Part 3 - Top 5 U.S. Road Trip Locations

“Cause I’m from the city; a long way from the city, and that’s where I wanna be right now,” an eccentric on the road informs Dennis Hopper’s character in the 1969 classic, Easy Rider.  Since the expansion of highways in the early 1900s, road trips have become a quintessential American staple that everyone has to experience at least once in his or her lifetime.  Except, this time, you’re not on a motorcycle; and your traveling party probably consists of more than two (with kids, no less).

If you read our last two blog posts, 

then your car is packed, food prepped, and your vehicle raring to go. All that is left is figuring out the final destination and which routes to take to get there.  We’ve got a couple of suggestions that may make the last bit easier on you. 

Here are Sansone Automall’s top 5 U.S. routes for road tripping:

5) If you ever find yourself on the west coast in Oregon, or perhaps you’re that one brave soul who is driving cross-country, then you should definitely plan on cruising through US Route 30. Built between 1913 and 1922, this scenic highway will take you all the way through the Columbia River Gorge. At the end of the 75-mile drive, if you’re westbound, you will find yourself just outside Portland. Other attractions along the way include the Vista House at Crown Point and Multnomah Falls.

4) Hana Highway will no doubt be the oddest among our list, but it is by far the most exotic. A popular tourist attraction in Hawaii, this 52-mile drive actually takes two and a half hours thanks to 620 curves and narrow roads. There are 59 bridges along the way, and 46 are one lane wide.  Regardless, if any of you make it to Hawaii this summer, then be sure to make a day trip for this one.

3) The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road. Spanning 469 miles along the Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is a part of the Appalachian Mountains, this parkway has been the most visited unit of the National Park System every year since 1946 (aside from 1949).  This one is for any nature enthusiast who loves breathing in crisp, cool mountain air.

2) Rather go South than West? How about traveling down the East Coast on US Route 1?.  We wager the latter is significantly more scenic than going down the beltline as you’ll be able to see vegetation and not flat, endless plains of reddish brown! This 2,369-mile road runs from Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, to Key West, Florida.  You will get to experience all the benefits of varied scenery and temperature without having to deal with changes in time zones, too.  

1) Did you really think it’d be anything else? Route 66, also known as the Main Street of America, has been immortalized in countless pieces of literature, art, and pop culture. The road is 2,448 miles of asphalt; and, although, this iconic stretch of blacktop has waned over the years, there’s still something inexplicably captivating about it.  While it may not be the best trip to take with a group of young children or teens, this is definitely the one for any introspective driver just looking to get away from it all and experience old, true, America.

That’s all we have for this week, but check in next time to see what stops you should make along the way on your next cross-country trip.  And, if you still haven’t done so yet, come get your car checked out at Sansone Automall before the next trek.