The Ultimate Bucket List of USA Road Trips

I love a good bucket list and with summer upon us, there’s nothing better than a good road trip. The states are set up well for road tripping and I decided it’s best to start making a list of the best USA road trips. My husband and I are working our way through all 50 states and the best way to do that is with USA road trips.

Now you might have to fly to the start of these trips depending on where you’re coming from, but once you get there, you can hit the road. There’s no better way to see everything you want to see. I haven’t done all of these trips myself but I have done a lot, and the ones I haven’t done, I’ve researched extensively for future trips.

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How to Stay Sane on USA Road Trips

Now, while I’m a big fan of road trips, I’m also a big fan of stopping during road trips. The plan is to see as much as you can on a road trip, then you need to get out of the car. Break up the time and make sure you plan for food.

You won’t stay sane on a road trip by never getting out of the car. There should be plenty of stops and lots of photo opportunities. I personally think the worst thing you can do is NOT overly plan your road trip. You need to know what there is to see and how to see it.

This is why I’ve researched the best stops on each of these USA road trips. Because while it’s great to have a map of where you’re going, but you’ll go insane if you just stay in the car the whole time.

Bucket List USA Road Trips

Pacific Coast Highway, California

We start off with one of the most classic USA road trips. The Pacific Coast Highway is definitely a must do and while I haven’t done much of it, I can say what I have seen is amazing. I actually got engaged on the Pacific Coast Highway on a trip with my then boyfriend to San Francisco. You can do this trip from San Francisco down to San Diego or vice versa. It’s definitely on my bucket list.

How Far: 656 miles

How Many Days: 4-5 days quickly, 7-10 days to take your time.

Where to Stop: There are a lot of places to stop along the way and you could spend weeks exploring the area. Here are the top ones I found.

• Half Moon Bay town
• Monterey
• Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Big Sur
• Bixby Bridge
• Point Sur Viewpoint
• Nepenthe town for lunch
• Julia Pfeiffer State Park for a quick hike to McWay Falls
• Big Creek Bridge
• Ragged Point (viewpoint)
• Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area
• Morro Bay & Morro Rock
• Santa Monica Beach
• Chandelier Drive thru tree
• Glass Beach
• Point Arena Lighthouse
• Muir Beach Overlook
• Natural Bridges State Beach
• Madonna Inn
• Point Mugu State Park
• Point Dume

More Details: Check out information on each of these locations on this blog post.

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Pacific Coast Highway, Washington & Oregon

Now technically, you can drive from San Diego, California to Seattle, Washington and see beautiful coast lines and forests. I’ve divided up these road trips since they are both quite long. We will be exploring a little bit of this road trip this August and I can’t wait. Some of the most rugged National Parks are in this part of the USA.

How Far: 700-750 miles

How Many Days: 3-4 days quickly, 5-7 days to take your time.

Where to Stop:

• Olympic National Park
• City of Port Angeles
• Madison Falls Trailhead
• Lake Crescent & Marymere Falls
• City of Forks (home of the Twilight Saga!)
• Rialto Beach
• How Rain Forest
• Ruby Beach
• Kalaloch Big Cedar Nature Trail
• Kalaloch Beach & the Tree of Life
• Lake Quinault
• Long Beach
• Astoria & Fort Clatsop
• Cannon Beach
• Tillamook Creamery
• Oregon’s Devil’s Punchbowl
• Dune Country
• Thor’s Well

More Details: Explore each of these stops with this post.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia & North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park and the Smokey Mountains. We have explored both National Parks but I’d love to go back and explore more of the Smokey Mountains NOT in the winter. Fall in Shenandoah is stunning and I’m sure spring is similar.

How Far: 469 miles

How Many Days: 3-5 days with 5 being ideal for taking your time.

Where to Stop:

• Humpback Rocks
• Ridge Vineyard
• Terrapin Mountain & Arnold Valley Overlook
• Peaks of Otter
• McAfee Knob Trail
• Mabry Mill
• Osborne Mountain Overlook
• Rough Ridge Lookout
• Grandfather Mountain
• Linn Cove Viaduct
• Linville Falls Winery
• Mount Pisgah
• Crabtree Falls
• Asheville

More Details: There is a great website with an interactive map for all of your Blue Ridge Parkway needs here.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

I’m no stranger to the Rocky Mountains and I love all things Colorado. I grew up camping in Colorado every summer as a kid and it’s my absolute favorite state by far. Nothing compares to Colorado in my opinion. Rocky Mountain National Park gets very crowded but it’s worth it. There are several scenic drives within the park and some require special reservations so be sure to check the national park website. The great thing about the park is it is a drive-through. Yes, there’s hiking you can do but if all you have time for is driving through, you’ll still see a lot.

How Far: Trail Ridge road is a 48 mile road connecting Estes Park to Grand Lake. This is the iconic drive or “main” drive. You can also do Bear Lake Road but you will need timed entry. Head to this website for an overview of the different drives.

How Many Days: 1 day quickly, 2-4 days is ideal

Where to Stop: For the purpose of this post, I’m focusing on the main drive through the park.

• Beaver Meadows
• Hidden Valley
• Many Parks Curve
• Rainbow Curve
• Forest Canyon Overlook
• Lava Cliffs
• Gore Range Overlook
• Alpine Visitor Center
• Poudre Lake
• Lake Irene
• Fairview Curve
• Holzwarth Historic Site
• Coyote Valley Trailhead
• Grand Lake

More Details: The National Park website is the best place to get all the information.

Black Hills, South Dakota

South Dakota is a very under-rated state. It has a lot of beauty and we road tripped there last year. Yes, Mount Rushmore is there, but there’s also the Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park which are completely unique. There is also Custer State Park which is definitely worth visiting.

How Far: 125 miles from north to south and 65 miles east to west

How Many Days: 2 days quickly, 5 days is ideal

Where to Stop:

• Wind Cave National Park (take a tour of the cave- book ahead of time)
• Firehouse Brewery
• Badlands National Park (spend a whole day here)
• Wall Drug (this is definitely a tourist trap but worth seeing)
• Custer State Park (you can spend a whole day here hiking, kayaking, and driving Needles Highway)
• Mammoth Site (spend a couple of hours here)
• Mount Rushmore (spend half a day here)

More Details: Head to Travel South Dakota’s website for a breakdown of distances.

Miami to Key West, Florida

This is another road trip I’ve done and while I won’t say it’s the best on the list, it’s definitely worth doing it. The Florida Keys are so much more than Key West. In fact, Key West is one of the worst parts in my opinion. Now, don’t do this trip in the summer. The weather is too hot and the seaweed is overwhelming. We did it in December and the weather was perfect for beach-time.

How Far: 163 miles

How Many Days: 1 day very quickly, 2 days for a slower pace, 3-4 days is ideal

Where to Stop: We didn’t do a lot in Miami but there is a lot to do there, so you could make that your first stop. for purposes of this post, I’m going to share beyond Miami.

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• Key Largo
• Islamorada- for sport fishing
• Marathon- this has the best beaches in the Keys. It’s also home to the turtle hospital and Bahia Honda State Park (which is next on the list)
• Bahia Honda State Park
• Florida Keys Brewing Company
• Hemingway House in Key West
• Dry Tortugas National Park

More Details: Head to this blog post for a break down of each of these.

Hill Country Loop from Austin to San Antonio to Fredericksburg, Texas

I grew up in between Austin and Fredericksburg and I currently reside in San Antonio so I’m no stranger to this area of Texas. It’s what I tell people is the “pretty part of Texas.” The Hill Country is really the best part of the state to visit. It’s changed a lot since I grew up there and now there are loads of wineries to add to the fun.

How Far: 180-200 miles

How Many Days: 1 day with no stops, 3 days with stops, 5-7 days to explore the big cities.

Where to Stop:

• Austin
• Dripping Springs & Hamilton Pool Preserve (make reservations!)
• Pedernales State Park (reservations needed)
• Luckenbach (we all know the song, right?)
• Johnson City
• Fredericksburg’s Main Street
• Enchanted Rock State Park (reservations needed)
• Hill Country Spirits in Kerrville
• Boerne & Enchanted Springs Ranch
• San Antonio
• The City of Gruene
• New Braunfels (Schlitterbahn Waterpark if it’s summertime!)
• Tubing in San Marcos in the summer
• Blue Hole Regional Park
• Jacob’s Well

More Details: Download our complete guide to the Texas Hill Country Below!

Utah’s Big 5 National Parks, Utah

I haven’t been to all five of Utah’s big national parks but I’ve been to a few and they are well worth it. Arches is one of my favorite National Parks and Canyonlands which is nearby is no slouch. I’d love to spend more time in Utah and see all the National Parks here.

How Far: 1,100 miles

How Many Days: 5 days very quickly, 7-10 days is ideal for exploring

Where to Stop: This one is easy because you basically want to stop at all the National Parks and spend at least one full day exploring each one.

• Arches National Park (needs a full day)
• Canyonlands National Park (half a day to full day)
• Capitol Reef National Park (full day)
• Bryce Canyon National Park (full day)
• Zion National Park (2 full days)

More Details: Check out this blog post for a detailed list of hikes and timing at each of these National Parks.

Lake Michigan Circle Tour, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, & Wisconsin

This is a part of the USA that I have not been and would love to go. With the exception of Illinois, I haven’t been to any of these states.

How Far: 1,100 miles

How Many Days: 1 day with no stops, 4 days with stops, 6-7 days for exploring all the stops

Where to Stop: This is one I can’t provide personal feedback on but after doing my research, these are the stops I will make on this drive. There’s a lot of state parks and little jaunts to do on this drive.

• Chicago, Illinois
• Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
• South Haven, Michigan
• Holland, Michigan (go during Tulip season!)
• Grand Haven, Michigan
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
• Traverse City, Michigan (“The Cherry Capitol of the World”)
• Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Michigan
• Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island, Michigan
• Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan
• Kitch-iti-kipi, Michigan
• Copper Harbor to Isle Royal National Park (will need to take a boat and this is a bit of a detour)
• Manistique, Michigan
• Green Bay, Wisconsin (cheese and football!)
• Door County, Wisconsin
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin

More Details: There are two blog posts I used to map out where to stop. There is this one that does a great overview and this one that details the off-shoots a little better.

Boston to Acadia National Park, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, & Maine

We are headed to do this road trip in less than a month now so I’ve researched it quite a bit. I’ve been to Boston many times as a child but my husband has only been once so we are spending some time in Boston and catching a baseball game.

How Far: 276 miles

How Many Days: 2 days with very little exploring, 4-5 days is ideal

Where to Stop:

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Salem, Massachusetts
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Portland, Maine
• Freeport, Maine (for the LL Bean store)
• Kennebunkport, Maine
• Bar Harbour, Maine
• Acadia National Park
  • Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain (book ahead of time)
  • Beehive Trail Hike
  • Sand Beach
  • Thunder Hole (check tide times)
  • Otter Cliff Overlook
  • Drive the full Park Loop Road
  • Dinner at Jordan Pond Restaurant (the only restaurant in the National Park and closes at 5)
  • Sunset at Bass Harbour Lighthouse

More Details: I got a lot of my info from the She Wanders blog. It details different time frames which is helpful

Yellowstone to Grand Tetons

Yellowstone National Park is one I have been to many times. I never get tired of visiting it. There is no other place like it on earth. It has the most thermal activity of any place in the world and then you get the amazing wildlife. From Yellowstone, you can tack on the Grand Tetons as well which are stunning.

How Far: This is tricky as you can drive straight there in 133 miles, but Yellowstone is big and I’m going to put stops that will take quite a bit of time.

How Many Days: 5 days quickly, 7-10 days to fully explore each of the places below.

Where to Stop: For the purposes of this, I’m going to start from Bozeman which is where you would fly. These are the key stops in both National Parks

• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Lamar Valley (search for wildlife)
• Mount Washburn Hike
• Hayden Valley (another place to search for wildlife)
• Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
• Norris Geyser Basin
• Madison (search for more wildlife on the drive)
• Grand Prismatic
• Old Faithful & surrounding geysers
• West Thumb Geyser Basin
• Jenny Lake Trail
• Inspiration Point
• Mormon Row Historic District
• Teton Park Road
• Jackson Lake
• Snake River Overlook
• Taggart Lake
• 42 Mile Scenic Loop Drive
• Schwabacher Landing
• Signal Mountain Summit Road
• Chapel of the Transfiguration
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming

More Details: Download our complete Yellowstone guide and explore details of the Grand Tetons on this blog.

Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Nevada & Arizona

I’ll be honest with you: I hate Las Vegas. I think it’s the worst city in the states. That being said, there’s a lot of road trips you can take from there. One of the best is to the Grand Canyon. This is a trip we did several years ago and I’d do it again, even if I have to start in Vegas.

How Far: 275 miles

How Many Days: 3 days for a quick trip in Vegas and not a lot of hiking at the Grand Canyon, 5-7 is ideal.

Where to Stop:

• Las Vegas (if you must spend time here)
• Springs Preserve (very close to Vegas)
• Hoover Damn (leave time for a tour)
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center
• Sunrise at Mather Point
• Rim Trail
• Grand Canyon Historic District
• Hermit Road
• Desert Viewpoint
• Navajo Viewpoint
• Lipan Viewpoint
• Grandview Viewpoint
• Watch the Sunset at Hopi Point
• Detour to Meteor Crater

More Details: The National Park website always has great info on hiking and stops but this post gives a good overview as well.

Midwest on Route 66, Illinois, Missouri, & Kansas

I can’t really do a list of USA Road Trips without including Route 66. While it’s not really what it once was, it’s still a classic drive. I decided to add a part of it to my bucket list that I haven’t done. Route 66 was also born in Chicago, so it seems like a good place to start.

How Far: 600 miles

How Many Days: 2-3 days quickly, 5 days to really explore

Where to Stop:

• Chicago
• Pontiac (lots of Route 66 memorabilia)
• Springfield (home of Abe Lincoln)
• St. Louis and Gateway Arch National Park
• Cuba (old charm of Route 66)
• Springfield, Missouri (Route 66 car museum)
• Fanning (world’s largest rocking chair)
• Galena (Cars on the Route which is the basis for the movie Cars)
• Riverton (last remaining historic Route 66 gas stations here)

More Details: Route 66 has a whole website dedicated to it so you can plan ’till your heart’s content.

New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle, New Mexico

We did this trip many years ago and loved it. Go during the winter for skiing or in the fall to add on the Albuquerque Balloon Festival.

How Far: 84-90 mile loop

How Many Days: 1 day to just drive, 3-4 for stopping, 5-7 for hiking or skiing.

Where to Stop:

• Taos
• Questa
• Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
• Eagle Nest
• Angel Fire

More Details: Head to our post here for a map of the area and where to go.

Road to Hana, Hawaii

I’ve done the road to Hana twice and it’s easy to do it in a day trip. I love it and don’t let the tour guides act like you have to take their tour. You can drive it, I believe in you. You can even keep going all the way around if you have an off road vehicle.

How Far: 65 miles

How Many Days: 1 full day with time for stops, spend the night in Hana if you want to break up the drive back.

Where to Stop:

• Explore Pa’ia Town (the official start to the Road to Hana)
• Ho’okipa Beach
• Hike to Twin Falls
• Walk the Waikamoi Ridge Trail for Rainforest
• Garden of Eden Arboretum
• Honomanu Bay Viewpoint
• Nua’ailua Lookout
• Ke’anae Arboretum for Rainbow Trees
• Ke’anae for banana bread
• Ke’anae Valley Overlook
• Halfway to Hana Food Stand
• Upper Waikani Falls
• Lava Tube Cave
• Makapipi Falls
• Kahanu Garden
• Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach
• Hana town

More Details: I really recommend downloading the app that tells you when to stop based on where you are. It will narrate for you as you drive. You can find it here at Shaka Guide.

The Great River Road following the Mississippi River, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, & Louisiana

This is a big one and until I started researching for this post I didn’t even know about it. From Minnesota down to Louisiana or vice versa sounds like a fun trip but will definitely take a lot of planning. I also hits several states I haven’t fully explored.

How Far: 3,000 miles

How Many Days: 10 to 14 days if you’re doing it all at once.

Where to Stop:

• Lake Itasca State Park, MN
• Bemidji, MN
• Grand Rapids
• Judy Garland Museum, MN
• Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, MN
• Main Street USA, WI
• La Crosse, WI
• Effigy Mounds National Monument, WI
• Dubuque Scenic Railway, WI
• Hannibal, MO (Mark Twain)
• St. Louis MO and Gateway Arch, MO
• Home of Superman, IL
• Memphis, TN
• Graceland, TN
• Tunica, MS (hike through the wetlands)
• Natchez Trace Parkway (MS)
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Cajun Country, LA
• Plantation Alley, LA
• New Orleans, LA

More Details: Head to Road Trip, USA for all the information you’ll ever need about this epic road trip.

Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, California

I recently saw a blog post that put Joshua Tree National Parks as one of the worst National Parks and I wanted to punch that author. No. It’s well worth a visit and I would go back. I do believe it’s highly under-rated and this is one of the shortest and easiest USA road trips on this list.

How Far: 45 miles one way

How Many Days: 1 day if you just want to drive in and out, 3-5 days to really explore Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.

Where to Stop:

• Indian Canyons Nature Preserve
• Tahquitz Canyon
• Inside Joshua Tree National Park
  • Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
  • Discovery Nature Trail
  • Hall of Horrors
  • Skull Rock Nature Trail
  • Barker Dam Trail
  • Hidden Valley Nature Trail
  • Arch Rock & Heart Rock Trail
  • 49 Palms Oasis
  • Keys View Sunset
• Joshua Tree Distillery
• World Famous Crochet Museum
• Art Queen Gallery
• Tiny Pony Restaurant and Bar

More Details: Head to this post for a complete itinerary for Joshua Tree. What order you do things depends greatly on where you’re staying and where you want to start.

San Diego to Sequoia, California

This is a road trip I have scheduled for this year and while the main reason is simply to get to Sequoia and Kings Canyon from San Diego there are places you could stop on the way. There’s also plenty to do in San Diego.

How Far: 342 miles

How Many Days: You can make the drive in a day, if you want to spend time in Los Angeles and San Diego, I recommend 5-7 days.

Where to Stop: For the purpose of this post, I’m going to share the things to see in San Diego that are on the actual drive, not things such as a baseball game or the zoo.

• La Jolla Beach area, San Diego
• Mount Soledad Memorial Park, San Diego
• Torrey Pines State Natural Area
• South Carlsbad State Park
• Oceanside Municipal Pier
• San Clemente Pier
• Dana Point Harbor
• Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Newport Beach
• Balboa Island
• Disneyland
• Knott’s Berry Farm
• Los Angeles
• Griffith Park
• Santa Monica
• Santa Clarita
• Bakersfield (seen on Big Bang Theory)

More Details: Use Wanderlog to plan your stops and create a clear map for your trip!

Sedona to Scottsdale, Arizona

Sedona and Scottsdale are both well worth your time. The drive itself is beautiful without stops. However, there’s loads of fun in Sedona you should also check out.

How Far: 124 miles

How Many Days: This can be done in one day but I recommend spending at least two nights in Sedona for a full day of hiking. Ideally, 5-7 will let you see a lot.

Where to Stop: For the purpose of this post, I’m going to focus on the stops to make along the way and not all the hiking you can do in Sedona or Scottsdale.

• Chapel of the Holy Cross
• Cathedral Rock
• Bell Rock
• Take HWY AZ-179 for scenic views
• Jerome town
• Tuzigoot National Monument
• Blazin M Ranch
• Old Town Cottonwood
• Montezuma Castle National Monument
• Out of Africa Wildlife Park
• Fort Verde State Historic Park
• Arcosanti
• Pioneer Living History Museum
• Hurricane Harbor, Phoenix
• Escobedo Historic District

More Details: Use Wanderlog for this one as well to find the stops along the way that you want to make. For a full day itinerary in Sedona, use our post here.

Big Bend to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to Carlsbad Caverns, Texas & New Mexico

The most under-rated National Park in Texas as well as one of the most under-rated in the nation is Guadalupe Mountains. However, it’s well worth a visit and very close to Carlsbad Caverns which is a very popular National Park and also worth a visit. You can also add on Big Bend National Park which is further away but well worth it.

How Far: 330-400 miles

How Many Days: I recommend spending at least two full days in Big Bend, one full day in Guadalupe Mountains and 1/2 a day in Carlsbad. You can drive from Big Bend to Guadalupe in a day with stops. Ideally 5-7 days in this area would let you see it all and do some hiking.

Where to Stop: For the purpose of this post, I’m only going to focus on the stops you can make from Big Bend to Guadalupe Mountains to Carlsbad. I’m not going to list all the hikes. Head to this post for tips on hiking Big Bend. For details on Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Carlsbad, you can head to this post.

• Big Bend National Park
• Terilingua, TX
• Big Bend State Park
• Marfa, TX
• McDonald Observatory
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park

More Details: Use the National Park websites to plan your time in Guadalupe Mountains, Big Bend, and Carlsbad.

Lake Tahoe Loop, Nevada & California

Lake Tahoe is breathtaking and there’s so much to do surrounding the Lake. Whether you’re into swimming, gambling, skiing, hiking, or shopping, there’s something for everyone.

How Far: 72 mile loop

How Many Days: The full loop can be done in 4-6 hours but I recommend 3-4 days to explore the area, more if you want to ski or spend time on the water.

Where to Stop: I recommend staying in Incline Village and starting from there. It’s less crowded than other areas and really beautiful. There’s also cute local shops there too.

• Incline Village
• Crystal Bay
• Kings Beach
• Tahoe City
• Sugar Pine Point State Park
• D.L. Bliss State Park
• South Lake Tahoe
• Zephyr Cove
• Sand Harbor State Park
• Bonus Stop: Head to Truckee for the best small town shopping from locals.

More Details: The Visit Lake Tahoe website has all the details on stops, hiking, distances, and more.

Make USA Road Trips a Breeze

I love a good road trip but I don’t like not planning ahead for it. If you don’t know where you’re going to stop, you’ll end up getting frustrated and seeing very little. Gone are the days when you can just “wing it”. A lot of places (like state parks) require booking ahead of time and you will be disappointed if you don’t plan. That’s why I’m leaving you with some of my favorite tools I use for planning USA road trips below.

Get Help Planning Trips:

Book tours with Get Your Guide or Viator
Download the National Park App (FREE!)
Use Shaka for road trip guides
Shop Guides for Your Phone