A great road trip means the journey is just as exciting as the destination. Our family loves fun stops, good snacks, and carefully curated playlists. Choose one of these nine best road trips in the USA for a journey you won’t ever forget.
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The Road To Hana
A visit to Hawaii must include a road trip on The Road to Hana. This beautiful drive goes from Kahului to Hana, along the eastern coast of Maui. Driving the 64 miles will take a couple of hours if you drive it straight through, but who would want to? Stop along the way for photos and spectacular views. For more details, check out our Road to Hana Itinerary.
Pacific Coast Highway In California
Follow the 101, more commonly known as The Pacific Coast Highway, from San Fransisco to San Diego for one of the best road trips in the USA. The drive is 655 miles in all. I suggest going from north to south, as it’s easier to pull off on the coast side of the road for photos or just to enjoy the view.
Oregon Coast
The Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon will take you from Astoria, in the north, to Brookings in the south, at the border of Oregon and California. Although some might disagree, my husband and I have found this to be the very best road trip in the USA. Of course, we might change our mind if we find a more beautiful trip in the future, but, for now, this one is at the top of our list! The coast along Oregon is unlike much of the coast in other states with giant rocks and gorgeous sea spray. This trip could take several days or even a week, depending on how long you like to stay in one spot. We’ve also got a more detailed Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary.
Olympic Peninsula Loop
As the Pacific Coast Highway, Highway 101, reaches the northern border of the state of Washington, it turns to the east and forms a loop of the olympic peninsula. You will see beautiful Lake Crescent, Port Angeles, the Hoh Rain Forest, and much of Olympic National Park. You might choose to stay in a lodge or campground along the way. If you plan to stay in this area for a few days, check out our Olympic National Park Itinerary.
Boston to Seattle On The I-90
For an epic road trip across the USA, take the I-90 from Boston to Seattle, or vice versa. Along the way, you will see, among other great sites, Niagara Falls, Chicago, Mt Rushmore, The Badlands, Wall Drug Store, and Yellowstone National Park. You might also enjoy some more obscure stops, such as Michael Jackson’s home in Gary, Indiana, the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, and Twede’s Cafe in North Bend, Washington.
Park Loop in Acadia National Park
After a stop in nearby Bar Harbor Maine, enter Acadia National Park at the Hulls Cove Entrance and drive the Park Loop. This is a short road trip, at just 27 miles total, but it is packed full of great views and fantastic stops. Make a day of it by packing a picnic and choosing a couple of hikes. Stay even longer and follow our Acadia National Park Itinerary.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Starting at Shenandoah National Park and ending in Asheville, North Carolina, The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best road trips in the USA. The full drive is 469 miles and could be done in one day. I suggest taking two or three days for some stops along the way. We have created a Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip Itinerary, complete with the best times to go and the best places to stay, eat, and see.
The Overseas Highway from Miami To Key West
Starting in Miami, take Highway 1, or “The Highway That Goes to the Sea” all the way to Key West. The full drive is about 160 miles and takes about four hours to drive straight through. You will, of course, want to get a photo at the southernmost point of the continental United States. Follow our Road Trip To Key West Itinerary for a great trip!
Route 66
Driving the entirety of Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles is perhaps one of the most, if not THE most, epic road trip in the USA. While I can’t possibly list all of the landmarks that are must-sees, I will suggest a few here. Perhaps you will want a photo with the “begin” sign for Route 66 in Chicago. The Gateway Arch in Missouri and the largest Totem Pole in Oklahoma might make your list. In Texas, plan a stop at the Route 66 Museum and Cadillac Ranch. Don’t miss the Enchanted Trails RV Park in New Mexico; and a stay at Wigwam Hotel in Arizona will not disappoint. If you are an Eagles fan, you might want to snap a photo on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. Finally, in California, stop in at the original McDonalds, and end up at the Santa Monica Pier. We have created several Route 66 posts to help make this the best road trip!
