With the pandemic dying down, more and more people are hitting the roads every day. The United States has numerous natural beauties, and there is no alternative to a road trip to enjoy them to the fullest. Not sure where to begin? This spring, take a road trip to the most iconic and beautiful places in the Midwestern United States. Pack your bags with road-trip essentials and start your journey.
The Black Hills, South Dakota
A trip to South Dakota isn’t complete without a visit to the Black Hills. Ideal for a 10-day trip, the Black Hills contains parks, trails, cliffs, and falls that leave the travelers in awe. The infamous Mount Rushmore is situated here and is a must-visit place for tourists.
The Badlands National Park gets the unbound beauty from natural rock formations and fossil beds. You can drive through the 39-mile loop road to see all of it.
Add the Black Elk Peak, Wind Caves National and Custer State Park, and Spearfish Canyon to your itinerary for a memorable trip to South Dakota. There are lodges for stopovers, trails for mountain biking, and cliffs and water bodies for cliff jumping.
You can catch a flight to South Dakota and drive to all these spots. A long drive through the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byways will cover quite a bit of the Black Hills.
Hocking Hills, Ohio
Hocking Hills is the most visited natural place in Ohio. It has natural rock formations, trails for hiking, and caves and waterfalls that are abundant with scenic beauty. The Ash Cave and Old Man’s Cave date back hundreds of years. You can hike small trails to reach them. The Rock House is a unique rock formation that looks like a house with a 25-feet ceiling.
Hocking Hills is known for the gorgeous Cedar Falls – the most-pictured waterfall of Ohio. The Devil’s Bathtub and Cantwell Cliffs are two more unique spots to visit here.
If you are into places with a spooky history, don’t forget to stop by the haunted Moonville Tunnel.
There are a few airports near Hocking Hills. Rent a car and visit your desired accommodation after you land.
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is one of the most picturesque port cities of the midwestern US and is a perfect place to drop by during the weekend. Apart from the tourist attractions scattered across the city, Duluth has its fair share of natural travel destinations.
If you’re an ardent fan of lakes and parks, you can’t miss the beauty that Canal Park and Lake Superior have to offer. Two Harbors and North Shore Scenic Drive are also worth mentioning. Place Superior hiking trail, Spirit mountain, and Two Harbors lighthouse at the top of your itinerary while visiting these places.
Duluth also has numerous restaurants, breweries, and tourist attractions. Glensheen Mansion, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, and Aerial Lift Bridge are a few to name.
If you are flying to Minnesota, you can find various car rentals near the Minneapolis airport with convenient pricing and great options.
Door Country, Wisconsin
Home to scenic byways, waterfronts, cliffs, and caves, Door Country of Wisconsin is one of the most beloved tourist destinations in the Midwest. If you visit in the summer, you can enjoy surfing, kayaking, boating, and just about every watersport you can name. The peninsula has some of the best beaches in Wisconsin that are perfect for family picnics. You can also enjoy fishing or ice fishing throughout the year.
The Ahnapee Trail and Peninsula State Park make perfect spots for hiking. The latter also has a well-built biking trail. A drive through the 66-mile coastal byway is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty this place beholds.
The Peninsula State Park is also great for camping. For a more adventurous experience, try hiking to the Rock Island State Park.
You can always take a flight to Wisconsin. But if you live in the Midwest, you can drive or take a ferry to Door Country.
Flint Hills, Kansas
If you love prairies, you should pick the Flint Hills as your next travel destination. This popular travel destination boasts tallgrass prairies and preserves that seem to come straight out of a movie and will give you a vacation to remember forever.
The Tallgrass Prairie Natural Reserve, Konza Prairie, Turtle Creek Park, and Milford State Park – all come with vast lands, waterfalls, trails for biking and hiking, and lots of space to sit and relax under the magnificent sky. The Flint Hills National Scenic Byways cuts through multiple small towns. It’s a drive worth remembering.
No matter which of these places you travel to, remember to maintain safety. Check with the authorities before making travel plans, and choose a vehicle for maximum comfort and safety of your travel companions.
