These are the best US road trips in 2026 - The Points Guy

Great American road trips for summer 2026 Few things say summer like a good road trip. Ever since the days of the Ford Model T, Americans have loved to hit the open roads that stretch from sea to shining sea — it's a national rite of passage. And whether you want to visit America's great cities or see all that the national parks have to offer, you have endless options, no matter where you start your journey. Here are 10 of the best road trips in the U.S. that are perfect for summer, but many of them are beautiful year-round. If you start in the South Overseas Highway: Florida Best time to go: Any time of year This aptly titled highway crosses the turquoise waters separating the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico via 42 bridges, including the state's longest, the Seven Mile Bridge. The 100-mile journey is lined with palms, native flora and fauna, retro motels and kitschy shell shops. The drive takes about six hours round-trip from Florida City. However, you can extend your trip by starting in Miami and heading 33 miles south to Homestead, where you can visit Everglades National Park, Knaus Berry Farm (open annually from November through May) for cinnamon rolls and the Robert Is Here Fruit Stand for tropical provisions and smoothies. Then, meander down the coral cay archipelago to Key West. Related: The best resorts in Florida for a relaxing vacation in the Sunshine State Interstate 64, US Route 219 and Highland Scenic Highway: West Virginia Best time to go: Spring or summer Beckley, West Virginia, seems like a turnpike town — a place where one might stop for gas — but that's a mistake. The town is filled with quaint bars and restaurants, nice shops and friendly locals. Make your way there and spend a night exploring the city. If dive bars are your thing, check out The Mad Hatter Club for a pint and late-night eats. The next morning, head to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, where a railcar takes you 1,500 feet into a real mine and a retired miner gives you the grand tour. From Beckley, head two hours northeast to the Cranberry Glades in Pocahontas County, where you'll find a picturesque boardwalk through a peat bog. Then, travel north up the Highland Scenic Highway and drive through 43 miles of ridgeline that's filled with overlooks reaching 4,500 feet. Just know that there are no gas stations on the route — to some, this is part of the appeal — so fill up beforehand. If you start in the Midwest Route 66: Illinois to California Best time to go: Spring through fall Dating back to 1926, Route 66 is one of America's most legendary highways. In addition to its wide-open landscapes, it offers plenty of well-preserved historic sites and distinctive retro landmarks, such as the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois. In the 1940s and '50s, the 2,500-mile highway — which stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, California — was considered the quintessential American road trip. There's plenty to see on the route. In Amarillo, Texas, road trippers can find the Cadillac Ranch art installation, featuring rows of graffiti-painted Cadillacs sticking rear-end-first out of the ground. Just a 12-minute drive from the Cadillacs, you can fill up on some exceptional brisket at Tyler's Barbeque. The New Mexican and Arizonan sections of Interstate 40 (which partially replaced Route 66) are particularly picturesque and feature several notable landmarks, including Arizona's Jack Rabbit Trading Post, which has been a popular pit stop for travelers for more than a half-century. New Mexico's 400-mile stretch of Route 66 is also lined with historic Native American sites, such as the Pueblo of Laguna, the largest of the Keresan pueblos. Spring through fall is the best time to travel Route 66. Remember that while many road trips listed are clearly delineated from start to finish, Route 66 isn't indicated as a single route on contemporary maps, so you'll want to use a resource like Historic 66 to get turn-by-turn directions. Great River Road National Scenic Byway: Minnesota to Louisiana Best time to go: Fall or spring for the best weather What the Pacific Coast Highway is to the Pacific Ocean, the Great River Road is to the Mississippi River. Starting in Itasca State Park in Minnesota and ending near New Orleans, the Great River Road spans nearly the entire width of the U.S. The route stretches more than 2,000 miles and hits many Midwest landmarks. Like Route 66, it's not just one road but rather a series of roads that follow the eastern and western sides of the Mississippi River through Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. Each state along the Great River Road has its own interpretative center that educates travelers about the route's history: In Mississippi, you'll find Vicksburg National Military Park; Missouri has Mark Twain's Boyhood Home & Museum; and in Iowa, there's Effigy Mounds National Monument, home to more than 200 prehistoric mounds constructed by pre-Columbian Mound Builder cultures. If you start out West Pacific Coast Highway: California to Washington Best time to go: Late spring when wildflowers are in bloom The Pacific Coast Highway is considered an iconic California road trip. But if you have the time, it's worth traversing the entire 1,650 miles from San Diego to Olympic National Park in Washington. Sweeping views from high above the blue-green Pacific Ocean make the PCH one of the most beautiful road trips in the nation, and there are plentiful park options along the way. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is known for viewings of sea otters, seals and whales. Meanwhile, Garrapata State Park is renowned for its coastal redwood groves. Just south of Garrapata is the most photographed landmark of the journey: the Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the world's tallest single-span concrete arch bridges. From there, the largest concentration of stops is in and around the coastal area of Big Sur, California. Enjoy a glass of wine, lunch or both at Nepenthe, where spectacular views of over 60 miles of shoreline await. Also make sure to pause at the McWay Falls overlook or take a peek at the sunset through Keyhole Arch on Pfeiffer Beach. Just past the southern end of Big Sur is Hearst Castle, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst's 1920s-style Spanish Colonial Revival mansion. It is one of the most popular attractions on California's central coast. Historic Columbia River Highway: Oregon Best time to visit: Spring through fall, with fall offering the most colorful views Oregon's Historic Columbia River Highway is the first planned scenic highway in the U.S, dating back to 1913. This 75-mile route begins in Troutdale (an eastern suburb of Portland) and ends in The Dalles — it can be explored in a day, or you can add an overnight stop for a quick weekend trip. Must-see features of the stunning thoroughfare include numerous waterfalls, such as Shepperd's Dell Falls and the 620-foot-tall Multnomah Falls, as well as scenic vistas like Chanticleer Point lookout and Crown Point (one of the most photographed spots along the Columbia River). If time permits, stop at some historical landmarks that demarcate explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's journey, such as Rooster Rock State Park, Cascade Locks Historical Museum and the Rock Fort Campsite in The Dalles. US Route 89: Through Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Montana Best time to visit: Any time of year Though no longer an official U.S. national park road, U.S. Route 89 (formerly known as the National Park-to-Park Highway) is a great option for those seeking the road less traveled. Start in Arizona and move through Utah and Wyoming until you reach Montana. As you travel U.S. Route 89, you'll pass more than 150 towns, cities and reservations, as well as seven national parks (including the Grand Canyon, Glacier and Yellowstone) and three geographic regions (Basin and Range National Monument, the Colorado Plateau and the Rocky Mountains). While going end to end is