Best U.S. Road Trip Paths to Take
Everyone has an iconic road trip Spotify playlist for belting songs at the top of your lungs with best friends on a never-ending highway. We’ve all had to resist the temptation of setting off on the highway instead of continuing our drive to school, or just packing up a car and driving with no destination in particular in mind. Those cool summer nights acquainted with a light breeze and a breathtaking sunset call for the only appropriate activity– an evening drive. Whether it is with your family, friends, or the solo trio (me, myself, and I), everyone must settle into a car, truck, trailer, you name it, and venture out onto the vast highways of the United States on the road trip of a lifetime at some point in their lives. There’s no need to be discouraged from taking these highways in doses. If the thought of gearing up to spend a few weeks in your vehicle isn’t your cup of tea, opt for an afternoon or weekend to cruise along instead. Here’s a list of a few of the best seemingly endless road trip paths to take all across the country:
Pacific Coast Highway
There’s a reason the widely loved PCH is mentioned in many more than one song. Now that we think about it, there are many reasons why it’s talked about in many songs. The Pacific Coast Highway on the country’s west coast is a scenic 600 mile (about 10 hours total) drive of the state’s deeply saturated blue-watered coastline. The route begins at Interstate 5 by San Juan Capistrano and ends at U.S. 101 in Leggett in Mendocino County. It runs along the rugged cliffs overlooking all the beauty the coast has to offer. The most well-known and iconic part of the Drive is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Other famous stops of the Pacific Coast Highway include the Santa Monica Pier, Mcway Falls, Hearst Castle, and the Avenue of the Giants. Don’t forget to check out some of the major cities along the highway too, including Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and Los Angeles. This highway is an absolute must to road trip for all of you dreaming about living life west coast style one day.
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 496 miles across Virginia and North Carolina— a route Elon students can escape to for a weekend getaway drive. The scenic route connects the Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When road tripping along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can stop at various sites to go hiking in the mountains, explore state parks, and stop at the famous Natural Bridge in Virginia. Another popular break on the parkway is the Blue Ridge Music Center at Milepost 213. At this outdoor amphitheater, travelers can go to bluegrass music festivals and explore the deep-rooted music culture of Blue Ridge. If boredom finds you at school one day and time is your friend, go on a leisurely drive listening to new tunes with your friends or throw a podcast (about literally anything) to boost your knowledge and calm the soul. The Blue Ridge Parkway is about two hours west of Elon.
Historic Route 66
Photo by Tobias Negele on Pexels.
The Historic Route 66, previously known as U.S. Route 66 and “The Main Street of America”, stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. The original route was a straight shot between these two famous cities, but today travelers can only drive preserved parts of the highway system. First driven in 1926 as a part of the country's first interstate highway system, this route was well known for hopeful wide-eyed Americans looking to travel out west toward their California dreams. In 1985, U.S. Route 66 was officially removed from the country’s highway system, and what we know today as Historic Route 66 was born. Some must-see destinations along the Historic Route 66 are Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, Leaning Tower of Texas in Groom, Texas, and Meteor Crater in Winslow, Arizona. Additionally, parts of the old highway are even being turned into cycling paths for those eager to pedal some of the way.
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 stretches all the way from Maine to Florida— a total of approximately 2,400 miles. The beginning of the road trip route for those brave enough to conquer it all, begins at “America’s First Mile” in Fort Kent, Maine. What many travelers road tripping this highway enjoy about U.S Route 1 is that it passes directly through major cities like Boston, but also entices small historic towns in each state. This allows for some slower driving (due to heavy urban area traffic) to get a taste of big city life along east coast cities, and also the ability to cruise through nearly vacant roads in the middle of nowhere. The variety in pace of driving makes the time whiz by all the while keeping all the passengers entertained. In the fall season, this route makes for a lovely gradient of the trees changing colors along the way if you pay close attention. In the spring, the opposite rings true— start in Maine and go south to Florida and you’ll gradually see the live being brought back into nature. One of its most famous parts of this extensive highway to drive is the 545 mile stretch from the northernmost coast of Florida to the Florida Keys where you will finish out the last leg with a seven mile bridge connecting Knight’s Key to Little Duck Key.
If you ever find yourself coasting the highways of America on your dream road trip, make sure to snap a picture along the way and tag @theedgemag!