I am about to embark on a 1 month (+ a couple days) road trip in my family camper van with my dad, exploring across the country all the national and state parks I have dreamed of visiting. The states we are stopping in are Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in that order.
I included the driving times, how far ahead you may want to begin looking to reserve spots if you want to get the best available locations to camp, and useful tips to keep in mind for planning this road trip!
We began in our hometown Austin, TX, but you could start from within this loop and save some time, or come from anywhere and discover other spots before jumping on our trail.
Day 1: Drive from Austin, Tx to Palo Duro Canyon State Park
7 hour 30 minutes drive
Leave at 7 AM, arrive around 3 pm with stops
Day 2: Palo Duro
Look to book Palo Duro Canyon through the Texas State Park System a few weeks before your trip at the latest, earlier for weekends or popular times like the fall and spring.
Day 3: Drive to Fort Collins
8 hour drive
Leave at 7 AM, arrive 3-4 PM with stops
We are staying at a family friends, but could camp anywhere around Colorado.
Day 4: Drive to Grand Teton
6 hours 45 minutes drive
Leave at 7 AM, arrive around 2-3 PM
There isn’t camping reservations for Grand Teton through the National Park, but a number of first come sites. We will be using free campsite tools like Campendium or freeCampsites if there isn’t anything in the park available.
Day 5: Head to Yellowstone National Park
45 minutes drive, go between anytime in day
Day 6: Yellowstone
Book most campsites many months ahead (National Parks open up sites for reservation 3 months ahead of the reservation date and popular locations like Yellowstone go within the first hour usually). Lodges or non-government sites may be fine to reserve later, but many also allow reservations more than 3 months ahead and can fill.
Day 7: Drive to Washington, stop over around Spokane
8 hour 20 minute drive
Leave at 12 PM, arrive around 9 PM
Again we will find a free stopover road stop or free camping, and we will need to stop in a grocery store to stock up on food.
Day 8: Stop at Palouse Falls, going to Olympic National Park
1 hour 45 minutes to Palouse
Leave at 7 AM, arrive around 9 AM
Spend ~2 hours
7 hour 45 minute drive to Olympic Coast at Sequim State Park
Arrive around 8 PM with stops
Day 9: Olympic Coast- Sequim Bay State Park
We reserved this about a month before arriving.
Day 10: Go to Sol Duc Hot Springs in Olympic National Park
1 hour 30 minute drive, anytime in day
Day 11: Sol Duc
We reserved this a couple months before arriving, but a few weeks is probably doable.
Day 12: Drive to La Wis Wis Campground (Mt Rainier National Park)
5 hour drive
Leave 8 AM, Arrive 2-3 PM
We booked this site about a month before.
Day 13: Get to Panther Creek Campground
2 hours 30 minue drive
Leave anytime midday
Booked a month before.
Day 14: Go to Ainsworth State Park
35 minute drive
Leave anytime midday
Will stop somewhere around Portland on the way for groceries.
Booked a month before (exactly a month because Oregon state parks allow you to reserve a month before and some were gone fast)
Day 15: Drive to Sunset Bay State Park
4 hour 30 minute drive
Arrive anytime midday
Booked a month before (exactly a month because Oregon state parks allow you to reserve a month before and some were gone fast)
Day 16: Drive to Harris Beach State Park
2 hours 12 minutes (along Oregon coast!)
Arrive anytime
Booked a month before (exactly a month because Oregon state parks allow you to reserve a month before and some were gone fast)
Day 17: Drive to Redwoods
1 hour 30 minutes
Arrive morning, spend more time in redwoods
Day 18: Redwoods
Booked months before (about 6 months)
Day 19: Drive to Napa
6 hours
Leave at 9 AM, arrive around 3-4 PM with stops
Day 20: Napa
We reserved an RV site a few months before, but could find places closer to date
If we don’t find a place to do laundry before here, this will be the time. Also stock up on groceries (and wine!)
Day 21: Drive to Grover Hot Springs
3 hours and 20 minutes or 5 hours going through Tahoe National Forest and stopping by Lake Tahoe
Arrive early at Hot Springs or late in day with stop
Day 22: Grover Hot Springs
Booked months before
Day 23: Drive to Yosemite– Tuolumne Meadows
2 hours 30 minutes
Leave 10 AM, arrive 1 PM
Day 24: Tuolumne Meadows
Day 25: Drive to Yosemite- North Pines
1 hour 30 minutes
Arrive anytime
Day 26: North Pines
Both of these sites were available for reservation 5 months ahead of time and fill fast.
Day 27: Drive to Sequoia National Forest- Quaking Aspens
4 hours 40 minutes
Leave 8 AM, arrive 2 PM
Stop on the way in Fresno for groceries.
Reserved about a month before, other sites filled earlier
Day 28: Las Vegas Stopover
6 hour drive
Anytime, can arrive late in vegas
Plan is for a free spot near Lake Mead
Day 29: Drive to Zion
2 hours 40 minutes, possible stop in Valley of Fire State Park
Leave 8 AM, arrive at Zion early or afternoon
Day 30: Zion
We booked about two months before and it was the last spot.
Day 31: Drive to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
30 minutes drive
Arrive anytime
Booked about 2 months before with many sites still open.
Day 32: Day trip to Grand Canyon North Rim before a night in Flagstaff
2 hours to North Rim, stay ~4 hours
4 hours to flagstaff from North Rim
Leave 8 AM, 10 AM- 2 PM in North Rim, Arrive at Flagstaff around 6
Day 33: Drive to Albuquerque
4 hours and 40 minutes
Leave at 9 AM, arrive about 2-3 PM
Day 34: Back to Austin, Tx
10 hours and 45 minutes
Long haul back home all day to close out the road trip!
6 thoughts on “One Month National and State Park Road Trip Itinerary”
Hello! Your dad sent me a link to your blog :). How exciting!!! Please be safe and keep sending the fabulous pictures!!!
Emi