From Sea to Shining Sea: Epic Outdoor Escapes Less Than a 3-Hour Drive from U.S. Cities

While Aesop’s town mouse and country mouse may have preferred their own environs, travelers don’t have to choose between urban and rural delights.

These eight popular destination cities are close to gorgeous natural attractions, perfect for a proverbial breath of fresh air or more lung-expanding activities and adventures.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Portland, Oregon

Head approximately 75 minutes east of Portland for the thrills, chills and potential spills of whitewater rafting in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which includes the federally designated “Wild and Scenic” Klickitat and White Salmon rivers.

Kitesurfers and windsurfers will find plenty of launch sites along the Columbia River, a natural wind tunnel with a backdrop of the Cascade Mountains,

The region also brims with numerous waterfalls, including the 620-foot Multnomah Falls and the three 64-foot cascades of Triple Falls, easily accessed by hiking trails.

Las Vegas

Less than 25 minutes from Las Vegas’ famous Strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a sure bet for hikers, rock climbers and cyclists drawn to its red sandstone formations, 26 trails and 13-mile scenic drive.

Valley of Fire State Park, about an hour from the Strip, boasts similarly dramatic outcroppings, plus petrified trees and ancient petroglyphs.

For more Mojave Desert mojo, head two hours outside the city to Death Valley National Park, where amazing sunsets and sunrises illuminate salt flats, sand dunes and craggy peaks bordering the Great Basin Desert.

Boston

Southern Mainee’s long, sandy beaches await only 90 minutes north of Boston, with equally appealing choices two hours to the southeast in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Surfers and boogie boarders ply the waves at Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk, Maine, while cyclists enjoy the rolling 5.5-mile-loop trail between Provincetown’s enticing Herring Cove and Race Point beaches, part of Cape Cod National Seashore.

Prefer to ski? Drive two hours to New Hampshire’s Gunstock Mountain Resort, which offers 49 trails and snow tubing, plus year-round breathtaking views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

San Francisco

Drive north across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and in a half-hour you can wander among the towering redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument or hike to a pristine beach in the stunning Marin Headlands.

Heading south, a 35-minute drive takes you to Half Moon Bay, where you can enjoy four miles of sandy beaches or kayak in Pillar Point Harbor.

Two hours farther south, near Carmel-by-the-Sea, you’ll find Point Lobos Natural Reserve, where hikers as well as scuba divers can spot sea otters and harbor seals. And a half-hour drive past Point Lobos takes you to Big Sur to explore towering redwoods and rugged beaches.

Chicago

Leave the Windy City‘s urban canyons for the forested canyons of Starved Rock State Park about 90 minutes away.

Hike 13 miles of trails to waterfalls and overlooks, or go canoeing or fishing on the Illinois River. In the winter, experienced ice climbers come here, as well as cross-country skiers.

A 45-minute drive from the city takes you to Indiana Dunes National Park, near Gary, Indiana.

There, hikers can follow more than 50 miles of trails (37 for cyclists) winding through forests, wetlands and beaches on Lake Michigan, where sand dunes rise almost 200 feet above the water.

Miami

The largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. is just about 50 minutes from Miami. In 2,410-square-mile Everglades National Park, you can ride paved bike trails, kayak amid crocodiles and manatees, or reserve a spot on a ranger-led slough slog — an off-trail hike through water up to waist high in a “river of grass.”

At Biscayne National Park, about an hour from the city, the clearer waters of Biscayne Bay and its coral reefs with colorful fish beckon kiteboarders, divers, snorkelers, kayakers and canoe paddlers.

Washington, D.C.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, 75 minutes northwest of the nation’s capital, is Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park.

The park contains Civil War historic sites straddling West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia, plus hiking trails that include a two-mile loop of the Appalachian Trail and inspiring overlooks of the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.

Rock climbers flock to many of the cliffs in the heavily wooded park, while cyclists can cross a footbridge across the Potomac to connect with the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath.

Charleston, South Carolina

About two and a half hours south of Charleston, Hilton Head Island has 12 miles of alluring Atlantic Ocean shoreline with public access to seven beach parks. One of the most tranquil is Fish Haul Beach on Port Royal Sound in one of the island’s historic Gullah neighborhoods.

There are plenty of marinas, which means lots of options for renting boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. For adventure on land, rent a bike and ride on some of the 108 miles of paved shared-use paths or even right on the beach.