US Road Trips I have done (Or almost completed).
One of the things I love doing in the US is a road trip. Below are some we have done. I even did the around Washington State one alone and highly recommend that for solo travellers as well as couples. It is a safe area. (I had previously done some of the western parts of it with family.)
The US is a vast country and each state is really a different country with different laws, culture and attractions. Driving is so easy with huge roads, service stations in plentiful supply on the motorways (Highways) and petrol prices so much cheaper than Europe. There are plenty of hotels all along the major routes that are usually easy enough to get into without advance notice. July is usually the busiest month though so try and book ahead then. I would recommend June or July for the one in Washington State. For Arizona spring or autumn is better.
We have used Alamo car rental for over 30 years with no problems on all these road trips and they are very flexible with free cancellation and you don't pay until you collect the car.
There is nothing more liberating than getting in a vehicle, putting on your favourite music and hitting the road. Most people dream of a winnebago ride across the US, which of course you can do, but that is expensive and in the summer you do need to pre book your campsites, so not quite the freedom you imagine. One company I have no personal experience of, but have seen people driving these around all the National Parks is Cruise America, which have some smaller camper vans. I personally prefer to hire a spacious, comfortable car and stop at hotels along the route. The cheaper ones I would recommend are Holiday Inn Express, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood suites. ( We have stayed in all of these, check the reviews though). If they are new they are great, but if they are old, not so great, so we try to choose a newish one from any of these brands. The advantage of driving a car and stopping at the hotels aimed at travellers is if you get to a town or area you like you can stay a few days. If you don't like it then move on to somewhere else for the next night, giving you a more flexible road trip. These hotels mentioned usually offer free parking, free wifi, a free breakfast and also offer self service laundry facilities cheaply, which is very useful on road trips.
The East Coast is much more populated than the West Coast and so there is no need to take much in the way of food and drinks, just enough in case you are stuck for hours in the event of an accident on route. The West Coast however is far less densely populated and there are hundreds of miles between major cities and areas of real wilderness. You do need to have plenty of food and drinks with you at all times. The same can be said of road trips further inland in the US where you will also need to travel a long way to reach the next town.
Warnings: Theft from and of vehicles is common on the popular road trips, especially at trail heads and view points that don't have security cameras. Obviously don't leave anything at all visible in your car, even if just quickly popping out to use the bathroom. Take your rucksack with valuables with you if stopping for lunch or to do a supermarket stop. Also we all know Americans are allowed guns, so no matter how badly they drive, try to stay calm as road rage kills. Drive patiently.
Below are the road trips I have done, except Yellowstone. I have only done the first part of that, but friends have recommended the rest to me for when we do that one in 2024, so I have included it. Also I haven't stopped at all the places mentioned on the Volcano highway drive, just the ones I have posted photos of.
The US is a vast country and each state is really a different country with different laws, culture and attractions. Driving is so easy with huge roads, service stations in plentiful supply on the motorways (Highways) and petrol prices so much cheaper than Europe. There are plenty of hotels all along the major routes that are usually easy enough to get into without advance notice. July is usually the busiest month though so try and book ahead then. I would recommend June or July for the one in Washington State. For Arizona spring or autumn is better.
We have used Alamo car rental for over 30 years with no problems on all these road trips and they are very flexible with free cancellation and you don't pay until you collect the car.
There is nothing more liberating than getting in a vehicle, putting on your favourite music and hitting the road. Most people dream of a winnebago ride across the US, which of course you can do, but that is expensive and in the summer you do need to pre book your campsites, so not quite the freedom you imagine. One company I have no personal experience of, but have seen people driving these around all the National Parks is Cruise America, which have some smaller camper vans. I personally prefer to hire a spacious, comfortable car and stop at hotels along the route. The cheaper ones I would recommend are Holiday Inn Express, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood suites. ( We have stayed in all of these, check the reviews though). If they are new they are great, but if they are old, not so great, so we try to choose a newish one from any of these brands. The advantage of driving a car and stopping at the hotels aimed at travellers is if you get to a town or area you like you can stay a few days. If you don't like it then move on to somewhere else for the next night, giving you a more flexible road trip. These hotels mentioned usually offer free parking, free wifi, a free breakfast and also offer self service laundry facilities cheaply, which is very useful on road trips.
The East Coast is much more populated than the West Coast and so there is no need to take much in the way of food and drinks, just enough in case you are stuck for hours in the event of an accident on route. The West Coast however is far less densely populated and there are hundreds of miles between major cities and areas of real wilderness. You do need to have plenty of food and drinks with you at all times. The same can be said of road trips further inland in the US where you will also need to travel a long way to reach the next town.
Warnings: Theft from and of vehicles is common on the popular road trips, especially at trail heads and view points that don't have security cameras. Obviously don't leave anything at all visible in your car, even if just quickly popping out to use the bathroom. Take your rucksack with valuables with you if stopping for lunch or to do a supermarket stop. Also we all know Americans are allowed guns, so no matter how badly they drive, try to stay calm as road rage kills. Drive patiently.
Below are the road trips I have done, except Yellowstone. I have only done the first part of that, but friends have recommended the rest to me for when we do that one in 2024, so I have included it. Also I haven't stopped at all the places mentioned on the Volcano highway drive, just the ones I have posted photos of.
A spectacular Volcano highway drive (Seattle to San Francisco Viewing up to 20 Major Volcanoes on the way. I haven't seen them all yet, but I have seen the best ones and posted photos of those.)
Around Washington State Loop (Visiting 3 spectacular National Parks!!!) This loop starts and ends in Seattle, but you can combine this Loop with Yellowstone for a trip of a lifetime if you have time.
Dallas to Orlando
Los Angeles to Phoenix
Orlando to Key West
Phoenix to Page Arizona (Visiting The Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.)
Seattle to Yellowstone national Park ( I haven't done all of this yet, but please take a look anyway. This is where I am going.)
US East Coast Road Trip
US West Coast Road Trip
North Cascades National Park, Washington State ^
Near Winthrop, Washington State ^
Olympic National Park, Washington State ^
Near Page, Arizona ^
I5 in Washington State ^
Los Angeles California ^
Golden Gate Bridge California ^