Introduction
I have been asking myself, after seven years of road trips, “Where are the best places to road trip?” Coinciding with surge of U.S. based road trips and growing popularity among travelers to experience van life, especially in the Western United States, finding the correct places can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first van trip. Understanding rules for where you can park to sleep, which adventures you want be close to, and making the most of the time you have is why this article was written. Below are ten destination areas that are van life friendly, provide access to adventures, and are wonderful for a seasoned van lifer, or a newbie.
As I reflect upon my seven years of road trip experience, I have been trying to answer the questions, “Where are the best places to road trip?” I have the answer. The best places to road trip in the United States are Nation Parks, scenic highways, and locations with good weather. All of these places are accessible, you can escape the tourist crowds, and you will get to see incredible landscapes that will take your breath away.
Kristin standing on the edge of the the river bank looking down at the vast canyon in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/1jCghSTnkmvDt8dU8
Best Season: Fall
Key Activity: Hiking
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Wildlife Tours
2) Stand Up Paddle-board outings
3) Geyser Watching
What’s so special about this spot?
Yellowstone has been a main attraction for years and an icon of the west, however, for those exploring the United States in a van Yellowstone is often skipped because of its location. While Yellowstone is a national park, aka no boon-docking within the park limits, there is ample free camping outside of the park. Also, the park is vast, making it hard to see its many geysers, ample wildlife, and explore its trail system difficult without the time allotted when traveling in a van. Personally, I have spent seven days wandering around, checking out waterfalls, swimming in rivers, and staring at as many buffalo as I can. Not to mention hiking to vistas, waiting for geysers to shoot to the sky, and so much more. Heck, I am excited to head back here this year so that I can explore this place in more depth.
Sunrise glowing on the Eastern Sierra skyline outside of Bishop, CA
Hwy 395—Lone Pine to Bishop
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/vRtriT7BTsGoamCr5
Best Season: Spring or Fall
Key Activity: Peak Bagging
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Backpacking
2) Rock climbing
3) Alpine lake swimming
What’s so special about this spot?
What is peak bagging? Well, this is the next level up from backpacking. Peak bagging is backpacking with the goal of summiting peaks along the way. Most of the peaks throughout the Highway 395 stretch have at least one route that does not require technical climbing skills, yet still requires a substantial amount of fitness. The Eastern Sierra can be daunting, as the entry fee is typically 6,000-10,000 feet of elevation gain. If you are not ready for it, this slap to the thighs will burn, deep. However, it will be worth it!
Kristin stands and watches Mount Rainier creep out form behind the clouds.
Mount Rainier National Park
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/4yXQvRx2drGWqbaR9
Best Season: Spring
Key Activity: Mountaineering
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Day hiking
2) Backpacking
3) Wild flower searching
What’s so special about this spot?
Not everyone wants to summit Mount Rainier while visiting, and, the best part about visiting this park, you don’t have to. Mount Rainier national park is a beautiful place to visit and see, especially in the spring time, because the hikes are filled with eye-popping blooming wildflowers. The air is crisp in the mornings, but come the afternoon, this rugged landscape is the perfect temperature for any type of outing. Just make sure to always have a rain jacket handy, it’s not called RAINier for nothing!
Kristin standing at an outlook near the Bixby Bridge along the Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur, CA
Big Sur Coastline
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/QkC1NCSCdHWqbhk69
Best Season: Spring
Key Activity: Hiking
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Surfing
2) Camping
3) Backpacking
What’s so special about this spot?
This rugged coastline has been the highlight of California’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway for years. So, does that mean it isn’t special anymore? Heck no! Big Sur is a magical place and if you are willing to do a little digging you can find tree swings overlooking the Pacific Ocean at sunset, wildlife barking to find their mate, waterfalls you can swim behind, fresh mountain springs to shower, and so much more. Notice, none of the above had to do with how amazing the sights are along the coast! Yes, make sure you hike along the rugged coastline, take many dips in the ocean, and maybe keep your eyes peeled for a spot surf.
Mount Moran reflected upon String Lake with low hanging clouds on a crisp fall morning in Grand Teton National Park, WY
Teton National Park—Jackson Area
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/qHQr3vfwprKmFnRV7
Best Season: Summer
Key Activity: Climbing
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Hot spring soaking
2) Day hiking
3) Fly fishing
What’s so special about this spot?
Talk about a proving ground for adventure. Throughout the year, the variety of adventures seem endless. There is everything from alpine rock climbing, sport climbing, traditional climbing, resort skiing, backcountry skiing, hiking, trail running, ultra-runs, kayaking, paddle boarding, wakeboarding, fishing, canoeing, white water rafting, and so much more! Now, how does that sound to you? Like the place to be if you want to adventure right?!
What is amazing about this I area is that even if you don’t want to do any of the above, there is still something for you. How is this possible? In the town of Jackson, there are several places that show films and display great artwork. In addition, there are hot springs to soak in and wildlife to search after. Teton National Park is small, yet mighty. If you haven’t been, give it a try!
Sam on a traditional climbing route in Indian Creek called Hookers and Blow rated 5.10
Moab and surrounding area
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/ZNGrqEU1L3eBWx457
Best Season: Early Fall
Key Activity: Astro Photography, Climbing, BASE jumping, paddling… heck everything!
Other Recommended Outings:
1) River Rafting
2) Canyoneering
3) Rock Climbing
What’s so special about this spot?
The desert, enough said. No, I will break this down for you all, however I do believe there is something special about a desert. Maybe, it is the direct observation with scarcity of life and water that is often not found in our daily lives? What ever it is, I would enjoy learning more about. Until the day comes that I can spend more time here, the greatest stand out of the area are the stars, they are endless. As day fades into night, the sky speckles with constellations. A little bit counter intuitive, however the best time to observe the stars is late-August, which means late-summer or early-fall is the best time to visit, aka the hottest time of the year. If this is the case, please make sure that you are well hydrated and wear skin protection.
Blanca Lake’s emerald green water observed from the sky on a cloudy day.
Blanca Lake in Washington state
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/QvLaaonnRfzLZA1c6
Best Season: Fall
Key Activity: Backpacking
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Day Hike
2) Visit fire station outposts around the Seattle Area
3) Rock Climb in Index
What’s so special about this spot?
Soft ground squishes under your feet as you take the next step up the incline. Your lungs are stinging because the air is thin, but you have a blue tongue and smile from all of the blue berries you have been stuffing in your face. Blanca lake is a challenging hike up and over a ridge, but once you drop into the valley the glacial green lake comes into view. Winding your way down the trail to the water, keep your eyes peeled for a couple of springs to fill your bottle and quench your thirst.
While camping is not allowed around the lake, it is well worth slogging a tent to ridge so that you can spend extra time exploring around the lake. At first, the river leaving the lake might seem impassable, but there is a log hidden in the trees that you can set up to cross. Once across, enjoy the peace and quiet.
Scott navigating the narrow ridge-line of Matthes Crest in Tuolumne Meadows
Yosemite National Park—Tioga Pass
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/LM1ao2dsmYX9WqGaA
Best Season: Summer
Key Activity: Backpacking
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Climbing
2) Cycling
3) Day Hikes
What’s so special about this spot?
Writing about Yosemite can be difficult because this land was the catalyst John Muir used to convince Teddy Roosevelt to create the infrastructure of the modern day National Park system as we know it. Outside of that, Yosemite is the birth place of climbing in the United States, a breeding ground for conservation movements, and so much more. However, Tioga Pass and the Tuolumne Meadows area is not too missed. If you are saying to yourself, "Why, it doesn’t have Half Dome, Glacier Point, or El Cap?" True, but Tioga pass is a highland that is filled with day adventures, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and endless granite domes. The kicker, due to snow, this area is closed for more than half of the year, so timing is important. For peak water flow, come early-summer and make sure to explore the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River in it’s full glory!
Seeing Agathla Peak for the first time on a road trip though the American South West.
Monument Valley
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/UMXp6hpNvgv81bHZ8
Best Season: Late Fall
Key Activity: Hiking and Photography
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Soul Searching
2) Photography
3) Cultural Immersion
What’s so special about this spot?
Driving into the valley as the sun sets early in the fall months, the temperatures begin to drop as the desert air does not hold in the days heat. If you are in a van, be ready for a chilly night. Turning off my van, and it’s heater, the dashboard thermometer read 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Wandering back to bed, I crawled into my sleeping bag, turned on my red light, and read a quick story before trying to fall asleep. As the chill of the night crept through the walls, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep, so I got up, put on as many layers as I could, and headed outside to watch the stars. Taking in the illuminating sky, I understood why this place is said to be magical. This desert holds a power that humbled me, bringing me to my knees, and acknowledging my ephemeral position in this world.
Places and experiences like this bring me closer to why I have decided to live this life on the road. A cold nose and a few uncomfortable sleepless hours are the entry fee to a life of accessibility and perspective.
The popular paddle boarding location, bonzi rock, on a still morning in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Lake Tahoe
Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/y3PXMXC2uVLDj9b57
Best Season: Winter or Summer
Key Activity: Skiing or Paddle-boarding
Other Recommended Outings:
1) Rock Climbing
2) Thru-hiking
3) Cliff jumping
What’s so special about this spot?
Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area is a place that never gets old. Growing up only a stones throw away from here, my brother and dad worked at the ski resorts in the winter as a ski instructors, and many long weekends were spent around the lake. With that said, my exploration of Lake Tahoe’s seemingly endless potential for adventures didn’t begin until spent four nights and five days hiking the Tahoe Rim trail. This 160-mile thru-hike was a one of those spontaneous adventures that fueled my early days of adventures. After that trek, I started to see what other adventures I could find and boy did I find them. Rock climbing, paddle-boarding, mountain biking, and so much more.
As my Northern California roots call me home, I have come to love spending a month in Lake Tahoe for the early summer months before the heat turns up. At first, finding parking spots feels difficult in a van, but as you look around, you’ll find they are ample!
Conclusion
Well, the times is now here, which destination do you plan to visit first? Or, are you going to take a leap of faith and start a road trip through the Western United States you have been considering for the past few years? Regardless, the above ideal locations will provide you with a solid foundation to plan your next trip. Now, all you will need to do is load the van and hit the road.