Road trips are bound to be a popular choice this summer.
By now, it’s clear that the road trip will be the most popular form of travel for Americans this summer. Though it is not without risks, it has the potential to be one of the safest forms of travel in the current COVID-19 era, especially if you target wilderness areas, camp, and keep to yourself as much as possible.
So, where should road trippers be looking to land? Here are a few ideas.
Colorado
Colorado has to be one of the first states to come to mind. Forget the destination you are trying to reach - just driving through the Rocky Mountains is an experience in itself, and there are plenty of iconic towns to pass through, including Breckenridge and Aspen. But if you really want to get away from everyone, try out some of the more remote parts of the state, like Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and State Forest State Park way up north, or San Juan National Forest down south near Telluride, Ouray, Durango, and Silverton.
Utah
With five national parks and an uncountable amount of nooks and crannies, Utah is one of the best states in the country for a road trip.
That said, considering that the State’s national parks suffer from overcrowding when they are fully operational, I don’t expect complete solace or unlimited availability when they are only partially open (especially Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon).
As an alternative, head to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument or Glen Canyon Recreation Area, where you will find it easy to disappear (in a good way).
Vista of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Idaho
Those living in the Pacific Northwest are no doubt looking to Idaho for refuge this summer. The northern part of the state is nothing but national forest (mostly Kaniksu) and there’s the opportunity to hop over to Washington to check out Colville National Forest. Set your sights on the area surrounding the small, sporty hubs of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.
Tennessee/North Carolina/Kentucky/Georgia Border
Let’s see: One, two, three, four, five national forests are within a few hours drive of where Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia meet. Consider setting up a leisurely route that winds between Cherokee, Pisgah, Nantahala, Daniel Boone, and Chattahoochee national forests. It’s one of the most dense, bang-for-buck routes you can find.
Landscape in Big Bend National Park, Texas.
Texas
If you’re looking for open space, Texas might have more than anyone. Keep an eye on the reopening status at Big Bend National Park. Normally, it’s one of the most out of the way national parks, but maybe time is now not as much of an issue as it usually is.
Otherwise, consider heading to the southeast part of the state, towards the Louisiana border, where four national forests - Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Angelina, and Sabine - hide between Shreveport and Houston.
New Mexico
It’s been a long time since Breaking Bad, but it’s time to get reacquainted with New Mexico. On a normal road trip, combining Carson National Forest with a couple nights in Santa Fe would be an ideal pairing. But for these times, we suggest something more remote, perhaps the sandstone cliffs of El Malpais National Conservation Area and National Monument or the unexpected, rugged mountain terrain of Lincoln National Forest way down south.
Perhaps no road trip to New Mexico should skip some time spent in Gila National Forest, which covers much of the landscape in the southwest and leads into Arizona.
Massive Saguaros in Sonoran Desert at sunset.
Arizona
The Grand Canyon seems poised to continue its gradual reopening, which will no doubt draw many road warriors to Arizona. Nearby Lake Powell will also be a big draw in the next few months, and between the two, there’s plenty of room to find your own space via hiking, biking, and boating.
But there will be even more room to spare down south in the lesser known parts of the state. Check out the two million acres of forest within the boundaries of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the red rock formations of Coconino National Forest, or the big, desert cacti of Tonto National Forest. Looking at a map, you’ll see that these three national forests form a triangle of sorts, which sets you up nicely for a few days of exploring.
