The Great American Road Trip... Part 1

Background

The allure of seeing some of the most majestic and beautiful scenes in the world by hopping in a car and driving was irresistible to me. Being from Ohio, the closest thing to mountains that I grew up seeing were small hills covered with trees and intersections. After visiting Las Vegas in 2017 and seeing mountains in person for the first time, I was instantly awestruck and fell in love with the outlines that the mountains carved out in the sky. In 2020, with college classes being asynchronous for the year, I decided to move out to Las Vegas for the year to intern for the Inspiring Children Foundation. During my time in Las Vegas, my love for the mountains and spending time in nature only continued to increase. I was able to explore Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, the Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River and was blown away by the beauty of the area. My itch for adventure and travel had been sparked. By the time I had to head back to finish my last year of college in the summer of 2021, I was ready for a full-blown adventure.

One of my favorite pictures from Mouse's Tank Road in Valley of Fire State Park

My brain started recollecting all of the beautiful places that I had seen over the past several years online and on social media. Come July, I had crafted what I thought at the time to be the perfect US road trip. The starting point of the trip was Las Vegas and the end goal was Cleveland, Ohio. Those were the only limits in my mind and the United States was my blank canvas. The main stops I wanted to visit along the way were: Southern California, Big Sur, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Crater Lake National Park, Olympic National Park, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Without my parents, this adventure would never have been possible. Thanks to my mom saving hotel points for decades, she surprised me with one of the greatest gifts I have ever received and was able to help out with the housing portion of this extensive trip (Marriott Points = big win). That means that between my girlfriend Selena and I, we had to cover food and gas, which made this seemingly over the top trip surprisingly feasible.

Selena and I with our friends in Las Vegas before heading out

The Drive

The stage was set and all we had to do was start driving. We left on July 11th, 2021 and set out for Palm Springs, California to visit my grandparents, whom we hadn’t been able to visit in a couple of years due to Covid.

Drive #1: Las Vegas to Palm Springs

Miles Driven: 242 miles

Hours Driven: 4 hours and 16 minutes

Dates Stayed: July 11th

Can’t Miss near Palm Springs: In-N-Out if you’re not from the west coast!

Selena and I with my grandparents in Palm Springs

We spent the night in Palm Springs and had a wonderful night playing cards and stopping by a favorite local restaurant. Starting out the trip with familiar faces was certainly a blessing and helped ease us into the longest trip of both of our lives.

Drive #2: Palm Springs to Newport Beach

Miles Driven: 122 miles

Hours Driven: 2 hours and 5 minutes

Dates Stayed: July 12th

Can’t Miss near Newport Beach: Laguna Beach for sunset!

Me at Laguna Beach enjoying the California coast

Selena and I had driven to Newport Beach from Las Vegas earlier in the year to visit my mom while she was on a business trip and we fell in love. Newport was absolutely beautiful and we knew we had to stop back there along our road trip. We spent the day at the different beaches along the California coast, with the majority of the time being spent at Laguna Beach. We stopped by one of our favorite restaurants, Cava, for a nice dinner before heading back to the hotel.

Drive #3: Newport Beach to Big Sur

Miles Driven: 376 miles

Hours Driven: 6 hours (more than 6 hours realistically because of all of our stops)

Dates Stayed: July 13th

Can’t Miss near Big Sur: San Luis Obispo and the Pacific Coast Highway!

One of our favorite pull-offs in Big Sur along the Pacific Coast Highway

From Newport, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway on one of the most scenic drives in the world. Most of the day was spent in the car gawking at the mesmerizing views of the California and the stunning beaches and cliffs along the coast. Some of our favorite stops were: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Big Sur. There were so many incredible pull-offs to get out and stare off into the ocean and beyond. There were several moments where the only words that we could mutter were… paradise… Needless to say this was one of the most beautiful places that we had ever been to and was definitely the most beautiful drive that either of us had ever been on.

Drive #4: Big Sur to Yosemite National Park

Miles Driven: 243 miles

Hours Driven: 5 hours and 7 minutes

Dates Stayed: July 14th-15th

Can’t Miss in Yosemite National Park: Tunnel View and Yosemite Valley!

Tunnel View overlooking Yosemite Valley

After leaving Big Sur, we had very high standards to live up to, but Yosemite National Park blew our minds. From the massive granite faces of Yosemite Valley to the beautiful alpine lakes and waterfalls, we could not have been more pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, we didn’t plan the trip very far in advance, so we weren’t able to book reservations for the park. That meant we had to use a drive through pass. Yosemite offered drive through passes at the time, but no longer require reservations to enter the park which is a big update for 2023. We still got to see the beauty of the park as we took our time driving through. Our three main stops were Tunnel View, Tenaya Lake, and Yosemite Valley. We loved all of our time in Yosemite, but Tunnel View was one of the most awe-inspiring places that either of us had ever been.

Drive #5: Yosemite National Park to Lake Tahoe

Miles Driven: 201 miles

Hours Driven: 5 hours

Dates Stayed: July 16th-17th

Can’t Miss near Lake Tahoe: South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay

Selena and I hiking the Rubicon Trail in South Lake Tahoe

Our time in Lake Tahoe was beautiful and relaxing. By this point in the trip, we were ready for a little exploring, so we did an awesome hike along Lake Tahoe’s coast called the Ruby Trail which was around 8 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. This was a great start to the hiking aspect of the trip and gave us a wonderful perspective of South Lake Tahoe and the teal waters of the lake. We had delicious Thai food in Carson City and really enjoyed our time in the area.

Drive #6: Lake Tahoe to Crater Lake National Park

Miles Driven: 367 miles

Hours Driven: 6 hours and 47 minutes

Dates Stayed: July 18th

Can’t Miss in Crater Lake National Park: Loop Drive around Crater Lake

Overlooking Wizard Island in Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake was truly unlike anywhere either of us had ever seen before. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and driving through the national park was one of the highlights of the trip. We enjoyed a relaxing day around the lake, stopping for pictures and enjoying the scenery along the way. We stayed in Medford, Oregon and went to Abby’s Pizza for dinner which was a delicious way to end our time in Oregon.

Drive #7: Crater Lake National Park to Olympic National Park

Miles Driven: 490 miles

Hours Driven: 8 hours and 16 minutes

Dates Stayed: July 19th-21st

Can’t Miss in Olympic National Park: Hoh Rainforest and Kalaloch Wilderness Beaches

Me walking along a wilderness beach in Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park was a dark horse for our favorite National Park of the trip. Seeing wilderness beaches, a rainforest, and mountains all in one park was absolutely incredible and was a treat. We visited Kalaloch for wilderness beaches, the Hoh Rainforest, and Hurricane Ridge for mountains. We stayed in Port Angeles and grabbed delicious food from a local restaurant before heading to Seattle the next day. Driving through Seattle was also an unexpected surprise and was one of my favorite cities that I have ever visited. We stopped and had the most delicious dinner of the trip at Reckless Noodle House before heading onto Idaho the next day.

Drive #8: Olympic National Park to Coeur d’Alene

Miles Driven: 469 miles

Hours Driven: 7 hours and 8 minutes

Dates Stayed: July 22nd

Can’t Miss near Coeur d’Alene: Sunset by the water in Coeur d’Alene

Snoqualmie Falls on our way to Coeur d'Alene

On our way to Coeur d’Alene, we stopped at Snoqualmie Falls along our way which was a nice way to break up the long drive. Our time in Coeur d’Alene was short, but we had a relaxing time by the water as we watched the sunset before heading back to the hotel.

Drive #9: Coeur d’Alene to Glacier National Park

Miles Driven: 240 miles

Hours Driven: 4 hours

Dates Stayed: July 23rd-25th

Can’t Miss in Glacier National Park: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Avalanche Lake Trail, and Hidden Lake Trail

Me overlooking Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park was the highlight of the trip and was our favorite national park of the whole trip. We stayed in Whitefish, Montana and fell in love with the town. A true mountain town at heart, Whitefish had great food, amazing views, and was close to one of the most beautiful places in the world. During our time in Glacier, we explored some of the best trails in the park including: the Highline Trail, the Hidden Lake Trail, and the Avalanche Lake Trail. Another can’t miss activity in the park is the Going-to-the-Sun Road which does require a reservation (recreation.gov). Although we did love Whitefish, we would recommend either camping or staying at lodging within the park to avoid a pretty long drive to get to the park each day.

Drive #10: Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park

Miles Driven: 375 miles

Hours Driven: 6 hours

Dates Stayed: July 26th-29th

Can’t Miss in Yellowstone National Park: Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park was a double-edged sword for us. On one hand, this was probably the most beautiful country that we had ever visited, but on the other hand was also the most busy and crowded park that we have ever visited. Mind that we were visiting at one of the busiest times of the year, but the driving was slow, the lookouts were jam-packed, and the hikes were limited. On the bright side, Yellowstone has some of the most mind-blowing natural phenomena in the world with geysers bursting out of the ground, the largest hot spring in the United States, and a massive waterfall gushing through a yellow canyon. By no means were we disappointed by the natural beauty of the park, but the experience was not as smooth as other parks like Glacier or Olympic. I still recommend visiting Yellowstone, but certainly try to plan a trip during the week and avoid weekends when possible.

Drive #11: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park

Miles Driven: 40 miles

Hours Driven: 1 hour

Dates Stayed: July 30th-31st

Can’t Miss in Grand Teton National Park: Mormon Row, Signal Mountain, Schwabacher’s Landing, and Jenny Lake

The view from Signal Mountain in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park was a refreshing experience after the Disney-like Yellowstone experience. The jaggedness of the Grand Tetons are mesmerizing and were our favorite mountain view throughout the trip. We stopped at Mormon Row, Schwabacher’s Landing, Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, and Oxbow Bend during our drive throughout the National Park. We didn’t get a chance to hike during our time in Grand Teton National Park, but can’t wait to go back and hit the trails to some beautiful alpine lakes. Jackson Hole was an amazing basecamp and was a beautiful mountain town with some scrumptious food.

Drive #12: Grand Teton National Park to Rocky Mountain National Park

Miles Driven: 575 miles

Hours Driven: 8 hours 30 minutes

Dates Stayed: August 1st-3rd

Can’t Miss in Rocky Mountain National Park: Lake Haiyaha Hike

Lake Haiyaha in Rocky Mountain National Park

During our time in Colorado, we stayed in Boulder which turned out to be our favorite town of the entire road trip. About 40-50 minutes outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder served us well as a home base with the best food of the trip and at the time had one of the only Crumbl Cookie spots around. In the actual park, we hiked an awesome trail to Lake Haiyaha, which had stops at 3 other alpine lakes! We also saw a family of elk and a massive moose on our way into the park. Unfortunately, our second day got rained out where we had a hike to the Sky Pond planned, but we spent the day relaxing in Boulder and preparing for our long haul across the middle of America.

Drive #13: Rocky Mountain National Park to Lincoln, Nebraska

Miles Driven: 507 miles

Hours Driven: 7 hours 14 minutes

Dates Stayed: August 4th

After driving all day through cornfields and flat land, all we had energy for in Lincoln, Nebraska was to stop at our hotel and get some shut eye before an even longer drive the next day.

Drive #14: Lincoln, Nebraska to Cleveland, Ohio

Miles Driven: 852 miles

Hours Driven: 11 hours 53 minutes

Dates Stayed: August 5th

With the longest drive of the trip still in store, the one thing keeping us both going was getting home to Cleveland that day. After 25 incredible, long, and tiring days, all that stood between us and our final destination was a 12-hour drive across the midwest. We arrived back at my house at 11:50 p.m., officially ending the 26-day road trip and the best experience that either of us have had in the United States.

What We Loved

1) Hiking and exploring in Glacier National Park

View along the Hidden Lake Trail in Glacier National Park

2) Spending time in different mountain towns: Boulder, Jackson Hole, and Whitefish

A delicious dinner in Boulder, Colorado

3) Beautiful drives: Pacific Coast Highway along the California coast, Going-to-the-Sun Road, scenic drive through Grand Teton National Park

View along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

4) Spending time in Yosemite Valley and driving through the park

Driving through a small forest fire in Yosemite National Park

5) Trying local food in different towns: Boulder, Seattle, Jackson Hole, and Whitefish

Selena and I trying Huckleberry ice cream in Whitefish, Montana

6) Olympic National Park! What a wonderful National Park with very diverse scenery.

Ruby Beach along the coast of Washington in Olympic National Park

7) The natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park

What We Would Have Changed

1) Although we loved Southern California, we would have gone straight to Yosemite and then to Big Sur, forgoing Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. This would have saved us two days of driving and would have given us more time to spend in Big Sur and beyond.

2) Instead of going to inland Oregon, we would have stayed along the coastline after Big Sur to visit Oregon's iconic coastline, forgoing Crater Lake National Park. Although Crater Lake is very unique, there weren't a ton of activities to do in the park besides driving the scenic loop.

3) After Olympic National Park, we would have stayed longer in Washington and would have visited Mt. Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park, forgoing Coeur d'Alene. Similarly to Crater Lake, Coeur d'Alene was pretty, but didn't have too many activities.

4) We would have spent more time in Glacier National Park and less time in Yellowstone. Glacier National Park has tons of hiking and trails to explore, while Yellowstone is more of a sight-seeing type national park. Yellowstone can be seen easily in a day if done properly, while I felt like I could easily have spent a month in Glacier.

5) Hiking in Grand Teton National Park is something we really wanted to do, but due to weather conditions, we weren't able to hike to some of the beautiful alpine lakes in the park.

6) Staying at hotels during our trip was uniquely an affordable option for us due to Marriott points, but we would highly recommend car or tent camping within the borders of the national parks and plan on doing that for our next road trip. This offers an affordable option that also saves a massive amount of time in terms of driving and puts you smack dab in the middle of the beautiful wilderness. Car/tent camping = more sunrises and sunsets with less driving.

Note: Overall, this was an absolutely incredible first road trip and we could NOT have been any happier with the outcome!! These are purely our reflections for how the trip could be better if someone were to follow in our foot steps!

Total Hours and Miles Driven

Total Hours Driven: 83 hours and 16 minutes+

- Yes, we spent over 3 days in the car!! We really cherished our time together talking, listening to music, enjoying different podcasts, etc... Driving is obviously a big part of road trips, but this is here to remind you how much time goes into the actual travel aspect. If you don't love driving or sitting in a car... this is probably not the trip for you and are probably better served flying to locations over long weekends.

Total Miles Driven: 5,099 miles+

- These are just the miles driven between the different stops, not including stops for food, gas, or between our hotels! This is certainly a beefy trip in terms of driving, but allowed us to see so many of the places that we had been dreaming of!

Me along our drive around Crater Lake National Park

I hope you all enjoyed reading about our Great American Road Trip and that you can use this blog to help you plan a trip of your own to explore America's beautiful nature and national parks!!

- Tanner Price

Instagram: @tanner.price_