USA Road Trip: 28 Bucket List Road Trip Routes

Who loves a great road trip?!

Planning a road trip vacation in the USA is an exciting yet daunting task. You have so many options!

Especially since I switched to a nomadic lifestyle, I’m always either on a road trip or planning a road trip.

Whether you’re looking for ideas for a road trip or daydreaming about your next vacation and want some inspiration, this post has got you covered.

I’ve driven around the United States for years and explored many hiking trails and scenic overlooks along the way. Now, it’s about time I shared the best US road trips with you!

After you read through these 28 road trip ideas you can choose your bucket list destinations and start planning your own great American road trip adventure!

1. Going to the Sun Road

Location: Montana / Distance: 50 miles

This iconic driving route in Montana is on pretty much every adventurer’s bucket list.

Some extra planning is involved in driving the Going to the Sun Road (GTTSR) at Glacier National Park because it isn’t always open. Winter snow piles up so high that it takes a few weeks to clear the road in spring, or sometimes not until summer!

But don’t worry, before the GTTSR is fully open you can drive portions of the road and do some hiking, such as the Trail of Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail. Both are accessed from the same parking lot by Avalanche Campground.

Note that during peak visitor season from May 24 to September 28 there is a timed-entry system in place for entry to Going to the Sun Road via the west entrance (near Apgar Check Point).

READ MORE: Guide to Visiting Glacier National Park (and Going to the Sun Road)

2. Pacific Coast Highway

Location: California / Distance: 656 miles

The most popular portion of the Pacific Coast Highway is the California coast.

This iconic California road trip will take you to stunning views of Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea, Pismo Beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, to name a few of the best stops along the way.

Take a short detour from Hwy 1 to explore the famous 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach.

Put together a playlist of the best road trip songs and cruise on down the Pacific Coast Highway for an amazing experience.

3. Blue Ridge Parkway

Location: Virginia, North Carolina / Distance: 469 miles

NOTE: August 10, 2025, Per National Park Service website alert: Ridge Parkway is partially closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Most of the road closures are in the North Carolina section. Check for road closures before traveling in the area.

Take America’s favorite roadway from Shenandoah National Park, near Waynesboro Virginia and meander all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

There are mile markers along the entire route so you can map out your stops using the National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway Map. Be sure to pick up a paper map at the visitor center.

To drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway without stopping would take you around 10 – 12 hours. Take a long weekend or a whole week and explore the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Appalachian Highlands.

But you don’t have to drive the whole parkway to enjoy the amazing views. You can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway from all the major highways nearby.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular national parks to visit in autumn for the fall foliage.

4. Historic Route 66

Location: Arizona / Distance: 146 miles

America’s highway stretched from Chicago Illinois all the way to Santa Monica California and passed through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Driving the most scenic section of Historic Route 66 will take you from Petrified Forest National Park to Williams Arizona, which is the gateway to the Grand Canyon.

You’ll want to detour from Route 66 to visit the Grand Canyon, it’s so close and so spectacular! You can even take a train ride from Williams AZ to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Worthy stops along the way (besides the national parks) are Winslow Arizona, Homolovi National Monument, and Flagstaff.

LEARN MORE: 17 Best Day Trips from Flagstaff Arizona

5. Cascade Loop Washington

Location: Washington / Distance: 440 miles

For a spectacular Pacific Northwest road trip, you’ll want to drive the Cascade Loop to explore the stunning scenery of Washington State from seaside to mountains.

Starting near Everett Washington the Cascade Loop takes you from the Puget Sound to valleys, fruit orchards, mountain peaks, waterfalls, lakes, alpine glaciers, and hiking trails.

Can’t decide which you love more—oceans or mountains and forests? Then the Cascade Loop scenic drive in Washington state is an ideal choice for you.

6. Scenic Hwy A1A Florida

Location: Florida / Distance: 388 miles

A beach lover’s dream, Hwy A1A starts in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island and hugs the Florida coastline all the way to Miami.

Take time to explore historic St Augustine and the nearby beaches for surfing, fishing, and beachcombing for seashells. Continuing south to Daytona, New Smyrna, Canaveral National Seashore, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

Beach lovers and history buffs alike will enjoy the Scenic Hwy A1A on Florida’s east coast.

LEARN MORE: 12 Best East Coast Weekend Getaways

7. Blues Highway Route 61

Location: Tennessee to Mississippi / Distance: 79 miles

The Mississippi Delta is where the Blues were born. And that’s the focus for this section of the Blues Highway from Memphis TN to Clarksdale MS.

When my sister visited me in Oxford Mississippi she flew into Memphis Tennessee, and we drove Hwy 61 to Clarksdale Mississippi. I loved the vibe in Clarksdale so much I returned for the annual Juke Joint Festival.

If you love Blues music you HAVE to visit Clarksdale. And if you want to attend Juke Joint Festival you are wise to book one year in advance!

For the real deal juke joint experience, you want Red’s in Clarksdale. Other cool blues clubs include Ground Zero, Delta Blues Alley Café, and Levon’s Bar and Grill, to name a few; there are several more.

If you want to extend your Blues Highway road trip, continue on Highway 61 all the way to New Orleans.

8. Seward Highway Alaska

Location: Alaska / Distance: 127 miles

Starting from Anchorage, the Seward Scenic Byway takes you to spectacular views of the Chugach Mountains and along the shore of Turnagain Arm, then back through the mountains to beautiful Seward.

Enjoy spectacular views of mountains, glaciers, dramatic shorelines, and wildlife watching opportunities. Watch for bald eagles, beluga whales, Dall sheep, moose, and more.

9. Road to Hana Hawaii

Location: Maui / Distance: 51 miles

Discover beautiful beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, lush jungles, and stunning views on the Road to Hana along the Maui coastline.

The drive to Hana and back takes about 10 – 12 hours, but it depends on how many stops you make along the way and how long you stay at each stop, of course.

This one is tops on my Hawaii road trip bucket list.

10. Olympic Peninsula Loop

Location: Washington / Distance: 330 miles

Travel the giant loop (Hwy 101) that encircles Olympic National Park and enter the fairytale wonderland of the rainforest in the Pacific Northwest.

Hike among the old growth trees with a carpet of moss covering the forest floor. Go canoeing at Lake Crescent. Or do a waterfall hike to Sul Doc Falls or Marymere Falls.

A few of the main attractions along the Olympic loop are Hoh Rain Forest, La Push, Ruby Beach, Lake Crescent, and Hurricane Ridge. Explore all the best things to do in Olympic National Park!

11. Miami to Florida Keys

Location: Florida / Distance: 166 miles

For a surreal experience you can drive the many bridges over the water from Miami to Key West Florida for 166 miles on the Overseas Highway.

If you spend some time in Miami, you’ll notice a distinct downshift from the busy city when you arrive in laid back Key West—one of the top beach towns in Florida.

Explore the highlights of Key West including Hemingway House, Mallory Square, visit the Southernmost point in the Continental US, and gorgeous beaches.

12. Scenic Hwy 12 Utah

Location: Utah / Distance: 130 miles

When I stayed in Cedar City Utah, I drove Highway 12 from Panguitch to Torrey Utah in Capitol Reef National Park, and the views were absolutely stunning!

Where should you stop along Hwy 12? So many choices: Red Canyon, Bryce National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Lower Calf Creek Falls, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are some of the best places to stop on Hwy 12.

LEARN MORE: 15 National Parks and Monuments in Utah

13. Great River Road

Location: Minnesota to Louisiana / Distance: 3,000 miles

For a long distance road trip from the Midwest to the South you can’t beat the Great River Road.

This route follows the Mississippi River through ten states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and finishing up in Louisiana.

Pack some extra road trip snacks for this one!

14. Wildlife Loop South Dakota

Location: South Dakota / Distance: 18 miles

The Wildlife Loop in the Black Hills of South Dakota offers amazing wildlife viewing opportunities including pronghorn, bison, deer, elk, and bighorn sheep.

This 18 mile drive starts in Custer State Park and loops south through grasslands and hills with abundant wildlife grazing spots.

15. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone

Location: Utah, Idaho, Wyoming / Distance: 335 miles

For an amazing adventure to America’s first national park, you’ll depart Salt Lake City and head north to Idaho, then drive to Jackson Wyoming, gateway to Teton and Yellowstone.

You’re only a 5-minute drive from Jackson to Grand Teton National Park and spectacular views of the mountains and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

Grand Teton to Yellowstone National Park is another 50 miles of scenic driving in Wyoming. Plan your trip to Yellowstone in advance and explore a geological wonderland of geysers, hot springs, mudpots and more.

Read more about all the best things to do at Yellowstone.

16. Trail Ridge Road Colorado

Location: Colorado / Distance: 48 miles

If you feel like getting higher up in the mountains, you’ll want to drive the Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34) in the Rockies.

This route with gorgeous scenery takes you from Estes Park and across Rocky Mountain National Park, then south to Grand Lake.

This stunning stretch of road reaches an elevation of 12,183 ft with exceptional views in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

17. Acadia National Byway

Location: Maine / Distance: 40 miles

One of the most scenic drives in New England takes you through forests and rocky coastline regions of Acadia National Park on the Park Loop Road.

Fall is an awesome time to road trip in Maine for the brilliant tapestry of fall foliage.

Hike the Jordan Pond Loop and enjoy lunch at Jordan Pond House Restaurant. Trust me, you must try the popovers!

If you want to drive Cadillac Summit Road be sure to make a reservation if you plan to be there between May 22 and Oct 27, 2024.

Be sure to download the Acadia app from the National Park Service before your visit.

18. Skyline Drive

Location: Virginia / Distance: 105 miles

This wonderfully scenic drive in Virginia runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park.

With 75 overlooks providing amazing panoramic views, especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn brilliant colors of yellow, orange, and red.

19. Apache Trail Arizona

Location: Arizona / Distance: 40 miles

One of Arizona’s most scenic roadways is the Apache Trail (State Route 88), a circular route of mostly unpaved road through the Superstition Mountains in the Tonto National Forest of central Arizona.

Explore some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the West with canyon views, lakes, forests, and the serene wilderness of Arizona.

20. Denali Highway

Location: Alaska / Distance: 135 miles

Another Alaska road trip that’s on my can’t-wait-to-do-it list is the famous Denali Highway.

You’ve probably seen images of Denali National Park with the highest peak in North America, Mt Denali (Mt McKinley) and snowcapped mountains of the Central Alaska Range.

The Denali Highway (Alaska Route 8) begins in Paxson, connecting the Richardson Highway with Denali National Park and Preserve.

21. Natchez Trace Parkway

Location: Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi / Distance: 444 miles

An excellent southern US road trip from Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi is also known as the Old Natchez Trace, an ancient trail utilized by people and animals for centuries.

Enjoy the scenic drive and historic stops along the way and be sure to stop in Tupelo and visit the house Elvis Presley was born in on January 8, 1935.

The great Southern food is another plus for this road trip. You will have no shortage of excellent food, including soul food and other delicious comfort foods of the South.

22. Columbia River Scenic Highway

Location: Oregon / Distance: 75 miles

Driving the Columbia River Highway is one of the best day trips from Portland Oregon.

Drive the scenic roadway that follows alongside the Columbia River from Troutdale to The Dalles in Oregon.

The highway, completed in the early 1920s, is one of the first highways in the United States designed for scenic driving tours.

23. Pig Trail Scenic Byway

Location: Arkansas / Distance: 24 miles

One of the most perfect motorcycle routes in the United States, the Pig Trail (Hwy 23) takes you on twists and turns through the Ozark National Forest.

Spring and autumn are the most beautiful times to drive the Pig Trail.

24. Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway

Location: Arizona / Distance: 28 miles

One of my all time favorite things to do in Tucson is take a day trip to Mt Lemmon. The elevation change from downtown Tucson to Mt Lemmon is astonishing.

You’ll go from cactus in the Sonoran Desert to forested mountains above 9,000 ft elevation in less than an hour.

There’s even a ski hill at Mt Lemmon, and a beautiful hike from the base to the top of the ski hill. When I visited in March there was still lots of snow on the trail.

A nice hot day in spring or fall is an excellent time to drive Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway because you’ll enjoy the cooling temps at the top.

Be sure to stop by the Cookie Cabin in Summerhaven for a giant homemade cookie!

25. Kancamagus Highway

Location: New Hampshire / Distance: 35 miles

A perfect fall foliage road trip in New England: if you can time it just right for peak fall colors, your reward is extraordinary colors at every turn on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire.

I drove it in late September 2022, which was still too early for peak fall colors in New England, but it’s a gorgeous drive with lots of places to stop and hike or simply take in the beautiful scenery.

This road trip is also on my list of best fall colors destinations in the USA.

Kancamagus Highway Rocky Gorge in the White Mountains New Hampshire.

26. Highway 170 Texas

Location: Texas / Distance: 67 miles

A favorite Texas scenic drive is the beautiful winding Highway 170 (FM 170) from Terlingua to historic Presidio Texas.

Motorcyclists love this stretch of road with gorgeous curves and spectacular views.

I picked a beautiful sunny day in December and made a big loop from Marathon Texas to Big Bend National Park, then FM 170 from Terlingua to Presidio and up to Marfa, east to Alpine and back to Marathon.

Plan for a one week trip if you want to see a lot of the best attractions in Far West Texas.

27. Hwy 395 Lake Tahoe to Yosemite

Location: California / Distance: 209 miles

From South Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park, enjoy this scenic California driving route with stops at Topaz Lake, Fales Hot Springs, Mono Lake, Tioga Pass, and Yosemite Valley.

Take your time exploring Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Some highlights of things to do in Yosemite include Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, and Glacier Point.

28. Scenic Route 89A Arizona

Location: Arizona / Distance: 30 miles

Another great Arizona road trip route is the gorgeous Route 89A with its twists and turns from Flagstaff to Sedona.

Fall is the absolute best time to drive Highway 89A because the foliage makes it extra beautiful.

Stay a few days in Sedona and explore the red rock canyons with iconic hikes like the West Fork Trail and Airport Vortex. Or hike, bike, or take the jeep road up to panoramic views from the Little Horse Trail.

US Road Trip Tips

Download Google offline maps – this is a must because you will not have internet access in some locations.
Plan out your driving route in advance and print a copy of the Google Maps route in case your phone malfunctions or you forget to download offline maps :/
Bring some cash with you. Sometimes there are cash only places in remote towns.
Get the AAA (America Automobile Association) or CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) membership so that you will have emergency roadside assistance if you need it. The memberships purchased either in Canada or the USA cover you while on the road in both countries.
Get paper maps in case all your technology dies. If you have AAA membership you can get maps for free.
The AAA and CAA are affiliated so your membership in one allows you to the services in the other association/country. They also have location guidebooks with listings for lodgings and restaurants.
Remember that travel during peak season requires more planning. Book lodgings in advance, particularly if you are staying in popular tourist spots around the USA.

US Road Trip Budget Tips

Plan your meals in advance and shop at discount grocery stores, buy in bulk when possible.

Watch for sales and stock up on non-perishable items before your road trip.

Gasoline may be the largest percentage of your budget, if possible, use a vehicle that gets great gas mileage.

Don’t keep luggage/cargo on your roof, use cruise control to keep your speed within the posted speed limit. Typically, when driving over 50 mph (80 kph) gas mileage decreases quite a lot.

If you camp or sleep in your vehicle you could save a bundle of cash. You need to know where it’s okay to park overnight and where to find free camping.

This article from Two Wandering Soles has some great info how to find free camping in the USA.

Book hotel and camping accommodations in advance. Many of the most popular destinations get booked a full year in advance. Plan your road trip lodgings ahead of time.

Road Trip Essentials

Bringing a few essentials for road trips will give you peace of mind, knowing you are prepared.
Along with your cellphone and cellphone car charger, it’s best to bring a backup charging system such as a power bank or solar charger.
Paper maps in case your cell phone ceases to function and leaves you without access to online maps.
A good flashlight with new batteries.
An emergency roadside kit is essential for your road trip.
Bring a large refillable water bottle and lots of road trip snacks. A small cooler is handy too.
It’s likely you will do some hiking, so bring along the essentials for hiking, even if you are just doing short easy day hikes.
Bring a variety of clothing, jackets, and footwear so you are prepared for changes in weather and unexpected conditions.

If you have any questions about planning your own amazing road trip around the USA, ask me in the comments below.

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