National Parks Tour

Visit Dozens of National Parks on a Campervan Road Trip

With 58 National Parks to choose from, the United States is a road tripper’s dream come true. On this Escape-approved multi-week adventure, you will immerse yourself into the most majestic scenery North America has to offer. Starting in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Las Vegas, this adventurous loop around the western United States will satisfy any explorer’s itch to get off the beaten path. We have listed several attractions along this route, but this is just a taste of what you’re about to see – sometimes the best stops are the ones you don’t plan. Just make sure you share your insider knowledge with future Escapees upon your return. Take your time over the weeks to take in all the sights from a campervan perfectly built to tour national parks. Let’s start our National Parks Tour itinerary at our Los Angeles Camper Van pickup location and head east.

Joshua Tree National Park

Seligman, Route 66

The granddaddy of ‘em all, the Grand Canyon is something everyone has to check out. 10 miles (16 km) across and a mile deep (16 km and 1.6 km, respectively), this is nature at its most magnificent. During the summer months, Desert View Road can become a parking lot. Do yourself a favor and rent a bike, pack a lunch, and thumb your nose at all the ‘tourists’ fighting for parking spots.

Best Camping

Desert View Campground – first-come, first-served, 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village.

Best Hike

Bright Angel is the most well-known (well-known = crowded). Hermit and Grandview Trails are good alternatives if you’re looking to escape the crowds.

Best Side Trip

Petrified Forest National Park

Antelope Canyon

Pronounced “Yo-SE-mi-tEE”, this paradise quickly becomes the highlight of many Escapee adventures. That said, with over 4 million tourists a year, this place is most definitely not off-the-beaten-track, and a lack of planning might lessen the awesomeness of your experience. We’ll leave it to the travel blogs to provide the full rundown on how to make the most of a Yosemite trip and stick with several of our tried and tested ways to beat the crowds.

Best Camping

If you didn’t book a campsite in Yosemite Valley in advance (Upper, Middle, or Lower Pines Campgrounds), stick with the first-come, first-served campgrounds along Highway 120, also known as Tioga Pass Road. Escape favorites include White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, and Tamarack Flat. Up on Glacier Point Road is another truly epic first-come campground named Bridalveil Creek. You can’t go wrong with any of these and, by staying here, you’ll avoid the madness that is Yosemite Valley. Read our camping tips for more information.

Best Hike

Skip the tourist crowds as they head up the Nevada/Vernal Falls Trail and come DOWN it instead. Here’s the game plan: Leave your vehicle in Curry Village, take the free public transit bus to Glacier Point, jump out and hike back to your campervan via the Panorama Trail. Get an early start as this is a full-day commitment. Bring lots of water, snacks and some sturdy shoes.

Best Side Trip

While there is a multitude of things to do in Yosemite Valley, driving about an hour south to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias provides a different–and equally rewarding–experience.

Big Sur

Like a lot of destinations in this itinerary, Big Sur isn’t a National Park. Some might even tell you Big Sur isn’t a place; it’s more of a state of mind. Just a couple of hours south of San Francisco along the famous Highway 1, you get to witness where the continent of North America crashes abruptly into the Pacific Ocean. Once you get south of Santa Cruz, (or north of Morro Bay) tap the brakes regularly as you meander because there’s plenty to check out and a lot of people miss it. Highlights

• Ano Nuevo State Park and its resident Elephant Seals (best in Dec-March)
• Point Lobo State Park: an Escape favorite; you can’t go wrong paying the $10 fee to check out the otters, seals, Condor, and whatever else happens to be cruising by.
• Nepenthe Restaurant: just south of Big Sur, Nepenthe is hands down the best place for a sunset over a glass of wine or a cold one.
• Pfeiffer Beach: the ‘other’ best place to catch a sunset while in Big Sur. Keep an eye toward the ocean as this is also a big tourist destination for both humpback and gray whales.

Best Camping

Escape favorites include Pfeiffer Big Sur State Campground, Fernwood, Riverside and Kirk Creek. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. Learn more here.

Best Hike

Ewoldsen Trail

Best Side Trip

Hearst Castle — It took 28 years to complete William Randolph Hearst’s lavish estate, which includes 165 rooms on 125 acres. There are a variety of tours available. Location: Can’t miss the entrance on the right up Highway 1 outside the town of San Simeon.