Are you planning a road trip in the USA, but not sure where to start?
The United States is a huge country with an almost infinite amount of awesome places to explore, so it can be quite overwhelming deciding what to do.
Since the pandemic, many people have opted to rather travel by car than on public transport like flights, or trains etc. This makes for the best adventure in our opinion, as you get to experience the true essence of the country!
It also means you’ll have the chance to take in more of the USA’s natural attractions as you pass by. These include: epic coastal views, picturesque mountain areas and exotic national parks of the USA. All of which can be seen from your window.
To help with your route planning, we’ve compiled a list of the best road trips in the USA.
From the iconic Route 66 to Blue Ridge Parkway and Pacific Coastal Highway, add one of these to your travel itinerary and thank us later!
The Best Road Trips In The USA
1. Route 66
First and foremost, the most iconic road trip in the USA is Route 66.
Not only is it one of the most epic routes, it’s also one of the most widely publicized in pop culture and American folklore. So there’s no doubt you would’ve heard of it!
Starting in Chicago, Route 66 stretches over 2,300 miles before coming to an end in Santa Monica, California. The trip takes around two weeks to complete on average.
One of the original routes in America’s highway system, Route 66 is also commonly known as the Mother Road. The route touches eight separate states including Chicago, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.
It’s important to ensure that you’re car is in good enough condition to handle the length of the journey, if not it’s definitely safest to rent a car. Depending on what you want to do, winter might be the best season for your trip as there’ll be far fewer cars on the road.
Attractions along the route include; Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park, Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, Petrified Forest National Park, the Painted Desert, Santa Monica Pier, and Meramec Caverns.
2. Great River Road
The Great River Road is a National Scenic Byway that spans over 3,000 miles, from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
The entire road trip usually takes between 4 and 10 days to complete, but it can also be done in segments if you don’t have that much time.
It runs through ten states, and hundreds of river towns. These include Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Highlights include the Pere Marquette State Park , the Mississippi River, and the National Great Rivers Museum.
3. Pacific Coast Highway
One of the best road trips in the USA is the Pacific Coastal Highway. Even more so if you’re a lover of alluring coastlines, cool sea breezes, and breathtaking mountainous views.
The all-Californian route stretches around 600 miles between San Francisco and San Diego. The actual drive can be completed within a day, but for the best experience, it’s best to allow 2-3 days.
The route is legendary for a reason, California is home to some of the most picturesque coastal landscape in the USA. All along the road you’ll find numerous viewpoints that are ideal for a quick pitstop. Enjoy a few minutes rest, a cup off coffee or a sandwich while taking in some of the amazing views.
Don’t forget to check out the Half Moon Bay State Beach Park, Bixby Creek Bridge, Hearst Castle on your way to San Diego.
4. Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is another National Scenic Byway, and goes on for more than 460 miles. The route links Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains Park in Tennessee.
Most people take between 3 and 7 days to complete the route, while thoroughly exploring the surrounding areas. This might seem like a really long time even with frequent stops, but the speed limit is 45 mph so that should also be factored in.
The best time for a road trip along Blue Ridge Parkway is during the fall season. The end of September and the first couple weeks of October is when the leaves begin to change colour, and incredible scenery is created by the orange-crimson-hued foliage.
5. Hana Highway
Hana Highway, also known as the ‘Road to Hana’ is another one of the best road trips in the USA. It is also one of the most popular!
The route is relatively short, only 64 miles, but usually takes around three hours from end to end.
The route takes longer than you’d expect because of its narrow, winding rounds and the more than 600 curvatures in route 360. Single lane bridges and a 25 mile per hour speed limit also impact your travel time on the Hana Highway, so these should also be considered beforehand.
On the Road To Hana you can expect breathtaking mountain scenery, and lush green tropical forests. Be sure to check out Ho’okipa Beach Park, Twin Falls, Maui Garden of Eden, and Wai’anapanapa State Park, and enjoy the Jurassic Park-like scenery.
6. Florida Keys Overseas Highway
The Florida Overseas Highway is a unique and scenic road that connects mainland Florida and Key West.
The road is only 100 miles, but will take 4-5 hours to complete depending on traffic. Its exactly what it sounds like, a highway that runs over the sea. This makes for some incredible views, but also means that there are large portions if the route with nowhere to stop.
The Florida Keys host many awesome activities like: snorkelling, swimming, hiking, watching a sunset, and some of the finest seafood in the US.
Other notable attractions include the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Bahia Honda State Park, The Spiegel Grove Wreck, The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, and Mallory Square.
7. Olympic Peninsula Loop
The Olympic Peninsula Loop is one of the best road trips in the USA for nature lovers.
The roundtrip starts in Seattle and encircles the Olympic National Park in Washington. The route is around 300 miles long and it usually takes 5-6 days to complete.
The best time for a road trip along the Olympic Peninsula Loop is during winter, with various adventure-based activities like skiing and snowboarding.
Don’t forget to check out Lake Quinaulth, Ruby Beach, La Push Beach, The Hoh Rain Forest, Sol Duc Falls, Lake Crescent.
8. Alaska-Canadian Highway
The Alaska-Canadian Highway, also known as the ALCAN spans over 1,300 miles from British Colombia to Delta Junction in Alaska.
It is known as one of the most challenging road constructions in history, built with the help of 16,000 people in order to improve war supply routes during WWII.
Today, it is one of the most enjoyable road trips in North America because of the abundance of wildlife, beautiful open spaces, and miles of brown-green wilderness.
The route has a reputation for being a rough drive, but maintenance work has vastly improved road conditions, which are a lot better these days. Its best to allow 3-4 days at least for the entire trip.
Don’t forget to check out the Kiskatinaw Bridge, Muncho Lake, Liard Hot Springs, Fort Nelson, Yukon Wildlife Preserve, and Kluane National Park on your drive.
9. Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway goes is 500 miles long and connects Crater Lake National Park in Oregon to Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.
The unique thing about this road is that it was almost naturally formed by volcanic activities in the Cascade Mountain Range, millions of years ago.
Although it is a relatively short road trip, it’s advised to take your time and explore the picturesque natural surroundings, so allow 4-5 days for the entire journey.
Also check out the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and Lava Beds National Monument.
10. Oregon Coast Highway 101
If you’re after stunning coastal scenery but are looking for a more peaceful experience then the Oregon Coast Highway is the road trip for you.
Another one of the best road trips in the USA, the highway offers a variety of landscapes, from breathtaking coastlines in Washington to the Redwood Forests of Brookings.
The road is about 360 miles and can comfortably be completed in 2-3 days, or longer depending on how much you immerse yourself in the Oregon coast’s incredible attractions.
Notable attractions are; Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Crescent Beach, Hobbit Trail, Thors Well, and The Sea Lion Caves.
11. US Route 50
Route 50, popularly known as the “Loneliest Road in America” is another great road trip for those looking to get off the beaten track.
Actually, it’s the Nevada portion of the road that is dubbed lonely because of the wide open sandy landscape with nothing as far as the eyes can see.
The route starts from West Sacramento in California, ending in Ocean City, Maryland. The 3,000 mile stretch runs through the most remote and undeveloped parts of Western America.
The trip can be completed in about 3-5 days depending on the exact route you choose to take. Be sure to check out the Great Basin National Park, Lehman Caves, Nevada State Railroad Museum, South Lake Tahoe.