10 Cinematic Road Trips in the USA
From west coast America road trips to adventures through deserts, past canyons, and into forests – nowhere does road trips like the States. Here are 10 of the best US road trips for your next Stateside adventure.
The spiritual home of the motor car beckons you.
With its long, winding roads, epic mountain ranges, canyons, deserts and forests, few other countries on earth lend themselves to a road trip quite like America.
Stateside driving adventures are also steeped in the magic of the movies – with many routes passing locations used for some of the most famous productions in history.
What follows are ten of the best USA road trips, so you can play the lead role in your own Hollywood road movie.
Florida Keys
If you're a fan of Humphrey Bogart's Key Largo (1948), or, more importantly, Arnold Schwarzenegger's True Lies (1994), with its famous fighter jet action sequence, then you're already aware of how epic the Florida Keys are.
The best way to enjoy them, of course, is by car. Begin your adventure in Key Largo near the mainland, then wend your way down the Overseas Highway, past Islamorada ("the sportfishing capital of the world") and Big Pine Key (great snorkelling), before finishing in the legendary Key West (don’t miss the excellent Botanical Garden).
Harrier jump jet licence not required.
The Pacific Coast Highway, California
The Pacific Coast Highway (aka Highway C1) has provided the setting for countless movies and TV shows, from Baywatch (1989-2001) to Inception (2010) and Point Break (1991).
But the C1 isn’t all about film location spotting. It passes no fewer than nine state parks, as well as the spellbinding Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where you can see some of California’s famous giant redwoods (the largest trees on Earth). There are also plenty of hiking trails for you to enjoy en route, many with beautiful waterfalls.
And then there’s the wildlife. Sea otters, sea lions and whales can often be glimpsed from the lofty cliff edges.
Plus, don’t miss the picturesque Hearst Castle, near San Simeon.
This is, arguably, the quintessential west coast America road trip.
Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park
Not many big-name movies have used Skyline Drive as a location, which is surprising given the epic nature of this 135-mile route across Virginia.
Your journey will reach its visual zenith on the Skyline Drive Scenic Highway, which snakes across mountain crests, giving optimal views across this pretty state.
Visit in autumn to see the incredible reds and golds of the changing foliage.
Hana Highway – Maui
Maui’s sun-blessed tropical vistas have attracted countless movie productions, including South Pacific (1958), Jurassic Park (1993), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
The best way to enjoy these cinematic locales is by driving the 65-mile route from Kahului to Hāna, on the island’s stunning east coast.
Be ready to give way, though, as many stretches of the route are only one lane wide. You’ll also need your traction control activated, thanks to the 620 corners you’ll encounter as you wend your way through ancient, steamy rainforest.
If you like your road trips on the prehistoric side – minus the T-Rexes – this route is among the best USA road trips of all.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Among New England states, New Hampshire has perhaps provided the most backdrops for TV and movies. Notable highlights include To Die For (1995), Jumanji (1995), and Doctor Sleep (2019).
With its old-world towns and heavily forested countryside, New Hampshire makes for a rewarding road trip.
Chief among the many available routes is the Kancamagus Highway, which takes you along the awe-inspiring Swift River, rising to some 2,855 feet.
Aim for October to see the incredible autumn colour show as you explore the many woodland trails along the route.
Grand Loop Road – Yellowstone National Park
Some truly epic productions have used Yellowstone National Park as a backdrop, including Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and, of course, Martin Clunes: A Man and His Dogs (2008).
The Grand Loop Road forms a figure of eight and passes idyllic waterfalls, towering geysers, beautiful swimming holes and some of the park’s most rewarding hiking routes. You may find yourself stopping off many times to enjoy the view or a walk.
This wonderfully surreal landscape will make you feel like you’re on another planet.
Route 66, Multiple States
Built in 1926, the 2,000-mile Route 66 is arguably the most famous of all American roads – although technically, it doesn’t exist (it was decommissioned in 1985). Only certain tracts of the road have been preserved, including one connecting Springfield, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The road became familiar to many Americans who migrated west during the Great Depression, but also became interlinked with America’s love of the motor car and the open road.
The route has featured in countless iconic movies, including Easy Rider (1969), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Bagdad Cafe (1987), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), and No Country for Old Men (2007).
Many Brits choose to take an America Route 66 holiday, often starting out in Chicago.
Give yourself at least two weeks to complete the route – and even that is rushing it, given the number of attractions and views along the way.
San Francisco to Utah via Death Valley
This could be one of the best driving routes for film lovers, bypassing many epic locations used in movies.
Your journey begins in the sprawling metropolis of San Francisco (Bullitt, 1968), before heading into the Nevada Desert and Yosemite National Park (The Dawn Wall, 2017), followed by Death Valley (Star Wars, 1977), the Grand Canyon (Thelma and Louise, 1991) and Salt Lake City (Con Air, 1997).
With some of the most surreal and awe-inspiring scenery on the planet, you’ll find yourself stopping off regularly to marvel at the canyons, cacti and vast blue skies.
The Deep South: Chicago to New Orleans
Music, rather than film, epitomises this route into America’s Deep South, passing through six different states.
Start out in Chicago, then head to St. Louis, hometown of Abraham Lincoln.
Next up is Memphis, the spiritual home of rock ‘n’ roll, blues and jazz – as well as Elvis’s mansion, Graceland.
Your final stop is New Orleans, another key player in the story of jazz.
As you move south, there are also treats for your taste buds: enjoy the exciting Creole flavours in dishes like Shrimp Creole.
The Blue Ridge Parkway
This incredible route starts in Virginia before snaking through the Appalachian Mountains and on to North Carolina and the stunning Smoky Mountains National Park.
Autumn is a great time here, when the trees lining the road change from gold to red to brown.
Plenty of hiking trails can be enjoyed along the way, each with its fair share of epic waterfalls and panoramic views.
It’ll come as no surprise that this road was purpose-built for driving pleasure.
Only in America!
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