There’s a lot to consider when planning a road trip with all the family, especially if young kids are involved. There's all the extra gear you need to somehow fit into the car or RV, and making sure there will be enough activities to keep everyone happy. Most importantly, though, you need a journey that brings smiles to faces with incredible views and fun stuff to do along the route. Here are some of the best road trips across America to suit families, from nature lovers to alien hunters.
Of the 11 spindly stretches of water that make up New York’s Finger Lakes, Cayuga is perhaps the easiest to explore via car. It’s skimmed by an 87-mile (140km) scenic byway that’s designed to be taken at a leisurely pace. Running from Seneca Falls in the north to Ithaca in the south and looping around the opposite shore, Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway is ideal for families seeking a mix of outdoor adventures, pretty scenery and cute villages to explore.
You could do it in a day or even a couple of hours, but that would mean missing out on fun such as exploring the water via boat or kayak, pottering around art studios and quirky shops in Ithaca and lunching at one of the wineries just off the byway. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, home to bald eagles and waterfowl, is a particular highlight, as is the 215-foot (66m) cascade in Taughannock Falls State Park.
You could drive long stretches of George Parks Highway and barely see another soul or vehicle, which makes it better suited to families with older children. It’s the perfect adventure for outdoorsy types, thanks to its 323 miles (520km) of awe-inspiring wilderness. It will take a full afternoon at least (including stop-offs) but it's well worth it. Running between the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks, it skirts the eastern edge of Denali National Park, before cutting across a corner of the six million-acre wilderness.
As the only road that ventures into Denali, the highway provides an accessible way to see its alpine forest and mountain slopes, home to curly-horned Dall sheep, wolves, grizzlies and black bears. Look out for Denali itself – North America’s tallest peak – and hike by rivers and lakes. Allow time to explore Fairbanks and Anchorage, each with an appealing mix of galleries, museums and family-friendly dining. Visit in summer for the midnight sun, or from August to April for a chance to see the sky swirl with the Northern Lights.
Love this? Follow our Facebook page for more travel inspiration
Kids (and grown-ups) who love sci-fi will adore travelling along Nevada State Route 375. Running for 98 miles (158km) between Crystal Springs and Tonopah, it can be covered in a couple of hours and is an easy drive from Las Vegas. The fun is in the quirky attractions along the route, officially named Extraterrestrial Highway following numerous reports of alien sightings, and since Area 51 is located just off the road. The still-operational (and top secret) Air Force facility is strictly off-limits, though.
Instead, stop at E.T. Fresh Jerky to stock up on snacks for the road while checking out the alien murals plastered on the building, and be sure to spend some time at the Alien Research Center. You can’t miss it, thanks to the lofty alien statue outside, and it’s a fun spot for souvenir shopping and learning about the otherworldly associations of the route. For an Alien Burger or even an overnight stay, Little A’Le'Inn is a delight.
This classic cruise along California’s impossibly beautiful coastline is perfect for pretty much anyone, and that includes families – especially those with slightly older kids who might appreciate the scenery. Even toddlers will have fun playing in the sand, splashing in the waves and staring, saucer-eyed, up at some of the world’s tallest trees in forested parks studded with coastal redwoods. The Pacific Coast Highway, or Highway 1, officially starts in Dana Point in the south and stretches for around 660 miles (1,062km) up to Leggett in Mendocino County, north of San Francisco.
Following the entire route is highly recommended (even if it does take a whole day), because every inch is gorgeous, though of course you can pick a portion if you’re short on time (or the kids are short on patience). Highlights include pretty Santa Barbara, Morro Bay (look out for otters floating on their backs), the Madonna Inn – a pink palace of a hotel just outside San Luis Obispo – and Big Sur, home to arguably the route’s most jaw-dropping scenery. Its soaring cliffs and honey-hued beaches should keep everyone quiet, at least for a minute or two.
Olympic National Park is a dream destination for nature-loving families and the only thing better than visiting the wilderness is a road trip exploring its diverse landscapes. The Peninsula Loop edges the park for around 300 miles (483km), and you’ll want plenty of time to hike, camp or just gawp at the scenery, from glacier-capped mountains to sandy, often secluded coves.
Part of Highway 101, it could be done in a day, but allow at least a week to take advantage of detours, from hiking trails to rainforest walks (the whole loop around the park is pictured). One of the prettiest pockets is Hoh Rain Forest, whose old-growth trees are cloaked with emerald moss. Adventurous families should set up camp there – it’s like being in a fairy tale.
With otherworldly landscapes that evoke any number of sci-fi films or perhaps the planet Mars, Scenic Byway 12 crams in much of what Utah is famous for: rust-red rocks, arches, hoodoos and slot canyons. There’s a lot to explore, whether kids are interested in learning about the fascinating geology or just want to skip through wavy rock structures and enjoy incredible places like the fossil-filled Escalante Petrified Forest.
The route unfurls for just under 123 miles (198km) and the surroundings are eye-popping at every turn – this is why it'll take you longer than the standard two hours, 45 minutes. Must-stops include the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where sandstone cliffs soar like rainbows above narrow slot canyons and abandoned movie sets. The finish point is the town of Torrey, near Capitol Reef National Park. Allow extra time to explore the latter, whose red rocks tower above patches of alpine forest.
Another classic road trip route, Blue Ridge Parkway is embarrassingly rich in natural beauty and wonders. Spanning two states and around 470 miles (756km), it’s easily doable over a week even with all the stops you’re bound to make, because the road, which sprawls from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers plenty to see and do. It’s also easy to follow, which means fewer opportunities to get lost and, in turn, fewer arguments.
If disagreements should occur, gazing across the fog-cloaked Appalachian Highlands and following trails through the forests should quickly stop them. The route is also home to family-friendly wineries (keeping the adults happy) and the brilliantly quirky Craggy Gardens, known for its rhododendrons and twisting trees. Other wild and wonderful stops include Linville Falls, a three-tiered cascade in North Carolina and an easy hike from the Parkway.
Sloshing its way into Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, Lake Michigan serves up some glorious scenery – and it’s all accessible on a road trip following its shore. Each of the Great Lakes has a designated circle tour, with this one clocking up around 1,100 miles (1,770km). Non-stop, it would take you around 15 hours. But where's the fun in that? Spend a few days on this route and take older kids on an epic adventure or choose to travel a portion of the route, which has an ideal mix of outdoorsy fun and city attractions.
The southern part of the route is particularly packed with must-sees. Start in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and explore some of the state’s most exciting cities, including Milwaukee, before driving south to Chicago, whose art-filled parks and Navy Pier attractions are wonderfully family-friendly. The route (all of which is pictured) then takes you around the lakeshore and into Michigan, with dune-backed beaches, lighthouses and wilderness trails. Holland, home to windmills and, in May, the eye-popping Tulip Festival, is especially charming.
If happiness to your family means sand between toes and sunshine on faces, then this might just be your perfect road trip. Highway 98 also runs through Mississippi and Alabama, but for pure seaside joy, it doesn’t come better than the stretch that spans the width of Florida. It runs for around 670 miles (1,078km) from the Alabama state line at Perdido Bay all the way to Palm Beach (pictured), with portions that slice through forest and others that cruise close to the ocean.
The prettiest part hugs the slate-hued Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s southern coast between Pensacola and fishing town Apalachicola, and this was the original part of the road in 1933 before it was extended in both directions. It skims by Destin – whose boardwalk and seafood restaurants make it a perfect pitstop – and Seaside, where 1998 Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show was filmed. Along the way are bays, overwater bridges and swathes of state forest. It'll take a few days to really enjoy this road trip, but you won't regret it.
For families with younger kids and less time to spare, this Black Hills byway covers just 70 miles (113km) but is the perfect introduction to South Dakota’s breathtaking landscapes. It’s ideal if you’re looking to combine adventure with a little history, because the route – combining several interlacing highways for a twisty-turny journey – packs in plenty of both, with everything set against dramatic landscapes of craggy mountains and thick forest.
The drive will take you past two of the state’s – and the country’s – most significant monuments, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. One of the most dramatically beautiful parts of the drive is Needles Highway, which takes you through narrow tunnels and below towering granite pinnacles. The byway also cuts through Custer State Park, where buffalo graze the fields, so there are plenty of opportunities for a longer trip (without stops, it'll take around four hours, otherwise take a day to enjoy the full experience).
Discover the most beautiful weekend road trip in every state
There’s no ugly way to pass through Cape Cod, the peninsula that flexes into the ocean from the Massachusetts coastline. If you really want to get close to the water, though, you can’t beat Historic Route 6A, also known as Old King's Highway. The route runs for 62 miles (100km) by Cape Cod Bay, passing pale sandy beaches, lighthouses, salt marshes, cranberry bogs, historic towns and state parks.
The blend of coastal views, opportunities to get out on the water and wonderful scenery and architecture makes it a dream of a family trip. The highway officially disappears – merging into Route 6 – for a short section before reappearing for the final stretch to Provincetown, which will take under two hours. Once there, take another scenic drive with an off-road tour through the sand dunes, which are dotted with 1920s artists’ shacks.
With no billboards and very little traffic, the Natchez Trace Parkway embodies the ideal of a classic American road trip: all open road and inspiring scenery, with a healthy dose of quirkiness thrown in. Put aside a few days to really enjoy this trip, as the route unfurls for 444 miles (715km) from Natchez, Mississippi, to just outside Nashville, Tennessee, taking in parts of Alabama on the way.
Check out the USA's best roadside attractions worth travelling to
It’s especially suited to families who love music, with an abundance of places to see artists perform throughout the Southern states. Other musical highlights include visiting Elvis’ birthplace in Tupelo and dancing in the honky-tonks of Nashville, which is an easy add-on at the end of your road trip. On the way, stop to stretch your legs with woodland wildlife walks and hikes to waterfalls.
If you love music, these American landmarks will hit all the right notes
Both a High Road and a Low Road connect Taos and Santa Fe, with the former undoubtedly the most scenic option. This designated Scenic Byway is perfect for families seeking an outdoorsy adventure with a difference. There’s some incredible scenery and adobe architecture en route as the road weaves for around 75 miles (121km) through historic villages, opening up to epic views of the Jemez Mountains.
Spend at least an afternoon soaking up highlights which include Chimayó, a historic and picturesque village known for its weaving tradition and a 19th-century church, El Santuario de Chimayó. In Taos, explore cultural shrines like the Harwood Museum of Art and Taos Pueblo, an adobe settlement designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though not as stunning as the High Road, the Low Road – tracing the edge of the Rio Grande into a slender canyon – is nevertheless rich in natural beauty and is worth driving if you’re returning to the start point.
This designated scenic byway is an eye-opening introduction to the blazing beauty of Alabama’s coastline. The white sands of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the perfect backdrop to a road trip designed for slowing down to enjoy the simple pleasures in life – and, hopefully, each other’s company. The route winds for around 130 miles (209km) to link up marshy wildlife preserves, dune-backed beaches, historic naval sites and seafood restaurants, so this trip will easily take two or three days.
Travelling from Grand Bay to Spanish Fort, the trip takes the long way round to cross Dauphin Island and pass through the imposing Fort Morgan, with opportunities to stop at parks and reserves with shrubby dunes and marshes. If you have a little more time, charming port city Mobile makes a convenient start and/or end to your trip. Be wowed by the Mardi Gras costumes on display at the Mobile Carnival Museum, or just stroll cobbled streets lined with antebellum architecture.
Epic ocean views are the highlight of this 113-mile (182km) route, which begins close to Miami and stretches out through the Florida Keys, from Key Largo down to the quirky island city of Key West. Memorable experiences abound, especially for families who love spending time in, on and around water. The road really does soar over the waves, and the views alone make the two-day (at least) trip worthwhile.
Uncovering Key West: 6 things to do in Florida's quirkiest city
Be sure to stop at Islamorada – home to colourful galleries, boutiques and a brewery – and don’t miss Bahia Honda State Park, whose clear, gentle waters are perfect for snorkelling and kayaking. Adults and kids alike will love unique experiences like visiting Marathon’s adorable and thought-provoking Turtle Hospital, while Key West – though known as a party town – is wonderfully family-friendly with shops, over-the-top desserts and a nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square.