Top 5 U.S. Road Trip Routes

June 22, 2026 - Vacations - by Jessica Holom

Some roads don't need selling. They're permanent fixtures on bucket lists worldwide. The top 5 U.S. road trip routes are part of that list.

From the Pacific Coast Highway to the iconic Route 66, they take in sparkling coastlines, sweeping mountain vistas, quirky Americana, and stunning national parks. And if you time it right, last-minute travel deals can get you the version of the trip most people miss.

Pacific Coast Highway

Sweeping around hairpin turns, the 656-mile Pacific Coast Highway sees unmatched ocean vistas of foggy cliffs dropping into the Pacific. This is prime territory for top hotel deals in the Western U.S. 

Coastal hotels don't like empty rooms, and midweek gaps unlock some of the best last-minute deals on top hotels on the West Coast.

Insider Tip
Drive north to south. You stay on the ocean side the entire time, which means better views and fewer turns across traffic.

Hidden Gem:
Ragged Point. Everyone barrels toward Big Sur without stopping. Instead, stop at Ragged Point to see 400-foot cliffs from the Santa Lucia Mountains plummet into the ocean, showcasing the Point's "Million Dollar View." Even better, take a short trail from the Point down to a black sand beach where you'll find a hidden waterfall.

Route 66

Traveling 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, through the heart of America, Route 66 is less about the destination and more about seeing what's still standing along the way. From Cadillac Ranch to the Muffler Man, no other road trip leans this hard into kitsch and comes out universally beloved.

The early stretch from Chicago is where you'll find some surprisingly polished stays, including award-winning Midwest hotels with lots of character. You can prebook the best Midwest hotels, but stay open to pulling in somewhere unplanned. That's half the fun of Route 66.

Insider Tip
Download a Route 66 app to highlight all the sites along the way, and stick to the old alignments wherever you can.

Hidden Gem
The Blue Whale of Catoosa. It makes no sense, but it doesn't need to.

Blue Ridge Highway

Traveling from Virginia to North Carolina, this spectacular route winds for 469 miles through America's longest linear park, where long mountain stretches are broken up by breathtaking viewpoints.

People obsess over booking fall foliage trips, which leaves a sweet spot outside peak season, where you can snap up the best Northeast hotel deals. Skim options for hotel deals in the Northeast, and take advantage of timing it slightly off the crowd's radar.

Insider Tip
Fill up your gas tank whenever you can. Services are few and far between.

Hidden Gem
Crabtree Falls. This short hike's payoff is the tallest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. The scenic 400-foot falls are hugged by verdant hardwood forests.

Utah's Mighty 5

Featuring five national parks of red rock, impossible arches, the world's largest concentration of hoodoos, and canyons carved by millennia, this loop is a giant among road trips. The parks themselves book up fast, but you can often snap up last-minute travel deals if you know where to look.

Insider Tip
Start your days early for the best light for photos.

Hidden Gem
Goblin Valley State Park. Although it's not one of the Mighty 5, at this stop, you'll feel like you're on another planet, surrounded by the endless sea of mushroom rock formations.

Florida Keys Overseas Highway

With 113 miles of floating tropical views, this unparalleled road is suspended over water, with bridges — including the famous 7-mile bridge — linking Florida's vibrant islands.

The middle Keys, like Islamorada and Marathon, are where the best Southern U.S. hotel deals tend to pop up, especially if you're booking close to arrival.

Insider Tip
Make plenty of stops along the way for seafood feasts and state park explorations.

Hidden Gem
Bahia Honda State Park. This one's not-so-hidden, but the park's clear water and palm-lined beaches make it ideal for snorkeling and kayaking.