This 661-mile Route Was Just Named the ‘Road Trip of the Year’

Road trippers have a new itinerary to add to their bucket lists, and it stretches through some of the most famous national parks in the United States. 

The classic itinerary, which includes stops at the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park as well as plenty of time spent along the famed Route 66, was named the 2026 Road Trip of the Year by rental and booking service RVshare. The trip, named “The Hidden Side of the West,” was expertly devised to minimize crowds and maximize views, the company shared with Travel + Leisure.

The full itinerary kicks off in Flagstaff, Arizona, along Route 66 before heading to the less-visited North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The trip then heads to Zion National Park and Great Basin National Park, before navigating Route 93 and eventually ending on Route 50, known as “the loneliest road in America.”

“Great Basin National Park might be the National Parks’ best kept secret,” Maddi Bourgerie, a spokesperson for RVshare, said in a statement shared with T+L. “This incredible underrated park has everything you love from fan favorites like Glacier and the Tetons—without the crowds or the price tag.”

The drive comes as Route 66 kicks off celebrations for its 100th anniversary. The famed road first opened in 1926, and stretches from Illinois to California, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Beyond the 661-mile road trip, RVshare noted several national parks are having a moment this year. Some of the most beloved are Utah’s Arches National Park, South Carolina’s Congaree National Park, Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park, and both Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park in California.

Road trips were also on the rise in 2025 with a record-setting 61.6 million Americans forecast to travel over the July 4 holiday. The average price of gas has also dropped, according to AAA, currently coming in $2.88 per gallon. That’s a decrease compared to the same time period last year when gas averaged $3.12 per gallon nationwide.

Beyond these road trips, there are plenty of amazing ways to explore the country by car from eating your way across North Carolina and South Carolina to taking in the breathtaking views along California’s Pacific Coast, and even hopping between lobster shacks in Maine. Road trips are also a great way to travel abroad, including driving through the Irish countryside, discovering rain forests and beach towns in Brazil, and more.