Let's share your Road trip experience!

[3Wliners]

We’d like to hear from the community about road trip experiences.


If you were planning a road trip and could choose two U.S. states, which would you recommend and why?
We’re especially interested in routes that stand out for driving experience, scenery, or overall practicality.


We’d also appreciate any vehicle preparation or maintenance advice for longer trips, such as:

• Items you always check or service before departure
• Small details that are often overlooked but matter on the road
• Lessons learned from past trips that you’d recommend others keep in mind

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

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[Jteakus]

Colorado and Utah
Do the passes and trails around Silverton then work your way to Moab.

Torque your lugs, steering and ball joints. Bring a scanner to check/clear codes, it's a Jeep thing.

 

[Billyj7175]

Colorado and Utah
Do the passes and trails around Silverton then work your way to Moab.

Torque your lugs, steering and ball joints. Bring a scanner to check/clear codes, it's a Jeep thing.

Yup. After Moab, go south to Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and Zion. I'm not aware of any offroad trails there, but the scenery is definitely worth the drive. Four Corners is geographically unique. Grand Canyon isn't too much farther from there.

I make a habit of doing this during oil changes, but grab a creeper and spend some time underneath with a flashlight, just laying eyes on everything. Check the inner sidewalls of the tires, check the spare pressure, steering, driveshafts, etc. Look for leaks, anything loose, leaking, etc. I've caught a lot of stuff doing that.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I’m in SoCal so I’d go North because it’s different. Maybe Montana&Wyoming? Just something you don’t see posted on a lot and probably some good exploring.

I’d just do regular maintenance. Torque everything and check fluids. Maybe a couple squirts of grease for slimey stuff. 1 thing I think is overlooked and underrated sometimes is organization. Where is everything that you ARE going to need, will PROBABLY need, and MAY need? How is all that set up and does it make sense.

 

[WhereInTarnation]

We FT RV and our Gladiator is a chase car. Utah for sure, anywhere there really, from Escalante in the south to the Uintas in the north. Since you’re that close, Colorado as second choice.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Back in 2009 my wife and I took a fly/rent driving trip from Denver Airport, in a rented H2, Wranglers were not available. We then drove to S Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, then to Wyoming and Devils Tower. Then west to the East entrance of Yellowstone, mind you this was in June and in the mountain pass between Interstate 25 and leading into Yellowstone we ran into a complete white out snow squall, that had already dumped 8” still on the road! There were all kinds of vehicles making u turns, but not us in the H2 and a Wrangler. That was quite ride. Especially coming down the other side out of the squall completely to no snow and total sunshine. We ended up staying three days in the Yellowstone and Jackson Hole areas. Then off to some fossil beds and museum. Mostly all in Wyoming, one very interesting place was after we came to Hells Half Acre, that looks like nowhere else on Earth. Then to the geological center of the State, on a 112 mile dirt trail/road leading to a through The Hole In The Wall, where outlaws used to hideout in. On the road/trail the only other vehicles we saw were side by sides, lots of snow. Finally got back to Interstate 25, where the low tire light came on the last couple miles. We barely made it back to pavement to jack up and put the spare on. The entire trip added 1,200 miles on the H2.

 

[Riding with Gladys]

Whole-heartedly agree with Colorado and Utah. Just came back from 3 weeks going cross country and they were the highlight for sure. Next on my list is Idaho!

 

[AEV-Bear]

The eastern Sierras are amazing. Hey 395 travels N/S up and down the east boarder of California, dipping its toe into Nevada. I’ve been a few times and had people from all over the world say it’s one of the most amazing places. There are a bunch of hot springs along the way, Death Valley NP is amazing. Mono lake is gorgeous. And Yosemite is right next to it too. If you headed south you could make your way to Route 66. I believe it’s turning 100 years old this year.

I just got my jeeps a few years ago and I am not a jeep guy yet but I always had extra fluid for my Land Rover. Torqueing lug nuts is a good idea. I would probably get an oil change done and also if other fluid services are coming up. A code reader/ clearing tool is great.
first aid kit, blankets and a couple backpack meals with water and some way to heat them.

 

[Freems]

Get your tires rebalanced and a front end alignment before you go. Carry oil, antifreeze, power steering juice. If your travels take you to CO,UT,WY, ID, MT, NV carry a set of tire chains, real ones not that cable crap. Water, blankets, and food. In these states Any time of year travel can drop extreme weather surprises on you.

Because I live in ID, my next trip is straight west to Astoria OR, then following the coast all the way to the Mexico border.

 

[MojaveMaximus]

We're currently planning a road trip for early June to go camping in the Grand Tetons and then into Idaho - Craters of the Moon, Twin Falls area, then into Boise. Hopefully a little off-roading in there too. I can't wait to get out!

I like to give the vehicle a going over before a long road trip - check tires, spare, fluid levels, battery charge - the basics. My Gladiator is only a year old, but as it gets older, sometimes I'll even have a mechanic just give it a go-over about 2 or 3 weeks before a long trip. Also, like Bandit's Lair said, I like to make sure all my camping equipment and whatever gear I need are all organized to make sure we have what we'll need and packed in a way that makes sense and will load in the truck easily. I have tendancy to overpack though, so sometimes I have to think - do I REALLY need ALL of that!?

 

[ArcticDreadnought]

I live here, and am therefore biased, but the drive from Seattle to Anchorage, AK is one for a lifetime. And that's NOT driving up the ALCAN Highway. Driving the Inside passage through British Columbia, up through the Yukon and then continuing onto the Taylor (Top of the World) highway, then back into Alaska, down the Richardson Highway and into Anchorage.

Its worth every penny. Come in May-late July.
If you'd like help planning for that trip, I've made it multiple times. Please feel free to DM me, and I'll help out as much as I can.

For example, the first picture is Kenai Lake in March. Yes, the water is actually that color.
The second is in September in Palmer, facing the Knik River Valley. The moose decided to hide.

Come and see.

 

[AustinKalb]

Colorado and Utah
Do the passes and trails around Silverton then work your way to Moab.

Torque your lugs, steering and ball joints. Bring a scanner to check/clear codes, it's a Jeep thing.

Definitely a jeep thing. If I was unable to clear codes my Gladiator would have needed a tow several times in very remote locations because it went into limp mode. Seriously would have had to lemon law it.

The long hill out of Baker towards Vegas has stopped me several times. A slew of codes then limp mode. Imagine having to wait for a tow in 105 degree weather 1 hour at least from the nearest dealer.

The Taser saved me all those times. I added a BlueDriver to snapshot the complete state of everything in the computers next time the check engine comes on.

 

[Freems]

We're currently planning a road trip for early June to go camping in the Grand Tetons and then into Idaho - Craters of the Moon, Twin Falls area, then into Boise. Hopefully a little off-roading in there too. I can't wait to get out!

I like to give the vehicle a going over before a long road trip - check tires, spare, fluid levels, battery charge - the basics. My Gladiator is only a year old, but as it gets older, sometimes I'll even have a mechanic just give it a go-over about 2 or 3 weeks before a long trip. Also, like Bandit's Lair said, I like to make sure all my camping equipment and whatever gear I need are all organized to make sure we have what we'll need and packed in a way that makes sense and will load in the truck easily. I have tendancy to overpack though, so sometimes I have to think - do I REALLY need ALL of that!?

You’ll love Craters of the Moon National Park, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before! Enjoy the trip!

 

[3Wliners]

Colorado and Utah
Do the passes and trails around Silverton then work your way to Moab.

Torque your lugs, steering and ball joints. Bring a scanner to check/clear codes, it's a Jeep thing.

Moab is really fantastic place! We have participated several EJS races there!

 

[3Wliners]

Yup. After Moab, go south to Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and Zion. I'm not aware of any offroad trails there, but the scenery is definitely worth the drive. Four Corners is geographically unique. Grand Canyon isn't too much farther from there.

I make a habit of doing this during oil changes, but grab a creeper and spend some time underneath with a flashlight, just laying eyes on everything. Check the inner sidewalls of the tires, check the spare pressure, steering, driveshafts, etc. Look for leaks, anything loose, leaking, etc. I've caught a lot of stuff doing that.

It's always safe to maintain a cautious attitude, and that's a very good habit! Also, Cedar Breaks is beautiful, and I really like it there.

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