Road trips have long been an American staple, giving a feeling of freedom and fun that few other forms of vacationing can top. They’re endlessly flexible and customizable, as long or short, involved or straightforward, expensive or cheap as you want it. That gives them a massive plus in our book. However, this open-endedness does have its downsides. For example, where are you even supposed to start? There are literally thousands of trips you could take. Lucky for you, we’ve got a few recommendations that we consider absolute essentials.
1. Highway 1 California Coast – LA to San Francisco
Whenever folks think of some of the States’ most prominent, impressive cities, LA and San Fran naturally come to mind. But it turns out, the journey is just as great as the destination. The LA to San Francisco route is perfect for a solid road trip, able to be comfortably stretched out over a week with plenty to see and do between gorgeous, sunny beaches, visits to favorites like Hearst Castle or shops along Ocean Avenue, aquarium trips, and at least a one night’s stay at the Hotel Californian.
2. Going-to-the-Sun Road – Montana
Montana isn’t traditionally the highest priority on someone’s checklist when thinking about top-tier road trips, but it should be. Or at least, this stretch should. The journey is about 50 miles long and extremely narrow, spanning the Northwest’s Glacier National Park. Not for the faint of heart or poor drivers, yet it’s an amazing trek. Just you and over an hour’s worth of lush green forests, picturesque snow-capped mountains, and a ridiculously tall and clear waterfall. What’s not to love about that?
3. New Jersey to South Carolina
New Jersey and South Carolina are no strangers to the vacationing sort. Both the famous Jersey Shore and Myrtle Beach are prime spots for everyone from excitable spring breakers to recent retirees looking for some relaxation. However, a road trip from one to the other deserves more recognition as a fun activity all its own. Why? Primarily the beaches, with their pristine sands and warm ocean waters. But there’s other stuff to appreciate here too, like beautiful skylines, fun shopping, and roads that are peaceful and quiet towards the evening hours, making for a relaxing driving experience.
4. Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia
Love a road trip that you can really drag out? Want to escape some of the billboards and ads that dot nearly every landscape these days? Looking for gorgeous views to feast on every day? If you answered ‘yes’ to any (or all!) of these, the Blue Ridge Parkway trip is right for you. At almost 470 miles long, running from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smokey Mountains, there’s no shortage of incredible sights. Rocky landscapes, eerie morning fogs, rolling hills, and blooming wildflowers of all colors create a feast for the eyes and the best part? Commercial traffic and advertising are strictly prohibited, allowing you to take it all in no distractions required.
5. Texas Backroads
You know what they say: everything is bigger and better in Texas. It makes sense, and should you not already be convinced; you will be after visiting a few of the state’s largest cities. There’s just so much to do, so dense and packed with opportunity. But we still hold that some of its best offerings can actually be found out of the hustle and bustle and overwhelmingness that is Texas in a nutshell. Explore across its backroads, and you’ll see what we mean. There’s no doubt you’ll happen across everything from delicious mom-and-pop taco shops to unbeatable sunset-lit vistas and small-town communities that’ll totally charm you. They’re small gems but ones worth finding.
6. Olympic Peninsula Loop
Take a minute and picture Washington. Odds are a few things managed to pop into your head. If we had to guess, dreary weather, Starbucks, grunge rock, and dad-aligned hiking boots were some of the likely suspects. That’ll quickly change after taking a trip around the Olympic Peninsula Loop, though. You’ll then be left remembering little other than hiking through humid but teeming-with-life rainforests, low tides filled with tiny crabs and starfish, and cozy, comfortable logging towns that instantly make you feel right at home.
7. Anchorage to Valdez – Alaska
Alaska tends to simply be one of those places you really want to see or one you’ll gladly ignore throughout your life and never look back. Yet, for anybody who longs to see all things breathtaking and spectacular while they’re alive, we strongly urge you to resist the latter. You must visit at least once, and the Anchorage to Valdez stretch is an ideal pick for those with reservations. It can win over anybody and will instantly make your jaw drop, thanks to awe-inspiring 14,000-foot mountain peaks, visible prehistoric glaciers, and tons of opportunities to see wildlife you likely won’t see anywhere else.
8. Historic Route 66
There are some things in this country that are simply an institution, but perhaps few more so than Route 66. It doesn’t matter who you are or how much you know about the US’s many roads, highways, and interstates. You’ve heard of Route 66. It’s an essential part of Americana, an ode to an older, nostalgia-inducing America characterized by neon signs, fast food, fast cars, and the open road. And this ode is one that still captivates us today. Indulge it by traveling along some portion of its 2000+ mile path. Trust us. It will give you a fantastic glimpse into some of our country’s most vital and archetypal locations between Chicago and LA and indeed leave you feeling connected to our collective past.
9. Hana Coastline – Hawaii
So, we’ve established that Alaska’s route from Anchorage to Valdez is not to be missed, despite the colder weather and general hesitance that surrounds Alaska overall. But we had to add a little something to even it out, which happens to be the Hana Coastline. It’s the ideal foil for that particular trek, and we can’t recommend it more highly. At only 59 miles, it’s certainly short, but you won’t be hurting for something to do or see. Between black sand beaches, incomparable surfing spots, the land’s salty, tropical air, and greenery that legitimately looks unbelievable, you’ll be enraptured from the word “go.” Plus, it’s Hawaii. That alone makes it a prime road trip candidate for the bucket list!
10. Route 6a – Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Where the 50s nostalgia itch can largely be scratched if you just travel along route 66 long enough, cravings for a truly vintage, historical type of trip are a little harder to satisfy. But that’s where Route 6a comes in. It offers everything you could ask for along its 57-mile drive. Charming 1600s-era villages, acres upon acres of pine forests, calm ponds, stretches of parks that have mostly remained untouched from our country’s formation, and more are all here for your lazy viewing leisure. And if you find yourself wanting to loosen up a little? It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump over to Provincetown, which is always in full swing during the warm summer months.
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