Touring would not must be restricted to locations that require a aircraft ticket. If something, a street journey could be much more enjoyable, additionally providing you with flexibility together with your schedule and itinerary (so long as visitors cooperates). A cross-country street journey is a bucket listing merchandise for many people, however should you simply need to cruise and really feel a salty breeze, a drive up and down the seaboard could be simply what the physician ordered. Unsure the place to start out and finish your journey? Our journey consultants have loads of solutions for the cities to bookend your trip, and all the stops to soak up between. Learn on for the ten greatest coastal street journeys within the U.S.
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First up on the listing is a historic journey by way of the Southeast, beginning in Charleston, South Carolina; visiting Savannah, Georgia; and ending in St. Augustine, Florida.
“A well-liked historic coastal journey has at all times included Charleston and Savannah, two charming cities I cherished visiting,” says Samantha Oppenheimer, full-time journey blogger and founding father of Discover Love & Journey. “Now, add St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest metropolis within the U.S., and you should have hit the trifecta of nice coastal historic cities.”
Oppenheimer recommends testing Joe Riley Waterfront Parkway, strolling alongside the Battery in Charleston, and taking time to discover the hidden alleys that dot town.
“After all, you may need to find time for Folly Seashore if the climate is good,” she provides.
Savannah’s River Road, Forsyth Park, and Tybee Island are must-sees, after which you’ll be able to hop again within the automotive to proceed your journey to Florida.
“When you make it to St. Augustine, you should not miss climbing the Lighthouse on Anastasia Island, exploring the Historic District, and having fun with one of many many seashores, together with Vilano Seashore, St. Augustine Seashore, and Mickler’s Touchdown,” Oppenheimer suggests.
Whereas planning, she recommends allotting two to a few days to discover every metropolis.
In accordance with Anna Cook dinner, journey blogger and founding father of Caught On The Go, the Outer Banks in North Carolina is a well known coastal street journey vacation spot—and it is simple to see why.
“Between the beautiful views, stunning North Carolina seashores, and wonderful seafood eating places, what’s to not love?” she gushes. “Begin your journey in Corolla the place you’ll be able to climb the Currituck Lighthouse (in season) and take an tour to try to spot the wild horses. Make your means south to Kill Satan Hills and Nags Head the place you’ll be able to cease at Jockey’s Ridge State Park to admire the dunes, and the Wright Brothers Nationwide Memorial to study why North Carolina was First in Flight.”
Cook dinner says you may additionally need to catch a glimpse of the sunsets at Pea Island Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and take a look at Bodie Island Lighthouse, too.
“One of the crucial iconic lighthouses in North Carolina is positioned additional south of Pea Island—Cape Hatteras Lighthouse,” she shares. “Hatteras can be identified for its nice fishing alternatives and exquisite, quiet seashores.”
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If you wish to prolong your historic East Coast street journey—or would similar to to concentrate on exploring all that Florida has to supply—think about driving right down to Vero Seashore.
“Begin at St. Augustine and find yourself in Vero Seashore, the place you may take pleasure in historical past, attractive seashores, scrumptious seafood, and quaint small cities—all the pieces you want for an excellent street journey,” says Pam Howard, the journey blogger behind Our Journey Is All over the place.
She additionally praises St. Augustine: “On the northern tip of Florida, because the oldest metropolis in Florida, St. Augustine is a perfect start line. Historical past is on each nook, from the Previous Metropolis to the Fort Castillo de San Marcos.”
After your historical past lesson, Howard recommends heading south and stopping in “the house of Spring Break, Daytona Seashore.”
“Daytona Seashore is your likelihood to take pleasure in among the typical seashore city enjoyable,” she notes. “Spend a day on the seashore enjoying within the surf and finish your night with a spherical of miniature golf at one of many many native programs and a few contemporary seafood.”
After that, it is time to head to your closing vacation spot—however make a pit cease should you’re so inclined.
“Should you’ve received further time, think about stopping for a day at Cape Canaveral and visiting the Area Middle—particularly if a rocket launch is going on,” Howard advises. “Finish your coastal street journey with a number of days of stress-free and exploring Vero Seashore. With artwork museums, native boutiques, and wonderful seafood, it is the proper spot to wrap up this East Coast Florida street journey.”
Whereas the East Coast is stuffed with street journey alternatives, the Gulf Coast is price testing as properly.
“Many individuals do not realize that Alabama has among the most stunning white-sand seashores within the nation. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores and Orange Seashore provide the proper mix of enjoyable sights and rest,” Cook dinner recommends. “Should you’re seeking to loosen up, there is not any higher means than with Hammock Time Tiki Excursions in Orange Seashore, the place you’ll be able to lay again in a hammock whereas meandering on a pontoon boat.”
From there, head to Gulf Shores to discover the outside, and make sure you add Gulf State Park to your Alabama seashores itinerary, Cook dinner says.
“You’ll be able to take pleasure in fishing or swimming on the seashore, miles of biking trails, and kayaking on the lake,” she shares. “For climbing trails, Bon Secour Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is simply down the street. Proceed west and you will make it to Fort Morgan State Historic Website, the place you’ll be able to tour the fort accomplished in 1834, and study extra in regards to the Battle of Cellular Bay.”
Wrap up by taking the ferry to Dauphin Island and exploring Fort Gaines, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Audubon Chook Sanctuary, Cook dinner suggests.
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Choose the rocky shores of New England? Samantha Hamilton, creator and author behind New England Wanderlust, has the proper street journey for you.
“One of the crucial epic street journeys I’ve ever taken is a New England street journey alongside the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine coastlines. Not solely does it take you on a trip to see among the most stunning seashores and idyllic surroundings in the whole nation, however you may additionally get to take pleasure in some unbelievable meals, snap images of attractive lighthouses, and head out on memorable coastal climbing trails,” she says.
The seashores of Cape Cod, the surroundings in Martha’s Winery and Nantucket, and the whole Maine shoreline and at Acadia Nationwide Park are certain to impress and supply loads to do whereas in your journey.
“There’s such a various spectrum of issues to do on this route that it actually appeals to only about everybody,” Hamilton gushes. “It additionally affords an excellent stability of charming cities and thrilling cities.”
For historical past buffs, she recommends the Freedom Path in Boston and the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island.
“For anybody who loves small-town attraction, there are many quaint fishing villages and coastal cities that really feel just like the set of a Hallmark film on this route,” she notes. “And, after all, everybody will love munching on a contemporary lobster roll or lobster dinner on the quite a few seafood shacks alongside the way in which. (Taking an image in your lobster bib will not be necessary, however extremely really useful!)”
If you wish to go to a coastal level a bit of bit additional south, strive beginning your street journey in New York earlier than heading as much as discover the New England shoreline.
“This route has a number of swimmable seashores in Cape Cod and all the means up the coast, however the true draw is the cute New England coastal cities alongside the way in which,” says Amber Haggerty, journey blogger with Amber All over the place. “Some highlights embrace Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Portland and Camden, Maine; and, after all, Bar Harbor, Maine.”
She recommends testing Plymouth Rock, the historic city of Salem, Massachusetts, and—like Hamilton—guaranteeing you have got time to discover Acadia.
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You may also plan a street journey proper by way of the center of the East Coast, exploring the DelMarVa peninsula, in response to Becca Siegel, co-owner at Half Half Journey Weblog.
“Among the finest coastal street journeys within the U.S. is one chances are you’ll not have guessed: the DelMarVa area, or Delaware-Maryland-Virginia,” she shares. “Highway tripping on this area can get you from the seashores of Delaware right down to the coast of Virginia, or principally, to well-known Virginia Seashore.”
Remember to take the route the place you’ll be able to see the “engineering marvel” of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Siegel advises.
“[It’s] a transportation marvel of bridges and tunnels in the course of the Chesapeake Bay that’ll get you from the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula right down to Virginia Seashore itself,” she explains.
Should you’ve received the time, why not discover all the pieces the East Coast has to supply on one epic street journey?
“It would not actually matter the place you begin (Philadelphia, Delaware, D.C.), it is actually accessible from any starting level, which makes it an excellent alternative!” says Taylor Beal, proprietor and creator of the journey weblog Traverse With Taylor. “Alongside the coast, you can begin with Virginia Seashore, Virginia, or the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Each are quintessential seashore cities with some wonderful family-friendly issues to do or nice spots for an evening out in town. From there, drive so far as you want!”
Beal additionally recommends East Coast hubs like Myrtle Seashore, Charleston, and Savannah—and suggests going a bit inland to wrap up your journey at Disney World.
“Finish your street journey in Orlando, Florida, on the happiest place on Earth! Disney World is a must-do within the U.S.—even whether it is touristy—and it suits seamlessly into this East Coast street journey!” she says.
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The journey from Northern California to the Pacific Northwest is bound to be an epic street journey, beginning in San Francisco and wrapping up in Seattle.
Journey bloggers Danny and Danielle Johnson, who run the web site The Touring Dans, break down their 10-stop itinerary in a June 2023 TikTok.
They suggest beginning at Muir Seashore Overlook in California, then heading to Russian Gulch State Park. From there, take a drive down the Avenue of the Giants and go to Fern Canyon in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
When you wrap up in Cali, the Johnsons recommend heading north to Oregon and stopping in Bandon Seashore earlier than venturing to the awe-inspiring Crater Lake Nationwide Park, Silver Falls State Park, and Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space.
Your final two stops will probably be in Washington, beginning with Gifford Pinchot Nationwide Forest and ending at Mount Rainier Nationwide Park.
We might be remiss to not point out the epic California coast on this listing—who hasn’t dreamt of driving up and down the Pacific Coast Freeway (PCH)?
In an April 19 TikTok, new-age journey company Fora Journey recommends beginning in Los Angeles, ensuring you see the Santa Monica Pier, stroll down Rodeo Drive, hike in Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park, and discover native museums and eating places.
From there, it is a two-hour drive (with out visitors) north to Santa Barbara. Fora Journey says it is a nature-lover’s paradise with mountains, seashores, and rolling vineyards. The Santa Barbara Botanic Backyard and Lotusland in Montecito are musts.
Head additional up the coast to Massive Sur and Carmel—and cease within the charming city of Cambria if you wish to take the drive slower! Morro Rock, the Oceano sand dunes at Pismo Seashore, and Hearst Fort are additionally worthwhile pitstops alongside the way in which. If you wish to undergo San Luis Obispo, it’s also possible to take the 101 as a substitute of the PCH (the 1). Visitors issues apart, at all times examine the California Division of Transportation web site to make sure the roads in your deliberate route are open.
After you’ve got explored nature in Massive Sur, proceed to your closing spot in San Francisco.
“Relying on visitors, that is a couple of two to four-hour drive from Carmel, nevertheless it’s price it. Town’s eclectic persona cannot be matched,” Fora Journey says.
The Golden Gate Bridge ought to positively be in your listing—and Fora Journey recommends getting a view from Presidio Nationwide Park Website. Nevertheless, there are additionally loads of museums, spas, and nice meals choices in San Francisco.
