We’re always trying to bring you great routes to travel, but we just came across a list of what just may be the best RV road trips in the U.S.
The list we’re talking about was compiled by the good folks at TripSavvy.com. To make it easy for you to read, we put the list below.
Of course, the proverbial $64 million question is: are these actually the best RV road trips in the U.S.? Let us know in the comments below!
National Parks & Highway 12 (Salt Lake City to Grand Canyon)
Drivers who head southbound from Salt Lake City, Utah will pass a playground of gorgeous national parks stretching to neighboring Arizona. Highway 12 Scenic Byway is a 122.9-mile route that’s regarded as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. It is a designated “All-American Road” that stretches from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon National Parks. That means a wide range of breathtaking views, from desert red rock and alpine forest.
Visitors might want to consider a stop at Anasazi State Park and the Anasazi ruins that date back to 1050 A.D. and are located in Boulder, Utah. Continue on to the incredible Grand Staircase-Escalante where you might want to consider parking your RV for the night at Yonder Escalante, which offers plenty of RV sites. From there, continue on with visits to Bryce and Zion National Parks, before finishing at the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
The Blues Highway (Nashville to New Orleans)
Highway 61 is also known as “The Blues Highway.” It is recognized as the famous road written about by dozens of blues artists, and road trippers will travel through a piece of history and enjoy a wide variety of scenic views.
Starting in Nashville (which we documented a trip to a while ago here), home to country music’s most famous stage and the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, continue on to Memphis, where Elvis Presley fans can fully immerse themselves in the King of Rock n Roll’s life. After a visit to Graceland, head on to Mississippi and finally New Orleans, where the French Quarter has long inspired musicians, writers, and artists.
Pacific Coast Highway (California)
Stretching along most of California’s coast, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is one of the best-known coastal drives in the country. RVers who start in Dana Point, California will travel through Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, and San Francisco. Road travelers will pass stunning cliffs, the iconic Hearst Castle, and redwood forests. Many consider a hike down Fern Canyon, where part of “Jurassic Park: Lost World” was filmed, a must. Be sure to check out some of these previous RV Lifestyle posts for more.
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (Oregon)
Looking for an alternative to the PCH that's just as jaw-dropping as the famous California drive? Try Oregon. Starting in Astoria, RVers will travel down the Oregon coast for 363 miles before ending near Brookings. Along the way, travelers will pass by endless options for sand and surf, including Cannon Beach and Whaleshead Beach. Hikers may want to spent some time in less-crowded state parks, like Cape Lookout and Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor, or walk under the world’s largest eucalyptus tree (at almost 70 feet tall) along Myrtle Tree Trail.
The Overseas Highway: Miami to Key West of U.S. Highway 1
U.S. Highway 1 is the ideal choice for those looking to experience picturesque views of pristine beaches, sunsets, and palm trees as they pass through charming cities and end at one of the most scenic drives in the nation. Begin with some golf in St. Petersburg at the historic Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club before heading south to Cape Coral where you can take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. Head to Fort Lauderdale for picturesque sunsets, then on through the swaying coconut palms of Islamorada. Finally, you will drive across the Overseas Highway and the crystal clear waters of the Florida Keys, ending in Key West.
What About the Florida Keys?
Do you want to hit Key West, the Everglades National Park, and all the other great things the Keys have to offer? Well, we have just the thing for you. Jennifer and I love traveling to the Keys, so we've created a complete 7-Day RV Adventure Guide: Florida Keys. This downloadable guide includes a suggested itinerary and a list of the best RV parks along the way.
We also have a 7-Day RV Adventure Guide to Florida's Atlantic Coast and Florida's Gulf Coast. If you're interested in all three, you should check out our Florida RV Travel Guide Bundle.
Blue Ridge Parkway (West Virginia to Tennessee)
It's not hard to see why the Blue Ridge Parkway has the nickname of “America's Favorite Drive.” The 469-mile route offers the best of the Appalachian range, connecting Virginia's Shenandoah National Park with North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Suggested route: Start at the northern entrance in Rockfish Gap, Virginia, then drive south, passing through Roanoke before entering North Carolina. Of course, Asheville is a popular stop.
Adirondacks (NYC to The Finger Lakes)
We have fallen in love with the Adirondacks and New York State. There are mountains, raging rivers, deep gorges, gorgeous lakes and hiking that can’t be beat. Then there is the beautiful Finger Lakes area and, of course, America’s top-rated state park, Letchworth State Park.
Covering a whopping 6 million acres, the world is your oyster when it comes to the outdoors and there's no shortage of hiking and biking trails as well as intimate villages and historical sites.
Along the way, RVers can visit numerous vineyards with tasting rooms in the Finger Lakes wine region. After a beautiful drive through New York state’s rolling hills, RVers will enter the quaint village of Aurora and feel at ease with the calming waters of Cayuga Lake and pristinely restored historic homes that make up the lakeside luxury boutique resort at the Inns of Aurora.
Be sure to check out our Adirondack RV Adventure video below!
Ohio’s Amish Country Byway (Ohio)
Amish Country Byway in Ohio boasts views of natural landscape along winding curves and rolling hills that make it one of the most beautiful backdrops for a road trip. It’s a charming country byway that will offer a great selection of Amish country cooking, old-world artisan shops, and historic sites detailing the history of Amish and German people. Those who feel adventurous might want to get out and explore the Mohican-Memorial State Forest for a few hours.
Black to Yellow Route (Wyoming)
The Black to Yellow Route starts on I-90 traveling from Wyoming’s Black Hills in the northeastern corner to Yellowstone National Park in the northwest portion of the state. The route allows road travelers to see the nation’s first national monument and first national park while enjoying charming towns and scenic byways along the way. Consider a stop in Sheridan, a beautiful small town filled with western history (including The Mint Bar, which was built in 1907 and became a famous cowboy bar) and a growing brewery and distillery scene. You will likely also want to spend some time in Cody. Be sure to check out a video we did on Cody below!
Natchez Trace Parkway (Mississippi to Tennessee)
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile recreational road and scenic drive through three states. It roughly follows the “Old Natchez Trace” a historic travel corridor used by American Indians, “Kaintucks,” European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents. Today, people can enjoy not only a scenic drive but also hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping along the parkway.
Explore the many waterfalls including Fall Hollow Waterfall and Jackson Falls, where you can stretch your legs and go for a cool swim. Quaint towns like Leiper’s Fork offer plenty, such as unique galleries and artisanal boutiques. at the Loveless Café on milepost 444 is a must—this former roadside motel serves fluffy biscuits, pies, and iconic Southern cooking.
CLICK HERE to read a fascinating mystery you can learn about on the Natchez Trace involving Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame
New ebook from Mike and Jennifer Wendland – the Natchez Trace
The Natchez Trace Parkway will capture your imagination, soothe your jangled travel nerves, open your mind and inspire you with the history that unfolded along its 444 miles.
Each of the 7 Days of the ebook has:
- Suggested Mileposts to explore
- Places to Eat in each area of the 7 sections
- Campground descriptions and links
- Links to all the special places and information
- Links to videos that show more in detail
- and a lot of highlighted information for each section
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a printed, hard copy guide.
Whether you want to follow the footsteps of explorers, discover natural beauty, or visit historic sites, the Trace has something to grab your attention and leave you eager to see what’s at the next milepost.
You can see why this is one of our favorite US routes to explore. We’ve traveled it a half dozen times!
July 21, 2022at8:56 am, Paulette Burdick said:
Please stop the political adds and the advertising that is devisive.
July 22, 2022at4:09 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:
Hi Paulette – Mike does not permit any political ads on his site. Zero. So if you are seeing political ads, that is because you must have visited some sort of political site, and are being tracked that way. The dynamic ad placements are based on the viewers search history- so that is why you are seeing them. Hope that helps – Team RV Lifestyle
July 21, 2022at8:18 am, Joan Harman said:
RE: The Blue Ridge Parkway article-I think you mean to say westERN Virginia and not West Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway does not cross into WV (unfortunately).
July 22, 2022at12:26 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:
thanks for that typo catch – will share so we can fix! Team RV Lifestyle