Top 10 Breathtaking American Road Trip Destinations

Let’s discover some unforgettable American road trip destinations!

As the iconic song goes, ‘Get Your Kicks On Route 66’, but why stop there when there are so many more amazing American road trip destinations you can choose to go on that you’ll remember for the rest of your life?

Ever since the first successful North American transcontinental trip by automobile took place in 1903 by H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker (accompanied by a dog named Bud), it has been the dream of many Americans to throw off the nine to five, jump behind the wheel of an American classic car and just experience some scenic drives in the US.

Well, we’ve got you covered with 10 of the absolute best American road trip destinations our amazing country has to offer. So, take a seat, strap on your seat belt, start your engines and let’s take a drive on the wild side.

Route 66

So, let’s start with the granddaddy of all road trip adventures, the iconic Route 66. Also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America, or the Mother Road, This stretch of pure Americana is an eye-popping 2, 451 miles (3, 945 Kilometers) from Chicago to Los Angeles, but sadly it has seen many changes since it was assigned the numerical designation 66 on April 30, 1926.

And although it has now been replaced with a new Interstate highway system to reduce time and travel distance, what can’t be replaced is its place in American history.

This American road trip destination is contrasted with vast desolate desert plains and stunning old highway towns and remains just as popular today as it was when Bobby Troup composed his popular rhythm and blues song back in 1946.

Pacific Coast Highway

Another iconic route that has gained a reputation as one of the best drives in the United States and has another route that has a famous song dedicated to it (this time by The Mamas and the Papas) is the legendary Pacific Coast Highway.

Although it takes approximately 10 hours to traverse the 900 kilometers (600 miles) that hug the rugged Californian coastline, it’s highly recommended you take your sweet time.

Why? Because this American road trip destination is considered to be one of the most beautifully scenic roads not just in America, but in the world.

Plus, your trip along this amazing route will allow you to experience the best California has to offer with pioneer outposts, surfing villages, farm-fresh foods, local wine, roadside kitsch, Hollywood glitz, and bohemia.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Connecting the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina, this 469 miles (755 kilometers) drive will see you leave the hustle and bustle of modern life behind you.

How so you ask? Well, this route has banned billboards, commercial traffic and is completely devoid of any commercial towns.

Depending on what time of year you decide to set off, this American road trip destination is as colorful as it is astonishing as from the end of September to October you can experience the deep reds and vibrant yellows of the fall season.

Or if you’d prefer to travel between May and June, you’ll get to witness a whole new array of wildflowers that bloom orange, white, pink, purple and red during the spring.

Whenever you decide to go, you’ll get yourself five and a half hours of mountainous terrains, stunning waterfalls, and all the wildlife your heart can take.

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Now for something a bit shorter but no less beautiful, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is 50 miles (80 kilometers) of jagged cliff-hugging mountain glory and is the only road to span the Glacier National Park in Northwest Montana.

Whether you start from either Route 2 Or Route 86, this east/west, west/east road trip adventure over the continental divide is a visual feast for any driver.

From the lush green forests alongside Lake Mac Donald, down into the deep valley surrounded by glacial covered mountain tops, to the Saint Mary Lake with its awe-inspiring 100 ft (160 m) crystal waterfall, this American road trip destination is a must for every nature lover wanting to experience the very best of the American outdoors.

Olympic Peninsula

Whether you want to go clockwise or counter-clockwise, you’ll definitely want to take your time traversing this 330 miles (531 kilometers) majestic American road trip destination.

Starting of in Seattle, you can make your way to the Olympic Peninsula by connecting onto highway 101 via Junction 104 and experience the snow-covered mountain tops of the Olympic ranges while cruising along picturesque shorelines.

If the gushing waterfalls and historical logging towns weren’t enough, you’ll get to take in what is arguably considered “the most beautiful lake in the United States,” Lake Crescent.

If you fancy stretching your legs then you can always take a hike through the Hoh and Quinault rainforests located in the heart of the national park on this American road trip destination.

Brandywine Valley

Located between South Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, this may be the shortest drive on our list but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as spectacular as the others.

Just 19 miles (30 kilometers) long, the Brandywine Valley might be a little route but the loop takes you through scenic chateau country peppered with historic summer estates, wildflower-lined narrow roads that twist and trace the Brandywine River.

If you want to extend your time on this delighted American road trip destination then you can always stop at the 1,077 acre Longwood Gardens which includes an outdoor topiary, 20 indoor gardens, and spring-fed lakes.

Once you’ve finished this minuscule road trip adventure, just make your way to Route 100 and follow the narrow road until it connects to Rte. 52 which will take you right back to square one.

Cape Cod

This wonderful geographic cape extends into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts and offers drivers a 57 mile (91kilometres) visual and historic feast for the eyes, especially the scenic Route 6a.

And it doesn’t stop there as from Sandwich through to Brewster, you get to experience the wonder of the dune-lands and the charming historic villages on this American road trip destination that go back to the very early days of our nation as the earliest ones were established in 1639.

And while you’re heading to Orleans, make sure you take in the stunning beaches before you get to take in the majesty of the oak and pine forest and freshwater ponds that the Nickerson State Park has to offer.

Historic Columbia River Highway

If history is your thing, then this American road trip destination is the one for you (the clues in the name), Constructed in 1917, this 23 miles (37 Kilometers) road trip adventure is the oldest scenic route in the country.

So much so that today it is revered as a national historic landmark. Starting at Troutdale, your journey will see you take in the amazing Vista House which sits over 700 ft above the Columbia River, followed by more waterfalls than you can shake a stick at (the LaTourell Falls Wahkeenah Falls-242 ft and Multnomah Falls-620ft).

You’ll enjoy all of this while enjoying the breathtaking foliage-covered cliffs littered with old bridges and the carved-out road tunnels that cut through the cliffsides.

Red Rock Country

While a lot of the routes mentioned on this list twist and turn their way through the best of the American outdoors, this American road trip destination is a straight journey through the vast and seemingly endless desert terrains watched over by skyscraper-like rock formations that make you feel like you’re on a road trip adventure on Mars.

Not only will you feel like you are driving on a different planet, you’ll also feel like you are driving in a time machine that pays homage to our pre-colonial past as your journey will take you past the National Monument/ancient cliff dwelling known as “the Montezuma Castle.”

And while you’re there you can also take in the splendor of the Rock State Park.

Outer Banks

Finally, our last journey will see you enjoy the majesty of the ocean that licks our east coast with the salt-filled air of a 100 mile(160 Kilometers) route along Highway 12 (aka Ocean Front Hwy-12) of the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Here you will take in the white sand beaches, a whole host of historic colonial towns, and a window into the past with some truly inspiring fishing villages.

To get yourself to this amazing American road trip destination you have to cross the Wright Memorial Bridge to Kitty Hawk, after that you can make your way north on 12 to explore the duck beaches and town of Corolla.

After that, you can return south of Kitty Hawk through the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Cape Hatteras National to appreciate the historic lighthouses that will guide you to the end of your journey.

And Finally…..

This last page may not have a scenic route for you to traverse (we’ve given you ten already) but what it does have is some sage advice before you head off on one of the many spectacular American road trip destinations we have highlighted today.

Plan everything in advance – you can thank the technology Gods that we don’t have to unfurl a map bigger than ourselves anymore and can rely on Google maps instead. So, make sure you plot out your journey before you set off.

Start, and then stop – Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before you set off. Obviously, you want to be alert on your journey, but we are more concerned that if you are tired, you’ll not be fully compos mentis to take in the amazing sights we’ve described.

At your Service – Finally, ensure that your car is in perfect working order, some of the routes we’ve highlighted might be a feast for the eyes, but that won’t be the case if you break down in the middle of nowhere.

If you enjoyed reading about all these fantastic American road trip destinations, be sure to hit the share button to tell your friends about it on Facebook! And don’t forget to bring your camera to snap some memorable shots!

But Must See Places has much more to offer. If you love scenic drives in the US, we also highly recommend checking out: 7 Central California Coastal Road Trips With Incredible Views