Our family has a love-hate relationship with road trips. We are not that family doing sing-a-longs with smiles on our faces as we merrily cross the country in our car. We don’t like driving that much, we get cranky when we sit too long and with 3 kids, and sometimes a dog, it gets cramped. Yet, out of necessity, we end up taking a major road trip every couple of years. After each trip, we vow never to do that again (too damn much time in the car!) —but when it comes right down to it, road trips are sometimes the best option – a necessary evil. Some of the valid reasons for a road trip are:
· We’re planning on camping and need our gear
· Our dog is joining us
· Plane flight or train is impractical or too expensive
We can imagine this upcoming summer might be more about road trips close to home than flying anywhere, so we’ve compiled our top ten list of favorite road trips - some easy and quick, some are more of a commitment. I sent out a survey to the family, so this is very scientifically ranked!
Note that the starting point for all of these trips is the Twin Cities since that is where we live and mileage includes only from here to there and back and not all the miscellaneous driving one might do at the destinations.
10. Chicago
Roundtrip: 800 miles, 12 hours of driving
To fly or drive to Chicago? That is always the big question. If you’re staying in the city, having a car can be more of a hassle than anything, and flying can be cheap and quick. But if you need to get to the ‘burbs, having a car will help in convenience. There’s SO much to do in Chicago! It’s a must-visit urban destination with great architecture (go on the Chicago Architectural Foundation boat tour), progressive urban neighborhoods to explore, world-class museums, and parks. And the food!!!! We’re lucky to have some wonderful relatives and friends in the Windy City, so it’s a place we love to visit. No trip to Chicago would be complete without Chicago style hot dogs and pizza.
9. Arkansas Spring Break
Round trip: 1700 miles, 27 hours of driving
In 2009, we decided we wanted to drive somewhere for spring break, so we took out a compass and drew a circle that reflected how far we were willing to drive. We’d been to Colorado and the southwest on a couple of recent trips, the north seemed risky because of snow, so we decided to head straight south, which meant Arkansas. We rented a log cabin on the edge of a national forest and unknown to us, next to a large junkyard, complete with junkyard dogs. We hiked in the area and did day trips to Eureka Springs and Little Rock. It was definitely a memorable spring break, as we encountered blizzards both on the way there and back. The visit to the Little Rock Central High School (Little Rock Nine) and the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum were highlights. That, and counting all the old appliances people had tossed out onto their lawns.
8. North Shore
Roundtrip: 590 miles, 9.7 hours of driving
This is a classic, easy weekend trip for Twin Citians, but I know some that have never ventured north of Duluth. We think that is just bat-shit cray-cray, as we get up to the Grand Marais area at least once a year, and often we are on the North Shore many times each year. What’s not to love about this beautiful, scenic and rugged shoreline with a plethora of ways to embrace the outdoors? It is a gateway to the Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA), the Superior Hiking Trail (no self-esteem issues there), has eight state parks, a couple of national forests, amazing waterfalls (see the Midwest Weekends blog for a mile-by-mile guide to North Shore waterfalls), and many options for camping. One of our favorite campgrounds is Lamb’s Resort, a family-run campground with cabins and campsites right on the lake (highly sought after, by the way).
7. Florida Epic Road Trip
Round trip: 3407 miles and 52 hours of driving
In 2013, Declan’s lacrosse team was playing in a national tournament in Tampa Bay between Christmas and New Year’s. Another family was driving and camping along the way in their school-bus-turned-camper, so we decided to drive as well and rendezvous with them for some camping in Florida before the tournament. On the way south, we encountered a major blizzard, stopped in St. Louis to go up the Arch, and spent Christmas Day with the Mayor of Oxford, Mississippi, and his family at his home in Oxford (more on that another day). We camped on St. George State Park, stopped in Tupelo to see Elvis’s hometown, enjoyed lacrosse, and celebrated NYE with the lax families. We did our best to hunt down The Walking Dead sites in Georgia, stopped in Nashville to see the Johnny Cash Museum and Springfield Illinois for the Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. It really was an epic trip---but it was very LONG so that likely affected the ranking. Listening to a local call-in radio talk show in the Florida panhandle was priceless, however, and has given Kevin another accent to use in his comedic offerings.
6. Classic Black Hills Road Trip
Round trip: 1420 miles and 21.5 hours of driving
The Black Hills are really a classic American vacation spot and easily accessible from the Twin Cities. We usually leave at about 3 am in the morning and everyone sleeps (except driver Kevin) and then wake up in Mitchell for breakfast and viewing of the World’s Only Corn Palace. Our favorite places are Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Devil’s Tower. Throw in a stop in the Badlands National Park and you have yourself a great destination! But be prepared for a long and barren trip there and back. So many billboards.
5. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Round trip: 1269 miles, 21.75 hours of driving
In 2011, we decided to explore the “UP”, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I’d been to Marquette a few times for a project but had never been beyond that. The very early morning drive across Wisconsin was uneventful (an event is Roxanne getting a speeding ticket), but once we got to Lake Michigan, our vacation began. We stopped in places along the north shore of Lake Michigan, spent a day on Mackinac Island, checked out the locks at Sault Ste. Marie and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore before heading to Marquette and the Keweenaw Peninsula. We celebrated the 4th of July in Ashland before heading home. This was a good trip with a lot to see, but we did find the UP’s economy visibly suffering (closure of copper mines and fewer tourists visiting) with many closed businesses, resorts, and campgrounds. The people there are friendly and resilient.
4. Lake Michigan Circle Tour
Roundtrip: 1415 miles and 23.25 hours of driving
This 2017 trip replicated some of the previous UP trip but focused on the east shore of Lake Michigan. We started the trip in Chicago, visited the Indian Dunes National Park (memorable because a solar eclipse occurred while we were there), and covered many quaint small towns with lovely lighthouses along the way north. We camped at the glorious Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Seashore, finding that going down the large sand dunes to the lake was was like a big slide but the climb back up was serious work. Kevin was hoping he’d bump into Des Linden in Charlevoix (one of his favorite bad-ass runners) but she must have been out for a run or buying some bourbon. We ate all the delicious pasties to be found in the UP and headed home.
3. Glacier National Park
Round trip: 2687 miles and 44 hours of driving
This 2015 trip was a beast of a trip with a dual purpose of visiting Glacier and some university tours for Mazzy (MSU and U of Montana). We did stop at Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the way, but dang, Montana is one heck of a big state. The drive to Glacier took a long time. When we arrived in Glacier, we were engulfed in smoke from the forest fires out west. We had some clear days, but the smoke did negatively impact our trip. From there, we headed to Missoula and Bozeman, then another Yellowstone stop. We love that place, so we need to return when we’re in the neighborhood! Same with the Black Hills.
2. Denver/ Rocky Mountain National Park
Roundtrip: 1939 miles, 30 hours of driving
This is another destination where it’s a question of flying or driving. Flights to Denver are short and relatively cheap—but you can also drive there in a day unless you hit tornado-alley-type-weather in Nebraska, which might just happen in the summer (it did to us, twice). Kevin has family in the Denver area and it’s easy to find some great hikes within an hour of town. Plus, Rocky Mountain National Park is incredible, Boulder, Fort Collins, Estes Park and more micro-breweries than one can visit (we tried) make this a fun place to hang out. Oh, and Denver’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is crazy fun.
1. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park
Round trip: 2286 miles and 38 hours of driving
I’m not surprised this trip was ranked as the family’s favorite road trip. It was filled with national parks, camping adventures, animal adventures, and beautiful sites. We hit Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Red Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and of course the Black Hills. The big negative of this route is that the last stretch home (Black Hills to Twin Cities) is painfully long and boring. The other direction isn’t much better if you’ve driven I-94 from Fargo-Moorhead to St. Paul as many times as I have. Pick your poison. Regardless, this road trip is highly recommended. We went at the end of June when it was cool enough to see active wildlife and their babies – and wolves vs mama bear moments. We spent the 4th of July at Mount Rushmore (bonus events on holidays).
Some other road trips that might be on our to-do list: Circle Tour of Lake Superior and the Grand Canyon, and, Winnipeg? (Kevin is not doing that one) and perhaps a trip down through the river towns along the Mississippi. Mark Twain style.
What are your favorite road trips?
Yes!!! Love to hear others travel stories!
Roxanne, we should talk sometime! We seem to have travel tastes in common, including a spring break trip to Arkansas that was a little frosty but fun. When we were there, I asked Brian why so many people were having yard sales. :)