Summer is here. What are you waiting for? Pack those bags, fill up the gas tank, and hit the road with our summer road trip guide. Inside this post are three different possible routes to adventure on Route 66, Overseas Highway and Skyline Drive.
Ready to find out more?
Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
This 150-mile drive from Miami through the Florida Keys on iconic Route 1 has been the backdrop to many movie scene chases and car commercials throughout the years. It crosses over 42 bridges, including the Seven-Mile bridge in Pigeon Key.
While it’s the shortest road trip on this list, and could probably be completed in fours, you’ll quickly learn that’s not the way things are done through these parts. The people of the Keys are carefree and laidback. So, in true Keys fashion- take your time, make frequent stops, and enjoy every bit of the ride. There are plenty of seafood dives and touristy things along the way to keep you busy. Grab a beer, some fresh conch fritters, and a piece of authentic key lime pie.
Key Attractions: The Theatre of the Sea, Pennekamp Coral Reef Park, and Sunset Celebration.
California’s Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway is California’s longest highway north to south (or south to north) along the Pacific coastline and one of the most well-known scenic drives in the United States. It’s approximately 653 miles from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County. Without stopping, it would take you around 10 hours from start to finish. But again, where’s the fun in that? There’s much to see and appreciate.
Key Attractions:
The Golden Gate Bridge, Winchester Mystery House, Half Moon Bay, Monterey Bay, Bixby Bridge, Santa Barbara Zoo, and the Mendocino Headlands.
Route 66
Get your summer kicks on Route 66; the famous 2,500 miles, cross-country road trip which has been captivating the hearts and minds of roadtrippers ever since it’s completion in the late 1930s. It’s often referred to as the “Mother Road” or “The Main Street of America.”
While the Southwest portion of Route 66 offers a lot of splendid scenery, don’t neglect the start of the route in Illinois, which officially begins at the entrance of Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. You will journey from Chicago to Los Angeles, ending on the Santa Monica Pier.
Key Attractions: The Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum in Illinois, 66 Drive-in Theatre in Missouri, the Cadillac Ranch in Texas, and The Santa Monica Pier in California.
