Oh, this is one of my favorite topics! Having done a big solo driving trip across the entire continental US (and numerous other shorter road trips), and having been to 49 out of 50 states, I’ve got some experience!
Sad to say, I am concerned about the very things LJP mentions. I would definitely research border crossings and prepare accordingly.
Also, yes, some of the more popular National Parks require timed reservations in the summer months. They got overwhelmed with visitors during the pandemic and many instituted restrictions to help visitors have a better experience and to help the rangers and park employees not get overwhelmed. Arches NP in Utah is wonderful but we needed a timed entry pass even in October, but it was well worth it! The trails were not overly crowded and at each parking area we found a spot with no trouble. It is very hot there in summer though, so plan accordingly (early morning hikes are best) if you visit there. It’s right near Moab, which is a fun town.
I’m a huge fan of the southern Utah desert, and have been numerous times to Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, and Grand Staircase-Escalante. I could fill a month in that area alone. But again, very warm in summer (Bryce and Cedar Breaks are higher elevation and cooler), and Zion in particular gets very popular.
Badlands in South Dakota is fun and can be experienced in a rather short visit since it is very accessible. On the flip side of that, some less popular parks like John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon, Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, and Theodore Roosevelt NP in North Dakota are remote and less visited but still fascinating.
Glacier NP is gorgeous and close to the border — in fact, the northern part of the park is in Canada. The primary route to explore Glacier is Going to the Sun Road, which I think now requires a timed entry pass in summer. I haven’t been there in over a decade so I’m not sure how that’s going these days (I know they’ve had some very significant road construction recently), but it is spectacular scenery. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are also wonderful but super popular in summer. I prefer fall for a lot of those more popular sites.
If you decide to spend the time closer to Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest, there are few trips I have loved more than visiting Seattle and Portland for a few days of city exploring and then touring around the Olympic Peninsula, Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens, and the North Cascades. With extra time, I’d drive down the coast and visit the redwood forests, and pop inland for a visit to Crater Lake. Huge bang for the buck as far as many beautiful places in relatively short driving distances.
Also, as much as I adore and support the National Parks, there have been cuts to funding and staffing. That may make things more difficult. Or it may mean that not as many people plan to visit this year? I’m not sure.
As far as the plan to drive from Brandon down through Minnesota to Iowa and then on to Denver, you’re adding a lot of travel time unless there is a specific reason to head to Iowa. I’ve ridden a bicycle 500 miles across Iowa and it’s lovely in its way, but I suspect you’d find that drive long and not terribly interesting. I would drop right down into the Dakotas and then head into Montana/Wyoming and on from there. Denver is ok, but if you’re looking to visit cities along the way, Boulder is a bit more fun and interesting, and there is a ton to do in the Rockies. Of course Rocky Mountain National Park is right there too.
It appears that perhaps you’ve planned so far based on where the major interstate highways travel? They’re mostly wonderful for getting you quickly across the country, but they are fast-moving and often heavy traffic with lots of large trailer trucks, and you don’t see much from those roads. My personal preference is for the “blue highways,” the secondary highways that have lower speed limits but also take you through little towns and more scenic areas. You’ll be more likely to experience local flavor rather than the interstate rest-stop chains attached to gas stations. It all depends on your goals and preferences though!
Oh, on the way from Vancouver back to Brandon, you’d be crossing the Canadian Rockies which are spectacular — on our honeymoon we drove from Vancouver to the Rockies and enjoyed a little stop in Kamloops. It’s a beautiful drive. I haven’t driven in Canada between there and points east, but I’d be curious to do so!
Ok, clearly you’ve gotten me totally invested! If you would like me to help you with a realistic itinerary of US destinations, I’d be happy to do that. I’m pretty good at it after all these years. You are coming a long way to visit, and I would want you to have an amazing experience!
1 Badlands
2 Roosevelt National Park
3 Glacier
4 driving through eastern Washington state
5 Olympic Peninsula
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