You can still follow the Oregon Trail today and it's the perfect road trip for hardcore fans of

Immortalized in the '90s-kid-favorite computer game of the same name, The Oregon Trail makes for an epic 2,000-mile road trip, perfect for history buffs and fans of vast natural beauty.

The trail spans six states (nearly seven, if you count the marginal border area between Oregon and Washington), and we’ve found the prime historical sites, helping you break up the car trip and keep on learning throughout the voyage.

The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail was used by pioneers headed west from Missouri to find fertile lands.

Today, travelers can follow the trail along Route 66 or Routes 2 and 30. Two bloggers who recently undertook the trip for the National Parks Service blog suggested spending around 3 weeks on the road to get the best experience.

Independence, Missouri

A satellite city of Kansas City, Independence served as a popular trading post for westward travelers during the peak years of the Oregon Trail. Thanks to its location near the easternmost point of the Oregon Trail, Independence rose to prominence as a jumping-off point for pioneers to stock up on supplies before beginning their long journey, receiving Congressional recognition as the official beginning of the Trail in the mid-19th century.

Visitors eager to learn more about this historic trail-launching spot can visit the National Frontier Trails Museum, which outlines not only Independence’s role on the Oregon Trail but also its significant status on the Santa Fe Trail and the California Trail. The museum features authentic wagon ruts on the grounds, rotating exhibits with Oregon Trail artifacts, and a wagon tour through Independence’s historic district.

Fort Kearny in Nebraska

Founded in 1848 as an outpost for the United States Army, Fort Kearny is found just outside the town of Kearney, Nebraska. Located about one-sixth of the way down the Oregon Trail, the fort was a major restocking station for pioneers, also providing shelter and protection for travelers concerned about looting.

If you stop off at Fort Kearny, you'll want to spend some time at Fort Kearny State Historic Park, with an interpretive center that hosts exhibits about the fort and its place on the Oregon Trail, reconstructions of original fort buildings, a hiking & biking trail across the Platte River (once a well-used crossing point for trail pioneers), and, if you'd like to spend the night in the great outdoors, a large campsite.

Alcove Spring in Kansas

Notable for its unique rock formations and scenic waterfront vistas, Alcove Spring was a well-used campsite for Oregon Trail travelers. Modern-day visitors can see evidence of its popularity by checking out the rock ledge over the stream; pioneers carved initials and messages in the stone, many of which are still preserved today. The site also held significance for the Donner Party, who lost a member of their group at the spring (a monument to Sarah H. Keyes stands at the top of the Spring’s rock formation).

The wagon trail can be followed on-foot at Alcove Spring; visible wagon swales still exist, and they’ll lead you to the patch of land that once served as the emigrants’ campground.

Guernsey Ruts in Wyoming

For history aficionados in search of the most authentic artifacts from the Oregon Trail era, the preserved wagon ruts (track markings) along the route are as close to the action as you can get. Just outside of Guernsey, WY, you’ll find a sandstone ridge with some of the deepest and clearest wagon ruts on the entire trail. These paths were so frequently-used by pioneers that the tracks became embedded in the stone of the terrain, reaching depths up to five feet.

After tracing the wagon tracks, you’ll want to finish up with a stop at Register Cliff, an adjacent site that once served as a popular emigrant campground. As with the cliff at Alcove Spring, this one’s got plenty of pioneer initials and messages carved into the stone.

Three Island Crossing in Idaho

For Oregon Trail pioneers, Three Island Crossing in Idaho prompted a crucial decision. They had to choose whether to take the safer route along the south side of Snake River, which would add time (and dry, desolate conditions) to their journey or to cross the river at this point, which was a notoriously challenging and perilous endeavor.

Located just outside Glenns Ferry, ID, Three Island Crossing is now the location of a national park, where visitors can see interpretive trail recreations, museum exhibits about the Oregon Trail, and, if they’re lucky, a one-day-only reenactment of the crossing itself in the summertime, complete with horse-drawn wagons and a festival with food vendors and live music.

Farewell Bend in Oregon

As the Oregon Trail pioneers left the treacherous stretches of Snake River Country behind, they celebrated their arrival at the aptly-named "Farewell Bend" in Oregon. The region around the Bend is now an Oregon State National Recreation Area, with wagon ruts, markers to designate specific pioneer campsites, and live reenactments of life on this stretch of the Oregon Trail.

Courthouse Rock/Jail Rock and Castle Rock in Bridgeport, Nebraska

These historic rocks had some pretty big significance to pioneers along the trail. Their iconic shape guided fur traders and emigrants in finding their bearings, according to the Oregon Trail website. 

They got their names from their shapes, which people have likened to a courthouse and jailhouse or a castle. 

Soda Springs Complex in Idaho

Despite its name, this body of water is not made of carbonated beverage. But, it was a particularly important refuge for pioneers along the trail. They were able to wash and bake bread using hot water of the springs and take in the beautiful atmosphere.

Although you may not need to wash your clothes in the spring, you too can see what marveled the pioneers. 

Flagstaff Hill in Baker City, Oregon

You can get a great view of the rest on Flagstaff Hill, which overlooks seven miles of the Oregon Trail. But this area was not always a favorite of the pioneers. According to the National parks Service, this area was often challenging, as they waded through "shoulder-tall sagebrush" to get up the hill. 

But once they reached the top, and saw the seven miles in front of them, it was a good reminder of the hope that awaited them. Now the area features history programs, dioramas, and an amphitheater to help you understand the history of what occurred there. 

Red Bridge Crossing in Kansas City, Missouri

This gorgeous park was the site of the first river crossing encountered by pioneers heading west from Independence on the trail. You can actually still see wagon wheel tracks in the form of a "swale" from the pioneers when visiting there, according to Smithsonian. 

Today, the park is a great spot for families and people who want to feel in touch — literally — with history. 

California Hill in Brule, Nebraska

Another tough spot pioneers encountered, the hill is about a 240 feet climb. And since most pioneers had to pass through this way, it was the first challenge the most every one of them had to deal with. 

Hat Rock in Oregon

The distinctive rock offered a focal point for the merging of two states — Washington and Oregon. It sits on the east side of the border and was the first distinctive landmark noted by Lewis and Clarke when they passed into what is now Oregon. 

Today it is now home to a state park where you can enjoy picnic tables and volleyball courts. 

Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska

This monument sits in an area of the trail that has been used by everyone from pioneers on the Oregon trail to modern day travelers. It features steep hills and iconic views, which were used to guide travelers along. 

Today it is used to educate people on the trail and is a great spot to learn about how the trail is preserved. 

Chimney Rock National Historic Site in Nebraska

Part of Scotts Bluff National Monument, this is possibly the most iconic site on the trail. The name, obviously given because of its shape, likely came from fur traders who were visiting the region, according to the NPS. It was the most mentioned landmark when the NPS reviewed journals from pioneers. 

Today you can view this historic site, as well as the visitors center, to learn more about the history of this spot.

Fort Laramie in Wyoming

This spot, known as an important trading post, was an important landmark for traders and pioneers alike. 

It was the economic hub of the region and because of that, maintains its rich history. Today you can go to the fort and learn all about what it meant to be a person on the trail attempting to survive — or even thrive — in the economy of the West at that time. 

Craters of the Moon in Idaho

Obviously, no pioneer had every actually been to the moon, so this site was as far out as anything they'd ever seen. But for as galactic as it was, this part of the trail was a rough one for pioneers, with journals calling the spot "the most rugged desert and dreary country between the borders of the United States and the shores of the Pacific," according to Oregon Trail 101.

Today the site is a national monument, and we know that the rugged terrain was actually caused by lava. The craters are seen as a site that could erupt again, but for now, it's a great spot to see how nature can change so quickly. 

Council Bluff in Nebraska

This area was so named because Lewis and Clarke met with local tribes in a sort of a "council." It was also a historic site for Mormons who were traveling to Salt Lake City along the trail and adopted the community as their own.

Today, you can learn more about the pioneers' journey at the historic center in town or just in take in the vast landscape.  

Devils Gate in Wyoming

This spot was widely feared by pioneers — they never passed through the narrow middle passage and went around. 

Today the spot is an iconic natural wonder, which makes it a must-stop for any travelers on the trail. 

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