Looking for the best family road trip destinations? I’ve got you covered! When you’re looking to hit the road with a family in tow, it’s always good to have a plan of a few places to visit. Whether you’re in the north, south, east, west, or somewhere in the middle – there are lots of road trip destinations worth checking out. Here are a few at the top of my list.
Related: Road Trip With Kids: 10 Useful Tips For Your Family Adventure
Best Family Road Trip Destinations
Since we’re talking family road trips, chances are you have a few little ones in tow. Going on a classic road trip is something every kid should experience and they’ll remember for years to come. The benefits of taking family road trips far outweigh the constants, “Are we there yet’s?” and there’s so much to see and experience along the way to your final stopping place. Consider adding a few roadside attractions, quick stops, and road trip games to your journey as you visit the suggested destinations below.
Pacific Coast Highway
If you find yourself in the Seattle, Washington area, hitting the Pacific Coast Highway 101 is a must-travel. Although this scenic road will take you down into San Francisco for a total of 1,650 miles, you can break it up into two separate road trips.
Related: 5 Best Family Road Trip Ideas for US Travelers with Children
The first 360 or so miles are breathtaking with some of the most varying coastlines you’ll see in the U.S. If your kids have studied landforms and landmarks in school, they’ll get an eyes-on experience with Oregon dunes, forests, rocky cliffs, and lighthouses. Here are a few places to consider stopping along this road trip:
- Space Needle and Pike Place Market (Seattle)
- Cannon Beach (Oregon)
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
- Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
- Rogue River (for nature walks and/or white water rafting)
- Victorian-era Old Town (Eureka, CA)
- Drive through Redwood tree (Leggett, CA)
- Santa Rosa (Snoopy and Peanuts museum)
- Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, CA)
- Alcatraz
The Oregon Trail Family Road Trip
If you’re old enough, you may remember playing the Oregon Trail game on the computer in elementary school. Since those pioneer years we all learned about, this trip doesn’t have to take the original four months. This trail stretches a whopping 3,100 miles but it’s totally worth the drive. You and your family will get to see some of the most iconic wonders of the world that most people only see in magazines or textbooks. Starting (or ending) in Cape Cod, MA to Portland, Oregon – you’ll want to stop and see:
- Toy Hall of Fame (Rochester, NY)
- Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, NY)
- Niagara Falls State Park
- Roller Coaster Capital of the World at Cedar Point
- Search your family history at the Allen County Public Library (Fort Wayne, IN)
- American Girl Place Chicago
- Mount Rushmore, SD
- Yellowstone National Park, WY
- Bend, OR (hiking trails, waterfalls, and more)
- The Fruit Loop (35-mile scenic loop of farms where you can pick your own fruit)
Historic Route 66
This is the perfect road trip for experiencing the mid to southwest parts of America. Coming in at about 2,278 miles long, this trip can be done in just two weeks’ time. Your kids will get to experience the American Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest. Be sure to visit some of these places along the way:
- Museum Row and Navy Pier (Chicago, IL)
- Land of Lincoln (Springfield, IL)
- Big Blue Whale of Catoosa (Tulsa, OK)
- Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX)
- Old Town (Albuquerque, NM)
- Flagstaff, AZ (hiking trails, lava river cave)
- Automobile Driving Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
- Ferris Wheel (Santa Monica, CA)
East Coast Road Trip
The East Coast has its fair share of beautiful scenery, big cities, and history-heavy experiences. Traveling the entire east coast would be quite a journey, but here are a few must-stop destinations you’ll find along the I-95 highway:
- Freedom Trail (Boston, MA)
- Cliff Walk (Newport, RI)
- New York City, NY (Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and more)
- Philadelphia, PA (Betsy Ross’s house and the Liberty Bell)
- Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore
- Washington, DC (National Air and Space Museum, National Mall, Tidal Basin, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and more)
- Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Charlottesville, VA)
- Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville
- Savannah, GA (explore the 22 squares in the historic district)
The Florida Keys
Take your family on a wildlife trip across Route 1 (Overseas Highway) from Miami to Key West. It’s only about 160 miles in length so you could plan to do it in one day or extend your trip with various stops at these places:
- Monkey Jungle in Miami
- Everglades National Park
- Key Largo (dolphin experience)
- Theater of the Seas in Islamorada
- Turtle Hospital in Marathon
- Sugarloaf Key (good fishing)
- Key West Butterfly Conservatory
There’s so much to see in the U.S., but these family road trip destinations are enough to keep your family busy for several months. Use these trips as a way to build long-lasting memories and connect with your family along the way.
