Road tripping isn’t for everyone. The (unfortunate) fact is that some people just can’t stand spending any more time in a moving vehicle than is absolutely necessary. Be it car sickness or just an incredibly short attention span, some folks just don’t have the stomach for racking up miles on the road.
Then there are the rest of us—folks who love the open road and find the journey every bit as enjoyable as the destination. We “road warriors” love loading up the car with snacks, great tunes, and our friends and heading out for some far-off spot with countless opportunities for gathering memories along the way. Road trips are a great way to have a blast with your friends or family members, but solo road trips can be pretty special, too. From car games to karaoke, things are just more fun when you know you’ve got hundreds of miles ahead of you. Even getting lost can be fun if you maintain the appropriate mindset during your travels.
One of the most enjoyable components of a road trip begins before you ever even fasten your seatbelt and turn the key in the ignition. Actually planning your trip can be one of the most exciting tasks you undertake, and if done right, it will just be the beginning of an epic trip you’ll remember for the rest of your life. However, not all road trip routes are created equal. The good news is that the United States has no shortage of amazing roads, with countless sites and opportunities for making memories. In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 of the best road trip routes in America.
Lovingly referred to as “The Mother Road” and “Main Street of America,” Route 66 is probably the most classic road trip route in America. Driving it in its entirety is definitely a bucket list item, and it’s sure to be a trip you’ll remember for life.
U.S. Route 66 was established in 1926. Originally, the road started in Chicago, Illinois and ran west, all the way to Santa Monica, California (If you’d like a more entertaining rundown on notable cities, check out Chuck Berry’s aptly titled hit Route 66).
In 1956, America started building interstate highways, and Route 66 saw a pretty substantial decline in the following years. As a result, many portions of the original route have been removed and are no longer in use.
But in 1987, Arizona became the first state to start a Route 66 association and many other states followed suit in preserving historic portions of the road. Many stretches of the highway and its sites are now on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also plenty of sites to still be seen along Route 66.
In fact, the quickest you can probably expect to cruise all 2,448 miles of the highway is about 2 weeks, but if you really want to get the full experience, take a month off if you can. Along the way, you’ll see countless classic diners and motels, as well as adorably kitschy attractions like the biggest rocking chair in America and the Cadillac Ranch in Texas. Make no mistake, “The Mother Road” is also the mother of all road trips.
California is pretty well-known for beautiful scenery, and you won’t find a more gorgeous drive than cruising the 659-mile long Pacific Coast Highway. The PCH (more officially known as State Route 1), stretches nearly the entire length of California’s Pacific coast.
If you decide to put this route on your road trip bucket list, you can pick whether you want to travel north or south. The northernmost point of the route is in Leggett, in Mendocino County. The southernmost point is Dana Point in Orange County. In between, road trippers will cruise through some of the most iconic cities in The Golden State.
The route stretches through much of Orange County, Los Angeles, Big Sur, the Monterey Bay area, San Francisco, and Mendocino County. If you’re pressed for time and don’t have a month to kill cruising Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway might be a bit more your speed.
If you give yourself a comfortable three days, you can cruise the route in its entirety. Along the way, you can check off several national landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Big Sur National Park, and plenty of vineyards to wet your whistle.
As you’ve seen, road trips come in all shapes in sizes, especially when it comes to the time commitment it takes to cruise the route. For many, getting the most out of a drive like Route 66 will likely mean taking an entire year’s worth of paid vacation time at once. The PCH can be done in just a few days. But what if you only have a few hours to dedicate to a road trip?
There are literally too many day-cruise routes in the U.S. to possibly list, but one of the best in the country is lovingly referred to as The Overseas Highway. The Overseas Highway is more officially known as Route 1 in Florida. This section of the highway starts in Miami and runs south for 113 miles, where it ends in Key West. Miami is definitely known for its beautiful beaches and beautiful people, but as you drive south and start hopping the many keys on the way to Key West, you’ll encounter countless coral reefs and roadside dives that are just begging to be explored.
If you fancy a cold beer and an awesome roadside attraction, check out Robbie’s in Islamorada. It’s a textbook roadside bar and grill, but it’s the only one we know of where you can hand feed giant tarpon out back!
Once you arrive in Key West, park the car and continue your “road trip” on foot along Duval Street. Just make sure you bring your appetite and beer money.
If you’re ready for another multi-day route, consider exploring the Great River Road. The Mississippi River is one of the most iconic waterways in the United States, so it only makes sense that this particular road trip route (which follows the Mississippi River in its entirety) is equally as iconic.
The route is comprised of both state highways and local roads. The northern terminus of the route starts out in Minnesota, and if you choose to head south, you’ll also cruise through Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, before ending at the southern terminus in Louisiana.
This particular road trip would be perfect for travelers who are also nature lovers, as you’ll find plenty of parks and natural refuges to explore along the way (one of our favorites is the Theodore Roosevelt Refuge in Yazoo City, Mississippi.)
Foodies will appreciate this route just as much as the nature lovers. It’s pretty much a given that the further south you travel along the Great River Road, the better the food is going to get!
Some of the best cuisine can be found at the end of the route in New Orleans, Louisiana. There’s no better celebration after a long road trip then some excellent Cajun food and live jazz music!
We’ve saved the biggest for last. If you truly want to be a road warrior and rack up some serious miles, The Loneliest Road is the road trip for you. The nickname refers to U.S. Route 50, which stretches from one coast to the other. U.S. Route 50 begins in Ocean City, Maryland and runs west, all the way to Sacramento, California.
“The Loneliest Road” label specifically refers to the stretch of highway that runs through Nevada. While you’ll travel through 11 other states if you cruise the route in its entirety, it’s the miles and miles of Nevada road that are the loneliest. When you’re surrounded by dusty plains and mountains without another vehicle in sight, driving this stretch of U.S. Route 50 can make some drivers feel like they’re road tripping on the moon!
For many, this kind of solitude is exactly what they’re looking for in a road trip. However, if you prefer a little accompaniment, this particular stretch of road is definitely best served with a co-driver, if only to cut down on the spookiness. All of that loneliness doesn’t come without a reward, though.
When you hit the stretch of highway between Nevada Beach and Great Basin National Park, you’ll experience some of the most gorgeous scenery in the country. Driving cross-country is no easy task, but if you plan ahead and take the time to appreciate the changes in geography and culture, it’s one of the most incredible trips you can undertake.
Whether you have just a few hours to devote to a road trip or an entire month, we’ve shown you some of the most epic drives in America.
Road tripping is a bit of a lost art in today’s fast-paced, technologically-heavy world. But if done right, cruising along America’s historic highways can be more rewarding than even the highest-rated resort destinations.
In a country as large as the United States, the number of road trip routes is virtually endless, but there are some that are definitely more epic than others. What we’ve mentioned above are just a few of those routes.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which you choose—you can even hit the road with no predetermined route at all. Because when it comes to road tripping, it’s about making that connection between you and the road, and it’s more about the journey than the destination.
