When heading to the USA, renting a car should be top of your list. It offers the freedom to explore on your own terms, to see some of the most incredible sights and make memories that will last a lifetime. In this article we’ll show you what natural wonders you can discover at your own relaxed pace with these five most scenic drives across USA national parks. We’ve also put together some places to stay which are part of The Xanterra Collection® accommodations, offering the ideal blend of comfort and location. Keep on reading to get inspired…
Desert View Drive, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Spanning 25 miles along the Grand Canyon Rim, this drive offers a plethora of dramatic views from vantage points including Grandview Point, Yaki Point, and Moran Point all towering above 7,000 feet. At the end of the journey is Desert View Watchtower, a faithful recreation of a historic Native American tower. At 70 feet high, it is the highest point on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, providing panoramic vistas of the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert to the east and the San Francisco Peaks to the south. End your journey with a night at El Tovar or Bright Angel Lodge, staying right on the rim, or continue the journey on horseback by venturing to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Canyon to live like a true explorer. grandcanyonlodges.com
Lamar Valley Road, Yellowstone National Park, WY & MT
Cruise along the 29 mile Lamar Valley Road in one of America’s most iconic national parks and take in the stunning sights of Lamar Valley’s grassy plains and all the wildlife that inhabit the area. Known for its abundance of wildlife, Lamar Valley is a major viewing spot for herds of bison, grizzly and black bears, wolves, coyotes and many more, offering a very North American twist on a safari. For an extra injection of the cowboy and ranger spirit to cap off the journey, Old Faithful Inn provides log-style cabins for a stylish stay and a journey back to the old west.
yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Dubbed ‘The Highway to the Sky’, the Trail Ridge Road has the honour of being the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Open from the end of May through to October, visitors can enjoy stunning sunrises, coupled with amazing wildlife sightseeing and incredible vistas along 48 miles of road. Visitors even have the opportunity to go across the Continental Divide at a breathtaking 12,183 feet and admire the mighty mountain range in all its glory. For the best views of the towering mountains and verdant forest, be sure to make a stop at Many Parks Curve and Forest Canyon Overlook.
xanterra.com/our-brands-properties/rocky-mountain-national-park
Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, MT
For an Alpine twist on the American road trip, the Going to the Sun Road provides 52 miles of towering peaks, vast valleys, cascading waterfalls and majestic glaciers to keep drivers in awe at every turn. For those who prefer not to drive, complimentary National Park Service shuttles are available. Glacier National Park’s famous Red Bus Tours with their roll back tops, also offer an alternative way to explore the beauty of this route with unobstructed views, where the vehicles are just as stylish as the landscape. Going to the Sun Road and Logan pass open from 16 June for the summer season, ensuring a dazzling season of road trip vistas. Guests can fully immerse themselves within the majesty of the park at the Many Glacier hotel, with lakes and glaciers all around for a stay like no other. glaciernationalparklodges.com
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, UT
Explore the spellbinding natural maze that is Zion National Park like never before with the thrilling 57-mile Canyon Scenic Drive. Drive through cliffs that reach a staggering 2,000 feet with minimal guard rails for an extra adrenaline rush. As visitors snake through the canyon, they’ll be treated to mighty rock formations like the Court of the Patriarchs, the Sentinel and the Great White Throne. From March to November, the part of the road that runs through the park’s canyon is closed to cars, but visitors can still experience the park’s wonders by hopping on the free shuttle. zionlodge.com
Which of these scenic drives in USA national parks will you choose? With so many incredible spots to drive through, it’s a hard choice!
