Ah, the open road. The road trip is a classic American getaway and a leisurely way to see the local side of life. Here are five of the best ideas for a themed road trip, from scenic coastal drives to the best stretch of historic Route 66.
1. Foodie road trip
Nashville, TN to New Orleans, LA (590 miles)
Stop 1: Nashville, TN
Must-try: Hot chicken at Hattie B’s.
Stop 2: Lynchburg, TN
Must-try: Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House for classic comfort food; the Jack Daniel Distillery for southern spirits.
Stop 3: Birmingham, AL
Must-try: Fine dining at Highlands Bar & Grill, a 2018 James Beard award winner.
Stop 4: Montgomery, AL
Must-try: Local secret K&J Rib Shack for mouthwatering barbecue.
Stop 5: Mobile, AL
Must-try: Gulf shrimp scampi and Alabama crab cake at The Trellis Room.
Stop 6: New Orleans, LA
Must-try: Café Du Monde for beignets and coffee.
2. Baseball road trip
Washington, DC to Boston, MA (440 miles)
Stop 1: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Fun fact: The home field of the Nationals was the nation’s first LEED-certified major stadium.
Stop 2: Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
Fun fact: Ken Griffey Jr. was the first and only player to hit the warehouse wall in the Orioles outfield.
Stop 3: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Fun fact: Since moving here in 2004, the Phillies have won a World Series and two National League Championships.
Stop 4: Yankee Stadium, New York, NY
Fun fact: The Yankees’ home field is the most expensive baseball stadium in the country, costing $1.5 billion.
Stop 5: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Fun fact: Fenway Park is the most historic MLB stadium—the Red Sox have been playing here since 1912.
3. National parks road trip
Jackson, WY to Whitefish, MT (550 miles)
Stop 1: Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, WY
Must-see: Grand Teton peak is the most well-known choice, but don’t forget Mormon Row and Jenny Lake.
Stop 2: Yellowstone National Park, Canyon Village, WY
Must-see: No road trip in the Midwest is complete without a visit to the famous Old Faithful geyser and the rainbow-colored Grand Prismatic Spring.
Stop 3: Lolo National Forest, Missoula, MT
Must-see: Love big trees and you cannot lie? Don’t miss the Big Tree, a ponderosa pine, and Gus, the world’s largest western larch tree.
Stop 4: Glacier National Park, Whitefish, MT
Must-see: Breathtaking scenery like Lake McDonald and the ADA-accessible Trail of the Cedars make this park a top pick.
4. Historic road trip
Historic Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ to Amarillo, TX (610 miles)
Stop 1: Flagstaff, AZ
Historic stop: Dance the night away at The Museum Club, a country music club in a 1930s-era building.
Stop 2: Holbrook, AZ
Historic stop: Completed in the 1950s, the Wigwam Motel’s novelty factor has never faded. Only two other Wigwam motels survive today.
Stop 3: Gallup, NM
Historic stop: Jane Fonda, Katherine Hepburn, and Ronald Reagan stayed at El Rancho Hotel in its heyday—now it’s your turn.
Stop 4: Albuquerque, NM
Historic stop: Tour the neon signs of Albuquerque’s historic district, then have a ’60s diner experience at the 66 Diner.
Bonus: East of Albuquerque, near Tijeras, the Musical Road plays “America the Beautiful” if you drive 45 mph.
Stop 5: Santa Rosa, NM
Historic stop: Bono’s Route 66 Auto Museum and the Comet II Drive-In are throwbacks to the ’50s.
Stop 6: Amarillo, TX
Historic stop: Cadillac Ranch is one of Historic Route 66’s most photogenic stops. In town, don’t forget Oliver Saddle Shop, the oldest in Texas.
5. California road trip
San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA (350 miles)
Stop 1: San Francisco, CA
Coastal views: See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge from Lands End Lookout, then head to Gray Whale Cove, one of the best hidden spots along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Stop 2: Santa Cruz, CA
Coastal views: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalks has classic roller coasters and games for all ages.
Stop 3: Big Sur, CA
Coastal views: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is home to the stunning rock formations of Pfeiffer Beach and the 80-foot-tall McWay Falls.
Stop 4: San Simeon, CA
Coastal views: Catch a glimpse of your favorite finned friends at Elephant Seal Lookout, then tour Hearst Castle for a taste of the finer things.
Stop 5: Santa Barbara, CA
Coastal views: This is the place for souvenirs—local art in The Funk Zone, brand-name shopping on State Street, and unique keepsakes at Stearns Wharf.
Header Image Via Shutterstock.com/Michael Urmann
