Six Destinations You Must See in the US on Your Road Trip Bucket List

Jul 24, 2023

It’s the “National Day Of Motoring”, a special day to celebrate the Great American Road Trip! Today, we’re sharing some of our picks for incredible routes that you’ll want to add to your Road Trip Bucket List. You’ll find no shortage of excitement here on these roads, and plenty of amazing opportunities to take amazing photographs, too. Grab your besties and pile into the car! Pack your family up into the minivan and hit the road! There’s memories to be made and adventure to be had on these Six Incredible Road Trip Destinations Across America.

There’s something fun for everyone on this list, whether you choose to make the driving your full experience, or prefer to stop off and book a stay to explore the regional areas for a lengthier getaway. Got a favorite spot on the map by these roadways? Let us know and perhaps we’ll add it as a spotlight in one of our future Drive Over Country Travel Blog posts.

7 Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys – The Florida Keys is as close to a tropical island vacation you can get without ever leaving the United States! The Keys are an island chain about 120 miles long. US Route 1 connects each of the islands together across the land and sea; Knight’s Key and Little Duck Key are connected via the 7-mile Bridge, one of the longest bridges on the planet! Driving the Overseas Highway and 7-mile Bridge will take about 4 hours one way, but we highly recommend making a few stop offs along the way! It’s worth it to make this scenic drive a bit longer affair so you can really absorb all the sights and beauty of the Keys. The water underneath the bridge is crystal blue and runs from shallow depth up to 7 feet. 7-Mile Bridge was completed in 1912, and was once known as the “Eighth Wonder of the world” for being such an ambitiously large project. The bridge has been reconstructed and improved for safety and longevity, but you can still view the old bridge as you drive along the modern updated one. We recommend stopping off for a break at Bahia Honda State Park.

North Shore of Superior in Minnesota –This 150-mile drive up Highway 61 stretches from Duluth, Minnesota, all the way up through to the Canadian border along the shores of Lake Superior, and it is a quintessential American road trip destination. It makes its way through eight state parks and through small shoreline towns filled with local seafood eateries, art galleries, and truly unique shops to explore. There are numerous historic sites dotting the map including the Split Rock Lighthouse, Grand Portage National Monument, the Great Lakes Aquarium, and much much more. You can explore the sights and sounds of nature and embrace the wilderness on Superior Hiking Trail, Mountain biking, waterfalls, and gorgeous cliffside vistas.

US Route 6 in Massachusetts – Route 6 stretches all the way from Massachusetts in the Northeast across the US through to California out West! Once known as the longest highway in America, it originally spanned a whopping 3,652 miles from Cape Cod to Long Beach; now it ends in Bishop CA, but it’s still the longest continuous highway in America, crossing through 14 different states. Route 6A makes its way through the gorgeous coastal areas of Cape Cod and Provincetown, exploring local beaches, shore towns, historic landmarks, and plenty of fresh air. If you’re interested in the arts and music, this is the perfect road trip for you! Full of inspiring marshes, sand dunes, fishing towns, and gorgeous panoramic views of Cape Cod National Seashore, this is the creative traveler’s dream.

Blue Ridge Parkway through the Carolinas and Virginia – This gorgeous winding 500-Mile blacktop roadway winds its way through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park as well as the Shenandoah National Parks. It’s a popular year round travelway due to its ever changing landscape such as lush green canopies of the dense forest or rolling hills of fiery oranges, yellows, and reds in the autumn. In the wintertime, the hillsides are dotted with ski slopes and snow capped mountainscapes. It is also home to an incredible variety of wildlife.

Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire – The prime time to hit this location is during the Autumn season, and you’ll want to keep a close eye on the current foliage forecast. During peak leaf-peeping season, the rolling mountain hills are covered in blazing oranges, ruby reds, deep mustard yellows of the deciduous trees dotted with rich emerald greens of the evergreen trees. Along the way you’ll find numerous scenic overlooks with picturesque views and skylines. It’s a great drive year round, too, winding its way up north through granite cliffs and boulders as glorious vivid green treetops roll bye.

Pacific Coast Highway in California – Clocking in at 656 miles, it’s the longest state route in California. It snakes southerly along the coast stretching from Washington State all the way through to the end of California. If you’re driving the California portion only, the trip will take you about 5 hours to complete all 123 miles. Recommended stops include Crescent City, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Half Moon Bay, the intimidating Devil’s Slide Trail, Shark Fin Cove, Davenport Beach, Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf and 17-mile drive, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Big Sur.