Hit the Open Road: A Guide to Unforgettable American Road Trips

Updated on Aug 17, 2024 | Online US Visa

The scenic beauty of the iconic roads is the best way to get a look at the astonishingly beautiful and diverse landscapes of the USA. So why wait anymore? Pack your bags and book your USA trip today for the best American road trip experience.

We are sure that you have come across the American highway in a book or a movie, glorified as a mystical thing. While most of the time the open road is portrayed as a symbol of the American celebration of freedom, the roads are majestic enough to be glamorized by the media. It can be a highway passing through the midwest, or a road snaking through the Grand Canyon, road trips are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. 

If you want to take a tour down the country through its open roads, it is true that you will need to learn a few road rules, as well as how to read a map correctly. But we assure you, it will be worth the effort - whether it is a road hugging the coastline or cutting through the mainland, driving down these highways will surely turn out to be the trip of your lifetime. So, get yourself ready to have the perfect weekend getaway, look at the best American road trip routes to add that extra little touch to your USA trip.

California State Route 1

Cutting through the heart of the California state, this Pacific Road starts from Dana Point near San Diego to Leggett. While it is an easy drive and a great introduction to the American roads, driving down this highway will add a touch of the Pacific Ocean. If you are traveling in Summer, you will have sunlight all through the day making it a perfect sunny drive. But if you are driving in the winters, make sure that you are driving from the North to the South, so that it eventually gets warmer. One of the most beautiful East Coast American roads, it is the perfect touch to your trip.

  • Total distance covered - 613 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 9 hours.

Route 66

Made famous all around the world by the famous album of Bob Dylan by the same name, the Route 66 USA has now become a part of the American collective consciousness. If we go back to 1926, the highway used to run for as long as 2500 km, but now it has been reduced to numerous historic byways. Thus, losing a lot of its length to state highways and local roads, Route 66 merges with the Santa Fe railroad at La Posada, which is also as iconic as Route 66 itself. If you plan to visit the US, Route 66 must fall at the top of your road trip list.

  • Total distance covered from Petrified Forest to Kingman - 350 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 4 hours.

Highway 61

Starting from the southern city of New Orleans and running till Wyoming in Minnesota, US Route 61 is a 1400 miles highway that can also be classified as one of the best South American roads for a memorable trip. More popularly known as the Blues Highway in recognition of the city of New Orleans, the highway often features in the popular albums of blues artists. According to popular beliefs, the popular blues musician Robert Johnson sold off his soul to the devil right at the crossroad of highway 61 and 49. Make sure that you add this scenic east coast road on your next trip to the USA.

  • Total distance covered - 1600 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 23 hours.

US Route 20

Falling amongst the top American road trip routes, US Route 20 is probably the best road for you to cover if you have a fantasy about living on the roads. Being the longest road in the USA, the highway stretches for a length of 3365 miles from Newport city in Oregon to Boston in Massachusetts. Being broken by the Yellowstone National Park in the middle, if you wish to have an easy road trip and a smooth drive that will help you travel across the country seamlessly, US Route 20 is bound to be one of your best options!

  • Total distance covered - 3150 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 47 hours.

US Route 30

Running across the city of Oregon and going all the way to Atlantic City, the US Route 30 is a highway that is widely known for being the best suited for road trips in America. This highway that runs across the country has been called the national main street of America, progressing through the National Automobile Museum located in Reno Nevada, the historic cabin of Abraham Lincoln situated in Illinois, as well as the Big Mac Museum in Pennsylvania state. We would advise you to avoid traveling through the highway in the winter since it becomes unmotorable at that time, but a good alternative will be the I-10.

  • Total distance covered - 2925 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 47 hours.

Monument Valley

Named after the Colorado Plateau, the scenic Monument Valley highway is the most widely known for the buttes, which are exotic limestone structures situated at the side of the highway. If you choose to take route 17 from the city of Phoenix, you will come across the widely known majestic Grand Canyon, then the beautiful Flagstaff. From there you will need to take Route 160 to pass through the red desert landscape that is filled with the buttes and an overwhelming feeling of being in the Wild West. Once you have crossed the Arizona Utah border, you will finally merge with the 191 and I-40 to finally reach Route 66. This is going to be the best American road trip route for all adventure lovers.

  • Total distance covered - 195 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 4 hours.

Florida Keys

If you wish to go on a road trip that will run by the ocean, the Florida Keys is the perfect route for you. Running from Miami to the Key West, this highway will pass through the Everglades and numerous ocean keys. The one thing that stands out on the highway is the Seven Mile Highway that goes through Monroe County. When the Gulf of Mexico will run on your right and the Atlantic Ocean on your left heading towards the north, you will understand why the highway is the perfect sojourn to the American road trip.

  • Total distance covered - 165 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 3.5 hours.

Blue Ridge Parkway

While you will find many American highways that cross through mountains and deserts, there are not many that will cut through both. Not only deserts and mountains, but while traveling through this leafy highway, you will pass through the most beautiful part of the scenic Appalachian Mountains, thus making it the most picturesque USA road trip route. Going through a distance of 450 miles through a majority of the states of Virginia and South Carolina, the parkway will also come across a beautiful national park. The Blue Ridge Parkway is the place you need to go!

  • Total distance covered - 450 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 6 hours.

Columbia River Scenic Highway Oregon

USA Today has ranked this highway as one of the best road trip routes in the US, the Columbia River Scenic Highway is the best route for all west coast road trips. Built over a hundred years ago, it was built with a purpose to go sightseeing rather than for transporting purposes. The picturesque beauty of the Columbia Gorge is enveloped by hundreds of hiking trails and scenic waterfalls, thus making the road trip breathtaking. Going from Troutdale to Dallas, you can reach this highway by traveling eastwards from the city of Portland. Do not forget to stop at the towns in between to taste some great local food!

  • Total distance covered - 75 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 2 hours.

Hill Country Highway Texas

If you want to see the Lone Star State of Texas like you have seen it in movies, you should drive down the state highways 335 and 337, thus making it a great loop. You can witness the great Texan landscapes while driving down the smooth road that winds through the rivers, canyons, and the Sagebrush plains. While you are on your way, you should make a stop at Utopia in Texas, which is, like the name suggests, a city with incredible beauty. 

  • Total distance covered - 189 miles.
  • The total time it takes to cover - 4 hours.

READ MORE:
If you are planning to visit the United States, one of the sole reasons you might do so is to witness unlimited fun in some of the world’s best amusement parks. Read more at Guide to Best Theme Parks in United States.

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