Here’s a list of the top 10 camping road trips in the USA that combine scenic drives with access to incredible campgrounds, national parks, and outdoor adventures. These routes offer stunning landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and plenty of activities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
1. Pacific Coast Highway (California)
Route: San Francisco to Los Angeles along Highway 1
Highlights: Towering cliffs, coastal views, Big Sur, and the Redwoods.
Best Camping Spots: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Point Reyes National Seashore.
Why It’s Great: One of the most scenic drives in the U.S., this route offers breathtaking ocean views and access to both beaches and towering redwood forests.
2. Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia to North Carolina)
Route: From Shenandoah National Park, VA to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
Highlights: Rolling mountains, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks.
Best Camping Spots: Big Meadows Campground (Shenandoah National Park), Julian Price Campground, and Elkmont Campground (Great Smoky Mountains).
Why It’s Great: The Blue Ridge Parkway is perfect for a leisurely road trip, with tons of hiking opportunities, stunning mountain views, and rich wildlife.
3. The Great River Road (Minnesota to Louisiana)
Route: Follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana
Highlights: River towns, rolling hills, historic sites, and bayous.
Best Camping Spots: Itasca State Park (MN), Pere Marquette State Park (IL), and Natchez State Park (MS).
Why It’s Great: This trip offers a mix of scenic landscapes and historical landmarks, taking you from the river's source in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
4. Route 66 (Chicago to Santa Monica)
Route: From Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA along historic Route 66
Highlights: Classic Americana, desert landscapes, quirky roadside attractions.
Best Camping Spots: Grand Canyon National Park (AZ), Petrified Forest National Park (AZ), and Red Rock Canyon State Park (CA).
Why It’s Great: This historic road trip offers a nostalgic journey across the country, passing through small towns, deserts, and iconic attractions.
5. The Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana)
Route: Crosses Glacier National Park along Going-to-the-Sun Road
Highlights: Glacial lakes, towering peaks, and alpine meadows.
Best Camping Spots: Many Glacier Campground and St. Mary Campground.
Why It’s Great: This road trip takes you through the heart of Glacier National Park, offering some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the U.S.
6. Olympic Peninsula Loop (Washington)
Route: Around the Olympic Peninsula on Highway 101
Highlights: Rainforests, rugged coastlines, and alpine peaks.
Best Camping Spots: Kalaloch Campground, Sol Duc Campground, and Hoh Rainforest Campground.
Why It’s Great: This route offers access to the diverse ecosystems of Olympic National Park, from lush rainforests to coastal beaches and glacier-capped mountains.
7. Alaska Highway (British Columbia to Alaska)
Route: From Dawson Creek, BC to Delta Junction, AK
Highlights: Remote wilderness, mountains, and wildlife.
Best Camping Spots: Kluane National Park (Yukon), Denali National Park (AK), and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (AK).
Why It’s Great: For adventurers seeking remote and wild beauty, this road trip offers stunning views of the Alaskan wilderness and abundant wildlife.
8. Utah’s Mighty 5 Road Trip
Route: Loop through Utah’s five national parks (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion)
Highlights: Red rock formations, slot canyons, and unique landscapes.
Best Camping Spots: Watchman Campground (Zion), Devil’s Garden (Arches), and Bryce Canyon Campground.
Why It’s Great: This road trip through Utah’s national parks features breathtaking desert landscapes, arches, and rock formations, perfect for camping and exploration.
9. The Loneliest Road (Nevada)
Route: Across Nevada on Highway 50
Highlights: Remote desert landscapes, ghost towns, and open skies.
Best Camping Spots: Great Basin National Park, Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area, and Sand Mountain Recreation Area.
Why It’s Great: Highway 50 offers a unique desert road trip experience through some of the most remote parts of Nevada, with opportunities for stargazing, hiking, and history.
10. The Florida Keys Overseas Highway
Route: From Miami to Key West via US Highway 1
Highlights: Tropical islands, crystal clear waters, and coral reefs.
Best Camping Spots: Bahia Honda State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Why It’s Great: A scenic coastal drive, this road trip offers plenty of opportunities for water activities, beach camping, and exploring coral reefs.
Bonus Road Trip:
The Natchez Trace Parkway (Tennessee to Mississippi): A scenic, historic route with lots of hiking trails, camping spots, and cultural heritage.
These road trips combine the best of scenic drives and access to some of the most iconic and beautiful campgrounds in the U.S., making them perfect for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers.
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