There is something deeply cinematic about travelling across the United States. Perhaps it is the sight of an endless highway disappearing into the horizon, a neon motel sign flickering at dusk, or a roadside diner that seems unchanged by time. More than almost any other destination, America has built a cultural identity around movement itself. Here, the journey is rarely just a means to reach a destination—it is often the main attraction.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Brand USA has released a collection of 50 road-trip experiences that showcase the country's landscapes, history, culture, and evolving modes of travel. While iconic routes such as Route 66 and California's Pacific Coast Highway remain enduring favourites, the list also shines a light on lesser-known byways, cultural trails, food routes, and scenic corridors that reveal a different side of America.
Taken together, these journeys reveal a country best experienced from behind the wheel, where every highway, small town, and unplanned stop adds another layer to the story.
Legendary Highways
No discussion of American road trips can begin anywhere but Route 66. Stretching nearly 4,000 kilometres from Chicago to Santa Monica, the "Mother Road" remains the ultimate symbol of freedom on four wheels. Passing through eight states, it links classic diners, vintage motels, quirky roadside attractions, and small towns that continue to preserve the nostalgia of mid-century America. As the highway prepares to mark its centenary, museums, commemorative events, and special exhibits are drawing renewed attention to one of the world's most famous drives.
Equally iconic is California's Pacific Coast Highway, a route that regularly features on lists of the world's most scenic drives. Hugging dramatic cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, Highway 1 threads together destinations such as Monterey, Big Sur, and San Luis Obispo, revealing rugged coastlines, redwood groves, hidden coves, and ocean views that seem to stretch endlessly westward.
Across the country, other routes tell stories of scale. U.S. Route 20, the longest highway in America, runs more than 5,300 kilometres from Boston to the Oregon coast, traversing plains, mountains, deserts, and historic towns. The Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental road, links New York City and San Francisco while passing through some of the nation's most significant urban and cultural centres.
Roads Less Known
Beyond the famous highways lie routes that reward travellers willing to stray from the obvious. Nevada's U.S. 50, known as "The Loneliest Road in America," cuts through immense desert landscapes where vast skies and distant mountain ranges dominate the horizon. In contrast, Tennessee and North Carolina's Tail of the Dragon compress excitement into just 18 kilometres, packing in 318 sharp curves that have made it a pilgrimage route for motorcyclists and sports-car enthusiasts.
Far north, Alaska's Dalton Highway offers one of the continent's most remote driving experiences. Running from Fairbanks toward the Arctic Ocean, the road crosses the Arctic Circle and the rugged Brooks Range, delivering a sense of isolation that few highways anywhere can match.
Elsewhere, Maui's Hana Highway winds through rainforests and waterfalls, while Arkansas and Oklahoma's Talimena Scenic Byway unfolds across forested mountain ridges. These roads may not enjoy the fame of Route 66, but they reveal landscapes and experiences that often feel far more intimate.
Landscapes In Motion
Some drives exist almost entirely for the scenery. Montana's Going-to-the-Sun Road slices through Glacier National Park, crossing the Continental Divide while passing alpine lakes, waterfalls, and glacier-carved valleys. Colorado contributes several remarkable routes, including Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States, and the Million Dollar Highway, where dramatic mountain scenery accompanies a famously nerve-racking drive along steep drop-offs.
In Minnesota, the North Shore Scenic Drive traces the edge of Lake Superior, linking waterfalls, forests, and historic lighthouses. California's Avenue of the Giants, meanwhile, offers a slower rhythm as motorists travel beneath some of the tallest trees on Earth within Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Seasonality also shapes many of these journeys. New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway transforms into one of America's most sought-after autumn drives when forests erupt into shades of crimson, amber, and gold. In Texas Hill Country, spring brings carpets of bluebonnets and wildflowers to the Willow City Loop, while Colorado's Crested Butte becomes a riot of alpine blooms during summer.
Stories Alongside
Road trips in America are often journeys through history as much as geography. Philadelphia's Elfreth's Alley, established in 1702, offers a glimpse into colonial-era America, while the National Road—America's first federally funded highway—still carries traces of the nation's westward expansion. South Carolina's Ashley River Road passes centuries-old plantations and historic landmarks shaded beneath sprawling oak canopies.
Other routes focus on cultural heritage. The Natchez Trace Parkway follows pathways once travelled by Native American communities, traders, and settlers. Mississippi's Blues Trail traces the origins of a musical tradition that transformed global culture, connecting visitors with museums, historic sites, and legendary juke joints.
In Virginia, The Crooked Road celebrates country music heritage, while South Carolina's Gullah Geechee Corridor preserves traditions that continue to shape the cultural identity of the Lowcountry. Along North Dakota's Enchanted Highway, enormous scrap-metal sculptures rise unexpectedly from prairie landscapes, proving that American roadside culture remains as inventive as ever.
Following Flavours
Food provides another compelling reason to hit the road. Kentucky's Bourbon Trail links some of the country's most celebrated distilleries, offering insight into the craft and traditions behind America's signature spirit. Vermont's Cheese Trail leads travellers through dairy farms and artisan creameries, while Central Texas' barbecue circuit connects legendary smokehouses in towns such as Lockhart, Taylor, and Austin.
In New York's Hudson Valley, travellers can drive directly through orchards during harvest season, stopping to pick apples from their car windows. Puerto Rico's lechoneras of Guavate turn a mountain drive into a culinary pilgrimage centred around slow-roasted pork and generations-old family recipes.
The collection also looks beyond traditional road travel. New rail routes and next-generation trains are expanding opportunities for slow, scenic journeys, while Washington State's White Pass Scenic Byway highlights the growing infrastructure supporting electric vehicle travel.
Taken together, these 50 experiences reveal that America's appeal lies not only in its headline attractions but in the spaces between them. The roadside diner, the mountain overlook, the historic bridge, the small-town festival, the unexpected conversation—these are often the moments that endure long after a trip ends. In a country built around movement, the open road remains one of the most rewarding ways to understand its many identities.
FAQs
Q1. Why is Route 66 considered iconic?
Route 66 connects eight states and remains a symbol of classic American road-trip culture.
Q2. What is the longest highway in the United States?
U.S. Route 20 is the longest, stretching over 3,300 miles from Massachusetts to Oregon.
Q3. Which American road is known as the most scenic?
California’s Pacific Coast Highway is widely regarded as one of the world’s most scenic drives.
Q4. Are there road-trip routes focused on food and drink?
Yes, notable examples include the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Vermont Cheese Trail and Texas BBQ Trail.
Q5. What are some lesser-known American drives worth exploring?
The Talimena Scenic Byway, Dalton Highway, Skyline Drive and Nevada’s Loneliest Road offer unique experiences beyond the famous routes.
