Adventure driving through national parks is the perfect way to appreciate their beauty and longevity, helping to satisfy a love of adventure and discovery, so this article has selected a few. favorite national park. Those who love the outdoors and have time to explore can go hiking and camping in the park, while others want to experience the beauty of the park in comfort. A long trip is an ideal start for everyone. Here are 10 of the best national parks in the United States to visit to drive around and capture memorable moments.
1 Sightseeing Trails in Death Valley, Death Valley National Park, California & Nevada
Sightseeing trails in Death Valley, Death Valley National Park, California & Nevada - Photo source: Pinterest
Experience driving through death valley road
Death Valley is known for its majestic mountains, salt flats, rich history, extreme temperatures, and altitudes that range from 282 feet below sea level at Badwater Basin to 11,049 feet above sea level atop Telescope Pea. Mild temperatures and wildflowers make spring a great time to visit, but summer is popular with discerning travelers who want to experience the extreme heat.
2 Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
The road to the horizon at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - Image source: Pinterest
Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Virginia is home to Shenandoah National Park, located along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the western part of the state. The park features a wide range of environments including forests, wetlands, and mountain peaks, as well as waterfalls, hiking trails, picnic areas, and wildlife.
Starting at the Front Royal Entrance, you'll reach the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center in about four miles. Skyline Drive is the starting point for many hiking trails, many of which are dog-friendly, making Shenandoah one of the most pet-friendly national parks.
3 Zion Canyon Scenic Road, Zion National Park, Utah
Zion Canyon Scenic Road, Zion National Park, Utah is eye-catching with majestic rocky mountains- Photo source: Pinterest
Zion Canyon Scenic Road, Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park in southwestern Utah is known for its breathtaking scenery that includes colorful mountains, peaks, sandstone formations, canyons, waterfalls, cliffs, and wildlife. Zion's popularity has resulted in vehicle restrictions and two shuttle routes to travel through the park from May to September.
The 54-mile route begins at the junction of Highways 9 and I-15, about 15 miles from St. George, Utah about 9 miles east and ending at the Mt. Carmel. From November to March, you'll be able to drive the entire route, but from spring to fall, the Zion canyon area is closed to cars. The free shuttle ride has nine stops and takes about an hour and a half. In the northwest section of the park, a 5-mile scenic drive takes you through the less traveled but equally stunning Kolob Canyons area of the national park.
4 Crater Lake Ring Road, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake Ring Road is formed from an inactive volcano - Image source: Pinterest
Crater Lake Ring Road, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Located in southern Oregon in the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. Formed by a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago, fed by rainfall, resulting in a dense blue color. Hiking, fishing, cycling and camping are the most popular activities enjoyed by visitors, and in winter when the area has heavy snowfall, there are additional activities such as skiing and snowboarding. walking on the snow.
The Crater Lake Ring Road is approximately 50 miles long in total, with the actual path around the lake being 33 miles long. From July to October, visitors will marvel at the strikingly clear blue waters, stopping along the way to take pictures, sightsee, picnic or go hiking. During the summer, ranger-led boat tours are available on the lake. There's also a trolley tour in the summer that takes guests around the 33-mile Ring Road with a narration from a ranger.
5 Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is home to the highest and most majestic peaks - Photo source: Pinterest
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is home to the tallest peaks in the 40-mile Teton Range, Jackson Hole valley, lakes, grasslands, wildlife, hiking trails, and alpine terrain. Bighorn sheep, elk, bears, mule deer, and bison thrive in the park. Things to do include climbing, fishing, hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding and in winter, skiing, snowshoeing and snow activities.
Grand Teton National Park is not 484 square miles, so visitors can take a scenic drive to enjoy the park's diversity and beauty. The Jenny Lake detour takes drivers along the pristine shores of a lake at the foot of Mount Tetons. Moose-Wilson Road begins at the park's entrance, past Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
6 Motor Roaring Fork Nature Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
Roaring Fork Nature Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee - Image source: Pinterest
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest National Park in the East, with great misty mountain ranges teeming with wildlife, forests, hiking trails, streams, wildflowers, and more than 90 parks. historical architecture that makes this park so unique and popular. The misty morning mist gives the park its name to the mountains and waterfalls, drawing hikers to its more than 800 miles of trails.
More than 270 miles of roads, most of which are paved, offer a variety of scenic drives. Guide booklets are available at the park's visitor centers. Cades Cove is one of the most visited areas of the park and can be reached after a scenic 25-mile drive from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The Motor Roaring Fork Nature Trail, a nearly six-mile one-way winding through the woods, offers views of mountains, fast-flowing streams, wildlife, and historic buildings.
7 Road to Heaven, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
The Road to Heaven at Mount Rainier National Park allows visitors to experience great scenery - photo source: Pinterest
One of the country's oldest national parks, Mount Rainier is an active volcano and the glacial peak of the 48 states. Visitors enjoy snow sports in winter and hiking, fishing, boating, camping and biking in July and August. More than 260 miles of hiking trails are maintained. maintained through forests, river valleys, grasslands and along streams giving you views of summer wildflowers and glaciers year-round.
The "Road to Heaven" begins at the Nisqually Entrance, where you'll begin your drive through old-growth forests. The Kautz Creek Bridge provides views and leads to the Kautz Creek Trail. Visit the Longmire Museum, which features exhibits about the park's history. Further afield, the road offers stunning views of Mount Rainier, Nisqually Glacier, Narada Falls, and several other glaciers. See the Glacier Vista Viewpoint and the park's glacier exhibit.
8 Coastal, Redwood National and State Parks, California
Coastal for those who love nostalgia - Image source: Pinterest
Coastal, California
Three state parks (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek) have become part of the national park, so it's called national and state parks. Redwood consists of old redwood groves, open grasslands, miles of California coastline and two rivers. Hundreds of miles of trails for hiking and biking.
Road trips are a favorite way to experience the diverse environment of Redwood National and State Parks. The 9-mile Coastal Road begins at Klamath on US 101 to the Klamath seaway exit, The steep and narrow Road curves to offer views of the Pacific Ocean and the Klamath Estuary. Wildlife, including whales (in season), sea lions and pelicans can be spotted along the way.
9 Petrified Forest Road, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Petrified Forest Road, although it looks wild, is very unique if you experience this place once - Photo source: Pinterest
Petrified Forest Road, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
This national park has trees over 200 million years old that have turned to stone by absorbing minerals from the water that once surrounded them. The park also includes fossil flora and fauna, petroglyphs, wildflowers, colorful rock formations and wildlife. Hiking trails allow visitors to see petrified wood, petroglyphs and fossils.
The ride from one end of the park to the other is about 28 miles. There's so much to see, from the Painted Desert in the north to the southern half, which is mostly petrified wood. Walking trails along the way bring visitors close to the attractions. Starting north at Exit 311, stop at the Desert Visitor Center for an 18-minute film, hands-on exhibits, and a short walking trail.
Next stop will be the Painted Desert Inn, now a National Museum and Historic Landmark. Originally built of petrified wood, the Inn has since been restored and in the summer. Continue south to Puerco Pueblo for a fascinating look at hundreds of petroglyphs left by the Puebloan people. Continue south to the Rainbow Forest Museum near the park's south entrance to visit the paleontological exhibits and hit some hiking trails.
10 Geological Sightseeing Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, California
The geological tour shows us fascinating and beautiful landscapes -Image source: Pinterest
The park is located in southeastern California, about an hour east of Palm Springs. Striking rocks and varied terrain make Joshua Tree popular with hikers, campers and mountaineers. The weather ranges from very hot summers to colder and occasionally snowy winters.
The park can be accessed from the north at Joshua Tree. From the south, entrance is from I-10, and the first Visitor Center is at Cottonwood. Stop at the Cholla Cactus Garden, where you can walk (carefully) the path among the thorny cacti. The Geological Track is an 18-mile drive from some of the park's most fascinating sights. The Keys View detour takes you off Park Avenue to 5,185 feet for views of Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, and San Jacinto Peak.
