Have you ever wanted to hit the road and leave all your worries and daily stress behind? All you need is a comfortable car, awesome tunes, a friend or two, and the open road is all yours to enjoy another meaning of freedom.
Great movies like Thelma and Louise or Due Date have taught us that a road trip is one of the coolest things you can ever do at least once in a lifetime.
If you don’t know where to start, consider guided tours with a road trip company that also offers car rental for those who want to enjoy a solo drive. Make sure to compare prices online before you rent a car.
Route 66
Route 66 offers one of the best American road trips, starting off in Lake Michigan to LA. This fabulous tour can take you a couple of weeks but if you want to enjoy popular attractions and take your time to contemplate the beauty of it, a month would be perfect.
Don’t miss the oldest church in the US, St Joseph’s, in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, and the largest rocking chair in the world in Fanning, Missouri. There are also plenty of great diners and motels to stop by, not to mention how sunsets are going to be beyond magic!
Great River Road
There’s no better way to embrace the charm and power of the great Mississippi River than driving through this road, which will allow you to explore 10 states. This route is perfect for nature lovers who will absolutely adore all the wildlife resorts lining the route, such as the Theodore Roosevelt Refuge and the Yazoo Refuge.
Consider spending the night in a quaint river town, like Rosedale and Greenville, and don’t forget to sample tasty foods and indulge in the charming sound of jazz once you reach New Orleans.
Pacific Coast Highway
Get your sunglasses and sunscreen, and get ready to fill in your heart with the ocean’s positive vibes. Roofs off, windows down! From San Francisco to San Diego on the Pacific Coast Highway, this is one of the most astonishing road trips you’ll ever have.
Traveling through this soul-reviving highway can take you about 3 days. There are no words to describe the feeling you’ll get while watching the sunset over the Pacific. If you’re the driver, it’s best to head south to north. And, oh, make sure not to miss the Spanish Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
The Loneliest Road
The Loneliest Road starts in Ocean City, Maryland, and ends in Sacramento, California, traveling through twelve states and four state capitals. You’ll certainly need a companion (who knows how to use a camera) during this long, quiet, and beautiful road trip because you’ll likely feel lonely after countless miles of sweeping mountains and dusty highways.
The actual driving surface is nice and smooth. Plus, you’ll find cafes and gas stations along the way. Make sure to stop at Great Basin National Park to appreciate its natural beauty and try to lay on your back to watch the sparkling and shooting stars at night.
Overseas Highway
If you don’t want to spend days and days cramped up in your car, you should rather go for a short road trip on the Overseas Highway. This 113-mile route brings you across the ocean in 3-4 hours. It’s going to be just you and the water as if you’re flying or rather floating.
Although it’s a mini road trip, take your time to cherish the scenery, enjoy some great seafood, and stop at tourist traps. Amazingly, you can even take a driving break and go swim with the dolphins at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada.
The High Road to Taos
The spectacular High Road to Taos offers an incredible American trip with a Hispanic flavor, winding through desert sands, forests, mountains, farms, and lovely villages, like Chimayo, Penasco, and Truchas. Although you won’t find many options when it comes to shopping and dining, you will get to enjoy plenty of art as the region has become a haven for artists.
Don’t forget to bring your cowboy hat to add to the drama as you recall all the Western movies you’ve seen.
Hill Country Hideaways
Hill Country can offer the best country road trip you could ever have, starting north of Austin in San Antonio way to Bandera, the cowboy capital where you can dance your heart out and enjoy as many onion rings as you want.
Don’t miss visiting Utopia, Texas, even if it’s for the sake of its name! It’s small yet very lovely, combining trees, rivers, and lakes in a tiny paradise. You might end up staying in for a night or two before getting in your car once again.