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By Bec Milligan.
There’s just something magical about hitting the open road in the United States of America (USA).
And maybe it’s the fact that you can spend a week behind the wheel and only pass through one entire state. Maybe it’s all the incredible sights you’ll come across: small towns, roadside diners, and national parks that stretch to the horizon…
Whatever it is, a road trip there is unlike any other place on Earth.
So if you’re heading over to the States, make sure you add a road trip to your itinerary. Not sure which one is worth doing? Whether you’ve got two weeks or two months, the US has a road trip for you. These are the best ones to consider:
This is one of the most famous road trips in the world and for good reason.
The route runs from Chicago, Illinois, all the way to Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, cutting through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona along the way.
It was officially commissioned in 1926 and became the main road for families heading west during the Great Depression – a piece of history you can still feel at every stop.
We could fill an entire separate article with all the things you can do along Route 66 but highlights include the iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma, the quirky Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo in Texas, and the sweeping landscapes of the Painted Desert in New Mexico.
And when you roll into Los Angeles and dip your feet in the Pacific? That’s a feeling you’ll never forget!
Allow at least two weeks to do it properly, though a month is better. The route really rewards slow travel.
Distance: Roughly 3,940 km (2,448 miles)
With dramatic cliffs, sensational scenery and picture-perfect coastal towns, the Pacific Coast Highway is another world-famous road trip.
It hugs the California coastline for over 600 kilometres, and almost every turn brings a new view worth pulling over for.
The classic approach is to start in San Diego and head north, letting the Pacific Ocean stay on your left as you climb through Malibu, past Santa Barbara, through the extraordinary Big Sur coastline, and eventually into San Francisco.
Big Sur in particular will take your breath away; think sheer cliffs dropping into crashing surf, with old-growth redwoods just inland.
Our advice? Don’t rush it. Stop at Hearst Castle near San Simeon. Walk the pier at Morro Bay. Spend a night in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small village that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. And if you have extra time, keep driving north from San Francisco toward the towering redwood forests of Humboldt County.
Distance: Around 970 km (600 miles) for the classic California stretch
There are no stop signs or traffic lights on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is 469 miles in total – roughly 755 kilometres!
The route, which connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia at its northern end to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina at its southern end, runs along the ridge lines of some of the tallest mountain ranges east of the Mississippi.
Which essentially means the scenery between the start and finish is stunning.
Highlights along the way include the historic Mabry Mill at Mile 176, the engineering marvel of the Linn Cove Viaduct at Mile 304, and the rhododendron gardens at Craggy Gardens near Mile 364.
And the midpoint stop of Asheville, North Carolina is worth a few days on its own thanks to its fantastic culinary and craft beer scene and thriving artist community.
Distance: 755 km (469 miles)
Utah’s five national parks – Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion – sit within driving distance of each other, and together they form one of the most spectacular road trip loops on the planet.
Start in Salt Lake City and work your way south. Arches gives you the famous Delicate Arch at sunrise. Canyonlands spreads out below canyon viewpoints that make you feel genuinely small. Capitol Reef is quieter and often overlooked, but its Waterpocket Fold is a geological wonder. Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos (those orange spire formations) look like something out of a fantasy film. And Zion, with its towering sandstone walls and the famous Angels Landing hike, is as close to a cathedral experience as the natural world gets.
Just book accommodation well in advance, especially for Zion. This loop is popular with travellers from all over the world and fills up fast.
Distance: Roughly 1,125 km (700 miles) as a loop
Technically the shortest drive on this list, but arguably the most unique. The Overseas Highway (US-1) connects Miami to the island of Key West via a chain of small islands, with long stretches of road that appear to float directly on the surface of the sea.
This road trip is less about covering distance and more about enjoying the journey. Stop at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for snorkelling on the only living coral barrier reef in the continental US. Eat a slice of genuine Key lime pie in Islamorada.
By the time you reach Key West, with its painted wooden houses, open-air bars and the nightly sunset celebrations at Mallory Square, you’ll understand why The Florida Keys are one of the most beloved road trips in America.
Distance: Roughly 250 km (155 miles) on the Overseas Highway
If you want to experience American autumn foliage at its most intense, New England is where you go. The maple trees turn vibrant shades of red, amber and yellow, and the whole region leans into ‘fall’ with farmers markets, apple orchards, covered bridges and warm cider.
A classic loop from Boston takes you north through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, into Vermont’s dairy farm valleys and small towns like Stowe (which also sits near some excellent ski resorts if you’re visiting in winter), across to Maine’s rocky coastline, and back south through Connecticut.
Every small town along the way has a general store, a village green and a church steeple, and they’re all genuinely charming rather than staged for tourists.
For Kiwis, the experience of a New England autumn is hard to describe; it’s just one of those things you need to see for yourself.
Distance: Roughly 800 km (500 miles) as a loop, depending on your route
Las Vegas is a perfectly ridiculous place to start a road trip, which is part of its appeal. So, once you’ve spent a day or two living it up on the Strip, get in the car and drive.
Within a few hours, you’ll arrive at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is bigger and deeper than you can imagine. Seriously, seeing it in real life is incomparable to the photos you see online.
From the Grand Canyon you can head to Sedona, Arizona, with its rust-red rock formations and upmarket spa resorts. Then north to Monument Valley, the tribal park whose “mesas” (flat-topped rock formations) have appeared in so many Western films that the landscape will feel simultaneously familiar and surreal.
Slot the Utah parks loop (number four on this list) into the northern end of this route and you’ll have yourself a classic American road trip.
Distance: Varies widely depending on your route, but a classic loop is around 1,600 km (1,000 miles)
Before you go racing down Route 66 or The Florida Keys, it’s important to know that Americans drive on the right and distances are measured in miles rather than kilometres.
Plus, most rental car companies will want you to have an international driver’s licence alongside your New Zealand licence.
It’s also worth double-checking the rules around your US visa and/or ESTA before you hire a vehicle and cross any state borders.
And most importantly, before you fly, make sure you get travel insurance! Medical costs in the United States are among the highest in the world, and driving adds additional risk.
1Cover’s USA policies include cover for medical emergencies as well as trip cancellation, lost luggage and theft of cash. And if you are planning a road trip or two, we highly recommend adding rental vehicle excess cover, which will protect you for up to $8,000 if your rental car is stolen, damaged or crashed.
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Visa Requirements For The USA
Whether you’re headed to New York or the Grand Canyon, getting your visa requirements right is key to a smooth journey.
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