Must-Visit National Parks on Your US Road Trip

According to the stats, road trips in America are popular, with most people seeing a road trip as anything between 6 and 10 hours on the road. That’s a lot of hours, and there’s certainly a lot to see.

You can map out every mile of your route, but sometimes the best moments come from the unplanned. A weathered sign for a scenic overlook, a trail you’ve never heard of, a side road that seems to disappear into the hills. Those detours have a way of pulling you in. National parks are perfect for this kind of discovery. They turn the space between point A and point B into part of the story, trading the rush of a schedule for the pleasure of exploring at your own pace.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana & Idaho

You can’t talk about US national parks without starting here. Yellowstone is nature’s drama on a grand stage. It has steaming geysers, turquoise hot springs, thundering waterfalls, and wildlife that looks like it wandered straight out of a documentary. It’s no wonder the park hosted 566,363 visitors in May 2025 alone!

Old Faithful is the obvious crowd-pleaser, but the Lamar Valley at sunrise might be Yellowstone’s most magical moment, with bison, elk, and the occasional wolf all moving against a soft golden light.

Best time to visit: Late spring or early fall, when the crowds thin but the wildlife is still active.

Road trip tip: Fuel up before entering the park. Distances are longer than they look on the map, and you’ll want the freedom to linger at every overlook.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

When you take your first glimpse of the Grand Canyon, prepare to need a minute. The Grand Canyon can look almost unreal. The scale is so immense, the colors so layered, it’s like staring at an oil painting you could walk into. South Rim viewpoints like Mather Point are easy to reach and offer jaw-dropping panoramas, while the North Rim is quieter and feels more remote.

Best time to visit: Spring or autumn, when temperatures are cooler and hiking is far more comfortable.

Recommended activity: Take a short trail like the South Kaibab to Ooh Aah Point for a taste of the canyon’s depth without committing to a full day’s hike.

Zion National Park, Utah

The red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and emerald pools of Zion National Park can seem like pretty ornaments in a shiny display case. The Zion National Park is Utah’s first national park! Unsurprisingly, the park hosts more than 5 million visitors per year.

The park’s shuttle system makes it easy to explore without worrying about parking, and trails range from leisurely riverside strolls to the bucket-list-worthy Angels Landing (permit required).

Best time to visit: April through October, when the shuttles are running and the weather is warm but not scorching.

Don’t miss: The Narrows, a hike through the Virgin River flanked by towering canyon walls. Rent proper footwear in town to keep your feet happy.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee & North Carolina

This national park is very well-known for its rolling blue ridges and misty hills. To say that the Smokies are breathtaking is an understatement. And many who haven’t been there may be surprised to learn they’re pretty accessible. Scenic drives like Newfound Gap Road offer sweeping views without much effort, while hundreds of miles of trails lead to waterfalls, historic cabins, and wildflower-filled meadows.

Best time to visit: Mid-April to early June for wildflowers or October for autumn foliage.

Local secret: The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a quieter loop with charming old homesteads and less traffic.

Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic is like three parks in one. It offers a rugged Pacific coastline, mossy temperate rainforests, and glacier-capped mountains. You can spend the morning tidepooling at Rialto Beach, wander the Hall of Mosses by lunch, and be on Hurricane Ridge by sunset. It has a definite wow-factor.

Best time to visit: July through September for clear skies, though the rainforest is enchanting in any weather.

Pro tip: Pack a rain jacket even in summer. Olympic’s microclimates can surprise you.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park can be found teetering on the top of the rocky coast of Maine. And boy, does it have something unique to offer. You’ll find a blend of forested trails, granite peaks, and salt-sprayed ocean views, all in one place. The Park Loop Road is perfect for a slow scenic drive, while hikes like the Beehive reward you with sweeping vistas of sand and sea.

Best time to visit: September or early October for crisp weather and brilliant foliage.

Don’t miss: Watching the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, one of the first places in the US to see the sun each morning.

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Often overshadowed by its Utah siblings, Capitol Reef is a road tripper’s dream. You’ll find colorful cliffs, winding canyons, and orchards where you can pick fruit in season. The scenic drive through the Waterpocket Fold is worth every mile, with viewpoints that seem to change color as the light shifts.

Best time to visit: March through May or September through November.

Road trip bonus: Fewer crowds mean easier parking, more wildlife sightings, and a feeling of having the park to yourself.

Tips for Exploring on a Road Trip

• Pack for variety. The weather can shift quickly, especially in mountain parks. Layers are your best friend.
• Download offline maps. Cell service is spotty in many parks, and GPS apps can drain your battery fast.
• Start early. Popular viewpoints and trailheads fill up quickly, especially in peak season.
• Stay flexible. The best moments often come from unexpected stops and side roads.

Staying connected is essential while you travel, especially for navigation or sharing photos with family. Setting up an eSIM for the USA before you go can save you from scrambling for Wi-Fi or swapping SIM cards mid-trip.

Making the Journey Part of the Story

The best thing about weaving national parks into a road trip is how getting there becomes part of the whole experience. The way the road twists through red cliffs before Zion, how the Grand Canyon sneaks up on you in a flash of open sky, or the slow reveal of the Smokies as morning fog slides away. Those stretches between destinations aren’t empty time — they’re the connective tissue of the trip.

Bring your camera, sure, but also a little patience. Wander a side trail. Stop at the viewpoint you almost passed. Let the day run over. You’ll go home with more than snapshots: the sound of wind rushing through pines, the sting of salt air on your skin, the weight of a landscape too big to fit in a frame. Those are the parts you’ll remember, the ones that make you pull over without thinking.