Top 10 Best American Road Trips

10. Skyline Drive, VA

Distance: 105 miles
Skyline Drive cuts through the Shenandoah Valley, allowing travelers to see what this country was like before Columbus discovered it. Enter Shenandoah State Park and stop by the visitor center. A few miles further, you’ll start climbing the Blue Ridge Mountains, and that’s where the view really begins.

There are many lookouts at the top of the mountain, so keep an eye out for detours as you drive. You might see some of the local wildlife: white-tailed deer, skunks, rabbits, and if you’re really lucky, a black bear. Bring a backpack and good shoes so that you can stop for one of the many hiking trails in the park.

List-Maker: If you get there early enough, this area has been known to get quite cloudy. In the early hours of the morning, mist comes in and turns mountain ridges into islands in mist.

9.Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, CO-UT

Distance: 480 miles
The Prehistoric Highway will awaken your curiosity as you travel through history. Traveling through Utah and western Colorado, this trail takes you through canyons and valleys, arid plateaus, and hairpin turns.

Take a few days to wander the loop and stop to admire the many rivers that flow through the area. Don’t miss the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. For dinosaur fans, this is the most prolific area for dinosaur fossils from the Jurassic era. Stop here to see thousands of dinosaur bones and relive Jurassic Park.

List-Maker – Along this route, you will pass Arches National Park, the park that made this route famous. Just before Moab, you will find yourself in the park with more than 200 natural arches, as well as hundreds of other amazing rock formations.

8.The Southwest’s Four Corners

Distance: 525 miles
Starting in Flagstaff, AZ, this journey takes you through all four states: Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. You will pass through the painted forest, where red and white blend in layers like the sky. Pass through numerous parks and enter Telluride, CO, a small town of eccentrics and painters at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Stand on Main Street and look up; you will see what you are looking for when you get there.

List – Maker: End the journey by traveling through the mountains surrounding Telluride and enter the Mountain Village. Take the gondola ride up the mountain and the scenery you will experience is not to be missed.

7.Alaska’s Seward Highway, AK

Distance: 127 miles
This path is the definition of remote. If you are looking to get away from it all and spend some time without people, cars, or traffic, this is the way to go.

It will go from Anchorage through the Kenai Peninsula and on to Seward. Be sure to stop and see the beluga whales at Bird Point. Head to Mount Alyeska, which turns into a mass of wildflowers in summer. Eventually you will arrive in Seward, a quaint little town with many rooms available!

List-Maker: Once you arrive in Seward, you will have a chance to see Resurrection Bay. If you really want to feel it, explore it in a boat. If you are lucky, you will see humpback whales, killer whales, sea lions, otters and other amazing animals.

6.The Loneliest Road, CA – MD

Distance: 3,200 miles
If you are looking for whole days touring the country, the loneliest road is the trip for you. This trail takes you from San Francisco, CA, to the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.

The desolate deserts of Utah and Nevada offer breathtaking views of the night sky. In the Midwest, farmland stretches from horizon to horizon. Then you move east and the land rises to meet the ancient Appalachian Mountains. Cross these places to be impressed by the power and prestige of Washington D.C., and travel even further to find the tranquility of Maryland’s East Coast, a perfect ending to a life-changing journey.

List-Maker: The Loneliest Road runs through the Great Basin National Park, which has been a favorite spot for photography for years. Stop here for a night or two of camping in one of the most select locations. You will get amazing images during the day and the night sky will blow your mind.

5.Pacific Coast Highway, WA – CA

Distance: 1,650 miles
Starting in Washington, this journey takes you down the coast, literally. The Olympic State Park is your starting point and you can watch the waves crash almost all the way to the Mexican border. The rocky cliffs and verdant forests of Washington and Oregon give way to sandy beaches and deserted deserts further south. You’ll also drive through some of the most diverse cities in the US – Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and San Diego, just to name a few.

List-Maker: This road also takes you through the great redwood forests, with trees so old and huge that you can drive a car through them! The Avenue of the Giants is a walk in itself, so prepare for frequent stops.

4.Route 66

Distance: 2,400 miles
This highway is more than just a highway: for Americans, their classic cars, James Dean, and the sweet smell of nostalgia. The miles of this journey are punctuated by classic diners, old-school shops, and towns that time seems to have forgotten. Visit the Meramec Caverns in Missouri and bathe in the Colorado River. Take a trip back to a simpler era in this American road classic.

List-Maker: Route 66 takes you through the Grand Canyon, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Better fill the tank!

3.The Oregon Trail

Distance: 3,300 miles
Following from Oregon to Massachusetts, the Oregon Trail is a look into the past. Start on the rugged Oregon coast and head east. You will have the option of stopping at numerous sites, including Mount Rushmore, the Great Lakes, and even Niagara Falls. Don’t stop there though – go ahead and end the trip of a lifetime with Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and some of the best lobsters in America.

List-Maker: Oregon Trail takes you through Yellowstone National Park. This supervolcano is also home to geysers, waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and basically any outdoor activity you can imagine.

2.Overseas Highway, FL

Distance: 113 miles
For some of the best seafood in the area and some of the best views of your life, you can’t miss a hike through the Florida Keys. Starting south of Miami, this one-way trip takes you far out into the ocean, leaping through islands like a stone leaps over water. Heading to Key Largo gives you a taste of island life, when suddenly the land disappears and you drive miles on nothing but water.

As you cruise island after island as you make your way to the Lower Keys, you’ll find dolphin-watching boats and fishermen at their docks. Keep an eye out for the endangered Key Deer and release the pedal to enjoy the view. You will eventually turn around in Key West, 90 miles from Cuba, but you will have left your heart in the ocean.

List-Maker: John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park offers glass bottom boat tours, scuba and snorkeling and, of course, coral reefs. Sea turtles, dolphins and tropical fish frequent the waters, and this is where you can see the “Christ of the deep” statue if the weather permits.

1.Maui’s Hana Coast, HI

Distance: 52 miles
At just 52 miles long, you wouldn’t think Hawaii’s Hana Coast would be a great road trip. However, the winding road requires slow driving and frequent stops. Tight turns can make drivers and passengers nervous, so stopping frequently is recommended, not just for the fruit, but also to allow the dizziness to subside.

Start in Kahului, where you can take the time to visit the Museum of Art and Culture or the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum. It is not a well known tourist spot, so you can really meet the locals. So, hit the road!

Stop at the Garden of Eden, a Hawaiian botanical garden, then continue to waterfalls and swimming spots. The detours everywhere offer opportunities to see waterfalls and beaches. Eventually you will end up in Hana, a small town by the sea. Stay to watch the sunset and get a real feel for what Hawaii is like to the locals.

List-Maker: Waianapanapa State Park offers luxurious black sand beaches, caves and treacherous waters. Every now and then, a shrimp bloom causes the water to turn blood red, triggering a sight you only see once in a lifetime.

So pick a road trip, fill up, and voila! Adventure awaits at every turn.