10 Epic Western US Road Trips for 2026 (For National Park Lovers)

Looking for road trip inspiration? Snag our FREE guide, 13 Epic Western Road Trips for National Park Lovers. https://wereintherockies.com/13trips/

Perfect timing! We are going to be purchasing our first Class C and have been looking for recommendations like these! Cheers from Houston! 😀 Cheryl & Bryan

I love your channel, and great suggestions, but I have to say that North Cascades NP in Washington never gets enough love.
It's always overshadowed by Olympic and Rainier, but the road from Winthrop over the mountains past Lake Diablo is one of the most beautiful in the country.
I think a drive from Winthrop to Anacortes crossing through North Cascades NP, then taking the ferry to the San Juan islands for whale watching (the ferry ride itself is basically a nature cruise), then back to Anacortes and south over Deception Pass bridge, across Whidbey Island for a ferry to the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National park.

This would give you a real Washington sampler from the cowboy high-desert vides in the east to the Salish Sea to the pacific coast. The reality is that you can see amazing mountains all over the west, but what make Washington special is it's protected inland waters with Orca whales, Humpback whales and other amazing wildlife. You really won't find this anywhere else in the lower 48

Which trips do not involve driving on cliffs no guard rails . Great video want to go but avoid the steep drop offs

Thank you for your ideas and organization (e.g., what to see when, and why)!

I’m 65 and about to retire. I just got a Honda Passport TrailSport Elite as my retirement vehicle and plan to pick up a Bean teardrop trailer (they’re in Salt Lake City) in January. I’ll be tent camping in the meantime, getting used to all the camping gear I’ve been collecting. I’ve been to most of these places when I was younger, but I really want to see them again, but most importantly, the ones I have never seen.

I really am thankful. Cheers!

This is great. I'm going out west from Connecticut with my boyfriend this May after I graduate from college! Were taking our car and driving out to Colorado first. I am so excited! Were going to Zion, arches, Yosemite, rocky moutains, and Redwood forest!

Hey I would love more info on the for corners trip!e we have about 12 days leaving from Boise in early April. We can fly down and rent a car from there, or drive all the way down

What are your thoughts on Yellowstone, Grand Teton, The Badlands and the Utah mighty 5 in the winter. Such as late February and early March? I have purchased the book you are promoting.

I love your guides & videos! I’d love to see individual vlogs on each trip. Also, I need you guys to go do a video on Redwood NP & Lassen Volcanic because I’m planning a trip & am lost without y’all’s help. lol

Thank you for the bucket list! Our kids are currently 7th and 8th grade. Only 8 weeks off for summer and already do an extended family beach week. Which road trips are doable to a 7-10 spring break late March/ early April or 6-7 days Thanksgiving week?

Thanks guys, very interesting and inspirational. Living in the UK it certainly helps plan our road trips to USA.

we just did utah 5..luved it..looking into grand tetons..shocking how pricey everything is???Any suggestions

Loved this video!

You all are so helpful!!

Loved these ideas and I'd love to see more in depth tips and itineraries for each of these. I downloaded your guide!! Thanks for everything you do.

So helpful! I have a month sabbatical from work this year and want to plan a road trip. This video was so informative, thank you!

Ii got today your book trip at amazon…happy new year !!!

Good one, this year we are planning for Utah, Oregon, Washington road trips if not few more. Definitely your videos have been very helpful. Three years ago when we did Yellowstone, black hills, Colorado, New Mexico road trips we followed the tips you folks provided. Cheers 👏

Please break down each trip. Love the content.

You skipped white sands and Carlsbad caverns

Happy New Year guys. Love the channel. Just reaching out to see if you'd be interested in a future "Behind the Vlog" episode on my channel. (I'm in Colorado too)

Great video guys. Already done many of these trips.

What I would appreciate is you making a video of the planing of the glacier/banf trip.

As a tourist from overseas it seems a bit of a difficult one to book which the different entrance fee’s / timings in glacier and also the idea of driving a rental car across the border.

Glad i found your channel. Really enjoyed this video and can’t wait for more road trip content! Planing Olympic, cannon beach trip in July and then Colorado in September!

Nah, thanks, skipping the US for at least 3 more years.

Well done Matt and Cheryl for producing this comprehensive and inspirational guide to the beauty of America and Canada.
Thank you for inspiring my husband and I to explore the National parks through your excellent videos. We have been to Rocky Mountain np; Yellowstone & grand Teton; Utah mighty 5, Yosemite, sequoia & kings canyon and plan to do mount rainier and north cascades in 2026.
Your work enriches so many people’s lives. Thank you

Thank you so much! I ordered you book from Amazon, and looking forward to planning several of these roadtrips!
Question: Do you pull a travel trailer, or just drive a car on your trips? We have a trailer, but some of the roads in your video don't look RV friendly…

Love the Southwest History road trip! We have done several of these but a few we haven't. Thank you so much!

My husband is salivating over the Canadian Rockies trip lol. We are doing that in 2027!

We need to get up to Washington for sure. Yellowstone is an absolute must! But so is Yosemite, Zion and Bryce. Love your videos so much!

These are all incredible road trips! We haven’t been to the Canadian Rockies and Glacier yet but it’s at the top of our list. Your footage is incredible! Thanks for sharing these awesome road trips! 🧡

I love your channel, did two roadtrips last 5 years, but i’m from Europe and i’m skipping the next 3 years for sure. All the best for you guys though.

Great video. We are planning a Colorado trip in late June 2026 and want to do a private jeep tour. Have you ever done a jeep tour with Alpine Scenic tours or San Juan scenic jeep tours? Both these companies seem very good but wondered if you all had ever used either or can recommend. Than you

Thanks!!