Big Sur, Blue Ridge Parkway, Route 66, and the Overseas Highway (Florida Keys) are covered in practically EVERY list of American road trips. For this article on spectacular and lesser-known USA road trips, I asked some travel writers to surprise me (and my readers). The resulting drives cover many states and vary from beaches to mountains to country roads to deserts.
All text and photos were submitted by the listed author(s). Please visit their websites for much more travel inspiration. Let me know your favorite USA road trip.
Coastal Mississippi Scenic Drive
I have taken road trips in all 50 USA states and wrote many road trip articles on McCool Travel, including road trip habits, American road trip food, camping along Big Sur, and Florida scenic drives. One of my favorite secret, lesser known, unique American road trips is the drive along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
When I first drove Scenic Highway 90, I was astonished at the miles and miles of unobstructed Gulf of Mexico views. I was most impressed with the ample beachfront parking making it easy and convenient to sink my feet into the luscious US Gulf Coast sugar sand within a few steps.
My favorite stretch begins soon after crossing the Bay St Louis bridge (from Bay St Louis heading east/south) and then passing the epic hidden gem Coastal Mississippi sunset spot in Henderson Point, then through super cozy Pass Christian (where I will surely find a quiet and clean beach space, like pictured below), and onto Long Beach where I will say hello to the nearly 600-year-old Friendship Oak tree.
by Charles McCool of McCool Travel
See also our US Coast Scenic Drives Resource Guide
Heartland—Great American Road Trip
by Chris Christensen of AmateurTraveler.com
On a road trip last Summer through the heart of American—which I called the Great American Road Trip—we traveled from Kansas City to Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Watched in a baseball game in Kansas City, ate BBQ, and visited the Negro League Baseball Museum and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
We visited the Clinton Library in Little Rock and Chrystal Bridges museum of American art on the way there. We visited the Rock and Soul museum and the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis… and ate more BBQ. Attended a concert in Nashville and visited Andrew Jackson’s home The Heritage. We visited a Corvette plant in Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park, the Louisville Slugger museum, and the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati.
See our article about visiting Collette Tours of America’s Music Cities
Talimena National Scenic Byway
by Kerry Krauss of Arkansas.com
Beginning at Mena, the scenic byway stretches for 54 miles along crests of the Ouachita Mountains before terminating at Talihina, Oklahoma. The route offers some of the best sightseeing in Arkansas, with vistas from atop some of the highest peaks between the Rockies and Appalachians.
Atop Rich Mountain on the Talimena Scenic Drive is the Queen Wilhelmina State Park, which reopened July 1 after a $9.6 million renovation and expansion. The park has a lodge, restaurant, camping, picnic areas, miniature railroad, and hiking trails. The revamped lodge now offers even better views of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains. The 192-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail passes through the park.
While in Oklahoma, check out River Spirit Casino Resort
Arkansas Route 7
by Chere Coen of Weird South
One of the best ways to view Arkansas in all its diversity, from cotton fields to mountains, is to follow Route 7 from El Dorado at the Louisiana border to its finale at Missouri. The highway was Arkansas’ first state-designated scenic byway and visitors will enjoy four geographical regions as they head straight up the center of the Natural State.
Scenic Byway 7 begins in the state’s coastal plains and continues through the Ouachita Mountains and Hot Springs, then up through the Ozarks, including passing through the Buffalo National River. Along the way are springs, whitewater rafting, historic towns, and authentic Southern cuisine.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail
by Sandra McKenna and Rick Griffin of MidLifeRoadTrip.com
This is a road trip you will want to savor. Start the Bourbon Trail in Louisville, Kentucky. We suggest three days and a designated driver to hit all nine historic distilleries on the trail—including Jim Beam, the world’s No. 1 Kentucky bourbon. The distilleries are located between eight and 80 miles apart, weaving through quaint country towns and beautiful landscape. It’s best to plan ahead to take advantage of the behind the scenes distillery tours and tastings.
Finger Lakes
by Jessica van Dop DeJesus of DiningTraveler.com
The Finger Lakes in Western New York is an area which marks each season with beautiful landscape offerings. On a drive around Seneca Lake, in the deepest of the Finger Lakes, you will discover beautiful vineyards, majestic waterfalls, unique roadside eats, and sailboats gliding on the clear waters on a hot summer’s day.
Over thirty wineries claim the Seneca Lake area as their home. Food and wine tips: Head to Hermann J. Wiemer winery for a taste of their award winning Riesling inside their quaint tasting room. For local eats, head to FLX Wienery for locally made sausages and cinnamon doughnuts.
See our Finger Lakes article: Things To Do Near Keuka Lake
Texas Hill Country
by Lance and Laura Longwell of TravelAddicts.net
The cute towns and sights in south central Texas, in the general area of Austin and San Antonio, are linked by an easy route that makes for a great long weekend through country studded with wildflowers, wineries, and tons of character. The charming town of Fredericksburg, with its unique German heritage, thriving wineries, shopping, and hundreds of B&Bs, is the perfect place to spend as much time as you can.
The second stop is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, with a massive pink granite dome that is about 6 million years old. Luckenbach, Texas is a charming music venue that hosts periodic festival and events and oozes Texas hospitality. Stonewall and Johnson City are historic sites related to Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th U.S. President.
On your next Texas trip, try these Things to Do in Lubbock
Mississippi Delta
by Apryl Thomas of Southern Hospitality magazine
There is an energy to the Mississippi Delta that can’t be explained, only experienced. Laying between the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers and covering over 200 miles, the area is perhaps best known for its musical heritage, but there is so much more. Here not only can you get a feel for Mississippi itself, but also the South.
From juke joints to museums to unique lodging to Delta-flavored restaurants to the legend of Robert Johnson and more, there are many ways to immerse yourself into the culture. Just one visit and you’ll understand why this area has inspired so many.
Dockery Farms is a great day trip from Jackson, MS.
Florida: A1A
by Diane Leone of OneWomansTravels.com
Ponte Vedra is home to the Tournament Players Championship Golf Course and many sports celebrities. Guana Reserve runs along A1A with million dollar beach homes, and glimpses of the beach on the other side. Further south is a real castle so popular that the owners open one day a week for tours.
A must see is the Magic Beach Motel in Vilano Beach whose claim to fame is it was used as a backdrop for the 1990’s series Safe Harbor. The renovated motel still boasts bright colors, pink flamingos, neon lights and of course, the famous Magic Beach Motel sign.
See also Things to do in St Augustine
Brandywine Valley
by Irvina Lew of IrvinaLew.com
The multi-hued hillsides of the Brandywine River Valley—outside Wilmington, DE—wind through pastoral country roads rich with history dating from the Battle of Brandywine, in 1777. Wyeth artwork is showcased at the Brandywine River Museum and there’s a wine trail.
The incredible du Pont legacy of art, architecture, gardens, and parklands dominates the glorious drive: the riverfront Hagley Museum, the 18th century style Nemours mansion, the bountiful Longwood Gardens, and the collection-rich Winterthur Museum. The Inn at Montchanin Village—the 19thcentury hamlet where Winterthur workers once lived—has been restored for guest lodging.
See also great Delaware restaurants
Wisconsin’s Great River Road
by Heidi Siefkas of HeidiSiefkas.com
Nestled in an area nicknamed God’s Country, the Great River Road traces the banks of the Mighty Mississippi winding through the lush valleys, fertile farmland, and limestone bluffs of rural western Wisconsin. It passes through thirty-three quaint townships, each with its distinct character like Trempealeau with Perrot State Park and boutique winery Elmaro.
Countless lookouts for bald eagles pepper the picturesque route along with plenty of local gems such as Nelson’s Creamery for sampling Wisconsin’s finest cheeses. Tap into Wisconsin’s beauty, craft beers, and even local lingo like “you betcha” on the Great River Road.
While in Wisconsin, check out Things to Do in Beloit and Things to Do in Janesville
New Mexico County Road C002
by Charles McCool of McCool Travel
Am I wrong to think that the loneliest USA road trip should NOT have places to eat, sleep, and shop? Geronimo Trail, between Douglas, Arizona and the New Mexico border, is more lonely than roads listed in lonely road articles. In an hour and a half, I only saw a handful of vehicles.
That, my friends, was the road I drove to get to the loneliest road—County Road C002 in the extreme southwestern corner of New Mexico. How lonely? I did not see another vehicle, person, or sign of person (house, farm) for 90 minutes of driving. No people—but fun unpaved roads, incredible scenery, and the best kind of solitude.
Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway
by Donna L. Hull of My Itchy Travel Feet
For a Montana scenic drive that escapes the crowds of Glacier or Yellowstone National Parks, explore Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in the southwestern portion of the state. The 49-mile paved road travels through the heart of the Pioneer Mountains in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest from the town of Wise River to Dillon.
To the east, 10,000 ft granite peaks stand guard while the rolling terrain of a lodgepole pine forest stretches to the west. Coolidge ghost town makes a fun side-trip. Or try your luck looking for quartz at Crystal Park. And soaking in the pool at Elkhorn Hot Springs is good way to soothe your road-weary bones. Nine campgrounds are scattered along the drive or bunk for the night in the small ranching community of Polaris.
Idaho Route 12
by Teresa Bergen of TeresaBergen.com
US Route 12 runs 2,500 miles from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan. But if you love forest, hot springs, rivers and streams, the stretch through Idaho’s Clearwater National Forest can’t be missed. History buffs will enjoy the Nez Perce Indian and Lewis and Clark sites. Hikers tramp through fir and spruce forests, likelier to spot a moose or an elk than another human. This stretch of Route 12 is one of America’s top motorcycle roads, and also popular with cross-country cyclists. Campsites abound. If you like electricity, hot showers, and other amenities, stay at Lochsa Lodge.
Avenue of the Giants
This is a road like no other. What began as a stagecoach road to Oregon is now a national treasure, passing through the tallest, most massive plants on Earth. The narrow ribbon of blacktop winds through the trees, with enormous trunks standing only inches from the pavement. There are several interesting stops along the way, Founder’s Grove, The Immortal Tree, and the touristy Shrine Tree (of cars-driving-through-a-tree postcard fame) are all just off the road. One thing we can promise, you will never look at trees the same again.
For more road trip inspiration, please see: Road Trips Around the World
Last, but certainly not least, is this classic, must-drive American road trip from the 50th state.
Road to Hana
by Ann Tran of Ann-Tran.com
We did ourselves a big favor escaping from resort row and treking out the exhilarating yet treacherous Hana Highway on beautiful Maui. Navigating the canyon switchbacks and one lane curves yields delicious treats such as gorgeous waterfalls and lagoons, swimming pools carved out of old lava flows, and picturesque swimming bays with aquamarine waters. The unspoiled beauty and magnificent cliffs epitomizes the best that nature offers on the road to Hana, driving on a razors edge between heaven and earth. This is truly one of the planet’s best road trips!
A huge red, white, and blue Thank You to the travel writers who contributed to this post.
Please let me know if you have a topic for a future collaboration (or would like to participate).
Have you been on any of these American road trips? Do you have a different favorite road trip in the USA?
You had me at Louisville Slugger. As a baseball and road trip fan, this is a must for me. Let me just hope over the pond again first. ⚾️????
Once upon a time I did a lot of baseball road trips. Still do, in some ways. Anyway, the Louisville Slugger is a fun place. Nothing like that in France. Ha!
I would love the Finger Lakes road trip Charles. What a beautiful area. It’s not too far from my current location either.
What is your current location? When surrounding areas are really hot and humid, Finger Lakes is so pleasant.
The road to Hana is an amazing drive and the beaches and hikes waiting in Hana are completely worth it!
Indeed, a magnificent drive.
What I love about America is that the country is so diverse. Perfect material for road trips! These all seem wonderful!
Thank you for the note. USA has so much variety, perfect for road trips.