ITINERARY:
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| Washington, D.C. (Point A) to the Grand Canyon (Point N) |
- Leave early in the morning (before 7:00 a.m.)
- Drive to Limestone, TN (425 miles, 6 hours 42 minutes)
- Visit the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Park (visitor center and museum close at 4:30 p.m.)
- Drive to Pigeon Forge, TN (68 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes)
Day 2
- Enjoy the day at Dollywood
Day 3
- Drive to Clingmans Dome at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (33 miles, 1 hour 1 minute)
- On the way and as time permits, drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, hike to Grotto Falls, and visit the Sugarlands Visitors Center
- Drive to Nashville, TN (243 miles, 4 hours 23 minutes)
Day 4
- If time and interest, consider driving past the Grand Ole Opry, the Parthenon, and the AT&T Building (known affectionately to locals as the "Batman Building") on the way out of town
- Drive to Little Rock, AR (349 miles, 5 hours 13 minutes)
- Go to the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (closes at 4:30 p.m.)
Day 5
- Drive to Hot Springs, AR (55 miles, 59 minutes)
- Visit the Hot Springs National Park and take the 11:00 a.m. tour
- Drive to Oklahoma City, OK (311 miles, 5 hours 22 minutes)
- Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial (the memorial is free and beautiful - rangers are available at the memorial until 10:00 p.m. during the summer; the museum has a cost and closes at 6:00 p.m.)
Day 6
- Drive to Albuquerque, NM (541 miles, 8 hours 2 minutes)
- Along the way, stop in Amarillo, TX for lunch and to see Cadillac Ranch
Day 7
- Drive to McKinley, NM (157 miles, 3 hours 15 minutes)
- Visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park
- Drive to Cortez, CO (144 miles, 3 hours 17 minutes)
Day 8
- Visit Mesa Verde National Park (make reservations for a guided tour before you arrive to ensure you see what you want)
Day 9
- Drive to Teec Nos Pos, UT (50 miles, 58 minutes)
- Stand in UT, CO, NM, and AZ at the same time at the Four Corners Monument
- Drive to Grand Canyon Village (South Rim), AZ (228 miles, 3 hours 49 minutes)
Day 10
- Day at the Grand Canyon (lodging books a year in advance at the park, so plan ahead if you want to stay there)
- If you have kids, do the Junior Ranger Program
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| Grand Canyon (Point A) to Washington, D.C. (Point O) |
- Drive to St. George, UT (271 miles, 5 hours 1 minute)
- Get a shake at the Iceberg Drive-inn and rest
Day 12
- Drive to and visit Zion National Park (43 miles, 1 hour 1 minute)
- Take the Ride with a Ranger Shuttle Tour in the morning (seating limited)
- Consider hiking to the Emerald Pools (across from Zion Lodge) or to Weeping Rock
- Drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway before leaving
- Drive to Bryce Canyon, UT (84 miles, 1 hour 46 minutes)
Day 13
- Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
- At a minimum, drive to and see Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce viewpoints
- Drive to Orem, UT (233 miles, 3 hours 38 minutes)
Day 14
- Like trains? Drive to Corinne, UT (124 miles, 2 hours 12 minutes) and visit the Golden Spike National Historic Site
- See the replica locomotives in the Engine House (if visiting on Saturday during the summer, reenactments are at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.)
- If time, take one of the auto tours
- Drive to Arco, ID (304 miles, 4 hours 45 minutes)
- See Craters of the Moon National Monument (best if visited early morning or late in the day, so if you are running late that is actually good)
- Take advantage of the programs offered at the Monument to best understand the park
- Late night drive to Idaho Falls, ID (91 miles, 1 hour 39 minutes)
Day 15
- Leave early
- Drive to and spend the day in Yellowstone National Park (159 miles, 3 hours 9 minutes)
- Stop at Midway Geyser Basin to see Grand Prismatic Basin
- Stop at Upper Geyser Basin to see Old Faithful Geyser and take the Firehole River Walk
- Drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and see the Upper and Lower Falls
Day 16
- Drive to Rapid City, SD (485 miles, 8 hours)
- Go to Mount Rushmore National Memorial's evening program at 9:00 p.m.
Day 17
- Hike the Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore National Memorial to get an up-close view
- Drive to Jackson, SD (98 miles, 1 hour 39 minutes)
- Take a tour of a nuclear weapon launch control facility at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
- Rest up for some long day drives
Day 18
- Drive to Harpers Ferry, IA (583 miles, 9 hours 3 minutes)
Day 19
- Explore the sacred grounds of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- Begin drive to Dearborn, MI (533 miles, 8 hours 38 minutes)
- See Chicago, IL along the way
Day 20
- If necessary, complete the drive to Dearborn, MI
- Visit the Ford Rouge Factory watching the assembly of Ford F-150s, visiting the multi-sensory Art of Manufacturing Theatre, learning about the Rouge at the Legacy Theatre, viewing historic vehicles, etc.
- Drive to Sandusky, OH (114 miles, 2 hours 6 minutes)
Day 21
- Celebrate 3 weeks of vacation at the roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point
Day 22
- Drive home (420 miles, 6 hours 56 minutes)
