Bonneville Salt Flats to Big Sur: 8 Stops Across America
Explore 8 iconic American destinations across 1,980 km, from the reflective salt flats of Bonneville, Utah to the dramatic coastlines of Big Sur, California. This route connects natural wonders including Yosemite Valley, Antelope Canyon, and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, showcasing the geological diversity between Utah's desert landscapes and California's Pacific cliffs.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
- End
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Stops
- 8
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah — Vast expanse of crystalline white salt stretching across the desert floor, creating a surreal landscape perfect for photography and land speed records.
- Big Sur, California — Dramatic coastal region where towering cliffs meet the Pacific Ocean, showcasing rugged granite formations and winding scenic highways.
- Golden Gate Bridge, California — Iconic suspension bridge spanning the San Francisco Bay with distinctive orange-red towers, symbolizing American engineering and San Francisco's skyline.
- Yosemite Valley, California — Glacial valley surrounded by granite cliffs and waterfalls, featuring iconic peaks like El Capitan and Half Dome in a protected national park.
- Badlands National Park — Breathtaking formations, colourful canyons and otherworldly landscapes
- Martha's Vineyard — Island off Cape Cod popular with the rich and famous, with a laidback air
- Antelope Canyon — Awe-inspiring canyon in northern Arizona near Lake Powell, within a Navajo Tribal Park, consisting of The Crack and The Corkscrew sections
- Blue Ridge Parkway — Scenic route stretching 755 kilometres from Virginia to North Carolina with verdant forests, mountain vistas, and towns like Boone and Roanoke
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Take a road trip to see America's most beautiful destinations, stopping at famous and photographed sights along the way.
- Tip
- Visit Bonneville Salt Flats in the northwest of Utah for great photo opportunities of mountains reflecting off shimmering salt surfaces.
- Timing
- Bonneville Salt Flats hosts land speed events during the year where racers compete to break records.
- Transport
- At Niagara Falls, take a boat trip below the falls to fully grasp their size and power, beyond just viewing from observation decks.
- Tip
- Big Sur stretches around 70 miles along California's Highway One and provides plenty of hiking opportunities through several state parks.
- Avoid
- Antelope Canyon can only be visited as part of a guided tour as it lies within a Navajo Tribal Park.
- Transport
- Blue Ridge Parkway snakes 755 kilometers along the mountain chain, stretching from Virginia to North Carolina with quaint towns to stop at.
- Transport
- Explore Arches National Park on foot or by bike to see over two thousand natural sandstone arches.
- Tip
- At Multnomah Falls in Oregon, cross a footbridge for best views or hike to the observation deck for splendid panoramas.
- Where to stay
- Martha's Vineyard has cosy inns, boutique hotels, and exquisite restaurants dotted throughout quaint countryside towns and villages.
- Tip
- Visit Glacier Bay in Alaska on a cruise ship, or camp in its icy confines for hardy adventurers interested in kayaking and mountaineering.
Video on this route
25 Most Beautiful Destinations in America - Travel Video