Discover the USA and Canada with the top road trips in North America
Welcome to the second part of our series “The best road trips in 2021”. Today we take you across the Atlantic Ocean for the best road trips in North America! From west to east we show you how to explore the USA and Canada on the so-called Scenic Byways, the most beautiful side roads. Part 1 of our road trip series can be found under “The best road trips in 2021: Europe Edition”.
Highway 1 in California
California’s Highway 1 is probably one of the most famous roads in the world and therefore one of the best road trips in 2021. The road begins above San Francisco in the north of the state and ends at the southernmost point in San Diego. If you choose this road with your RV travel buddy, you can discover all of California’s beauty. That’s why Highway 1 is number one of the best road trips in North America. What is so special about this road? It goes DIRECTLY past the Pacific Ocean! That’s why you should take turns driving so that everyone has the chance to lose themselves in the breathtaking view.
You should start your route in San Francisco after an extensive city tour. The city is special because of the weather, because rain, wind and sun can alternate here every minute. This is also how the beautiful Golden Gate Park developed. Afterwards you will pass beautiful small cities and always with the ocean to your right.
In Monterey, you can watch whales and stay overnight to continue your trip the next day. If you have a lot of time and a comfortable car, you can also take a trip to Yosemite National Park. Just below Monterey is the beautiful town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Take a half-hour to drive through the narrow streets that wind through beautiful neighborhoods just above the water. From Carmel, head towards Big Sur, one of the most popular places in California. Here nature is especially impressive. For a late lunch, you should head to the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. We won’t tell you what’s so special about this place, but one thing we want to say: You’ve definitely never been to a place like this before and you can’t miss the pink building either!
Beach to City
From San Luis Obispo you can head on towards Los Angeles to spend a few days in the city. You should decide, however, whether you prefer for your accommodation to be on the beach or in the heart of the city because the distances from A to B in L.A. can be quite impressive.
Your last leg will take you directly to San Diego, because the route from Los Angeles is not very long anymore. Of course you can always stop at the beach and enjoy the sun in between. In San Diego you can go surfing or kayaking right on the Pacific Ocean next to the hundreds of sea lions in La Jolla. California is just perfect for a road trip and belongs to the top road trips in North America.
Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia und North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 755 km long track that runs through the states of Virginia and North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway belongs to the Scenic Byways of the USA and leads you through beautiful forests, hiking trails and breathtaking viewpoints. Here you can especially get to know the culture of the Native Americans of the North American continent. In the Blue Ridge region lived the tribes of the Cherokee, Monacan, Saponi and Tutelo.
You can start your road trip in Charlottesville, Virginia. This city is a bit off the beaten track, but is a good starting point to organize a rental car and to visit first cultural attractions.
The first stop on your route is Humpback Rock, a mountain range waiting to be climbed by you. The climb is for the more athletic, but once you reach the top, you will have a phenomenal view over the Shenandoah Valley. There is also a campground nearby, so you can spend a night in the middle of nature.
More hikes and views!
From Shenandoah National Park the trip continues to the city of Roanoke, which has a great mixture of small-town charm and metropolitan aspects. You can go hiking at the Explore Park, it is less than 20 minutes away from the city center. Leaving Roanoke behind your adventure continues at Blowing Rock. This is a great place to test your hiking skills. If you make it to the summit at 1.246m you get rewarded with an astonishing view over the vast landscape. Round up this stop with a relaxing stroll through the idyllic city center of Blowing Rock.
The last leg of your road trip takes you to the city of Asheville. Asheville is one of the most popular spots on the route and is home to a lot of cultural treasures of the region. Take the Appalachian Mural Trail, an open-air exhibition of murals depicting the region’s history. There are also a lot of breweries, small cafés and fancy stores. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful road trips in North America because it shows you another side of this diverse country.
Seward Highway in Alaska
The Seward Highway is one of the best road trips in North America for 2021 because it takes you to a region that you probably don’t have on your 2021 travel bucket list yet – Alaska. This route is perfect for all snow lovers. This route is much shorter than the previous ones, so you can easily combine it with longer stays to really enjoy the unique landscape and lose yourself in solitude.
Your tour begins in the state’s largest city, Anchorage. The city is dedicated to nature and conservation and will also show you the local culture. Be sure to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center to learn more about the region’s history. Near the city is the Chugach State Park with impressive mountain ranges and a beautiful lake. Your next stop is Tern Lake, about 2 hours from Anchorage. This lake is located on the Kenai Peninsula and is surrounded by untouched nature and many other small lakes. From May to June you can watch birds here, but also beavers and black bears!
Tern Lake to Seward
From here you will get to your final destination, Seward. The town is located directly on the Gulf of Alaska and therefore offers you the opportunity to watch whales! Either you book a tour that takes you further into the open water or you explore the bay on your own with kayaks. In Seward, you also have the chance to see the northern lights with a lot of luck. There are also many glaciers around the town, which you can experience on a hike, which is really unique and totally breathtaking.
Alaska is really something very special because not many travelers come here. Here you can really switch off and become one with nature. With your USA travel partners this adventure will be unique.
Hāna Highway in Hawai’i
After winterly Alaska, we are heading to the youngest state of the country – Hawaii! More precisely, we have chosen a beautiful route for you on Maui. This island probably comes closest to your picture of Hawaii. This road trip can easily be integrated into your Hawaii vacation because it takes only 103 km. In the archipelago of Hawaii, we recommend you to visit several islands to get to know the diversity.
Your Hana Highway Road Trip starts in Kahului, the main town of the island. The flight from Germany takes about 16 hours. Visit the Maui Nui Botanical Garden and stroll through the Farmers Market to buy fresh local produce. Since the Hawaiian Islands are quite expensive as a vacation destination, it is recommended to rent a vacation apartment with your Hawaiian travel buddies. The Hana Highway will take you across 54 bridges. On your way, you will pass through the rainforest of the island and you will never get tired of the full green.
Into the green!
Your next stop is the Twin Falls, two waterfalls that run into a natural pool. From the Twin Falls, a winding road runs right next to the Pacific Ocean to the Kaumahina State Parks.
There you can spend your lunch and enjoy the view of the impressive Ke’anae peninsula. On the peninsula, you can enjoy the tropical flora of the island and visit the arboretum. This route is definitely all about nature! From Ke’anae it takes you one hour to Hāna, our last destination. A real highlight near the city is Kaihalulu Beach, a beach with red sand! Next to it, there is the Black Sand Beach, with black sand. The city itself is rather small and offers you the opportunity to get to know the islanders better. You should definitely see Hawaii once in a lifetime, that’s why the Hāna Highway is one of the best road trips in 2021.
Road Trip through North America: Eastern Canada
Of course, North America includes not only the USA but also Canada. That’s why we brought you our favorite road trip in the east of this huge country. You should experience eastern Canada in the Indian Summer, the beginning of autumn. Then the leaves change their color beautifully and it is still pleasantly warm. Your road trip starts in Toronto, the largest metropolitan area in Canada. This city is exactly how you imagine a North American metropolis. Skyscrapers, deep street canyons and people from different cultures included. The best view of the city is from Toronto Island, an island you can reach by ferry. If you are already in the region, take a short trip to Niagara Falls in the south of the city.
Big city to historical town
From here you will drive to Kingston, a city on Lake Ontario. Here you can discover the history of the colonial period and explore the nature around the lake because just behind Kingston the area of Thousand Islands begins. In this area, there are more than 1,800 islands spread over an 80 km long stretch of river. Here you should definitely book a boat trip or even accommodation on one of the many islands because there are a lot of vacation homes in this area. If you are traveling with your Canada travel partners, you can easily share the costs. With JoinMyTrip this is especially easy.
French Canada
From the Thousand Islands, we continue on a beautiful route through the untouched nature to Quebec. On the way, you should also stop in Montréal for a day trip. Quebec will remind you in some parts very much of European cities. This is due to the French colonial period, which is why the second official language in eastern Canada is still French. On the Petit Champlain, you will find small independent stores, which are the charm of the city. For a view of the impressive nature of the region, the best way to get there is to go to the Montmorency Waterfalls, which plunge over an 83 m high rock face and are thus 30 m higher than the Niagara Falls. The best way to see the city is from the Observatoire de la Capitale, a viewpoint with a 360-degree view.
To the last stop of our route, Halifax, an incredible number of roads off the highways lead to this beautiful city in the far north. In Halifax, you can experience Victorian history and walk along the beach. Point Pleasant Park has a beautiful stone beach, long walking trails and open-air art objects. At the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, you can buy typical souvenirs. This is the route to take if you plan to stay in Canada for several weeks and want to combine nature with the city. This is why Eastern Canada is on our list of the best road trips in North America.
These 5 routes are just some of the many road trip possibilities in the USA and Canada. If you have ever done a road trip in North America yourself, show us! Under the hashtag #myfaveroadtrips you can network with us and share your best road trips in North America with us. We are already looking forward to it.
For more travel inspiration have a look at our other blog articles:
How to prepare for your next road trip
9 essentials you must pack for the perfect road trip
Is campervan travel right for you?
