Cruise America · flagship
Cruise America
The classic American road trip brand
Cruise America is to the USA what Hertz is to cars. Standardised 19, 25 and 30 ft Class C. Pickup in any major city. Uniform fleet with standard kit (linens not included, separate kit). For travellers wanting predictable logistics.
Cruise America fleet
4 models in fleet.
Cruise America C19 Compact Plus
19 ft, 3 berths, toilet and shower. The most manageable Cruise America option. Couple with a child or companion. Easy driving, reasonable parking, lower fuel use.
Cruise America C25 Standard
25 ft, 5 berths. Cruise America's most popular pick. Family of 4-5 with room to spare. Cab-over bunk, fixed rear bed, convertible dinette and toilet with shower.
Cruise America C30 Large
30 ft, 7 berths. Cruise America's largest. Big family or two couples splitting the bill. Rear king bed. Driving requires previous experience.
Cruise America T17 Truck Camper
Truck camper on a 4x4 pickup. 17 ft, 3 berths. For accessing soft dirt-road areas where a Class C cannot go. Limited to select branches.
Recommended routes with Cruise America
91 road trips where Cruise America fits perfectly.
Alaska — 9 national parks in 21 days
The Last Frontier with no shortcuts: 9 Alaska national parks combining road, inter-island ferry and flightseeing. Wrangell-St Elias (largest in USA), Glacier Bay (by boat), Sitka (oldest), Denali (North America's roof at 20,310 ft), Gates of the Arctic (above the Arctic Circle), Kobuk Valley (Arctic dunes), Kenai Fjords (orcas and humpbacks), Katmai (coastal brown bears) and Lake Clark. Summer only. Based on Cruise America.
Banff + Jasper + Icefields Parkway deep dive
The Canadian Rockies unhurried: Banff NP (Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Sulphur Mountain gondola), Yoho NP (Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls), Icefields Parkway (world's most spectacular road per National Geographic, 232 km), Athabasca Glacier walk, Jasper NP (Maligne Lake, Spirit Island), Kootenay NP. Twelve days to do it well.
Cabot Trail extended + Halifax + PEI
Full Canadian Atlantic: Cabot Trail (scenic loop on Cape Breton, world top), maritime Halifax, UNESCO Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove, Prince Edward Island (Anne of Green Gables, seafood, Confederation Bridge). Celtic music, lobster and lighthouses.
Newfoundland — Trans-Canada and Gros Morne
Easternmost island of North America: Trans-Canada Highway from St John's to Port aux Basques, Gros Morne NP UNESCO (one of the world's rarest geological tablelands), Twillingate (icebergs in June), L'Anse aux Meadows (Viking settlement). Unique English dialect and strong island culture.
Ontario — Niagara + Georgian Bay + Algonquin
Ontario by motorhome: Toronto base, Niagara Falls (Canadian side, better than USA), Niagara-on-the-Lake (wines), Tobermory (Bruce Peninsula caves), Manitoulin Island (world's largest freshwater island), Algonquin PP (canoe and moose), Muskoka cottages. Fall in colors.
Quebec, Charlevoix and Saguenay — French-Canadian and coastal
Francophone, very European Canada: Mont-Tremblant, walled Quebec City, Île d'Orleans, Charlevoix (artisans and cheese), Saguenay Fjord (whales), Tadoussac. Crepes, maple syrup, joual French and empty roads. Feels familiar to Europeans.
Sea-to-Sky Highway — Whistler, Pemberton and Lillooet
One of Canada's most spectacular roads: Sea-to-Sky from Vancouver to Whistler with Howe Sound views, Shannon Falls, Squamish (climbing and whales), Whistler-Blackcomb, Joffre Lakes (turquoise green), Pemberton, dry Lillooet. Short but intense, perfect Canada opener.
Vancouver Island — Tofino, Pacific Rim and Strathcona
Slow Vancouver Island: Victoria (Buchart Gardens, English tea), Nanaimo, Tofino (wild coast surf), Pacific Rim NP, Strathcona PP (island's alpine heart), Telegraph Cove (orcas), Cathedral Grove with ancient cedars. BC Ferries crossings included.
California — seven national parks in 14 days
California by motorhome through its 7 national parks: Redwood (4 sub-parks of giant sequoias), Lassen (volcanic), Yosemite (waterfalls), Pinnacles (rock formations), Sequoia & Kings Canyon (largest trees on earth), Death Valley (lowest point + Racetrack), Joshua Tree (Mojave + Colorado deserts). 14 days, 2,700 km. Based on Cruise America.
Colorado — the 4 national parks in 10 days
Colourful loop of Colorado's 4 national parks: Rocky Mountains (400 miles of trails, elk and bighorn sheep), Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Dark Sky Park), Mesa Verde (UNESCO cliff dwellings), Great Sand Dunes (sandboarding the tallest dunes in USA). 10 days, 1,500 km. Based on Cruise America.
US East Coast — 6 national parks in 14 days
Tour of 6 East Coast national parks: Everglades (crocs and mangroves), Biscayne (95% water, reef snorkelling), Congaree (old-growth cypress), Great Smoky Mountains (most-visited US park), New River Gorge (Class III-V rafting), Shenandoah (105-mile Skyline Drive). Based on Cruise America.
Florida Keys — Miami to Key West by motorhome
Coastal loop along the Overseas Highway with stops at every key. Snorkelling at John Pennekamp, manatees at Key Largo, Hemingway House at Key West, Seven Mile Bridge and Mallory Square sunsets. Optional Everglades finish.
Pacific Coast Highway — San Francisco to Los Angeles
USA's most famous scenic drive. San Francisco Bay, Highway 1, Big Sur cliffs, Hearst Castle, elephant seals at San Simeon, Solvang (Danish village), Santa Barbara beaches and Los Angeles finish. Curves but stress-free.
Pacific Northwest — Seattle, Olympic, Mt Rainier and the Columbia Gorge
9 days of forests, glaciers and ocean in the Pacific Northwest: Bainbridge ferry, Olympic National Park (Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach), Mt Rainier (Skyline Trail with marmots and mountain goats), Columbia River Gorge (Multnomah Falls) and finishing in Bend (Cascade Lakes). Based on Cruise America's official guide.
Route 66 — Chicago to Los Angeles, the Mother Road
The all-American classic. 16 days from Lake Michigan to Santa Monica Pier. Neon-lit motels, diner culture, quirky roadside attractions, desert badlands and the legendary stretch through Texas Panhandle, New Mexico and Arizona. Based on Cruise America's official Mother Road guide.
Route 66 Express — Chicago to Santa Monica in 7 days
Express version of the Mother Road for time-budget travellers. 250-350 miles/day across 7 legs: Chicago, Springfield, Joplin, OKC, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff/Grand Canyon, Santa Monica. All the icons without losing momentum. Based on El Monte RV.
LA Loop — Joshua Tree, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Death Valley
The great Southwest loop from Los Angeles in 7 days: Joshua Tree (Mojave + Colorado deserts), Sedona (red rocks), Grand Canyon South Rim, Las Vegas Strip and Death Valley (Badwater Basin, lowest point in North America). 2,456 km. Based on El Monte RV.
11 Southwest national parks — the grand tour
The ultimate American Southwest marathon: Big Bend (Texas), Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands (NM), Saguaro and Grand Canyon (AZ), Joshua Tree (CA), Mesa Verde (CO), and Utah's Mighty 5 (Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce, Zion) + Great Basin (Nevada). 21 days, 5,200 km. Based on Cruise America.
Acadia + Maine coast — lobster and lighthouses of New England
Short and very photogenic loop: Boston, Portland (lighthouses), Camden Hills, Acadia NP (Cadillac Mountain, first continental US sunrise), Bar Harbor (lobster and blueberries), Schoodic Peninsula. Slow roads, colonial towns and seafood.
Alaska — Anchorage + Denali (summer)
Alaska in its short summer: Anchorage as base, Seward (Kenai Fjords NP, tidewater glaciers), Homer (halibut capital), Talkeetna (Denali air tour), Denali NP (USA's highest, 20,310ft), Wasilla. No auroras in summer (24h daylight), but bears, moose and salmon yes.
Deep Arizona — Sonoran, Sedona, Mogollon Rim
The Arizona beyond the Grand Canyon. Saguaro NP at Tucson (giant cacti), Tombstone (the OK Corral one), Chiricahua NM (incredible vertical rocks), the Mogollon Rim, Sedona red rocks and ghost town Jerome. Five completely different settings in a single trip. Perfect winter RV territory.
Black Hills — Mt Rushmore + Badlands South Dakota
Black Hills SD: Mt Rushmore (4 presidents carved), Crazy Horse Memorial (world's largest sculpture, under construction since 1948), Custer State Park (bison, Wildlife Loop), Badlands NP (lunar canyons), Wind Cave (unique cave network), Spearfish Canyon. Small deep enigmatic USA.
California Pacific Coast Highway — SF to LA
USA's most photographed road. SF → Half Moon Bay → Santa Cruz → Monterey + 17-Mile Drive → Big Sur (Bixby Bridge cliffs) → Hearst Castle → Santa Barbara → Malibu → LA. The classic campervan itinerary, with Paso Robles wineries side-trip if time allows. Hwy 1 is narrow; we recommend Class B or compact Class C.
Door County + Upper Peninsula Michigan
The Wisconsin Americans don't bring you to — Door County, the "Cape Cod of the Midwest", with fishing villages, lighthouses and cherry orchards. We cross to Michigan's UP for Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls and Lake Superior views. Mackinac Island ferry to close.
Florida Gulf Coast — Tampa, Sarasota and Naples
Florida's west coast — less touristy than Miami but with the country's best white-sand beaches. Tampa-St Petersburg culture, Sarasota arts and beaches, Sanibel & Captiva legendary shelling, elegant Naples and Everglades NP at the end. Manatees at Crystal River in winter.
Florida Keys — Overseas Highway
US-1 Overseas Highway: 113 miles jumping across 42 islands connected by bridges (including iconic Seven Mile Bridge). Key Largo (John Pennekamp snorkel), Islamorada (sport fishing), Marathon (turtles), Bahia Honda SP (best Keys beach), Key West (USA's southernmost point, Hemingway house). Sunsets, seafood and Caribbean vibe.
Hawaii Maui — Road to Hana + Haleakala
Maui in a motorhome — the only Hawaiian island where it makes sense (roads support it). Road to Hana (the most photographed Pacific road), Haleakala at dawn, Iao Valley, historic Lahaina (note post-2023 fire) and west coast with Molokini snorkeling.
Hudson Valley — getaway from NYC
Hudson Valley NY: West Point Military Academy, Beacon (Dia art), Cold Spring (antiques), Hyde Park (FDR home), Storm King Art Center (monumental open-air sculptures), Mohonk Mountain House. Spectacular fall, 19th-century mansions and contemporary outdoor art.
Las Vegas Grand Circle — Grand Canyon, Antelope, Monument Valley
The classic "Grand Circle" out of Las Vegas. Pickup LAS, Death Valley (Badwater, Zabriskie), Grand Canyon South Rim, Lower Antelope Canyon (Navajo guided), Lake Powell + Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley (Navajo Tribal Park), Valley of Fire and back to Vegas. The most photographed Southwest route, all icons in a single loop.
Louisiana + Mississippi Delta — Cajun, jazz, swamps
The musical and culinary Deep South. New Orleans French Quarter, River Road plantations (Oak Alley), Atchafalaya swamps, Lafayette Cajun country, Natchitoches (Louisiana's oldest French town), Natchez Trace Parkway into Mississippi, Vicksburg Civil War, ending in Memphis with Beale Street + Graceland. Cuisine, blues, jazz and bayous on one route.
Michigan Upper Peninsula — the secret Great Lakes
Great Lakes' northern coast: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island (no cars, horse buggies), Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls, Apostle Islands (ice sea caves in winter, kayaking in summer). Empty roads, lighthouses, ferries and aurora hunting.
Utah Mighty 5 — Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands
The
Mt Hood + Columbia River Gorge (Oregon)
Scenic Oregon from Portland: Columbia River Gorge (Multnomah Falls, Vista House), Mt Hood (Timberline Lodge 1937 level, ski in July), Hood River (windsurfing world capital), Government Camp, Bagby Hot Springs. Multnomah is Oregon's most photographed waterfall.
New Mexico — Land of Enchantment
New Mexico triangle with three spectacular extremes — White Sands National Park (gypsum dunes), Carlsbad Caverns (giant underground cave) and Santa Fe / Taos (art, adobe and mountains). Bandelier for ancestral pueblo and Bosque del Apache if in crane season (Oct-Feb).
Northern California Redwoods + Crater Lake
Loop through Northern California and southern Oregon. Giant sequoias (Avenue of the Giants, Redwood NP), wild Pacific coast, Crater Lake (deepest volcanic lake in USA) and Lassen Volcanic NP. Finish in San Francisco with the Golden Gate.
Olympic Peninsula from Seattle
Loop around the Olympic Peninsula from Seattle. Three ecosystems within a few kilometres — temperate rainforest (Hoh), wild Pacific coast (Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach) and high alpine with glaciers (Hurricane Ridge). Victorian Port Townsend and Bainbridge ferry to start.
Outer Banks + Smokies — North Carolina coast-to-mountains
Coast-to-mountains loop through North Carolina. Outer Banks (Cape Hatteras, ferries, lighthouses), historic Wilmington, Asheville in the Blue Ridge, and the Great Smoky Mountains NP finale — the most visited national park in the USA. Three worlds in 10 days.
Ozarks — rural Arkansas + Missouri
The Ozarks: plateau between Missouri and Arkansas, deep rural American soul. Eureka Springs (hanging Victorian town), Buffalo National River (1st USA Wild River), Branson (country/bluegrass capital), Lake of the Ozarks, Bentonville (Crystal Bridges Museum + Walmart HQ), caves. Bourbon, BBQ and banjo.
Pacific Northwest — Seattle, Olympic, Rainier and North Cascades
Three national parks in one loop: Olympic NP (Hoh rainforest, Rialto Beach, Hurricane Ridge), Mt Rainier NP (Paradise, Sunrise), North Cascades NP (Diablo Lake). Pike Place Market in Seattle, Puget Sound ferries and lots of local coffee.
Rocky Mountain National Park + Colorado Front Range
Colorado: Rocky Mountain NP (Trail Ridge Road over 12,000ft), Estes Park, Boulder, Aspen, Glenwood Springs (hot waterfalls), Independence Pass, Mt Evans Scenic Byway (USA's highest paved road, 14,265ft). 14er peaks, trout rivers and thin air.
Route 66 Southwest — Albuquerque to Los Angeles
The Mother Road. The best-preserved stretch of historic Route 66, from Albuquerque (Tucumcari's neon motels) to Santa Monica Pier. Petrified Forest NP, Cadillac Ranch (Texas, optional east detour), Painted Desert, Williams (last town to be bypassed by interstate), Seligman (where Route 66 nostalgia was born), Oatman ghost town, Mojave's Bagdad Cafe and Santa Monica end-of-Route-66.
Sawtooth Idaho + Grand Tetons
Few Americans have done it — and that's why it's one of the most beautiful itineraries in the West. Sawtooth Range Idaho (Stanley, Redfish Lake, Sun Valley), Craters of the Moon (Apollo trained there), Mesa Falls and finish at Grand Teton + Jackson Hole. Zero mass tourism until you reach the Tetons.
Great Smoky Mountains + Blue Ridge Parkway
Atlanta to Washington DC along the Appalachian range: Great Smoky Mountains (USA's most visited NP), Asheville (Biltmore Estate), Blue Ridge Parkway (469 miles of official scenic byway), Shenandoah NP (Skyline Drive). Bluegrass music, BBQ and fall foliage.
Texas Hill Country — Austin, BBQ and Big Bend
Deep Texas: Austin (live music capital), Hill Country (German Fredericksburg, vineyards), San Antonio (Alamo, River Walk), Marfa (minimalist art), Big Bend NP (one of the most remote desert parks), Davis Mountains. BBQ everywhere and ranch country.
Yellowstone + Grand Tetons + Glacier — Wyoming/Montana big three
Three iconic national parks in one one-way route: Grand Tetons (alpine lakes), Yellowstone (Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Lamar Valley with bison and wolves), Glacier NP (Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most spectacular drives in the world). Volcanoes, geysers and glaciers.
Yosemite + Sierra Nevada — Tioga Pass, Mammoth, Sequoia
California's High Sierra by RV. Yosemite Valley (El Capitán, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls), Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass (3,031m), Mono Lake (tufas), Mammoth Lakes, Devils Postpile, Kings Canyon and Sequoia (world's largest trees: General Sherman). Three national parks on one SF-LA line.
Maine coast and Acadia NP — Lobster Trail 7 days
Maine coast loop — classic lobster trail. Boston, Portland, Camden, Bar Harbor, Acadia NP, back. Fishing villages, lighthouses and seafood at every stop.
Arizona and classic Route 66 — Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff 8 days
Phoenix loop through iconic Arizona. Sedona red rocks, Grand Canyon South Rim, Williams (Route 66), Flagstaff, Petrified Forest, back. Deeper than the classic Vegas-Grand Canyon route.
Arizona and Utah — Sedona, Antelope Canyon, Zion in 7 days
The quick version of the Grand Circle. Phoenix, Sedona red rocks, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce, Zion and Vegas. For a first trip or honeymoon, without trying to cover it all.
Blue Ridge Parkway — the Appalachians in fall
469-mile scenic parkway through the Appalachians. No traffic lights, no trucks, no advertising. 45 mph max. Fall with red-and-gold foliage, spring with rhododendrons. Ends in Shenandoah NP and DC.
Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains 7 days
One of the world's most scenic drives. DC → Shenandoah NP → Blue Ridge Parkway → Great Smoky Mountains → Atlanta. Forests, overlooks and bluegrass.
Eastern Sierras and Death Valley — hidden California 8 days
One-way combining Death Valley with the eastern Sierra Nevada face. Las Vegas, Death Valley, Lone Pine (Mt Whitney), Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, Bodie ghost town, Yosemite east, then to LA.
Coast to Coast — New York to San Francisco in 21 days
The great USA continental traverse. New York, Niagara Falls, Chicago, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Utah's Mighty Five, Las Vegas, Yosemite, San Francisco. 21 days, 5,800 km, 13 states. For those with time who want to understand the country in one piece.
Colorado Rockies and Mesa Verde — Aspen, Telluride, Durango 8 days
Colorado Rockies loop. Denver, Vail, Aspen, Independence Pass, Telluride, Mesa Verde NP (cliff dwellings), Durango, Million Dollar Highway, back. Mountain towns + archaeology.
Deep South USA — Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans
Cultural and musical route. Nashville (country), Memphis (Graceland, Beale Street), Mississippi Delta (blues birthplace), Vicksburg, Natchez Trace Parkway, Bayou Country, New Orleans (jazz, French Quarter). Foodie, musical and cultural.
Deep South — Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans 10 days
American music road trip. Nashville (country), Memphis (Graceland, blues), Natchez Trace, New Orleans (jazz, French Quarter). Culture, BBQ and the open road.
Everglades and Florida Keys — South Florida 7 days
South Florida loop. Miami, Everglades NP (airboat + alligators), Big Cypress, Key Largo, Marathon, Key West (southernmost USA point), back. Caribbean vibes on American soil.
Florida loop — Orlando, Everglades and Atlantic
Full Florida loop. Orlando (optional theme parks), Cape Canaveral (NASA), Daytona, St Augustine (oldest US city), Crystal River (manatees), Everglades, Miami, Florida Keys to Key West and back. Family and coast.
Glacier National Park — Going-to-the-Sun Road
Montana's wild strip. Going-to-the-Sun Road (one of the world's most spectacular drives), Logan Pass glaciers, Two Medicine and Many Glacier turquoise lakes, wildlife (grizzly bears and bighorn). Vehicles under 21 ft recommended for tight curves.
Grand Circle — the USA Southwest supercombo 11 parks
USA's most photographed loop. From Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon South Rim, Page (Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend), Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Utah's Mighty Five (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion), Valley of Fire and back. A different landscape every day.
Big Island Hawaii — volcanoes and Kona coast 6 days
Big Island loop. Kona, Volcanoes NP (Kilauea), Hilo, Waipio Valley, Kohala coast, back. Fewer RV options in Hawaii but Cruise America operates Kona and Honolulu (different island).
Gulf Coast — Houston, Galveston, New Orleans
Gulf Coast. Houston Space Center, historic Galveston, Lake Charles, Lafayette (Cajun), Avery Island (Tabasco), Baton Rouge, New Orleans. Swamps, alligators, jazz and Creole food.
Michigan Upper Peninsula and Great Lakes shores
Great Lakes shores loop. Sleeping Bear Dunes in lower Michigan, Mackinac Island (car-free), Pictured Rocks NL, Apostle Islands in Wisconsin and back. Sea-sized lakes and boreal forests. Little international tourism.
Black Hills — Mt Rushmore, Badlands and Devils Tower
South Dakota and Wyoming loop. Badlands NP (lunar erosion landscape), Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park (1,300 bison), Devils Tower (USA's first national monument), Spearfish Canyon. Five national parks and monuments in one week.
Natchez Trace + Mississippi Delta — American history 9 days
Very historical one-way. Nashville, full Natchez Trace Parkway, Vicksburg (battlefield), Mississippi Delta, Baton Rouge, Cajun country, Houston. Deep American history + local food.
New England — Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire fall foliage
America's great fall loop. Salem and the Massachusetts coast, Maine with Acadia NP and Bar Harbor, New Hampshire's White Mountains (Mt Washington), Vermont via Stowe and Burlington, back through the Berkshires. The most photographed season in USA.
New England fall foliage — fall colors road trip 9 days
Loop through the six New England states at peak foliage. Vermont, New Hampshire (White Mountains), Maine (Acadia), Massachusetts. Postcard scenery at every stop.
Pacific Coast Highway 1 extended — Seattle to San Diego 16 days
The full PCH. Seattle, Olympic, Astoria, Cannon Beach, Newport, Crescent City Redwoods, San Francisco, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, LA, San Diego. America's most photogenic road.
Pacific Coast + Baja California (optional extension) 14 days
PCH 1 plus optional Baja California Mexico extension (Tijuana, Ensenada). SF to SD one-way with the full coast. For those wanting California Pacific + Mexican flavor.
Full PCH — Seattle to San Diego
The most complete scenic route: full Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to San Diego via Olympic, Oregon Coast, San Francisco, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, LA, Orange County, San Diego. 2,200 km of Pacific coast missing nothing.
Southern California — San Diego, Joshua Tree and Anza-Borrego
Southern California loop. San Diego beaches, Anza-Borrego (largest state park in USA), Salton Sea, Joshua Tree dual desert, Palm Springs and back to San Diego. For short getaways with desert and beach.
Oregon Coast — USA's best coast
US-101 along the Oregon coast. 580 km of cliffs, lighthouses, fishing villages and sequoia forests. Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock), Tillamook (cheese), Newport (aquarium), Heceta Head Lighthouse, Bandon, Brookings and back inland via Crater Lake.
PCH express — San Francisco to Los Angeles
Quick PCH version. 5 days hitting all the essentials. Ideal for long-weekend getaways.
Pacific Northwest — Seattle, Cascades and Olympic 10 days
Pacific Northwest loop from Seattle. Olympic NP, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, San Juan Islands. Temperate rainforests, glaciers and wild coast.
Seattle and Olympic — 5-day getaway
Short Seattle loop. Olympic NP, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, Hurricane Ridge. For temperate-rainforest and wild-coast lovers.
PNW Volcanoes — Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier and Crater Lake
Pacific Northwest volcanic route. Seattle, Mount Rainier (Paradise + Sunrise), Mount St Helens (1980 collapsed cone), Mount Hood, Crater Lake (blue caldera), Columbia Gorge and Portland finish. For geology lovers.
Pacific Coast + Yosemite — full California 14 days
Full California: red north (Redwoods), Yosemite + Sequoia, southern PCH, Mojave + Joshua Tree and Los Angeles. Bestseller combo for 2-week fly-and-drive.
Southern Utah canyons — Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Escalante 9 days
For canyon fanatics. Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Escalante (slot canyons), Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Lake Powell, back. Less visited but more spectacular than standard Mighty 5.
Arizona deep dive — Sedona, North Rim and Hopi
Arizona's less touristy side. Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon North Rim (much less visited than South), Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Hopi and Navajo Reservations, Petrified Forest, back via Tucson and Saguaro NP.
Utah Mighty 5 — 8-day getaway
Utah's 5 national parks in 8 days. Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion. America the Beautiful pass $80 covers all.
Texas Hill Country — Austin, San Antonio and Big Bend
The most Texan loop. Austin (music and BBQ), Hill Country wineries, San Antonio and The Alamo, Fredericksburg, reach Big Bend NP (remote corner), back via Marathon and Llano. For music, BBQ and desert lovers.
West Texas and Big Bend NP — remote Rio Grande 8 days
One-way through wild West Texas. El Paso (Mexican border), Guadalupe Mountains NP, Carlsbad Caverns NP (NM), Big Bend NP (Rio Grande), Marfa (art), San Antonio. Far from urban Texas.
Utah Mighty 5 + Grand Canyon North Rim 12 days
Complete Mighty 5 loop + Grand Canyon North Rim (less visited than South). Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, back. Full Southwest with no shortcuts.
Vegas, Grand Canyon and Death Valley — 5-day getaway
Short loop from Las Vegas. Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon South Rim, optional Sedona, Death Valley and back. Long-weekend getaway.
Vegas-Zion-Grand Canyon-Bryce-Antelope 10 days
Perfect American Southwest loop. Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon West Rim, Antelope Canyon, Page, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Death Valley, back. Best Utah-Arizona intro.
Vermont and Maine Coast — Acadia and forests
Vermont + Maine loop. Boston, Stowe (Trapp Family Lodge), Burlington (Lake Champlain), brief White Mountains, Bar Harbor (Acadia NP), Maine coast lighthouses, Portland (lobster) and back. Forests, lakes and Atlantic coast.
Yellowstone, Tetons and Glacier — Rockies triangle 14 days
Loop through the three mythical Mountain West parks. Salt Lake City, Grand Teton, Yellowstone (5 days), Glacier NP, back via Idaho. The real American Rockies.
Yosemite, Mammoth and Lake Tahoe — Sierra Nevada loop
Sierra Nevada loop. Yosemite Valley, Tioga Pass, Mono Lake (tufa formations), Mammoth Lakes, Lake Tahoe (USA's largest alpine lake), South Lake Tahoe, Sacramento and back to SF. Granite, blue lakes and sequoia forests.
Zion and Bryce — Vegas 4-day getaway
Quick Grand Circle version. Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire, back. 4 days no stress.
Utah Mighty Five — the 5 national parks in 9 days
USA's densest concentration of dramatic landscapes. Zion (red canyons), Bryce Canyon (hoodoos), Capitol Reef (Waterpocket Fold), Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), Arches (2,000+ natural arches). 9 days is the reasonable minimum to do justice to all five.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton — the geothermal heart
The great inland west route. Old Faithful and Yellowstone geysers, Grand Prismatic Spring, bison herds in Lamar Valley, Tetons reflected in Jenny Lake. Start in Salt Lake City, end in Bozeman. Pair of parks deserving a full 9 days.