USA Road Trip ... What Shouldn't We Miss?

Stormbringer

My wife and I are embarking on a road trip in September. We are starting in SF, then on to Lake Tahoe, Boise, Boise and Sawtooth National Forests, Idaho Falls, Yellowstone, the Tetons, Arches National Park, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon and ending in Vegas.

In these places, or areas near them, are there any parks, monuments, etc. that are "oh you must go and see/do that"? Would be grateful of local knowledge to help make our journey outstanding. I did check if there were any CGS outlets en route, no luck though ... well, except Eggs on the Bay but they won't be open when we are there.

DoubleEgger

I'd go to Glacier NP as well 

GATraveller

I wouldn't miss Going to the Sun road through Glacier NP. Most beautiful place in the country IMO.  Safe travels! 

Pompey Pillar near Billings is pretty cool if you're a history buff. 

YukonRon

Do the Alpine in Yosemite, at night. Get out of your car, look up and see the Milky Way in its full glory. There are few places on earth that provide a better view.
If you are a fan of firearms, the Winchester museum in Cody Wyoming is very cool. Buffalo Bill's Museum is righteous as well, and not too far from Yellowstone.

Mama Roneck

seconded on all of the museums that are part of the Buffalo Bill center in Cody WY!   budget plenty of time for them!

Legume

Fantastic plan, just make sure you leave enough time to loiter in these places.  So much good stuff.

Botch

Zion is close to Bryce, and stunning (especially if you can approach the park from the east, there's this tunnel...).
And Sedona AZ is not too far from Monument Valley, in fact I'm spending next week there myself.  

Enjoy the trip!  

Fred19Flintstone

Isn't Walley World around there?

BYS1981

I would go to Alcatraz - you can and must buy tickets in advance and they're available online. Camp Richardson is a chill place in Lake Tahoe if you're at south shore.

DoubleEgger

Napa and Sonoma to stock up on vino for the rest of the trip. 

DoubleEgger

Donner Pass is cool too

bigguy136

I would make a stop at Mt. Evans. It's the highest paved road in North America at 14,260 feet. Check if it's open before you go.
I've been there and there was a storm with the lighting below us.

gdenby

From Vegas, there are some ancient volcanoes near flagstaff a few hours away.

DuckDogDr

Close to Blackfoot ID, there is a set of mesas in the middle of the desert everyone drives too 

jeroldharter

You did not say how much time you have. This is certainly a whirlwind. One of the highlights is the national parks of southern Utah. From East to West are Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion. While you are at Bryce you could check out the north rim of the Grand Canyon and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes state park. If the weather has cooled down a bit, you should see Death Valley NP which is about 3 hours from Las Vegas and I think one of the most beautiful national parks.

You might spend more time in the Eastern Sierras south of Lake Taho - Mono Lake, Alabama Hills, Bodie. But doing so will make you tight on time.

In September, you can get snow in Glacier so the weather will likely start pushing you southward during your tip.

With any one national park, you could easily spend a week. We spent 6 weeks in the Glacier/Yellowstone/Tetons area. So you might consider going the other way with the itinerary - cross of some of the lesser stops so you can spend more time at the primo locations.

theyolksonyou

I can't offer anything as my time in the west is minimal, but damn I'm jealous. 

BYS1981

DoubleEgger said:

Napa and Sonoma to stock up on vino for the rest of the trip. 

Or Santa Rosa and Sonoma for craft beer, whatever your forte.

Eggcelsior

DoubleEgger said:

Donner Pass is cool too

Just be sure to have enough food...

YukonRon

DoubleEgger said:

Napa and Sonoma to stock up on vino for the rest of the trip. 

This*^* Find the Oakville Grocery, a kind of general store. Have them pack a gourmet picnic lunch, let them provide a few suggestions on the pairing of wine, then take the picnic to the California pacific highway, (California and U.S. Route one. Enjoy one of the most beautiful drives in the world, crossing back in to SF via the Golden Gate Bridge.

northGAcock

Que up Johnny Cash's I've Been Everywhere!

Stormbringer

Thanks for all of the advice. The trip is three weeks, we have a single day in SF after the plane lands in the afternoon, then we're off. I'm sure that we can alter our route to fit in some of this stuff, Mt. Evans looks like a clear winner.

If I have the geography correct, Donner Pass is off the 80 near Truckee? That could work, that was one potential route to get from SF to Lake Tahoe.

Arches and Canyonlands are now on the itinerary, and Sedona is probably going to make it too.

Stormbringer

Went to Donner Pass today, view was breath-taking, as was the story of the original pioneers. Next stop Boise, eating at a place that does SRF steaks and visiting a BBQ store to buy lots of rubs.

 SWMBO saw a bear ... so that's her single holiday success criteria met.

Thanks again for the advice.

bhedges1987

sounds like a good time

tikigriller

 If you have the legs, get to the trailhead for Half Dome in Yosemite.  Have to be hiking by about 6:30 to get up and back down in a reasonable amount of time without having to rush.  You will see area's of Yosemite that not many do, and you CAN go to the top of halfdome.  There is  a rope to help you climb up the side. 

Been everywhere you have listed, and you will not be disappointed no matter what you do.  Yellowstone and Tetons was amazing, but check into Yellowstone.....they have a pretty good wildfire going that closed some roads last week, so it may not be the best time to head out there.  I have no idea the status of the fires now.  To really appreciate Tetons, IMHO, you need to get your hiking boots on and get in deep on some day hikes.  Amazing stuff!

Canyonlands...if you have a little 4X4 has a great dirt road you can drive on.  In a day you can get almost halfway before you need to start heading back, but it gets you some amazing views as well.

Bryce is fun...hiking boots again and you can do some really cool day hikes to get a full feel for the park, as it is fairly small, but worth it.

Hoover Dam was pretty fascinating and very close to Vegas.

If you do go to Napa---go to Paradux and Regusci Wineries.  Best wine in Napa for taste and vibe IMHO.  In fact, I'll be there Friday and Saturday!!  Yummmmmm!!!!!!

And yes..Wallyworld is Six Flags Magic Mountain, but it is all the way down by L.A. 

DoubleEgger

You have to have a permit these days to hike Half Dome. Might be hard to get one this late in the game. 

DoubleEgger

Yellowstone is huge. Fires are commonplace. Don't let that discourage you. It's a 100% must see. 

Stormbringer

We are doing Yellowstone for sure.

Photo Egg

My wife always wanted to make a road trip like this...Do you have room for her?

fishlessman

i went to yellowstone and never looked up, theres fish in those rivers. best fly fishing week i ever had was in the quake/slide area outside the west gate i hear theres things to see there as well be careful near waters outside the park, the land owners are not really nice if you step on their land

tikigriller

DoubleEgger said:

You have to have a permit these days to hike Half Dome. Might be hard to get one this late in the game. 

Well that sucks!!!  It is such an awesome hike!!!  It was almost 20 years ago when I did it!

DuckDogDr

I would also say go to craters of the moon national monument in Idaho