Road trips have always been and will always be a popular hobby in the US. What better way to explore the enormous assortment of magnificent coastal vistas, breathtaking valleys, and cliffs to lush forestry and infinite desert rugged terrain than being free behind the wheel?
Nothing compares to loading the car, creating a few new mixes, downloading a few podcasts, and setting out on a road trip. Read on to discover the location of your upcoming cross-country road trip from our list of the top 10 road trips in the USA.
Great River Road
Check off ten states on your bucket list by driving down the Great River Road along the Mississippi River! Because there are so many wildlife resorts along the road, those who love the outdoors will like this north-south route.
Make pit stops to roam through charming river towns like Greenville and Rosedale while staying at the Yazoo Refuge and Theodore Roosevelt Refuge. This fantastic journey across the United States has an exciting conclusion when you stop in New Orleans for jazz, beignets, a toast with a hurricane, mint julep, or anything else that takes your fancy.
Download these indispensable road trip planning apps before you pack the car for your most exciting journey. Attractions to see Mississippi River, Chain of Rocks Bridge, Buffalo Bill Museum, Lakeport Plantation, Wickliffe Mounds, and Lake Pepin.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
It is simple to understand why the renowned Pacific Coast Highway is regarded as one of the best drives in the country. The route passes through some of California’s best coastal scenery after beginning in San Diego.
Explore Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Hearst Castle, and Highway One before heading north to the quaint seaside community of Monterey. Your final stop is San Francisco, the renowned City by the Bay, where there are many fascinating places to discover. To gain more ideas, read our whole Highway One itinerary.
Attractions to see: Golden Gate Bridge, Burns State Park, McWay Falls, Devil’s Slide at Half Moon Bay, Crescent City Pebble Beach, Elephant Seals at the Beach.
Big Sur
Enjoy the inspiring, photogenic dream of visiting Monterey, Pebble Beach, Carmel, and Big Sur all in one day by traveling along Highway 1. Enjoy a private tour of Casanovas’ wine cellar in Carmel, marvel at the creations of renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, and drive the historic 17-mile Lone Cypress Drive.
The 250-year-old tree, one of California’s most mysterious road trip locations, is allegedly the Monterey Peninsula’s equivalent of the Egyptian pyramids and the Parisian Eiffel Tower.
Attractions to see Pebble Beach, Monterey, China Cove Walk, Bixby bridge, and Carmel.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
The only route that crosses Glacier National Park in Northwest Montana is a 50-mile (80-kilometer) rugged mountain trek that clings to cliff faces.
And what a delight it is. Starting from Route 2 or 86, this scenic east-west and west-east road trip in Montana will take you through lush green forests. The path that runs alongside Lake Mac Donald, down into deep valleys beneath plummeting glacier-covered mountain summits, and finally to Saint Mary Lake, where you can see the 100-foot (160 m) high flowing crystal waterfall, is an unforgettable experience.
Keep your eyes open for the occasional glimpse of mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and other types of animals that may be there because this road is stunningly beautiful.
Attractions to see are Logan Pass, Hidden Lake, Avalanche Lake, Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park, and Mc Donald Falls.
Columbia River Highway, Oregon
The 74-mile Columbia River Highway starts in Portland and crosses the Columbia River Gorge. The concurrently flowing Columbia River Highway connects to Oregon Routes 35 and 30. Prepare yourself to be charmed by nature’s beauty and to have a genuinely enjoyable drive while traveling this route.
Rivers, bridges, and waterfalls border a stunning gray ribbon of spaghetti that winds through picturesque Oregon. Attractions to see are Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, Stevenson Wa Town, Clarke State Park, and Crown Point Vista House Sunset.
The Loneliest Road, Nevada
One is the loneliest number, and there will be times while driving on this intercontinental highway when you feel like you are the last person remaining on Earth. Known for its unique nickname, the US-50 is a path of solitude and remoteness for its 3,000-mile route from Ocean City, Maryland, to Sacramento, California.
Though this road, which Time magazine has dubbed the “Backbone of America,” is dotted with hundreds of little, historic villages, you won’t be completely alone. Attractions to see National Automobile Museum, St. James Infirmary, Reno City, The Reno Arch, The Shoe Tree, and Great Basin National Park.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
Plan your trip from either Cherokee or Boone and make your way to Blue Ridge Parkway Road. This way, you can enjoy over five hours of mountainous terrains, the occasional eerie fog, waterfalls, wild turkeys and birds, scarlet sourwoods, deep reds and yellows in the fall season, which runs end of September to October. And an entirely new assortment of wildflowers that bloom orange, white, pink, purple, and red if you travel during spring (May- June).
The 45 mph speed limit will be delightful as you can genuinely enjoy one of the best picturesque drives in the USA because there are no commercial towns, billboards are prohibited, and commercial traffic is not allowed. Attractions to see Cascade Falls, Beacon Heights, Mabry Mill, Doughton Park, Flat Rock, and Mount Mitchell.
Wyoming Adventure
This incredible trip ends at the east entrance to Yellowstone. Still, before then, you’ll have plenty of fun and plan a return trip to the underrated capital city of Cheyenne. Plenty of memorable activities such as hand-feeding bison at Terry Bison Ranch, sipping freshly brewed craft root beer at Danielmark’s, exploring the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, wine tasting, and learning about the jackalope legend.
And that’s not all; before reaching the pinnacle of Yellowstone’s glory, you’ll get a throw-back experience with dinosaur remains discovered in the state, have Wild West adventures, and play in the water beneath a natural bridge. Then, don’t forget to shop for the ideal pair of cowboy boots in Casper at a shop selling western ware since 1919, and travel back to the time of the dinosaurs.
Attractions to see Fossil Cabin, Cheyenne, PhinDeli Town Buford, Terry Bison Ranch, World’s Largest Elkhorn Arch, and World’s Largest Jackalope.
