Top 10 Road Trips in the US
Top 10 Road Trips in the US
Direct Answer
The best US road trip overall is California's Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), roughly 656 miles from Dana Point to Leggett with a recommended 5–7 day pace, where the marquee Big Sur stretch alone rewards days of stops. The best value is Utah's Mighty 5 loop, where a single $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers all five national parks across an 800-ish-mile, 5–7 day drive.
This list is for anyone with a rental car or their own vehicle and one to three weeks, ranging from free public-land driving to bucket-list multi-state hauls. Every route, mileage, and park fee below is real, and routes are ranked on scenery density, road quality, iconic stops, and how well the drive itself (not just the destinations) holds up.
1. Pacific Coast Highway, California (Highway 1) 🏆 BEST OVERALL
California State Route 1 runs the length of the coast, but the classic road trip is the 656-mile central-to-northern run from Dana Point through Big Sur to Leggett, with most travelers driving the heart of it from Monterey/Carmel to Morro Bay (about 123 miles) over multiple days.
Highlights include Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Pfeiffer Beach, and the 17-Mile Drive (a $11.75 toll private road) near Pebble Beach.
Budget 5–7 days to do it justice. It ranks #1 because no other US drive packs this much coastline, cliffs, redwoods, and walkable towns into one continuous ribbon of pavement. Note that landslides periodically close sections of Big Sur, so check Caltrans QuickMap before committing.
Drive it north to south so you're on the ocean side of the road for the best pullouts. Highlights beyond Big Sur include the elephant-seal rookery at Piedras Blancas, the boardwalks and wine of Cambria and Paso Robles just inland, and the wild northern redwoods near Leggett.
Spring (April–May) brings green hills and wildflowers; fall offers the clearest skies. Lodging in Big Sur is scarce and expensive — book months ahead or stay in Monterey and Cambria at the ends.
2. Utah's Mighty 5 Loop 💎 BEST VALUE
This roughly 800-mile loop links Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands national parks. The unbeatable value: one $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry to all five (versus $35 per vehicle at each park individually), making this the most national-park scenery per dollar in the country.
Plan 5–7 days minimum; serious hikers want 10. Don't miss Zion's Angels Landing (now permit-required via lottery), Bryce's Navajo Loop, and the Delicate Arch hike in Arches. Spring and fall are ideal; summer brings 100°F+ heat at the lower parks.
The drive itself is part of the reward — Scenic Byway 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef ranks among America's most beautiful roads, crossing the Hogback ridge with sheer drops on both sides. Base yourself in Moab for Arches and Canyonlands, and Springdale for Zion, where a free shuttle runs into the canyon.
3. Route 66 (Chicago to Santa Monica)
The original "Mother Road" runs about 2,448 miles across eight states from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier. Allow 2 weeks to drive it properly, hitting Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, the Wigwam Motels, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, and old neon-lit diners.
It ranks high for nostalgia and Americana rather than raw scenery — much of the original alignment is now frontage roads beside I-40. Pick up the EZ66 Guide by Jerry McClanahan to navigate the surviving segments. Standout stretches include the well-preserved towns of Seligman and Williams, Arizona, the neon of Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the Art Deco gas stations of the Texas Panhandle.
Drive it east to west to finish at the Pacific, and budget extra time — the joy is in the kitschy roadside stops, not the miles.
4. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana
This 50-mile engineering marvel crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 ft) inside Glacier National Park. It's typically fully open only from late June/early July through mid-October due to snow, and vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide are prohibited on the alpine section.
Entry requires the $35 park pass plus, in peak season, a timed vehicle reservation (~$2). The roadside waterfalls, hanging valleys, and mountain-goat sightings make this the most spectacular short drive in America.
5. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia & North Carolina
America's longest linear park stretches 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains, with a 45 mph speed limit that forces you to slow down. There is no entrance fee for the parkway itself.
Peak season is October leaf-peeping, when the Appalachian hardwoods turn. Stop at Mabry Mill, Linn Cove Viaduct, and Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft) — the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Budget 3–4 days with overnights in Asheville and Roanoke.
6. Overseas Highway, Florida Keys (US-1)
The 113-mile drive from Miami to Key West crosses 42 bridges, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge, hopping island to island over turquoise water. Mile markers count down from MM 126 to MM 0 at Key West.
It's a 1–3 day trip. Stop at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park ($8 per vehicle) for snorkeling, grab key lime pie in Marathon, and end at the Southernmost Point buoy. Drive carefully — much of it is two-lane with heavy traffic.
7. Olympic Peninsula Loop, Washington
This roughly 330-mile loop on US-101 circles Olympic National Park ($30 vehicle pass), packing rainforest, mountains, and coast into one drive. Hit the Hoh Rain Forest (one of the few temperate rainforests in the US), Hurricane Ridge, Rialto Beach, and Lake Crescent.
Allow 3–4 days. The diversity is the draw: you can stand among moss-draped trees in the morning and on a sea-stack-studded beach by afternoon. Summer offers the most reliable weather; the Hoh gets 12+ feet of rain annually.
8. The Loneliest Road (US-50 across Nevada)
*Life* magazine dubbed US-50 "The Loneliest Road in America," and the 287-mile Nevada stretch from Fernley to Ely earns it. You'll cross basin-and-range terrain with services 60+ miles apart — fill up whenever you can.
It ranks for solitude and big-sky emptiness rather than crowds. Detour to Great Basin National Park (free entry) for the Lehman Caves and ancient bristlecone pines. The state-run "Survival Guide" passport adds a kitschy stamp game along the way.
9. Hawaii's Road to Hana, Maui
The Hana Highway (Routes 36/360) runs about 64 miles from Kahului to Hana with 620 curves and 59 one-lane bridges. It's a full-day out-and-back (or overnight) rather than a long-distance trip, but mile-for-mile it's among the most beautiful drives anywhere.
Stops include Twin Falls, the Garden of Eden, black-sand Waiʻanapanapa State Park (reservation ~$5 plus $10 parking for non-residents), and roadside banana bread stands. Start early and drive slowly — locals commute this road.
10. The Million Dollar Highway, Colorado (US-550)
This 25-mile stretch of US-550 between Silverton and Ouray is one of the most thrilling drives in America: narrow lanes, no guardrails, and 11,018-ft Red Mountain Pass. It's part of the longer San Juan Skyway, a 236-mile loop also worth driving.
Best June through September; winter brings avalanche closures. The cliff-hugging switchbacks and old mining-town stops in Ouray ("the Switzerland of America") and Telluride make it unforgettable for confident drivers.
How to Choose
When planning, weigh how the drive itself feels against the destinations it strings together. Coastal routes like the PCH and the Overseas Highway reward slow, stop-heavy pacing, while desert and prairie routes (the Loneliest Road, Route 66) demand fuel discipline and tolerance for long empty stretches.
Always pad your daily mileage estimate by 30–50% to account for photo stops, traffic, and detours — most first-timers badly underestimate how long a "scenic" 200-mile day actually takes. Rent a vehicle that matches the terrain: a convertible suits the coast, but the Million Dollar Highway and Going-to-the-Sun reward something with confident brakes and modest dimensions.
Download offline maps, because cell coverage vanishes across Nevada, the Olympic Peninsula, and much of Utah's canyon country.
- Time you have: A long weekend suits Hana, the Keys, or the Million Dollar Highway; one to two weeks is needed for Route 66 or the full PCH.
- Driving comfort: Avoid the Million Dollar Highway and Going-to-the-Sun if narrow cliff roads make you nervous; the Blue Ridge Parkway is gentle and scenic.
- Season: Mountain routes (Glacier, Colorado) only open mid-summer; desert routes (Utah, Nevada) are brutal in July heat — go spring or fall.
- Budget: Buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if your route hits two or more national parks; it pays for itself fast.
- Vehicle limits: RVs are banned on Going-to-the-Sun's alpine section and impractical on Hana — check length/width rules before renting.
FAQ
What is the single best road trip in the US?
For most travelers, California's Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) is the best overall, combining 656 miles of coastline, Big Sur cliffs, redwoods, and charming towns. Allow 5–7 days and check Caltrans for landslide closures around Big Sur before you go.
Which US road trip gives the best value?
Utah's Mighty 5 loop is the best value: a single $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry to all five national parks (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands), versus $35 each. The scenery-per-dollar is unmatched.
How long do you need to drive Route 66?
Plan about two weeks to drive all 2,448 miles of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica across eight states. You can do a compressed version in a week, but you'll miss many of the Americana stops that make the route worthwhile.
When is Going-to-the-Sun Road open?
The alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically fully open only from late June or early July through mid-October, depending on snow clearing. A timed vehicle reservation is required in peak summer in addition to the $35 park pass.
Bottom Line
For the ultimate American road trip, California's Pacific Coast Highway is the best overall — 656 miles of unmatched coastline over 5–7 days. For the best value, Utah's Mighty 5 loop delivers five national parks on one $80 annual pass. Match the route to your season, driving comfort, and time, and you can't go wrong.
Sources
- National Park Service (nps.gov) — park entrance fees, road status, and reservation systems
- Caltrans QuickMap — Highway 1 / Big Sur closure and condition reports
- America the Beautiful Pass — USGS/NPS interagency pass pricing ($80 annual)
- *Life* magazine — original "Loneliest Road in America" designation for US-50
- EZ66 Guide for Travelers by Jerry McClanahan — Route 66 navigation reference
- Visit California, Travel Montana, and Hawaii Tourism Authority official tourism boards
- AAA and *National Geographic* scenic-drive rankings