"The route begins just below Topaz Lake and takes you into some of California’s least crowded and most unusual sights"
Nature beckons
Take Highway 101 and explore the dramatic coastline at Cape Perpetua, Oregon
America’s open roads have inspired travellers and popular culture for generations, says Maxine Sheppard, and with a vast choice of routes both classic and unfamiliar, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to mapping out the perfect holiday
Hitting the road in the USA is a rite of passage. Ask anyone what comes to mind when they think of an American road trip and they’ll likely mention scenic coastal roads, dramatic mountain passes and empty desert highways, sunsets melting into the Pacific Ocean and dynamic cities bursting with life.
But why are road trips so celebrated? Is the lure of the open road so embedded in popular culture that it’s hard to imagine doing anything else? From Easy Rider to Thelma and Louise, On the Road to Highway 61 Revisited, the American road trip’s mythical status in life and culture is assured, but there’s more to their popularity than simply a desire to live out the storylines of our favourite books and films.
For one thing, almost anything you can think of to make driving in America stress-free has been done – leaving you to concentrate on the things you really want to see and do. And what wondrous things they are. One of the chief joys of an American road trip are the almost poetic juxtapositions that occur at every turn. One minute you’re awestruck by a herd of buffalo charging past your window, the next you’re gawping at a giant roadside fibreglass sausage as you pull in for pancakes at the latest all-night diner.
Best of all, the road trip experience is for everyone, young and old, families or friends, travelling alone or together. Nature lovers, city slickers, wine aficionados or history buffs – whatever type of traveller you are, there’s an itinerary that’s perfect for you – and the time to start planning is now.
From exploring Seattle to camping in the great outdoors near Mount Rainier and walking along the beaches of Oregon, to exploring the Great Lakes, going from eating deep-dish pizza in Chicago to riding in an original Model T at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, we’ll introduce you to some of the lesser-known (but undoubtedly wow-worthy) American road trips that tick off a wide variety of experiences across the regions.
Drive time: approx 360 miles / 6 hours (non-stop)
for coastal views and rolling winelands
Seattle
So much of the United States lends itself to epic car journeys but few regions offer the sheer diversity of the Pacific Northwest. There is rainforest and high desert. Driftwood-strewn beaches and subalpine meadows full of shimmering violet lupine. Mountains, rivers and rolling winelands, and the largest stretch of coastal sand dunes on the continent.
Non-stop flights connect the UK to the region’s two major cities, Seattle and Portland. Both are known for their laid-back lifestyle, though tech hub Seattle has more of a metropolitan vibe, with an ever-growing forest of skyscrapers expanding the skyline.
Views from the Space Needle provide perspective. Mount Baker and the Cascades lie to the north and east. To the southeast is active stratovolcano Mount Rainier, with downtown Seattle and the islands of Puget Sound to the south and west. After exploring the city, hike the Skyline Trail on a camping trip to Mount Rainier, or head to Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, one of the US’s wettest, greenest, quietest and most ethereal places.
When you’re ready to leave Washington, follow Highway 101 south over the Columbia River. You’re now in Oregon, so prepare to be wowed by the most glorious coastline you may ever see. Among the highlights are Cannon Beach, with its giant sea stack, Haystack Rock, plus the craggy headlands of Cape Perpetua and the windswept Oregon Dunes. If time allows, loop inland to Crater Lake – one of the state’s most beautiful sights. It’s the deepest lake in the US, and its colour will leave you lost for words. Head back north via the high desert and the hip town of Bend, and end your trip in the city of Portland where craft breweries, food trucks and bike trails await.
Columbia River
Cape Perpetua
Crater Lake
Portland
Endless views
Don’t miss the wide sandy beach and impressive sea stack at Cannon Beach
Hidden depths
Crater Lake in Oregon is the deepest lake in the US and is famed for the colour of the waters
Drive time: approx 235 miles / 4 hours (non-stop)
FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
AND NATURAL WONDERS
Wedged between the Great Basin and the Central Valley, the Sierra Nevada mountains form the spine of California. On the eastern side of the range, the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway follows a 133-mile stretch of Highway 395 and is easily one of the Golden State’s most beautiful drives.
Running north to south, the route begins just below Topaz Lake on the Nevada border and takes you into some of California’s least crowded and most unusual sights.
Just off the byway, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve protects the bony spires known as “tufa towers” that rise from the ancient lake bed – and feature on Pink Floyd’s iconic Wish You Were Here album cover – as well as the millions of birds that call these wetlands home. In the other direction, the eastern side of Yosemite National Park is reached via the 9,943-feet Tioga Pass, which carves a path alongside high granite drop-offs and aspen trees. When it comes to planning, bear in mind the pass is closed in winter when the rivers freeze and heavy snow blankets the road.
Carson Peak
Bishop
June Lake
Mono Lake
Topaz Lake
Further south, the June Lake Loop is a 14-mile drive at the base of Carson Peak, and links a series of glacial, trout-filled lakes. Cabins, gear rentals and campgrounds are available, as well as RV parks and an assortment of hotels and lodges in June Lake village. If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat, with horse riding, paddle boats and miles of hiking trails, you couldn’t do much better. There’s even a luxury day spa nearby.
The scenic byway officially ends at the free-spirited town of Bishop in Inyo County, though the seductive panoramas of Death Valley, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks lie just beyond.
Drive time: 700 miles / 16 hours (non-stop)
for urban adventures and beautiful beaches
Quaint experience
Step back in time and explore car-less Mackinac Island
Chicago, Illinois. There’s simply nowhere like it. Not only did the Windy City give us deep-dish pizza, it has some of the nation’s greatest skyscrapers, incredible cultural institutions, and a Riverwalk lined with restaurants and public art. Compared to some of the coastal cities it’s fantastic value, too.
Squeeze in some urban adventures before hitting the road. One of the most immersive experiences is an architectural boat tour along the Chicago River, where you’ll see icons such as Marina City and the Wrigley Building up close. In summer, Millennium Park hosts dozens of free concerts and festivals, or you can bike the Lakefront Trail and hang out on North Avenue Beach.
From Chicago, the Great Lakes region opens up. On the other side of Lake Michigan, along its northeastern shore, the M-22 highway has been designated a Pure Michigan Byway. Follow it as it winds through sleepy coastal communities, via scenic overlooks and lighthouses, and easy, accessible trails. In September and October, the autumn colours are out of this world.
Big city lights
Chicago, and its many sights is a great jumping-off point for the Great Lakes
Milwaukee
Chicago
Mackinac Island
Detroit
Drive time: approx 226 miles / 4 hours (non-stop)
for famous sights and history-rich streets
While it lacks the cinematic landscapes of the West, the drive between New York City and Washington D.C. has dozens of worthwhile diversions if you know where to look. Take New Jersey. You could drive straight through it, stopping only at tolls and fast food joints, missing everything this underrated state has to offer.
Instead, head out of NYC and make your way to the Jersey Shore and the beachfront city of Asbury Park. Here, according to novelist Junot Diaz, the nostalgic boardwalk “was where all of NJ came together”. It remains true today, following a total rebuild after Hurricane Sandy, with the historic promenade gaining even more one-of-a-kind shops, murals, nightlife venues and restaurants. And Springsteen fans shouldn’t miss the Stone Pony, the rock ‘n’ roll watering hole that has hosted more Springsteen shows than any other venue.
Further south, the Victorian hotels and pastel-coloured guesthouses of seaside resort Cape May have made it a National Historic Landmark. The 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, a restored 18-room mansion, offers a look back at the resort’s Victorian life and culture.
Despite much talk of a bridge over the years, the only way to cross Delaware Bay is the Cape May–Lewes ferry, which is much more fun and runs year-round. When you arrive you’ll be perfectly placed to explore the Delaware Beaches, six distinct coastal towns that include lively Rehoboth in the north and chilled-out Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island in the south. From here, it’s a three-hour drive to Washington D.C, which has enough world-class attractions to keep you occupied for weeks – many of them free.
Bethany Beach
Fenwick Island
Washington D.C.
Asbury Park
New York City
Jersey Shore
Cape May
Drive time: approx 180 miles / 3.5 hours (non-stop)
for cultural richness
The six states that make up New England – Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine – offer an altogether different style of road trip. Where the western states offer endless highways and vast stretches of wilderness, southern New England in particular has almost too much to see, and the challenge will be narrowing down your itinerary to a manageable level.
The USA is a land of contrasts, one best explored on two or four wheels.
With borders now open, discover the States’ endless possibilities for adventure and plan your own epic road trip story in 2022.
Ensure that you check travel restrictions and requirements before you travel.
The solution is to think small and embrace it. The drive from New York City to Newport, Rhode Island passes through only one other state – Connecticut – and takes just over three hours. Yet there’s enough to keep you occupied for days. Take the scenic coastal route along Long Island Sound, often bypassed in a race to reach the nautical delights of Newport or the beaches of Cape Cod. It has plenty of absorbing beach towns of its own, including historic Milford with its 17 miles of shoreline. Immaculate Old Saybrook is one of the oldest towns in the state, while the former shipbuilding centre of Mystic claims two of Connecticut’s most visited attractions, the Mystic Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport Museum, home to a notable collection of sailing vessels.
Once in Newport, the pace of life moves up a gear. This affluent maritime resort is a world centre of sailing, with the most innovative dining scene in the state and a line-up of great events throughout the year. Rent a bike and cycle along Ocean Avenue, stopping for a picnic on misty Gooseberry Beach. Or take the Cliff Walk past Gilded Age mansions, before heading downtown to the Black Pearl restaurant for some of the best clam chowder on the East Coast.
New York City
Newport
Old Saybrook
Milford
Telegraph Media Group Creative Director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones, Picture Editor: Alex Kelly, Commissioning Editor: Hannah Hopkins, Words: Maxine Sheppard, Sub Editor: Tim Cumming, Project Manager: Jason Desir, Web Editor: Elin Evans
Image credits: Getty, Shutterstock, Brand USA
For more information and to book, go to visittheusa.co.uk
Paid for by
Standard car rental in the US usually comes with basic insurance, but costs in the case of damage or theft can run to thousands of pounds. You can buy a super collision damage waiver from your car rental agent, but an excess insurance policy from a third party is usually cheaper. As well as a valid driver’s licence, you’ll need an international driving permit (£5.50 from the Post Office), plus photographic ID if you only have a paper UK licence.
In terms of accommodation, campgrounds, hotels and lodges can get booked out months in advance in high season, especially around the national parks. If you don’t want to commit, look for properties with good cancellation policies. Some of the bigger chains allow you to ditch your booking up until 2pm on the day of check-in, which makes all the difference when you need to change plans.
Getting around in the usa
Is there anything greater than a road trip, other than a longer road trip? Nothing comes close to that sense of freedom and the pure excitement of not knowing what’s around the next bend.
Further north, where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron, Mackinac Island is a national landmark and summer playground. Victorian cottages fetch millions of dollars here, and the only transport options are bikes and horsedrawn carriages, so leave your car at the ferry port and explore the forest trails.
Back at the wheel, take the US-23 Heritage Route south along the western shore of Lake Huron, before powering on to Detroit for two unmissable experiences that help tell the story of America. In the suburb of Dearborn, the Henry Ford Museum offers the chance to test drive a restored Model T, while the Motown Museum, nicknamed “Hitsville, USA”, is set in the modest 1950s house where it all began.
