SUBSCRIBE

7 US Road Trips You Have to Do Once in Your Life

From cliff-edge highways and coral-blue bridges to red-rock canyons and foliage tunnels, the U.S. packs world-class road trips into drivable loops. Below, you’ll find seven “once-in-a-lifetime” routes with the exact kind of details you need to actually go: best seasons, drive times, lineup of can’t-miss stops, and lodging tips so you can plan your road trip with ease

We also include reality checks where they matter—like current Highway 1 status in Big Sur, Blue Ridge Parkway repairs, Navajo Nation tour rules for Antelope Canyon, and gas price context for 2025 travelers.

In this article:

7 United States Road Trips You Have to Do Once in Your Life

  1. Pacific Coast Highway — SF to San Diego
  2. Blue Ridge Parkway — Shenandoah to Great Smoky Mountains
  3. Route 66 — Chicago to Santa Monica
  4. Utah’s “Mighty 5” 
  5. Florida Keys Overseas Highway
  6. New England Fall Foliage Loop
  7. Southwest National Parks Loop


What to Know Before You Go

Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, California, Nick Fox/Shutterstock

Pacific Coast Highway (California Highway 1) — SF to San Diego

Why drive it: Nothing beats Big Sur’s cliffs, sea stacks, and cypress silhouettes. But you must plan around closures.

  • Map + distance + time: ~600–700 mi depending on spurs (SF→SD).
  • Closures & conditions (critical 2025 note): A 6.8-mile slide near Big Sur (Regent’s Slide area) means Highway 1 is not continuous; full reopening is projected no earlier than March 2026, with accessible sections from the north and south still open. Always check Caltrans and local updates before planning your trip.
  • Sightseeing Highlights: Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach (purple sands), elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, Santa Barbara’s Mission & Funk Zone.
  • Where to stay: Reserve early in Big Sur (limited inventory); Cambria/San Simeon and Monterey are strong plan-B hubs during closures.
  • Costs & best time: Spring/fall shoulder seasons; summer fog is common on the central coast.
The Perfect Itinerary (5-7 Days):

Note: Highway 1 through Big Sur is not continuous right now. Plan two out-and-backs and connect via US-101 inland. Always check Caltrans SR-1 road status and the District 5 Big Sur emergency projects map the week you go; full through-reopening is currently projected for March 2026, weather permitting.

Day 1 – San Francisco → Half Moon Bay → Santa Cruz

  • Golden Gate vista (Battery Spencer) at sunrise → Devil’s Slide Trail → lunch on the Santa Cruz Wharf → Natural Bridges State Beach at sunset.
    Overnight: Santa Cruz.

Day 2 – Santa Cruz → Monterey → Carmel-by-the-Sea

  • Capitola Village → Monterey Bay Aquarium (timebox 2–3 hrs) → 17-Mile Drive pullouts → Carmel Mission.
    Overnight: Carmel/Monterey.

Day 3 – Big Sur (North Segment out-and-back)

  • Bixby Bridge → Garrapata State Park (Soberanes Canyon or Bluff Trail) → Point Lobos loop → Pfeiffer Beach (purple sand). Turn around before the closure.
    Overnight: Carmel/Monterey.

Day 4 – Inland connector to Cambria/San Simeon (via US-101)

  • Lunch in Paso Robles (optional wineries) → Moonstone Beach boardwalk at sunset.
    Overnight: Cambria.

Day 5 – Big Sur (South Segment out-and-back)

  • Elephant Seal Vista Point → Ragged Point → Limekiln State Park redwoods → turn around before the closure.
    Overnight: Cambria / or continue to Santa Barbara.

Day 6 – Cambria → Santa Barbara

  • Pismo Dunes or Monarch Butterfly Grove (seasonal) → Stearns Wharf → Funk Zone wine walk.
    Overnight: Santa Barbara.

Day 7 – Santa Barbara → Los Angeles → San Diego (optional)

  • Malibu beaches (El Matador) → Santa Monica → Griffith Observatory → finish in San Diego’s La Jolla or Sunset Cliffs.

Linn Cove Viaduct, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Blue Ridge Parkway — Shenandoah to Great Smoky Mountains

Why go: 469 miles of Appalachian overlooks, tunnels, and ridge-line scenic pullouts; peak foliage is a bucket-list event.

  • Map + distance + time: Combine Skyline Drive (Shenandoah NP) with the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville and into Great Smoky Mountains NP.
  • Highlights: Linn Cove Viaduct, Craggy Gardens, Pisgah Inn overlooks, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail near Gatlinburg.
  • Closures & conditions: Sections of the BRP are under multi-year repairs (plus storm recovery). Expect rolling closures/single-lane controls and always check the live NPS “Road Status & Closures” page before you pick mileposts.
  • Where to stay: Parkway lodges/campgrounds book early; Asheville offers restaurants, breweries, and boutique stays.
  • Best time: Late Sept–Oct for leaves; book months ahead for weekends.
The Perfect Itinerary (4-5 Days):

Day 1 – Skyline Drive (Shenandoah NP)

  • Thornton Gap → Stony Man or Hawksbill hike → sunset at Range View Overlook.
    Overnight: Waynesboro area.

Day 2 – BRP North

  • Humpback Rocks → Mabry Mill → Blue Ridge Music Center.
    Overnight: Floyd/Roanoke.

Day 3 – BRP Central

  • Peaks of Otter → Linn Cove Viaduct (photo stop) → Grandfather Mountain (swinging bridge).
    Overnight: Blowing Rock/Boone.

Day 4 – BRP South → Asheville

  • Craggy Gardens sunrise → Pisgah Inn overlook → Looking Glass Falls.
    Overnight: Asheville.

Day 5 – Great Smoky Mountains NP

  • Newfound Gap → Clingmans Dome (short, steep walk) → Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
    Overnight: Gatlinburg/Asheville (depart).
Route 66, Nick Fox/Shutterstock

Route 66 — Chicago to Santa Monica

Why go: Classic diners, neon motels, desert vistas, and Americana kitsch across 8 states—the Mother Road is history you can drive.

  • Map + distance + time: ~2,400 miles total, typically 2–3 weeks with photo/food stops. (Modern alignments zig-zag; use current guides.)
  • Must-see: Gemini Giant (IL), Meramec Caverns (MO), Cadillac Ranch (TX), Petrified Forest NP (AZ), Seligman’s retro strip, Santa Monica Pier (CA).
  • Where to stay: Vintage motor courts (book weekends), plus national-brand stops for points redemptions.
  • Costs & best time: April–June, Sept–Oct for temps and festivals; summers are hot across the Plains/Southwest.
  • Pro tips: For preservation context and maps, check the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation resources (active through 2025 grants). 
The Perfect Itinerary (10-14 Days):

Day 1 – Chicago, IL

  • Route 66 Begin Sign → Lou Mitchell’s breakfast → Architecture River Cruise (optional).
    Overnight: Chicago/Joliet.

Day 2 – Illinois → Missouri

  • Gemini Giant (Wilmington) → Pontiac murals/museum → Chain of Rocks Bridge → St. Louis Arch.
    Overnight: St. Louis.

Day 3 – Missouri

  • Meramec Caverns → Cuba murals → Gay Parita Sinclair Station.
    Overnight: Springfield, MO.

Day 4 – Missouri → Oklahoma

  • Blue Whale of Catoosa → Tulsa Deco District → Mother Road Market.
    Overnight: Tulsa.

Day 5 – Oklahoma City

  • Milk Bottle Building → Round Barn in Arcadia → National Cowboy Museum (optional).
    Overnight: OKC.

Day 6 – Oklahoma → Texas Panhandle

  • Route 66 Museum (Elk City) → Conoco Tower (Shamrock) → Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo).
    Overnight: Amarillo.

Day 7 – Texas → New Mexico

  • Midpoint Café (Adrian) → Tucumcari neon night shoot.
    Overnight: Tucumcari.

Day 8 – Santa Fe/Albuquerque, NM

  • Santa Fe Plaza (optional detour) → Albuquerque Old Town → Sandia Peak Tram (sunset).
    Overnight: Albuquerque.

Day 9 – New Mexico → Arizona

  • Petrified Forest NP/ Painted Desert → Holbrook Wigwam Motel (photo stop).
    Overnight: Flagstaff/Williams.

Day 10 – Northern Arizona

  • Seligman retro strip → Hackberry General Store → Kingman.
    Overnight: Kingman.

Day 11 – Arizona → California

  • Oatman burros → Amboy Crater → Roy’s Motel & Café.
    Overnight: Barstow.

Day 12–13 – California finish

  • San Bernardino vintage sites → Santa Monica Pier (Route 66 “End of the Trail”).
    Overnight: Santa Monica.
Zion National Park, Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

Utah’s “Mighty 5” — Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands

Why go: The greatest hits of red rock in one loop—slot canyons, hoodoos, arches, mesas.

  • Map + distance + time: Classic loop from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, 5–8 days minimum.
  • Where to stay: Park lodges (book early), Moab hotels, or BLM campsites.
  • Best time: Spring and fall; summer heat is intense.
  • Pro tips: Use Utah’s official Visit Utah “Mighty 5” hub for park-by-park logistics, and verify any quota/permit rules on each NPS page when you finalize dates. 
The Perfect Itinerary (6-8 Days):

Day 1 – Zion NP

  • Canyon Overlook (short hike) → Pa’rus Trail at golden hour.
    Overnight: Springdale.

Day 2 – Zion (permits/weather permitting)

  • Angels Landing or Narrows first light → drive to Bryce.
    Overnight: Bryce Canyon area.

Day 3 – Bryce Canyon NP → Capitol Reef

  • Sunrise at Bryce Amphitheater → Scenic Byway 12 pullouts → Fruita orchards.
    Overnight: Torrey.

Day 4 – Capitol Reef NP → Moab

  • Scenic Drive & Cassidy Arch (optional) → Goblin Valley detour → Moab.
    Overnight: Moab.

Day 5 – Arches NP

  • Windows Section sunrise → Delicate Arch (sunset).
    Overnight: Moab.

Day 6 – Canyonlands (Island in the Sky)

  • Mesa Arch sunrise → Grand View Point → Dead Horse Point SP (nearby).
    Overnight: Moab.

Day 7–8 – Buffer/Adventure day(s)

  • Slot canyon tour, rafting, or 4×4; return via I-70/US-89 or back to Vegas/SLC.
Florida Keys Overseas Highway, Mia2you/Shutterstock

Florida Keys Overseas Highway — Miami to Key West

Why go: A 113-mile ribbon of asphalt skipping across 42 bridges over tropical water—snorkel mornings, sunset decks by night.

  • Map + distance + time: US-1 from Key Largo → Islamorada → Marathon → Key West; 2–4 days ideal.
  • Highlights: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Seven Mile Bridge views, Bahia Honda State Park beaches, Key West’s Old Town.
  • Drive time reality: 2.5–3 hours without stops from Key Largo to Key West—slower if you embrace the views (you should). 
  • Roadworks note: FDOT-led improvement projects periodically affect stretches—build buffer time and check updates from the Florida Keys tourism/FDOT channels. 
  • Why it’s special: The Keys tourism board calls it a “highway that goes to sea”—and it truly feels like it.
The Perfect Itinerary (3-4 Days):

Day 1 – Miami → Key Largo

  • Biscayne views → John Pennekamp Coral Reef SP snorkel or glass-bottom boat.
    Overnight: Key Largo.

Day 2 – Key Largo → Islamorada → Marathon

  • Robbie’s (tarpon feed) → Florida Keys Brewing Co. → Seven Mile Bridge views.
    Overnight: Marathon.

Day 3 – Marathon → Bahia Honda SP → Key West

  • Bahia Honda beach swim → Blue Hole (Big Pine Key) → Key West sunset at Mallory Square.
    Overnight: Key West.

Day 4 – Key West (optional)

  • Old Town walk (Hemingway House, lighthouse) → Fort Zachary Taylor beach → sunset cruise → fly/drive back.
Scenic Byway in Stowe, Vermont, AndTheyTravel/Shutterstock

New England Fall Foliage Loop — Vermont → New Hampshire → Maine

Why go: Covered bridges, cider stops, and mountain passes under peak color.

  • Map + distance + time: 4–7 days: Burlington/Stowe (VT) → Kancamagus Highway (NH) → Acadia National Park (ME) → Portland (ME).
  • Highlights: Smugglers’ Notch (VT), Kancamagus overlooks (NH), Acadia’s Park Loop/Jordan Pond (ME), Portland’s Old Port.
  • Peak timing tools: Use an interactive peak foliage map and 2024 forecast archive for planning (northern VT/NH peak first; coastal Maine later). 
  • Where to stay: Country inns, cabins, and well-located campgrounds—book early for weekends.
  • Pro tips: Shoulder weekdays for fewer crowds; sunrise hikes and late-afternoon light win your photos.
The Perfect Itinerary (5-7 Days):

Day 1 – Burlington → Stowe, Vermont

  • Church Street Market → Smugglers’ Notch scenic drive → Stowe Recreation Path.
    Overnight: Stowe.

Day 2 – Northern VT barns & bridges

  • Moss Glen Falls → Emily’s Bridge (myth & photos) → cider mill stops.
    Overnight: Stowe/Waterbury.

Day 3 – Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

  • Lincoln → Sabbaday Falls → Rocky Gorge → Albany Covered Bridge.
    Overnight: North Conway.

Day 4 – White Mountains → Maine coast

  • Cathedral Ledge sunrise → drive to Acadia NP via coastal route.
    Overnight: Bar Harbor.

Day 5 – Acadia National Park

  • Park Loop Road → Jordan Pond → Cadillac Mountain sunrise (reservation in peak season).
    Overnight: Bar Harbor.

Day 6–7 – Down East Maine → Portland (optional)

  • Schoodic Peninsula pullouts → Portland Old Port & lighthouse hop (Portland Head Light, Two Lights).
Grand Canyon, Arizona, Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Southwest National Parks Loop — Grand Canyon, Page, Monument Valley (+ Zion/Sedona option)

Why go: Sunrise over the Colorado, sandstone waves, and the silhouettes of Monument Valley—this loop is pure “American West.”

  • Map + distance + time: 4–7 days from Las Vegas or Phoenix: Grand Canyon (South Rim) → Page (Horseshoe Bend/Antelope Canyon) → Monument Valley (Navajo Nation) → optional return via Zion or Sedona.
  • Iconic drives & stops: Desert View Drive on the Grand Canyon South Rim (23 miles with multiple pullouts), Horseshoe Bend overlook, Lower/Upper Antelope Canyon tours, Monument Valley Scenic Drive. 
  • Permits/tours (important): Antelope Canyon requires a guided Navajo Nation tour. Budget for the Navajo Nation entry fee plus tour price. 
  • Where to stay: Park lodges (book early), Goulding’s Lodge (Monument Valley), Page hotels, nearby campgrounds.
  • Best time: Spring/fall shoulder seasons; summer heat and winter storms can both impact plans.
The Perfect Itinerary (5-7 Days):

(Start Las Vegas or Phoenix)

Day 1 – Grand Canyon (South Rim)

  • Desert View Drive pullouts → sunset at Mather or Hopi Point.
    Overnight: Inside the park or Tusayan.

Day 2 – Grand Canyon → Page, AZ

  • Sunrise rim walk → drive to Page → Horseshoe Bend at late afternoon.
    Overnight: Page.

Day 3 – Antelope Canyon (tour) → Lake Powell

  • Lower/Upper Antelope guided tour → boat/kayak on Lake Powell.
    Overnight: Page.

Day 4 – Page → Monument Valley (Navajo Nation)

  • Monument Valley Scenic Drive (golden hour) → stargazing.
    Overnight: Goulding’s Lodge / The View Hotel.

Day 5 – Monument Valley → Zion or Sedona (choose one)

  • Option A (Zion): Drive to Springdale; Canyon Overlook sunset.

  • Option B (Sedona): Scenic red rock overlooks; Airport Mesa sunset.
    Overnight: Springdale or Sedona.

Day 6–7 – Buffer/Explore

  • Zion Narrows or Angels Landing (permit) or Sedona vortex hikes/jeep tour; return to LAS/PHX.

What to Know Before You Go (General Road Trip Tips)

  • Pick the right pace. Aim for 150–300 miles/day on scenic trips so you can actually stop for viewpoints and short hikes. Build buffer days for weather or a must-do detour.

  • Map it twice. Save offline maps (Google Maps + a paper map in the glove box). Drop pins for gas, groceries, hospitals, and your lodging. Screenshot reservation codes.

  • Do a 10-minute vehicle check. Tires (including the spare), fluids, wiper blades, lights, jack, and triangle. If it’s a rental, snap photos of all sides before you leave.

  • Pack a “road survival” kit. First-aid, headlamp, jumper cables or a jump pack, tire inflator + gauge, duct tape/zip ties, microfiber towel, multi-tool, phone mount, USB-C/Lightning cables, and a power strip for charging everything at once.

  • Fuel strategy beats fuel stress. In remote areas, top up at half a tank. For EVs, plan with ABRP (A Better Routeplanner) + PlugShare and leave a 15–25% buffer between chargers.

  • Travel light—organize hard. Use a small trunk tote: snacks, water, paper towels, wet wipes, sunscreen, bug spray, and a compact cooler with ice packs. Keep rain shells and a warm layer within reach (high elevations get chilly).

  • Book smart. High-demand parks and leaf-peeping towns require months-ahead reservations. Favor stays with free cancellation in weather-sensitive regions; verify parking availability in city stops.

  • Permits & passes. Check if you need timed entries, tour permits, or an annual parks pass. Print or download confirmations in case cell service drops.

  • Safety first. Tell someone your daily route and ETA, share live location with a trusted contact, and carry a charged backup battery. At trailheads, hide valuables and lock the car.

  • Healthy, happy driving. Rotate drivers, take a 10-minute break every 2–3 hours, stretch calves/hip flexors, and hydrate. Keep protein snacks handy to avoid hanger-driven decisions.

  • Weather awareness. Mountains, deserts, and coasts change fast. Check the forecast each morning. In storm zones: avoid flooded roads; in heat: drive earlier/later and stash extra water.

  • Sunrise/sunset planning. Golden hour is best for photos and crowds are thinner—arrive before 9am or after 4pm at popular viewpoints.

  • Money matters. Bring a no-FX-fee credit card, a bit of cash for rural stops, and know the toll setup (cashless transponders vs. pay-by-plate). Keep receipts in a simple phone album or notes doc.

  • Respect the places you visit. Follow Leave No Trace, stay on marked routes, don’t block driveways or farm gates, and give wildlife space. A wave at small-town crossings goes a long way.

  • Kids & pets. Verify pet rules (many parks restrict trails). Pack a pet water bowl and shade; never leave animals in hot cars. For kids, preload audiobooks and road-trip games.

  • Solo travelers. Park under lights, fuel up before dark in remote stretches, and trust your gut—if a stop feels off, roll on.

  • Micro-backup plan. Every day, note a Plan B lunch stop and an alternate route in case of closures, accidents, or events.

  • Document the journey. Keep a simple daily log (miles, highlights, costs). It helps with budgeting, trip reports, or—if relevant—business documentation.

  • Be present. Save a couple of no-screen hours each day. The point isn’t just getting there—it’s everything you notice when you’re not rushing.