Epic Coast‑to‑Coast Road Trip: Tacoma to Fayetteville (and Back)

Embarking on a cross‑country road trip is the ultimate adventure, especially when the journey is as rewarding as the destination. This itinerary weaves together iconic national parks, historic film sites, wild coastlines and jazz‑infused cities while deliberately avoiding Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. You’ll camp under the stars on public land, cruise America’s most scenic byways and return via a southern loop through the desert Southwest and Pacific Coast. Pack your camera and sense of wonder—this is the ride of a lifetime.

Heading east: wild parks and cinematic Appalachia

Through the Cascades to Yellowstone

Leaving Tacoma, the route climbs into the Cascade Mountains via SR‑410 and US‑12. Watch glaciers and volcanic peaks slip by as you cross the White Pass Scenic Byway. After skirting Yakima, you follow I‑90 to Idaho and Montana. Near Red Lodge, prepare for a highlight of the trip: the Beartooth Highway, a 68‑mile All‑American Road that climbs above 10,000 feet, traversing high‑alpine plateaus dotted with glacial lakes, waterfalls and wildlife before descending into Yellowstone National Park. Set up camp just outside the park boundaries (dispersed camping is not allowed inside) and spend a day marveling at geysers and wildlife. The park’s Grand Prismatic Spring is as otherworldly as it looks in photographs.

Black Hills culture and granite spires

From Yellowstone, continue east across the Bighorn Mountains and Wyoming plains to South Dakota’s Black Hills. Your first stop is the Crazy Horse Memorial, a privately funded sculpture carved into Thunderhead Mountain. Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began the project in 1948; when completed it will stand about 563 ft high and 641 ft long. Nearby Custer State Park boasts the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. Drive the Needles Highway through ponderosa forest and between granite spires, and cross Iron Mountain Road, famous for its pigtail bridges and tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore. Finish with a slow loop along the Wildlife Loop Road, where bison and bighorn sheep graze on prairie hills.

Into the Ozarks

You’ll skirt Nebraska and Kansas to avoid the Midwest states on your no‑go list, cutting south to Arkansas. In the Ozark National Forest, ride the Pig Trail Scenic Byway along Arkansas SR‑23. The 19‑mile road winds through dense Ozark hardwoods and over the Mulberry River; it’s narrow, curvy and steep with little development, capturing the wild spirit of the region. Camp on national forest land along side roads and cool off in creek pools.

Film pilgrimages in North Carolina

Continuing east on US‑64 and I‑40, you’ll cross Tennessee into western North Carolina. Asheville makes a convenient base for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and a surprising number of famous film locations. The Last of the Mohicans built a replica of Fort William Henry at Lake James and filmed scenes at Hickory Nut Falls in Chimney Rock Park and along trails in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Not far away, The Hunger Games shot District 12 at the Henry River Mill Village, used the North Fork Reservoir (viewed from the Craggy Pinnacle Trail) for the Cornucopia, filmed pre‑Games scenes in the Big Ivy section of Pisgah National Forest and captured arena sequences at Triple Falls and nearby waterfalls. Walk the very paths Katniss trod, then cruise a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway—a 469‑mile scenic road that links Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks and climbs from 650 ft to over 6,000 ft with frequent tunnels and overlooks.

After exploring film sites, descend toward Fayetteville via US‑421. Celebrate your east‑coast arrival with local barbecue before turning the car westward.

Going home: jazz, red rocks and giant trees

Down the Natchez Trace to New Orleans

Retracing your path is never as fun as forging a new one, so your return takes a southern route. From Fayetteville, head southwest to Nashville and hop on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This 444‑mile All‑American Road winds through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi and was once a historic travel corridor used by Native Americans and settlers. Camp at its free primitive sites and savor the slow pace. At Natchez, join the Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway that follows the Mississippi River through ten states and small river towns rich in music and culture. Follow it to New Orleans, where jazz drifts from balconies and the French Quarter Visitor Center interprets the city’s unique cultural mix.

Desert Southwest: Sedona and the Grand Canyon

Leaving Louisiana, cut west across Texas and New Mexico to Arizona. Sedona’s Red Rock All‑American Road is a highlight: the byway is called a “museum without walls” because it winds through vibrant red sandstone formations and encourages stops to hike around Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock. Dispersed camping on Coconino National Forest land keeps costs down. After Sedona, continue north to the Grand Canyon South Rim to watch sunset spill over layered cliffs.

Giant sequoias and granite domes

From Arizona, cross the Mojave Desert into the Sierra Nevada for a double dose of California national parks. The Generals Highway threads through Sequoia National Park, connecting Kings Canyon with the community of Three Rivers; it winds among giant sequoias, providing access to campgrounds and the world‑famous General Sherman Tree while lacking gas stations and featuring steep grades. North of Sequoia, Yosemite’s Tioga Road (generally open late May–November) crosses glacier‑carved domes, alpine meadows and sequoia groves.

Ocean breezes and rain‑forest trails

Heading north, trade granite for surf on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. Oregon’s 363‑mile coastline features craggy headlands, sandy beaches, tide pools and fishing villages; the entire coastline is public land, so you can pull off and explore at will. Continue into Washington’s Olympic Peninsula to finish your journey among moss‑draped forests and sea stacks in Olympic National Park.

Practical considerations

Dispersed camping: Most national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands allow free camping up to 14 days in any 28‑day period; you must use existing sites and pack out all trash.
Seasonal closures: High‑elevation roads like the Beartooth Highway, Blue Ridge Parkway, Generals Highway and Tioga Road close during winter or during snowstorms. Always check park service websites for current conditions.
Leave no trace: Whether you’re in the desert Southwest or the Appalachians, minimize your impact by staying on durable surfaces, respecting wildlife and following local regulations.

This coast‑to‑coast adventure captures the breadth of America—its geysers and red rocks, waterfalls and jazz clubs, towering sequoias and ocean‑pounded cliffs. With a map, a reliable vehicle and a love of the open road, you can turn these highlights into your own unforgettable journey.