Back to grid

Best van travel destinations in North America

Back to grid
California
Golden State of Endless Experiences
8.7
Highway 1 stretches about 656 miles and is the longest state route in California. The Big Sur section opened on 17 June 1937 after roughly 18 years of construction. Bixby Bridge spans a gorge with a 320 foot arch. The road also leads to Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive the stunning Pacific Coast Highway from LA to Big Sur
  • 🏞️ Explore Yosemite National Park’s waterfalls and granite cliffs
  • 🌉 Stroll across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Utah
Nature's dramatic red rock playground
8.2
Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion make up the Mighty Five national parks. Utah has the third most national parks of any state. In 2020 about 63.1 percent of its land was public and federally managed. Scenic Byway 12 runs about 123 miles.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive the scenic Capitol Reef National Park Scenic Drive
  • 🧡 Explore the colorful hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park
  • 🧗‍♂️ Hike the iconic Angels Landing trail in Zion National Park
Vancouver Island
Untamed Beauty and Coastal Charm
8.0
Vehicles reach the island only by ferry, since no bridge or tunnel connects it to the mainland. It is about 456 kilometres long. Highway 19 runs from Nanaimo to Port Hardy. Highway 4 crosses to Tofino. Strathcona Provincial Park covers about 2,500 square kilometres and holds the Golden Hinde at 2,195 metres.
Highlights:
  • 🐋 Whale watch from Victoria’s Inner Harbour
  • 🌲 Explore ancient rainforests in Cathedral Grove
  • 🌸 Stroll through the breathtaking Butchart Gardens
Baja California Sur
Desert meets ocean adventure land
8.2
Federal Highway 1 runs the length of the Baja peninsula. The state holds about 22 percent of Mexico's coastline, which totals 1,386 miles. Protected land covers 38.3 percent of its area, the largest share of any Mexican state. Loreto has the first permanent Jesuit mission in the state, founded in 1697.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine beaches of Playa Balandra
  • 🐋 Watch grey whales breach near the lagoons of Magdalena Bay
  • 🦈 Swim alongside whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
8.9
Atigun Pass on the Dalton Highway reaches 4,739 feet in the Brooks Range. The road runs 414 miles from Livengood to Deadhorse and opened to the public along its full length in 1994. Fuel is available at the Yukon River Bridge, Coldfoot and Deadhorse. Vans stop at the Arctic Circle wayside at mile 115.
Highlights:
  • 🐻 See wild bears fishing for salmon in Katmai
  • 🛳️ Cruise through glacier-filled waters in Glacier Bay National Park
  • 🌌 Watch the northern lights dance above Fairbanks
Oregon
Diverse Landscapes and Outdoor Wonders
7.9
Governor Tom McCall signed the Beach Bill on 6 July 1967. It keeps the wet sand within sixteen vertical feet of the low tide line in public ownership. The law also recognises public easements up to the vegetation line. U.S. Route 101 passes the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area near Reedsport.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Explore volcanic Crater Lake National Park
  • 🌊 Drive the scenic Oregon Coast Scenic Byway
  • 💧 Hike to breathtaking Multnomah Falls viewpoint
Banff National Park
Majestic Peaks and Turquoise Lakes
9.2
Established in 1885, the park covers 6,641 square kilometres in the Canadian Rockies. The Icefields Parkway starts at Lake Louise and runs 230 kilometres north. Highway 1A, called the Bow Valley Parkway, offers a slower road between Banff and Lake Louise. UNESCO inscribed the park as a World Heritage Site in 1984.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Explore the scenic Johnston Canyon waterfalls trail
  • 🏞️ Hike to Lake Louise and admire turquoise waters
  • 🚡 Ride the Banff Gondola for spectacular mountain views
Feedback