Road Tripping in the USA
Exploring the majestic wonders of the Great American West such as Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon is perhaps one of the epic trips everyone should have on their bucket list. Likewise, taking to the open road on Route 66 is another adventure everyone has to do at some point.
We’ve chosen to go a little off the beaten path and have recommended a self-drive journey covering the north, south, east and west in our latest selection. While hugely popular in the fall, New England is just as marvellous in the summertime – so why not consider it for a June or July escape. The Great Lakes are sometimes over-looked so it’s time to take a deeper dive into pristine waters and the silence of the surrounding forested wilderness. If history and culture are your thing, then might we suggest hitting the musical cities of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans as part of a Rhythms of the South self-drive. Lastly, the Californian coast is a delight, but how about heading further north to the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest?
14-Day Rhythms of the South
Self-Drive
A fabulous road trip of the American South, giving you the opportunity to sample the delicious cuisine, enjoy live music in the infamous trio of music cities of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans, explore historic mansions & battle fields.
Why we love this trip…
Spend time at Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame
Enjoy great food and music in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz
Explore Savannah and Charleston’s beautifully preserved historic neighbourhoods
See the Gulf Coast’s unspoilt wildlife preserves and fishing villages
** Visit Iconic Graceland – The Home of Elvis Presley **
From £2,199pp
Price includes 13 nights accommodation, 14 day car hire, return flights, electronic maps
12-Day Quaint New England Towns
Self-Drive
From big-city Boston to charming hamlets and coastal gems of New England including Kennebunkport, Camden, Bar Harbor and Stockbridge.
Why we love this trip…
Follow Boston’s Freedom Trail, boutiques and bars
Explore ‘spooky’ Salem, charming Rockport and quaint Kennebunkport
Check out the glamourous mansions of Newport, Rhode Island
Enjoy Maine’s sandy beaches and Cape Cod’s whale watching opportunities
Experience wild adventures in the White Mountains
** Combine Coastal Capers with Alpine Adventures **
From £1,042pp
Price includes 11 nights accommodation, 11 days car rental and personalised roadbook
13-Day Great Lakes Inn-Sider
Self-Drive
The highlights of the Great Lakes and stay in unique boutique hotels. Starting from Chicago, you will discover Door County, Middleton, Winona, Minneapolis, the beautiful Apostle Islands and the beautiful Mackinac Island.
Why we love this trip…
Experience the jazz and blues clubs of Chicago
Visit the breweries and Harley Davidson museum of Milwaukee
Take a kayak or sailboat tour on the waters of Lake Michigan
Enjoy the scenic Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Explore the lovely beach towns of Saugatuck and Marquette
** FREE 360 Degree Chicago Ticket **
From £1,179pp
Price includes 12 nights accommodation, round-trip ferry to Mackinac Island, 12 days car rental and personalised roadbook
10-Day Volcanic Peaks to Sparkling Shores in the Pacific Northwest
Self-Drive
Begin this immersive roundtrip from Portland, stopping off in Astoria, Olympic National Park and Seattle before embarking on a part of America’s picturesque Cascade Range throughout Washington and Oregon.
Why we love this trip…
Discover Willamette Valley in Oregon’s Wine Country – home to over 300 wineries
Marvel at stunning Crater Lake, one of the deepest in the world
Visit the Olympic National Park, with its peaks, ancient forests and ocean views
Stay in the city of Seattle, sample the food in Pike Place Market, ascend the Space Needle and visit the unique Chihuly Glass Museum
** Visit Cannon Beach (of Movie Goonies Fame) with its Iconic Haystack Rock **
From £1,899pp
Price includes 9 nights accommodation, 10 day car hire, return flights, electronic maps
Experiences to Consider for Your Trip
There’s a wealth of treats in store for you when you visit one of our featured regions that are primed for self-drive adventures. Given all the tours featured on this page are ‘suggested itineraries’ and can be tweaked to your own requirements, we’ve listed some cool things to see and do while exploring the open road.
New England
A Lobster roll or mussels have to be on your lunch menu
You need to drive the 56 mile scenic Kancamagus Highway between Bath and Conway
Spend a day visiting Flume Gorge and zip-wiring close-by at North Woodstock
Allocate a day to taking a whale watching tour out of Hyannis on Cape Cod
Take the ferry from Woods Hole over to the island of Martha’s Vineyard
The Pacific Northwest
Head for one of the many Oregon beach towns of Seaside, Yachats, Newport or Lincoln City
Experience the vast, oceanfront sand dunes of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Just 30 miles from Portland, see Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge
Enjoy time in the Columbia River Gorge that divides Oregon with Washington state
Witness the wildflowers giving life to what was a stark wasteland from Mount St. Helen’s eruption
The South
Visit the Johnny Cash Museum, RCA Studio B or watch a live performance at The Grand Ole Opry
Combine historic architecture and furnishings with delightful cuisine by fine-dining in Savannah
Savour the flavours of Po’ Boys, gumbo and Jambalaya in New Orleans
Extend your stay on the east coast by taking a few days in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head
Experience the charms of the Barrier Island beaches close to Charleston
The Great Lakes
If you’re heading out in the summer, be sure to experience a Chicago food festival
Take in a ball game or live music gig in Chicago
Visit the Motown Historical Museum near downtown Detroit
Located in Dearborn, spend time at the Henry Ford Museum
Hike the Upper Tahquamenon Falls and explore Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Confessions of a Globetrotter blog:
Self-Drive Adventures In The USA’s North, South, East And West
“find out where and what we recommend for an unforgettable US road trip – whether north, south, east or west.”.