When you live in a nation as far-reaching as ours, crisscrossed by thousands of miles of roads and full of iconic locations, a road trip is an appealing adventure. If you want to take to the pavement for a cross-country escapade, check out these six road trips you must take during your lifetime.
The Optimal Road Trip
If you have about two to three months, check out the 50-stop trail known as the “optimal road trip,” crafted by a Michigan State University researcher. The path loops around the contiguous U.S., meaning you can enter it from anywhere and end up where you started. Developed with a series of algorithms, this road trip leads you to popular attractions such as the Grand Canyon, Graceland, Cape Canaveral, and the San Andreas Fault.
The Road to Nowhere
Along the 100th meridian, or thereabouts, is the Road to Nowhere route, spanning from the Canada-North Dakota border to Matamoros, Mexico. You’ll follow US-83 through some of the remotest areas of the country’s midsection, but the views are breathtaking and rush-hour traffic is hardly an issue. Because it bisects Texas, the Road to Nowhere is easily accessed from here in Denton.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Dubbed “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway traverses 469 miles, connecting Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. If you want to get out and stretch your legs, over 360 miles of hiking trails should do the trick, along with a host of overlooks and attractions along the way.
Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway is world-renowned for its breathtaking scenery and culture. Drink in views of the Pacific Ocean as you travel 1,650 miles between Olympic National Park and San Diego. Take in the West Coast while you pass through Washington and Oregon. Expect to view dramatic redwood trees and other gorgeous coastal gems as you head south. San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, Malibu, and Long Beach are just a few stops in California that await you on this coastal cruise.
Lincoln Highway
For a truly coast-to-coast trip, drive the Lincoln Highway between Times Square and San Francisco. Although the entire route is 3,400 miles long, you can break it into segments of your choosing and still enjoy a memorable drive. In 1913, Carl Fisher, who developed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Miami Beach, founded the transcontinental highway.
Route 66
We’d be remiss if we didn’t list the iconic Route 66. There’s a reason “The Mother Road” has been traveled by millions of people since it was established in 1926. Route 66 takes you from Chicago to Los Angeles and back in time to a simpler life. Although the highway was decommissioned in 1985, the National Park Service today works to preserve this important piece of Americana and the scores of attractions along the way.
Sure, you can hop a plane and travel anywhere in the U.S., but there’s something about a road trip that makes you experience the unexpected and forge deeper memories. Throw some clothes in a bag, grab your favorite music and snacks, and hit the road for these asphalt adventures. You’ll need reliable, comfortable transportation. We have you covered at Huffines Kia Denton.
This photo, “Route 66,” by Einar Jorgen Haraldseid used under CC BY-SA 2.0. | cropped from original