10 Best Road Trips in USA in the Summer

USA is one of the best countries to explore by road. So if you enjoy riding your motorcycle or going on super long drives, check out our best road trips in USA in the summer.

Before you go riding into the sunset…

Road trips can last anywhere from a couple of days to a week or even longer. So it’s worth checking – do you have your motorcycle riding gear sorted? These include your helmets, apparel, jackets, shoes, and glove. And if there are any parts that need replacing, you can easily get cheap motorcycle parts online.

If you’ll be taking a convertible instead, do make sure you have good music and spare tyres along. And you’ll want that air-conditioning and GPS system in tip-top condition. Other things to pack along are enough cash and your smartphone and camera.

10 Best Road Trips in USA in the Summer

These routes are particularly scenic in the summer months (June to August) but you’re guaranteed to have a good time any time of the year.

1. Pacific Coast Highway

You will ride along 655 miles from San Francisco to San Diego in California for the better part of the day.

California is probably the dream state for those who’d be happy going on a road trip every other weekend. The Pacific Coast Highway is the best known among road trip routes in the state, and for good reason. Apart from splendid ocean views, you also get to see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Bixby Creek Bridge, which is a photographer’s delight.

2. Route 66

You will drive for 2500 miles across many days, starting from Santa Monica Pier, California, and ending at Chicago, Illinois.

One of the first highways in the United States, Route 66 needs no introduction. The Interstate Highway has reduced the number of cars on this route but if you want to take a trip down memory lane, there’s nothing like Route 66. Stop at old towns from the last century and numerous historical spots along the way.

3. The Loneliest Road

You will drive for 1066 miles from Pueblo, Colorado, to Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada, in less than two days.

Going on a solo road trip? Find more than enough inspiration along The Loneliest Road, which actually stretches all the way from Maryland to San Francisco. On this stretch, you can feast on snow-peaked mountains, wildflower fields, and cerulean lakes. Important landmarks include the Rockies, Crested Butte, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

4. Texas Hill Country

You will drive for a little over four hours, on this route stretching from Jacob’s Well to New Braunfels in Texas.

Begin your explorations of Texas’ Hill Country at Jacob’s Well, a famous swimming hole. The next stop is Hamilton Pool Natural Reserve, where a mysterious pool within a shadowy grotto awaits. Ahead on your drive, you will encounter the mystical cave drawings of Enchanted Rock, the Natural Bridge caverns, and Landa Falls.

5. The Blues Highway

You will need nine hours to ride from Nashville, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana, which is around 600 miles.

Road trips are all about enjoying great music, and The Blues Highway takes your love of good tunes a step further. Officially called Route 61, the route lets you visit Elvis Presley’s hometown, Gracetown, and many well-known recording companies. Chances are, you’ll also stumble upon live jazz in New Orleans if you reach in the night.

6. Park Loop Acadia National Park

At just 27 miles, this route can be completed in two hours, and includes the Park Loop at Acadia National Park.

This one is perfect for those of you who don’t have much time to spare, and also for those times when the urge to take to the road hits you quite suddenly. Exciting wildlife is a major highlight of the Park Loop, as are stunning views of the East Coast, punctuated by craggy coastlines, mountains, and forests.

7. Great River Road

You will need two days for this road trip from Minnesota to Louisiana, spanning 3000 miles.

This route takes you along the Mississippi River, as immortalized in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Plunging 3000 miles below the heart of American, the Great River Road terminates at the Gulf of Mexico. 10 states are a part of the ‘offbeat’ route, including New Orleans, Memphis, and St. Louis.

8. Southwest National Parks

You will ride for 600 miles from Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim), Arizona to Moab, Utah in around 11 hours.

Nature lovers will be blown away by this route, which takes you through five fantastic national parks. Make memories of a lifetime at Grand Canyon, a geological wonder fashioned out of red rock; the sheer crimson cliffs of Zion National Park; and the spire-shaped formations and depressions of Bryce Canyon.

9. Alaska Highway

You will ride for 1500 miles across two days starting from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, and ending at Anchorage, Alaska.

This slightly rough route is for the more adventurous among you. But in the summer months, you still stand a good chance of accomplishing the Alaska Highway road trip. Keep in mind that you’ll need to a considerable amount of advance planning to make the most of the scenic spots and wildlife along the way.

10. Blue Ridge Parkway

At 469 miles, this one-day road trip takes you from Shenandoah National Park to Asheville, North Carolina.

Thanks to its doable distance and wealth of attractions, Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most done road trips in the US. Before you reach the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you will also have your breath taken away by the marvellous Skyline Drive, Natural Bridge, and the mysterious Luray Caverns.

So these were the best road trips in the USA (summer). Though this is a good list to begin with, these road trips are only the tip of the iceberg. Visit the website of your local tourism authority for more fantastic road trips in and around your state. And if you live in the United States, we’re really envious of you!

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