Ready for a spring break road trip? Whether you’re on the West Coast, East Coast, or somewhere in between, we’ve got a road trip for you that’ll have all the scenery, adventure and perfect pit-stops you need. Grab your besties, save your favorite routes to your phone, and get going!
1. Overseas Highway, FL
How does a few days of road-tripping surrounded by tropical blue water and clear skies sound? We’re guessing pretty good, and if so, we’ve got just the spot for you. The Overseas Highway does just what it sounds like: takes you for a few days of driving literally over the ocean.
Where to Start: Start in Miami and make your way south to Key West.
Must-Stops: Islamorada for good food and quiet(er) beaches. If you’re into scuba diving, definitely stop in Key Largo. There’s tons of amazing diving spots with reefs, shipwrecks and heaps of fish.
Spend the Night Here: Jules’ Undersea Lodge: a hotel that’s completely underwater! You’ll have to scuba dive to your room, so if that doesn’t appeal to you, there’s plenty of other places to stay in Marathon or Islamorada.
2. Pacific Coast Highway, CA
Endless miles of ocean views, sweeping cliffs and vista points, and CA sunshine? Sign us up. Hit up the Pacific Coast Highway in California for an epic spring break road trip that’ll have a little bit of everything.
Where to Start: Start in Los Angeles and head north or start in San Francisco and head south. Either way, just follow Hwy 1 and you’ll be good to go.
Must-Stops: Go hiking in Big Sur—McWay Falls or anywhere in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Check ahead online or in a ranger station to see what’s open—many trails are seasonal. Don’t miss exploring, shopping and eating in Carmel-By-the-Sea and Santa Barbara.
Spend the Night Here: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Big Sur and Carmel-By-The-Sea are all great places to spend an evening.
3. Route 66
Nothing says an All-American road trip quite like a drive on Route 66. If you don’t have time to do the whole thing, start where you are and drive as much as you can. Route 66 is a great way to make your way to some of the most popular American cities while enjoying a classic road trip route.
Where to Start: Route 66 starts in Chicago and stretches all the way down to LA. Start wherever you are!
Must-Stops: Chicago, St. Louis, Santa Fe, the Grand Canyon and Los Angeles are all on your route (or close to it). Pick one close to you and go explore!
Spend the Night Here: Spend a few nights exploring some of the big cities mentioned above. Need a place to spend the night in between? Book cheap hotels on the go using our app.
4. San Juan Skyway, CO
Winding roads through the mountains of Colorado on the San Juan Skyway are clustered with hiking, amazing ski spots, and tons of hot springs. So whether you’re ready for a mountain adventure or just want to enjoy the drive and relax in some hot springs along the way, you can find it here.
Where to Start: Drive up from Sante Fe or south from Denver or Colorado Springs. The San Juan Skyway makes a big loop, so it doesn’t matter too much where you start!
Must-Stops: The unbelievable scenery as you’re driving will mean tons of pulling over just for pics. But be sure to stop for hiking (the Blue Lakes trails are a great place to start) or for a soak in local hot springs.
Spend the Night Here: Comparatively, this is a much shorter route that could be done in a day or two if you’re crunched for time (it definitely deserves longer). Stay in Ouray (for the hot springs) or Telluride (for the skiing), or camp along the way the San Juan National Forest.
5. 30A, FL
Looking for a chill way to enjoy that spring break beach trip? We might have the answer. The 30A highway in Florida is perfect for a relaxing trip along white sand beaches, calm waters, and endless ocean views. It’s a lot quieter than other places in Florida, so if you really need to just chill out, this should be your go-to.
Where to Start: Start in Panama City and head west toward Destin.
Must-Stops: It’s nonstop beaches all the way, so pick your favs and stop whenever you need some sunbathing. Grayton Beach is quirky and a must-stop for the beaches and the shopping, plus some amazing food (try Chiringo for beach tapas!). Stop at Airstream Row (in Seaside) for retro food trucks housed in airstream trailers.
Spend the Night Here: Seaside and Seagrove are two great towns to stay in. But with so many beaches and restaurants all along the highway, you really can’t go wrong anywhere.
6. Southwest National Parks
One of the best ways to make sure your road trip is exciting and new every day is driving through National Parks, where you’re guaranteed to have amazing views and scenic driving all day long. There’s a huge concentration of National Parks in the southwest, so why not head there for a warm and scenic road trip?
Where to Start: Start in Phoenix and drive up toward Salt Lake City. If you have time, you can pop up to Wyoming as well.
Must-Stops: Hit up the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon in Arizona before heading up to Utah. Once you’re in Utah, stop at Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Arches National Park.
Where to Stay: There’s camping available in all of the National Parks, and most have lodges and budget hotels as well if you don’t want to tent-camp. Flagstaff, Springdale and Moab are all good places to find non-camping places to stay.
7. Olympic Peninsula, WA
The Pacific Northwest is an ideal place for a road trip any time of year, but especially so during spring break, when cool days and rainy evenings refresh the forests and coat the region in moody mists. Plus, you don’t have to stray far from major cities (and easy-to-get-to-airports!) in order to have an amazing road trip.
Where to Start: Start in Seattle. It’s a big loop, so you go either way, but we recommend heading south first. Follow Hwy 101 in a big loop around Olympic National Park.
Must-Stops: With absolutely no shortage of stunning views and incredible stops, it’s tough to narrow things down. Squeeze in a hike if that’s your jam (Mount Storm King is stunning!), or enjoy hours of stunning drives by the sea. Either way, don’t miss the Hoh Rainforest—one of the world’s largest temperate rainforests!—and the Sol Duc Falls (including the hot springs!).
Spend the Night Here: If you’re on a budget, there’s plenty of areas for camping along the way. If you’d rather have four walls and running water, though, stay in Port Angeles, Aberdeen or Forks.
8. Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
If you enjoy hiking and being outdoors, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a no-brainer. There’s tons of mountains, waterfalls, and beautiful views the whole way—whether you want to get out and hike them or enjoy them while you’re cruising with the windows down is totally up to you.
Where to Start: Start near Charlottesville, VA (just two hours from Washington, D.C.) and head south. Finish off your trip in Asheville, a hip and artsy city with amazing food.
Must-Stops: Check out some waterfalls at the Cascades or Linville Falls. Climb Chimney Rock for sweeping views over the valley. Or just turn up the music and enjoy the drive.
Spend the Night Here: Little Switzerland, Roanoke and Asheville all have plenty of places to stay, from cheap hotels to bed & breakfasts.
Ready for a road trip, but can’t find something close to you? We’ve got the cheap flights you need to make your dream road trip a reality. Fly into Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, or Chicago and get ready to hit the road.
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