It’s time to visit the Great American Highway for the kind of outdoor adventures, food, and cultural attractions that only a road trip can provide. More: some tips to get the most out of your driving experience.
Start your GPS and start your engines! Every corner of the U.S. offers incredible opportunities for road trips, from parks to scenic back roads to bustling cities along the way. Here we have summarized five of our favorite epic trips from the sea to the shining sea. Your only remaining challenge is to choose your favorite trip and leave.
The Best of the WEST: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 1
Choose any section of Highway 1 along the California coast and you’ll be treated to epic views and great stops along the way. But perhaps the most iconic part of the route is the drive between San Francisco Bay and San Simeon. Although the trip can be reached in just a few hours, we recommend that you plan affordable stops along the way: a motel stay in Santa Cruz on Monterey will take you on foot to the beautiful beach and an entertaining walk for the whole family. A day or two in the city of Monterey will give you time to explore the coastal trail with its stunning views of the beautiful blue waters of the bay and playful sea otters, a visit to the Monterey Bay aquarium, several first-class meals, fresh crabs, sourdough bread and other California favorites. Drive down Highway 1 to the main attraction, the winding road along the cliffs of Big Sur overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and stop at Pfeiffer State Beach or walk into the mountains east of the highway. Your Highway 1 road trip may end in San Simeon, home to William Randolph Hearst’s incredible estate with its art collection and truly awesome grounds. Or head further south to enjoy the delights of coastal communities like San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay and Southern California’s famous beaches and cities!
SOUTHERN CHARM: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
You don’t have to choose between an urban culture and the natural beauty of a national park. The Blue Ridge Parkway allows tourists to enjoy Washington, DC, with its free museums, historical sites and cultural offerings, and then drive to Skyline Drive in Virginia along the backbone of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of FDR’s New Deal projects that connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The epic hairpin bends and tunnels of the promenade will delight all family members, and an affordable and manageable experience in the national park is unforgettable, with walks and conversations led by rangers, quiet hiking trails and the opportunity to observe a number of wildlife, including black bears, from a safe distance. Adventurous travelers may want to try rock climbing and white water rafting. Cool cities like Asheville, North Carolina offer delicious Southern cuisine, and you can balance the Great Smoky Mountains national Park nature experience with fun family activities in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. While camping is still the lowest way to visit a national park, reasonable accommodation is just a short drive from Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains.
ROAD TRIP tip: have your car inspected before you start driving. The right tire pressure and engine tuning can save you money on gasoline consumption, and with updated safety features, you can even lower your car insurance rates.
SPLENDOR OF THE MIDWEST: DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN
Can you keep a secret? Door County Coastal Byway, a scenic drive in Wisconsin, offers an incredible and lesser-known vacation experience in the Midwest that brings families back year after year. This scenic trail and its stops along the way stretch for 66 miles around the door Peninsula for a relaxing and delicious getaway. The Door Peninsula is located between Lake Michigan and Green Bay and can be explored in a weekend, or you can extend your experience over several days with stays in the beautiful cities of the region. Ephraim on the shores of Eagle Harbor offers beaches and harbor VIEWS that can only connect you to New England, and a stop at Wilson for ice cream is a must. Peninsula State Park is one of those “hidden gems” just waiting to be discovered, with acres of forest, shoreline, and camping opportunities. In the town of Sister Bay you will find good food and pleasant opportunities for a quiet family holiday on the east side of the peninsula in Bailey’s Harbour and Jacksonsport.
ROAD TRIP tip: Pack a cooler with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, takeaway proteins like cheese sticks, and plenty of water (a gallon of water per passenger per day is recommended if you’re visiting a wilder area like a national park).
UTAH’S CENTER PARCS “the MIGHTY FIVE”
Did you know that Utah unites five incredible national parks in one state? Whether you’re experiencing two, three, four, or all of the “mighty five,” a scenic drive through the Utah wilderness can be the ultimate road trip experience. While your GPS may recommend major highways along the way, you can explore scenic byways like State Route 12, the 120-mile drive between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon, and drive home with swaggering photos you can’t take on the highway. As soon as you enter one of the national parks in Utah, hiking is probably the “main event”, and each park is worth at least a day or two, whether you go on ranger-led hikes or go on strike alone. Try something new, such as a guided horseback riding tour of Bryce Canyon, and keep in mind that both Bryce and Zion offer excellent public transportation to get from place to place. Camping is an affordable way to settle in the parks of Utah, but reserve your place a few months in advance, especially if you are in the high season in the summer.
ROAD TRIP Tip: Don’t rely on GPS as your only route source, especially if you are visiting a national park or other wilderness. Get printed maps that cover your road trip and plan the trip every day in advance using GPS and your map – you will thank us if your smartphone suddenly says: “no service.”
ULTIMATE OF NEW ENGLAND: VERMONT AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
The Green Mountains of Vermont and the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts offer one of the best driving experiences in the Northeast, easily accessible from New York, Boston and other cities. Start in Bennington, Vermont, where you’ll soon discover that a New England road trip can combine world-class art and culture with natural beauty right outside your car window. The Bennington Museum offers a permanent collection of works of art, as well as exhibitions dedicated to contemporary works, and the Oma Moses Gallery allows visitors to appreciate not only the work of the legendary American People’s Artist, but also the nearby Green Mountains as a backdrop for many of his most famous paintings. Outside of Bennington there are many opportunities for canoeing, hiking and comfort. Visit Williamstown, MA, for another awesome art collection, the Clark, and a really charming little town with a bustling downtown, great shopping and much more. Then head to North Adams, MA, the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and the endless opportunities to explore the nearby Berkshire Mountains. You can be busy for days in western Massachusetts, and it’s also a relatively short drive to the beaches of Gloucester, the New Hampshire coast, and even the Maine section near the New Hampshire border, but it’s a road trip for another day!
ROAD TRIP tip: No matter what time of year you are going on your road trip, there are a few important things: sunscreen (yes, even in winter), sunscreen clothing, plenty of drinking water, layers of clothing and comfortable hiking or hiking shoes.
