7 Stunning Wish-List Road Trips

As winter approaches, your next road-trip vacation might seem far, far away. But this is actually the perfect time to start thinking about where you would like to go in 2027.

To kick-start that process, we’ve come up with seven great road trips all over the American West. They range from weekend jaunts to week-plus journeys, from the Arizona desert to the Alaskan tundra. They take you to first-rate museums and Wild West cowboy bars, and let you savor Montana cherries and Navajo tacos. They’re all loops, so you’re always seeing something new.

Study our routes, and think about where you’d like to go. Visualize sunrise from the rim of the Grand Canyon, a moose ambling along an Alaska highway, Old Faithful shooting high into the air. At some point, you’ll need to turn those dreams into concrete plans. But we’re not at that point quite yet. For now, there’s still time to dream.

Alaska: Into the wild and back

Starts and ends in Anchorage; 770 miles; best May–September

You expect an Alaska road trip to be epic, wowing you with mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. This week-plus loop delivers all that and more: It’ll make your entire world feel a whole lot bigger.

Start in Anchorage, where the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center provide excellent context for the drive to come. Head north through the fertile Mat-Su Valley to Talkeetna, invariably described as “quirky,” with its wilderness outfitters, log cabin brewpub, and the revered Nagley’s Store, which dates from 1921.

From there, drive north into Denali National Park and Preserve. Of its namesake centerpiece, author John McPhee once wrote, “The mountain is a sky of rock, seemingly all above you, looming.” But the park is also about delicate wildflowers, vast boreal forest, and wildlife: Wolves, grizzly bears, and eagles are all (with luck) spottable from the park’s main road.

Now the trip gets really adventurous. Head east on the mostly gravel Denali Highway through sprawling stands of spruce and tundra, the mighty Alaska Range rising to the north. At Paxson, follow the paved Richardson Highway south to Glennallen (a good overnight stop) and Valdez. The final stretch is especially breathtaking, with epic views of Worthington Glacier (one of the state’s most accessible) and the towering waterfalls of Keystone Canyon.

Perched on the edge of Prince William Sound, Valdez makes a great base from which to visit the massive, 400-square-mile Columbia Glacier; on the boat ride there, look for humpback whales gliding through the bay. From Valdez, a Marine Highway ferry carries you and your vehicle across the sound to Whittier. Then, it’s a 60-mile drive back to Anchorage.

Arizona: A Journey Through the Past

Starts and ends in Flagstaff; 560 miles; best in spring and fall

With a canyon that cuts dramatically through millennia and Native American culture reaching back centuries, this weeklong road trip reveals Arizona at its most eternal.

Spreading beneath the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff has a wonderfully strollable downtown as well as two can’t-miss attractions: the Museum of Northern Arizona, with its superb collection of Pueblo art, and Lowell Observatory, where you can peer deeply into the city’s famously starry night skies.

Then, it’s on to the Grand Canyon. Whether it’s your first visit or 10th, this place will stop you in your tracks, its Technicolor grandeur carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, which still curls and churns thousands of feet below. Don’t miss sunset from the Desert View Watchtower on the South Rim.

Once you’ve got your breath back, head east into the Navajo Nation. The Cameron Trading Post is a great place for souvenirs—from Navajo textiles and jewelry to Grand Canyon shot glasses—and tasty Navajo tacos, made with fry bread in place of tortillas.

Head northeast from there to Monument Valley. If you’re a movie buff, you might think you know this landscape from classics such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and Forrest Gump. But you won’t be prepared for the real-life spectacle of Monument Valley Scenic Drive, where buttes and mesas rise taller than any IMAX screen.

Turn south on U.S. 191 to the cliff dwellings of Canyon de Chelly National Monument—home to Native Americans for more than 4,000 years. Forty miles later, Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, the oldest operating trading post on the Navajo Nation, is the spot for more Southwest goods. From there, it’s a short jaunt down to the interstate and west to Petrified Forest National Park’s Triassic-Period fossils and the dreamlike badlands of the Painted Desert. Plan on a stop in Winslow—perhaps at the 1929-vintage Spanish colonial revival La Posada Hotel—before heading back to Flagstaff.

California: Gold Country and the Hidden Sierra

Starts and ends in Sacramento; 320 miles; best June–October

This loop traverses two iconic California landscapes: the rolling, oak-studded foothills of gold country and the mighty Sierra. It combines the most popular route through the first with one of the least-traveled roads across the second. Along the way, it delivers giant sequoias, craggy mountains, small-town diners, and big-time views.

Before departing Sacramento, train buffs will want to stop by the California State Railroad Museum; it’s like walking through a life-size model-train set. Start the drive by heading east to Auburn. Connect with Highway 49 there and head south to visit a string of cute historic towns, each with its own appeal.

Coloma, alongside the burbling American River, has the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Its historic buildings will transport you back to 1848 and the discovery that drew thousands of argonauts to California. Placerville boasts the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi River. Quieter Plymouth is the gateway to the Shenandoah Valley wine region and its sleek tasting rooms. Lined with exuberantly balconied 19th-century buildings, Sutter Creek’s Main Street may be gold country’s prettiest.

At Angels Camp, turn east onto Highway 4 to Murphys and on to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Wandering around and staring skyward in the park’s North and South groves of giant sequoias is guaranteed to inspire awe.

From there, the road climbs into the Sierra Nevada. Highway 4 doesn’t get the traffic that other trans-Sierra routes do—but that is its charm. By the time it reaches Ebbetts Pass and begins its descent next to the babbling Silver Creek, it’s a winding one-laner.

After reaching the canyon of the East Fork of the Carson River, stop in Markleeville for a celebratory cheeseburger at the Cutthroat Tavern. Afterward, continue north to Meyers and take Highway 50 back to Sacramento.

Montana: Big Sky Brilliance

Starts and ends in Missoula, Montana; 540 miles; best in summer

You have to expect big road trips in Big Sky Country, and this 540-mile loop delivers. It’s got a big lake, a bigger national park, and skies that stretch to infinity.

The drive starts in Missoula, but before you leave, take a spin around the richly historic downtown. On the banks of the Clark Fork River, Caras Park is a lovely place to while away a summer afternoon—perhaps with a bite from one of the nearby food trucks.

From there, head north to Flathead Lake. It’s the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and swimming in its crystal-clear water can be blissful when the weather’s warm. On the north shore, Bigfork is an exemplary lake-resort town, with summer theater, art galleries, and plenty of dining options. If you’re in the area July through August, be sure to stop at one of the stands selling deliciously sweet Flathead cherries.

Next comes Glacier National Park, straddling the crest of the Rocky Mountains. The famous Going-to-the-Sun Road lives up to its reputation as one of the most thrilling drives in the world, with sweeping views of snowy peaks and alpine lakes and an excellent chance to spot bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and other wildlife from your car. The park’s classic lodges—including Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, and Cedar Creek—are wonderful places to recover from the bedazzlement.

From Glacier, Highway 89 heads southeast to the prairie town of Great Falls. Here, the first-rate Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center perches on a bluff above the Missouri River, where the explorers paddled more than two centuries ago, and the C.M. Russell Museum houses some of Montana cowboy artist Charlie Russell’s most luminous paintings.

Your next-to-last stop could be Helena, Montana’s capital. After a spin through the striking new Montana Heritage Center, explore lively Last Chance Gulch, where shops and restaurants occupy ornate buildings dating from the city’s 19th-century mining boom. From there, it’s a two-hour sprint back to Missoula.

Utah: Red Rock Ramble

Starts and ends in St. George, Utah; 520 miles; best in April–October

Centered on three stunning national parks, this southern Utah loop blurs the line between geology and art. Over millennia, water and ice sculpted sandstone and limestone into a fantastical landscape painted red, orange, ivory, and pink. You’ll be dreaming about it long after you’ve returned home.

From St. George (where highlights include the 1871 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple and the nearby Center for the Arts at Kayenta), head east to Zion National Park. A 2,000-foot-deep gorge carved by the Virgin River, Zion Canyon is the stunning heart of the park, like a red rock Yosemite Valley. Massive formations, including Court of the Patriarchs and the Great White Throne, soar high above the cottonwood-lined river.

Heading east, then north on Highway 89 gets you to the next great park: Bryce Canyon. Where Zion can feel strangely intimate, Bryce is expansive and extravagant. Take the main park road along the rim of Bryce Amphitheater; pause at Bryce and Inspiration points to gaze down into a canyon full of spectral hoodoos.

Follow Highway 12 east along Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; riding the spine of the Hogback ridge, it’s unforgettably scenic. Surprisingly good food options are available along the way. In Boulder, Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm’s local ingredients make it one of the best restaurants in Utah. Check out the Spicy Cowgal Chipotle Meatloaf.

Now for your third park: Capitol Reef. The Scenic Drive takes you through its convoluted geology, notably a giant rock wrinkle called the Waterpocket Fold. Allow time to explore Fruita, the historic village at the heart of the park. In season, pick cherries and peaches from orchards planted more than a century ago; anytime, buy homemade preserves and pickles at the Gifford Homestead. Eyes sated and larder full, head northwest to I-70, then south to St. George.

Nevada: Weekend Fling from Reno

Starts and ends in Reno; 130 miles; best May–October

Looking for maximum fun per mile? This Reno-based loop could be just the ticket: It packs Nevada-style glitter, Lake Tahoe beauty, and Wild West fun into a quick weekend drive.

In Reno, classics such as blackjack and comedy shows are easy to find. But the city also offers more meditative pleasures, including downtown’s Riverwalk pathway along the Truckee River and the Playa Art Trail, highlighting work from the annual Burning Man festival.

From there, leave the city behind, heading up the Mount Rose Highway. At the road’s nearly 9,000-foot summit, soak in broad views of the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe. After descending to the lakeshore, the road delivers you to Incline Village, a perfect lunch spot.

Next, head south along Tahoe’s eastern shore, where you get close-up views of the lake’s world-famous sapphire-blue waters. At Stateline, turn left to head over Kingsbury Grade and down into the Carson Valley town of Genoa. Founded in 1851, it wears its age well; check out the Genoa Bar and Saloon, the state’s oldest. For those who are sweet of tooth, the Genoa Candy Dance festival melds fudge and peanut clusters with music and art every September.

Next, jog north to Carson City. In a state known for glitz, Nevada’s capital is appealingly low-key. A walk or drive along Kit Carson Trail serves up most of the city’s highlights: the Nevada State Museum, the Brewery Arts Center, and leafy side streets lined with restored Victorians.

The final stop is Virginia City, headquarters for the Comstock Lode and still one of the most authentic historic towns in the West. Take an underground tour to get a sense of the human cost of those silver fortunes, visit the Mackay Mansion to see what those fortunes could buy, and take a ride on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad. When you’re done, Reno is just 40 minutes away.

Wyoming: Yellowstone and Beyond

Starts and ends in Jackson, Wyoming; 450 miles; best May–October

Driving around Wyoming, you’re quickly aware of why there’s a guy riding a bucking bronco on the state’s license plate: Plenty of people out here still make a living on horseback. This loop is a great way to explore what made and still makes Wyoming the Cowboy State.

Jackson balances its Wild West past with its 21st century status as a retreat for the rich and famous. Browse the high-end galleries, take a selfie beneath the Town Square antler arches, and grab a stool at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar; its neon bronco buster has shone since 1937.

Just north of town, Grand Teton National Park’s jagged peaks rise like medieval castles. Get your bearings at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, then explore. Jenny Lake, its clear waters mirroring the Tetons behind it, is just one of the classic destinations.

Ten minutes north, head into Yellowstone. The country’s first national park will reward you for as many days as you can give it. Essential stops include Upper Geyser Basin and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its thundering Upper and Lower falls. After all the geological drama, a meal at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel’s lakeside dining room provides a welcome respite.

From the park, drive east to Cody. Brainchild of showman Buffalo Bill—downtown’s Irma Hotel is named after his youngest daughter—it retains his sense of show. On summer evenings, you can cheer the riders of the Cody Nite Rodeo, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is perhaps the best Western history museum in the world.

From Cody, head down to tiny Meeteetse (don’t miss the Meeteetse Chocolatier), then on to Thermopolis. In the soothing waters of Hot Springs State Park, don’t be surprised to see some real-life cowpokes soaking away their aches and pains; it’s a favored vacation destination for the state’s ranch hands. When you’re done with your own soak, head west on U.S. Route 26 back to Jackson.