5 Incredible Action-Packed US Road Trip Ideas

Dreaming of a US road trip? We get it – imagine the sun shining, windows rolled down, music blasting from the stereo as you drive along the coast or amid stunning mountain scenery, spontaneously pulling over at fun attractions you spot along the way. 

To make your dream a reality, we’ve listed some dreamy US road trip ideas, such as ‘The Mother Road’. 

When planning your dream US road trip, start with these five questions:

1. Which US road trip destinations or attractions have you always dreamed of seeing but never quite made it to?

2. Are any of these locations close together or well-connected by road? 

3. How long do you have for your road trip? 

4. How far are you happy to drive in one day?

5. What’s your budget?

Once you’ve got the answers, you’re ready to plan your route.

Planning your road trip with a map

Here’s how to plan a road trip with a map. Start by finding your destinations on the map and then working out the most logical order to visit them all. For example, if you want to visit New York, Miami and New England, you’ll want to visit New England first, then New York, then Miami – or vice versa. Once you’ve ordered your destinations, use a digital map tool to find out how long it takes to drive from one to the next. Then, book accommodation in the destinations you want to see. You’ll also need to book accommodation along the way. 

Planning your road trip with Booking's AI Trip Planner

If you’re using Booking’s AI planner, simply tell the chatbot which destinations you’d like to visit, the length of your trip and ask it to give you a route, adding in extra attractions on the way. If you’re not happy with the route it presents, simply ask for changes. You can also ask it for accommodation recommendations within your budget.

Packing for a road trip is a bit different to planning a traditional vacation. You’ve got to consider all the time you’ll be spending in the car, as well as during your vacation. 

So, aside from the essentials like money, phones, chargers and your driving license, what should you bring?

Emergency kit 

You’re about to spend a lot of time on unfamiliar roads, so it’s super important to pack an emergency kit. You should make sure to bring: 

• Roadside assistance tools – including jumper cables, a tire repair kit, a spare tire, a jack for changing tires, a small toolkit, duct tape for emergency repairs, a flashlight, reflective triangles and a tire pressure gauge. 
• Extra car maintenance fluids – such as windshield washer fluid, motor oil and antifreeze.
• A first aid kit – containing band-aids, bandages, tweezers, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, burn cream, antihistamine and hand sanitizer.
• Extra layers to keep you warm – like emergency thermal blankets, rain gear and gloves, thick socks and hats. 
• Extra food and drink – such as bottled water and non-perishable snacks.
• Navigation tools – including a paper map, a fully charged power bank and a whistle to signal for help. 

Games and entertainment

On a long road trip, looking out of the window will only keep you entertained for so long. To make your drives as fun as possible, consider bringing games you can play safely while driving, download plenty of podcasts and make road trip playlists you can sing along to.

Easy-to-pack snacks

Pack non-perishable snacks like nuts, chips, granola bars and dried fruit and top up on fresh snacks like fruit, veggies and sandwiches each morning before you set off. 

It’s also worth bringing reusable water bottles and a cooler with ice packs to keep your perishables extra fresh and your drinks cold. 

Comfortable clothing and sleep accessories 

You’ll be spending a lot of time confined to the car, so make sure you pack loose, comfortable clothing that you can layer up and down depending on the temperature. 

It’s also a great idea to bring blankets, neck pillows and a sleep mask in case passengers want to get some sleep.

1. Route 66

Route 66 is perhaps the most famous road trip route in the world, topping many a bucket list. ‘The Mother Road’ was established in 1926 as the USA’s first true interstate highway, taking travelers from Chicago to Los Angeles. 

While the road no longer exists in its original form (it was replaced by sections of the Interstate Highway System back in 1985), the route remains a hugely popular road trip route and portions of the road are now designated ‘Historic Route 66’.

This road trip will take you through eight states. You’ll start in Chicago, Illinois, before passing through Missouri. Then it’s onto Kansas—but just for 13 miles—before you hit Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, which is where you’ll do the longest stretch of driving (487 miles). Next, you’ll drive through Arizona to reach your final destination: Santa Monica, California. 

Action-packed activities at Route 66 

When you’re driving cross-country, there’s a huge number of things to see and do along the way. Here are some of the best:

• Visit the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma – dive into the history and nostalgia of the Mother Road through engaging exhibits, including vintage highway signs and a classic car. 
• Take a hike or a drive around the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona – see Triassic fossils, petrified logs, an ancient village and the spectacular painted desert. 
• Visit the Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri – get amazing views from the top of this 630-foot-tall national monument. 
• Stop at the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas – this historical gas station and cafe boasts jaw-dropping Art Deco architecture sure to make you feel nostalgic. 
• Explore Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas – at this unique art installation, you can spray paint the iconic tilted Cadillacs like many Route 66 travelers before you. 
• Walk the Santa Monica Pier in California – mark the end of your journey with a stroll and some arcade games against a beautiful ocean backdrop.

2. The Black Hills

The Black Hills mountain range rises from the Great Plains of North America. Located in South Dakota and Wyoming, it’s perfect for a spectacular road trip, with Black Elk Peak—its highest summit—standing at 7,242 feet. 

Road trips here are generally divided into four parts: the Badlands area, Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills and Northern Black Hills. To explore them all, you’ll need around five to six days. 

Action-packed activities at Black Hills 

• Take a hike at Badlands National Park – this otherworldly area spans 244,000 acres and is home to painted canyons and a giant prairie, as well as bison, bighorn sheep and ferrets.
• Ride on the 1880 vintage steam train – enjoy a two-hour round trip through the Black Hills, as a host tells you about the history of the area and its points of interest. 
• See Mount Rushmore – this iconic US monument features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, carved into granite. 
• Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial – the world’s largest sculpture-in-progress, the Crazy Horse Memorial was started back in 1948 to honor the brave leader of the Oglala Lakota Tribe who helped to lead the Sioux resistance on the Black Hills. Descend to the Broken Boot Gold Mine – discover the fascinating story of one of the nation’s last big gold rushes at this mine, established in 1878.

3. Utah's National Parks

After some National Park road trip ideas? Well, all of Utah’s ‘Mighty Five’ National Parks lay within easy driving distance of each other, making this an ideal road trip for adventurers with a passion for the great outdoors. 

Start at Zion National Park, before moving onto Bryce Canyon National Park and then Capitol Reef National Park. Canyonlands National Park is next on the itinerary, before you wind up your trip with a visit to Arches National Park. 

Action-packed activities at Utah’s national parks

• Hike the Narrows in Zion National Park – this trail sees you splashing through the waters of the Virgin River as it flows through a slot canyon. 
• View the amazing rock formations at Bryce Canyon National Park – head to the spectacular viewpoints of Inspiration Point and Rainbow Point and get up close to the ‘hoodoos’–spiral rock formations. 
• Visit Native rock art at Capitol Reef National Park – take a hike through Capitol Gorge to see this ancient art. 
• Drive through the Island in the Sky at Canyonlands National Park – this drive boasts seemingly endless viewpoints from which to see the deep canyons and pinnacles of this park. 
• See Delicate Arch at Arches National Park – this iconic Utah landmark sits among countless arch rock formations.

4. The Pacific Coast Highway

A road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway takes in the sights and sounds of the US’ western coast – all against a stunning ocean backdrop. It’s one of the best summer road trip ideas.

This 1,650-mile road trip begins in Seattle and ends in San Diego (or vice versa), taking you through Washington, Oregon and California. There are plenty of West Coast highlights along the way, including Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. 

Action-packed activities on the Pacific Coast Highway 

• Explore Big Sur’s breathtaking coastline in California – here you can drive across the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge and hike in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
• Go whale watching at Depoe Bay in Oregon – catch glimpses of grey whales from a boat or the shore. 
• Walk Along the Puget Sound Waterfront in Seattle, Washington – explore Seattle's waterfront with stops at Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium.
• Hike or quad bike amid the dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area – here you’ll find tree islands, open dunes, wetlands and beaches.
• Go wine tasting in Paso Robles, California – this city is known for its outstanding wineries and vineyards.

5. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway, is a 469-mile highway that connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (where you’ll find Milepost 0) and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina (Milepost 469 is located here). 

This is a road trip for outdoor adventurers. For the majority of the trip, you’ll be treated to dramatic mountain scenery, but there are also countryside scenes and river valleys to be enjoyed. Opportunities for hiking are endless.

Action-packed activities at Blue Ridge Parkway 

• Hike Humpback Rocks at Milepost 6, Virginia – this steep but rewarding route is one of the best short hikes in the state, with stunning views of the surrounding valleys.  
• Drive to Peaks of Otter at Milepost 86, Virginia – here you’ll find three mountain peaks overlooking the town of Bedford. This is a popular destination for hiking and fishing and you can stay in the historic Otter Lodge. 
• Visit Mabry Mill at Milepost 176, Virginia – this mill, built in 1903, is a popular tourist attraction on Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit to walk a short trail featuring historic exhibitions about life in rural Virginia. 
• Take in the Views from Craggy Gardens at Milepost 364, North Carolina – this garden is named for its jagged rocks, but famed for its stunning flowers and incredible plant life. 

• Discover Julian Price Memorial Park at Milepost 297, North Carolina – rent a canoe on Price Lake or enjoy a picnic surrounded by serene nature.

1. Why shouldn't you start a road trip late in the night?

If you start a road trip late at night the visibility of the road will be reduced and you may be more fatigued. What’s more, many attractions, rest stops and repair shops close at night, leaving fewer options for breaks or emergencies.

2. What should you inspect on your vehicle before going on a road trip?

Before setting off on a road trip, a full vehicle inspection is crucial. This should include: 

• Tires – check tire pressure and tread depth.
• Fluid levels – ensure that your engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid and brake fluid are all at the right levels and fill up your windshield washer fluid for clear visibility. 
• Battery – test your battery for charge and inspect it for loose connections or corrosion. 
• Brakes: check your brake pads and rotors. 
• Lights and signals – make sure all your headlights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights work.
• Windshield: inspect for cracks and ensure the wipers work effectively. 
• Emergency supplies – make sure you have a spare tire, jack, jumper cables and emergency kit in the vehicle. 
• Check under the vehicle – look for any leaks or anything out of place. 
• Gas tank – make sure to start your trip with a full tank of fuel.