5 Great Road Trip Routes in the United States

2025 (and 2026) are set to be the years of the American road trip. With gas prices at lows not seen in years and a new wave of travel-friendly remote work policies, there’s never been a better time to get behind the wheel and watch the country unfold through your windshield. Whether you’re taking on the Rockies in an SUV, glamping in Georgia or retracing history along a centennial Route 66 in 2026, the road is calling.

We’ve rounded up five unforgettable road trip routes. Each one is packed with standout stops, detours worth taking and practical advice for where to stay, what to eat and when to go.

» Learn more: The beginner’s guide to renting an RV

• Ideal trip length: 3–4 weeks.

• Best time to go: March to May or September to early November.

• Route suggestion: San Diego → Anza-Borrego → Joshua Tree → Death Valley → Mammoth Lakes → Yosemite → Tahoe → Shasta → Redwoods → Point Reyes → Big Sur → back to San Diego.

From the rugged cliffs of Big Sur to the alpine serenity of Lake Tahoe, California packs an entire continent’s worth of scenery into a single state. Spring brings wildflower super blooms in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; fall means fewer crowds in Yosemite. Make time for:

• Ventana Big Sur: A luxury hideaway perched on the cliffs (and arguably one of the best uses of Hyatt points).

• McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: This waterfall plunging into the Pacific is real, and it’s breathtaking.

• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park: Walk among 300-foot giants and see the fern-covered canyon featured in Jurassic Park.

Be sure to drive Highway 1 slowly. This loop is best savored with plenty of time for stops. You might also leave room for maybe a few wine tastings in Santa Barbara on your way back.

And since this loop is packed with California national parks, consider aligning with a free entry day or purchasing an annual pass.

Recommended route (clockwise from San Diego):

1. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park – Hit spring for the famed wildflower bloom. Stay in the town of Borrego Springs at La Casa del Zorro or camp at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground.

2. Joshua Tree National Park – Base yourself in Pioneertown and spend days bouldering or stargazing. Don’t miss brunch at Crossroads Cafe. Make a stop in downtown Palm Springs for mid-century modern shopping and architecture.

3. Death Valley National Park – Visit in shoulder seasons to avoid the brutal heat. Hike Golden Canyon and watch sunrise at Zabriskie Point.

4. Mammoth Lakes and the John Muir Wilderness – Ideal in summer for alpine hikes and lakeside picnics.

5. Yosemite National Park – Book months in advance if you plan to camp. Opt for Glacier Point over Yosemite Valley for crowd-free views.

6. Lake Tahoe – In summer, paddleboard in Emerald Bay. In fall, leaf peep along Hwy 89.

7. Shasta-Trinity National Forest – For solitude and serious hiking, head to Castle Crags.

8. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park – Hike the Fern Canyon trail (featured in Jurassic Park).

9. Point Reyes National Seashore – Stay at the cozy Olema House or Inverness Park Market cabins.

10. Big Basin and Highway 1 to Big Sur – A slow drive here is essential. Break at Bixby Bridge, then stay at Ventana Big Sur, one of the best uses of Hyatt points on earth.

11. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – Visit McWay Falls, then picnic with sea otters.

12. Return via Santa Barbara and Anza-Borrego

• Ideal trip length: 3–5 weeks.

• Best time to go: June to September.

• Route suggestion: Salt Lake City → Sawtooths → Jackson → Yellowstone → Glacier → Bighorn → Black Canyon → Rocky Mountain NP → Mesa Verde → back via Moab.

The Rocky Mountains offer a road trip through some of America’s most iconic and awe-inspiring landscapes. Summer brings long days and open alpine roads.

• Glacier National Park: Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road at dawn for wildlife sightings without the traffic.

• Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Camp or stay in cabins at Roosevelt Lodge for a historic, rustic experience.

• Great Sand Dunes National Park: Bring a sandboard or rent one.

Consider flying into Salt Lake City and out of Denver, especially if you want to avoid backtracking. Side quests to the Utah national parks of Arches or Canyonlands are strongly encouraged.

Recommended route (clockwise from Salt Lake City):

1. Sawtooth National Forest, ID – Drive Hwy 75 through Ketchum and Stanley. Camp at Redfish Lake.

2. Craters of the Moon, ID – Lava tubes and cinder cones feel like you’re driving on the moon.

3. Jackson, WY – Stay at Cowboy Village Resort, explore Grand Teton NP and raft the Snake River.

4. Yellowstone National Park, WY/MT – Avoid peak crowds by entering via the Lamar Valley. Stay at Roosevelt Lodge Cabins.

5. Glacier National Park, MT – Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Stay in Whitefish for après-hike breweries.

6. Bighorn Canyon, MT/WY – Underrated and uncrowded. Rent a kayak at Horseshoe Bend Marina.

7. Devils Tower, WY – America’s first national monument. Take the Red Beds Trail loop.

8. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO – Base in Estes Park. Hike Bear Lake or try Trail Ridge Road.

9. Great Sand Dunes NP, CO – Rent a sandboard or hike under the stars.

10. Mesa Verde, CO – Tour ancient cliff dwellings with a park ranger.

11. Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO – Dramatic and less-visited. Camp at South Rim Campground.

12. Return via Moab, UT (bonus: Arches or Canyonlands)

• Ideal trip length: 2–3 weeks.

• Best time to go: April to June or September to October.

• Route suggestion: Chicago → St. Louis → Tulsa → Amarillo → Santa Fe → Winslow → Seligman → Los Angeles

The “Mother Road” turns 100 this year, and small towns are throwing parties. Part roadside Americana, part scenic drive, Route 66 is all charm. Do it one-way with a rental car, flying into Chicago and out of LAX for maximum efficiency.

• Start at the Route 66 sign in Chicago, then snack your way south through old-school diners and vintage museums.

• Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo: A public art installation made of half-buried Cadillacs.

• Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ: Sleep in a concrete teepee for the full retro experience.

• End at Santa Monica Pier: Snap a photo by the “End of the Trail” sign.

Recommended route:

1. Chicago, IL – Start with Lou Malnati’s deep-dish and a photo at the Route 66 start marker.

2. Pontiac, IL – Visit the Route 66 Hall of Fame and grab a milkshake at Edinger’s Filling Station.

3. St. Louis, MO – Ride up the Gateway Arch, then eat BBQ at Pappy’s Smokehouse.

4. Cuba, MO – Known as “Mural City.” Spend a night at the vintage Wagon Wheel Motel.

5. Tulsa, OK – Detour to the Blue Dome District for art, music, and tacos.

6. Amarillo, TX – Visit Cadillac Ranch and eat a 72-oz steak at The Big Texan (if you dare).

7. Santa Rosa, NM – Cool off in Blue Hole, a deep spring-fed swimming spot.

8. Albuquerque, NM – Take the Sandia Peak Tramway for epic views.

9. Winslow, AZ – Yes, stand on the corner. Then tour Meteor Crater.

10. Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – Don’t skip the Painted Desert overlook.

11. Seligman, AZ – The birthplace of Route 66 revival. Pure kitsch and proud of it.

12. Los Angeles, CA – End at Santa Monica Pier and toast the journey at the historic Formosa Cafe.

• Ideal trip length: 10–14 days.

• Best time to go: September to October (fall foliage), or June for coastal towns.

• Route suggestion: Albany → Adirondacks → Stowe → White Mountains → Acadia → Boston → Cape Cod → Mystic → back to Albany.

This loop mixes colonial history, seaside villages and bucketloads of leaf-peeping opportunities. Perfect for short drives and long breakfasts in cozy B&Bs.

• Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire: One of the best fall drives in the country.

• Acadia National Park: Hike the Beehive Trail and eat popovers at Jordan Pond House.

• Mystic, CT: Ride a schooner, tour the historic seaport and eat at the real Mystic Pizza.

Expect shorter drives between stops and plenty of small-town charm. If you can, book B&Bs in advance for peak foliage season.

Recommended route:

1. Adirondack Park, NY – Hike around Lake Placid or paddle the Saranac Lakes.

2. Green Mountains, VT – Base in Stowe or Manchester. Sip maple lattes and shop flannel.

3. White Mountains, NH – Take the Kancamagus Highway. Stay in North Conway for views.

4. Allagash Wilderness, ME – Wilderness canoeing at its finest. Go guided if you're new to it.

5. Acadia National Park, ME – Bike the Carriage Roads and eat popovers at Jordan Pond House.

6. Salem & Boston, MA – Explore witches and revolutionaries.

7. Cape Cod, MA – Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard or chill in Provincetown.

8. Newport, RI – Tour Gilded Age mansions and walk the Cliff Walk.

9. Mystic & coastal CT – Visit the Mystic Seaport Museum and grab chowder at S&P Oyster.

10. Return to Albany via Ferris Lake Wild Forest

• Ideal trip length: 4–6 weeks.

• Best time to go: March to early May or October for mild weather.

• Route suggestion: Atlanta → North Georgia → Orlando → Everglades → New Orleans → Houston → Ozarks → Nashville → Appalachian Mountains → VA coast → back via South Carolina.

This route is an open-ended adventure through the American South, offering a little bit of everything: mountain hikes, jazz clubs, wilderness glamping and sunny beaches.

• Glamp it up: Stay in luxury tents at Timberline Glamping in Allatoona or Red Top Mountain State Park just north of Atlanta.

• Theme park pit stop: Orlando’s new Epic Universe is a can’t-miss addition to Universal’s lineup.

• Everglades National Park: Paddle through mangroves or take a ranger-led boat tour.

• New Orleans: Fuel up on po’boys and live jazz before drifting west.

• Wrap up: Chill in Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach with a seafood boil and ocean views.

Break this loop into segments if you’re short on time. With so many national forests and cultural stops, it’s the most flexible of the five.

Recommended route:

1. Savannah, GA – Stroll Forsyth Park and eat fried green tomatoes at The Grey.

2. Red Top Mountain State Park, GA – Glamp lakeside in a yurt or modern cottage.

3. Timberline Glamping or Winding Waters RV Park, GA – Luxury tents, hammocks and fire pits? This is camping for people who love turn-down service.

4. Orlando, FL – Visit Universal’s Epic Universe (which just opened in May 2025) or the classic Disney parks.

5. Everglades NP, FL – Airboat tours, wildlife and sawgrass sunsets.

6. New Orleans, LA – Live jazz on Frenchmen Street and late-night beignets at Café du Monde.

7. Houston & Sam Houston National Forest, TX – Excellent hiking trails and lakes.

8. Ozarks, AR – Stay near Eureka Springs and explore limestone caverns and waterfalls.

9. Nashville & Memphis, TN – Hit the Grand Ole Opry, then Graceland.

10. Chattahoochee National Forest, GA – Hike part of the Appalachian Trail.

11. George Washington National Forest, VA – Camping and stargazing near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

12. Myrtle Beach & Hilton Head, SC – End your loop with a coastal cooldown and shrimp boil.

Before you load up your playlist and hit the gas, a little pre-planning can go a long way toward ensuring your road trip goes smoothly. Here’s how to choose the right wheels, book your stays smartly and stretch your dollars — without stretching your patience.

Choosing the right vehicle: your car vs. an RV vs. a rental

• Your own car: If your vehicle is fuel-efficient, in good repair and comfortable for long hauls, it might be your best bet. No need to worry about rental policies, and you can pack however chaotically you please.

• Rental car: Ideal for one-way road trips where you fly into one city and out of another (think: Chicago to LA on Route 66). Compact SUVs and hybrids are great middle-ground options. Book early (especially for summer) and compare across multiple providers. Costco Travel and AutoSlash often offer the best deals.

• RV or campervan: Great for national parks and remote routes (like the Rockies or parts of California). You’ll pay more in gas and campground fees, but you’ll save on hotels and gain flexibility. Just remember that RVs often can’t go on some scenic byways (like the narrow roads in Big Sur or Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road). If you're renting an RV, you can use traditional RV rental companies like Cruise America. Or, you might use a peer-to-peer rental service like RVshare which effectively functions as an Airbnb for RVs.

Booking hotels and campsites: advance planning pays off

• National Parks: Campsites at places like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Acadia often book months in advance. Use recreation.gov and set alerts on CampNab if your ideal dates are taken.

• Glamping and unique stays: From yurts at Red Top Mountain to safari tents in Georgia’s Winding Waters RV Park, these book up fast in peak season. Book 2–4 months ahead for spring and fall travel.

• Hotels: Big cities like Los Angeles, Boston or Denver have no shortage of hotels, but rural stops can be another story. Use flexible booking on platforms like Booking.com or reserve with hotel points (Hilton and Marriott redemptions often shine on road trips).

• State parks and lesser-known forests: These are often the sweet spot. They're gorgeous, affordable and less crowded than the national parks. Many now offer cabins, cottages or deluxe tent rentals.

Budgeting and logistics

• Tolls: Map out routes ahead of time if you want to avoid major toll highways. Apps like TollGuru estimate costs by route.

• Food: Mix roadside diners with grocery store picnics. Keep a cooler for snacks and regional specialties (we’re looking at you, Vermont cheddar and Louisiana boudin).

• Gas: With prices lower in 2025, you’ll be spending less at the pump. Still, use gas apps like GasBuddy to find the best stations en route.

• Credit cards: Particularly on an RV road trip, gas will be the biggest expense. Given that, charge it to a gas credit card to earn bonus points at the pump.