Cross-country Road Trip: 11 Classic Routes 2022
Make your dreams come true.. want to see the cliffs overlooking the Pacific? Or travel the Oregon Trail? Explore our eleven cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.
Choose your route:
Pacific Coast Highway
Start in the Northwest of the United States at Washington’s Olympic National Park and take it all the way to San Diego, on a 1,600-mile, double yellow line road trip from the temperate rainforest to the desert.
Highlights of the Pacific Coast Route: Olympic National Park (WA), Three Capes Loop (OR), Redwood National Park (CA)
Related Routes:
Historic Route 66
Have you wanted to travel the historic Route 66 from its roots in Chicago and end in Los Angeles - you have to see the route in 2022. You'll see neon signs, run down rust dinosaur statues, middle-of-nowhere truck stops, and historic Americana... “get your kicks on Route 66.”
Highlights of the Route 66 Route: Chicago (IL), Meramec Caverns (MO), Tucumcari (NM), Painted Desert (AZ), Santa Monica (CA)
Related Routes:
The Loneliest Road
Want a different coast-to-coast trip from San Francisco to Ocean City, Maryland, “The Loneliest Road in America” is a 3,000-mile cross country road trip as the song goes "from sea to shining sea". US-50 drives through 12 different states, four state capitals, and Washington, D.C.
Highlights of the Loneliest Road: South Lake Tahoe (CA), Moab (UT), The Million Dollar Highway (CO), Washington D.C.
Related Routes:
The Oregon Trail
Who hasn't played the game? Like the pilgrims and pioneers, take US‑20 a double yellow line road from Oregon’s pacific coast to the New England oceans and sands of Cape Cod.
Highlights of the Oregon Trail: Cannon Beach (OR), Fort Boise (ID), Yellowstone National Park (WY), Mt Rushmore & Carhenge (NE)
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The Great Northern
Named the Great Northern in memory of the railroad that tracks the western half of the route, US‑2 is the most beautiful route in the country, and the longest, of all the class cross country road trips.
Highlights of the Great Northern: Tumwater Canyon (WA), Glacier National Park (MT), Lake Michigan (MI), Acadia National Park (ME)
Related Guides:
The Appalachian Trail
If you've ever wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, here's the road trip for you. Start at the top of New England through to the South Dixie, 100% nature and natural beauty —without the heat, bugs, or dangers of hiking.
Highlights of the Appalachian Trail: Mt. Washington (NH), The Poconos (PA), Shenandoah National Park (VA), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC)
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Mississippi River
Ol' Man River, The Big Muddy, Old Blue, The Gathering of Waters and other nicknames, the name “Mississippi” comes from the meaning Great River. Mississippi River cuts across the entire US - drive from the top in Minnesota to the sea in Louisiana.
Highlights along the Mississippi River Route: Main Street USA (WI), St. Louis (MO), Natchez Trace Parkway (MS), New Orleans (LA)
Related Guides:
Atlantic Coast
Start in NYC at the Statue of Liberty and end in Key West by crossing over the Overseas Highway, drive 2,000 miles down the Atlantic Ocean.
Highlights of the Atlantic Coast Route: The Statue of Liberty (NJ), Assateague Island National Seashore (MD), Savannah (GA), Cocoa Beach (FL)
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Border to Border
Travel from Canada’s Jasper National Park, and end in the Sonora Desert of Arizona, you'll see the rawest parts of nature in the country: mountains, glaciar valleys, rivers, and two deserts.
Highlights along the Border to Border Route: Columbia Icefield (AB), Bitterroot Mountains (MT), The Extraterrestrial Highway (NV), Joshua Forest Parkway (AZ)
Related Guides:
US-83
From the Canada Border to “Old Mexico,” US‑83 cuts across America’s heartland— drive across the country without seeing one traditional tourist destination.
Highlights of the US-83 Route: Sitting Bull Memorial (SD), Nebraska Sand Hills (NE), Monument Rocks (KS), Paint Rock Pictographs (TX)
Related Guides:
Southern Pacific - Atlantic
Following old US-80 and its contemporary equivalents takes you through more varied cultural and physical landscapes than you’ll find along any other cross-country route. From deserts to bayou swamps and Tex-Mex to barbecue, this route offers a full-flavored taste of America.
Highlights of the Southern Pacific Route: The Desert View Tower (CA), Tombstone (AZ), Roswell (NM), Civil Rights Movement National Historic Trail (AL)
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