Road trips are equally romantic and nostalgic. Planning and pursuing such a trip is, for many travelers, not only a personal achievement to be proud of but a must-do in order to feed their adventurous spirits. Because of their size, great railroad system or diverse and beautiful landscapes some countries are naturally appealing for road tripping. The United States and Canada are some of them. From the iconic Route 66 to the stunning Trans Canada, they offer plenty of fantastic opportunities to hit the road and let it surprise you. 

You can either drive your own car or rent one at your destination to begin the exploration. This is a savvy idea especially as many of them allow renters to return the car to another city if they are not travelling in a loop. If this sounds like a plan, whether you’re in the United States or Canada, in order to rent a car you’ll need: to be at least 21 years old and have a minimum of 12-months-driving experience, a valid driver’s license or International Driver’s Permit if your license is not in English or French, a credit card for the car rental deposit and a child seat fastened with a seat belt if you’re travelling with children under 18 kg. You’ll also need car rental insurance. There are many options available in the market and you’ll need to decide which one accommodates better to your budget and offers you the coverage you need; this one, for instance, has a very interesting and affordable plan that might be right what you expect.

Going on a Truly American Road Trip

1. Route 66 (Illinois to California)

Route 66 is, for many, the quintessential cross-country road trip with its more than 2500 miles. Although it’s currently not as popular as in the mid 1950s, you can still follow the tyres or those who traversed it from Chicago, in Illinois, to Santa Monica, in California. Route 66 takes you through 8 states, vast desolate desert plains, remarkable old highway towns, plenty of diners, motels, shops and the impressive sights of downtown Chicago or Los Angeles. 

There’s definitely romance, nostalgia and plenty of adventure in driving across the heart of the United States, especially if you’re interested in capturing the most iconic roadside scenes as great displays of neon signs, rusty truck stops and decadent motels.

Driving Route 66 completely will take you between 2 and 4 weeks and you’ll drive through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas , New Mexico and Arizona before ending in California. Amongst the highlights of the trip you can’t miss are: the Route 66 Hall of Fame, the Woody Guthrie Center, the Cadillac Ranch, La Posada Harvey House and many others.

2. Pacific Coast Highway

For most people, the Pacific Coast Highway is associated with the section that snakes its way along the Californian coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles. However, not many people know that it also heads north through redwood forests, along the rugged Oregon coastline and finishes in the Olympic National Park in Washington. It’s a scenic, spectacular drive along some of the most beautiful American landscapes. 

It is a tight, winding road not as crowded as you’d expect. Some of the highlights are: Glass Beach at Frot. Bragg (CA), Avenue of the Giants (really beautiful with plenty of worth-stopping moments), Pacific City and Cannon Beach (OR), which are gorgeous cities with a great vibe!

You can also opt to drive the Californian stretch. They are 653 miles from Dana Point in Orange County to Legget in Mendocino County. The main attractions you’ll find are Malibu, San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Monterey, Los Angeles or the Golden Gate Bridge. The route takes in some of the best coastal scenery in California, making it one of the best summer road trips you can take! This portion of the Pacific Coast Highway offers travelers stunning views of shoreline, parks and cities. 

3. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 470-mile drive that connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. It starts at Front Royal, VA, travels along Skyline Drive to Luray Caverns and on south to the Natural Bridge and into North Carolina before ending at Smoky Mountains. Billboards and commercial traffic are banned and there are no commercial towns along the way, which offers drivers a truly delightful experience where they can enjoy and take in the beautiful sights of one of the finest scenic drives in the United States. 

As you drive, you can indulge in mountainous terrains and waterfalls you may be able to spot birds, wild turkeys, scarlet sourwoods and thick lush woods that turn vibrant red or warm yellow during the autumn. There’s also a wide variety of wild flowers that bloom in multiple colours. Mount Pisgah, in NC, is one of the highlights of this road trip. You’ll definitely enjoy its extensive network of hiking trails that invite you to explore the area and discover its many wonders. It’s also a great road trip to take in Cherokee traditions, agricultural history and Appalachian music and crafts, not to mention the two fantastic National Parks it connects. There are also charming little mountain towns as Boone or Blowing Rock in NC and George Washington & Jefferson National Forests in VA. 

4. Overseas Highway, Florida Keys

The Overseas Highway is an iconic 150-mile drive that links Miami to the Florida Keys. It crosses 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge over Pigeon Key. Although it’s quite a short drive, the fun of this road trip is to enjoy the life of the Keys themselves: from the Pennekamp Coral Reef Park to Key Largo’s Dolphin Research Center. Take your time to observe the towering lighthouses, colorful coral reef parks and strips of white sand beaches.  

Take US-1 south, head through Coconut Grove, past University of Miami and go along South Dixie Highway or Ronald Reagan Turnpike, past the farms of Homestead to Florida City and US-1South, which turns into the Overseas Highway. Enjoy the view of the surrounding waters and be ready to spot wildlife species. 

This road trip can be quite overwhelming for your senses as there’s plenty of things to see. You can also go saltwater fly-fishing or reef diving. The Cuban atmosphere of the area will definitely get you going and the views of the Atlantic Ocean on both sides of the road are simply stunning. 

5. Great River Road

The Great River Road starts in Minnesota and ends in Louisiana and it’s 3000 miles long. The road takes you along the famous and mighty Mississippi River from where it starts in Minnesota all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana after passing through 10 states. You’ll see Memphis, St Louis, New Orleans and everything in between. It’s a great road trip that invites you to explore those states that are usually missed when planning a trip around the States. 

This breathtaking drive will take you around 10 days. It’s well marked and easily identifiable so you won’t get lost. It has a diverse array of cultural, historic, natural and recreational sites along the way.   

The Great River Road is a collection of smaller state and local routes that follow the impressive Mississippi river as it makes its way to the ocean. It’s one of those road trips in which the scenery you enjoy as you drive is as important as reaching your destination. You’ll pass by important cities such as St Louis, Missouri or New Orleans. Travelers can’t miss Nelson Dewey State Park, the Delta Blues Museum or the beautiful city of New Orleans.

Discover Canada’s Most Popular Road Trips

1. Trans-Canada Highway

The Trans-Canada Highway is an epic route that crosses Canada from Victoria, on Vancouver Island and finishing at St John’s in Newfoundland. You’ll definitely need quite a lot of time to do this road trip completely as it is 7800 kilometres long. It’s a fascinating driving experience that will take you through the diverse Canadian landscape.It’s definitely the Canadian version of Route 66 as it stretches through all 10 provinces and six time zones.  

Amongst the highlights awaiting road-trippers we can mention Vancouver island, Banff National Park, Lake Louise, the Alberta Badlands, Ottawa, Quebec city or Gros Morne National Park amongst others. April to October is the perfect timing for this glorious road trip as it ensures optimal weather from coast to coast. 

2. Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Despite being only over 230 kilometers long, Icefields Parkway, in Alberta, connects the resort towns of Lake Louise and Jasper while offering travelers one of the most scenic vers can road trips in the world. As it winds its way through the Canadian Rockies, driappreciate waterfalls, stunning glaciers and emerald lakes while passing through two of the country’s largest national parks: Banff and Jasper. And if you’re a lucky traveller you may even spot black bears, grizzly bears or moose along the way! 

More than a million tourists are attracted yearly by the Icefields Parkway. They are drawn by the majestic Rockies and the breathtaking lakes and the stunning  glaciers. Offering many hiking trails, it’s an invitation to enjoy the many wonders of nature: the Valley of the Five Lakes, Nigel Pass, Wilcox Pass or Toe of the Glacier are some of the most favourite hiking trails amongst visitors. 

Despite the road is open all year round, the best time to drive around is from May to October as days are warmer and all services and accommodation facilities are closed between November to April. 

Some of the highlights of your trip are: Peyto Lake from Bow Summit, the wonderful views of Mistaya Canyon, walk on the amazing Athabasca Glacier, take a canoe ride in beautiful Lake Louise, take in the views of the Seven Sisters from Lake Moraine, take lots of pictures of Tangle Falls, hike the Valley of the Five Lakes, visit the peak of the Whistler Mountains on the Jasper Sky Tram and test your fear of heights with the Jasper Glacier Skywalk.

3. The Cabot  Trail

Located in Nova Scotia, the Cabot Trail is a 185-mile circular route hugs the dramatic Gulf of Saint Lawrence coastline, twisting, turning, rising and falling as it cuts through the upper part of Cape Breton Island. As it skirts Cape Breton Highlands National Park the drive becomes really dramatic; you may be able to spot bald eagles, bears and moose! The road will take you through towns that represent both French and Scottish traditions so there is a good bit of culture to explore.

Undoubtedly, the Cabot Trail is one of the most popular road  trips in Canada. Drivers can expect breathtaking views of the sea at every turn. It’s also a famous ride amongst hikers as there are also many incredible hiking trails such as the Skyline Trail. 

It’s a fantastic ride all year round but October gets extra special as you can admire the deep red and bright yellow foliage. 

The area offers such a breathtaking landscape that drivers can’t help but stop multiple times to admire the views and take tons of pictures. Dramatic cliffs, charming fishing villages, white sandy beaches, picturesque lighthouses and awesome views of the sea are there for you to explore.

Sea to Sky Highway

Also known as Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway takes you from sea level in Horseshoe Bay, just outside Vancouver, up into the mountains. The route is overflowing with forests, lakes, mountains and rivers as well as giant rock faces such as “The Chief” in the town of Squamish.

Driving it in winter invites travelers to go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or downhill skiing while in summer you can go rock climbing, hiking or join a mountain ride excursion. And if you’re not the sporty type, you can always take in the wonderful views. This road is incredibly scenic and enjoyable! 

The Sea to Sky Highway links Vancouver to Whistler, which are less than 2 hours apart. Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, Shannon Falls or Britannia Mine Museum are some of the highlights you can find along the ride. But what will definitely grab your attention and has become a must-visit is the Sea to Sky Gondola as it offers breathtaking scenic views and a suspension bridge that is simply amazing. Drivers and passengers will find it hard to decide where to look!  The snow-capped peaks of British Columbia’s Coastal Mountains, the blue waters of Howe Sound fjord will grab your attention and you can expect wonderful new vistas in every bend. Needless to say, photographers will get thousands of great pictures to take!

The Sea to Sky Highway is one of the shortest road trips mentioned in the article but a very nice one to take if you are in the Vancouver area. While it’s a convenient way to get from Vancouver to Whistler, it also offers a great opportunity to explore the area: small mining communities, the Aboriginal culture and art… you mention! It’s one of the most favourite roads amongst those who love outdoor life plus cultural and historic sites!