15 Incredible American Road Trips You Have to Experience

These journeys are bucket-list-worthy adventures and don’t deserve to be relegated to being a simple ride between cities. They’re here to enjoy and experience, as you’ll see things that others might never get to.

Whether you’re travelling in the 30 days you have after summer camp, or you’re planning a standalone trip along one of these famous routes, then be sure to strap in and fuel up; these American road trips are adventures of a lifetime.

• Start: Chicago, Illinois
• End: Santa Monica, California
• Distance: 2,448 miles (3940km)
• States covered: 8 (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2-3 weeks

The most iconic of all American road trips.

Route 66 will always appear top of all American road trips lists, and for good reason. It’s etched into popular culture thanks to the incredible sights that line it and the countless songs, shows, and art which reference it. Although the original route is no longer official, you can still drive along much of it, tracing a journey that generations have done before you.

Many destinations and businesses along Route 66 now tailor themselves to the famous tourist nature of it, and with countless other stops available, Route 66 will always remain one of the quintessential American road trips.

• Start: Seattle, Washington
• End: San Diego, California
• Distance: 1840 miles (2961km)
• States covered: 3 (Washington, Oregon, California)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2 weeks

Although the California leg of the Pacific Coast Highway is arguably the most famous road trip after Route 66, it can be extended to make this road trip even more epic.

Adventurers can begin or end their journey further north, taking in Washington State whilst also stopping in Oregon on the way. The route also takes in some of the most famous cities on the West Coast, including Seattle, San Francisco, LA, and San Diego, whilst following the incredible scenery where the Pacific Ocean meets the American shoreline.

• Start: New York, New York State
• End: Boston, Massachusetts
• Distance: 215 miles (346km)
• States covered: 3 (New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2 days

Although it’s a quick and cheap flight from New York to Boston, we’d strongly recommend making a road trip of it if you’ve got the time.

This fantastic drive takes in some great scenic areas between the more obvious city stops of New York and Boston. The coastal route will allow you to see more of Connecticut and Rhode Island on the way whilst also allowing you to take in places such as Hudson Valley, Salem and New Haven.

• Start: Las Vegas, Nevada
• End: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Distance: 1500 miles (2414km)
• States covered: 3 (Nevada, Arizona, Utah)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2 weeks

This circular trip covers three states that are home to some of the U.S.’s most incredible national parks, meaning you’ll visit famous spots that you’ve no doubt seen in the movies.

The Grand Canyon needs no introduction, but we guarantee once you research some of the following names, you’ll already know them by sight. Antelope Canyon is more than Instagram-worthy, whilst Lake Powell and Monument Valley are key stops along the way. The national parks also include Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, arguably two of the most famous in the world.

For those that love the expansive nature that national parks offer, this is an adventure you have to do at least once in your lifetime.

• Start: Anchorage, Alaska
• End: Fairbanks, Alaska
• Distance: 358 miles (576km)
• States covered: 1 (Alaska)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 3-4 days

For keen adventurers who want to explore America’s most northern state, the beautiful scenery of Alaska will captivate you, and The Parks Highway will take you to it.

On that note, this highway is also the gateway to the Denali National Park, a must-stop area of Alaska and where you can see Denali (also known as Mount McKinley), the highest peak in North America. It’s the third most isolated peak on Earth, making it a stunning backdrop to this scenic drive.

For those who love Mother Nature, expansive landscapes, and animal wildlife, then Alaska is right up your street.

• Start: Las Vegas, Nevada
• End: Moab, Utah
• Distance: 462 miles (743km)
• States covered: 3 (Nevada, Arizona, Utah)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 3-4 days

The journey from Sin City to the adventure capital of America is another journey that will take in some jaw-dropping scenery and national parks on the way.

You’ll find yourself covering the entire state of Utah, known for its Wild West-looking expanses, most famously Monument Valley. It’s a stretch saying you cover Arizona, as you only briefly cut across it when travelling from Nevada to Utah, but regardless, you cross the state border, and it’s another one to tick off the list. On your way, you’ll traverse over passes as high as 8000ft above sea level before getting to Arches National Park, another one you’ll recognise from Instagram shots you’ve seen.

Stretch your journey that little bit further, and you’ll also get to Canyonlands National Park, another famous tourist destination in the area.

• Start: Grand Teton, Wyoming
• End: Gran Teton, Wyoming
• Distance: 42 miles (67km)
• States covered: 1 (Wyoming)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 1 day

Although The Grand Teton Loop is one of the shorter drives on this list, it would be doing the area an injustice if you just stuck to the road.

With the Tetons range in the distance and loads of wildlife dotted throughout, you’ll find hiking trails everywhere, allowing you to get out of the car and experience what this part of America offers.

From boat rides on Jenny Lake to hikes up to hidden falls and views of the Tetons from Signal Mountain, you’ll not run out of things to do on this relatively quick route.

• Start: Yosemite National Park, California
• End: Yosemite National Park, California
• Distance: 64 miles (102km)
• States covered: 1 (California)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 1 day

The famous Yosemite National Park is an area that most will want to visit at some point in their life, and the Tioga Pass Road is a scenic route that runs directly through it.

Like the Grand Teton Loop, it’s a relatively short drive, but we guarantee you’ll want to stop at many places along the way. Nature enthusiasts will be in their element here, where you can see the giant sequoias of Tuolumne Grove, the white rocks at Olmsted Point (an excellent vantage spot for photographs), and Tanaya Lake with its clear water.

On every corner, there’s another incredible backdrop, and even then, the Tioga Pass Road is just one small gem of the wider breathtaking beauty of Yosemite.

• Start: San Diego, California
• End: Sweet Grass, Montana
• Distance: 1776 miles (2858km)
• States covered: 6 (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2 weeks

Description: Interstate 15 will take you on a winding adventure from the southern part of California to the very top of the United States, where you’ll finish in Montana on the Canadian border.

There are loads to see and do on the way, with the noticeable bright lights of L.A. and Las Vegas shining next to other incredible stops, such as Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. With such a long road trip, you’ll see a wide range of western America, with the hustle and bustle of California varying massively to the often quiet, mountainous Montana.

When you reach Montana, you can even detour off to visit the famous Yellowstone National Park. This protected area sits on top of a volcanic hotspot, leading to dramatic canyons and thermal hot springs.

• Start: Key Largo, Florida
• End: Key West, Florida
• Distance: 113 miles (181km)
• States covered: 1 (Florida)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 1 day

The Overseas Highway is a wonder of modern engineering that connects Key Largo to Key West in Florida through over 40 bridges.

For those who love the water, it’s easily one of the most beautiful drives you can go on in America, thanks to the road winding through the coral and island inlets. At times you’re literally driving in the middle of the ocean with no land to be seen, so be sure it’s something you’re mentally ready for, as it can be scary for some.

If you are, you’ll be travelling along a famous route and one that has been in countless US TV shows, series, and movies.

• Start: Afton, Virginia
• End: Cherokee, North Carolina
• Distance: 469 miles (754km)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 3-4 days
• States covered: 2 (Virginia, North Carolina)

The Blue Ridge area is known for its history, with the Blue Ridge Parkway also connecting the Great Smokey Mountains National Park with the Shenandoah National Park.

There’s lots of natural beauty along this route, with loads of different waterfalls for people to stop at and check out, with the Appalachian mountain range making for a striking view throughout. There are also a few small towns to pass through, including Linville Falls, Blowing Rock, Boone, and others, so take your time along what many call America’s favourite scenic drive.

• Start: Lake Itasca State Park, Minnesota
• End: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Distance: 3000 miles (4828km)
• States covered: 10 (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2-3 weeks

If Route 66 is the King of American road trips, then the Great River Road has an argument to be the queen. This mammoth journey of over 3000 miles winds its way alongside the famous Mississippi River, a river steeped in American history and culture.

Going through 10 states along the way means there’s always something to see and do. Major cities, quaint towns, and impressive landmarks can be found on nearly every twist of the river, and with the sheer distance and amount to do, you’ll want to give yourself enough time to see as much as possible.

Finishing in the eclectic city of New Orleans means you’ll have seen some of the best of what America offers.

• Start: Kahului, Hawaii
• End: Hana, Hawaii
• Distance: 52 miles (83km)
• States covered: 1 (Hawaii)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 1 day

This is one of the shorter American road trips, but one that you can’t just simply drive to from anywhere. Being based well off the mainland in Hawaii means that you’re likely to have to already be exploring this incredible state first.

The Road to Hana features breathtaking stops amongst cliff faces, canyons and forests, which makes it one of Hawaii’s must-do trips. However, it is a winding, narrow road, and its natural beauty comes with a warning that it’s a tough road to drive, so it requires all your concentration to enjoy it safely. If you do, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of Hawaii, including Wai’anapanapa State Park and Hana Town.

• Start: Fort Kent, Maine
• End: Key West, Florida
• Distance: 2390 miles (3846km)
• States covered: 15 (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine.
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2 weeks

U.S. Highway 1 is the longest current north-south road in the United States, so as far as American Road trips go, this is another huge one.

It connects most of the major cities on the East Coast, meaning anyone doing an East Coast road trip is likely to take a trip on U.S. Highway 1. If you start up on the Canadian border, you’ll find yourself up in Fort Kent in Maine, where your road trip will eventually end nearly 4000km later in Key West, Florida. Baltimore, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Miami are just a select few places you’ll see on the way, showing the sheer scope of this road trip.

• Start: Santa Fe, New Mexico
• End: Taos, New Mexico
• Distance: 105 miles (168km)
• States covered: 1 (New Mexico)
• Suggested minimum duration for the full route: 2 days

This adventurous 105-mile stretch allows you to travel through history and culture. With churches, chapels, and settlements, both old and new, found on this scenic byway, there’s personality everywhere you look.

One such place is Taos Pueblo, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is an ancient community that will take you back in time. Another must-stop is the Rio Grande Forge Bridge, the 10th highest bridge in the U.S., which straddles the Rio Grande River. It’s one of many in this charming part of the world that is proud of its multiple cultural influences.

So, where have we missed? With the United States being such a vast country, there are undoubtedly other American road trips that should make this list. Have you been anywhere, possibly after summer camp, that we should add, or routes others need to try?

If you’re keen to try your own, check out our friends at The Coyote Trip. They’re our chosen after-camp travel provider with group tours across the whole of the States, allowing you to have your own American adventure.