Seattle to Denver Road Trip Guide

Before leaving Seattle, you might want to check out the iconic Space Needle. You can check out the observation deck of this towering landmark and take in the view of the entire city of Seattle. Of course, you will also get a good look at Mount Rainier off in the distance. At nearly 14,000 feet it stands as one of the tallest mountains in the lower 48 states. Once you have finished observing the Space Needle, you can spend the rest of the day in Seattle. Especially if you are just spending the day in the city before you rest up and head farther east.

After exploring Seattle, there are a couple of RV parks that you can check out that are both located in the suburb of Bellevue that is just east of the city. One such place is the Vasa Park Resort, which is situated on the shores of Lake Sammamish. This park has plenty of activities that you and the entire family can enjoy.

As you are heading east on I-90, you’ll be in the southern half of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. It is a forest that combines with a couple of national landmarks including the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Northern Cascades National Park. The forest has plenty of hiking trails for you to check out if you are more of the hiking type.

After hiking the trails, you’ll be able to see Chimney Rock West within your view. After a day of hiking, you can settle in for the rest of the day and night at Whispering Pines RV Park. It’s peaceful, serene, and will accommodate your RV or camper for the night.

If you are a fan of bird watching and love animals, you can check out the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge sits on the banks of the might Columbia River, but you’ll be able to catch much of the action on the Oregon side. Just take US Route 730 and head west out of Umatilla. Don’t worry, you’re not going far out of the way. While you are at the refuge, you can talk a nature walk, do some fishing, ride horses, and even observe the wildlife.

After a day at the refuge, you can spend the night at the Boardman Marina and RV Park just off the westbound side of I-84. You won’t be too far off the Interstate since you’ll be hopping back on it the next morning (only this time in the other direction).

If you cannot get enough birdwatching, you might want to check out the Morely Nelson Snake River Birds Of Prey National Conservation Area deep in the heart of Idaho. This is a place that is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and is home to many birds like falcons, hawks, and eagles. Whether you want to observe with binoculars or take plenty of pictures, you have so many opportunities to do so. You should check out the area that is located due south of Boise. You can also do plenty of hiking here if you are more inclined to do some walking around and exploring.

The closest RV parks will mostly be located in the City of Boise. The Mountain View RV Park is a great place to settle in for the night. Even if your RV is large, you can still be able to get a good amount of space to set up and relax.

After spending much of your travels in Idaho on I-84, it’s time to turn off the Interstate and hop on US Route 26 outside of Twin Falls. Your first “must-stop” on this roadway is the Craters Of The Moon National Monument Preserve. More than thousands of years ago, this part of the United States was volcanic. And it’s uncertain when the next batch of activity will happen next.

These mounds of land were formed by dried lava. It might change over the course of many years. People have said that volcanic activity will likely occur here again at the craters. But the question of “when” is often asked. Once you have finished your day of exploration, you can settle in and grab a bite to eat at Mountain View RV Park and Restaurant (not to be confused with the RV Park in Boise). Only this time it has a restaurant located on the grounds. If you are not in the mood to cook on the grill, you can grab yourself something close to a home-cooked meal.

At this point, you’ve probably been through so many national parks, forests, and landmarks. But this is just one of many as you are traveling towards Denver. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest covers most of Idaho and Wyoming but also covers portions of Idaho and all the way down into Northeastern Utah. This part of the forest you’ll be going through will sit due west of Yellowstone National Park. Depending on the season, you can do plenty of outdoor activities here like hunting, fishing, hiking, and walking. If you are a skier or snowboarder, you’ll enjoy carving through some fresh, untracked snow. You can explore the forest on foot or on horseback. No matter how you do it, you’ll be able to soak in nature the way you want.

After exploring the day in the forest, you can settle in for the day at some of the RV campgrounds like the Warm River Campground on the southern edge of the forest. Alternatively, there are plenty of RV parks near Yellowstone National Park on both the Idaho and Wyoming side of their respected borders.

This is probably one of the most famous national parks in America and for very good reason. You can witness the awe of the numerous amounts of hot springs and geysers erupting, including Old Faithful. Of course, Old Faithful erupts consistently and right on schedule. You do not want to miss it, even if you have to wait a couple of hours (trust us, it’s worth it). Geysers, mountains, bison, and so much wildlife inhabit this park. You’ll want to spend at least a day or two here depending on the schedule.

Don’t be shocked if the RV parks near Yellowstone are busy and space can be hard to come by. There are plenty of them located near the park or as you are heading towards Grand Teton National Park. Or, you can save yourself the headache and stay an extra night at your previous spot before heading south to our next destination.

Just to the south of Yellowstone is the mountainous Grand Teton National Park. This is where you can partake in so many outdoor adventures like hiking, rafting, and so much more. We were not kidding around when we said that this was the road trip of a lifetime for anyone who loved the outdoors. This is a great place to stop in visit no matter what time of year it is. If you are traveling while there is snow still on the ground, that’s where the mountains really pop visually.

Once again, this is a park with plenty of RV parks than you know what to do with. If one of them has little to no space available, you’re always bound to find something elsewhere within a close range.

This dramatic river canyon offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Pacific Northwest, with numerous waterfalls accessible by RV-friendly routes. The Historic Columbia River Highway provides stunning views, though RV length restrictions apply on some sections.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon's most visited natural recreation site, offers easy access with large parking areas suitable for RVs. The 620-foot waterfall provides excellent photo opportunities and short walking trails. Crown Point State Scenic Corridor offers panoramic views of the gorge and surrounding mountains.

RV Camping: Consider Cascade Locks Marine Park Campground, a family-friendly waterfront RV park with 15 sites offering electric and water hookups, plus easy access to Columbia River Gorge exploration. The campground provides free Wi-Fi and serves as an ideal base for Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler riverboat excursions.

Idaho's capital city serves as an excellent halfway point for rest and resupply. The historic downtown area features the Idaho Botanical Garden and Boise River Greenbelt, perfect for stretching your legs after hours of driving. The city offers numerous RV-friendly restaurants and shopping centers.

Boise provides easy access to outdoor recreation with the nearby Boise National Forest. The Boise River offers excellent fishing opportunities, while hiking trails provide mountain views and wildlife viewing chances. From Boise, consider making a detour to Three Island Crossing State Park, a historic Oregon Trail crossing site with excellent RV facilities just 75 miles southeast.

Utah's capital city offers stunning mountain backdrops, excellent RV facilities, and access to some of America's most unique geological formations. The city serves as a gateway to five national parks and provides excellent stopping opportunities for rest and exploration.

Temple Square, the city's most famous attraction, offers free tours and beautiful gardens accessible on foot from nearby RV parks. The Natural History Museum of Utah provides excellent exhibits on the region's unique geology and paleontology.

Nearby Attractions: Antelope Island State Park offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities, including American bison herds. The Great Salt Lake provides unusual swimming experiences in water so salty you can't sink.

This stunning reservoir spanning the Utah-Wyoming border offers excellent RV camping and recreation opportunities. The dramatic red rock formations provide spectacular photography opportunities, while the lake offers boating, fishing, and swimming activities.

The area features several RV campgrounds with full hookups and easy access to hiking trails. Wildlife viewing opportunities include elk, deer, and numerous bird species. The scenic drive around the reservoir provides multiple viewpoints perfect for RV travelers.

America's mountain playground offers spectacular alpine scenery, abundant wildlife, and excellent RV access through multiple entrance points. The park's Trail Ridge Road provides some of the highest paved road driving in North America, reaching elevations over 12,000 feet.

Wildlife viewing opportunities are exceptional throughout the park. Elk, bighorn sheep, and moose are commonly spotted, especially during early morning and evening hours. The park offers multiple visitor centers with exhibits on mountain ecology and geology.

Looking to explore more of the park in an RV? Check out our detailed Rocky Mountain National Park RV guide

Must-See Areas:

• Trail Ridge Road (seasonal, typically May-October)
• Sprague Lake (easy walking trail with mountain reflections)
• Alberta Falls Trail (moderate hike to spectacular waterfall)
• Lily Lake (wheelchair accessible with mountain views)

RV Camping: Several campgrounds accommodate RVs, including Moraine Park and Glacier Basin. Reservations are essential during peak season and can be made up to 5 months in advance. After experiencing the high country adventure, consider Arapaho Bay Campground on Lake Granby—this scenic spot offers the perfect wind-down from your cross-country journey with excellent boating, fishing, and mountain recreation opportunities.