6 Romantic Road Trips Retirees Will Love

When was the last time you took a romantic road trip with your partner?

Is there anything more romantic than an epic road trip with the one you love on the passenger side? Luckily, our country has thousands of miles of scenic roadways with many beaches, national parks, and mountain vistas.

On a romantic road trip, there are no “to-do lists,” only bucket lists! And instead of stressing about getting things done, you’ll enjoy sunset picnics, secluded canyons, and long stretches of back-road rambling.

You might want to consider a road trip if you find romantic candlelight dinners and carriage rides cliched. What better way to rekindle the spark than planning to explore the romantic side of the US together?

For the ultimate bonding experience, sync your playlists, grab your favorite road trip snacks, and embark on one of these 4 romantic road trips for couples TODAY!

Explore The California Coast From Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo, California

Start off your romantic road trip in dazzling Los Angeles and spend a day exploring iconic landmarks like TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Sign before hopping on Highway 101 up to Ventura.

Here, you can try your hand at surfing or unwind by riding the ferry to Santa Cruz Island, one of California’s Channel Islands, to take a leisurely hike and explore the area.

From there, continue up the coastline up to Santa Barbara, where you can check out the urban wine trail. Spend the night at the historic Hotel Californian, and the following day take Route 154 through the winding vineyards and mountains of the Santa Ynez Valley.

We highly recommend taking a detour to the charming Danish town of Solvang to enjoy authentic European pastries like homemade ebelskivers.

On your way back to Highway 101, make a pit stop at OstrichLand to buy the most massive eggs you’ve ever seen in your life!

And from here, you’ll travel up through Los Alamos and the Santa Maria Valley vineyards, which passes through the beautiful shoreside city of Pismo Beach, and finally concluding your trip in San Luis Obispo for an assortment of outdoor experiences and an incredible array of culinary experiences.

Discover The Sunshine State From Miami to the Florida Keys

Forget the old-school diners and no-frills romance. The Miami to the Florida Keys romantic road trip route is the way to go! You might be asking: what’s so fun about driving through a thin strand of pavement on top of long bridges?

Well, picture being surrounded by blue skies and an even bluer ocean! You’ll get to explore one of the most underrated scenic routes with your significant other by your side.

The complete romantic road trip would take about 3 or 4 hours to finish, and it stretches approximately 112 miles going over 42 bridges.

Be sure to also include popular hotspots like Everglades National Park, Rain Barrel Artisans Village, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, and the Dolphin Research Center.

There are also lots of opportunities along the way to go scuba diving and snorkeling. All this makes this romantic road trip a can’t-miss, especially for couples who are looking for a bit more adventure!

Walk On The Wild Side At America’s Northwestern National Parks

Start your romantic road trip at Yellowstone National Park, where over 10,000 geysers and hot springs, including Old Faithful, can be enjoyed.

Next, explore Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, which will greet you with a magnificent mountain landscape, enchanting alpine lakes, and expansive grassy plains.

We recommend spending your night at Lost Creek Ranch and Spa to experience the life of the Old West against the backdrop of Teton vistas.

This romantic road trip is where you’ll get the perfect chance to go horseback riding, among other activities, and the rustic-luxe log cabin accommodation will surely make your romantic rod trip worth it.

Wake up refreshed the next day and head towards Arches National Park, with its 18-mile picturesque drive and over 2,000 arches, including the famous Delicate Arch.

And finally, drive over to Canyonlands National Park, which includes three areas for all types of adventure levels.

Pick from the less accessible: backcountry Needles region, the isolated: off-road Maze section, and the easily reachable Island of the Sky, with a paved scenic drive featuring views of fins, buttes, and water-carved canyons.

Discover The Road Less Traveled From New York City To Shelter Island

This option is a fantastic romantic road trip with one of the most underrated routes: New York City to Shelter Island.

Casually located between Long Island’s North and South Forks, this Island is a marvelous and dream-like place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple for a few hours.

If you’re visiting New York City, leave your car behind and head towards either the North or South Ferry, which offers accessible ferry rides to Shelter Island. You’ll get to explore many untouched beaches and explore manor houses.

They offer an entirely different and laid-back experience from what you can experience on the mainland. Once here, we also recommend you check out the Shelter Island Historical Society, the Mashomack Preserve, Wades Beach, and the Orient Beach State Park.

A road trip like this typically takes about 2 hours, and it’s perfect for a couple’s trip.

Explore Mother Nature On Going to the Sun Road

This romantic road trip is a 50 miles scenic mountain road in the Rocky Mountains in Glacier National Park. It traverses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.

It’s a fantastic romantic road trip for those who want to see beautiful valleys, remarkable glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, multicolored wildflowers, and maybe even spot some wildlife.

The road is only open during the summer months, and depending on weather conditions, it generally opens around late June and closes at the end of October. An excellent tip to remember is that the scenic route is famous and, therefore, can be very busy sometimes.

The parking lot at Logan Pass is usually packed between 9:30 and 4:00, which can lead to long road delays.

Ideally, you should hit the road as early as possible to beat the traffic, and you’ll spot more wildlife this way because animals are more active earlier in the day to avoid the midday heat.

Get Your Kicks On Historic Route 66 From Chicago To Los Angeles

Stretching all the way from the Windy City to the end of the Santa Monica Pier in LA, this 2,500-mile route is often called the “Mother Road.”

As one of the most remarkable American road trip experiences, the 38-hour drive can be spun into a romantic getaway filled with fascinating pit stops.

Begin your journey in Chicago, where you can try a deep-dish pizza and admire the incredible works at the Art Institute of Chicago, before steering towards Tulsa, Oklahoma, to visit the Blue Dome Entertainment District, a giant area with chic eateries, indie boutiques, and local pubs.

Next, stop at Cadillac Ranch in Texas to leave your mark on the old cars, and in New Mexico, stroll through Albuquerque’s unique vintage shops, stopping at the historic Route 66 neon sign to snap a photo.

Explore the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. And finally, end your romantic road trip in sunny surroundings at the Santa Monica Pier.

Now that you’ve made it to the Golden State reward yourself with a luxurious stay at Santa Monica Proper, which epitomizes the quintessential, laid-back Californian lifestyle.

Be sure to let us know which of these romantic road trips was YOUR favorite. And if you’re looking for some more ideas for your next trip, we recommend reading: 4 Stunning Summer Bucket List Destinations You’re Missing Out On