Points of Interest between Asheville, North Carolina to Garden City, Idaho

picture of Asheville, North Carolina

Best Museums, Parks, and Landmarks to Visit on a Road Trip from Asheville, NC to Garden City, ID

Are you planning a road trip from Asheville, North Carolina to Garden City, Idaho? This cross-country journey is filled with diverse landscapes, national treasures, and historic landmarks. Here are some of the best museums, parks, and landmarks to visit on your road trip.

Did you know that Asheville is known as the "Land of the Sky" due to its elevation? It's the highest major city in the eastern United States.

Halfway on your road trip, you'll come across Gibbon, Nebraska. It's a small town with a population of just over 2,000. It's also home to the Gibbon Baptist Church, which was founded in 1874.

The road trip from Asheville to Garden City covers approximately 2,040 miles and takes about 31 hours of driving time. While it's a long journey, it's also a rewarding one, offering plenty of opportunities to see the best of the United States.

Top Five Places to Visit

  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park This national park is located along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee and offers some of the best views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Visitors can hike, camp, fish, and enjoy scenic drives through the park. Points of interest include Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, and the picturesque Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

Point of interest: Take a guided hike to Abrams Falls to see one of the park's most beautiful waterfalls.

  1. Gateway Arch National Park Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Gateway Arch National Park is home to the Gateway Arch, a 630-foot-tall stainless steel architectural wonder. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top of the arch and enjoy sweeping views of the city from its observation deck. The park also includes the Museum at the Gateway Arch, which offers interactive exhibits on the history of St. Louis and the Gateway Arch.

Point of interest: Take a riverboat cruise along the Mississippi River for a unique view of the arch.

  1. Badlands National Park Situated in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park features a rugged landscape of eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires. Visitors can explore the park's various trails, admire its colorful formations, and spot its abundant wildlife, including bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope.

Point of interest: Take a scenic drive along the Badlands Loop Road, which offers stunning views of the park's formations and wildlife.

  1. Yellowstone National Park Located primarily in Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park is one of the most iconic national parks in the United States. Its highlights include Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts regularly, the Grand Prismatic Spring, which is one of the largest hot springs in the world, and the Lamar Valley, which is a prime spot for spotting wildlife such as wolves, bison, and elk.

Point of interest: Visit the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana, which features a diverse collection of contemporary and historic American art.

  1. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Located in central Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a unique landscape of volcanic formations, lava tubes, and cinder cones. Visitors can explore its various trails, admire its stark beauty, and learn about its geology and history.

Point of interest: Visit nearby Sun Valley, a resort town known for skiing, hiking, and outdoor recreation.

We hope that this list of museums, parks, and landmarks inspires you to plan a road trip from Asheville to Garden City. With so much to see and do along the way, this journey is truly a cross-country adventure. Safe travels!