The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and it’s officially quitting time. If you have some time off this summer, spend it on the road instead of in a stuffy resort. The US is full of highways that take you through breathtaking countryside, sprawling cities, and along ocean views that’ll steal your heart and make you never want to come back.
Fill up the tank, pack a bag, and hit the road this summer with these incredible American road trips.
#1 — For the Bold at Heart — The Alaska Highway
The Trip: British Columbia to Anchorage, Alaska
The Mileage: About 2,000 miles
The Alaska Highway represents a massive journey through British Columbia and North America that’ll take you at least a week to conquer, if not two. If you have plenty of vacation days saved up though, it’s worth the jaunt. Wildlife abounds on this journey that takes you through grizzly and caribou country in the Yukon Territory.
Stop for a soak in the natural hot springs along the way, and definitely explore the surrounding wilderness with the help of an outfitter (and some bear mace, while you’re at it).
Denali National Park is towards the end of this journey and will take you past North America’s tallest peak, Denali Mountain, at over 20,000 feet high.
#2 — The Perfect Inland Day Trip — The Columbia River Highway
The Trip: Portland, OR to the Hood River
The Mileage: 48 miles
If you drive a beater (hey, no shame in that game) or just don’t have two weeks of vacation time banked, this quick little day trip is just right. The Columbia River Highway starts in Portland, OR, where you can find a whole host of cityslicker activities in the local eateries and shops, and ends at the Hood River, where the Mountains and forest ensconce everything in green.
On this winding highway, you’ll pass waterfalls, wildlife, and travel across old tunnels and bridges covered in moss and lush plant life — it’s like being in Fern Gulley.
#3 — When You Need Some Variety — Canada to Mexico
The Trip: Calgary, Canada to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The Mileage: 4,682 miles
Go big or go home — this massive road trip takes you from one end of the US to the next, through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, before finally landing you at the sandy beaches of Puerto Vallarta.
Rent a camper and get comfy — this one will take you about 45 hours in drive time alone, and can easily take two weeks between sightseeing and adventures along the way.
In Montana, don’t miss the incredible Glacier National Park, where crystal clear blue glacial lakes and streams cut through the massive mountain landscape. In northern Wyoming, you can check out the famous Yellowstone National Park and take a dip in some natural hot springs before venturing down to Colorado for skiing and mountain climbing.
It’s all sunshine and beaches from there as you head through New Mexico and down to your final stop in Puerto Vallarta, where there’s a cold umbrella drink waiting by the beach with your name on it.
#4 — For the Cultured — US Route 1
The Tip: Maine to the Florida Keys
The Mileage: 545 miles
This route from New England down to the Floridian islands is loaded with gorgeous historic homes and museums and takes you through the Big Apple itself. Stop for some great local seafood and shopping in Portland, Maine, and hop on a ski lift when you make it down to New Hampshire.
New York City is a melting pot and treasure trove of culture, from shopping to sightseeing, and food from every country imaginable.
Further south, Charleston in South Carolina is home to stunning architecture, charming brick roads, and gorgeous gardens. Follow Route 1 down to the tip of Florida and you’re in for a REAL treat as your trip ends with a drive across the ocean interstate with Atlantic waves lapping at the shoulders.
#5 — For the Beach Lovers — Pacific Coast Highway
The Trip: Monterey California to Morro Bay
The Mileage: 123 miles
This fabled drive down the California coastline is as breathtaking as it is exhilarating. Mountains and forests meet ocean in a battle against surf and foam alongside the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s about a five hour trip, so it’s perfect for dragging out over a weekend as you stop and take it all in.
The trips starts in historic Monterey California, where you can watch whales on the water and explore the legendary aquarium. Further south, don’t miss the Point Lobos State Reserve, where you can explore tide pools, coves, and hiking trails in the towering Cypress forests.
Down in Big Sur it gets distractingly gorgeous — be prepared to stop and take photos so you can focus on the winding road ahead on your trip. The Santa Lucia mountain range crashes into the frothing sea below, and it’s a humbling spectacle to behold.
Driving through arched rocks, across towering bridges, and treacherous turns — the Pacific Coast Highway is as beautiful as it is treacherous in the rain, so stay alert, and drink it in.
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