Book with the experts

While it can cost more, booking a packaged road trip means you will know your route and (much of) the price in advance. Britain has a healthy line-up of tour operators that specialise in American fly-drive breaks, so even if you are keen to get off the beaten track, your destination should be available.

ROUTE 66

Those who are determined to tackle the full length of the “Mother Road” can do so via the Self-Drive Route 66 holiday offered by American Sky (01342 395 574; americansky. co.uk). This grand adventure journeys west, forging from Chicago to Los Angeles – via St Louis, Oklahoma

City and Albuquerque, with a detour up to Las Vegas – over 16 days. From £2,099 per person, including flights.

CALIFORNIA’S COAST

The 15-day Pacific Coast Highway trip offered by America As You Like It (020 8742 8299; americaas youlikeit.co.uk) involves more than a dalliance with the fabled “Highway 1” and a date with Big Sur. Not least because, although it sets off from San Francisco, it trundles as far south as San Diego and the Mexican border (beyond the road’s endgame), giving you more bang for your buck, as the saying goes. From £1,459 per person, including flights.

FLORIDA

The Sunshine State is a great deal of holiday fun, whichever way you wish to approach it. Credit, then, to the 14-night Discover Florida package offered by the American Road Trip Company

(01244 342 099; theamericanroad tripcompany. co.uk), which crams almost everything into its fortnight away – Miami, Orlando, the Keys, Cape Canaveral, the Everglades and the Gulf Coast. It is ideal for families.

From £1,599 per person, with flights.

NEW ENGLAND Autumn’s favourite region comes fully into focus in the 11-night Best of New England road trip offered by Complete

North America (0115 961 0590; complete northamerica. com). This comprehensive 12-day itinerary touches wheels in five of the six states (apologies to Connecticut) and finds time to go out on a limb along Cape Cod in Massachusetts. From £1,275 per person, including flights.

THE GREAT LAKES

Bon Voyage (0800 316 3012; bon-voyage. co.uk) looks closely at three of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan,

Huron) with its 14-day Great Lakes USA option. Starting and finishing in Chicago, it makes its way through Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. From £2,295 per person, including flights.