Why one-way RV road trips? Well, only having to drive your rig one way means you can cover more ground in less time, not having to reserve any of your off time, budget, or energy for the return trip. If you’ve got 10 days to take a vacation, a one-way trip allows you to spend all 10 of those days deeply exploring the destinations at either end and any side attractions along the way. One-way RV rentals offer flexibility, variety, and convenience.
Below, we’ve gathered four routes that highlight the American West, which many travelers consider some of the most classic road-trip areas. You’ll get to explore mountains, deserts, coasts, and forests — at your own pace and without the stress of having to circle all the way back to where you came. Let’s go!
1. Denver → Salt Lake City: The Rockies to Red Rocks Route
If there’s a quintessential mountain west city, it might just be Denver. The Mile High City is surrounded by some of the most stunning wildernesses in not just the country, but the world, ranging from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, not to mention urban attractions including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Art Museum, and Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station. Then, along the 500 miles and eight hours it takes to get to Salt Lake City, you’ll get the chance to explore unforgettable landscapes — we’ll dive into some highlights in just a second. It’s the perfect route for a 10-day trip.
Quick facts:
- Landscapes: Mountains, prairies, forests, desert
- Mileage: 500
- Hours of driving: Eight
- Best time to visit: Fall for colorful foliage or desert exploration; summer for best mountain hiking opportunities
- Best for: Outdoorsy families
Highlights along the route
When it’s time to head west out of Denver, you’ll have several different options as far as routes — each with their own unique highlights. We’ll break them down:
The Northern Route
As you follow I-25 north out of the city, you’ll soon find yourself in southern Wyoming, where you’ll cross through the town of Laramie and also have easy access to the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. As you continue west through Wyoming’s prairies, you can also make a stop off at the White Mountain Petroglyphs, before winding your way into Utah’s capital from the northeast.
The Middle Route
The middle route between Denver and Salt Lake City — and the most direct one in terms of mileage — follows I-70 west until the town of Rifle, where you’ll branch off toward the north on CO-13. This route travels through some of the least-visited landscape in the United States, and also takes you within a stone’s throw of Dinosaur National Monument, which young children are sure to obsess over. You’ll also be a short detour away from the Colorado mountain town of Ouray, which is known for both its outdoor adventure opportunities and its hot springs, perfect for relaxing in once your adventures are done.
The Southern Route
The southernmost route follows I-70 west all the way across Colorado and into Utah, where you’ll easily be able to detour to Moab — and nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, where you’ll likely want to stay a few nights to fully explore. From there, you’ll head northwest along US-191, which will take you straight into Salt Lake City via Provo. (Ashley National Forest is another easy one to add to the route.)
Psst: Here are the best RV campgrounds in Denver and Salt Lake City.
2. Salt Lake City → Las Vegas: National Parks and City Lights
From one heart of the desert to another, a 10-day route between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas truly offers the best of both worlds. Along with the opportunity to visit some of the most sought-after wilderness destinations in the country, you’ll bookend your trip with urban adventures in two cities that could not be more different from each other (despite their shared red-rock surroundings). This trip is between about 400 and 520 miles depending on the route you take, or about six to eight driving hours ,which means you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the highlights along the way. Along with Salt Lake City, Las Vegas also has some excellent RV campgrounds.
Quick facts:
- Landscapes: Red-rock desert, cityscapes
- Mileage: 400 to 520, depending on route
- Hours of driving: Six to eight
- Best time to visit: Spring or fall to enjoy cooler desert temperatures
- Best for: Couples or solo travelers looking to balance city ventures with outdoorsy pursuits
Highlights along the route
Once again, this is a trip that can be taken along several main routes. Here are our suggestions for what to see along the way.
The Northern Route
Heading due west on I-80 out of Salt Lake City, your first must-see stop is the Bonneville Salt Flats, the remains of Lake Bonneville, the much larger, then-freshwater body from which current-day Great Salt Lake evolved. (You can even drive on the flats.) From there, you’ll turn south on US-93 once you cross the state line into Nevada, traveling through small desert communities like West Wendover and Ely. You’ll pass right by the Desert National Wildlife Refuge before you find yourself in Sin City.
The Southern Route
If instead you choose to head south immediately out of Salt Lake City along I-15, you’ll find yourself primely positioned to explore a wide variety of Utah national parks and wildernesses. These include Ashley National Forest, Fishlake National Forest, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park, which is probably the easiest of these to get to along this route. Then, you’ll end your outdoor exploration under the bright lights and tall buildings of the Vegas Strip.
3. Los Angeles → San Francisco: The Pacific Coast Highway Classic
If there’s such a thing as a classic western road trip, the trek between Los Angeles and San Francisco is it. And while the most efficient way to make the trip is alone I-5, we all know that the most beautiful way to do so is along the Pacific Coast Highway — which is an adventure you will definitely want to spend 10 full days on in one direction. (So few people get to fully explore this stunning part of the world, lacking the time it deserves because they have to make the return trip.) Here are the best spots to stay in both LA and San Francisco!
Quick facts:
- Landscapes: Redwood forests, coastal cliffs, Pacific marine estuaries
- Mileage: 450 to 500
- Hours of driving: Nine or more
- Best time to visit: Late spring for wildflowers or early fall for clear views (and both for smaller crowds than summer)
- Best for: A romantic getaway or a solo, find-yourself trip
Highlights along the route
Although heading straight along I-5 is an option, we’re going to assume you’re making the trip for the exploration of it all — so we’ll keep to suggestions along CA-1 and US-101. Starting in Los Angeles, you’ll wind your way north through the beaches of Santa Barbara and the forest stands of Los Padres National Forest. (Psst: Many of California’s national forests and state parks are excellent campground opportunities.) As you continue north, you’ll have the opportunity to stop in San Luis Obispo and find Bubblegum Alley, and of course take in the awe- (and art-) inspiring sights at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is well known to be one of the finest not just in the U.S., but the world — and then you’ll pull into San Francisco and find yourself surrounded by all manner of urban adventures to pursue.
4. San Francisco → Seattle: Northern California & The Pacific Northwest
Many of those who’ve explored the Pacific Northwest consider it the most compelling landscape in our country — so much so that some visitors even decide to move there. (That includes your writer, who’s based, after years of RV travels in Portland!) The 800-plus miles and 13 or so hours it takes to travel from San Francisco to Seattle by road are dotted with some of the most unforgettable wilderness experiences and plenty of sweet, unique communities. Honestly, you could even turn this trip into two or three weeks rather than 10 days and still not feel like you had quite enough time. After you start your journey in San Francisco, check out these Seattle-area RV parks.
Quick facts:
- Landscapes: Old-growth forests, lakes, mountains, waterfalls
- Mileage: 800+
- Hours of driving: 12 to 14 or more
- Best time to visit: Summertime for clear skies and long sunny days of exploration
- Best for: Outdoorsy families or anyone looking to see some of the prettiest landscapes in the country
Highlights along the route
It would, frankly, be impossible to highlight all the stuff worth seeing along this route. But we’ll mention a few unmissable options, and you can cobble together the best adventure for your personal travel style and desires:
(I would make recommendations for Portland, but we’d be here all day! Ask a local; they won’t steer you wrong.)
The bottom line: No matter which of these one-way RV trips you take, or even if you cobble together your very own, you’ll find that driving in one direction frees up so much time, space, energy and money to fully explore the route to the fullest. While these are four of the most classic scenic road trips in the American west, one-way RV rentals unlock possibilities all across the country. And no matter where you find yourself, we’ll be there every step of the way to make it the best trip you can remember!
