The Best Road Trips in the West

Explore the Road to Whitewater

As we navigate a new era of travel, one thing is certain, our love for classic road trip vacations is back. If the lure of the open road is calling, let these action-packed itinerary ideas from some of the West’s biggest travel hubs be your inspiration to get out there. And because we couldn’t help ourselves, they all lead to at least one unforgettable rafting adventure.

Even if you don’t love whitewater as much as we do though, you’ll find there’s no shortage of incredible sites and stops to experience on these nine adventurous Western road trip routes.

Ready to hit the road? Here are some of the best road trips in the West:

Denver to Dinosaur National Monument Loop
Scenic Route to the Lower Salmon & Hells Canyon from Portland
Tahoe to Yosemite Loop
Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip
San Francisco/Sacramento to the Sierra Nevada (serious whitewater-lovers only!)
San Francisco to Southern Oregon Loop
Epic Southern Oregon Road Trip from Portland
The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip
The Classic Western Road Trip to Yellowstone & Grand Teton 3 Ways
6 Essential Tips for a Stress-free Road Trip
Hit the Road: Car Camping 101

1. Colorado Road Trip: Denver to Dino Loop

From the towering peaks of the Flat Tops Wilderness to the ancient red rock canyons and exciting whitewater within Dinosaur National Monument, this bucket list road trip from Denver makes for an outdoor adventure you’ll never forget.

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2. The Best Road Trip From Portland Nobody Knows About

On this short and sweet road trip, leave the city behind and explore scenic Highway 14 as you wind your way through the Columbia River Gorge on the way to Lewiston, ID–the gateway to several of Idaho’s renowned river canyons, including the Gorges of the Lower Salmon.

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3. California Road Trip: The Tahoe to Yosemite Loop

This unforgettable California road trip takes you from the mesmerizing blue waters of Lake Tahoe to the raging waterfalls of Yosemite and back. Along the way, pass over stunning mountain passes, stop for some whitewater action, stretch your legs on a hike or two and enjoy a dip in a natural hot spring.

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4. Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip

If you’re in Southern California, it doesn’t get better than this bucket list road trip which takes you on the road less traveled from Los Angeles to the granite wonderland of Yosemite and back. Explore the majestic Eastern Sierra, go off-the-beaten path in the park and take on some of the state’s most thrilling whitewater.

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5. Ultimate California Road Trip for Adventure-Lovers

An easy excursion from San Francisco or Sacramento, this adventure through California’s Sierra Nevada, including rafting on four different stretches of river and a layover in Yosemite National Park, is big on thrills, scenery and fun. It’s definitely for serious whitewater-lovers.

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6. Go Rogue: San Francisco to Southern Oregon Road Trip

This action-packed road trip from San Francisco starts with a visit to Lassen National Park before taking you across the Oregon border for one of the most classic multi-day whitewater rafting trips in the West. After ditching the car for a few days, you’ll return to the road to explore California’s iconic Highway 1 back to San Francisco.

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7. Oregon Road Trip: Portland to the Rogue Loop

This southern Oregon road trip has a little something for everyone. You’ll stand up paddle the Deschutes through the heart of Bend, hike Crater Lake National Park and raft down the Wild & Scenic Rogue River before exploring the scenic Oregon coast on the way back to Portland.

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8. Hit the Road: Salt Lake City to Moab

This lollipop loop from Salt Lake City to Moab takes you through the heart of red rock country to all five of Utah’s iconic national parks, plus Bears Ears National Monument. It’s the ultimate southwest road trip adventure.

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9. Wyoming Road Trip: 3 Epic Routes to Yellowstone & Grand Teton

This is the classic Western road trip. From where to stop to stretch your legs or grab a good meal to the cool attractions you won’t want to miss along the way, we’ve compiled some of the best stops on the road to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks from three major hubs—Seattle, San Francisco and Denver.

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10. 6 Essential Tips for a Stress-free Road Trip

No matter where you’re headed on your next road trip, the following tips and essentials will help make the long days and miles stress-free.

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Hit the Road: Car Camping 101

Car Camping Essentials

Add these tips and tricks to your car camping repertoire to keep packing simple while prioritizing sleeping well, eating well, and having fun on the road.

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How to Pack a Cooler for Camping

Check out our popular YouTube video to find out the tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years for packing a cooler properly.

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The Ultimate Weekend Camping Meal Plan

Throw a Coleman stove in your car and you can make just about anything you can dream up while you’re on the road. All of the meals in this camping meal plan have been scaled down for a group of four people and are straight from our arsenal of go-to river recipes.

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How to Break Free of the Campground

With developed campsites across the U.S. getting more crowded, going off the grid and camping on public lands is an attractive concept, but you need to be prepared. Here’s everything you need to know about dispersed camping in national forests.

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Leave No Trace: Tips & Tricks to Keep Your Campsite Pristine

Every camper should be familiar with the 7 principles of Leave No Trace for the Frontcountry to help lessen our impact on the lands where we’re recreating. If you need a quick crash course or just need to brush up on the basics, read this before you go.

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