Most Iconic Road Trips in the U.S.
At Pack Up + Go, we love a good road trip. There’s nothing quite like packing up the car, creating a great playlist, and setting off for your destination. We’re lucky to live in a country that has so many iconic road trip routes to explore. Whether you’re winding down the west coast, weaving through mountain ranges, or driving through the desert, these legendary drives are bucket-list adventures worth planning.
Pacific Coast Highway – California
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), also known as California State Route 1, is perhaps the most iconic drive in the U.S. Stretching from Southern California to Northern California, this route hugs the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, offering sweeping ocean views and endless photo opportunities. Though it may not be the fastest way to get from Point A to Point B, it is definitely the most scenic drive, and a route every American should drive at least once in their life!
Why It’s Special: The PCH will take you past some of the most well-known beach towns in California, through countless beautiful landscapes, and directly to iconic landmarks. From sunny San Diego, to surf-friendly Santa Cruz, to the dramatic Big Sur coastline, and up to scenic Mendocino, the PCH is quintessential California.
Don’t Miss: Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Hearst Castle, and the charming village, Carmel-by-the-Sea.
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Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina to Virginia
Known as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway winds for 469 miles through Appalachia, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Our favorite place to access the Blue Ridge Parkway is just outside of Asheville, NC. The drive itself is winding and takes you to some of the most beautiful vistas of the area. Our top recommendation for a quick hike off of this stretch of the drive is the Craggy Gardens, which is a quick hike that leads to a breathtaking view of the mountains and valleys. If you’re able to make it to the area during fall foliage, you’re in for a treat!
Why It’s Special: There are no billboards or commercial trucks allowed on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so visitors are able to fully appreciate the mountain vistas and vibrant fall foliage.
Don’t Miss: Linn Cove Viaduct, Mabry Mill, and hiking to the summit of Mount Mitchell—the highest peak east of the Mississippi!
The Grand Circle Loop – Southwest U.S.
Covering parts of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, the Grand Circle Loop is an amazing way to experience the American Southwest. If visiting southwest national parks is on your bucket list, this is the drive for you! It will take you to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks, plus allow you to visit the picturesque Antelope Canyon. We recommend taking about fifteen days to do the full trip, but picking parts of it for a shorter vacation work well. If you have the time to do the full loop, we recommend flying into Las Vegas, renting a car, and hitting the road!
Why It’s Special: It’s a jaw-dropping showcase of red rock landscapes, desert arches, deep canyons, and Indigenous history. You’ll never see the same scenery twice, and it’s the perfect way to check off a large number of bucket-list national parks in one trip!
Don’t Miss: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and the Grand Canyon. It’s hard to narrow it down on this epic driving route!
Going-to-the-Sun Road – Montana
Located entirely within Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road is a 50-mile drive that’s worth the trip to northern Montana! The drive is only open during the summer months because of snow, but it’s absolutely a requirement if you’re visiting the region in warm weather! This scenic driving route takes you through high-mountain terrain, incredible views, and allows you to really experience the full breadth of Glacier National Park. Note that vehicle reservations are required!
Why It’s Special: This drive is pure National Park magic. It takes about two hours to drive the fifty-mile loop, but along the route you’ll pass the Park’s iconic glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks. Glacier National Park is known for it’s bear population, so you may even get to see one on the drive!
Don’t Miss: Logan Pass is the highest peak in the park, and one of our favorite photo ops! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time on this drive to stop often—this is one of the most photogenic routes in the U.S.
No matter where in the country you’re exploring, there’s an amazing road trip to be taken!