Best Road Trips in the USA for 2025: Scenic Drives and Local Discoveries
There’s something timeless about hitting the open road in the USA. Maybe it’s the way the landscape shifts from snow-capped mountains to sun‑bleached desert in a single day. Maybe it’s the roadside diners, the forgotten towns, the freedom to take a wrong turn just because it looks interesting. Whatever the reason, road trips remain one of the best ways to experience the country—not just its scenery, but its stories.
In 2025, with flexible travel on the rise and more travellers craving slow, intentional adventures, the classic American road trip feels more relevant than ever. But this guide isn’t about Route 66 clichés or overdone photo ops. We’re steering clear of the obvious to focus on routes that reveal the quieter corners of the country—where the scenic pull-offs are empty, the tacos come from roadside shacks, and the best moments aren’t planned.
From winding mountain drives in Appalachia to lakeside loops through the Midwest, this guide highlights some of the most scenic and offbeat road trips in the USA. Expect local discoveries, wild landscapes, and a good dose of travel serendipity. Whether you’ve got a weekend or a few weeks to spare, there’s a route here for you.
When to Take a USA Road Trip
The beauty of road tripping in the USA is that there’s always somewhere worth driving—year-round. But choosing the right route at the right time can make all the difference between sun-drenched views and sweltering traffic jams. With the sheer scale of the States, timing isn’t just about weather—it’s about access, crowds, and how alive a landscape feels in each season.
Spring (March–May)
Spring is ideal for road trips in the Southwest, Texas Hill Country, and California coast. Wildflowers are in bloom, temperatures are warm but manageable, and school holiday traffic hasn’t hit. Think desert blooms in Arizona, cherry blossoms in the Southeast, and crisp hikes in Yosemite before summer’s rush.
Summer (June–August)
This is peak road trip season, especially for routes through the Pacific Northwest, New England, and Great Lakes. Expect long daylight hours, open mountain passes, and buzzing seasonal towns. It’s also prime time for National Parks—but prepare for traffic in places like Yellowstone or Acadia. Book campsites and park passes early.
Autumn (September–November)
Possibly the best season for road trips overall—especially through New England, the Appalachians, and Rocky Mountains. Autumn brings quieter roads, golden foliage, and harvest-time eats from farm stalls and roadside orchards. It’s the sweet spot for travellers looking for charm, colour, and fewer crowds.
Winter (December–February)
Winter is all about heading south—deserts, coastal roads, and sunshine states. The Southwest Canyon route, Florida Keys, or Southern California’s Pacific Coast shine during this time. Just check conditions in mountainous regions—some scenic roads in Colorado or the Sierras close due to snow.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina
States: Virginia, North Carolina
Best for: Mountain views, craft towns, autumn colour, and scenic slow travel
Best time to go: Late spring through autumn (May–October)
The Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t about how quickly you get from A to B. It’s about what you notice along the way—the way the morning mist clings to the ridges, the roadside wildflowers that come and go with the seasons, the old barns half-swallowed by vines. Running 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, this drive is slow travel at its best.
Start out in Shenandoah with a sunrise hike to Hawksbill Summit or a leisurely meander along Skyline Drive, where the Appalachian foothills roll out like soft folds of cloth. Just south, the small town of Floyd punches above its weight with its Friday night bluegrass sessions at the Floyd Country Store—a wholesome, joyful slice of Americana that’s well worth a detour.
Further along, the Blue Ridge Music Center near the Virginia–North Carolina border offers an unexpectedly modern museum dedicated to Appalachian musical heritage, nestled among forested amphitheatres that often come alive with free outdoor concerts. Then there’s Mabry Mill, an old watermill that’s about as postcard-perfect as it gets—especially if you time it right for a breakfast stop. They serve up locally loved buckwheat pancakes with molasses butter, and the walking trails past restored log cabins make it a great leg-stretching stop.
As you move deeper into the mountains, the landscape shifts again. In June, rhododendrons explode into bloom at Craggy Gardens, painting the hillsides in bursts of pink and purple. In autumn, it’s all about golden oaks and fire-red maples, particularly around Little Switzerland—a charming alpine-style town perched along the ridge, full of antique shops, quirky cabins, and, unexpectedly, one of the best taco joints in the region.
The route ends in Asheville, a lively, artsy mountain city packed with indie bookshops, craft breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants. Don’t miss the Biltmore Estate if you fancy a look at Gilded Age grandeur, or spend your final evening bar-hopping through converted textile mills now home to musicians, chefs, and distillers.
Just remember: this isn’t a road trip to rush. The speed limit rarely tops 45 mph, and with no fuel stations on the parkway itself, it pays to plan ahead. Expect fog in the early mornings, the occasional black bear crossing, and countless chances to stop and take it all in.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana
States: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana
Best for: Music history, river towns, Southern soul food, and big skies
Best time to go: Spring or autumn for mellow weather and scenic colour
Tracing the curve of the Mississippi River for over 2,000 miles, the Great River Road isn’t so much a single route as a story that unfolds across ten states. From its quiet source in northern Minnesota to its muddy, music-soaked mouth in Louisiana, this drive is a deep dive into the soul of America. It’s less about sweeping landscapes and more about the places shaped by the river—old riverboat towns, blues-filled juke joints, and diners where the coffee pot never seems to empty.
Begin in Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi starts as a narrow trickle you can wade across in seconds. As you move south through Wisconsin and Iowa, the river grows—so do the bluffs, the cornfields, and the number of roadside produce stands offering fresh pies and pickles in summer. Towns like Galena, Illinois feel frozen in time, with 19th-century storefronts, old iron bridges, and quiet backstreets made for slow evening walks.
Further along in Missouri, Hannibal is worth a stop—not just for its Mark Twain connections, but for its laid-back riverside charm and antique stores filled with Americana oddities. Then the landscape shifts again: southern Missouri into Tennessee is where the road starts to hum. The music gets louder, the food gets bolder, and the river feels wider than ever.
Memphis is a milestone. Pull in for barbecue and blues, and stay long enough to wander Beale Street, duck into Sun Studio, or pay a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum. Then the road carries you through the flat cotton fields and catfish ponds of the Mississippi Delta—where juke joints still pulse with guitar licks, and every town has a story soaked in rhythm and resistance.
By the time you reach Louisiana, the light’s gone golden, the air heavier, and the river slower. Baton Rouge offers Cajun culture and spicy roadside boudin, but it’s New Orleans that brings it all home. A city built on music, food, and defiance, it’s the perfect place to end a journey that’s equal parts historic and heartfelt. Linger in the French Quarter, follow the sound of a brass band into a side street, and toast your arrival with a Sazerac under a canopy of old oaks.
The Great River Road isn’t fast, and it isn’t always obvious—but that’s the point. It winds, it pauses, it flows. And if you let it, it’ll carry you straight through the heart of the country.
Mississippi River, Mississippi.
Pacific Northwest Coastal Road Trip, Washington to Oregon
States: Washington, Oregon
Best for: Wild beaches, coffee stops, rainforests, and ocean views
Best time to go: Late spring to early autumn (May–September)
If you like your road trips with a side of sea mist, moss-covered trees, and the occasional rogue wave, the Pacific Northwest delivers in spades. This coastal route from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula down through Oregon’s lesser-known seaside towns is one for the dreamers—foggy mornings, pine-scented air, and dramatic cliffs that tumble straight into the Pacific.
Start in Port Townsend, a Victorian-era seaport turned artist hub with pastel houses, local bakeries, and enough nautical charm to make you want to buy a boat you’ll never use. Then wind your way through Olympic National Park, where you can hike under dripping moss in the Hoh Rainforest, skim rocks across Lake Crescent, or detour to Ruby Beach for driftwood sculptures and tidepool treasures.
Further south, make time for Aberdeen—not for the views, but as the hometown of Kurt Cobain. There’s a quiet, gritty nostalgia here, especially if you swing by the bridge tagged with tributes or grab a coffee in a converted gas station. From there, the road tracks the edge of the continent, tracing dunes, estuaries, and pine-backed coves where the sand squeaks underfoot.
Cross into Oregon and things get even more cinematic. Towns like Astoria—where The Goonies was filmed—blend faded cannery buildings with new craft breweries and heritage bookstores. Then there’s Cannon Beach, with its iconic sea stacks and soft grey skies, followed by sleepy Manzanita and the untamed sweep of Cape Lookout.
What makes this road trip sing is the stretch from Pacific City to Florence. You’ll pass clifftop lookouts, wind-swept dunes, and hidden seafood shacks selling crab chowder by the paper cup. Yachats (pronounced YAH-hots) is a standout—barely a dot on the map, but full of tidepools, rugged coastline, and a fiercely local vibe that’s hard to leave behind.
End in Florence, where the dunes roll like frozen waves and the river meanders lazily out to sea. Take a moment to look back—you’ll have driven through three ecosystems, a dozen small towns, and some of the wildest coastal terrain in the country. This route isn’t polished or flashy. It’s earthy, raw, and slow-moving. Exactly the kind of road trip that leaves its mark long after the wheels stop turning.
Cape Lookout, Oregon.
Southwest Canyons and Desert Loop
States: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico
Best for: Red rock landscapes, Indigenous culture, stargazing, and off-grid adventure
Best time to go: Autumn or late winter (September–November or February–April)
The American Southwest feels like another planet. All sculpted stone and silent horizons, it’s the kind of place that rearranges your sense of scale—and a road trip here offers up that rare blend of isolation, natural beauty, and deep cultural resonance. This desert loop, starting and ending in Arizona, is perfect for those wanting to lean into the wide-open spaces and off-grid energy of the region.
Kick things off in Sedona, where rust-coloured cliffs rise above a town full of vortex maps, crystal shops, and trailheads that lead to panoramic overlooks within an hour’s walk. Even if you skip the spirituality, the landscape alone is meditative. Drive north through Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff, then out into the Painted Desert—an otherworldly expanse of pastel pinks, ochres, and greys that stretch like an oil painting across the earth.
From here, make your way to Monument Valley. The sandstone buttes are iconic, but what stays with you is the stillness—the way the land seems to hum beneath the silence. This is Navajo Nation land, and the best way to explore is with a local guide who can share the stories behind the stone. Sunrise and sunset here hit different—the light clings to every contour.
Continue toward Page for a dip into Lake Powell’s turquoise waters, and if conditions are right, a kayak through Antelope Canyon’s flooded slot corridors. Horseshoe Bend is nearby—yes, it’s popular, but still worth the stop for the sheer scale of it all.
Next, head west through Vermilion Cliffs and into Utah’s lesser-known corner: Kanab. This little town sits at the crossroads of five national parks, and it’s a great base for exploring less-trodden gems like the Coral Pink Sand Dunes or the eerie, swirling rock formations of The Wave (permit required).
If you're up for something truly remote, detour south toward the old mining town of Jerome, Arizona, now an eclectic mix of artists, bikers, and ghost stories clinging to the edge of a cliff. Finish your loop back in Sedona or Flagstaff, perhaps after a star-lit soak in a desert hot spring, or a final breakfast of blue corn pancakes with cactus jam.
This route isn’t always easy—some roads are rough, and phone signal is patchy—but that’s part of its charm. The Southwest doesn’t try to impress. It just is—raw, reverent, and endlessly vast. All you have to do is show up, keep your tank full, and let the land do the talking.
Monument Valley, Arizona.
New England Autumn Escape
States: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
Best for: Fall foliage, quaint towns, harvest festivals, and historic charm
Best time to go: Late September to mid-October
If road trips had a season, autumn in New England would be it. There’s a kind of cinematic magic to the way the leaves burn gold and crimson, how the air smells of woodsmoke and apples, and how each town you pass through seems straight off a postcard. This loop through Vermont, New Hampshire, and coastal Maine is pure Americana—backroad beauty, small-town stories, and more maple syrup than you’ll know what to do with.
Begin in Stowe, Vermont, a ski town turned fall paradise, where tree-lined roads curve past white-steepled churches and farm stands overflowing with pumpkins. From here, take the scenic route through Smugglers’ Notch and over to Woodstock, where covered bridges cross cold creeks and 19th-century inns dish out cinnamon French toast beside crackling fires.
Head east into New Hampshire’s White Mountains, home to the Kancamagus Highway—one of the most celebrated foliage drives in the country. It’s not just the colours, though. It’s the sudden stillness when you pull off the road and realise you’re surrounded by nothing but whispering leaves and distant peaks. Stop at Sabbaday Falls for a quick forest walk or linger in North Conway, where antique shops and old railway stations lean into their nostalgia.
Then it's on to Maine, where the coastline adds a salty twist to the fall palette. Camden is an underrated gem—a harbour town tucked between sea cliffs and pine forests, perfect for sailing trips or a hike up Mount Battie for sweeping Atlantic views. Just down the coast, Portland balances coastal grit and foodie sophistication, with lobster rolls, craft breweries, and independent bookshops on every corner.
Finish with a slow cruise up Route 1, where the road hugs the shoreline through windswept coves and fishing villages that feel almost too quiet to be real. Along the way, look out for roadside cider houses, corn mazes, and the occasional moose sign that makes you slow down and look a little harder at the woods.
This is a road trip for hot drinks in takeaway cups, boots on crunchy leaves, and the kind of small discoveries that make you want to keep driving long after the map runs out. Just don’t forget your camera—because New England in autumn doesn’t do subtle.
Vermont.
Texas Hill Country Loop
States: Texas
Best for: Barbecue, wildflowers, live music, and small-town charm
Best time to go: Spring (March–April) or autumn (October–November)
Texas Hill Country is where things slow down—even by Texan standards. Nestled between Austin and San Antonio, this region rolls out a patchwork of limestone cliffs, cypress-lined rivers, German-rooted towns, and two-lane highways that practically beg for detours. It’s where you swap big city bustle for peach orchards, dance halls, and roadside BBQ with smoke you can smell a mile off.
Start in Austin, but don’t linger too long—you’ll want to hit the road while the light’s soft and the air still carries that grassy hilltop scent. Head west toward Dripping Springs, where craft distilleries and local brewers tuck themselves between farm roads and lavender fields. Further along, Johnson City (home of LBJ) offers presidential history and surprisingly good art galleries in converted barns.
Then it’s on to Fredericksburg—equal parts Wild West and Bavarian Alpine. German settlers left their mark here in the form of schnitzel joints, beer halls, and half-timbered architecture, but the soul of the town is Texan through and through. Browse vintage shops, taste Hill Country wines (yes, really), or catch a honky-tonk show at a local dive bar.
If it’s spring, the road between Llano and Marble Falls bursts into colour with bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush wildflowers, turning quiet roads into moving canvases. And no matter when you go, small towns like Luckenbach offer the kind of off-the-map magic that only Texas can do—just a few shacks, an outdoor stage, and live country music under the oak trees.
Loop back through Bandera (cowboy capital of the world) or detour down to Gruene for a float on the Guadalupe River and a night of two-stepping at the historic Gruene Hall. Finish in San Antonio if you fancy a celebratory margarita along the River Walk or a moment of quiet reflection at the Alamo.
This route isn’t flashy—it’s friendly. The kind of place where people wave as you pass and strangers recommend barbecue with the seriousness of a sermon. Come hungry, stay curious, and leave room in the boot for wine bottles, dusty antiques, and maybe a pair of boots you didn’t plan on buying.
Lyndon B Johnson National Grassland, Texas.
Great Lakes Circle Tour: Michigan and Wisconsin
States: Michigan, Wisconsin
Best for: Freshwater beaches, lake views, lighthouses, and coastal small towns
Best time to go: Summer to early autumn (June–September)
When most people think of the USA’s best road trips, they picture deserts or mountains—not inland seas with white-sand beaches, pine forests, and towns where the fish fry is still a sacred Friday ritual. But the Great Lakes Circle Tour, especially the stretch looping around Lake Michigan through Michigan and Wisconsin, is one of the country’s best-kept road trip secrets.
Start in Traverse City, Michigan—a cherry-loving, lake-lapped town that hits its stride in summer. The beaches here rival anything on the coast, and the local food scene leans farm-fresh and lake-sourced. From there, head north along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where you can climb 400-foot dunes for sweeping views of Lake Michigan, then roll back down like a kid again.
Carry on through tiny harbour towns like Leland and Charlevoix, where marinas glint in the sun and fudge shops tempt every pedestrian. Eventually, you’ll reach Mackinac Island—accessible only by ferry, and blissfully free of cars. Rent a bike, loop the island’s shoreline, and stop for a slab of homemade fudge before catching the boat back.
Cross the Mackinac Bridge into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and watch the landscape shift. It’s wilder up here—denser forests, colder lakes, and an edge-of-the-map feeling that makes you want to linger. Cut across to Wisconsin via the northern edge of Lake Michigan, maybe stopping in the tiny fishing town of Manistique or at a scenic pull-off along US‑2.
On the Wisconsin side, the Door County Peninsula is the crown jewel. Jutting out into the lake like a curled finger, it’s dotted with lighthouses, cherry orchards, and clapboard towns with names like Ephraim and Fish Creek. Grab a perch sandwich, catch a lakeside sunset, and if it’s Friday, join the locals for a traditional Wisconsin fish fry—beer, fried cod, and coleslaw served with no pretence.
You could loop all the way back around through Milwaukee and Chicago if you want a big city finish, or keep it mellow by drifting back toward the Michigan side via ferry from Manitowoc or Ludington. Either way, this route is full of surprises: empty beaches, pine-backed coves, quirky museums, and more than a few hidden diners where the pie is still made from scratch.
The Great Lakes might not be the USA’s best-known road trip region—but that’s exactly what makes it so special.
Lake Michigan, Michigan.
Road Trip Essentials: What to Pack, Know and Prepare For
What to Pack
Navigation & tech: Offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me), car charger, power bank
Hydration & snacks: Reusable water bottle, compact cooler, local snacks, soft-sided grocery bag
Daily essentials: Daypack or tote, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, tissues, wet wipes
Clothing & gear:
Layers (jumper, rain jacket, windbreaker)
Swimsuit and quick-dry towel
Hiking shoes or supportive trainers
Extras worth packing:
Bug spray and after-bite cream (especially in New England and Midwest)
Reusable cutlery and travel containers
Folding camp chair and picnic blanket
Travel games, road trip playlist, downloaded audiobooks or podcasts
Camping gear (if applicable): Tent, headlamp, compact stove, extra batteries
Passes & permits: America the Beautiful national park pass for access to 2,000+ sites
Travel Tips and Road Rules
Driving laws vary by state:
Right turns on red allowed in some states, banned in others
Watch for changing speed limits in small towns and national parks
Car rental advice:
Check if you need an international driving permit
Confirm insurance coverage and roadside assistance options
Fuel tips:
Fill up regularly in remote areas—especially across the Southwest and mountain passes
Park planning:
Reserve campsites and park permits in advance (especially Yosemite, Zion, Smokies)
Navigation reliability:
Don’t rely solely on mobile data—download maps and directions ahead of time
Health and Safety on the Road
Emergency kit for the car:
Jumper cables, torch, first aid kit, tyre inflator, reflective vest
Stay hydrated and take breaks:
Especially critical in hot or high-altitude regions
Hiking safety:
Tell someone your route and return time
Stick to marked trails and bring a paper map if going off-grid
Weather awareness:
Watch for flash floods, mountain snow, or hurricane warnings depending on the region and season
Check local forecasts before each leg of your trip
Medical prep:
Travel insurance is a must, especially for international visitors
Keep prescriptions with you and store emergency contacts offline
Spare key tip:
Keep it somewhere safe and separate—you’ll thank yourself later
The beauty of a USA road trip isn’t just in the landscapes—it’s in the freedom to follow your curiosity. It’s pulling over at a farm stall selling warm peach pie, taking the long way through the hills just because the light hits it right, or stumbling into a town you’ve never heard of that feels like it’s been waiting for you all along.
In 2025, road travel offers something more than just scenery. It’s a chance to reset your rhythm, see places that don’t make the guidebooks, and connect with the people, places, and flavours that shape each region. From misty coasts to red rock canyons, backroad BBQs to mountain cabins, these routes are about more than mileage—they’re about moments.
So whether you're road-tripping solo, with friends, or a camera and a playlist for company, know this: the best drives aren't always the fastest or most famous. They’re the ones that surprise you. And in a country as vast and varied as the USA, there’s always another curve in the road to explore.
