The US is home to some of the best summer road trips in the entire world! This country is rich in natural treasures from painted mountain towns, dreamy beaches, and whimsical deserts.
Ready to hit the open road? What are you waiting for?
The 15 best US destinations for summer road trips:
1. The Pacific Coast Highway
Looking for summer road trip destinations with cool beach days and coastal cliff views? The Pacific Northwest is for you!
Starting in America’s Finest City, San Diego, and finishing up around Mendocino, the Pacific Coast Highway is the classic California road trip, showcasing famous cities, gorgeous coastlines, and quirky towns.
Besides views of Big Sur, iconic stops include San Francisco, Malibu, and Los Angeles.
2. Florida Overseas Highway A1A
True to its name, the Florida Overseas Highway spans the entire Atlantic coast of the state, extending out into the Caribbean Sea for some truly unique photo opportunities. The Overseas Highway showcases the natural beauty Florida is known for, a can’t-miss for anyone with an eye for ocean views. The origination point of US Route 1, Mile 0 (Key West), is here as well!
PS: No trip to South Florida is complete without visiting the famous Everglades.
3. Route 66: IL, MO, KS, OK, TX, NM, AZ, CA
Definitely the most well-known route on this list, Route 66 has been referred to by many as the ‘Great American Road Trip.’ This route starts around Chicago, Il, ends near Santa Monica, CA, and covers 8 states.
Keep your eyes peeled for Route 66-themed souvenirs and roadside photo opportunities.
Route 66 is the purest look into Americana, with antique gas stations, eccentric diners, and roadside art.
4. Seward Highway, Alaska
This highway fully displays the rugged Alaskan coastline and the Chugach Mountains, beginning in Anchorage and ending in Seward. There are lots of great breweries along the way for the discerning drinker, and the Kenai Fjords offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience of glacier kayaking. Make sure you pack appropriately if you plan to hike.
5. Lassen Scenic Byway, California & Oregon
This underrated byway starts in Volcanic National Park, CA, and ends in Chemult, OR.
Featuring dormant volcanoes, waterfalls, and even the cult notoriety of Mt. Shasta, this route offers a wide variety of natural formations and marvels. Chemult itself is home to the deepest (and, in my opinion, most beautiful) lake in the US, Crater Lake.
6. Denver to Aspen, Colorado
Heading Northwest from Denver and including many charming mountain towns such as Silverthorne, Twin Lakes, Leadville, and Breckenridge, this route is rich with wildflowers, lakes, mountains, and Independence Pass over the Rocky Mountains.
7. Olympic Peninsula Loop, Washington
Just a few hours from Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula Loop is a metaphorically yellow brick road that will take you through lush Pacific Northwest forests and moody beaches.
The loop will take you into Forks, Washington, the location of the Twilight films and novels. Fans will find many tours and themed photo locations.
Beyond that, there is Rialto Beach, famous for its Icelandic-style sea stacks, and the Hurricane Ride, which offers exciting views of the surrounding mountains.
8. Hana Highway, Hawaii
Is any list of summer road trips complete without Hawaii?
Beginning in Kaluhui and ending in Haiku-Pauwela, this winding jungle road offers some vibrant Hawaiian flora and waterfalls straight out of a postcard.
Note: I recommend not driving this one yourself. I took this Road to Hana Tour and even sitting in the front passenger seat, I was sick from the turns and elevation, the only time in my life I’ve been car sick.
9. Black Hills, South Dakota
Are you surprised to see South Dakota on a list of the best summer road trips?
You shouldn’t be- South Dakota has much natural beauty that is often overlooked.
The Black Hills covers an area of nearly 5,000 miles, including Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, and the Crazy Horse Memorial. It also looks into the past with its many ghost towns and underground caverns for the brave.
10. Oregon Coast Highway 101
If you’re looking for a summer road trip destination with beaches but less heat, then road-tripping the Oregon Coast is for you!
The Oregon Coast Highway extends between Brookings (and Secret Beach!) and has only the finest moody weather and authentic coastal towns. Also worth noting are the beaches and volcanic rock formations along the coast.
11. Million Dollar Highway, Colorado
Stretching between Silverton, CO and Ouray, CO, the Million Dollar Highway is a scenic route with switchbacks and sheer cliffs for your amusement and anxiety.
Silverton is rich in silver mining history and good ‘ol mountain town charm.
12. Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming
Ranging along Highway 212 from Red Lodge to the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and boasting the highest elevation of any drive in the Rocky Mountains, the Beartooth Highway shows off much of the rugged beauty of both states.
It even offers a top-of-the-world viewpoint, inviting you to take in the sights of Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains and endless valleys of evergreens, waterfalls, and glacial lakes.
13. Joshua Tree to Lake Tahoe, California
Fun fact: Many classic Westerns from the 1920s-1950s were filmed in and around Mammoth Lakes, which should excite any road-tripping film buffs.
A winding journey on Route 395, this route will take you from the southern California desert through the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains and all the way to Lake Tahoe.
Some great stopping points include Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite National Park, and Mono Lake, each offering its own unique experiences.
14. Skyline Drive, Virginia
If you love songs about country roads taking you home, this drive is for you.
With the very same Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, with lots of azaleas in June and over 70 overlooks, all worthy of a picture or 10.
15. Park Loop in Acadia National Park, Maine
The Park Loop starts and ends at the Hulls Visitor’s Center, featuring a scenic tour of historic lighthouses and sandy beaches. Acadia National Park is one of the most stunning, can’t-miss destinations in the Northeast.
Summer is the most popular time to visit Maine, and I would definitely recommend getting an early start to avoid the crowds.
Check-in
There is beauty to be found wherever one chooses to look, particularly in a country with a rich and varied cultural history, such as the U.S., and I know this post has inspired your trips!
If you have any route plans or suggestions of your own, I’d love to read them below!
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