The Great Western Parks Road Trip — 14 Days, 7 Parks
This itinerary covers the crown jewels of the American West in a logical driving route. You'll see geysers, canyons, mountains, glaciers, and desert — all in two weeks. It's ambitious but achievable, with built-in flexibility for longer stops.
The Route at a Glance
| Day | Destination | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Yellowstone NP | Arrive, 2 full days exploring |
| 4-5 | Grand Teton NP | 1 hour south |
| 6 | Drive to Glacier NP | 5.5 hours |
| 7-8 | Glacier NP | 2 full days exploring |
| 9 | Drive to Craters of the Moon | 5 hours |
| 10 | Drive to Zion NP | 5.5 hours |
| 11-12 | Zion NP | 2 full days exploring |
| 13 | Grand Canyon NP | 2.5 hours |
| 14 | Depart from Las Vegas | 4.5 hours |
Days 1-3: Yellowstone
Start in Bozeman or Jackson Hole. Yellowstone needs at minimum two full days — three is better.
Day 1: Old Faithful area — Upper Geyser Basin, Morning Glory Pool, Old Faithful eruption. Stay in the Old Faithful area.
Day 2: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone + Lamar Valley wildlife. Hayden Valley for bison herds. Artist Point for the iconic waterfall view.
Day 3: Mammoth Hot Springs + Norris Geyser Basin. The terraced thermal formations at Mammoth are otherworldly.
Days 4-5: Grand Teton
Just one hour south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton feels like a different world — jagged peaks rising straight from the valley floor.
Day 4: Jenny Lake + Inspiration Point hike. Cascade Canyon trail for mountain views. Book Jackson lodging.
Day 5: Mormon Row for the classic barn-with-mountain photo. Signal Mountain for a drive-up panorama. Snake River float trip in the afternoon.
Day 6: Drive to Glacier
The longest driving day (5.5 hours) but the route through Montana is scenic. Stop in Missoula for lunch. Arrive in the Glacier area by evening.
Days 7-8: Glacier
Day 7: Going-to-the-Sun Road — the full 50-mile scenic drive. Stop at Logan Pass for the Highline Trail (even just the first mile is transformative).
Day 8: Two Medicine or Many Glacier area. Hike to Grinnell Glacier or take a boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake.
Days 9-10: Transition — Craters of the Moon
Craters of the Moon National Monument breaks up the drive with a landscape of black lava flows and cinder cones that genuinely looks like another planet. Walk the lava tube caves and the Inferno Cone trail.
Days 11-12: Zion
Zion's canyon walls tower above you in ways photos can't capture. The shuttle system makes getting around easy.
Day 11: Riverside Walk + The Narrows (wade in as far as you're comfortable). Emerald Pool trail in the afternoon.
Day 12: Angels Landing (if you have the permit and nerve) or Observation Point. Canyon Overlook at sunset. Book Springdale lodging — walking distance from the park entrance.
Day 13: Grand Canyon
Drive 2.5 hours from Zion to Grand Canyon South Rim. Walk the Rim Trail at sunset. Mather Point for the classic first view. The scale doesn't hit you until you're standing at the edge.
Day 14: Grand Canyon Morning + Departure
Watch sunrise from Yavapai Point — it's worth the early alarm. Drive to Las Vegas (4.5 hours) for your flight home.
Essential Road Trip Gear
- America the Beautiful Pass ($80) — covers entrance fees for every park on this route
- Car phone mount — for navigation in areas with limited cell service
- Cooler — park restaurants are expensive and limited
- Offline maps — download Google Maps offline for each park before you go
- National Parks journal — get your passport stamped at every visitor center
Ready to plan your trip? Compare every park in our complete national park rankings.
Packing for a National Park Road Trip
Beyond standard road trip supplies, pack these park-specific items:
- America the Beautiful pass ($80) — covers entrance at every stop
- Collapsible cooler — saves $30+/day on restaurant meals
- Car phone mount — GPS in areas with limited cell service
- National Park passport — collect stamps at every visitor center
- Offline maps — download Google Maps for each park + surrounding areas before your trip
- Window shade — desert parking lots turn cars into ovens
Essential Road Trip Tips
Download offline maps before you go. Cell service drops in and around most national parks. Download Google Maps offline for each park + surrounding areas. Also download the NPS app for each park (it works offline with pre-downloaded content).
Gas strategy: Fill up at major towns before entering parks. Gas stations inside parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon) charge premium prices. Carry a gas can for remote stretches — there are 50+ mile gaps between stations on some park roads.
The America the Beautiful pass pays for itself by day 3: At $35/park (the standard entrance fee for most major parks), 3 parks = $105. The pass costs $80. If you're visiting 3+ parks, buy the pass first and save $25+.
Book road trip lodging at gateway towns along your route for best rates and availability.