The optimal road trip across the U.S. stopping at the U.S. National Parks

Stops

47round trip

Distance

15,315 mi24,647 km

Time driving

319 hours13.3 days nonstop

Legs

47all by road

The original post quoted 14,498 mi.

Take the route with you

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Stops in order

1. 1Mather Point203 mi (327 km), 3 h 47 min driving to 2. Petrified Forest National Park
2. 2Petrified Forest National Park274 mi (440 km), 6 h driving to 3. Saguaro National Park Visitor Center
3. 3Saguaro National Park Visitor Center441 mi (710 km), 7 h 57 min driving to 4. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
4. 4Guadalupe Mountains National Park42 mi (68 km), 54 min driving to 5. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
5. 5Carlsbad Caverns National Park275 mi (443 km), 5 h 33 min driving to 6. Big Bend National Park
6. 6Big Bend National Park860 mi (1,384 km), 15 h 13 min driving to 7. Hot Springs National Park
7. 7Hot Springs National Park491 mi (790 km), 9 h driving to 8. Mammoth Cave National Park
8. 8Mammoth Cave National Park243 mi (390 km), 4 h 59 min driving to 9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
9. 9Great Smoky Mountains National Park905 mi (1,456 km), 17 h 16 min driving to 10. Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
10. 10Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center136 mi (219 km), 3 h 38 min driving to 11. Dry Tortugas National Park
11. 11Dry Tortugas National ParkReached via Key West ferry terminal, Grinnell St (68 mi away)137 mi (220 km), 3 h 38 min driving to 12. Biscayne National Park - Dante Fascell Visitor Center
12. 12Biscayne National Park - Dante Fascell Visitor Center663 mi (1,067 km), 12 h 40 min driving to 13. Congaree National Park
13. 13Congaree National Park433 mi (697 km), 8 h 44 min driving to 14. Shenandoah National Park
14. 14Shenandoah National Park801 mi (1,289 km), 17 h 17 min driving to 15. Acadia National Park
15. 15Acadia National ParkReached via Sand Beach on the Park Loop Road (2.1 mi away)908 mi (1,462 km), 18 h 13 min driving to 16. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
16. 16Cuyahoga Valley National Park712 mi (1,146 km), 13 h 32 min driving to 17. Isle Royale National Park
17. 17Isle Royale National ParkReached via Houghton Visitor Center and Ranger III ferry dock (62 mi away)391 mi (629 km), 8 h 47 min driving to 18. Voyageurs National Park
18. 18Voyageurs National Park591 mi (951 km), 11 h 10 min driving to 19. South Unit Visitor Center
19. 19South Unit Visitor Center309 mi (498 km), 6 h 47 min driving to 20. White River Visitor Center
20. 20White River Visitor Center102 mi (164 km), 2 h 37 min driving to 21. Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center
21. 21Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center350 mi (563 km), 6 h 45 min driving to 22. Rocky Mountain National Park
22. 22Rocky Mountain National Park304 mi (490 km), 6 h 18 min driving to 23. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
23. 23Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve196 mi (316 km), 4 h 52 min driving to 24. 9800 CO-347
24. 249800 CO-347157 mi (252 km), 3 h 50 min driving to 25. Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center
25. 25Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center157 mi (252 km), 3 h 39 min driving to 26. Canyonlands National Park
26. 26Canyonlands National Park29 mi (46 km), 49 min driving to 27. Arches National Park Visitor Center
27. 27Arches National Park Visitor Center142 mi (229 km), 2 h 50 min driving to 28. Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center
28. 28Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center123 mi (198 km), 3 h 4 min driving to 29. Bryce Canyon National Park
29. 29Bryce Canyon National Park85 mi (137 km), 2 h 11 min driving to 30. Zion National Park
30. 30Zion National Park201 mi (323 km), 4 h 8 min driving to 31. Great Basin National Park
31. 31Great Basin National Park496 mi (799 km), 10 h 11 min driving to 32. Grand Teton National Park
32. 32Grand Teton National Park114 mi (184 km), 3 h 18 min driving to 33. West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center
33. 33West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center393 mi (633 km), 7 h 20 min driving to 34. Glacier National Park
34. 34Glacier National Park539 mi (867 km), 11 h 50 min driving to 35. North Cascades National Park
35. 35North Cascades National Park217 mi (350 km), 5 h 31 min driving to 36. Mount Rainier National Park
36. 36Mount Rainier National Park179 mi (287 km), 4 h 33 min driving to 37. Olympic National Park
37. 37Olympic National Park480 mi (772 km), 10 h 39 min driving to 38. Crater Lake National Park
38. 38Crater Lake National Park220 mi (354 km), 5 h 15 min driving to 39. Redwood National and State Parks
39. 39Redwood National and State Parks250 mi (403 km), 5 h 4 min driving to 40. Lassen Volcanic National Park
40. 40Lassen Volcanic National Park321 mi (516 km), 7 h 22 min driving to 41. Yosemite National Park
41. 41Yosemite National Park147 mi (237 km), 3 h 45 min driving to 42. Kings Canyon National Park
42. 42Kings Canyon National Park46 mi (74 km), 1 h 40 min driving to 43. Sequoia National Park
43. 43Sequoia National Park172 mi (276 km), 4 h 1 min driving to 44. Pinnacles National Park
44. 44Pinnacles National Park247 mi (398 km), 5 h 6 min driving to 45. The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park
45. 45The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park210 mi (338 km), 4 h 15 min driving to 46. Joshua Tree National Park
46. 46Joshua Tree National Park237 mi (381 km), 5 h 40 min driving to 47. Furnace Creek Visitor Center
47. 47Furnace Creek Visitor Center386 mi (621 km), 7 h 40 min driving to 1. Mather Point