The hallmark of America is quite possibly the plethora of wonderful sights and must-see destinations spread over our large and diverse nation. With summer fast approaching, now is the best time to start planning your cross-country trips. One of the hardest parts of plotting your course is deciding which path to take and where to stop along the way. These five routes are our top picks for road trips you have to make before you die.
The Total Tourist Route
This route is guaranteed to hit America’s top 50 tourist stops across the country. When the desire to hit the road takes over, this is the route for you. See nearly every tourist spot in the nation with Michigan State University Randy Olson’s computer-generated course that takes up to three months to complete.
Olson’s plan offers road trippers a colossal mix of rare sights, inner-city hotspots, destination amenities, beautiful natural landscapes, and must-see historical sites. If you want to minimize your time on the road and maximize your sightseeing, this route nails it for the best road trip.
Lincoln Highway
Follow the manifest destiny of car travel with the granddaddy of America’s thoroughfare system: The Lincoln Highway. The first transcontinental highway was born of auto racing great Carl Fisher’s dream of a coast-to-coast road. Opened in 1913, it traversed over 3,000 miles from Times Square in New York to San Francisco, California.
Today, this American highway is more primitive than you might imagine, and roads left unprotected for almost a century have suffered. However, since 1992 the Lincoln Highway Association dedicates its resources to revitalizing the remaining portions of the highway and its historic sites for travelers to continue to enjoy. The centennial celebration of the famed 1915 tour led by the Association featured 103 tourists driving 55 cars over 12 thrilling days.
U.S. Route 6
If you’re looking to jump on one single route, then consider U.S. 6. Also known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, in honor of American Civil War veterans, Route 6 crosses the country from sea to shining sea starting either in Bishop, California, or Provincetown, Massachusetts.
See a considerable portion of the country along U.S. 6, from the 1851 Mormon settlement in Spanish Fork, Utah, to Loveland Pass where you’ll travel 11,990 feet over the majestic Colorado Rockies, finally driving across the Sagamore Bridge onto Cape Cod.
Jefferson Highway
Your next cross-country road trip doesn’t necessarily have to travel east to west. Known as the Crossroads of America, the Jefferson Highway is a 2,300-mile-long route that starts in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and runs all the way to the coast in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nicknamed the Pine to Palm Highway, discover the vast range of diverse landscapes along the way. The Jefferson Highway Association hosts an annual bus tour in late April using the same route that’s been popular since 1923.
No matter which of our four famous routes you choose, buckle up and hit the highway. The road trip of your dreams is out there waiting for you.
Image via Flickr by Astro Zhang Yu licensed via CC BY 2.0
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