In the summer of 2022, we loaded our kids into our minivan and drove away from our house in the Seattle area with a spreadsheet, an America the Beautiful Annual Pass, a mini waffle maker, a crate of snacks, and absolutely no idea what was about to happen to us. Six weeks. Nine states. Seven National Parks. Flooding that closed half of Yellowstone. A kid who got COVID in Las Vegas. Wildfires canceled Yosemite entirely. A VRBO we found with nowhere else to go. And two kids who, at the end of all of it, said it was the best thing we'd ever done as a family. This is the complete guide to how we did it. One post per leg of the trip (and maybe a bonus post or two!). Everything we saw, where we stayed, and where we ate. Of course, it will include gluten-free dining at every stop for our daughter, who has Celiac Disease. Start at the beginning or jump to the leg you need. It was the trip of a lifetime, and I feel so lucky to have experienced this with my family!

The Route

Seattle → Butte, MT → West Yellowstone, MT → Jackson Hole, WY

→ Grand Teton National Park → Bear Lake, UT → Park City, UT

→ Capitol Reef National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park

→ Zion National Park → Las Vegas, NV → Los Angeles, CA

→ Anaheim, CA → Oakland, CA → Pacific Coast Highway

→ Arcata, CA → Redwood National Park → Klamath Falls, OR

→ Crater Lake National Park → Bend, OR → Home

The Trip

Our entire road trip is broken down by leg. Plus, you’ll get a few bonus posts.

Six weeks, seven national parks, a minivan, and two kids. Start here!