Fun-Filled US Summer Road Trip Destinations
Summer is the perfect time for a road trip, and the United States has some of the best destinations to explore. From rugged mountains to sun-kissed beaches, there are a variety of US summer road trip destinations to add to your bucket list!
One of the best summer vacation ideas is taking a road trip to any number of US destinations. Check out our list of 8 places to road trip in the US this summer!
With some careful planning, your US summer road trip can be an amazing adventure. So don’t wait any longer—get out there and explore all that America has to offer!
As Photo Jeepers, we like to travel in our Jeep taking pictures! Road trips are the main way we travel so we’ve got years and years of experience and tips to share!
One thing we always recommend is creating an itinerary and packing plan. Click the graphic below to get our Free Road Trip Planner & Packing List!
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Road Trip Packing Resources
The important part of a successful road trip is knowing what to pack and what to leave behind! These lists of road trip accessories provide comfort, safety, and organization while driving to your destination. If you’ll be doing a family road trip, check out the lists specifically for driving with kids!
Road Trip Accessories: this includes car emergency kits, solar power banks, travel pillows, coolers, and more!
Road Trip Car Organization: there are many different types of car organization products like trunk organizers, storage containers, trash cans, and hooks.
Family Road Trip Items to Pack: includes items for comfort, organization, eating, and first aid to make the family vacation a success.
Summer Road Trip Destinations in the US
Pack your bags, fuel up your car, and get ready to hit the highway because we’re about to dive into the greatest summer road trip destinations in the US.
There’s a summer USA Road Trip Bucket List Idea for everyone to enjoy the vast, beautiful country!
The Blue Ridge Parkway Summer Road Trip
Looking for one of the top summer road trip destinations? You’ll find fabulous things to do on the Blue Ridge Highway!
Between the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains is this 469 miles’ road that promises abundant beautiful landscapes, waterfalls, and mountain ridges.
There is a lot to see as you wind your way around the Appalachian Mountains enjoying the stunning landscape.
You’ll see waterfalls, the sprawling forest in the Great Smoky Mountains, and cliffs and caverns that were designed to awe the weary traveler.
You can take a moment to rest and immerse in preserved history at the Southern Highland Folk center before you continue driving the view more natural wonders along this parkway.
Utah National Parks Summer Road Trip
A road trip to all 5 Utah National Parks in the summer is a bucket list vacation!
Use our Utah National Park road trip itinerary that starts the trip at the southern end of Utah by visiting Zion National Park first. Explore the Zion hiking trails and be rewarded with stunning views!
From Zion you’ll head toward Bryce Canyon that’s famous for the colorful hoodoo formations.
When visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, we recommend you drive to Rainbow Point and work your way back toward the amphitheater. Take amazing photos of Bryce Canyon at each stop along this scenic drive!
Drive Scenic Byway 12 from Bryce to Capitol Reef. There are many fun things to do at Capitol Reef National Park like pick fresh fruit in the orchard and enjoy homemade treats at Gifford Homestead.
Next you’ll work your way toward Moab, the home of Arches and Canyonlands!
We’ve got an extensive Arches and Canyonlands Itinerary and Photography Guide to help you plan your time exploring and photographing these two parks.
Black Hills of South Dakota Summer Road Trip
As you drive around the Black Hills area of South Dakota, you’re likely to encounter bison. They are reluctant to get out of the way, so stay alert.
There are many attractions you can visit within a hundred miles’ radius here.
A famous roadside attraction in the area is Wall Drug. They offer free ice water, 5-cent cups of coffee and food for weary travelers. There’s also nearly 80,000 square feet of fun and games and entertainment.
Visiting Badlands National Park is a must-see for a road trip in the Black Hills area. The eroded rock formations are the highlight of this park.
Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore are also great additions to a road trip itinerary in the area.
Check out all the outdoorsy things to do in the Black Hills to add to your road trip itinerary!
The Alaska Highway Summer Road Trip
Start your journey at Dawson Creek in British Columbia, Canada. From there you will drive 1387 miles along the Alaska Highway. Your journey will end in Delta, Alaska.
There will be many stops along the way at some of the most historic spots in America. For instance, at Charlie Lake, you get to see the Alaska Highway Monument which commemorates the 12 soldiers who drowned here in 1942.
Other notable stops along the way include the Pink Mountain campsite, the Bucking Horse River Lodge, the Andy Bailey regional park, and the Muskwa River Bridge for outdoor lovers.
Be sure to make a stop at the Muncho lake to take a picture before following the winding highway to Liard Rivers Hot Springs.
There will be so many other spots to explore on your journey here, so take your time.
If you love hiking, stop at the Soldier’s summit and take a hike to the top. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the lake.
The Loneliest Road in America Summer Road Trip
If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful summer road trip, few can measure up to this stretch found on the US-50 route that connects Maryland’s Ocean City and California’s Sacramento.
US-50 runs coast-to-coast for 3,200 miles through the heart of America. Along the route you’ll find some of the country’s most magnificent landscape: the Sierra Nevada, Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges; the endless farmlands of the Great Plains; and the harsh deserts of Utah and Nevada.
Most of this road you’ll experience miles of clear blue skies and long straight roads, with mountains on the horizon.
Planning and preparing for this road trip in the summer is important. Be sure to pack enough water and other supplies. Should something happen to your car, the deserts and open plains can be cruel.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Summer Road Trip
A road trip to enjoy a Yellowstone summer vacation should be at the top of any bucket list!
Geysers, Yellowstone waterfalls and wildlife are the most popular things to do and see when visiting Yellowstone National Park during the summertime.
Grand Teton National Park in the summer is known for its beautiful snow-capped peaks and huge alpine meadows begging for exploration… and photography!
We’ve created a Grand Teton photography guide listing all the best spots to capture the beauty of the Tetons.
There are may outdoor activities you can do on your Yellowstone and Tetons vacation like hiking, biking, white water rafting, horseback riding, and more!
Historic Route 66 Summer Road Trip
Before the interstate, the road connecting Chicago and Los Angeles was a 2400-mile-long stretch, spanning over 8 states, and is now known as Historic Route 66.
If you’re planning a summer road trip through the southwest, you’ll probably drive along Route 66 at some point.
There are many small towns on this road, many with historic significance as well as unique and quirky roadside attractions.
Some of the main and roadside attractions you will come across include the Meramec Caverns in Missouri, the Blue Whale in Oklahoma, Cadillac Ranch in Texas, and Elmer’s Bottletree Ranch in California.
Pacific Coast Highway California Summer Road Trip
If you want to enjoy an ocean view, then drive the Pacific Coast Highway in California on your summer road trip.
From San Francisco to San Diego, this road takes you through quaint beach towns, vibrant cities, and the wild vastness within a 655-mile stretch.
You will be able to drive close to the sea for miles on end, enjoying the beautiful beach views and the gentle ocean breeze blowing across your face.
Places you should not miss along this route include Monterey, Big Sur, Morro Bay, Solvang, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
Summer Vacation Ideas in the USA
- Summer Vacations in the Southwest
- Summer Road Trip Ideas
- June Vacation Ideas in the US by Region
- July Vacation Ideas in the US by Region
- August Vacation Ideas in the US by Region
USA Lodging & Accommodations
- VRBO US Vacation Rentals
- Book a Hotel in the US
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- Book a Guest House in the US
Visiting your blog always makes me want to travel the country! Thank you for all these good ideas. National parks are a treasure, aren’t they?
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!