I’ve always been fascinated by the immense size and complexity of the world. Growing up on an island, traveling on large continents is always awe-inspiring.
The United States is a great nation with a convenient and well-designed road system. If you ever wonder what lies far from Ann Arbor and want to explore, take a road trip! You can experience a wide range of natural and cultural landscapes, meet different people, marvel at breathtaking scenery, enjoy the relaxed vibe, and ponder deeply along the way. Remember to pay attention to the tiny beautiful things and have fun. “The journey is greater than the destination”.
The advantages of road trips include flexible itineraries and unrestricted luggage. Since you will drive a car, there is no need to worry about missing buses, trains, or even flights. Unlike flying, you can bring everything you want as long as it fits into your vehicle. This is especially helpful when camping and carrying stoves or other hiking and backpacking gear.
However, the trip could get boring while driving, and your itinerary could be disrupted if something happens to your car. Therefore, you can prepare games to play with your travel companions. I also recommend downloading the music playlist and offline maps to your phone, as the Internet connection can be poor in remote areas. Lastly, ensure you have a reliable vehicle and good roadside assistance insurance to keep your journey safe and smooth.
Here are two journeys I went on in the past year, along with other popular road trip routes for your reference. Some routes include more than two national parks, so consider purchasing an annual pass to save money! (Refer to last August’s post for more information on national parks)
US Route 89
US-89 is a north-south highway linking 7 national parks across the Mountain West. It extends from Flagstaff, Arizona to the Canadian border, encompassing various terrain and ecosystems. Instead of big cities, the US-89 usually traverses fields, hills, and small towns. You will definitely find it peaceful and satisfying if you like the countryside view and the slow-paced tempo. Below are some of the places I visited along this route:
A beautiful town with spectacular views of rocks and a blue McDonald’s.
One of the most famous natural wonders in the US. Nearby, you can also visit Glen Canyon, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley (with a little detour).
Squirrels in national parks are fat, but it takes $100 to feed them ^ ^
The Narrows and Angels Landing are my favorite hikes.
Known for its cool-shaped rock formations.
Discover dinosaur fossils at the Natural History Museum of Utah and a large aircraft collection at Hill Air Force Base.
Features lakes, rivers, dams, and mountains.
Famous for geysers and wildlife, and it’s the first national park in the world.
Offers more wildlife (including wolverine) and magnificent glacier and mountain views.
If you have time and travel visas (or don’t need one) to enter Canada, you can continue to drive north to Banff, Yoho, and Jasper National Park!
Circling Lake Michigan
It is not too far from U-M and you can visit 4 out of 5 great lakes in one trip! Below are some of the places I went. You can choose the route combination that surrounds Lake Michigan that you like! Autumn (around Fall Break) is the perfect time for red maple leaves on this trip!
Chicago/ Milwaukee/ Green Bay/ Marquette/ Upper Peninsula/ Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore/ Tahquamenon Falls/ Mackinaw City/ Mackinac Bridge/ Mackinac Island:
Make sure you visit the world’s largest free-flying American flag. It is east of I-43 at Acuity Insurance in Sheboygan, Wisconsin~
Other routes:
Blue Ridge Parkway, 17-Mile Drive, California (I have been to these two)
California's/ Oregon's Pacific Coast Highway, California's Route 395, Downeast Maine
Ultimate cross-country road trip: US Route 66
Money-saving tips:
Book a mix of hotels/ motels and campgrounds.
The more people you travel with, the more you can split the cost of gas (and car rental).
Written by Jasper Hsieh
Summer Orientation Peer Advisor
Graduate Student
Taiwan
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