Sweet sweeeeeet summertime. As a school counselor, I especially love summertime. It’s finally my chance to unwind, relax and enjoy the beauty of the great United States. AND it’s the perfect time for a road trip! Road Trips allow you the freedom and flexibility to admire the roadside attractions, stop when you want/need to, and see some of those off-the-beaten-path stops. I have put together a list of EPIC USA road trips to add to your Summer Bucket List + sample itineraries that you can use to plan your perfect road trip!
Hint!! Check out my library of printable 5 dollar weekend itineraries. It will save you the stress of planning your summer getaways!
Table of Contents
Grand Teton to Yellowstone
Geysers, waterfalls, hot springs, alpine lakes, and alllllll the epic mountain views! A road trip from Grand Teton to Yellowstone should be at the top of your summer bucket list! Although summer is the peak time to visit, the beauty faaaaaaar outweighs the crowds.
Sample Grand Teton to Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary:
- Day 1: Jackson Hole for shopping, dinner, and nightly gunfire show
- Day 2: Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, String Lake for a swim, scenic dinner, and raft tour (we booked this with Triangle X Ranch)
- Day 3: Yellowstone National Park (West Entrance Loop with all the best sights!)
Add an extra day to the start to hang out in Jackson and/or to the end to explore North Yellowstone including Lamar Valley, Boiling River, and Mammoth Hot Springs!
South Dakota
RUN DON’T WALK TO SOUTH DAKOTA! This midwestern gem is a road-trippers paradise! Although you will likely find miles upon miles of fields, billboards, and windmills, you will also find US monuments, vast national parks (that will make you feel as though you are on a different planet), and so many unique stops along the way.
Sample South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary
- Day 1: Badlands, Wall Drug (giant gift store and restaurant), Bear Country USA (if time)
- Day 2: Big Thunder Gold Mine, Cosmos Mystery Area (too cool to even explain here)
- Day 3: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial
- Day 4: Custer State Park (swimming, hiking, and amazing views)
Minnesota North Shore
I bet you didn’t know that Minnesota has some of the MOST beautiful sights in the USA. Seriously. A true hidden gem in the midwest. Throughout this road trip, you will find quaint towns, epic waterfalls, lighthouses, and amazing views of the great Lake Superior. AND if you are brave, you can even take a dip into the frigid Lake Superior waters (average of 46 degrees)!
Sample MN North Shore Road Trip Itinerary
- Day 1: Duluth, MN (Canal Park and Park Point beach) If you want to extend your time in Duluth, check out this 3-day Duluth Itinerary!
- Day 2: Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and a picnic at Black Beach.
- Day 3: Palisade Head, Tettegouche Park (I recommend hiking to Two Step Falls and High Falls—make sure to bring your swimsuit to swim in Two-Step Falls!)
- Day 4: Lutsen (Gondola, Alpine Slide, and dinner at Papa Charlies)
- Day 5: Head back towards Duluth, but make a pit stop in Silver Bay at the North Shore Adventure Park
Tip! Check out these exciting Road Trip Questions for Couples before your epic summer road trip!
Ouachita National Forest, AR
Arkansas is a true hidden gem in the United States and the perfect stop for a summer road trip. With miles and miles of dirt roads, beautiful lakes, and unique stops along the way, you will surely want to extend your trip (or maybe even move to this gem of a state).
- Day 1: Hot Springs National Park (historic bath houses, a brewery that uses spring water, and some city hikes)
- Day 2: Lake Catherine State Park (I recommend hiking to Fall Branch Falls)
- Day 3: Lake Ouachita State Park (This was our favorite stop…great hiking and swimming!)
- Day 4: Garvan Woodland Gardens (a unique dog-friendly attractions with miles of gardens and cool treehouses)
- Day 5: Cossatot River State Park and Queen Wilhelmina State Park (Lover’s Leap Trail is a great one for sunset).
- Day 6: Glory Hole and Hawksbill Crag Hikes (This is north of the Ouachitas if you wish to extend your road trip)
Texas Swimming Holes Road Trip
Summers in Texas are no joke. 100+ degree weather…every.single.day. So the only answer to this dilemma is to check out all of the swimming holes throughout the state! From large natural swimming pools to hidden small ones, they are the perfect way to cool off! The following road trip itinerary starts in Austin, TX!
- Day 1: Barton Springs Pool and Barton Creek Green Belt
- Day 2: The Blue Hole and Jacobs Well (These are both very popular, so expect crowds. But still worth it)
- Day 3: Pedernales Falls State Park
- Day 4: Krause Springs (This one has both a spring-fed swimming pool and a natural swimming hole)
- Day 5: Colorado Bend State Park (grab a campsite by the river and take off on a short hike to find the swimming holes)
Tip!! Make sure to research each location before visiting as most of the swimming holes require an advance reservation.
Portland Waterfalls Road Trip
Is there anything better than the Pacific Northwest in the summertime? With average June temperatures in the low 70s, it’s the perfect time to get out hiking and catch the cool mist of the waterfalls. Portland is the perfect starting point for an epic waterfall adventure.
- Day 1: Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Multnomah Falls
- Day 2: Pony Tail Falls and Wahclella Falls
- Day 3: Tunnel Falls (12+ mile hike…but 100 percent worth it)
- Day 4: Cannon Beach (no waterfalls, BUT a great way to end this summer road trip!)
Extend your trip by spending one weekend exploring more Portland gems in the city!
Have I convinced you to start planning your USA road trips for this summer? What other summer road trips would you add to this list? Follow along on Instagram and let me know where you re headed!
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