Touring would not need to be restricted to locations that require a airplane ticket. If something, a highway journey could be much more enjoyable, additionally providing you with flexibility together with your schedule and itinerary (so long as site visitors cooperates). A cross-country highway journey is a bucket listing merchandise for many people, however should you simply need to cruise and really feel a salty breeze, a drive up and down the seaboard is likely to be simply what the physician ordered. Unsure the place to start out and finish your journey? Our journey consultants have loads of options for the cities to bookend your trip, and the entire stops to absorb between. Learn on for the ten finest coastal highway journeys within the U.S.
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First up on the listing is a historic journey via the Southeast, beginning in Charleston, South Carolina; visiting Savannah, Georgia; and ending in St. Augustine, Florida.
“A well-liked historic coastal journey has at all times included Charleston and Savannah, two charming cities I liked visiting,” says Samantha Oppenheimer, full-time journey blogger and founding father of Discover Love & Journey. “Now, add St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest metropolis within the U.S., and you should have hit the trifecta of nice coastal historic cities.”
Oppenheimer recommends testing Joe Riley Waterfront Parkway, strolling alongside the Battery in Charleston, and taking time to discover the hidden alleys that dot the town.
“In fact, you will need to find time for Folly Seaside if the climate is good,” she provides.
Savannah’s River Avenue, Forsyth Park, and Tybee Island are must-sees, after which you possibly can hop again within the automobile to proceed your journey to Florida.
“When you make it to St. Augustine, you should not miss climbing the Lighthouse on Anastasia Island, exploring the Historic District, and having fun with one of many many seashores, together with Vilano Seaside, St. Augustine Seaside, and Mickler’s Touchdown,” Oppenheimer suggests.
Whereas planning, she recommends allotting two to a few days to discover every metropolis.
In response to Anna Prepare dinner, journey blogger and founding father of Caught On The Go, the Outer Banks in North Carolina is a widely known coastal highway journey vacation spot—and it is easy to see why.
“Between the gorgeous views, lovely North Carolina seashores, and wonderful seafood eating places, what’s to not love?” she gushes. “Begin your journey in Corolla the place you possibly can climb the Currituck Lighthouse (in season) and take an tour to attempt to spot the wild horses. Make your manner south to Kill Satan Hills and Nags Head the place you possibly can cease at Jockey’s Ridge State Park to admire the dunes, and the Wright Brothers Nationwide Memorial to be taught why North Carolina was First in Flight.”
Prepare dinner says you will additionally need to catch a glimpse of the sunsets at Pea Island Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and take a look at Bodie Island Lighthouse, too.
“Probably the most iconic lighthouses in North Carolina is situated additional south of Pea Island—Cape Hatteras Lighthouse,” she shares. “Hatteras can also be identified for its nice fishing alternatives and exquisite, quiet seashores.”
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If you wish to lengthen your historic East Coast highway journey—or would similar to to give attention to exploring all that Florida has to supply—contemplate driving right down to Vero Seaside.
“Begin at St. Augustine and find yourself in Vero Seaside, the place you will take pleasure in historical past, attractive seashores, scrumptious seafood, and quaint small cities—every little thing you want for an incredible highway journey,” says Pam Howard, the journey blogger behind Our Journey Is All over the place.
She additionally praises St. Augustine: “On the northern tip of Florida, because the oldest metropolis in Florida, St. Augustine is a perfect start line. Historical past is on each nook, from the Previous Metropolis to the Fort Castillo de San Marcos.”
After your historical past lesson, Howard recommends heading south and stopping in “the house of Spring Break, Daytona Seaside.”
“Daytona Seaside is your likelihood to take pleasure in a few of the typical seashore city enjoyable,” she notes. “Spend a day on the seashore enjoying within the surf and finish your night with a spherical of miniature golf at one of many many native programs and a few contemporary seafood.”
After that, it is time to head to your remaining vacation spot—however make a pit cease should you’re so inclined.
“In the event you’ve acquired additional time, contemplate stopping for a day at Cape Canaveral and visiting the Area Middle—particularly if a rocket launch is occurring,” Howard advises. “Finish your coastal highway journey with a number of days of stress-free and exploring Vero Seaside. With artwork museums, native boutiques, and wonderful seafood, it is the right spot to wrap up this East Coast Florida highway journey.”
Whereas the East Coast is filled with highway journey alternatives, the Gulf Coast is value testing as effectively.
“Many individuals do not understand that Alabama has a few of the most lovely white-sand seashores within the nation. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores and Orange Seaside provide the right mix of enjoyable points of interest and rest,” Prepare dinner recommends. “In the event you’re trying to loosen up, there is no higher manner than with Hammock Time Tiki Excursions in Orange Seaside, the place you possibly can lay again in a hammock whereas meandering on a pontoon boat.”
From there, head to Gulf Shores to discover the outside, and be sure you add Gulf State Park to your Alabama seashores itinerary, Prepare dinner says.
“You possibly can take pleasure in fishing or swimming on the seashore, miles of biking trails, and kayaking on the lake,” she shares. “For mountain climbing trails, Bon Secour Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is simply down the highway. Proceed west and you will make it to Fort Morgan State Historic Website, the place you possibly can tour the fort accomplished in 1834, and be taught extra in regards to the Battle of Cell Bay.”
Wrap up by taking the ferry to Dauphin Island and exploring Fort Gaines, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Audubon Hen Sanctuary, Prepare dinner suggests.
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Want the rocky shores of New England? Samantha Hamilton, creator and author behind New England Wanderlust, has the right highway journey for you.
“Probably the most epic highway journeys I’ve ever taken is a New England highway journey alongside the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine coastlines. Not solely does it take you on a journey to see a few of the most lovely seashores and idyllic surroundings in your entire nation, however you will additionally get to take pleasure in some improbable meals, snap photographs of attractive lighthouses, and head out on memorable coastal mountain climbing trails,” she says.
The seashores of Cape Cod, the surroundings in Martha’s Winery and Nantucket, and your entire Maine shoreline and at Acadia Nationwide Park are certain to impress and supply lots to do whereas in your journey.
“There’s such a various spectrum of issues to do on this route that it actually appeals to simply about everybody,” Hamilton gushes. “It additionally presents an incredible stability of charming cities and thrilling cities.”
For historical past buffs, she recommends the Freedom Path in Boston and the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island.
“For anybody who loves small-town attraction, there are many quaint fishing villages and coastal cities that really feel just like the set of a Hallmark film on this route,” she notes. “And, in fact, everybody will love munching on a contemporary lobster roll or lobster dinner on the quite a few seafood shacks alongside the best way. (Taking an image in your lobster bib is just not necessary, however extremely really useful!)”
If you wish to go to a coastal level slightly bit additional south, strive beginning your highway journey in New York earlier than heading as much as discover the New England shoreline.
“This route has a number of swimmable seashores in Cape Cod and the entire manner up the coast, however the actual draw is the lovely New England coastal cities alongside the best way,” says Amber Haggerty, journey blogger with Amber All over the place. “Some highlights embrace Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Portland and Camden, Maine; and, in fact, Bar Harbor, Maine.”
She recommends testing Plymouth Rock, the historic city of Salem, Massachusetts, and—like Hamilton—making certain you may have time to discover Acadia.
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You can even plan a highway journey proper via the center of the East Coast, exploring the DelMarVa peninsula, based on Becca Siegel, co-owner at Half Half Journey Weblog.
“The most effective coastal highway journeys within the U.S. is one you could not have guessed: the DelMarVa area, or Delaware-Maryland-Virginia,” she shares. “Highway tripping on this area can get you from the seashores of Delaware right down to the coast of Virginia, or principally, to well-known Virginia Seaside.”
Make sure to take the route the place you possibly can see the “engineering surprise” of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Siegel advises.
“[It’s] a transportation marvel of bridges and tunnels in the midst of the Chesapeake Bay that’ll get you from the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula right down to Virginia Seaside itself,” she explains.
In the event you’ve acquired the time, why not discover every little thing the East Coast has to supply on one epic highway journey?
“It would not actually matter the place you begin (Philadelphia, Delaware, D.C.), it is actually accessible from any starting level, which makes it an incredible selection!” says Taylor Beal, proprietor and creator of the journey weblog Traverse With Taylor. “Alongside the coast, you can begin with Virginia Seaside, Virginia, or the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Each are quintessential seashore cities with some wonderful family-friendly issues to do or nice spots for an evening out in town. From there, drive so far as you would like!”
Beal additionally recommends East Coast hubs like Myrtle Seaside, Charleston, and Savannah—and suggests going a bit inland to wrap up your journey at Disney World.
“Finish your highway journey in Orlando, Florida, on the happiest place on Earth! Disney World is a must-do within the U.S.—even whether it is touristy—and it matches seamlessly into this East Coast highway journey!” she says.
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The journey from Northern California to the Pacific Northwest is bound to be an epic highway journey, beginning in San Francisco and wrapping up in Seattle.
Journey bloggers Danny and Danielle Johnson, who run the web site The Touring Dans, break down their 10-stop itinerary in a June 2023 TikTok.
They suggest beginning at Muir Seaside Overlook in California, then heading to Russian Gulch State Park. From there, take a drive down the Avenue of the Giants and go to Fern Canyon in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
When you wrap up in Cali, the Johnsons recommend heading north to Oregon and stopping in Bandon Seaside earlier than venturing to the awe-inspiring Crater Lake Nationwide Park, Silver Falls State Park, and Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space.
Your final two stops will probably be in Washington, beginning with Gifford Pinchot Nationwide Forest and ending at Mount Rainier Nationwide Park.
We might be remiss to not point out the epic California coast on this listing—who hasn’t dreamt of driving up and down the Pacific Coast Freeway (PCH)?
In an April 19 TikTok, new-age journey company Fora Journey recommends beginning in Los Angeles, ensuring you see the Santa Monica Pier, stroll down Rodeo Drive, hike in Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park, and discover native museums and eating places.
From there, it is a two-hour drive (with out site visitors) north to Santa Barbara. Fora Journey says it is a nature-lover’s paradise with mountains, seashores, and rolling vineyards. The Santa Barbara Botanic Backyard and Lotusland in Montecito are musts.
Head additional up the coast to Large Sur and Carmel—and cease within the charming city of Cambria if you wish to take the drive slower! Morro Rock, the Oceano sand dunes at Pismo Seaside, and Hearst Citadel are additionally worthwhile pitstops alongside the best way. If you wish to undergo San Luis Obispo, you may also take the 101 as a substitute of the PCH (the 1). Visitors considerations apart, at all times examine the California Division of Transportation web site to make sure the roads in your deliberate route are open.
After you have explored nature in Large Sur, proceed to your remaining spot in San Francisco.
“Relying on site visitors, that is a few two to four-hour drive from Carmel, but it surely’s value it. Town’s eclectic character cannot be matched,” Fora Journey says.
The Golden Gate Bridge ought to positively be in your listing—and Fora Journey recommends getting a view from Presidio Nationwide Park Website. Nevertheless, there are additionally loads of museums, spas, and nice meals choices in San Francisco.
