The 15 Best American Road Trips, Ranked
Take the wheel and step on the gas
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
It’s basically written in the Constitution that you must, at some point, hit the open road and explore this beautiful country by car. After all, America was built for it. Road trips are something of a rite of passage: two-lane highways, cornfields that stretch for miles, red rocks towering in the distance. (Not included: Fixing a flat tire on the side of said highway or pushing your car to the next gas station.) If you’re envisioning a laid-back vacation à la Cars, look no further. Here, we’ve rounded up 15 of America’s best road trips. That includes the iconic Route 66 (Chicago to L.A., baby), a tour of Utah’s best national parks, and a quick jaunt through Cape Cod. No matter your interests, you’ll have the trip of a lifetime, whether you’re cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway or driving through the Badlands.
Marissa Wu
Editor, SEO and Audience Development
- Writes across all verticals, including beauty, fashion, wellness, travel and entertainment, with a focus on SEO and evergreen content
- Has previously worked at Popular Photography and Southern Living, with words in Martha Stewart and Forbes Vetted
- Has a B.S. in journalism from Boston University
read full bio