Whether you’re keen on driving on the right-hand side of the road or not, a U.S. road trip is something that you have to experience at least once in your lifetime. When you do embrace the American idea of freedom being an open road, you’ll see things you’ve never seen before; you’ll meet people the likes of which you’ve never met before, and you’ll go through places, big and small, that’ll be etched in your memory forever more.
You can find five of the best American road trips that there are to take, one of which stretches as far north as Canada, below.
California State Route 1
The Pacific coast of the American West offers up a number of the world’s best road trip routes, but none are better in this part of the world than the California State Route 1. Starting just north of San Diego (if you do find yourself in San Diego, don’t be afraid to spend a day/night below the border in Tijuana!), this route helps you to avoid the traditional gridlock of Greater Los Angeles while still offering you the chance to see the sights of this famous area. The route then makes its way up through Long Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu and then, further north, the incredibly natural area of Big Sur, a place where you will find ample opportunities to camp out safely.
NYC to Niagara Falls
The west coast doesn’t have all the fun, as there is a lot to see and do over on the east, too!
Specifically, when you take a road trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, you are sure to see things you won’t forget in a hurry. After indulging in the sightseeing and shopping antics that only NYC can offer, it’s time to get on the I-87 North, and your first stop is the state capital city of Albany, offering you the chance to explore the Hudson River. Then, after heading west on the I-90, you’ll come to Syracuse, a place famous for spotting bald eagles. After continuing on the same route in the same direction for another 160 miles, just as you've had enough of all things American, you get the chance to step over the border into The Great White North, and there you’ll find the breathtaking Niagara Falls. There, you’ll also find newly renovated hotels near Niagara Falls Canada, meaning you can spend a well earned night in luxury after all that time spent out on the road!
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway, or U.S. 1 as it is officially known, is a route that hops around all the islands in the southern rim of Florida Bay. Along the way you can find traditionally Floridian roadside attractions, like Goofy Golf, the Theatre of the Sea and the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, meaning you'll never be bored. And you’ll never run out of things to look at in wonder, either. When you reach the Seven Mile Bridge, especially, you will have one of the most spectacular sights in all the world to gaze at, that being the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re a lover of all things nature, then the Blue Ridge Parkway is the road trip for you. Connecting two of America’s biggest and best National Parks, Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains, this journey takes you on a leaf-themed journey through the most rustic areas that the U.S. has to offer. Along the way, you’ll find the Luray Caverns, the Big Meadows Lodge, the Humpback Rocks, the Crabtree Falls and the Natural Bridge Park, and stopping off to view them all is well worth it. Stopping off won’t even be a problem, because you won’t find any of the infamous LA gridlocks in this part of the world!
Route 66
Can you talk about American road trips without mentioning the most famous of them all, Route 66? With every state it passes through, this route just keeps on giving. Whether you stop off at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Santa Monica Pier in California, the Route 66 starting and ending point signs in Illinois, or the Historic Rainbow Bridge in Kansas, you’ll come across something that makes you realise just how great a country America really is.
Going on an American road trip will make having to drive on the right-hand side of the road, as well as learning all of the U.S. road rules, completely worth it!
