10 BEST U.S. ROAD TRIPS TO TAKE THIS SUMMERFEW THINGS IN LIFE are more liberating than a road trip in summertime. Whether you’re racing the sea breezes along a coast, following the tempting aroma of barbecue, or enjoying the beauty of verdant landscapes, hitting the open road is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. So buckle up, roll down the windows, and hit the gas—America awaits. Here are 10 multi-day journeys and simple day trips that will inspire you.

The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the coastline in Big Sur, California.

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the south is the spot for water sports and the home of the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum. Onward, U.S. 13 S leads you into Virginia, where you’ll find the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, one of the best in the country. Next stop: the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a collection of barrier islands with great beaches, pleasant fishing villages, and historic sites such as Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers first took flight. H

THE EASTERN SHORELINE

Begin along the Garden State Parkway at the New

Jersey shore in Asbury Park. Farther south, Atlantic City has several non-gaming hotels, including the refurbished Claridge Hotel. At the bottom tip of the state, enjoy Cape May’s quiet beaches, quaint charm, and historic lighthouse before moving on to Delaware. Fenwick Island to

MONTANA’S BIG SKY

Famed “On the Road” television host Charles Kuralt called

the Beartooth All-American Highway, aka U.S. 212, the “most beautiful drive in America.” Though only 64 miles, this scenic drive, which winds through Montana and Wyoming, is meant to be leisurely, so expect it to take at least three hours and be prepared for weather changes. Keep your

eyes open for wildlife while enjoying breathtaking scenery—20 mountain peaks and 10,000 stunning lakes. This is mining country, and outdoor activities are available along the way, from rafting to hiking, especially at the Cooke City terminus, which borders Yellowstone National Park. H

Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the

Outer Banks, North CarolinaScenic Beartooth

Highway, Montana

START: Asbury Park, NJEND: Outer Banks, NCDISTANCE: 385 Miles

START: Red Lodge, MT END: Cooke City, MT DISTANCE: 64 miles

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MAUI’S HANA HIGHWAYTHE EMPIRE STATE’S GREAT LAKES

Be sure to pack your bathing suit for Maui’s most scenic

drive. Sprawled along highways 36 and 360, picturesque coastlines and verdant jungles await at every twist and turn, along with black sand beaches, waterfalls, and roadside fruit stands. Plan on a full day in order to enjoy the various stops, such as

Begin at Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse on Lake Erie,

where you can take a harbor cruise from the Dunkirk Pier to learn about local shipwrecks. Continue north on Route 190 around the lake and take a breather at majestic Niagara Falls. Enjoy Fort Niagara State Park to experience living history programs and

the surfing stop Jaws and the chilly cascades of Twin Falls. A great detour for hungry travelers is in Paia at Mama’s Fish House or at the Paia Fish Market. Once you reach Hana, the gorgeous black sand Waianapanapa Beach is perfect for relaxing after the day’s drive. Take a final dip in the Seven Sacred Pools at the Waianapanapa State Wayside Park. H

the stunning views, before traveling north and continuing along Lake Ontario on Route 18. A historic detour worth taking is Murphy Orchards and Underground Railroad in Burt, NY. Continue on Route 104 to Oswego to stop at the Fort Ontario State Historic Site, the Safe Haven Museum and Education Center, and the Oswego Lighthouse. Finish at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River at Cape Vincent. H

Niagara Falls from the Canadian side

Aerial view of Maui’s lush Road to Hana

START: Dunkirk, NYEND: Cape Vincent, NYDISTANCE: 315 miles

START: Kahului, HI END: Hana, HI DISTANCE: 51.1 miles

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THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAYTHE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

Dense with aromatic forests, the Blue Ridge

Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park in North Carolina and Virginia’s Skyline Drive. Poor Farmer’s Market at mile 178 is a great spot to pick up a quilt, and the Blue Ridge Music Center (mile 213) is a must to experience and appreciate

One of the country’s most iconic drives, the PCH

always makes for a great trip. Start in Monterey, once the capital of California, to uncover the state’s Spanish and Mexican past; and do not miss the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. The noted artist community of Carmel is next; pull over to observe

the kingfishers and pelicans at Carmel River State Beach. Due south, Point Lobos Reserve covers 550 acres and includes the U.S.’s first undersea ecological reserve. Continue on to stunning cliffs of Big Sur and farther south, where sea otters await at Soberanes Point. The drive ends in Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History, a draw for Morro Rock and its panoramic views. H

The dramatic Linn Cove Viaduct in the North Carolina section of

the Blue Ridge Parkway

Appalachian music. Take in the best views at Waterrock Knob at mile 451 and be sure to explore towns such as Blowing Rock (mile 291) and Little Switzerland (mile 334). The bookend cities of Charlottesville and Asheville are worth a day or two each. H

START: Monterey, CAEND: Morro Bay, CADISTANCE: 144 miles

START: Charlottesville, VAEND: Asheville, NCDISTANCE: 383 miles

Big Sur’s iconic Bixby Bridge

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THE SOUTHERN BBQ TRAIL

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST’S WINE COUNTRY

Work up an appetite and pace yourself for the best

BBQ the South has to offer. Starting in South Carolina, the “dark” and “light” pork of Sweatman’s BBQ is the perfect starter. Be sure to order a side of the house mustard sauce. Next, hit the road and follow I-20 due west to Birmingham, AL, where Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q’s vinegary, mayo-based white sauce will win you over. Then head deeper south and west to Ocean

Start in Salem, where more than 200 vineyards await just outside

the city limits in the Willamette Valley. Be sure to put the biodynamic winery Montinore Estate on the agenda—their pinot noirs are a standout and their 210 acres are lovely to behold. Then get a taste of the big city in Portland, the culinary boomtown of the Northwest. Be sure to grab an award-winning meal at Le Pigeon or Beast, or opt for a more casual bite at one

Springs, MS, to the iconic The Shed, just outside of Biloxi. Here, take in live blues with your pork ribs before continuing on to New Orleans, where you can digest several days of history, music, food, and fun. Don’t forget to hit The Joint, where the ribs are said to be the best in the city. Your last stop is Austin for two barbecue landmarks. The Salt Lick is known for its beef brisket, smoked over an open pit. Finally, you won’t regret braving the lines at Franklin Barbecue, hailed by many as the best BBQ the U.S. has to offer. H

of the city’s many food cart “pods.” If passing through on a weekend, visit the riverside Portland Saturday Market (it runs on Sundays, too, despite the name), the area’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market. Head east via Route 84, once part of the Oregon Trail, to the Columbia River Gorge to view the gushing waterfalls. Cross into Washington State to explore some of their great wineries, such as Chateau Ste. Michelle Estate in Paterson and K Vintners in Walla Walla. H

Rolling vineyards and mountain views in Oregon’s

Willamette ValleyFranklin Barbecue in

Austin, Texas

START: Salem, OR END: Walla Walla, WA DISTANCE: 288 miles

START: Holly Hill, SCEND: Austin, TXDISTANCE: 1,224 miles

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PUERTO RICO’S BEACHESCOASTAL NEW ENGLAND

Start in cosmopolitan San Juan, where you can explore

the ancient fortifications of historic Old San Juan by foot. Once on the road, head east to the marinas of Fajardo to spend the day sailing. If it’s a clear evening, set out in kayaks in the bioluminescent bay, where the waters glow in the dark. Continuing south, explore the fishing village of Naguabo, then head southwest to the historic city of Ponce before hitting

While some may prefer to see fall foliage, summer is also

prime time for exploring New England. Mystic’s famous Seaport doubles as The Museum of America and the Sea, galleries, historic wooden ships, and a recreated 19th-century maritime village. Detour off I-95 North to Newport, RI, to tour opulent Gilded Age mansions and tackle the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk nearby. Don’t forget to grab some fresh lobster right on the harbor

the beach again in Guanica, home of the island’s dry forest reserve. On the western coast of the island lies some of the best surfing zones, including Cabo Rojo, and Rincon. Looping around the island’s northwest end, trade the car for a horseback ride along the beach in lovely Isabela. Finish in placid Dorado Beach, a favorite with families, and gourmands for celebrity chef Jose Andres’s Mi Casa restaurant at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. H

at the Aquidneck Lobster Bar, one of Newport’s best seafood spots. Head to Boston next via I-95 North. Stretch your legs along the city’s Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walk through famous sites from the American Revolution. Pushing north, stop in Portland, ME, for its picturesque downtown before boarding a ferry to hop the chain of outlaying islands, full of beaches and artist havens. End your journey at Acadia National Park’s, 47,000 acres of woods, mountains, coastline, and lakes. H

Gilded Age mansion in Newport, Rhode Island

San Juan’s Isla Verde beach

START: Mystic, CTEND: Bar Harbor, MEDISTANCE: 400 miles

START: San Juan, PREND: Dorado, PRDISTANCE: 290 miles

Copyright © 2015 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House LLC

Written by Kathleen Squires

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Big Sur, California’s scenic rocky coastline