US National Parks are some of the most beautiful and truly amazing places the country has to offer. Two weeks is a good amount of time to see several national parks at a slower pace and be able to enjoy other local activities as well. With various types of parks that offer mountains, desert, red rocks, beaches, wildlife, and more, this article gives ample 2-week National Park Road Trip ideas.
If two weeks is too long of a vacation for you, check out my 1-week National Park Road Trip ideas!
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Buy the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass
You will need to purchase a park pass to enter each of the national parks. You should do the math and see if it is beneficial for you to purchase an America the Beautiful park pass, which will allow you into all national parks for a year for one single fee. The America the Beautiful Interagency pass is $80. Moreover, if you have a 4th grader in your household, you can get a family pass for free to the national parks that is good for a year. Find out more about that benefit here.
What to Pack on Your 2-Week National Park Road Trip
- Water!! Whether you use a hydration backpack or carry bottled water, make sure to pack plenty of water when outdoors!
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
- Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
- Hiking shoes/boots – Some of the hikes are on steep, slick rock, and people wearing regular tennis shoes struggled to keep their footing. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
- Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
- Water Shoes – Some hikes can be in rivers or you may want to take a dip in a swimming hole.
- Hiking Poles – Hiking poles are nice especially when hiking difficult trails.
- Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your longer hikes.
- RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – Keep your drinks and sandwich stuff cool in this cooler.
- Packing Cubes – Keep your stuff organized in your luggage with these packing cubes.
- Jacket – Even in warmer months, the temps can be cool so pack a light men’s or women’s jacket.
- Printed Maps/Directions – Cell service is spotty in some national parks, so I recommend you print maps/directions or download offline maps to all hiking trails and parks you plan to visit.
1. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks (US and Canada)
- Nearest Cities – Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Kalispell, Montana
- Best Time of Year to Visit – Late April to Early October
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-4: Yellowstone National Park
- Days 5-6: Grand Teton National Park
- Day 7: Travel Day to Glacier National Park USA
- Days 8-10: Glacier National Park USA
- Days 11-14: Glacier National Park Canada
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
In 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the world and is located mostly in Wyoming, U.S.A. The park is known for its unique thermal features, extensive wildlife, and majestic landscapes. Parts of this park will make you feel like you are on another planet, and it is a must-see destination for travelers. The second national park in this 2-week national park road trip is Grand Teton National Park, named after the highest point (13,775 feet) in the Teton Range. The jagged mountains of the Tetons overlooking a valley of pristine lakes and creeks make this national park the perfect home to wildlife like bear, moose, elk, and more.
Glacier National Park is perfect for seeing alpine forests, numerous glaciers carved-out lakes, and mountain wildlife. Glacier has 25 “active” glaciers that sculpt the landscape as they melt and slide between mountains. Make sure you bring your passport and follow any other entry requirements because you are headed to Canada! Spend the rest of your road trip exploring the Canadian Glacier National Park in the Columbia Mountain Region.
2. Grand Canyon and Utah Mighty 5 National Parks
- Nearest Cities – Las Vegas, Nevada
- Best Time of Year to Visit – April to June and September to November
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-2: Grand Canyon National Park
- Day 3: Page, Arizona (Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend)
- Day 4: Monument Valley
- Day 5: Canyonlands and Dead Horse
- Days 6-7: Arches National Park
- Day 8: Capitol Reef National Park
- Days 9-10: Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument
- Day 11: Bryce Canyon National Park
- Days 12-13: Zion National Park
- Day 14: Las Vegas
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
One of the most unbelievable national parks in the US is the Grand Canyon which has been carved out by the Colorado River for millions of years. The canyon averages 4,000 feet deep and is 277 miles in length. Utah’s Mighty Five includes the national parks of Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. All of these parks display the best and most unique formations that wind and water erosion has carved in the red rocks of this part of the country. Arches, canyons, and hoodoos are the stars of Utah. With this 2-week national park road trip, you can see them all plus a bonus park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
3. Olympic, North Cascades, Mount Rainier National Parks and Mount St. Helens
- Nearest Cities – Seattle, Washington
- Best Time of Year to Visit – Mid-June to Late September
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-3: Olympic National Park
- Days 4-5: Victoria, BC Canada (Bring a passport!)
- Days 6-8: North Cascades National Park
- Days 9-11: Mount Rainier National Park
- Day 12: Mount St. Helens National Monument
- Days 13-14: Seattle, Washington
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
- How to Spend 3 Days in Olympic National Park
- The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Road Trip: How to Spend 1, 2, 3 , or 4 Weeks
- The Ultimate 2-Day North Cascades Hikes Itinerary
- The Most Scenic 7-Day Washington State Road Trip
- 13 Ways to Spend a Day in Seattle, Washington
- 10 Breathtaking Waterfalls near Seattle
Washington is a gorgeous state peppered with volcanic peaks, waterfalls, and lush forests. Because of its beauty, this state is blessed with 3 stunning national parks. You will start this road trip from Seattle spending 3 days exploring Olympic National Park. Make sure to visit Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls, Sol du Lac Falls, the tide pools of Second Beach and so much more. This itinerary gives a couple days to take a ferry to Victoria, British Columbia where you can whale watch, have tea at the Fairmont Empress, and marvel at Butchart Gardens.
Next, travel to North Cascades which is known that the American Alps with its giant mountain range and more glaciers than Glacier National Park. This park is one of the least visited parks in the US, so you can avoid the masses here. Continue your 2-week National Park Road Trip at Mount Rainier National Park, a glacier-capped, active volcano. This park is one of the oldest and one of the busiest parks, and it is easy to see why. Lastly, visit Mount St. Helens National Monument before heading back to Seattle for a couple days.
4. Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands National Parks
- Nearest Cities – El Paso, Texas and Midland, Texas
- Best Time of Year to Visit – November to April
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-6: Big Bend National Park
- Days 7-8: El Paso, Texas
- Days 9-10: Guadalupe Mountains and
- Day 11: Carlsbad Caverns National Parks
- Day 12: White Sands National Park
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
Big Bend National Park is one of two national parks in Texas. Located on the Texas-Mexico border, this park is remote and vast. If you have ever been to the rest of Texas, you will know this place is like no other in the state. There is no need for strenuous hikes to see big views, ancient dormant volcano, dinosaur fossils, Rio Grande River, and canyons. The second half of this road trip takes you to the other Texas national park, Guadalupe Mountains, and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico after spending a couple days in El Paso. These two parks are only 30 minutes apart even though they are in two separate states. End this 2-week National Park Road Trip with a trip to New Mexico’s White Sands National Park.
5. Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree National Parks
- Nearest Cities – Las Vegas, Nevada and Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and Bakersfield, California
- Best Time of Year to Visit – May to mid-October
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-2: Lake Tahoe
- Days 3-6: Yosemite National Park
- Days 7-8: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
- Days 9-11: Death Valley National Park
- Day 12-13: Joshua Tree National Park
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
There are several cities that are 2-3 hours away from Yosemite where you can begin this one week itinerary and spend a couple days exploring that city. However, for this itinerary, I have you beginning in Lake Tahoe, which is one of the USA’s deepest lakes and straddles the California/Nevada border. From here, spend 3 days in Yosemite National Park where you can look for black bears in Yosemite Valley, drive to Glacier Point for views of Half Dome, and hikes to massive waterfalls. Spend the last couple days in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Sequoia National Parks is home to some of the largest trees in the world including the largest tree by volume, The General Sherman.
Continue your 2-week National Park Road Trip to Death Valley where you can see painted hills, salt flats, and other amazing sites. The last national park in this itinerary is Joshua Tree which has become increasingly popular as of late.
6. Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks Canada
- Nearest Cities – Calgary, Alberta Canada
- Best Time of Year to Visit – Late June to mid-September
- Canadian Discovery Pass – Make sure to purchase an annual Canada National Park Pass here.
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-6: Jasper National Park
- Day 7: Yoho National Park
- Day 8: Kootenay National Park
- Days 9-14: Banff National Park
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
Make sure you bring your passport and follow any other entry requirements because you are headed to Canada! Start this 2-week National Park Road Trip at the park furthest away from Calgary, Jasper National Park. Spend your time here hiking to glaciers and alpine lakes, taking in the views on the Icefields Parkway, and looking for wildlife. Yoho and Kootenay National Parks are smaller parks nestled amongst the larger Jasper and Banff parks. Banff is a beautiful mountain town and the perfect place to stay while you explore the Canadian Rockies.
7. Colorado National Parks: The Rockies, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- Nearest Cities – Denver, Colorado and Durango, Colorado
- Best Time of Year to Visit – April to early June and September to October
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-4: Rocky Mountains National Park
- Day 5-6: Denver, Idaho Springs, Golden, and Colorado Springs
- Day 7: Royal Gorge and Bishop Castle
- Day 8: Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Days 9-10: Mesa Verde National Park
- Day 11: Durango to Silverton Million Dollar Highway
- Days 12: Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- Day 13: Ouray, Colorado
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
Each national park in Colorado are each unique in their own right. The Rocky Mountains is a massive mountain range that contains several points over 14,000 feet and is one of the most crowded in the country. Get your park entry permits early! As you drive from the Rockies to Great Sand Dunes, makes stops at several of the towns and attractions along the way. Great Sand Dunes is an unexpected surprise in the middle of a very mountainous state. Spend the day sliding down the giant sand dunes and then cool off in the Medano Creek.
Next, head to Mesa Verde, located near Durango, Colorado where the Pueblo Indians carved cliff dwellings for their ancient homes. Make sure to book a tour to see these dwellings up close. Spend one day driving from Durango to Silverton before arriving in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This park is Colorado’s version of the Grand Canyon. Spend the last day in Ouray where you can swim in hot springs and see waterfalls at Box Canyon Falls Park and Cascade Falls Park.
8. Hawaii National Parks: Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes
- Nearest Cities – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Best Time of Year to Visit – March to September
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-2: Oahu
- Days 3-6: Maui (Haleakala National Park)
- Days 7-10: Big Island (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
- Days 11-14: Kauai
- For more information to help you plan your 2-week National Park Road Trip, visit:
This 2-week National Park Road Trip isn’t typically mainland road trip, but what a great opportunity to cross two amazing national parks off your bucket list. Your first couple days should be spent in Oahu relaxing on Waikiki beach and memorializing Pear Harbor in Honolulu. Next, visit the island of Maui where you can bike from the top of Haleakala National Park to the bottom. Make sure to check out the Road to Hana. The next national park on this “road trip” is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Finish your Hawaii vacation on the island of Kauai, the most beautiful of them all!
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