There are a plethora of well publicized road tips that everyone must tick off their bucket lists, however usually time is of the essence, especially if you’re a professional who gets very little time to explore and broaden your horizons on a regular basis.
We often read that such road trips should be done during a gap year – a time before you have to become focused and begin planning meticulously how your life is going to pan out. Not to mention your designated career path. But in all honesty, road trips are fairly easy to plan, and can be undertaken within a couple of weeks if you plan them thoroughly.
With the U.S. being so vast, and one of the biggest countries in the world, the opportunities to explore its vast landscape is boundless. Here are five recommended U.S. road trips.
1. PETER NORBECK SCENIC BYWAY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway is a 70-mile long road that ventures through the South of Dakota. It takes travelers past the infamous Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and the winding roads of Needles Highway.
But the splendor doesn’t stop there; travelers will go through a series of rock formations and granite pinnacles that form highway tunnels. There’s also a vast array of wildlife that litters the surrounding countryside – from elk, to buffalos and even mountain goats.
2. FLORIDA KEYS OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, FLORIDA
A much longer journey to complete, this trip stands at around 127-miles from start to finish. It spans the Florida Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll travel over approximately 40 different bridges along the way and get the perfect view of the Sunshine State.
If you want to span your journey over a couple of over night stops, there are plenty of places to go snorkeling or surfing en route to the end of your journey.
3. ROUTE 66
The mother of all U.S. road trips, Route 66 certainly couldn’t be done in a weekend. From start to finish it’s a whopping 2,448 miles. Also referred to as Will Rogers Highway, it was constructed in 1926 and is undoubtedly one of the most famous routes in the world.
It goes through Chicago, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and finishes up in California. A road trip list wouldn’t be complete unless it had Route 66 0n it, that’s for sure.
4. CAYUGA LAKE SCENIC BYWAY, NEW YORK
This is the perfect route if you want to stop off in the Big Apple before undertaking your journey. The route starts only 4 hours northwest of NYC and spans a total of 87-miles. The beauty of this route is that on your way you will take in the many vineyards, rolling hills, farmlands and beatific lakes.
5. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA
Most famous for being the gateway to both Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the iconic Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the Parkway is 469-miles in length. You’ll pass an abundance of forestry, fauna, and the Appalachian highlands along the way.
There are also many opportunities for travelers to stop at picnic and camping sites. Take advantage of the ranger walks as well to get the most out of journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Tips When Planning Your Route
Hiring a Car
For many people, doing such a journey means that you need to hire a car, especially for travelers who are completely foreign to the country. However, something that everyone should consider is to always check the fine print on your car rentals. US News recently published an article explaining that you trip can become exceedingly more expensive if you don’t check for hidden taxes and charges.
Car Pools
If you are really tight on cash then you may want to look into car pools. It’s not the most convenient way to travel but it is the one of the most cost efficient. However, it’s important that you use reputable websites to such as RideJoy or Craig’s List to help you find the best travel buddies.
Valet After Use
The last thing you can want to do is incur charges because the car isn’t clean when you hand it back. If you are returning it to an airport upon your departure, don’t worry. As Parking4Less attests many leading airports have valet services now across the U.S. and other parts of the world. Valet services operatives cleaning the car as well as polishing the exterior at the designated drop off points – ideal for someone dropping the car off at an airport.
Guest Author Bio:
Jane Wright is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She loves to discover new destinations, eat delicious cuisines and meet new people.
Feature photo credit: viewfinderview
