Best Road Trips in the U.S., Ranked

There’s nothing like cruising along an open road with the music blaring, a car full of snacks and no idea where you’re going. That sense of adventure gave way to the classic American road trip. After all, there aren’t many other places where you can drive amidst tall pine trees, dart along the coast or zig-zag over a mountain range — all while staying in the same country. 

So, why do we love road trips? Because of the freedom and discovery that come along with them. You might stop at a roadside diner that serves the best pancakes you’ve ever had, or you could find a cabin next to a peaceful lake to channel your zen for a few days. 

For this ranking of the 25 best road trips in the U.S., we used data gathered by Geotab that looked at TripAdvisor review ratings, annual average daily traffic data and a country-wide survey to score these classic highway and parkway routes. While the iconic Route 66 didn’t break into the top 25, other popular routes throughout the Southwest made the top 10. No matter your travel interests, here’s all the info you need to plan your next American road trip.

Days: 3

Good for: History and culture

Traffic: 9,500

Total mileage: 485

A road trip along the Natchez Trace Parkway extends from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi, on the Mississippi River. Take it slow and stop at Leiper’s Fork (a small town in Tennessee) for antique shopping and country cooking. Check out Jackson Falls for an Insta-worthy lookout, and don’t miss Tupelo in northeast Mississippi to tour the birthplace of Elvis Presley. 

The Natchez Trace Parkway is full of historic sites and scenic hikes, and you’ll find plenty of bed and breakfasts for shelter along the way.

Days: 5

Good for: History and culture

Traffic: 68,962

Total mileage: 228

While the Tour of Four Ivies may seem like an academic excursion, it’s an ideal road trip full of colonial architecture and small towns. The journey starts at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, and includes stops at Brown in Providence, Rhode Island, and Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before making its way up to Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire. 

Each university is home to some of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. Embark on this road trip during the fall to catch the colorful fall foliage and possibly a football game! Sports not your thing? The Yale University Art Gallery is home to incredible works of art with exciting new exhibitions!