Top Summer Road Trips To Take Across America
One of the greatest prides of the good ‘ol USA lies in its magnificent, sprawling landscape. And what better way to take it all in than a cross country road trip!
Read on for the top routes to take across America this summer. Buckle up, you’re in for a wild ride!
From East to West
Follow in the footsteps of America's pioneers along the historic Oregon Trail. This route spans over 3,000 miles on US-20 from the urban jungles of the East to the wide open West.
Begin your journey in Provincetown, Massachusetts (where the pilgrims actually first landed) and finish in Oregon City. Expect a diverse range of scenery along the way.
Notable attraction pit stops:
- Mt. Rushmore
- Yellowstone National Park
- Sand hills of northern Nebraska
- Mississippi River
- Mohawk Trail
- Niagara Falls
Suggested length of trip: 14 - 16 days
Parks, Parks, Parks
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities as you uncover the history of our National Parks. You will be proud to visit the places that conserve the natural beauty of our country “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” This includes Yellowstone, the first National Park in the world!
Stretching a whopping 14,500 miles, the shortest possible road trip hitting all 47 national parks in the USA will be a massive, yet fulfilling undertaking. Explore mountains, forests, and lakes and discover geysers, hot springs and active wildlife. You can begin at any park on the map and in any direction by following the optimal path laid out.
Notable attraction pit stops:
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
- Everglades National Park, Florida
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
- Zion National Park, Utah
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Glacier National Park, Montana
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
- Yosemite National Park, California
Suggested length of trip: 2 months
From North to South
The Pacific Coast Highway is a popular trek from the northern to southern points of America. It begins at the northwest corner of the country at Olympic National Park and ends at the bottom of California.
At 1,650 miles, this road trip provides a little bit of everything. From beautiful oceanside views to temperate rainforests, and deserted lands to high-paced cities. Be sure to stop at local cafés and seafood grills along the way to get a taste of coastal life.
Notable attraction pit stops:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Seattle
- Portland
- Big Sur
- Disneyland
Suggested length of trip: 4 - 6 days
All the Landmarks
Check out a variety of historic treasures, natural wonders, and man made marvels on this trip. To visit the 50 biggest landmarks in America, you will venture nearly 14,000 miles by taking the laid out optimal route. You won’t be able to take enough photos along the way!
Notable attraction pit stops:
- Grand Canyon, AZ
- Pikes Peak, CO
- The Alamo, TX
- Elvis Presley’s Graceland, TN
- French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
- White House, Washington, DC
- Statue of Liberty, NY
- USS Constitution, MA
- Mount Rushmore, SD
- Hoover Dam, NV
Suggested length of trip: 1 month
Border to Border
Venture along a land of contrasts as you take US-93 all the way from the Mexican to Canadian border. Your starting point is Jasper National Park at the core of the Rockies, and the drop off is the Sonora Desert, which borders Arizona and Mexico. That’s three countries in one go!
Notable attraction pit stops:
- Great Basin Desert
- Grand Canyon
- Intact Cold War missile silo
- Snake River
- Sawtooth Mountains
- Glacier National Park.
Suggested length of trip: 7-10 days
By the end of your trip, you are sure to have stories of epic proportions to tell. Browse through our collection of USA pin board maps and find the perfect way to track your road trips past, present and future.
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Shane Prather
Author
Shane is a Digital Marketing Manager at Conquest Maps. Her love for travel began after college when she landed her first job across the world in Australia. 35 countries and countless memories later; she's not turning back any time soon!