Amazing Winter Road Trips To Take In The US
Who says road trips are for the summer? The most popular outdoor destinations in the US are equally as beautiful when the winter season transforms them. With a good RV to keep you warm, you can traverse breathtaking terrain with ease.
It doesn’t matter if you only have a day, a weekend, or an entire month to make the trip. What’s most important is heeding the call of the wild when the air is freshest and the rest of the world sleeps.
We’ve put together a list of the best winter road trips in the US to take in 2023. From shortest to longest, come with us as we explore the great outdoors in off season!
Burlington to Stowe
Total Drive Time: 45 minutes
Our list of the best winter road trips in the US starts where else but New England? The shortest trip on our list is a little under an hour long, but every inch of it is idyllic charm.
Burlington is a hidden gem in the Northeast, situated right on the shores of Lake Champlain. The city has become a hub for craft breweries and amazing food by the water in recent years. And although it’s lovely to visit in summer or fall, seeing its main square lit up with Christmas lights makes winter an amazing time to stroll through town.
Only 45 minutes to the east, Stowe is a small town overlooked by Mount Mansfield. The numerous ski slopes and trails make it a popular winter sports destination in the region, so be sure to bring your gear with you on this trip!
To make your trip a little longer, stop in at any of the small towns on the route for your fill of quaint New England charm.
Seward Highway
Total Drive Time: 2.5 hours
The stunning vistas of Alaska’s landscape surround you on all sides during a drive on Seward Highway. The journey from Anchorage to Seward is filled with everything you could want on a wilderness journey. Stunning ocean views, snow capped mountains, and numerous stop off points make this a once in a lifetime trek for visitors to the area.
The route takes a little over two hours to complete if driving nonstop. However, you can make an entire day of it— or more— by stopping at scenic posts along the way.
Beluga Point is a popular resting area for whale watching. It overlooks the Turnagain Arm for amazing views of the Gulf of Alaska. Between Beluga and Bird Point, you can pull over and see if you can spot Dall Sheep along the craggy cliffs.
For a quick hike, stop over at Glacier Creek Bridge Viewpoint. The glacier fed waters of the recreational area are a must-see for any visit to Alaska.
Grand Teton National Park (with the National Elk Refuge)
Total Drive Time: 2-3 hours
Though the December winds are cold in Wyoming, you can take in the loveliness of Grand Teton National Park from the warmth of your RV. The fields and mountains of Wyoming are a view that can’t quite be captured properly over photos.
The park is open throughout the winter months with limited road access. To gain entrance to the park, you can take US Highway 89/191 or 287/26. These hail from Jackson and Dubois respectively and will get you to Flagg Ranch. From there, access the entrance at Moran Entrance Station.
Though some of the park closes during this time, you can still ski and snowshoe in Jenny Lake or Taggart Lake. The drive will take between two to three hours depending on stops or winter visibility. All of the roads through the park are well maintained, but we still recommend an experienced driver behind the wheel in case of slippery conditions.
While you’re visiting Grand Teton, take advantage of its close proximity to the National Elk Refuge. There, you can get an up close look at these extraordinary creatures against the backdrop of picturesque Wyoming landscape.
Blue Ridge Parkway through Great Smoky Mountains
Total Drive Time: 3 hours
The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is not only breathtaking in the fall, but also during the winter months when snow covers the Great Smoky Mountains. What makes this Virginian destination particularly great for road trippers is that it’s incredibly customizable.
Foremost, there are so many pull offs spots along the Parkway that you can create an itinerary to fit your unique needs. Hiking or snowshoeing may be too difficult on the popular trails, but shorter treks through smaller pull offs will still give you amazing views of the valleys.
What also makes the Parkway a great driving route is its many avenues. Depending on how much time you have or how far you want to drive, your journey could take three hours (on the casual loop) or even up to 12.
An important caveat to this trip is the sporadic winter closures. Parts of the route are often blocked off due to heavy snow or ice. So if you’d like to make the trek, be sure to do your research ahead of time on possible closures or winter storms.
Click here for more information on visiting Blue Ridge Parkway in the winter.
Arches National Park Scenic Drive
Total Drive Time: 3.5-4.5 hours
One of the most popular National Parks to visit in the winter is Arches National Park in Utah. The famous rock formations of the desert are often blanketed in snow, giving the park’s rust colored hues a magical beauty. Plus, you won’t run into the large crowds that show up in high season.
Many of the trails are likely to be too icy to hike. That being said, you can still see famous sights like Delicate Arch or Landscape Arch from a nice distance. If you plan on hiking during your visit, we strongly encourage you to check in with park rangers before you go. You should also invest in a pair of trekking poles to be extra safe.
The Arches National Park Scenic Drive takes between 3.5 to 4.5 hours to complete. If the 30° weather is too abrasive, this is an amazing way to take in the views. Be sure to check ahead of time for road closures.
Miami to Key West
Total Drive Time: 4 hours
For a different type of winter road trip, we’ll venture to the southernmost point of the continental US. The weather from December to February barely strays below 75° in this snowbird’s paradise. Although winter is the high season for Miami, where our trip starts, there are considerably less crowds in Key West than in March onward.
Driving from Miami to Key West takes about four hours. But all of the Keys have exceptional beaches, views, and things to do. Don’t miss out on John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, the only underwater state park in the US.
Because Miami is an extremely popular destination in the winter, be sure to book your RV rental ahead of time! The same goes for RV campgrounds in Key West. Although it’s not as heavily crowded as Miami during the same time period, it’s still one of the most popular RV destinations in the US. And there are only so many RV resorts on the islands!
Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe
Total Drive Time: 7 hours
The longest drive on our list of winter road trips in the US is a classic. The route from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe is filled with gorgeous California scenery. Although San Francisco to Lake Tahoe is another popular drive, we’ve chosen Los Angeles as our starting point for the sheer amount of destinations along the way.
Because of the amount of things to do and the drive time alone, this trip should be undertaken when you’ve got plenty of time to take it all in. You won’t want to be rushed when you’ve got Sequoia National Park, Sierra National Forest, and Yosemite National Park all as potential landing spots in your itinerary!
But perhaps the best of all is the finish line of this trip. The panorama of Lake Tahoe in winter is an unbelievable treat to be a part of. Of course, you’ll want to have packed your ski or snowboarding gear too! For winter sports that are to die for, check out Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe.
All of the destinations on this list will make for unforgettable winter road trips in the US. Make sure to secure your RV rental and get out there!