Travel Destinations for a Summer Roadtrip

It’s no secret, Americans love to travel and take road trips during the summer months. According to StatisticBrain.com, 45 percent of people enjoy summer vacation and over 650 million people a year travel long distance trips during that time. There’s nothing quite like piling in the car with your family and friends and taking a road trip for Memorial Day weekend. So if you’re feeling adventurous this summer, take a closer look at some of these top road trips.

The Florida Keys

Florida is one of the most popular travel destinations in America. There are thousands of miles of pristine white sandy beaches, and you can go island hopping right here in the continental United States. US 1 is a highway that runs up and down the entire length of the Keys. Once you pass Key Largo on your way to Key West, you’ll have crystal blue waters on either side of you for miles. There’s a seven-mile bridge that you might recognize from the blockbuster movie “True Lies.” Once you hit Key West, be sure to visit Duval Street for some great shopping and local eateries.

The California Coast

If you’re in the mood for coastal views straight from the silver screen, then take a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. There are one hundred and twenty-three miles of glory along Route 1 as it passes through California. You’ll have mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. There’s a seventeen mile stretch of this route that is quite popular. It extends from the Monterey Peninsula up to Carmel. You can stop by the Pebble Beach Golf Club during this stretch of the trip to get in 18 holes of some of the best fairways in the world. Once you leave California along the Pacific Coast Highway, you might be tempted to keep driving. That’s okay; Route 1 extends through Oregon, Washington and on to the Canadian border.

Beartooth Highway

Adventure seekers will undoubtedly enjoy a drive down Beartooth Highway. US Highway 212 crosses between Wyoming and Montana. You can start your journey at Yellowstone National Park and travel all the way to Red Lodge, Montana. It will feel like you are on top of the world because Beartooth Highway features elevations at close to 11,000 feet. You will pass through several national forests on this two-lane road, and you’ll need to have your camera ready to catch scenic vistas that will take your breath away. Some of the stops you can’t miss are Beartooth Pass and the Clay Butte Lookout.

There’s more to see and do along America’s highways than you could fit in just one summer. But you can get a head start on checking off these legendary road trips if you plan accordingly. Do your homework and bookmark any landmarks that you might want to visit. Pack some snacks, load a playlist and plenty of space on your digital camera. Finally, just pick a region and be sure your car is road ready before setting out. Have fun!

Suggested books:
Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways
Off the Beaten Path: A Travel Guide to More Than 1000 Scenic and Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting
Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 900 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More, now in its 9th edition