National Parks

in CO you can hit RM, MV and BC pretty easily. In WA/OR you can hit the three in WA and crater lake in one trip

Even easier is El Paso to GM and CC (and big bend if you have longer)

Yosemite and sequoia/KC are pretty close together. As are Joshua tree and DV

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Are you looking for something within driving distance of your current location, or looking to fly then drive?

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Either or really. The travel there is no issue. I have miles or if it's close enough I will drive.

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ou could start at Great Smoky Mountain, drive Blue Ridge Parkway to Shenandoah, or just spend a weekend in GSMNP.

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I have done the GSM once when I was a child. This would be a good one to revisit and hit Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge.

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You could use Rapid City as a base and go east to Badlands, south to Wind Cave and Mt Rushmore.

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I've been to Mt. Rushmore but none of the others.

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You could probably knock out Bryce and Zion in a 3 day weekend they are so close together, and the high points of Bryce are easily accessible by car/shuttle and doable in a day.

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I actually did Bryce, Zion, and Mt. Rushmore in the same trip. It was about a week long. Made sure to hit all the good hikes in Zion and spent a day in Arches as well.


So far I have been to:
Sand Dunes
Tetons
Yellowstone
Hot Springs
Smokies
St. John
Grand Canyon
Rockies
White Sands
Everglades
Capitol Reef
Arches

Some were when I was younger so I'd like to revisit, like Capitol Reef or the GSM

I really just want something that I can tackle over a 3 day period. Hit the top hikes, things to do, etc. Some of these just seem too big and have so much to offer it seems like a waste not spending a full week to get the most out of the trip.

If you are located in the south there's not many you can hit in 3 days total, as in leave one morning, have the full next day, and make it back by 3rd night.

Olympic is pretty awesome and Mt. Rainer is near there. But it’s a day of traveling so not a short trip unfortunately

Some fairly close by that can be done in 3 days:
Gateway arch
Mammoth cave
Congaree

Everglades.

Timing is the key. Must go in late March/early April. Otherwise the weather or mosquitoes will get you.

There is an outfit that provides a full day tour which last around 6-10 hours depending on your schedule.

Meet up at the visitor center and 5-6 stops along the journey. A few stops are just educational stops to learn the area but 3 highlights.

1. Wet hike - walking through the Everglades with water varying from your ankles to your knees. Exploring fauna and plants.

2. Kayak - through the mangroves with gators and crocs nearby

3. Kayak - into the open water near manatees and see the sunset

Go to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico.

I throughly enjoyed the North Cascade National Park in Washington. If you fly into Seattle or Bellingham, it's not too far away.