On the road

10 routes for your next American road trip

Road trips are nearly as American as apple pie, and for good reason. The variety of landscapes and ecosystems across the U.S. makes any journey as enjoyable and rewarding as the final destination. But the multitude of options can sometimes make choosing a route more difficult. If you want to plan a road trip but don’t know where to go, here are 10 options to get you started.

Often nicknamed "America’s favorite drive," this 469-mile road takes us from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, traversing the Blue Ridge Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachians.

Though the route avoids major cities, there is no shortage of resting areas and stop sites along the way. Key highlights of this route include a stop at Humpback Rocks to see the fall foliage, the Terrapin Mountain and Arnold Valley Overlook, the Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, and Crabtree Falls.

Starting in the Redwood National and State Parks, this route takes you from California to Oregon in about five to six hours—that is, if you don’t stop at all. There are numerous attractions and must-see landscapes along the way, but we’ll name just a few: the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Battery Point Light, Stout Grove, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, Upper and Lower Table Rock, and Wizard Island.

This short but vibrant route takes you across 113 miles and 42 bridges, island-hopping through the Florida Keys. An ideal route for sea lovers, the Overseas Highway offers stunning ocean views, beaches, and plenty of seafood to enjoy. Highlights of this route include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the Seven Mile Bridge, Bahia Honda State Park, and Duval Street.

If you want to experience Washington state’s natural beauty, this is the route for you. A 440-mile-long road, it contains three well-known scenic byways—the Stevens Pass Greenway, the North Cascades Highway, and the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way—and takes you across nine distinct regions that showcase the diversity of the Pacific Northwest.

Dating back to the 1920s, this route may be short—a mere 50 miles—but it has remained extremely popular. Traversing Glacier National Park in Montana, it connects its east and west entrances via the 6,466-foot-high Logan Pass. Recommended stops include Lake McDonald Lodge, the Trail of the Cedars, the St. Mary Falls trail, and the Logan Pass Visitor Center.

Looking for what to do in South Dakota? Look no further. From the Black Hills in Custer State Park to Badlands National Park, this route is one of the best ways to experience these nearby yet very different landscapes. Popular stops include the Badlands Loop Road, Needles Highway, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, and the Mammoth Site.

A scenic drive through Washington's Olympic National Park, this roughly 300-mile loop mainly follows U.S. Route 101 and offers a mix of coastal scenery, rainforests, and mountain views. Highlights of this route include Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, the Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, the Quinault Rainforest, and Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous U.S.

Located about 110 miles apart and connected by Arizona State Route 89A, these are two extremely popular destinations for good reason. Grand Canyon, one of America’s most recognizable landmarks, offers stunning views from locations such as Mather Point, the Yavapai Geology Museum, or the Bright Angel Trail. A short drive away, Cathedral Rock, Doe Mountain, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross are some of the highlights of Sedona.

While this route in full may not be for everyone, its different sections can serve as a roadmap for a variety of trips. Following the course of the Mississippi River, this network of roads spans more than 2,000 miles across ten different states, from Minnesota to Louisiana. Among its iconic stops, we can find Lake Itasca, Cahokia Mounds, the Gateway Arch, Memphis’s Beale Street, and New Orleans, just to name a few.

There is no set route to travel through coastal New England, but road trip enthusiasts often start in New Haven, continuing through Providence, Boston, Salem, and Portsmouth, before heading north to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Must-see stops include Ocean Drive, the Freedom Trail, Cape Cod, and Ogunquit.

Windows to the past

Step back in time: The most beautiful medieval towns and cities in Europe

Some spots in Europe haven’t changed much in the last 500 years. Their castles, street facades, drawbridges, and towers are an ode to historical preservation. Below is a list of 15 cities or towns where you can still wander around and run into medieval walls, twisting narrow streets, and storybook cobblestones, just like humans could centuries ago.

Image: Taylor Marx

If you’ve ever imagined a medieval town straight out of a fairy tale, this is probably it.

Rothenburg is famous for its perfectly preserved walls, crooked half-timbered houses, and storybook towers that look almost unreal. A unique highlight is walking the town walls for panoramic views.

Image: Bloople Web

Carcassonne looks exactly like the fortress you pictured as a child when someone said the word "castle."

It’s bold and dramatic, with double stone walls, dozens of towers, and drawbridges. One unforgettable experience is walking the ramparts and looking out over the countryside, imagining medieval guards once standing in the same spot.

Image: Sergey Guk

This town feels like a painted miniature come to life. A river curves tightly around the old town, while a massive castle rises above red rooftops and winding streets.

People love how intimate and romantic it feels, almost like a European storybook village. One unique experience is climbing the castle tower for sweeping views of the river looping around the town like a ribbon.

Image: Bill Eccles

A massive castle towers over the Conwy harbor, while remarkably intact stone walls still encircle the town. It looks like everyday life continues inside ancient defenses.

A must-do experience is walking the walls for views of the castle, the town below, and the nearby mountains and sea.

Image: Lopez_Grande

Óbidos is another town encircled by walls, inside of which live whitewashed houses trimmed with bright colors. Spring is especially lovely, when flowers spill over walls and windows.

A unique experience is walking the ramparts for sweeping views of the countryside, then stopping for a taste of ginjinha, the local cherry liqueur served in tiny cups.

Image: Francesco Ungaro

The medieval charm of Bruges comes from stone bridges, canals, and guild houses that reflect softly in the water. Many visitors say it feels like Venice, but slower, smaller, and easier to explore. A must-do experience is a canal boat ride, drifting past centuries-old buildings.

Image: Manuel Fandiño Cabaleiro

Albarracín looks as if it were carved from the surrounding cliffs. Its pinkish stone houses cling to the hillside, connected by narrow, winding streets that seem designed to slow you down. One unique experience is simply getting lost among its steep alleys, where every turn reveals a new view or hidden corner.

Image: Pixabay

Siena’s brick buildings, narrow streets, and sloping alleyways all lead toward the stunning Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s most beautiful public squares. One simply must stand in the piazza and picture the famous Palio horse race, a centuries-old tradition that still electrifies the entire town.

Image: Mateusz Popek

Dubrovnik is unforgettable at first sight. Massive stone walls wrap around an old town perched right above the sparkling Adriatic Sea. Many visitors say it reminds them of an epic film set, which isn’t surprising given its role in popular TV and movies.

Image: Mauro Lima

Ávila’s towering medieval walls completely surround the old town and dominate the landscape, making visitors feel as though they’ve stepped inside a fortified world.

Late afternoon is especially magical, when the stone walls glow golden in the setting sun. Walking the top of the walls themselves must be the childhood dream of many.

Image: Ahmet AZAKLI

San Gimignano rises above the Tuscan countryside like a skyline from another era. Its famous stone towers were built by rival families to show off wealth and power, earning the town its nickname, "Medieval Manhattan."

Image: Hongbin

With tall stone walls, red-roofed towers, and winding lanes, Tallinn looks like a fairy tale illustrated in a very old book. The best time to visit is late spring or summer, when outdoor cafés fill the squares, though winter brings a snow-dusted magic of its own.

Image: Jeffrey Zhang

York is a city built in layers: Roman foundations, Viking streets, and medieval timber-framed buildings all coexist in a compact, walkable center. Visitors must stroll through The Shambles and by the ancient city walls, which still form a continuous loop around the historic center.

Image: Mohamed B.

Built on seven hills and spared from major wartime damage, Bamberg remains beautifully intact. Colorful buildings line rivers and canals, earning it comparisons to a quieter, more relaxed Venice.

One memorable experience is visiting the Old Town Hall, dramatically perched on a bridge in the middle of the river, a sight unlike anything else in Europe.

Image: Anna Marszałek

Girona feels like a city of quiet discoveries, with its medieval walls, stone bridges, and maze-like Jewish Quarter. Walking the old city walls, one can enjoy panoramic views while slowly circling centuries of history.