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World's Best Road Trips
In March, my wife and I drove from Florida's east coast to its west coast for a long weekend. In total, we put 600 miles on the car. Does that qualify as a road trip -- or is it just a long drive? In August, we're planning on taking our two dogs and driving from Florida, through Georgia, and up to Indiana. We plan to be gone for 2+ weeks, and that trip will add about 2500 miles to the car. Does that qualify as a road trip -- or is it just insanity on wheels?
Want to spin your wheels out on the open road but can't figure out a good route? Check out Concierge, which has put together a dreamy list of the world's best road trips, including:
- California's Death Valley
- Maui's Hana Highway
- Iceland's Ice Ring Road
- The long and winding Blue Ridge Parkway
- Morocco's Atlas Mountains
In case you're wondering, my all-time favorite road trip was the three-month tour my wife and I took along South Africa's coast, from Durban to Cape Town: wicked pretty, varied scenery, friendly people, and lots to do.
Do you love road trips? See also:
- Roadtrip Prep
- Road Trip Ideas From the Independent
- Road Trip USA Podcasts
- Snacking on the Road
- Road Trip Time Lapse Video
- 20 Great American Road Trips
- Finding the Lowest Gas Prices
Filed under: Stories
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Mike MacEachen Jun 27th 2007 1:28PM
For real beauty, try the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
Mike MacEachen Jun 27th 2007 1:29PM
For real beauty try the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
Colleen Jun 27th 2007 3:43PM
After taking an early retirement (at 36) from the airlines and globe trotting, I took off in my brand new Nissan Altima, sunroof open, for 3 months. It was all solo. (I'm an adventurous, soul-searching at the time woman;) I drove from my home in St. Pete Beach, Florida with the first destination being San Diego, Ca. My goal was to drive the entire west coast and Route 1 all the way to Oregon. And so I did! I stayed in places like Cambria (and highly recommend) this quaint little town south of Big Sur, near the Hertz castle. It's surrounded by a multitude of wineries that are breathtaking road trips in themselves! Exploring Big Sur and the Red woods for 3 weeks, I made my way up to Mount Shasta, Ca. just before heading into Ashland, Or. Beautiful! Cutting along the southern coast of Oregon to The Great Red woods of northern Ca, I made my way back down through Sacramento as I headed for Lake Tahoe by Easter. There was a blizzard at the time so, thank goodness for chains, and kind gentlemen to help me put them on! After that one week adventure, I started to head east to Utah and was blessed to witness the rare blooming in Death Valley. I know Park City, Deer Valley, and have skied them, and yes...they are beautiful, but roadtripping through the south of Utah is a sight to behold. St. George is a good stopping off place on the way to Zion Nat' Park and Bryce Canyon (which are easy driving in the off season). Then off I went to Sedona, Arizona and spent 10 glorious days exploring. I know I am forgetting at least 10 great places here. At the end, I truly didn't want it to end...so, I stopped off in Panama City, and stayed in Destin for 4 nights on the beach! Ahhh...the good life. (Ps...as a side note, I have road tripped to Co., New Mex, Hana-Maui, Germany....And now, I train trip all over Europe since it's not that cheap to drive. As American's we are blessed with cheap petro, yes...cheap!! So, take advantage of it. It's about $7 or $8 a gallon, and speak from experience---I now live here in Italy;)
Lizbethann Jun 27th 2007 2:57PM
I haven't been on any of the five recommend road trips, however, I have a few that I have really enjoyed. Locally, for me, it is the ride that goes all the way up coastal route 1 through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and then all the way up through Maine. Quaint fishing villages with their harbors full of lobster boats, roadside clam shacks, rocky shorelines and jetties. Quintessential coastal New England. On the west coast, it's coastal route 1 yet again. We drove north from San Francisco then doubled back all the way down to San Diego. Big Sur was nothing short of amazing. Monterey was lovely, great Inns and restaurants. Carmel was adorable in an upscale sort of way. Loved Santa Barbara. Great Inns and restaurants there as well. Hearst Castle was cool, but the elephant seals on the side of the road just south of there were great. Completely unimpressed with the stretch that goes through Malibu. It's pretty much a tall concrete wall on one side and unimpressive businesses on the other. But the best road trip I've ever been on was the one from Edinburgh up through the highlands of Scotland and down a very stark and remote route A87 to the Isle of Skye. The landscape is astounding, eerie in some ways and serene in others. Small mountains that are bare of trees but covered in the greenest of grass, small whitewashed, thatch roofed cottages, imposing castle ruins, idyllic rolling pastures grazed by sheep, long haired rust colored highland cattle, sapphire colored lochs and small waterfalls in the sides of the small mountains. Just drinking it in can in turn make your heart pound with excitement, smile with joy and ache with sorrow. And the people there are so friendly. Even now, with American popularity in a decline the Scots are incredibly warm and welcoming. If you go, do not pass up the opportunity to stop in the local pub in any village. Speaking with the locals really gives you the flavor of the culture there. Definitely the most moving place I have ever been too. It felt like coming home.
ted fiorito Jun 27th 2007 2:59PM
I have driven from Maine to Alaska and visted most of our National parks. However, my favorite was Bear Tooth Pass which borders Montana and Wyoming.
Karen Jun 27th 2007 4:52PM
Those are all beautiful trips but no one has mentioned how awesome Northern Michigan is, especially the sight of the Mackinaw Bridge at night. The dunes along the shore are great to climb when you get tired of driving and the views of Lake Michigan will long be remembered.
Eddie H Jul 2nd 2007 4:27PM
One of the most unique trips is from White Fish Montana over the "Going To The Sun Road" in Glacier National Park, into Southern Alberta and then to "Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump".
No, I'm not kidding. This unique Canadian musuem goes back over 10,000 years excavating the base of a cliff where Indians drove herds of Boffalo by stampeding them across the prarie to the abyss.