Nov. 23, 2025

Planning a Western National Parks road trip can feel overwhelming… but today we’re breaking down exactly how we planned our 108-night, 6,886-mile RV adventure with 38 unforgettable stops across the West. 🌄🚐

Whether you’re planning your first RV trip, dreaming of hitting multiple national parks, or looking for the best tools and apps to map your route, this episode of Heading West will give you everything you need to plan smarter, travel safer, and have way more fun.

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✨ What You’ll See in This Episode

1. Trip Kickoff + Episode Overview

We’re Rohn & Debra—welcome to the adventure! We walk you through what to expect in this “future us” breakdown of our biggest trip yet.

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2. The Tools We Used to Plan the Entire Trip

Debra shares our must-have RV apps and planning tools:

✔️ RV Life

✔️ Campendium

✔️ Google Maps + Reviews

✔️ Harvest Hosts

These tools helped us find safe routes, great campgrounds, and unique overnight stays.

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3. Our Mission: What Does Success Look Like on a Trip This Big?

Rohn talks through the real purpose behind this journey:

• Is it checking off as many national parks as possible?

• Slowing down to explore fewer places more deeply?

• Reconnecting with people and making memories?

• Or… something else entirely?

This mission shaped every decision we made.

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4. Our Exact Route for the 108-Night Trip

Debra reveals our full route—including every national park and major point of interest:

Medora, ND — Theodore Roosevelt NP

Cody, WY — Yellowstone (East)

West Yellowstone, MT — Yellowstone (West)

Colter Bay, WY — Grand Teton NP

St. Mary, MT — Glacier (East)

West Glacier, MT — Glacier (West)

Couer d’Alene, ID

Winthrop, WA — North Cascades NP

Gig Harbor, WA — Seattle & Mt Rainier

Sequim, WA — Olympic NP (inland)

Forks, WA — Olympic NP (coastal)

Astoria, OR — Cape Disappointment / Fort Clatsop

Bend, OR

Prospect, OR — Crater Lake NP

Orick, CA — Redwoods NP

Petaluma, CA — San Francisco

Moss Landing, CA — Bixby Bridge, Monterey, Carmel

Coarsegold, CA — Yosemite NP

Lemon Cove, CA — Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

Las Vegas, NV — Hoover Dam, Lake Mead

Flagstaff, AZ — Grand Canyon NP, Sedona

Page, AZ — Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lone Rock Beach

Springdale, UT — Zion NP

Ruby’s Inn — Bryce Canyon NP

Torrey, UT — Capitol Reef NP

Moab, UT — Arches NP & Canyonlands NP

Want help planning your own route? Grab our free National Park itineraries 👉 rohnanddebra.com/plan

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5. The BEST 7–10 Day National Park Routes

Rohn breaks down the mini-routes we now recommend to families:

• Yellowstone + Grand Teton

• The Utah 5 (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands)

• Olympic + Mt. Rainier

• Plus: Direct links to our National Park itineraries

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6. Thank You!

A huge thank you to Northwest Iowa Community College for sponsoring this episode and supporting our family’s educational adventures on the road. NCC has been an incredible partner in helping students—whether on campus or traveling the country—take the next step in their learning journey. We’re grateful for their commitment to providing flexible, high-quality education for families just like ours.

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7. Final Thoughts + What’s Coming Next

Debra wraps up with updates on future national park plans + what’s coming in the next episode.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join us on the next adventure!