What comes to your mind when you read this best road trips in the U.S. word, ‘Road Trip’? Freedom? Once-in-a-lifetime experience? Memory?
Road trips are a unique experience in itself. We get to decide which routes we want to choose while traveling. It’s spontaneous and it’s adventurous. The U.S. is a country full of various experiences. Cultures of England, Africa and Asia blend into
one here. The Statue of Liberty, one of the seven wonders is located here. To experience this culture, beauty and madness you ought to do it through road trips. So, here are the top 10 best road trips in the US
1. Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Coast Highway is a visually attractive place in the US. Its official name is State Route 1 (California State Route 1 or CA-1). The route is 650 miles long. It is recommended to visit it between April and October. To experience morning fog summers are the best time to cover this area through a road trip. Some iconic locations you can see while covering this route are Big Sur, Bixby Bridge, Hearst Castle, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cambria and Morro Bay. Take a week or two to visit this place to experience nature’s beauty.
Also read: Best Family-Friendly Cars for Road Trips in the USA
2. Great River Road
Great River Road follows the river Mississippi around 3000 miles. It starts from northern Minnesota and ends at the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not one road but the collection of state and local roads. Ten states namely Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana pass by while following this road. To experience its natural beauty and cultural sites one should visit it. The best time to visit this place is in spring or autumn. You can either stay for a shorter period or extend your stay to experience this once-in-a-lifetime experience. One can engage in various activities like riverboat cruises, Biking, bird watching, hiking, and visiting museums and cultural sites.
3. The Loneliest Road in America
Route 50 or The loneliest road in America as it’s generally known is about 408 miles long. It is located in Nevada following the places between the towns of Baker and Dayton. A magazine called Life named it “The Loneliest Road in America” in July of 1986. They gave this name as a mockery for its lonely routes having no sign of human existence. Later Naveda took it as a strategy to attract tourists.
The highway is full of deserts, valleys and mountains. Travelers are often asked to be cautious as there is not much rush and they can be targeted by robbers. People often travel here to disconnect themselves from the chaos of their place and experience solitude. It’s a nirvana for the people who are seeking peace and a slow life at least for a while. One can engage in hiking and camping here.
Also read: Top 10 Best Road Trips in the U.S. | Scenic & Iconic Driving Routes
4. Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic Highway that falls in the states of North Carolina and Virginia. It has a length of 469 miles. The construction work of this Highway began in 1935 and it was completed in 1987. Traveling through this road you will see mountains, valleys and sceneries. It is also the habitat of wildlife such as black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and a rich variety of birds and wildflowers. The best time to visit this highway is summer or fall as it occasionally gets closed due to snow or fog in winter. Some spots one should surely visit are Humpback Rocks, Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, Blue Ridge Music Center, Linville Gorge & Falls, Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, Graveyard Fields and Waterrock Knob. This place is free from urbanization so it’s better to fill your gas and pack food for the trip. It’s recommended to stay here for a day or two.
5. Route 66
Route 66 is the most popular highway in the US which stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. Its length is up to 2,448 miles and covers eight states namely Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. This route is extremely popular and its name is often mentioned in various magazines, television programs and songs. It is also known as “The Mother Road” or “Main Street of America” because it connects towns to the urban part of the land. It has great political importance as this route became the path for immigrants in World War 2. Some must-see spots of this route are Route 66 Begin Sign, Chain of Rocks Bridge, Cadillac Ranch, Petrified Forest National Park, Wigwam Motel and Santa Monica Pier.
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6. The Texas Hill Country
Central and southern parts of Texas form The Texas Hill Country. It is primarily a rural area with few suburban neighborhoods. Spread up to 18,000 square miles, it has diverse cultures as German, Mexican and Western people live here. It is famous for its hills, clear rivers and limestone cliffs. Through rugged paths, it has waterfalls which make this place fit for camping, swimming and hiking.
People from the U.S. and abroad come here for its Wineries & Breweries. It is considered one of the fastest-growing wine places in the U.S. You can also visit towns namely Fredericksburg, Wimberley Boerne and Blanco.
7. Seward Highway
Seward Highway is considered one of the prettiest highways in Alaska. It is about 125 miles long and assigned as both a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road. It is famous for the Turnagain Arm. In certain areas the changing tides of Turnagain are visible. If you are an animal enthusiast you may often see many animals including such as beluga whales, Dall sheep, moose, and bald eagles.
People take trips here to witness Portage Glacier which is visible near Mile 79. A town like Girdwood provides an opportunity for skiing and hiking. One can visit here throughout the year and enjoy the breathtaking view of this place.
Also read: Top 10 Tallest Black Actors in Hollywood – Height, Fame & Legacy
8. The Oregon Trail
Having a length of 2,170 miles The Oregon Trail holds cultural and historical importance in America. It covers seven states namely Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Landmarks like Chimney Rock in Nebraska and Independence Rock in Wyoming are there.
9. Overseas Highway
Overseas Highway is 113 miles 113-mile-long highway that runs through Florida. It connects Florida to the Florida Keys. It is famous for its island and breathtaking ocean scenery. It has approximately forty bridges which includes the longest and the most popular Seven Mile Bridge. It has the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on another apart from surreal turquoise waters.
It has some historical importance as well because it was built on previous railroad tracks of the Overseas Railroad, which was devastated by a hurricane in 1935. Some places to visit here are Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West.
Also read: Top 10 Best Road Trips Routes Across the USA for Epic Adventures
10. Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail or A.T. is located on the eastern side of the U.S. This hiking trail is about 2,200 miles long. It starts from Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine. It covers a total of fourteen states namely Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
It is best for hiking as it falls mostly in the forest. More than three million people hike here in a year.
Conclusion
The United States sure provides the most versatile experience from beautiful forests, glaciers, oceans, rivers etc. These places were the best of that.
