Western U.S. National Parks Road Trip Planning Guide

A West Coast national parks road trip is one of the most exciting road trips in the United States. With more than 35 national parks to choose from, the most challenging part will be whittling down the list to which ones you want to see. 

That list includes the big ones—Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone—but there are 10 other unique parks and experiences outside of that iconic trio. 

Multi-State Parks

Death Valley and Yellowstone National Parks both straddle at least two states. Death Valley resides in California and Nevada, while Yellowstone reaches from Wyoming to Montana to Idaho.  

Start your West Coast national park road trip at the southern end of California and work your way up the coastline, then be sure to head south through the mountainous regions of the country. If you’re bringing the kids, sign them up for the Junior Ranger Program so they can get badges at each location. 

California

Channel Islands 

Five islands sit off the California coastline making up the Channel Islands National Park. It's a sea-lovers dream of wildlife viewing by sea and by land, plus plenty of places for hiking, swimming, and learning about delicate marine ecosystems. You will take a ferry to the islands, but pack anything you think you’ll need as no services are available on the islands. 

Joshua Tree

Two deserts meet in the middle of the California wilderness. With more than 800,000 acres to explore, you will be amazed by the desert culture. The name is said to derive from a biblical reference where the trees were said to look like Joshua raising his arms in prayer. The stargazing at night is one of the big draws to this park. Bring more water than you  think you'll need as the desert climate can easily leave you dehydrated. 

Sequoia National Park 

Drive about six hours drive north on this western U.S. national parks road trip and you'll leave the desert for great forests home to some of the largest trees ever recorded. Tour The Giant Forest and be immersed in steep canyons, massive tree trunks, and deep caverns. If you are visiting in the winter, check road conditions before heading out as storms can quickly leave roads impassable.

Oregon

Crater Lakes

A place worthy of stopping at on the western parks road trip is the phenomenal Crater Lakes National Park in Oregon. What was once a mountainous peak is now the deepest lake in the country after an intensive volcano caved in at the space we now know as Crater Lake. The water is as pristine as the views here.  

Washington

Olympic National Park 

Up the road in Washington, there's no need to prioritize between seeing mountains, rainforests, or beaches because this park has it all. There are more than a million acres to explore here and 70 miles of rugged coastline. From tidepooling to fishing to hiking to stargazing, this stop will be Instagram-worthy at every turn. 

Mount Rainier National Park

Feel like you've been a little too relaxed on this west coast national park road trip? You can tour an active volcano just up the road in Washington to get the adrenaline going. Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park, where the namesake mountain spawns five major rivers and dozens of outdoor activities any time of year. 

Montana

Glacier National Park

The next adventure on your west coast national park road trip should be the 11-hour trek across beautiful, mountainous Montana. Glacier National Park is right on the border with Canada and covers more than a million acres of wildlife, fossils, and plants. This first explorer to this area called it the "Crown of the Continent”.

From here, the trip takes you to Utah, but plan that Yellowstone stop along the way as it's just about a six hour drive south.

Utah

Zion

This is Utah's first national park and with good reason. The salmon-colored cliffs in front of a crystal blue sky will make your jaw drop while the narrow canyons will keep you on your toes. There are pools of water along the way to cool off from the spectacular hike.

Bryce Canyon

Get ready to see Hoodoos at this stop on the western national parks road trip: the irregular columns of rocks that dot the landscape here and it's the largest collection in the United States. You'll get to climb The Grand Staircase to get a look at nature like never before. 

Arches National Park

This must-see stop is known as a "Red Rock Wonderland". Rock arches abound in this desert oasis, formed by millennia of erosion from water and the environment. You'll be mystified at the balanced rocks perched on top of thin rock thrusts.

Arizona

Petrified Forest

Pass through the Grand Canyon on your western parks road trip and then make your way down to the Petrified Forest in Arizona. This natural marvel is named after large deposits of petrified wood and fallen fossils from more than 225 million years ago so you'll be able to take home a keepsake from this rich Arizona wonder.  

The Trip of a Lifetime

To take this western United States national park road trip, you'll have about 60 hours of driving time, and then you'll need to figure out how long you want to stay at each park. You would probably need at least a month to make the most of this adventure. 

Download the National Park Service app to help you plan the trip step-by-step and get weather information for your chosen location. And don’t forget to book your overnight accommodations with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.