Atlanta to Portland Road Trip Guide

Before leaving Atlanta, couples can enjoy a romantic stroll through the 30 acres of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The gardens are located next to Piedmont Park, in Midtown Atlanta. The gardens have been in operation for 35 years, and are constantly updated with new displays and exhibits.

These gardens feature weekly shows and classes such as Growing Edibles and Yoga in the Garden. Check out the Fuqua Orchid Center to view rare, exotic orchids. Make sure to take a walk on the Kendeda Canopy Walk, which allows you to walk amongst the treetops. The serpentine suspension bridge is 12 feet wide, and 40 feet in the air, giving visitors a “bird's eye” view of the Storza Woods. The urban wooded areas contain oak, hickory, and tulip polaris, and the canopy walkway is the largest of its kind in the US. During the holidays, the gardens are open to visitors, and thousands of LED lights create a festive atmosphere.

No cross-country road trip is complete without experiencing Nashville's legendary music scene. Downtown Broadway buzzes with live performances every night, while the Country Music Hall of Fame preserves the genre's rich history. The Ryman Auditorium offers tours showcasing where country legends made their mark, and you can catch a Grand Ole Opry show for an authentic Tennessee experience.

Beyond music, explore the Parthenon replica in Centennial Park or sample hot chicken at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack—an Nashville institution since 1945. The city's food truck scene thrives near the Gulch neighborhood, offering everything from gourmet tacos to Korean BBQ fusion.

For RV camping, Nashville KOA provides full hookups just minutes from downtown with shuttle service to major attractions. Alternatively, Anderson Road Campground offers lakeside sites for a more natural setting while remaining close to Music City.

The iconic Gateway Arch dominates St. Louis's skyline, symbolizing America's westward expansion. Take the tram to the top for panoramic views spanning the Mississippi River and beyond. The city's Forest Park rivals New York's Central Park in size and houses free attractions, including the St. Louis Art Museum, Science Center, and Zoo.

Don't miss the vibrant Soulard neighborhood for live blues music and authentic BBQ that rivals Kansas City's famous fare. The City Museum—an eclectic playground built from repurposed industrial materials—appeals to adventure-seekers of all ages with its tunnels, slides, and rooftop Ferris wheel.

St. Louis RV Park Campground places you minutes from downtown attractions with full hookups and city conveniences. For a more scenic option, consider campgrounds along the Meramec River offering fishing and kayaking opportunities.

Next stop on your multi-state road trip is Lincoln, Nebraska, which is famous for its tailgate activities at local sporting events. Tailgating is a popular activity at the University of Nebraska, during the football season when home games are being held at Memorial Stadium. There is a lot of local pride and team spirit in Lincoln, and tailgate events at games are a real treat for college football fans. More details can be found at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Tailgating.

Most games are held in the fall, but there are spring games as well. During late fall be sure to bundle up, as Nebraska weather can be brisk! Also, traffic on game day is pretty heavy, so have a plan. RVers can park in Lot 11 if they are season pass holders or donors, or at Lot 56, which permits overnight parking. The cost for overnight parking at Lot 56 is $75 for game days and spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Alternatively, you can camp at a campground nearby such as the Pawnee State Recreation Area campground, and proceed in a passenger vehicle to the game or park at other off-site locations and take a shuttle bus to the stadium.

As you pass through Wyoming on Interstate 80, RVers looking for an excellent place to camp will find one at the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. This vast National Forest stretches from Northern Colorado to mid-Wyoming, and contains 2.2 million acres of diverse habitat with elevations from 5500 feet to 13000 feet, and varying climate conditions. At higher elevations, you will find much cooler weather conditions so be prepared.

Wildlife is abundant in the forests, grasslands, mountains, prairies, lakes, and wetland ecosystems. Rafting, boating, hiking, and fishing are all popular activities for visitors, and there are excellent overnight camping spots. This vast park has many campgrounds, but the two nearest to Interstate 80, in Wyoming, are the Bow River and Deep Creek Campgrounds.

Both these campgrounds are first-come, first-serve campgrounds, with no trash services, so campers are required to pack trash out, and they are only open during the peak season. There are no RV hookups at either campground. Bow River Campground has 13 campsites and can accommodate RVs up to 32 feet in length. It has a water supply, picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet.

The Deep Creek Campground has 12 small campsites, one of which is a pull-through site, with picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet. This campground is situated at 10000 feet above sea level, and winter stays late and comes early here, so camping here during the summer months only, is recommended. It is a cool place to camp in the summer though! It is only a short hike down Crater Lake trail from The Deep Creek Campground to the lake.

Interstate 84 will take you through the northeast corner of Utah, where Salt Lake City is situated. If you are passing through in June, be sure to check dates and get tickets for the Utah Blues Festival, which has been running since 2014, and features some of America's best blues artists.

The festival is a two-day event held at the Gallivan Center, that attracts hundreds of people to listen to amazing blues performances, nosh on excellent food, and participate in workshops. Enjoy the event while sitting in the sun in the lovely grass covered audience area.

There is parking for RVs and tow vehicles in the downtown area at parking lots that cater to festival goers. Larger RVs may need to be parked further afield, and you can then take public transportation to the event.

While attending the blues festival, you can camp at the Salt Lake City KOA which is only a 10-minute drive from the festival grounds or at Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest campgrounds.

Continuing down Interstate 84, near Boise, Idaho, take a short side trip to discover wonderful raptors at the World Center For Birds of Prey. Take a guided tour through the Archives of Falconry, which has the largest falconry library in the world, with media, books, equipment, art, and artifacts, pertaining to raptors and falconry. Duplicate artifacts and contributed items are sometimes offered for sale to raise funds for preservation efforts.

See live California Condors, a rare and unique species, as well as eagles, vultures, hawks, falcons, and owl species from all over the world at the indoor/outdoor exhibits in the Velma Morrison Interpretive Center. Learn all about the ancient sport of using birds of prey for hunting and sport, at the Sheik Zayed Arab Falconry Heritage Wing.

The World Center for Birds of Prey is open Tuesday to Sunday, (closed Mondays) December to March from 10 AM to 4PM and 10 AM to 5 PM from March through November. They are closed on some holidays.

Camp in the area at the Macks Creek Park. This first-come, first-serve campground only has 15 sites and limited amenities, but is peaceful and has excellent lake views. More camping is available a little further on at the Boise National Forest.

Once you arrive in Portland, Oregon, a special treat for a shopping outing is the Portland Saturday Market. A bit of a misnomer, the market runs both Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, and between 11 AM and 4:30 PM on Sundays, between March and December at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Admission is free, but be sure to take some spending money as this amazing market is part art show, part craft fair, and part farmers market, with 250 unique vendors and products. Homemade products, vintage items, clothing, food and more are offered for sale at the market. There are street vendors, food outlets, and live music to enjoy during your visit.

The Portland Saturday Market has been operating since 1974, and is the largest continuous operating arts and crafts market in the US, with up to 750 000 visitors annually. This is your opportunity to pick out a unique Portland souvenir to commemorate your road trip!

Boise surprises visitors with its vibrant downtown, excellent restaurants, and 25-mile Greenbelt trail system following the Boise River through the city. The Idaho State Capitol's architecture mirrors the U.S. Capitol, while the Basque Block celebrates the city's unique European heritage with authentic cuisine and cultural center.

Don't miss the Old Idaho Penitentiary—a historic site offering fascinating glimpses into Western law enforcement history. For nature lovers, the nearby Boise National Forest provides endless recreation opportunities from hot springs soaking to whitewater rafting on the Payette River.

Boise/Meridian KOA offers full-service sites with pool, horseshoes, and evening entertainment during peak season. The campground's location provides easy access to both city attractions and wilderness adventures. For those wanting to explore more of Idaho's treasures, check out our Boise to Yellowstone road trip guide for nearby national park adventures.

Utah's capital blends outdoor adventure with cultural attractions against a stunning Wasatch Range backdrop. Temple Square's gardens and architecture provide free tours showcasing the city's Mormon heritage, while the Utah State Capitol offers panoramic valley views. The Natural History Museum of Utah presents excellent exhibits on regional geology, paleontology, and native cultures.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons provide world-class hiking just 30 minutes from downtown. Antelope Island State Park offers unique wildlife viewing, including American bison herds, with swimming in the Great Salt Lake's ultra-buoyant waters providing an unforgettable experience.

Salt Lake City KOA sits blocks from downtown with easy access to mountain recreation, featuring hot tub, swimming pool, and dog park amenities. The location provides perfect staging for exploring nearby national parks before continuing to Idaho. For mountain adventure enthusiasts, our Salt Lake City to Grand Teton road trip guide offers excellent detour opportunities.

Cheyenne embodies the American West with its frontier history and annual Frontier Days celebration—the world's largest outdoor rodeo held each July. The Wyoming State Capitol's gold dome shines against big sky country, while the Cheyenne Depot Museum preserves railroad heritage that built the West.

Visit the Terry Bison Ranch for hands-on experiences feeding bison herds, or explore nearby Medicine Bow National Forest for hiking among aspen groves and alpine meadows. The city serves as an excellent base for day trips to Vedauwoo's otherworldly rock formations—a favorite among rock climbers and photographers.

Cheyenne KOA accommodates big rigs up to 85 feet with full hookups, a heated pool, and mini-golf. The campground's central location makes it perfect for exploring Wyoming's capital while preparing for mountain passes ahead. For travelers continuing west, Rock Springs/Green River KOA offers a convenient halfway point with refreshing pool facilities.