Roadtrip with RVshare Jacksonville to Minneapolis

If you want to drive from the southernmost state to the northernmost state in the Continental U.S., then a Jacksonville to Minneapolis road trip may be in your near future. You'll get to see some lovely national parks along the way — including one of America's newest national parks. Interesting state parks, fun tourist attractions, and bustling cities are also located along the route of your road trip from Jacksonville to Minneapolis. 

Nearby National Parks

Great Smoky Mountains National Park  

Instead of heading northwest towards Nashville on Interstate 24, you should drive a little less than two hours northeast on Interstate 75 so that you can visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You won't have any problem quickly figuring out why this is America's most popular park once you're surrounded by the mountain grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains. Since there are 800 miles of trails ranging in difficulty from easy to hard, you'll be able to find plenty of paths that will take you through forests, up mountains, and past waterfalls. 

Mammoth Cave National Park  

Visiting the world's largest known cave system on your Jacksonville to Minneapolis RV road trip is a no-brainer, so be sure to stop by Mammoth Cave National Park. The park is only 20 minutes east of Cave City, so reaching it is easy. You'll be able to explore multiple sections of the cave that are open to the public; some of these are Gothic Avenue, Frozen Niagara, and the Rotunda. If you would prefer to spend some time above-ground, then there are plenty of great lakes in the park for fishing and boating. Biking, hiking, and horseback riding are all popular here.

Gateway Arch National Park  

If you're willing to take an easy four-hour detour west of Louisville, then you can visit Gateway Arch National Park in lovely St. Louis. Most other national parks are known for their rugged terrain and scenic vistas, but the Gateway Arch and its surrounding historic buildings are instead a tribute to the artistry, ingenuity, and persistence of humanity. In addition to touring the "Gateway to the West," you'll be able to explore multiple museums and historic buildings. If you're looking for an impressive natural feature here, then you'll have to look no further than the Mississippi River, which flows right beside the park. 

New River Gorge National Park  

New River Gorge National Park is aptly named as it is one of America’s newest national parks. You'll have to drive five and a half hours from Louisville to get there, but how could you pass up the opportunity to add such a new national park to your road trip itinerary from Jacksonville to Minneapolis? This gorgeous gorge was carved out over eons through the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia by the New River and is spanned by the stunning New River Gorge Bridge. Multiple trails allow you to explore this park's 70,000 acres of stunning mountain views and wilderness. 

Indiana Sand Dunes National Park  

Indiana Sand Dunes National Park is also fairly new, but it’s much closer to your route. You only have to travel 20 minutes east of Gary, Indiana, to visit this beautiful park on the shores of Lake Michigan. In addition to being able to explore 15 miles of beachfront property, you'll also be able to trek through 20 miles of Indiana countryside. Dunes, shorelines, forests, wetlands, and more await you at Indiana Sand Dunes National Park.

Nearby State Parks

Reed Bingham State Park  

You can reach Reed Bingham State Park by driving 10 minutes west of Adel, Georgia. Beautiful water lilies and tupelo trees line the lake that's the main attraction here. Reed Bingham Park Lake provides many great opportunities for swimming and boating. Hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing are also popular activities.

Rock Island State Park  

Rock Island State Park is roughly an hour east of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Since this park is located at the headwaters of a lake and a confluence of three rivers, it's a great place to go boating, fishing, and more. Hiking trails and picnic areas abound; be sure to check out the gorgeous Caney Fork Gorge while you're here.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park  

My Old Kentucky Home State Park is named for the famous song written by Stephen Foster, who is often associated with the property on which the park is built. A mansion called Federal Hill and other historic buildings are on the premises, so you can learn more about this composer and the song itself. If you want to spend time in the great outdoors, you can hike, fish, golf, and more.

Prophetstown State Park  

About five minutes from the outskirts of Lafayette, Indiana, you’ll encounter Prophetstown State Park. The 2,000 acres of this park contain the remains of a Native American community that flourished in the early 1800s. Multiple replicas of buildings, as well as historical reenactors, give you insights into life in the region during that period. Be sure to check out the multiple hiking trails and the aquarium as well. 

Mirror Lake State Park  

Mirror Lake State Park is only a couple of minutes from the outskirts of Wisconsin Dells, so you should add it to your road trip itinerary from Jacksonville to Minneapolis. As its name implies, this lovely state park is home to a glassy, serene lake ideal for boating, swimming, and more. You can go hiking and biking year-round on the nearly 30 miles of trails in the park; you can even go skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Along the Way

Six Flags Over Georgia  

Six Flags Over Georgia is only 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta, so you can easily reach it on your road trip from Jacksonville to Minneapolis. Awesome rides like Batman: The Ride, Goliath, and Superman: Ultimate Flight await you here. Events, live shows, shops, restaurants, and more abound at this great entry in the Six Flags franchise. 

Chattanooga Zoo  

The Chattanooga Zoo is about 10 minutes from the heart of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It has more than 650 animals that represent over 160 species. You can have an animal encounter, ride a camel, and hop aboard the Zoo Choo Train at the Chattanooga Zoo. 

The Conrad Caldwell House Museum  

You can easily find the Conrad Caldwell House Museum eight minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville has the largest concentration of Victorian homes in America, so visiting the one that's often at the tops of people's lists on your Jacksonville to Minneapolis RV road trip is logical. 

The Virginia Fairbanks Art & Nature Park  

The Virginia Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is located roughly 10 minutes from the middle of Indianapolis. It's part of the Newfields complex, so there are other places to explore when you're done with this lovely 100-acre part of Indianapolis. This is one of America's largest museum art parks, so you'll want to take your time looking at the man-made and natural wonders here. 

Chicago Riverwalk  

Your route technically takes you through Hillside rather than Chicago itself, but how could you pass up the opportunity to explore this iconic American city on your road trip from Jacksonville to Minneapolis? One of many great places to go in Chicago is the beautiful Chicago Riverwalk. Here, you can walk a mile and a quarter along the Chicago River and get a feel for this amazing, vibrant city.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Atlanta, Georgia  

Georgia’s capital is home to great attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Zoo Atlanta. There are many great dump stations and campgrounds close to Atlanta.

Nashville, Tennessee

In addition to exploring the fun musical locations in Music City, be sure to check out places like the Parthenon, Belle Meade Plantation, and Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. You won’t have to look far for excellent dump stations and campgrounds in the Nashville area.

Louisville, Kentucky  

Louisville's most famous destination is Churchill Downs, which is the home of the iconic Kentucky Derby. There's much more to see here, however, so feel free to take advantage of the nice dump stations and campgrounds in the area while you're visiting places like the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and the Kentucky Kingdom.

Indianapolis, Indiana  

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and more await you in Indiana’s capital. You’ll be able to take advantage of some great local dump stations and campgrounds in the Indianapolis area.

Chicago, Illinois  

Millennium Park, Wrigley Field, and the Art Institute of Chicago are just a few of the great destinations in the Windy City. There are also many high-quality dump stations and campgrounds in this immensely popular area.

Find Adventure from Jacksonville to Minneapolis

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Jacksonville to Minneapolis, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Jacksonville or Minneapolis.