Top 10 Road Trips I Want to Take
If you’re new to my work here’s a little about myself, I love to travel. It doesn't matter how I get away, I just love going. As a kid we would change up our family vacation transportation method every year. Some times we flew, other times we drove. Now that I'm mature enough to not get sick in the car, road trips have become one of my favorite forms of travel. Not only are they cheaper but you get to see more of the area and have the ability to make spontaneous stops at random attractions along the way. For my 4th list of 10 I decided to plan out the top 10 road trips that I would like to take. (some also involve flying)
10. Spontaneous Pitstops Route
Total Time: 19.5 Hours
Total Distance: 1,128 Miles
Trip Duration: 5 Days
This drive will take a few items off my travel list but offers the potential for spontaneous stops along this scenic route. Starting in Denver we drive 8 hours and change to Monument Valley. The route winds through Utah's southeast border where Arches National Park and Canyonlands reside so there is the option to detour to those parks. There are likely many more points of interest through the area that don't have National Park recognition as well. From Monument Valley continue further south two hours to Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona. This part of the country is littered with breathtaking landforms so again there may be potential to find a hidden gem or two along the way. Then it's back to Denver but not before we stop through Durango and explore the San Juans for an afternoon. That final stretch will take 9 hours.
9. Boise and Back
Total Time: 28 Hours
Total Distance: 1,753 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
It's fun to go new places, Idaho is one of the states I've never been to and with a handful of friends now living there it might be time for a visit. It's roughly 12 hours to Boise from Denver but what's the rush. I forgot to mention this trip will take place in the fall because we are stopping just north of Salt Lake City, UT in the city of Ogden. The area outside of Ogden is known for turning a rainbow of colors in early October. Denver to Ogden is 7.5 hours but if you want to continue into Salt Lake City I highly recommend exploring Utah's capital if you've never been. From Ogden it's another 6 hours to Boise. A few nights getting a feel for Boise and it'll be time to make our way back. After saying our good byes we're not going home right away, we're swinging by Craters of the Moon National Monument. This other worldly place is only 3.5 hours east of Boise. That leaves us with a 12 hour drive back home to Denver.
8. Yellowstone
Total Time: 20.5 Hours
Total Distance: 1,275 Miles
Trip Duration: 5 Days
This is the simplest one on the list by far. It's just an out and back to Yellowstone National Park. 10.5 hours from Denver, it would be an easy days drive to this popular National Park. Never having been to Yellowstone, its proximity makes it one of the likelier candidates to happen on this list. While it's not the most complicated trip on the list, the beauty of Yellowstone is hard to beat.
7. Michigan Beer Alley
Total Time: 7 Hours
Total Distance: 411 Miles
Trip Duration: 3 Days
The shortest road trip on the list and one coming deep out of left field is a tour of some of the best beer Michigan has to offer. I may be from Wisconsin where there are plenty of good breweries to be had but some of my favorite beers come from breweries in Michigan. Start by catching a flight into Detroit then drive an hour and a half to Dark Horse Brewing Company. Enjoy a quick beer there before heading to Kalamazoo where the great Bell's Brewery is located. Find a hotel here because there is no driving after sampling your way through the Bell's tap list. Day two starts with an hour drive to Saugatuck Brewing Company where they have mastered the stout style. Keep the dark beers flowing after lunch with an hour drive north to the creators of Dragon's Milk, New Holland. Day three starts with a half hour drive to the Founders brewery before hitting the final brewery on this tour, Perrin Brewing Company 15 minutes away. Take a night to sleep it off before catching your flight out of Detroit.
6. California Circle
Total Time: 21 Hours
Total Distance: 1,167 Miles
Trip Duration: 1-2 Weeks
There are nine national parks in California, this trip will cover four of them. Let's start in San Francisco and head south to Pinnacles National Park, just a 2 hour drive. From there you can add in a quick pit stop further south to Pfeiffer Beach or continue straight on to Yosemite National Park just over 3 hours away. Then it's on to Lassen Volcanic National Park, 5.5 hours north, before the last park on the trip a mere 4 hours away, Redwoods National Park. It's another 5.5 hours back to San Francisco which you could break up with a short detour to Glass Beach for all your beach combers.
5. Oregon Do Over
Total Time: 44 Hours
Total Distance: 2,807 Miles
Trip Duration: 1-2 Weeks
My first trip to Oregon only covered a small portion of what I'd hoped to see so this trip is designed to cover those places I missed and then some. We start by flying into Portland, I'm not driving from Denver. Since my first trip explored a good portion of the Columbia River Gorge I'm heading straight for the Mount Hood National Forest for some hiking. Portland to Mt. Hood is 1 hour 20 minutes. After a day or two chasing waterfalls, sorry TLC, we're looking at just a hair over 3 hours to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. From there we cut back west to the coast where along the way we will drive through the Willamette National Forest where there is more hiking to break up the 6 hour drive. Proxy Falls was on my list last year and would be a good half way point to Thor's Well on the coast. Thor's Well will be the starting point on the Oregon Coast leg of the trip as we work our way north to Cannon Beach. Along the way there are no shortage of spontaneous stopping points but the direct journey will take about 3 hours of driving. Then from Cannon Beach it's only an hour and a half back to Portland. After all that I will get to plan another trip back to do all the things I ran out of time for on this trip.
4. Winter in Da U.P.
Total Time: 44 Hours
Total Distance: 2,807 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
Keep an eye out this February as I embark on my first solo photo road trip which just happens to be the longest on the list. Starting in Denver I'll drive 6 hours to Badlands National Park. From there we're looking at a long stretch of 11 hours to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in my home state of Wisconsin. Then a brief intermission in northern Wisconsin for my best friends ice fishing bachelor party before a 3 hour drive back to the shores of Lake Superior in the Keweenaw Peninsula. After a night in Houghton, MI a 3 hour drive brings me back to Marquette where I attended college. One day in Marquette and then 3 hours home to Green Bay for a night before driving 16 hours back home to Denver. I've done it before but just in case I get tired Lincoln, Nebraska has a lovely downtown.
3. Utah National Parks
Total Time: 15 Hours
Total Distance: 962 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
When I finally make time to start exploring Utah and all of its amazing National Parks, why not make the most of my time by hitting a few. First stop is Capital Reef National Park, just 6.5 hours from Denver. From Capital Reef we start working our way back east by driving 2 hours 15 minutes to Canyonlands National Park. Since we're in the area, 40 minutes in the car gets us to our third park, Arches National Park. From Arches it's only 5.5 hours back to Denver. Without a lot of driving required for this trip there will be more time to explore. At the bare minimum this trip could be completed in a long weekend, allowing just one day per park. Even with two days per park it would only take a week and you get to see three National Parks.
2. Southern Colorado Loop
Total Time: 17 Hours
Total Distance: 917 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
It's time to finally check some items off my Colorado to do list. Other than two trips to the sand dunes I have not visited much south of Colorado Springs. Let's start with Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a place I've been trying to schedule in for years and have yet to see. Denver to Black Canyon is just under 5 hours. Then it's on to Ouray, a town I've been recommended more than the next two household named cities on the tour and only an hour drive from Black Canyon. From Ouray we drive to Telluride, another hour trip. Two days in this area allows for a greater chance to explore this beautiful part of Colorado. After Telluride we continue further south to Durango, 2 hours away. From Durango it's back home but, since it's on our way, why not stop by Great Sand Dunes National Park to stretch our legs and watch the sunset before continuing on back to Denver. 3.5 hours will get us to Great Sands and another 4 hours brings us back home from there.
1. Four Corners Crazy
Total Time: 24 Hours
Total Distance: 1,595 Miles
Trip Duration: 1-3 Week
Buy your National Parks pass if you haven't yet because this trip has the potential for as many as 8. Let's get the driving out of the way and drive from Denver to Santa Fe, or if you prefer Albuquerque, NM. Either are a good pit stop on this long stretch plus this is your chance to explore New Mexico. It's just under 6 hours to Santa Fe and an extra 40 minutes to Albuquerque. If you would prefer to just get to our first National Park, a little more than 9 hours will bring you to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. If you'd like to add an hour and a half to that trek you can take the long way and make a pit stop at Great Sand Dunes National Park and spend the night in Durango before arriving in Arizona. After Petrified Forest it's time to head to Utah. On the way if you'd like you can detour over to the Grand Canyon, I hear it's alright. Our next official stop is Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. 4 hours in the car brings you to Grand Staircase, 5 if you want to see the big hole in Arizona. Less than an hour from Grand Staircase is Zion National Park. Zion marks the last official stop on this road trip through the four corner states. If, however, you stopped by Great Sands, Petrified Forest, detoured to the Grand Canyon, and saw Zion, from there back to Denver you could detour to Bryce Canyon National Park, and/or complete the Utah National Parks road trip above which would give you as many as 8 National Parks badges in one trip. The base package of this road trip will cost you 24 hours in the car but the addition of those extra 6 will round you out to 30 hours and just 200 more miles. You may need more than a week for that though.
Ready to gas up your car? Let me know which one of these road trips you want to do. And if you have one I should add I would love to hear about it too!
10. Spontaneous Pitstops Route
Total Time: 19.5 Hours
Total Distance: 1,128 Miles
Trip Duration: 5 Days
This drive will take a few items off my travel list but offers the potential for spontaneous stops along this scenic route. Starting in Denver we drive 8 hours and change to Monument Valley. The route winds through Utah's southeast border where Arches National Park and Canyonlands reside so there is the option to detour to those parks. There are likely many more points of interest through the area that don't have National Park recognition as well. From Monument Valley continue further south two hours to Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona. This part of the country is littered with breathtaking landforms so again there may be potential to find a hidden gem or two along the way. Then it's back to Denver but not before we stop through Durango and explore the San Juans for an afternoon. That final stretch will take 9 hours.
9. Boise and Back
Total Time: 28 Hours
Total Distance: 1,753 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
It's fun to go new places, Idaho is one of the states I've never been to and with a handful of friends now living there it might be time for a visit. It's roughly 12 hours to Boise from Denver but what's the rush. I forgot to mention this trip will take place in the fall because we are stopping just north of Salt Lake City, UT in the city of Ogden. The area outside of Ogden is known for turning a rainbow of colors in early October. Denver to Ogden is 7.5 hours but if you want to continue into Salt Lake City I highly recommend exploring Utah's capital if you've never been. From Ogden it's another 6 hours to Boise. A few nights getting a feel for Boise and it'll be time to make our way back. After saying our good byes we're not going home right away, we're swinging by Craters of the Moon National Monument. This other worldly place is only 3.5 hours east of Boise. That leaves us with a 12 hour drive back home to Denver.
8. Yellowstone
Total Time: 20.5 Hours
Total Distance: 1,275 Miles
Trip Duration: 5 Days
This is the simplest one on the list by far. It's just an out and back to Yellowstone National Park. 10.5 hours from Denver, it would be an easy days drive to this popular National Park. Never having been to Yellowstone, its proximity makes it one of the likelier candidates to happen on this list. While it's not the most complicated trip on the list, the beauty of Yellowstone is hard to beat.
7. Michigan Beer Alley
Total Time: 7 Hours
Total Distance: 411 Miles
Trip Duration: 3 Days
The shortest road trip on the list and one coming deep out of left field is a tour of some of the best beer Michigan has to offer. I may be from Wisconsin where there are plenty of good breweries to be had but some of my favorite beers come from breweries in Michigan. Start by catching a flight into Detroit then drive an hour and a half to Dark Horse Brewing Company. Enjoy a quick beer there before heading to Kalamazoo where the great Bell's Brewery is located. Find a hotel here because there is no driving after sampling your way through the Bell's tap list. Day two starts with an hour drive to Saugatuck Brewing Company where they have mastered the stout style. Keep the dark beers flowing after lunch with an hour drive north to the creators of Dragon's Milk, New Holland. Day three starts with a half hour drive to the Founders brewery before hitting the final brewery on this tour, Perrin Brewing Company 15 minutes away. Take a night to sleep it off before catching your flight out of Detroit.
6. California Circle
Total Time: 21 Hours
Total Distance: 1,167 Miles
Trip Duration: 1-2 Weeks
There are nine national parks in California, this trip will cover four of them. Let's start in San Francisco and head south to Pinnacles National Park, just a 2 hour drive. From there you can add in a quick pit stop further south to Pfeiffer Beach or continue straight on to Yosemite National Park just over 3 hours away. Then it's on to Lassen Volcanic National Park, 5.5 hours north, before the last park on the trip a mere 4 hours away, Redwoods National Park. It's another 5.5 hours back to San Francisco which you could break up with a short detour to Glass Beach for all your beach combers.
5. Oregon Do Over
Total Time: 44 Hours
Total Distance: 2,807 Miles
Trip Duration: 1-2 Weeks
My first trip to Oregon only covered a small portion of what I'd hoped to see so this trip is designed to cover those places I missed and then some. We start by flying into Portland, I'm not driving from Denver. Since my first trip explored a good portion of the Columbia River Gorge I'm heading straight for the Mount Hood National Forest for some hiking. Portland to Mt. Hood is 1 hour 20 minutes. After a day or two chasing waterfalls, sorry TLC, we're looking at just a hair over 3 hours to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. From there we cut back west to the coast where along the way we will drive through the Willamette National Forest where there is more hiking to break up the 6 hour drive. Proxy Falls was on my list last year and would be a good half way point to Thor's Well on the coast. Thor's Well will be the starting point on the Oregon Coast leg of the trip as we work our way north to Cannon Beach. Along the way there are no shortage of spontaneous stopping points but the direct journey will take about 3 hours of driving. Then from Cannon Beach it's only an hour and a half back to Portland. After all that I will get to plan another trip back to do all the things I ran out of time for on this trip.
4. Winter in Da U.P.
Total Time: 44 Hours
Total Distance: 2,807 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
Keep an eye out this February as I embark on my first solo photo road trip which just happens to be the longest on the list. Starting in Denver I'll drive 6 hours to Badlands National Park. From there we're looking at a long stretch of 11 hours to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in my home state of Wisconsin. Then a brief intermission in northern Wisconsin for my best friends ice fishing bachelor party before a 3 hour drive back to the shores of Lake Superior in the Keweenaw Peninsula. After a night in Houghton, MI a 3 hour drive brings me back to Marquette where I attended college. One day in Marquette and then 3 hours home to Green Bay for a night before driving 16 hours back home to Denver. I've done it before but just in case I get tired Lincoln, Nebraska has a lovely downtown.
3. Utah National Parks
Total Time: 15 Hours
Total Distance: 962 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
When I finally make time to start exploring Utah and all of its amazing National Parks, why not make the most of my time by hitting a few. First stop is Capital Reef National Park, just 6.5 hours from Denver. From Capital Reef we start working our way back east by driving 2 hours 15 minutes to Canyonlands National Park. Since we're in the area, 40 minutes in the car gets us to our third park, Arches National Park. From Arches it's only 5.5 hours back to Denver. Without a lot of driving required for this trip there will be more time to explore. At the bare minimum this trip could be completed in a long weekend, allowing just one day per park. Even with two days per park it would only take a week and you get to see three National Parks.
2. Southern Colorado Loop
Total Time: 17 Hours
Total Distance: 917 Miles
Trip Duration: 1 Week
It's time to finally check some items off my Colorado to do list. Other than two trips to the sand dunes I have not visited much south of Colorado Springs. Let's start with Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a place I've been trying to schedule in for years and have yet to see. Denver to Black Canyon is just under 5 hours. Then it's on to Ouray, a town I've been recommended more than the next two household named cities on the tour and only an hour drive from Black Canyon. From Ouray we drive to Telluride, another hour trip. Two days in this area allows for a greater chance to explore this beautiful part of Colorado. After Telluride we continue further south to Durango, 2 hours away. From Durango it's back home but, since it's on our way, why not stop by Great Sand Dunes National Park to stretch our legs and watch the sunset before continuing on back to Denver. 3.5 hours will get us to Great Sands and another 4 hours brings us back home from there.
1. Four Corners Crazy
Total Time: 24 Hours
Total Distance: 1,595 Miles
Trip Duration: 1-3 Week
Buy your National Parks pass if you haven't yet because this trip has the potential for as many as 8. Let's get the driving out of the way and drive from Denver to Santa Fe, or if you prefer Albuquerque, NM. Either are a good pit stop on this long stretch plus this is your chance to explore New Mexico. It's just under 6 hours to Santa Fe and an extra 40 minutes to Albuquerque. If you would prefer to just get to our first National Park, a little more than 9 hours will bring you to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. If you'd like to add an hour and a half to that trek you can take the long way and make a pit stop at Great Sand Dunes National Park and spend the night in Durango before arriving in Arizona. After Petrified Forest it's time to head to Utah. On the way if you'd like you can detour over to the Grand Canyon, I hear it's alright. Our next official stop is Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. 4 hours in the car brings you to Grand Staircase, 5 if you want to see the big hole in Arizona. Less than an hour from Grand Staircase is Zion National Park. Zion marks the last official stop on this road trip through the four corner states. If, however, you stopped by Great Sands, Petrified Forest, detoured to the Grand Canyon, and saw Zion, from there back to Denver you could detour to Bryce Canyon National Park, and/or complete the Utah National Parks road trip above which would give you as many as 8 National Parks badges in one trip. The base package of this road trip will cost you 24 hours in the car but the addition of those extra 6 will round you out to 30 hours and just 200 more miles. You may need more than a week for that though.
Ready to gas up your car? Let me know which one of these road trips you want to do. And if you have one I should add I would love to hear about it too!
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