What do you think of when you hear “US road trip”? It’s probably something like the iconic Route 66, or maybe a long drive down the beautiful west coast, through California down to San Diego. While of course, either of these road trips would be epic adventures, it’s worth thinking outside the box and exploring other themes and destinations.
Let’s take a look at some wackier and wilder ideas for US road trip themes and consider some of the things you need to think about before you go. With the right planning and a little imagination, you could be off on your next adventure before you know it.
Before you go
Before we get onto the fun part of where you’re going to go, let’s look at some of the practicalities. They might be boring, but these will be the bits that help your trip go as smoothly as possible and save you spending unnecessary money.
Sort out your car hire
No road trip is possible without a car, so car hire should be one of the first things you think about. Be realistic about how much space you need – don’t scrimp on comfort as you’ll be spending a lot of time in the car and if your passengers end up cramped it’s going to ruin the trip. With car hire, there’s plenty of scope to save money. You can get incredible car rental savings using Avis coupon codes. There’s a wide range of vehicles to choose from to suit any type of trip.
Get basic accommodation in place
It might be that you want to just hit the road and see where it takes you, but you’ll probably feel, especially if you’re travelling as a family with kids, that you want to at least have some accommodation booked in advance to give you the bare bones of a structure. It’s fun on a road trip to vary where you stay, so it could be a mix of Airbnbs, cheaper hotels plus the occasional splurge on a fancy hotel, depending on your budget.
US road trip theme ideas
Forget the golden beaches and Las Vegas strip, everyone has done that, the cool kids are doing something different with their time on the road and exploring some of the more unusual places to visit in the US.
Ghost towns of the west
If abandoned zoos, sunken beaches and swinging doors on long-neglected buildings float your boat, then how about a US road trip that takes in a host of abandoned towns and attractions? Start in California and head out and into Arizona and you can stop off at Mojave Air and Space Port, the former Griffiths Park Zoo and the town that used to be home to Father Christmas. Make sure to visit the neon museum at night for a spectacular light display of disused Las Vegas signs.
The road to civil rights
If you want a trip with some history attached, start in Atlanta, where Dr Martin Luther King Jr. spent his early years, and which is now home to a special historic site celebrating his life and work. From there you can head down to the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, swing by the National Voting Rights Museum, and take in many more politically significant locations before ending up at the Whitney Plantation, outside New Orleans.
The big screen
One for movie buffs who like to see behind the scenes – how about an east coast route that takes in film locations from famous movies? Start in the Long Island seaside town of Wainscott and the beach house featured in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, then head west into New York for the Ghostbuster’s HQ and the deli where Harry famously met Sally for lunch. Continue west to Camp Crystal Lake in Blairstown for Friday 13th flashbacks, and then down to Philadelphia to jog up and down the Rocky steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
These are just a few alternative ways to think about your US road trip, but we hope they’ve given you some ideas. Safe travels, especially if you go to Camp Crystal Lake…
Join 25,000+ smart readers—don’t miss out!
