Road Trips

Best Road Trip Routes in the US: Top 20 Drives

Updated 2026-03-10

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Best Road Trip Routes in the US: Top 20 Drives

America was built for road trips. From the Pacific Coast Highway’s cliffside views to the Blue Ridge Parkway’s mountain serenity, every region offers drives that are as much about the journey as the destination.

Here are the 20 best road trip routes in the US — complete with distances, highlights, best seasons, and estimated budgets. Start planning your next adventure.

Key Takeaways

  • The US has world-class driving routes in every region and for every season.
  • Budget $150-$300 per day for a comfortable road trip (fuel, lodging, food, activities).
  • Spring and fall offer the best weather and smallest crowds on most routes.
  • Plan 200-350 miles per driving day to leave time for stops and exploration.
  • Download offline maps for remote stretches — cell service is unreliable in many scenic areas.

The 20 Best Road Trips in America

1. Pacific Coast Highway (California)

  • Route: San Francisco to San Diego (or reverse)
  • Distance: ~650 miles
  • Duration: 4-7 days
  • Best season: April-October
  • Highlights: Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Malibu
  • Daily budget: $150-$350

The PCH is America’s most iconic coastal drive. Cliff-hugging curves, crashing waves, and fog-draped bridges make every mile unforgettable. See our detailed guide: Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: Complete Planning Guide.

2. Route 66 (Chicago to Los Angeles)

  • Route: Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA
  • Distance: ~2,400 miles
  • Duration: 10-14 days
  • Best season: April-June, September-October
  • Highlights: St. Louis Arch, Cadillac Ranch, Painted Desert, Grand Canyon detour

The Mother Road is a journey through Americana — neon signs, roadside diners, and wide-open desert. See Route 66 Road Trip: Modern Guide with Stops and Costs.

3. Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia to North Carolina)

  • Route: Waynesboro, VA to Cherokee, NC
  • Distance: ~469 miles
  • Duration: 3-5 days
  • Best season: May-June (wildflowers), October (fall foliage)
  • Highlights: Shenandoah overlooks, Linn Cove Viaduct, fall colors

America’s favorite parkway delivers mountain vistas at 45 mph — no rush, no highways, just scenery.

4. Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks Loop

  • Route: Circular from Salt Lake City or Las Vegas
  • Distance: ~900 miles
  • Duration: 7-10 days
  • Best season: March-May, September-November
  • Highlights: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands

Five national parks in one loop. Red rock canyons, natural arches, and hoodoos make this the most visually stunning road trip in America. See Best National Parks Road Trip Itinerary.

5. NYC to Key West (East Coast)

  • Route: New York City to Key West, FL
  • Distance: ~1,300 miles
  • Duration: 7-10 days
  • Best season: November-April
  • Highlights: Washington DC, Charleston, Savannah, Miami, Overseas Highway

Cities, beaches, history, and the spectacular Overseas Highway across the Florida Keys. See East Coast Road Trip: NYC to Key West Guide.

6. Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana)

  • Route: West Glacier to St. Mary through Glacier National Park
  • Distance: ~50 miles
  • Duration: 1 day (plus park exploration)
  • Best season: July-September (road fully open)
  • Highlights: Logan Pass, Continental Divide, alpine meadows, glacial lakes

One of the most dramatic mountain roads in the world. Limited season makes timing critical.

7. Overseas Highway (Florida Keys)

  • Route: Miami to Key West
  • Distance: ~165 miles
  • Duration: 1-3 days
  • Best season: November-April
  • Highlights: Seven Mile Bridge, Bahia Honda State Park, Key Largo snorkeling, Key West

Driving across the ocean on a chain of bridges and islands. Nothing else like it in the US.

8. Highway 1 (Big Sur)

  • Route: Carmel to San Simeon
  • Distance: ~90 miles
  • Duration: 1-2 days
  • Best season: April-October
  • Highlights: Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach, elephant seals

The concentrated highlight reel of the Pacific Coast. Every turn reveals a new postcard.

9. Great River Road (Mississippi River)

  • Route: Lake Itasca, MN to New Orleans, LA
  • Distance: ~2,320 miles
  • Duration: 10-14 days
  • Best season: May-October
  • Highlights: Minneapolis, Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Memphis, Natchez, New Orleans

Follow the Mississippi from its trickling headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico. History, music, and cuisine at every stop.

10. Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

  • Route: Silverton to Ouray (part of the San Juan Skyway)
  • Distance: ~25 miles
  • Duration: 1 day (loop the full skyway in 2-3 days)
  • Best season: June-October
  • Highlights: 11,000+ ft passes, mining towns, fall aspens, hot springs

Colorado’s most thrilling mountain road — narrow, cliffside, and breathtaking.

11. Natchez Trace Parkway (Mississippi to Tennessee)

  • Distance: 444 miles | Duration: 3-4 days | Best season: March-May, October
  • Highlights: Historic trail, no commercial traffic, fall colors

12. Highway 12 — A Journey Through Time (Utah)

  • Distance: 124 miles | Duration: 1-2 days | Best season: April-October
  • Highlights: Grand Staircase-Escalante, Hogback ridge, red rock canyons

13. Beartooth Highway (Montana/Wyoming)

  • Distance: 68 miles | Duration: 1 day | Best season: June-September
  • Highlights: 10,947 ft Beartooth Pass, alpine lakes, Yellowstone gateway

14. Trail Ridge Road (Colorado)

  • Distance: 48 miles | Duration: 1 day | Best season: Late May-October
  • Highlights: Rocky Mountain National Park, 12,183 ft elevation, tundra landscapes

15. Acadia All-American Road (Maine)

  • Distance: ~40 miles (Park Loop Road) | Duration: 2-3 days | Best season: June-October
  • Highlights: Cadillac Mountain sunrise, Bar Harbor, lobster everywhere

16. Hana Highway (Maui, Hawaii)

  • Distance: 52 miles | Duration: 1-2 days | Best season: Year-round
  • Highlights: 620 curves, 59 bridges, waterfalls, bamboo forests

17. Columbia River Gorge (Oregon/Washington)

  • Distance: ~80 miles | Duration: 1-2 days | Best season: May-October
  • Highlights: Multnomah Falls, Crown Point, windsurfing, breweries

18. Kancamagus Highway (New Hampshire)

  • Distance: 34.5 miles | Duration: 1 day | Best season: Late September-October
  • Highlights: Peak fall foliage, covered bridges, swimming holes

19. Badlands and Black Hills Loop (South Dakota)

  • Distance: ~300 miles | Duration: 3-5 days | Best season: May-September
  • Highlights: Badlands NP, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood

20. Pacific Northwest Loop (Washington/Oregon)

  • Distance: ~1,200 miles | Duration: 7-10 days | Best season: June-September
  • Highlights: Olympic National Park, Portland, Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier, San Juan Islands

Road Trip Planning Essentials

Before you hit any of these routes:

  1. Prepare your vehicle — follow our Car Maintenance Schedule: What to Do and When.
  2. Pack smart — use our Road Trip Packing Checklist.
  3. Budget realistically — see our Road Trip Planning Guide: Routes, Budget, and Packing for detailed cost frameworks.
  4. Calculate fuel costs — Fuel Cost Calculator: Trip Fuel Budget by Route.
  5. Install a dashcam — capture the scenery and protect yourself. See Best Dashcams 2026: Budget to Premium.

Next Steps

  1. Pick your route from the list above — or combine multiple routes into an epic multi-week trip.
  2. Read our detailed guides for PCH, Route 66, national parks, and East Coast trips.
  3. Plan your budget with our Road Trip Planning Guide: Routes, Budget, and Packing.
  4. Prep your vehicle — schedule a pre-trip inspection at Find a Mechanic Near You.
  5. Hit the road and let America surprise you.

Vehicle specifications, pricing, and availability change frequently. Verify all details with manufacturers or dealers.