America is home to the road trip. With roads that span from sea to shining sea, you can take some of the best road trips right here at home.
The romance of the open road once experienced by our parents and grandparents is still out there. If your normal driving experience only involves errands, commutes, and the occasional visit to your parents, you’re missing the point. Its time to rent a convertible, put the top down, crank up the tunes, and just drive.
Here are seven of the best roads to drive when you’re on your next road trip across America.
Great River Road
We all know about some of the most famous roads in the country, but Great River Road might be new to you. This road takes you along the Mississippi River through ten states. This is a great way to visit several states and see the beauty of the natural landscape surrounding this amazing river that flows through the middle of the country. You’ll find some cool places along the way, with an ending point in New Orleans where you can enjoy the Big Easy.
Big Sur
Yes, you’ve got to drive Big Sur, which is also known as California Highway 1. This incredible road offers beautiful ocean views along one side and cliffs on the other. Big Sur takes you through Monterey, Pebble Beach, Carmel, and, of course, Big Sur. You can travel this road in one day and enjoy the amazing views. Some of the cool things you’ll see along the way include a 250-year-old tree called the Lone Cypress, along with several other incredible landmarks.
The Loneliest Road
The Loneliest Road could be exactly what you’re looking for in the many road trips you want to take across America. This road is actually US Highway 50, which takes you from Ocean City, Maryland to Sacramento, California. There are some areas along this road where you’ll see other drivers, but some long stretches are perfect for the isolation and peace you want to experience out on the open road. Enjoy the various small towns along the route that make this road a great ride for you.
The National Coal Heritage Trail
West Virginia is home to some of the most productive coal mines in the history of the country. The National Coal Heritage Trail weaves you through several coal-mining towns and near some of the railway lines that have brought coal to where it needs to go from the West Virginia mountains. Once you’ve finished this road trip, check out the National Scenic Byway that crosses the state to give you a wonderful tour through history. This road isn’t well-known, but it’s well worth your time driving it.
Gilmore Girls Road Trip
If you’re a fan of the Gilmore Girls show, you’ll want to visit the towns that serve as the inspiration for the show. This means taking one of the most picturesque road trips in America to the towns of Kent and Washington Depot in Connecticut. These towns are only about 2.5 hours outside of New York City and make it easy for you to get to enjoy some of the scenic views that you might have enjoyed during the run of the popular show.
Georgia Sea Islands
One of the best road trips in America will take you to the islands off the coast of Georgia. Travel the 915-mile road to St. Simons Island to Seat Island with others in between. You’ll visit Jekyll Island and Cumberland Island during your time on this road trip. It’s nearly impossible to take this trip and not enjoy some of the amazing BBQ, spend time on the beach, or tour the ruin of the Dungeness Mansion where the Carnegie family once lived when they vacationed on these islands in Georgia.
Route 66: A Portion
If you’re not looking for the whole of Route 66, which starts in Chicago and ends in California, maybe the Southwestern part of this road would be enough for you. By taking a five-state tour across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, you can ride on the Continental Divide that will give you one of the most iconic road trips in America. This amazing road goes through small towns and has many roadside attractions to make it a great road to travel.
Which of these seven road trips will be the next one you take in America? Any of them can serve as a great way to remember that driving can be a lot of fun and not just a chore or obligation.
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