fun places to road trip

23 Incredible Road Trips in the U.S.

Whether you’re looking for sweeping views of the pacific ocean or a multiday adventure through national parks, these road trips provide plenty of opportunities to explore the united states..

• Copy Link copied

Glacier National Park is one of many scenic places you can visit on an American road trip.

Photo by Zack Frank / Shutterstock

In a country as large as the United States, there’s no shortage of destinations and detours to explore by car . Whether your idea of the perfect American road trip entails an epic, cross-country journey or a shorter jaunt through a few of its most iconic national parks , your options are as large and varied as the country itself.

Even if you don’t have the time to drive cross-country, there are plenty of road trip routes (ranging from three days to a week or longer): classic California itineraries , New England routes that shine especially well in the fall, scenic East Coast adventures, and a variety of Midwest journeys for folks farther from the coasts.

No matter your mode of transportation—be it van, RV, motorcycle, or four-door sedan—these are 21 of the best road trips in the nation to consider.

Plan your next Route 66 trip around thirst-quenching stops.

Photo by Peek Creative Collective/Shutterstock

There are many ways to do a cross-country road trip in the USA, but these two itineraries will take you through some truly iconic American places.

1. Chicago to Los Angeles: A Whiskey Road Trip on Route 66

It doesn’t get more American than a 2,000-mile drive along the entirety of Route 66. There are endless ways to take this legendary trip (including an EV version —but to take your cross-country road trip to the next level, we recommend exploring another American pastime: whiskey.

Starting in Chicago and ending in L.A., you’ll stop by some of the leading craft distilleries in the United States, like Few Spirits in Chicago, Still 630 in St. Louis, and Red Fork Distillery in Tulsa. In between tastings, make time for detours to natural attractions, like the Grand Canyon, and quirky roadside curiosities, like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Just remember to drink responsibly—this is a road trip after all.

Plan your trip

The full itinerary: Put a New Twist on Route 66—Make It an American Whiskey Road Trip

No cars are allowed on Mackinac Island, so you need to park before taking the ferry to this spot.

Photo from Shutterstock

2. Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington: The Great Northern on U.S. Route 2

Covering both the U.S. and Canada, a cross-country trip along U.S. 2 is ideal for anyone who wants to experience the vast diversity and expansiveness of North America. This drive runs the entire top border of the U.S. and showcases otherworldly natural wonders like Acadia National Park in Maine, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island in Michigan. The route also passes through Canada, taking road-trippers through Ontario into Quebec—this route may focus on nature, but you won’t want to miss a stop in Montreal or Ottawa.

You’ll also get to explore Montana and Glacier National Park ( reservations may be required ) before passing the Columbia Plateau and ending in the Pacific Northwest’s largest city, Seattle. Don’t miss spending time in the Olympic Peninsula (home to Olympic National Park) for a peek at one of the most scenic places on the West Coast.

3. Dana Point to San Francisco: Driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway

The seemingly endless views of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) are what road trip dreams are made of, and exactly what makes this California road trip so popular. However, with so many stops along the 655-mile stretch, we pulled together a list of the ones well worth pulling over to view. Don’t miss the perfect surfing waves in Santa Cruz, seasonal cuisine in Malibu, an afternoon a the boardwalk in Santa Monica, or a night in Big Sur as you drive between Dana Point (just south of Los Angeles) and San Francisco.

• The full itinerary: The Best Stops for a Road Trip on the Pacific Coast Highway
• The AFAR Guide to San Francisco

The seaside town of Monterey was the setting for John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row .

Photo by Denise Lett/Shutterstock

4. Big Sur to Mono County: A Literary Road Trip Through Northern California

Yes, this itinerary requires you actually put down your book to drive, but seeing some of the pivotal places that shaped American authors will be so worth it. Follow in the footsteps of writers like Jack Kerouac, Maya Angelou, and Amy Tan on this road trip that takes you through literary landmarks in Northern California, such as Caffe Trieste, a meeting place for Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Alan Watts, and other bohemian writers and thinkers. This 12-stop itinerary is perfect if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area because you’ll be able to stay make these trips in one or two days.

The full itinerary: The California Road Trip All Book Lovers Should Take

Arizona may take its nickname from the Grand Canyon, but the state has far more natural wonders than just that one.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

5. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon: An Iconic Arizona Road Trip

This 240-mile Arizona road trip takes travelers along some of the state’s most iconic highlights, including its most famous one, the Grand Canyon. A great itinerary for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, it offers plenty of opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, and biking—as well as tasty food along the way. Hike the 2,704-foot-tall Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale or take in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona on a hike to Cathedral Rock while exploring the Grand Canyon State.

• The full itinerary: The Classic 5-Day Arizona Road Trip
• Grand Canyon guide: The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
• Where to eat in Phoenix: A Chef’s Guide to the Best Restaurants
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Arizona ; The Best Airbnbs in Sedona

The Delicate Arch living up to its name in Utah’s Arches National Park

Photo by tusharkoley / Shutterstock

6. Zion to Grand Canyon: A National Parks Road Trip in the Southwest

If you’re looking to visit as many national parks as possible in one road trip, this southwestern itinerary is for you. This journey through Utah and Arizona lets you hike Angel’s Landing in Zion, feel tiny under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, explore Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, and, of course, raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon remain on the rim, but take at least four days to venture within the canyon and take advantage of the trails and river rafting.

• The full itinerary: The Ideal Road Trip Through U.S. National Parks
• Utah’s 8 Best National Parks and Monuments
• 10 Best National Parks and Monuments in Arizona
• The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon

Stop and admire the winding roads of the San Juan Skyway.

Photo by Anh Luu/Shutterstock

7. San Juan Scenic Skyway Road Trip: An Adventure Through Southwestern Colorado

This Colorado trip takes you along the 232-mile loop of the San Juan Scenic Skyway, where you will see plenty of alpine forests, mining towns, and craggy peaks. And for anyone looking to enjoy refreshments after a long day of driving, this route features many opportunities to stop at some of the best breweries in Colorado , such as Ska Brewing Co. in Durango.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Southwestern Colorado Road Trip
• Five Classic Colorado Road Trips To Take This Year

In small-town Buena Vista, the riverfront Surf Hotel offers front-row seats to Colorado-style adventure seekers.

Courtesy of the Surf Hotel

8. Denver to Montrose: A 420-Mile Road Trip Through Colorado

Want to explore even more of the Centennial State? Head out on this weeklong road trip where you can fish for salmon in Colorado’s largest reservoir, visit numerous small towns, like Paonia and Crawford, with thriving art scenes along the Colorado Creative Corridor , and explore Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the least visited national parks in the nation.

• The full itinerary: Art Stars, High-Altitude Wines, and a Remote National Park: The Ultimate Colorado Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Colorado
• The AFAR Guide to Denver

Portland may be Oregon’s largest city, but with a population of some 652,000 (or 2.5 million in the larger metropolitan area), it isn’t intimidatingly large.

Photo courtesy of Travel Portland

9. Portland to Astoria: An Oregon Coast Road Trip for Outdoor Lovers

If you love the outdoors, then this six-day road trip along the coast of Oregon is for you. After driving to Coos Bay from Portland, travelers will meander along Oregon’s dramatic, rocky coastline, discovering some quintessentially Pacific Northwest vistas along the way: evergreen forests, seaside dunes, and marine ecosystems. Between stops, there are ample opportunities to stretch your legs hiking, kayaking, or strolling around the region’s small towns—like the historic old town in Florence.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Oregon road trip without a stop (or three) at a craft brewery, such as Fort George Brewery in Astoria, or cozy coffee shop, like Bread & Roses in Yachats.

• The full itinerary: An Outdoor Lover’s Road Trip on the Oregon Coast
• The AFAR Guide to Portland

The State Capitol Building in Nashville marks the end of this road (trip).

Photo by photo.ua / Shutterstock

10. Seneca Falls, New York, to Nashville, Tennessee: Follow the Path of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Starting in New York’s Finger Lakes region and ending at the State Capitol Building in Nashville, this road trip traces the route of the national women’s suffrage movement. Highlights include stops at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House ; Union Square in New York City, which was the site of the first suffrage march; and the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C.

• The full itinerary: Celebrate Women’s Suffrage on an Epic, Self-Guided Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Washington, D.C.

Asheville is one must-stop on a North Carolina road trip.

Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com

11. Charlottesville to Asheville: A Scenic Road Trip Through Virginia and North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Beginning in the soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park down into the Blue Ridge Mountains, then into the Great Smoky Mountains, this five-day road trip is best done at a slower pace, which is perfect for admiring the dramatic outlooks and green plateaus. This eclectic itinerary features stops at an art museum, a dairy farm, and plenty of hiking trails.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
• Where to stay: 12 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
• 8 U.S. National Park Road Trips to Take in Your Lifetime

Dowa:kwe dance group from Zuni Pueblo in 2019

Courtesy of Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

12. Albuquerque to Las Cruces: Discover New Mexico on This Three-Day Road Trip

This route steers you away from New Mexican tourist hot spots like Taos and Santa Fe and instead takes you on a three-day adventure with places that teach you about Pueblo history. You’ll stop at Indian Pueblo Kitchen (formerly known as Pueblo Harvest), a restaurant inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that features Indigenous cuisine ; pick up peppers at Three Brothers in Hatch; and slide down the dunes in White Sands National Park.

• The full itinerary: This New Mexico Road Trip Is the Perfect Introduction to the Land of Enchantment

Historic Fort Martin Scott is one of the places travelers can visit to learn about Fredericksburg’s history.

Photo by Mark König/Unsplash

13. A Five-Day Scenic Road Trip Through Texas Hill Country

This Texas road trip starts and ends in San Antonio with stops in small towns like Bandera, Boerne, and consider a stop in Fredericksburg, which is one of AFAR’s best places to go in 2024 ). Over five days, you’ll find opportunities to stroll in a Japanese tea garden in San Antonio, relax along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers by inner tube, and eat as many tacos as you want. Seriously: You could eat tacos for every meal on this road trip and not get tired of them.

• The full itinerary: Tree Houses, Tubing, and Tacos: The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Road Trip

Mount McKinley looms large on a drive through Denali National Park.

Photo by warnsweet / Shutterstock

14. A Weeklong Road Trip Through Alaska’s Most Majestic Sights

This weeklong drive in Alaska starts and ends in Anchorage. You travel along four scenic byways; explore Wrangell–St. Elias wilderness, the largest U.S. national park; catch sight of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; and enjoy the surprisingly stellar food scene of McCarthy, a one-road town with only a couple dozen residents.

• The full itinerary: Glaciers, Mountain Peaks, and Organic Farms: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip
• Which Alaska National Parks Should You Visit?

More than geothermal pools, Kirkham Hot Springs features a piping-hot waterfall.

Courtesy of Idaho Tourism

15. Boise to Sun Valley: Explore Idaho’s Scenic Byways

Even a short road trip can be packed with adventure, good food, and scenery, which is exactly what this trip from Boise to Sun Valley along Idaho’s Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway offers. Although the drive only takes six hours, we recommend taking a few days to explore all the stops and detours along the way. One can’t-miss spot is the Kirkham Hot Springs , where you can stand under a waterfall that will splash you with 135-degree mineral water year-round.

• The full itinerary: The Little-Known Idaho Road Trip You Need to Drive
• Things to do: The Best Outdoorsy Things to Do in Idaho

Grand Portage State Park is the only state park jointly managed by a state and a Native American band.

Photo by Shutterstock/QZ

16. Duluth to Grand Portage State Park: A Scenic Minnesota Sampler

Although there are many appealing road trips throughout the Midwest, this 143-mile, three-hour circuit, which starts and ends in Duluth, Minnesota, is worth keeping in mind. Meandering north on MN-61 with this itinerary, you will enjoy prime views of Lake Superior and towns like Grand Marais, as well as Grand Portage State Park, home to waterfalls, hiking trails, and opportunities to learn about the Ojibwe community who occupy the land today. Once back in Duluth, enjoy a beer at Canal Park Brewing Company before checking into the waterfront Canal Park Lodge nearby.

• The AFAR Guide to Minnesota

Wind your way through colorful foliage in New Hampshire.

Photo by Shutterstock

17. Kancamagus Highway: A Quintessential New England Drive

Yes, you can take a road trip in New England at any time of the year , but this region shows off its best colors in the fall, when locals and tourists alike head out into the country to view the changing colors of the trees. Join other admirers of fall foliage on this popular, 34.5-mile road trip along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway, colloquially known as the “Kanc,” for picturesque ponds, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.

• Plan Your Fall Getaway With This Peak Foliage Prediction Map

Ogunquit is home to the small, postcard-perfect harbor of Perkins Cove.

Photo courtesy of QualityHD / Shutterstock

18. Maine’s “Lobster Trail”: Travel Route 1 Along the Coast

Traveling Route 1, affectionately known as “the lobster trail,” along Maine’s jagged coastline is an exercise in indulgence. Sample lobster dishes in all forms—buttered, steamed, on a roll, or even in a decadent mac-and-cheese.

The trip starts in the quaint small town of Ogunquit , with its rare (for the area) 3.5 miles of white-sand beach. Make your first lobster of the journey count, steamed with a side of drawn butter at Barnacle Billy’s in picturesque Perkins Cove harbor. Stop at Big Daddy’s for a cone on your way to the shipbuilding center—and summer home of George H. W. Bush—Kennebunkport. Stay at the recently redesigned 150-year-old classic White Barn Inn , and consider a sailing trip for an afternoon. With lobsters cooked in ocean water, the legendary lobster roll at the Clam Shack is a must.

• 8 Scenic East Coast Road Trips to Take This Year

Throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region, innovative restaurants, shops, and restaurants like Leah & Louise in Charlotte, above, are creating a buzz.

Photo by Peter Taylor Photography

19. Raleigh to Charlotte: A 4-Day Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

North Carolina’s Piedmont region extends from the coastal plain to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and includes farmland and rolling wooded hills, especially on the 1-40 stretch near Hillsborough. Starting in Raleigh, drive the short distances to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte to see how these cities are innovating through art, food, and a celebration of the past. Take your time—four days should do—to experience downtown arts districts, James Beard Award–winning restaurants, and civil rights museums that speak truths. Plan your trip

• A Road Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

Scenic South Walton is part of the Emerald Coast of Florida.

20. Scenic Highway 30A: A Sunday Drive Through South Walton, Florida

Florida is full of places to cruise with the top down, but it’s hard to beat a Sunday (or any day) drive along Scenic Highway 30A through northwest Florida, home to a postcard-perfect stretch of seaside towns known as South Walton.

The roughly 28-mile route through South Walton County kisses the coast for nearly all its length, taking you through gorgeous residential Gulf-front communities like Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, and Blue Mountain Beach . Roll down the windows and let the emerald-hued views in.

Pull over to explore, too—maybe to admire the New Urbanism architecture in Alys Beach or to swim in the clear waters at Grayton Beach State Park . (The beach here has been lauded among the best in the world.)

• The full itinerary: The Florida Road Trip You’ve Been Missing

Stand-up paddleboarding is just one way to enjoy a Florida Keys sunset.

Shutterstock

21. The Florida Keys: An Island-Hopping Getaway

For a sunny road trip itinerary in Florida, skip Miami and head farther south. Beginning in Key Largo and ending in Key West, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is often overlooked for more well-known routes up north, but it is well worth going out of your way to experience.

As the name suggests, this route is very scenic, so plan to spend at least a few days exploring it and numerous stops along the way. Some highlights include driving across the impressive Overseas Highway, stopping to admire art in the town of Islamorada, and enjoying the historic sites, food, and (of course) beaches in the city of Key West.

• The full itinerary: How to Road Trip in the Lesser-Known Florida Keys

Sun Studio in Memphis was the site of the famous Million Dollar recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Photo by f11photo on Shutterstock

22. Memphis to Bristol, Tennessee: A Music-Driven Adventure

If you have about a week to spare and a deep appreciation for music, take a road trip from one side of Tennessee to the other, starting in Memphis and ending in Bristol. The eastbound trip spans genres, including rock ( Graceland ), blues ( Beale Street) and, of course, country (did you really go to Tennessee if you didn’t go to Dollywood ?). Nashville serves as the halfway point on your journey—so consider penciling in an extra 48 hours to fully explore the state capital’s greatest hits.

• The full itinerary: 5 Great American Road Trips For Music Fans

The stunning coastline near Cueva del Indio has been the backdrop of star-studded films.

Photo by Alexsf.gr/Shutterstock

23. Arecibo to Condado, Puerto Rico: A Lesser-Known Side of a Well-Loved Island

In the minds of many, trips to Puerto Rico bring images of stunning beaches , delicious foods , and maybe a bioluminescent bay or two . But there’s plenty of history to be found here, too, as Puerto Rico was home to an Indigenous population known as the Taino, a heritage many Puerto Ricans embrace. That history can be explored via a road trip. Starting in the northern town of Arecibo, travel south to Ponce, then back north to Condado—along the way you’ll encounter petroglyphs, Indigenous sites, and breathtaking natural spots.

• The full itinerary: A Puerto Rico Road Trip That Puts Indigenous Culture First

Additional road trip planning resources Picking the route for your road trip is only one part of your planning. From what snacks to pack to which podcasts to listen to, these additional resources will help you prepare for your next adventure:

• Best road trip snacks
• Road trip planning apps
• Podcasts and audiobooks to download
• What to pack for a road trip

This article originally appeared online in August 2020. It was most recently updated on April 4, 2024, to include current information. Additional reporting by Jessie Beck, Erika Owen, Ray Rogers, Terry Ward, and Sheryl Nance-Nash.

29 Amazing Road Trips USA: Scenic (& Underrated) Routes You’ll Love

Posted on Published: March 1, 2023  - Last updated: January 17, 2024

The US is filled with amazing sights, hikes and adventures from coast to coast. The absolute best way to experience everything it has to offer is by taking an amazing road trip! Here’s an epic list of the best road trips USA to find your next adventure.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my  disclosures .

One of the best perks about US road trips is you can take your time, admire the views, stop at fun road-side attractions and design the route exactly how you like! Whether you have a long weekend, a week, or even longer, these road trips across the US are full of a variety of cities, wide open spaces and some underrated spots you’re going to love.

From coast to coast and even a few bonus routes, this guide will help you get started in planning the greatest American roadtrip that’s just perfect for you!

Must-see video: road trips USA

Best road trips in USA map

Whether you’re hoping to explore close to home or take a bucket list cross-country road trip, this USA road trips list has something for everyone! Check out the map below to find which one works best for you.

By the way, I haven’t been everywhere (yet), so I’ve asked some of my fellow travel writers to help with this list of the best American road trips.

Essentials to pack on the greatest road trips in America

Before we dive into the list of USA road trip routes, make sure you’ve packed the right gear to help make your road trip go smoothly. Here are some top recommendations…

• Food and water. Regardless of how long of an adventure you choose, you’ll want some food or at the very least some snacks to keep that energy up! Here are 101 road trip food ideas . Don’t forget to bring reusable water bottles to fill up at hotels, restaurants and national parks so you can avoid buying single-use plastic bottles.
• Collapsible cooler. Store your food and drinks in a handy cooler, then fold it down when it’s empty for storage or to easily pack it up.
• Layers for weather. Depending on which epic US road trip you choose and the time of year you take it, be prepared for anything! From a light jacket or medium coat for hiking, an umbrella , sun hat or even the perfect merino wool layers for any season, you’ll want to be prepared.

• Good hiking gear. If you’re stepping foot in a national park on this list, or any other outdoor space with trails, you’ll want the right hiking gear. That means hiking shoes , socks, trekking poles and hiking backpack . As someone who’s hiked with and without the proper gear, I can say with confidence hiking is a lot easier and more comfortable with the right gear.
• Emergency preparedness items like satellite communicator and first aid kit . Whether you’re in your vehicle or are renting a car , be prepared for anything. This satellite communicator allows for 2-way communication anywhere it can see the sky – regardless of if you have cell phone service or not. Call for help on a hiking trail or road out in the middle of nowhere.
• GoPro. This awesome camera is perfect for recording epic road trips! Hang this GoPro out the window or sunroof while another person is driving, go underwater with it or use it to capture amazing landscapes. Maybe not an ‘essential,’ but certainly fun if it’s in your budget! 🙂

By the way, if you need to rent a car for these epic road trips, try using Discover Cars . It’s a search engine for the major car carriers that finds the lowest price, and it’s free to use. I typically save 10-30% on car rentals with Discover Cars .

Best road trips USA

YAY! You’re ready to start planning your bucket list road trip! You’re going to love this amazing list of the best road trips in America!

1. Utah national parks road trip (one of the absolute best road trips in America)

Distance: 878 miles Recommended time: 6-10 days Best time of year: spring, summer or fall

For out-of-this world landscapes, you’ll love an Utah national parks road trip through the Mighty 5! From crazy rock spires known as hoodoos in Bryce Canyon to the vast, wide open spaces in Canyonlands National Park, there’s so much to see and do on this road trip!

For the most efficient use of your time, fly into Salt Lake City and start your adventure in Moab. Home to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, you’ll want to spend at least 2 days exploring this area – more if you have time!

Spend one day in Arches by hiking to Delicate Arch – the most famous rock arch in the world! See Landscape Arch and The Windows areas of the park, too. With the popularity of this park over the last 5 years, you’ll need a timed entry reservation , so be sure to plan in advance!

Discover the best hikes in Canyonlands National Park. From the short, 0.5 mile trail to Mesa Arch, to the breathtaking Grand View Point trail. Don’t forget to stop at the scenic overlooks – Green River and Grand View Point.

From there, head west to Capitol Reef National Park. Visit the Fruita orchards and do the Hickman Bridge Trail hike. Allow at least an hour for the scenic drive as well. It’s easy enough to see the park highlights in day, or take more time to explore more hiking trails.

Next is Bryce Canyon National Park. Home to the funky hoodoo rock formations, these views are incredible any time of year. Be sure to check out the views at Inspiration Point, and if you’re up for a hike, do the Queens Garden Trail and Navajo Loop combination. So cool!

Lastly, head to Zion. One of the most visited national parks in the country, and for good reason! This massive canyon is so incredible from almost anywhere in the park. Popular hikes like The Narrows and Angels Landing (permit required) and Canyon Overlook Trail don’t disappoint !

The final part of this trip is just heading to Las Vegas to fly back home. This trip can be done year round, but some of the roads and hikes in the national parks will be closed during the winter months due to snow and ice, so it’s recommended during spring, summer and fall.

Recommended by me – Nikki of Inspired Routes

2. Ozark Mountains

Distance: 200 miles Recommended tim e: 2-3 days Best time of year: April-June or September-November

One of the best road trips in USA is a trip through the Ozark mountains in northern Arkansas. There is so much to see and do on this road trip and it’s perfect for a 2-3 day weekend.

This exciting road trip will start in Little Rock and end in Eureka Springs. The total mileage of this trip is 200 miles and driving straight through takes 3 hours and 25 minutes.

One of the best stops along the way is at the Natural Bridge just outside of Clinton . It spans 100 ft and was actually used as a bridge in the past. The next best stop on this road trip is at the Buffalo National River. You can go on an awesome  Buffalo River float trip , and stay in one of the adorable VRBO cabins the area has to offer.

After spending a day floating down the river, head to excursion train , one of Arkansas’ best towns. You can spend days checking out this charming town. Make sure that you check out the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway while you’re there! You can go on an excursion train, a lunch train, and a dinner train and see some of the gorgeous scenery in the area.

One of the best places to stay in Eureka Springs is at this incredible unique Hobbit Cave Hotel where you can actually stay in a cave for the night. The best time of the year to do this road trip is either in the spring or fall when the weather isn’t too hot and the Buffalo River is great for floating. 

Recommended by Jessica of Unearth the Voyage

3. Beartooth Highway (one of the greatest road trips in America)

Distance: 68.7 miles Recommended time: 1+ day Best time of year: June-September

Charles Kuralt called the Beartooth Highway “the most beautiful drive in America.” This scenic USA road trip route begins in Red Lodge, Montana, and ends in Cooke City and the northeastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. At 68.7 miles, it’s a short drive, but you’ll want to allow several hours to take advantage of as many scenic views as possible.

While  Beartooth Highway  is a route where the drive is the destination, there are some must-stop places. A stop at Beartooth’s scenic overlook will give you a glimpse of the peak for which the mountain range and the highway is named after. During this US road trip, you should also stop at Rock Creek Vista Point where you’ll be met with majestic views at 9,190 feet . Don’t be surprised to see marmot and scampering chipmunks while you admire the views.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, Top of the World Resort has vacation rentals. They also have camping for tents and RVs, and you can rent UTVs and Snowmobiles. Skiers will love Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area.

Because Beartooth Highway is the highest elevation road in the Northern Rockies, it’s closed most months of the year . It typically opens in late May or early June and closes around October. Summer squalls have been known to happen, so it’s always best to find out ahead of time if the road is open.

Recommended by Theresa of The Local Tourist

Looking for adventure a little further north? This guide will help you plan an amazing Canadian road trip !

4. Florida Springs

Distance: 165 miles Recommended time: 3-5 days Best time of year: November-February

Without a doubt, a Florida Springs road trip is one of the best US road trips of them all. In fact, Florida is actually home to more freshwater springs than any other state in the nation . So, make the most of this fact and enjoy a fantastic road trip to some of the best natural springs in Florida . 

Now, if you’re starting near Tampa then this road trip will take between three and five days to complete. After all, many of these spots are secluded in the wilderness and require that you have an RV or do a bit of camping. 

So, while this USA road trip really only covers a distance of 165 miles, each spot is truly awesome and could easily keep you busy for a day.

Once in Tampa go a bit north to see the Weeki Wachee Springs. Sure, this natural spring is amazing but the real highlight of your visit will be the mermaid show. In fact, it is held in an underwater theater and is one of the coolest things you will ever see. 

Continue to Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River Natural Wildlife Refuge. Rent a kayak and enjoying all that Manatee Springs has to offer. 

Just know that while this is a great place to see Manatees, there are typically only found in the water here during the winter months. Plan your visit for this time of year so that you can get up close and personal with these gentle giants. 

Whatever you do though, don’t forget to visit Ginnie Springs. There are some great camping spots here. It’s an epic place to relax, take in the scenery, and do a bit of tubing. 

Finally, head to Ichetucknee Springs and end your road trip here. Check out the famous blue hole which is a great place to go cave diving, snorkeling, tubing, hiking, swimming, and more. There’s also tons of cool fish in the water so be on the look out for them as they swim by.

Recommended by Victoria of Florida Trippers

5. Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada (out of this world USA Road Trip!)

Distance: 98 miles Recommended time: 1 day Best time of year: October-April

If you’re looking for a quirky USA road trip you won’t soon forget, consider  driving Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway !

This road trip spans 98 miles on State Route 375 between the towns of Crystal Springs and Warm Springs. Along the way, you are treated to arid desert landscapes, mostly desolate roads, and plenty of alien-themed attractions. 

There are lots of unique stops along this route. You have ET Fresh Jerky where you can buy alien-themed snacks. There’s the iconic Extraterrestrial Highway sign plastered in stickers left behind by pilgrims who’ve made the trek from far and wide. And don’t pass up the Alien Research Center where you can buy souvenirs and hear some UFO lore.

As you continue driving along the ET Highway you’ll see the Black Mailbox, where believers come to leave mail and other trinkets for otherworldly creatures. And lastly, there’s the Little A’le’inn, which is a motel, bar and restaurant which is hard to miss thanks to the UFO-towing pick-up truck out front!

This is a road trip that can be easily done in one day . However, you can tack it onto a bigger Nevada itinerary.

Also, while the Extraterrestrial Highway can be driven any time of year, it’s probably best to avoid the summer months when the desert temperatures are a scorcher. This road trip would be much more enjoyable if done in spring or autumn.

As far as accommodations go, you can stay in Las Vegas which is only 1 hour 37 minutes from the starting point of Crystal Springs. 

As a final tip, fuel up before you begin driving the ET Highway; this area is fairly remote with very little traffic, so you wouldn’t want to get stranded!

Recommended by Audrey of That Backpacker

6. Washington DC to Boston

Distance: 440 miles Recommended time: 2+ days Best time of year: September – October

A road trip from Washington DC to Boston is the perfect way to take in the changing colors of fall. The journey will take at least 2 days and cover a total of 440 miles with stops in New York, Philadelphia and Providence.

Starting out from Washington DC, you’ll have a chance to explore the nation’s capital. It’s home to famous monuments like the Lincoln Memorial, The White House and the Smithsonian Museum .

If you’re taking a longer route towards New York City, you can even stop off at Gettysburg National Military Park along the way.

Once in New York, there’s plenty to keep travelers entertained! From iconic landmarks like Central Park, Times Square and Rockefeller Center to exciting attractions like Broadway shows, shopping boutiques and gourmet restaurants.

From there it’s just a short drive up to Philadelphia. Visit historic sites such as Independence Hall or experience some of its world class cultural institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art or Liberty Bell Center. You may also want to make sure that your itinerary includes stops at local favorites like Reading Terminal Market and South Street for an authentic Philly cheesesteak sandwich! 

Continuing northward towards Providence, you’ll be surrounded by stunning natural scenery as you pass through Connecticut and Rhode Island. On this leg of your journey, you should make time for some outdoor activities. Think whale watching on Narragansett Bay, biking along Newport’s Cliff Walk or hiking in Lincoln Woods State Park.

Finally reaching Boston will be worth all 7 hours and 30 minutes of total drive time it takes to get there! Take some time to explore picturesque spots such as Harvard Yard or Fenway Park before enjoying a classic lobster roll dinner at one of the city’s seafood restaurant s. Don’t forget about all the shopping opportunities in downtown either – including everything from vintage bookstores to designer apparel stores.

If you’re looking for family-friendly adventures even further north, consider expanding your trip into Ontario, Canada. Silent Lake Provincial Park is outside of Bancroft, Ontario and offers excellent recreation, including some of the best campgrounds in Ontario .

Recommended by Victoria of Guide your Travel

7. Seward to Denali, Alaska (one of the best US road trips for wildlife)

Distance: 767 miles (from Anchorage airport) Recommended time: 7 days Best time of year: June-September

For adventurers looking to add to their road trips USA bucket lists, a 7 day Alaska road trip itinerary from Seward to Denali should be at the top of your list. 

Fly into Anchorage and rent a car before making the 2.5 hour drive on the Seward Highway to the start of your trip in Seward. Stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to break up the drive and stretch your legs while you check out the bears, moose, reindeer and more that they care for in their sanctuary.

Seward is a perfect base for a visit to Kenai Fjords National Park. Spend 2 days here doing an iceberg kayaking excursion at Bear Glacier lagoon . Or take a whale watching cruise where you’ll see tons of aquatic wildlife in addition to a glacier calving. The Exit Glacier hike is another interesting thing to do.

Then it’s time for a 2 hour drive north to the popular Alyeska Resort . They have plenty of summer activities including terrific hikes and stunning views from the top of the Gondola ride. Stay overnight.

Next stop is Talkeetna – the small town made famous for being the inspiration for TV show Northern Exposure. It’s also the starting point for climbers planning a Denali summit.

You can get a bird’s eye view by taking a flightseeing tour of Denali with a glacier landing before spending your last 2 days at Denali National Park exploring wildlife and nature. 

The total distance from Seward to Denali is 397 miles . Doing the trip in a loop from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is 767 miles. Not too bad for 7 days of non-stop fun!

The best time for this road trip is summertime but if you can brave cold autumn weather you’ll also have the chance to be rewarded with spectacular Northern Lights! Make sure to plan your trip well in advance to get the best rates.

Even though it’s not in the continental US, it’s still one of the very best road trips in America!

Recommended by Jenifer of The Evolista

8. Newfound Gap Road, Smoky Mountains USA road trip

Distance: 30 miles Recommended time: 1 day Best time of year: September-Early November

Smoky Mountains is one of the most visited national parks of the USA! It covers South Carolina and Tennessee in the southeastern region of the US. Many  scenic drives on the Smoky mountains road trip  are worth doing, but the most famous is Newfound Gap Road (US-441). 

This American roadtrip starts from Sugarlands Visitor Center and ends at the Mountain Farm Museum in North Carolina. It connects Cherokee and Gatlinburg and is an approximately 30 Mile one-way trip.

Many scenic stopovers are on Newfound gap road in Smoky Mountain National Park and can be done in one day trip. Chimney Tops, Campbell Overlook, Newfound Gap, Rockefeller Memorial, Morton’s Gap Overlook, Oconaluftee Valley Overlook, and Mingus Mill are the most famous stopovers. 

The whole road trip is scenic, passing through a forest of Smoky Mountains with a view of foggy, misty peaks overlooking valleys and tunnels. The best time to make this road trip is during fall. You can see a fantastic riot of fall colors throughout this drive. 

Book your stay in the mountainous town of Gatlinburg for this road trip in the Smoky mountains. There are many cozy cabins with amazing views to choose from.

It’s important to note that the whole area is foggy and misty throughout the year, so it’s worth it to check the fog conditions before driving as sometimes it can be very foggy, and driving becomes very difficult. 

This is one of the best USA road trip routes, and can be done in conjunction with a larger trip to the Smokies.

Recommended by Yukti of Travel with me 24 x 7 Blog

More of the best road trips USA

With so many good options all over the country, how do you ever choose? Let’s keep exploring more options before you choose your perfect adventure…

9. Route 66 (one of the classic US road trips!)

Distance: 2,448 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: September-Early November

Route 66, also known as the Mother Road, is one of the most iconic road trip routes in the USA. Starting in Chicago, IL, and ending in Santa Monica, CA, the route goes through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. 

Covering a total of 2,448 miles, the route offers tons to see and do . Set aside a week to do justice to the trip, more if you can afford it!

Take in the many sights along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, from Lincoln Park to Soldier Field, before heading out. Admire the State Capitol in Springfield and visit the Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site before crossing the Mississippi River.

In Missouri, admire Gateway Arch in St. Louis . Then snap a photo of Red’s Giant Hamburg, the world’s first known drive-through! Stay at the Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch in downtown St. Louis. 

In Texas, possibly the most famous attraction along the route is Cadillac Ranch, in Amarillo, but Shamrock makes for a nice stop as well.

In New Mexico, the route passes through the major cities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, both of which offer tons to do. Adventure-loving travelers should try hot air ballooning in Albuquerque!

Spend a night in Tucumcari, where you will find some iconic Route 66 motels such as the Blue Swallow Motel. 

In Arizona, the stretch between Kingman and Seligman is considered historic. Also be sure to check out the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook. In Seligman, stay at the Supai Motel , a vintage Route 66 motel. 

Route 66 in California  passes through the Mojave Desert and a string of small ghost towns and roadside attractions. Elmer’s Bottle Ranch is one of the more popular stops. 

Pasadena is home to several Route 66 sights, and also to The Huntington, a complex of beautiful Southern California gardens.

Although not where the original road ended, today you will find the End of the Trail sign on the Santa Monica Pier. Pose for a photo under the sign to celebrate the completion of your road trip!

Recommended by Dhara of Roadtripping California

10. Coastal Carolinas road trip

Distance: 600 miles Recommended time: 7 days Best time of year: June-October

If you’re a foodie, history buff, or family, you’re going to love a  Coastal Carolinas Road Trip . This approximately 600-mile route (one way) takes you from the Deep South starting in Charleston, SC, up the entire Carolinas’ coast, and ends in the small naval city of Norfolk, VA.

Budget about a week of travel to immerse yourself in this land of pirates, beaches, and the North Carolina marshes you might know from  Where the Crawdads Sing .

Plan to spend at least one full day in Charleston’s historic downtown. As you make your way north, consider a night or two in either Myrtle Beach, SC or checking out the Wilmington beaches in North Carolina.

Don’t miss a stop in New Bern to visit the birthplace of Pepsi Cola. Devote at least 2 days to exploring the beaches and lighthouses of the Outer Banks . Be sure to check out the hidden gem – Pea Island , particularly the wildlife refuge!

The Wrights Brother National Monument is another Outer Banks must-see. Also, if you’re not eating your weight in seafood on this road trip, you’re not doing it right! 

You can do this road trip any time of year, but you’ll find the most crowds over school vacations, especially summer vacation and spring break. Autumn is an ideal time to do a Coastal Carolinas road trip. Just keep in mind that many Outer Banks businesses – especially restaurants – operate seasonally, so plan accordingly.

It’s most convenient to do this road trip with a multi-city plane ticket and one-way car rental . Fly into Charleston, drive north in your rental car, and fly out of Norfolk.

For a cheaper, but more time-consuming option, fly in and out of either Charleston or Norfolk. If you opt for a round-trip plane ticket, you’ll need to make a 7-hour drive on Interstate 95 at either the start or end of your adventure.

Recommended by Ada of Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

11. LA to Joshua Tree National Park – (a desert oasis road trip in the USA)

Distance: 130 miles Recommended time: 3+ days Best time of year: April-May or September-November

One of the best USA road trip routes is driving from LA to Joshua Tree National Park. It’s a relaxing way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and in only a few hours, you’ll be in a desert oasis. While it’s only 130 miles one way, traffic can take up more of your time than you want. That’s why I recommend taking 3 days to go from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree and back so you can fully enjoy all the different sites there.

On the first day, start off by checking out the Cabazon Dinosaurs. They’re giant roadside dinosaurs you’ve probably seen on Instagram, and there’s even a museum to learn more about them. From there, continue until you get to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve for gorgeous views and hiking trails.

Finally, crash in Twentynine Palms for the night – they have affordable lodging and fun places to see, like the Twentynine Palms Historical Society and Adobe Museum.

On the second day, head out to explore  Joshua Tree National Park ! You could spend days exploring! If you’re short on time, Jumbo Rocks is a great spot to watch rock climbers in action, and Barker Dam offers a chance to find water in the desert and see some historic ruins. Lost Horse Mine is an abandoned gold mine you can explore, and the Cholla Cactus Garden is a great place to catch the sunrise.

For your last day, check out the Palm Springs area. Downtown has many options for amazing food, drinks, museums, and shopping. Who knows, you might even bump into a celeb!

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a fun ride with epic views of the desert landscape and access to Mount San Jacinto State Park’s hiking trails. Grab dinner up there and catch the last tram of the night for a memorable end one of the greatest road trips in America.

Recommended by Marissa of Postcards to Seattle

12. Talimena Scenic National Byway (a completely underrated route on this road trips USA list)

Distance: 54 miles Recommended time: 1-3 days Best time of year: October-November

The  Talimena Scenic National Byway  is a 54-mile scenic route that winds its way through the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas. It’s one of the best US road trips in the south!

Stretching between Talihina, Oklahoma, and Mena, Arkansas, the route’s name is a portmanteau of these two terminal cities. You can drive the route one way or as an out-and-back, depending on the remainder of your trip itinerary . For example, those on a cross-country road trip will typically do the route one-way. But those enjoying a vacation in nearby Broken Bow or Hochatown will do the route as an extension of their trip and usually drive both ways.

While you can accomplish the trip in one day, it’s best to spend a weekend of 2 to 3 days exploring. This way you can spend time in Talihina and Mena as well as explore the state parks and hiking trails along the route.

Talimena State Park in Oklahoma and Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Arkansas both offer camping sites and hiking trails . The US Forest Service maintains them.

Whether you choose to camp along the way or stay in one of the towns on either end of the route, you need to make your bookings in advance. This is a more rural part of the country. There are many times of the year when there won’t be any rooms available at the last minute.

The best time of year is to take the trip in the last week of October or the first 2 weeks of November when the fall foliage is peaking. However, the viewpoints and vistas along this national scenic byway are beautiful any time of year.

Recommended by Stephanie of History Fangirl

13. Pacific Coast Highway (a favorite on this list of road trips USA)

Distance: 615 miles Recommended time: 2 – 7 days Best time of year: anytime

Undoubtedly, the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the greatest road trips in America. Incredible coastal views greet you from a mix of big cities and untouched land. This San Francisco to San Diego road trip is one you absolutely must do in your lifetime!

While you could *technically* do this road trip in 2 days, you’ll see and experience a lot more of this incredible drive if you give yourself more time. Fly into San Francisco and rent a car and head south towards San Diego!

While there are so many amazing stops along the way, you absolutely must stay for a moment in Carmel-by-the-Sea. A charming beach town with beautiful architecture, this is one of the last stops to eat and fuel up before heading deep into Big Sur.

Along the way, there are so many cool and amazing things to do in Big Sur . Highlights include the Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls and Sand Dollar Beach.

As you head further south in California, you’ll get to quaint beach towns than large Southern California cities. Go surfing or hiking near San Luis Obispo. Wine tastings in Lompoc, hang out on the beach in Malibu and visit the Santa Monica Pier.

The end this epic American roadtrip in a city that’s easy to love – San Diego. Visit the birthplace of California in Old Town San Diego and indulge in one of the many Mexican restaurants there. Check out the nightlife in the Gaslamp district or watch the sunset on the sparkling Coronado Beach.

This road trip can be done at any point in the year. The weather along Big Sur can be a bit moody with marine fog in the late spring/ early summer and wildfire season during early fall. Just pack layers for comfort and bring your camera for amazing landscapes!

14. Athens to Macon, Georgia

Distance: 93 miles Recommended time: 3-4 days Best time of year: anytime

Even though about 93 miles (less than two hours) separate Athens and Macon, Ga., the destinations share something in common besides just being college towns : both have played (and continue to play) a role in shaping American music culture. 

A three- or four-day getaway is suitable throughout the year, even in the winter, since the weather in Georgia tends to be mild-ish. Still, it is weather and can change ~ always have an umbrella available and except for summer, dress in layers.

It can be crowded in Athens during University of Georgia home football games in the fall. The best thing to do is to check the calendars and watch the weather reports. Accommodations in both places include vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, chain hotels and boutique hotels. Something suitable for all needs and budgets.

Begin this American roadtrip in Macon. It’s a little over an hour from Atlanta (for those who may be flying into Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson Airport) and a straight drive down I-75 South. 

Macon’s music history ranges from soul with Otis Redding, funk with Little Richard, Southern Rock with Allman Brothers and much more. Download Macon’s Macon Music Trail app for stories and locations of attractions like the Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House and The Little Richard House .

For true fans, a guided walking tour with Rock Candy Tours provides a detailed look at Macon’s music heritage. Finally, grab lunch at H&H Soul Food for the fried chicken and the connection to the Allman Brothers and end the evening at a music venue.

The drive from Macon to Athens is on highways. If you’re on good on time, take a break in Madison (about 35 minutes from Athens) to enjoy its quaint historic downtown.

Athens was at the forefront of the indie and rock alternative rock movement, introducing America and the world to R.E.M and B-52s, among others. A self-guided Athens Music History Tour highlights the many sites that played a role during these times . And don’t miss the Athens Music Walk of Fame, a two-square-block area downtown showcasing the people and places of the city’s rich music scene. 

Live music venues are plentiful in Athens, and festivals like Athfest, a three-day music event. This will surely be one of the best road trips in America for music-lovers!

Recommended by Apryl from   Southern Hospitality Magazine  

15. Road to Hana, Maui (a quintessential route on your road trips USA list)

Distance: 52 miles Recommended time: 1- 2 days Best time of year: any time of year

The  Road to Hana  is a scenic 52-mile highway on Maui’s northern coast. A bucket list road trip, it provides one of the most iconic experiences in Hawaii, and for a good reason. It’s truly one of the greatest road trips in America!

On the narrow road, you will encounter 620 curves and 59 bridges, with many sections only accommodating one vehicle.

Whether staying in Maui or visiting for the day by cruise ship, pick up a car rental at the Kahului Airport to begin your journey . Expect to spend at least 2-1/2 hours making the drive or longer if you intend to go beyond Hana to Haleakala National Park.

You can make the trip any time of year (thanks to Hawaii’s great weather). You’ll need to purchase a visitor’s pass to visit the national park.

What makes this drive so spectacular is the plethora of scenery you can observe along the way. Imagine roadside cascading waterfalls, rainbow eucalyptus trees, a lava tube, and colored beaches begging for exploration.

For one of the best opportunities to view Hawaiian sea turtles, stop at Ho’okipa Beach, where they often bask in the sun . Keanae Landing, another can’t-miss stop, allows you to taste Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread, rated highly worldwide.

If you want to spend more than a day exploring the Hana area, the Hana-Maui Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Residence , offers a luxury stay with a restaurant and spa.

USA road trip tip : If you aren’t visiting Maui by cruise ship, plan to drive the Road to Hana when there are no ships in port. Then you’ll share the highway with fewer tourists.

Recommended by Karen of Forever Karen

16. Blue Ridge Parkway (vibrant fall colors American roadtrip)

Distance: 469 miles Recommended time: 3+ days Best time of year: October

Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most iconic scenic drives in America. It passes through Virginia and North Carolina where the endpoints are two national parks – Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It spans 469 miles so it’s recommended to spend 3 days driving Blue Ridge Parkway so you have plenty of time to stop at overlooks, go hiking to waterfalls and explore local museums along the way.

If driving from north to south, on day one, be sure to stop at Humpback Rocks Visitor Center to learn about mountain pioneers. Then head to Yankee Horse Ridge for an easy to get to multi-tiered waterfall, Kanawha Canal Lock to learn about this historic innovation, and Mabry Mill, one of the most beautiful and iconic stops along the parkway.

Stay at the Grassy Creek Cabooses your first night for a unique experience sleeping in a converted train car.

On your second day, visit Puckett Cabin, where a mountain midwife helped deliver over 1000 babies! Visit the Blue Ridge Music Center where you can catch bluegrass concerts, and Linn Cove Viaduct, arguably the most iconic curve of the parkway that’s a photography hotspot.

You’ll end day two in Asheville where there are a number of places to stay, especially downtown!

On the final day of this US road trip, explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the highlights include Laurel Falls , Cades Cove, and Clingman’s Dome.

If hoping to catch the most spectacular views, try to visit during autumn when the fall foliage is out in full swing – it’s one of the best fall drives in the country!

Important Note: When traveling on Blue Ridge Parkway, be sure to check the official notices by the National Park Service as some parts of the road may be closed due to construction or weather damage.

Recommended by Alanna of Periodic Adventures

17. Oregon Coast (one of the absolute greatest road trips in America)

Distance: 730 miles Recommended time: 2-7 days Best time of year: June-August

If you’re looking for one of the most dramatic road trips in the United States, consider driving along the Oregon Coast. This awesome American roadtrip offers rugged beaches, jaw dropping seascapes, and dozens of charming towns to explore. 

Start the drive in Portland and head an hour and a half west to Cannon Beach, one of the most adorable towns along the coastline and known for its iconic sea stack, Haystack Rock. Here, you can peruse its quaint downtown, explore the beach’s tidepools, and hit any of the incredible hikes near Cannon Beach . For example, head to Ecola State Park for the Crescent Beach trail, where you’ll hike to a secluded beach.

Continue further south to the town of Newport. Here, you stop by the town’s docks to see dozens and dozens of sea lions. They happily bark the day away and stop at Seal Rock State Park, known for its wildlife sighting opportunities and unique sea stacks.

Finally, head further south to the southern section of the Oregon coast, Brookings. This is home to the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, with some of the most stunning views in the state.

There’s a variety of things to do in the park, from stopping at scenic overlooks to exploring its hidden beaches. Once you’re done taking in the breathtaking sights, head back to Portland, completing a 730 mile loop around the western portion of the state. 

While you could drive the coastline in a day or two, the small towns along the way are best savored slowly. If you can build in about a week to mosey your way down the coastline, that would be best.

If you can swing it, visiting in the summertime is the best . The temperature is warm, the skies are clear, and you’ll have the best chance of spotting wildlife, like gray whales and puffins.

Although, the Oregon Coast is also dreamy December – February when there’s far less people too. The Oregon Coast is also one of the best winter road trips , too!

Recommended by Jessica from Uprooted Traveler

18. Savannah to Charleston

Distance: 107 miles Recommended time: 4 – 7 days Best time of year: April – June, September – November

If you’re interested in a coastal getaway and are a fan of majestic old oaks, Southern-style dining, and incredible architecture, then a road trip from Savannah to Charleston might be just the ticket! A week is an ideal amount of time to get a taste of these two pretty cities and the stunningly beautiful  South Carolina Lowcountry  that lies between them.

Begin your journey in Savannah, where you might feel as if you’ve stepped back in time a couple hundred years! The Historic District is filled with architecture from the mid-1800s . Cobblestone streets line the waterfront, and each square is shaded by old oaks covered in Spanish moss.

Stay in a historic property like  The Marshall House  or  Hamilton-Turner Inn .

While in Savannah, be sure to take a stroll down Jones Street, view the interior of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and dine at one of the city’s award-winning restaurants. (Common Thread, The Grey, and Brochu’s Family Tradition are three excellent options!)  

Savannah and Charleston are 107 miles apart, and the drive between them takes about 2 hours. HWY 17 to I-95 back to HWY 17 is the fastest route, but Okatie HWY is the most scenic way to go. Don’t miss a brief stop in Yemassee to see the Old Sheldon Church Ruins.

Beaufort is an ideal halfway stopping point along the route. It’s such a small city that you only need to stay one night to get a good overview (try the Cuthbert House Inn). Be sure to take a sunset stroll along the waterfront park and go on   a walking tour to see the beautiful historic homes in The Old Point area.

As you head into Charleston, the Angel Oak is a must-see on the outskirts of the city. It’s approximately 400 years old, with twisted branches that are a sight to behold!

Stay at  The Spectator Hotel , which is within easy walking distance to restaurants, shops, and landmarks. Charleston is known for award-winning restaurants like Husk, so a Charleston food tour  is always a good idea!

Spring is the best time of year to take this road trip, with fall running a close second. 

Recommended by Erin of Savannah First Timer’s Guide

Best road trips in USA – continued

Can you believe this list?! With some of the best American road trips yet to come, one of my favorites is up next!

19. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park

Distance: 50 miles Recommended time: 1 -3 days Best time of year: July – September

If you’re looking for one of the very best USA road trip routes, this is it! The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is one of the most breathtaking experiences you’ll have.

In just 50 short miles, this road trip really packs a punch! The Going-to-the-Sun Road can obviously be done in one day, but taking 3 (or more) days to explore is ideal.

Located in northern Montana and at over 6600 feet in elevation, the Going-to-the-Sun road experiences heavy snowfall and isn’t cleared of snow until July. And because it typically starts snowing again by October, the season to do this incredible road trip is short.

Note: due to the high volume of visitors, a vehicle reservation is required for the Going-to-the-Sun Road (and most of the rest of the park as well).

These can be a pain to get, with strict deadlines and they go super fast. However, you can enter the park before 6am or after 3pm without a reservation and drive the road and explore all that it has to offer.

It truly is a stunning drive! Along the way, you’ll pass Lake McDonald, which hold’s nature’s skittles – brightly colored rocks that line the shores of the lake.

If you’re up for hiking, you’ll love Avalanche Lake Trail , Hidden Lake Trail, and Virginia Falls, one of the best waterfalls in Glacier National Park.

Pro tip: vehicle passes don’t ensure you’ll find a parking spot. Arrive at the park early and have a plan B if parking is full. Use this Glacier National Park itinerary to set up your plan for this incredible park!

20. Phoenix to Page Arizona (one of the BEST southwest US road trips)

Distance: 600 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: March – May, September – November

The Phoenix to Page Arizona road trip itinerary  is one of the best road trips in America that offers a blend of natural beauty and urban charm. The journey starts and ends in Phoenix, covering approximately 600 miles in total, making it a perfect loop trip for travelers who want to explore the best of Arizona .

To fully appreciate the journey, it is recommended to take at least 7 days to complete the route.

Phoenix is the starting point of this road trip, and it is a city worth exploring. Visitors can experience fun hikes, mouthwatering restaurants, interesting museums, and beautiful shopping areas. The neighboring city of Scottsdale is also worth a visit. Known for its luxurious spas, resorts, and golf courses, there’s so many things to do in Scottsdale .

After exploring Phoenix, head to Sedona, famous for its red rock formations and stunning natural beaut y. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, exploring their vortexes, or visiting wineries.

Next up is Flagstaff, which is famous for its beautiful mountain scenery and historic downtown. Here, visitors can explore the famous Route 66 and visit the Lowell Observatory, which was where Pluto was discovered .

From Flagstaff, the journey continues to Page, which is home to the famous Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

After Page, you’ll head to the majestic Grand Canyon, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon offers stunning views, and visitors can explore the park on foot or helicopter tour .

The best time to take this road trip is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and comfortable . During the summer, the temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees, making outdoor activities challenging.

It’s also important to note that some parts of the road trip itinerary may be closed during the winter due to snowfall.

Recommended by Destiny of Guided by Destiny

21. New England during the fall (one of the best road trips in USA)

Distance: 830 miles Recommended time: 5+ days Best time of year: October

For a true bucket list experience, you have to do a road trip in New England during the fall. It’s truly one of the best road trips in America! Enjoy the stunning array of colorful foliage and classic, charming small towns in the region. 

If you’re flying in, plan to start and end at Boston Logan International Airport with a rental car . Otherwise, adapt this loop to your own starting point.

This road trip is a loop spanning about 830 miles. You can certainly add more destinations if you have more time! You can do this trip in 5 days but a week or more would be ideal to add even more stops into the mix.

Start in Boston and head just north of the city to the iconic fall town of Salem, Mass. Whether you’re into Hocus Pocus or history, visitors love Salem for its Halloween vibes and fun fall events. Just be sure to book accommodations early during this very busy season!

From Salem, head north to Bar Harbor, Maine. En route, stop in Portland for a foodie adventure. This is the longest drive at just over 200 miles, but there is ample opportunity to stop along the way for coastal views and foliage photo ops.

You could spend a week in Bar Harbor alone, but from there, your road trip will backtrack a bit before cutting west into New Hampshire. Spend the night in Conway so you can start your drive through the White Mountains early the next morning . This is a truly idyllic destination in the fall! 

From Conway, take a 15-minute detour up to Bartlett for a quick, easy morning hike to the very pretty Diana’s Baths. Then you’ll drive across NH along the incredibly scenic Kancamagus Highway; plan to stop several times for photo ops! After crossing the state, you’ll basically follow the border between NH and VT before cutting across Vermont to the pretty town of Manchester.

From Manchester, you can skirt Green Mountain National Forest and head southeast back toward Boston. If you do have more time, add more stops for a more robust 1-week New England fall road trip to maximize your adventure.

Recommended by Amanda of Hey! East Coast USA

22. Texas Hill Country (an underrated American roadtrip)

Distance: 300 miles Recommended time: 2 – 7 days Best time of year: March – April

A road trip through Texas Hill Country is one of the best road trips in the US due to the amazing things to do and sights to see along the way. This drive starts in Austin, ends in San Antonio, and has dozens of charming small towns along the way.

At just under 300 miles long, this road trip can be completed in one day. However, travelers can easily fill 7 days with all there is to experience.

There is plenty to explore year round. Beware of the Texas heat in summer months and plan plenty of swimming hole stops. Spring is the best time of year for this road trip. Hill country comes alive with  Texas bluebonnets  and other wildflowers making for a gorgeous scenic drive.

Starting in Austin, consider checking out the Capitol building, live music in the Red River District, and the beautiful metropolitan park, Zilker Park. If you happen to be doing this road trip during October, be sure to check out the best haunted houses in Austin , too.

Then, head out west toward the sweet towns of Burnet and Marble Falls. Explore Longhorn Caverns, discover Devil’s Watering Hole at Inks Lake, and pick up a slice of pie at the Bluebonnet Café.

Fredericksburg is the next highlight on your road trip and also a great spot for staying overnight.

The numerous wineries, beautiful German heritage woven throughout the town, and the beauty of a hike at Enchanted Rock can keep you busy for several days. In spring, head to Jenschke Orchards to pick strawberries or for fresh peaches in the summer. An overnight stay at the Behr House is sure to please!  

As you start heading south, check out the historic post office in Luckenbach, lavender fields in Blanco, cowboy boots tour and Blue Hole in Wimberley, and the Comal River in New Braunfels . Don’t miss brisket from Salt Lick in Driftwood.

End your road trip in historic San Antonio by visiting Riverwalk and the Alamo. Dinner at The Pearl Historic District and pastries from Mia Tienda will end your Hill Country road trip with delicious local fare.

Such a fun adventure, and one of the best USA road trip routes!

Recommended by Sierra from Very Truly Texas

23. Southern Colorado

Distance: 800 miles Recommended time: 7 – 14 days Best time of year: June – September

Colorado has some of the most beautiful places in the country, and nothing makes that more clear than a road trip around southern Colorado . While most people visit to explore the Rockies, there is so much more to Colorado than just the Rockies. This road trip will show you why southern Colorado is really where you want to be.

Assuming you start and end in Colorado Springs, the road trip will cover about 800 miles through some of the most scenic places in the country. If you’re flying into Denver International Airport, add about 180 miles total.

Start your trip off with a scenic drive through Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs before ascending up to Pikes Peak. It’s the second highest paved road in the United States, just outside of the city.

From the peak head straight across Highway 50 to southwest Colorado, stopping by Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. While far less known than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Black Canyon is impressive in its own right with its sheer 2700 foot drop to the river below.

From Black Canyon, head south through the San Juan Mountains, stopping by Silverton to do one of the best hikes in Colorado, the Ice Lake Hike . When your legs are sufficiently exhausted, continue to Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde protects the most impressive and well-preserved ancient Puebloan cliff cities in the US.

You’ll then head across southern Colorado on highway 160, a simply stunning drive with breathtaking scenery around every turn. Be sure to stop in for a craft beer in Durango before making your way to Great Sand Dunes National Park. There, you’ll find the tallest and most impressive sand dunes in North America. Do some dune hiking before heading back to Colorado Springs.

The best time of year to complete this road trip is summertime between June and September. It’s possible to visit all the places on the route year-round (except the Ice Lake hike). Summer will have the most pleasant weather and best hiking opportunities. 

This is certainly one of the best road trips in America, and one full of unexpected adventures.

Recommended by Chris of Around The World With Me

24. Florida Keys from Miami to Key West (another favorite on this list of road trips USA)

Distance: 165 miles Recommended time: 1- 3 days Best time of year: December – June

One of the very best road trips in America is driving the Florida Keys on Highway 1. From big party cities on either end to tropical vibes along the way, this is one fun road trip you’ll want to drive!

The Miami to Key West road trip can technically be done in a day, but it’s best done over 3 days, at minimum. That would give you one day in Miami, one day in Key West and one day to explore the islands between.

Although if you have a week or more, that’s even better! Just after leaving Miami, make a stop in Everglades National Park . From birdwatching to the short Anhinga Trail hike, you’ll love seeing nature in this park.

Another stop along the way is Key Largo. From a glass-bottom boat tour to snorkeling , this island offers a lot of water activities. Robbie’s in Islamorada is a popular spot to stop and feed the tarpons   – so fun!

The famous 7-mile bridge is an engineering feat as you drive down Highway 1. Finally making it to Key West, you’ll find shops, restaurants and historic hotels greet you with open arms. It’s quite the busy little island, welcoming passengers from cruise ships by the day and a live party scene at night.

Stay in the Kimpton Winslow’s Bungalows in the historic district, or on Smather’s Beach at Margaritaville Beach House Key West . You can fly back out of Key West, although it may just be more affordable to drive back to Miami.

This fun route from Miami to Key West down Highway 1 is truly one of the greatest road trips in America, and holds a deserving spot on this list!

Recommended by Nikki of She Saves She Travels

25. Oahu Circle Island Tour (a tropical USA road trip route)

Distance: 60 miles Recommended time: 1-3 days Best time of year: year-round!

Dive into the depths of Hawaiian culture and explore the sights, sounds, scents, and flavors of Oahu on a classic circle island tour. It’s absolutely one of the best road trips in USA, even though it’s on an island thousands of miles offshore. 🙂

This route is an ideal way to get a better sense of all Oahu offers. From world-famous beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant cities to small towns with uniquely local flair.

Start and end the trip in Honolulu, driving 60 miles around the island’s perimeter. You can spend from 6 hours to 2-3 days on this route, based on where you want to stop and how much time you want to spend there.

No trip around Oahu is complete without a stop at the iconic Waikiki Beach. You can take in the crystal-clear waters and picturesque sunset views.

Other highlights include…

• Byodo-In Temple, located on the Windward Coast
• Chinaman’s Hat, a small islet off the shore of Kualoa Ranch
• Banzai Pipeline, a world-famous surfing spot on the North Shore
• Dole Plantation for its famous pineapple fields and ice cream
• Laie Point or Makapu’u Point Lookout for some of the most beautiful views in all of Hawaii

Be sure to also marvel at Waimanalo Waterfall, tucked away in the Ko’olau Mountains, and the breathtaking Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve.

Embarking on this journey during the summertime is ideal due to the longer days, yet it can still be a memorable experience year-round . Just keep in mind that you may encounter crowds at beaches on weekends and holidays and when the waves are high.

If you’re looking for a guided tour, there are many tours you can book to do the circle island tour of Oahu. If you’d rather have an adventure of your own, renting a car is the perfect option! With apps like Shaka and Gypsy to assist with planning and managing your itinerary, you can guarantee yourself an extraordinary experience.

Recommended by Melodie of Travel Must Do’s

26. Badlands to the Black Hills (an unexpected one on this list of best road trips in USA)

Distance: 60 miles Recommended time: 1 – 3 days Best time of year: May – September

In western South Dakota, visitors find a land of great contrasts and great beauty. The Black Hills got their name because the dense, dark pine trees make the hills appear almost black. The landscape is so starkly bare in Badlands National Park that it appears almost otherworldly.

Luckily for visitors, you can visit both within just a few hours–although you could easily spend weeks exploring all the beauty and fun in western South Dakota. This is one of the best, unexpected US road trips!

For the ultimate western South Dakota road trip, visitors can start at Badlands National Park in Interior, South Dakota.

Inside the park, visitors drive the 31-mile Badlands Scenic Loop Road to the Ben Reifel Visitors Center . There are so many things to do in Badlands National Park like hike the park’s beautiful trails and stop at scenic overlooks for spectacular views of the park’s colorful rock formations. Be sure to watch for bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs!

After exiting to Wall, South Dakota many visitors stop at Wall Drug for free ice water (and snacks and souvenirs.)

Then, it’s a short jaunt on interstate 90 to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. This free aerospace museum on Ellsworth AFB is home to more than 30 aircraft and tons of other artifacts and exhibits.

A few minutes further and you’re in Rapid City and can check out all the town has to offer. Check out Storybook Island, Dinosaur park, Presidential statues downtown, and fossils at the Museum of Geology on the Campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. 

Then, it’s less than a half hour from downtown Rapid City to the Black Hills. Take the Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway to see attractions like Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park.

The beauty of the rock formations in the Black Hills, the trees, the wildlife, and the view are absolutely breathtaking.

Recommend by Lindsay of Siouxland Families

27. Washington DC to Asheville

Distance: 471 miles Recommended time: 5 days Best time of year: March – May, September – October

A road trip from Washington, DC to Asheville, North Carolina can be driven in just eight hours but you’ll miss a lot of historic southern towns. Plan on a long five-day vacation and make frequent stops.

Your first stop on this American road trip is Front Royal via Route 66. This charming town offers the best apple donuts to pack for your all-day hiking in Shenandoah National Park . Rent an Airbnb or book a campsite inside the national park.

Wake up bright and early the next day to enjoy a big flapjack breakfast then head out on 1-81 South via I-66 W. Select a detour to Luray Caverns or antique shopping in Strasburg.

Plan to reach the 215-foot-tall Natural Bridge by noon . Carved out by Cedar Creek, the limestone bridge offers vistas of the forests and rolling meadows. Explore seven miles of hiking trails and the beautiful Lace Falls, a 30-foot waterfall cascade.

Then, spend time touring the Monacan Indian Village or participate in seasonal living history programs. Book your second night at Wyndham’s Natural Bridge Hotel surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountains.

On your next morning head into the hills of east Tennessee to explore Johnson City. Choose between hiking at Buffalo Mountain Park or boating at Winged Deer Park.

In the afternoon, explore Sycamore Shoals Historic Park, which is a former Cherokee site. Alternatively, visit Gray Fossil Site and Museum to see mastodon fossils. Schedule the hour drive to  Asheville  before nightfall where you can pplurge and book a room at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn .

On your last morning, book a morning walking tour to learn about the city’s Art Deco architecture. Then head to the Arts District to explore working artists’ studios. Leave time for a two-hour drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to admire the stunning scenery at road stops . Extend your USA road trip (if time permits) to tour the Biltmore Estate.

Recommended by Terri of Female Solo Trek

28. Southwest USA (one of the BEST road trips USA)

Distance: 950 miles Recommended time: 6 days Best time of year: March – May, September – November

Going from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon is only the beginning of an epic southwest USA road trip. It starts and ends in the City of Lights – Las Vegas. To complete the itinerary in a moderate way, you will need 6 days (not counting the days in Las Vegas ). The distance of the whole itinerary is around 950 miles. Along the way, you will get your ‘kicks on Route 66’, visit 3 US States, and the most Instagram-worthy national parks. From Grand Canyon to Page with Horseshoe Bend you’ll surely be in awe of America’s natural wonders.

In Page you will also visit the famous Antelope Canyon, but before that, make a stop at the the famous spot where Forrest Gump stopped running, Monument Valley.

The best place to stay in the Monument Valley in Goulding’s Lodge , where you get stunning sunset and sunrise views of Table Mountains and Monolites.

On your way back to visit Zion National park, and add Bryce Canyon as an optional stop. The last stop before returning to Vegas should be Valley of Fire, a popular wedding photoshoot location with amazing hikes. The great part about this road trip is that it can also be done in reverse. You can do this road trip at any time of the year, but winter would be the least favorable.

The best time would be spring or autumn, when temperatures are moderate and there is no snow on the roads. Summer, also a great time to follow this southwest itinerary, can be crowded and extremely hot.

Whichever time of year you choose, you won’t be disappointed. Just be careful if driving at night as the roads are full of wildlife that will be extremely hard to spot. This may just be one of the very best US road trips you will take! Recommended by Anja of Anja On Adventure

29. Milwaukee to Minneapolis

Distance: 336 miles Recommended time: 5-8 days Best time of year: June-October

If you’re looking for a great northern Midwest road trip, plan a road trip from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Minneapolis, Minnesota. You’ll be able to see some of the best of the upper Midwest, including important US cities and charming small towns.

Start with two days in Milwaukee. Explore the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum, eat a fabulous lunch at the Milwaukee Public Market, and spend time strolling through the historic Third Ward.

Leaving Milwaukee, you can spend a few days enjoying Wisconsin’s smaller but still important cities and towns. Three stops worthy of spending a night or two include Madison, Wisconsin Dells, and Eau Claire. If you make your road trip during the fall, look to see if there are any football or basketball games happening in Madison during your trip. This is truly one of the greatest college towns in America!

Continue on to Minneapolis. Devote 3 days to enjoying the best of the Twin Cities. There are tons of  great free things to do in Minneapolis  and St. Paul. See the Stone Arch Bridge from the Guthrie Theater, wander through the Minneapolis Institute of Art and tour the Cathedral of St. Paul. 

Other can’t-miss sites along this USA road trip include the Mall of America, the Museum of Russian Art, and Fort Snelling State Park.

Road trips USA

There you have it! 29 of the very best US road trips you’ll find . From driving through vibrant fall colors, to marveling at the sparkling blue water in Hawaii, to hopping in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon, the adventures are truly endless.

Let’s recap this amazing list one more time (in a slightly quicker fashion…)

Best US road trips

• Utah national parks
• Ozark Mountains
• Beartooth Highway
• Florida Springs
• Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada
• Washington DC to Boston
• Seward to Denali, Alaska
• Newfound Gap Road, Smoky Mountains National Park
• Coastal Carolinas
• LA to Joshua Tree National Park
• Talimena Scenic National Byway
• Pacific Coast Highway
• Athens to Macon, Georgia
• Road To Hana, Maui
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Oregon Coast
• Savannah to Charleston
• Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park
• Phoenix to Page, Arizona
• New England
• Texas Hill Country
• Southern Colorado
• Florida Keys from Miami to Key West
• Oahu Circle Island Tour
• Badlands to the Black Hills, South Dakota
• Washington DC to Asheville
• Southwest USA
• Milwaukee to Minneapolis

Related posts to read next: 30 Gorgeous West Coast Road Trip Routes You Gotta See to Believe 26 Absolute Best (and Underrated) Fall Drives in the US You’ve Gotta See to Believe 17 Exciting Winter Road Trips USA: Scenic and Unexpected Routes You’ll Love 12 Epic Scenic Drives Colorado (Map + Tips + Photos)

Find this guide helpful? Save it for later or share it on social media!

Saturday 4th of March 2023

We love road trips! I definitely need to take the Utah road trip and I would also love to drive Beartooth! We did a little bit of the ET Highway last spring and it was fun! Great post. Lots of exciting options!

Friday 10th of March 2023

Yess Yvonne! Sounds like you've got some good options coming up. So much to discover via a USA road trip ❤️

21 Best Road Trips in USA to Put on Your Bucket List

• In the City / North America / Outdoors / USA

Don’t miss out on these amazing road trips!

Since we got married, we’ve done five cross-country road trips and dozens of shorter ones. In our opinion, road-tripping is the best way to see the beauty of the United States. There is so much this country has to offer. Here is a list of 21 American Road Trips that we think everyone needs to put on their bucket lists.

This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure  for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: March 5, 2024

− − Content Menu

• 21 Best Road Trips in USA
• Map of Best Road Trips in USA
• More Scenic Road Trips to Check Out
• Essential Tips for First Timers

Planning Checklist

• More Resources

Whether you love the mountains, want to drive above the clouds, or cruise over the ocean, there’s a road trip for you. Here are 21 of the best road trips in the United States. Let us know in the comments below if there are more we should add to the list.

1. Pacific Coast Highway →

Location:  California    |    Distance:  123 Miles

Enjoy the endless views of the ocean and drive through some of the best beach towns on California’s Route 1. Don’t forget to stop at Hearst Castle, spend some time in  Big Sur   (one of our favorite places in the US), and Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.

Local Tip: Check the news to see if there are any big events occurring. We’ve done this road trip a handful of times with no issues, but the last time we went, there was a bike race, and we were stuck in traffic for hours.

See More: The Ultimate California Coast Road Trip

2. Historic Route 66

Location:  Illinois to  California    |    Distance:  2,451 Miles

Route 66 is one of the most iconic drives in America. The best stretch of this highway runs from the  Grand Canyon  to the Colorado River. To dive into the history, visit the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, Illinois.

Local Tip: Unfortunately they’ve painted over most of the Route 66 signs on the road because it was dangerous for people to try to take photos with it. Apparently, some still exist, but we haven’t found them yet.

See More: Your Ultimate Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Road Trip

3. Overseas Highway

Location:   Florida    |    Distance:  120 Miles

We just came back from a trip to the Keys and ended up driving the Overseas Highway. It was unbelievably beautiful.

Unlike any other drive in the country, this route takes you on bridges right over the ocean. It gives you the sensation of floating over the water. Plus, the  Florida Keys  ain’t a bad destination either.

See More: 7+ Remarkable Things to Do in Key West Florida

4. Million Dollar Highway (San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway)

L ocation:  Colorado    |    Distance:  305 Miles

Twist and turn through the winding roads between two historic gold-mining towns. Take in the amazing views and don’t forget to take deep breaths as you’ll be over two miles above sea level.

5. Columbia River Scenic Highway →

L ocation:  Oregon    |    Distance:  75 Miles

See the amazing Columbia Gorge on a highway built purely for scenery. This drive gives you views of waterfalls and mountains, and there are plenty of pull-offs. Here are  21 best hikes in the Columbia River Gorge from short and easy day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips .

Local Tip: Part of the charm of this area is the rainy weather. Come prepared with  solid waterproof boots  and a  raincoat  ; the hikes are magical.

See More: 21 Best Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge Oregon

6. Skyline Drive

L ocation:  Virginia    |    Distance:  105 Miles

This scenic drive takes you along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. Drive through the Appalachians and stop to enjoy any of the 75 overlooks.

7. Hana Highway (Road to Hana) →

L ocation:  Maui, Hawaii   |    Distance:  51.1 Miles

Explore the coastlines of Maui along the Hana Highway. You’ll find black sand beaches, waterfalls, jungles, and roadside stands. Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit!

See More: 19 Incredible Road to Hana Stops You Shouldn’t Miss

8. Black RIver Scenic Byway

L ocation:  Michigan    |    Distance:  11 Miles

Tucked away in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Black River Scenic Byway has much to offer in a short distance. Pass by waterfalls and dense forests as you follow the river to the lakeshore.

9. The Loneliest Road in America (HWY 50) →

L ocation:  Nevada    |    Distance:  408 Miles

Named for the largely uninhabited region that you drive through, explore mining camps, cross mountain ranges, and stop in small cafes. Don’t forget to look up at the stars at night for some of the most spectacular views.

See More: Ultimate Nevada Road Trip – Best Places to Visit in NV

10. Route 12

L ocation:  Utah    |    Distance:  124 Miles

Drive through some of the most breathtaking views and explore Capitol Reef National Park and  Bryce Canyon National Park . You can even stop in  Boulder Mountain for a night’s stay  and a great meal.

See More: 15 Amazing Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

11. Kancamagus Highway

L ocation:  New Hampshire    |    Distance:  34.5 Miles

Make a trip down this highway in the fall to get some of the best fall foliage views. Enjoy the crisp breeze with your windows down and take in all the colors of the leaves.

The first time we did this drive, we missed the peak of the fall foliage by one day. The rain and wind the day before we arrived took out most of the leaves.

12. THe High Road to Taos

L ocation:  New Mexico    |    Distance:  56 Miles

This scenic, winding road takes you through deserts, mountains, forests, and ancient Indian pueblos. You’ll find beautiful wildflower meadows and there are art galleries scattered throughout the drive. You can also take the Low Road through the valleys on the way back.

13. Beartooth Highway

L ocation:  Montana and Wyoming    |    Distance:  68 Miles

Drive through southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming with breathtaking views of the Absoroka and Beartooth Mountains. You’ll drive by glacial lakes, forests, waterfalls, and wildlife. To top it off, you end at the entrance to  Yellowstone National Park .

See More: Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park + Essential Tips For Your Visit

14. Highway 2

L ocation:  Nebraska    |    Distance:  200 Miles

See the Great Plains of Nebraska and the rolling sandhills that makeup nearly one-fourth of the state. You’ll also see huge farmlands, marshes, and winding rivers. Certain times of the year will bring huge numbers of migrating birds too.

15. ROute 6

L ocation:  Massachusetts    |    Distance:  117 Miles

Explore the Cape Cod area on this scenic drive. Drive through forests, colonial villages, and tidal pools, and explore the harbor.

16. Park Loop Road →

L ocation:  Maine    |    Distance:  27 Miles

This coastal drive gives you views of Acadia National Park and is one of the best places for spotting bald eagles and peregrine. You’ll get amazing views from above but also from the harbor below.

See More: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Acadia National Park

17. Going to the Sun Road →

L ocation:  Montana    |    Distance:  50 Miles

This drive through Glacier National Park gives you views of mountain peaks and alpine lakes while having the least negative impact on the delicate environment.

Local Tip: It closes every winter because of snow, which can reach up to 80 feet in depth. When we went in late June, they had just opened the road the week before.

See More: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Glacier National Park

18. Tail of the Dragon

L ocation:  Tennessee and North Carolina    |    Distance:  11 Miles

This drive is more about the drive and less about the scenery. Known for its degree of difficulty and sheer excitement when driving, the Tail of the Dragon is full of sharp curves, twists, and turns that demand your full attention.

19. Route 100

L ocation:  Vermont    |    Distance:  216 Miles

Route 100 runs through almost the entirety of Vermont and takes you right through the center. See the fall foliage, stop for ice cream, and enjoy the views of the lush mountains.

20. Cascade Loop →

L ocation:  Washington    |    Distance:  400 Miles

See rainforests, apple orchards, beautiful lakes, small towns, and more on this 400-mile loop that takes you through some of the best of what Washington has to offer.

See More: 7 Best Things to Do in North Cascades National Park

21. Mount Washington Auto Road

Location:  New Hampshire   |    Distance:  8 Miles

This short drive climbs nearly 5,000 feet allowing you to stop at viewpoints, see waterfalls, and gaze out at sprawling meadows. The end offers a spectacular view from above.

Bonus: Cross Country Road Trip

There’s no better way to see the country than to drive across it. There are many different routes to take, but if you’re ambitious, check out  this road trip plan  that was computed to be the most optimal way across the United States.

Map of Great American Road Trips

More US Road Trip Ideas for Your Bucket List

• 17-Mile Drive, CA
• Alaska Highway, AK
• Big Island Loop Road, HI
• Black Hills, SD
• Bluebonnet Trail, TX
• Blues Highway (Route 61), TN
• Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
• Great River Road, LA
• Highway 143, TN
• Historic National Road, MD
• Lake Shore Drive, IL
• Maine Lobster Trail, ME
• North Shore Drive, MN
• Ocean Drive, RI
• Olympic Peninsula, WA
• Oregon Coast, OR
• Outer Banks Scenic Byway, NC
• Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, MI
• Silverado Trail, CA
• Trail Ridge Road, CO
• Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, CA

Essential Tips

• Take your time! These trips are all about the journey so enjoy the views and pullouts. Don’t try to cover too much ground each day.
• Avoid getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, have a  car emergency kit  ready to go.
• Stay safe on the road by picking up a  dash cam .
• Stay hydrated by bringing enough water and beverages with you. These  insulated water bottles  will keep your drinks cool (or hot). These are the best water bottles for travel we tested on the road.
• Bring a few extra bags to collect garbage in the car.
• We love having  this cooler  with us on our road trips. Helps us keep anything we need cold.
• It’s always good to have a  physical road map  with you just in case you lose service.
• Worried about bathroom stops, we always have  these handy  in our car in case we just can’t hold it anymore.  Wet wipes  are always handy too.
• Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
• Download these helpful language apps .
• Arrange a rental car for your trip.
• Get airport lounge access .
• Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
• Get a new backpack for your trip.
• Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
• Don’t forget your in-flight essentials .

More RESOURCES

• Rand McNally Road Atlas
• The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the USA
• USA Travel Guide

Can you think of any other road trips in the US to be added to this list? What’s the best road trip you’ve been on?

Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later

SEE MORE Epic Road Trip Guides

EASTERN OREGON ROAD TRIP

CALIFORNIA COAST ROAD TRIP

SUNSHINE COAST ROAD TRIP GUIDE

ULTIMATE NEVADA ROAD TRIP

ICELAND WINTER ROAD TRIP

BIG SUR ROAD TRIP

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM REYKJAVIK

21 CLASSIC AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS

BEST WEEKEND TRIPS FROM PDX

WEEKEND TRIPS FROM LAS VEGAS

TOP WEEKEND GETAWAYS FROM LA

WEEKEND TRIPS FROM ATLANTA

RV LIFE – THE GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY

ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes ” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

Follow on Instagram (E + J) , YouTube , TikTok , and Pinterest.

This Post Has 6 Comments

Amazing link – thank you! But you missed one of the top 5 – Rocky Mountain National Park – the Great Divide. That is breathtaking! I’ve been to many of the above listed destinations and believe Colorado’s Eastern as well as the Western (the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton) slopes have much to offer.

We have been fortunate to have driven on half of these. Route 12 in Utah and Beartooth stand out. And the Tail of the Dragon was sheer fun. But the Going to the Sun Road was in my opinion, the most scenic, plus fun to drive and in the middle of my favorite National Park. Hope to get back there some day

That’s one of our faves too!

All of these sound amazing! Glad Acadia made your list – there are lots of other scenic drives in Maine as well (the western part of the state is gorgeous!). And I’ve only done parts of Skyline Drive but I can attest that it is absolutely incredible. I would love to do a cross country road trip one day though! Life goals. :)

I’ve been n a few. And the ones I have been on I want to do again!!!

What a great post! We need more like this. There are hundreds of posts on must visit places but not enough on must do road trips! These certainly look like some awesome places.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

37 Stops For The Best Cross Country Road Trip [Map Included]

Taking a cross country road trip in the US is something everyone should do at least once in their life! We have traveled the country back and forth on multiple occasions and asked our fellow professional travelers for help on this post as well, to get you the best of the best when it comes to doing a cross country road trip.

We share top destinations , route planning ideas, attractions and activities you don’t want to miss and some great food options .

The US is filled with so many unique and different places to visit. The hard part is picking where to go. We will take you from the East Coast and places like Maine and New York down to the Florida Keys and up to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park before heading to California!

Below you will find 37 amazing places to make your trip an unforgettable adventure.

Table of Contents

Featured Place To Stay In The US

The Beach Club Resort and Spa

If you are looking for an awesome beach resort vacation in the US you are going to want to check out The Beach Club Resort and Spa in Gulf Shores, Alabama !

6 pools, restaurants on site, beach bonfires and more!

Buckle up and let’s start this drive cross country! If you want to add more adventure we recommend renting an RV for your trip. RVing cross country is an awesome way to travel!

Below we share our recommendations and recommendations from fellow travel bloggers on can’t miss places to visit on the best cross country trip. We kick it off in the East coast and take you down to Florida up to the midwest out to the pacific northwest down the west coast and across to Texas!

Acadia National Park, Maine

If you’re heading on a road trip across the United States, one of the first places you should start (pending you’re on the East Coast) is one of the most visited US national parks – Acadia in Maine. Acadia National Park is the only national park located in the northeastern US and it is home to a variety of different landscapes ranging from coastlines to bogs and more.

If you’re visiting Acadia in winter , you will be pleased to find fewer people in the park and some of the best cross-country ski trails on the eastern seaboard. During the Acadia summers, hiking is a must and some of the most famous trails are the Precipice Trail, Great Head Trail (which offers coastal walks), and Bubble Rock.

The number one sight in Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain and there are a variety of ways to experience it, but hiking is definitely the best way. Be sure to also not miss Schoodic Point, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and Jordan Pond.

There are plenty of camping opportunities within Acadia or you can opt to stay on Mount Desert Island (the island where the park is located) in Bar Harbor . Otherwise, Acadia is an easy day trip from Bangor on the mainland. Acadia National Park will be a stellar first stop on your road trip across the wild and diverse country!

Shared by: Megan Starr – Megan & Aram Travel Blog

More on Acadia and Maine:

Acadia National Park Itinerary [Plus Where To Stay]

15 Amazing Things To Do In Maine

Top 14 Maine National Parks and State Parks To Visit

Check out these awesome farm stays around the US too!

White Mountains, New Hampshire

The White Mountains of New Hampshire offer scenic views, epic hikes, rocky rivers and gorges, and some of the best leaf peeping in the country. While you can technically make the 100-mile loop in a day, you will want to take at least a weekend to take your time and explore this road trip.

Start off in the charming town of North Conway, where you can enjoy some of the local ski resort mountain activities or take a ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad. From there, travel west across the Kancamagus Highway , one of the prettiest scenic by-ways in New England. Be sure to stop off at popular spots like the Albany Covered Bridge, Lower Falls, Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, Sabbaday Falls, Sugar Hill Overlook, C.L. Graham Wangam Overlook, and Lincoln Woods on your way to Lincoln.

Near Lincoln, spend some time hiking through the Lost River Gorge and exploring some of the caves, or visit Flume Gorge to gawk at the waterfalls. Travel north along Interstate 93 and Highway 3 through Franconia State Park. Leave time to enjoy Echo Lake Beach and make the hike up to Artist’s Bluff for stunning views of the lake and mountains beyond.

You will then want to head north east on Route 3 towards Twin Mountain until you get to Rt. 302. You will then want to head south to Bretton Woods, stopping to look at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort. As you pass through Crawford Notch State Park, take a hike up Mt. Willard for amazing views of the notch, or to Arethusa Falls, the second tallest waterfall in New Hampshire.

Finish your road trip by following Rt. 16 back to North Conway for some outlet shopping. If you have time, make a detour toward Pinkham Notch and drive the famous Mt. Washington Auto Road, or in Bartlett, take Bear Notch Road down to the Kancamagus Highway for a beautiful backwoods drive.

If you are looking for some cool places to stay check out these cool glamping In New England options!

Shared by: Tamara Gruber – We 3 Travel

More on New Hampshire:

14 Best Things To Do In Lincoln New Hampshire

Berkshire, Massachusetts

The Berkshires of Massachusetts is a breathtaking region located between New York City and Boston. This stunning area is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a bevy of hiking and biking opportunities as well as spectacular ski areas. Although the region is notably beautiful year-round, it’s particularly spectacular in autumn, with vibrant foliage decorating the mountainous landscape. Leaf peepers gather each fall to witness the spectacle from atop Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation, around the Stockbridge Bowl, and down secret winding backroads.

In addition to various opportunities for physical fitness, there are numerous cultural amusements in The Berkshires as well. For instance, the charming town of Stockbridge is home to the Norman Rockwell Museum, a site that pays homage to the famous American illustrator. This popular town also features Naumkeag, a stunning Gilded Age mansion that sits atop 48 acres and offers a range of seasonal events. Travelers will also enjoy a visit to the sweet neighboring town of Lenox, home to Edith Wharton’s former estate, The Mount. Here, self-guided tours are available of the impressive mansion and gardens through Mid-November.

Additionally, for a journey back in time, head to Santarella. This unique storybook property dates back to 1739 and looks like something straight out of a fairytale. Although the grounds are private, this dream home is available to rent for a special event or an unforgettable Berkshires getaway.

Learn more: Most Breathtaking Places to Experience Fall in The Berkshires

Shared by: Elena Pappalardo – The Carry-On Chronicles

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod, Massachusetts is the perfect beach destination for some relaxation or adventure. Begin your visit in Sandwich on the western end of Cape Cod with a visit to the Sandwich Glass Museum or enjoy nature at the Heritage Museum and Gardens. Continue with your drive through Cape Cod with a stop at some of the many lighthouses, including the Nauset Light and Chatham Lighthouse.

Drive along the Cape Cod National Seashore where you will have a plentiful selection of sandy beaches to choose from. Spend a couple hours or all day relaxing in the sand, viewing the sand dunes, and jumping over the waves.

Depending on how much time you allot for the area, a whale watch is highly recommended! Head to Provincetown, the end point of Cape Cod, and hop aboard for a ride along the shores of Cape Cod featuring the famous sand dunes before heading out to the Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary.

After the whale watch take a stroll along Commercial Street and enjoy the quaint, local shops and tasty seafood options. Visit the Pilgrim Monument for breathtaking views of Provincetown and the surrounding area. Hang around until sunset and catch the famous Cape Cod sunset from Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown.

When visiting Cape Cod be prepared to eat your share of seafood-the options are endless! You can expect to find oysters, scallops, clams, mussels, and lobster. If you aren’t a seafood person don’t worry! You will find a great selection of international foods, including Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Italian.

Learn more: Provincetown With Kids: 11 Must Do’s

Shared by: Melissa – Navigation Junkie

You will also want to check out all the awesome Cape Cod towns .

More on Massachusetts:

4 Best Amusement Parks in Massachusetts To Visit

One of my favorite places in the Hudson Valley is Hyde Park, the National Historic Site that encompasses Franklin Roosevelt’s childhood home, his presidential library , historic Top Cottage and Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill estate. There are also gardens and enough property for a good long walk. You can’t see the whole estate in one day, especially with kids. So, I recommend you start with the library.

FDR was the first president to establish a presidential library and he did so on the estate while he was still in office. The public portion of the library is a nicely done, kid-friendly museum. You can sit at a model 1930s kitchen with a radio playing his fireside chats or follow the arc of WWII on interactive maps.

The highlights for me are his oval office desk cluttered with knick-knacks and the car he had adapted for his polio. Eleanor gets her own wing, where you can see her manual typewriter and letters from people across the country who wrote to ask for her help and her personal advice. My favorite place is Top Cottage, FDR’s hideaway on the estate. He hosted a barbecue for the King and Queen of England here and sat on the porch with several world leaders including Winston Churchill.

You can only see the three houses by ranger tour and a highly recommend taking this one because the history and anecdotes make this little stone house fascinating. Eleanor led a long public life after Franklin died and you’ll learn a lot about her interests and accomplishments at Val-Kill. In the family home you learn about Franklin’s boyhood, entry into politics and his polio.

Kids who know something about 20th century history will get the most out of a visit, but there’s enough to engage younger school-age children. The town of Pougheepsie, six miles south has restaurants, but on a nice day I recommend bringing a picnic or buying sandwiches at café and eating outside on the grounds.

Shared by: Eileen P. Gunn – Families Go Travel

New York City

If you’re planning an epic road trip through the United States, you absolutely need to stop in New York City. Phenomenal restaurants, world-class museums and architecture, stunning entertainment, beautiful parks, and more await you in the City that Never Sleeps.

New York City was first established in 1624, when the island of Manhattan was purchased from the native peoples who inhabited the land by the Dutch for a mere $24. As the Dutch, and then English, settlements grew and developed, it served as an important place during the American Revolution, and became the newly born United State’s first national capital. Manhattan was incorporated with the other four boroughs–Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island–in 1898 to form the full New York City.

The City is home to tons of awesome museums, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of Natural History, as well as Broadway theatre. Make sure you catch a performance in the Theatre District, which includes many of the theaters in the famous Times Square.

There are so many free things to do in New York City , in addition to paid activities. Wander through any of the City’s parks, walk the High Line and explore the newly developed Hudson Yards, or visit the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. You can even head to the beach, all without leaving the five boroughs. Even just simply walking through the many different neighborhoods will give you incredible insight into the diverse, mesmerizing experience that is New York City.

Shared by Lyndsay Crescenti – The Purposely Lost

More On New York

If you plan to head to New York check out this awesome New York to Maine road trip too! And if you want to go with kids check out our tips on New York City With Kids . If you are looking for a romantic getaway check out these romantic hotels in New York State !

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

One of the best road trip stops in America is the northeastern city of Philadelphia. The city is full of fascinating history, world class museums and the delicious Philadelphia food scene.

There are so many worthwhile activities to enjoy in Philadelphia, like touring the historical buildings in Old City. Visitors love to explore Independence Hall, the site where Americans signed the Declaration of Independence and debated and signed the American Constitution. It’s steps away from other historical attractions like the Liberty Bell and President’s Mansion. Nearby you can also visit museums like the Constitution Center and The Museum of the American Revolution.

The Franklin Institute of Science is another favorite museum, especially for visitors with children. Still, the most famous museum in the city is probably The Philadelphia Museum of Art and its famous steps from the movie Rocky.

Philadelphia is also a foodie destination with famous local foods like the cheesesteak, soft pretzel and water ice. These treats alone are worth the stop in the city of Philadelphia. One of the best destinations to try these favorites is Philadelphia’s famous food hall, Reading Terminal Market. There you can visit rows of open air food stands and enjoy them in the central dining area.

In the warm weather, visitors can enjoy the food at Spruce Street Harbor Park, a recreational area built on the bank of the Delaware River. It hosts entertainment, food trucks and is one of the most popular places to try the local cuisine and relax along the waterfront. No matter when you visit Philadelphia, it’s a must-stop destination with so much to explore.

Shared by: Derek and Mike – Robe Trotting

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park is worth a stop on any road trip across the US. There are beautiful, endless views on the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley to admire. Stop for the many waterfalls, the hiking opportunities, both short and longer. The Skyline Drive is easy to include in your trip through the US. Stop to see all the animals in Shenandoah, like the butterflies and maybe a brown beer. When making your trip in the Fall, Shenandoah is perfect for seeing the fall foliage.

When going to Shenandoah National Park the top thing to do is driving the Skyline Drive, it’s 105 miles and takes you along all the viewpoints. The views are so mesmerizing, you’ll want to stop at every viewpoint there is. The viewpoints are also the starting points for the hikes in the park, another top thing to do in Shenandoah.

There’s over 500 miles of marked trails. 20 of the hikes are to the waterfalls in the park. Not to be missed is the Stony ManNature Trail. A 1.6 mile hike to the highest point in the park, the Stony Man’s Summit. The most popular hike is the hike to Old Rag Mountain, it’s however a hike that will take a day and is not easy.

Come also for night sky watching and stargazing, which is a thing you have to see in the park. The Big Meadows Area and The Amphitheater in the Skyland area are perfect for this.

Shared by Cosette – KarsTravels

You may also want to check out these great off the beaten track destinations in the US !

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia is definitely a must-stop place on a USA road trip. It’s the world’s largest living history museum as well as being the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780. Thanks to the generosity of those who are committed to preserving American history, you can explore the restored and reconstructed historic center of Colonial Williamsburg.

Your Colonial Williamsburg ticket grants you entrance to important and historic buildings like the Governor’s mansion and homes of other prominent residents of the town, mostly by guided tour. The excellent guides will not only discuss important features of the buildings, but the background of those who lived there providing important historical and cultural context. In addition, the historic center is full of trade shops where you can talk to historical interpreters about paper making, book binding, ironwork, wig making, sites important to the everyday economy and culture of the town.

Special programs like evening ghost tours, historical re-enactments, and concerts also give visitors a glimpse of what life might have been like there in the 18th century. When considering where to eat at Colonial Williamsburg , plan to treat yourself to at least one dinner at one of the historical taverns like Christiana Campbell’s. You’ll enjoy a great meal surrounded by history.

Shared by: Darcy Vierow – Plan, Ready, Go

Other fun stops in Virginia:

Things To Do In Charlottesville VA

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston in South Carolina is a must-stop on any US cross country road trip! Why you may ask?

Well, mostly because Charleston is a super cute and beautiful town where road trippers can easily entertain themselves for a day or two.

A Charleston walking tour is a great way to see some of the city’s highlights such as the pineapple fountain, Charleston harbor, the city market, and of course the rainbow houses. These colorful houses make Charleston a very picturesque place to visit. Besides some sightseeing, you can also explore one of the many beaches around Charleston (if the weather permits).

South Carolina may not be most famous for the beaches, but let Charleston try and prove otherwise. Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, or Isle of Palms Country Park are three beaches that are worth checking out!

After a full day at the beach, you can eat your heart out at one of the many restaurants in Charleston. Some of the all-time favorite restaurants include The Darling Oyster Bar at King Street and The Macintosh a little bit further down the same street.

The last reason why Charleston is an awesome stop for a road trip is because of the great number of delicious breweries that are located there. Head over to Charleston Distilling CO, Highwire Distilling, Palmetto Brewing or one of the many other breweries and find out for yourself what makes Charleston so amazing!

Shared by: Lara – The Best Travel Gifts

Savannah Georgia

Be careful adding Savannah as a stop on your cross-country road trip; you might not want to leave once you’ve seen it! People from all over the country visit Savannah to get a peek at its charming squares and picturesque streets – and to sample all of the delicious Southern-style cooking.

First, plan to walk as much as possible! The city looks prettiest on foot where you can appreciate its beautiful details. Begin at River Street and watch the ships sailing into port while sampling some yummy pralines at River Street Sweets, then head to City Market for live entertainment, art, and a giant slice of pizza at Vinnie Van Go Go’s. Afterwards, do some shopping along Broughton Street, and then head deeper into the Historic District to visit the squares and stroll along Jones Street. It’s known as one of the prettiest streets in America. Make sure you stop by Forsyth Park to see the famous fountain!

If you’re in the mood for a fancy dinner, try The Olde Pink House. It’s a classic in Savannah and offers fine dining inside a beautiful historic (and reportedly haunted!) mansion. Prefer something more casual? Treylor Park is always a good bet. Finally, wind down your evening with a ghost tour — since Savannah is known as one of the most haunted cities in the US.

Can’t-miss sights include the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Bonaventure Cemetery, and a tour of the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters or Pin Point Heritage Museum.

Shared by: Erin Clarkson – Savannah First Timer

Universal Studios, Florida

A Cross Country US road trip won’t be complete without a stop to Orlando, Florida. Of course you could go to Disney World and if you have never been you should at least make time for Magic Kingdom . But don’t spend all your time there! Instead be sure to head over to Universal Studios .

Not sure where to go? Check out this post: Should You Choose Disney World Or Universal. 

Our kids much prefer Universal Studios and the kind of rides they have here – with their favorites being the Harry Potter rides. And of course you can’t beat visiting Harry Potter world in Universal. It is a truly special places especially if you have read the books and watched the movies.

Make sure to try all the different kinds of butter beer – hot, cold, ice cream they have a lot of options!

Once you are done with Universal Studios you will want to head to Volcano Bay ! This is our favorite waterpark in all of the US. You are in the middle of busy Orlando but when you are there you feel like you are on a tropical island filled with fun water rides and an awesome wave pool with a volcano.

There are so many fun activities to do in Orlando!

Between Orlando and the Florida Keys you can make a stop at the gorgeous Marco Island! Check out this post with a great list of things to do in Marco Island .

Florida Keys, Florida

If you are looking for the most tropical place in all of the US then you will want to make the trek down to the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys remain one of our favorite destinations in the US after traveling full time in an RV for over 6 years around the US. We love the tropical feel, the beautiful water and all of the fun things that you can do while you are there.

Most people think of the Florida Keys and only picture Key West. Yes Key West is amazing but there are so many really cool things to do all up and down the Keys. The Keys stretch over 100 miles so plenty of other places to stop and things to do.

We love the middle keys and the fact it is a lot more slower paced and less busy than Key West. Rent a Pontoon, go to the turtle hospital , animal encounters. and more! While on your cross country road trip be sure to set time aside for a Florida Keys road trip . It would also be a great place to try car camping – since the weather is usually so nice.

If getting outside with your family is high on your list be sure to check out these awesome outdoorsy vacations with kids!

Destin, Florida

Another of our top destinations in the US is Destin, Florida ! You can’t beat the white sand beaches and gorgeous aquamarine colored water. We love coming here for a beach break to just kick back relax and hang out on the beach.

That being said we also love all of the fun activities that you can do from fishing to renting a pontoon to Jet Skiing. There are so many options for amazing family fun while you are in Destin, Florida.

We really enjoy camping at Grayton Beach when we are there and visiting the Surf Hut restaurant that is located right on the beach. And you want to be sure you don’t miss the beautiful sunset from the beach out over the ocean.

Northern Georgia

Every US road trip should include the North Georgia Mountains . Take the hike to Springer Mountain in Dahlonega, where the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail begins. Ride an open-air car on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway or take a hike on Blue Ridge’s swinging bridge- both letting you adventure over the Toccoa River. Visit the Alpine town of Helen, Georgia known for the Bavarian Village, delicious German food and festivals galore.

In Blairsville, take the short walk to Brasstown Bald for sensational 36-degree views at Georgia’s tallest point. Want more views? Add a stop at Bell Mountain in Hiawassee for a birds-eye view of Lake Chatuge. Ellijay is home to apple picking, but if you miss an early Fall visit then enjoy their wine trail instead. Finally, the Northeast mountains near Clayton and Rabun County are known for their waterfalls, magnificent trails, and charming small towns.

Shared by: Lesli Peterson – 365 Atlanta Traveler

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville , Kentucky is one of the most fun cities to visit in the entire United States. But it is especially a dream come true for sports lovers. Start by learning about legendary boxer and Louisville native Muhammad Ali at the Muhammad Ali Center. Next, baseball fans will love visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory to see how Major League Baseball’s favorite bat is manufactured.

But the most famous sports-related landmark in Louisville is Churchill Downs. This hallowed spot is where the most famous horse race in the world, the Kentucky Derby, is run every year. Even when the race isn’t on, you can visit the Kentucky Derby Museum.

But Louisville isn’t just for sports fans. Art lovers will adore the amazing collection at the Speed Art Museum. Bourbon fans will want to learn about how the famous American spirit is made at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Or for a more low-key activity, wander around the Old Louisville neighborhood and admire the Victorian homes. You might even spot Louisville’s famous Witches’ Tree in this area.

Louisville is famous for several delicious and decadent foods. The most famous is probably the Hot Brown sandwich served at the Brown Hotel. It’s an indulgent warm, open-faced turkey sandwich slathered with bacon and rich Mornay sauce. And don’t miss the chance to try a yummy slice of chocolate and walnut Derby pie when you visit the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs.

Shared by: Stella Jane – Around the World in 24 Hours

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

While taking a trip across the US, Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a place you must visit. Situated on Lake Michigan’s western shore, it is famous for its breweries and cheese. Even if there’s no other reason left to visit the city, you should stop here for the beer. If you are a beer fan, Milwaukee will not disappoint you. The city has beer stores on every third step. One of the reasons why tourists come and stop at this place to buy and taste the breweries.

It is great for a family vacation as there are a lot of things you can do. Start your trip by treating your taste buds to the city’s famous dishes. Milwaukee is famous for its beer, no doubt, but you will find a lot of eateries around the corners of the city’s street. There are vegetarian, vegan-friendly, as well as non-vegetarian restaurants. One of your must-visit stops should be Centro Cafe that offers rustic Italian food.

After filling your stomach, there are places you must visit. Visit the Public Museum which is the home to world history. Explore some amazing scientific innovations and collections from zoology to photography. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum to witness one-of-a-kind objects including the very first Harley-Davidson bike.

The city has a lot more to offer from its history to great food. If you have a pet as your company, find the best pet-friendly cabins in Wisconsin and enjoy the sites with your furry friend.

Shared by: Paulina – Paulina On The Road

Black Hills, South Dakota

Any cross-country U.S. road trip should include a stop in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In addition to over 8000 square miles of natural beauty, these hills host some of our nation’s most iconic monuments and parks.

Located right off of interstate 90, the Black Hills are easily accessible. Most people know this area because of Mount Rushmore, which is a must-see, but there is much more to see and do here. Half an hour away from Mount Rushmore is the Crazy Horse Memorial. This monument, also carved into the mountains, is still in progress and it’s awesome to watch the work being done. There is a Native American museum at the memorial and they often hold live performances.

Just south of Mount Rushmore is Custer State Park. There’s camping, hiking, kayaking and more at this sprawling park. Travelers who are short on time can take one of the scenic drives to see giant herds of buffalo and adorable prairie dog towns.

On the north end of the Black Hills lies Spearfish Canyon. The winding road that runs along the river reveals lush canyon walls. Bring a picnic, take a hike to one of the many waterfalls and just enjoy the natural wonder.

Lastly, a visit to the Black Hills wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the historic town of Deadwood. Step back in time while you lounge at a saloon, take an historic home tour or visit the gravesites of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane!

Shared by: Julie Espinosa – Family Travel Lifestyle

Another great location in South Dakota is Wind Cave National Park .

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park is a must-see; this huge US National Park is home to some of the most thrilling natural sights in the country! It is so large that it covers three different states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (which houses the bulk of the park). First time visitors are often surprised to learn that it can take hours to drive just within the park between the distance, crowds, and bison traffic jams so it’s important to have mapped out the highlights you’re planning to hit.

While you’re driving, be sure to keep an eye out along the roads for wildlife. Often called the “serengeti of the west”, Lamar Valley is famous for its wolves, bison, coyotes, and grizzly bears. If there is a crowd of cars pulled over, it’s a good sign to join them and ask what’s been spotted.

Old Faithful is the most famous geyser among the over 10,000 thermal features within the park, stop by for one of the predicted eruptions and then browse the dedicated visitor center nearby to learn more about this geological wonder. The photogenic Grand Prismatic Spring is also nearby, where visitors can walk on a boardwalk within inches of the thermal pool’s vivid hues.

Visitors also can’t miss the roaring Yellowstone Falls from one of the famous overlooks, as the most stunning waterfall inside the park. Wrap up your days in one of the gateway cities that have plenty of delicious restaurants, ice cream shops, and spots to unwind after the natural thrills!

Read more Yellowstone National Park Tips here!

Shared by: Stephanie – Explore More Clean Less

Bozeman, Montana

Beautiful Bozeman is one of the jewels of Montana; it balances both powerful and sprawling nature with a dynamic city center and cultural institutions. This dichotomy makes it well worth a stop on any road trip going through Montana.

Bozeman is situated in the Gallatin Valley and framed by the peaks of the Absaroka, Bridger, Madison, and Gallatin mountain ranges. The ski runs of two of Montana’s best ski resorts, Bridger Bowl and Big Sky Resort, are within easy driving distance. The natural surroundings aren’t just prone to world-class skiing; you’ll also find excellent hiking at Hyalite Canyon Recreation Area and kayaking and rafting adventures waiting to be had along the Madison and Gallatin Rivers.

Moving closer to the center of the city, you’ll find downtown Bozeman as well as Montana State University. The latter helps run the esteemed Museum of the Rockies, which is a museum that can’t be missed while in Bozeman. It is easily one of the top things to do in Bozeman thanks to its incredible collection of dinosaur bones, many of which were found right in Montana. After a day exploring the museums or having adventures in the wild land surrounding Bozeman, head downtown for a pint at one of Bozeman’s excellent breweries or to enjoy some farm to table cuisine.

Shared by: Gina – Travel Montana Now

Glacier National Park

You can’t have a list of places to visit in the US without having Glacier National Park ! This place is unbelievably beautiful. From the glacial lakes to the mountains at every turn you are awe-struck by the beauty.

There are a few must do things like visiting Lake McDonald and driving the Going To The Sun Road. But some of our favorites are more of the off the beaten path things. Like visiting Polebridge Mercantile or the Many Glacier section of the park.

Our favorite hikes in Glacier are Grinnell Glacier where we say ice bergs floating in the lake at the top and Avalanche Lake with its mountain lake and greenery surrounding it.  Glacier is a place that is best to visit in late July, August or early September. This time of year gives you the best chance to really see everything it has to offer.

The Going To The Sun Road doesn’t even open until mid July sometimes and you want to do that when you are here. If you are questioning making the drive this far north don’t. Just do it! You will be glad you did!

Check out our post on Unique Montana Airbnbs you will want to stay in on your trip.

Mount Rainier, Washington

One of the best places to stop during a road trip through Washington State is Mount Rainier, National Park. This park has mountains galore, lakes, waterfalls, and old grove trees. It is a beautiful park with so much to see.

One of the best things to do is to stop by the Paradise visitor center to do the skyline trail. Even if you are not a hiker, you need to experience this area. Mount Rainier looks stunning, and there is a waterfall called Marymere Falls. The hike is moderate and has fantastic views throughout. If the weather is iffy, Comet Falls hike is a great place to experience a gargantuan waterfall. It is one of the best waterfalls in Washington State and is worth the 3.8-mile trek.

There are also multiple fire lookouts in Mount Rainier National Park . Fremont lookout is probably the most popular lookout, followed by Tolmie Peak. You have to hike to get to either of the lookouts, but the effort is well worth it. Many people do these hike for sunset and are sometimes rewarded with a stunning cloud inversion. No matter what you do at this national park, you will fall in love with its natural beauty.

Shared by: Michelle – The Wandering Queen

Oregon Coast

The Oregon coast is a magical and unique place. There is so much lush green in Oregon. With the green contrasting with the ocean cliffs and water it is a sight to see.

There are jet boat rides to take and sand dunes to 4 wheel on. Plus hours of tide pooling and amazing hiking. Oregon really is a nature lovers paradise. If possible make multiple stops along the coast. And don’t miss Cannon beach and Astoria – where they filmed Goonies.

The Oregon coast is a unique place and definitely somewhere that has you thinking waterfalls, lush green forests and fairies. If fairies exist they are in Oregon!

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Lake Tahoe is a great place to visit all year round. Whether you are heading there in the winter for skiing or you want to spend the summer playing water sports and hiking – Lake Tahoe has something for everyone.

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake and it straddles both California and Nevada. It sits in a basin at over 6,000 feet surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. The views around the lake are stunning.

One of the best things to do around Lake Tahoe is to go hiking. If you are looking for a short, scenic hike why not try the Vikingsholm Trail. This trail is only 3.2 miles long and ends in Emerald Bay. From the start you have amazing views of Emerald Bay the whole way down. Just remember you have to get back up again!

In the summer, you can take a scenic gondola ride up to the Heavenly Mountain for epic views. The gondola ride is 2.4 miles long to the Observation Deck where you can have panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. You can also check out the cafe there.

Lastly, why not take a scenic drive around the lake. It takes about an hour to drive from North Lake Tahoe to South Lake Tahoe. You will notice quite a difference in the North where it is more serene and the South which is more popular. Either way the scenery is gorgeous and you can see the Sugar Pines and White Firs.

Shared by: Nicole – American SW Obsessed  

Another fun place to visit in Nevada is the Great Basin National Park. 

San Francisco, California

It’s not a true road trip around the United States if you don’t stop in San Francisco. Is it any wonder this stunning and unique city has been mentioned in so many song lyrics?

For starters, you need to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. There’s some excellent vantage points at either end to stop and take a photo, with one of my favorites being the dog-friendly Baker Beach. The beach is also perfect for taking in a west coast sunset.

Another top attraction to visit in San Francisco is the prison island of Alcatraz, accessible on a ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf. (Don’t forget to book well in advance!) While you’re at Fisherman’s Wharf, stop by Pier 39 to gaze at the resident sea lions. Also nearby is the famously crooked Lombard Street, with its eight hairpin turns. Naturally the street is one-way only; drive down the street from the upper end.

While you’re in San Francisco, don’t also miss visiting Haight-Ashbury, the hippie heart of the city and home to an eclectic collection of boutiques. Or else head to the Mission District for some affordable tacos and to check out its plentiful street art. Balmy Alley is lined with murals, many reflecting the Latino links of the district.

And for a final classic San Fran experience, leave your car behind for a ride on the old-school cable cars!

Learn more: Dog-Friendly Things To Do In San Francisco

Shared by: Shandos Cleaver – Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel

Yosemite National Park, California

On a cross-country trip across the U.S., there will be several national parks vying for attention. One absolute must-visit is Yosemite National Park, which is in my opinion the most beautiful national park in California!

While you’re there, be sure to indulge in plenty of hiking: that is why you come to Yosemite, after all! If you are traveling with kids or people who want easier trails, there are several easy hikes in Yosemite that are worth taking, but two top ones are the Lower Yosemite Falls loop and the Cooks Meadow loop. For more advanced hikers, hiking to Taft Point is absolutely worth it as well as Upper Yosemite Falls.

You should also drive around Yosemite and see several of the best views in Yosemite from easy vantage points that require little walking or hiking. A few favorites are the view from Tunnel View, Washburn Point, The Three Brothers, and Olmsted Point.

Also, don’t miss Mariposa Grove and the beautiful giant sequoias which define this area, which was one of the first protected areas in Yosemite. There are both easy and moderate hikes in this area surrounded by beautiful towering redwoods, an absolute must-do!

Whatever adventure you choose for your Yosemite trip and however long you choose to stay, it won’t feel like enough, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself returning to Yosemite time and again!

Shared by: Allison Green – California Crossroads

Death Valley, California

If you are looking for fun places to stop on a US road trip, consider Death Valley National Park in California! The largest national park in the contiguous US, Death Valley holds the record for the highest temperature recorded on earth.

The desert views at Death Valley are majestic, and they are varied as well. So if you go expecting nothing but sand, prepare to be awestruck by colorful canyons, vast white salt flats, and even snow covered mountains at the fringes of the valley.

Drive up to Dante’s View to look out over the valley. On a clear day you may be able to see Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, as well as Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.

If you enjoy local history, the park has old mine sites and charcoal kilns you can visit. At Harmony Borax Works, you can even take a photo of a double wagon used in the days of 20-mule teams! There are lots of hiking trails in the park: the Mosaic Canyon hike is one of the most popular hikes in Death Valley.

Up in the north of the park, visit the Ubehebe Crater, a Maar volcano. Or zip out of the park a short distance to view the ruins at Rhyolite, a Gold Rush town.

There are three hotels inside Death Valley National Park, as well as a number of campgrounds. Each hotel has an onsite restaurant.

Visit Death Valley National Park in the cooler months of the year, especially if you want to hike!

Shared by: Dhara – Roadtripping California

Santa Barbara, California

Located along California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara is a perfect destination year-round.

What makes it a great place to visit is the combination of unique cultural landmarks and great outdoor opportunities that could be explored year-round thanks to California’s mild climate.

Early morning, head to Old Mission Santa Barbara to get a lesson in the area’s history and later take a walk through El Presidio – a former military settlement that was built by the early Spanish settlers to protect their military outpost.

El Presidio is home to El Cuartel, one of the oldest buildings in the state of California and the oldest building in the city of Santa Barbara. It also has a distinction of being the last building that was built by the Spanish in the New World.

After touring the city’s historic landmarks, explore Santa Barbara’s beaches where you can surf, rent a kayak or if you don’t want to get into the water, just ride a bike along the coast at your own leisure.

Downtown Santa Barbara is walkable and boasts many outdoor venues. One of the main hallmarks of the area is Paseo Nuevo, an outdoor mall built in the Spanish colonial style with plenty of stores and restaurants where you can grab a take-out and quickly head toward the beach.

After you finish shopping and dining, check out Santa Barbara Botanic Garden located against the backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains or soak in the views of the Pacific Ocean from the Stearns Wharf in the harbor of Santa Barbara – the oldest working wharf in California!

Learn more: Incredible Things To Do In Santa Barbara

Shared by: Daria Bachmann – The Discovery Nut

Joshua Tree National Park, California

No trip across the US can exclude California and its many natural wonders. There’s no shortage of beautiful places in the state, but there’s no better way to experience the California desert than by visiting Joshua Tree National Park.

Located less than three hours east of Los Angeles, the desert landscape in this national park is dotted with stunning, out of this world Joshua Trees, for which the park is named after. These “trees” stand tall and proud, with spiky arms that twist and turn upwards and outwards.

The park is beautiful and offers plenty to do and see, even if you only have one day to spend here. If you’re pressed for time, drive the main park road and stop at the Cholla Cactus Garden for a pleasant stroll through fuzzy, teddy bear-like cholla cactus.

More into cool desert rocks? Joshua Tree does not disappoint! Large boulders stand tall in the desert landscape, including Arch Rock, a famous boulder shaped like an arch. Skull Rock looks like (you guessed it) a human skull, and is another popular stopping point. A personal favorite is Split Rock, a giant boulder broken perfectly in two (and with less crowds!)

Of course, no trip to Joshua Tree is complete without photographing the famous Joshua Trees themselves. You’ll find them in the northern part of the park, just pull over and start snapping photos!

Joshua Tree is stunning, and makes for a perfect addition to a US road trip!

Shared by: Ale – Sea Salt & Fog 

Ok you are right Hawaii wouldn’t really be considered on a cross country road trip – BUT – hear me out. When you reach the west coast you can usually get air flight to Hawaii a lot cheaper compared to other parts of the US. Plus there are more flights and it is a shorter flight!

For those reasons it may be a location you want to consider! Here are some great posts on Hawaii to help you plan that trip:

Tips For Visiting Hawaii For the First Time

Tips On Visiting Disney Aulani 

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Everyone has heard of the Grand Canyon and with good reason — not only is it one of the seven natural wonders of the world, but it’s a truly awe-inspiring place to see. If it’s not already on your bucket list, it should be!

The best way to see the Grand Canyon is to hike it. Whether you choose a day trip or to hike down to the Colorado River with a stay at Phantom Ranch, it’s all breathtaking. Most of the hikes are considered difficult as the switchbacks to get down to the river are quite steep, though there are some moderate hikes as well that still provide incredible views.

For those not up for the adventure of hiking, you can easily take in the spectacular views wandering along the rim. If you’re feeling daring, the Grand Canyon Skywalk over the canyon offers views to the bottom with a glass skyway that is sure to amaze.

Whether you hike into the canyon or walk along the rim, enjoy how the light changes the colors of the canyon. The shifting sun provides a kaleidoscope of natural colors that seem unreal and it really lights up with the most incredible shades of color throughout the day and into the evening.

This is a popular tourist destination and people come from around the world to see it. The Grand Canyon is a great overnight trip from Phoenix, Arizona , and worth a spot on your bucket list.

Shared by: Sam – My Flying Leap

Northern Arizona

The dramatic desert landscapes of Northern Arizona have to be seen to be believed! Top stops on a US road trip through the Southwest include Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Page , Arizona.

Sedona is a great first introduction to the red rocks of the desert. Take the popular Cathedral Rock trail, Devil’s Bridge trail, Little Horse trail, and visit Slide Rock State Park to slide down the slippery rocks, which become a popular slide in the summer! While there are numerous luxurious spa resorts in Sedona, there are plenty of incredible Airbnb’s with pools and views!

Traveling north, stop in Flagstaff, Arizona and make it your base for exploring the Grand Canyon. Located an hour and 15 minutes away, it’s the closest city. Stay at the Drury Inn & Suites on Northern Arizona University’s campus and make sure you eat at NiMarco’s, Flagstaff’s best pizza place with an incredible pesto pizza!

Lastly, Page, Arizona  is one of the most beautiful parts of the Southwest (a bold claim, I know). Here you’ll see Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Horseshoe Bend is a free part of the Grand Canyon with a river that dramatically wraps around a plateau. The trail is short but it can get extremely hot, so be prepared. Antelope Canyon is a beautiful slot canyon on the Navajo Reservation. You need to book a tour for it, but the views are unbeatable!

Shared by: Alanna Koritzke – Periodic Adventures

Zion National Park, Utah

Nature lovers and outdoor adventurers will not want to miss visiting Zion National Park during a cross-country road trip. Located near Springdale, Utah, Zion National Park is famous for its steep sandstone cliffs soaring up from the canyon floor.

The main thing to do in Zion is go hiking, as there are several scenic trails in the heart of the park ranging from challenging and adventurous full-day hikes, to short and easy nature walks.

Some of the park’s most notable hikes are also the longest and most difficult, including Angels Landing, Observation Point, and the Narrows. More moderate, but equally scenic options include the hike to Canyon Overlook and Watchman Trail. For an easy hike, you can follow along the Virgin River on Pa’rus Trail and the Riverside Walk, or set out to visit Lower Emerald Pool.

Even if hiking is not your thing, you can still enjoy Zion National Park by going on a sightseeing drive through the park. The park provides shuttle buses to access the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the most popular part of the park), but private vehicles are allowed on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway where you can drive through the sandstone cliffs via a historic tunnel.

Learn more: How to Spend 3 Days in Zion National Park- Hikes, Walks, and Scenic Drives

Shared by: Rhonda Krause – Travel? Yes Please!

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

This is one stop you don’t want to miss when you are road tripping cross country in the United States. Bryce Canyon will simply amaze, inspire and wonder how such a thing exists in the world. Located near the Zion National Park in Utah and in an area where hikes and exploration are at an abundance.

Ever heard of a Hoodoo, this is what Bryce Canyon is made up of and makes you think you have landed on another planet. These columns of rocks are formed by steam erosion and frost weathering and it’s the one place in the world with the largest collection.

It’s really worth checking out some of the view point like Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunrise & Sunset point. While on the other hand you can burn off some energy completing any of the many hikes that vary from 1 mile to 23 miles. A couple you might like to try are “Navajo Loop Trail” & “Fairyland loop Trail”, but plenty of others to suit your time frame and situation.

April to October tends to be the busiest season with temps ranging from 75 to 98 degrees F, this is also when a shuttle service is offered around the park to help you get around. Visiting in winter in January or February could have you enjoying a very different views with snow topping all the peaks.

If anything, don’t forget to catch a sunrise view – you won’t regret it!

Shared by Chris – The Aquarius Traveller  

Park City, Utah

Are you looking for an amazing stop on your cross country road trip that’s full of action and adventure? Then make sure to stop in Park City Utah. Located right off of I-80, and only 20 miles from I-15, Park City is a quick stop on the way to most mountain west destinations, but will still make you feel like you’ve just discovered the perfect mountain town.

All throughout the year, the mountains are the real show stopper, and the opportunities to recreate there seem limitless. If you really want to soak in all that the mountains have to offer, make sure to head hiking in the summer or snowshoeing in the winter. Our favorite trails are Silver Lake for hikers and Gamble Oak on snowshoes. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, you can’t go wrong with the ropes course or bobsled rides at the Olympic Park, or a class at Woodward Action Sports Complex.

If you’re visiting Park City on a winter road trip, you’ll want to plan to stay for a while since there is so much to do. The obvious winter activity of choice in Park City is skiing, so plan on skiing at least 2 days during your winter visit to Park City. After that, the absolute best activities in Park City is dog sledding with Luna Lobos, and you’ll also want to see if you can fit in a snowmobiling trip into the Uintah mountains, to wrap up the perfect trip to Park City.

Learn more: Best Utah Ski Resorts For Kids

Shared by Jessica Averett – Skiing Kids

Summit County, Colorado

If you’re looking for a place where you can pack a lot of Colorado mountain adventure into one place, then you absolutely need to plan a stop in Summit County Colorado. Luckily, I-70 runs right through it, so you won’t even have to go out of your way to see this road trip stop. Plan on staying for a few days, and if you want to be centrally located and not pay resort prices, plan on staying in Silverthorne or Frisco.

In the summer, hiking and mountain biking shine here. If you’re in good shape, and have adjusted to the altitude, be brave and go out and hike a 14er (Colorado term for a mountain over 14,000 ft). You can hike both Greys and Torreys peaks in only a 9 mile trek, so start getting in shape now so you can knock this off your bucket list (your legs will thank you for training in advance).

If you are road tripping in the winter, Summit County is a winter paradise. With 4 ski resorts within a 15 minute radius, skiing in Colorado is a must do. If you want a big resort feel, head to Breckenridge, but if you want a smaller resort that has incredible terrain, Arapahoe Basin is the place to ski and our personal favorite Colorado ski resort for skiing with kids. At the end of a long day of skiing, make sure to head into Dillon to visit the Colorado Ice Castles . These ice structures are incredibly amazing, so make sure to add this to your Summit County winter bucket list.

Shared by: Jessica Averett – Bring The Kids

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is a perfect stop on any cross country road trip. Situated about halfway from either coast, this vibrant and fun city in the central plains is a flourishing metropolitan area that somehow maintains a small town feel.

There are a lot of unique and fun things to do in Oklahoma City . The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is one of the most beautiful yet sombering places in the whole metro. The attraction, which is dedicated to the victims of the 1995 bombing of the federal building, is a must-see when visiting OKC.

Not far from the memorial, in the heart of downtown OKC, Bricktown is a lively commercial district filled with restaurants, arcades, and other fun activities. The district, which is named for its historic red brick buildings, lines a picturesque river walk. Visitors wanting to learn about the history of the area, can take a boat ride through the canal. The boat tour guide walks you through the not-so-distant history, detailing how this area of OKC was transformed from a blighted, crime-ridden neighborhood with boarded up buildings to a bustling entertainment district.

Finally, no stop to Oklahoma City is complete without a brief visit to Wheeler Riverfront Plaza to commemorate your visit with a photo. In this up-and-coming area, you’ll find a large OKC sign that makes for a perfect photo opportunity, as well as a ferris wheel, outdoor games, and food trucks.

Easily accessible from Interstate 40, these fun attractions are not only worth visiting, they are exceptionally convenient for anyone making a cross country trek along the third longest interstate in the United States.

Shared by: Melissa – Parenthood and Passports

The state of Texas is bigger than the entire nation of France, so it’s likely that any cross-country road trip will have you traversing the Lone Star State at some point. Plug in the isolated desert of West Texas into your GPS to see natural, isolated beauty.

There are so many things to do in West Texas that its isolated location, not its lack of offerings, that keep it off the beaten path.

Visit Texas’ only two national parks, Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains, for the best hiking and outdoor trails in the entire state. Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy camping, rock climbing, and rafting down the Rio Grande.

Art enthusiasts, big-city gallery lovers, and foodies will appreciate the quirky things to do in Marfa . This tiny town has become an artists’ enclave with abandoned dancehalls and gas stations being converted into modern art galleries. Restaurants and wine bars worthy of Manhattan line the streets next to farmers’ pickup trucks. On your way out of Marfa, don’t miss the priceless photo opportunity at Prada Marfa, an art exhibit in the middle of nowhere.

Other small towns worth a stop nearby include Alpine, Marathon, and the ghost town Terlingua (which serves as the gateway to Big Bend). Visit big city El Paso before bidding adieu to the Lone Star State and continuing onwards to New Mexico.

Shared by Erin – Sol Salute

There you have it! If you can visit all of these amazing places on your cross country road trip you will have an awesome trip. There are your typical classic American road trips like route 66 from Chicago through St. Louis and west but we thought it would be fun to throw in a different road trip route.

Of course this post doesn’t list all of the places you could visit. So here are a few other you may want to consider:

13 Things to do in St Louis with Kids

Meow Wolf Review: Which Location is Best?

Castles In America

Best Aquariums In The US

Things To Do In Alaska

15 Fun and Exciting Things To Do In San Diego With Kids

18 Fun Things To Do In Big Sur California [Maps Included]

East Coast Road Trip 25+ Stops You Don’t Want to Miss!

15 Absolutely Enjoyable Things To Do In Nashville

Pin This Post:

• Recent Posts

• 18 Amazing Things To Do In Milwaukee With Kids - May 9, 2024
• 15 Summer Bucket List Destinations For Families - May 9, 2024
• Old Faithful Yellowstone – 19 Tips And Things To Do - May 8, 2024

DISCLOSURE : This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

• Battle on the Beach
• Battle on the Mountain
• Celebrity IOU
• Down Home Fab
• Farmhouse Fixer
• Fixer to Fabulous
• Help! I Wrecked My House
• Home Town Takeover
• Lakefront Empire
• Married to Real Estate
• My Lottery Dream Home
• No Demo Reno
• Renovation Aloha
• Rico to the Rescue
• Rock the Block
• Small Town Potential
• Ugliest House in America
• Who's Afraid of a Cheap Old House?
• Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?
• Zillow Gone Wild
• See Full Schedule
• Stream Full Seasons
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Ideas by Room
• Design Styles
• HGTV Magazine
• HGTV Newsletters
• Flowers and Plants
• Landscaping and Hardscaping
• Outdoor Spaces
• Curb Appeal
• Cleaning and Organizing
• Entertaining
• Healthy Home and Garden
• Real Estate
• Home Improvement
• DIY Projects
• HGTV Handmade
• HGTV Smart Home 2024: Enter the Sweepstakes
• Get Outside $5K Giveaway
• Throw It on the Grill $10K Giveaway
• Spring It Forward $5K Giveaway
• HGTV Dream Home 2024
• HGTV Urban Oasis 2023
• Product Reviews
• Gift Guides
• Sales and Deals
• News and Trends
• Newsletters
• TV Schedule

21 Most Popular Road Trips in the US

From On the Road to Thelma and Louise to Easy Rider , is there any endeavor more American than the road trip? On these popular drives, getting there is more than half the fun.

Black Hills of South Dakota

For history, scenery and a distinctly American taste of culture, begin your road trip on I-90 and take exit 131 for the Badlands Scenic Byway. As you travel through the Black Hills, make sure to stop at Wall Drug, Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. And keep your eyes peeled for bison — they're notoriously bad at following traffic rules, as seen here on the road to Wind Cave National Park.

More photos after this Ad

Downeast Maine

You won't be traveling north — at least not according to Mainers — if you head out on Coastal Route 1, also known as the Lobster Trail. Starting in Kittery —where you might drop by Bob's Clam Hut for a bit of sustenance — the road hugs the rocky coastline "down east" through quaint New England fishing villages like Belfast and Rockland.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The 469-mile drive that connects two national parks — Shenandoah in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina — is the most visited road controlled by the US National Parks System. Starting at Front Royal in Virginia, travel along Skyline Drive to Luray Caverns and on south to the Natural Bridge and into North Carolina, where you can stop in Asheville before seeing the attractions of the Great Smoky Mountains.

California's Pacific Coast Highway

You can opt to drive California's longest highway north to south or south to north along the often dramatic Pacific coastline. Either way, it's 653 miles from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County. Key attractions as you wind your way along the coast include Malibu, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Monterey, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Mendocino Headlands. Hardcore road trippers will extend the coastal drive beyond the PCH from San Diego all the way to the Redwood Forest on Route 101 past Mendocino.

Related Pages

• 14 Top Vacation Spots
• America’s Best Fall Foliage Road Trips
• 10 Killer Road Trips to Take From Los Angeles
• 10 Best Car Games for Kids
• 15 Must-Have Items for a Family Road Trip With...
• 41 Things You Need for Your Next Road Trip
• Colorado Road Trips
• The 10 Healthiest Fast Food Meals for a Road Trip
• 21 of Our Favorite Thanksgiving Getaways 2023

• © Roadtrippers
• © Mapbox
• © OpenStreetMap
• Improve this map

RoadsideAmerica.com

Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

Find Attractions and Oddities

Quirky patterns.

Trunkations

Roadside America's Blog

• Muffler Man of Metal (And Neon)
• Conspiracy Thinking and Bathroom Convenience

Field Reports

• Sight of the Week , May 13, 2024: Great American Alligator Museum
• Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum
• Classical Gas Museum
• World's Largest Cat
• Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
• Bloodstained Tomb of Nina Craigmiles
• Roadside Sideshow Expo
• Easter Island Moai in America

More New Reports

Latest Visitor Tips

• Haunted House of Hamburgers , Farmingdale, New York
• John Glenn Mini-Museum , Columbus, Ohio
• Matthews Hotel Monument , Akron, Ohio
• Leif Ericson Bust , Cleveland, Ohio
• Musical Highway , Tijeras, New Mexico
• World's Largest Flip Flop , San Jon, New Mexico
• Kinstone (and a Stonehenge) , Fountain City, Wisconsin
• Antilles Trading Company Pirate Museum and Store , Cocoa, Florida
• Tuppy The Seal Statue , Kissimmee, Florida

More Visitor Tips

May 13, 2024

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ... Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Report an Offbeat Sight

Tell us about a new attraction or updated classic.

• Submit a Tip

Roll the dice .

Roadside Videos

Punk Rock Museum , Las Vegas, NV. Hanging out in the Punk Rock Museum instruments room with Canadian musicians K.J. and Grant.

Ask an Expert: Tim O'Brien on Quirky Maine , Bangor, ME. Q and A about the state with photographer-writer Tim O'Brien, a widely traveled guy with an eye for whimsy.

Truckhenge , Topeka, KS. Outsider artist's quip-filled tour of his sculptures and Stonehenge protest directed at local bureaucrats.

Miscellaneous

• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

Trip Planning Caution : RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead!

Credits, Media/Business Inquiries © Copyright 1996-2024 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors.

16 Best Midwest Road Trips – Scenic Routes You Can’t Miss

Posted on Published: May 25, 2020  - Last updated: February 9, 2024

Ahhh, the Midwest. Vast landscapes with beautiful scenery, the ability to connect with nature and fun attractions. One of the best ways to explore the middle of the USA is with a Midwest road trip!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my  disclosures .

For those of us who live here, we know there’s so much to offer. Our waving grasses with rolling hills make for beautiful, peaceful sunsets. Gorgeous lakes simply begged to be explored.

Our cities each have something unique to offer, and mix that with Midwest charm, it makes for a great place for a road trip!

Midwest road trip ideas

I’ve explored many places across the Midwest, but I haven’t covered it all. So I turned to other experts to help me out to create this list of best Midwest road trips!

Here’s a bunch of Midwest road trip ideas, ranging from 2 days to 10. From outdoorsy to artsy, there’s truly something for everyone in the Midwest!

List of Midwestern States

But before we dive in, let’s clarify the states that cover the Midwest to help you plan your trip:

• Indiana (IN)
• Illinois (IL)
• Missouri (MO)
• Kansas (KS)
• Nebraska (NE)
• South Dakota (SD)
• North Dakota (ND)
• Minnesota (MN)
• Wisconsin (WI)
• Michigan (MI)

Looking for more Midwest adventures? Check out these 16 trails – the best hiking in the Midwest !

Ready to hit the road? Here’s the best Midwest road trips

Black hills, south dakota (a classic).

Recommended trip: 7-10 days

The Black Hills in South Dakota is one of the best places for a road trip in the Midwest.  There is so much to see and do, you could easily spend months here, but for a shorter trip, 7-10 days would be great.

Rapid City is probably the best place to fly in and out of for a Black Hills trip. I would start with a couple of days in Badlands National Park .  Spend the night in Wall, visit Wall Drug and the Badlands from here, then head over to Wind Cave National Park.

Spend a night or 2 in Hot Springs to easily access the park where you can do some hiking, look for bison, and do a cave tour. Make a stop at the Mammoth site while you’re here, too.

Finally, head to Keystone for a few days. This is the perfect base for exploring the Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park area. 

Some of the must-do activities here are visiting Mount Rushmore (of course), driving Iron Mountain Road , driving the Needles Highway, driving the Custer Wildlife Loop Road, hiking Cathedral Spires Trail, and relaxing at Sylvan Lake. If you want a little side trip, you can easily visit Devils Tower in Wyoming, too.  

Recommended by Megan of Red Around the World

Chicago to St. Louis road trip

Recommended trip: 4-6 days

Driving from Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri should be on any midwest road trip. This journey is part of Route 66, one of the original highways in the United States. Route 66 was the primary route for people wishing to move west. Opt to spend one day driving this four and a half-hour drive, or break it up and spend the night in Springfield, Illinois.  

For this journey, start in Chicago. Make sure to spend at least 3 days in Chicago. Stay in the centrally located Downtown/River North area. Do not miss the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum.

Grab some pictures at “The Bean” in Millenium Park. Daredevils can opt for “The Edge” experience at the Skydeck or the Tilt Experience at the John Hancock Building. 

In the morning depart Chicago to drive south towards Springfield, the capital of Illinois . Stop by the capitol building and take a free tour of the building.

Visit Abraham Lincoln’s grave at Oak Ridge Cemetery and then visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Grab a custard at Krekel’s before heading onward to St. Louis, Missouri. 

Plan to spend at least 2 days in St. Louis to explore the main sites. Plan to stay in the Downtown area. Ride to the top of the St. Louis Arch at Gateway Arch National Park.

Take a peek into history at the Old Courthouse, where the Dread Scott decision was made. Make sure to eat some delicious BBQ before departing St. Louis.

Recommended by Francesca of Home Room Travel

You might also like: 101 Road Trip Food Ideas: Best Fun and Healthy Snacks You’ll Love

Indianapolis, IN to Boyne City, MI

Recommended trip: 2-3 days

Ready for a fantastic Midwest road trip? Regardless of the time of year, driving from Indianapolis, Indiana to Boyne City, MI is a perfect way to enjoy a long weekend.

Day one, you’ll want to get up early and head to Lansing, MI. It’s about 3.5 hours from Indy, so if you time it right, be sure to stop for lunch at Soup Spoon Cafe – a flight of soup is a fun way to start your mini-vacation. Next, if you have younger kids, head over to the Impression 5 Science Center – they’ll love the full sensory experiences. 

After the museum, finish your drive north and check-in at Boyne Mountain for the night. Enjoy a full day of exploring Boyne Mountain and nearby Boyne City the next day. If it’s winter, hit the slopes for a little skiing or even tubing.

If it’s summertime, enjoy hiking, ziplining, or swimming. Downtown Boyne City is situated right on Lake Charlevoix and the town is full of delicious restaurants such as Cafe Sante and Red Mesa as well as unique local boutiques.

Leave Boyne Mountain, and head over to Petoskey for your final day. Start it off right with amazing bagels and donuts at Johann’s Bakery and then hurry over to the main Kilwins location for a factory tour. Kilwin’s offers free tours Monday – Friday every half-hour from 10 – 4:30, and each one ends with a decadent chocolate treat.

After the tour, spend a little time poking around downtown Petoskey for lunch and to pick up a few Michigan souvenirs before heading back to Indianapolis.

Recommended by Pam of Our Adventure is Everywhere

You might also like: Road Trip with Kids: 15 Essentials to Pack

Central Iowa road trip

We highly recommend taking a road trip through Central Iowa. You’ll pass through  Des Moines , Iowa’s capital and other smaller towns that have some fun and interesting attractions.

Heading east along I-80, your first stop should be the town of Winterset. It’s famous for having the  actual  bridges of Madison County. Six of the original 19 covered bridges in Madison County have been preserved just outside of town. Winterset is also the birthplace of John Wayne. There is a museum dedicated to him, with lots of personal and movie memorabilia.

Continuing east, you reach Des Moines. We love this artsy city! It’s easy to find street art there and downtown has a 4.4-acre sculpture park that is free to the public. There’s also a really lovely botanical garden in Des Moines.

Of course, visiting the Capitol Building is a must. You can do a free self-guided tour and marvel at the building’s incredible architecture.

The next stop on your road trip should be the town of Grinnell. Home to Grinnell College, they have a small but impressive art museum on campus.

Grinnell is also the home of one of eight “jewel-box” banks built by legendary architect Louis Sullivan. He is considered the father of modern American architecture and mentored Frank Lloyd Wright. The bank is beautiful, with large stained-glass windows and pink Tennessee marble floors.

Recommended by Vicky of Buddy The Traveling Monkey

More road trip destinations in the Midwest

St. louis to kansas city.

Recommended trip: 3-5 days

While many people think of Missouri as a fly-over state, it’s full of not-to-be-missed gems, from St. Louis to Kansas City. So why not see some of them in one fell swoop with a 5-day road trip?

Start in St. Louis, a city bursting with historic architecture and a thriving food and cocktail scene. Spend 2 days here, exploring the City Museum, an adult playground/art installation of interactive salvaged architectural objects. Visit Forest Park, one of the country’s largest urban parks and its world-class museums, all boasting free admission. And, of course, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, consistently ranked one of the best in the nation.

At night, eat your way through the exploding culinary landscape, with one of the many restaurants helmed by James Beard nominated chefs, like Vicia or Lona’s Lil’ Eats.

Once you’ve gotten your fill, drive west to Hermann, a tiny town that has several wineries, breweries, and distilleries nestled in its idyllic grassy hills. For just $20, the Hermann Trolley will shuttle you between these establishments all day, so you can responsibly imbibe in as many craft beverages as you please.

After a day here, finish your trip with 2 days in Kansas City, famous for its jazz scene. To get a taste of it yourself, head to the American Jazz Museum during the day and the Green Lady Lounge at night to see some of the world’s best musicians in action. By the end of the trip, you’ll be ecstatic to have discovered some of the Show Me State’s abundant treasures! 

Recommended by Jessica of Uprooted Traveler

Oh, and if you’re planning to rent a car for one of these Midwest road trip routes, be sure to check out the cheap rates on Discover Cars . I usually save 10-30%, which can really add up! Discover Cars searches the top carriers to find the best deal, at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win! Search cheap rental cars now .

Milwaukee to Wisconsin Dells

One of the best Midwest road trips you can take is exploring the highlights of Wisconsin. The ideal road trip itinerary takes you from Milwaukee to Green Bay and ends in Wisconsin Dells.

Start your road trip in Milwaukee , but you can’t leave without spending at least 2 days in this vibrant city. As a matter of fact, people flood from all over the United States to visit Milwaukee for its food, attractions and history.

Must do’s are the Harley Davidson Museum and the historic Third Ward.  Stay in the iconic Pfister Hotel in downtown.

From here you finally head out to the beautiful North of Wisconsin. Along the Michigan river you’ll cross scenic towns such as Port Washington. When you arrive in Green Bay, get ready to explore this vibrant town located in Door County. 

Some of the best things to do here are visiting the Heritage Hill State Park and watch a game by the legendary Green Bay Packers. Plan at least 1 day to visit the city and all the best things to do in Door County .

From Green Bay you’ll drive to Wisconsin Dells which is famous for its waterparks. However, there is so much more to do here. From shopping to hiking in the Dells or staying overnight in one of the  most romantic cabins in Wisconsin , there will be plenty of options to spend at least 2 days in Wisconsin Dells.

Recommended by Paulina of Paulina on the Road

Southern Minnesota road trip

Eat, relax and have fun in Southern Minnesota! Enjoy a food lovers paradise in Austin, Minnesota. Known for having some of the best Mexican food in the state of Minnesota, Austin is also known for award-winning BBQ sauces, french onion soup and stuffed raspberry french toast.

Want to have a food challenge, then be sure to stop by the Tendermaid. Also, don’t forget to visit the one and only SPAM Museum ! Yes – it’s real and there are nearly 20 restaurants with SPAM on the menu.

Then sit back, relax and enjoy the view in Fairmont, Minnesota . Home to a chain of 5 lakes and 29 parks in city limits, Fairmont provides you that opportunity to become one with nature. Explore lakeside dining, outdoor recreation and an arts and culture scene that is sure to impress .

Next discover how  Germans Have More Fun  in New Ulm! Enjoy a road trip through the MN River Valley National Scenic Byway to the most German city in America.

In New Ulm you can climb 102’ to the top of the ‘Herman the German’ monument. Enjoy a tour/tasting at Schell’s Brewery, MN’s oldest brewery. Shop the unique boutiques in the historic downtown. Hear bells chime at our Glockenspiel. See the 1873 murals in the rathskeller at Turner Hall. 

With so much to do in Southern Minnesota, there’s something for everyone!

Read next: How to Save Money for Travel: Your Vacation Savings Plan

Richmond, IN to Butler County, OH

If you’re looking for a cool trip, head to Indiana and Ohio! Starting off in Richmond, Indiana, visit the Wayne County Historical Museum and the Levi Coffin House. Be sure to hear their amazing story of the Underground Railroad!

Stay at the Starr Loft in Richmond before heading to Ohio. On your way to Ohio’s Lake Erie Islands, take a diversion into Bremen at the Bicycle Museum of America. Then onto the Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Ohio where this historic lighthouse guided sailors safely since 1822.

That night stay at Port Clinton’s Fairfield Inn & Suites. The next morning, head over to Ohio’s Lake Erie Islands. Take Miller Boat Line’s Ferry to Put-in-Bay where you can ferry your car over to the island.

Visit Perry’s Peace Memorial which honors the War of 1812. Check out the view up the 352-foot tower! The memorial honors those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. The next day, on Kellys Island, take a tour in a golf cart to check out natural phenomenons like the Glacial Grooves.

Be sure to hang out for an afternoon in Downtown Sandusky, Ohio . Take a Segway tour, visit Cedar Point Amusement Park, visit the Merry-Go-Round Museum or go parasailing.

Last stop on this road trip is Butler County, Ohio! Enjoy the Donut Trail and tour outdoor art at the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.

Recommended by Cindy of Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl

Related read: Best Midwest Camping Spots

Loess Hills Scenic Byway (Missouri to Iowa)

The Loess Hills Scenic Byway takes its travelers through the most extensive loess (essentially, ancient wind-blown silt deposits) outside a remote region of China! While the byway officially starts at the Iowa state border, the hills themselves run north-south a bit east of the Missouri River, from St. Joseph, Missouri to the Sioux City, Iowa area, passing near Omaha, Nebraska in the middle of the journey.

Each of these cities are destinations in their own right, and combined, they make a road trip full of scenic views and ample entertaining places to stop along the way.  

In St. Joe, Missouri, local museums provide fascinating looks at the history of the Pony Express, the art of Thomas Hart Benton (often depicting loess hills!) and the life of the nefarious Jesse James. Near Mound City, Missouri, visit the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge to see waterfowl and bald eagles.

The Hitchcock Nature Center near Omaha and the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in Sioux City provide more information about the unique geology, flora, and fauna of the Loess Hills along with opportunities for hiking, boating, and more!

For ideal cruising food, try Billy Boy Drive-through just a few miles from the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in Soiux City for a burger and a shake! 

Recommended by Lindsay of Siouxland Families

More ideas: Midwest road trips

Minneapolis to omaha.

Recommended trip: 4-5 days

Get a nice mix of cities and wide open spaces on a Midwest road trip from Minneapolis to Omaha. Starting in Minneapolis, you’ll want to spend 1-2 days visiting the lakes, restaurants and of course, checking out the Mall of America .

Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in downtown and grab an ice cream cone at Izzy’s Ice Cream . The largest mall in North America (Mall of America) is a whole lot more than shopping, too. With an indoor amusement park, it’s the perfect activity for any weather.

Then hit the road! Next stop: Northwestern Iowa. Stop in Estherville, Iowa for a rustic winery , experience an 80-year old swinging bridge or to visit the site of the largest known meteorite seen crashing into North America.

You could stay in Esterville for the night, or head about half an hour west to Lake Okoboji. In Okoboji, Iowa you’ll find shopping, dining and a bunch of water activities , of course! Try the Arnold’s Park Amusement Park or live music after a day on the water.

Next on this Midwest road trip is Sioux City, Iowa. Grab lunch or dinner at the Fourth Street Historic District in downtown Sioux City , catch a show at the Orpheum Theatre or visit Palmer’s Old Tyme Candy Shoppe for a sweet treat before leaving town.

Omaha, Nebraska is the final destination on this Midwest road trip itinerary. You’ll want to spend 1-2 days visiting this fun city. Omaha is known as the silicone prarie, a tech hub that’s family-friendly, yet trendy enough to support a vibrant art scene and plenty of outdoor space.

One of the best things to do in Omaha is to visit the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium , It’s the largest tourist attraction in the state, and regularly competes with the San Diego Zoo as the #1 zoo in the country! It really is that fantastic!

Check out North America’s largest indoor rain forest, feed the giraffes, walk under sharks in the aquarium and watch the animals in the world’s largest indoor desert dome. Tip: be sure to buy your tickets in advance online and arrive early to avoid the crowds as best as you can.

Get a good tour of the city while taking fun photos at the most Instagrammable places in Omaha . Spend some time wandering the Lauritzen Gardens or check out the Fun-Plex Waterpark.

For some mystery check out the Joslyn Castle , and for some history visit the Lewis and Clark Landing. The Old Market in downtown is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat after a long day touring the city.

Recommended by me! Nikki of She Saves She Travels

Duluth to Grand Marais, Minnesota

Recommended trip: 1-2 days

A Minnesota road trip on Highway 61 between Duluth and Grand Marais will offer you amazing views of Lake Superior, numerous options for a delicious bite to eat, and some can’t miss attractions .

As you leave Duluth, choose the 24-mile scenic route to Two Harbors, and take in the view of Lake Superior along the way. In Two Harbors you can walk along the breakwater to the lighthouse, and watch the ore ships coming and going. Enjoy a local brew at Castle Danger Brewery after doing some shopping in Agate Bay.

Just north of Two Harbors is Betty’s Pies and you don’t want to miss stopping here ! This is a full service restaurant, but they also have a walk up counter where you can order their famous pie. The pie flavors change every day, but you definitely want to try the Great Lakes Fruit Pie . This pie is filled with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, and rhubarb and it is one of a kind.

It is 11 miles to the next stop, in Castle Danger, but get your camera ready because you’ll be driving through 2 large tunnels, and the exits of both perfectly frame Lake Superior. 

Castle Danger is home to Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse State Parks. You can learn a little history of the area while touring the lighthouse and take a hike down the hillside to dip your toes in the cool Lake Superior water.

Gooseberry Falls State Park has 5 waterfalls that you can hike to, and a very nice visitor center to buy some souvenirs at.

Along the remaining 72 miles to Grand Marais, take the time to stop at a beach or two to hunt for agates. The beaches along the North Shore are loaded with agates and it’s fun to find a few to bring home.  

The city of Grand Marais has a main street full of local shops that ends on the shore of Lake Superior.  The beach is a popular spot to watch the water, and to eat a delicious donut from World’s Best Donuts or maybe you’ll want a slice of thin crust pizza from Sven and Ole’s.  

Grand Marais is also the start of the Gunflint Trail. This is a 57-mile paved roadway that ends in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near the border of Ontario.

This 110 mile road trip between Duluth and Grand Marais can be made in one day, but why not take your time and really discover the beauty of Lake Superior and the North Shore.

Recommended by Vicki of That Was a First

I-70 Kansas road trip: Abilene to Kansas City

Recommended trip: 2-4 days

Enjoy a wealth of historic, cultural, and recreational activities along Interstate 70 in northern Kansas. Start in Abilene, Kansas with visiting the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home. Head over to pet Ginger, the greeter at the Greyhound Hall of Fame. Enjoy award-winning fried chicken at the Brookville Hotel.

Next stop along I-70 in Kansas is Junction City, home to Milford Lake and the Fishing Capital of Kansas. Tour Fort Riley’s museums, but prepare for security. Eat Munson-raised, dry-aged beef at Munson’s Prime restaurant, a local favorite. A perfect spot to call it a night is by the lake at Acorns Resort.

Then you’ll hit Manhattan, Kansas. For high adventure, fly zip lines at Wildwood Adventure Park. Afterwards, relax and eat and drink at Liquid Art Winery & Estate!

Slide into Topeka, Kansas where you can dive into history and visit the state capitol and the national historic site where the Supreme Court reversed segregation in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka . A great way to end the day is with elegance at the Cyrus Hotel.

As you head east on I-70, you’ll get to Lecompton, Kansas. Learn more about where slavery began to die at Constitution Hall State Historic Site and the Territorial Capitol. Then lighten things back up by grabbing a slice of gourmet pie at Aunt Netter’s Cafe. Delicious!

Next up is Lawrence, Kansas and downtown is the place to be! Experience downtown Lawrence during the day or night. See basketball’s original rules at The Cradle of Basketball. And if you’re looking for a brewery, Free State Brewing Co. is Kansas’ first post-prohibition brewery. Stay at in the heart of Lawrence at The Oread.

The final stop on this Northern Kansas road trip before arriving at Kansas City is Leavenworth, Kansas. Visit Fort Leavenworth, or ride antique carousels at C.W. Parker Carousel Museum. A must-try in Leavenworth is the steak house tenderloin at Metropolitan Steakhouse.

Wrapping up the I-70 Kansas road trip is of course, Kansas City! Enjoy the major leagues: sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park and NASCAR at Kansas Speedway. Eat top-notch barbecue at SLAP’s BBQ. After a great road trip in Kansas, stay in the Chateau Avalon.    

Recommended by Roxie of Roxie on the Road

Midwest road trip: Missouri Route 66

While most people think of a  Route 66  Road Trip as starting in Chicago and ending in Santa Monica, you don’t need to take two weeks and traverse half the country to get in a taste of the Mother Road. Instead, you can pick a portion and explore it in-depth.

Missouri has a great stretch of Route 66 right here in the Midwest. It starts in the northeast crossing over from Illinois into St. Louis and ends at the Oklahoma border after passing through Joplin.

Obviously the most iconic site on Missouri’s portion of Route 66 is the Gateway Arch, which practically welcomes you onto the road. Make sure to tour Meramec Caverns , see the one-room jail in Cuba, and explore the interesting history of Carthage. 

Take advantage of the fun roadside kitsch of the route and get out at as many stops as you can. A real Route 66 road trip means you need to spend a few nights in the state’s retro motels and enjoy some diners and dive bars.

Recommended by Stephanie of Oklahoma Wonders

Driftless Area Scenic Byway (Iowa)

Recommended trip: 1-3 days

Allamakee County is the home to the most scenic byway in the state of Iowa, Driftless Area Scenic Byway. This beautiful scenic byway zigzags its way on hard-surfaced and gravel roads through the high relief, pre-glacial landscape in extreme northeastern Iowa in Allamakee County. 

This byway has been voted most scenic byway in the state of Iowa . It’s 100 miles of amazing! Along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway you will find…

Effigy Mounds National Monument , the 2,526-acre park by the Yellow River has walking trails with modest to extended routes, allowing you to select your route and view a variety of mounds. An accessible boardwalk trail into the wetlands near the visitor center is available for persons of all walking abilities.

Yellow River State Forest was first acquired as a state forest in 1935, the Yellow River State Forest has grown to encompass nearly 9,000 acres of natural beauty.

Great River Road , where you can enjoy 36.2 miles of the Great River Road in Allamakee County. You will discover the best of the Great River Road right here!

Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center , where you’ll see live animals, interpretative displays, 2 viewing decks of the Mississippi River, and a great group educational experience.  Located just south of Lansing.

This Midwest road trip takes your scenic adventure to another level with:

• Wine Tasting – Madigan Winery, Lansing & Empty Nest Winery, Waukon
• Bird Watching
• Beer Tasting – Safe House Saloon in Lansing
• Trout Fishing
• Cheese Curd Tour – WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon
• Shopping – Horsfall’s in Lansing, Paint Creek Gifts in Waterville and City Meat Market inNew Albin

Recommended by Val of Allamakee County

Take these tips with you! Download the free road trip checklist!

Grab your packing essentials for every road trip with kids. Includes the 15 things you don’t want to forget!

I won’t send you spam. I hate spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Triple Nickel Byway (Ohio)

Winding through the southern part of Ohio is the  Triple Nickel  which encompasses parts of State Route 555. If you’ve never been on this scenic, twisting by-way through the hills of Ohio, you need to put it on your bucket list! This is a perfect day trip that takes you from the picturesque town of Zanesville to the history-rich city of Marrietta.  

The Triple Nickel is one of the more challenging roads in Ohio, but you can take in some of the amazing historical sites when you’re in the area. While touring through Morgan County you can see the Big Muskie bucket part of the world’s largest earth-moving machine in Miner’s Memorial Park and Barkhurst Mill Covered Bridge.  

No trip on the Triple Nickel is complete without stopping to eat at the Triple Nickel Diner in Chesterhill. Pro-tip: Make sure to check their website for the hours of operation because they vary with the seasons.  

If you’re looking for a great place to stay while on the route, take a small detour to the  Stockport Mill Inn located in Stockport, Ohio . You’ll be treated to stunning views of the Muskingum River and the operating locks. Dotty, the owner, will treat you like family and feed you amazing comfort foods only found at the Inn.

The Triple Nickel doesn’t disappoint the road tripper looking for a challenge in the Midwest.

Recommended by Brandy of Gleason Family Adventure

Madison to Spring Green, Wisconsin

One of the most exciting small cities in the Midwest is  Madison, Wisconsin . It has a wonderful dining scene and miles of shoreline and bike trails.

A culmination of a college-town and a bustling city, Madison is also home one of America’s most beloved architects: Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright used Madison and its neighborhoods as a canvas, where visitors can see his many designs come to life. Although several of Madison’s Wright-designed houses are private residences, designs like the First Unitarian Meeting Houses and Monona Terrace are must-see spots for any architectural buffs! Both buildings are just a short 10-minute drive away.

If you want to see more of the city’s art scene , visit either the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art or the Chazen Museum of Art! Both museums boast both Wisconsin-based artists, as well as international artists too. Furthermore, admission is free for adults, making this the perfect stop for anyone that loves to travel on a budget. 

While you’re in Madison we also highly recommend grabbing tacos from Matthew Danky and his exciting outpost El Grito Tacqueria.  

From Madison, drive about 40 minutes to the quaint town of New Glarus , Wisconsin. The main attraction here is New Glarus Brewing, one of the most highly regarded breweries by beer snobs across the country so make sure to spend a few hours there. 

New Glarus also has rich Swiss heritage. Explore and find an authentic Swiss bakery or locally made raclette and cheese fondue.

Our last stop is very enjoyable Spring Green, an hour away down winding country roads.  Frank Lloyd Wright spent the better part of his life living and working in Spring Green and maintained a school at Taliesin. Wright’s students designed many unique buildings in and around Spring Green.

Recommended by Nick of Road Goat

16 best Midwest road trips

Well there you have it! I hope you’ve found some inspiration on which route you’ll take on your upcoming Midwest road trip! Midwest states have a lot to offer for any type of road trip you’re looking for!

Comment below on which you’re considering – or which route surprised you most!

You might also like: Best Hiking in the Midwest – 16 Cool Hikes You’ll Love Denver to Moab Road Trip: 16 Scenic Stops You Gotta See to Believe 27 Awesome Things to Do in Sandusky, Ohio You Can’t Miss Perfect Colorado Itinerary: 22 Road Trip Stops You Need to See Miami to Key West Road Trip: 22 Stops Along the Way 26 Best Places to Visit in October in the US

Planning to rent a car for one of these scenic routes? Check out the cheap rental car rates on my favorite site. I save up to 30%, which is awesome!

Find this article helpful? Save it for later or share it on social media!

Saturday 25th of September 2021

Awesome. I'm wanting to take a scenic drive from Kansas to Ohio, off the beaten path. What are your recommendations?

Sunday 26th of September 2021

Where in Kansas and Ohio? I've spent time in Kansas City and St. Louis which may be along the way, but aren't necessarily off the beaten path. Perhaps a bit more southern, I've heard the Mark Twain National Forest and Shawnee National Forest are both gorgeous! Otherwise I've recently spent time in Sandusky Ohio, Put-in-Bay Ohio and the Lake Erie area. I'm sorry, I'm not sure I have a whole lot of suggestions for that specific route since I haven't personally done it. Best of luck on your road trip!

Alice Peace

Wednesday 27th of January 2021

Thank you for this! A road-trip in the States is definitely on the cards in the future.

Yay! How fun, Alice. I'm crossing my fingers it's soon!

Pamela Foester

Tuesday 12th of January 2021

I love exploring the Midwest, thanks for sharing.

You're so welcome, Pamela!

Tuesday 25th of August 2020

You missed a Gem of the Midwest. Part of the Driftless region on NE Iowa you need to check out the town of Decorah and the area around it. River bluffs, water falls, bike trails, 3 award winning breweries, big Scandinavian culture and museum.

Wednesday 26th of August 2020

Great suggestion! I've heard of Decorah but have never been!

Christa Ellis

Tuesday 9th of June 2020

I love that you included the Levi Coffin House. I have a post about it on my blog. Levi Coffin was a distant cousin to me through his grandmother Prudence Beals/Bales.

Friday 12th of June 2020

Oh very cool! What a small world, Christa! My pleasure to feature it. :)

• Plan a Road Trip
• Plan a Flight
• Find an Airport
• Where to Stay
• All Questions

Road trip planner

Starting City

Destination City

Or switch to flying

Planning a road trip?

Get advice from people who have done the same trip.

The Trippy road trip planner automatically calculates the optimal itinerary including stops recommended by Trippy members, favorite restaurants and hotels, local attractions and things to do based on what people who live in the area have suggested, and more.

Once you have a quick trip planned, you can customize every detail, adding or removing stops, or changing what time you leave in the morning or how long you stay at each stop. Then you can save your custom trip and share it with friends and family.

Let us know if you have requests for more features you'd like to see in the trip planner!

• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Exciting Cities
• Food And Drink
• Outdoor Adventures
• Where To Stay
• Skip to right header navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to the Midwest!

15 Fun Midwest Road Trips For Your Bucket List

March 25, 2021 by //  by  Midwest Explored 1 Comment

Looking for fun Midwest Road Trips to explore? Then take a look at this list full of the best Midwest road trips.

I was born and raised in the Midwest and I know there is so much to enjoy about each state.

That’s why I’ve found a unique and fun road trip in the Midwest for each Midwestern state.

On these road trips you’ll drive down the iconic Route 66, sample the best restaurants in Nebraska, admire natural wonders, and explore famous ghost towns.

So here are 15 fun Midwest road trips for your bucket list!

Route 66 Through Illinois For History Lovers

• Bloomington
• Collinsville

You’ll start your Midwest road trip through Illinois’ portion of Route 66 in Chicago.

Make sure to grab a picture of the iconic Route 66 sign in Chicago that marks the start of the famous highway.

From there, you’ll pass through Joliet and head into Bloomington. You’ll want to check out the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum.

Head out of Bloomington towards Litchfield. On the way, you’ll pass through some amazing kitschy road side attractions and unique food stands.

In Litchfield, grab something to eat at the iconic Doc’s Soda Fountain before experiencing the Sky View Drive-in Theater.

You’ll finish your trip in Collinsville where you should consider stopping at the Rabbit Ranch as you end your journey on the iconic Route 66.

Natural Wonders Of Iowa Road Trip

• Dunnings Spring Park
• Effigy Mounds National Monument
• Maquoketa Caves State Park
• Wildcat Den State Park

For your Midwest road trip through Iowa’s natural wonders, you’ll start at Dunning’s Springs Park.

Dunning’s Springs Park is home to one of the best waterfalls in Iowa .

From there, head to Effigy Mounds National Monument. This national monument is home to over 200 effigy mounds created by Native Americans from 20 different Nations.

Next, you’ll make your way to Maquoketa Caves State Park.

Maquoketa Caves State Park is over 300 acres and has the most caves of any Iowa State Park.

Many of them you can walk through and hike out to see.

End your trip at Wildcat Den State Park. It is a beautiful park known for it’s massive rock features.

You can take hikes and admire the ‘Devil’s Punch Bowl’, ‘Fat Man’s Squeeze’, and ‘Steamboat Rock’.

Post-Rock Scenic Byway, Kansas

• Limestone Native American Posts
• Wilson Lake
• The Garden of Eden

The Post Rock Scenic Byway is a stretch of byway in Kansas that is 18 miles long.

It winds through the Smoky Hills and is named for the unique limestone rock posts Native American’s used to build their fences, homes, and other structures.

Along the route, you’ll be able to admire these unique limestone Native American posts. Four of them have had faces carved into them by California artist, Fred Whitman.

One of the main parts of the byway is the area surrounding Wilson Lake.

There are several scenic stops you can take to admire Wilson Lake, or you can get out and explore and hike near the lake.

The scenic byway ends in the town of Lucas, which is home to the famous ‘Garden of Eden’.

The ‘Garden of Eden’ is a National Historic Place that features over 150 folk art statues.

S.P. Dinsmoor was a Civil War veteran who created the folk art statues in the late 1800s.

Dinsmoor and his art made Lucas an artists town and it is now home to several different artist collectives and unique galleries.

It is the perfect stopping point for your road trip in the Midwest.

Ghost Towns Of Missouri For A Spooky Road Trip

• Possum Trot
• Georgia City

For those looking for a spookier adventure, consider a road trip in the Midwest full of Missouri ghost towns.

You’ll start your road trip in Arlington, a once lively town on Route 66. Arlington was established in the 1860s but was abandoned less than 100 years later.

Just south of Arlington is Bloodland. The oddly named town became obsolete in the 1940s, but a few buildings still remain.

From Bloodland you’ll head to the town of Possum Trot. All that remains of the former town is a church and a home that have long stood abandoned.

Finish your trip in Georgia City. The only thing left of this once hopping town is the cemetery. Many of the town’s original residents are burried there.

A drive through the ghost towns of Missouri is sure to make for an interesting Midwest road trip.

The Ohio River Scenic Byway, Indiana

The Ohio River Scenic Byway runs in three states, with 300 miles running through Indiana.

There are three historic towns you’ll pass through that offer charming experiences in each.

Begin your road trip in Vevay, named the 4th Coolest Small Town in America, and for good reason. There you can visit a casino, have a delicious meal, and even go zip-lining.

From Vevay you’ll continue down the scenic byway to the charming town of Madison. You’ll be able to sample locally made cider, go hiking, and enjoy small town charm.

Finish your Ohio River Scenic Byway road trip in the small town of Newburgh.

In Newburgh, walk the Riverwalk, grab a bite to eat, and explore unique shops.

Small Towns Of Minnesota Road Trip

• Taylors Falls

There are so many cute small towns in Minnesota that it makes for the perfect Midwest road trip.

You’ll start your trip in Ely, which is home to one of the best waterfalls in Minnesota , the Kawishiwi Falls.

From there, head to Pipestone, which is home to the Pipestone National Monument. At the National Monument you’ll be able to hike and learn more about Native American history.

After you leave Pipestone, continue on to Winona. Winona is perfect for a romantic getaway if you are a couple that enjoys festivals.

The small town of Winona is known for it’s frequent and unique festivals. So no matter what time of year you visit, you’ll probably get to enjoy one.

End you’re small towns road trip in Taylors Falls.

It’s the perfect place to end your trip because you’ll be able to decompress and enjoy the great outdoors.

Lighthouses Of Michigan Road Trip For Coastal Fun

• Big Red Lighthouse
• Big Sable Point Lighthouse
• Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
• Fort Gratiot Point Light Station

Start your exploration of Michigan’s lighthouses at the famous Big Red Lighthouse in Holland. Holland is great for a weekend getaway in Michigan , so consider spending a little time enjoying the town while you’re there.

From there, travel North to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse.

The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is in Ludington, which is also where you can find one of the best beaches in Michigan .

Next, you’ll stop at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, one of the best lighthouses in Michigan , which is on Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island is another great place to explore, so plan to spend some time to tour both the lighthouse and the nearby area.

End your trip at Michigan’s first lighthouse, the Fort Gratiot Point Light Station.

It first opened in 1825 and is a popular lighthouse for tourist visits, so plan enough time there to get the full experience. The lighthouses of Michigan road trip in the Midwest is a great way to experience Michigan coastal life.

Old Red/Old Ten Scenic Byway, North Dakota

• Assumption Abbey

If you’re looking for Midwest road trips that explore the hidden parts of Midwestern States, then consider traveling down the Old Red/Old Ten Scenic Byway in North Dakota.

The best part about this road trip is that it is mostly full of beautiful scenic views of North Dakota.

As you drive along, you’ll come into the small town of Taylor. Taylor is known for it’s yearly horse festivals.

If you stop by during one of those festivals, you’re in for a real treat.

Next you’ll pass into Richardton, which is home to the beautiful Assumption Abbey.

While you’re there, make sure you take the time to tour this stunning abbey that is seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

As you finish you’re road trip, you’ll find Salem Sue.

Salem Sue is the World’s Largest Holstein Cow fiberglass sculpture. It was built in 1974 using $40,000 in donations from local farmers and residents.

It is a unique way to end your Midwestern travel through scenic North Dakota.

Ohio Waterfalls Midwest Road Trip s

• Mohican State Park
• Brandywine Falls
• Lanterman’s Falls
• Hocking Hills State Park

Most of Ohio’s best waterfalls can be found in state parks, so start your road trip in Mohican State Park.

At Mohican State Park there are two waterfalls you can see. The Big and Little Lyons Falls, both of which flow over deep sandstone gorges.

Next head to Cuyahoga National Park to admire the Brandywine Falls, home to one of the best waterfalls in Ohio .

The falls are a popular spot to visit and cascade down into the river over 65 feet. The hike to view them is fairly easy, so it’s a great stop on any waterfall Midwest road trips.

Continue on to Lanternman’s Falls, which is actually in Youngstown Ohio’s metro park.

Make sure while you’re there you take the time to explore and enjoy the best things to do in Youngstown Ohio .

End your trip at one of my favorite spots, Hocking Hills State Park.

Hocking Hills State Park has some of the best hiking trails in Ohio , and a lot of them lead you to one of the three waterfalls there.

Exploring Ohio’s waterfalls is a great way to see some of the most beautiful spots in my home state.

State Parks of Wisconsin Midwwest Road Trip For Outdoor Adventures

• Peninsula State Park
• Copper Falls State Park
• Pattison State Park
• Devil’s Lake State Park

There are tons of State Parks in Wisconsin, but for this road trip, I have found some of the best ones for you to explore.

Begin your journey at Peninsula State Park. It is the state’s second most popular park and has a mix of challenging and easy hikes, so there is something for everyone.

If you are up for the challenge, hike the 2 mile Eagle Trail to admire breathtaking limestone cliffs.

Continue your trip to Copper Falls State Park.

Copper Falls State Park is home to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Wisconsin , but not the only state park on this trip to have waterfalls.

From Copper Falls, head to Pattinson State Park.

Pattinson State Park is home to Wisconsin’s biggest waterfall, Big Manitou Falls. The hike is fairly easy to view it, so I definitely suggest taking the time to do the hike.

Finish your Midwest road trip in Devil’s Lake State Park.

This State Park is known for its many unique rock formations and this has made it one of Wisconsin’s most popular State Parks.

When you plan this road trip, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore all the State Parks and what they have to offer.

Michigan’s Covered Bridges Trail

• Fallasburg Covered Bridge
• Ada Covered Bridge
• Langley Covered Bridge Historic Site
• Holz-Brucke Bridge

Michigan has its own Covered Bridges Trail and its a great way to explore Michigan. You’ll start your trip in Lowell at the Fallasburg Covered Bridge.

Fallasburg is one of the only four covered bridges in Michigan that is still open to vehicle traffic.

Tourists have been coming to view this 100 foot covered bridge since it was built in 1871.

Right by the Fallasburg bridge is the Ada Covered Bridge.

The Ada Covered Bridge is only open to foot traffic and takes you across the Thornapple River onto Bronson Street in Ada.

From there, you’ll travel to the Langley Covered Bridge, which is the longest wooden covered bridge in Michigan.

End your tour of Michigan’s covered bridges in the cute Michigan small town of Frankenmuth.

Frankenmuth is home to the Holz-Brucke Bridge which was actually built in 1980.

It may be a newer covered bridge, but it is absolutely worth a stop on your Midwest road trip!

Best Restaurants A Midwest Road Trip Through Nebraska For Foodies

• The Chocolate Bar, Grand Island
• The Mixing Bowl, Gering
• Sehnert’s Bakery, McCook
• Shirley’s Diner, Omaha
• UNL Dairy Store, Lincoln

Nebraska is full of amazing restaurants, so start in Grand Island and The Chocolate Bar. The stand out on this bakery’s menu is their Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake, but you’ll love anything you order.

Next head to Gering and sample German classics with a bit of Midwestern flair at The Mixing Bowl.

The Mixing Bowl is open for breakfast and lunch and the locals absolutely love it, so you know it’s going to be good.

After breakfast or lunch at The Mixing Bowl, head to Sehnert’s Bakery in McCook for a delicious pastry, a gourmet sandwich, or a cup of espresso.

For dinner, you can’t beat Shirley’s Diner in Omaha.

Shirley’s is a family owned and operated classic 1950s style diner. You’ll get to enjoy Nebraska favorites to the sounds of good old fashioned Rock N Roll.

End your foodie Midwest road trip at the UNL Dairy Store for a sweet treat.

UNL Dairy Store offers ice cream that is handmade by local university students as well as other sweet dairy treats.

It is a perfect way to end one of the most unique Midwest road trips in Nebraska.

Haunted South Dakota Midwest Road Trip

• Mount Marty College
• Gitchi Manitou
• Scotty Phillip Cemetery
• Historic Fairmont Hotel

South Dakota is home to some well known haunted location, making it the perfect place to have a haunted road trip.

Start your haunted road trip at Mount Marty College.

Mount Marty College has been home to ghost tales ever since the death of a maintenance worker in 1936. Residents in Whitby Hall report apparitions, scratchings, and strange noises.

From there head to Gitchi Manitou for some newer haunting rumors.

Gitchi Manitou is where six Sioux Falls teens were reportedly murdered in the 1970s while camping and now local legend says the teens haunt the area.

Your next stop is the Scotty Philip Cemetery.

Its no surprise that an old cemetery would have rumors of being haunted. The cemetery has a sad story of a father surviving his five children, and now locals believe he haunts the grounds mourning his children.

End your haunted road trip at the famous Historic Fairmont Hotel in Deadwood South Dakota.

Ghost tours are offered daily or if you’re brave, you can spend the night and wait for an opportunity to experience the ghostly happenings yourself.

This will definitely be one of the most interesting Midwest road trips you can take!

Roadsides Attractions Of Illinois For A Kitschy Midwest Road Trip

• Superman Square, Metropolis
• Brook’s Catsup Bottle, Collinsville
• The Gemini Giant, Wilmington
• De Immigrant Windmill, Fulton

Illinois has some great hidden gems in the Midwest , like kitschy roadside attractions, and a lot of them are on the famous Route 66. So you can combine this road trip with my Route 66 one!

Begin your kitschy road trip in Metropolis where you can admire the Superman Square. Metropolis claims to be the home of the iconic super hero, and takes that very seriously.

From there, head to Collinsville where you can view the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, the Brook’s Catsup Bottle.

At one time, it was the water tower for the town, but now it is a fun kitschy roadside attraction.

Next, head to the Launching Pad restaurant in Wilmington.

Outside of the restaurant stands a large Mid Century statue known as the Gemini Giant. Its a really fun spot to grab a bite to eat and a fun selfie!

Finish your kitschy road trip by viewing the De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton.

The De Immigrant Windmill was originally constructed in the Netherlands but now stands proudly in this cute Illinois town.

Natural Wonders of Missouri Road Trip

• Clifty Creek Natural Bridge
• Johnson Shut-ins
• Elephant Rock State Park
• Grand Gulf State Park

Missouri is the perfect state for Midwest road trips that focus on natural wonders, because it has plenty!

I suggest starting your road trip at the Clifty Creek Natural Bridge.

You’ll have to take a 2.5 mile hike, but at the end you’ll get great views of the natural rock bridge.

From there, head to the Johnson Shut-ins.

The Johnson Shut-ins are volcanic rock that are stuck in the East Fork of the Black River. They make for a great way to spend a hot summer day, because you can go swimming in the area.

Continue to Elephant Rock State Park to see it’s namesake, the Elephant Rock.

The rock formation was created with 1.5 billion-year-old granite that you can now climb and admire.

Finish your journey through Missouri’s natural wonders at the Grand Gulf State Park.

Locals refer to Grand Gulf as the “Little Grand Canyon” and was formed by a collapsed cave system. It’s a great way to end your Midwestern travels.

Packing List For Your Midwest Road Trips

If you will be traveling, either by plane or by car to the Midwest, here are some  tips on how to pack lightly.

A  concealed travel pouch  may be one of the most important items you bring along when taking Midwest road trips. It is always important to protect your personal information. Identity thieves are everywhere.

his  unisex RFID blocking concealed travel pouch is  lightweight and comes in several colors. It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind.

You can place it under your hiking clothes next to your body to carry your ID safely.

If you have a pouch already that does not come with the RFID protection, as I do, these  RFID  sleeves are  the perfect solution.

This configuration comes with enough credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your pouch or wallet. 

If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone you will definitely want to consider an  external charging battery . This  Anker high-speed phone charging battery  is  the exact one  I carry with me on all of my trips.

It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone like I have. And wow is it fast!

I like that it holds its charging capabilities for several uses so I do not have to worry about it while out and about, and if I forget to recharge it at night, it will still be good to go the next day.

My daughter gifted me with this  FugeTek selfie stick and tripod   setup for my birthday. I absolutely love it! It is made of lightweight aluminum and so easy to use.

It has Bluetooth connectivity and is a breeze to use for taking selfies when staying in one of the best Airbnbs in Illinois.

Hydration is so important when traveling. You want to remain hydrated throughout your travels to support your immune system which in turn will be stronger to fight off any germs you will encounter during your travels. 

You will want to bring your own  refillable water bottle  with you. 

I never leave home on a trip without my  Bobble filtration bottle .  The 18.5-ounce size is perfect for hiking and it fits nicely in the pocket of a backpack.

When filled with water, it is not too heavy to carry. And the charcoal filter ensures fresh clean water whenever you fill the Bobble.

You can find  filter replacements here. 

Perhaps you are traveling a long distance and packing space is a premium in your suitcase, or in your car.

Then this  set of collapsible silicone foldable water bottles  would work well for you. Would not take up much space at all. 

You will want a  backpack or daypack  with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc.. when hiking This   foldable water-resistant backpack   would be great

It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack.

No matter which of these Midwest road trips you decide to do, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. They all offer a unique and fun way to explore the Midwest.

Have you been on any of these road trips or ones like them? If you haven’t, which one do you want to take first?

I’d love to hear about your Midwestern travels in the comments!

Reader Interactions

[…] Visiting Iowa would certainly make a fun Midwest road trip! […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

32 Best & Fun Things To Do In St. Petersburg (Florida)

By: Author Jerric Chong

Posted on Published: August 25, 2022  - Last updated: October 16, 2023

St. Petersburg, also known as The Sunshine City, is a beautiful city in the Tampa Bay Area.

Known as a retirement destination for wealthy seniors, a funky site of vibrant modern art and culture, and a haven of white beaches and blue waters, there’s little that this populous city can’t do.

The city has even won a Guinness World Record after experiencing 768 consecutive sunshine-filled days from 1967 to 1969!

Visitors to St. Petersburg will be wowed first and foremost by its impressive arts scene.

Trendy art museums and showcases make up many of the local attractions, but so do gorgeous natural attractions, hands-on educational museums, and live entertainment destinations.

All in all, you’re rather spoiled for choice, and there are even more things to enjoy in the city’s immediate vicinity for day trips and short getaways.

Here are the 32 best and fun things to do in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Table of Contents

1. Salvador Dalí Museum

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The Salvador Dalí Museum is home to the world’s biggest collection of the late, great artist’s works outside of the man’s own hometown.

Situated close to the waterfront, the building that houses the museum is a sight to behold.

Huge skylights and wall lights cover the structure’s exterior in bubble-like constructions, which welcome sunlight in through a whopping 1,062 windows of odd geometric shapes.

Throughout the Salvador Dalí Museum, you’ll see more than 2,000 different works.

Each room is uniquely decorated to match the essence of Dali’s works, with waxed mustaches, horses on thin legs, swirling stairs, large lips and noses, and melting clocks enlivening each space with fun surreal energy.

The Salvador Dalí Museum is also the home of seven of the great masterworks of Dali, including The Discovery of America, Eggs on a Plate without the Plate, The Hallucinogenic Toreador, and more.

There are a total of 96 oil paintings, as well as several books, original drawings, sculptures, and prints to peruse.

Other iconoclasts also have works on display here alongside Dali’s, such as M.C. Escher, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.

If you’re seeking free things to do in St. Petersburg, FL, the Salvador Dalí Museum offers hour-long tours of the many works on display, led by knowledgeable guides.

Address: 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

2. Sunken Gardens

Sunshower Shots / Shutterstock

The Sunken Gardens span four acres across St. Pete.

Though it is somewhat small in size, it feels larger than life thanks to its dense verdancy, twisty routes of vegetation, and wide open courtyards.

Over 50,000 tropical plants call the gardens their home, some of which are the oldest of their kind in the country.

The Sunken Gardens are over a century old, and its history is very interesting.

In 1903, a Florida plumber named Mr. George Turner, Sr. purchased a plot of land in old St. Pete, which only had 1,500 residents at the time.

As an avid gardener, Turner knew that the four-acre lake on the plot of land would likely have very fertile soil at its base.

He decided to use his plumbing knowledge to completely drain the lake – something which would likely never be done now due to the potential environmental harm.

Once the 15-foot-deep lake was empty, Turner began planting citrus trees and vegetables, adding more plants and a few walkways over time until the garden became incredibly popular and became one of the earliest St. Petersburg attractions.

Though it almost fell abandoned by the 1970s, the city declared it a local historic landmark in 1998, saving it.

Today, the Sunken Gardens are among the best romantic things to do in St. Pete and draw in numerous tourists each year.

Specialized gardens, such as the tortoise-filled Cactus Garden, the beautiful butterfly courtyard, a Japanese Garden, and an orchid arbor give you plenty to see as you explore.

You’ll even get to spot a pink flamingo flock, pools filled with koi, and lots of exotic birds.

Address: 1825 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704, United States

3. Morean Arts Center

Alex Cimbal / Shutterstock

The Morean Arts Center is a unique, community-oriented institution dedicated to art education and appreciation.

It offers numerous fun and informative programs for people of all ages.

It’s home to places like the Glass Studio and Hot Shop and the Bank of America Children’s Learning Center.

The 10,000-square-foot site displays a variety of works from artists from Florida, America, and the world beyond.

One of the most loved things to see at the Morean Arts Center is the Chihuly Collection.

It, of course, features a permanent collection of works by the renowned studio glass pioneer Dale Chihuly.

This collection is what the museum was designed around, which is why you’re greeted by a 20-foot cerise rock sculpture upon entrance!

The Chihuly Collection features numerous glass works of intricate detail.

Some pieces include Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier, Ikebana, Persians, Mille Fiori, Tumbleweeds, and Macchia.

There are also a few paper works by Chihuly on display, such as those part of his Venetian and Sea Form series.

You’ll also get the chance to watch an informative video on the creative methods and life of the eponymous artist himself.

Address: 719 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

4. Museum of Fine Arts

Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

If you’re seeking things to do in downtown St. Pete, Florida, one of the top places to visit for art aficionados is the local Museum of Fine Arts .

Situated in the heart of the downtown area, it showcases a stunning 4,500 years of artistic creation.

It was founded in 1896 and has focused on inspiring and educating artists and showcasing excellence in the art community since its creation.

The Museum of Fine Arts is home to many notable pieces.

There are works by Renoir and Monet, a gallery featuring Stueben glass, an interior sculpture garden, many pre-Columbian artifacts, several French impressionist paintings, and a 10,000-image photograph and paper display.

All in all, more than 14,000 objects are at the museum, not including the works featured in occasional traveling exhibits.

Address: 255 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

5. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

Marrowroot / Shutterstock

If you’re looking for some of the best places to go for vacation , you can’t go wrong with Boyd Hill Nature Preserve .

The award-winning Boyd Hill Nature Preserve of St. Pete spans 245 acres and is chock full of stuff to do.

Six miles of trails and boardwalks take you across gorgeous natural landscapes that will take your breath away.

Right on Lake Maggiore’s shores, this retreat boasts greenery in the form of broad-leaved forests, sand pines, turkey oaks, and wiregrass, harkening back to millennia-old landscapes.

There are plenty of unique ecosystems to explore at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, such as swamp woodlands, scrub sand trails, and pine flatwoods.

There are even willow marshes that are home to flocks of stunning orange dancing viceroy butterflies!

Guided tours ensure that you see all that the preserve has to offer.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is also a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, making it a great spot for enthusiastic wildlife watchers.

There are also facilities for picnics, outdoor activities, camping, and shelter, and kids can have fun at onsite playgrounds.

Address: 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, United States

6. Saturday Morning Market

fitzcrittle / Shutterstock

Looking for the best things to do in St. Pete this weekend.

Head to the downtown area to visit the Saturday Morning Market !

This is the ideal location to purchase gifts, fresh produce, and great food while you’re serenaded and entertained by live musicians, balloon art performers, and magicians.

The Saturday Morning Market runs each Saturday from October to May and features close to 200 registered vendors at the Al Lang Field parking lot.

You’ll find meats, spices, cheeses, pastries, pickles, seafood, salsas, ice cream, breads, pastries, and much more.

Eclectic artwork is also often for sale.

The Saturday Morning Market doesn’t just feature goods from local makers and Florida farms.

Delicious cuisine from an impressive 15 countries allows you to sample scrumptious ready-to-eat hot meals, like Irish pies and Jamaican patties.

Address: Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

7. Great Explorations Children’s Museum

Great Explorations Children’s Museum

Great Explorations Children’s Museum is one of the most fun family things and tourist attractions to enjoy in St. Petersburg.

It’s a prime learning center in the state, offering a welcoming environment for kids to enjoy hands-on displays and interactive experiences where they’ll think, learn, and discover through myriad activities and exhibits.

Among the fascinating ways children can play at the Great Explorations Children’s Museum are the Pet Vet, where they can learn about caring for animals, and the mini supermarket, where they go “shopping”.

The BellaBrava Pizza Kitchen lets kids learn about how kitchens work while using sculpture materials to make their own toy pizzas.

Build It allows children to build various structures while the Critter Cave brings them up close and personal to amphibians and reptiles.

But that’s not all!

Longo’s Cove is an ocean-themed structure designed for play that has its own beach-themed additional play area.

A firehouse lets kids learn about fire safety.

Art studios, theaters, jungle gyms, climbing spots, and traveling exhibits provide many additional ways for kids to have a good time while learning.

This is an ideal location for children aged 10 and below!

Address: 1925 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704, United States

8. Florida Holocaust Museum

EQRoy / Shutterstock

The Florida Holocaust Museum is one of the best things to do in Florida , and the country’s biggest museum of its kind, with 27,000 square feet to its name.

It’s also one of the best sites for history buffs who are wondering what to do in St. Petersburg, FL.

The sobering site houses one of the only Nazi boxcars remaining, which you can view in context.

The central exhibit of the Florida Holocaust Museum is the History, Heritage, and Hope exhibit.

Spanning all of the museum’s first floor, it provides explanations and insight into the events of the Holocaust in an easy-to-understand but moving manner.

You’ll see videos, photographs, and artifacts that discuss life prior to World War II, the rise of Hitler, and the hopeful aftermath of the horrors of the Holocaust.

The museum also puts a lot of emphasis on educating people about modern-day human rights issues.

It can be overwhelming to take in all this information at once, but exhibits are very well-presented to allow for easy flow as you navigate rooms.

You’ll also find the American southeast’s biggest library pertaining to the Holocaust and genocide onsite.

Address: 55 5th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

9. St. Pete Pier

St. Pete Pier is one of the newer attractions in the area, but it’s already become one of the top places to go.

It covers an impressive 26 acres and stretches 3,000 feet, providing a nice walking space, numerous activities, sources of entertainment, food, and a good evening!

Getting from one end to the other is easy thanks to a tram that can transport you where you need to go.

St. Pete Pier is filled with public artwork that makes the scenery much more vibrant, such as the Bending Arc by Janet Echlement, the Benoist Airboat sculpture, and Olnetopia by Nick Ervinck.

You can head to the end of the pier to go fishing, visit the Splash Pad outdoor waterpark, and relax in the many green spaces available.

Six restaurants are situated on the pier, so you can eat on the waterfront in bliss.

There’s Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro for relaxing, casual dining, Spa Beach Bistro for snacks, and Teak for a fine dining experience.

Address: 600 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

10. St. Petersburg Museum of History

The St. Petersburg Museum of History may sound like a typical museum with standard historical information and artifacts, but it’s a little more fun and unique.

It’s one of the only places to visit in the city with this many odd exhibits on display, among its 30,000 total artifacts.

Situated beside St. Pete Pier, the St. Petersburg Museum of History teaches you about the city and its surrounding state.

There’s a section dedicated to the Tampa Bay Rays, a mummy that’s about 3,000 years old, a full-sized Benoist plane replica, and even a two-headed calf!

Fans of nature will love the information on bay ecology, and history buffs will appreciate the many rare photographs, original documents, and papers lovingly displayed in the building.

Address: 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

Looking for more fun? Why not check out Cocoa Beach, FT. Lauderdale and Fort Myers? If you plan the trip, here is our fun list of what to do in Cocoa Beach , some top things to do in Ft. Lauderdale , and some fun things to do in Fort Myers !

11. The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art opened in 2018, a brand new addition to the cultural hubbub of downtown St. Pete.

It’s one of the best things to do in St. Petersburg, FL, for art aficionados and those interested in unique showcases.

It is named after Mary and Tom James, who own the private collection of 400 works on display.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art is more than just your typical museum.

It’s a complete experience designed to completely evoke the themes and concepts of the works on display.

The entire first floor is designed to look just like a canyon, with sharp angles that wind around corners, a stunning artificial waterfall, and walls made of sandstone.

Up on the second floor, the museum continues to impress architecturally.

Colors commonly used in Western artwork are used to thematically separate each gallery.

It’s truly a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.

But what sort of exhibits does The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art hold?

To start, the introductory gallery is sand-themed and is filled with sculptures of various historical figures and paintings of landscapes, and it even has an orientation theater.

Then, you’ll move on to the rust-themed Early West gallery that has works of Remington and Russell, among others.

From there, head to the blue-gray-themed Native Life gallery, which discusses the lives of Native American peoples during the 1800s.

Beyond there, you’ll be able to visit the deep gold-themed Native Artists gallery, which has an array of indigenous works that move away from the traditional ceremonial, bead, and mask creations.

Here, you’ll find paintings by Earl Biss and a collection of Native American jewelry in the Jewel Box.

There’s even more beyond that, with the burst sienna-themed Frontier, the moss green-themed Wildlife Gallery, and the final sand-themed New West Gallery with creations by Warhol.

There are even hard-hitting pop, modern, and cubist creations that unabashedly confront the relationship between the nation’s government and indigenous communities.

Address: 150 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

12. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park

DanTD , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is named after the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

This bridge is the longest fishing pier in the world and links St. Petersburg with neighboring Sarasota .

As you can probably imagine, this is one of the top St. Petersburg attractions for anglers who flock to Florida to enjoy the relaxing fishing opportunities at the pier.

Regardless of the time of day, you can purchase bait or bring your own and haul in a wide variety of catches, such as red snapper, grouper, spotted sea trout, tarpon, king mackerel, pompano, redfish, Spanish mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, snook, and more.

Of course, fish availability depends on the time of year and season, so plan accordingly!

At night, lights at the pier attract even more fish, so you can enjoy reeling in many nocturnal fish species.

Address: I-275, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, United States

13. Imagine Museum

Imagine Museum

The Imagine Museum is a fun, 36,000-square-foot space dedicated to showcasing contemporary glass art.

With a collection that encompasses works dating back to the 1960s up to the more modern creations of today, the museum displays over 500 studio glass works at a time from its 1,500-piece collection and is filled with things to see.

You’ll find no other museum quite as extensive when it comes to the studio glass movement in Florida.

This is where the Trish Joy Collection is showcased in all its glory on a rotational basis.

There are also other collections, like the 1,000 Buddha installation and the pioneering works of Labino and Littleton, to peruse.

There are three free tours offered by Imagine Museum.

The first, titled Journey of the Imagination, is a unique augmented reality experience that uses multimedia to provide information and education.

The second, titled Introduction to Studio Glass, is a comprehensive look at the studio glass movement’s history.

The third, titled Introduction to International Studio Glass, covers the development of European glass art.

Each tour lasts about half an hour, and they’re all among the great free things to do in St. Pete!

Address: 1901 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33713, United States

Planning a trip to Key West, Kissimmee, or Marco Island? Why not take this opportunity to create some memories? If you plan the trip, here’s our curated list of what to do in Key West , what to do in Kissimmee, FL , and what to do on Marco Island !

14. Fort de Soto Park

Brian Lasenby / Shutterstock

Fort de Soto Park is a whopping 1,136 acres in size, consisting of five different keys.

Situated near St. Petersburg, it’s among the best places to visit in Florida for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

It welcomes an impressive 2.7 million or so annual visitors sitting at the mouth of Tampa Bay.

If you need a little getaway this weekend, look no further!

Fort de Soto Park boasts a four-mile skating and hiking trail and seven miles of gorgeous waterfront.

It offers numerous activities, such as fishing at the two fishing piers, exploring a historic fort, and camping at the many camp and picnic grounds.

There’s even a paddling trail that stretches for two miles, and you can rent kayaks or canoes to boat across its length.

Fort de Soto Park also has a fair few unique sites, such as the Quartermaster Museum, which is filled with information on the Spanish-American War.

The park is also home to a notable 328 or so bird species, so bird-watchers enjoy bringing out their binoculars to spot as many of them as they can!

Lastly, you can bring your furry friends along, as an extremely popular dog beach is onsite.

Address: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, United States

15. Historic Kenwood

CityofStPete / flickr

Are you trying to figure out what to see in St. Petersburg, Florida, that will scratch your itch for historic sightseeing?

Historic Kenwood is the place to be!

It has delightful small-town charm and whimsy that is both welcoming and elegant, with idyllic brick roads lined with trees to encourage further exploration.

The homes in the neighborhood of Historic Kenwood were largely built between the years of 1912 and 1945, which means they cover a range of interesting and beautiful architectural styles.

You’ll spot buildings boasting Mission, Tudor Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival, Ranch, Prairie, and Minimal Traditional designs, among others.

Whether you’re a fan of Mediterranian Revival, American Foursquare, or craftsman bungalow architecture, you’ll find what you seek here!

Though it’s a relatively small area at just 375 acres, Historic Kenwood is a sight for sore eyes that’s well worth a visit.

There are 2,238 historic buildings to explore.

The neighborhood community is friendly and welcoming, so tourists love the locale!

Address: 9th Ave N to Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33733, United States

16. Fairgrounds St. Pete

Fairgrounds St. Pete

Fairgrounds St. Pete is a relatively new site in St. Petersburg.

It’s a modern art museum that serves as an impressive interactive space in the local Warehouse Arts District.

This is one of the most fun things to do in St. Pete, so don’t miss it!

Spanning 15,000 square feet, it’s lit up by a huge neon sign that greets you as you approach: “Mermaid Star Motel”, it reads.

But this isn’t a motel at all, but the heart of the museum’s theme for its exhibitions.

The Mermaid Star Motel is a fictional location that allows for a fascinating artistic experience.

The space of Fairgrounds St. Pete is split into numerous hotel rooms, each one specially designed by one of over 60 local artists to represent various aspects of the state of Florida.

The lobby of the “motel” is equipped with brochures of many fictional tourist spots.

From here, you can visit different spaces, like the seashell-covered Mermaid Dressing Room filled with shell-based jewelry and the Lampscape Room filled with mirrors and vibrant lights.

You can even visit a “pool” with no water, a mirage created by a projector, and a convincing set dressing.

Address: 800 28th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712, United States

17. Weedon Island Preserve

Christopher P / Shutterstock

The Weedon Island Preserve is situated near St. Petersburg and is one of the best tourist attractions for outdoor enthusiasts visiting Florida.

It covers 3,190 acres and is made up of various upland and aquatic ecosystems.

There are tidal flats, mangrove forests, and more in this natural reserve and coastal system in Pinellas County, Tampa Bay.

The Weedon Island Preserve offers plenty of things to spend your time on.

Boardwalks allow for long hikes, piers offer great fishing for snook, sea trout, and sheepshead, and bird-watching is always rewarding.

You can also stop for picnics, go kayaking, and go wildlife spotting to seek stingrays, oysters, and other wildlife.

Guided walks are great options for exploring the Weedon Island Preserve, but you can also make your way around on your own.

If you get deep enough into the preserve, you’ll find the Cultural and Natural History Center, where you can view interactive exhibits relating to the environment over a 6,000-square-foot space.

Address: 1800 Weedon Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, United States

Looking for more excitement? Why not check out Miami, Naples, and Orlando? If you plan the trip, here are some of the best things to do in Miami , some top things to do in Naples, FL , and some fun Orlando attractions you shouldn’t miss!

18. Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Those wondering what to do for good, delicious food in St. Petersburg, Florida will love Mazzaro’s Italian Market .

This bustling site is filled with vibrant energy and the scrumptious scent of fresh food and produce, made every day for guests to purchase and devour.

Mazzaro’s Italian Market sells homemade pasta, delicious sauces, self-roasted coffee, fresh-baked pastries and bread, and delicious cannolis and sandwiches made before your eyes.

The market also imports condiments, oils, salami, and ham straight from Italy, so you know you’re getting authentic Italian fair.

Whether you’re buying hot meals to eat straight away or some artisanal cheeses to bring home, the Mazzaro’s Italian Market is a feast for the eyes, mouth, and nose.

Address: 2909 22nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713, United States

19. Mahaffey Theater

Mahaffey Theater is a cultural gem situated in the downtown area of St. Petersburg.

It opened in the 1960s and has been hosting a wide range of national and international entertainers ever since.

It has 2,031 seats, making for lively showings that aren’t entirely devoid of intimacy, and each seat offers good views and acoustics, even farther back in the theater.

Mahaffey Theater has provided a stage for many different acts, ranging from the Florida Orchestra to the Clifford the Big Red Dog musical.

Whether you want to watch comedy shows, classical music performances, dance shows, pop concerts, or Broadway events, Mahaffey Theater’s packed schedule is sure to have something for you.

Mahaffey Theater uses European-style private box seating for an elegant and enchanting evening.

It also offers lovely waterfront views and a stunning ballroom.

If you’re wondering where to go tonight for a great show and a fun time in St. Pete, definitely check out the Mahaffey Theater’s calendar!

Address: 400 1st St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

20. St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach is situated near St. Petersburg, just to the west of the city.

It is a barrier island community home to a significant number of award-winning beaches that have become among the top points of interest in Florida.

If it’s lovely white sand, water sports opportunities, and seafood you’re after, St. Pete Beach will satisfy those cravings.

Stand-up paddleboarding, kiteboarding, windsurfing, and parasailing are just a few ways to spend your time here.

You can also explore Pass-a-Grille Beach, an undeveloped public beach with soft sand and azure warm waters.

If you want a longer getaway this weekend, St. Pete Beach has plenty of accommodation options and loads of eateries that make your Gulf of Mexico experience that much more magical.

It’s no wonder this beach town is a popular tourist destination!

Address: Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706, United States

21. St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club

PlainJane33 / Shutterstock

Did you know that St. Pete is home to the world’s largest shuffleboard club?

The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club opened in 1924, a new site in the state as it grew into a popular destination for tourists.

Among the things to do in St. Petersburg, FL, most involved leisure and relaxation, and shuffle boarding was certainly a leisurely sport.

Shuffleboard is played by sliding disks along long, flat courts with a cue.

The goal is to land discs on the opposite end’s triangle. For the most part, it’s a relaxing game, and it’s one of the activities that allows open-air recreation in a sporting event that is more social than exertion-heavy.

Better yet, the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club was a great sight, with a roof fitted with Spanish tiles and relaxing, mood-setting hanging lamplights.

Unfortunately, the rise of the Great Depression caused St. Pete’s popularity to dwindle, which sapped the fun out of the shuffleboard club.

It was soon known as an old person’s game instead of as a game for the generations of tomorrow, and the city soon became a retirement village.

But times changed again, and today, shuffle boarding is regaining popularity, and the club is in full swing.

Though not as popular as it was in its heyday, the club welcomes players for free on Friday nights and offers membership to those interested.

Address: 559 Mirror Lake Dr N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

22. Jungle Prada de Narvaez Park

Lori Collins / flickr

Jungle Prada de Narvaez Park is among the best hidden gem St. Petersburg attractions in Florida.

It centers on the tale of Panfil de Narvaez, who sailed with five ships, hundreds of men, and more with the goal of exploring the new world.

He sailed from Cuba, but unfortunately, his greed would be the downfall of his goals.

When a hurricane damaged his ship, Narvaez landed on Boca Ciega Bay.

He and his crew traveled ashore and found the empty homes of a Tocobaga village whose residents had recently fled.

After finding gold, he decided to travel further inland.

He met a few native tribes and was offended by each one, so he insulted and committed violence against them until he and his crew were driven away and forced to make rafts to attempt to get home.

They failed.

Only four members of Narvaez’s exploring party ended up surviving to tell the tale of their failures.

The site where Narvaez first landed is now commemorated with a memorial sign, and the surrounding area is known as Jungle Prada de Narvaez Park.

Address: 8322 Elbow Ln N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710, United States

23. Sunshine Skyway Bridge

We’ve already mentioned the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, but the Sunshine Skyway Bridge deserves its own spot on this list!

Situated on I 275, the bridge connects St. Petersburg across the Florida waters to Tampa Bay.

It stretches an impressive 12 miles, four of which rise enough above the water for large boats to sail beneath.

It can be pretty fun to watch vessels make their way through!

Sunshine Skyway Bridge is simple, but also filled with things to see.

Two main towers above the primary road provide eye-catching magnificence to the already gorgeous site.

In fact, Sunshine Skyway Bridge is considered one of the most stunning bridges in the world.

Address: 7508-7534 Sunshine Skyway Ln S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, United States

Planning a road trip to Tampa, Pensacola, and Sarasota? Don’t forget to print out our list of some of the best things to do in Tampa , some cool things to do in Pensacola, FL , and a curated list of what to do in Sarasota ! 

24. Gizella Kopsick Arboretum

The Gizella Kopsick Arboretum is one of the free things to do in St. Pete, Florida, with no admission fee.

The two-acre park was once a miniature golf course, but the eponymous Kopsick turned it into a beautiful arboretum in 1976.

It quickly became one of the finest places to visit in St. Petersburg, first among botanists and soon among tourists from across the planet!

The Gizella Kopsick Arboretum hosts lush tropical verdancy, including over 500 palms and cycads of both native and exotic nature.

There are cozy corners to relax on wooden benches, shaded gazebos for contemplation, paved walkways for exploration, and drinking fountains for convenience.

The entire expanse is also wheelchair accessible.

Address: 605 11th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

25. Clearwater Marine Aquarium

alisafarov / Shutterstock

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is situated close to St. Petersburg and is a well-known, fun attraction in Florida.

The institution focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing marine mammals and educates visitors on the importance of marine conservation.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers visitors daily presentations and provides behind-the-scenes tours of its facility.

You can visit the in-house theater to watch educational movies, get up-close and personal with all sorts of animals, and even embark on hosted kayak excursions.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is also home to Winter the dolphin, the famed star of the Dolphin Tale movies.

After meeting Winter, you can also say hello to otters, sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, pelicans, and plenty of marine fish.

Address: 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767, United States

26. Tropicana Field

Many of the things to do in St. Pete related to sports and entertainment are hosted at Tropicana Field .

Situated very close to downtown St. Pete, this is a professional facility for sports.

Specifically, it’s the only one in the world that has a Florida Aquarium-provided tank filled with cownose rays.

You can actually feed and touch these stingrays as you please during games!

Of course, the primary attraction of Tropicana Field is that it’s a baseball stadium.

This is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball, and it’s the only indoor venue in the league that can host events throughout the year.

Even when there’s not a game playing, there’s stuff to enjoy at Tropicana Field.

You can go on behind-the-scenes tours of the facility or visit the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame to learn more about the biggest stars of the local baseball scene.

Address: 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg, FL 33705, United States

27. Sand Key Park

Norm Lane / Shutterstock

If you’re willing to travel outside of St. Petersburg, one of the fun tourist attractions to go to so you can catch the Florida sun is Sand Key Park .

Situated on Sand Key, this is a 95-acre beach park perfect for recreation.

A playground lets kids enjoy themselves while a dog park allows furry friends to take part in the excursion.

Sand Key Park also has a salt marsh that has become popular with birders.

While here, you can keep an eye out for great horned owls, herons, roseate spoonbills, and more.

But Sand Key Park’s most notable feature is its artificial reef, an ongoing development for the health of the Gulf of Mexico.

Address: 1060 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767, United States

Going on a road trip around Florida? Why not check out some of the things to do in Siesta Key  & some of the things to do in Ocala, FL ?

28. Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

If you’re seeking even more options for what to do just outside of St. Petersburg, Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge is a great choice.

Right on the mouth of Tampa Bay, this ecological preserve has been an important nesting site for tortoises, sea turtles, and sea birds since 1974.

In its earlier years, Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge’s location meant it was often a crucial part of numerous domestic conflicts and wars.

This is why you can find interesting historic sites here, such as a century-old lighthouse and the remnants of Fort Dade.

Address: St. Petersburg, FL 33715, United States

29. Clearwater Beach

David Y Hyun / Shutterstock

Yet another one of the fun places to go just outside of St. Petersburg, Clearwater Beach is one of America’s most popular beaches.

It’s famous for its gorgeous clear waters, wealth of water sports opportunities, soft white sand, fabulous nightclubs, and luxurious dinner cruises.

The stretch of Clearwater Beach and its promenade is a popular recreation destination.

The waterfront is lined with many restaurants, shops, and attractions, with plenty of amenities for a comfortable experience.

Address: 1 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767, United States

30. Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail

glenrichardphoto / Shutterstock

Speaking of points of interest that go beyond St. Petersburg, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a unique site in Florida for exploration and recreation.

This is essentially a park that spans 37 miles in length, serving as a hiking trail.

It was built to follow a railroad corridor that is now abandoned, and it goes all the way from downtown St. Pete to Tarpon Springs.

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a multi-use trail.

Skaters, runners, cyclists, and walkers travel its path, stopping at the many cafes, eateries, and shops along the way.

The trail passes by several communities, each one marked by unique sculptures.

One of the most popular stops on the trail is Dunedin, a whimsical town with small village charm.

Address: St. Petersburg, FL, United States

31. ARTpool Gallery and Vintage Boutique

ARTpool Gallery

Shopaholics seeking things to do in St. Petersburg, FL will love ARTpool Gallery and Vintage Boutique .

This is one of St. Pete’s trendiest stores, a boutique opened by a local artist in 2008.

The shop can be found in the Grand Central District, and it’s grown from a simple art gallery to a vintage jewelry and clothing shop.

It also hosts a beverage bar and vinyl record store, which really sells the retro vibe.

ARTpool Gallery and Vintage Boutique sells clothing for all genders and all ages.

It also sells antique and retro gifts and home decor and plays host to a number of fashion shows, artisan markets, and art shows on regular rotation.

Anyone who loves kitsch and vintage items will love what ARTpool offers, whether you seek prints, paintings, or attire.

Address: 2030 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712, United States

Planning to visit St. Augustine and Tallahassee? If you plan the trip, here are some of the top things to do in St. Augustine and some of the best things to do in Tallahassee ! 

32. Floridian Social Club

Floridian Social Club

The Floridian Social Club is one of the most unique St. Petersburg attractions.

Housed in a gorgeous Beaux-Arts building, this club has gone through many lives in just the past hundred or so years.

It’s been a serious office, a fun theater, a bank, a concert venue, and a site for live performances.

Each iteration of the Floridian Social Club hasn’t been particularly long-lived.

It began its life as one of the city’s biggest banks, the only one able to legally print currency, but it lost that function in the 1929 stock market crash.

It served as little more than an office building for a while until it reopened as a theater in 1950.

But just three decades later, it went out of business, and then soon after, it began to wear down from age while serving as a live music venue.

In 2021, the building reopened as the Floridian Social Club with a new Art Deco style.

It now plays live music almost every night and serves a wide range of cocktails inspired by the Roaring 20s.

Address: 687 Central Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

Looking for more adventures? Why not check out some of the best things to do in Boca Raton ?

Start Planning Your Trip To St. Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg is a lively, cheerful place, with sunshine galore, vibrant culture, and relaxing natural areas that include preserves, gardens, parks, and beaches.

No matter what you love to do, you’ll find many things to do in St. Pete that meet your preferences!

Happy travels!

30 Of The Best Things to Do in St. Petersburg, Florida (2024 Guide)

• Last Updated: February 2, 2024

Trying to find great activities and attractions in the Sunshine City? Our guide to the best things to do in St. Petersburg is all you need to plan the perfect trip!

If you’re seeking a perfect blend of sunshine, coastal charm, and a dash of artistic flair, you’re in for a treat as we dive into the vibrant tapestry of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Nestled along the Gulf Coast of Florida , this city is more than just a pretty face – it’s a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re basking on the award-winning beaches of St. Pete Beach, taking in the panoramic views from the newly renovated St. Pete Pier, or wandering through the lush tranquility of Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg has an abundance of delights for every kind of traveler.

But that’s not all. For sports enthusiasts, catch a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field and immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of America’s favorite pastime.

Throughout this blog post, we’ll be your virtual tour guide, unveiling the best that St. Petersburg has to offer. So, get ready to explore this sunny gem on the Gulf and discover why it’s a destination that has something to delight every adventurer’s heart.

Table of Contents

Discover Downtown St. Petersburg

Visit the clearwater marine aquarium, enjoy st. pete pier, relax at st. pete beach, explore great explorations children’s museum, shop at petersburg saturday morning market, catch a game at tropicana field, visit the florida holocaust museum, wander through the sunken gardens, take a boat tour, tour the james museum of western & wildlife art, explore boyd hill nature preserve, enjoy the arts at morean arts center, visit the suncoast seabird sanctuary, explore treasure island, visit the st. petersburg museum of history, admire art at the imagine museum, visit the museum of fine arts, drive the sunshine skyway bridge, relax at clearwater beach, eat at mazzaro’s italian market, stroll along the skyway fishing pier, savor the fine dining, explore weedon island preserve, visit the morean glass studio & hot shop, enjoy nature at fort de soto park, get outdoors at the fred marquis pinellas trail, attend a show at the mahaffey theater, visit the salvador dalí museum, explore the quartermaster museum, high-end luxury hotel: the vinoy renaissance st. petersburg resort & golf club, mid-range family accommodation: hollander hotel, budget hostel/hotel: la quinta inn & suites by wyndham st. petersburg northeast, wrapping up, 30 fun things to do in st. petersburg, florida.

Here’s our list of the 30 best things to do in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Downtown St Petersburg Florida, is a dynamic and vibrant urban hub that beckons both residents and visitors with its eclectic blend of cultural attractions, dining, shopping, and entertainment options.

This lively district is the heart of the city, offering an array of art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes, making it an ideal place for a leisurely stroll or a night out on the town. Art enthusiasts can explore the city’s thriving arts scene at galleries like the Morean Arts Center, while foodies can savor diverse culinary delights at the local eateries.

The district also hosts various events and festivals, creating a lively atmosphere year-round. With its lively spirit and diverse offerings, downtown St. Petersburg is a captivating destination that captures the essence of this coastal city.

Related: Read this post on all the best things to do in Tampa .

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is not just an ordinary marine attraction but a hub of inspiration and conservation. Nestled on the shores of Clearwater Beach, this unique aquarium is renowned for its dedication to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine animals, particularly dolphins, sea turtles, and pelicans.

Beyond the captivating exhibits, it offers an educational experience that fosters an understanding of marine life and the challenges they face in their natural habitats. Guests can get up close and personal with the resident dolphins, Winter and Hope, famous for their starring roles in the “Dolphin Tale” movies.

The aquarium’s commitment to conservation efforts makes it a must-visit destination for both families and eco-conscious travelers, offering a chance to connect with the marine world while supporting vital conservation initiatives.

The St. Pete Pier , a waterfront landmark in St. Petersburg, is a hub of activity and leisure that beckons both locals and tourists. This contemporary pier complex offers a delightful mix of entertainment, dining, shopping, and recreational opportunities.

You can take a leisurely stroll along the scenic waterfront, enjoy panoramic views of Tampa Bay, or relax in green spaces and shaded areas. The pier features a range of restaurants and eateries serving up diverse cuisines, making it a culinary destination in its own right.

Additionally, the Pier hosts events, concerts, and festivals throughout the year, providing a vibrant gathering place for the community.

Whether you’re looking for a picturesque setting for a leisurely afternoon, a delectable dining experience, or a lively event, the St. Pete Pier is a must-visit destination that captures the essence of the beautiful coastal city of St. Petersburg.

Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, St. Pete Beach provides the perfect backdrop for a memorable coastal getaway.

St. Petersburg Florida, is renowned for its stunning beaches, and St. Pete Beach stands out as one of its most enchanting coastal gems. Nestled along the pristine shores of the Gulf of Mexico, St. Pete Beach offers travelers a quintessential beach experience.

With its powdery white sands and crystal-clear waters, it’s an idyllic spot for sunbathing, swimming, beachcombing, and water sports. The beachfront is also lined with an array of restaurants, bars, and resorts, making it easy to savor delicious seafood and tropical cocktails while taking in the breathtaking sunset views.

The Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg is a dynamic and interactive space designed to ignite the curiosity and creativity of young minds. With a mission to make learning fun, this museum offers a wide range of hands-on exhibits and activities that engage children in playful exploration and discovery.

From science and engineering to arts and culture, the museum’s diverse exhibits cater to a variety of interests and age groups. Kids can experiment in a science lab, explore a pretend city, immerse themselves in imaginative play, and much more.

The museum’s commitment to education is evident through its interactive programs and events, making it a valuable resource for families and educators seeking to nurture a love of learning in children.

The Great Explorations Children’s Museum is not only a place of entertainment but also a vital space for fostering intellectual growth and curiosity in the youngest members of the St. Petersburg community.

The St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market is a lively and vibrant community gathering that epitomizes the city’s local culture and charm. Held every Saturday from October to May, this bustling market transforms Al Lang Stadium into a bustling marketplace filled with diverse vendors, artisans, farmers, and food purveyors.

Visitors can explore a treasure trove of goods, from farm-fresh produce and artisanal crafts to international cuisine and live music performances. It’s a perfect place to savor delicious eats, shop for unique gifts, and engage with the community.

The Petersburg Saturday Morning Market embodies the spirit of St. Petersburg, offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere where locals and tourists alike can come together to celebrate local culture, support small businesses, and savor the flavors of the city.

Read Next: See where St. Petersburg ranks on our list of great places to visit in Florida .

Tropicana Field is an iconic sports and entertainment venue that hosts the Tampa Bay Rays, a Major League Baseball team. As one of the few indoor baseball stadiums in the United States, Tropicana Field offers a unique fan experience with its distinctive dome-shaped architecture.

Attending a Rays game at “The Trop” is an exciting way to catch America’s pastime in action, with plenty of amenities and activities for fans of all ages. Beyond baseball, the venue also hosts various events, including concerts, conventions, and community gatherings, making it a versatile and vibrant space that plays a significant role in the cultural fabric of St. Petersburg.

Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a music lover, or simply looking for a fun and memorable outing, Tropicana Field has something to offer.

Check out the schedule here.

The Florida Holocaust Museum , located in downtown St. Petersburg, is a poignant and educational institution dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and promoting awareness of human rights issues.

This powerful museum offers a profound journey through history, featuring exhibits that chronicle the Holocaust’s tragic events, the stories of survivors, and the lessons that must be learned from this dark period of human history.

Visitors can view compelling artifacts, photographs, and personal testimonies that serve as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

Additionally, the museum provides educational programs and resources to foster tolerance and promote human rights in today’s world. The Florida Holocaust Museum is a place of remembrance, reflection, and a call to action, ensuring that the lessons of the past are never forgotten in the pursuit of a more just and compassionate future.

Sunken Gardens in St Petersburg Florida, is a verdant oasis that enchants visitors with its lush tropical beauty. Spanning over a century, this botanical wonderland is home to a stunning array of exotic plants, cascading waterfalls, vibrant blooms, and serene koi ponds.

As you meander through the winding pathways, you’ll encounter towering palms, cycads, and a diverse collection of tropical and subtropical flora from around the world. The gardens’ rich history and careful preservation efforts have transformed it into a serene retreat and a designated historical site, allowing visitors to escape the city’s hustle and bustle and immerse themselves in a tranquil and vibrant natural paradise.

Whether you’re a horticulture enthusiast or simply seeking a peaceful escape, Sunken Gardens is a captivating destination in St. Petersburg that promises a soothing and awe-inspiring experience.

Taking a boat tour in St. Petersburg, Florida, is an unforgettable adventure that allows you to immerse yourself in the city’s stunning coastal beauty and rich maritime heritage.

Whether you opt for a leisurely sightseeing cruise along the picturesque waterways, an eco-tour exploring the intricate mangrove ecosystems, or a dolphin-watching excursion in the Gulf of Mexico, these boat tours offer a unique perspective of St. Petersburg’s natural wonders.

You’ll have the opportunity to spot wildlife, including dolphins, manatees, and a variety of bird species, while taking in panoramic views of the city’s skyline and waterfront landmarks.

These tours often come with knowledgeable guides who share fascinating insights into the local history, ecology, and culture, making it an educational and scenic experience that leaves you with a deep appreciation for St. Petersburg’s coastal treasures.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg is a captivating haven for art and nature enthusiasts alike. This museum is a testament to the beauty and cultural significance of the American West and wildlife, showcasing a diverse collection of Western and wildlife art.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich heritage of the American West through paintings, sculptures, and artifacts that depict its landscapes, people, and wildlife. The museum’s architecture seamlessly blends modern design with Western aesthetics, creating a stunning backdrop for its extensive collection.

Whether you’re drawn to the artistry of cowboys, Native Americans, or the majesty of North American wildlife, the James Museum offers an immersive journey through the history and natural beauty of the American West, making it a must-visit destination in St. Petersburg.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve , nestled within the city limits of St Petersburg Florida, is a hidden gem for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Spread across 245 acres, this urban oasis offers a remarkable variety of natural habitats, including hardwood hammocks, wetlands, and pine flatwoods.

You can explore a network of well-maintained hiking trails, spot native wildlife like gopher tortoises and bald eagles, and learn about the region’s ecology at the Environmental Education Center.

A highlight of Boyd Hill is Lake Maggiore, where you can rent canoes and kayaks to paddle through the serene waters while enjoying picturesque views of the surrounding wilderness.

With its commitment to environmental education and conservation, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve provides a serene and educational escape from the bustle of city life right in the heart of St. Petersburg.

Related: Consider adding St. Petersburg to your Florida road trip itinerary .

The Morean Arts Center in St Petersburg Florida, is a dynamic cultural institution that celebrates the world of contemporary art and creativity. Located in the heart of the city’s thriving arts district, this center offers an eclectic range of art exhibitions, hands-on art experiences, and educational programs.

Here, you can explore ever-evolving exhibitions featuring both local and international artists, from traditional paintings to cutting-edge installations. The Morean Arts Center also hosts workshops and classes, encouraging individuals of all ages to unleash their artistic potential.

With its commitment to fostering artistic expression and engagement, the Morean Arts Center is a vital contributor to the vibrant cultural landscape of St. Petersburg, and an inspiring destination for art enthusiasts and novices alike.

The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary , located in Indian Shores near St. Petersburg, is a haven for avian enthusiasts and a crucial hub for bird rescue and rehabilitation. As the largest wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the United States, it provides a safe haven for injured, sick, or orphaned birds, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into their natural habitats.

Visitors to the sanctuary can witness the dedicated efforts of volunteers and staff as they care for a diverse range of bird species, including pelicans, owls, and herons. The facility offers an educational experience, where you can learn about the importance of bird conservation and the challenges these magnificent creatures face.

With its mission to protect and preserve Florida’s native bird populations, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is a remarkable and inspiring destination for those passionate about wildlife and conservation efforts.

St. Petersburg proudly boasts the charming barrier island of Treasure Island , a hidden gem that offers a quintessential coastal experience. Treasure Island lives up to its name, with its shimmering white sandy beaches and tranquil Gulf of Mexico waters.

This peaceful island is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors can relish the laid-back atmosphere, soak up the sun, and take leisurely walks along the pristine shores. The island’s John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk provide a delightful mix of waterfront dining, boutique shopping, and opportunities for water-based adventures like boat tours and parasailing.

Whether you’re enjoying the stunning sunsets or savoring fresh seafood at a beachfront restaurant, Treasure Island embodies the essence of a quintessential coastal retreat in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The St. Petersburg Museum of History is a captivating institution that chronicles the rich and diverse history of St Petersburg Florida. Located on the picturesque downtown waterfront, this museum offers a fascinating journey through time, showcasing artifacts, photographs, and exhibits that highlight the city’s evolution from its early days to the vibrant community it is today.

You can explore exhibits that delve into the region’s Native American heritage, the development of St. Petersburg as a destination for tourism and leisure, and its role in various historical events.

With a commitment to preserving the past and engaging the community, the St. Petersburg Museum of History serves as a valuable resource for both residents and tourists, providing insight into the unique cultural heritage of this coastal city.

The Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg is a captivating destination for art enthusiasts and those looking to be inspired by the beauty of contemporary glass art. This cultural gem houses a remarkable collection of glass artworks, showcasing the extraordinary creativity and skill of glass artists from around the world.

As you explore its galleries, you’ll encounter a diverse array of glass sculptures, vessels, and installations, each a testament to the limitless possibilities of this artistic medium. The Imagine Museum not only offers a visual feast for the senses but also provides a deeper understanding of the intricate techniques and innovative approaches that glass artists employ to push the boundaries of their craft.

Whether you’re an art connoisseur or simply curious about the world of glass art, a visit to the Imagine Museum promises an immersive and thought-provoking experience in the heart of St. Petersburg.

The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg is a cultural gem that beckons art aficionados and seekers of aesthetic inspiration. Situated along the scenic waterfront of Tampa Bay, this museum boasts a diverse and impressive collection spanning over 5,000 years of art history.

Visitors can meander through its elegant galleries, which showcase a wide range of artistic styles and mediums, from classical masterpieces to contemporary works. Highlights include European paintings, American art, Asian ceramics, and decorative arts.

The museum’s commitment to enriching the community’s cultural landscape is evident through its rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and events.

Whether you’re seeking to immerse yourself in art history or simply appreciate the beauty of human creativity, the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg offers a captivating and enriching experience for all.

Read Next: Consider visiting St. Petersburg as a day trip from Tampa .

Whether you’re crossing it for the first time or simply admiring its grandeur from a distance, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is an iconic symbol of the city’s connection to the wider Florida landscape.

One of the most iconic landmarks in St. Petersburg is undoubtedly the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This awe-inspiring engineering marvel spans Tampa Bay, connecting St. Petersburg with neighboring areas.

The bridge’s soaring, cable-stayed design is a testament to both human ingenuity and the natural beauty of the region. As you traverse the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of Tampa Bay, with glistening waters stretching as far as the eye can see.

The bridge’s stunning architecture and the vistas it offers make it a must-visit destination for photographers, road trippers, and anyone seeking a memorable journey in and out of St. Petersburg.

Clearwater Beach, often hailed as one of the most pristine and picturesque beaches in Florida, beckons travelers with its powdery white sands and crystal-clear Gulf of Mexico waters.

Situated on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Clearwater Beach is a sun-soaked paradise that caters to both relaxation seekers and adventure enthusiasts. Whether you’re sunbathing on the soft sands, swimming in the emerald-hued waters, or strolling along the bustling Beach Walk Promenade, you’ll find plenty of ways to unwind and enjoy the coastal beauty.

The beach also offers an array of water sports, including parasailing, jet skiing, and paddleboarding, for those seeking a bit more excitement. Sunsets at Clearwater Beach are legendary, drawing crowds to Pier 60 for a nightly celebration featuring street performers, local artisans, and a breathtaking sunset backdrop that paints the sky with brilliant hues, making it a truly unforgettable destination for beach lovers and romantics alike.

Mazzaro’s Italian Market , nestled in the heart of St Petersburg Florida, is a culinary haven that transports visitors to the vibrant streets of Italy. This bustling market is renowned for its authentic Italian fare, offering a tantalizing array of fresh ingredients, gourmet products, and prepared dishes.

From artisanal cheeses and olives to freshly baked bread and pastries, Mazzaro’s is a paradise for food enthusiasts. You can savor an espresso, indulge in a handcrafted gelato, or enjoy a mouthwatering Italian sandwich in the market’s cozy cafe.

The market’s old-world charm, bustling atmosphere, and delectable offerings make it a beloved culinary landmark in St. Petersburg, drawing both locals and tourists to experience a taste of Italy in the heart of Florida.

The Skyway Fishing Pier State Park , also known as the Skyway Pier, is a remarkable and unique destination in St. Petersburg. Stretching out over the sparkling waters of Tampa Bay, it holds the distinction of being the world’s longest fishing pier.

Beyond its impressive length, the Skyway Pier offers anglers and visitors an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy the serene beauty of the bay while trying their hand at fishing. The panoramic views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the surrounding coastal landscapes make this pier a favorite among photographers and nature enthusiasts as well.

Whether you’re casting a line, birdwatching, or simply taking a leisurely stroll, a visit to the Skyway Fishing Pier promises a memorable and tranquil experience amid the natural beauty of St. Petersburg, Florida.

If you’re interested in savoring seafood delicacies, indulging in international flavors, or enjoying a romantic evening with a loved one, St. Petersburg’s fine dining scene promises an unforgettable culinary experience that combines exceptional cuisine with a touch of coastal charm.

Fine dining in St. Petersburg is an exquisite culinary journey that caters to even the most discerning palates. The city boasts a thriving food scene with a wealth of upscale restaurants, many of which offer not only delectable cuisine but also breathtaking views of the waterfront.

Some of the best fine dining establishments include the renowned 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House, known for its fresh seafood and elegant atmosphere; the Canopy Rooftop Lounge, offering panoramic city views alongside craft cocktails and gourmet dishes; and Birch & Vine, where farm-to-table creations showcase locally sourced ingredients.

Weedon Island Preserve , a natural treasure near St. Petersburg, offers a captivating escape into the region’s rich coastal ecosystems and Native American heritage. This pristine 3,190-acre preserve features a network of scenic hiking trails, winding boardwalks through mangrove forests, and serene waterways perfect for kayaking and canoeing.

Wildlife enthusiasts can spot a variety of birds, including herons and ospreys, and perhaps even dolphins swimming in the bay. Additionally, Weedon Island is steeped in history, with archaeological sites revealing the presence of indigenous people dating back thousands of years.

The Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center provides insight into the area’s Native American heritage through exhibits and educational programs. For those seeking a tranquil retreat into nature with a touch of history, Weedon Island Preserve offers a rewarding experience in St. Petersburg.

The Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop in St. Petersburg is a captivating destination where artistry meets craftsmanship, offering visitors a front-row seat to the mesmerizing world of glassblowing. As an extension of the Morean Arts Center, this studio provides a unique opportunity to witness skilled glass artists at work, shaping molten glass into stunning creations right before your eyes.

You can watch the intricate process of glassblowing, from gathering and shaping to coloring and finishing, during live demonstrations. The studio also offers opportunities for hands-on glassblowing experiences, where visitors can create their own glass art under the guidance of expert instructors.

Whether you’re a glass art enthusiast or simply intrigued by the mesmerizing dance of glass in its molten state, the Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop offers a captivating and educational experience that brings the world of glass art to life.

Read Next: Don’t miss out on all of the top things to do in Florida .

Fort De Soto Park , located near St. Petersburg Florida, is a captivating natural haven that beckons to outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike. This sprawling park encompasses pristine beaches, lush mangrove forests, and the remnants of historic forts, offering a rich blend of recreational opportunities and historical exploration.

Here, you can hike, bike, or kayak through the park’s diverse ecosystems, keeping an eye out for local wildlife, including shorebirds and dolphins. The park’s crowning jewel is its well-preserved historic fortifications, such as Fort De Soto and Fort Dade, which provide a glimpse into the area’s military past.

Whether you’re seeking a tranquil day on the beach, a chance to connect with nature, or a dose of history in St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto Park delivers a multifaceted experience that’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

The Pinellas Trail , a scenic multi-use trail in the Tampa Bay area of St. Petersburg, is a beloved outdoor destination that invites residents and visitors to explore the region’s natural beauty and urban landscapes.

Stretching over 40 miles, this well-maintained trail winds its way through picturesque parks, charming neighborhoods, and downtown areas, offering a perfect venue for walking, jogging, biking, or rollerblading.

With its lush greenery, urban art installations, and access to various amenities, the Pinellas Trail provides a diverse and enjoyable experience for outdoor enthusiasts and families.

It also connects to a network of parks, attractions, and waterfront areas, making it an ideal way to explore the diverse landscapes and vibrant communities of St. Petersburg while staying active and appreciating the region’s natural and cultural treasures.

The Mahaffey Theater , nestled in the heart of St Petersburg Florida, is a cultural gem that has been captivating audiences for decades. This renowned performing arts venue offers a diverse and engaging program of events, from Broadway shows and concerts to comedy acts and classical performances. Its modern architecture and state-of-the-art facilities provide an intimate and immersive experience for attendees.

The Mahaffey Theater has played host to world-class artists and entertainers, making it a cultural focal point in the Tampa Bay area.

Whether you’re seeking a night of musical magic, theatrical drama, or comedic relief, the Mahaffey Theater consistently delivers top-notch performances and is an essential stop for those looking to enjoy the arts in St. Petersburg.

The Salvador Dali Museum , situated in St. Petersburg, Florida, is a mesmerizing sanctuary for art enthusiasts and a testament to the surreal genius of Salvador Dali. Housing one of the most extensive collections of Dali’s artwork outside of Europe, the museum is an architectural marvel designed to echo the eccentricity of Dali’s imagination.

Visitors can wander through its labyrinthine corridors, immersing themselves in the bizarre and thought-provoking world of the iconic surrealist artist. The museum’s striking collection spans Dali’s entire career, from his early experiments with Impressionism and Cubism to his famous surrealist masterpieces like “The Persistence of Memory.”

It’s a place where reality blurs with the dreamlike, inviting contemplation of the extraordinary and the unexpected, making it a must-visit destination for anyone with an appreciation for art that challenges the boundaries of conventional thought.

The Quartermaster Museum , located within the U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, is a hidden gem for history enthusiasts and maritime aficionados visiting St. Petersburg, Florida. This captivating museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the rich maritime heritage of the area and the pivotal role played by the U.S. Coast Guard.

From vintage uniforms and equipment to interactive exhibits showcasing search and rescue operations, visitors can immerse themselves in the history and achievements of this vital branch of the armed forces.

Whether you’re interested in the Coast Guard’s role in safeguarding Florida’s coastline or simply curious about maritime history in general, the Quartermaster Museum offers an engaging and educational experience that enriches any trip to St. Petersburg. 

Where to Stay in St. Petersburg, Florida

With lots of great options for where to stay in St. Petersburg, Florida these are a few of our top recommendations.

Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, this historic luxury hotel offers a lavish experience. The Vinoy Renaissance boasts elegant rooms, a beautiful golf course, a full-service spa, and fine dining options.

Guests can also enjoy the stunning waterfront views and access to the Vinoy Marina. It’s perfect for travelers looking for a luxurious and relaxing stay.

The Hollander Hotel , situated in downtown St. Petersburg, offers comfortable and family-friendly accommodations without breaking the bank. This boutique hotel features a charming courtyard with a heated pool, a bar, and a restaurant.

It’s conveniently located near many attractions, making it an excellent choice for families looking for a cozy and convenient stay.

La Quinta Inn & Suites is known for providing comfortable and affordable accommodations. This hotel in St. Petersburg offers clean rooms, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and a pool. It’s a great choice for budget-conscious travelers looking for a convenient and reliable option.

It is impossible not to be enamored by the myriad experiences St. Petersburg has to offer. From the sun-kissed shores of St. Pete Beach to the iconic St. Pete Pier with its breathtaking vistas, from the serene haven of Sunken Gardens to the thrill of cheering on the Tampa Bay Rays, this city has something for everyone.

Its award-winning beaches, where sugar-white sands meet azure waters, beckon sun-seekers and water enthusiasts alike, promising endless days of relaxation and fun.

St. Petersburg isn’t just a destination; it’s a celebration of art, culture, and the boundless beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Whether you’re an art aficionado, a nature lover, a sports enthusiast, or simply a traveler in search of a laid-back yet vibrant destination, St. Petersburg welcomes you with open arms and a warm, sunny smile.

So, as you soak in the sun and the local culture, remember that St. Petersburg, with its charm and allure, will always be here, ready to inspire and delight you anew with each visit.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

Love Travel?

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter for the best travel tips, ideas and deals!

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

READ MORE...

The Ultimate Las Vegas to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary (2024 Guide)

The Ultimate 3 Days in New York City Itinerary (2024 Guide)

The Perfect 3 Days In Los Angeles Itinerary (2024 Guide)

Related Posts

18 best places to visit in texas (2024 guide), 20 best day trips from baltimore, maryland (2024 guide), 30 of the best things to do in tennessee (2024), 15 best day trips from denver, colorado (2024 guide), leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• NORTHERN IRELAND
• TRAVEL TIPS

14 Best Day trips from St Petersburg FL That Are Worth The Effort and Time

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, taking a day trip from St Petersburg, Florida is a great thing to do .

With plenty of attractions and activities available, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city. However, if you’re looking to explore beyond the city limits, there are plenty of great day trips options available as well.

St Petersburg is ideally located on the west coast of Florida, which makes it a great starting point to explore the area!

Whether you are a nature lover or a thrill-seeker, you will find plenty to do! Here are some day trips ideas from St Pete.

🔎 Table of Contents

Tampa is a major city near St Petersburg FL. It’s also home to the main airport in the area so it’s probably where you will be flying to.

Tampa is a vibrant city and there are many things you can do here.

Firstly, make sure to explore downtown. You will find loads of restaurants, cafés but also amazing museums such as Tampa Museum Of Art.

If you’d like to learn more about the city and discover some cool spots, you can also join the walking food tour in Downtown Tampa.

The area is also home to some of the most haunted places in Florida so if that’s something you are interested in, make sure to book the haunted history walking tour. It’s very interesting.

You can then head to the waterfront where you will find the beautiful promenade as well as loads of bars and restaurants where you can have a drink.

Finally, you can not go to Tampa without going to see an ice-hockey game! The Tampa Lightning are an amazing team and seeing a game is always a great experience! They take place at Amalie Arena .

HOW TO GET THERE: It’s very easy to get to Tampa from St Pete. Just take the interstate, cross the bridge and you will be there in 30 minutes.

PRO TIP: There are quite a few attractions you can visit in Tampa including the Museum of Science and Industry and ZooTampa. If you’d like to do several of these activities, you should consider getting the Tampa CityPass .

It will save you quite a bit of money. Also, it includes some attractions in St Pete and Clearwater .

Honeymoon Island

Located in Dunedin, about 30 minutes drive from downtown St Pete, Honeymoon Island is a beautiful state park and the perfect day trip for beach lovers.

This barrier island is home to stunning beaches (including some shelling ones), walking trails and amazing wildlife.

If you are into bird watching, this will be an excellent place for you since you can see Ospreys and American Eagles.

Make sure to take the 2.5 miles Osprey walk. This beautiful walk is quite relaxing, easy and fun. You will be able to see many birds and plants. It’s also a good choice if you are travelling with kids since it’s a nice stroll.

If you want to chill for the day, you can take your towel and go to the beach.

There are several beaches on Honeymoon Island including one that is 2.5 miles long!

White sand, mangroves, shells … it’s the perfect place for a relaxing day.

It’s also important to note that the beaches are very well preserved and not that crowded, especially if you walk a bit further.

It has nothing to do with Clearwater Beach or St Pete Beach and that’s so pleasant!

You will also get to enjoy the views of the gulf!

PRO TIP: Don’t forget to wear shoes as you walk on the beach. There are a lot of shells as well as pieces of mangroves sticking out. You can’t always see them but they can hurt your foot.

There is also a big picnic area with tables and amenities by the parking lot, definitely a good spot to get lunch.

This hidden gem is a beautiful place so make sure to add it to your list of St Pete day trips!

HOW TO GET THERE: You can easily get there by car. There is a bridge at the entrance.

There is an entrance fee which helps towards the conservation of the state park. It’s very affordable though.

Clearwater Beach

Calling all the beach lovers for this one! Clearwater beach was voted the best beach in the USA in 2019 so that gives you a good idea of what to expect!

It is a large white sanded beach with crystal blue water. It truly is one of the best beaches in the Tampa Bay area and a must see!

That having been said, it can get very crowded especially during spring break so it’s important to be aware of that.

Clearwater Beach is the perfect destination if you want to have a relaxing and fun day.

You can walk along the promenade, get ice cream, relax on the beach and go to a beach party in one of the beach bars.

Another way you can explore Clearwater Beach is by hiring a bicycle or going on a segway tour.

There are many dolphins in Clearwater and even though you can catch a glimpse from the beach, going on a dolphin-watching cruise is also a good idea.

While in the area, make sure to head to Pier 60. This is the most famous landmark in Clearwater Beach and it boasts stunning views of the beach.

Also, that’s where the sunset celebration is held every day and it’s such a cool thing to do!

PRO TIP: If you want to enjoy the sunset in a unique way, you can also go on a sunset cruise or a party cruise in Clearwater Beach.

Finally, in the evening, if you want to go for a drink and maybe dance on the beach, head to the Shephard’s Beach Resort.

They get famous DJs from all over the world to come and mix for hours and hours.

They generally host those events on Saturday or Sunday. It starts at 2pm and goes all the way until 1am. You can have a drink, dance under the stars with your footsies in the sand… what else can we ask for?

Fort De Soto Park

Fort De Soto Park is a beautiful state park located in the southern part of St Pete.

This is a bit of a hidden gem but that’s also one of the locals’ favourite day trips from St Pete.

Fort De Soto is is a state park formed of 5 islands (Madelaine Key, Bonne Fortune Key, St. Jean Key, St. Christopher Key, and the main island, Mullet Key).

There are several reasons to visit Fort De Soto.

The first one is that it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida including Egmont Key.

White sand, crystal clear water… this is where you will find all the picture-perfect beaches!

It’s also home to one of the rare dog-friendly beaches near St Pete.

You will also find the Fort De Soto Park’s Historic Fort and Museum which is very interesting and will tell you loads about the area and its history.

You can also join an e-bike tour on the beach which is very cool.

Finally, Fort De Soto is a great place for kayaking and paddling. If you love water activities, you will be in for a treat.

You can rent your equipment directly there or opt for a guided tour in the mangroves.

HOW TO GET THERE: You can get to Fort De Soto by car via Gulf Blvd and Pinellas Bayway. This is a toll road so make sure to take that into consideration.

Busch Gardens

It’s no secret that Florida is known for its theme parks and while most of them are located near Orlando, you can also find a pretty great one near St Pete!

Busch Gardens is located in north Tampa. It takes about 40 minutes to get there from Downtown St Pete and it’s a great day trip for people who love theme parks but also for families.

As a matter of fact, it’s a much better alternative to Orlando’s parks. It’s less busy, cheaper and just as much fun!

There are plenty of roller coasters and also a waterpark (which is always something to look forward to in Florida).

Here are the best rides: Cheetah Hunt, Tigris and Cobra’s curse.

Busch Gardens are good fun for adults as well as kids.

PRO TIP: If you can go before spring break, this will be ideal. It’s much less crowded so you will get to do more things.

You can also go in winter if you want to but might not be able to enjoy all the water activities. Florida is hot but still, January is not bikini material.

You can book online , directly there or even take a Tampa CityPass that will also give you access to the Florida Aquarium, Zoo Tampa, Clearwater Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Crystal River

Who says Florida says manatees! There are over 6,000 manatees in the Sunshine State and central Florida is a very good place to see them.

You can find them in St Pete and Tampa as well but the best place to see manatees is Crystal River.

Crystal River is about 2 hours drive from St Pete. It’s particularly famous for its springs and being home to hundreds of manatees in winter.

It’s also the only place in Florida where you can swim with the manatees!

The first place where you should go is the Three Sisters springs.

From January to March, hundreds of manatees head to the spring to run off from the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The springs are at a stable temperature of 72F.

In december / january, when the gulf starts to be colder manatees go to Crystal River. They stayed as long as the springs are warmer than the sea. Once we get closer to spring or summer they leave.

It’s a very unique thing to see and makes it a very popular destination.

PRO TIP: Before heading there, make sure to call the visitor centre to check if the manatees are there. Depending on the weather, they might leave much earlier and it would be a shame to drive for 2 hours and not see them.

PRO TIP 2: If you do not get to see the manatees in Crystal River, head to Homosassa instead. It’s close by and you will definitely see them there.

There are different ways you can see the manatees:

• Walk around the Three Sisters Spring. You can get the shuttle from the visitor centre and walk on the path around the springs. You can not jump in the water from there but if you were not planning on swimming, that’s a great option. It’s also a good thing to do all year round, when the manatees aren’t there.
• Swimming tour. You can book a cruise through King’s Bay Wildlife Refuge and go for a gentle swim with the manatees.
• Snorkeling tour . You can book a snorkeling tour from Crystal River and explore the springs that way.
• Kayaking . You can also rent a kayak in Crystal River and explore the springs. We recommend opting for a clear kayak , that way you will see the manatees swimming underneath. It’s very cool!
• Viewing cruise . If you do not want to go in the water but would like to experience the springs a bit more than by just walking around, you can book a viewing cruise here.

No matter what though, please be respectful. Animals should be treated well so going swimming with the manatees is fine but be respectful!

Weeki Wachee State Park

Recommended by Cris from Wander Florida

There are mermaids in Florida. And they perform daily in one of the world’s most unique theatres, an undersea theatre created from a freshwater spring. This place is Weeki Wachee State Park, and it’s been a favourite theme park in Florida since 1947.

Weeki Wachee means “little spring” or “winding river” in the Seminole language. The park surrounds the first magnitude spring which discharges more than 100 million gallons of water a day.

It is 100 feet wide and approximately 250 feet deep. This water becomes the Weeki Wachee River and flows more than 12 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.

The tourist attraction first housed an 18-seat theatre, later expanded to 50 seats, and was privately owned. Over the years, Buccaneer Bay, a river cruise, and kayak launch were added to the activities.

The park is, of course, best known for the mermaid show in which human mermaids wearing tails perform underwater acts in the spring.

Between mermaid shows, guests to the park can enjoy water slides, a sand beach, and lazy river at Buccaneer Bay.

The lazy river is one of my favourite things to do here as the water is a constant 74 degrees and the river, part of the Weeki Wachee River, is filled with fish and other wildlife.

Another favourite activity for most Floridians is kayaking the river.

It takes about 3 to 4 hours and brings paddlers through some of Florida’s most beautiful and natural landscapes.

If being in the water isn’t your thing, you can still see natural Florida from the dry decks of the river cruise.

Weeki Wachee State Park sits approximately an hour north of Tampa on Highway 19. There is a limit to how many people get in so get there early before the park opens.

Dunedin is a cute small town located about 30-minute drive from St Pete.

It’s a great place to visit if you are looking for some European vibes! The name Dunedin comes from the Scottish Gaelic language and the town holds annual Scottish celebrations, the Dunedin Highland Games and Festival, in April.

The main reason for visiting Dunedin is to check out the historic Downtown district. It’s very quaint and a perfect place to enjoy a relaxing day out.

Downtown Dunedin is filled with cute shops, restaurants and bars.

If you want to learn more about Dunedin, you can also visit the Dunedin Historical Museum or join the bike tour of the historical center . It’s fun and interesting at the same time.

But the thing Dunedin is really famous for is its breweries. There are so many and they are brilliant.

Here are some recommendations of breweries to visit in Dunedin: 7venth Sun Brewery, Woodwright Brewing company and Dunedin Brewery.

Finally, if you are into hiking, you will be able to catch the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin. This is one of the best hiking trails in Florida and it stretches all the way from St Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

You can join it on foot of course but also rent an e-bike for the day and explore a bit further.

Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs is located about 45 minutes North of Downtown St Pete.

It’s a great day trip from St Petersburg for people who want to stay away from the crowds and discover something unique.

It also has a similar vibe to Dunedin, but on a different scale since Tarpon Springs is home to the largest population of people with Greek heritage in the United States.

Visiting Tarpon Springs is a great way to enjoy some amazing Greek influences. This includes European-style architecture but also delicious Greek food.

Tarpon Springs is also known as the sponge capital of the world and you will find sponges everywhere (perfect for people who want to bring back souvenirs).

As you get there, the first place where you should go is the Sponge docks. That’s where you will find all the sponges but also loads of Greek restaurants where you can get iced coffees and of course, lunch.

Make sure to also have a stroll around the historic district. It’s filled with beautiful brick buildings, antiques stores and amazing churches.

As Tarpon Springs is located on the waterfront and close to the Anclote River, it’s a great place for kayaking and canoeing. This is very popular with locals and tourists alike, especially during the manatee season.

PRO TIP: Rent a clear kayak while in Tarpon Springs. You will get to see the manatees swimming underneath!

Caladesi Island

If you’d like to discover more beautiful beaches near St Pete, then head straight to Caladesi Island.

Located in Dunedin, just next to Honeymoon Island, this is another fantastic state park in the area.

It is a bit longer to get there since you will need to take a ferry from Honeymoon Island. This means that you will take the bridge to get to Honeymoon Island and will then park your car at the ferry terminal to cross over.

PRO TIP: You can buy your ticket straight there but it’s worth checking on their Groupon page since they have offers on most of the time.

That having been said, don’t let that scare you. The ferry is only 20 minutes so it’s still pretty easy.

Once you get to Caladesi Island, you will discover some stunning and unspoiled beaches. This is where you can truly see what Florida naturally looks like!

The beaches are made of white and soft sand. There are also beautiful dunes and the wildlife is incredible. You will get to see many birds and if you are lucky, turtles as well!

Ybor City is a neighborhood of Tampa and while we have mentioned this city before, we thought that Ybor deserved its own paragraph.

There are many things you can do in Ybor City and it’s very easy to spend an entire day here!

Ybor City was founded in the 19th century by cigar manufacturers who immigrated from Cuba.

For this reason, Ybor is known as the Cuban quarter in Tampa.

FUN FACT: Ybor City and Little Havana in Miami argue about the origin of the Cuban sandwich. They both claim to be the birthplace of it!

Ybor is also known as the entertainment district. For this reason, you will find many nightclubs, bars, concert venues and restaurants.

It’s the perfect place to go for a drink and enjoy a fun evening.

PRO TIP: Go to Bernini for lunch and in the afternoon. They serve $3 martinis during their happy hour! You can choose amongst the dozens of Martinis available (Classic, chocolate, Espresso, coconut and more!), all of that for 3 bucks each! The food is also very good.

Since Ybor is the Cuban quarter, it’s also the perfect place to get a cigar and grab a delicious Cuban coffee.

In terms of food, there are so many things you should try here. Ybor is home to some of the best restaurants in Tampa.

The best way to experience the food here is to join the historic Ybor City food and drink walking tour. The local guide will take you to the best spots and you will get to taste 6 food and drinks. It’s very good value for money!

Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is a barrier island located across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It’s a 1h15 drive from St Petersburg to get there and it offers beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise waters.

It’s one of the best islands in Florida, especially if you want to relax and enjoy some beach days.

Here are some of the beaches that you should check out: Coquina Beach, Bean Point and Holmes Beach.

If you want to discover the nature, make sure to also go on the Coquina Baywalk. It’s an easy trail and you will get to discover mangrove tunnels and see many birds.

Of course, if you love kayaking, this will also be the place for you. The island is surrounded by mangrove tunnels, which are perfect to explore with a kayak or a paddleboard.

If you are looking for something more cultural and urban, then Sarasota is the perfect fit.

Sarasota has one of the biggest art districts in Florida. There are dozens of museums and art galleries, both free and paying ones.

The most famous one is The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. This is the official state art museum of Florida and it’s home to over 10,000 objects which includes painting, sculptures, photographs and more.

The building itself is also absolutely stunning! It’s entirely pink and you will find beautiful galleries.

If you love taking Instagram photos, this will be your paradise!

There are a lot of things to see in downtown Sarasota and if you want to make the best of your time here, you can book a ticket for the sightseeing trolley tour , the segway tour or the walking food tour of Sarasota.

Finally, no day trip to Sarasota would be complete without going to Siesta Key.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the USA and an absolute paradise. The sand is so white and soft that it actually feels like powder.

PRO TIP: Siesta Key Beach can get very busy so it’s better to get there early to score a parking spot. Ideally, head to the beach first thing in the morning and explore downtown Sarasota in the afternoon.

Homosassa Springs

Located 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Downtown St Petersburg, Homosassa Springs are one of the best springs to visit in Florida, especially on a day trip.

When you arrive, you can park your car on the parking lot of the visitor centre and head in to buy your ticket.

From there, you will go on a short boat trip in the spring with a local guide. They will tell you everything you need to know about the springs but also the wildlife.

While I thought it was quite a cool thing to do (for adults as well as children), I also loved the fact that the guide was pointing out the different birds. We would never have seen them otherwise!

You will then arrive at the wildlife center where you can see many different rescued animals such as manatees, birds and more.

Homosassa Springs is also a great place to go kayaking or paddling.

You may also be interested in:

• 26 Best Things to do in St Petersburg, Florida
• 14 Incredible Hidden Gems in St Petersburg (FL), Clearwater & Tampa
• Where to stay in St Petersburg, Florida: Best areas & hotel recommendations
• Bachelorette in St Petersburg Florida: How to plan the perfect St Pete Bachelorette

Founder of Beeloved City, I am originally from France and have been living in the UK since 2016. I've travelled to 25 countries as a backpacker, travel coordinator and for holidays. I spent a year in Australia before eventually settling down in Manchester, England

Drive to Orlando- 30+ Fun Places to Stop on the Way to Florida

A family road trip to Disney World or other spots near Orlando, Florida is a vacation highlight for millions of people every year.

You probably know which theme parks you want to visit and what you want to do once you’ve arrived in Central Florida , but how about pit stops on your drive to Orlando? Driving to Orlando can be half the fun — especially if your family stops at some of these Trekaroo-approved attractions.

These kid-friendly stops on Interstate 95, Interstate 77, and Interstate 4 will help you start planning the driving portion of your family’s Disney World vacation. Here is Trekaroo’s guide to road trip to Orlando. If you are looking to extend your Florida road trip , here are 30 more places to visit.

Drive to Orlando: Great Stops on Your I-95 Road Trip Itinerary

Stretching from Maine to Florida,  I-95 is the most direct path from north to south along the Atlantic Coast. Road trippers driving this route know that frequent pit stops are a must on your drive to Orlando.

While there are plenty of rest areas and bathroom breaks along I-95, your family will have a lot more fun if you get off the interstate to enjoy the cities and attractions on your road trip to Disney World.

Kid- Friendly Stops Along I-95 in Delaware and Maryland

If you’re beginning your drive to Orlando in Connecticut or New Jersey, the entire family will think it’s a good idea to stretch their legs by the time that you cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge and say goodbye to the New Jersey Turnpike.

Wilmington, Delaware is one of Trekaroo’s favorite pit-stops along I-95 on your drive to Orlando. There is so much to do only a short distance from the interstate and plenty to keep the kids entertained.

Wilmington, Delaware – Riverside Fun and Beautiful Gardens

1. dupont environmental education center.

 Looking for a quick stop in Wilmington on your on your Orlando family road trip? The DuPont Environmental Education Center is just about 5 minutes off the Rte 4/ Martin Luther King blvd exit in Wilmington ( exit 6 on I-95. )

The Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge , where the environmental education center is located, is one of only a handful of urban wildlife areas in the country.

There are trails for walking and bird-watching along the pond and through a garden featuring native plants open daily during daylight hours. Additionally, the education center building is open 11AM-5PM Tuesday through Saturday and noon-5pM on Sundays.

This makes the perfect pit-stop on your drive to Orlando because entry to the DuPont Environmental Education Center is completely free!

2. Delaware Children’s Museum

If it’s raining when you get to Wilmington and the little ones are in desperate need of a break from their car seats on your Orlando family road trip, you’ll be happy to know that the Delaware Children’s Museum is also off the same exit.

Have a bit more time to spend in Wilmington, Delaware?

3. Nemours Estate

If you have at least a few hours considering touring one of the historic homes and gardens of Wilmington’s Du Pont family. On a rainy day, Nemours Estate is the place to go with antique automobiles and a children’s scavenger hunt inside the estate.

4. Winterthur Museum and Garden

On a nice day, head out to Winterthur Museum and Garden home to some of the most beautiful and whimsical gardens in the Mid-Atlantic. 

Looking to stay overnight in Wilmington, DE or a full day exploring the city on your drive to Orlando? Check out Trekaroo’s  Best Wilmington, DE Activities for Families .

5. Annie’s Playground

Traveling with young children on your road trip to Disney World? You won’t want to miss Annie’s Playground  (off exit 74)  in between Wilmington and Baltimore. It even has restrooms, so it is the perfect pit-stop on your drive to Orlando. 

Baltimore – Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

6. fort mchenry national monument.

Looking for a quick stop in Baltimore on your Orlando family road trip? Trekaroo recommends a stop at Fort McHenry National Monument and H i storic Shrine   just 5-10 minutes off of I-95 after exiting the tunnel ( exit 55 .)

While there is an entrance fee for adults ages 16 and over, a visit to Fort McHenry is certainly cheaper than parking at one of the notoriously expensive parking garages in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Of course, there’s plenty of history lessons to be found at Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key penned his famous “Star Spangled Banner” poem here , later to become our national anthem, while watching for the American flag to rise above the fort at dawn.

Children love to explore the nooks and crannies of this famous fort so it is also a great place to burn off some kid energy.

7. Baltimore’s FREE Art Museums

Other quick stops in Baltimore include a visit to one of Baltimore’s free art museums, the Baltimore Museum of Art or Walter’s Art Museum . If you have more time, consider a stop at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium . 

Looking to spend the night in Baltimore on your road trip to Disney World? Or, possibly even a full day in Charm City? Check out Trekaroo’s Top 10 Things to Do in Baltimore with Kids . 

8. Patapsco Valley State Park

Patapsco Valley State Park is a great choice for families looking for kid-friendly stops along I-95. The state park is huge, but there is a suspension bridge and a short hike to a waterfall very close to I-95. A small fee is required per car. 

Kid-Friendly I-95 Pit Stops in Virginia on Your Drive to Orlando

Once you’ve made it through the Capital Region and bypassed Washington DC on your drive to Orlando, you’ll certainly be ready for another pit stop by the time that you cross the Potomac into Virginia.

1. Prince William County – National Museum of the Marine Corps

Families looking for a pit-stop in Northern Virginia should consider the National Museum of the Marine Corps just outside of Quantico (exit 150A.) The museum is huge and focuses on US participation in various wars and conflicts.

It is free so families can stop in for a short visit and be on their way. Drivers can even spot the museum from I-95. It is that close. 

If you have more time to spend in Northern Virginia, check out Trekaroo’s resource for learning about American history in Prince William County,  Road School: Civil War and American History in Prince William County, VA.

2. Fredericksburg – A Nice Place to Stay the Night on an I-95 Road Trip

Looking for a place to stop for the night on your road trip to Disney World? Trekaroo families love Fredericksburg, Virginia about halfway between Washington DC and Richmond.

It is full of history, has several hotels just off I-95, and lots of hometown cooking. Check out Trekaroo’s guide to an overnight stay in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Just north of Richmond on I-95, Kings Dominion is one of the best amusement parks in the Eastern United States. If you’re in search of the best roller coasters in the East, you should certainly consider a stop at Kings Dominion ( exit 98 ) on your drive to Orlando.  

3. Richmond – Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Richmond is a fun place to stop just for a couple hours or even to spend the night on your drive to Orlando. Everyone’s got to take a break from driving to sleep at some point, right?

Virginia’s capital has a growing foodie scene in its Church Hill, Carytown, and Downtown neighborhoods making it the perfect place to eat a satisfying dinner. There are also museums, historic sites, and gardens to explore in this beautiful Southern city on the James River.

If you’re opting for only a quick break in Richmond on your road trip to Disney World, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (exit 83B) has a fun children’s garden where the tots and youngsters can play. My kids enjoyed playing hide and seek in a lovely wooden treehouse, walking around the conservatory, and smelling the roses.

Want to extend your Richmond pit-stop? Check out Trekaroo’s Things to Do in Richmond with Kids.

Fun Places to Stop on Your Road Trip to Florida Along I-95 in the Carolinas and Georgia

North carolina stops on your drive to orlando.

If you’re on a mission to get to Orlando as quickly as possible, North Carolina is probably the state that you want to drive straight through making the fewest number of stops possible. There just aren’t many options for kid-friendly stops along I-95 in North Carolina on a drive to Orlando.

However, if you’re looking to extend your road trip to Disney World into the beautiful state of North Carolina, there are many options.

The easiest is to make a detour over to Raleigh on Interstate 85. The other option is to drive through New Bern to North Carolina’s coast and drive the coastal route on your road trip to Disney World. 

Looking for recommendations for things to do in Raleigh with your family? Check out Trekaroo’s Top Things to Do in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Planning a stop in New Bern on your drive to Orlando? Check out Trekaroo’s tips for Exploring Historic New Bern with Kids . 

South Carolina Stops on Your Drive to Orlando

1. south of the border.

After driving 180 miles through North Carolina on your drive to Orlando, you’ll reach the famous rest stop, South of the Border . You guessed it, it’s located just south of the North Carolina- South Carolina Border!

With three restaurants, a reptile lagoon, a small amusement park, and even a motel, South of the Border is easy to spot: look for the Sombrero Tower at exit 1 in North Carolina . This is a perfect stop on your driver to Orlando.

2. Woods Bay State Park

There are a couple of state parks in South Carolina worth a stop for families on a road trip to Disney World. Woods Bay State Park in Olanta off of exit 141 has a nature trail that circles a pond. By the pond you’ll likely see alligators and cypress trees.

3. Colleton County State Park

Another option for families driving to Orlando is Colleton County State Park in Walterboro off exit 68.  The half-a-mile long Cypress Swamp Nature Trail is perfect for families. Along the trail kids can spot magnolias and bald cypress trees. 

Looking to stay awhile in South Carolina on your Orlando family road trip? Consider a detour off I-95 to Charleston. Looking for kid-friendly things to do in Charleston? Check out Trekaroo’s Fun Things to Do in Charleston, SC with Kids.  

 Georgia Stops on Your Drive to Orlando

1. peach stands.

Truth be told, my favorite part about driving in Georgia on a road trip to Disney World are the peach stands. Georgia is the home of peaches and pecans, and there’s no problem finding either, as nearly every exit in Georgia has peach stands!

Also, Darien, GA , not far off of exit 49 , is a seaside village famous for shrimpin’ and food making the perfect place to stop for lunch in Georgia on a drive to Orlando.

Darien has an old-school look and feel, and self-guided tours give a good reason to stretch out those legs. Chicken and waffles, a southern favorite, is a perfect choice.

Planning to check out the coastal highlights of South Carolina and Georgia on your road trip to Disney World? Check out Trekaroo’s  Family-Friendly Road Trip Charleston SC to Savannah GA.

Kid-Friendly Stops Along I-95 in Florida- You’ve Made It!

Once you hit the Florida border, there’s only one thing on everyone’s mind- the beach!  Jacksonville Beach at exit 341 and Daytona Beach at exit 261 are two family-friendly beaches with great restaurants and lots of play space for families.

Don’t forget to pack a kite, as the ocean breeze at both beaches is ideal for kite flying! The beaches are a great place to take a few days rest on your road trip to Walt Disney World.

Need Orlando lodging recommendation now that your route is planned? Check out Trekaroo’s Best Orlando Hotels for Families .

Drive to Orlando: Kid Friendly Stops on Your I-77 Road Trip Itinerary

Looking for the fast track from Cleveland, OH to Columbia, SC? I-77 is your highway!

Spanning 611 miles, along the way you can find good food, fun pit stops, and loads of family-friendly attractions. From Columbia, you can join up with I-95 South for the last leg of your journey on your drive to Orlando.

Kid-Friendly I-77 Pit Stops in Ohio and West Virginia on Your Drive to Orlando

Leaving the shores of Lake Erie, you’ll soon be in Appalachia. Mountains stretch as far as the eye can see.  It will take you at least three hours to cross West Virginia on your road trip to Disney World. Consider a stop at the state capital or a state park to enjoy the mountain scenery!

1. Pit-Stop in Ohio at The Warther Museum

The Warther Museum   is a unique museum located in Dover, Ohio off of exit 83 . This woodcarving museum has several locomotive replicas, called “priceless works of art” by The Smithsonian. The collection is compliments of  founder Ernest Warther’s love of trains.

2. Charleston, the Capital of West Virginia

Driving the I-77 route on a road trip to Disney World, families pass through Charleston, capital of West Virginia. Take exit 99 for the West Virginia State Capitol Building along the Kanawha River.

It is one of the most beautiful capitals out of all fifty states, with its gilded dome and marble interiors. It can even be seen from quite a distance away.

If the weather is not quite right for a stroll around the gardens, take a look inside the extensive West Virginia State Museum . There is no cost to visit the West Virginia State Capitol Building, gardens and West Virginia State Museum; they are all free !

Did you know that West Virginia was the only state born out of the American Civil War? There is a prominent statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the state Capitol building so that West Virginians never forget their history.

Charleston is a great place to spend the night on a road trip to Disney World. There are several great kid-friendly restaurants downtown. Check out Trekaroo’s recommendations for Spending a Day in Charleston, West Virginia Capital City. 

Save money on a hotel room in Charleston, West Virginia!

3. Visit a Coal Mine in Beckley

Take exit 44 in Beckley to stop make a stop at the town’s Exhibition Coal Mine . Tours of the mine are offered frequently and take about 45 minutes.

Kids love riding a train down into the mine as a retired miner explains how coal was mined in Beckley. Outside the mine there is a historical mining town set up for visitors to walk through. 

4. Spend Time at Camp Creek State Park

If you’re more the outdoorsy type consider driving another 90 minutes down the interstate and camping at Camp Creek State Park just off exit 20 in West Virginia. Camp Creek, one of West Virginia’s beautiful  state parks, offers cabins, horseback and hiking trails, and several playgrounds to blow off some pent-up energy.

Kid-Friendly I-77 Pit Stops in the Carolinas on Your Road Trip to Florida

1. mt. airy.

Crossing from Virginia into North Carolina, visit Mt. Airy, NC  off exit 81 . This small town will make you feel as though you’ve been dropped in the middle of “The Andy Griffith Show!” One stroll down Main Street and you’ll think you’ve been transported to Mayberry.

2. Charlotte

If you need to stop for the night, Charlotte, North Carolina is a good option. There’s lots to do in this Southern city that sits right on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina.

A Trekaroo favorite is  Carowinds off exit 90 in South Carolina. This amusement park is often called the “Thrill Capital of the Southeast!” Thrill rides, family-style rides, a waterpark, and even Planet Snoopy make this park fun and family-friendly. 

3. Columbia

Soon you’ll be joining I-95, but first you’ll drive through South Carolina’s state capital, Columbia. From the South Carolina State Museum to the Riverbanks Zoo there’s plenty to see and do in Columbia, SC. 

Don’t forget to grab some southern barbecue before you leave South Carolina! Maurice’s off exit 18 in Columbia is a fan favorite.

Drive to Orlando: I-4 from Orlando to Tampa

So many travelers recognize I-4 as the well-traveled highway to Disney and Universal Studios, but this interstate really has so much more to offer on your drive to Orlando! Fun dinner shows, exhilarating activities, and awesome attractions give road tripping families tons of spots for breaks and leisure.

1. Chocolate Kingdom

Chocolate lovers will want to keep exit 65 in mind for one reason: Chocolate Kingdom . With hourly tours, families learn how chocolate is transformed from a bean to a mouth-watering treat.

2. Medieval Times

Looking for fun dining? Choose exit 68  to dine like royalty at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Show or choose unusual sandwich options at Earl of Sandwich .

3. Dinsoaur World

Planning on driving through Orlando and heading toward Tampa? Make a pit stop on exit 17 and check out Dinosaur World . Kids will enjoy the fossil dig and life-size dinos while adults will adore the serene environment.

4. Have an Airboat Adventure!

Looking for some fun off the beaten path? Take exit 77 and in under an hour arrive at Wild Florida Airboats and Wildlife Park . Take a spin on an airboat through the Central Florida Everglades and visit the wildlife park while taking in a glimpse of what Florida looked like 1,000 years ago!

Take a break from your road trip at these 6 weird, quirky Michigan roadside attractions

From private gnome villages built in front yards to giant tires along the highway, Michigan has a host of fun roadside attractions.

Here are just a few to check out. Do you have other attractions we should include? Reach out to us .

Gnome Village

• Location: Wolverine — off of Old Sturgeon Road

In an April social media video, TikTok user MckormickRadio randomly stumbled across a gnome village off Old Sturgeon Road in Wolverine, and couldn't believe the find.

The collection of tiny houses is unique and whimsical and features a small church and other community buildings.

Eiffel Tower

• Location: Paris Park, about 5 miles north of Big Rapids
• Cost: $6 park entry

Visit the Eiffel Tower without ever leaving the state with a visit to Paris Park in northern Michigan. The 20-foot-tall tower is constructed of steel, built in 1980 by welding students from the Mecosta-Osceola Career Center in Big Rapids.

The park is also home to the state's first fish hatchery dating back to 1881 and operated until converted into a park in 1964. Behind the hatchery is a drawing of a Chippewa Chief carved in 1937.

Cross in the Woods and Nun Doll Museum

• Location: 7078 M-68, Indian River

Along I-75 in northern Michigan is a spiritual site with the world's largest crucifixion of Jesus Christ, sculpted by Michigan's own Marshall Fredericks, responsible for the Spirit of Detroit among other monuments. The bronze 28-foot statue is just one spiritual stop of the park's seven holy shrines .

In addition to the holy sculptures, the Cross In the Woods Catholic Shrine at Indian River is home to the largest number of dolls dressed in traditional habits of men and women in religious communities in the country. On display in the doll museum is 525 dolls and 20 mannequins from around the world.

More: 8 unusual Michigan museums to visit this summer

Dinosaur Gardens

• Location: Ossineke
• Cost: $10 and up

Take a walk on the wild side with a trip to Ossineke Michigan's Dinosaur Garden , first opened in 1923, which more than 20 dinosaur sculptures call home.

The park is a half-mile walk and self-guided tours start at $10 with children under 2 years old free. For an added $3 per child, kids can dig for their fossils and take home their favorite three. The park also has an 18-hole putt-putt golf course overlooking the nearby Devil's River.

The Miner's Sluice packages range from $10.95 to $21.95 and give families the experience of picking a bag of mining mix and washing the contents in a live, water-operated miner's sluice.

Nearly 200 miles south of Dinosaur Gardens in Irish Hills is the site of the long-abandoned Prehistoric Forest , a similar dinosaur park that thrived in the early 1980s.

Uniroyal Tire

• Location: Dearborn, westbound I-94

An 80-foot-tall Uniroyal tire , originally built as a Ferris wheel for the 1964 New York World's Fair , has welcomed incoming metro Detroiters off of I-94 for decades.

See inside: I-94's giant Uniroyal tire

Allen Park was awarded the giant tire, worth $750,000, made of polyester resin and fiberglass in 1965 as long as they converted the moving and set up costs — which estimated to be about $300,000.

Detroit's Hollywood-style Sign

• Location: Detroit, eastbound I-94

Detroit's newest roadside attraction, a Hollywood-esque light-up sign, was built in early April to welcome visitors for the 2024 NFL draft .

Opinion: Detroit sign on I-94 should have included more residents, input from artists | Letters

The 10-foot-tall letters received mixed reviews from community members after its installation. Mayor Mike Duggan blamed the negative response on a misleading rendering that went viral on social media after the Free Press' original reporting .

Memorial Day weekend getaways: Best Arizona road trips from Flagstaff to the Coronado Trail

Memorial Day weekend changes things. The calendar claims that weeks of spring still remain on the books. But for all intents and purposes, it’s hello, summer. The holiday also provides a chance to get out of town for a wonderful stretch. 

While backyard barbecues and pool parties are great, there’s a whole lot of Arizona just waiting for you. Take this opportunity to head someplace cool or wet or both. For a few glorious days, you can refresh and recharge. Now you’re ready to face the summer. At least until the July 4 break.

Here are some of Arizona’s best Memorial Day getaways. 

What to do in Flagstaff on Memorial Day weekend

Celebrate wupatki national monument's centennial.

On the quiet prairie northeast of Flagstaff the pueblos of Wupatki National Monument rise like red-boned ghosts above swaying grasses.

The eruption of Sunset Crater in 1085 covered the dry basin with volcanic ash and cinders, creating arable terrain. Soon afterward, Ancestral Puebloans moved in and built the freestanding dwellings that appear almost as natural rock formations.

This year Wupatki celebrates its centennial as a national monument. Short pathways lead to up-close encounters with a handful of these ancient structures. Behind the visitor center, a paved trail leads to Wupatki Pueblo, the largest dwelling in the park. The sprawling three-story ruin contains nearly 100 rooms and straddles an outcropping of sandstone.

Admission is $25 per vehicle and covers both Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, connected by a scenic road.

Details: 928-679-2365,  nps.gov/wupa .

Tackle the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

After your visit to Wupatki and Sunset Crater, you’ll have the rest of the weekend to experience Arizona’s summer capital. Why not sample the tree-top thrills of Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course at Fort Tuthill County Park?

Conquer rope swings, climbing walls, hanging nets, wobbly bridges and ziplines. There are multiple circuits on the adult playground, plus a course designed for children ages 7-11. Adult course costs $60, as does the zipline adventure, or combine the two for $99. Children’s course is $30.

Details: 888-259-0125, flagstaffextreme.com .  

Ax throwing and laser tag in Flagstaff

If you prefer indoor activities, FlagTagAZ offers ax and knife throwing, laser tag, darts, arcade games and more. They also serve beer, wine and mead in their pizza café.

Details: 928-707-9824,  flagtagaz.com .

Flagstaff Brewery Trail

Speaking of beer, there’s something supremely satisfying about a day spent walking around Flagstaff’s historic downtown and Southside neighborhoods with their eclectic collections of shops, galleries, restaurants and, yes, craft breweries.

There are eight breweries to be exact, all waiting to quench your thirst with a cold craft beer. You can download a digital passport and score a free commemorative pint glass.

Details: craftbeerflg.com .   

You really should see Canyon de Chelly. Here's how

At Canyon de Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona, sheer cliffs plunge hundreds of feet to lush bottomlands lined with crops, pastures and cottonwood trees.

It’s a staggering blend of high drama and pastoral beauty. The scenic canyon shelters thousands of archaeological sites while dozens of Navajo families still live and farm there during warmer months.

Take one day to travel the rim drives for the stunning vistas. The North Rim Drive is 17 miles with three overlooks at prominent cliff dwellings and is best in the morning. The South Rim Drive, 19 miles with seven viewpoints, is even more spectacular, and is especially exquisite when afternoon light floods the canyon. 

Then take another day to explore the inner canyon with a Navajo guide. Private operators offer jeep, horseback or hiking outings. You’ll find a list at navajonationparks.org . Park admission is free; there are fees for tours.

Tours also leave daily from Thunderbird Lodge (928-674-5842,  thunderbirdlodge.com ) within the park.

Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation also manages Cottonwood Campground near the Canyon de Chelly visitor center. The campground has grills, picnic tables and restrooms. No showers or hookups are available. Maximum RV length is 40 feet. For information call 928-674-2106.

Details: 928-674-5500,  www.nps.gov/cach . 

Fool Hollow Lake: Fish, hike or take a swim 

Nestled in the pines outside of Show Low, 149-acre Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area contains one of the loveliest bodies of water in the White Mountains, which is high praise indeed. There’s big open water and isolated coves, quiet marshes and long channels.

This is the kind of lake that makes you want to jump in a kayak and go exploring. Fortunately, you can. Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available from J&T’s WildLife Outdoors at the east boat launch ramp (928-892-9170,  jtwildlifeoutdoors.com ). They also offer a guided pontoon boat tour. You can learn about Adair, the town submerged beneath the water.

Landlubbers can hike the 1.5-mile trail running along the edge of the lake. Anglers try their luck landing rainbow trout, bass, walleye, northern pike and more. And yes, swimming is permitted. Fool Hollow also has campsites for tents and RVs. Reserve your spot online or by calling 877-697-2757. Park admission is $7 per vehicle Mondays-Thursdays and $10 per vehicle Fridays-Sundays and on holidays.

Details: 928-537-3680,  azstateparks.com .

Explore art shows in Prescott

When artists display their work on the big grassy lawn of Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza, you know summer has arrived. Spend a day browsing, listening to music and enjoying the mild temperatures.

The Phippen Museum holds its popular Western Art Show and Sale on the plaza May 25-27. More than 100 artists will have booths set up beneath the big elm trees. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday. A Quick Draw Challenge will happen on the north steps of the courthouse from 2-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Details: 928-778-1385,  phippenartmuseum.org .

With a little planning, you can double your art show fun in Prescott. The Prescott OffStreet Festival is May 25-26 at its new home, Pine Ridge Marketplace, formerly the Gateway Mall. There will be fine art, photography, handmade crafts and food. The fun starts at 9 a.m. both days and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Details: 928-445-2000,  prescott.org .

Scenic drive: Traverse more than 460 curves on the Coronado Trail

The Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway, a segment of U.S. 191, twists and turns for 123 miles between Morenci and Springerville in eastern Arizona. The road parallels the New Mexico state line and is the nation’s curviest and least-traveled federal highway.

Expect a 6,000-foot elevation change as the Coronado Trail climbs from cactus-strewn desert to lush alpine meadows and aspen-clad mountains with more than 460 curves along the way. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado is thought to have followed this route centuries ago as he searched for the Seven Cities of Gold.

The road passes the mining towns of Clifton and Morenci and curves around one of the world’s largest open pit mines. It snakes its way up narrow Chase Canyon and switchbacks through scrubby woodland that gives way to dense pine forests as you climb.

The Coronado Trail skirts the edge of the Blue Range Primitive Area, where Mexican gray wolves roam. Stop at the high perch of Blue Vista Point for incredible views and to breathe the cool mountain air. Oxygen at 9,100 feet just seems to have a fragrance all its own.

Beyond Hannagan Meadow Lodge, the road softens its tone. The curves are lazier as it winds through forest to alpine ringed by mountains. From here, continue past brush-covered plateaus and the shimmering waters of Nelson Reservoir to the towns of Springerville and Eagar nestled in Round Valley, an idyllic spot to land on Memorial Day weekend.

Meet Roger Naylor

Arizona Republic contributor and author Roger Naylor will discuss his book "Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts About the Grand Canyon State," at the Highlands Center for Natural History in Prescott.

The Highlands Center is tucked away amid the pine trees and serves as an educational hub. There are discovery gardens and trails on the property. Books will be for sale after the talk. The event is free to attend; donations for the venue are gratefully accepted.

Details: 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, Prescott. 928-776-9550,  highlandscenter.org .

Find the reporter at  www.rogernaylor.com .  Or follow him on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ  or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor .

• Entertainment

13 experiences to celebrate Mother’s Day in Seattle and beyond

In typical time-is-flying-faster-than-I-can-comprehend fashion, Mother’s Day is just around the corner. This year, put away the gift lists and prioritize spending quality time with your mom and the special women in your life. From tea dates and brunches to wildflower hikes and weekend getaways, make some new memories on May 12.

For the tea-loving mom

I have memories from a young age of going to afternoon tea with my mom and grandma. Today, my mom and I keep up that tradition, from seeking out tea experiences around the world to making a ritual out of brewing a pot of tea at home. This Mother’s Day, here’s where to experience some multicultural tea traditions across the Greater Seattle area.

• Bring mom to The Pantry in Ballard for a Persian tea party hosted by Omid Roustaei of the Caspian Chef . There, you’ll learn about generations-old Iranian tea rituals and how to make a Persian tea of botanicals and spices while snacking on savory and sweet Persian bites. Roustaei’s tea party will be at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend ($140/person). thepantryseattle.com
• Although there are plenty of memorable afternoon tea experiences right in Seattle, get a change of scenery at Kenmore’s Lodge at St. Edward Park . The historic building, which sits in a serene forest on the shores of Lake Washington, was constructed in 1931 and once served as a Catholic seminary. Today, the 84-room lodge offers a peaceful, picture-perfect setting for an afternoon tea with mom, where you can spend the afternoon sipping botanical blends and savoring tea sandwiches and scones. Mother’s Day tea ($72/person) is 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12.  thelodgeatstedward.com
• Make a trip to the Seattle Japanese Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum to learn more about the sacred Japanese tea ceremony, an ancient art rooted in simplicity, harmony and respect. Pass through the traditional roji garden to reach the Shoseian Teahouse, which hosts tea ceremonies every Saturday, as well as some Fridays and Sundays ($15/person).  seattlejapanesegarden.org

For the home cook

If some of your favorite memories with your mom are in the kitchen, carry on the tradition and cook together this Mother’s Day. Elevate your cooking skills at the Hot Stove Society , a Tom Douglas Restaurants cooking school inside Belltown’s Hotel Ändra. Hot Stove Society hosts fun, globally inspired cooking classes all year long. Gift mom a day of learning to cook pizza, Mediterranean mezzes, Spanish paella, and other delicious cuisines. (Cooking classes typically range $90-$150/person.) hotstovesociety.com

Looking to extend your quality time together after class? Book a staycation at Hotel Ändra , where cooking class students get a 20% discount on a hotel stay. After you’ve filled up on your tasty creations, explore the Belltown area or unwind in your plush suite.  hotelandra.com

For the floral enthusiast

It’s hard to go wrong with celebrating the mother figures in your life with flowers. Although they’re usually a sure way to bring a smile to her face, skip the bouquet and experience the brilliance of spring blossoms together this year instead.

• Head to downtown Seattle to see brilliant blooms at the Pike Place Flower Festival . The historic market’s annual festival celebrates the diversity of Western Washington’s flowers and the flower farmers who make our lives more colorful. Bring the mother figure in your life to fawn over colorful bouquets of tulips, irises and peonies. Live tunes will set the scene for a flower-filled day in the city 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11-12. pikeplacemarket.org
• Learn the art of ikebana at the Chihuly Garden and Glass’ Spring Bloom . Guest artisan Megumi Schacher teaches the centuries-old Japanese flowering arranging tradition every other Sunday, including Mother’s Day (free with Chihuly entry, which starts at $35). Afterward, stop by The Bar inside the museum’s Collections Cafe for a spring-themed cocktail. chihulygardenandglass.com
• Celebrate Mother’s Day with a botanical brunch blitz at Seattle’s famous Fairmont Hotel ($120/person, including flower bouquet). Choose a colorful arrangement at the pop-up floral shop and fill up on a floral-themed brunch menu, which includes rose- and orange blossom-infused pastries and salads with edible flowers. Don’t forget to toast mom with a spritz from the botanical bar. fairmontolympic.com
• Aspiring florists and creative souls can learn the art of flower design with Fleurs Creative in Snohomish ($125/person). If you can’t make the Mother’s Day class, join instructor Alicia Schwede for classes the following week. fleurscreative.com

For the outdoorsy mom

With the gloom of April (hopefully) behind us, take mom outside to enjoy the longer days and newly blooming nature of the Pacific Northwest.

• For an adventure close to Seattle, head to Montlake to go for a stroll through the Arboretum . The rhododendron garden tends to be particularly magnificent this time of year. botanicgardens.uw.edu
• With Seattle’s abundance of kayak rentals, take mom out on the water for a paddle . Grab a kayak from Alki Kayak (rentals start at $25/hour; kayakalki.com ) to paddle around West Seattle, explore Seattle’s lakes and bays with a kayak rental from Agua Verde Paddle Club in Portage Bay (beginning at $22/hour; aguaverdepaddleclub.com ), or get out on Shilshole Bay with Ballard Kayak (rentals at $22/hour; ballardkayak.com ). If you’re itching for an adventure further afield, head north to Bellingham. Women-owned Dragonfly Kayak Tours runs half-day tours ($85/person; dragonflykayaktours.com ) exploring the enchanting coastline of Chuckanut Bay, which is teeming with wildlife.
• Hiking season might not be in full swing yet, but spring is the perfect time to search for early wildflowers and roaring waterfalls . Waterfall chasers should head to Mount Rainier National Park. Little Mashel Falls , accessible from the Carbon River section of Mount Rainier, is a moderate 5-mile hike featuring three waterfalls. For a longer excursion, hike Chenuis Falls in the Mowich region of the park, or check out Goat Falls near Chinook Pass for a short jaunt to some beautiful cascades. 
• The Columbia River Gorge area in southwestern Washington is the spot to go for early wildflower adventures. Grassy Knoll , Big Huckleberry Mountain and Weldon Wagon Road offer hiking adventures of varying lengths and difficulty, complete with brilliant wildflowers and views of Mount Hood.

For the road-tripping mom

If you manage to snag a whole weekend with mom or the other special ladies in your life, take a road trip to Oregon’s Willamette Valley for a few days of regenerative, outdoor- and wine-themed fun. On your drive down, make a stop at Amaterra Winery , located just 15 minutes outside Portland, for sustainable sips. Tucked between the Willamette River and the Coastal Mountain Range, Amaterra specializes in high-quality pinot noir that reflects its unique geographic location. amaterrawines.com

Continue your drive and land at Inn the Ground (rates start at $389/night), about an hour southwest of Portland. This bed-and-breakfast opened last summer and is the perfect setting for quality time with loved ones. The striking architecture blends into the hillsides of the Willamette Valley on the grounds of a regenerative farm where you can take part in yoga, meditation and guided hikes. theground.love

Between resting and relaxing in the atmospheric inn, make a trip to Durant Vineyards’ tasting room in Dayton, Ore. In addition to wine-tasting, take a tour of Durant’s olive mill, relax in the vineyards with a picnic basket or check out the winery’s Mother’s Day basket-hanging workshop on May 11 ($85/person). durantoregon.com

To top off a day at the winery, make a reservation for a spring meal at Humble Spirit in McMinnville, Ore. The eatery specializes in thoughtful, hyper-seasonal dining. The ingredients embrace the spirit of regenerative farming and are sourced locally from the best of the region’s farmers, fishers, ranchers and winemakers. Tuck into meals reflecting the here and now of spring, from hakurei turnips with roasted carrot hummus, to fresh greens and radishes. humblespirit.love

Most Read Life Stories

• Rant & Rave: Reader tired of 'Lance Armstrong wannabes' on Burke-Gilman
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Gigi Hadid were two Met Gala winners
• 3 top picks for Seattle outdoor dining from critic Bethany Jean Clement
• Sudden resignations. A leaked letter. What’s happening inside Miss USA?
• Discount Disneyland tickets for as little as $50 a day available all summer

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

Press Herald

Account Subscription: ACTIVE

Questions about your account? Our customer service team can be reached at [email protected] during business hours at (207) 791-6000 .

9 places to nosh on bagels in southern Maine

From old-school spots to foodie favorites, there's a 'hole' lot to try.

You are able to gift 5 more articles this month.

Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more .

With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month.

It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page .

Loading....

Bread and bagels at The Works Cafe in downtown Portland. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

From New York-style boiled bagels to Montreal-inspired wood-fired ones, there’s lots of great bagels in southern Maine and several shops have the accolades to back that up.

In 2023, Bon Appetit named bagels from Rose Foods and Rover Bagel among the best in the country.

Two years before that,  Food & Wine Magazine put Rover, Forage and Scratch Baking Co. on its list of best bagels in the U.S.

Whether you like yours toasted with cream cheese or as the bread for your breakfast sandwich, you can find plenty of styles and flavors from Biddeford to Brunswick.

BEACH BAGELS

The offerings at Beach Bagels include a French toast and marble bagel, and the cream cheese menu comprises spreads like strawberry, olive and honey walnut. Along with breakfast sandwiches, Beach Bagels has hearty breakfast options like omelets and pancakes. Best of all, you’re steps away from a beach stroll. Just don’t let the seagulls steal your bagel. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily WHERE: 34 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach. beachbagels.yolasite.com ______________

Dutchman’s opened in 2022 as a pop-up housed at Nomad pizza in Brunswick’s Fort Andross building. It’s since become a permanent fixture there and uses the pizzeria’s wood-fired ovens to bake its bagels. The hand-shaped, honey-boiled bagels come in plain, roasted garlic, poppy and a bagel-of-the-day flavor.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to Sunday WHERE: Fort Andross, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. dutchmans.me ______________

FORAGE MARKET

Making bagels at Forage Market involves a two-day aging process. The bagels are naturally leavened with wild yeast starter and baked next to a hardwood fire. There are usually five flavors available, including sesame and garlic. Breakfast sandwiches (including vegan options) are available. Forage also has a location in Lewiston. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 123 Washington Ave., Portland. foragemarket.com _____________

MISTER BAGEL

There are 10 or so Mister Bagel locations in Maine, including South Portland and Falmouth. It all began with the Portland location, which was the first bagel shop to open in Maine. The late Rick Hartglass started Mister Bagel in 1977, and it is still a family business. Music fans will appreciate the breakfast sandwich menu, which includes The David Bowie (bacon, egg and American cheese), the Jimmy Buffett (egg with roast beef and cheddar) and The Lady Gaga (avocado, salt and pepper, with or without egg).

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 599 Forest Ave., Portland. misterbagelforestave.com ______________

At Rose Foods, the menu varies depending on the day, but there are usually six to eight flavors available. For example, should you pop in on a Friday, you’ll find a poppy and onion bialy (a cousin of the bagel that is not boiled). Rose Foods also makes a number of bagel sandwiches, including the Classic Nova with Nova lox and the Classic Whitefish. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily WHERE: 428 Forest Ave., Portland. rosefoods.me

______________

ROVER BAGEL

At Rover Bagel, you’ll find wood-fired plain, poppy, sea salt, sesame and everything bagels available most of the time, and the spread game here is strong with cream cheese options like lemon-thyme-honey cream and chili-garlic.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 10 West Point Lane Suite 10-204, Biddeford (Pepperell Mill). roverbagel.com

______________ Advertisement

SCRATCH BAKING CO.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the line of devoted fans waiting for Scratch Baking Co. to open, especially on weekend mornings. Along with the popular Maine sea salt, plain and other everyday flavors, Scratch has a daily special bagel. There’s honeyed rosemary on Wednesday and jalapeno cheddar on Thursday. Scratch is also famous, at least to locals, for its P-Cheese spread. It’s a pimento cheese recipe made with cheddar, mayo, roasted red peppers and seasoning and was passed down to co-owner and head baker Allison Reid by her grandmother, Mern.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 416 Preble St., South Portland. scratchbakingco.com ___________

THE MAINE BAGEL

The Maine Bagel is a drive-thru with several breakfast and other kinds of sandwiches available. With a bagel list that features egg and bialy among the standards, the family-owned spot is the perfect place to stop on your way to Pine Point Beach. The Maine Bagel really shines with a dozen kinds of cream cheese spreads, including raisin-walnut, lox, strawberry, cranberry-nut and bacon-chive.

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: 117 Route 1, Scarborough. themainebagel.com Advertisement

THE WORKS CAFE

The Works Cafe is an institution on the edge of the Portland’s Old Port. It opened in 1990 as Bagel Works before it changed its name in 2002. The original shop in this regional chain opened in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988, and there are 11 locations around New England, though just the one in Maine. Gone are the ’90s-era banana-walnut bagels and cold pizza cream cheese, but The Works Cafe is still a reliable place to grab a salt, multigrain or cinnamon raisin bagel, among others. The menu also has bowls, sandwiches and smoothies.

WHEN: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily WHERE: 15 Temple St., Portland. workscafe.com

Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.

Enter your email and password to access comments.

Forgot Password?

Don't have a commenting profile? Create one.

Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. Already have a commenting profile? Login .

Invalid username/password.

Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.

Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate.

Already registered? Log in to join the discussion.

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why .

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

Send questions/comments to the editors.

Member Log In

Please enter your username and password below. Already a subscriber but don't have one? Click here .

Not a subscriber? Click here to see your options