Everything You Must Know About Planning US Road Trips for an Epic Family Vacation

Are you looking for a new way to travel the country with your family? Have you thought about a road trip but got the chills immediately? I completely understand! We grew up in a generation where road trips were long, boring, and horrendous! But, oh, how times have changed!

What is a Road Trip?

A road trip is a journey made by car by yourself, with family, or with friends. The road trips of the current day are nothing like those terrible road trips from the 70s and 80s. Instead, the new road trips are full of fun, inspiration, and adventures!

Yes, the cooler will still be packed with snacks and drinks. And yes, you will still hear an “Are we there yet?” on occasion.

But there are more than four million miles of roads to travel along in the US. And over three and a half million square miles of attractions and sights to discover and explore.

So, turn up the radio, let the kids watch a movie for a little bit, and see how your entire family can come together to make memories you will cherish forever!

What is the Best Road Trip in the USA?

The best road trip in the USA is the Blue Ridge Parkway. This road trip is 469 miles. Most people begin their road trip adventure for this route in Charlottesville. From there, you will be greeted with views of Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

There are so many things that I can plan for you to do on this best road trip in the USA. However, the most popular places to stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway include Sliding Rock and the Mile High Swinging Bridge. If you love to hike, I have a few amazing trails that I can include in your trip.

Your time on the Blue Ridge Parkway will end in Asheville. This is the perfect week-long vacation for you and your family!

What is the Best Scenic Road Trip in the USA?

The best scenic road trip in the USA is the Florida Keys Scenic Highway. The official name of this highway is US 1. This road will take you 113 miles from the city of Miami all the way to the island of Key West. You will really love the Seven Mile Bridge, which is near Marathon.

Key West is the last of the connected islands. When you are in Key West, you will want to stop at the Little White House, the Ernest Hemingway House, and Mallory Square. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a selfie with the buoy at the Southernmost Point of the USA.

I recommend taking at least a week for this road trip adventure. However, a couple of weeks will be better if you want to explore most of the forty-three connected islands.

What is the Most Famous Route in America?

The most famous route in America is Route 66. This popular road trip in the USA has also been referred to as the Will Rogers Highway, Mother Road, and Main Street of America. This route was established back on November 11, 1926.

Route 66 goes all the way from Illinois to California. Many people will ask the question, “How long does it take to drive Route 66?’. Well, I can tell you that Route 66 is 2,451 miles long. As for the answer to the question, it would be dependent on if you drove straight through or made stops along the way.

A straight-through trip without stops takes approximately fifty-two hours. But I don’t see how anyone could drive this entire route without making at least a few stops to see the popular attractions.

Since many people like to make stops along the way, I always recommend two weeks for this road trip in the USA.

I can plan your entire drive along Route 66. All you would need to do is pack and get your family in the car to go!

A few of the attractions you might want to add to your Route 66 adventure include:

• Standard Oil Gas Station
• Wagon Wheel Motel, Café, and Station
• Route 66 Historic District – East Galena
• Rock Café
• Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café
• Nob Hill Shopping Center
• Painted Desert Inn – There are 200 million-year-old fossils at this inn.
• Arroyo Seco Parkway

Best US Road Trip for Kids

The best US road trip for kids would be the Pacific Coast Highway 101. This is a lengthy US road trip at 1,650 miles. This road trip goes all the way from Seattle to San Diego.

Besides the entire Pacific Coastline, there are so many other incredible things to see and do during this US road trip. I usually recommend two weeks for this road trip because of the distance. I can plan every stop you want to make on this family vacation.

Some of the attractions you might want to add to your Pacific Coast Highway 101 adventure include:

• Pike Place Market
• Space Needle
• Cannon Beach
• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
• Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area
• The Chandelier Tree
• The Charles Schulz Museum
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Alcatraz

Socially Distanced Road Trips

There are so many socially distanced road trips that you can take in the USA. Most road trips will take you to areas where you can do a lot of outdoor adventures. But if you want to be guaranteed distance between you and everyone else, I recommend checking out some of the national parks.

A few national parks I recommend for an amazing family road trip include:

• Arches National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Acadia National Park

Now, there are sixty-three national parks in the USA. And there are routes that I can prepare for you that will take you to all the national parks in the forty-eight contiguous states and Alaska. I am leaving out Hawaii, because you would need to fly there first. But we can add that as well if you really want an epic family vacation!

If you don’t have an entire year to spend traveling the US to see all the national parks (and how many of us do??), no worries! I can plan a manageable one- or two-week US road trip to the national parks you want to see the most.

Is It Possible to Drive Across the US While Avoiding Toll Roads?

It is possible to drive across the US while avoiding toll roads. But it is not going to be easy, and it will add lots of time to your journey. But if you have at least a month to dedicate to your toll-free US road trip adventure, we can definitely make it happen!

Is It Worth Doing a Coast-to-Coast Road Trip in the US?

I believe that a coast-to-coast road trip in the US is worth doing with family! There are so many things you can experience together when you take a coast-to-coast road trip. Yes, these coast-to-coast road trips take time. But this is the time you will cherish forever!

How to Prepare Your Car for an Amazing US Road Trip

I recommend having your vehicle serviced before heading out on an amazing US road trip. This is an excellent way to ensure your brakes are working, none of your service lights are going on, and your tire treads are good. Add in an oil change and fluid level checks, and you should be ready for your adventure.

If you have an older vehicle or you are leasing your vehicle, you may want to consider renting a vehicle for a US road trip. This will ensure you have a vehicle that can get you to where you want to go and back home without putting a ton of miles on your car.

What Should You Bring on a Road Trip Across the US?

You may think that you must bring everything but the kitchen sink on a road trip across the US. But that is not the case. You won’t need everything and anything for your US road trip. You will, however, need certain items to make your adventure better than ever.

Here is what is always on my list of things to bring on a road trip across the US:

• Registration and car insurance information
• Car manual
• Spare tire
• Roadside emergency kit
• First aid kit
• Flashlights
• Blankets
• Bug Spray
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Umbrella
• Chargers for devices
• Travel games
• Books
• Travel pillow
• Hand sanitizer
• Garbage bags
• Snacks
• Drinks

Safety Tips for a US Road Trip

You always need to follow basic safety tips when you are traveling. While you may not think you are going to have any issues when you are on the road, there are also those things that come up. Therefore, I recommend you follow a few safety tips during your US road trip.

1. Always Get a Good Night’s Sleep

You may think that you can burn the midnight oil and still hit the road the next day. But this is dangerous for so many reasons. It is best to get a good night’s sleep and switch drivers every few hours when possible.

2. Know the Traffic Laws

Every state has different traffic laws, so you must be aware of them when you are entering a new state. One of the laws that change from state to state is talking or texting on your cell phonedf.

3. Always Let Someone Know Your Route and Plans

It is always a good idea to let someone know your route and plans when you are taking a US road trip. This will ensure someone will either go out looking for you or will send out the authorities if you do not check in within a reasonable time.

Must-See Site in Each of the 50 States

Every state has hundreds of attractions to see and even more things to do. How do you decide which ones to add to your list? Well, let’s start with the must-see site in each state!

1. Alabama – US Space and Rocket Center
2. Alaska – Denali National Park
3. Arizona – Grand Canyon
4. Arkansas – Hot Springs National Park
5. California – Alcatraz
6. Colorado – Garden of the Gods
7. Connecticut – Mystic Seaport
8. Delaware – Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
9. Florida – Everglades National Park
10. Georgia – Georgia Aquarium
11. Hawaii – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
12. Idaho – Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
13. Illinois – Wrigley Field
14. Indiana – Indiana Dunes State Park
15. Iowa – The Field of Dreams Filming Location
16. Kansas – Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
17. Kentucky – Kentucky Bourbon Trail
18. Louisiana – French Quarter
19. Maine – Acadia National Park
20. Maryland – Assateague Island National Seashore
21. Massachusetts – Boston’s Freedom Trail
22. Michigan – Mackinac Island
23. Minnesota – Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox
24. Mississippi – Gulf Islands National Seashore
25. Missouri – Gateway Arch
26. Montana – Glacier National Park
27. Nebraska – Chimney Rock
28. Nevada – The Las Vegas Strip
29. New Hampshire – The White Mountains
30. New Jersey – Atlantic City Boardwalk
31. New Mexico – Carlsbad Caverns National Park
32. New York – Statue of Liberty
33. North Carolina – The Biltmore
34. North Dakota – Theodore Roosevelt National Park
35. Ohio – Hocking Hills State Park
36. Oklahoma – National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
37. Oregon – Crater Lake
38. Pennsylvania – Gettysburg National Military Park
39. Rhode Island – Block Island
40. South Carolina – Historic Charleston
41. South Dakota – Mount Rushmore
42. Tennessee – Graceland
43. Texas – Big Bend National Park
44. Utah – Dinosaur National Monument
45. Vermont – Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory
46. Virginia – Colonial Williamsburg
47. Washington – Pike Place Market
48. West Virginia – Beartown State Park
49. Wisconsin – House on the Rock
50. Wyoming – Yellowstone National Park

There is a lot of information in this post, but I had to share it all with you so you could see how amazing road trips can be for family vacations! If you have never taken a road trip with your family, now if the time to head out and make a few memories.

So, are you ready to plan an epic US road trip for your next family vacation?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

And if you are not quite ready to tackle a US road trip for your next family vacation, you can sign up for my newsletter here. It is always packed with incredible travel ideas that can inspire your next family vacation.