Ten Family Road Trip Ideas in The U.S. You Should Experience

Road tripping is one of the popular traditions in America. The tradition took off back in the 1950s, and after seventy years, the tradition is still prevalent. Some people are hesitant to go on a road trip with the family, but you can get unforgettable memories with the right planning. Here is an article with the list of top ten family road trip ideas in the U.S.

All you need to do to make the road trip special is choose the right path, take stops at short distances, some captivating entertainment, and a lot of beautiful sights. 

You might have visited the best family vacation places in the USA, but give a shot to a road trip this time.  Whether you are planning to spend a week or a single day, there are various road trips for you and your family. 

Best Family Road Trip Ideas 

Every family should include a road trip on their vacation as it allows you to create long-lasting memories. Road trips allow families to reconnect and experience a journey together. Here is a list of the best road trips you should experience with your family. 

Utah’s Scenic Byway Highway 12

The drive along this road is 122 miles. Though it could be covered in a few hours, it would be better to give a few days to it in order to appreciate nature’s beauty and reconnect with your family. The highway is one of the best family road trip destinations. 

It is also known as “A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.” It takes you through Capitol Reef national parks and Bryce Canyon. The road also includes Escalante Petrified Forest, Anasazi State Parks, and Kodachrome Basin along the way, which makes it perfect for a road trip with kids. 

The best part is that the road is highly captivating and provides a lookout over the surrounding landscape, which will make your journey memorable. 

Acadia Park Loop

Acadia Park Loop Road is a 27-mile route. It is the main road for navigating the beautiful Acadia National Park present on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. You can start with the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and navigate the large one-way road. Also, remember to stop regularly at the stops along the way. 

On the road trip with kids on Acadia Park Loop road, you will find picturesque views of the ocean, mountains, beaches, lakes, and scenery, and trust me, your kids will love these landscapes. 

Route 66

It is one of the best-known fun road trip destinations in America. On Route 66, you will find everything, including vintage neon roads and retro diners, which makes the trip exciting and fun. The trip is 2,448 miles, and it runs from Chicago to Santa Monica.

On the route, there are no rules regarding picking a portion to enjoy. There is a choice section in the beginning part in Illinois, which is on the route between Chicago and Springfield. This route is around 200 miles and has amazing stops along the way. You can check out the various museums, Old Joliet Prison, and enjoy the diner meals along the way. 

Miami to the Florida Keys

If you and your family love getting active in the water with pursuits such as diving, boating, snorkeling, or fishing, the Florida Keys is a perfect getaway for you. A road trip is the best way to enjoy this archipelago, which comprises around 120 islands on a sun-tinged and chilled out day. The trip starts from Miami and ends in the southern tip of West.

You can stop in the way to explore the Everglades before heading on the remaining 167-mile journey of three to four days. During the journey, you will cross the seven Mile Bridge. You can either complete this road trip in a day or can take longer stops and spend a few overnights.

Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and the Grand Teton

Mount Rushmore is a well-worn route that you can complete over the span of a week. The route starts from the presidential statue at Mount Rushmore situated in South Dakota. It includes famous destinations like Yellow Park, which explores popular spreads over Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. You can spend some days while exploring popular sites such as Old Faithful. Here, you will get the opportunity to spot the wildlife with the kids. 

After this, you can take a nine-mile drive to Grand-Teton National Park. Here you can enjoy exploring the mountain ranges and picturesque hikes. 

Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast Highway runs from Seattle to San Diego and is a road trip of 1,650 miles. You can either make one family road trip or could complete it on two different vacations. 

The Northern part of the road trip runs between Seattle and San Francisco, and it is about 1,075 miles long. The highway splits near Leggett, California. From here, you can either continue on 101 or move towards the Pacific Coast Highway 1, which will take you to San Francisco. 

Starting from San Francisco, the highway provides you numerous stops, including Santa Cruz, Malibu, Big Sur, Santa Monica, Money, and many more. Some best activities along this route include enjoying the beach in Malibu and watching whales in Monterey. 

Seward Highway

Exploring the Seward highway is one of the best family road trip ideas. It includes various amazing vistas such as glaciers, rivers, wetlands, and beautiful snow-capped mountains. The highway will make you feel like you are in a fairyland. This 125-mile long route from Anchorage to Seward includes various points along the way like Chugach National Forest, Bear Creek, and the glacial Kenai Lake. 

You can either complete the ride in three hours or can make it an all-day affair. The best way to end the trip is to spend one night in Seward and spend a day exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. Here you can enjoy dining on fresh fish and can watch whales. 

San Juan Skyway

This 230 miles long road is one of the best family road trip ideas. It is a loop that allows you to explore some of the best sceneries, including peaks, forests, and lakes. Along the way, you will find various interesting towns to stop and stay, which makes it a three-four days trip. 

You will get the opportunity to visit the luscious hot springs in Ouray, do kayaking and take a trip on a steam train in Durango. After this, you can take a trip to the beautiful and historic Mesa Verde National Park. It showcases the amazing cliff dwelling of the Pueblo people, who used to live there. 

Tribal Park Loop in Monument Valley

If you have never heard of the Monument Valley, then it is a must explore trip for you. It will allow you to explore beautiful sceneries. The road has been a backdrop in various Hollywood movies. The arid red landscapes and sand towers have been captured on the screen multiple times. 

The loop is only 17 miles long and is a trip of only four hours. You can stay here overnight and explore tours with the Navajo guide to the sites that you can not access alone. Here you and your family can soak up the history and rich culture of this area. 

Blue Ridge Parkway

This road runs between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is a 469-mile path that is made along the Appalachian Mountain Range. Most of the trails are two to three days long; they begin in Charlottesville and end in Asheville.

Along this beautiful route, you will encounter Mile High Swinging Bridge, various mesmerizing hikes, and the water Sliding Rock. You can complete this route in five days, and it is better if you explore it with your older kids. 

Final Words

A road trip with family is the best way to connect with your family members and have a good time with them. We have made a list of best family road trip ideas to help you in creating lifetime memories with your loved one. Do share your experience with us by dropping a comment.