What a better way to explore the beauty of a country than taking a road trip! At some point in your life you have probably thought about taking a road trip across your country, but it never seems possible to plan the perfect one. There’s always some point of interest that gets lost in the shuffle or a boring route taken rather than a more interesting one.
Randy Olson is a Computer Science & Engineering Ph.D. candidate at Michigan State University who dedicates a lot of his time and creativity to design ideal road trips, such as the ultimate US road trip and the best cross-Canada trip. This time, Olson created a route that would allow travelers to view each national park in the 48 continental states without wasting time.
This road trip is designed to be 14,498 miles long and is going to take about two months to be completed. So, all you have to do is get your friends together and drive.
Note that you can start the journey at any point and proceed whatever direction you like, as this road trip forms a circle around the U.S. If exploring the stunning beauty of National Parks on a road trip is on your bucket list, this might be the perfect map for you; the natural beauty of national parks, unique geological features, unusual ecosystems meaning a perfect escape from the bustle of the big city.
The following is a list of all National Parks included in Olson’s route:
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
- Saguaro National Park, Arizona
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
- Big Bend National Park, Texas
- Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
- Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
- Everglades National Park, Florida
- Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
- Biscayne National Park, Florida
- Congaree National Park, South Carolina
- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
- Acadia National Park, Maine
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
- Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
- Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
- Badlands National Park, South Dakota
- Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
- Canyonlands National Park, Utah
- Arches National Park, Utah
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
- Zion National Park, Utah
- Great Basin National Park, Nevada
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Glacier National Park, Montana
- North Cascades National Park, Washington
- Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
- Redwood National and State Parks, California
- Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
- Yosemite National Park, California
- Kings Canyon National Park, California
- Sequoia National Park, California
- Pinnacles National Park, California
- Channel Islands National Park, California
- Joshua Tree National Park, California
