The Trip: Santa Monica Pier, California to Chicago, Illinois
Distance: 2,500 miles
Time: Several Days
No American road trip list would be complete without the mention of Route 66. Built in 1926, it was retired in 1985 due to new highway construction nearby. However, the old route still exists and contains a treasure trove of roadside pitstops for the family looking for something different.
The Trip: Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine
Distance: 2,200 miles
Time: 1 to 2 weeks
This is one road trip you may want to delay until the fall to enjoy the New England fall foliage. Parallel to the famous hiking trail, the Appalachian driving trail offers some of the same views and experiences without the blisters and exhaustion. As a bonus, some famous sites to visit along this excursion include Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Biltmore Estate.
The Trip: Cape Cod, New Hampshire to Oregon City, Oregon
Distance: 3,300 miles
Time: 1 to 2 weeks
From Oregon’s rugged coast to the sand and sun of Cape Cod, on this historic trail your family can enjoy the wide variety of excursions and roadside attractions all along the way. Along this route you can even swing by wonders of the world Yellowstone National Park and Niagara Falls, or you can visit Mount Rushmore and Carhenge.
The Trip: Kahului, Hawaii to Hana, Hawaii
Distance: 68 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Planning on visiting Maui, Hawaii this summer? Then do your family a favor and plan a short road trip on Hana Highway. This 68-mile trek is full of twists, turns, one-lane bridges, and—of course—breathtaking views of the coast and the jungle.
The Trip: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina
Distance: 469 Miles
Time: 6 hours
From the southern tip of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina, your family is sure to enjoy the picturesque mountain views all along the way. If your family is truly adventurous, you can take advantage of the trails and historical sites along the trip.
The Trip: Miami, Florida to Key West, Florida
Distance: 170 miles
Time: 3.5 hours
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway begins in Miami and treks the 170 miles between the mainland and the Florida Keys island and takes approximately 3 and a half hours to traverse. The best parts of this road trip are the breathtaking views and all the cool stops along the way!
The Trip: San Diego, California to San Francisco, California
Distance: 655 miles
Time: 12 hours
This road trip can be done in one day, or it can be stretched as far as a week or more—and believe us, you’ll want to experience everything this trip offers. From sunny and romantic Malibu to equally picturesque Mendocino, there are plenty of places to stop for a day or so before moving on to your next destination on this highway.
The Trip: Savannah, Georgia to San Diego, California
Distance: 3,000 miles
Time: Several days
From beautiful Tybee Island in southern Georgia cross-country to California’s gold coast, there are plenty of stops and sights along the way for you and your family to experience. Explore historic Savannah at the beginning of your trek, visit the spot where JFK was assassinated in Dallas, and experience the Wild Wild West at Tombstone, among other great stops.
The Trip: Corolla, North Carolina to Ocracoke, North Carolina
Distance: 114 miles
Time: 5 hours
This short, romantic road trip includes sandy roads, beautiful ocean views, and a car ferry to get you from Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island to end your trip. On the way there and back, make some pitstops at the many museums and picturesque lighthouses along the way. Rent a hotel room and enjoy the island’s ambiance before beginning your road trip back to civilization.
The Trip: Boston, Massachusetts to Seattle, Washington
Distance: 3,000 miles
Time: 45 hours
Want an adventure that you and your family are sure to never forget? Try the Cross-Country road trip, beginning in Boston right near the airport and ending in Seattle close to the CenturyLink Field. This is by far the most fun road trip since you’ll pass through 15 states with literally hundreds of roadside attractions and pitstops to choose from along the route.
The Trip: Grand Canyon National Park to Las Vegas, Nevada
Distance: 253 miles
Time: 4.5 hours
If you happen to be in Vegas, you may want to try a four-and-a-half-hour detour to the Grand Canyon National Park. Not only are the views through the desert beautiful, but the first pitstop you come to on your trip is the Hoover Dam. From there, you can visit several towns that seem to be lost in time—including one ghost town. Make it a day trip or take a couple of days to explore this part of our country.
The Trip: Nashville, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana
Distance: 1,011 miles
Time: 6 days
Starting in Music City a.k.a. Nashville, Tennessee begin exploring the rich and textured history of the Blues from visiting the Johnny Cash Museum, walking down the avenue of honkytonks and karaoke bars called Broadway, or any of the city’s many other attractions. From there, experience the delta like never before, exploring the birthplaces of some of music’s most influential artists until you ultimately end in New Orleans, Louisiana, to enjoy the Creole atmosphere for a day or two.
The Trip: Los Angeles, California to Taos, New Mexico
Distance: 916 miles
Time: 14 hours
Live in L.A. and feel the need to escape the city? How about a 14-hour drive with your family through beautiful desert vistas? This 916-mile trek will take you through some of southern California and New Mexico’s most beautiful scenery. And be sure to make some pitstops at the many cafes and small towns along the way for a taste of ambiance.
The Trip: Lead Hill, Arkansas to Hot Springs, Arkansas
Distance: 179 miles
Time: 4 hours
The best time we recommend making this road trip is during the fall when the leaves in the Ozark mountains are ablaze with color. With more than 42 different species of oak among the many other species of trees, the fall foliage becomes a riot of color on Arkansas’s first state-designated scenic by-way to Ozark National Forest. Also, be sure to enjoy some southern hospitality in Jasper, Arkansas along the way!
The Trip: Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico
Distance: 2,300 miles
Time: 24 hours
This is another road trip that you can stretch over a few days to a week while showing your family a bit of the world around us. On this trip, you can start in Vancouver, Canada or Tijuana, Mexico and follow Route 89 the whole way which will guide you through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. Along the way, make sure to take advantage of the many roadside attractions offered in each state or province.
