1. A musical trip from rocking Cleveland to bluesy Memphis
Approximate distance: 735 miles
What to see: Start your trip with a stop at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, go country in Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, and top it off with some blues and a visit to Graceland in Memphis. Hallelujah.
2. A desert trek from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon
Approximate distance: 230 miles
What to see: Architecture fans can’t miss Taliesen West in Scottsdale and ecologically focused Arcosanti, going hiking through red-rock-rich Sedona, and end the trip with a tour around the Grand Canyon.
3. A bourbon tour through Kentucky, from Lexington to Louisville and back
Approximate distance: 200 miles (for the loop)
What to see: Stop at distilleries in Lexington, Lawrenceburg, Loretto, and Clermont for tastings (make sure you have a designated driver though!) and enjoy views of rolling blue grass and white fences as you go.
4. A scenic Californian coastal trip on the PCH from San Francisco to San Diego
Approximate distance: 500 miles
What to see: Head south out of San Francisco along the coast through quaint Half Moon Bay and see some of the most beautiful coastal sights in the country on 17 Mile Drive. See more natural Californian beauty as you drive through Big Sur (don’t miss the Bixby Bridge!), stop off and laze on the beaches of Malibu, and end the trip by going out in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
5. A Midwestern trip from Chicago, Illinois, to Door County, Wisconsin
Approximate distance: 280 miles
What to see: Stop by the arresting Milwaukee Art Museum on the Western shore of Lake Michigan, followed by a sports-focused visit to hallowed Lambeau Field, and conclude your trip in Door County for hiking, boating, and an old-fashioned Midwestern fish boil.
6. An exploration of the oldest towns in America along the Atlantic, starting in Boston, Massachusetts, and ending in Key West, Florida
Approximate distance: 2,400 miles
What to see: Leave Revolutionary War hot spot Boston and travel on to the site of the early “lost” settlement at Roanoke. Next, visit the home of the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts, and then venture way down south to the oldest city in America, St. Augustine, Florida, before ending in tropical Key West.
7. The heart of Texas tour, from Dallas to Corpus Christi:
Approximate distance: 420 miles
What to see: Explore the craft breweries in Dallas (with a designated driver, of course), then see the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, and then experience the live music scene in Austin. *Remember* to visit The Alamo in San Antonio and end your trip by enjoying the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi.
8. A travel through natural wonders, starting with the Dakota Badlands and ending in Yellowstone
Approximate distance: 1,300 miles
What to see along the way: Drive through the Badlands for incredibly Insta-worthyrock formations, stop by Mount Rushmore to get your history on, visit the Lakota-sacred Devils Tower, and *have a blast* at Old Faithful in Yellowstone.
9. The nostalgic and Americana-inspired drive down Route 66, from Chicago to LA
Approximate distance: 2,400 miles
What to see: After oohing and aahing over the Windy City skyline, head to theGateway Arch in St. Louis for a top-notch selfie setting. Travel farther west for historic stops like the Route 66 Steak ‘n Shake in Missouri, the Coleman Theater in Oklahoma, and the Seligman Historic District in Arizona. Finally, check out Meteor Crater in Arizona on the way to sunny Los Angeles.
10. The Oregon Trail, starting in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and ending on the Oregon Coast, so you can see what the settlers saw
Approximate distance: 3,300 miles
What to see: Get a (very, VERY small) feel for what the first Manifest Destiny settlers experienced as they trekked from coast to coast on this countrywide journey. Stop along the way for serene panoramas of the Finger Lakes, doses of big city in Chicago, and quirky attractions like Carhenge before making it to the wild beauty of the Oregonian Coast.
11. The carpe diem, fun-focused voyage from LA to Vegas
Approximate distance: 320 miles
What to see: Start out with ocean views at Santa Monica Pier, then head east out of LA until you hit prime-selfie spots, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch and Calico Ghost Town. If you get hungry on the way to Nevada, don’t miss ’50s-themed Peggy Sue’s Diner before rolling into Sin City.
Not to mention OUR desert road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, where you can check out Google Mapsadventurers finding fun surprises on their#MapsRoadTrip, July 22–23.
