The10 best US road trips
IT’S the ultimate bucket-list trip – who doesn’t dream of exploring the wide-open roads of the US? Whether you want to get your kicks on Route 66 or visit quaint New England, buckle up and enjoy the ride…
1 HEAD DOWN THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA
The romance of Route 66 is as strong as ever. Running from Chicago to Los Angeles, it has been dubbed the Mother Road and the Main Street of America. The route was followed by hundreds of thousands of families during the Great Depression. Kuoni’s (kuoni.co.uk) 19-day Historic Route 66 tour also features detours to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. It costs from €2,630pp, including flights, accommodation and car hire.
2 CALIFORNIA DREAMING ON THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
The legendary Pacific Coast Highway was started in the 1930s and covers more than 600 miles of the California coastline, from San Fran to San Diego. Some sections are currently closed following a landslide last May, but the road is expected to be operational again by autumn. Wexas (wexas.com) has a 12day Pacific Coast Highway Tour from €2,180pp, including flights, accommodation and car hire.
3 ON THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE…
A Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains tour takes in some of America’s finest scenery. Audley Travel’s (audleytravel. com) 14-day package costs from €3,070pp, including flights, accommodation and car.
4 FIND YOUR RHYTHM ON THE BLUES HIGHWAY
The 1,400-mile Great River Road, or the Blues Highway, extends from Minnesota to Louisiana and meanders through ten states that border the mighty Mississippi. Hayes & Jarvis’s (hayesand jarvis.co.uk) 18-day Deep South Explorer finishes in New Orleans. It costs from €2,750pp, including flights, accommodation and car hire.
5 HATE JAMS? THEN JOIN THE LONELIEST ROAD
Escape from it all on Highway 50 – the desolate Nevada section has been dubbed ‘the loneliest road in America’. Medway Travel’s (medway leisuretravel.co.uk) 14-day Ultimate Nevada Road Trip costs from €1,888pp, including flights, car and accommodation.
6 TAKE A SHINE TO LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Explore the Land of the Midnight Sun via Alaska’s scenic Glenn Highway and Seward Highway, taking in Anchorage and the Denali National Park. Cox & Kings (coxandkings. co.uk) has an 11-day Alaska Discovery Drive from €3,100pp.
7 GET A BUZZ FROM THE BEEHIVE STATE
The Mighty 5 tour in Utah takes in the Beehive State’s five national parks and also includes Monument Valley, Salt Lake City and the International Dark Sky Park – perfect for star-gazing. Bon Voyage (bon-voyage.co.uk) has a Spectacular Utah & The Mighty 5 tour – the 12-day trip starts from €2,381pp, including flights, accommodation and car.
8 THE GREAT LAKES… AND SWEET HOME CHICAGO
There are stunning beaches and picturesque towns dotted around the Great Lakes in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) features a 13-day Great Lakes Loop starting and finishing in Chicago, with prices starting from €1,311pp, including accommodation and car hire. Flights are extra.
9 HIT THE COAST WITH THE MOST
Head from Boston to Miami on a 21-day tour along the Atlantic coastline. Your adventure will include stops in New York, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Washington DC, Charleston and Savannah. The American Road Trip Company (theamericanroad tripcompany.co.uk) has an Ultimate East Coast trip for €2,409pp, including flights, accommodation and car hire.
10 EXPLORE AWESOME NEW ENGLAND
New England offers a charming mix of historic cities, quaint villages and stunning coastlines. Prepare to be amazed. Western & Oriental’s (western oriental.com) Classic New England 14-day itinerary starts and ends in Boston and costs from €3,950pp, including flights, accommodation, car hire and a whale-watching cruise.