I can’t believe I’m just now sitting down to write this post, but there was no way I wasn’t going to document this epic trip, even if it’s almost a year later! As we can all attest, this time last year was a total shock to us all. Covid cases had just begun and the entire world had pretty much shut down! We all stayed in our homes for what felt like forever. After three months of what we called “lockdown”, we were going stir crazy and needed a change of scenery. That’s when we decided to make that cross-country road trip we had always talked about a reality! What better way to get out of the house, but also keep to ourselves than with a road trip in our RV?

I’ve been debating how I would compile this post for some time now because there’s SO much information that I want to share with you all. I’ve come to the conclusion that two separate posts will probably be the best way to get you all the details. In this post, I’ll be sharing all of our destinations. Read on and enjoy!

We wanted to pack as much as we could into this trip, so as I mentioned above, we drove through ten states in eleven days. It was such a whirlwind, but we were able to see so much this way! We used the coolest app to map out our entire route. I’ll be sharing all about it in my other Road Trip post. For now, let’s get to our first destination.

Destination 1: Route 66

Ok, guys this place is MAJOR Cars Movie vibes! Seriously, like real life Lightning McQueen and Mater!!! It took me right back to the days of Gage being a toddler and his obsession with the Cars Movie. This was such a fun little town, where novelty shops and old cars lined the streets, along with a few small restaurants. After walking the main street and hitting up a few of the shops for souvenirs, we grabbed lunch and a milkshake at the cutest 50’s style outdoor diner. Definitely a must stop for anyone with young kids or anyone that loves that era.

Destination 2: Sedona, Arizona

This one has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Something about all that jagged red rock has always called to me. And seeing it in person, did not disappoint! It seemed like every direction you looked, had the most stunning red rocks that looked like they were carved right out of a painting. Our schedule didn’t allow us time to hike, (and the weather was way too hot for a hike - I think it was 114 that day) but we found the most beautiful lookout spot at Schnebly Hill Vista Observation Site. Definitely recommend, if you’re looking for the perfect place for photos and views.

The town itself is beautiful - full of restaurants, spas, resorts and jeep rentals. It would be a perfect place to enjoy a romantic weekend or a fun girls getaway.

Destination 3: The Grand Canyon

I know you’re probably going to laugh, but I never really saw The Grand Canyon as a place I wanted to see. It was more of a place I “needed” to see because you’re just supposed to see it at least once, right? Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s not just the big hole in the earth I thought it was. The only words that come to mind when trying to describe The Grand Canyon are vast and magnificent. The beauty and size of this canyon is literally breathtaking! It’s not just a place you need to see, but a place you should “want” to see.

Destination 4: Monument Valley, Arizona

Unfortunately, The Tribal Park was closed when we visited. Even though we could only drive through Monument Valley, it was still stunning to see! The sandstone structures seem majestic, and the entire area feels like something out of an old western movie. And it’s probably because tons of old westerns were filmed in the valley. It’s definitely worth seeing if you’re ever driving through Arizona into Utah.

Destination 5: Mexican Hat, Utah

This my friends, is the place where Forrest Gump stopped running. Need I say more??? We were about 15 miles past this spot when we realized it was behind us! I knew turning around would put us way behind schedule, but there was no chance I was missing out on it. I mean, I had outfit and picture concepts I would always wonder about if I didn’t get a shot of me and my girls there!

Destination 6: Arches National Park, Moab Utah

Ok, how do I even describe these arches other than huge, red rock arches in the middle of nowhere? This place was awesome and full of adventure! We did a short hike (again because it was HOT and we were in a hurry to our next destination) to Double Arch, where Paul needed to climb to the top, and then had a heck of a time getting back down! This is definitely a must do, especially for the adventurous type. They have jeep rentals, river rafting expeditions, and even a virtual aquarium featuring ancient sea creatures!

Destination 7: Mount Rushmore

Now this was another one from my bucket list! It’s so crazy to think that men were able to carve these massive faces into stone! I loved learning the history behind Mount Rushmore, including the reason these four presidents were chosen to be in the carving, which was because they represented the most important events and ideals in US history, according to Gutzon Borglum, the artist who created the sculpture. Seeing this in person was truly magnificent and definitely worth the stop.

Destination 8: Devil’s Tower, Wyoming

This one was cool, but if I’m being completely honest, it wasn’t one of my favorites. I did love learning about all of the ancient Native American history and rituals surrounding the tower, and the kids did have the best time climbing it. I don’t know if I would add this one to my bucket list, but everyone has different things that appeal to them and this may be the most amazing thing to someone else.

Destination 9: Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming

I remember driving up to Mammoth and thinking to myself, “this can’t be real!” If there was one word to describe Yellowstone, it would be pristine. Everything is just untouched and beautiful. The clearest of streams, the greenest of grass, and the blueist of sky. We even saw a rainbow with colors like I’ve never ever seen before. And this was all before even getting to the hot springs! Then, you see the hot springs and it’s almost like something out of a fantasy movie, with the steaming, bubbling water flowing down limestone stairs. It’s absolutely unreal and a once in a lifetime experience!

Destination 10: Old Faithful, Yellowstone

We absolutely loved witnessing Old Faithful erupt. The geyser erupts every 35 to 120 minutes and we arrived at the perfect time. We only had to wait about 15 minutes to see the eruption, and it was a good thing, too because it was really cold and starting to drizzle. It’s height ranges anywhere from 90 to 184 feet!

Destination 11: Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone

We saved the best for last, IMO. Every stop we made was awesome, but this was truly magical for me! The rainbow of colors that fill the hot springs are unbelievable. The purple, turquoise and yellow are so vibrant and unlike anything I have ever seen in real life! Just being in the presence of all that natural beauty is really awe inspiring and something everyone should try and see at least once.

The Grand Prismatic is just one of the many wonders that Yellowstone has to offer. We honestly could have made an entire two-week trip out of just Yellowstone. There is so much to see and do, the possibilities are endless. Add Yellowstone to the very top of your bucket list.

Stay tuned for the follow up to this post, where I’ll be sharing all about our road trip essentials, what worked for us, and what didn’t work for us.