This big loop is all about national parks, national forests, and some of the most unique terrain and wildlife anywhere in the world. Taking anywhere from 2 to 4 + weeks, you can go from the coastal rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula all the way to the alpine montane, geysers, and hot springs of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The high passes of the Rockies fill up during the summer with RVs, motorcycles, and everyone else enjoying the mountains, rivers, and open stretches of highway.
This loop features two major National Parks and true cowboy towns.
Starting / ending point: Denver Metro Area (including Boulder, Ft. Collins)
Bear Tooth Scenic Highway — Hwy 212 winds its way over the spine of the Rocky Mountains at 10,970 feet, linking Red Lodge to Cooke City at Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance
Notes: Additionally, Jackson, Wyoming (known by non-locals as “Jackson Hole”) — is less than an hour south of Teton National Park, and totally worth the detour. Jackson is one of the most unique towns in America, and has some of the strongest communities of adventure athletes in the world. Check the local terrain and you’ll know why.
This road trip is one of the hottest on the map, but visitors will be surprised how much the temperatures cool off in the desert southwest, especially at high elevation. Bring layers.
More than any other loop, the Best of the Southwest has a high concentration of National Parks. Give yourself several extra days for camping / local options around Grand Canyon. This loop could easily be extended for an entire month or more.
This long road trip is about your family discovering the many landscapes of the US; from the big city, through the Prairies and the Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean.
From Missoula, take the I-90 to Seattle. Stop at Snoqualmie Falls 30 minutes before entering the city. Take a walk in the park or hike to check the upper view of the fall
California State Route 1 is one of the most iconic road trips in the United States — an epic trip up the coast of California along the Pacific Ocean.
Starting point: The official start point is in Capistrano Beach, Orange County, but you could extend it a bit south and start in San Diego via Interstate 5.
Follow California State Route 1 north through the Los Angeles beach communities of Newport Beach, Redondo Beach, and Hermosa Beach up to Santa Monica.
Visit the amusement park at Santa Monica Pier.
Check out the insanely luxurious Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
Look out for the incredibly beautiful Bixby Creek Bridge as you pass through Big Sur.
Drive through San Francisco before crossing the famous Golden Gate Bridge into Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Camp on the coast in the Point Reyes National Seashore.
A fantastic mix of amusement parks and outdoor awesomeness.
Starting/ending point: Chicago, Illinois
Drive up through Wisconsin Dells for water parks, roller coasters, and boating.
Move north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where there’s so much to do and see it’s impossible for us to tell you where to start: the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Lake of the Clouds, and the Great Sand Bay are awesome, though.
From there, cross the Mackinac Bridge to the Lower Peninsula (possibly stopping for a day or two on Mackinac Island) and drive down to the Traverse City area for a visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Head south through the state to Ohio, where you can spend a day at the Roller Coaster Capital of the World: Cedar Point. Then loop back to Chicago!
