts out in Las Vegas and takes you through some of the most outstanding scenery in the US. First stop is Zion then on to Bryce. After Bryce a beautiful drive along Route 12 passing Grand Escalante on to Capitol Reef. A quick drive to Arches and Canyonlands and then Monument Valley. Finally on to the Grand Canyon (South Rim) and then back to Las Vegas.

Park Highlights for this trip:
Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley Tribal Park, Grand Canyon

Approximate Mileage/Time:
Plan around 1030 miles, 7 Days
1 Week Grand Circle

Start and end in Las Vegas. This route takes you quickly through the high spots of the Grand Circle. It takes you to Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon. Mileage does not include sightseeing.

Park Highlights for planning this trip:
Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Monument Valley Tribal Park, Grand Canyon

Approximate Mileage/Time:
Plan around 2000 Miles 15 days.
East Coast and Smokies

Trip starts out in Washington D.C., our nations capital. After exploring the capital, you head east to the coastline to Assateague Island National Seashore. After visiting Assateague then head south to Cape Hatteras. Then on to Congaree, Great Smoky Mountains and to Shenandoah National Park. Then drive back to Washington D.C.

Park Highlights for this trip:
Assateague Island National Seashore, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Congaree National Park, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Approximate Mileage/Time:
Plan round 1300 Miles 12 days.
Yellowstone Arches

Route starts out in Salt Lake City, which is one of the least expensive airports to fly into, immediately you drive north to see Yellowstone. Spend some time in Yellowstone then head south to Grand Teton. Then on to Dinosaur and to Moab to see Arches and Canyonlands. Then drive back to Salt Lake City.

Park Highlights for planning this scenic trip:
Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Timpanogos National Monument