Some off-roaders are content exploring local parks and woods. In some areas, that’s enough for years of great outings. If you’re like me, though, you believe the best thing about off-roading is discovering new parts of this great nation. Planning a weekend, a week-long vacation, or even a whole summer around far-flung off-road destinations is something every serious adventure should do at some point.
There are plenty of opportunities to find a great off-roading spot., According to some estimates, more than 650,000 miles of off-road trails line the US, ranging from national parks and forests to barren deserts. Which ones should you be packing your 4×4 or prerunner for? I’ve made my picks for the top 10 US off-roading destinations that should be on your waitlist. With a mix of overlanding, dune bashing, crawling, and even green-laning options from coast to coast, I’ve included places for everyone to find some thrills. (Note most of these places require a permit to enter.)
Rubicon Trail
This California off-road trail is so legendary and so legendarily challenging that it spawned the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon built to handle it. It may only be 22 miles long, but the trip from Georgetown to South Lake Tahoe is grueling. Officially a “non-maintained county road,” the Rubicon trail has more than 1,600 feet of elevation changes while navigating beneath trees, around granite rock formations, and through mud holes. The rewards are a remarkable view of the California-Nevada border and the satisfaction of making it to the end. The only downside is that since the trail is popular, you must be on the lookout for frequent traffic.
Windrock Park
From the small to the enormous, Windrock Park of Tennessee (about 30 miles outside Knoxville) proclaims itself the country’s biggest privately owned off-road park. With more than 73,000 acres and 300 miles of woodland trails to explore, it’s hard to dispute that. Options range from easy gravel roads to trails where you must crawl over boulders and get right against the edge of cliffs, and it’s all open 24/7/365. There’s also a full campground with cabins plus a 10,000-square-foot general store so you can stay the night and be ready for the next day’s exploits.
Hot Springs Off-Road Park
Staying in the Southeastern US, Hot Springs Park in Arkansas is smaller but no less magnificent. Off-roaders will find more than 1,200 acres worth of trails for all skill levels. Tackle them solo or sign up for guided off-road tours. You can visit nearly year-round, too. The only time Hot Springs Off-Road Park closes is Christmas weekend. For the past three decades, Jeep Jamboree USA has held an annual weekend event at Hot Springs to share casual outdoor vibes. The park also hosts events for the National Rock Racing Association if you want to add some competitive spirit.
Moab, Utah
When you’re looking for a huge network of trails catering to different skill levels, make the trip to Moab. This Eastern Utah town of just over 5,000 sits at the intersection of Canyonland National Park, Arches National Park, and the La Sal Mountains, creating many off-roading possibilities. Furthermore, there are hundreds of miles worth of backroads left over from the town’s mining history, which means scenic drives and demanding trails in equal measure. Visit in April for the annual Easter Jeep Safari or rent a vehicle to explore Klondike Bluffs and Hurrah Pass while enjoying the natural wonder.
Rocky Mountain Terrain Park
It may share a name with the more famous mountain range, but this destination is a different world. As Maine’s only private off-road park, it packs 100 miles of off-road trails into just a 700-acre space. The park is in Carthage—a fitting name for those who know their ancient history—and it’s open after dark for the most daring. Owner John Steele allows any type of vehicle in the park with terrain from jumps and rocks to mud runs. To have a rip-roaring time with hundreds of friends, sign up for the annual Diehards weekend in late April.
Ocala National Forest
Beginner off-roaders who still want an unforgettable experience will find it in Florida. The Ocala North OHV Trail System has nearly 200 miles of trails, including mixed-use, ATV, and motorcycle-only terrain open from dawn to dusk. Choose a shorter trail or one where you can spend multiple days exploring nature. A pass is valid for all trailheads, and intense off-roaders will still find options they like, such as the Jeep Badge of Honor Tread Lightly Trail near Orlando. (As I write this, the trail system is temporarily closed due to the effects of Hurricane Milton.)
Rausch Creek Off-Road Park
For riders and pilots in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s tough to beat the wilderness magic of this off-road park burrowed in Pennsylvania’s historic coal-mining region. You’ll find more than 3,000 acres of varying terrain open Friday through Sunday year-round (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas). Find an easy trail for stock green-laning or see how your modified Jeep measures up on the Crawler Ridge rock garden. Also, this is a 4×4-only park, so truck and SUV owners won’t have to contend with bikes and quads. Just keep in mind there’s a minimum of two vehicles per party for safety reasons.
Big Bend National Park
People say everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes off-roading. Visit Big Bend National Park near the Mexican border to find miles upon miles of what they term “primitive dirt roads.” Open to any street-legal vehicle, these aren’t your average dirt roads, often going through wash-out areas, bedrock, and other tough areas. In fact, the National Park Service specifically recommends your vehicle have at least eight inches of frame clearance, 15-inch rims, and a two-speed transfer case, which I’m sure has some of you thinking, “Well, of course.”
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
You don’t need to go to the desert to ride some dunes. You can find them on the banks of Lake Michigan. The ORV area in Michigan’s Silver Lake State Park has over 450 acres of dunes to bring your 4×4, UTV, or two-wheeler. Open from April through October with hours as late as 10 PM, the park has a “test hill” to get your feet wet before you open the throttle on Dune Buggy Junction and the South Flats. Note there are some requirements regarding safety flags and noise levels, and the park sets a maximum air pressure of 15 PSI for better traction.
The TransAmerica Trail
Do you want to spend a few months exploring the US? The TransAmerica Trail, or TransAm Trail, is for you. Sam Correro spent 12 years scouting and mapping this overlanding magnum opus which starts in West Virginia and weaves its way to the Pacific Northwest before doubling back to the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, more than 4,200 miles total. Multiple spurs let you customize your trip by beginning near the North Carolina Outer Banks, driving down to the Texas-New Mexico-Mexico corner, continuing to the Oregon coast, or cutting through the Colorado Rockies. Budget for hotels or bring your camping gear to rough it old-school.
Find Your Next Off-Road Adventure
America is rough but beautiful, and there’s no better way to discover that than with an off-roading journey. As you can see from this list, there are awe-inspiring destinations wherever you look. Plenty of other sensational places are waiting for off-roaders, too, like the snowy Alpine trails of Ouray, Colorado; the dirty and rocky goodness of Gulches ORV Park in South Carolina; the Azusa Canyon mud bog heaven in Southern California; and Alaska’s James W. Dalton Highway that takes you to the Arctic Ocean. Make plans to go somewhere amazing this year and leave the main roads in the rearview.
