A lot of people think twice about going on road trips, since they’re known for being expensive. However, you don’t have to spend much to get the best experience of your life. There are many fascinating road trip destinations in the US that you can do without breaking the bank. Here’s 10:
#1 Columbia River Highway, Oregon
The Columbia River Highway is one of the oldest routes in the US. The route is located in Oregon and winds 75-miles down from The Dallas to Troutdale, which is just East of Portland. You can also pass through US Route 30 and Oregon 35, on the way.
The route houses the best sceneries in Oregon. When you take this route, you can see magnificent views from the Columbia River. You can also see several mountain range views and waterfalls, like Horsetails and Multnomah Falls. There’s also a short scenic detour on the Mount Hood Scenic Loop.
You can accomplish the whole route in a day.
#2 Drive Route 66’s Singing Road, New Mexico
Route 66 is known as the Singing Route because of the musical rumble it makes as you drive along it. There’s a section of route 66 that plays “America the Beautiful” because of precisely placed rubble that plays notes as you drive over it at a speed of 45KM/H. The musical stretch goes from Albuquerque going to Tijeras.
According to National Geographic, this project is part of a show called “Crowd Control”. The show aims to experiment with social behavior. They also believe that the rhythmic sounds on the road can help drivers focus as they drive.
#3 Historic Route 66, New Mexico
The Historic Route 66 is one of the most quintessential roads in the US. This road houses many of the historical scenic views from 1926 to 1985. The road is about 2,500 miles long. It passes through Chicago, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, up to LA, California.
Many travelers opt to travel the whole highway, stopping off at some tourist destinations, like St. Louis, Missouri for the St. Louis Arch and Flagstaff, Arizona for the Coconino National Forest desert landscape. There are also many nifty ghost towns along the way. You can finish the whole route, in about a week or so.
#4 Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, Colorado
This route is often associated with the science fiction movie “Jurassic Park”. The road stretches from Colorado to Utah. Along the way, you can see several paleontological sites, as well as a couple of National Parks.
Make sure to start at The Grand Junction in Colorado. From there, you can drive northwest to the town called Dinosaur. The town includes the Dinosaur National Monument, where you can see recovered paleontological artifacts, as well as the Utah Field House of National History State Park Museum, where you can see life-size dinosaurs in the museum's garden.
#5 Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire
If you want a more adventurous route, you can head out to Mount Washington Auto Road in New Hampshire. This route runs about 7.5 miles, ending at Mount Washington’s peak. The road includes one of the most beautiful views from the peak of Mount Washington.
A little planning is needed before driving along the Mount Washington Auto Road because of the cost of the road, which is $28 USD, and rapidly changing weather conditions. There are personnel, stationed along this route, to ensure that no one will attempt to drive through in bad weather conditions.
You need to finish the whole route in one day, since there aren’t any hotels for stopovers. Make sure that you’re equipped with the basics, like food, water, extra clothes for the weather, and fuel. It is often suggested that you visit this road around May and October because of the good weather at this time of the year. If you wish to check out the road during the winter season, you can ride with the Mount Washington SnowCoach for about $49 USD.
#6 The Overseas Highway, Florida
The Overseas Highway is often called, “the highway that goes to the sea”. This road is largely built over the former East Coast Railroad, continuing from Miami to Key West. Many travelers opt to take this road because of the scenic views, on the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean.
The original road was damaged during a 1935 hurricane. A year or so later the road was fully repaired, including the restoration of the coral bedrocks, situated along the way to Key West.
If you wish to take this route, there are the things that you need to remember. When driving on the highway, make sure to check your speed limit. Over-speeding is a big no-no and the route is covered in Highway Patrol officers.
There are several stopover places that you can explore on your break, like Key Largo’s seafood restaurants and the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada. The museum houses several diving artifacts. You can also stopover at the Theater of the Sea, another tourist spot in Islamorada. You can swim with dolphins and watch aquatic shows, featuring sea lions and dolphins.
The drive to Key West, along the Overseas Highway can be really long, so make sure that you start early in the day.
#7 Black River National Forest, Michigan
The Black River National Forest used to be a wagon trail in the 1800s. This route includes a beautiful view of the Ottawa National Forest, as well as several waterfalls. You can make stopovers at hiking destinations and swimming holes, as well as stay overnight at the Black River Harbor Parkway Campground. You can explore the Rainbow Falls located on the park’s premises.
#8 Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, and Virginia
If you are planning a road trip in the fall, you should consider going to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The autumn leaves decorate the whole parkway, stretching across 469 miles, from South Appalachia to the Scenic Route 100 Byway, to the edge of Green Mountains of Vermont City.
There are a lot of things to do on your stopovers. There are camping sites, lodges, and restaurants, as well as a designated visitor’s center. You can see many attractive landscapes, like the James River, Peak of Otter, Mabry Mills, just to name a few.
#9 Hana Highway, Hawaii
If you happen to be in Maui, Hawaii, you should take a short road trip to Hana. One of the beautiful things about this highway is that it’s covered in luscious green leaves. The road is surrounded by dense rainforest areas and you can finish the whole trip in less than a day.
You can stopover at the Haleakala National Park for free camping. You will only need to pay $10 entrance fee of the park.
#10 Pacific Coast Highway 1, California
If you are looking for a one-day road trip, you can head down to the Pacific Coast Highway 1. The entire highway stretches 24 miles in length. The highway stretches between Big Sur and Monterey, where you can see several sea lions and whales along the Pacific Ocean. You can also see the Bixby Bridge and the Point Sur Lighthouse.
If you wish to explore more on this highway, there are several camping sites in the area of Carmel, which cost about $40 a night.
Tips On How to Save During Road Trips
Once you have decided where to go, there are several things that you need to consider:
- Camp Out: Compared to hotels and lodges, you can save more if you decide to camp. Usually, hotels cost around $100 a night, depending on the location, whereas campsites are around $15-50 a night. Make sure to always pack tents and other camping gear for your road trips.
- Pack Food: There are some treks that don’t have many stopovers. It's best to pack food, so you’re safe in case of the munchies. If you are camping out, make sure to bring a cooler with you to keep your food fresh for longer.
- Plan Ahead: If you plan to stick to a small budget, make sure to research your road trips. You can find affordable and free attractions beforehand, so that you end up spending less on your road trip. You can also save up ahead of time if you wish to take a more expensive route.
- Stick to the budget: Set aside a small amount of money for souvenirs and other things. If you’re bringing your children along, make sure to make them wait until the end of the trip to buy things. That way you can minimize expenses along the way.
Conclusion
Above, are just some of the road trips, you can take solo or with your friends and family. Make sure to plan ahead to get the most out of your trip.
