Our goal to see all 50 states with our children before they graduate started as just a whimsical thought just over a decade ago. Little did we know that we would actually visit all 50 states with our boys before our eldest son graduated from college! This roadtrip is what we’re calling our final Ferrell family roadtrip because it’s gotten much more challenging to take roadtrips together now that two of our children are adults. This trip was a repeat, revisiting some places we had explored when we were wearing our youngest son in a carrier. This time we were able to hike long distances and climb through slot canyons and up steep terrain. For this trip, we drove 5,387 miles across 9 states in 15 days. We visited 15 National Parks/Monuments/Refuges. We hiked over 55 miles. This trip was filled with so much beauty and wonder, and I’m so grateful to God for the memories we made together as a family. To see our other roadtrips, click here.
Day 1
Drive from middle Tennessee to Shreveport. Photo with Elvis Statue.
Day 2
Visit Louisiana State Exhibit Museum (1-2 hours). Incredible dioramas!
Tour Shreveport Waterworks and Railroad Museum (1 hour)
Drive to Abilene, TX (5-6 hours)
Stroll through Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden (1 hour)
Drive to Andrews, TX and take a photo with a pumpjack unit to commemorate our old oilfield drilling days!
Day 3
Drive to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. (Timed-entry permit reservation required.) This is truly the most impressive cave we have ever visited. Just incredible!
Carlsbad Caverns: Hike Natural Entrance Tour to Big Room. Complete Junior Ranger program. Hike outdoors trails. Watch bat flight.
Drive to Artesia, NM.
Day 4
Drive to White Sands National Park.
Hike/play/picnic at White Sands (4 hours)
Drive to Gallup, NM. On way to Gallup, take photo at Pistachioland Giant Pistachio.
Day 5
Drive to Petrified Forest National Park.
Drive through Petrified Forest National Park, stopping at viewpoints. Hike Blue Mesa, Crystal Forest, Giant Logs Trails.
Drive to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Hike Lenox Crater Trail.
Drive to Wupatki National Monument. Explore Wupatki, Wukoki, Citadel & Nalakihu Pueblos, Lomaki & Box Canyon Pueblos.
Drive to Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower to watch sunset at Grand Canyon.
Drive to Williams, AZ.
Day 6
Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim at Mather Point.
Hike South Rim Trail to Yavapai Geology Museum. Shuttle to South Kaibab Trailhead. Hike South Kaibab to Ooh Aah Point.
Drive to Desert View Watchtower Visitor Center. Drive to Cameron Trading Post for supper (Navajo Tacos).
Drive to Page, AZ.
Day 7
Visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area – Glen Dam Overlook Trail.
Visit Horseshoe Bend.
Drive towards Zion National Park.
Hike to Sand Caves (on hwy 89)
Walk through Belly of the Dragon (on hwy 89)
Drive through Zion National Park East Entrance.
Hike Hobbit Hole Slot Canyon.
Drive through Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Turn around at shuttle bus area.
Drive to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Take driving tour to visit all viewpoints before sunset (Swamp Canyon through Rainbow Point). Stay at Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City.
Day 8
Drive to Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point.
Hike Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop trail.
Drive to Mossy Cave – waterfall and alcove.
Drive down Hole-in-the-Rock Road (washboarded road) ~ 12 miles to Devil’s Garden.
Explore Devil’s Garden.
Stay in Torrey, UT.
Day 9
Drive through Capitol Reef National Park, stopping at viewpoints and visitor center/ junior ranger.
Drive to and hike Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon.
Drive to and explore Goblin Valley State Park.
Drive to Moab, UT
Day 10
Drive through Arches National Park. (Timed-entry permit reservation required.)
Hike to North & South Windows, Double Arch, Landscape Arch, Sand Dune Arch, Delicate Arch Viewpoints.
Drive through Canyonlands, stopping at viewpoints. Hike Mesa Arch Trail.
Drive to Corona Arch (outside national parks). Hike trail to Pinto Arch, Bowtie Arch, and Corona Arch.
Climb giant sand dune outside Arches National Park.
Drive to Monticello, UT.
Day 11
Drive through Monument Valley. Stop at Forrest Gump Point.
Drive to Mesa Verde National Park and drive Cliff Palace Loop and Mesa Top Loop, visiting all viewpoints/trails. Recommended in advance: reserve cliff dwelling tour of Cliff Palace or Balcony House (or Long House).
Stay in Cortez, CO.
Day 12
Complete Junior Ranger.
Drive Wetherill Mesa. Hike and explore Mesa Verde Step House.
Drive to Durango, CO and tour Durango D&SNG Railroad Museum.
Drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park and hike/roll down dunes.
Drive to Trinidad, CO.
Day 13
Drive from Trinidad, CO to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Selenite Crystal Digging Site.
Dig for selenite crystals. (We found so many!)
Stay in Alva, OK to avoid crazy weather south of us.
Day 14
Drive to Sterling, OK to see Brandy’s sisters.
Drive to and stay in Okemah, OK (to again avoid crazy weather).
Day 15
Drive home to middle Tennessee.