School’s out for summer and it’s the perfect time to hit the road and explore some of the most beautiful destinations in the United States. Security Public Storage boasts facilities in some of the nation’s most picturesque communities. Pack up the family, Fido or venture out alone for a road trip you won’t soon forget. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite National Parks, National Seashores and Historic Parks to help you plan your summer excursion across California, Oregon and Nevada as well as Virginia, Maryland and the Washington DC metro area.
Road Trip to National Parks in California and Nevada
Yosemite National Park
Joshua Tree National Park — This famous park lies at an ecological crossroads where the Mojave Desert meets the low Colorado Desert. The landscape is scattered with the park’s namesake trees, which are actually a type of yucca. Explore rugged mountains, gold mining ruins and desert plains. Watch vibrant sunsets melt into nights filled with star-filled night skies.
Lassen Volcanic National Park — Lassen Peak, this National Park’s signature volcano, blew its top in 1914 and outbursts continued for three years. Now, you can explore the dormant volcano via trails and overlooks that allow you to take in geological wonders set amid dense woods and sparkling lakes. Hike to hydrothermal features like steaming sulphur vents and splattering mud pots. You’ll love camping at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Pinnacles National Park — The endangered California Condor calls Pinnacles National Park home. Catching a glimpse of these impressive birds with their nine-foot wingspan and bald heads on your summer road trip through California National Parks would be a coveted sight to behold. The park gets its name from towering, domed rock structures that bulge out from the earth. Located east of the Salinas Valley, Pinnacles National Park is the perfect place to camp and explore caves.
Death Valley National Park — Be sure to pack lots of water if you decide to visit Death Valley National Park, the hottest and driest place in America. Death Valley is the largest National Park outside of Alaska and features incredible extremes along with its climate. Badwater Basin sits at 282 feet below sea level, while Telescope Peak rises to 11,049 feet above sea level. The park’s 3.3 million acres include mountain-sized sand dunes, below sea level salt flats, colorful sandstone canyons and mysterious singing rocks. Death Valley lies in both California and Nevada.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks — These two adjoining national parks include Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states at 14,494 feet. There may be taller trees in other parts of the state, but the General Sherman Tree is the biggest on the planet by volume: 275 feet tall with a 36-foot diameter base! Easily reach this gigantic tree via a short, paved trail in GIant Forest.
Redwood National Park — Some of the trees at Redwood National and State Parks soar 370 feet into the sky, which is five stories taller than the Statue of Liberty. Redwood National Park is a World Heritage Site that protects nearly half of the world’s old growth redwood trees. Spend days hiking and camping among these gorgeous trees. You’ll feel awestruck by these towering natural giants.
Point Reyes National Seashore — Did you know that Point Reyes is the West Coast’s only National Seashore? The seashore extends 70,000 acres of a large triangular peninsula that appears to have broken away from the Northern California coast. Point Reyes is convenient for our customers in the Bay Area to visit, as it’s located one hour North of San Francisco. The park protects more than 1,500 animal and plant species. Explore beaches, lagoons, ponds and estuaries, all surrounded by a densely wooded interior.
Channel Islands National Park — Want to unplug? Channel Islands National Park is one of the country’s most undeveloped and stunning national parks. This park has no lodging, stores or restaurants, but the action focuses on camping, hiking and wildlife watching. These five islands off the Southern California coast include plentiful wildlife and endemic plants, earning the nickname, “Galapagos of North America.”
Yosemite National Park — Prepare to be dazzled by unforgettable natural beauty at Yosemite National Park. The park famous for its massive granite formations is nearly the size of Rhode Island and attracts millions of visitors every year. Drive through the Wawona Tunnel, explore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and explore the Yosemite Valley. Yosemite offers something for everyone as well as sights you’ll want to remember forever.
Visit Crater Lake, Oregon’s Only National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park — For a state covered in natural beauty, it only includes one national park. Crater Lake National Park. An eruption 7,700 years ago triggered the collapse of a tall mountain peak, resulting in the formation of Crater Lake. The deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake is fed by rain and snow. Sunlight reaches through the lake’s clarity and scatters in the depth, which results in the rich blue color.
An East Coast National Parks Road Trip Through Maryland and Virginia
Assateague Island National Seashore — Back East, Assateague Island National Seashore provides the ideal locale to explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forest and coastal bays. Kayaking is a great way to explore Assateague via waterway! Plan ahead to camp at this majoritic national seashore where you rest and recreate on your Maryland and Virginia summer road trip.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park — Roadtrippers wanting to add historical relevance to their summer excursions won’t have a problem on the East Coast, especially being in close proximity to Washington DC and the 13 original colonies. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park preserves the same landscapes that Tubman used to carry herself and others away from slavery. Tubman is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War, she repeatedly risked her life to guide enslaved people north to new lives of freedom.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Shenandoah National Park — Venture 75 miles from Washington DC and you’ll find Shenandoah National Park. This stunning park is bursting with cascading waterfalls, fields of wildflowers, spectacular views and quiet woodlands. With more than 200,000 acres of protected lands, songbirds, deer, bears and other wildlife call Shenandoah National Park home.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts — Building a road trip focused on arts and culture in and around Virginia is easy when you visit Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the only national park dedicated to presenting the performing arts. From May through September, multiple amphitheaters throughout the park showcase live performances including musicals, pop and country music, dance, opera and jazz.
From Sea to Shining Sea
From coast to coast, the US has innumerable natural wonders to explore. Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway near the Bay Area or you plan on driving up and down the east coast, you’ll find a different national park along the way. National parks are special places protected for us to experience the heritage of these lands. Remember to pack out anything you brought in and leave these natural spaces better than you found them, so we can all continue to enjoy and admire them for years to come.
At SPS, we love exploring the beautiful lands and waterways surrounding all of our 51 locations in the United States. From east to west, you’ll find us enjoying and protecting the lands of this great nation.