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1. Route 66Why go? It’s the classic.How far? About 3900km.Known as the Mother Road, Route 66 crosses the country from Chicago to Santa Monica near LA. Immortalised in song, literature and film, it has an almost mythical status as the ultimate American road trip. It’s no longer a designated highway, but you can still follow the historic route across deserts, mountains and rural backwaters, through regional cities, countless small towns and quite a few ghost towns. The highlights for most travellers are the relics of mid-century road-trip culture you’ll see along the way. Whether you drive the whole thing or just a section or two of “America’s Main Street”, you’ll be guaranteed to “get your kicks on Route 66”. Getting that earworm out of your head might not be so easy.
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1. Route 66

Why go? It’s the classic.

How far? About 3900km.

Known as the Mother Road, Route 66 crosses the country from Chicago to Santa Monica near LA. Immortalised in song, literature and film, it has an almost mythical status as the ultimate American road trip. It’s no longer a designated highway, but you can still follow the historic route across deserts, mountains and rural backwaters, through regional cities, countless small towns and quite a few ghost towns. The highlights for most travellers are the relics of mid-century road-trip culture you’ll see along the way. Whether you drive the whole thing or just a section or two of “America’s Main Street”, you’ll be guaranteed to “get your kicks on Route 66”. Getting that earworm out of your head might not be so easy.

2. Pacific CoastWhy go? Coastal vibes.How far? About 2480km.Highway 101/1 (depending on which state you are in) hugs the coast all the way from the Canadian border to the Mexican, traversing the states of Washington, Oregon and California, and you seldom lose sight of the sea. It’s a superbly scenic trip that includes lush rainforest, some of the largest trees on the planet, snow-capped mountains, wild windswept beaches, lots of wildlife (seals, sea lions, whales, deer and elk), plenty of charming seaside towns serving great seafood, as well as the cities of Seattle, San Francisco and LA.
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2. Pacific Coast

Why go? Coastal vibes.

How far? About 2480km.

Highway 101/1 (depending on which state you are in) hugs the coast all the way from the Canadian border to the Mexican, traversing the states of Washington, Oregon and California, and you seldom lose sight of the sea. It’s a superbly scenic trip that includes lush rainforest, some of the largest trees on the planet, snow-capped mountains, wild windswept beaches, lots of wildlife (seals, sea lions, whales, deer and elk), plenty of charming seaside towns serving great seafood, as well as the cities of Seattle, San Francisco and LA.

3. Million Dollar HighwayWhy go? Mountain highs.How far? About 40km.There’s a bit of debate as to how the 40km section of road between the old mining towns of Ouray and Silverton in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains got its name. Some say that’s how much it cost to build, per mile, back in the 1930s, or it could be all about the amount of gold ore in the roadway’s fill. But there’s no arguing that it’s a million-dollar view at every turn, of which there are very many as it winds up and over three very high mountain passes.
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3. Million Dollar Highway

Why go? Mountain highs.

How far? About 40km.

There’s a bit of debate as to how the 40km section of road between the old mining towns of Ouray and Silverton in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains got its name. Some say that’s how much it cost to build, per mile, back in the 1930s, or it could be all about the amount of gold ore in the roadway’s fill. But there’s no arguing that it’s a million-dollar view at every turn, of which there are very many as it winds up and over three very high mountain passes.

4. Cortez to the Four CornersWhy go? Desert drama.How far? 346km.This road trip travels though remote and arid canyon country across Navajo land from Cortez in Colorado to the Four Corners, where four states – Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico – meet, and beyond to the town of Page. Highlights include 10,000-year-old Pueblo villages carved into cliffsides in Mesa Verde National Park, the towering rock buttes and spires of Monument Valley – recognisable from western movie classics – and Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River has carved a photogenic 300m-deep curved canyon.
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4. Cortez to the Four Corners

Why go? Desert drama.

How far? 346km.

This road trip travels though remote and arid canyon country across Navajo land from Cortez in Colorado to the Four Corners, where four states – Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico – meet, and beyond to the town of Page. Highlights include 10,000-year-old Pueblo villages carved into cliffsides in Mesa Verde National Park, the towering rock buttes and spires of Monument Valley – recognisable from western movie classics – and Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River has carved a photogenic 300m-deep curved canyon.

5. Las Vegas to Grand CanyonWhy go? It’s a bucket-list drive.How far? About 445km.Arizona’s Grand Canyon has been thrilling travellers since the 1880s, and it doesn’t matter how many photographs you’ve seen of this world-famous chasm, it doesn’t disappoint. It really is bigger and grander than you’ve ever imagined. There are a number of access points, but the most popular is the South Rim, near the Grand Canyon Village. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas and, because this is America, you don’t even have to get out of your car to see some of the best of it. The Desert View Drive is a 37km scenic road trip along the rim, which offers plenty of spots for breathtaking views along the way.
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5. Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

Why go? It’s a bucket-list drive.

How far? About 445km.

Arizona’s Grand Canyon has been thrilling travellers since the 1880s, and it doesn’t matter how many photographs you’ve seen of this world-famous chasm, it doesn’t disappoint. It really is bigger and grander than you’ve ever imagined. There are a number of access points, but the most popular is the South Rim, near the Grand Canyon Village. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas and, because this is America, you don’t even have to get out of your car to see some of the best of it. The Desert View Drive is a 37km scenic road trip along the rim, which offers plenty of spots for breathtaking views along the way.

6. Blue Ridge ParkwayWhy go? It’s wild and easy.How far? About 755km.It’s called America’s favourite drive and it’s easy to see why. Built specifically as a scenic tourist road – work began in 1935 and it took 52 years to complete – this spectacular drive winds through the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. Highlights include the highest peak in the eastern United States (Mount Mitchell), the oldest river in North America (rather oddly called New River), the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon (Linville Gorge) and the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies (Upper Whitewater Falls).
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6. Blue Ridge Parkway

Why go? It’s wild and easy.

How far? About 755km.

It’s called America’s favourite drive and it’s easy to see why. Built specifically as a scenic tourist road – work began in 1935 and it took 52 years to complete – this spectacular drive winds through the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. Highlights include the highest peak in the eastern United States (Mount Mitchell), the oldest river in North America (rather oddly called New River), the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon (Linville Gorge) and the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies (Upper Whitewater Falls).

7. Highway 50Why go? It’s the loneliest road.How far? About 4860km.The last of the original two-lane transcontinental highways, this epic road trip from Sacramento (near San Francisco) on the west coast to Ocean City in Maryland on the east coast is a trip through the middle of America across a dozen states. It was dubbed the loneliest road by Life magazine in 1986 and the name has stuck. Highlights along the way include Lake Tahoe, the deserts and canyons of Nevada and Utah, a Rocky Mountain crossing in Colorado, Wild West towns where Butch Cassidy and his ilk roamed, the vast flatlands of Kansas, historic sites such as the Pony Express route along the Santa Fe Trail, and the wonders of the Capitol in Washington, DC.
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7. Highway 50

Why go? It’s the loneliest road.

How far? About 4860km.

The last of the original two-lane transcontinental highways, this epic road trip from Sacramento (near San Francisco) on the west coast to Ocean City in Maryland on the east coast is a trip through the middle of America across a dozen states. It was dubbed the loneliest road by Life magazine in 1986 and the name has stuck. Highlights along the way include Lake Tahoe, the deserts and canyons of Nevada and Utah, a Rocky Mountain crossing in Colorado, Wild West towns where Butch Cassidy and his ilk roamed, the vast flatlands of Kansas, historic sites such as the Pony Express route along the Santa Fe Trail, and the wonders of the Capitol in Washington, DC.

8. The Blues HighwayWhy go? It’s a must for music lovers.How far? About 1010km.Cue the playlist and crank up the volume on this road trip between Nashville in Tennessee to New Orleans in Louisiana. Take a backstage tour of country music’s most famous venue, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and spend some time in Memphis, the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll and Elvis’s home, Graceland. It’s all about the blues in Mississippi, and jazz in New Orleans, with plenty of music-themed museums and lots of clubs along the way. Don’t even think about getting an early night on this trip.
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8. The Blues Highway

Why go? It’s a must for music lovers.

How far? About 1010km.

Cue the playlist and crank up the volume on this road trip between Nashville in Tennessee to New Orleans in Louisiana. Take a backstage tour of country music’s most famous venue, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and spend some time in Memphis, the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll and Elvis’s home, Graceland. It’s all about the blues in Mississippi, and jazz in New Orleans, with plenty of music-themed museums and lots of clubs along the way. Don’t even think about getting an early night on this trip.

9. Vermont Route 100Why go? Spectacular autumn scenery.How far? About 350km.In the US, leaf peeping is a thing, particularly in the northeast, when people travel miles to see the fall (autumn) foliage paint the countryside in crimson and gold. The Scenic Route 100 Byway runs the length of Vermont from north to south through many of the state’s ski resorts, and classic New England farmlands and quaint country towns, where you can sample cider and maple syrup, and other local delights like cider doughnuts. The best time to go is late September and early October.
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9. Vermont Route 100

Why go? Spectacular autumn scenery.

How far? About 350km.

In the US, leaf peeping is a thing, particularly in the northeast, when people travel miles to see the fall (autumn) foliage paint the countryside in crimson and gold. The Scenic Route 100 Byway runs the length of Vermont from north to south through many of the state’s ski resorts, and classic New England farmlands and quaint country towns, where you can sample cider and maple syrup, and other local delights like cider doughnuts. The best time to go is late September and early October.

10. Napa and SonomaWhy go? Winning wineries.How far? About 170km.Spend a couple of days exploring the vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma valleys north of San Francisco. The Napa Valley, stretching between the towns of American Canyon and Calistoga, is the most well-known of the US wine regions, and its multimillion-dollar wineries are a major drawcard – the 47km-long Silverado Trail will take you to some of the biggest and best. Neighbouring Sonoma County, on the other hand, is predominantly rural. While wineries are big business here, too, there are many more small-scale winemakers, with more than 85 cellar doors along a route called the Wine Road that winds around the Russian River Valley near Healdsburg and Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley near Geyserville.See also: I drove America’s most dangerous highway5 USA road trip rules you need to knowIs this America’s weirdest road trip?
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10. Napa and Sonoma

Why go? Winning wineries.

How far? About 170km.

Spend a couple of days exploring the vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma valleys north of San Francisco. The Napa Valley, stretching between the towns of American Canyon and Calistoga, is the most well-known of the US wine regions, and its multimillion-dollar wineries are a major drawcard – the 47km-long Silverado Trail will take you to some of the biggest and best. Neighbouring Sonoma County, on the other hand, is predominantly rural. While wineries are big business here, too, there are many more small-scale winemakers, with more than 85 cellar doors along a route called the Wine Road that winds around the Russian River Valley near Healdsburg and Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley near Geyserville.

See also: 

I drove America’s most dangerous highway

5 USA road trip rules you need to know

Is this America’s weirdest road trip?

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/us-road-trips-youll-never-forget/image-gallery/3777eb29c5570761c89352510817b481