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Many travel lovers have the goal to visit all 50 states before they die. Why not pass through 48 during one epic road trip that passes through all the contiguous United States?
On this page, you’ll find a suggested route through each section of the country. Split it up into smaller road trips, or spend all summer criss-crossing the nation—it’s your call! Our itinerary includes descriptions of what sets each region apart from others, as well as lists of 50+ must-see places on a USA road trip.
And don’t worry! We didn’t leave Alaska and Hawaii out of the fun. They have their own road trip recommendations at the bottom of the page.
What are you waiting for? Get going!
West Coast
Suggested Route: Washington → Oregon → California
Large mountains sitting close to ocean shores give the westernmost states some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the world. A drive from Seattle in the Pacific Northwest to Los Angeles in Southern California takes you past the best of the best.
Don’t Miss
The Space Needle in Seattle
Waterfront Park in Portland
Redwood National Forest
Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge
Hollywood Boulevard
Disneyland
Death Valley
Smaller Road Trips on the West Coast
Southwest & the Rocky Mountains
Suggested Route: Nevada → Utah → Idaho → Montana → Wyoming → Colorado → Arizona → New Mexico → Texas → Oklahoma
Drive past desert cacti and snow-covered mountaintops. Travel through major cities like Las Vegas, Denver, and Austin. Eat Idaho potatoes, search for the country’s best Tex-Mex, and stop by a bakery in New Mexico for some biscochito cookies. As you can see, this region has much to offer.
Don’t Miss
The Las Vegas Strip
The Grand Canyon
Arches National Park
Yellowstone National Park
A concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Four Corners
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Dealey Plaza in Dallas
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Smaller Road Trips in the Southwest & the Rocky Mountains
The South
Suggested Route: Arkansas → Louisiana → Mississippi → Alabama → Florida → Georgia → South Carolina → North Carolina → Tennessee → Kentucky → West Virginia → Virginia → DC
The dozen or so states that make up the South have one of the most distinct American cultures. You’ll sense the area’s agricultural roots as you taste delicious Southern cuisine. Come face to face with its complicated history when you tour Civil War battlefields or Civil Rights monuments. You may even gain a greater appreciation for the music of Nashville and the masterworks of many great American authors.
Don’t Miss
The French Quarter in New Orleans
West Ship Island, Mississippi
Kennedy Space Center
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway
Graceland
Mammoth Cave National Park
Shenandoah National Park
National Mall
Smaller Road Trips in the South
The Mid-Atlantic & New England
Suggested Route: Maryland → Delaware → Pennsylvania → New Jersey → New York → Connecticut → Rhode Island → Massachusetts → Maine → New Hampshire → Vermont → New York (again) → Pennsylvania (again)
This part of the trek takes you through some of the nation’s biggest and most storied cities: Philadelphia, Boston, and all five boroughs of NYC. Museums and historical sites dot the landscape. And if you love seafood, Baltimore’s crab cakes, Maine’s lobster rolls, and your choice of New England or Manhattan clam chowder will keep you satisfied.
Don’t Miss
Fort McHenry National Monument
“The Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Atlantic City & the Jersey Shore
One World Trade Center
Harvard University campus
Portland Head Lighthouse
Lake Placid Olympic Museum
Niagara Falls
Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh
Smaller Road Trips in the Mid-Atlantic and New England
The Midwest & the Great Plains
Suggested Route: Ohio → Michigan → Indiana → Illinois → Missouri → Kansas → Iowa → Wisconsin → Minnesota → North Dakota → South Dakota → Nebraska
Discover the wide open heart of the country when you reach the final stage of your journey. You’ll encounter urban centers dotted across every state, with miles of farmland and quaint small towns in between.
Don’t Miss
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Detroit
Chicago architecture tour
Gateway Arch
John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
Wisconsin Dells
Mall of America
Mount Rushmore
Omaha Zoo
Smaller Road Trips in the Midwest & the Great Plains
Alaska & Hawaii
If you want to complete your 50-state bucket list, you’ll have to hop on a plane to Hawaii and make your way to Alaska through or over the Canadian west. Both trips are well worth the effort. From the shores of Waikiki Beach to the peaks of Denali National Park, these out-of-the-way states hold plenty to discover. You’ll be planning a return journey as soon as you leave.
Don’t Miss
Alaska
Prince William Sound
Mendenhall Glacier
Kenai Peninsula
Alaska Highway
Hawaii
Pearl Harbor and other spots on Oahu
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
Waimea Canyon (Kaui)