Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, the National Parks — America's greatest drives, planned properly.
The United States is one of the world's great road trip countries — vast, varied and with an infrastructure built around the assumption that you'll be driving. From the Pacific Coast Highway to the National Parks of the Southwest, from Route 66 to the Blue Ridge Parkway, America rewards those who travel by road with experiences unavailable any other way.
Highway 1 between Los Angeles and San Francisco is one of the world's iconic drives — the Santa Monica Mountains dropping to the Pacific, Big Sur's dramatic coastline, Hearst Castle, the fishing towns of Morro Bay and Monterey. We typically allow 5–7 days for this drive, building in time at the highlights rather than treating it as a point-to-point transit.
Utah's Mighty Five — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef — plus the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon form one of the world's great road trip circuits. The landscapes are among the most extraordinary on earth. We plan routes, book national park permits in advance (essential for popular hikes) and select accommodation accordingly.
Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica, is an 8–12 day drive through American cultural history — the neon signs, the diners, the ghost towns, the wide Oklahoma plains and the red rock country of New Mexico and Arizona. We build in the roadside highlights that make the journey rather than treating it as a driving exercise.
The East Coast offers a very different road trip experience — Boston, Cape Cod, coastal Maine, the Adirondacks, New York City. The autumn foliage season (late September to mid-October) in New England is one of the world's great natural spectacles and coincides with ideal driving weather.
For two people: a mid-size sedan or compact SUV works well on most routes. For National Parks where you'll be on unpaved access roads: a proper SUV or 4WD. For comfort on long drives: a full-size sedan or larger SUV. We advise on the optimal vehicle for your specific route.
US road trips can be done at many price points. Budget: $100–150 per person per day (motels, diners). Mid-range: $200–350 (good hotels, good restaurants). Luxury: $400+ (boutique properties, fine dining at key stops). We budget honestly for your preferred style.
No — a valid driver's licence from your home country is accepted in all 50 US states. Some car hire companies prefer an IDP for non-English licences but it is not legally required.