Hit the Road: 10 Must-Visit Iconic Road Trips for Your Next U.S. Vacation

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With summer upon us, it’s high time to map out this year’s unforgettable escape. While some might gravitate towards tropical islands, don’t forget that America brims with breathtaking landmarks. Plotting a road trip could be the perfect strategy to soak in all these stunning sights!

Best Road Trip Destinations in the US

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Get out your map and start dreaming because this list of 10 popular road trip vacation destinations will make you want to pack your bags and get going now.

1. Pacific Coast Highway, California

Pacific Coast Hwy
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Starting in San Francisco and ending in San Diego, this 600-mile road trip along the Pacific Coast is one of the most scenic in the country. 

Points of Interest:

  • Big Sur Coastline
  • Hearst Castle
  • Alcatraz
  • Golden Gate Bridge

2. Route 66, Illinois to California

Route 66 sign
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Historic Route 66, stretching 2046 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, is a classic American road trip with many iconic stops along the way.

Points of Interest:

  • Santa Monica Pier
  • Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
  • Cadillac Ranch, Texas
  • Route 66 Mid Point Cafe

3. Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana

Mississippi River road
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Meandering 1063 miles along the Mississippi River, this scenic road trip takes travelers through 10 states, with opportunities to explore small towns and historic sites.

Points of Interest:

  • World’s Largest Six Pack, Wisconsin
  • Field of Dreams Movie Site, Iowa
  • World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Illinois
  • Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash, Arkansas

4. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

Blue Ridge Prkway
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This 469-mile scenic road trip takes travelers through the Appalachian Mountains, with stunning views and plenty of hiking trails.

Points of Interest:

  • Peaks of Otter, Milepost 86
  • Mabry Mill, Milepost 176.1
  • Blue Ridge Music Center, Milepost 213
  • Linville Falls at Milepost 316

5. Florida Keys, Florida

bridge in Florida Keys
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Visitors will find plenty of opportunities for fishing, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beach on this 113-mile road trip that is meant to be savored.

Points of Interest:

  • Key West Shipwreck Museum & Observation Tower
  • Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
  • Dry Tortugas National Park/Fort Jefferson
  • Southernmost Point

6. Texas Hill Country, Texas

bluebonnets in Texas
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Everything is bigger in Texas, including the chance to explore historic towns and sample local cuisine on a Hill Country road trip.

Points of Interest:

  • Barton Springs Pool, Austin
  • Gruene Hall, New Braunfels
  • Schlitterbahn Waterpark, New Braunfels
  • National Museum of The Pacific War, Fredricksburg
  • Bastrop Opera House, Bastrop

7. Grand Circle, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico

Monument Valley Road
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Vacationers will drive through some of the most iconic national parks in the Southwest, including the world-famous Grand Canyon and several National Parks.

Points of Interest:

  • Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
  • Grand Canyon
  • Petrified Forest
  • Mesa Verde

8. The Great Lakes, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

covered bridge
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The Lake Superior Circle Tour encompasses 1,300 miles around the shorelines of the largest Great Lake. It offers opportunities to explore charming towns and scenic vistas.

Points of Interest:

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
  • Ashland Murals
  • Wisconsin Point Lighthouse
  • Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

9. Historic Route 1, Maine to Florida

Highway in Main next to Atlantic Ocean
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“America’s First Mile” stretches 2400 miles from Fort Kent, Maine to the Florida Keys, taking travelers along the Atlantic Coast, with opportunities to explore charming towns and historic sites.

Points of Interest:

  • Coral Castle, Florida
  • Kennedy Space Center, Florida
  • Smallest Church in America, Georgia
  • UFO Welcome Center, South Carolina

10. Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Hurricane Ridge
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This 330-mile look around the Olympic National Park offers travelers many opportunities to explore coastal towns and hike in the rainforest.

Points of Interest:

  1. Hurricane Ridge
  2. Fort Worden State Park
  3. Olympic Game Farm
  4. Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

Best Place to See the Grand Canyon at South Rim

Grand Canyon
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If you’re wondering where the best place to see the Grand Canyon sunrise at South Rim is, you’re not alone. With more than six million visitors to the national park each year, there are plenty of people trying to find the best place to see the show. There are some things you should know before you go, though, and we’ll do our best to answer all your questions for you.

Read: Best Place to See the Grand Canyon at South Rim

Best Vacation Spots in Arizona

Antelope Canyon
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Planning a trip that includes the best vacation spots in Arizona can be slightly overwhelming. There are simply too many cool things in Arizona to do even half of them in one vacation!

Read: Best Vacation Spots in Arizona

Southwest to Maui: How to Fly to Hawaii for Free

Fun couple on beach vacations in Hawaiian clothing
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Is Hawaii on your bucket list of places to go on vacation? You’re not alone! Each year almost 10 million people visit the Islands (not counting 2020), but as I’m sure you know, it’s not cheap. Good news, though. I’m going to share with you how you can fly on Southwest to Maui and any other Hawaiian island for free!

Read: Southwest to Maui: How to Fly to Hawaii for Free

Road Trip Essentials: Make Sure to Pack These in Your Car

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These travel tips are great no matter how far you’re driving and no matter if it’s your car or a rental. Sure, you won’t need all of them, but adding a few of these to your inventory will make all your future road trips that much better. See how many of these road trip essentials you need to add for your next adventure.

Road Trip Essentials: Make Sure to Pack These in Your Car

This article was produced and syndicated by Our Woven Journey.

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Karee Blunt is a nationally syndicated travel journalist, focused on discovering destinations and experiences that captivate and inspire others through her writing. She is also the founder of Our Woven Journey, a travel site focused on inspiring others to create memory-making adventures with their loved ones. Karee is passionate about encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone and live the life they dream of. She is the mother of six kids, including four through adoption, and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. You can learn more about Karee on her about me page.