Erin Gifford

Contributing Writer, Via
Photo of AAA Via Magazine Contributor Erin Gifford

Erin Gifford is a travel and outdoor writer based in Virginia. She is the author of three guidebooks highlighting hiking trails in Virginia, as well as a web resource called GoHikeVirginia.com. She enjoys seeking out quirky roadside attractions, biking rail-trails, and hiking at state and national parks. She also runs half marathons and is working toward completing one in all 50 states (so far, she's checked off 36 states).

Featured Publications

Erin's articles have also appeared in The Washington Post, Northern Virginia Magazine, AAA World, Parents, Family Circle, SouthernLiving.com, HGTV.com and USA Today's GoEscape.

Education

Articles by Erin Gifford

Sunset over McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in California.

These state parks will make you want to plan your next visit as soon as possible.

Hikers overlook Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona on a partly cloudy day.

See rhyolite rock spires and soaring hoodoos.

A family kayaks on Flathead Lake in Montana.

It’s all about the journey on these scenic drives.

Two road-trippers pose under the Extraterrestrial Highway sign in Nevada.

The truth is out there, possibly on this quiet stretch of State Route 375.

A pregnant woman shops for a child car seat

From infant car seats to boosters, here’s everything you need to know to keep kids safe on the road.

A hiker rests along the shore of the Great Salt Lake from Antelope Island State Park in Utah.

Skip the national park crowds at these stellar state parks.

brother and sister look at a tablet in the backseat of a car

A family travel pro shares her top tips for a successful road trip.

Pink and orange rock formations in Utah's Snow Canyon State Park.

These state parks in Southern Utah are quieter alternatives to Utah's popular national parks.