11 Of The Hottest Road Trip Destinations To Explore This Summer

For many of you, summer is synonymous with road trip season, and under normal circumstances, that can be a challenge to stay cool. However, I love adventure, and sometimes that takes me on some pretty extreme road trips as far as temperature goes. If you are like me then it makes sense to do what you can to keep your car in the best shape possible so it does what it is supposed to do for you. Just as important as a great road trip destination is ensuring that you stay cool and comfortable inside - even when temperatures outside might soar well above 100 degrees!

Preparing Your Vehicle For Extreme Heat Road Trips

When planning a summer road trip to scorching destinations, proper vehicle preparation is essential for safety and comfort. Make sure your cooling system is in top condition with fresh coolant and a recently serviced radiator, and check that your tires are properly inflated and have adequate tread to withstand hot pavement that can accelerate wear and increase blowout risk. Always carry emergency supplies including several gallons of drinking water, non-perishable snacks, a first aid kit, blankets, and a fully charged mobile phone power bank, as breaking down in extreme heat environments can quickly become dangerous.

Oddly Wonderful Salton Sea and Borrego Springs California

With temperatures regularly exceeding 110 degrees during the summer, the California desert around Salton Sea is one hot place to visit. This heat combined with the sense of desolation that the desert creates has left a bizarre landscape of post apocalyptic ghost towns caused when the lake started drying up, and also the influx of artists and other unique personalities. While extreme heat may be destructive in other cases - here it has resulted in some fantastic art colonies and monuments such as Salvation Mountain, East Jesus, and Galetta Meadows where you will find hundreds of sculptures planted in the desert across miles of otherwise barren terrain.

Joshua Tree and Palm Springs

The California desert duo of Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs offers a striking contrast of natural wonder and luxury oasis. In Joshua Tree, temperatures regularly climb above 105°F as you marvel at the park's otherworldly landscape of twisted Joshua trees and massive boulder formations that seem transported from another planet. After exploring, retreat to nearby Palm Springs where midcentury modern architecture, luxurious pools, and palm-lined streets provide stylish relief from the heat. The desert's extreme temperatures have historically drawn everyone from Hollywood stars to wellness seekers who believe in the healing properties of dry desert heat.

Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas

No matter which direction you travel to the annual Electric Daisy Carnival held in Las Vegas each June, you are certain to be thankful for your cool comfortable air-conditioned car! At least until you get to the festival grounds. On the concrete of the Las Vegas Speedway, even at almost midnight the temperatures are in excess of 90 degrees and it feels even hotter. That doesn't stop people from partying until dawn though. So, make sure to drink plenty of water. You can get dehydrated quickly here, so please be safe!

Arizona's Desert Corridor

Arizona's scorching summer heat creates the perfect environment for one of the most iconic road trips through America's desert Southwest. The drive from Phoenix (where summer temperatures regularly exceed 115°F) through Scottsdale, Sedona, and up to the Grand Canyon takes you through dramatically changing landscapes and elevations. Marvel at the towering saguaro cacti that can only grow in this unique desert environment, explore the red rock formations of Sedona, and experience the stark contrast when you finally reach the Grand Canyon's South Rim, where the higher elevation provides moderate relief from the extreme valley temperatures.

Hitting new Highs and Lows in Death Valley

Death Valley is the site of both the lowest spot (-282') in the United States as well as the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the United States - a scorching 134 degrees in 1913! That's not an isolated occurrence though, on typical summer days the temperature is above a 110 degree and there are five months of the year where high temperatures will register in the 100's. Don't fret though, while this is a great place to go camping and hiking in the winter, you can still see the natural wonders by car and jump out for short periods of time to explore. Don't even consider this journey if your car isn't in tip top shape though - I drive the route between Vegas and Los Angeles regularly and have seen multiple car fires and even more motorists stranded on the side because their cars simply gave up due to the extreme heat.

The Dramatic Badlands of South Dakota

The rugged terrain of South Dakota's Badlands National Park becomes an otherworldly furnace during summer months, with temperatures frequently surpassing 100°F across its 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles. The layered rock formations, striped with bands of red, orange, yellow and white minerals, create a photographer's paradise – especially during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. The surrounding Black Hills provide an excellent extension to this road trip, where you can find slightly cooler temperatures among the pine forests while visiting iconic American monuments like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial.

Exploring Aliens and Nuclear Bombs in New Mexico

While not as hot as Death Valley, the deserts of southern New Mexico is a hot spot for UFO hunters around the world. Roswell is the sight of one of the best documented UFO crashes in history though it hasn't been confirmed what landed here there was absolutely something unidentified. While looking for aliens, make sure to drive over to White Sands National Park and Trinity Test Site where you can learn more about the history of nuclear testing and imagine the 10 million degree temperature blast given off by the world's first nuclear explosion on July 16, 1945. That's so hot that the blast melted the otherwise white sand around the blast site creating a green glassy material now known as Trinitite.

Watch out, though, when exploring the dunes, surface temperatures can exceed 150°F there, so if you're planning to go hiking or sledding, go early in the morning to avoid getting burned.

Big Bend and West Texas

The remote Big Bend region of Texas offers a challenging but rewarding summer road trip through some of America's most isolated and stunning landscapes. Summer temperatures in Big Bend National Park routinely surpass 100°F, but the extreme conditions showcase the park's stark beauty and remarkable resilience of desert life. Extend your journey through West Texas to visit the quirky art town of Marfa, known for its mysterious lights phenomenon, minimalist art installations, and surprisingly sophisticated cultural scene in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. The historic Terlingua Ghost Town nearby offers a fascinating glimpse into the region's mining past and a jumping-off point for breathtaking Rio Grande river adventures.

Fun in the Sun from Miami to Key West

While we've focused on super hot places in the desert, Florida is a whole different sort of hot. Frankly, I'd rather have 110 degrees with low humidity in Nevada than 90 degrees and 90% humidity in Miami. That's pretty much what you are looking at here during the summer though and it's worth it if you are looking for lush tropical beaches, fantastic fishing, and incredible food. While it gets a bit more comfortable in Key West, it's still hot, wet, and sticky so you'll be thankful for the AC blowing through your vents to cool and dehumidify your vehicle!

Driving on a levee outside of Helena, Arkansas watching the Mississippi River go by.

BBQ and Blues from Memphis to New Orleans

We just came back from one part of this road trip but it's a dream I have of one day returning and doing the complete journey from Memphis to New Orleans. In the summer though, you're going to find high temperatures reaching 100 degrees in New Orleans during the summer with extreme humidity. Along the route though, you'll be able to cool off at night in blues clubs along the route, sipping cans of ice cold beer and dreaming of those ice cold daiquiris waiting for you on Bourbon Street!

Utah's "Mighty 5" National Parks

Utah's spectacular collection of national parks – Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands – creates one of America's most awe-inspiring road trips, albeit one where summer temperatures regularly climb above 100°F. The extreme heat brings out the vivid colors of the red rock formations, making those famous sandstone arches, hoodoos, and sweeping vistas even more dramatic. Plan your activities for early morning and evening to avoid midday heat while exploring highlights like Delicate Arch, the Narrows slot canyon, and Bryce's amphitheater of stone spires. Each park's unique geology and microclimate offers a different experience, connected by scenic byways that are adventures in themselves.