r/roadtrip•
VrnRmprksh1234

Road trip out west, please give advice/recommendations

Trip Planning

Hey, my friend and I (both 22 yo guys) are planning a road trip out west starting from and ending in Chicago in early-mid June. Here's what we were thinking:

Day 1: Chicago to Badlands

  • 12 hours drive

Day 2: Badlands/Black Hills/Mt Rushmore

Day 3: SD to Teton

  • 8-9 hours drive

Day 4-5: Grand Teton Natl Park

Day 6: Grand Teton to Capitol Reef

  • 8-9 hours drive
  • Stargazing

Day 7: Capitol Reef to Grand Canyon

  • 6-7 hours drive

Day 8: Grand Canyon

Day 9: Grand Canyon to Moab

  • 6-7 hours drive
  • Arches Natl Park

Day 10: Canyonlands Natl Park

Day 11: Moab to Denver

  • 5-6 hours drive
  • Explore Denver

Day 12: Rocky Mountain Natl Park

Day 13: Denver to Omaha

  • 7-8 hours drive

Day 14: Omaha to Chicago

  • 7-8 hours drive

Grand Canyon is obviously out of the way, but we definitely want to keep that in if we're going to the Utah area anyway (Chicago is very far away haha). Please give us any advice or recommendations!

Posted May 2, 2026, 4:29 AM UTC

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