Best U.S. Road Trip Ideas for Families, Couples + Weekend Travelers
When was the last time you packed up your favorite road trip snacks, made an epic playlist, and got in the car to head out on vacation? A road trip is one of the most flexible + affordable ways to travel, but is often overshadowed by faraway destinations. Whether you’re planning a family trip, an easy summer trip for friends, or a simple solo getaway, a road trip is a great option. Here are our top picks for the best U.S. road trip ideas.
How To Plan an Easy Road Trips in the US
If you’re planning your own road trip, here are a few suggestions to make your trip as easy and seamless as possible:
Choose a destination that is 3-6 hours from your home
Pick a place along the way to break up the drive. It can be a small town, an attraction, or a roadside restaurant. Splitting your drive into two segments makes it feel a lot easier and the time will pass faster!
Look into alternative routes. Most navigation apps will just take you on the highway to get to your destination as quickly as possible. Look around to see if there are non-toll routes or alternate routes you can take to make your drive more scenic or to take you through charming small towns that you may not have discovered otherwise.
Pack easily-accessible, easy-to-eat-while-driving snacks. The key to success on a road trip is to never get hungry or dehydrated!
The Best Road Trip Routes in the US
New England - Vermont + Maine
Few road trips in the US deliver the mix of natural beauty, farm-to-table dining, and small town charm that a drive through Vermont and Maine does, especially in the fall. Starting in Vermont, you’ll pass a local apple orchard, maple syrup farm, or cheese shop every couple of miles. Picturesque towns like Stowe are full of cute cafes and boutiques, and hiking or skiing are easily accessible. Then, when you cross into Maine, you’ll be greeted by coastal charm. You can drive north to Acadia National Park to catch sunrise at Cadillac Mountain, or you can explore the Coastal Botanical Gardens and spend a day walking through towns like Freeport, or larger cities like Portland, Maine. Though the road conditions here in the winter can be tough, this is a great road trip option year round.
Pacific Northwest - Seattle to San Francisco
The drive from Seattle to San Francisco along the coast is widely considered one of the most scenic road trips in the United States, and for good reason. From Seattle, head west to Olympic National Park to enjoy the beautiful hiking the park has to offer. From there, continue south. You’ll soon find yourself immersed in Oregon’s iconic Douglas-fir forests. The coast is peppered with charming towns. Cannon Beach is the most popular and the easiest to access, but continuing south will take you to off-the-beaten-path destinations like Manzanita and Florence, followed by forty miles of beautiful sand dunes. Along the way, you can hike to beautiful lighthouses and go whale watching. Once you cross into Northern California, you can take in the larger-than-life Redwood trees in Redwood National Forest. Be sure to check out the Avenue of the Giants! Before you reach San Francisco, you can spend time wandering the charming town of Mendocino and Point Reyes. Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge before ending your trip is just the cherry on top!
Coastal California - San Francisco to San Diego
California's Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is the road trip that shows up on every bucket list for good reason. Every single part of the drive down the coast is scenic, and takes you through a wide range of charming towns. Just south of San Francisco, you can spend the day wandering the charming streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea or hiking through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The central coast takes you to San Luis Obispo, where you can see the iconic Hearst Castle before continuing down to Santa Barbara and Ojai. You may hit traffic around LA, but reward yourself with an afternoon in charming Laguna Beach as your last stop before arriving in sunny San Diego!
Florida Keys - Miami to Key West
The drive from Miami to Key West is a 113-mile stretch of pure coastal beauty. The entire drive is down the Overseas Highway, which is a 2-lane road for most of the drive. Key Largo, the first island along the drive, is pretty crowded because it’s so easily accessible, but it’s also home to some of the best diving in the country. As you continue south, the crowds peter out, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views. Curry Hammock State Park is a great place to go kayaking through mangrove trails, or continue on to Bahia Honda State Park where you can swim on the Atlantic or in the Gulf. From there, continue down the road for 45 more minutes to exit 0 and you’ll find yourself in Key West! You won’t want to miss the sunsets, and a day trip to Dry Tortugas National park is well worth it.
Road Trip Packing Tips for Stress-Free Travel
Traveling with kids? Road trips are one of the easiest ways to create memories together. With Pack Up + Go, we tailor itineraries to be family-friendly:
Shorter drives with a fun pit stop to break up the travel time
Kid-friendly dining options and activities
Activities tailored specifically to your family’s interests
No two families are alike, which is why each of our trips is hand-planned specifically for what your family loves to do.
Why Surprise Road Trips Are Trending
Surprise road trips and curated travel experiences are becoming more popular because they remove the stress of planning.
At Pack Up + Go, we help travelers enjoy spontaneous road trips without worrying about accommodations, itineraries, or reservations.
Want help planning your next trip?