The whole country,
in the order it's best driven.
916
Days planned
256
Cities & towns
851
Things to do
48
States
48
National parks
479
Must-dos
555 hrs
Behind the wheel
31,100
Miles driven
That's 48 of the 51 national parks in the lower 48. The only 3 it leaves out — Biscayne, Channel Islands, Isle Royale — can't be driven to at all. It also covers the District of Columbia and crosses into a second country once, for two days in British Columbia.
Best time to start: Late September, beginning in Boston for peak fall foliage heading north.
The route
The loop runs clockwise and chases the seasons — each leg is timed for the weather that makes it worth being there.
- 01New EnglandCT · MA · ME · NH · RI · VT23 stops87 days
- 02The Mid-AtlanticDC · DE · MD · NJ · NY · PA · VA20 stops92 days
- 03The Coastal SoutheastGA · NC · SC · VA21 stops73 days
- 04FloridaFL12 stops52 days
- 05The Deep SouthAL · AR · KY · LA · MS · TN25 stops87 days
- 06Texas & the South PlainsOK · TX14 stops50 days
- 07The Desert SouthwestAZ · CA · NM · NV · UT23 stops74 days
- 08CaliforniaCA · NV15 stops56 days
- 09The Pacific NorthwestBC · OR · WA18 stops60 days
- 10The Northern RockiesID · MT · WY15 stops47 days
- 11The Colorado RockiesCO11 stops37 days
- 12The Great PlainsKS · ND · NE · SD15 stops51 days
- 13The Upper Midwest & Great LakesIA · IL · IN · MI · MN · MO · OH · WI31 stops108 days
- 14Appalachia & the ReturnNY · PA · WV13 stops42 days
Color-coded, end to end
Every activity belongs to one of 17 categories and carries a duration, a map link, and a priority. Drives and rest get their own shades on the day's timeline.
- National Parks & Forests93
- Cities & Metros57
- State Capitols48
- Landmarks & Monuments94
- Museums & History176
- Somber & Civil-Rights Sites29
- Theme Parks & Attractions17
- Film & TV Locations12
- Skiing & Winter Sports15
- Outdoor & Water Activities133
- Concerts & Venues25
- Festivals & Events6
- Sports & Gamedays14
- Food & Drink Trails40
- Guided Tours31
- Quirky Americana & Roadside Oddities25
- Shopping36
Paced to be lived, not survived
Full days
443 days planned hour by hour, morning to evening.
Free days
226 days left open on purpose, with suggestions if you want them.
Time off
45 more days that stop early — an afternoon, an evening, nothing booked.
Drive days
247 days on the road, with the stops worth pulling over for.
You are never more than 10 days from one of those 271 breathers, anywhere in the loop.