The essence of the road trips is not in the destination but the journey which leads to that destination. With the sun out there bright and shining, traveling in America cannot get any better than hitting the road. America is home to some of the world-famous best summer road trips in America, such as the historic Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, and the road trip from Colorado to Vegas to name a few in the huge USA Bucketlist.
Today I am going to share with you some of the most epic best summer road trips in America, which aren’t that popular, hence less crowded, but offers the best escape from the mundane of life and in 2020 – from the lockdown!
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Idaho Hot Springs
By Emily from The Mandagies
One of the best summer road trips in America during the lockdown is through Idaho’s central state, visiting several beautiful Idaho hot springs. Because of the wide-open spaces, tons of outdoor activities, and dispersed campsites, you can easily plan this trip with minimal social contact. The entire loop route can be done in just over 400 miles and begins and ends in Boise, Idaho. Start driving through Idaho City and enjoy The Springs Mountain Resort (please inquire for opening dates), with a large pool, and several private pools.
If you prefer a more natural experience, consider visiting Kirkham Hot Springs, with more than 8 unique geothermal pools along the Payette River. Between Lowman, ID, and Stanley, there are a handful of smaller, natural pools along the river to explore. The best time to visit these hot springs is during dawn and dusk in the summertime. In the fall and winter, the outside temperatures are mild, which means there are perfect for a day soak!
Denver to Phoenix
By Maggie from The World Was Here First
If you’re looking for an epic summer road trip in America through the highlights of the American Southwest, then make sure to drive from Denver, Colorado to Phoenix, Arizona, Though there are two routes that you could take between these two major cities (one through New Mexico and one through Utah), we’re going to concentrate on the route through Utah as it has the most iconic sites and scenery.
Driving from Colorado into Utah, you can make stops in incredible places like Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the inimitable Monument Valley on the Utah-Arizona border. Driving further into Arizona, you absolutely cannot miss visiting the Grand Canyon, which is every bit as impressive as the hype would lead you to believe. Further south, the town of Sedona is an outdoor-lover’s paradise and the iconic red rocks are a dream for hikers.
Even Phoenix itself is a great destination to explore for both culture and food lovers and outdoor adventure seekers, with lots of interesting things to see and do in Arizona’s capital. So if you’re on the hunt for one of the most scenic road trips in the USA, look no further than the drive from Denver to Phoenix
Missions of California
By Paul of Playas Y Plazas
Waves of Spanish missionaries built a system of missions that ultimately connected southern Baja California to the communities around San Francisco, California. The King’s Highway (El Camino Real) was possible because each mission was about one day’s walk from the next. Father Junipero Serra, the founder of the first seven missions in Alta California, walked the Camino Real dozens of times.
Visiting the missions of California is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience early California history. Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Carmel are picturesque but they are located in an urban setting. Mission San Antonio de Padua is the hidden gem of the California mission system. Hidden in a rural part of California’s central valley the mission and surrounding area hasn’t changed much in the last few centuries.
A statue of Father Serra stands in front of the mission looking out at California as it has always been. Surrounded by nature far from the nearest city it is easy to put yourself in Father Serra’s shoes and think about what it was like to walk the Camino Real 250 years ago.
Las Vegas To Palm Springs
By Manpreet Kaur of Hello Manpreet
One of the best cities, to visit and relax in, after a wild weekend in Las Vegas, is Palm Springs. This will be a memorable summer road trip in America due to the beautiful stunning scenery you will cross through on route. Palm Springs is a very tranquil city, very rich in culture and an evidently slow pace of life. Total driving time is about 5 hours, but we recommend heading out early as there are places to visit on route. About an hour into the journey, you will come across Red Rock Canyon. The beautiful red mountains on stone, reflect the sun and shine bright and beautiful.
After heading out from Red Rock, we recommend you take the slightly longer route which will pass through Joshua Tree National Park. This highway will be one of the most memorable routes you will take. You will go on to tell many people about it and only once you have done it, will you understand why. The highway feels like it is splitting up 2 different countries. On your left, it will just be an endless view of desert land, but the right boasts beautiful small mountains from the nearby canyons. There are many safe zones on the route, to stop and grab pictures of both sides, as well as the famous Joshua trees.
St Petersburg to Everglades National Park
By Pauline of BeeLoved City
If you want to experience some of the best outdoor activities in the USA, a road trip from St Petersburg to the Everglades National Park will be perfect for you. This summer road trip idea is apt for the ocean-lovers! You will start your adventure in St Pete where you can discover some incredible beaches such as St Pete Beach or Treasure Island. From there, head south towards Fort De Soto State Park. This incredible natural reserve is perfect for water sports lovers. You can go kayaking or paddling and will get to see plenty of dolphins.
Keep driving along the coast and stop in Sarasota where you will find one of the whitest beaches in the world, Siesta Key. Your final stop will be the Everglades National Park. This beautiful ecosystem is home to thousands of bird and plant species. It’s the perfect place to go on an airboat ride or a park-ranger led tour. If you still want a bit more, drive through Shark Valley to Big Cypress Preserve. Less popular than the Everglades, it also offers amazing walking trails and activities.
Bodie Ghost Town in California
By Mark from VogaTech
Bodie is the building of Bodie Hills, east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. It is located 121 km from Lake Tahoe. This American road trip will take you down the history lane. At the time of the famous gold rush in 1859, Bodie was a self-camp in which researchers researched, and among them the researcher W. S. Bodey, where Bodie got his name. He died the following year in a snowstorm, so he did not see the rising city.
As more and more companies had little interest in this city, it soon became one of the largest cities in California, with about 2,000 buildings and gold production worth about 34 million US dollars. In 1880, the northern part of the city was celebrated, as new gold finds were discovered, which distracted the attention of the people of Bodie. In 1961, it was declared a national historical landmark, and the following year, the Bodie Historical Park was created. It is now a classic ghost town, in which only 170 buildings remain.
Austin/Houston To Big Bend
By Erin from Sol Salute
Driving out to Big Bend National Park from Austin or Houston is one of the Lone Star State’s most popular road trips. The most common route is to ride I-10 non-stop where its 85-mph speed limit will have you practically flying west. However, the lesser-traveled route of Hwy 90 that hugs the border with Mexico may take a little longer but will be must more interesting and off the beaten path. Stop in Bracketville to visit the historic Fort Clark and take a dip in its natural spring-fed pool. In Del Rio pause for an authentic Mexican food lunch.
The absolute highlight of this summer road trip in America is in Langtry, Texas (barely a speck on the map). Langtry was home to Judge Roy Bean, the hanging judge, and he held court here from his saloon and opera house (the name he gave his one-bedroom home). Take Highway 90 along the border on your way to Big Bend and you’ll be met with some of the best things to do in West Texas.
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I don’t know about you but summer and road trips are my idea of ultimate fun! With the world still healing from the global crisis and lockdown, road trips are the best way to satisfy the traveler in you this summer. I hope this article was able to introduce to you some of the lesser-known yet still amazing best summer road trips in America.
Want More of America, Summer and Road Trips? Check My Other Posts:
- A 7-day Summer Road Trip itinerary of North & South Dakota
- Most Underrated Summer Break Destinations From Around The World
- Unpopular European Summer Break Destinations
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Wonderful blog. I really enjoyed reading it. I am in love with all these beautiful photographs. and I would love to explore these road trips in America on my own. Thanks for sharing these ideas
Yes!!! I love all of these ideas! Thanks so much for sharing! Idaho looks incredible!
Ahh! Bodie State Park was on my list when we did a US road trip a couple of years ago, but we ran out of time!! It looks sooo cool! This is a great list, just goes to show that there are so many places to explore in the US.