best car for cross country travel

Best Road Trip Cars in 2024 and 2025

We compiled a list of vehicles that are great for road trips. These vehicles are fuel-efficient, reliable, and comfortable, which will help you out on all of your highway adventures.

Kia Motors America |

The Best Cars, Minivans and SUVs for Road Trips

Summer is prime road trip season, whether that means hitting up a national park or getting together with family at a lakeside cabin. Choosing the right new car for an epic road trip can make your vacation more comfortable, more fuel efficient, and even safer, thanks to the new technologies found in many new vehicles. It can also mean less arguing, thanks to USB ports that keep devices charged, Wi-Fi hotspots that keep everyone entertained, and roomy back seats that keep siblings from touching.

We've rounded up the best road trip vehicles available this summer, with everything from sports cars to pickups, with plenty of family-friendly SUVs on the list. As new information becomes available, we update our reviews, so the data found in these slides might not match those reviews exactly.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

$34,050 | usn overall score: 8.0/10.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a more fuel-efficient version of the popular compact SUV, with up to 43 mpg in the city. A 7-inch touch screen, smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and four USB ports come standard to keep everyone powered up and entertained.

The interior is one of the nicest in the class, and the standard upholstery is stain-resistant. The seats are comfy in both rows, with room for adults to stretch out even on road trips. The rear seats recline, so whoever is off driving duty can take a nap. Standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist help reduce the fatigue that can come with hours of driving.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas

$36,985 | usn overall score: 8.1/10.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has enough room to bring along everybody and all their gear. It's available with either three rows of seating or two rows in the Cross Sport configuration. The third row is comfy for kids and adults on shorter trips. The Atlas has more cargo space behind the third row than most in its class.

Refreshed for 2024, in either configuration, a 12-inch touch screen with smartphone connectivity and a Wi-Fi hot spot are standard, along with wireless device charging and four USB ports. The Atlas can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly configured if you plan to bring a small camper or want to tow some toys for your vacation.

2024 Ford Mustang

$30,920 | usn overall score: 8.1/10.

Sometimes you want to live the American road trip dream in an impractical sports car. But guess what – the redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang is a rather practical sports car. It's as exciting to drive as you could hope, and it still manages to turn in great fuel economy numbers that won't put a damper on your budget.

The Mustang's interior has been updated with a more modern, tech-forward look. Its standard infotainment system has a large 13.2-inch touch screen and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. But maybe most importantly, for purposes of the dream, the Mustang is available as a convertible.

2024 Chevrolet Suburban

$59,200 | overall score: 8.2/10.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban is the classic family road trip SUV, and it's the winner of our 2024 Best Large SUV for Families award. It's huge, with more cargo space than almost any SUV out there. It can be configured to seat up to nine people, though that means someone has to sit in the middle of the front bench seat. In any case, the third row provides enough legroom for adults.

The interior is sturdy enough for epic journeys, and it comes with an 8-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity and six USB ports. Depending on how you configure it, the Suburban can tow up to 8,300 pounds, enough for the average camper. It also comes with driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist.

2024 Kia Carnival

$33,600 | overall score: 8.2/10.

The 2024 Kia Carnival makes a strong case for the classic family minivan as the ultimate road-trip vehicle, especially with pricing that's among the most affordable on this list. It comes with a good list of standard safety features for long drives, including lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring.

The interior is upholstered with easy-to-clean materials, and all three rows have enough room for adults, though the third row has a bit less legroom than the first two. It also has lots of cargo space, even with all three rows in use. If you don't need the last row for passengers, it folds flat into the floor for even more cargo space. An 8-inch touch screen, smartphone compatibility and a whopping seven USB ports come standard.

2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

$53,425 | usn overall score: 8.3/10.

The plug-in hybrid 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid achieves up to 30 mpg in combined driving when operating in hybrid mode, which is great for any minivan. Once you reach your destination, plug this family hauler in overnight to be able to drive about 32 miles on electric power.

There's also a ton of tech included, like a 10.1-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity and Amazon Alexa compatibility. All three rows of seating have lots of head- and legroom, and there's plenty of storage space. Standard safety features include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

2024 Lincoln Navigator

$82,765 | usn overall score: 8.6/10.

Wherever your road trip takes you, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator will make sure you arrive in comfort and style. It's one of the best luxury large SUVs, with a well-built and high-quality interior. Standard features include a 13.2-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and five USB ports.

Every seat in all three rows is comfortable, and the available L model adds extra space to an already roomy cargo area. Though the Navigator is large, its powerful engine easily gets it up to speed on the highway. Standard safety features like lane-keep assist and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control can help reduce driver fatigue too.

2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

$32,575 | usn overall score: 8.6/10.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is among the best in its class and was a finalist for our Best Hybrid SUV for the Money and Best Hybrid SUV for Families awards this year. The regular hybrid is the best for road tripping, with up to 38 mpg on the highway. But it doesn't sacrifice power for efficiency, with enough get-up-and-go for passing on the highway. All-wheel drive is standard for a sure-footed feel.

Inside, there's tons of room for adults in both rows of seating and a huge cargo area. A 10.25-inch touch screen is standard, along with Apple CarPlay , Android Auto , four USB ports and wireless device charging.

2024 Genesis G90

$89,200 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

If your road-trip budget allows for a little luxury. the 2024 Genesis G90 delivers. It has a capable V6 and an optional mild-hybrid powertrain that improves acceleration when passing on the highway. The available air suspension makes long drives a dream, and the extensive list of standard safety features–including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display–eases the tedium of driving.

The Nappa leather interior wraps the road tripper in luxury, and both rows of seating are comfortable for adults. The trunk is large enough for several suitcases, and it opens automatically as you approach. The G90 also has one of the longest powertrain warranties in the business.

2025 Ram 1500

$40,275 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

If your road trip plan involves a camper or boat, you'll want to look into the 2025 Ram 1500 . When properly equipped, it can tow up to 11,580 pounds. As with most pickups, you can configure the 1500 in whatever way works for you, with bed, cab and powertrain options in addition to trim levels and packages to add on.

All of the available body styles have a spacious, high-quality interior. Quite a few safety features are standard, including stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert. The infotainment system got an upgrade for the 2025 model year, which means even more available features, including three screen sizes, three sound systems, and a long list of available tech features.

2024 Honda Civic

$23,950 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

You probably need one car to handle both the daily commute and the road trip vacation, and you need it to be affordable. Enter the 2024 Honda Civic . It's one of the best compact cars in its class, and we named it the 2024 Best Compact Car for the Money . All of its scores are high, especially when it comes to safety. It has the lowest MSRP on our list yet comes standard with desirable amenities like adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition. It's also thrifty, with up to 42 mpg on the highway.

A 7-inch touch screen and smartphone connectivity come standard. The front seats in particular are supportive over the long haul, and the Civic has more overall interior space than most rivals.

Road Trip Car Characteristics

Passenger space: People turn cranky when they aren't comfortable after hours on the road. There needs to be space for everyone to stretch out.

Cargo space: At the very minimum, you'll be bringing luggage along and maybe also camping gear or tubes for floating the river. Make sure there's space for your gear.

Fuel economy: Stopping for gas on a road trip can get expensive. Fuel efficiency, particularly from hybrid powertrains, can ease the pain of stopping at the pump.

Infotainment: An AM/FM radio is no longer sufficient for most people. An infotainment system that's easy to use while driving and can connect to smartphones is key.

Safety tech: Driving long distances causes fatigue, and fatigue causes accidents. Modern driver-assistance features can help you stay alert and in your lane.

Reliability: No one wants to be the car in the breakdown lane while on their road trip. A good predicted reliability score shows that a particular model has on average been a solid performer over time.

Genesis Motor America |

Road Trip Car FAQs

What is the best car for road trips.

The best car for road trips is the one that fits your budget and your needs, so there's no one vehicle that will work for everybody. That said, the 2024 Honda Civic is a strong pick. It provides comfort, features, safety and reliability, and all for one of the lowest price tags on this list.

What is the best SUV for road trips?

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid combines a long list of standard features with great fuel economy, and it has one of the most spacious interiors in its class.

What is the best luxury car for road trips?

The 2024 Genesis G90 will take you anywhere in comfort and style. Most of its best features are standard, including leather upholstery.

What is the most comfortable car for long trips?

On a list of very comfortable vehicles, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid is probably the most comfortable, especially for back-seat passengers who can take advantage of the reclining seats. If comfort is your priority, take a look at our list of most comfortable cars for more options.

U.S. News and World Report |

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

Plenty of families take road trips, so you might want to check out the winners of our 2023 Best Cars for Families awards too. Maybe you've been left stranded on an unfamiliar road by your former car and are looking for the most reliable cars available. If you know you need to bring along a lot of gear, see our roundup of compact SUVs with the most cargo space .

When you're ready to buy a new car, use our Best Price Program to pre-negotiate a great price with a local dealership. You can arrange for online buying and even vehicle delivery through the program.

U.S. News & World Report |

Best Cars for Road Trips in 2024 and 2025

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid: $34,050 | USN Overall Score: 8.0/10
2024 Volkswagen Atlas: $36,985 | USN Overall Score: 8.1/10
2024 Ford Mustang: $30,920 | USN Overall Score: 8.1/10
2024 Chevrolet Suburban: $59,200 | Overall Score: 8.2/10
2024 Kia Carnival: $33,600 | Overall Score: 8.2/10
2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: $53,425 | USN Overall Score: 8.3/10
2024 Lincoln Navigator: $82,765 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10
2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: $32,575 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10
2024 Genesis G90: $89,200 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10
2025 Ram 1500: $40,275 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10
2024 Honda Civic: $23,950 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10

Browse Cars

10 Best Road-Trip Vehicles That You Can Buy Right Now

CR's tests show that these are the best road-trip models across popular categories

Finding the perfect road-trip vehicle means striking a balance among many factors, such as front and rear seat comfort, space, fuel economy, ride quality, and noise. It also should be a vehicle that’s easy to live with when you’re not traveling, and with strong safety and reliability. That is a lot to ask of a single vehicle, but our analysts have scrutinized our test and survey data to find the best road-trip vehicles in 10 popular categories.

To find the standouts, we considered all those factors among models that meet the stringent criteria to be recommended by Consumer Reports . Each vehicle below scores at least average in those factors, plus they provide 500 miles or more of highway cruising range, based on our fuel-economy tests. They also have a sizable trunk or cargo area, based on our measurements. Because of the qualification needed to make a great long-distance runner, we omitted subcompact SUVs and small cars. We also list suitable alternatives, where possible.

All the vehicles featured here, except the Buick, come standard with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection. (The advanced safety systems are optional on the Buick.)

The 10 models below are road-trip warriors, based on CR data. You can assemble your own list with CR ratings by using our A-to-Z guide . If you’re a Consumer Reports member, the full list is available to you here.

If you haven’t signed up yet, click below and become a member to access this full article and all our exclusive ratings and reviews for each vehicle we buy and test. Joining also gives you full access to exclusive ratings for the other products our experts evaluate in several categories, including electronics and appliances.

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From efficient to exotic, these are the best road trip cars for exploring the country

Pack up and hit the road make your travels memorable this year with these amazing road trip cars.

Woman leaning out of passenger window in a moving car.

When embarking on your next great road trip adventure , camping, or even a vacation, for that matter, the car you take is nearly as important as the route. Some drivers consider a 1-hour drive to get a leftover Christmas tree as a legit “road trip,” but that’s not what we’re talking about here. The cars on this list are unique vehicles that you’ll want to drive cross-country on an adventure to find some of the best routes in America .

Lamborghini Urus

Jeep cherokee xj, porsche 911, ford bronco, ferrari gtc4lusso, mazda mx-5 miata, honda element, toyota prius, land rover defender, lincoln navigator black label, classic volkswagen camper van, westfalia sven hedin cuv, 1966 chevy corvette, 1965 ford mustang convertible, morgan 3-wheeler.

The vehicles you see here range from classic icons to exotic supercars. Most are relatively affordable; some aren’t. Of course, we didn’t forget about SUVs that have enough room for the entire family (and Fido, too!). Choosing a car to take on a road trip is a highly personal decision. But at the end of the day, these are the best cars for road trips, hands down.

Let’s not bury our lede. Two words: Lamborghini . SUV . If you’re not worried about money and you’re a fan of very, very, very fast road trips, you can stop reading now. The latest Lamborghini Urus is most likely the only road trip car on your wish list. The company’s (pretty much) first foray into the SUV market is a dramatic one. The angular Urus highlights a steeply raked roofline, sleek LED lighting, and huge 22- or 23-inch wheels stuffed inside jagged hexagonal wheel wells.

This is an SUV that will not be mistaken for any other. It’s neither practical nor affordable for most mortal men, but who really cares with a twin-turbo, 4-liter V8 under the hood? The 641 horsepower pushes the Urus to a top speed of 190 miles per hour, making it the fastest production SUV on the planet. If you’ve ever wanted to take a 36-hour, coast-to-coast road trip, your ride is ready.

Over the years, most SUVs — even hardcore models — have softened as manufacturers realize their customers rarely choose to venture off-road. Case in point: The latest generation of the Jeep Cherokee shares its platform with the previous generation Dodge Dart. However, the older Jeep Cherokee XJ is the SUV for purists who plan to spend as much (maybe a little more) time off the pavement as on.

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Don’t let the fact that it’s dated dissuade you. That just means you can find an older model for a song. Additionally, replacement and aftermarket parts are readily available, it has plenty of room for your friends and your best outdoor gear , and the bulletproof 4.0-liter engine will probably outlast you.

“ Which 911?” you may be asking. Fair question. We’re not picky as long as it’s a Carrera 4S Cabriolet. Hardcore enthusiasts will tsk-tsk anything but a hardtop, but for pure road trip fun, it’s either a convertible or nothing. Honestly, almost any model of the modern Porsche 911 will do, as it’s still among the best sports cars to balance performance, handling, convenience, and comfort.

It even seats four, although we’d recommend using the cafeteria-tray-sized rears for storage or “friends” you’re not particularly fond of. For a legit sports car, it’s a damn-near-perfect everyday driver, which is what also makes it one of the best cars for road trips.

The all-new Ford Bronco might be the coolest and most highly anticipated SUV to land in the last century. It’s true to the beloved original at its core: Rugged, utilitarian, and ready to go anywhere you point it. The latest version is available as a two- or four-door variety in a handful of trim levels, each tailored for different degrees of on- or off-road use.

If you’re serious about the “go anywhere” factor, we highly recommend springing for the Sasquatch package, which upgrades the already capable Bronco with 35-inch tires, electronic-locking front and rear axles, and Bilstein position-sensitive dampers. Translation: Even without pavement, there’s almost no road trip this thing can’t take.

A $300,000 road tripper? Hey, in for a penny, in for a pound. If a 911 isn’t disco enough for you, Ferrari’s curiously named GTC4Lusso may do the trick. At more than 4,233 pounds, it’s heavy by any standard. It gets abysmal gas mileage (11/17 mpg city/highway). And did we mention it costs as much as a vacation condo in the Florida Keys? In short: It’s almost completely impractical to drive to Pottery Barn, let alone long distances. Almost .

What it does have is four mostly usable seats — ideal for bringing along three friends or one friend and a reasonable amount of luggage for two humans on a high-performance, cross-country road trip. That the 6.3-liter V-12 engine boasts 680 hp and 514 lb-ft capable of pushing this 4WD beast past 200 mph is, to put it mildly, a bonus.

Of course, for most mortal men, six-figure sports cars are rarely attainable. Enter the Mazda MX-5. For less savvy car folk, the Miata may seem a better fit for fast-talking, middle-aged realtors with bleach-blonde perms, but the latest Miata generation has vastly outgrown that image.

Recent iterations of the MX-5 are excitingly fast and a blast to drive, thanks to a short-throw shifter and rock-solid handling. The seats are more comfortable than most other sports cars, and it also boasts decent fuel economy (if you’re shopping for sports cars in this stratum, we’ll assume gas mileage matters to you). Its biggest selling point is the convertible top — available as either a soft or power retractable hardtop. Sure, the trunk is barely big enough for a duffel bag. Just pack light, drop the top, and don’t overthink it.

If you’re incredulous as to how anyone could place the Honda Element and Porsche 911 on the same list of greatest road-tripping cars of all time, stay with us. The now-discontinued (as of 2011) Element never gained mass appeal due in large part to its love-it-or-hate-it delivery-van-inspired design. But that’s precisely what makes it a great road-tripping vehicle.

By “great,” we mean “practical.” The rear cargo space is dead flat with an industrial floor liner that can be hosed down when needed. That means you can pack a lot more than you’d expect inside the deceptively roomy cargo space, especially with the two rear seats removed. Plus, it tackles sand, mud, dirt, and any other caked-on bits of nature with ease. The four seats also can be configured into a single — albeit bumpy — bed of sorts, which is ideal for car camping couples. Spring for the AWD model for better traction and a standard rear sunroof for campsite stargazing.

If dad jokes are your jam, and you have never met a pair of pleated khaki shorts you didn’t like, it probably doesn’t get more perfect than the Toyota Prius. While previous models of the now-iconic hybrid lacked any semblance of style or fun, the latest generation is at least making an effort. But we’re including it on this list for one simple reason: Insane fuel economy.

The entry-level Eco model is the cheapest and greenest Prius in the lineup, promising nearly 60 mpg on the highway and a road-tripping range of over 600 miles. Imagine driving from Manhattan to San Francisco on the equivalent of just five tanks of gas .

If you want all the legendary badassery of the Land Rover brand without the frilly techno-gadgetry of the company’s newest models, it doesn’t get any better than the classic Land Rover Defender . This truck’s long history stretches back more than a century, and most enthusiasts regard it as the best, most off-road-capable truck ever built.

Whether trekking over mountains, on safari in Africa, or fording chest-high whitewater rapids, the Defender is designed to go anywhere you need it to go. If you’re planning to spend any significant time off-roading on your next road trip, look no further.

The draw of driving an ultra-luxe RV cross-country is being able to take all the creature comforts of home with you. No matter where you overnight, you’ll always have your espresso maker, 24-setting washer, and favorite recliner with you. The Lincoln Navigator Black Label 4×4 doesn’t offer quite that level of convenience. But it is the closest approximation on four wheels, making it one of the cushiest road-tripping vehicles a couple of years’ salary can buy.

For nearly $100,000, flagship Navigator owners have access to multiple infotainment screens, a ridiculous satellite audio system, 30-way adjustable heating and cooling leather massage seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a sleek, sporty, notice-me design that no one will ever mistake for an Escalade.

Frankly, there isn’t a vehicle more iconic of the classic American road trip than the Volkswagen Camper Van, so we’re required by law to include it on this list. It’s wholly unreliable and guaranteed to spend more time in the shop than on the road.

But quirks aside, it’s beautiful, fun, nostalgic, and entirely practical when you consider that you’re driving your hotel room across the country. You can score one cheaply on eBay. Just be sure to pack plenty of snacks, spare parts, a robust toolkit, and a current AAA membership.

If you want all the usability and a dash of the nostalgia of the classic VW Camper Van without the maintenance and reliability headaches, look to Westfalia. The company has built a brand on outfitting new VW Crafter vans to create the most practical, full-featured, and comfortable camper vans on the market.

Westfalia’s swanky Sven Hedin, in particular, is a CUV (“caravaning utility vehicle”) that crams the usefulness of a legit, full-sized RV into a vehicle not much larger than a minivan. There are multiple table/counter spaces, a comfortable bed, a half bathroom with a toilet and sink, a workable kitchen with a cooktop, sink, and dual-drawer fridge, and a surprising amount of storage space for your gear. Sure, the price tag is close to $70,000, but imagine all the money you’ll save on Motel 6 stays.

Of course, a classic American road trip deserves a classic — the classic — American pony car. Our money is on the original 1966 Corvette. The sleek, unmistakable silhouette is arguably one of the most beautiful and distinctive in automotive history. Add to that a throaty V8 with serious horsepower, and it promises one helluva drive no matter where in the country you’re headed.

Not a Chevy lover? We get it. If you’re a communist who hates Corvettes, your best American-made road-trip-worthy alternative is a 1965 Ford Mustang (ideally a convertible). It’s difficult to imagine a car that would inspire more patriotic nostalgia on a long-haul road trip through Middle America than this classic ‘Stang. Regardless of which manufacturer’s camp you fall into, this first-generation pony car is an icon of sports car design. It screams: “I like fast things, Bob Seger, and cold domestic beer!” (Not necessarily in that order.) And, for that, we salute it.

Sure, the Morgan 3-Wheeler isn’t technically a car, but don’t get too hung up on semantics. If you don’t give a toss about practicality; if you don’t concern yourself with pesky things like rain, cargo space, or bugs in your teeth; if you value fun above all else, the Morgan 3-Wheeler is the road trip vehicle for you. Its unapologetic design has changed little in the more than 100 years since its world debut. It’s raw, mechanical, and just plain cool. Whether day-tripping through the White Mountains of New Hampshire or cross-country solo-ing, it’s every bit as exhilarating and pure to drive. One soldier in Britain’s Royal Flying Corps described it as “the nearest thing to flying without leaving the ground.”

You really can’t go wrong with any of these options. All are arguably the “best car for road trips.” Each vehicle on this list has its own strengths for a cross-country road trip across the USA. Some options may be more comfortable and larger than others, but undertaking a long road trip in any one of these 14 cars is guaranteed to result in a memorable journey.

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If you're going to put in the effort to wash your car, putting some tire shine onto your tires is the perfect way to finish off a proper car wash. The best tire shines do more than make your tires pop. They also help protect your tires, which tend to go unloved on many cars. It may seem like a tedious thing to do, especially after you’ve spent a long time washing your car with one of the best car soaps and waxing it, but the extra step can go a long way.

After years of abuse from road debris, UV rays, and regular use, your tires can fade to an ugly shade of white or start to crack on the edges. Tires take a lot of abuse, and using a high-end tire shine can add another layer to protect them from future harm while making them looking showroom fresh, regardless of whether you're rockin' serious off-roading tires, high-performance ones, or even stock rubber.

For decades, drivers who wanted a light, well-built, and aerodynamic travel trailer had few choices beyond a "silver bullet" Airstream. Thankfully, today's RV manufacturers have started to introduce travel trailers of all sizes for a variety of applications. Looking for a road tripper, overlander, or weekender for a short trip to your next destination? You’re guaranteed to find a camper you'll love.

That's true even if you’re not interested in a big, fancy RV or the best premium motorhome because ultralight trailers are a great choice. They’re more compact, easier to tow, and more aerodynamic—all of which means they're better on gas too. Here are our top picks for the best ultralight travel trailers on the market, all primed for your adventure.

BMW Z4 front 3/4 view BMW / BMW USA

When it comes to famous models in BMW's history, several models come immediately to mind. The one that just popped into your head more than likely began with an "M." Or, if you happen to be something of a historian, perhaps the iconic Z8 came to mind. Or maybe even the other Bond car, BMW's Z3, fired through your synapses. But, odds are, the car you didn't think of (before reading the title of this article, anyway) was the BMW Z4.

The Best Road Trip Cars for Exploring Solo, Sightseeing with Family, and More

By Kym Allison Backer

We’re still working out where to safely travel in the immediate future, but what’s certain is that after months of staying close to home, we couldn’t be more ready to make a move—which means we're officially on the hunt for the best road trip cars. With gas prices holding steady, there’s no better time to load up your favorite playlists and hit the road, company optional. We’ve gone ahead and done the research for you, assembling a list of some of the best road trip cars to pick up at your local rental agencies to help ensure a seamless and safe trip, whether you’re traveling with your kids, going solo, or looking for an off-road adventure.

For packing in the whole family

Chrysler pacifica.

It’s only fitting that the brand that first put minivans on American roads is behind the award-winning Chrysler Pacifica (named Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and Family Car of the Year by Cars.com). The sleek styling of the eight-seater will firmly put to rest any reservations about maintaining cool cred, while the spacious interior’s in-floor access bins and stow-and-go second- and third-row seats allow for a variety of configurations, no matter your family’s size . Opt for a model with all-wheel drive that automatically engages if you hit adverse weather.

The glossy, streamlined fourth-generation A8 is a stunner, from the sporty new grille to the interior’s ambient lighting. Once in motion, check out the drive select system; the comfort setting, which softens the steering and acceleration, will let you smoothly take precious cargo down rough roads. Warning: your kids will compete for the rear seats, thanks to the excess legroom, panoramic sunroof, and futuristic, neatly stowed console that controls all the rear amenities, like heated and massaging seats. Parking sensors and lane departure warning come standard.

Chevy Suburban

Don’t let the outsize proportions scare you off. The newly revamped Chevy Suburban ranks high when it comes to second-row legroom and cargo space, and now has an expanded third row that can comfortably accommodate long-legged teens. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and multiple cameras (up to nine) for 360-degree exterior views. For added security, there’s also hidden storage so that you can secure your valuables anytime you leave the vehicle. Opt for a model with dual rear screens to keep the kids endlessly entertained.

The Mazda6 has a quiet cabin that can block out road noise on long drives.

For trekking 2,500 miles across the country

Toyota camry.

The Toyota Camry has consistently ranked as one of the most reliable midsize vehicles for the past three decades, making it one of the best picks for any trip. It offers incredible fuel economy, getting 29 miles per gallon in the city, and 41 miles per gallon on the highway (which also means fewer stops!) and has a notably quiet cabin where you can blast tunes and keep up with directions on the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Pedestrian detection, lane departure, brake assist, and lane tracing assist from Toyota’s Star Safety System also keep the Camry centered in its lane.

Genesis G70

The refined Genesis G70 has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, one of many accolades for this polished, comfortable sedan. It’s a pleasure to sit in the top-notch driver’s seat, with its well-padded diamond quilted Nappa leather. The cockpit feel is enhanced by aluminum accents, a short, stylish gear box, and the G70’s agile and responsive handling, which makes short work of the miles ahead. Added bonus: the trunk can fit multiple carry-ons or larger suitcases, and the rear seat folds for extra cargo space.

The Mazda6 is a good-looking sport sedan with a stylish interior designed for maximum comfort, a necessity when you’re spending days on the road. The Mazda6 gives you a peppy, smooth drive and a quiet cabin that blocks out exterior noise. There are convenient wheel-mounted controls, easy-access sound controls, and a solid navigation system that’s also a breeze to program. Standard features include folding rear seats, blind spot monitoring, automated emergency braking, and low-speed forward-collision warning.

For exploring solo, safely

Toyota rav4.

When you’re on your own, reliability takes on a whole new level of importance. That’s where the RAV4 comes in: after more than 25 years on the road, the model remains a winner for its manageable size, dependable performance, and commendable fuel economy, getting 27 miles per gallon in the city, and 35 miles per gallon on the open road. You’ll appreciate the car's many safety touches, which include interior lights that illuminate as you approach and driver assistance features such as an integrated backup camera, folding and fully reclining rear seats, lane-tracing assist, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Ford Mustang

America’s love affair with the Mustang began over 50 years ago and it’s still going strong. The allure is obvious, from those legendary lines to the sound of the high-powered engine—but what lies at the heart of the Mustang’s enduring popularity is that once you slide into those bucket seats, it’s an unbeatably fun, and fast, ride. Standard models come with a rearview camera, six-speed manual transmission, and a complimentary dose of nostalgia.

Honda Accord

Ten generations in, the Accord has solidified its spot as one of the most durable and nimble vehicles on the road, a winning combination for a swift, problem-free drive. The distinctive sedan’s spacious interior provides ample legroom and comfort for even the tallest of drivers and the stellar fuel economy (30 miles per gallon in the city, and 38 miles per gallon on the highway) make it a no-brainer for any trip. Driver assist technology, including traffic sign recognition and an automatic braking system that kicks in to help prevent collisions, come standard.

The Land Rover Defender's roof can support up to 600 pounds, perfect for a roof tent.

For navigating the backroads

Land rover defender.

Land Rover has long perfected the marriage of form and function, making the Defender one of the best off-roading vehicles out there. Tackling muddy or rocky ground? The quick turn of a dial will let you select a suitable suspension and traction mode for the terrain you’re on and, if you approach water, the 3D-surround camera and wade-sensing system will gauge the depth and allow you to navigate through up to 35 inches. When parked, the rear seats fold down with the touch of a button, and the roof supports a tent and occupants up to a combined 600 pounds.

Subaru Ascent

The Ascent is Subaru’s largest SUV, and it puts that size to good use with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds (enough to haul a small trailer). The generously sized cabin seats up to eight passengers, and the rear seats fold flat to haul extra cargo or to pinch hit as a makeshift bed. Traveling with a group? The Ascent’s roof rail capacity of 700 pounds nicely accommodates a sturdy rooftop tent. Standard features include all-wheel drive, driver assist technology, and a rear-seat reminder alert that sounds when anything is left behind as you prepare to exit the vehicle.

Volkswagen Atlas

VW’s seven-seater Atlas has already seen a few changes since its relaunch three years ago. It’s one of the largest crossover SUVs, has unmatched cargo and passenger space, folding second- and third-rows, and roof rails that you can use to secure anything from kayaks to boxes of gear. The Atlas is also capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds, has four adjustable all-wheel drive modes, stability enhancing systems, a hands-free liftgate, and park distance control.

Washington Pass Along the North Cascades Highway

For going greener

Ford fusion hybrid.

This attractive midsize gas-electric hybrid lets you keep track of energy output on customizable dashboard screens. Along with a roomy interior and 10-way power driver seat for maximum comfort, standard features include an eight-inch touchscreen and voice command for easy access to directions and entertainment, blind spot monitoring, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and a rearview camera.

Toyota Prius

The Prius has spent the last two decades accumulating industry accolades, and it’s still going strong. The gas-electric hatchback comes with stellar stats: consistently top-ranked on safety lists, excellent fuel economy (it averages 50 miles per gallon in the city, and 54 miles per gallon on the highway) and a reliable history. The company has also upped the model’s standard features, which now include a mammoth 11.6-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, an integrated backup camera, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. (And you’d be surprised how much you can fit in the trunk.)

Jaguar I-Pace

Be prepared to throw any preconceived notions about “boring” electric vehicles out the window when you encounter Jaguar's I-Pace. In the plush and surprisingly spacious cabin, take a minute to check out the detailed instrument panel, then select dynamic mode for a sporty, full-throttle ride. Before you zoom off, download an app like ChargePoint so that you’ll be able to quickly pinpoint fast-charging stations along your route—though with a 253-mile range, you'll have enough juice to get from, say, Washington D.C. to New York .

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The Best Road Trip Cars From Every Category

When "Head out on the highway" is more than just a line from a song to you, these are the cars to buy.

Civic Hatchback

Embarking on an epic road trip adventure requires the perfect companion, and selecting the ideal car for the journey can significantly impact your experience. In an era where sustainability and efficiency take center stage, the realm of road trip vehicles has transformed. From the ever-expanding array of electric vehicles to power-oriented marvels, the choices have never been more exhilarating. The question is simple: What is the best car for long-distance driving?

That's a loaded question, so today, we'll explore the best road trip cars in 10 different segments, guiding you through options that guarantee comfort, dependability, and the freedom to navigate extensive distances effortlessly. Whether plotting a picturesque coastal drive, a cross-country odyssey, or a quick weekend escape, these road trip-ready vehicles will enhance the journey, and perhaps even the destination. Prepare to embark on your open-road adventure with unwavering confidence as we unveil the top contenders in the domain of road-trip cars.

The Hatchback: 2024 Honda Civic Hatch

The latest Civic Hatchback keeps its enjoyable driving dynamics intact despite being a more grown-up car than any Civic before it. In base form, its 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder produces an ample 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, while a turbocharged 1.5-liter ups the stakes to 180 hp and 177 lb-ft. Plus, if you're still of the old-school persuasion and like to be in control of the experience, you can get a six-speed manual gearbox in the Sport and Sport Touring trims - or a CVT if you prefer to relax.

With combined EPA ratings of up to 35 mpg in turbo guise and 33 mpg in base form, the Civic is light on gas, and starting at an MSRP of $24,950, it's light on your bank account from the get-go.

Combine its mechanical attributes with a spacious cabin and large trunk (24.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats), and it's a winner already. Factor in a full suite of connectivity options like a seven-inch touchscreen and matching digital gauge cluster (nine- and 10.2 inches respectively on the Sport Touring), and you have one of the most complete long-distance vehicles on the market and a perfect family road trip car.

The Crossover: 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

This fuel-efficient road trip car boasts a hybrid system, achieving an impressive 38 mpg combined EPA rating. The hybrid powertrain comprises a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder with electric augmentation, paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox, producing 226 hp and 258 lb-ft.

Whether traveling with a full crew or just a few, the standard all-wheel drive ensures surefootedness over any surface and in any climate through sun, snow, and rain.

Ideal for family road trips, it boasts a comfortable and spacious interior equipped with rear USB ports and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Five seats with ample rear legroom enhance the appeal of this compact crossover, and its generous 38.7-cu-ft trunk accommodates all your gear. You can use all five seats, or drop the 60:40-split rear seats to carry larger items. Starting at $32,325, the Tucson Hybrid ticks all the right boxes .

The Sports Car: 2024 Mustang GT Coupe

While there may be many options in contention for the title of the best sports car , we maintain when it comes to road trips, the Mustang has them all soundly beaten. A new generation has arrived for 2024, sporting updated styling and a new fighter jet-inspired interior with larger infotainment and digital gauge cluster screens.

Under the hood, the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 has been upgraded and now produces 36 hp more in the 2024 Mustang GT than the old model, totaling 486 hp. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional 10-speed auto, which may be better suited to long-distance cruising.

Should the road get twisty on your journey, the Mustang GT's combination of power, noise, and agility means an entertaining road trip is in the cards, and the supportive Recaro front seats hold you in place comfortably. Ample rear legroom - yes, it's a four-seater sports car - and a 13.5 cubic foot trunk make it practical too, and since you can get it as a coupe or a convertible, it's perfect for summer road trips.

The Wagon: 2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country

The Volvo V60 Cross Country excels in various aspects such as space, speed, off-road capability, etc. This versatile vehicle is a gem for road trips and an overall top-tier option. Sporting 26 mpg combined from a 250-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, its raised ground clearance and AWD give it the ability to tackle dirt roads without the hefty fuel economy of traditional SUVs.

It comes fully equipped with advanced safety features, including a rear cross-traffic alert system and traffic sign recognition, plus semi-autonomous highway driving capabilities. A five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA backs this up and ensures a safe road trip for the whole family.

It boasts an available Wi-Fi hotspot, enhancing connectivity on your journeys and keeping the kids occupied, and its spacious interior means they'll be comfortable for hours. 22.5 cubic feet of trunk space will accommodate suitcases, tents, and more; if you need extra, the fold-down rear seats let you accommodate even more. Additionally, you can add a roof-mounted bicycle rack, perfect for those with an active lifestyle, making it one of the best cars for road-tripping.

The Minivan: 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid

The $51,095 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid harmoniously blends gas and electric power, catering to road trips with its ample combination of cargo space, people space, and frugality. Furnished with a 3.6-liter V6 augmented by electric power, it produces 260 hp. It lays down this power through a front-wheel drivetrain. If you want AWD, you can have it, but that would require the non-hybrid Pacifica.

Spacious with seating for eight occupants, it looks after the family with advanced safety features like emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane assist, and blind spot monitoring. There's versatility aplenty with Stow 'n Go seating that avails additional cargo space without physically having to remove seats from the minivan, and between 32.3 and 140.5 cubic feet.

A heated steering wheel and three-zome climate control add extra luxury, and the new Pinnacle model adds even more luxury to the road trip experience. The panoramic rearview mirror helps to keep an eye on the kids during the, 'Are we there yet' arguments.

The Truck: 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor

Should road trips in 2023 call for a more 'cross-country' experience, the Ford F-150 Raptor is the only pickup truck for the job. While the allure is strong to go for the TRX-beating Raptor R and its supercharged V8, for road trips, we think the base Raptor is better, thanks to its twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6. Not only do you get 450 hp and 510 lb-ft sent to all corners via a 10-speed automatic gearbox, but you get 15 mpg combined (instead of the R's 12 mpg). You can still tow 8,200 lbs, get a versatile truck bed, and those sweet Fox shocks that can take you to hell and back.

Inside, all F-150 models come with standard features like a 12-inch digital gauge display and Sync 4-enabled infotainment system, soft bucket seats, wireless charging, and 400W USB ports with outlets in both the cab and the bed. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. With five seats, ample power, and go-anywhere capability, the F-150 Raptor is a road-trip truck with no equal.

The Full-Size SUV: 2023 Cadillac Escalade

If you need three rows of seats, a body-on-frame chassis, an abundance of passenger and storage space, and supreme luxury, the Cadillac Escalade may be the best road trip SUV there is, even if it does cost a slip more than $80,000.

With a versatile engine lineup including a Duramax diesel six-cylinder (277 hp/460 lb-ft) and a 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp/460 lb-ft), both saddled with a buttery-smooth 10-speed automatic, the Escalade can tow up to 8,200 lbs, meaning you can take everything with you on holiday. The spacious cabin accommodates a ton of cargo, and an available long-wheelbase ESV variant even makes the third row of seating adult-friendly.

The Escalade is loaded with exceptional tech such as the 38-inch diagonal OLED display encompassing instrumentation and infotainment, and a full-color head-up display. Super Cruise hands-free driving making long-distance trips on the highway a cinch, too.

The Grand Tourer: 2024 Lexus LC Hybrid

We've chosen the LC Hybrid for this list, but we wouldn't fault you for picking any of the LC models. The standard variant packs a sonorous naturally aspirated V8 (coupe and convertible), but for covering distance, the LC 500h's 3.5-liter V6 and twin electric motors still packs a 354-hp punch while consuming considerably less fuel at 29 mpg combined vs. the V8's 19 mpg. It looks achingly gorgeous, too. The downside is an electronic CVT, but with the additional torque of the e-motors, and given the laidback cruising nature of the LC, it's a forgivable offense.

Road trip cars typically need big trunks, and the LC falls short here with only 4.7 cubic feet in hybrid form, but with 2+2 seating in which the rear seats aren't suited for passengers, there's plenty of additional storage space in the cabin.

Packed with Lexus' array of safety systems, and now featuring a decent infotainment system , the car is technologically up-to-date and safe for you and a loved one to hit the road and soak up the miles in comfort and luxury.

The Luxury Sedan: 2024 Audi S8

The 2024 Audi S8 redefines the road trip experience with its blend of luxury and performance. Beneath its hood lies a formidable 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. While everyone knows the Mercedes-AMG S63 in this segment, the Audi S8 is seen as more of a sleeper, an understated performance sedan that can lap up the miles without shouting about its 3.8-second 0-60 mph potential. Combined with the nimbleness of its rear-axle steering and the surefootedness of its all-wheel drive, it's the perfect car for almost any occasion.

Whether you're seated up front or reclining in the massaging rear seats, you're swathed in luxury and cutting-edge technology. Plush leather seats provide a sense of opulence, while the MMI Touch Response infotainment system and onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, ensure seamless connectivity and entertainment throughout your road trips, while an optional rear-seat entertainment system keeps passengers engaged on extended journeys.

The only downside is the $120,600 price tag.

The Convertible: 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet

The Porsche Carrera GTS Cabriolet redefines the essence of road trips with its breadth of performance and capability. It's fast, it's comfortable, it's feature-laden, and it even has four seats - what more could you ask for? Beneath its curvaceous exterior lies a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, delivering 473 hp and 420 lb-ft, and with your choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, you get a 0-60 mph time of under 3.4 seconds and all-weather confidence.

Inside, the Carrera GTS Cabriolet pampers occupants with opulent leather seats and a cutting-edge infotainment system, including the Porsche Communication Management system. For audiophiles, the optional Burmester sound system promises exceptional audio quality, enhancing the soundtrack of your road trip.

With a front cargo area measuring 4.7 cubic feet and rear seats that can double as storage in a pinch, there's plenty of space for your luggage. Then, when the weather is right, a 12-second drop of the top lets you feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin. When the journey matters more than the destination, few cars do road trips like the 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet.

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The best road trip cars

Nothing picks up your mood faster than taking a long and relaxing road trip somewhere you love. But not every car is well suited to life on the road, and when you’re headed out for a long trip, the last thing you want is a car that can’t handle it. When you are ready to embark on a journey around the country, these cars have what it takes to help you enjoy the ride.

2020 Subaru Crosstrek

2020 honda hr-v, 2020 ford mustang gt convertible, tesla model 3, chevrolet bolt, 2020 ferrari gtc4lusso, 2020 volvo xc90, 2020 toyota prius, 2020 mazda mx-5, 2020 jaguar f-type convertible, lexus ls 400, volkswagen westfalia camper, ford crown victoria.

The best road trip cars have comfortable seats, lots of entertainment features, and plenty of room for all of your gear. Here are the best cars you can take on a long trip.

A good road trip car must be reliable, practical, capable, and fun, and few automakers satisfy those requirements better than Subaru. We’d love to take a WRX STI cross country, but the fuel-sipping Crosstrek makes our list for its rugged construction and well-rounded character. Plus, there’s plenty of room for speed and spoilers later.

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With fuel economy ratings of 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, the Crosstrek is an apt choice for couples or small families looking to log some serious highway miles. All-wheel drive is standard, of course, and with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, this compact crossover will go just about anywhere you need it to, on or off the interstate.

With the Fit, Honda proved a good value doesn’t always come with squished proportions and a chintzy interior. And, with the Fit-based HR-V , the Japanese firm added an extra dose of practicality to the mix.

Honda’s smallest crossover boasts 6.7 inches of ride height and an ingenious “Magic Seat” interior layout, which allows passengers to configure the cabin in five different modes — normal, split, tall, utility, and lounge. That means the car can easily ferry anything, whether it be luggage, bikes, tall plants, or even surfboards.

The HR-V’s biggest asset is its relatively low cost, which comes both at the dealer (starting MSRP is $20,620) and at the pump (it returns up to 28 mpg city/34 mpg highway when ordered with front-wheel drive). Throw in a plethora of safety features and you’re all set.

What goes better with a great American road trip than an emblematic American car? Nothing, that’s what. The Ford Mustang GT is a legend through and through, and the sixth-generation model is the most refined version yet. It has the best interior of any pony car before it, and with an independent suspension setup front and rear, this horse can corner with the best of ‘em. Ford recently updated the model with more tech features, too, including an available digital instrument cluster that will let you keep an eye on key road trip metrics such as speed, distance to empty, and the tunes blasting through the speakers.

Let’s be honest, you don’t need a thumping V8 soundtrack for a successful road trip, nor do you need the open wind rustling through your hair. You definitely want them, though, and the Mustang GT Convertible happens to provide both. “GT” does stand for “Grand Tourer,” after all.

For years, electric cars and road-tripping were mutually exclusive; range anxiety kicked in before you got a chance to leave your state. Advances in battery technology make the latest crop of electric vehicles better-suited to long drives. The Tesla Model 3 has up to 322 miles of driving range in its Dual Motor Long Range configuration, so you can drive from Detroit to Indianapolis without needing to stop and charge.

When you do need to fill up, you can rely on Tesla’s growing network of Supercharger stations. There are thousands of charging points in each state so finding one is a breeze, especially if you plan ahead. Clever features — such as in-car gaming and Netflix streaming — will help you pass the time while your car sips electricity.

If a Tesla isn’t your thing, or if the Model 3 is too expensive, the Chevrolet Bolt is another great option for those seeking a zero-emissions road-tripper. It offers 259 miles of range, so it can drive from New York City to Washington, D.C., in ideal conditions, and it’s spacious enough to comfortably carry a full load of passengers and their gear.

You can zap the Bolt’s battery with about 100 miles of range every 30 minutes when it’s plugged into a DC fast charger, a type of station that’s getting much easier to find as America’s charging infrastructure expands, though keep in mind you’ll need a special charging port Chevrolet charges extra for. Alternatively, if you’re not in a rush, the Bolt gains 25 miles of range per hour plugged in when it’s hooked up to a 240-volt level two charger, which you can find outside of many hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.

Ah, the practical Ferrari. The successor to the FF , the GTC4Lusso is a grand tourer in every sense of the word, as its gorgeously-appointed interior and quiet ride are offset by a 681-hp V12 and a trick four-wheel steering system. It does “GT” a bit differently, however, as the three-door configuration and shooting brake profile make this a head-turner in more ways than one.

It may not have the storage capacity of an SUV (though Ferrari is working on that ) or the fuel economy of a hybrid, but the GTC4Lusso is as easy to drive in the city as it is on the Italian autostrada, and the brilliant V12 will never, ever get old. These are the keys to life, folks, and don’t let anyone ever tell you differently. This machine speaks tech , too. Ferrari recently added a large screen with a split-view function, as well as Apple CarPlay compatibility.

We know Volvo can build safe, sophisticated, and elegant machines, but the levels of opulence found in the XC90 make us rethink our outlook on the brand entirely. Not only is the XC90’s interior one of the best we’ve ever seen in an SUV, its smart technology and excellent efficiency make it a no-brainer if you prefer your road trips with a group.

The available Bowers & Wilkins sound system is nothing short of fantastic in this car (a key factor for this list), and it can be shuffled between a variety of listening modes, including studio, concert hall, and stadium. The XC90 also features polished semi-autonomous technology for laid-back driving, and the tablet-style touchscreen interface is one of the most intuitive units on the market. Throw in an efficient T8 powertrain that combines a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with a plug-in hybrid system and you have the ultimate long-haul cruiser for up to seven people.

While most of the vehicles on this list emphasize fun, style, or practicality, the Toyota Prius is nearly singular in its goal: Maximum fuel economy. The most fuel-efficient car on the road without a plug, the Eco model returns up to 58 mpg on the freeway and flaunts a total range of more than 600 miles. In a word? Wow.

Toyota made notable enhancements to interior quality and driving dynamics over the previous generation, improvements that will be appreciated if you’re forced to sit in the car for extended periods. Looking to save at the pump? The Prius is your best bet. Select the plug-in Prime model if you’re looking to add a few miles of electric-only driving to your trip without stopping to charge a battery-electric car.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata wrote the book on the modern roadster, so it’d be a travesty if we didn’t include it. The long-standing sports car is as close to perfect as an inexpensive two-seater can be, with an expertly-balanced chassis, a fantastic six-speed manual, and a tangible passion for driving you can actually feel through the steering. It’s one of the few cars that hasn’t gotten significantly bigger or heavier since its inception.

There aren’t a ton of bells and whistles here, but that’s not the point. The MX-5 is about escapism done simply, and it emphasizes that better than just about any car on the market. It’s best suited for solo or short two-person trips, but the fourth-generation model features just enough modern gadgetry to keep you busy if the brilliant engineering isn’t enough.

Ok, we needed at least one more convertible for our list, and Jaguar’s stunning F-Type is one of the most evocative drop-tops ever put to pavement. It has the look, it has the sound — my goodness, the sound — and most importantly, it has the feeling. It’s also fast, agile, and surprisingly refined, as the suspension can be tuned depending on what surface you’re rocketing over.

Practicality takes a back seat in this one (if there were back seats, that is), but people don’t buy V8-powered convertibles because of logic or reason. They buy them because they’re beautiful, stirring, and create a new experience every time you press the start button. Hell, if all you need is to get somewhere quickly and you can’t live without your three favorite suitcases, you’d probably just buy a plane ticket. For the rest of us, open up the throttle and enjoy the ride.

With the new cars out the way, let’s take a short look back at a few legacy options. Lexus’ first vehicle, the LS 400 , was the product of a project called Circle F , which was Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda’s vision to build the world’s best car. The result was something that shockingly still feels modern today, with a buttery ride, rock-solid reliability, and a tasteful interior that has stood the test of time. Speaking of sturdiness, the sedan’s 4.0-liter V8 is the only automobile engine to be rated by the FAA, meaning the 260-hp power plant is tough enough to power a plane. Seriously.

Impressive credentials aside, used LS400’s can be found for less than a few thousand dollars nowadays, which is an absolute steal for the amount of car you’re getting. Throw in reasonable fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway and you might have the best budget road trip car in the world.

The Volkswagen Westfalia Camper is a hotel on wheels.

Westfalia is a German company that, for about 50 years from the 1950s, made a name for itself in the vehicle-as-living-space world. Westfalia created innovative liveable quarters made to fit inside Volkswagen’s iconic vans. Their configurations included pop-up camper designs, folding tables and chairs, portable toilets, sinks, stoves, and refrigerators. Daimler Chrysler purchased Westfalia’s conversion group in 1999.

The Ford Crown Victoria – or “Crown Vic” – is an iconic car known for its longevity and surprisingly large interior. Most people recognize them from classic movies or old-school taxicabs.

Range: 1,500 feet
Paging: One-way communication

If you’re looking for a basic, straightforward system that does what it needs to without costing an arm and a leg, Audiovox has got you covered. It features a decent range of approximately 1,500 feet, which should be adequate for most motorists. It has three-button remotes that only offer one-way communication, making it the perfect fit for motorists seeking an easy-to-use system.

The Audiovox is as effective and dependable as it is simple. You can program it to ignite the engine, thereby warming it up for as little as 5 minutes or as long as an hour, depending on your preferences. Audiovox’s APS57Z also lets you lock and unlock the car and pop the trunk open, as long as you are standing within range. You can use the Audiovox on fuel-powered as well as hybrid cars, and it’s CarLink capabilities allow it to sync up with your smartphone.

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Owning and leasing a vehicle used to be the two primary ways to get behind the wheel. However, that's starting to change with the advent of car subscription services. These plans essentially take leasing to the extreme, covering every aspect of car ownership aside from the cost of fuel. That means you won't have to worry about unexpected expenses related to insurance or maintenance, as your single monthly payment takes care of all those headaches.

If you plan on driving a single vehicle for a long time, owning a car is undoubtedly a more frugal option. After all, there's nothing better for your wallet than having a paid off car. But if you can't be bothered to worry about the stresses of modern car ownership -- or you love checking out a new vehicle every few months -- car subscription plans are a nice alternative.

Whether you do your driving with an off-road vehicle, one of the most impressive EVs on the road, or anything in between, the driving experience can be made all the better by knowing you look good doing so. Keeping your vehicle clean isn’t always the easiest chore, nor is it something everyone likes to do. You can make shorter work of it with a pressure washer, and with warmer weather around the corner we decided to round up the best pressure washers for cars in 2024. The best pressure washers for cars in 2024

Buy the if you want the best pressure washer for cars overall. Buy the if you want the best gas-powered pressure washer for cars. Buy the if you want the best handheld pressure washer for cars. But the if you want the best budget pressure washer for cars.

In-car technology is advancing more quickly than anyone imagined, and it's also easier to upgrade an older car with Bluetooth and other cutting-edge features than it's ever been. Numerous aftermarket companies allow motorists to benefit from useful connectivity and safety features without having to buy a new car. In fact, Bluetooth has become a cheap, easy upgrade on any vehicle regardless of its age or value.

Bluetooth can be used to make phone calls (it channels the conversation through your car's speakers) or to stream music directly from your smartphone, though some of the more basic systems are limited to calls. Either way, it's a feature that significantly reduces distractions and allows the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. That's why most states have laws that require hands-free calling while driving.

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The 10 Best Road Trip Cars for Open-Road Adventures

By: Tim Huber Published: Aug 16, 2023

In 1956, the U.S. government passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, allocating $26B to construct an initial 41,000-mile interstate network . In response to the network’s construction, countless restaurants, motels, and roadside attractions would pop up along these now-iconic highways in order to cater to automotive travelers — ultimately kicking off a grand and long-held tradition of road tripping that’s as American as baseball or apple pie.

And while there are plenty of factors that can have an enormous impact on the overall quality of your time spent on the road — such as your starting point, ultimate destination, travel companions, and budget — the single biggest variable is undoubtedly one’s choice of ride. With the exception of a handful of new EVs , practically every car currently in production is more than capable of taking on cross-country touring duties, however, there’s a shortlist of models that objectively lend themselves to road-tripping far better than anything else on the market. And it’s this crop of vehicles that we’ll be exploring today in this guide to the best road trip cars you can buy — delving into the most capable long-distance cars available, along with what factors and qualities make a model ideal for long-haul travel.

The Best Road Trip Cars Rundown

Best Affordable Pick

Subaru Outback

Best Retro-Inspired

Ford Bronco Sport

Best Two-Door

Abarth 124GT

Best Long-Range Pick

Volvo XC60 Recharge

Best Full-Size SUV

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Best Sport Wagon

Audi RS 6 Avant Performance

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo

Best Grand-Tourer

BMW ALPINA B8 xDrive Gran Coupe

Best Hybrid Pick

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid

Best Mid-Sized SUV

Aston Martin DBX707

Cross-country capabilities.

What Factors Make For An Ideal Road Trip Car?

Though there are clearly several blatant areas to explore when buying a road trip-focused car — such as range, comfort, and cargo space — there’s also a myriad of less obvious, though still massively important elements to take into consideration when shopping in this space. Below, we’ll briefly touch on seven of the most pivotal areas to think about prior to pulling the trigger on your purchase.

Range: Though most of the world’s major highway networks are littered with gas stations and service shops, the reality is that having to exit the freeway and pull over every other hour to fill up isn’t exactly convenient, which is why a car’s range (on a single tank) is of such importance. At the very least, you’ll want a vehicle that affords several hundred miles of autonomy between trips to the pump. This area is even more important for electric cars , as — despite there being close to ten million charging stations scattered across the planet — there are far more gas stations than EV chargers. As such, you’ll not only want to review an EV’s range, but also the charging network that’s available for said EV.

Comfort: Being comfortable in a car is obviously important, though this factor matters far more when dealing with road trip cars, as drivers — and their passenger(s) — typically spend hours at a time inside the cabin of these vehicles. Consequently, this makes a given car’s comfortability level of extreme significance. And while there are dozens of factors that contribute to how comfortable a car is, some of the more important elements to consider are the seats, their construction and upholstery, their level of adjustability, and whether they offer heating, cooling, or massage functions. Additional areas like dual climate control and robust soundproofing can also hugely up a car’s comfortability.

Amenities: While there’s no denying that comfort is a hugely important area when dealing with road trip cars, there are nonetheless a handful of additional features that can very much bolster one’s enjoyment during long-range drives. Alongside amenities like touchscreen infotainment setups and moon/sunroofs, there are also features like web browsers and connectivity to streaming services that can enhance the users’ experience. Likewise, most of today’s best road trip cars also pack advanced suites of electronic driver assists such as forward collision warning and avoidance systems, lane keep assist, blindspot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control, just to name a few. Some brands also offer supplementary amenities, like Tesla, which sells cars equipped with features like “Caraoke,” HEPA filtration systems, and of course, the American automaker’s state-of-the-art autopilot system.

Storage: The longer the road trip, the more gear the driver will typically need. As such, the amount of cargo space afforded by a particular vehicle is of utmost importance, as roomier rides will boast more internal real estate for stashing bags and equipment. And, though this is clearly a crucial area to consider when reviewing cars for road trips, it is worth pointing out that one can always supplement a car’s internal square footage with a roof rack or rooftop cargo box, though this option is obviously less convenient — and will often slightly mitigate fuel — or battery — consumption. You’ll also likely want to consider how many people the car seats, as well as how much cargo space is available for each passenger’s bags and gear. Backseat legroom is also a crucial area to consider when reviewing this element.

Reliability & Service Intervals: The reality is that the vast majority of new cars are incredibly reliable and should have no issue driving cross country several times over. With that said, there are some models with better reputations when it comes to overall reliability. Additionally, if you plan to use this vehicle for extensive road-tripping, you’ll also want to look into the model’s required service intervals, as these figures can hugely vary. And, whether it’s a road trip car or a daily commuter — or even a motorcycle — it’s always worth looking into whether any recalls have been issued for a particular model.

Manufacturer & Dealer Support: When going on a road trip, not only is it important to review how often a car needs to be serviced but also where it can be serviced, as some makes will boast a markedly more robust dealership and support network should you need a part repaired or replaced. This extends to areas like the availability of roadside assistance offered by a marque. It’s also worth pointing out that rarer and more exotic models will make for a much more difficult time sourcing replacement parts – as it’s not that hard to find a replacement component for a BMW car just about anywhere in the country, though the same can’t be said for models from brands like Bentley or Aston Martin.

Drivetrain & Performance: Unlike commuting where the main objective is simply to get from A to B, long-range road-tripping is all about enjoying the journey and embracing the open road. As such, having a car that affords a more spirited driving experience makes for a markedly more enjoyable time behind the wheel, which is why reviewing a model’s engine is so important. Alongside the engine configuration itself, you’ll also want to check out its aspiration type and displacement — as well as horsepower and torque figures, 0-60mph times, and top speeds. A car’s suspension package is another crucial area to consider, as it will directly impact a model’s overall handling, as well as the smoothness of the ride. Quite a few cars also offer the best of both worlds with adjustable air ride suspension setups that can be lowered for spirited runs through the canyons, or raised back up for ultra-smooth and plush freeway travel.

Long-Haul Legends

The Best Road Trip Cars Currently On The Market

Now that you’re up to speed on what areas to take into consideration when shopping, let’s get into our picks for the finest and most well-appointed new road trip cars that are currently available on showroom floors.

An affordably-priced, rugged and spacious wagon with raised roof rails, 8.7” of ground clearance, & Subaru’s Starlink multimedia package all as standard.

Best Affordable Pick: One of the most versatile vehicles currently on the market, the latest generation Subaru Outback is a fantastic road trip car with seating for five, more than 75 cubic feet of cargo space, and an optional turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine. With features like 9.5” of ground clearance and asymmetrical all-wheel drive as standard, the Outback is also capable of some light off-roading duties .

Engine: Turbocharged 2.4L Boxer Four or NA 2.5L Boxer Four Power: 260HP & 277FT-LBs or 182HP & 176FT-LBs Cargo Space: 75.7 Cubic feet Range: 600+ Miles Seats: 5 MSRP: $28,895

A road-focused variant of Ford’s revived retro-inspired SUV that still packs Hoss suspension & cutting-edge electronics.

Best Retro-Inspired: One of the most anticipated new models from the last decade, Ford’s revived Bronco platform is a 4×4 vehicle that comes with more than 65 cubic feet of cargo space, an advanced electronics package, Hoss suspension, and nearly 9” of ground clearance. Sold in a variety of trim levels, the Sport-spec Bronco was also intentionally designed to be as modular as possible — an area furthered by the absolutely enormous range of factory accessories offered for the American SUV .

Engine: Turbocharged 1.5L Inline-Three or Turbocharged 2.0L Inline Four Power: 181HP & 190FT-LBs or 250HP & 277FT-LBs Cargo Space: 65.2 Cubic Feet Range: 416 Miles Seats: 5 MSRP: $31,230

An Abarth-specFiat 124 Spyder with a Garrett turbo, Bilstein shocks, & Brembo brakes all as standard.

Best Two-Door: Sharing its platform with the Mazda Miata, the Fiat 124 Spyder is the definition of a true driver’s car , standing as a peppy open-top roaster that can be had for a reasonable price. For those less concerned with cost, the company also makes the Abarth 124GT — a limited-edition variant with a Garrett Turbocharged engine, a dedicated sport mode, Bilstein shocks, Brembo brakes, 17” alloy wheels, special race seats, and a GT-specific slate gray livery. Sadly, the GT-spec isn’t offered on American shores, unlike the base model 124.

Engine: Turbocharged 1.5L Inline-Four Power: 170HP & 184.4FT-LBs Cargo Space: 4.94 Cubic Feet Range: 535 Miles Seats: 2 MSRP: $44,085

A luxurious Swedish-made hybrid mid-sized SUV with a more than 500-mile range per tank.

Best Long-Range Pick: A plug-in hybrid version of Volvo’s mid-sized SUV, the XC60 Recharge is a wildly-advanced vehicle that boasts features like best-in-class navigation, an optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system, a built-in Google smart assistant, and a state-of-the-art onboard air filter. Equipped with an all-wheel-drive setup, the five-seater’s turbocharged 2.0-liter hybrid inline-four generates more than 450hp and 523ft-lbs of torque, allowing for a machine that’s equal parts comfortable and exhilarating.

Engine: Turbocharged 2.0L Hybrid Inline-Four Power: 455HP & 523FT-LBs Cargo Space: 63.3 Cubic Feet Range: 520 Miles (or 32 Battery Only) Seats: 5 MSRP: $57,900

A revived take on Jeep’s legendary full-sized luxury SUV that sports a 6.4L V8, an AWD system, & over 116 cubic feet of storage space.

Best Full-Size SUV: First unveiled in March of last year, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a revived full-size SUV that, like the original model, offers the pinnacle of comfort and class. Returning after 30 years out of production, the Grand Wagoneer comes with quilted Palermo leather seats, a 6.4L V8 mated to one of three AWD systems, over 116 cubic feet of storage and cargo space, a 10,000lb towing capacity, and an ultra-top shelf McIntosh MX950 Entertainment System — all as standard fare.

Engine: 6.4L V8 Power: 470HP & 455FT-LBs Cargo Space: 116.7 Cubic Feet Range: 477 Miles Seats: 7 MSRP: $91,140

An ultra-potent family-hauler & grocery getter with a 621-hp bi-turbo V8 offering 3.3-second 0-60 runs and a 190-mph top speed.

Best Sport Wagon: The Audi RS 6 Avant is an ultra-high-performance sleeper that’s conducive to everything from track days to family-hauling duties to road trips. Alongside RS-spec components and wheels, this highly up-specced model comes adorned in a slammed stance with a full aero kit, a carbon trim package, nearly 60 cubic feet of cargo space, and, most importantly, a 621-hp 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 that enables this elite sport wagon to achieve a 3.3-second 0-60mph time and a top speed of 190mph.

Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 4.0L V8 Power: 621HP & 627FT-LBs Cargo Space: 59.3 Cubic Feet Range: 425 Miles Seats: 5 MSRP: $125,800

A streamlined, 911-inspired shooting brake-style version of Porsche’s mighty new fully-electric four-door.

Best EV: Marking the Stuttgart firm’s first-ever all-electric offering, the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo is unequivocally one of the very best road trip cars currently in production. It offers an incredibly smooth ride, an impressive 300-mile range, and a decent amount of cargo space thanks to the extended sport back. Thanks to an ultra-potent 440kW EV powertrain setup and Overboost power with a launch control function, the GTS Sport Turismo-spec Taycan can reach 60mph from a standstill in 3.5 seconds flat.

Engine: Dual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors Power: 440kW (590HP) & 626FT-LBs Cargo Space: 42.8 Cubic Feet Range: 313 Miles Seats: 5 MSRP: $141,200

A 612-hp ALPINA-tuned & upgraded grand touring car based on BMW’s already luxurious & thoroughly-capable 8 Series.

Best Grand-Tourer: While to the average observer, this road trip car may just look like a BMW 8 Series, those in the know are well aware of the ultra-top-shelf exotics offered by famed tuning outfit ALPINA. This high-end grand tourer’s ALPINA transformation includes 21″ ALPINA wheels, ALPINA 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes, an ALPINA Aerodynamic Kit, an ALPINA Sport suspension package with twin-tube gas-pressure shocks, double-wishbone multi-link aluminum suspension in front, and an integral-V multi-link aluminum setup in the rear, and an interior with ALPINA Lavalina leather steering wheel, engraved glass controls, and a unique digital instrument cluster. Finally, at the heart of this car is a 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 that’s been tuned by ALPINA to produce 612hp and 590ft-lbs of torque.

Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 4.4L V8 Power: 612HP & 590FT-LBs Cargo Space: 15.5 Cubic Feet (Trunk Only) Range: 432 Miles Seats: 5 MSRP: $149,300

A hybrid-boosted bi-turbo 4.0-liter V8-powered version of Bentley’s normally V12-powered flagship model that retains its world-class luxury.

Best Hybrid Pick: The Bentley Flying Spur has long been one of the most luxurious and well-optioned cars on the market, making it an objectively fantastic choice for road-tripping — assuming you can swing its fairly exorbitant MSRP. However, last summer, the famed British firm rolled out a new version of the car that sees its usual V12 and V8 engine options swapped out in favor of a hybrid-boosted bi-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that makes 542hp and 568ft-lbs of torque and allows for a top speed of 177mph and a 0-60mph time of just 4.1-seconds. This hybrid luxury car also offers a range of 435 miles — or an all-electric range of 25 miles, if you want to go green for a portion of your trip.

Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 2.9L Hybrid V6 Power: 542HP & 568FT-LBs Cargo Space: 12.4 Cubic Feet (Trunk Only) Range: 435 Miles (or 25 Miles Battery Only) Seats: 5 MSRP: $210,600

A 707-hp mid-sized SUV boasting genuine supercar-grade performance with a 193-mph top speed & a 3.3-second 0-60 time.

Best Mid-Sized SUV: First unveiled in early February of 2022, the Aston Martin DBX707 represents the world’s most powerful luxury SUV . Taking its name from its 707-hp output, the DBX707 is another ultra-high-end vehicle that boasts a unique mix of world-class comfort and performance. Alongside a 360-mile range and a decent amount of cargo space, the DBX707 also packs a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 engine that’s mated to a 9-speed “wet clutch” automatic transmission and allows for 3.3 seconds 0-60mph runs and an impressive top speed of 193mph — a fairly insane figure considering this is an SUV.

Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 4.0L V8 Power: 707HP & 664FT-LBs Cargo Space: 54 Cubic Feet Range: 360 Miles Seats: 5 MSRP: $236,000

The Best SUVs for Camping

Want to check out an additional selection of vehicles that are great for recreational use? Then be sure to cruise over to our guide to the best SUVs for camping for the most comfortable and well-appointed rolling base camp options.

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10 Best Affordable Road Trip Cars

A road trip is a fantastic way to spend a vacation. Out on the open road, you can take time to appreciate and relish the journey, not just the destination. You have the freedom and flexibility to change your plans on the fly, and you don't have to deal with TSA security lines or three-ounce liquid restrictions. Sounds great, right? Now you just need to find a suitable vehicle that won't break the bank.

Whether it's a solo trip on winding backroads, a whimsical off-grid adventure with friends, or a family bonding session across state lines, there's an affordable option for any road trip you can think of. We came up with 10 of the best road-trip cars you can buy today, most of which are available for less than $33,486, which is the average vehicle transaction price in 2016.

Be sure to visit our Incentives and Rebates page to learn about current incentive and rebate offers before you buy.

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1. 2016 Volkswagen Golf

If you're looking to hit the highway with a couple of friends and explore a new city or two, a compact hatchback is a smart pick. Compacts are inherently maneuverable and if you can find one with good outward visibility, generous interior space and great fuel economy, you're good to go. You won't find a better embodiment of these qualities than the 2016 Volkswagen Golf.

The Golf offers real space for four adults, or five in a pinch, with a handy 22.8 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seatbacks and an almost SUV-like 52.7 cubic feet with those seatbacks folded down. The large windows afford great sightlines in every direction, while the standard 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces enough power to slingshot you around an on-ramp without much effort. And yet, it gets 29 mpg combined in EPA testing (25 city/36 highway). This is sensible German engineering at its best.

2. 2016 Toyota Prius

If city touring is in your road-trip plans and you need more space than a compact vehicle can offer, check out the midsize 2016 Toyota Prius. It's a top pound-for-pound contender in passenger space and road comfort, not to mention its unbeatable fuel economy.

Go all-in with the Prius Eco model and you'll get ultra-low rolling-resistance tires along with a slight weight reduction, resulting in 56 mpg combined (58 city/53 highway). That extends fueling intervals to a bladder-challenging range somewhere north of 600 miles. Efficiency aside, this Prius is also more comfortable and rewarding to drive than any generation before it. And its midsize dimensions mean there's plenty of space for people and cargo.

3. 2016 Hyundai Genesis

Maybe you're someone who thinks a road trip — even one that takes weeks and a couple hundred miles a day — should not be a test of endurance. If so, a cushy luxury sedan like the 2016 Hyundai Genesis might suit you.

A base price of $39,700 might sound like it's stretching the definition of "affordable," but that's where this Hyundai's exceptional value comes into play. For the money, the Genesis simply can't be matched for feature content or interior quality, and it comes with industry-leading warranty coverage. The standard, smooth-revving 3.8-liter V6 is the smart choice (the optional V8 plays in a different league), and you can specify rear- or all-wheel drive.

4. 2016 Mazda CX-5

Maybe you're tired of the city because you have to live in one for 350 days a year. In that case, the point of a road trip is to get as far away from cities — or even roads themselves — as possible. We're with you.

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is a winner here. On the pavement, it's downright sporty for a crossover, with impressive fuel economy to boot. But it can also be equipped with a capable all-wheel drive system for mild off-road exploration. While rock-crawling jaunts may be off the table, the versatile CX-5 should provide more overall satisfaction than a single-purpose off-road vehicle.

5. 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

For the driver whose trip revolves around roads rather than destinations, a sublime connection between car and driver moves to the top of the priority list. Unfortunately, this kind of connection often comes with a monthly payment that looks more like a mortgage. But the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a notable exception.

The Miata provides a lightweight body, a feisty four-cylinder engine, a taut suspension and communicative steering, delivering endless driving fun in a package that's barely big enough to fit two. The cabin may be too cozy for certain body types, and the trunk is limited to 4.6 cubic feet of space, so plan on packing light. But spend just five minutes behind the wheel of the MX-5 and you'll completely understand the appeal.

6. 2017 Ford Mustang Convertible

Summer brings plenty of opportunities to soak up some rays. And if you live in a place that doesn't see sunshine on a regular basis, you'll definitely want to take full advantage of these months.

It's true that the Miata, the No. 5 pick, is a seriously good convertible, but it has real space constraints. So if your passenger and cargo needs are greater, the 2017 Ford Mustang Convertible is another great drop-top option. The Mustang may not be as spry as the Miata, but with double the seats, significantly more trunk capacity and nearly double the horsepower from even the base V6 engine, it compensates nicely in other areas. If you need more power, a turbo four-cylinder and V8 are also available. In any configuration, this is iconic American motoring.

7. 2016 Honda Odyssey

This list would not be complete without today's quintessential road trip vehicle: the minivan. For years, the minivan has provided larger families with a maximally efficient means of traveling together, supplanting the thirsty and unwieldly station wagons.

As in other vehicle segments, there are minivans that stand out from the crowd. Offering seating for up to eight, the 2016 Honda Odyssey is one of our favorites, scoring top marks in interior space and comfort, everyday drivability and even composure around corners. Some high-end features available on the Odyssey include a 12-speaker surround-sound audio system and a 16.2-inch widescreen rear entertainment screen with HDMI connectivity, as well as the industry's first on-board vacuum system. Wrangling the kids could still be a challenge, but convincing them to climb aboard a rolling movie theatre will take far less effort.

8. 2017 Chevrolet Traverse

So you need to haul a lot of people and cargo to faraway places, but you refuse to join the Minivan Alliance. No problem. The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is a comfortable and unusually spacious three-row SUV that accommodates up to eight passengers and starts at around $30,000.

The Traverse can tow up to 5,200 pounds when properly equipped, which is impressive for a crossover. It also comes with a 288-horsepower V6 engine that can be paired with all-wheel drive. Even with all three seating rows in use, there's still a generous 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the second- and third-row seats opens up a whopping 116.3 cubic feet, topping this segment by a wide margin. An all-new Traverse is waiting in the wings and will be substantially smaller, so if you like the road-trip possibilities opened up by that cavernous cabin, grab a current-generation Traverse while you still can.

9. 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

If the Chevy Traverse's 5,200-pound towing capacity seems puny to you, perhaps the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel's 9,050-lb capacity is more like it. If your road trip involves pulling a trailer, a boat or even a camper, you'll want a truck with enough muscle to make quick work of any route.

The Ram 1500's EcoDiesel V6 provides outstanding fuel economy (20 mpg city/28 highway) along with a healthy 420 pound-feet of torque. The four-door crew cab can seat up to six and is surprisingly pleasant on long hauls thanks to its airy cabin, supportive seats and supple coil-spring rear suspension. Note that the EcoDiesel carries about a $5,000 premium, which nudges even the cheapest diesel-powered crew cab past our price cutoff. But this engine is certainly worth the extra money if towing and fuel economy (or simply extended driving range) are top priorities.

10. 2017 Honda Ridgeline

If you like the utility of a truck but prefer the refined driving character of a car, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline could be the road-trip champion you've been waiting for. Based on the Honda Pilot SUV, the Ridgeline is packed full of versatile features catering to an active lifestyle, so it's a great choice for trips with outdoorsy themes.

The bed of the Ridgeline is where most of the magic happens. A dual-hinged tailgate folds down or swings open from the side to reveal lockable underfloor storage. You can toss your gear in there, or else throw in some drinks and ice to convert it into a fully stocked cooler (the melted ice drains out via a removable plug at the bottom). Also available on top-line models is a 540-watt sound system, paired with the industry's first truck-bed audio system. It makes every stop on your itinerary a party waiting to happen.

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The best cars to rent for every kind of road trip

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One of the not-necessarily unpredictable but perhaps unintended consequences of the coronavirus pandemic is the rediscovery of the great American road trip.

After borders around the world closed for foreign visitors, Americans who typically crossed oceans for their big vacations were forced to look for travel opportunities closer to home.

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Fortunately, we live in one of the most spectacular countries on earth, with wide-open spaces, awe-inspiring scenery, a national park system that is the envy of the world and a truly impressive variety of regional culture and cuisine -- made accessible thanks in no small part to the vast system of interstate highways constructed in the 20th century.

With the pandemic forcing hundreds of thousands of workers out of their cubicles and back into their home offices, people hit the road in droves, eager to explore this beautiful land of ours. RV rentals became a hot commodity, with some even ditching their homes to live on the road full-time.

International travel may be making its comeback this summer, but for plenty of Americans, the good old-fashioned road trip -- with its promise of the open road and the discovery of someplace new -- is calling.

But what's a road trip without a suitable car ? With so many automobiles to choose from for your next adventure, we wanted to highlight some of the very best options for any type of road trip.

For a coastal or island drive: Ford Mustang

Picture yourself driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in California or along the ocean in Hawaii , top-down, music turned up. It's hard not to see yourself driving a Mustang. Ford's pony car is one of the most emblematic symbols of Americana ever to exist. Conceived in the 1960s, it instantly became a hit for anyone looking for an affordable car went fast and turned a lot of heads in the process. The Mustangs of the past have become classics, but today's version is a thoroughly modern vehicle that's hard to beat for good-weather cruising.

The standard Mustang is no slouch: It comes equipped with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. But if you really want to have fun carving the curves of a long and winding coastal highway, splurge for the GT convertible, which comes with a 5.0-liter V8 producing 460 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, which is sure to put a smile on your sun-kissed face.

For a cross-country adventure: Volvo XC90

If you're setting out on a cross-country road trip, comfort is key. You'll want a vehicle that's quiet, efficient, spacious, equipped with enough creature comforts to keep you and your companions entertained, isn't bothered by the wide range of pavement quality we have in this country and, perhaps most importantly of all, has comfortable seats.

Volvo's flagship SUV, the XC90, has all of that and more. It's roomy enough for you and your friends or family -- and all your things. Plus, it comes packed to the gills with the latest in automotive technology including a touchscreen-based entertainment system and top-notch stereo systems. Its solid build quality guarantees you'll have a comfortable ride, even over the pothole-ridden roads found in parts of the country (looking at you, upper Midwest ). And, last but certainly not least, the Swedish automaker is known for producing arguably the best seats in the automotive industry -- on some trim levels, you can even opt for seats that massage you as you drive.

For snowy roads: Audi A4 Allroad

If you're road-tripping in the winter -- or somewhere that sees snow almost year-round -- you're going to want a vehicle that's as sure-footed in the snow and slush as it is on dry pavement. The Audi A4 Allroad is a lifted version of its A4 Avant station wagon that offers extra inches of ground clearance, perfect for snowy roadways. But the main feature that make this elevated wagon a force to be reckoned with in the snow is its standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system, which allows the car to plod through rain, snow and slush with ease. (Of course, if you're driving on mountain roads with deep, heavy snow we'd recommend fitting the tires -- of any vehicle -- with chains for extra confidence.)

And, since this is more or less a station wagon, you'll have extra room for everyone and their things married with the driving dynamics of a car. The Allroad's four-cylinder turbocharged engine means you won't be stopping too often for gas, either.

For tackling all types of terrain: Jeep Wrangler

You can't do much better than a Jeep Wrangler if you're looking for a vehicle that will go anywhere and do (just about) anything. This iconic American truck comes in two- and four-door configurations and offers such options as a removable roof and doors for serious off-roading. The Wrangler comes with a true 4x4 four-wheel-drive system and is equipped with large tires and a high suspension which allows it to tackle rocks and other terrains with aplomb. Its generous ground clearance allows the car to ford through 30 inches of water -- in case your adventure brings you across rivers or streams.

If you're getting off the interstate and want to explore some of the landscape that can't be accessed by any old car, you can't go wrong with the Wrangler.

For national-park hopping: Jeep Grand Cherokee

There's another Jeep on this list -- and for good reason. Its venerable Grand Cherokee has been the brand's standard-bearer for years, combining the best of Jeep's inherent offroad abilities with creature comforts you'd expect from a luxury SUV. If you think your road trip will combine long stints on the highway with some offroading (perhaps at one or several national parks , for example), the Grand Cherokee is the perfect vehicle to choose.

It delivers a smooth ride on the road along with plenty of technology and other comforts that make it easy to spend a lot of time in it, but also can handle anything that comes its way once you veer off the pavement.

Use the right credit card for your rental

When renting a vehicle , it's important to make sure you are covered in case you get into an accident. Damage waivers are typically available to purchase from your rental company at a cost of about $10 to $20 per day, but some credit cards , including the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer a primary damage waiver in case of damage or theft. Since the insurance is primary, you won't have to file a claim with your personal car insurance if there's damage to your car. You won't have to pay a hefty deductible or be subject to rate changes, but be aware that coverage is only valid on rentals of 31 days or less.

Bottom line

Road trips will continue to be a big part of the way Americans travel for the foreseeable future. Once you decide where you're going and what type of road trip you'll be embarking on, finding the right vehicle for the trip is the next step.

Just promise us you'll take our advice on how to skip the line at the rental car agency .

Fitness & Nutrition
Living Healthy
A-Z Conditions

Best Cars For A Cross-Country Road Trip

Each year, scores of travelers pack up their cars and hit the highways for cross-country road trips. A coast-to-coast expedition is a terrific way for families to spend quality time together while taking in all the land has to offer. Of course, none of this is possible without dependable transportation. With a seemingly endless selection to choose from, making the right choice of automobile can sometimes be daunting. This is understandable, as a vehicle is one of the most important purchases a person can make, and a variety of factors must be considered to make an informed decision. We’ve gladly done some of the work for you with the following list of the best cars for a cross-country road trip.

Toyota Prius V

Introduced in 2011, the Toyota Prius V is a full hybrid car that utilizes both gasoline and electric power, a combination of technology resulting in environmentally-friendly fuel efficiency. The “V” stands for versatility, which is certainly an apt description, as the model offers three driving modes in addition to the standard setting. Power mode increases acceleration levels and is ideal for merging onto freeways in a flash. Eco mode reduces acceleration levels, thereby decreasing fuel consumption. Suitable for very short distances, EV (electric vehicle) is a low-energy mode in which power is drawn solely from the electric battery. The spacious interior accommodates up to five passengers and contains ample cargo space, and soft adjustable seats guarantee the maximum comfort essential for lengthy excursions. An array of high-tech innovations, including a rearview camera and pre-collision alert system, helps to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. A benchmark in the highly competitive automotive industry, the Toyota Prius V lets explorers travel far and wide in safety and style.

Continue reading to reveal information on the Honda vehicle that made this list.

Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey made its debut back in 1994 and is now in its fifth generation. Standing the test of time as only superior products can, this exceptional automobile is synonymous with quality. With four editions available, there is a perfect version for every driver. Large families will be especially attracted to the minivan’s roominess, the expansive cabin seats up to eight people in three rows, which provides the entire clan with an enjoyable ride. The second row of seats is fully removable, allowing for ultimate customization. A trademarked observation and communication systems enable parents to keep an eye on and talk to their children at the touch of a button. For passengers of all ages, the multimedia entertainment center is sure to deliver hours of amusement on long journeys. And because there are bound to be a few messes along the way, an in-vehicle vacuum is conveniently included. Redesigned in 2018 with more amenities than ever before, the Honda Odyssey really does make getting there half the fun.

It's time to dive into a Subaru for an adventure.

Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru is famous for creating automobiles that are both sporty and safe. The Crosstrek was launched in 2013 and has only improved since. The Subaru Crosstrek, which combines the durability of an SUV with the handling of a sedan, offers the best of both worlds. The company’s revolutionary symmetrical all-wheel-drive system comes standard on all trim levels and makes navigating in rough conditions easier and less stressful. Whether it is rain, snow, mud, or sand, this rugged utility vehicle can manage practically any obstacle. It’s tough enough for off-road activities yet impeccably balanced for a smooth and quiet drive. The model features advanced driver-assistive tools such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, and lane departure warning. Space is generous in both the front and rear sections, giving everyone plenty of room to stretch their legs on prolonged outings, and the sturdy roof rack provides extra freight storage. Overhauled just this year, there has never been a better time to experience the Subaru Crosstrek.

Another Subaru vehicle has made this list. Keep reading for more details!

Subaru Outback

Another standout entry on our list is Subaru’s flagship Outback. Boasting a track record of ingenuity and reliability, the Outback has been in production for over twenty years and is the manufacturer’s best-selling automobile to date. Named after the remote wilderness of Australia, this crossover SUV conquers challenging terrain like dirt and mountain paths with ease. The elite powertrain system distributes torque to all four wheels, which propels the vehicle forward if stuck and prevents counterproductive wheel spin. A high ground clearance of 8.7 inches protects the undercarriage from hazards like rocks and brush. The lightweight yet robust frame allows for smooth acceleration and braking. Capable of towing up to 2,700 pounds, it can securely transport a trailer or small boat across long distances. More traditional motorists will be pleased to know the Subaru Outback performs just as well in the city as it does in the country. Its remarkable fuel economy and stellar safety ratings are attributes all drivers will appreciate.

No one going on a road trip will feel the need to dodge this next vehicle.

Dodge Durango

Powerhouse carmaker Dodge lives up to its dynamic reputation with the Durango, a crossover that delivers power in a pretty package. This model blends the family friendliness of a minivan with the strength of a muscle car, making it an excellent option for cross-country tours. Keyless entry and push-button ignition make getting on the road faster than ever. The base engine is a V6 with an impressive output of 290 horsepower, and for those with a hankering for even more horsepower, a supercharged V8 upgrade is available. The large interior comfortably holds up to seven passengers with a detachable third row, and a state-of-the-art illumination system provides customizable lighting. The vehicle’s interactive media suite is one of the finest on the market and will keep everyone occupied as it traverses one interstate after another. The Durango’s 8,700-pound towing capacity is unsurpassed by class competitors. An exemplary fusion of aesthetics and engineering, the Dodge Durango is poetry in motion.

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Take Back Roads

Seeking authentic travel experiences, one back road at a time, the great american road trip: an itinerary for driving cross country.

I’ve taken a handful of cross country road trips over the years. However, there are still a few cross country road trip ideas that remain on my bucket list: riding a motorcycle cross country, taking one of America’s historic highways the whole way from coast to coast (US-50 is the most likely candidate), driving cross country on one of the northern routes, and driving a back roads loop around the country. During the summers of 2020 & 2021 – in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic! – I managed to cross the latter two items off my list.

Well, sort of… While the majority of those trips were on back roads, I must admit up front that we did also do a fair share of interstate driving across the Midwest. With my sincerest apologies to residents of the flyover states , the time constraints for these trips forced us to take the highway across some of the center of the country, leaving very little time for sight-seeing. Like our time in Las Vegas , we were going to have to prioritize.

Twisty back road surrounded by mountains

A Round Trip Itinerary for a Cross Country Road Trip

The round trip road trip.

Technically, I’ve only done one truly coast-to-coast cross country road trip, and that was when I was 18. All of my other cross country road trips have either started or ended in my former home state: Pennsylvania (instead of the Atlantic coast). While there is no formal definition for what qualifies as a cross country road trip, I feel confident that a trip covering 2,600 of the 3,000 mile span from coast to coast definitely fits the bill! In fact, on our drive heading west, we zig-zagged our way across nearly 8,000 miles during just one road trip!

This post is going to examine routes to consider, destinations to include, and a few other great pieces of cross country road trip advice… so buckle up, because it’s going to be a long ride!

Generally speaking, there are three main routes to drive cross country: northern, central, and southern. Mostly self-explanatory, the northern route stays on a path across the northern states like Minnesota, Montana, or Idaho. The central route follows a path across the middle states, like Kansas and Colorado. The southern route stays mostly south, crossing states like Georgia, Texas, or Arizona.

Fair warning – This post is currently being updated

The Southern Route is being put together as quickly as I can.

However, because I cannot save drafts of edits being made to published posts,

I will have to publish things mid-creation. It’s not ideal, so please bear with me!

As you can see on the map above, I am reviewing two of the three major routes to drive cross country. It’s taken two years, but it’s finally occurred to me how absurd it is to not include information on the southern route. When I first published this post, like on my trips in 2020, I wrote about the central route heading west and then a northern route heading east. For the southern option, I’m going to roughly follow the west-to-east route I took in 2019 when I drove cross-country in an antique Porsche.

I write about these cross country routes using the east-west orientation I traveled when I took them, but I hope it’s clear that you can use these options when heading either direction.

Driving West: the Central Route
Driving East: the Northern Route
When to Travel (including insights on how long your road trip should be)
Where to Stay Along the Way
What to Take With You
Additional Insights, tips, and road trip advice

Plan a Cross Country Road Trip

As you might imagine, when planning a road trip that’s going to encompass 6,000 miles or more, you’re going to need a significant amount of time to travel. Even in a situation like ours, where the first or last 1,000 miles or so are on the interstate, you can still anticipate at least 125 hours of time behind the wheel. If you’ve never taken a long road trip – or even if you have – that’s a lot of time to be driving. When creating road trip plans for travelers, I suggest limiting actual driving time (“butts in seats” time) to 6 hours a day ; this allows you to still explore things you find along the way… and won’t completely burn you out to the experience of driving.

In my mind, there are two main categories of road trips : trips in which you immerse yourself deeply into one region, and trips in which you experience a lot of different regions at once. In the first category, immersing yourself deeply into one region, you spend your entire trip exploring all of the various things you can see in do in that particular region. You delve into the intimate nuances which make that region unique, spending hours or even days exploring single areas.

A cross country road trip, by its very nature, is going to fall under the second category. Instead of spending the majority (or entirety) of your trip exploring a single area, you are going to spend a little bit of time experiencing multiple different areas. I like to call it an appetizer adventure : you experience a proverbial sampler platter of a number of different regions of the country, getting a small taste of what that area has to offer.

Think of your cross country drive as a scouting trip of sorts; you’re going to find areas where you’ll have a powerful desire to return and explore in greater depth, and you’ll also discover that other areas are places where you have no interesting in returning. Do no go into the process of planning a cross country road trip expecting to explore many areas in depth. Unless you are retired and/or have all the time in the world, you are going to find yourself disappointed if you go into your trip with this mindset!

As you might imagine, prioritizing the places you want to see is crucial to this process. The very first hours of your planning process should be spent talking with your travel partner(s), discussing the places you absolutely must see, the places you’d really like to visit if there’s enough time, and the places you’re not particularly interested in visiting. This will lay the groundwork for planning your route, and if you’re lucky, might actually make the process very simple.

Last thought: While this itinerary will mostly follow my own recent trips, it will not be an exact match. As I already mentioned, we had some time constraints that forced us to limit our itinerary a bit. I’m going to add in a few destinations that we simply did not have time to explore, and let you decide what best fits your priorities! As always, you can email me directly if you have additional questions!

Driving West: the Central Cross Country Route

In case you missed it, our trip started in Pennsylvania , so that’s where this itinerary will start as well. From there, we drove nearly straight west across the middle of the country and then dipped south.

Pennsylvania

There are many things that I could recommend for you to see and do in my home state, and it’s highly dependent upon what your interests are. Because I’ve dedicated a number of posts to the things you can do here, I’m going to focus on just a few broad highlights and options to consider.

Places to go in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia : America’s first capital city is LOADED with historical experiences to explore
Pittsburgh : One of America’s original industrial cities, my hometown has undergone a complete makeover, and is now loaded with fascinating things to see and do
Allegheny National Forest : One of several outdoor enthusiast meccas in PA, ANF has a dynamic range of activities available year round… with plenty more nearby!
Laurel Highlands : Another outdoor enthusiast mecca, the Laurel Highlands is ALSO home to a number of homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Fallingwater house Laurel Highlands Pennsylvania

Back Road Routes across Pennsylvania

US Route 6 – a storied transcontinental route which cuts across the heart of the PA Wilds, you could take Route 6 the whole way to California if you so desire!
US Route 30 – one of America’s most famous historical cross country highways, the Lincoln Highway takes travelers from New York City to San Francisco

West Virginia

America’s primary coal-mining state is well-known for its numerous mines and heavily wooded mountainous terrain. Chock full of natural scenery, sweeping hilltop vistas, and twisting back roads, West Virginia is a great state to include on your route!

Places to go in WV

Morgantown : As the home of WVU , Morgantown is likely the most well-known city in the state, and offers plenty of places worth checking out
Monongahela National Forest : A MASSIVE National Forest that encompasses hundreds of thousands of acres of rugged mountain terrain, including…
Dolly Sods Wilderness area : A rocky and isolated wilderness area with plenty of places to hike and camp
The Talon : A twisting and winding mountain back road , especially popular with motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts

Back Road Routes across WV

US Route 50 – Another historic cross country highway, Route 50 cuts across the northern woods of West Virginia
US Route 250 – A zig-zagging route that runs diagonally across West Virginia, Route 250 cuts you through the heart of some of the wildest places in the state
US Route 19 – Though it runs north to south, this historical route cuts across some of the most beautiful parts of the state, including the rock climbers’ heaven, New River Gorge

The Bourbon State. The Bluegrass State. Home of the Kentucky Derby. Another major coal mining state. No matter what description you use, the bottom line here is that Kentucky is one of my favorite states on the East Coast, and is home to some absolutely gorgeous back roads.

Places to go in Kentucky

Bourbon Trail : a conglomeration of destinations, Kentucky’s bourbon trail is an easy way to visit any number of distilleries creating the state’s most famous export. My favorites (to visit, not necessarily to drink): Maker’s Mark , Woodford, and Buffalo Trace
Louisville : Kentucky’s largest city is home to the Kentucky Derby , the world’s most famous baseball bats , and much more
Daniel Boone National Forest : Like MNF In WV, DBNF is home to dense woods, rugged terrain, rock climbing, cliffs, and plenty of places to hike
Land Between the Lakes National Rec Area – a narrow strip of wilderness located between two lakes, full of hiking, camping, and water-based activities

Back Road Routes across Kentucky

US Route 62 – a diagonal shot across the state, Route 62 cuts across the gorgeous heart of bourbon country and the well-groomed thoroughbred territory
Kentucky Route 80 – Cutting across the southern edge of the state, KY-80 is filled with scenic beauty and plentiful options for exploration

Missouri is widely known as the Gateway to the West . It’s largest city is home to the Gateway Arch, and because it sits centrally on the western banks of the Mississippi River, Missouri is often the first “western” state road trippers encounter.

Places to go in Missouri

St Louis : the state’s most famous city sits on the banks of the mighty Mississippi and features numerous tourist destinations: Gateway Arch , Budweiser Brewery , and the National Transportation Museum are a few highlights. This will also be the first place you’ll cross Route 66 on your trip west.
Branson : one of the cheesiest cities in the country, Branson is home to countless country and other live music venues, wax museums, and other various & sundry attractions. Oh, and it sits at the northern edge of the Ozark Mountain wilderness.
Dogwood Canyon & Hickory Canyon State Parks: relatively small but jaw-droppingly gorgeous (see what I did there?), these two parks offer lots to see and do for the lover of natural scenery
Mark Twain National Forest : much larger than the previous parks, MTNF is home to thousands of acres of hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and densely wooded rolling hills

A waterfall runs down a cliff face into a green pool of water, with an enclosed stone bridge across it, leading to a matching stone lodge

Back Road Routes across Missouri

US Route 160 – Running along the very southern edge of the state, Route 160 (who we’ll be seeing again..!) winds its way across the rolling foothills of the Ozarks
US Route 60 – Only a couple dozen miles north of Route 160, Route 60 also cuts you across the hills of southern Missouri, albeit in a slightly more “refined” fashion: Less rugged, fewer hills, and more open panoramas… but still a far more interesting and relaxing option than US Route 50, which cuts across several metro areas and long stretches of open plains

No sense in candy-coating the truth here: Kansas is going to be one of the most boring, difficult states on this adventure. That’s going to be nearly unavoidable, though, as it’s next to impossible to drive cross country without crossing one of the flat central plains states.

A hill slopes gently down towards a grove of trees under the setting sun in Tallgrass Prairie in Kansas

Places to go in Kansas

Kansas City : Located partially in Missouri and partially in Kansas, America’s most confusing city spans the Missouri River, Kansas River, the state border, and significant BBQ-based disputes !
Little House on the Prairie Museum : A replica of the tiny cabin where Laura Ingalls Wilder & her family lived
Dodge City : One of America’s most famous cowboy towns boasts a couple of excellent museums and a handful of old school taverns & saloons (plus its fair share of casinos)
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve : some of the last natural tallgrass prairie acreage left in America

Back Road Routes across Kansas

US Route 50 – If you really feel inclined and/or dedicated to do the entirety of your cross country trip on back roads, US 50 is probably your best option – especially if you’re stopping in Kansas City for some BBQ!
US Route 400 – If you would rather have a rural route, US 400 takes you across the southern portion of the state, and connects with Route 50 in Dodge City

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(EDITOR’S NOTE: The highlight lists from Colorado west will not include the most obvious tourist destinations that people are already aware of)

Things are about to get really, really incredible… well, eventually, once you’ve crossed over the 100 miles or so of Eastern Colorado that looks a whole lot like Kansas! Once you hit the mountains, though, the scenery is simply remarkable. Colorado is easily in my top five for most jaw-dropping back roads in the country (bear in mind, I’ve not been to Alaska or Hawaii yet). The state is just absolutely loaded with incredible scenery… more than I could ever hope to capture or describe. S electing only a handful of places to highlight (or roads to choose from) is going to be challenging from here going forward!

Places to go in Colorado

Pike’s Peak : one of Colorado’s highest peaks also features some of Colorado’s best mountaintop driving… and it’s very close to one of my favorite cities in the state…
Colorado Springs : an awesome mountain city that is surrounded by utterly jaw-dropping natural beauty. It also features several natural attractions in or near the city, and an awesome bohemian shopping district .
Great Sand Dunes National Park : an unusual and lesser known National Park (I hadn’t heard of it until Wanderlust Photography published their blog about it) centrally located in the southern tier of the state, Great Sand Dunes offers the unusual combination of desert and mountain scenery. The San Juan Mountains provide a gorgeous backdrop for the tallest sand dunes in North America.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP : I hesitated about whether to include Black Canyon on this list. Though the view from the North Rim was both impressive and uncrowded (we were the only ones there), and the drive to get there on CO-92 was genuinely stunning… the place felt somehow menacing to us. The winds whipped and howled through the canyon, and the steep drop-offs were dizzying to behold. The drive back to the North Rim also featured several unmarked & unfenced drop-offs, and was confusing and poorly marked. It added at least 90 minutes each way to get there. So if you’re going to go see it, I recommend the South Rim , which offers similar perspectives and is much closer and more easily accessible.
Million Dollar Highway and Telluride : I considered including the Million Dollar Highway as a route across the state, but the truth is, it’s one of the few places in America where the drive actually is the destination. The scenic vistas are simply jaw-dropping – miles and miles of rugged mountain peaks and dense forests stretch in every direction – and the drive itself is thoroughly enjoyable, if perhaps a bit white-knuckle at times… There are also the historic mining towns of Ouray (pronounced “YOUR-ray”), Silverton , Durango , and Telluride, with their adorable downtown shopping districts surrounded on all sides by towering peaks. I could spend weeks exploring here.

Back Road Routes across Colorado

US Route 50 – Cutting a consistently scenic path across the central portion of the state, Route 50 provides convenient access to many of the best destinations in Colorado while also providing a natural boundary of sorts between the Rocky Mountains to the North and San Juan Mountains to the South.
US Route 160 – As prefaced in Missouri, it’s back on US-160 again for an incredibly scenic way to drive across Colorado, providing easy access to Great Sand Dunes NP, a handful of destinations in the San Juan mountains, the Million Dollar Highway, and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument… plus is a great way to head towards Monument Valley.

As is the case with Colorado, it’s critical to remember that this trip is the sampler platter, not the full entrée. There is so much natural beauty to witness in Utah that you couldn’t see it all in a week or more. The state’s most familiar features are its red rock desert formations, Canyons and Arches, and of course the massive salt flats . The scenery is ethereal and often otherworldly, and can often spring up at you out of nowhere. Be prepared to stop often, and often stop unexpectedly as you traverse the Beehive State .

Places to go in Utah

Monument Valley : One of a handful of “bucket list” locations that I finally crossed off my list on this trip is Monument Valley. I feel, to be completely honest, like we need to come back and explore the area more to get a better appreciation for it. The stone pillars were incredibly neat to see, but it felt like it was over fast – I think we might’ve missed some?
Zion National Park : I said I wasn’t going to include obvious tourist destinations, and here I am, a mere two states later including obvious tourist destinations. But Zion is without question in my top five favorite National Parks in the country. It will completely blow your mind the first time you drive through it. If I had a nickel for every time my wife breathlessly exclaimed “Whoooaaaa…” as we weaved our way across the park, I could pay for someone to write this post for me!
Glen Canyon National Rec Area : An absolutely massive park that stretches south across the border into Arizona, Glen Canyon has over a million acres of stunning desert landscapes and water features to explore. The twisting shores of Lake Powell carve jaw-dropping curves into the brilliant orange rocks, and the iconic Rainbow Bridge is nearby as well.
Grand Staircase-Escalante : Immediately adjacent to, and nearly double the size of Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase is yet another collection of diverse and awe-inspiring arid landscapes. With arches, pillars, dunes, slot canyons, and a number of other features to discover, you could easily spend a week hiking across the depths of this enormous National Monument.
Little Sahara Rec Area : In a state that is world-famous for its off-roading opportunities , the Little Sahara rec area is a hidden gem of sorts for thrashing your UTV or SXS. Hiking and fat biking trails are also available, as are places to camp.
Lower Calf Creek Falls (and trailhead ): Not to overuse a cliche or anything, but the Falls are just absurdly stunning, and the moderate hike to get there ain’t shabby either!
Kanab : One of several renowned outdoor adventurist towns in Utah, Kanab is a great place for launching a plethora of desert-based activities. It’s also home to the BLM visitors center where you can attempt to get walk-in permits for The Wave in Arizona. The town itself is really cool, with a handful of unique shops, restaurants, marketplaces, and museums.

Utah State Route 12 east sign dominates a disorganized cluster of road signs and billboards at the western end of the route

Back Road Routes across Utah

US Route 89 – Utah’s intensely rugged and deeply carved geography make it particularly challenging to traverse east to west using strictly back roads. US-89 weaves an unusual course into the state from Arizona, then heads east-west for a stretch near Glen Canyon and Grand Staircase, before turning north again.
US Route 6 – The aforementioned storied east to west transcontinental route winds its way across Utah, intermingling with several other well-known US Routes along the way.
US Routes 40 & 50 – I mention both in the same breath here because they run similar courses not far from each other across the state… though both will try to run you along the interstate for a stretch if you’re not careful!
Utah Route 12 – It’s not included in the list of The Best Back Roads in America for no reason! Though short, Utah’s State Route 12 carves a panoramic path across some of the most rugged, mind-bending rock formations and desert geography that I’ve ever witnessed.

It was hard to skip over one of my favorite states in the country – Arizona – but again, for the sake of miles on a trip of this size, you have to make cuts somewhere . Nevada is one of the most imposingly beautiful states you’ll ever visit. It’s also contains some of the most desolate places you’ll ever visit – certainly some of the most remote places in the lower 48. The landscape is often severely harsh and inhospitable, and will provide you with the longest “human-free” stretches of driving on your journey …. so make sure you have plenty of gas , and fill up whenever you have the opportunity! But fear not, because those same imposing and inhospitable landscapes will also provide you with countless uninterrupted natural panoramas, stretching as far as the eye can see without a single man-made structure in sight. It truly is a wonder to behold, and if you’re open to it, it might just change your perspective on humanity .

Places to go in Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park : Intense reds and oranges will fill your vision as you make your way into and around Valley of Fire. The sandstone formations jut out of the ground in unusual angles all around you, and there is plenty of petrified wood to discover. With an incredible Off-Road Park feeding into the northern edge of the state park, there’s no shortage of things to see and do here.
Nelson Ghost Town and Nelson’s Landing : I found these gems by sheer happenstance while looking for outdoor activities for our adventure in Las Vegas a few years ago, and we absolutely fell in love. The ghost town is super cool, populated by ancient-looking wooden structures, and the landscape is littered with old cars. There is an old abandoned mine, and even an airplane… and let’s not forget about cliff jumping into the Colorado River at Nelson’s Landing! An all-around amazing day trip!
Goldfield : Speaking of old mining towns, Goldfield is another great historical destination in the desert. For such a small town, it has a surprising amount of things worth seeing – historic saloons, museums, shops, and even a car forest ! Being fairly isolated in the sparsely populated center of the state, and surrounded by stark natural beauty, the area around Goldfield is also prime real estate for stargazing .
The Loneliest Road in America : In addition to being one of the most direct ways to drive east-west across the state, US Route 50 in Nevada also sports the rather depressing moniker of being the loneliest road in the country. It’s true in a lot of ways: there isn’t much life in any direction at any point on Route 50, human or otherwise. Once you leave Ely, none of the few small towns you’ll come across in the next 250+ miles heading west have more than 500 residents. But, as I’ve already mentioned above, there’s incredible beauty in all of that loneliness.
Great Basin National Park : One of the smaller, more remote – and maybe most underappreciated and unknown – National Parks in the lower 48, Great Basin sports some absolutely stunning mountain peaks and desert valleys. Sitting at the eastern end of the Loneliest Road in America, Great Basin offers plenty of hiking trails, scenic drives, and snow-capped mountain peaks. Make sure to swing southeast from there to pick up Utah Route 12 across Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase, Escalante, and Capitol Reef!
Black Rock Desert : In addition to being the home of Burning Man every August, the BRD is also a place to find incredible natural scenery. Loaded with abundant opportunities for hiking, biking, and camping, this area is known as being one of the darkest – and best – stargazing spots in the whole country.
Paradise Valley : Located smack in the middle of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest – a bit of a misnomer, as we didn’t see any trees until we drove up over the mountain pass – Paradise Valley is indeed an arid wonderland. In addition to being a good spot for hunting out abandoned buildings, the desert valley is partially ringed to the North & West by a string of jagged mountain peaks. The rugged terrain is perfect for dispersed camping opportunities, though the isolated nature of the area forces me to only suggest this for experienced campers.

Back Road Routes across Nevada

US Route 50 – as mentioned above, Route 50 offers one of the simplest ways of driving east to west across this arid state. I would be remiss if I did not repeat my advice: MAKE SURE you always have gas in your vehicle. There are countless places where you are going to be 30-50 miles or more from the nearest gas station, and it’s entirely plausible you could wait several hours before seeing another human.
US Route 6 – coming into the state joined with Route 50 from Utah, the two routes diverge in Ely, with 50 heading on a more northerly course towards Lake Tahoe, and Route 6 cutting south towards Tonopah and Mono County CA. Nearly as lonely as Route 50, Route 6 is another place to not mess around with being safe – an overabundance of caution with regards to maintaining your vehicle and fuel is crucial.
US Route 95 – As with Route 19 in West Virginia, Route 95 deserves mention in spite of being a north-south route. As one of my favorite back roads in the country, 95 is chock full of natural scenery, and it connects you with several of the best destinations in the state.

A winding back road in Yosemite leads the eye to the towering grey granite Half Dome mountain formation in the background

California is easily the most intimidating state on this entire list to try to tackle. As the third largest state in the country, superlatives are abundant in my favorite state for back road driving. I described California to my wife as having similar natural features as other states in the country – forests, mountains, deserts, rivers, the ocean, etc – but on grander, exaggerated scale. The state’s terrain takes on mythical proportions: the mountains are more dramatic, the deserts more dry, the coastline totally defies description, and the trees tower above you in startling size. California has been lionized in American mythology, and with good reason. I’m not even going to attempt to scratch the surface of everything there is to see and do – not to mention the countless amazing back roads to explore. I’m only going to address a handful of things we saw and did on our cross country adventure, and leave the rest for you to fill in the blanks!

Places to go in Northern California

Mono Lake & Tufa Reserve : Looking like an eyeball on the map, Mono Lake appears to stare back at you as you ogle open-mouthed at its mountain-lined shores. In addition to its striking panoramas, Mono Lake also features a number of otherworldly Tufa Towers along its shorelines.
Mountain Gate Park : Small and seemingly uninteresting on its face, this “park” – in reality, more of a rest area than a park – is a fantastic place for the hot and road-weary traveler to stop and refresh themselves in the frigid rush of the West Walker River. Surrounded by steep and arid canyon walls, the melt-water river is shallow, clear, and crisp, its bottom lined with countless smooth stones for walking across. Whether you sit on the shoreline and dunk your feet, or go whole hog and cross into its “depths,” it’s a relaxing place to rest up before continuing on your journey.
Monitor Pass : This white-knuckle mountain pass winds its way east across the Sierra Nevada chain, providing countless dynamic panoramic vistas … for the passengers! Drivers beware: This road, while gorgeous, is dangerously distracting. Keep your eyes on the road, and use the numerous pull-offs to do your viewing. The Lake Alpine area in particular is gorgeous, and loaded with outdoor activities to explore!
Calaveras Big Trees State Park : Calaveras Big Trees is just one of many, many places in California where you can walk among towering sequoia and redwood trees. We appreciated the approachability and relaxed nature of the park, and found plenty of things to see and explore while we were there. The campgrounds were affordable, clean, spacious, and provided easy access to numerous scenic hikes, and the sky was dark enough at night to make viewing the Milky Way easy.
Yosemite National Park : I know, I’m breaking my own rule about obvious tourist destinations, but come on! How can I not include one of the most dramatic scenic drives in America and one of the most dramatic back road vista points in America, all within a park that is laden with a plethora of both? I could spend at least a week there, finding new angles to capture the natural beauty of the landscapes, and I would strongly recommend you do the same. If nothing else, make sure to do the drive through Yosemite Valley , and the drive up to Glacier Point . Though they are less than a mile apart as the crow flies, it’ll take you about an hour to drive from one to the other!
Napa Valley : More specifically, I suggest you drive the loop around Napa Valley . Though a very short drive, you could easily spend a couple days meandering your way from winery to winery – the route is lined with several dozen excellent ones – and it’s ringed on all sides by absolutely stunning natural splendor. The diversity of the scenery alone – the flat valley floor, surrounded by rugged green and sand mountain peaks, rows and rows of grape arbors capped at each end with gnarled prickly pear cacti, all lined by lush evergreen and palm forests – makes this drive worthwhile… And of course, it’s easily America’s most celebrated wine region. Again, I’m breaking my own rule a bit by including a fairly touristy destination, but the beauty of the drive – and the back road nature of the route (and the small towns and villages along the way) make it more than worthy of inclusion on this list. Oh, and just over the western ridge is Sonoma County , ANOTHER excellent wine region!
Russian River Valley : Most widely known as an excellent wine and beer region, driving through the Russian River Valley makes me absolutely swoon. The scenery, driving west from US-101 along River Road, is absurdly diverse and dynamic in a relatively short stretch of miles…. and it will leave you gawking nearly the entire way. I’m building a full-length post specifically devoted to this drive, but I’ll say this – it’s the only place in the half-million or so miles I’ve driven where you can experience palm trees, vineyards, dense redwood forests, a deep winding river, rolling hills and mountains, adorable bohemian villages, AND a gorgeous ocean coastline … all contained within a less-than-30-mile drive .

Back Road Routes Across California

CA State Route 4 – Twisting and winding its way across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA-4 starts near the state’s eastern border at Topaz Lake , and terminates near the western coast at San Pablo Bay . In the interim, you’ll cross mountain passes, desert floor, dense forest, the scorched expanse of the Central Valley, and the dense congestion of East Bay.
CA State Route 120 – Though CA-120 barely makes it halfway across the state, terminating at I-5 in the middle of the Central Valley, it more than makes up for its short distance with its stunning scenery. Starting near the bone-dry border with Nevada, 120 will quickly leave you gasping as you make your way past Mono Lake and into the jagged peaks of the Eastern Sierras. Before long, the alpine beauty of Tuolumne Meadows is whizzing past, and you’ve found yourself crossing the heart of Yosemite National Park. Wind your way down the foothills of the Western Sierras, across Don Pedro Reservoir, and into the spartan beauty of the Valley.
CA State Route 89 – Yeesh! Another north-south route, AND another state route! I’ll be honest – the US Routes aren’t great options for east-west crossings of California. They are often multi-lane highways that cut quickly across the less-scenic areas of the state, and don’t make for enjoyable driving. I digress. CA-89 is a mountain lovers paradise! Towering mountains line nearly all of this route as it winds north from Topaz Lake along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada range. The road is just loaded with some of the most stunning mountain vistas I’ve ever seen in my life. You’ll pass through a handful of kitschy mountain towns, along the eastern edge of Lake Tahoe , Donner Pass , across Plumas National Forest , and into the Cascade Mountains . Don’t forget to stop at Lassen Volcanic National Park and National Forest . The route terminates at the base of Mount Shasta .
US Route 395 – Like US Route 95 in Nevada, US 395 deserves mention here because it connects so many of the beautiful places in California. It threads its way up the eastern edge of the state and the Sierra Nevada range , connecting one scenic spot after another like a spine holding the body together. In addition to connecting so many beautiful spots, 395 itself is a rather fantastic drive even without stopping. Start out at the bottom, just north of the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests, and roll nearly straight north through the arid valley that makes up one of my favorite back roads in the country.

Driving East: the Northern Cross Country Route

Heading home, I was finally able to hit up several northern states I’d never explored before. My primary goals for the return drive were to explore Idaho, experience Yellowstone, and drive Beartooth Pass – all of which I was able to do! NOTE : Though we drove across the northwestern corner of Nevada and had our first campsite in Paradise Valley, there’s no point in duplicating the state in the list. Instead, I’m going to start the list in Oregon, a state which rivals California in many ways, and would also make a great starting point for a east-bound cross country road trip!

Officially the start of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon rivals its southern neighbor in biodiversity and geographic landscapes. Though not as large, and often not as sunny and warm as California, Oregon is still an absolutely beautiful, enchanting and unique state to visit: dense, lush forests grow right up to the very edge of the jagged Pacific Coastline, and the towering peaks of the Cascade Mountains separates the coast from a surprisingly vast and arid desert in the southeastern corner of the state. National Forests abound, and there’s even a pretty excellent wine region!

Places to go in Oregon

Three Sisters : Three 10,000+ foot volcanic peaks (plus the nearby Broken Top peak ), laden with glacial ice and alpine lakes, all located within less than five miles of each other? What more could an outdoor adventure explorer ask for?
Oregon Redwoods Trail : Located less than a mile from the California border and less than five miles from the coast, this hiking area makes for a beautiful place to walk amongst the towering coastal redwood trees.
The Rugged Volcanic Peaks of the Cascade Range : Running from south to north, and loaded with year-round outdoor activity options, this list includes some of the most prominent and well-known peaks in the west: Mount McLoughlin , Mount Scott & Crater Lake , Mount Thielsen , Mount Bachelor , The Three Sisters, Mount Washington , Mount Jefferson , and Mount Hood .
Smith Rock State Park : What this park lacks in overall size, it more than makes up for with its stunning natural beauty. Though primarily known as a rock climbing destination , the park also has abundant hiking trails and primitive campsites.
An abundance of State Forests and National Forests
Willamette Valley : a world-class wine region, on par with the more widely known Napa and Sonoma valleys, lining the Willamette River and primarily centered in the region between Portland and Salem .

The gritty hot pavement of a two lane back road twists across the parched hills of eastern Oregon desert

Back Road Routes Across Oregon

US Route 20 – Starting at the Pacific Coast at Route 101 in Newport , Route 20 winds its way east through the heavily wooded hills of the Oregon Coast Range and the southern end of the Willamette Valley. After passing through the city of Bend , Route 20 crosses the surprisingly desolate and remarkably flat expanse of eastern Oregon before joining US Route 26 near the Idaho border.
US Route 26 – Like Route 20, US Route 26 starts near the Pacific Coast at Route 101. After a brief pass through the dense coastal woods, Route 26 cuts across the heart of Portland before heading east. From Portland, the route passes in the shadow of Mt Hood and cuts nearly straight south past two remarkable state parks , then across a rolling scenic valley between Ochoco National Forest and John Day Fossil Bed before uniting with US 20. Because the two routes run in parallel and join together at the eastern edge of the state, if you are making your way across Oregon, US 26 is clearly the better choice for an enjoyable drive.
OR State Route 140 – Though the route does not cut the entire way across the state, it does cut a very scenic path across the southern edge of Oregon. Running east from Medford to roughly halfway between US Route 395 and 95 in the desolate southeastern corner of the state, the route’s scenery ranges from the Cascade Mountains , the waterways and woodlands of the Klamath Falls area , and into the desolate desert east of Goose Lake .
US Route 395 – Though not quite as beautiful as its counterpart in California, US 395 in Oregon similarly cuts through the arid, desolate beauty in central Oregon. Winding a north-south course across the entire state, the route passes near or through several National Forests along the way.

Idaho is definitely the next-most intimidating state to write about on this list, after California. That might seem a bit ostentatious for a state most widely known as the home of the lowly potato. Merely brushing Idaho off as a bunch of boring farmland, however, would be to miss one of the most jaw-dropping states in America. I had never really given Idaho much thought as a state worth visiting, and I almost wonder if that’s how they want it to be. There’s really not much of a tourism vibe in the state, and I wonder if they want to keep their natural splendor a guarded secret. I quite unexpectedly tripped over the allure of Idaho while working on a road trip plan for someone back in 2019, and the more I looked into it, the stronger my desire to explore the state became. Even with a ton of build-up and seriously high expectations, the rugged mountains of Idaho did not disappoint! Like California, picking which pictures to share – especially from the back road drone shots – was incredibly challenging.

A colorful sunset warms up streaks of fluffy clouds over distant mountains in Idaho

Places to go in Idaho

Sun Valley : Technically considered a town, Sun Valley is more of a place or a geographic area… but who really cares what it is, aside from the fact that it’s jaw-droppingly, heart-stoppingly beautiful! Near the top of the list of my favorite things we saw in Idaho.
Coeur d’Alene : Apparently some of the most beautiful parts of Idaho are known by the names of the town that’s nearby? Either way, if you’re venturing this far up north, this mountains and lakes area can’t be missed!
Snake River : OK so given that the Snake River runs roughly 1/3 of the length of the western border of the state AND THEN meanders its way across the state over to Wyoming, it’s hard to pick a single place to link to here. We cut across the river several times during our drive across the state, and it always provided us with gorgeous sightlines and panoramic views… and if you’re a fisherman, this one is gold!
Payette River : Since my Places for Idaho weren’t weird enough already, let’s toss another river into the mix! Consisting of a North & South Fork that merge at ID-55 just north of Banks , the Payette River runs through some of the most beautiful, rugged parts of the state, making long stretches of its raging waters ideal for white-water rafting!
Sawtooth Mountains and National Forest : – OK, so I know that geographically this encompasses a pretty huge area, but between Sawtooth & the neighboring Salmon Challis NF , you could spend a full year exploring its beautiful mountains and dense evergreen forests without seeing everything the area has to offer.

Back Road Routes Across Idaho

US Route 12 – As an oddly shaped state that’s much “taller” than it is “wide,” finding East-West back road routes across the state is surprisingly difficult. That said, US 12 is an amazing option to consider, cutting an incredibly scenic path across the rugged northern third of the state. Lewiston is the “biggest” city along the sparsely populated route, which eventually cuts through Nez Perce National Forest along the Lochsa River Valley , adjacent to countless natural hot springs.
ID State Routes 17, 21 and 75 – This is a bit of a tough one to weave together, since it doesn’t follow any of the routes completely, and it’s not the full Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway either. This route, however, starting from where the two forks of the Payette merge and running east to west along the Southern Fork for most of the way, cuts through some of the most stunning canyon and mountain driving I’ve ever done. The route is lined with abundant opportunities for hiking and mountain biking, natural hot springs, dispersed camping and much more… and offers you options to drop into additional outdoor activity havens like Sun Valley.
US Route 20 (and 26) – Eventually merging with US Route 26, US Route 20 cuts a long, often flat, often straight line across the southern tier of the state. Running from I-84 south of Boise all the way up to the Wyoming border and into Yellowstone , US 20 is actually quite reminiscent of driving across Nevada : vast open valleys (with stick-straight driving) surrounded by gorgeous jagged mountain peaks along the way. You’ll also pass right by Craters of the Moon National Monument .
ID State Route 55 and US Route 95 – Running North and South from Boise to the Canadian border, this route will wind you through some of the most stunning open landscapes in the state. Much of the route runs parallel to the Northern Fork of the Payette River, from the outlets on the southern edges of Payette Lake and Lake Cascade all the way down to Boise. Continue further north across a handful of National Forests , Coeur D’Alene, and the fabulous Lake Pend before hitting the Canadian border.

Snow capped granite mountain peaks tower over TA Moulton old barn in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park

Dear Western United States: Please stop having so many absolutely gorgeous states. Sincerely, no one ever. Honestly, though, it’s a real coin-flip, choosing whether to head from Idaho into Montana or Wyoming. Both states have long stretches of absolutely gorgeous mountain driving, and both also have long stretches of teeth-grindingly boring open plains to cross. What sealed the deal for us was the opportunity to finally check Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks off the list, so we headed a little south into Wyoming and had our minds blown by all of the gorgeous rugged scenery the state has to offer. The fact that we could shoot briefly up into Montana on Beartooth Pass definitely helped! Although back road options are somewhat limited in this vast state, I’ve definitely enjoyed every time I’ve driven across it!

Places to go in Wyoming

Yellowstone and Grand Teton : OK look, I know that I said that I wasn’t going to hit the most widely known tourist destinations in each state, but honestly, how can I write about Wyoming and not include Yellowstone and Grand Teton ? Aside from taking up like 15% of the state’s total area, the mountains and hot springs in both parks just simply define the state. Just don’t get caught in the traffic on US-191 (like we did) travelling from one park to the other.
Medicine Bow National Forest : Absolutely stunning mountains surround deep blue alpine lakes and lush evergreen forests at this northern edge of the Rocky Mountain chain. Often snowed-in well into the late spring and beginning again in early fall, the area can be difficult to access at times, and has a surprising lack of ski resorts. That said, the gorgeous mountain vistas along many of the hiking trails are worth the extra effort.
Beartooth Highway : Though it does briefly cross over into Montana at the northern edge of Yellowstone, the vast majority of Beartooth Highway and Beartooth Pass traverses the northern edge of Wyoming. Crossing a vast brigade of mountain peaks and National Forests, this twisting road will take you on some of the most stunning cliff’s edge driving this side of the Million Dollar Highway! Though it’s primarily about the drive – and the panoramic vista points at the pull-offs – there are a handful of drop-dead gorgeous dispersed campsites to be had… if you can find them !
Palisades Reservoir : Surrounded by mountains and straddling the border between Wyoming and Idaho, this stunning man-made reservoir is situated just ten miles south of Jackson on the Snake River… and if that sweet alliteration doesn’t convince you to go check it out, maybe my drone video from there will!
Big Horn National Forest : An absolutely sprawling park, filled with more mountain peaks, alpine lakes, densely wooded trails, and a boatload of other outdoor activities. If you’re making your way across from Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, and the Black Hills, this is a great place to break up the drive and spend a day.
Curt Gowdy State Park : Both little-known and little in size, what this park lacks in stature, it makes up for in scenery and activities. With spectacular rock formations, fantastic hikes, boating & fishing, horseback riding, an archery range, a waterfall, and a lot more, this park has something for everyone!

Back Road Routes Across Wyoming

US Route 14 – Starting in Chicago and terminating in Yellowstone, this historic route weaves a drunken path meandering from one side of the state to the other. Running parallel (and now concurrent) with I-90 for a stretch from the South Dakota border, it heaves north of the interstate twice (including around Big Horn) before levelling out on its way into Cody and towards the eastern gate of Yellowstone.
US Route 26 – Roughly following the original path of the Oregon Trail and North Platte River across the desolate central plains of the state, US-26 comes into the state in the southeastern corner near Fort Laramie, then slowly meanders its way northwest toward Grand Teton and the Idaho border.

A pair of Harley Davidson motorcycles enter Doane Robinson Tunnel, with the faces on Mount Rushmore clearly visible under fluffy clouds in a blue sky

South Dakota

Coming from the west, central South Dakota is where the Great Plains really begin in earnest. Once you’ve made your way across the twisting maze of granite and pine that make up the Black Hills, the landscape flattens out rapidly. The Missouri River cuts a massive gash down the middle of the state, looking almost like a piece of paper that’s been ripped in two. Interestingly (at least to me), the Black Hills is the first – and only – place I’ve witnessed a mountain lion in the wild. On the plus side, hey, at least it’s not North Dakota. I kid, I kid!

Places to go in South Dakota

Custer State Park : Full of towering otherworldly granite formations and gnarly winding roads, this large park is a great place for outdoor activities, bikers, and sports car enthusiasts!
International Vinegar Museum : OK, so this is one of those little oddball places that I love to discover. Admittedly, I’ve not been there, and it looks relatively small, but if you happen to be in this relatively distant and obscure corner of South Dakota, it’ll certainly break up the monotony!
Badlands National Park : Yes, I know, another tourist destination. But the jagged ridgelines and brilliant orange and red colors of the geological formations here seem starkly out of place in an otherwise green, pastoral state. Loaded with wonderful hiking trails and insane scenic overlooks, the Badlands definitely feels like they were plucked out of Utah and dropped into South Dakota by some “ Wizard of Oz ” like tornado.
Ingalls Homestead : There are several different Laura Ingalls Wilder related locations spread throughout the Midwest, but quite a few of them are located in and around De Smet, SD .

Back Road Routes Across South Dakota

US Routes 14 – Though the last 40-50 miles of the western portion of the route merges with I-90 near the town of Wall (home of the kitschy Wall Drug ), it winds its way east to west across the majority of the state. In addition to Wall, US-14 also passes through the capital city of Pierre and the aforementioned De Smet.
State Route 44 – Running nearly the full east to west length of the state and cutting across the Badlands and Black Hills, Route 44 is a great option for avoiding the highway on a cross country road trip!

Golden hour at Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota

You’ve now solidly entered the heart of the Great Plains, kids… the rugged aura of the wild west is a long distant memory in the rear view mirror. While the pastoral miles of America’s breadbasket have a peaceful beauty to them, I recommend downloading a few interesting podcasts for each day’s drive to keep your mind active as the road stretches endlessly towards the horizon in front of you. The Land of 10,000 Lakes (nearly 12,000, actually) is a nature lover’s paradise in many ways though, and is also home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River .

Places to go in Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls : One of a long list of excellent parks on the western shore of Lake Superior (several of which are featured here), this relatively small park has a number of hikes, shoreline trails, and of course, a pretty gnarly set of cascading waterfalls.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park : Like Gooseberry Falls, what this Lake Superior shoreline park lacks in size, it more than makes up for in stunning natural beauty. Featuring its namesake historic cliffside lighthouse, the park also has lots of hiking opportunities and waterfalls to explore.
Tettegouche State Park : Can’t get enough of Lake Superior yet? Who can blame you! The largest of the Great Lakes shows its glacial history in its numerous lakeside cliffs, and Tettegouche State Park boasts some of the most stunning cliffs in the state. As with most of the local parks, Tettegouche features a plethora of hikes, waterfalls, fishing opportunities, and even rock climbing.
Voyageurs National Park : If you’re venturing towards the northern end of the state and the Canadian border, a stop at this large and secluded National Park is well worth your time. The park features sprawling, often-interconnected water features and is a boating fanatic’s wonderland. Be sure to stop and check out the rock sculptures at Ellsworth Rock Garden .
Kabetogama State Park : This park is paradise for fishing, snowmobiling/ATV riding, hiking, boating and kayaking. It’s a great place for slowly paddling your way northwards through the interconnected waterways, meandering towards the southern boundary of Voyageurs NP.

A two lane Minnesota back road stretches out towards the horizon under fluffy clouds in a blue sky

Back Road Routes Across Minnesota

State Route 61 – I can’t mention all of those glorious shoreline parks on Lake Superior without also mentioning the fabulously scenic lakeshore drive , can I? Though the majority of Route 61 runs north to south, the section of the route running parallel to the lake takes a more southwest to northeast course… and while it terminates at the Canadian border, the stunning scenery along the way makes the detour well worth your time. After all, it wouldn’t be one of the best back roads in America if it wasn’t!
State Route 210 – Given that this east to west route runs across the heart of Lake Country and through several state parks and state forests, finally terminating after weaving across Jay Cooke SP south of Duluth, I was shocked by the dearth of tourist information about the route online.
US Route 14 – For those who aren’t interested – or don’t have time – for a northern adventure, US-14 offers a good option for meandering across the southern end of this tall state. The route passes through a handful of farming towns and villages, small cities, and passes near the stunning Minneopa State Park .

Cheese! As the home to plentiful cheese & dairy products, as well as the state where Harley-Davidson and OshKosh B’Gosh started, you’ll definitely find plenty to do in this gorgeous northern plains state. And because it’s the first state you’ll encounter after crossing the Mississippi River, it’s the “beginning of the end” of your cross country trip. You’re now starting back into the eastern side of the country .

Places to go in Wisconsin

The Dells (Wisconsin Dells) : These fascinating riverside rock formations can only be accessed by boat, so make sure to review your trip options and choose your tour carefully!
Rocky Arbor State Park : Not far from the aforementioned riverside rocks is Rocky Arbor, this peaceful park is loaded with campsites and hiking trails. You can explore the woods, or hike down for a few views of the sandstone cliffs.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum : The world-famous author bounced around quite a bit during her prolific life and writing career, setting up camp in several locations across the Midwest. This museum, near the Mississippi River in Pepin, is located at her birthplace.
Five Mile Bluff Prairie : Located near Pepin along the Chippewa River, Five Mile Bluff offers hikers several sweeping panoramas of both rivers and nearly uninterrupted natural vistas.
Taliesin Estate : Located in the southeastern corner of the state is one of Frank Lloyd Wright ‘s architectural masterpieces, and was his long-term home and studio. The site of a brutal multiple-homicide and arson attack, Wright quickly re-designed and re-built his destroyed estate before his own death. Don’t forget to stop at the quirky Romeo & Juliet windmill while you’re there.
The House on the Rock : Speaking of quirky buildings, the House on the Rock is a must-see attraction while you’re in the Spring Green area. With a cantilevered section of the home extending more than 200 feet out over the valley floor below it, it’s an architectural masterpiece that you have to see in order to believe! Sadly, both Taliesin and House on the Rock were closed due to COVID restrictions during our drives, or I would have more photos of each to share!
Apostle Island National Lakeshore : A water-lover’s paradise, this chain of sandstone islands features plenty of stunning landscapes and rock formations, as well as a number of historic lighthouses. While the islands are best experienced from the seat of a kayak, a sea kayak is the only safe/recommended method to explore the area.

Kayakers stare up at fire red stone cliffs from the water surrounding Apostle Islands

Back Road Routes Across Wisconsin

US Route 14 – Running northwest to southeast across the southern portion of the state, US-14 cuts across the capital city of Madison and Spring Green, but mostly runs across the scenic rolling hills of Wisconsin farmland.
US Route 18 – Heading nearly straight east to west from Milwaukee, US-18 runs across the southern tier of the state towards Iowa and South Dakota. Route 18 also cuts across Madison, then diverts along a more southern and rural track.
US Route 10 – As one of only two US historic routes that includes a designated ferry as part of the actual route, US-10 starts on the eastern edge of the state on the shores of Lake Michigan. Running along a more northern track, there are several short detours from US-10 to enjoy cities like Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Eau Claire while also relishing the diverse natural scenery.

And here we finally meet the states that were a bit more difficult to get excited about. I’ll be the first to admit it: I bag on the flyover states, and that’s not fair. The midwestern states have plenty of interesting destinations to offer. My feeling comes from the sense that the vast majority of the land is open, flat, and tends not to inspire words like “stunning” or “breath-taking” or “awe-inspiring.” I digress. The land of Lincoln does have it’s fair share of enjoyable back road drives, and several rather unique features worth finding and exploring!

Images courtesy of Illinois DNR

Places to go in illinois.

Starved Rock State Park / Nature Preserve : This long, narrow park and adjoining preserve along the southern shore of the Illinois River is loaded with excellent natural features to explore. With a handful of elevated river overlooks, a bunch of waterfalls and hikes, and more canyons than Arizona, this small park packs a punch!
Matthiessen State Park : Literally right down the road from Starved Rock is another small State Park that is full of natural beauty worth exploring. With multiple bridges and waterfalls, you could easily spend a couple hours hiking the park and … soaking … in all the scenery! (Dad jokes are free for those who’ve made it this far!)
Peru IL: I haven’t included virtually any “indoor” sights on this post, but the city of Peru has two that are worth exploring. The Westclox Museum looks like it will be a fascinating place to spend a few hours perusing the displays (especially if, like me, you love old clocks). A few blocks down the road is the absolutely jaw-dropping Hegeler Carus Mansion . Given that Peru is just across the river from the two aforementioned state parks, you could easily spend a couple days exploring everything this part of Illinois has to offer!
Villa Katherine : Speaking of absolutely stunning architecture, perched on the banks overlooking the Mississippi River near Quincy is the incredible Moorish-style Villa Katherine. The building is currently used as the city’s tourist information center, and guided tours of the structure can be taken on an appointment basis. Make sure to explore the city’s historic district and Log Cabin Village .
Lincoln Home : As the first and only home that President Lincoln ever owned, this memorial site is a must-visit spot for any history buff in your group!

Back Road Routes Across Illinois

US Route 6 – America’s longest contiguous historic route runs nearly cross country (coast to coast), and is now mirrored by Interstate 80 in many states. Cutting across the northern portion of the state into Chicago, Route 6 also runs through several of the highlighted locations above!
US Route 24 – One of America’s original federal routes, dating back to the start of the US highway system in 1926, runs the heart of the auto manufacturing corridor in Michigan west to central Colorado. Heading west to east, the route crosses the Mississippi into the state at Quincy and heads northeast along the Illinois River to Peoria, where it makes a sharp turn to head directly east into Indiana.
US Route 50 – After leaving St Louis and hooking a left at O’Fallon, US-50 quickly opens up to become a mostly straight shot across the rural flatlands of Illinois corn country.

Sugar Creek runs through Turkey Run State Park in Indiana

The Hoosier state, like it’s eastern and western neighbors, is primarily known to travelers as being home to millions of acres of corn fields. However, like all of the midwestern states, Indiana is home to a handful of hidden gems for travelers to unearth. One merely needs to know where and how to find them!

Places to go in Indiana

Turkey Run State Park : Though less than half a mile square, this tiny park is absolutely packed with diverse natural beauty. Canyons, creeks, a covered bridge, camping, horseback riding and historical sites abound, with plenty of relatively easy hikes to explore throughout the park.
Shades State Park : Just a few miles up the road, also along the meandering path of Sugar Creek, Shades State Park is another fantastic location filled with natural beauty and outdoor activities. Sandstone cliffs set the scene for most of the hiking and water sports in the park, and it too sports a historic covered bridge.
Circus Hall of Fame : This one is pretty self-explanatory! Make sure to also check out the surprising Miami County Museum in nearby Peru.
Salamonie River State Park : Another very small park located about 20 miles east of Peru, the real highlight of the park is the hike to the wide drop of Kissing Falls . Make sure to also check out Hanging Rock National Landmark while you’re there.
Studebaker Museum : Located in the heart of South Bend – home of the glorious campus of Notre Dame University – the Studebaker Museum houses three floors of displays featuring the historic cars manufactured there, as well as American car culture in general.

Back Road Routes Across Indiana

US Route 24 – Cutting a similar path across Indiana as it did in neighboring Illinois, US-24 parallels the Wabash River across much of the state, and will drop you close to several of the parks listed above.
US Route 36 – Like US-24, US-36 was one of the original federal highways commissioned in 1926. Running mostly straight east to west across the most rural stretches of the state, it also brings travelers close to Turkey Run and Shades State Parks before crossing downtown Indianapolis .
US Route 50 – The southern option for crossing the state on a historical federal route, US-50 runs through largely rural and relatively isolated areas of the state, eventually bearing northeast towards Cincinnati.

Upper falls under a stone arch bridge near old man's cave in hocking hills ohio

Because most of my cross-country drives begin and end in Pennsylvania, the Buckeye State will be the final stop in this cross country road trip itinerary. Ohio is a relatively interesting state on the East Coast, made up of an unusual mix of large swaths of flat open farmland to the north and west, and thick forests and rolling hills to the south and east. When looking at a satellite image of the state, it’s almost as if there’s a slash running diagonally across the state, separating the two different geographies contained within.

Places to go in Ohio

Cuyahoga Falls National Park : The only National Park in the state, Cuyahoga Falls is a relatively new, absolutely gorgeous place to stop smack in the middle between Cleveland and Akron. The long and narrow park, centered around the Cuyahoga River, features numerous hiking trails and is most widely known for the cascading Brandywine Falls .
May 4th Memorial : Though the Kent State shooting in 1970 might be widely known, it’s absolutely worth seeing the memorial and learning more about the history of the four students murdered and nine more injured by the US National Guard during protests against the Vietnam War.
The Ohio State Reformatory : Most obviously known as the site where the vast majority of Shawshank Redemption was filmed, the prison is also home to paranormal activities/ghost hunting , events, and other tours. Make sure to check out the Shawshank Tree (on private property, only view from the road!) and Shawshank Woodshop .
Mohican State Park / State Forest : This large park area is host to a number of excellent hiking & biking opportunities, a large river gorge, sizable woodlands, camping, and a massive covered bridge.
Hocking Hills State Park : One of the state’s largest and most beautiful parks – if you ask me, it should’ve become the state’s National Park over Cuyahoga Falls – Hocking Hills features absolutely stunning rock formations, cliffs, caves, waterfalls, wooded areas, camping, hiking, gorges and a boatload of other incredible outdoor activities. This absolute gem of a park was definitely overlooked when the time came to nominate a National Park for Ohio.
Historic Roscoe Village : An entire historic town, preserved in time, features guided tours by costumed “villagers,” plus preserved buildings, old-timey shops, and boat rides on the canal.

Back Road Routes Across Ohio

US Route 36 – US-36 weaves and winds its way across central Ohio, passing through a handful of historic farming towns and villages, while also completely circumnavigating the insanity that can be downtown Columbus traffic.
State Route 32 – Starting at the outskirts of Cincinnati and twisting its way east, OH-32 quickly transforms from its urban start to a very rural, very scenic way to cross southern Ohio.
US Route 250 – US-250 cuts a diagonal path across the state, starting at the shores of Lake Erie at Sandusky (home of the sprawling Cedar Point amusement park) and taking a rather scenic track across rural Ohio farmland before hitting the foothills of West Virginia

Another Option for Driving East: the Southern Cross Country Route

Yes, I’m writing about my adopted home state twice. Yes, I’m biased. But more importantly, as the third-largest state by land mass and (in my less-than-humble opinion) most beautiful state in the country, it is definitely deserving of another nod here. For most cross country road trips, route plans are very likely going to start or stop in the Golden State… and with good reason. Though very different from climate and terrain perspectives, the southern half of California is just as loaded with things to see as the northern half.

Places to go in Southern California

Tar Pits Park – Though not as famous as La Brea Tar Pits , these naturally occurring asphalt deposits have the distinct advantage of providing a double-whammy: it’s also a great place to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Coast.
Trona Pinnacles – Like the Tufa Towers near Mono Lake in Northern California, these geological abnormalities are stone spires poking through the earth’s crust. And, like their cousins to the north, they’re located in an intensely dry and potentially formidable desert, so proceed with caution.
Mojave National Preserve – Though not as well-known as its neighbor to the North ( Death Valley ), the Mojave Desert and National Preserve offers visitors fantastic opportunities to hike, bike, and off-road through some of America’s most otherworldly geography. As one of the hottest and driest places in the country, though, I STRONGLY recommend additional research and significant caution when visiting. However, the desert often greatly rewards those patient and brave enough to visit her.
Joshua Tree National Park – I’m including JTNP on this list not for the obvious reasons that draw in the vast majority of the Park’s visitors. Instead, I’m listing it for the sections that most people don’t explore: the unpaved trails that zig-zag their way throughout the majority of the park. Bring your 4WD vehicle and plenty of provisions (plus a good GPS locator ) in case you get lost or stuck, and bank an extra day or two to wander through the desert for a while!
Anza Borrego State Park – As I’m sure you’ve gathered by now, much of the natural beauty in Southern California is in the desert. Anza Borrego is a state park dedicated to highlighting some of the most beautiful features of the desert, and in the springtime, is home to some of California’s most surprising and breathtaking displays of wildflower super-blooms you’ll ever experience! BE MINDFUL AND TREAD LIGHTLY – please do not EVER stand, walk in, or take home any of the blooms you witness!

Back Road Routes Across Southern California

State Route 2 – Also known as the Angeles Crest Scenic Highway, this stunning drive twists and winds across the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest heading east from Pasadena. Both fun to drive and loaded with scenery, the route is a great alternative for leaving Los Angeles before heading out into the desert or finding Route 66.
Route 66 – Feels like an obvious option to include, but depending on which direction you’re heading, Santa Monica Pier in LA is either the beginning or end of one of the most famous back road routes in the world. Much of the legendary route has been lost to modernization, but there’s still plenty to experience along what’s left!
State Route 62 – Known as Twentynine Palms Highway, the route runs east to west between Palm Springs and Parker AZ. The mostly straight road runs across the northern boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, and provides plenty of desert scenery for your eyes to feast on.
State Route 58 – For those travelling a bit north of LA, CA-58 provides an often stunning drive the almost the whole way across the state. Starting just north of the Pacific Coast Highway in San Luis Obispo, CA-58 weaves across the coastal range before dropping down into the Central Valley and Bakersfield area. You’ll cross the Tehachapi Range next (be sure to check out the Railway Loop !) before dropping into the Mojave Desert.

Much like it’s red-rock desert neighboring state to the north, Arizona is home to stunning natural scenery, otherworldly geological formations, and some of my favorite back roads . It’s also home to several very cool cities, several different deserts, a handful of National Forests, and my all-time favorite National Park. Oh… and it’s also home to one of the coolest stretches of Route 66!

Places to go in Arizona

Flagstaff / Sedona – Yeah, I’ll admit it, listing these two places this way, and first, is a bit of a cop-out. But here’s the truth: this area is probably my second-favorite place in the country. Both towns are incredible in their own ways: unique architecture, vibrant art scenes, plenty of food, and friendly locals. The area is rich with natural beauty to explore. Hiking, biking, swimming, rafting, skiing, off-roading, camping, and on and on and on. AND THOSE RED ROCKS! **swoon** (Did I mention it’s loaded with great back roads?)
Canyon de Chelly – I’m a sucker for red rock formations, in case you hadn’t already figured that out.

When to Take a Cross Country Road Trip

The question of when to take a cross country road trip can be a very tricky one. In addition to the amount of time required to drive cross country, one also has to factor in things like climate, elevation, and local weather extremes. It is especially challenging due to the fact that the climate in areas along the way can vary drastically during the exact same months. Toss in the fact that most of the highlighted places will be very busy during the summer months, and picking a time to take this trip can be an unenviable task!

How long does it take to drive cross country?

The first step in the process of choosing when to travel is determining how long you have! Driving cross country can take as long or as short as you want, based upon how much time you have to take it slowly and explore. In April of 2021, I drove from Pittsburgh PA to Sonoma CA – almost 2,600 miles – in 63 hours, completely by myself. I had virtually no time to get the drive done, so I spent no time stopping and enjoying the trip. On my very first cross country road trip, however, after my best friend Dietmar and I graduated from High School, we took over five weeks to drive a loop across the middle & southern parts of the country!

My point here is that how long you need for your road trip depends entirely upon how much time your schedule will allow. Once you’ve determined this most crucial fact, you can start to build your itinerary around this knowledge. For example, if you are retired and have no time constraints, you can take as long as you want, drive as slowly as you want, and stop as frequently – and for as long at each destination – as your heart desires. Conversely, if you still work full time and have two kids in school, your trip is going to be a lot shorter and more constrained by your time off work.

What I personally advise people who are working with limited time is the following process:

Get together with whoever you are travelling with and pick your top 3-5 most important destinations or priorities – the absolute must-see locations along the way. Allot these top priorities more time in each day to explore, with as little driving time on those days as possible.
Pick secondary priority destinations – places you are interested in seeing, but won’t be devastated if you don’t get much time to explore them. Allot these secondary priorities less time on location, with more driving time on these days.
For the rest of the trip, which doesn’t matter to you and doesn’t involve destinations of great interest, these can be the days where you do the bulk of your driving. If possible, what you can do on these days is try to pick a scenic route that allows you to pass through interesting areas without stopping to explore. Seeing it through the windows of your car is good enough.

Once you’ve completed this rough outline of your trip, I’d recommend the following driving times for each of the three “levels” or categories of destination:

Top priority destinations – limit your driving time on these days to less than four hours per day.
Secondary priority destinations – limit your driving time on these days to approximately 6-8 hours per day.
Unimportant areas – drive as much during these days as you are physically capable; for most people, this should be at least 8-10 hours of driving per day.

A distant car drives up a back road as it weaves its way up a distant hillside

A few thoughts on drivin g time : I advise all of my road trip planning customers that when I say driving time, I mean butts in seats, behind the wheel actually driving time . This does NOT include time sleeping, eating, getting fuel, using the restrooms, etc. My personal rule of thumb is that you should factor in 30-60 minutes of non-travel time for each four hours of actual driving . So if I say 8 hours of actual driving, you should anticipate approximately 9-10 hours of travel time. If it’s 12 hours of driving, anticipate 14-15 hours of actual travel time. You absolutely should give yourself at least 8 hours of rest each night.

The other driving time factor to consider here is that driving on back roads is substantially slower than driving on the interstate. In my experience, when driving strictly back roads, you are going to average approximately 40 miles for each hour of driving time . That is a rough estimate, but again, in my many years and many thousands of miles of driving experience, it has consistently been very close to exactly correct. So if you are planning to drive 200 miles on back roads, anticipate it’s going to take you approximately 5 hours of driving .

LONG STORY SHORT (TL/DR): If you are planning on driving cross country and back, or round trip, you should allow yourself at least 20 total days for your trip. For a 6,000 mile trip, that means you’ll average 300 miles per day. That’s a lot, but if you break it up well, it’s absolutely manageable.

A man and his dog walk slowly under the brutal heat of the midday sun at Great Sand Dune National Park in Colorado

What time of year should you drive cross country?

Because the weather can vary so dramatically in different regions of the country, this too can be a very tricky question to answer. This will be an especially important consideration if you are camping : when you’re sleeping outdoors, the weather conditions you’ll likely encounter become a critical part of your planning process. If you’re going to be sleeping indoors, weather becomes less important, but still worth considering.

If you are travelling with children , you’re immediately limited to the summer months for your trip. It’s the only time of year that your kids will be out of school long enough to enjoyably complete a journey of this type. If you are not travelling with children , you have a lot more flexibility, and quite frankly, should strongly consider avoiding the summer months if possible. The summer months are going to be crowded by the aforementioned families with kids, and more importantly, are likely going to be unpleasantly hot in the vast majority of the country.

So when should you travel if you’re not going in the summer? My personal favorite times to travel are late spring and mid-fall . Most destinations will have the least amount of visitors in these timeframes, and generally speaking, they are the best times of year weather-wise. Daytime temperatures in most of the country are pleasantly mild, and in most places, it does not get terribly cold overnight. To be even more specific, if possible, you should try to plan your trip for either the middle of May or the middle of September.

A word of warning about these travel times : You’re going to have to be careful when travelling in high elevations, or at the northern edge of the country at these times of year. I’ve experienced severe snowstorms in the High Sierra in May, and I’ve experienced freezing rain and snow in Idaho in late August (granted, we were ALSO at a higher elevation when that happened, but still). So if you know that you’re going far north, or up high in altitude, be prepared for a little bit of cold weather. If you’re camping, you absolutely must be prepared to spend the night in below-freezing temperatures.

Aside from those two caveats, though, late spring and mid-fall are the best times of year to drive cross country!

A drone photo captures the setting sun glows behind the towering granite peaks of Grand Teton national park

Where should you stay on a cross country road trip?

You have a couple basic options to choose from for overnight stays on a cross country road trip:

Hotels/motels
Bed n Breakfasts (actual BNBs)

AirBNB/VRBO

Friends and family

I’ve utilized all of the options over the years, and in some cases, a blend of more than one at a time. Frankly, if you are flexible and can mix and match the options, based upon weather and financial considerations, that’s going to usually be your best option. I give brief thoughts on each option below.

Hotel/Motel

A hotel or motel is most likely going to be the easiest and most comfortable option for you. In most places, there are a number of options to choose from. If you pay for a nicer hotel, you’ll get a clean room and comfortable bed, with a hot breakfast in the morning. The biggest downside is the cost, and the inability to prepare meals unless you really pony up and get a suite with kitchen. My personal favorite affordable chain hotels are Holiday Inn and Best Western .

Camping is the second cheapest option, and if you are willing to find dispersed or wild campsites like I typically do, will often provide you with some extraordinary scenery and surroundings. I’ve written a couple posts about how to find excellent campsites already, so I won’t rehash that here. The biggest downsides are the exposure to weather, and the fact that finding a campsite during daylight hours really limits how far you can drive each day.

Bed n Breakfasts

This is the option I’ve utilized the least, but it is one that I should probably start doing far more often. True BNB’s were once a dying breed, though they’ve experienced a resurgence in popularity recently. BNB’s are typically unique and enjoyable experiences, especially when you have a great host. They are often found in historic buildings with incredible architecture, and many include one or more hot meals. The biggest downside is that they are often the most expensive option per night.

A modernized version of the old BNB system, AirBNB and VRBO are websites where property owners can offer up their homes – or a portion of their home – for rent to travelers. There is an unfathomable amount of variety and diversity in the types of places and the types of amenities available to travelers, from the most bare bones single bedroom in the owner’s house to some of the most elaborate and unusual overnight accommodations I’ve ever seen. Prices for places to stay can also vary dramatically, giving travelers a great deal of control over budget, amenities and quality. The biggest downside, if you can call it that, is the amount of skill and experience needed to find and figure out how to choose the right places to fit your needs. We’ve stayed in some real stinkers over the years, but we’ve mostly had really incredible experiences.

Friends and Family

Staying with friends or family members is, of course, the lowest cost option for overnight accommodations. Not only will F&F not charge you (I should hope!), many will often also provide you with meals and – critically important on a long trip – a place to wash your clothing! My very first cross country road trip, all the way back in 1999, was primarily spent staying with friends & family. Even with paying for hotels and meals in quite a few locations, that particular trip – 5 weeks, 9,000 miles – only cost my friend and I around $900 each!

You should try to mix in at least one or two F&F stops spread out over the course of your trip for this exact reason, unless you have the space or interest in packing enough clothing for 2-3 weeks of travel. F&F will also be able to provide you with excellent insights about local places you should check out, from restaurants and shopping to parks, museums, and other activities. The biggest “downside” of staying with F&F is the logistical restrictions of basing a trip around where your friends and family live… and when they are available and can host you!

What should you pack for a cross country road trip?

This might just be the toughest section to tackle. In addition to being heavily dependent upon the time of year that you’re travelling, how long your trip will be, and the destinations you’ll be exploring, it will also vary wildly based upon the size and storage of your vehicle, where you’ll be sleeping each night, who is travelling with you, etc. As such, my suggestions are going to be fairly generic in nature. Though I do have a couple posts dedicated to gear for camping trips , my intent here is to provide you with a basic must-have list suitable for virtually any trip.

What I would recommend is start by working with a handful of categories, and working your way from there:

Clothing – pack enough for a full week of outfits, plus at least one or two “extreme weather” options
Shoes – spend a lot of time walking and hiking in your current boots and shoes before your trip to determine if they’re comfortable – on the road is not when you want to realize you need better footwear
Food/Food Storage – this is addressed in detail in my camping posts , but you’re going to want water-tight and long-lasting food storage options
Safety/Medical gear – though I list this fourth, having a medical kit , fire extinguisher , flashlight Fix-A-Flat , jumper cables , and other safety items easily accessible should be your first priority
Camera gear – in addition to the gear you’ll need for night sky photography , I also recommend having a nice zoom lens on hand for taking incredible landscape photographs – I use a Nikon 55-300mm lens
Tools – addressed in depth in my camping gear and motorcycle gear posts, just a few simple hand tools will get you through a lot of potentially unpleasant situations
Music/Entertainment/books – the drive and various attractions are going to be amazing, but I’d be lying if I said you’re not going to also have long and boring stretches of time to kill on your trip. Having various forms of entertainment – especially if you’re traveling with family – will be crucial. I recommend having books, magazines, playing cards, and a couple travel-size board games on hand. Oh, and don’t forget your playlist !

Road trip tips, suggestions, and other travel advice

In addition to my own advice for taking a cross country road trip, I’ve gathered insights and suggestions from dozens of other road trippers over the last year

in anticipation of creating this post. Though I’ve taken dozens of road trips and driven countless thousands of miles over the last 25 years, I certainly haven’t experienced everything. I reached out to other travelers and collected their suggestions for taking long road trips. One thing I’ve learned about people who travel a lot – they love to help other people get out on the road!

I’m going to start off with one of the most crucial lessons I’ve learned in all my years of taking road trips.

Download offline maps – LINK (make sure to click on Android or iPhone at the top) – I cannot stress the importance of this step strongly enough. One of the very first recommendations I make to every road trip planning client I’ve worked with is to download offline Google maps . Every cross country road trip will include driving in areas with no cell service. If you’ve not prepared ahead of time by downloading offline maps for those areas, you might lose your route plans at the worst time possible. If you aren’t sure where your cell providers don’t have coverage, start with this FCC Map , downloading maps in areas where no service is available.

A drone shot of a u-shaped two lane back road winds through the pine trees in eastern California's High Sierra region

Road Trip Advice

Have a general plan, but allow for spontaneity & choices along the way
Pack items that can serve multiple purposes
Get a car power adapter (turns your car’s cigarette lighter into an outlet with USB ports)
Bring reusable items (water bottles, coffee mugs) instead of disposable ones
Bring a water bottle with filter , or a filter straw
Build in time for stops at local shops, farmers markets, antique stores and other ways to incorporate local culture
Opt for healthy snacks (trail mix, triscuits) and avoid soda and candy
Bring your recreational wheels along: MTB, bicycle, scooter, rollerblades etc
Visit more than just National Parks! State and county parks often provide excellent natural scenery and local history.
Hang a shoe rack behind your seats for convenient and organized access to your stuff
Buy a camp toilet and keep TP in your vehicle
Utilize a small “grab bag” with a couple days’ of clothing & supplies so you’re not hauling your suitcases in at every stop, rotating stuff in or out as needed
Be sure to hydrate & consume electrolytes, especially in the desert
If camping, be sure to practice setting up your tent at night using only your headlamp, just in case
Drive less than 12 hours per day – 7-8 hours is OK, but 4-5 hours is ideal if possible
Buy a national parks pass before you leave!
Always stop to visit friends and family whenever they will be near your route
Ask older bikers where the prettiest local drives are
Don’t drive long distances at night – it’s not worth the risk, and you miss out on the scenery!
Eat your meals somewhere scenic whenever possible, whether by a window or at a picnic table or on an overlook
Get and maintain roadside assistance – AAA or some other similar service
Freeze bottles of water to use as ice packs and to give you something cold to drink
Search for weird local destinations on Atlas Obscura / Roadside America / Factory Tours
Be aware that there will be remote areas in the western states with no gas stations for 30-50 miles in any direction and plan accordingly – as old bikers say, don’t pass gas on a road trip!
Always double-check the weather conditions at the next day’s destination when you’re stopped at night
Watch for road closures and plan alternative routes if needed
Open a credit card a month or two before you leave, only use that card, then cancel it at the end of your trip to prevent fraud / identity theft
Be flexible – plans can change quickly due to unforeseen emergencies like a wildfire (or pandemic!)
Maximize your bathroom stops – get gas, walk the dog, buy fresh supplies, etc
Start your day early – beat rush hour traffic, maximize sunlight hours, etc

Check out our tips & tricks for back roads travel!

Don’t forget that there’s an entire category on our website dedicated solely to road trips!

And, if all else fails, you can always ask us for help .

A drone shot of a back road winding down a hill towards the Pacific Coast in California

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CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP 101: THE BEST ITINERARIES AND HOW TO PLAN FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP

Post Summary: How to plan a cross country road trip, including the best routes, tips, and resources to use so that it’s smooth sailing once you hit the open road.

A cross country road trip through America is the kind of experience every adventurer needs to try once in their life.

With extraordinary national parks, breathtaking beaches, locally inspired cuisine, and quirky roadside attractions, there’s enough to keep you exploring for a lifetime. But how do you begin to plan a road trip?

The recipe for a great American road trip includes having the most current resources and tips at your disposal so you can get the most out of your time on the road.

That and a great playlist.

We embarked on our own three-month cross country trip in our renovated camper and learned a lot about how to plan a road trip across America.

We’re sharing everything we know, including the best cross country road trip routes and our own road-tested tips to help you plan an extraordinary adventure.

*We loved our USA road trip so much that we knew we had to include it in our post on the essential bucket list for families . Check it out for more inspiring travel ideas in the United States.

*This Cross Country Road Trip post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you purchase from them. This is at no extra cost to you. We only suggest what we think is truly awesome.

CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP GUIDE

This is an in-depth article that will cover everything you need for planning a cross country road trip. You can use the table of contents above to skip around to a section you want to read.

In this article, we’ll cover:

How many days you’ll need
What kind of car you need
Things you need for a cross country road trip
Cross country road trip cost analysis
Cross country road trip tips
The best cross country road trip routes

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED FOR A CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP?

empty desert road leading to Utah National Parks

So how long does it take to do a cross country road trip? The drive from Los Angeles to New York City is 2776 miles and takes roughly 41 hours without stopping. At 8 hours a day, that would take you five days to complete.

But what about stops and, you know…enjoying the ride?

Without knowing your route, it’s hard to suggest a time frame. At a minimum, you’ll need a week for a one-way cross country road trip. Two weeks is better, though. Two weeks allows you to drive for shorter distances and to take more time to enjoy the places you stop at. Three weeks is perfection!

America is the 3rd largest country in the world, so there’s a lot of ground to cover when driving cross country. It’s estimated that it takes about three months to see every state in the lower 48.

THE BEST ROAD TRIP ROUTES IN THE US

When planning a road trip, the question “What is the best cross country road trip?” is bound to come up. The sheer size of the US makes answering it a complicated task. Below, I will cover the most iconic road trip routes and a few other suggestions to spark your own creativity.

Some things to consider for yourself are how much time you have, what season you’ll be traveling in, and what kind of stops you’re interested in making. Do you want to focus on nature activities, touring big cities, tasting America’s best food, or quirky roadside attractions?

Let the following routes be an inspiration, but don’t forget it’s also possible to plan your trip as you go.

When we built our cross country road trip itinerary, we knew we needed to get from North Idaho to Maryland. It was winter, so we chose to avoid the Rocky Mountains and any hazardous winter driving conditions. We opened up a map (really, it’s more like we opened up an internet browser and looked at Google Maps) and figured we should head South and plan as we go.

We knew we would visit Utah’s National Parks, but other than that, we left it open to allow for spontaneity and random side trips.

On our way traveling through Arkansas, I looked at the map and noticed we would be close to Hot Springs National Park. We had time, so we decided to make a small detour to see America’s first unofficial National Park. Those are the kind of things you want to leave time and space for.

Let’s explore the most popular cross country road trip routes.

*Also, the maps pictured below for each road trip aren’t for driving purposes. They are there to help get you a visual of where the road trip happens.

Famous For: Kitschy roadside attractions, old-fashioned motels, and its throwback Americana feel

Route 66 is the most famous American road trip that is more about the journey than the sights. You’ll travel through small towns where the most you’ll see is an old-fashioned main street and an old diner. It’s worth it to tap into an old-time Americana complete with neon lights and Art Deco motels. It’s also a great opportunity to see underrated cities like Albuquerque and Oklahoma City.

Begins and Ends: Downtown Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, CA

Time Needed: At 2448 Miles, Two Weeks (one way)

Highlights : Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX, eating a hamburger and an ice cream float in an old-fashioned diner, getting a photo op in front of a Route 66 sign, Tower Station and U Drop Inn Cafe in Texas, Gateway Arch in Missouri.

BEFORE YOU GO: The road can be hard to navigate using GPS. The book Route 66:EZ66 Guide For Travelers is from a passionate lover of Route 66. It’s a thorough guide with descriptive maps. It’s highly recommended for anyone who wants to drive the entire route.

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

Famous For: Gorgeous, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

The PCH, or Highway 1, is one of the most iconic drives in America. We’ve done sections of the drive, and it never disappoints. From the fecund forests of Washington to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the sunny ocean vibes of Southern California, there’s something for everyone on this beautiful coastal drive.

Begins and Ends: Seattle, WA to San Diego, CA

Time Needed: 1650 Miles, It can be done in one week, but 2 weeks is better (one way).

Highlights : Olympic National Park , Big Sur, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Redwood National Park, Mendocino, Hearst Castle, Los Angeles, San Diego Zoo, Laguna Beach, Tacos in San Diego

Tip : Drive North to South so you can be closer to the water for the drive.

Recommended Guide: Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: California, Oregon & Washington (Travel Guide)

THE LONELIEST ROAD

woman holding child with his hands up in the air. In the background are the red rocks of arches national park

Famous For: Large stretches of driving where you’ll see little to no signs of civilization.

Route 50, also known as “The Loneliest Road” and “the backbone of America,” is a true cross country road trip. Taking you from coast to coast, you’ll pass through 11 states on this grand road trip across America. From metropolitan cities like Washington D.C to deserted ghost towns to the azure waters of Lake Tahoe, this route takes you on a diverse cross-section of the US that’s guaranteed to give you a little bit of everything.

Begins and Ends: Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD

Time Needed: 3000 Miles, Can be done in two weeks, but three weeks is ideal (one way).

Highlights: Great Basin National Park, Colorado National Monument, Washington D.C, Lake Tahoe, Moab, Arches National Park

TIP : Make sure your car is in GREAT condition for this road trip.

THE GREAT NORTHERN ROAD

Famous For: The longest transcontinental highway in the US

Highway 2, or The Great Northern Road, takes you coast to coast through 10 states and Canada. From the lush forests of the Idaho Panhandle to the windswept plains of North Dakota to the sophisticated allure of Montreal, this route takes you through some of America’s most beautiful spots. This is the best cross country route for exploring the vast terrain of the northern US.

Begins and Ends: Seattle, WA to Acadia National Park in Maine

Time Needed: 3600 miles, Two weeks is enough, but three weeks is best (one way).

Highlights: Glacier National Park , Montreal, Duluth MN, Burlington VT, Seattle WA, Sandpoint ID, Acadia National Park

Book Recommendation : Moon Guide: Road Trip USA: The Great Northern, Highway 2

THE OREGON TRAIL

man and son on a bucket list adventure throwing rocks into blue waters near Teton mountain range.

Famous For: An arduous, historical one-way trail people used in the 1800s to find better opportunities out West.

Go back in time and explore the trek that hundreds of thousands of pioneers made on their way West. While not an official road, the journey can be loosely followed along with interesting stops to learn more about the history and the pilgrims who took this path. History buffs will love learning about Lewis and Clark, city lovers will enjoy exploring Boise and Boston, and nature seekers will love seeing Yellowstone , America’s 1st National Park.

Begins and Ends: Cannon Beach, Oregon to Provincetown, MA

Time Needed: 3300 Miles, Two weeks is enough, but three weeks is best (one way).

Highlights: Yellowstone National Park , Boise , Grand Teton National Park, Mount Rushmore, Niagara Falls, Boston

Book Recommendation : Moon Guide: Oregon Trail Road Trip

THE ATLANTIC COAST

Famous For: Driving through America’s most iconic and historic cities.

Explore America’s oldest cities and charming beachside communities by taking a drive down The Atlantic Coast. This route takes you on I-95, where you can go from historical sites like the Statue of Liberty, wild horses on Assateague Island, to the artsy beach town of Saint Augustine, Florida. This is a great cross country trip for someone who doesn’t want large chunks of time in the car with nothing to see. There is so much to do and something for everyone.

map of Atlantic Coast cross country road trip

Begins and Ends: Maine to Florida

Time Needed: 1900 miles, 10 days is good, but two weeks is best (one way).

Highlights : Mystic CN, Boston MA, Savannah GA, NYC, detours to the beaches of North and South Carolina, St. Augustine, The Florida Keys

TIP: I-95 is great to hop on to when you want to get somewhere faster, but the true beauty of this road trip is mainly on the smaller roads that run along the coast. Deviate from the 95 to explore the coastal islands that run down the entire east coast.

THE MIGHTY FIVE

Famous For: Out of this world red rock desert landscapes and bucket-list hikes.

A Utah National Parks road trip to explore all 5 of Utah’s National Parks (dubbed the Mighty 5) is perfect for adventurers and explorers. With mindboggling hikes, slot canyons to wade through, white water rafting, and an ocean of red desert to traverse, Southern Utah will leave an imprint on your soul.

Begins and Ends: Moab, Utah to Springdale, Utah

Time Needed: 375 Miles, Can be done at warp speed in 7 days, but 10 days are best (one way).

Highlights: Angels Landing Hike and The Narrows in Zion, Delicate Arch in Arches , Fruit Picking in Capitol Reef, Mesa Arch in Canyonlands, Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon

READ NEXT: For all the details on making this trip check out our comprehensive guide to planning a Mighty 5 Roadtrip .

THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

an adventurous family of three posing in front of a high elevation sign

Famous For: Stunning Fall foliage display.

The Blue Ridge Parkway takes you through the beating heart of Appalachia, where you’ll pass waterfalls, lookouts, charming tunnels, small towns, and meandering rivers. If you’re driving it in Fall (the most popular time) you’ll see Fall foliage that rivals the best of New England. With a maximum speed of 45 MPH and no big trucks allowed, it’s the kind of road where you’ll want to take your time to enjoy the views while Bluegrass music plays on repeat.

Begins and Ends: Great Smoky Mountain National Park in NC to Shenandoah National Park in VA.

Time Needed: 469 Miles, 3 days is enough, 7 Days is ideal (one way)

Highlights: Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Asheville, NC, Mile High Swinging Bridge, Blue Ridge Music Center, Mabry Mill, Shenandoah National Park , Roanoke, VA

TIP: If you want an even longer journey, you could include additional East Coast National Parks in your itinerary for even more sublime nature.

READ NEXT: Time spent in the funky mountain town of Asheville, NC, is a must when driving the parkway. Learn more about Asheville with our guide to how to spend 36 Hours in Asheville .

These are tried and true cross-country road ideas, but don’t forget you can always make up your own road trip route . You could go on a donut road trip and check out the best donuts in every state (psst-the best donuts are in Boise ), or you could see as many west coast national parks as you can.

Maybe you’ll be road-tripping in Spring and want to see the most exquisite wildflower blooms in the country, or it’s summer, and you’ll hit up America’s best waterparks. The sky is the limit!

Now, let’s discuss how to plan a cross-country road trip. Based on our experiences, we’ve created a cross-country travel guide that includes everything we did and learned along the way.

BEST CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP CAR

woman looking out of passenger side window of green SUV with steam rising up from a hot spring behind the car

If you won’t be using your own car, you’ll need to find the best cross country road trip car for your needs. If you’ll be traveling in winter or in places with rugged terrain like Southern Utah, it’s recommended to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle that can handle the rougher conditions.

The first choice is to use a car rental service. You can look on rentalcars.com to see what the going rates are for rental cars. It’s a search engine that specializes in rental car prices across the web. You can often get a discounted rate if you’ll be using the car for a longer period.

Also, don’t forget if you are only going one way with the car, most places will charge a one-way delivery fee.

Another option is to rent a camper or RV for your big adventure. You can rent from a peer-to-peer service like RV Share and Outdoorsy , or you can opt for a company like Cruise America .

If you like the idea of an RV but want something smaller, you could also opt for a converted van that typically has a bed, a fridge, and other amenities. It’s a great option for solo or couples travel. The biggest renter of campervans is Escape Campervans . Since they have multiple offices, it’s a great choice for someone who wants a one-way rental. You can also check the sites I mentioned above, RV Share and Outdoorsy, for campervan rentals.

An RV or campervan rental can range from $100-$500 a day. It’s a more expensive option, but the potential for savings is better because you can cook your own meals and potentially camp for free. But don’t forget about gas prices! This brings me to our next section..coming up with a cross country road trip budget.

TIP: A n alternative option to a rental car is to try your luck at a one-way car or RV transfer service like immova and transfercar . The basic idea is that a company or person needs a car or RV moved and you pay as low as $1 a day to have a practically free vehicle. A great option if you are flexible and their travel dates work for you. You can also look at when big RV companies like El Monte RV need their RVs moved and offer them at exceptionally low rates.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

There’s no straight answer to what a cross-country road trip costs. We averaged about $150 a day on a three-week road trip in our RV. Could we have done it for less? ABSOLUTELY. We didn’t go crazy, but we also didn’t scrimp. If you’re willing to cut corners and camp in free places, you can potentially do a road trip for $50-75 a day.

Let’s explore how to plan a road trip on a budget. I’ll discuss the five main expenses and offer tips on how to save money.

GAS : Depending on what kind of vehicle you are driving, this will probably be one of your biggest expenses. You can use a fuel calculator to estimate what it will cost for your trip and your car type. If you are driving an RV, you can use this fuel calculator to get a rough idea of what it would cost. As for saving money, you can use the GasBuddy App to see the cheapest gas stations on your route. We also use our AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card, which gives us 3% cash back on gas and 6% cash back on groceries . We spent $1300 on gas, which means we earned roughly $40 back. That’s a free tank of gas! That and the $150 sign-up bonus make it a great money-saving choice.
LODGING: Here is where you have a lot of options for saving money. Camping is the cheapest way to travel cross country whether you choose to pitch a tent, sleep in your car, or are in an RV or campervan. You can stay in conventional campsites that range from $25 to $60 a night, or you can try to find free campsites. Free campsites are generally found on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land or parking lots (Walmart parking lots are popular) that allow you to sleep overnight – but please don’t pitch a tent in a parking lot! Only vehicles are allowed. The best way to find camping spots is to search on the Dyrt App . It’s a camp reviewing site that is a GREAT resource for finding campsites and free sites. It’s worth upgrading to the pro version to have access to it offline. If camping isn’t your thing, you can look for cheap room rentals with an app like HotelTonight. HotelTonight is perfect for road trips since it searches for last-minute discounts on hotels. It’s also a tiered service so the more you use it, the more exclusive discounts you can access. If you sign up for an account and put in my discount code CGRANCE in your Account Settings, you can get $25 off a booking. You can also use the sites like Booking to see what’s available around you. Airbnb or VRBO could also have cheap options, but you’ll have to plan ahead since it’s not always possible to book it the same day. In general, lodging in a budget hotel will cost you $50-$125 a night.
FOOD: We spent roughly $25 a day for a family of three. Granted, we ate all of our meals in our camper and rarely got takeout. That’s where having a fully functioning kitchen on wheels can go a long way to saving you money. If you aren’t traveling in an RV, you’ll want to save money by making your own meals as much as possible. Pack a cooler and eat turkey sandwiches every day if you need to. My favorite way to get fancy on the cheap is to make a charcuterie spread of summer sausage, salami, crackers, cheese, olives, almonds, and dried fruit. I even bring a wood cutting board and stemless wineglasses with silicone sleeves because it’s how I roll. Also, most gas stations will have microwaves. We would often buy frozen burritos from Amy’s beforehand at a grocery store and heat them at a gas station for lunch.
ENTERTAINMENT: Our entertainment costs came out to about $3 a day. We spent very little since we had a primarily nature-based itinerary. Hiking is free! Plus, we opted to buy the National Parks pass that gets you into every National Park and additional federal land sites. You should definitely buy the pass if you are going to any National Parks. You can buy and learn more about the pass here. If you are visiting a big city, you can check if it offers a City Pass . A city pass will typically give you discounts to restaurants, museums, and popular attractions.
MISCELLANEOUS – There are always little costs that come up while you travel, whether that’s souvenirs, oil for your car, or payment for a toll. You should leave room in your cross country road trip budget for random things that always pop up. I would budget $5-$10 a day for miscellaneous items.

We recorded everything we paid for. You, of course, don’t need to do that, but if making spreadsheets is fun for you (woohoo!), then I would recommend using Excel or Numbers and using one of their pre-formatted templates for logging your costs.

TIPS FOR A CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP

mom and son in front of a 1979 camper van

Before you head out on your big adventure, here’s some cross country road trip advice to spare you any headaches.

Before you leave, make sure to get an oil change and a full check-up on your car, including having your tires checked. It’s also worth investing in a roadside assistance plan, especially if you have an older vehicle. We used AAA and had to use it three times on the road. AAA is great for regular cars, and Good Sam Roadside is good for RVs. You can check prices for AAA here and Good Sam Roadside here .
Make sure to download your maps beforehand! You don’t want to be stuck in Utah because you have no service and no idea which road to take. Google Maps has the ability to download maps. Use it!
We prefer to drive for a maximum of five hours. Anything more than that makes the road trip unenjoyable. Find the sweet spot for you. It’s okay to do a few long 8-hour days, but remember to balance them with days off of driving.
If you’re looking for a cross country road trip planner, you can use the app or website Roadtrippers to help you find interesting sights along the way. We’ve never used the app but have heard good things about it.
Lastly, use travel bloggers like myself, Pinterest, and Instagram for fun tips on places you will be visiting. Pinterest has a wealth of great travel information, and you’ll be able to find fun off-the-beaten-path recommendations. You can check out our Pinterest page and our Instagram page . While you’re there, give us a follow, will you?

CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP PACKING LIST

We have an extensive post detailing what every person needs to have on their road trip packing list . Be sure to check it out for a detailed list of what to bring. Here’s a simple rundown of a few cross country road trip essentials.

Emergency Roadside Kit – Having a roadside emergency kit with a surplus of safety devices is essential for a road trip. At the very least, make sure you have a high-quality set of jumper cables . If you are driving in a remote area where other cars might not be able to help you out, you might want to consider a mobile battery jumper that allows you to jumpstart your car on your own.
First Aid Kit – A first aid kit is something you should always have in your car. Don’t forget it for your big road trip.
Cooler – A high-quality cooler that will keep your food cold for days is a great investment. We are die-hard fans of Yeti and love the Yeti Roadie 24 Hard Cooler for road trips. It can fit behind the passenger’s seat and is long enough to fit a bottle of wine. More economical choices are the Arctic Zone Cooler and the Igloo Quart MaxCold Cooler .
Phone Chargers and Power Bank – In addition to our phone charger that goes into the cigarette lighter, we bring a splitter so multiple people can plug in their device and a solar charger power bank, so we’re never left without something to charge our devices. It’s handy when traveling with many people so everyone can have a way to charge a device.
Car Organizers – Having an organization system is great if you’ll be on the road for a while or are making a family cross country road trip. We like this backseat organizer with SO MANY pockets for your gadgets, notebooks, and snacks. It’s a fantastic option if you’re traveling with young kids. We particularly like that it has a tablet holder.
I also think this car seat gap organizer is brilliant. It sits in the gap between the console and the passenger or driver’s seat. It’s that little bit of space where you always drop your phone, and you’re like “$%^&*!” because it’s so difficult to fit your hand in there. Well, this organizer stops anything from falling in that gap while also providing extra storage. Like I said…brilliant.
Conversation Starters – When you hit the road, pull up our post of 160 road trip questions and road trip trivia questions. These are perfect for long stretches of time when you can either get to know your travel companion even better or test out your trivia skills on each other. Also, read through our post on the best things to do on a road trip for more fun games and ideas.
Entertainment – Your podcasts, e-books, road trip playlists, and Netflix shows should all be already downloaded (don’t rely on your cell service). If you’re not already signed up, you can even do a trial run of Audible or Amazon Music to get free fun content for the road.
Cozy Everything – Being cozy on a road trip is paramount! Bring some cozy slip-on shoes, a sherpa blanket from Pendleton, and breathable clothing.

READ NEXT: If you are traveling in an RV, check out our post on the Camper Must Haves you’ll need to bring on the road.

We hope we’ve prepared you for an extraordinary road trip across the country.

Happy travels, and here’s to an amazing cross country road trip!

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Hi, we’re Christina and Brad, Idaho based writers and photographers who live to explore. We did a short stint of traveling full time with our two year old and discovered we're much happier as part time nomads. What does that mean? We travel a lot! And then we go home. We love helping fellow parents and everyday adventurers discover new places and experiences.

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Hi. Reading your time to allow for each trip has me confused. Are talking one way, or round trip? I can’t imagine doing a cross country trip in two, or even three weeks and have it not be an awful lot of all day driving round trip.

Hi Barbara, thanks for bringing this to my attention. You are right, two weeks round trip would be A LOT of driving. We mean one way, but I’ll edit the article so it’s more clear. Thank you!

Heya! Are your “needed X days” recommendations for *round trip* or *one way*? It seems like they are round trip but I just wanted to be sure. This article is fantastic, btw. -JDS

Hi! I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Sorry for not responding sooner. We were traveling in Thailand, and I just saw this today. Yes, all the recommended drive times are for one way. Round trip, you would need to double it or cut out a lot of day trips and exploration to reduce your time.

Pacific Coast

Border to Border

The Road to Nowhere

The Great River Road

Appalachian Trail

Atlantic Coast

The Great Northern

The Oregon Trail

The Loneliest Road

Southern Pacific

Classic American Road Trips

Pacific Coast Highway

Starting at the northwest tip of the United States at Washington’s Olympic National Park and remaining within sight of the ocean all the way south to sunny San Diego, this 1,650-mile, mostly two-lane road trip takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert.

Highlights along the Pacific Coast Route: Olympic National Park (WA), Three Capes Loop (OR), Redwood National Park (CA)

mountain landscape with overlaid text reading Route 66 Road Trip

Historic Route 66

The romance of traveling along historic Route 66 from where it starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles continues to captivate people around the world. If you’re looking for great displays of neon signs, rusty middle-of-nowhere truck stops, or kitschy Americana, do as the song says and “get your kicks on Route 66.”

Highlights along Route 66: Chicago (IL), Meramec Caverns (MO), Tucumcari (NM), Painted Desert (AZ), Santa Monica (CA)

Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Indigo (Canada)
Powell's Books
Apple Books

big sky and water adjacent to a road with overlaid text reading the loneliest road trip

Running coast-to-coast from San Francisco to Ocean City, Maryland, “The Loneliest Road in America” is a 3,200-mile odyssey from sea to shining sea. US-50 passes through a dozen different states, four state capitals, and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Highlights along the Loneliest Road: South Lake Tahoe (CA), Moab (UT), The Million Dollar Highway (CO), Washington D.C.

suspension bridge backed by forest with overlaid text reading The Oregon Trail Road Trip

Following in the footsteps of pilgrims and pioneers, US‑20 takes in a little of everything during its two-lane trek from Oregon’s rugged coast to the glorious sea and sand of Cape Cod.

Highlights along the Oregon Trail: Cannon Beach (OR), Fort Boise (ID), Yellowstone National Park (WY), Mt Rushmore & Carhenge (NE)

trees with vivid fall color with overlaid text reading The Great Northern US-2 Road Trip

Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US‑2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.

Highlights along the Great Northern: Tumwater Canyon (WA), Glacier National Park (MT), Lake Michigan (MI), Acadia National Park (ME)

The Appalachian Trail

This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.

Highlights along the Appalachian Trail: Mt. Washington (NH), The Poconos (PA), Shenandoah National Park (VA), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC)

lakes and green landscape with overlaid text reading the Great River Road Trip

Old Man River, Father of Waters, “body of a nation,” Big Muddy: By any name, the mighty Mississippi River cuts a mythic figure across the American landscape. Tag along from its headwaters in Minnesota to where it meets the sea in Louisiana via the GRR.

Highlights along the Great River Road: Main Street USA (WI), St. Louis (MO), Natchez Trace Parkway (MS), New Orleans (LA)

dense city on a peninsula with overlaid text reading the Atlantic Coast Road Trip

Starting at the Statue of Liberty and ending with a drive across the Overseas Highway to free-wheeling Key West, these almost 2,000 miles of roadway run within earshot—if not sight—of the Atlantic Ocean.

Highlights along the Atlantic Coast: The Statue of Liberty (NJ), Assateague Island National Seashore (MD), Savannah (GA), Cocoa Beach (FL)

old Spanish-style church with overlaid text reading the Border to Border Road Trip

Starting at Canada’s Jasper National Park, and winding down in the Sonora Desert, this route traverses some of the wildest and most rugged lands imaginable: mighty mountains, glaciated valleys, raging rivers, and two very different deserts.

Highlights along the Border to Border Route: Columbia Icefield (AB), Bitterroot Mountains (MT), The Extraterrestrial Highway (NV), Joshua Forest Parkway (AZ)

dunes with overlaid text reading tThe Road to Nowhere US-83 Road Trip

Once the only entirely paved route from Canada to “Old Mexico,” US‑83 cuts across America’s heartland and remains a must-do long-distance byway—transnavigating this broad, odd nation without once grazing a conventional tourist destination.

Highlights along the Road to Nowhere: Sitting Bull Memorial (SD), Nebraska Sand Hills (NE), Monument Rocks (KS), Paint Rock Pictographs (TX)

trees draped with moss with overlaid text reading the Southern Pacific US-80 Road Trip

Following old US-80 and its contemporary equivalents takes you through more varied cultural and physical landscapes than you’ll find along any other cross-country route. From deserts to bayou swamps and Tex-Mex to barbecue, this route offers a full-flavored taste of America.

Highlights along Southern Pacific: The Desert View Tower (CA), Tombstone (AZ), Roswell (NM), Civil Rights Movement National Historic Trail (AL)

US map showing the 11 cross-country road trips on roadtripusa.com

How to Prepare Your Car for a Cross-Country Road Trip

A cross-country road trip is an excellent idea for a travel plan. It will allow you to experience a new environment and enrich your life. However, you must ensure your car is prepared to take the trip. The following are some tips for getting your car ready for such an adventure.

1. Get Your Oil Changed

An oil change is necessary to prepare your vehicle for a long road trip. NerdWallet states that car owners should change their oil at least once every 5,000 miles . Their statement coincides well with that of most automobile experts, who recommend changing the oil at 3,000 to 7,500 miles.

Some experts recommend months instead of miles. For example, your local mechanic might say you should change your oil every three months instead of every 3,000 miles. The automobile manufacturer determines the true frequency of car oil changes, however, and it depends on the make and model of your vehicle and the type of oil it requires. Synthetic oil lasts longer than standard oil and allows for a longer wait time between oil change jobs.

You must consider getting this maintenance procedure done before you travel because it will protect your sensitive engine components from friction, wear, and overheating.

2. Check Your Tires

Checking your tires is an automatic requirement, whether taking a long or short trip. You'll need to ensure your tires have the correct pressure, which the manufacturer recommends. You will also need to verify that you have good tread on your tires and don't see symptoms of wear, tear, or damage. If any of those issues exist, you can have your tires replaced at your local automotive shop.

3. Get Roadside Assistance

Sign up for a roadside assistance plan before you engage in a cross-country trip. The roadside assistance plan will give you access to immediate help with common on-the-road problems if an issue arises during any part of the trip. If necessary, you can get gas top-ups, battery jumps, tire changes, and towing assistance. The benefits typically take a few days to start, so you'll need to sign up for them at least a week before you go on your trip.

4. Make Sure Your Insurance Is Good

Check your car insurance policy and ensure you have all the necessary features. For example, ensure you have comprehensive collision coverage in case you get into an unexpected accident and need repairs. Some states are also aware of personal injury damages to car accident victims when neglect occurs. For example, California is an at-fault state , meaning that the person who causes an accident will be responsible for paying the offended party a settlement that covers auto repairs, medical bills, lost wages, and the like.

5. Invest in a Tuneup

Consider investing in a tuneup before you take your vehicle on a large trip. A spark plug change and a little tweak can make your car much more efficient in fuel consumption and cause the overall performance to be many times better. Thus, you can save money while extending your vehicle's life.

You might also want to have a mechanic check the rest of your vehicle and inspect it for long-distance fitness. That one trip to the repair shop can ease your mind about going across the country and help you spot a potential problem.

6. Check the Upholstery

Finally, you might want to consider doing some upholstery upgrades before going on your amazing adventure. PR Newswire claims the automotive industry will reach a $9.37 billion value by 2028. You can contribute to that increase by investing in your upholstery. Doing so can make the inside of your vehicle more comfortable for you and your passengers during travel. It can also give you the confidence to drive in a car with elegant seating and a comfortable steering wheel.

Talk to some upholstery specialists in your area about some upgrades you can get before going away. You'll most likely be pleased with the results.

You can get your car 100% ready for a long and happy road trip if you follow the tips described above. Enjoy yourself and have a great time!

The post How to Prepare Your Car for a Cross-Country Road Trip appeared first on Kellys Thoughts On Things .

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Cross Country: 15 Best Road Trip Cars
What Are The Best Vehicles For A Cross-Country Road Trip?
Best Road-Trip Cars and Best Cars for Cross-Country Driving
Best Road-Trip Cars and Best Cars for Cross-Country Driving
How to Choose the Best Car for Your Cross-Country Road Trip
12 Best Vehicles for a Cross Country Road Trip in 2017

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Day 28 Cross country car camping cost
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Car Cross country Trials

COMMENTS

Best Road Trip Cars in 2024 and 2025
2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. $32,575 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10. The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is among the best in its class and was a finalist for our Best Hybrid SUV for the Money and Best Hybrid SUV for Families awards this year. The regular hybrid is the best for road tripping, with up to 38 mpg on the highway.
The 15 Best Road Trip Cars 2024
2022 BMW M440i Convertible. For the romance of seeing the country with the wind ripping through your hair, and with the power and prestige of a BMW, the 382 horsepower BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline ...
Best Road-Trip Cars and Best Cars for Cross-Country Driving
BMW M5. James Lipman/Gooding & Company. No matter which generation of M5 you're into, they make for a fantastic cross-country car. We're partial to the E39 thanks to its wonderful V-8, understated ...
The Best Vehicles for Road Trips in 2024
Ford Mustang Mach-E. Best for: Electric adventures With at least 250 miles of range, and up to 312 miles with the optional range extended battery, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is suitable for a road trip, even if the trip you're considering is all the way across the country. What makes the Mustang Mach-E such a strong road trip contender, even as an electric car, is how it drives.
10 Best Road-Trip Vehicles That You Can Buy Right Now
All the vehicles featured here, except the Buick, come standard with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking. (AEB) with pedestrian detection. (The advanced safety systems ...
10 Best Vehicles for a Cross Country Road Trip
2017 Aston Martin DB11. The Aston Martin DB11 is the company's Grand Tourer. Heck, one could argue that the British invented Grand Touring. So it makes absolute sense to include it on a list of the best road trip machines to eat up miles crossing a continent. Sure it's expensive, but you get what you pay for.
From efficient to exotic, these are the best road trip cars for
The cars on this list are unique vehicles that you'll want to drive cross-country on an adventure to find some of the best routes in America. Contents. Lamborghini Urus. Jeep Cherokee XJ ...
The Best Road Trip Cars for Exploring Solo, Sightseeing with Family
Mazda6. The Mazda6 is a good-looking sport sedan with a stylish interior designed for maximum comfort, a necessity when you're spending days on the road. The Mazda6 gives you a peppy, smooth ...
The Best Road Trip Cars From Every Category
The Wagon: 2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country The Volvo V60 Cross Country excels in various aspects such as space, speed, off-road capability, etc. This versatile vehicle is a gem for road trips and an ...
10 Best Road Trip Cars of 2021
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The first-ever 3-row Jeep Grand Cherokee rides on a longer wheelbase than the standard model. It has a new, high-tech interior with one of the best infotainment systems ...
The Best Road Trip Cars
2020 Volvo XC90. 2020 Toyota Prius. 2020 Mazda MX-5. 2020 Jaguar F-Type Convertible. Lexus LS 400. Volkswagen Westfalia Camper. Ford Crown Victoria. Show 9 more items. The best road trip cars have ...
The 10 Best Road Trip Cars
Best Affordable Pick: One of the most versatile vehicles currently on the market, the latest generation Subaru Outback is a fantastic road trip car with seating for five, more than 75 cubic feet of cargo space, and an optional turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine. With features like 9.5" of ground clearance and asymmetrical all-wheel drive as standard, the Outback is also capable of some ...
10 Best Affordable Road Trip Cars
9. 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. If the Chevy Traverse's 5,200-pound towing capacity seems puny to you, perhaps the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel's 9,050-lb capacity is more like it. If your road trip involves ...
The best cars to rent for every kind of road trip
The standard Mustang is no slouch: It comes equipped with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. But if you really want to have fun carving the curves of a long and winding coastal highway, splurge for the GT convertible, which comes with a 5.0-liter V8 producing 460 horsepower and 420 lb ...
Best Cars For A Cross-Country Road Trip
Dodge Durango. Powerhouse carmaker Dodge lives up to its dynamic reputation with the Durango, a crossover that delivers power in a pretty package. This model blends the family friendliness of a minivan with the strength of a muscle car, making it an excellent option for cross-country tours. Keyless entry and push-button ignition make getting on ...
The Great American Road Trip: an Itinerary for Driving Cross Country
Generally speaking, there are three main routes to drive cross country: northern, central, and southern. Mostly self-explanatory, the northern route stays on a path across the northern states like Minnesota, Montana, or Idaho. The central route follows a path across the middle states, like Kansas and Colorado.
8 PHENOMENAL Cross Country Road Trip Routes
Time Needed: 3000 Miles, Can be done in two weeks, but three weeks is ideal (one way). Highlights: Great Basin National Park, Colorado National Monument, Washington D.C, Lake Tahoe, Moab, Arches National Park. TIP: Make sure your car is in GREAT condition for this road trip.
How to plan the ultimate road trip across the USA
The shortest amount of time to drive from the West Coast to the East Coast (or vice versa) is between four and six days. This kind of road trip requires eight to 10 hours of driving each day — leaving you little time to make pit stops. People with more time can spend a few hours driving per day or even stay several days in one location.
11 Epic Cross-Country American Road Trips
With a fold-out souvenir map and the top 50 road trips across the U.S., this handsome travel guide offers strategic lists and routes organized by region. Choose from lists of the best coastal drives, cross-country journeys, trips for kids, awe-inspiring views, and more.
How to Prepare Your Car for a Cross-Country Road Trip
1. Get Your Oil Changed. An oil change is necessary to prepare your vehicle for a long road trip. NerdWallet states that car owners should change their oil at least once every 5,000 miles. Their ...
THE BEST Things to Do in Monino
Things to Do in Monino, Russia: See Tripadvisor's 294 traveler reviews and photos of Monino tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in September. We have reviews of the best places to see in Monino. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Elektrostal
Things to Do in Elektrostal. 1. Electrostal History and Art Museum. 2. Statue of Lenin. 3. Park of Culture and Leisure. 4. Museum and Exhibition Center.
RESTAURANT GLOBUS, Elektrostal
Review. Share. 67 reviews. #2 of 28 Restaurants in Elektrostal $$ - $$$, European, Contemporary, Vegetarian Friendly. Fryazevskoye Hwy., 14, Elektrostal Russia. + Add phone number + Add website + Add hours Improve this listing. There aren't enough food, service, value or atmosphere ratings for Restaurant Globus yet.
ALLIANCE
Alliance, Zheleznodorozhny: See traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Alliance, ranked #1 of 2 B&Bs / inns in Zheleznodorozhny and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

Best Road Trip Cars in 2024 and 2025

The Best Cars, Minivans and SUVs for Road Trips

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

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2024 Volkswagen Atlas

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2024 Ford Mustang

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2024 Chevrolet Suburban

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2024 Kia Carnival

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2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

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2024 Lincoln Navigator

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2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

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2024 Genesis G90

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2025 Ram 1500

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2024 Honda Civic

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Road Trip Car Characteristics

Road Trip Car FAQs

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Best Cars for Road Trips in 2024 and 2025

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From efficient to exotic, these are the best road trip cars for exploring the country

Lamborghini Urus

Editors' Recommendations

The Best Road Trip Cars for Exploring Solo, Sightseeing with Family, and More

For packing in the whole family

Chevy Suburban

For trekking 2,500 miles across the country

Genesis G70

For exploring solo, safely

Ford Mustang

Honda Accord

For navigating the backroads

Subaru Ascent

Volkswagen Atlas

For going greener

Toyota Prius

Jaguar I-Pace

The Best Road Trip Cars From Every Category

Civic Hatchback

The Hatchback: 2024 Honda Civic Hatch

The Crossover: 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The Sports Car: 2024 Mustang GT Coupe

The Wagon: 2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country

The Minivan: 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid

The Truck: 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor

The Full-Size SUV: 2023 Cadillac Escalade

The Grand Tourer: 2024 Lexus LC Hybrid

The Luxury Sedan: 2024 Audi S8

The Convertible: 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet

The best road trip cars

2020 Subaru Crosstrek

Editors' Recommendations

The 10 Best Road Trip Cars for Open-Road Adventures

The Best Road Trip Cars Rundown

Subaru Outback

Ford Bronco Sport

Abarth 124GT

Volvo XC60 Recharge

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Audi RS 6 Avant Performance

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo

BMW ALPINA B8 xDrive Gran Coupe

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid

Aston Martin DBX707

Long-Haul Legends