Road trip out west, please give advice/recommendations
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