The All-American Summer Road Trip for Adventure Seekers

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of the open road, but an epic trip is only as good as its itinerary. Here, we’ve mapped out an 8,687-mile journey to some must-see spots across the U.S. for the adventure-minded. While you’ll never drive more than 12 hours in a day, and most travel days will take closer to eight hours, the entire loop will cost you nearly six days of straight driving time. So the best way to really make the most of this circle around the U.S. is by taking at least a month to really enjoy a couple days in each spot. This mapped-out trip starts and ends in Santa Fe, NM, but it’s really a big loop around the country, so you can start and finish in any of the towns featured on the list.

Ready to hit the asphalt and feel the wind in your hair? Load up the gear, grab your friends, and download some new podcasts. This road trip is enough to make Jack Kerouac jealous.

1. Santa Fe, NM

Welcome to the outdoor mecca of the Southwest. (There’s a reason Outside Magazine calls this town home.) Fly fish for trout in the San Juan River, rock climb at Diablo Canyon, and hike up the local ski basin—all starting at the whopping elevation of 7,000+ feet. Then, sooth your sore muscles in the natural McCauley Hot Springs .

2. Leadville, CO

Santa Fe to Leadville
275 miles, 4 1/2 hours

Epic mountain biking trails and some of the best high-elevation hikes in the country have resurrected this adventure town from its industrial past. Leadville is home to a handful of fourteeners, where mountain goats can often be spotted from the hiking trails. Before you hit the road for your next destination, but sure to fuel up with a breakfast burrito from local hotspot City on a Hill.

3. Moab, UT

Leadville to Moab
285 miles, 4 1/2 hours

In Moab, enjoy the best of desert life. From climbing to high-lining, to world-renowned mountain biking , this is where some of the most extreme dirtbags in the world spend their time. The red sandstone offers top-notch crack climbing and thousands of routes . You’ll walk away wearing bandages over your bloody knuckles and a big smile.

4. Red Rock Canyon, NV

Moab to Red Rock Canyon
475 miles, 6 3/4 hours

This is the jungle gym of the West. Red Rock Canyon features hundreds of multi-pitch routes and a wide range of options for both sport and trad climbers. Enjoy a hike over the natural rock pathways or head into the backcountry to camp.

5. Yosemite National Park, CA

Red Rock Canyon to Yosemite National Park
466 miles, 7 hours

Welcome to the home of deep valleys, crashing waterfalls, and the birthplace of climbing in the U.S. Hike Half Dome Trail, look for (illegal) BASE-jumpers off of El Cap, cast a line in Mirror Lake, and pitch a tent in rock climbers’ paradise, Camp 4 . There are endless adventures to be had in Yosemite; here are 10 of our favorites .

6. Boise, ID

Yosemite National Park to Boise
643 miles, 11 hours

There’s nothing quite like life in the Northern Rockies. Surf or whitewater kayak the waves of the Boise River Park. Hike, run, or bike over 100 miles of trail in Ridge to Rivers north of town. SUP or canoe the flat waters of Lake Cascade while you enjoy the panoramic mountain views. When you’ve had your share of outdoor sports, grab a bite and a brew at the Bittercreek Alehouse or 10 Barrel Brewing Company.

7. Yellowstone National Park, WY

Boise to Yellowstone National Park
388 miles, 5 3/4 hours

You can’t drive through Wyoming without stopping to look for grizzlies in the first national park in the world. Check out the bubbling mud, gawk at Upper Yellowstone Falls, take a dip in some hot springs , and be sure to keep an eye out for the hundreds of wild bison roaming the land.

8. Rapid City, SD

Yellowstone National Park to Rapid City
487 miles, 7 3/4 hours

Rapid City’s outdoor recreation will spice up your journey across the Midwest’s long stretches of flatland. Log some steep climbs on the town’s bike paths or venture into the nearby Black Hills for some incredible hiking trails and history (this is where historic Deadwood, the town from the HBO series of the same name, is located). Don’t forget to bring the camera for a good view of Mount Rushmore while you’re in the area.

9. Ely, MN

Rapid City to Ely
820 miles, 12 hours

It may be small, but Ely, Minnesota, is mighty in terms of outdoor adventure. Ely sits at the base of the Boundary Waters, Superior National Forest’s 1 million acre wilderness area. Take a few days to canoe through your pick of the 1,000 lakes in the area. Just don’t forget to pack your mosquito netting!

10. Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Ely to Upper Peninsula
363 miles, 6 3/4 hours

Pack light and set out on the ultimate backpacking adventure through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The area, surrounded by three Great Lakes , houses waterfalls, natural arches, sunken ships, and the  fifth-largest suspension bridge in the world. Before you hit the road again, cozy up with a good read at Munising’s  Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore .

11. Ithaca, NY

Upper Peninsula to Ithaca
810 miles, 13 hours

There’s a reason Ithaca’s tagline is “Ithaca is Gorges.” This college town in Upstate New York is sprinkled with over 100 waterfalls, all surrounded by heavily wooded forests. Paddle the Cayuga Lake Blueway Trail by kayak, canoe, or SUP, and reward yourself with a sweet treat at the Ithaca Bakery.

12. Acadia National Park, ME

Ithaca to Acadia National Park
603 miles, 10 hours

Start your morning on top of Cadillac Mountain, the first spot to see the sunrise each day in the continental U.S. from October to March. Rock climb above the Atlantic at Otter Cliff . For dinner, buy some fresh lobster from one of the local fishermen to cook over a pot of campfire-boiled water before crawling into your tent.

13. Shawangunk Mountains, NY

Acadia National Park to Shawangunk Mountains
486 miles, 8 hours

” The Gunks ,” as local climbers call the area, offers the best trad climbing on the East Coast and marks the easternmost ridge of the famed Appalachian Trail. Prepare yourself for some multi-pitch routes on quartz with horizontal cracks and the best spaetzel you’ve ever tasted at the local German restaurant , which feeds vacationers and dirtbags alike.

14. Assateague Island National Seashore, MD

Shawangunk Mountains to Assateague National Seashore
317 miles, 5 hours

Check out the herds of wild ponies that live in Assateague State Park and its neighboring national seashore. With Sinepuxent Bay to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the two-mile-long bayside-ocean split offers a diverse mix of adventures, from ocean fishing and wildlife viewing, to swimming and simply relaxing under the sun on the beach. Play in the waves, camp on the sand, and explore the wildlife in the marsh on the bay side of the island.

15. Asheville, NC

Assateague Island National Seashore to Asheville
545 miles, 9 hours

If there’s one mountain town in the Southeast that needs very little introduction, it’s Asheville, NC . Well-known for being a creative hub for art and music, a craft-beer mecca, and a gateway to endless Appalachian adventure, Asheville is a place that’s practically overflowing with all the right ingredients for a world-class outdoor town. Hike through the Great Smoky Mountains and explore the exploding sour scene at microbreweries in town.

16. Hot Springs, AR

Asheville to Hot Springs
692 miles, 10 1/2 hours

The national park in Hot Springs is home to the only microbrewery in the National Park System. Plus, after logging all those asphalt miles, you’ve earned the right to relax and unwind in the area’s natural thermal pools.

17. Austin, TX

Hot Springs to Austin
481 miles, 7 hours

End your epic summer road trip in Austin. Although it isn’t on the sea or high in the mountains, its location in the Hill Country of Central Texas means that it’s home to a diverse and inviting mix of tree-covered limestone ridges, creek-filled valleys, ancient 500-year-old cypress groves, and underground springs that feed a multitude of watering holes and create a vast network of underground (and mostly undiscovered) caves.

Featured image provided by Jake Wheeler