Great river road trip planner plus#

During the milder seasons, you’ll avoid snow in Northern Illinois and through Arizona’s and California’s mountain passages. The best times of year to drive Route 66 are Spring and Fall. It’s a string of ingenuity and Americana. Other stops include an abandoned mountain lion zoo, a corner in Winslow, Arizona, and a mining town populated with roaming donkeys. There’s even a Singing Road in Albuquerque drive exactly 45 MPH and that stretch of Route 66 plays America, the Beautiful. There are giant Muffler Men in Illinois, the Wagon Wheel Motel in Missouri, a giant blue whale in Oklahoma, and Cadillac Ranch in Texas. You’ll want to allow at least one week, and preferably two, to make sure you can stop frequently. Much of the original alignment has been replaced by interstates, but there are still many miles of two lanes where you can see some of the country’s quirkiest roadside attractions. Highway System, and driving it is to travel America’s past. It’s one of the original highways in the U.S. Beginning in downtown Chicago and ending at Santa Monica Pier, this epic road trip covers more than 2,400 miles through eight states. Known as The Mother Road, Route 66 stretches from the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean. And if you have a couple of days to spare, jump back on 395 and head another 110 miles north to Lake Tahoe! Hook a left onto CA-120 at Mono Lake, and carve your way up the switchbacks and over the mountains guarding the world-famous Yosemite Valley. You’ll pass Kings Canyon National Park, North Palisade Peak, the thick towering woods of Inyo National Forest, and the utterly breath-taking Mammoth Lakes ski region. Heading further north envelopes you in mountains on both sides – desert crags to the east and snow-capped shrubby peaks to the west. With Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley National Park to the east and Sequoia National Forest and National Park to the west, this first leg of 395 offers plenty of options for places to stop and explore, or even camp, if you’re feeling adventurous. From Joshua Tree, the vast lonely expanse of desert slowly morphs into the dry mountainous terrain of the Eastern Sierras. Traveling the length of California via 395 is a great way to experience the highly diverse natural scenery of the state. After spending a day or two exploring everything Joshua Tree has to offer, head north on CA-247 to the junction with Historic Route 66 in Barstow.Īfter a kitsch-filled pit stop in Barstow, head east on CA-58 to pick up US-395. Situated 150 miles south of Las Vegas and 100 miles east of Los Angeles, this under-appreciated park is a great place to start a California road trip. Joshua Tree National Park is a dynamic desert paradise in southern California. Though the route encompasses over 1300 miles, we’re going to focus on the most scenic and attraction-filled stretch between Joshua Tree and Yosemite National Parks. US-395 is a beautiful back road that stretches from southern California all the way north to the Canadian border. Recommended for: mid-September to mid-October.California US-395: Joshua Tree –> Yosemite

Here are some of the best road trip routes to follow in the Western US. It would be hard to dispute this, given the spectacular scenery and vast, open roads in the Western states.

Some might argue that the best USA road trip is one taken through the American West.

Great river road trip planner plus#

We’ve also included recommended time frames for when to take these terrific United States road trips (the slower you can go, the better), plus suggestions for the best time of year to travel. Keep in mind that this does not account for stops, detours, or any additional mileage, but refers to the rough distance you would expect to cover along the entire route. Some of that, like the famous Route 66 for instance, could fit in multiple categories since they cover more than one area of the country.įor each road trip route, we’ve included the approximate distance you would travel from start to finish. We’ve divided these great American road trips by region. READ NEXT: The Most Romantic Road Trips for Couples The Ultimate Guide to the Best USA Road Trips