Discover Your Ultimate Cross-Country Road Trip Itinerary
Learn about the route that will take you from coast-to-coast, and everything you will see in between, in this ultimate itinerary for an epic cross-country road trip.
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📍- Coast-to-Coast, USA
If you were to ask me a year ago, I may have told you then that the best form of transportation was by plane. While air travel is definitely the fastest way to get from point A to point B, after driving our home-on-wheels across the entirety of the United States, I think Drew and I can both confidently tell you that road trips are far more enjoyable. There is no better way to see a country than by driving it. Watching the scenery change around you is the best way to understand the geography of any landscape and gives travelers the opportunity to slow down and absorb the essence of the smaller towns which lie between the major destinations they’re headed to.
Road-tripping is a lost art form, but it’s one that definitely deserves a revival. What better way to ignite your love for long-distance vehicle travel than by jumping all in on a coast-to-coast road trip? Before you shy away, you should know that this is the same road trip that my husband, Drew, and I just completed in our RV. We even removed a few stops that were out of the way, so you should be confident that this trip is worthwhile and achievable with the right amount of determination. Sure, your butts may be sore from sitting in the driver’s seat, but you’ll barely even notice with all the incredible, passing views to keep your mind occupied.
So, if a coast-to-coast journey is on your bucket list, grab your favorite pair of sunglasses, buckle up, and hold on tight, because you’re about to discover your ultimate cross-country road trip across the southern United States!
Here you can see the route for this full coast-to-coast journey, and you can find the complete Google Maps navigation instructions here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time should I dedicate to this road trip?
How long this cross-country journey will take will depend on a few factors. Drew and I traveled and explored on the weekends while also working full-time. The journey took us about six months, but we also know of family and friends who drove a similar journey while not working, and completed their travels in only two months.
In short, this trip can be as short or as long as you want it to be. I suggest looking at each stop, determining how long you would like to stay at each place, and using this sum as an estimate for how long your trip will be.
How long should you stay at each stop?
This is another question that I am frequently asked but has no great answer. Each stop on this journey deserves roughly three days of your time if for nothing else than to just give yourself a good break between the long drives. Since Drew and I worked during our journey, we spent anywhere from seven to 14 days at each place, but only three to five of these days were purely devoted to exploring the area. To help you decide on how long to stay at each place, for each destination listed below, I will tell you how many days I would suggest devoting to the area.
How much driving is required for this road trip?
How do I put this delicately? This type of road trip requires a lot of driving. A lot, a lot. After putting the full trip into Google Maps, I now know that this drive requires an estimated 86 hours of drive time. Eek!
The United States is a huge country, and there is no way to get from coast to coast without having to put your driving gloves on. Fortunately, there are a few stops on this road trip that you can cut out if you so choose. Stops like Brownsville, Texas, and Hot Springs, Arkansas are worth the time it takes to get there, but if you are in a rush, or they just don’t sound like your cup of tea, then cut them out and stick to only the stuff that excites you!
What time of year should you take this road trip?
We suggest doing this road trip over the warmer months so that you can maximize your time spent enjoying outdoor activities. Since it took us so long to do our trip, we started in Charleston around January which allowed us to be in New Orleans in February for Mardi-Gras and get to the arid locations of Sedona, Las Vegas, and Death Valley National Park before the hottest points of the year arrived. Keep in mind that Death Valley is quite literally the hottest place in the world, and exploring it in the middle of summer is not advisable. If you do end up passing it around this time, you may want to consider skipping the stop altogether.
What are some stops that aren’t covered on this road trip?
Like any road trip, this one is not perfect. There are some amazing spots close to this route that time limitations prevented us from stopping at, but can absolutely be added to your journey if you are so inclined. Some of these more notable landmarks include Monument Valley, which would require a detour along your journey between White Sands National Park and Page, Arizona. If you are less interested in seeing the red rocks of Sedona, then you can choose to spend some time in southern Utah, seeing national parks such as Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon before exploring the northern rim of the Grand Canyon and continuing east toward Las Vegas.
Since we included Sedona on our adventure, we only visited the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon and saved southern Utah for our return trip. There is also a lot more time that you could spend in California such as detouring into SoCal to explore Joshua Tree National Park or hugging the coastline further south to enjoy areas such as Big Sur. The bottom line is that you’ll never be able to see everything. Prioritize what you are most interested in and get rid of the things that you’re not. There is endless beauty in the United States, so we highly doubt you’ll be disappointed in whatever you choose.
As you can see, we also completed this journey with our pup, Charlie, which definitely influenced which stops we chose and which activities we were able to do while we were there.
Cross-Country Road Trip Itinerary
Let’s kick off this road trip in Charleston, South Carolina, also known as the holy city because of its abundance of historical and stunning churches. It is a gorgeous coastal city that is easily explored on foot and is packed with historical landmarks, museums, and tasty restaurants which you should take the time to enjoy. To make this city an easy one to explore, you can use our free self-guided walking tour of Charleston which leads you past its famous waterfront parks, architecturally impressive cathedrals, and historical landmarks. You could also consider taking a boat tour or exploring the Fort Sumter National Monument, known as the place where the first shots of the civil war were fired.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
If you love hauntingly beautiful churches like this one, then you will love walking around Charleston!
The city of Savannah is one of my favorite cities on earth for a few key reasons. The historical “squares” which are dispersed around bring nature into the urban boundary, breaking up dense rows of buildings and introducing opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city is famous for its Spanish Moss draped live oak trees and historical museums. It’s also known as one of the most haunted cities in America with numerous enchantingly beautiful cemeteries throughout the city which prove this point. We suggest visiting Colonial Park Cemetery, the nearby Bonaventure Cemetery, and taking a nighttime ghost tour with Ghost City Tours to learn more about the city’s spooky past.
Be sure not to miss out on a walk down River Street which is best enjoyed while sipping on a cold cocktail from one of the many bars which line the avenue. Just be sure to watch your step on the uneven cobblestone pathways.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
This is just an example of one of the gorgeous town squares which you can find every few blocks when taking a walk around the city.
Most people don’t think of beach towns when they think of Alabama, but you may be surprised to know that this state is home to some of the most gorgeous Gulf Coast beaches that our country has to offer. Underrated in comparison to its nearby neighbors in Florida, Orange Beach has miles of white sand shores and crystal clear, temperate water for people of all ages to enjoy. The world-known Flora-bama bar sits here, straddling the state lines of Florida and Alabama, where it tempts its daily influx of guests with their famous “Bushwackers”, a frozen chocolaty cocktail infused with rum that is sure to take the edge off of those hot summer days.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days here.
We were at Orange Beach while it was still chilly out, but we still loved walking on the powder-soft sand and admiring the turquoise waters.
Next up is another underappreciated beach. Biloxi, Mississippi, is a Gulf Coast city filled with luxury hotels, lively casinos, and waterparks. The city boasts miles of white sand beaches and warm water, offering one of the easiest access beaches in the country which meant I could walk over to the shore and practice yoga atop the sand every single morning during our stay here.
To familiarize yourself with this slice of the Gulf Coast, consider taking a tour aboard the Betsy Ann Riverboat, or walking the Biloxi West Coast Beach Boardwalk. In addition, the trip to Ship Island should not be missed to enjoy an evening of seaside lounging while taking in the views of the Intercoastal Waterway. You can even take a Biloxi Shrimping Tour to live a day in the life of a fisherman and get a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the freshest seafood in the country is harvested.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days here.
I’m one of those strange people who love the beach when it’s too cold to get into the ocean. At times like this, I get to have the sand all to myself.
There are only a few cities in the world as celebrated as The Big Easy. After spending a week of the Mardi Gras season here during the spring of 2022, it’s clear that New Orleanians know how to party with the best of them. If you don’t mind crowds and find people watching to be as enjoyable as I do, then be brave for this stop and plan to stop by New Orleans during the month-long Mardi Gras celebration. We even have a full guide on the dos and don’ts of Mardi Gras right here.
But, even if big parties aren’t your thing, Louisiana has a ton to offer visitors every day of the year! We enjoyed walking along Jackson Square, taking the time to stop and listen to the echoing jazz from street musicians while also admiring the assortment of paintings for sale from artists throughout the park. Be sure to stop by Café du Monde, savoring one of their famous beignets while watching the ships pass by on the Mississippi River. You absolutely cannot miss the heavenly fried chicken at Willie Mae’s Scotch House, or the chance to enjoy a cocktail while taking a spin at the Carousel Bar & Lounge. Even if you’re not the party type, be sure to take a peak down the notorious Bourbon Street if you’re feeling brave.
Plan to spend at least 4-5 days here.
This is my biggest piece of evidence to show you that Bourbon Street isn’t that scary. How could a scary place have so many bubbles?
In complete transparency, we added Hot Springs as a last-minute stop on our route after realizing we had an extra few weeks to play with on our timeline. Considering we showed up with little to no expectations, we were surprised to fall in love with the quirky Hot Springs National Park and the unique and strange main street which runs right through it. Hot Springs’ claim to fame is their natural hot springs which can be observed throughout the park and incorporated into many of their tourist attractions.
Drew and I loved filling up our water bottles at the free hot spring water fountains downtown, relaxing in a hot spring water soak at Quapaw Baths & Spa, and enjoying a wonderful dinner at Superior Bathhouse Brewery which operates in an old bathhouse and is the only brewery to actually use hot spring water in the making of their beer. Since it is a national park, there’s also a ton of hiking and beautiful scenery we enjoyed during our time here.
If you’re interested to learn more about this stop, you can read the full travel guide to Hot Springs National park right here.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
While the leaves hadn’t fully popped yet, the view from Goat Rock Trail was still amazing here.
Oh, Austin, weird, quirky and wonderful Austin. This hipster Texan city is full of fun and unusual activities to keep you entertained, and delicious food that will make it hard for you to fit into your shorts. We spent two weeks here and now call Austin one of our favorite cities in the world.
If you’re in Austin between March and September, be sure to see the daily flight of the Congress Bridge Bats where over 1.5 million bats exit the bridge at sunset in what has to be the most impressive naturally occurring wildlife shows within an urban boundary. You can have a picnic while marveling at the Tesla Gigafactory which happens to be the largest building on earth with a footprint of 3.3 square miles! You also should take care not to miss some of our favorite restaurants which include Franklin Barbeque, where its cult followers line up hours before opening to sample the best brisket in the world, or Vigilante Gastropub, where you can enjoy dinner with a side of your choice of a board game.
In all honesty, these are just a small portion of the unique and wonderful things that you can do in Austin, Texas, and if you want our full list, you’ll have to read the complete blog right here.
Plan to spend at least 4-5 days here.
Here are the Congress Bridge Bats exiting the bridge on their daily flight. Not photographed: a few girls screaming and running with their hands over their head in fear of said bats.
This one is for all my fellow space nerds out there, because Brownsville, Texas is the only place in the world where you can watch rockets being made on the beach. Hidden at the southern tip of Texas, 4 miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande, SpaceX builds their rocks along the dunes of one of the most secluded shores in our country: Boca Chica Beach. Truly, it sounds like a setting from a science fiction novel, but after having spent two weeks down there, I can absolutely tell you that it exists and it is glorious. You can walk right up to the rockets, practically touching them, then drive a mile down the road and enjoy a warm swim on the beach while witnessing rocket science in action from afar.
It is one of the most unique locations in our country, but for how long it will remain a secret is still up for debate. In fact, I wrote a whole blog about why you should visit Boca Chica as soon as possible to encourage people to see the transformative work here before it becomes a bustling spaceport.
This stop may be out of the way, but we found the drive to be worth our time and more. We simply couldn’t get enough of these impressive rockets, towering like skyscrapers along the pristine sands of Boca Chica Village.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
What could make a perfect day at the beach even better? Rockets. The answer is Rockets.
*As a heads up, this next drive will be one of the longest on the entire trip. Along the way, you will pass through San Antonio, so if you want to break up this drive, feel free to make this an added stop. We stopped for several hours to see The Alamo and to stretch our legs along the River Walk.
What better way to follow up a stop where you get to see real-life rockets, than by going to the city that has claimed to be the site of the mysterious UFO crash of 1947? Roswell, New Mexico, located in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert, embraces the folklore in its past by displaying aliens and spaceship props outside of almost every establishment on its main street.
I wrote a full description of every UFO-themed attraction worth visiting right here, but our favorites included the International UFO Museum and Research Center, the Roswell UFO Spacewalk, and Spaceport Roswell. While we didn’t opt for this experience ourselves, full-fledged alien aficionados can even take a UFO Tour around the town with a self-proclaimed extraterrestrial expert. Since this is a desert town, we also suggest checking out Bottomless Lakes State Park where you can cool off in one of their swimming holes which are actually old sinkholes. We camped here during our stay and went for an evening swim almost every day.
Plan to spend at least 2 days here.
During our time in Roswell, we genuinely enjoyed “alien hunting” where we would look for hidden aliens and spaceships hidden around town.
Out of all of the places we have traveled during our time in the RV, the most otherworldly place we have ever been, without a doubt, is White Sands National Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I can remember being awestruck by the purely brilliant sight of miles of rippling sand dunes before me and have yet to find another view as unique and pristine as that one. Whether you choose to hike the sand dunes, ride a sled down one, or admire them from the boardwalk, they are guaranteed not to disappoint.
We adored our trip to White Sands National Park, but have heard of some people having some less than stellar experiences here. Because of this, we definitely recommend reading our full park guide to learn some important tips and tricks that will ensure you have just as wonderful a time as we did.
If you’re looking for something else to fill your time Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, where we ended up camping during our stay, is worth a trip. Here, you can hike the Dog Canyon Trail which takes you through the mountains of Lincoln National Forest. You can even see the shining sand of the national park off in the distance.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days here.
If you thought White Sands sounds like it couldn’t get any better, it’s also dog-friendly!
The city of Page, although technically in Arizona, is at the southern boundary of all of the windswept, dramatic rock formations that southern Utah is known for. We were lured to Page for the iconic views of Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, both of which are just as incredible as all of the pictures make them look.
This area is an amazing introduction to the inspiring works of erosion that the Colorado River has formed over millions of years and will make you even more inspired to explore the Grand Canyon during your next stop. If you like to hike, plan on taking the short drive to walk through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument which is a huge natural area full of scenic hikes such as Toadstool Hoodoos which ended up being one of our favorites.
If you’re looking for more things to do here or would like a recommendation for where to eat, check out our weekend itinerary for Page where we share everything we did in a packed three days!
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
This is probably the most unique photo we have ever taken. It was quite windy during our tour of Antelope Canyon, so we wore face coverings to keep the sand out of our mouths and ears.
No matter how many photos you may see before your arrival, nothing can truly prepare you for when you actually get to see the Grand Canyon in person. Pictures cannot capture its magnitude, and actually, it’s hard to comprehend its size even when looking down at it in person. During our time here, we devoted a day to walking the south Rim Trail, a dog-friendly path that leads you along the rim and treats you to epic views the entire way.
On the second day, we left the pup at home to enjoy the Bright Angel Trail which can lead you a total of 8 miles down to the Colorado River. This hike should not be completed on a whim, and hikers should be prepared with plenty of food, sun protection, and water. As it first leads you down into the canyon, you should be aware of your physical limitations, knowing when to turn around and begin your ascent back to the rim. On the way back up, the incline is over 1,000 feet per mile and is pretty strenuous and unforgiving on a hot summer day. If you are prepared, you will have a glorious time, as we did, and will be mesmerized by the geological layers which make you feel like you are walking through time.
Also, take some time to explore the Kaibab National Forest which is loaded with free dispersed camping spots for you to enjoy!
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
I took this photo of Drew at the turnaround point of the Bright Angel Trail. We ended up going down three miles, for a six miles round-trip journey.
There is a reason that Sedona is known as the hiking capital of the United States. Around every corner there is a stunning cave to enter, a red rock vortex to admire, or a striking natural bridge to wander across. The only thing that may outnumber the scenic views here is tourists, so don’t expect solitude in this town.
Still, Sedona ended up being one of our favorite stops along this journey, with hikes like Devil’s Bridge, Soldier’s Pass, and the Birthing Cave being some of the most rewarding adventures our legs have ever taken us on. As a wonderful bonus, unlike many of the national parks we visited along our way, Sedona is very dog-friendly and allowed us to take Charlie along to enjoy many of these locations with us.
If you’ll be bringing along a furry friend like we did, check out our dog-friendly Sedona guide to learn about our favorite pet-friendly hikes, activities, and restaurants in the area.
Plan to spend at least 4-5 days here.
If you do want to check out Devil’s Bridge, be sure to get up as early as possible because people sometimes wait for hours to get their photos taken here.
There is probably not much that I can tell you about Las Vegas that you don’t already know. Sin City will keep you entertained for as long as you will let it with its abundance of casinos, carousel of live performances, and flashy, themed hotels.
We went to Las Vegas to celebrate Drew’s birthday at Gordon Ramsay Steak, devouring the famous Beef Wellington and Scallop Risotto that the chef is famous for. It was an experience that I would absolutely recommend to any Gordon Ramsay fans. While we definitely indulged in some gambling while we were there as well, there are only so many flashing lights that I can handle, so we only spent a few nights here.
If you simply just can’t get enough time outdoors, you can also check out the Hoover Dam, or make the day trip to Valley of Fire State Park to take some epic Instagram-worthy photos among some unique red rock formations.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days here.
This is absolutely not a unique opinion, but my favorite landmark in Las Vegas is the Eiffel Tower. It also happens to mark the Paris casino where Gordon Ramsay Steak is.
Death Valley is the land of polar extremes. It is the largest National Park in the lower 48 states, holds the records for the hottest air temperature ever recorded at 134°F, and contains the lowest elevation point in North America.
Just looking at photographs of its dramatically distinct areas will help you realize how many different types of terrain there is to explore in this desert wonderland. While you could spend weeks exploring every inch of this park, much of it is hard to access and requires a lot of driving on 4x4 roads. Some of our favorite spots in the park that are easy to get to include Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater Basin, and Artist’s Palette which is undoubtedly the best display of natural colors I have ever seen in the wilderness. Dante’s View is another spectacular sight that treats you to a sweeping view of Death Valley and is an amazing spot to watch the sunset. If you happen to be in the park during a new moon, consider staying after sunset to see some of the darkest skies in the United States, tainted only faintly by the light of the Las Vegas strip in the far distance.
Death Valley is best explored in the winter, early spring, or late fall, but since most of the other stops on this journey are best enjoyed during the summer, chances are you will pass by this park while it is hot. We were here in spring and had a hot but bearable day in the park. If your time here looks like it will be absolutely sweltering, check out our full guide to Death Valley in the summer to learn how to safely enjoy this park during this time of year.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days here.
I will remember the view of the Artist’s Palette for the rest of my life. Look at these colors!
To walk underneath the biggest trees in the world is probably the closest you will ever get to being in a real-life fairytale. Sequoia National Park is the stuff of dreams, full of sweeping vistas, blooming wildflowers, and larger-than-life trees which make up the aptly named Giant Forest. Butting up next to King Canyon’s National Park, this location actually grants you two for one national park experiences!
While it is hard to beat the sweeping views of the impressive Sierra Nevada Mountains that hikes such as Little Baldy grant you, my favorite experience here was walking beneath the giant sequoia trees on the braided path of Congress Trail. Your time in this park will have you feeling like you’re a character in ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’.
Check out this blog post for a full weekend itinerary in these national parks.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
There is no way to describe these trees except to call them MASSIVE. It’s pretty difficult to fit all of them in one picture, but I think you get the scale from this one.
If you’re ready to see one of the most impressive pieces of land you will probably ever lay your eyes on, you should head straight to Yosemite Valley. With pristine meadows wrapped in the protection of towering marbled cliffsides, you will think you have been swallowed up to another dimension where everything is just a whole lot more beautiful.
Wandering around the valley floor is enough to make your mouth gape, but climbing along the rocks at the bottom of Yosemite Falls or feasting your eyes on the miles of the untouched landscape surrounding you from atop Glacier Point is even more remarkable than you can imagine. These are the types of views that make you see the world differently for the rest of your life. Yosemite is enchanting, and I have yet to stop thinking about it since our visit there.
This park is pretty large and can be intimidating to navigate. That’s why we chose to create a comprehensive park guide that teaches you everything you should know about Yosemite before you arrive including our list of the best things to do while you’re there.
Plan to spend at least 4-5 days here.
Drew and I still talk about how mesmerizing the view from Glacier Point was. Straight ahead is the iconic Half Dome rock formation which towers over you while you’re in Yosemite Valley.
After hiking our way through all of these national parks, the vineyards of Napa Valley called to us for some much-needed relaxation. Although certainly one of the most expensive stops on this trip, I would argue that you deserve it after all of the hard work that you just put your body through.
Napa Valley is the place to sip wine, eat delicious food, shop till you drop, and pamper yourself as you get ready to finish this epic cross-country expedition of yours. We enjoyed a few days of wine tasting throughout the Valley, soaked in some nature while camping at Skyline Wilderness Park, and worked off a few of those extra calories by biking the Vine Trail.
Just in case you need a refresher on how to do a proper wine tasting, or you’re looking for some beginner-friendly wineries to try, you can check out our Napa for dummies travel guide.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 days here.
Drew and I enjoyed dressing up on our day of wine tastings since we had been living in hiking clothes for the past several months.
I love finishing an exceptional journey like this one on a high note which makes Redwood National Park the perfect last stop. If you liked Sequoia National Park, you will adore Redwood National Park which matches Sequoia with its enormous trees, but then tops it by adding moody skies, rugged coastlines, active tidepools, and pops of color with its densely vegetated forest floor.
It seems ironic to say that the last stop on our road trip was our favorite, but there was just something bewildering about this corner of Northern California that made us fall in love with it. We particularly enjoyed the Tall Trees Grove, where you can spot the tallest tree in the world, Fern Canyon, where scenes from Jurassic Park were filmed, and Enderts Beach, where we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets we’d ever seen setting over a small cave on the Pacific Ocean. Every part of the Redwoods are spellbinding, and we think you’ll love them just as much as we did.
Since I know you’re tired of researching all of these stops by yourself at this point, let me do the leg work for you with this complete guide to Redwood National Park and State Parks.
Plan to spend at least 4-5 days here.
Here is Charlie and I enjoying that magical sunset at Enderts Beach. Although not photographed, behind us is a densely forested mountainside.
We hope you enjoyed reading this complete cross-country road trip itinerary. If you have any questions about the trip, or if you have a suggestion of a spot that you think I missed, make sure to leave a comment so that we can help future travelers together!
Thank you for joining us at Discovery Detour, where the destination is always unknown.
