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Our Road Trip from Myrtle Beach to Grants Pass

We hit the road from Myrtle Beach, SC, headed west for Grants Pass, OR—crossing the country in 12 days and covering over 3,100 miles. No fluff, just the facts, a lot of windshield time, and a few solid stops along the way.

Day 1: Myrtle Beach, SC → Asheville, NC

We kicked off the trip heading northwest into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville gave us a scenic start—plenty of breweries, mountain views, and a chill downtown to stretch our legs.

     

Day 2-4: Asheville → Clarksville, TN

A relatively easy drive into Tennessee. Clarksville was more of a low-key pit stop, but we took time to relax and reset with Danielle's close friends.

           

 

 Day 5: Clarksville → St. Louis, MO

Crossing the Mississippi into St. Louis, we checked out the Gateway Arch as a pit stop between Clarksville and Kansas City.



Day 5: St. Louis → Kansas City, MO

Another short haul across Missouri. Kansas City stood out for its Cross Roads Neighborhood. We enjoyed dinner at Extra Virgin then finished the night drinking cocktails at Kon Tiki and The CrossRoads Hotel. Two cities in one state, totally different vibes.


 

Day 6–7: Kansas City → Denver, CO

The plains started stretching out here. Once we rolled into Denver, it felt like we finally hit the West. Mountains in view, cooler air, and a shift in pace. We stuck around for an extra day to enjoy the city and gear up for the longer stretches ahead.




Day 8-10: Denver → Blanding, UT

This leg was long and scenic—crossing into Utah brought red rock and wide-open skies. Blanding was quiet but positioned well for a night’s rest after a big driving day. We spent our time here at the 31st Arch Canyon Jeep Jamboree and exploring the Natural Bridges National Monument. 

 




 

Our friends, Chaise and Matt, met us for the Jamboree! Our off-road trails included Jax Trax and Hotel Rock. Blanding, Utah is well known for its extensive network of off-road trails, ranging from beginner-friendly scenic drives to advanced rock crawling routes. Two lesser-known but rewarding trails in the area are Jax Trax and Hotel Rock. Both offer unique terrain and features that appeal to experienced off-road enthusiasts looking for technical challenges and fewer crowds. Jax Trax is a technical off-road trail characterized by narrow passages, rock ledges, off-camber sections, and steep slickrock climbs. Hotel Rock is a scenic and historically significant trail featuring a combination of slickrock driving, shelf roads, and loose terrain. The trail leads to a series of ancient Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) cliff dwellings built into the sandstone formations.



















Natural Bridges National Monument is located in southeastern Utah, near the town of Blanding, and is known for its three massive natural stone bridges: Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu. Formed by the erosive forces of water cutting through sandstone canyons, these bridges are among the largest in the world. The monument was established in 1908 as Utah’s first National Monument and offers a mix of geology, archaeology, and scenic beauty. Visitors can explore the bridges via a 9-mile scenic loop drive with overlooks, or take hiking trails that lead down into the canyons for closer views. The area also features ancient Ancestral Puebloan dwellings tucked into cliff walls, adding cultural significance to the natural landscape. 

 
 
 











 
 
 

Day 11: Blanding → Winnemucca, NV

Desert driving at its finest. Sparse towns, dramatic landscapes, and not much cell service. We drove through Salt Lake City and got to see the Great Salt Lake and Desert! Winnemucca felt like a dusty waypoint from a western movie—but it did the job.




Day 12: Winnemucca → Grants Pass, OR

The final stretch brought us through northern Nevada into Oregon. The terrain kept changing—desert, forest, mountains. By the time we rolled into Grants Pass, the car was coated in a thin film of dust, our playlists were worn out, and we were ready to stay put for a while. We finished the evening unpacking and grabbing pizza from Catalyst Pizza! Finally made it to Grants Pass!

 




The Numbers

  • Total Days: 12

  • Total Miles: ~3,150

  • States Crossed: 10

  • Time Zones: 3

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