Ideas and Itineraries for the Best US Road Trips
Updated 04.28.2020: We’ve been sharing the best US road trips for baby boomer travelers for years. Our generation loves to hop in the car and explore.
Road trips in the U.S. offer incredible opportunities for any serious boomer road warrior. In fact, the biggest challenge to exploring the USA by car or RV is choosing the road trip itinerary that’s right for you.
Some of the links on this page are referral links. Read our Disclosure.
There are so many scenic landscapes, historic sights and of course, amazingly diverse active travel adventures to experience on a road trip in the USA. Check out some of our favorites, including US scenic drives.
Enjoy reading first-person road trip articles that will make your travel feet so itchy that you’ll be planning a boomer travel adventure before you know it! When you’re ready to get going, our USA road trip planner is a great place to start your research.
We’ll be adding more great road trip ideas and itineraries so be sure to bookmark this page. Or subscribe to our weekly broadcast so you’ll be the first to know!
Take these USA road trips!
From the Alaska Highway to Georgia’s Golden Isles, you’ll find plenty of U.S. road trip inspiration from Alan and Donna’s first-hand experiences and those of our hand-picked guest writers. I’ve divided them by region so that you can find a favorite more easily.
Are you looking for short scenic drives in the U.S.? You’ll find them on our Scenic Drives page.
Western US Road Trip Itineraries
From Arizona to Oregon and beyond into Alaska, you’ll experience incredible American driving trips in the Western U.S. Since Alan and I have lived in Arizona, Montana and Oregon, we have plenty of western road trip itineraries to share with you.
Tips for an Alaska Highway Road Trip
An Alaska Highway road trip is the ultimate boomer travel driving adventure. It takes a bit of planning to reach Alaska by car, truck or RV. But the reward is exploring a beautiful part of the U.S. filled with history, natural beauty, lots of bears and not many tourists! Click on Tips for an Alaska Highway Road Trip to read first-person travel articles based upon our unique Alaska road trip itinerary. There are so many roads to explore in Alaska and neighboring British Columbia and the Yukon. Itchy travel feet guaranteed!
Harley Adventures through the Four Corners
Looking to hit the road Harley-style? Take a look at Diane White’s article detailing the best way to explore the four corners region on two wheels. If you’re dreaming of a Harley road trip in the Southwest, you’ll want to read this one! To read more, click on Harley Adventures through the Four Corners.
A Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary for Boomer Travelers
A road trip through the Pacific Northwest offers stunning coastal routes mixed with cultural road stops. The PNW itinerary centers around coastal Washington State but dips into Canada via ferry ride to Victoria Island. Come along for the ride as Richard Atkins share Tips for a Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary for Boomer Travelers.
Coastal California Road Trip
Driving the California coast is one of the ultimate US road trips, especially if you’re zipping around in a sports car. Our itinerary begins a bit inland in Paso Robles, then hits the coast to see the sea lions at Piedras Blancas before continuing north along the coast through Big Sur, Half Moon Bay and Mendocino. The journey ends after turning inland to explore Sonoma. Of course now we want to drive it again. Click on Coastal California Road Trip to read more.
On road trips in the western US, we don’t leave home without our Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas.
Road Trip through the Curious Sites of Amarillo
Are you looking for a quirky places to visit in the U.S.? You’ll find them on a Southwestern road trip to Amaraillo, Texas. If you think roadtripping in the southwest is all about cactus and wide open landscapes, take a closer look. From giant legs to cars buried in the sand, there’s so much more to see and do on the way to Amarillo. And then there’s the rodeo. Discover some of Amarillo’s wild sights and roadside attractions by clicking on The Curious Sites of Amarillo.
Fall Road Trip on the Central Oregon Coast
Fall is a gorgeous time for boomers to road trip along Oregon’s central coast. Most of the crowds have gone, the weather offers crisp, sunny days and oh those views! We’ll show you the best things to see and do, places to stay and where to eat on this fall boomer travel adventure in Oregon. Bring your cameras and hiking shoes! Click through to read about our: Oregon Fall Trip.
New Mexico Backroads Adventure
Follow this New Mexico road trip itinerary from Tucson, AZ, to Grants, NM, to discover lava fields, ancient graffitti written on stone and backroads beauty. This southwestern road trip is a must for boomer travelers who enjoy going off-the-beaten-path. We’ve included a detailed itinerary to get you there. To read more, click here: New Mexico road trip.
Southern California Road Trip
On a Southern California road trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and back, you’ll follow Highway 1 for scenic views, great seafood and active boomer adventures. Yes, there’s glamping, sea kayaking and a winery tour included, too. This is a perfect itinerary for a 3-day weekend in California. To read more, click on: Southern California Road Trip.
Southern Road Trip Itineraries
Driving through the South offers road trips to the coast, mountains and everywhere in between. Read about roadtripping in the Florida Keys, beautiful trips in the Low Country, a motorcycle ride to the Georgia coast and more.
Florida Keys Road Trip
On a Florida Keys road trip itinerary we discovered plenty of funky fun stretching from Key Largo until we finally arrived in Key West. From kayaking in mangroves to deep sea fishing to admiring a Key West sunset, you’ll enjoy plenty of boomer travel adventure. If you’re thinking about a Florida Keys Road Trip read about our experiences first so that you’ll know the best things to do in the Florida Keys (and where to find delicious Key Lime Pie!).
Road Tripping through the Lowcountry
If you’re in the mood for a southern road trip, Charleston and Savannah are especially intoxicating, filled with vibrant history, charming architecture, and of course, incredible local cuisine. Debi Lander shares wonderful tips in Road Tripping through the Lowcountry.
Need to gear up for your road trip? Check out Donna’s Road Trip Gear for Boomers page on Amazon.
Riding to Georgia’s Beautiful Golden Isles
If you’re looking for a coastal southern road trip, get yourself to Georgia’s gorgeous Golden Isles. Diane White shows you where to stay, what to do, and most importantly, the best places for true, Southern cuisine on a motorcycle road trip. Ya’ll ready? Then read more at Riding to Georgia’s Beautiful Golden Isles.
Midwest Road Trips
Don’t over look traveling in the Midwest. Flyover country includes some wonderful driving experiences like visiting the Badlands of South Dakota.
Riding South Dakota’s Badlands
Hitting the road in a Harley gives you all kinds of travel options. In our Boomers on Bikes series, Diane White shows us how to road trip on a Harley to South Dakota’s Badlands. Not a motorcycle fan? You’ll still discover ideas for exploring this corner of the U.S. To read more, click on Riding South Dakota’s Badlands.
Off the Beaten Path Options for Midwest Road Trips
When it comes to great US road trips, the Midwest might not be on your radar. We’ll show you why it should be. On a Midwest road trip, we discovered a host of boomer-friendly travel destinations with endless opportunities for road trip adventures. And did we mention some of the cutest bed and breakfasts for slowing down and taking in the countryside? Click on Off the Beaten Path Options for Midwest Road Trips to read more.
Did you know that we publish a weekly broadcast with the latest articles from My Itchy Travel Feet, timely trip inspiration and travel deals? Subscribe by clicking here.
Save to Pinterest
