Route 66, Chicago to Santa Monica

Probably the best-known road in the USA, otherwise known as the Mother Road, Route 66 has been referenced in everything from the 1946 Bobby Troup hit to John Steinbeck’s classic The Grapes of Wrath. First established in 1926, the route once linked Chicago, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, before ending in Los Angeles’ Santa Monica. Now defunct, Route 66 requires road trippers to piece together sections of the old route as it winds its way through middle-USA, past abandoned gas stations, classic diners and retro motels.   

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Interstate 10, Austin to New Orleans

Ticking off the best of southern America, the drive from Austin to New Orleans can be done in nine hours, but it’s not one to be rushed. Covering the highlights of Louisiana and Texas along the way, the route starts off in New Orleans – bourbon central and home of the world-renowned Mardi Gras festival. From there, pass by the large out-of-town plantation houses and pick up Interstate 10 heading west. Stop off in the university town of Lafayette and be sure to try the crawfish boil in Lake Charles before heading through Houston and on to Texas’ culture capital, Austin. 

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Blue Ridge Parkway, Washington DC to Charleston

Starting off in the capital city, the trail down the east coast to the port town of Charleston travels through some of the country’s oldest settlements. Leaving behind the world-class museums and historic sights of the country’s political heartland, hold off taking the 95 highway and instead head for the Blue Ridge Parkway – a 469-mile road that links Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At the end of the Parkway, head past Charlotte and over to the coast to discover the pretty port town of Charleston with its antebellum architecture and chic coffee culture. 

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California Highway One, San Francisco to Los Angeles

Linking two of the USA’s best-loved metropolises, California 1 also boasts some of the best scenery in America. Running along the rugged Pacific coastline, start the drive crossing San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge before passing through the cutesy seaside town of Carmel-by-the-Sea and on to the stunning sights of Big Sur. From there, be sure to stop and sample the wide sandy beaches of Malibu before getting lost in the sprawling city of Los Angeles – home to sights such as the Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier and glitzy, glamorous Rodeo Drive.   

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Overseas Highway, Miami to Key West

Stretching for 113 miles across both land and sea, the aptly named Overseas Highway links the trail of coral islands that make up the Florida Keys. First built as a railway in 1912, the route has since been transformed into a floating highway carrying US Route 1 from the sand, surf and Art Deco hotels of Miami through Key Largo and all the way down to the island city of Key West, Florida. Expect to see everything from tropical savannah filled with palm trees to colourful sunsets, waterside mangroves and even crocodiles, turtles, dolphins and deer from your car window. 

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Route 65, Chicago to Nashville

From the Great Lakes all the way down to mid-America, Route 65 from Chicago to Nashville cuts its way through the midwestern and southern states, eventually ending up in Louisiana. To make it a little more manageable, the Chicago to Nashville portion of 65 takes in some of the most scenic sites and cities. From the ‘windy city’ you’ll head south through Indianapolis – home to the Indycar racing series and epic Indianapolis 500 race, which dates back to 1911. From there, keep heading south to Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby, known for its legendary Churchill Downs racetrack, before exploring neon-lit honkytonks in Nashville, Tennessee.     

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