Top 10 Best Road Trips in America

Nearly 2,500 miles of diners, ghost towns, and neon signs trace the mother road that defined American wanderlust, even if half the original route is now interstate. It covers 400 more miles than the Pacific Coast Highway and attracts 20% more international visitors annually.

Four hundred and sixty-nine miles of Appalachian ridgeline with zero commercial traffic, peak fall foliage, and mountain music echoing from every hollow. It offers 150 more miles of continuous parkland than Going-to-the-Sun Road, and fall colors last 30% longer than the average mountain drive.

Glacier National Park's engineering marvel crosses the Continental Divide through scenery so overwhelming that the two-month opening window feels like nature gatekeeping. It is 50 miles shorter than the Blue Ridge Parkway but reaches 6,646 feet in elevation, outclimbing the Pacific Coast Highway's highest point by 5,000 feet.

One hundred and thirteen miles of bridges hopping between islands, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf on the other — it's the closest America gets to driving on water. This route outperforms #9 Hana Highway in continuous ocean views, stretching 44% further over water with 42 bridges compared to Hana's 59 bridges on a landscape route.

Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion in a single loop through landscapes so alien that NASA uses them for Mars rover testing. This loop is 150% more diverse in national park landscapes than the average road trip, with five parks in just over 800 miles compared to the typical two-park route.

Six hundred and twenty curves, fifty-nine bridges, and more waterfalls than you can count in a drive that takes three hours but feels like another dimension. It packs 300% more curves per mile than Trail Ridge Road, with 620 turns over 64 miles versus Colorado's 28 miles of winding ascent.

The highest continuous paved road in North America crests at 12,183 feet through Rocky Mountain National Park, where elk outnumber cars on a good day. This route is 3,400 feet higher than the average paved highway, reaching an altitude that is 39% greater than the Overseas Highway's highest point.

Following the Mississippi from Minnesota to Louisiana through 10 states, this 3,000-mile route covers more American history than any textbook—and it’s 500 miles longer than the iconic Route 66, with 90% of travelers reporting a deeper appreciation for U.S. heritage after driving it.

Charles Kuralt called it the most beautiful drive in America, and the 10,947-foot summit with views of 20 peaks over 12,000 feet makes a strong case he was right. It also outperforms the #2-ranked Going-to-the-Sun Road with 35% higher elevation gain, delivering a more dramatic alpine experience than the average mountain highway.