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08
Jul
Top 12 Places in the US for Summer Road Trips
Road Map | Pixabay
Summer is the best time to explore the beautiful sceneries in the U.S. Roads are clear and the weather is nice. Not to mention that U.S. roads are perfect for cross-country travel.
Take the opportunity to explore and discover the most interesting historical places and awesome views this summer. Visit several chic cities and lovely towns on your coming vacation days.
We’ve listed down 12 of the most interesting itineraries for your next summer road trip. But before heading to your summer spot, do a quick inspection on your car to stay safe and comfortable during your trip.
Now read on.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Mountains | Pixabay
Are you up for about 500 miles drive from Shenandoah National Park (Virginia) to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains? These breath-taking national parks are controlled by the U.S. National Parks System.
This is more than just a road trip but also a journey to the cultural traditions of the region. Immerse yourself and your companions in the Cherokee traditions, Appalachian music and arts, and agricultural history.
Take the Linn Viaduct just above the Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina). Appreciate the diverse wildlife, historical sites and beautiful sceneries it has to offer.
You will see the White water Falls, old mountains, and Linville Gorge. Add into that – a primitive church in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.
Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway | Pixabay
Travel 1500 miles into the Alaska Highway. Begin the journey from British Columbia to the Yukon Territory. You can go through the Delta Junction (original end of the highway) to Fairbanks.
Starting in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, the ALCAN or Alaska Highway is a paved road with sections still under construction. Your eyes will feast in its beautiful sceneries and wildlife. Highway
Interesting stops along the way include Signpost Forest in Watson Lake (Yukon Territory), Liard River Hot Springs, and Fort Nelson Heritage Museum (British Columbia).
You can continue on from Fairbanks to Anchorage for another 500 miles. You will pass by Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula on your way to Homer. You will get a chance to spot some Orcas in the bay at Homer, Alaska.
From Charleston to New Orleans
Appreciate the Southern culture and history of Charleston and New Orleans. Begin your journey from Charleston, South Carolina. Taste the delightful delicacies, amazing beach, and top-caliber golf courses of this historical city.
You will pass by the alluring city of Savannah, Georgia. It is a famous tourist spot. One of its greatest sceneries is the Wormsloe Plantation.
Be brave enough to visit the Old Cahawba Ghost Town on the Alabama River. Visit the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge. It is where Dr. Martin Luther King met with Violent resistance (Montgomery March) in 1965.
Visit the French Quarter in New Orleans. There you can see riverboats, visit old cemeteries, and enjoy great food and music.
Canada to Mexico
Canada | Pixabay
This trip stretches from the Canadian Rockies to the Sonora Desert. You will go through Montana and Arizona.
The journey begins From Jasper National Park in Canada. There you can marvel in its majestic blue glacial lakes.
You can also visit Glacier National Park. You can make a quick stop at the resort town of Whitefish, Montana.
If you like to go camping, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking, you can pass by the Flathead National Forest and the Flathead Indian Reservation.
You can also pass by the Salmon River (Idaho) and Craters of the Moon National Park.
You will go through the deserts of Nevada and the Great Basin National Park. You can also make a pit stop at Las Vegas and enjoy the urban vibe it has to offer before going through Arizona.
Places to visit in Arizona include Biosphere II (in Oracle, Arizona), Titan Missile Museum, and Hoover Dam.
The Lonely Road from Colorado to Lake Tahoe
Take the lonely road from Colorado to Lake Tahoe. There you can have your fill of amazing scenery. You will witness a mélange of natural views, including the Black Canyon (in the Gunnison National Park) and Rockies (past Crested Butte).
The route will show off a series of alpine meadows, snowy peaks, and blue lakes. In Utah, you will see the Canyonlands and the arches.
The U.S. Highway 50 was cited as the “Loneliest Road in America.” It is because of its mostly empty and uninhabited landscape. Fallon, Nevada is filled with old mining towns, sand mountains, and mountain ranges.
Take a historic trip into the historic city of Virginia, Nevada. And then, finally, admire the snowy mountains and pristine blue waters of Lake Tahoe.
Denver to Glacier
Start off in the city of Denver and join in the Chalk Art Festival. Though it usually happens in June. From there, you can continue the trip to the Yellowstone National Park, Montana’s boomtowns, and on to the Glacier National Park.
Pass through the Continental Divide or the highest paved road in America. Up there you will be able to view the Rocky Mountain National Park. You can also visit Virginia City and Fairmont Hot Springs before going to Glacier National Park.
Highway to Key West
If you want a quick road trip, we recommend this 150-mile route from Miami through the Florida Keys to Key West. This route takes you to the colorful street arts of Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami.
Take Route 1 going to the Keys. Cross the Seven-mile Bridge (just one of the 42 bridges along the way).
This short road trip will take you to the laid-back Florida Keys. Relax in its nice hotels and beaches. Have a taste of the key lime pie and the serene mood of the area.
The Great Oregon Trail
The great Oregon Trail traverses six states for its 2000-mile stretch. This melancholic trail will take you back to the time of the pioneers in with wagons who are in search of western farmlands. This trail extends from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City.
Visit the Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska. Take your companions on a historical trip in Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Watch the historical Register Cliff (one of the three large registers of the desert).
You can also recreate the crossing of the Snake River at Glenns Ferry Idaho.
Watch the painted hills and rock formations in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (eastern Oregon).
Visit coffee shops, museums, restaurants, microbreweries, and galleries in Portland.
Pacific Coast, California
Drive 1000 miles from Crescent City to San Diego and admire the beautiful sceneries of the Pacific coast. Take snapshots of the beach towns, redwoods, theme-parks, and famous cities.
Walk along the Golden Gate Bridge and smell the ocean breeze. Shop, wine and dine in San Francisco.
Watch surfers in action along the California Coast. If you are lucky enough, you may witness the Mavericks Invitational Surfing Event in Half Moon Bay.
Olympic Peninsula
Start off in Olympia, Washington up north to the Olympic Peninsula. Take Highway 101. You can go hiking and sight-seeing in the Olympic National Park. You can also pass through the Hoh Rainforest (one of the largest temperate rainforest in the country).
Visit the Cape Disappointment State Park. It is home to an interpretive center, 2-mile beach, hiking trails, and two lighthouses.
Continue on to the coast of Oregon and visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. It has a glass tunnel going into the open sea.
Iconic Route 66
You have never really gone on a road trip if you haven’t tried the iconic Route 66. This 2500-mile highway is iconic and historic. This road trip will take you back to the times of roadside motels, classic automobile, and mom-and-pop gas stations.
This itinerary lets you pass through eight states from Illinois to California. Pass by historic spots in Oklahoma, U-Drop Inn in Texas, US Post Office in Arizona, Grand Canyon, Amboy Crater, and Death Valley National Park. The route ends in Santa Monica Pier.
West Virginia and the New River Gorge
Travel from west to east, border to border through West Virginia’s Route 60. The Midland trail lets you witness nature’s greatest creations and man-made structures. See the beautiful waterfalls, scenery, arts, crafts, and taste local delicacies.
You will pass by Hawks Nest State Park, White Sulphur Springs, and Glade Creek.
There you have it! Choose from the dozens of itineraries we have shared with you. Hope you had a quick glimpse of the summer road trip that you will be having soon.
Feel free to leave your comments below and share this article on social media.
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