Camping National Parks Road Trip Out West

This summer we decided to take a camping national parks road trip out west passing through Yellowstone National Park, Olympic National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. What we didn’t prepare ourselves for is the amazing highlights of our road trip we discovered in between! This article shares highlights from our 10 day car camping trip. We love the national parks- but we also want to highlight all the awesome things to do in between!

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#1: 1880s Town in Midland, South Dakota

I have traveled South Dakota countless times, and I have no idea how I have passed the 1880s town, right off I-90. The 1880s town has over 30 historical buildings from all over South Dakota, several that you can go inside & explore. It well known for being the filming location of Dances with Wolves. The 1880s town features gem panning, costume rentals, a 1950s diner and saloon with live performances!

If you walk behind the the last set of buildings, there is also a prairie homestead you can visit. There are several farm animals and Otis the camel who live back here. We had such a fun time strolling the prairie land, and visiting all the animals. Those Texas longhorns were quite impressive! Another thing to note- the 1880s town is pet friendly.

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#2: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency, Montana

If you are a history buff, make sure to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This monument serves as a memorial for the US 7th Calvary, Crow, Arikara, Lakotas, Cheyenne and Araphos in the Native American’s last armed effort to preserve their way of life.

There is so much to see here and reflect on. There is a 4.5 mile drive you can take, where each headstone marks the actual spot of where a soldier or warrior had fallen. The Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument serves as a national cemetery, Indian memorial and even has memorial to honor the fallen horses in one of the most memorable battles. I suggest going into the visitor’s center as there are a lot of neat things to explore & tours you can book as well.

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#3: Pictograph Cave State Park in Billings, Montana

I was amazed at the beauty of Pictograph, Middle and Ghost caves, all tucked away near Billings. This are honestly reminded me of the Hieroglyph Cave I visited in Sedona, Arizona. First, we started our tour at the visitor’s center. It was helpful to preview the cave drawings here, and learn about what the symbols represent before actually seeing them.

Next, we started our self guided tour to ghost cave. Ghost cave may not have as many Pictographs, but it sits up higher & gives a stunning overlook of the area. From here, we hiked to the famous Pictograph Cave. This is where a majority of the cave drawings are, but many are faded. They do have an informative plaque that you can use to identify the drawings, some as old as from 2,000 years ago. It’s very important to stay behind the fence as the cave drawings are very fragile.

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#4: Beartooth Pass in Red Lodge, Montana to Yellowstone, Wyoming

If you haven’t drive Beartooth Pass/Highway, you are missing out on what has been named “one of the most beautiful highways in America“. And it’s not hard to see why! Beartooth Pass has been nicknamed the “Highway to the Sky,” climbing to 10,497 feet above sea level- we literally were driving on a summit of the Beartooth-Absaroka Mountain Range. I suggest planning to spend at least 3 hours on this scenic drive. There are several overlooks, 950 alpine lakes and hiking trails that you can do (all nicely marked alongside the road). There are also tons of animals in this area- we saw a grizzly bear, mountain goats, free roaming cows and even bison near this area.

Beartooth Pass starts in Red Lodge, a cute small town known for it’s unique dining, an impressive ski resort, the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary and home to dozens of lakes for the outdoor lovers. The highway eventually ends at the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Some notable stops we made along the way were Rock Creek Switchbacks, Vista Point Rest Area, Gardner Lake Pullout, The Bear’s Tooth, West Summit Overlook, Beartooth Butte and Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook. You can check out the Beartooth Pass brochure for a map and full list of highlights.

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#5: Northeast Entrance Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Our last time visiting Yellowstone National Park was spent visiting the popular highlights- Old Faithful geyser, Grand Prismatic and Yellowstone Lake. This time we just enjoyed the meadows and all the wildlife that was coming out at dusk. The northeast entrance is near Lamar Valley, which is where you want to go if you want to view wildlife. We watched a herd of thousands of bison graze. We also saw a fox and mountain goats.

My first time at Yellowstone was very crowded and we felt like we couldn’t stay in one place for long. Our experience this time was peaceful. Also note- you will be passing through Silver Gate and Cooke City, both adorable small towns that provide the perfect place to fuel up at one of their local restaurants or stores. Grizzlies are also known to frequent this area.

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#6: Bozeman Hot Springs Camping Resort in Bozeman, Montana

Bozeman Hot Springs Camping Resort is a must see if you are passing through Bozeman. We spent time here for the Montana portion of our road trip, and this resort brought luxury to our camping road trip! If you don’t have an RV or trailer, they also have small cabins for rent.

When you reserve a campsite, you also get full access to their 12 swimming pools, all different temperatures, ranging from a cold plunge up to 110 degrees. They also have a steam room, sauna, full locker rooms with showers and a cafe on site. Campsites come with an electrical and water hook up.

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#7: Nimrod Hot Springs 30 minutes West of Missoula, Montana

Are you looking for a rugged, rustic hot spring experience? Look no further than Nimrod Hot Springs, located right off I-90, 30 minutes west of Missoula, Montana. There is a large gravel pull out off of I-90 for parking. From there, walk the gravel trail starting behind the guard rail. It will be about a .5 mile walk to the little overlook to the springs and around the corner you will see gorgeous waterfalls.

The water is a clear, turquoise blue that stays around 70 degrees. When we went swimming, we climbed in near the waterfalls. The water near the sea cave is a bit cooler than the rest, but still a refreshing swim! Nimrod Hot Spring used to be a resort in the 1930s-1950s, but it closed when I-90 was slated to be built. I highly suggest adding this to your route, but swim at your own risk & with caution.

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#8: Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage, Washington

If you are traveling through Washington from the east, I suggest making a stop in Vantage, Washington. This town is “otherworldly,” to say the least! It’s home to the Columbia River, Wild Horses Monument and Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. The best part? If you are just passing through, these are all in one area!

If you are going west, I suggest stopping at the Columbia River scenic overlook. There are also trails you can walk here, and you get a stunning view of Vantage Bridge. From here, you can see Wild Horses Monument, and cross the bridge to go to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. There is also a neat Gem Shop nearby that’s worth checking out!

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#9: Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, Washington

If you love variety and diversity, Olympic National Park is a must see. You will definitely fall in love! We started our adventure at the visitor’s center in Port Angeles. From here, I suggest driving the Hurricane Ridge- it is a bit out of the way of the rest of the scenic drive. Afterwards, there are a series of waterfalls you can take a short hike to. We hiked to Madison and Marymere Falls. The hike to Marymere Falls is a bit longer (over a mile RT), but you see some gorgeous Redwoods and the infamous moss covered trees along the way!

The parking lot for the trail head to Marymere falls is beside one of our favorite parts of Olympic- Lake Crescent! This glacial lake sports neon blue waters lined with mountains and forest. Being a Minnesota Great Lakes Girl, I couldn’t believe my eyes! We spent extra time near Lake Crescent, which also has a restaurant nearby and several lodging options. If you are wanting to go swimming, Lake Crescent is the perfect spot for water activities in Olympic National Park.

After Lake Crescent, there are three iconic stops: the Hoh Rainforest, Rialto Beach (famous for hole in the wall rock) and Ruby Beach, famous for it’s scenic sea stacks and the Tree of Life. The Hoh Rainforest is home to the Hoh River, a Quileute word from “snow river” or “fast moving water”. Two famous trails from the Hoh Rainforest are The Spruce Trail (1.2 miles) and The Hall of Mosses (.8 miles). Olympic National Park is home to another stunning rainforest, the Quinault Rainforest. You can drive 32 miles through jeweled lakes, glacier peaks and moss covered forest.

People ask if they should visit Rialto Beach or Ruby Beach. My answer is, visit both if you can! If you have to pick, I’d ask, are you looking for scenic or for hiking? Rialto Beach is near Forks, Washington and is perfect for hiking. The trail along to cliffs to the famous hole in the wall is 3.3 miles round trip. If you want something scenic, with a nice stroll along the beach, Ruby Beach is absolutely stunning!

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#10: Mangold’s Store & Motel in Mangold, Montana

During our trip, we were unable to follow our path through Oregon due to a massive wildfire in eastern Oregon. We decided to back track to Montana on our drive to Utah. One of my goals during our road trip was to try some huckleberry. Huckleberry is a fruit that only grows in the northwest area. We found a charming motel that sold anything huckleberry you can think of! We had a huckleberry shake, licorice, tea and pretzels. The store owner was very kind and let us enjoy our treat in the backyard- which just so happened to be a river beneath a mountain!

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#11: Dead Horse State Park in Moab, Utah

When I think of Utah, I think of the “Mighty 5” National Parks- which of course, are stunning. However, one of my favorite experiences was at Dead Horse State Park, which is not as heard of, but just as beautiful of an experience. We reserved a campsite here (Kayenta Campground) and we couldn’t be more stunned at our view. Our campsite was overlooking the canyon rim, sunset and under the most stunning night sky I have ever seen.

Dead Horse State Park got it’s name from an 1880s cowboy legend, where they used to herd wild horses to the end of the cliff. The cowboys would choose the horses they wanted from the group, and barricade the remaining horses on the cliff, leaving them to die just within view of the Colorado River. Over time, someone discovered the horses remains, and the legend was born. The visitor’s center has an awesome cowboy museum you can explore to learn more about the area.

Dead Horse State Park is famous for Dead Horse Point, the highest point of the park where you can get the best view of the meandering Colorado River below. We woke up early to hike the West Rim Trail, which started at our campsite. The 5 mile, round trip trail took us to gorgeous overlooks (I highly suggest Shafer Canyon) we would have not seen by driving. It will also take you to dead Horse Point and the visitors center. Last of all, make sure to lay out under the stars at night. Dead Horse State Park is rated one of the best places in the country for stargazing.

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#12: Explore the Charming Town of Moab, Utah

If you are looking for an awesome base camp as you explore one of the nearby parks, consider paying a visit to the small, charming town of Moab. Moab is a town where you can park and walk the down town to make sure you don’t miss a thing! We decided to have some drinks at Spoke downtown. They have a menu with a little bit of everything. Next, we explored some of the shops downtown. We loved all the desert vibes and outdoor themed shops. If you need to refuel with coffee, the downtown shops are near the Moab Coffee Roaster.

A must see spot in Moab is the food truck court! They have cuisine for EVERYWHERE, including a nice misting station for hot, summer days. We ended our day with Hawaiian Shaved Ice-a perfect treat after hiking over 12 miles!

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#13: Arches National Park in Moab Utah

Five miles from Moab is one of the most iconic National Parks in Utah- Arches National Park! One thing to note is you will need to make a reservation if visiting between 7 am and 4 pm during the summer time. We visited after 4 pm, right before the visitor center closed & did not need an additional permit.

With over 2,000 rock arches, pinnacles and balanced rocks, it’s not hard to see why Arches is known as the “Red Rock Wonderland”. To explore Arches, you will travel on a 25 mile paved out and back road. Of course, you should plan on spending extra time here with all the hiking opportunities!

Highlights of Arches National Park are Landscape Arch in (50 minute hike) near Devil’s Garden, Delicate Arch (3 mile round trip hike), Balanced Rock, Eden’s Garden, Double Arch and Windows Section. I was able to climb up Double Arch and sit in the window area to watch the sunset. It was one of my favorite parts of our road trip.

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#14: Canyonlands National Park in Moab, Utah

Located 15 minutes from Dead Horse Park is Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is divded up into four sections, Needles, The Maze, The Rivers and Islands in the Sky. Needles is home to stunning pinnacles and longer hiking trails. We visited the Island in the Sky area, home to canyon overlooks, hiking trails and a 34 mile scenic drive. If you are doing both, I would start with Island in the Sky & stop at the visitor’s center first. We hiked to the famous Mesa Arch and explored all the overlooks in the Canyonlands. This is definitely a park we will head back to & explore the other sections.

As always, follow the Leave No Trace Principles during your travels through our National Park & make sure you have a physical map as wifi does not work in this area. This area is very hot to hike in the summer. Make sure to bring plenty of water, hydrating snacks and plan to hike early morning or near sunset. It’s very helpful to do your research before heading out.

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