Cruising down the coast may be the most iconic way to explore America. From East Coast to West and in between, there are as many road trip possibilities as there are types of cars on the pavement: cliff-hugging Pacific Coast drives; overseas highways that lead to faraway keys; quiet island roads dotted with charming small towns.
If you’ve ever wondered which of the many wondrous American routes is the absolute best, there’s a new ranking of the top road trips in America to help you prioritize your bucket list.
According to a new study by data firm Geotab, the best road trip of them all is Monument Valley Trails in southern Utah (the rest of the top 10 ranking is below), thanks to its incredible scenery, outdoor activities, and lack of traffic.
The Best Coastal Road Trip in America Is ...
The top coastal road trip and number six route overall is Oregon's Pacific Coast. “Oregon's Highway 101 is a dreamy drive through stunning seaside coves, cozy beach towns, and jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean,” say the study authors.
The beach-front drive was lauded for the many scenic attractions along the way, with highlights like the Peter Iredale Ship Wreck in Warrenton, the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks in Astoria, Cannon Beach, Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area, Nye Beach, Shore Acres State Park, and Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
Get a step-by-step Oregon coast road trip guide, part of our Utimate West Coast Road Trip, divided into helpful sections here:
- Seattle to Cannon Beach (pick up the Oregon section in Astoria)
- Cannon Beach to Gold Beach, Oregon
- Gold Beach to Mendocino, California
The Top 10 Road Trips in America, According to Geotab
Southwest routes dominated the top 10. Get even more details about each road trip here.
- Monument Valley Trails
- Yellowstone and the Tetons
- Mesa Verde and San Juan
- Along the Missouri River
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Oregon’s Pacific Coast
- Colorado’s Rockies
- Grand Canyon Road Trip
- Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
- Bryce & Zion National Parks
How They Calculated the Results
Geotab identified 50 popular road trips and used TripAdvisor data to rate each itinerary in terms of attractions, accommodation, and places to eat. It also analyzed official traffic data to rate each route based on how busy the roads typically are and conducted a survey to rate how long the trips take to drive. Geotab then created a points system, assigning different weightings with each element of the road trip, in order to produce an overall ranking identifying the top road trip destinations.
