The Best Cross-Country Road Trip Routes

Having a general itinerary during a road trip will help keep you on track and can be an efficient way to see the sights you’d like to see without compromising your timeline. It is important to pack road trip necessities like snacks, drinks, and of course a phone charger. Most importantly, you will want to make sure your vehicle is in good shape and that maintenance is up to date. We also recommend making sure that you have an auto insurance plan that will give you peace of mind while traveling.

Ready to hit the road? Here are a few well-known cross-country road trips that can’t be beat!

Blue Ridge Parkway

More people make this scenic drive each year than the number of tourists that visit the Grand Canyon. It’s a beautiful drive that connects two National Parks, Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains, with many interesting stops along the way.

Shenandoah National Park is only 75 miles outside of Washington, DC and has pristine parks, hiking trails, mystic caves, and cascading waterfalls for all to enjoy. Some other great stops along the way are Luray Caverns, the historic river town of Sperryville, and Ashville, North Carolina where you’ll find great restaurants, galleries, and boutiques.

This 469-mile journey begins in Front Royal, Virginia and ends near Cherokee, North Carolina.

Route 66

Route 66 has been called the “Mother Road” because it was the first continuously paved highway between Chicago and Los Angeles. The route runs 2,400 miles through the country with signature attractions along the way. On this road trip you’ll see everything from the cornfields of Illinois to the lights of Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Pier, and the Pacific coast.

On Route 66 you’ll also travel through St. Louis, the scenic Ozark Mountains, and the beautiful Grand Canyon. This trip will allow you to not only visit big cities, but also beautiful small towns across the Midwest.

Pacific Coast Highway

State Route 1, better known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is California’s longest state route and one of nation’s most popular road trip destination. On this road trip, you’ll experience 650 miles of stunning coastal views. The trip can be completed in a little under eight hours but there are so many things to see, most people stretch their trip into a few days.

Begin your Pacific Coast road trip in Orange County’s Dana Point and end to the north in San Francisco. Some major must see stops along the way include the surfer town of Huntington Beach and of course Hollywood. To the north, plan on stopping by Big Sur, charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, and swanky Malibu.

For less celebrity and more scenery, spend time at Topanga State Park. You’ll marvel at the panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley from the Topanga Overlook. Back on the road, continue to the Santa Ynez Wine Country north of Santa Barbara and relax with a glass of Chardonnay.

Taking a road trip is an unforgettable way to experience the beauty of many different landscapes. Having great travel partners, the right supplies and a car with a reliable insurance plan are the only things you need to enjoy the open road on whichever route you choose to travel.