kiyanathomas4) The Absolute Best Road Trips in the U.S.

 The Absolute Best Road Trips in the U.S.

The USA is unique in that the country can be explored so easily by car. It's the same size as Australia and it's the same size as most of Europe...and you'll find as many incredible locations and experiences in the USA as can be found on those other continents. You'd be amazed at how much one country can change as you explore first one coast, then another and then head north or south on the best road trips in the U.S. 

Road trips can be at the very heart of a vacation: Exploring new territory, taking in as much of the scenery as you can, cranking up the music to match the landscape and even fueling up on gas station snacks, should you be so inclined. Road trips have been immortalized in classic novels, essential movies and legendary songs. 

The great thing about road trips is that they can be enjoyed at any time of year. Maybe you want to load up the car in the summer and build a trip around awesome beaches and stunning national parks, or perhaps you’re more of a winter person looking to hit the road and check out some of the country’s best skiing and snowboarding destinations. 

Plan your ultimate automobile getaway by perusing our list of the very best U.S. road trips, which boast incredible views and amazing experiences. These road trips will cover a lot of ground, checking off boxes on your bucket list of adventures.

1: Route 66

It would be blasphemous not to include Route 66 at the top of any road-trip roundup. The iconic 'Mother Road' is one of the U.S. Highway System’s original routes, starting in downtown Chicago and winding its way across the country to the Santa Monica pier. Covering eight states and approximately 2,500 miles, the historic highway is punctuated with pops of kitsch and classic Americana from a bygone era. 

2: Highway 1 

This show-stealing drive may have recently shot to fame after its cameo in the Big Little Lies opening credits montage, but it’s been a beloved route for in-the-know motorists for years. This California coastal classic is chock-full of stomach drops and treacherous turns, but it’s all worth it for the world-class panoramas along the way. Be prepared: Some stretches can last 40 miles without a single bathroom break or gas station.

3: Route 101 

Like many classic road trip routes across the U.S., this one is made up of sections of road that form a continuous experience. By following Route 101—which becomes California State Route 1, better known as the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, which then briefly returns to Route 101 once again—you can, to all intents and purposes, drive from the American/Canadian border, just north of Seattle... all the way down the entire West Coast of the US all the way to the American/Mexican border, just south of San Diego. And that my friends, is the mother of all road trips. 

4: Blue Ridge Parkway 

In the mood for a leisurely, legendary drive? If so, head for the Blue Ridge Parkway, where the speed limit sits at a comfortable 45mph and commercial vehicles are strictly prohibited. Snaking through the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, the 469-mile route connects the Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains national parks. For prime leaf-peeping, visit in autumn when foliage explodes in a brilliant display of crimson, auburn and golden leaves. 

5: Overseas Highway 

For a tropical escape, blast some Jimmy Buffett and hit the Overseas Highway. The route follows US-1, connecting the Florida Keys during a 113-mile, sun-drenched drive. Originally constructed in 1928 and rebuilt in the 1980s, the continuous road connects Key Largo down to laid-back Key West. Cruise over Seven Mile Bridge (one of the longest in the world) while soaking in towering lighthouses, colorful coral reef parks and strips of white-sand beaches.

6: Going-to-the-Sun Road 

Originally constructed to promote tourism and encourage people to visit America’s national parks, this remarkable road has been achieving its purpose since its completion in 1932. The 50-mile artery carves through Montana’s Glacier National Park, shooting through the Rockies up and over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Be sure to watch out for blind curves and dramatic drop-offs, and avoid this one in the winter months, when snowbanks can reach 80ft in depth.

7: Santa Fe to Taos Loop 

Pack a pair of cowboy boots and set course for the Santa Fe Loop, woven between the valleys of the Rio Grande and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico. This all-American road trip adventure looks straight out of a classic Western movie, tumbleweeds and all. Rambling desertscapes and the pueblo communities of Ojo Caliente make this drive a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

8: Lincoln Highway 

The little-known Lincoln Highway was the first road for automobiles across the whole of the U.S. It was conceived in 1912 by Indiana entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher and formally opened a year later. It runs coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco originally traveling through 13 states. However, in 1928, a realignment relocated the Highway through the northern tip of West Virginia, thus bringing the total to 14 states, 128 counties, and more than 700 cities, towns and villages, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. 

9: Texas Hill Country

The best way to witness the Lone Star State’s boundless beauty is by car. Hill Country is sandwiched between San Antonio and Austin and is known for its undulating hills and postcard-worthy bluebonnet blooms. The spellbinding expanse is dotted with charming farmland roads, award-winning wineries and orchards that churn out bushels of mouth-watering apples, peaches and pomegranates every year. For meat lovers, Hill Country is also bursting at the seams with mom-and-pop barbecue joints. 

10: Hana Highway

Hawaii is best known for its lush landscapes and aquatic adventures, but America’s 50th state is also home to one of the top road trips in the U.S. This drive through paradise links Kahului to Hana during 60 miles of jaw-dropping turns. Most can complete the journey in about three hours, but midday bumper-to-bumper traffic can seriously inflate travel time. Along the way, look out for swaying mango trees, dramatic sea cliffs and colonies of monk seals soaking in the sun. 

Thank you for embarking on this thrilling road trip adventure with us as we explored "The Absolute Best Road Trips in the U.S." We hope you've been inspired to hit the open road and discover the breathtaking landscapes and hidden gems that this vast and diverse country has to offer.

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So, gear up, grab your map, and get ready to create unforgettable memories on your future road trips. As we say farewell for now, remember that the adventure never ends, and there's always more to explore on the roads less traveled. Happy road tripping!