Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Subscribe
  • World's Best
  • A-List
  • Trip Ideas
  • News
  • Hotels + Resorts
  • Cruises
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Trip Ideas
    • Spring Vacations
    • Summer Vacations
    • Fall Vacations
    • Winter Vacations
    • National Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Destination Weddings
    • Honeymoon Destinations
    • Beach Vacations
    • City Vacations
    • Country Vacations
    • Family Vacations
  • Destinations
  • Travel Tips and Intel
    • Best Travel Apps
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Gadgets
    • Luggage + Packing Tips
    • Offbeat News
    • Points + Miles
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Agents
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
  • World's Best Awards 2018
  • A-List 2018
  • Hotels and Resorts
    • All Inclusive Resorts
    • Beach Hotels
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Pet-Friendly Hotels
    • Mountain + Ski Resorts
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Spa Resorts
    • Vacation Rentals
    • Hotel Openings
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Book a Trip
  • T+L Travel Guide App
  • Gift Guides
  • Holiday Travel
    • 4th of July Travel
    • Labor Day Weekend
    • Thanksgiving Travel
    • Christmas Travel
  • Travel Video
  • Food + Drink
    • Restaurants
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Wine + Vineyards
    • Beer + Breweries
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Food Fairs
    • Celebrity Chefs
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Shoes
    • Shopping
    • Travel Accessories
    • Travel Bags
  • Weekend Getaways
    • Getaways from Chicago
    • Getaways from Dallas
    • Getaways from Houston
    • Getaways from Los Angeles
    • Getaways from NYC
    • Getaways from San Francisco
    • Getaways from Seattle
  • Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • All Inclusive Cruises
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • Family Friendly Cruises
    • River Cruises
  • Top Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Casinos
    • Colleges + Universities
    • Festivals
    • Landmarks + Monuments
    • Museums + Galleries
    • Parks + Gardens
    • Theater + Dance
    • Zoos + Aquariums
  • Check-In
  1. T+L
  2. Trip Ideas
  3. Road Trips

Fueled by inspiring road-trip ideas, one in four Americans get behind the wheel every year and let the horizon unfurl before them. The road trip is wound up in American mythology, from Thelma and Louise to “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. At their heart, road trips are about escaping restrictions—so why limit yourself to the lower 48? Explore the United States—and the world—with Travel + Leisure, whose writers and editors seek out the best routes and sites to see by car.

Fun road trips await travelers across the globe. Drive past the “Twelve Apostles,” striking limestone stacks off shore from Australia’s Great Ocean Road. Zigzag along the Amalfi Coast’s hairpin—and sometimes vertigo-inducing—bends. Wind through the top of North Carolina’s lovely Blue Ridge Mountains on the eponymous Blue Ridge Parkway. Skirt along Scotland’s remote northern coastline on the scenic North Coast 500 highway. Navigate a network of state and national roads in the American Southwest to hit a sandstone-colored jackpot of national parks: from Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Arches, Canyonlands, to the Grand Canyon.

Road Trip Planner

Gas adds up, so keeping a few fuel-related tips in mind might help cut down on the total cost. Fill up the tank ahead of time—gas prices rise around weekends and holidays. Slower speeds are better for mileage, as is a softer touch on the gas and break pedals. A heavier car is one that requires more gas per mile to move. Some hotels offer gas rebates to encourage road-trippers to visit.

Paper maps are an essential backup, especially if a phone dies or a GPS system stops getting service. Don’t forget to provide ample music, snacks, and car-friendly games. Audiobooks can also be great for long car rides. One tip: pick a title that reflects the region you’re driving through.

Whether you are looking for a classic cross-country road trip or an unusual (but no less inspiring) path less traveled, T+L can help you map out the best road trip itineraries.

See More

More From Road Trips

News

California's Highway 1 Is Officially Open, and It's Time for a Big Sur Road Trip

TV + Movies

The 23 Best Road Trip Movies of All Time

News

This State Has the Most Fast Food Restaurants Per Capita (Video)

Road Trips

How to Take the Ultimate California Road Trip

News

The Best Times to Avoid July 4th Traffic in Your City

News

Here's How Many People Are Planning to Hit the Road for 4th of July

Road Trips

The Best — and Worst — States for a Summer Road Trip

Trip Ideas

Castles and Wine Make the French Countryside the Most Exquisite Place to Take a Road Trip

News

Expert Tips for an All-American Road Trip, According to a 'Midwest Living' Editor

News

Why Your Summer Road Trip Could Be More Expensive This Year (Video)

News

Chip and Joanna Gaines Just Took a Spontaneous Road Trip and Relived Their Honeymoon

Road Trips

A Drive Through the Scottish Highlands Brings You Face to Face With Ancient Ruins, Nessie’s Home, and Plenty of Sheep

Subscribe & Save

Subscribe today for just $1 an issue!
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Receive exclusive travel deals, insider tips, inspiration, breaking news updates, and more.
Sign up
Travel + Leisure
TRAVEL
  • Travel Guides
  • Hotels + Resorts
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Travel Videos
  • Flight Deals
TRAVEL + LEISURE
  • T+L Travel Guide App
  • World's Best Awards
  • Best Travel Agents
  • Romantic Travel
  • Cruises
  • Weekend Getaways
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Tech
  • Attractions
  • Check-In
CONTACT
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Give a Gift
  • Reprints
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Sitemap
  • Ad Choices
COMPANY
  • Careers
  • Meredith Corporate Site
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
© 2018 Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group. All rights reserved. TravelandLeisure.com is part of the Travel & Leisure Group. Travel + Leisure is a trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. | EU Data Subject Requests
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.