If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there

The Art of Road Trip Planning

Planning a road trip takes a lot more effort than the usual travel planning especially if you are travelling internationally. It requires careful planning around whom to travel with, budget limits, where to stay and all the attention to drive and handle the car. If you are going for a city break, you can pretty much get away with a list of top landmarks, booking a hotel in the city and even taking organized tours. This might not work for road trip planning when you also need to plan the best scenic routes, and drive that extra mile in unknown or less travelled roads. Hence, the first thing you need for a road trip planning is the inspiration and the wanderlust to fuel your heart to take the extra effort and get planning.

Road Trips and Me: My first international road trip was in 2015, mostly planned by a friend, which got me addicted to exploring the most scenic and remote areas. Years later, I am more than happy to call the road my home during vacations these days – I just love being on the road. This has also prepared me to plan a road trip very quickly – I am happily planning road trips during in my free time these days. I have a bucket list of road trips that I wish to cover around the world, and that is my biggest personal passion project to keep me going in the world.

Road Trip Planner Guide

This is my ultimate road trip planner guide to help you get started and prepare for your own road trips. This is a step by step guide that I will continue to improve as I take more journeys. I recommend approaching all the road trip planning in two main phases below.

• Road Trip Planner Phase 1: The first phase is to decide the destination or country you want to explore, find a group to travel with and booking a car, accommodation etc. This step involves lots of researching and it is the most trickiest.
• Road Trip Planner Phase 2: Second phase is to plan and prepare for the journey itself. This step involves practical steps during the trip.

I will first go through detailed items for each phases and in the end, I will also cover some top tricks to keep in mind for road trips in general.

How to Plan a Road Trip: Phase – 1

1. Pick a Road Trip Travel Group

Your road trip planning starts with finding a group of friends to go on the road with. You might have to consider the fact that you need to be with folks who are like-minded with similar interests as well as who can match your budget and lifestyle to a good extent as you have to stick with them for multiple days. What I have personally noticed is that unlike an easy city break, road trips usually need adventure minded folks who are willing to compromise schedules, love spontaneity and can be patient and deal with uncertainties.

READ: 3 Days Road Trip in Tromso in Winter

I personally don’t like planning too much and want to have flexibility, so much so I have even cancelled pre-paid accommodations to extend a day in a place I fell in love with during the journey. Some others like to stick to a schedule. So picking the right folks or at least agreeing to the style is a must for your road trip planning. Again, it is hard to find matches for all angles, but make sure you are at least with folks who are happy to adjust with what happens on the road, are flexible and have some adventurous or risk taking spirit.

2. Pick a Road Trip Destination & Duration

The destination and major routes to cover can be picked based on seasonal experiences like crossing some of the fun outdoor activities in winter, epic landscapes and scenic drives, crossing a bucket list activity item or even finding some cheap flights. I usually have a country, national park or scenic route in mind and start to check when are cheapest flights to places nearby and plan routes around the airports. You also need to pick a destination that your friend group would love to go to.

READ: Winter Bucket List for Travellers

I usually share some of the trips I have in mind with my friends or note a destination or experience they mentioned they would like to do and consult them as I start planning. Having friends like that helps, but these days there are also many travel communities where you can find travel buddies.

3. Agree on Budget

It is important to understand the budget limits of everyone first hand to make sure that everything you book- car, accommodation etc. fits the budget of all. Note that main expenses include calculating accommodation cost and food per day, total miles to be driven and gas costs, car insurance costs, finding tolls along the route, national park entrance costs at the minimum. Once you have a rough idea of the budget needed in the place, you can try to negotiate amongst the group for where to cut costs.

READ: Dog Sledding in Tromso, Norway

I usually plan the road trips for my friend groups, so this is what I generally do – I research the costs for these top things on an average in the destination and then consult the group before finalization.

4. Identify Top Stops with High Level Route- (Research)

Top Tip: Divide the top stops/cities identified into two categories- must-sees/dos and optional ones. This will help manage expectations of all.

READ: 2 Weeks Scotland Road Trip Itinerary

Must-Sees: Must-sees or dos by your fellow travellers is non-negotiable and has to be covered. You have to hit this list 100% to make sure you are all happy with this trip and return back as friends I am exaggerating, but note that for many of us we get limited holidays in the year and we do want to get the most out of a costly holiday, and don’t want to have regrets.

5. Plan a Route using Google Maps

Now that you know all the top stops you would like to cover, use google maps to plan the route. Use the directions panel, add stops and examine the route the app suggests. Then comes the most important thing to do to make your trip worthwhile, for each route suggested, look for detours from the highways that can be done by adding a little more time, but goes along scenic landscapes- lakes, water, beaches, forest, you name it.

READ: Best Scenic Drives in the UK

As a landscape and nature lover, I normally study water bodies and green areas on the map and google a bit about villages and towns you see in the detours. You can do the same for pretty much anything like art galleries, restaurants, parks etc. For example, I learned about the Lochs in Scotland this way, otherwise I would have no idea. This map research will help find the less travelled but most scenic routes to take, which has always worked for me and brings lot of exciting destinations and adventures to the ultimate road trip itinerary.

Top Tip: Always try to take the scenic route when you can, only take highways when your goal is to quickly reach the next destination. Again, research about the road conditions and safety a bit too. I am leaving the common sense part as an exercise for the reader

6. Book a Rental Car

Once you have a rough plan of the route and know the time needed to cover your itinerary, it is time to find a car. Booking a rental car is an expensive ordeal, which definitely needs similar research as booking a flight.

Some things to note when booking a rental car are:

• With some extra money you can usually pick up and drop your car in different destinations. I normally do this unless I can plan an itinerary round trip taking loop routes. This is quite handy to cover as far as I could from where we started and not repeat the same route. Balance the budget and see what is best for you.
• Find good car insurance deals, and check with the companies directly if they have a deal they offer. I usually don’t go for a single approach as which deal or company is the best varies per location and circumstances.

7. Book Accommodation

Finding accommodations on a road trip can be tricky especially if you are traveling remotely. Note that some travel booking sites are popular in certain regions for accommodations and one size fits for all does not work for every country either. Some places are very safe and some are not, doing some proper research on places to stay is a must before you rely on same travel booking website. In developed countries, I usually try to stay with locals and explore more and in under-developed or not-so-tourist friendly places, I recommend sticking to popular hotel or accommodation provider chains. Researching the destination is a must to avoid complications.

READ: Fall Foliage Road Trip in Vermont

How to Plan a Road Trip: Phase – 2

8. Car Safety

Safety on the road should be the first priority for road tripping. Remember to learn the driving rules of your destination and even watch some YouTube videos, before your departure. Make sure that you always have plenty of fuel/gas during the drive, avoiding filling up gas at the last minute, just in case the fuel station you were banking on is closed for some reason. Another important thing is to check the route conditions when you drive and making sure your tires are ready for it, especially in extreme climate like heavy winter. You should also be aware of what to check in the car before and after the road trip.

Another thing to note is to check the emergency contact numbers along the route and keep them written in a book as well as in your phone and make sure you know how to contact highway assistance in the region you are going to be traveling, if you’re renting a car this may or may not be included. Carrying at least an extra tire or a breakdown kit is a must and the relevant car repair tools if possible.

READ: How to Check Your Car Before and After a Road Trip

9. Road Trip Entertainment

A big portion of road trip includes the time spent in the car, which can also be made super fun to create memories. Listening to your favourite music or podcast can cheer up the road trip vibe, including singing along with friends. There are also multiple games that can be played in the car. Make sure that you have sorted out a playlist for your trip, and even consult your group to mix everyone’s choices if possible.

Nowadays, playlists are mostly in smart phones, but make sure you carry the songs downloaded to reduce the usage of the data or to not be dependent on internet availability. Also make sure to carry the relevant cables and electronics needed to connect the phone to any car, especially if you are not sure which car will you get from the rental. Summary is, make sure you can play music and have entertainment options within the car. Driving can become monotonous and boring as every route you take wont be scenic either

10. Navigation Gear & Apps

Navigation is an important item for a road trip and it is must preparation for road trip planning. Make sure that you have a navigation device with you if possible, and don’t totally rely on a single smart phone just in case your phone was lost or the battery died. I usually carry an extra phone with me which I leave in the car. Even if you are using phone, remember to download the maps offline to not be dependent on internet availability. Also carry, printed maps of the place if possible and even buy guide books if you are travelling in remote areas.

Some of the top smart phone applications include:

• Google Maps
• Apple Maps
• Waze – This application can be relied more for up to-date traffic enforcement and speed limit alerts.
• Citymapper – Best to route within a city
• iExit – Find the best rest-stops on your route
• Viamichelin – Includes toll prices in a route, helpful to be aware of cost along a route
• Outdoorsy – Motorhome rental app (US).
• DYRT – Find camping sites (US)
• Parking apps (RingGo, PayByPhone, Parkopedia) (UK) – Attempt to make finding and paying for parking easier.
• Toilet apps (Toilet Finder, Where is Public Toilet) (UK) – When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.

12. Road Trip Packing

Documents: Driving license, passport, visa and other relevant documents.

Navigation: All items like navigation gear, maps, and guide books as mentioned above.

Itinerary: Printed list of itinerary and bookings.

Road Safety: Essential car repair tools, emergency kit and first aid kits.

Money: Carry some local currency.

Personal items: Clothes and comfort items for the car, especially if you have a back pain etc.

Electronics Gear: Carry all the photography gear including cables and other car accessories.

Food: Carry water, snacks and even a cooler for storing food.

13. Road Trip Food

Carrying some food with you is important during a road trip, especially when travelling to remote areas. You can’t always rely on restaurants and supermarkets being present along your route. Hit a super market whenever you find one and carry some snacks, fruits and easy to eat meals in emergency along with you. Remember to hydrate yourself regularly while being on the road, and keep multiple water bottles with you. One of my favourite food hacks for road trips is to carry Huel with me when I travel and with their latest hot and savoury line, it is also worth carrying a flask and boiled water as it can be made in 2 minutes which makes a perfect ready to eat meal. Energy bars, chocolates, crisps and juices are all good options to enjoy that long drive. I find it hard to reserve restaurants during a road trip due to the time commitment issues, but it is always good to note some restaurant options along the way. I usually check which are the main towns that have restaurant options and align the meal time to one of those to make sure there are options. Carrying breakfast items usually help to avoid time spent in the morning. Cooking is an option if you have such facilitates in your accommodation, all you need is a supermarket and there won’t be schedule issues. I try to have a balance of options during the trip- some days cooking, some days restaurants etc.

14. Connectivity

The world revolves around the internet nowadays and having cellular connectivity is important not just for data but also to communicate during emergencies. It is important to check whether your phone connection works in the country you are visiting and what limitations exist in terms of international calls etc. In the UK, I use Three mobile network which provides roaming free in 72 countries and is a life saver. There are other providers who will also provide good deals for roaming. Just make sure you have checked this before you leave, especially heading internationally.

15. Travel Finance

Travel banking is tricky sometimes depending on where you are visiting. Travel credit cards are plenty available and Visa/Master card should work internationally. But the major headache is in identifying the best options for saving a huge amount of currency exchange fee etc. Based in the UK, I use Starling bank which also allows currency conversion with very minimal exchange charges. WISE is a popular option these days and they also provide Master cards. I’ve never used travel specific cards, but there are plenty credit card options especially in America for good travel deals and points.

How to Plan a Road Trip without a Full Plan

• Leave Some Free Days : As road trips lead to many spontaneous and unexpected experience encounters, it is hard to really follow a schedule. I have sometimes returned without covering 25% of my planned itinerary, especially on a long road trip across countries. The trick is to add some free days and even to delay booking accommodations in some places to buy you the ability to be more flexible. Not only that, a break between long drives is good to re-energize if it is a multi-week road trip.
• Ask Locals: Do say hello to the locals whenever possible, and ask their recommendations. I usually do this in souvenir shops where I spend quite a lot of time. I adore such local craft shops and bring back lot of goodies to decorate my home.
• Hidden Gems for Photography: In a souvenir shop, I usually take a good look at the post cards on sale. I do collect post cards, but the display is the best route to finding epic photo opportunities and scenic places in the destinations. I have found a few places and clicked some top shots in a destination using this technique. As always I wish I had more time

Road Trip Guide: A Few More Tips

• Get on the road early and stick to daylight hours: If the route is scenic, do make sure you see them in the daylight. Getting on the road early is a myth in my case as I can’t open my eyes before 9, but you know don’t learn that from me. I have missed many epic routes being late on my trip. For early birds, you will rock it!
• Exercise or rest breaks: Take regular rest breaks to walk a bit or stretch to avoid long drive fatigue.
• Let your bank know you are travelling : Some banks block your card with suspicious activity if they suddenly see money being spent from an unusual location. Best way to prevent this hassle is to call your bank and let them know where you are going.

Road Trip Planner: Final Thoughts

Travel planning is an art, you can create your own itinerary that matches your interests and set out on a journey to interesting places that await epic experiences and discoveries. There is a lot to explore out there and by taking road trips you increase the chances of unique and special views of the world very often. Go Road Trip! Though a tedious process to plan, road trips are usually worth it and hope this road trip planner helps you get started.

Enjoy Your Next Road Trip!

Pin This Road Trip Planner for Your Adventures

Located in the South western tip of the UK, it is harder to explore all corners of Cornwall by public transport from main cities like London, but definitely worth a visit so as some of the major places are still easily covered. No wonder many movies and books are set in this land of stories, since I visited here I have not stopped thinking of what life was like here back then. I hope you enjoy this road trip itinerary to Cornwall and embark on your Cornish adventures.

READ: Best Scenic Drives in the UK

2 Days Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary

Cornwall is located in the South West coast of England, and the homeland of the Cornish people. Surrounded by Atlantic Ocean and English channel, Cornwall is very famous for its coastal scenery. Cornwall has a rich history with its own kingdom and dynasty, which makes it a very unqiue English county amongst others. Cornwall was a mining centre in the middle ages with copper and tin mining making a large part of its economy apart from fishing, which declined by 1990s. Today, Cornwall is famous for its tourism, which caught up after the railway operations began with the main station at Penzance.

Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary Map

JOURNEY OVERVIEW:

We drove to Cornwall from Bath/Bristol area and stayed in Newquay as our base while we explored the different parts of Cornwall. If you are not a full time traveler, you can easily do this taking one or two days off from work, closer to a weekend with a bank holiday. I would totally recommend having a rental car or camper van to explore the corners of Cornwall. You could also visit for a long time and explore the coastal walks if you have more time. The itinerary covers all the top landmarks to explore in Cornwall, even if it’s a weekend road trip from London or other main cities by car or a long holiday here which included more coastal walks etc. I honestly think I could spend here months happily- the setting of this place demands it, mixed with the landscape and historical vibe.

Top Places to Stay in Cornwall

Some of the top places to stay in Cornwall include the major harbor cities – St Ives, Padstow, Penzance, Newquay, Truro and Falmouth. The options here are plenty ranging from cottages, holiday rentals, Airbnbs, hotels and hostels. During my search for accommodation here, I was very convinced to stay in the Cornish cottages seeing the unique experiences, but there are plenty of beach hotels and Airbnbs to aim for as well that suits your style. For camper vanners, there are multiple campgrounds as well.

Top Tips for Driving in Cornwall

Driving in Cornwall is straight forward unlike elsewhere in England, which can be confusing for internationals not used to complex round about. However, the roads are really like the extreme countryside of England, very narrow and with less visibility of incoming traffic with elevated roads like in mountain ranges. If you are renting, I would advise to get small vehicles to Cornwall and to reduce driving time to avoid road fatigue as it is not a very flat ride. If you are a good driver, but not used to England, Cornwall is not tricky when it comes to complicated rules. So go for coastal road tripping if you would like to

Day 1: South East Coast

1. Perranporth Beach

Perranporth beach is one of the finest and longest beaches in Cornwall, filled with golden sand along the Atlantic ocean. The vast beach is exotic with its cove like rocks, sand dunes and surfs which attract youngsters, tourists as well as families.

The beach is so big that you can enjoy a nice beach walk along the coast watching the stunning sea scenery and waves. The beach is very family friendly that pets and kids will particularly enjoy playing at the beach.

Tips: There are multiple cafes and bars in Perranporth beach for a drink or a bite, especially filled during holiday seasons. There is also a big parking lot near the beach including some benches for those who would like to stay on the land and watch the sea.

2. St Ives

St Ives is one of the well known and celebrated fishing harbor towns in Cornwall, being a popular setting for so many movies and stories set in Cornwall. No wonder it wins one of the top holiday destinations in England regularly, this fishing town feels like a dream in its first sight.

This quaint town of fishing cottages, and harbor, and attractive coastal activities like boat tours and even a scenic railway, this Cornish town definitely has the soul of the Cornwall experience that anyone dreams of. At the moment, I was feeling like a character in a book or a movie while I enjoyed seafood here and watched the harbor.

3. Cape of Cornwall

Cape Cornwall is one of the two capes of England, well located in a coastal route from St Ives. Cape is one of the iconic historic landmarks of Cornwall with the mine here a memorial to the mining history of this area. Being located in the southern coastal tip closer to Lands End, the landscape here is one of the best in Cornwall and not to miss.

Tip: If you are by car, there is a parking closer to the coast and then you can take a coastal walk from there. The road here is narrow, so be careful and go only with a small vehicle.

4. Land’s End

Land’s End is in the western south end of England and a geographic landmark that attracts many tourists around the year.

Apart from the sign post here, which is any traveler’s dream, Land’s End is a big tourist complex nowadays with lots of fun attractions, holiday stays and a large shopping complex.

READ: Two weeks Scotland Road Trip Itinerary

As we visited during the covid pandemic, everything was closed, however Lands End overall seemed to have a playful atmosphere, and a fun place to hang out with family and friends.

The Lands End cliffs here is a stunning view and the coastal walks the prettiest. Walking here reminded me of the John O Groats experience, which is the northern most tip of UK and a must add to a Scotland road trip itinerary.

5. Porthcurno Beach

Porthcurno is a sandy beach with turquoise water near Penzance, which is a beach paradise and one of the best in Cornwall. This beach is surrounded by stunning cliffs with a grand view and you will be mesmerized by the waves. It is perfect for swimming and surfing, but make sure you check weather conditions and tide times.

I was awestruck to see this beach, as you would not believe you are in England when you are here. The turquoise water, soft white sands and outstanding natural beauty here is very unique to this beach and a must addition to your Cornwall road trip itinerary and to your UK bucket list.

Just around the corner is the Minack theatre, granite cliff made open theatre is known as one of the best in the world for the epic view from here.

Tips: About 200 m behind the beach, there is a pay and display car park and there is also a public toilet here. There is a steep step down to get here, which is easily done by a healthy person.

6. Mousehole

Mousehole harbor is a pretty little town near Penzance, which is very picturesque. Parking spaces and shops are limited compared to other places, but it is unique and especially famous among writers. It is a typical Cornish village with beautiful views, perfect for a scenic walk and enjoying a cream tea. It is very close to Penzance and it is about a three mile walk here.

Tip: Best route to walk to Penzance to Mousehole is via Newlyn, which gives you a glimpse of the fishing industry here while also enjoying the coasts.

7. Penzance

Penzance is one of the major cities in Cornwall with the railway station from the rest of England, and a popular Cornish harbor town with a range of activities. Popular beaches like Porthcurno, Praa sands and long rocky beach are nearby as well as the Minack theatre with the granite cliffs. St Michael’s mount is a spectacular tidal island here, visited by a granite causeway, only accessible during low tide. The town also has some of the best seafood restaurants and fish market.

Tip: Don’t miss walking through the Chapel street which is in the middle of the Penzance Centre and is filled with restaurants, galleries and boutiques. And of course, there is a church here, named St Marys church.

Day 2: North East Coast

8- Carnewas and Bedruthan’s Steps

Located in the north west coast path between Newquay and Padstow, Carnewas mine and Bedruthan steps offer one of the epic coastal sceneries in Cornwall, with a grand view of the Atlantic ocean. The beach here is just like Porthcurno with turquoise water and the Bedruthan steps reminds heavily of the Scotland’s Duncansby stacks. Bedruthan steps have a cliff top campsite and a car park, and is a popular destination on the Cornish coast.

Tip: Being in the open, the view here is completely weather dependant. It is best to hike around here on a sunny day. For enjoying the weather, it is best to go here on a sunny day like everywhere else in this area. I am mentioning this particularly for it being one of the best south west coastal views not to miss during Cornwall visit.

9- Padstow

Padstow is another popular fishing port on the north Cornish coast, with many attractions nearby, making it a strong candidate for Staycations. The town is filled with fisherman’s cottages and merchant’s houses, and epic holiday resorts making it a tourist hub. Some of the top beaches here include St George’s cove and Hawker’s cove that is walkable distance and there is also beached of Rock, which can be accessed by a ferry ride. Padstow harbor is bustling, with many shops and cafes around. We even saw some paddle boarders enjoying in the water. Padstow is very famous for the seafood restaurant by Rick Stein, who is a famous chef. I found the goodies pretty costly but enjoyed a stroll in the Rick Stein branded shops here.

10- Polzeath Beach

Another gem in the North Cornwall, Polzeath beach is another long sandy beach especially famous for surf lessons. This is also a family friendly beach, one of the most safest, where you can take your kids and pets. There is also parking at this beach, making it super accessible.

11- Port Isaac

This quaint fishing town is very well celebrated among tourists too, very popular as the film Doctor Martin was shot here. Houses here are clear depiction of Cornish white-washed architecture and the winding streets giving it a pretty vintage look. The village is down the coast and there is a car park at the top of the hill for visitors. When we visited, it was pouring when we reached here, so we could not stop and explore unfortunately.

12- Tintagel

Tintagel is one of the most historic and dramatic Cornwall coastal area to visit. Crowned with a castle, a stunning bridge and an outstanding cave, this British heritage site is also another place well celebrated by artists and writers.

The coastal scenery here is unmatched and the coastal walk here is highly recommended. During our visit, the weather was not safe and the tides high, so we could not go to the castle or take the alk, you shiuld have seen my disappointment face that day as I have been dreaming of walking that bridge from so long. Nevertheless, look at the coastal scenery here! Just Vow!

Even though, we could not walk around much, we did enjoy exploring the sorroundings. The view is too good from all angles.

I sat down and admired the coast for sometime, and reliving this dreamy Cornwall trip, as it was time to bid bye to Cornwall and move northwards to North Devon. I told myself that I am returning Tintagel, with plenty of time to snatch that good weather to go on that dreamy coastal walk and cross the Tintagel bridge.

Pin this Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary

Hitting the Scottish highlands has always been a dream bucket list item. I planned this 2 week Scotland road trip itinerary to the cover Scottish Highlands and nearby islands in August 2020, during covid lockdown restrictions. This ultimate Scottish highland road trip itinerary covers all the major parts of the Scottish highlands and North Coast 500 (NC500) in a week and some of the top islands and mountain regions in the mainland for another week.

Scotland Road Trip Planner

Planning this road trip was one of the most tedious itinerary planning I have ever done- largely because it is long, almost every stop throughout any route you pick is amazing and I wanted to see them all. To achieve this, I narrowed down the road trip route to take first and then came up with a complete itinerary plan, as shared below, with each itinerary item color-coded per day after reading many many blogs and consulting with travelers in my social media travel community. I am so grateful for everyone’s suggestions, as it was so helpful to make sure I covered as many classic bucket list items for a Scottish road trip.

Scotland Road Trip Planner: Top Things to Note

Scotland is part of the UK and vast but has got its main cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee in the South or Central lowlands. The northern highlands and islands which are very scenic are pretty remote.  The weather changes heavily and is extreme sometimes, hence careful planning is needed in terms of when to visit, where to stay, and even for driving if you are traveling internationally. Some of the top tips for a Scotland Road Trip to cover the Scottish Highlands are stated below.

Best Time to Visit Scotland especially for a Scenic Road Trip

The best time of the year for a road trip in Scotland aimed mainly at enjoying the scenery of highlands and enjoying the lochs will be the late Spring/Summertime between May and September. Late April will still be muddy and rainy and late may is the best. June, July, and August are the best time to visit but the busiest which makes finding parking lots and accommodations hard. Due to the popularity, it is much better to plan this trip thoroughly.

Autumn is pretty with the fall colors and winter is famous amongst tourists as well for stargazing and aurora chasing. Winter is best to avoid crowds and the scenery is pretty snowy. Your plan should really depend on which seasonal view are you aiming for. Ask me?  I plan to visit once in every season since I went there  

Driving in Scotland

As everywhere in the UK, driving is on the left-hand side of the road here and roads have roundabouts. If you are an international, you definitely want to learn about navigating roundabouts. Also, I would suggest for you be with an experienced driver and are narrow and can be challenging. You do want to take all the scenic routes for the best experience. If you are renting a car, make sure you take insurance.

When you are in Scottish highlands, the best accommodations to explore are the Bed&Breakfasts here to experience the local life. There are some amazing B&B’s to try available on all major booking sites, but for budget travelers, Airbnb comes with many B&B options too to stay with locals. Another experience not to miss here is to actually stay in a castle. There are luxurious to budget-friendly options for that. 

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

The Ultimate Scottish Highlands Road Trip Itinerary: Overview

We planned our Scottish highland road trip itinerary dividing into two-week blocks. We covered the Northern Highlands and North Coast 500 route during our first week and then did the islands and the northern mainland around Fort William in the second week. Dividing this way helped us find accommodations easier and cheaper as we planned everything around two main cities together. Week 1 was mainly around the city of Inverness and Week 2 was around Fort Williams and Oban. 

I will add all these here, so that you can decide the leg of the journey and move it around based on accommodation, where you would like to stay more, how long is your duration, etc. High-level destinations are covered and the length is below.

• Week 1: Scottish Highlands & NC500
  • 2 days: Cairngorms National Park, Inverness, Lochness
  • 5 days:  North Coast 500 (NC500) – Isle of Skye
• Weekend:
  • 2 days: Isle of Skye
• Week 2: Scottish Highlands and Islands
  • 3 days: Fort William
  • 2 days: Oban, Isle of Mull, Staffa
• Weekend:
  • 2 days:Isle of Kerrera, Loch Lomond National Park

The following route map shows the high-level view of the road trip route we took over the two weeks. Note that I have visited Loch Lomond and Edinburgh in an earlier separate road trip, so this Scottish highland road trip itinerary starts to the north of the main Scottish cities locations mainly around Inverness and Scottish highlands.

Scotland Road Trip Week Maps

How to Use the Scotland Road Trip Route Map?

The screen arrow button on the top left shows you the different parts of the journey with a list of landmarks to cover. You can use the share button on the map to share the map with yourself.
You can also copy the map for your perusal by going large screen and then downloading it to your Google Maps and creating your personal copy including making updates.

Tip: View in large screen for better readability by clicking the full-screen button on the top right

Scotland Road Trip Map: Downloadable Map of Full Route Taken

Scotland Road Trip Itinerary Map: Downloadable Itinerary of Week 1

Scotland Road Trip Itinerary Map: Downloadable Itinerary of Week 2

Scottish Highlands Road Trip Itinerary: Week 1

Day 1: Inverness, Scotland

The journey started from England until Inverness for us, but you can also start from anywhere in the south of Scotland to start this journey. If you are flying internationally, you can fly to Glasgow/Edinburgh and get your rental vehicle there. This is not enough to fully see Cairngorms National Park, but we got a good afternoon exploring the main lochs here and a dinner at Aviemore. We aimed to reach Inverness this day as we found accommodations there. Another option is to stay in Aviemore and give more time to Cairngorms National Park and see Lochness before going to Inverness. Lochness needs a full day to enjoy it properly.

Top Experiences of Day-1 Scotland Road Trip

• Pitlochry : A cute village perfect for a staycation in Scotland famous for the Pitlochry Dam, and some old distilleries like the Blair Altholl Distillery. There are some nice nature walks, museums and many outdoor eateries to enjoy here making it perfect for a weekend staycation. 
• Cairngorms National Park: Cairngorms and Glenmore National forest is very famous among campers and outdoor lovers. We picked two fresh water Lochs for the day as we didnt intend to stay but wanted to add open water swimming to the road trip itinerary.
  • Loch Morlich is a water sport gem in Cairngorms very famous among families. We spent some time enjoying the scenery and watch folks kayaking etc. 
  • Loch Uaine is a hidden loch in this area which is actually very shallow and perfect for an outdoor swim. We enjoyed the walk through the forest to get here. We were too late here to actually try swimming, but totally recommend it for a swim or camping in a peaceful atmosphere.

Highlights of Day-1 Scotland Road Trip

• Pitlochry
• Loch Morlich

Where To Stay & Eat?

• Inverness
• Aviemore

Day 2: Fort Augustus, Scotland

We started the day in Inverness exploring major attractions in Inverness. One of the highlights was seeing dolphins from land in Chanonry point which is an unbeatable experience in Scotland not to miss.  After the dolphin-watching experience, we spent the afternoon taking a round trip drive around Lochness with stops in the Dores beach for a lunch picnic, and in Fort Augustus for a coffee. Lochness is also the best place to aim for a staycation as the Dores have water sports which reminded me of Europe and of course lots of outdoor excursions to take. The drive from Inverness to Fort Augustus is very scenic and our first encounter of the Scottish highlands is epic in this Scotland road trip. Unfortunately, Urquhart Castle was closed due to covid, so we just got a sneak peek. 

Top experiences of Day-2 Scotland Road Trip

• Inverness Castle : A castle with the city view and very unique structure.
• Inverness Chanonry Point: One of the top places in the world to see dolphins swim from the land.
• Fairy Glen: A waterfall walk 
• Lochness Drive: Best in this area with beaches, highlands and castles on the way. Don’t miss it!
• Fort Augustus: Has the canal staircase system, try to aim to watch how boats cross this staircase if you can.
• Urquhart Castle: A castle with a view. You can see it from both sides of the Lochness if you are taking a round trip.

Highlights of Day-1 Scotland Road Trip

• Land watching dolphins in Inverness and the drive around Lochness

READ: Dolphin Watching in Chanonry Point

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Inverness
• Lochness Towns

Day 3: Wick, Scotland

We started the Scotland Road Trip 500 along the North Coat 500 route from Inverness and covered up until Wick. You can see one of the best castles in Scotland, Dunrobin Castle on this route which is worth a stroll. Whaligoe steps are another landscape in this route to not miss.

READ: Best Castles to visit in Scotland

Top experiences of Day-3 Scotland Road Trip

• Rogie Falls: This waterfall river has a unique experience to offer in summer. You can watch Salmons jumping to get back to its birth place. 
• Black Rock Gorge: This gorge is on the way, but we missed it
• Durobin Castle: This is a giant castle with a stunning garden overlooking the sea. Dont miss it and it is worth paying for.
• Camster Cairns: We missed this too as we spent a lot of time at the castle
• Whaligoe Steps: These steps to get to the sea is very unique. The landscape is huge with coves around. Fisher women used to climb these a stairs up and down in the olden daya. I was done doing this once, it is pretty much a workout but the view ia amazing. There is a cave below where you can take boat tours. This was closed due to covid so we could not experience this.
• Wick: This little town is a perfect place to stay or eat in this route. It has a large super market.

Highlights of Day-3 Scotland Road Trip

• Whaligoe Cove Steps

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Wick
• John’O Groats

Day 4: John’O Groats, Scotland

We continued the journey along the North Coast 500 route from Wick until Tongue covering the Northern tip of mainland UK called John-O-Groats. You can take a ferry from here to the Orkney Islands which is very famous for its castles, wildlife tours in this area. The Orkney Islands are also one of the best places to see the Northern lights in winter. We skipped Orkney islands during this Scotland road trip, but you could plan a day into Orkney and even stay there.

Top experiences of Day-4 Scotland Road Trip

• Ebenezer Place: Smallest street in the world located in Wick
• Duncansby Stacks :  The stacks here is massive and gives a glimpse of the Game of Thrones like landmarks in Scotland. If you are lucky you can see puffins here in July/August time. We didnt see any but I had such a grand experience of sheep traffic here.
• Dunnet Head/John o Groats: Lovely small town with a picturesque view and very iconic landmark as this is the Northern tip of the UK. What not to miss here is the Fish and Chips truck, which is one of the best I have veer had in the UK
• Thurso: Thurso is a popular town in this route famous among surfers with high Surfing waves. There are many options for accommodation here.
• Dunreay Nuclear research centre: This is a landmark marked as a photo stop but we missed it.
• Coldbackie beach: This is the first sand beach we saw in the route, fully occupied by campers and some great seafood. We didnt have time to enjoy here but worth adding more time if you love beaches.

Highlights of Day-4 Scotland Road Trip

• Duncansby Stack

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Thurso
• Tongue
• Durness

Day 5: Smoo Cave, Durness in Sutherland, Highland, Scotland

We explored the North and East of the North Coast 500 this day. Smoo Cave is pretty unique and the drive around Lochinver is one of my most favorites in NC500.

Top Experiences of Day-5 Scotland Road Trip

• Smoo cave in Durness: A cave formation with a scenic view. Entry fee is 4 pounds and it is worth to pay.
• Choco Mountain: Very famous chocolate factory in the highlands and here you can taste their fresh produce. The hot chocolates and truffles here are not to miss. 
• Sango Sands beach: A very nice beach in this area with white sand, perfect for a picnic but cant be droven into. It is about 5 miles walk from the car park and hence we didnt make it. If you would like a beach day out, you could add more time here. Our main issue was not able to find accommodation around Durness.
• B869 drive: This route along clashnessie, Clachtoll, Achmelvich beaches is a must route not to miss in your NC500 roadtrip.
• Lochinver: One of the best routes in NC500 and the bridge here is stunning. The Peers restaurant here is famous or get a pie from Lochinver Larder. This village is one of the prettiest towns for a staycation in Scotland too.
• Loch Assynt drive by  Ardvreck castle: This is a nice scenic drive, castle not so sure

Highlights of Day-5 Scotland Road Trip

• Lochinver Drive

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Durness
• Lochinver
• Ullapool

Day 6: North Coast 500, Scotland

We covered the northwestern side of the North Coast 500 route this day. This was a very rainy day and hence we took it easy and covered little on the list, but here are the top stops planned for your reference.

Top Experiences of Day-6 Scotland Road Trip

• Ardessie Falls –  Located at Garve IV23 2QY on roadside as entering Ardessie village.
• Mellon Udrigle beach: White sand beach for a non-rainy day.
• Gairloch Charlestown: You can take whale watching boat tours from here.

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Ullapool
• Torridon

Day 7: Scenic Villages in Scotland

We covered the southwestern side of the North Coast 500 route this day, which is one of the best parts of the NC500 route. It covers some of the best scenic villages in Scotland and routes of NC500 that, if you don’t have time to go up North, you could just do this drive from Ullapool to experience a great portion of NC500. Beach Na Ba drive is splendid with great views of the Skye and nearby islands.

Top Experiences of Day-7 Scotland Road Trip

• Glen Torridon drive through to Shieldaig:  Torridon  is a picturesque village and this route is very scenic. This area is perfect for a staycation, and also to see wild animals native to Scotland.
• Baelach Na Ba Drive: One of the most prettiest and complex route to drive in the NC500. It is a very narrow route, so go via this route only if you have small sized vehicles. The view of Isle of Skye from here is amazing.
• Applecross: A tiny village by the coast, and charming. Dont forget to book the restaurant “Apple Inn” here beforehand.
• Ullapool: One of the bigger towns in the NC500, absolutely amazing for seafood. You will find lots of accommodation here and the harbour is very pretty.

READ: WILD ANIMALS IN SCOTLAND AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Highlights of Day-7 Scotland Road Trip

• Baelach Na Ba View

READ: Best scenic drives in the UK

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Apple Cross
• Torridon
• Ullapool

Scottish Highlands Road Trip Itinerary: Week 2

Day 8: Southern Route of NC500

We explored the southern route of NC500 enjoying the sun in Plockton and then drive up to the Isle of Skye in the evening. The Isle of Skye was so mystical when we got there but that view is amazing. 

Top Experiences of Day-8 Scotland Road Trip

• Plockton: One of the top scenic villages covered in many movies and famous for seafood.
• Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie: One of the best castles of Scotland located in the middle of a loch and has lots of history attached. It is worth paying to go in.
• Kyle of Lochalsh: A magical loch with lots of little island views and very mystical with a great view of Isle of Skye. Don’t forget to stop at the bridge to the Skye, the view is very good from the bridge. I have noted this place for a staycation too.
• Isle of skye – Portree: Capital city of Isle of Skye was pretty mystical and magical. This little town is like in the fairy tales with colored houses and a cute harbor. The shops here are so cute and attractive.
• Fairy Glen/Cullins: We took a drive to the Fairy Glen here, which is a bit of a walk and we were too late to get in the water pool but the drive in this area is very scenic and not to miss. You will get a great view of the Cullin Hills. 

READ: Best Scottish Highland Towns to Visit in Summer

Highlights of Day-8 Scotland Road Trip

• Enjoying the fresh seafood at Plockton and Isle of Skye

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Plockton
• Kyle of Lochalsh
• Isle of Skye

Day 9: Portree Outing, Scotland

We explored the Isle of Skye taking a round of Skye which is pretty doable in a day. We only hiked the Old Man of Storr and Quaring and missed Elgol from the list. We could not make it as it was too far from the North and we only had a day. You need a day here ideally to take a boat trip to the most scenic loch in this area.

Top Experiences of Day-9 Scotland Road Trip

• Portree: The weather was better and we have been exploring Portree briefly again, this time not so mystical. Don’t miss visiting the Cafe Ariba in Portree, nice food and great view of the harbor. Portree is easily one of the top Scottish villages for a staycation.
• Old Man of Storr: We hiked up the Old Man of Storr, which is very near to Portree. The view is great on the top so be prepared to hike up for two hours
• Quarring: Most famous amongst the tourists for an easy hike!
• Uig: A harbor town in the Skye you can visit if you take a round in the Skye with pretty view.

Highlights of Day-9 Scotland Road Trip

• Old Man of Storr

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Portree
• Elgol

Day 10: Sanna Bay, Scotland

We explored the Sanna Bay the whole day driving from Fort William and back. This is a pretty beach, warm enough to try swimming and some great wildlife experience in this route. Mallaig was on the list too, but we could not make it. Another way to get to Mallaig is to catch the Harry Potter Jacobite train from Fort William.

Top Experiences of Day-10 Scotland Road Trip

• Fort William
• Sanna Bay
• Mallaig

Highlights of Day-10 Scotland Road Trip

• Swimming in Sanna Bay Beach

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Fort William
• Mallaig

Day 11: Glencoe Region, Scotland

We explored the Glencoe region and Fort William area this day. Glen Etive where the James Bond movie Skyfall is shot is marvelous.

Top Experiences of Day-11 Scotland Road Trip

• Glencoe Valley
• Glen Etive
• Kinlochleven
• Ben Nevis

Highlights of Day-11 Scotland Road Trip

• Glen Etive Valley

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Fort William Region

Day 12: Glenfinnan, Scotland

This was a Harry Potter day exploring Glenfinnan and catching the Jacobite train. We headed off to Oban from here, which is the ferry capital city in this area from where you can catch ferries to almost any island.

Top Experiences of Day-12 Scotland Road Trip

• Glenfinnan
• Neptune’s Staircase
• Oban

Highlights of Day-12 Scotland Road Trip

• Watching the Jacobite Train

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Oban
• Fort William Region

Day 13: Tobermory, Scotland

We took a ferry to the Isle of Mull and also took a boat tour to Staffa and Fingals Cave.

Top Experiences of Day-13 Scotland Road Trip

• Isle of Mull- Tobermory
• Staffa
• Fingals Cave

Highlights of Day-13 Scotland Road Trip

• Staffa and Fingals Cave

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Oban
• Isle of Mull

Day 14: Isle of Kerrera, Scotland

We explored the Isle of Kerrera taking a ferry from Oban and then headed to the Inveraray area for the night as we were going to return to England the next day.

Top Experiences of Day-14 Scotland Road Trip

• Isle of Kerrera, Tea Garden, Oban

Highlights of Day-14 Scotland Road Trip

• Gylen Castle

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Oban
• Glasgow

Day 15: Inveraray, Scotland

We explored Inveraray which was a surprise visit for me as I had no clue how charming it was. We just had gone to see the castle. We stopped by the Falls in Loch Lomond and then took the famous Ballach route back to England. It was fun to see the village Luss which I have been to before on our way as well as say Hello to Edinburgh. 

Top Experiences of Day-15 Scotland Road Trip

• Inveraray Castle
• Inveraray Town
• Loch Lomond Falls of Falloch
• Balloch

READ: Best castles to visit in Scotland

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Loch Lomond
• Inveraray
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow

READ: Best Scottish Highland Towns for a Staycation

Inveraray Village

That brings us to the end of this Scotland road trip exploring the Scottish highlands, NC500, and islands nearby.

Final Thoughts on 2 Week Scotland Road Trip

This epic Scotland road trip was a true mix of diverse experiences with scenic drives, mountains, lochs, wildlife spotting, island hopping, castles whatnot. I would go as far as singing “those were the best days of my life”. Hope you enjoyed it!  The plan worked very well for me covering all the highlights in these areas, landscapes, castles, islands, wildlife hunting you name it. As I traveled during the Covid situation, I was definitely nervous about this travel plan including being on the remote route in the middle of nowhere for long periods of time. But everything came together very well, including the journey, the stays, and the food options. I am thrilled to share my itinerary here and subscribe to my blog for upcoming journey highlights, tips, guides, etc.

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Pin This Scotland Road Trip Itinerary to Plan Your Scottish Adventures

Planning an Arizona Road Trip?

What is the Best Time to Visit Arizona?

Arizona is a desert region in America. The best time to visit Arizona falls between November to April when it is not too hot. Remember there is heavy tourist traffic to Sedona and Grand Canyon throughout the year.
The weather is known to be perfect during early November.

Need a Rental Car to Explore Grand Canyon, Arizona?

If you are flying into Arizona, you could go for a rental car option. Remember that you drive on the right side of the road in the USA. Your international driving license is valid if you feel comfortable driving. The rules are pretty easy with wide roads and clear junctions combined with the fact that most of the cars in the USA are automatic.

Where to to stay in Arizona?

Arizona is a typical American city. You could find motels, hotels, and Airbnbs everywhere. I stayed in motels during my journey booked via top hotel booking websites.
I would recommend using Airbnbs only in the cities and going for well-established hotels or motels in remote regions while on the road.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

The Journey to Sedona and a Perfect Grand Canyon Vacation: Day 1

Road Trip Route in Google Maps

My friend Arun and I started our journey from Phoenix around 10 in the morning and it was expected to be a 3 hours trip to the south rim of the Canyon and the national park. As a regular Grand Canyon Visitor, our aim was to reach there late afternoon and see the Canyon during sunset. We put on some good music and excitedly started catching up on what happened in our lives since we studied together ~8 years back.

We were soon enjoying the long drive, with occasional sights of cacti and palm trees along the way, which showed the true spirit of a desert. Arun decided to make a stop for some fresh air in the middle of nowhere- totally empty but for a fascinating desert view. As soon as we stopped, another car came and stopped right in front of us with four people inside and the first thing that grabbed my attention was the four gun stickers on the rear window.

Arun was already standing outside the car while I remained inside. I silently tried to point him to the front car which left both of us super alarmed and scared. Pretending like we were just enjoying the fresh air and relaxing, we managed to spend ~10 minutes there before fleeing the situation. What a good start to the adventurous trip – guns were our most concerning element of visiting America and it turned out to be the first thing we encountered during this trip.

Sedona Red Rocks

The city of Sedona was not originally part of the itinerary of our Grand Canyon vacation and came to our attention as we entered the red rock city on our way. The red color of the rocks was very striking as we approached. A quick google search showed that this was an important landmark not to miss and to learn about.

The theme of red makes this city so beautiful especially when the sun is up. We entered the city when it was cloudy, but were lucky to get some stunning views when the sun came out shortly.

Finding a parking place here is really difficult as there are no park services. I would recommend visiting here and even stay here for a hike if you have time. This is something I gotta do again as I felt FOMO severely not knowing about this place before to have included it in our itinerary.

We continued our road trip to Grand Canyon after taking almost a two-hour break here, enjoying the views of Sedona. We even stopped at the visitor center to make some inquiries.

Grand Canyon National Park

The journey ahead from Sedona presented a wide variety of scenery including pine tree forests, cloudy skies, and desert mountains which we saw while driving on the famous Hermit road. Driving in America is such a fantastic ride especially with the wide roads and vast sky views across the horizon presenting a great view throughout.

On our way, we saw this board of Bearizona Wildlife Park in Arizona, which was our next item on our list of fears for the journey. This initiated a discussion on how dangerous bears can be, where they are found, and whether we were likely to see them.

In the evening, we also experienced some picture-perfect clouds in the sky that reminded me of how we used to draw clouds as children with horizontal bottom- such a surreal sight that validated so many childhood drawings.

Approaching the canyon, we started to see red rocks and large mountains which was very thrilling as we were very close.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon lodge very late in the evening around 6 pm, almost 3 hours later than the plan. The first sight of these marvelous rocks forming different shapes and waves of little mountains was striking.

While on the road it was pretty hot in Arizona as during all Arizona road trips and based on that we thought the temperature would be okay up in the Canyons, which turned out to be completely wrong. It was freezing there and was very difficult to survive in our thin jackets and without gloves, miles away from our comfortable hotel rooms. We somehow managed to spend a few minutes there taking some pictures while watching the sunset and the Colorado River, which was one of the most stunning views I have experienced during my Grand Canyon vacation and even during whole my life.

Activities in Grand Canyon: Day 2

Kaibab National Forest

We first drove to the Kaibab National Forest, which was a thrilling ride as it allowed driving inside. After having prolonged conversations about how bears can kill humans the previous day, we both were pretty scared and cautious while being inside the forest. It was a fun experience in the forest and overall in the South Kaibab, where we spotted some animals and took some adventurous pictures always being cautious of wild animals jumping at us at any moment – that were us accepting the risks of a Grand Canyon vacation.

Arun kept playing tricks on me by crying out there were snakes, bears, etc. behind me every time I posed for some photos. It was also fun to have a photoshoot with my less scary animal friend Catty, while Arun continues shouting about bears and snakes, that I even left Catty at the tree while I thought I was running for my life at some point.

And of course, every road trip deserves a picture climbing on the car as a ritual that I try to follow

The Grand Canyon Hike

We explored Grand Canyon and the national park in the daytime, taking a short hike around and viewing this unmatched natural beauty. The hike is a great experience and I highly recommend it. The hiking pathway is very cute and scenic while you hike around the canyons. A perfect add-on to your Grand Canyon vacation itinerary.

The look of the canyon reminded me of a big temple town scattered with many little temples. The side view of the canyons appears like waves formed of rocks.

The close-up view is amazing to see how the erosion has formed very regular shapes in steps and cuts like how you would build a building. It almost feels like a mother-nature-architected town to me. While we were hiking, we met many fellow hikers from different parts of the world including some crazy cyclists.

Hiking the Grand Canyon was a great experience. Though the planning of the trip got disrupted, it was definitely worth the extended stay. With all those good memories, we looked at our road trip itinerary and set out on Highway 40 to Las Vegas in the evening.

The detailed itinerary of all the top bucket list destinations that can be covered in this road trip below is the exclusive blogs of all parts of the journey. 

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a two week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Nevada Road Trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam covers the most scenic routes in Nevada apart from Las Vegas.
• Los Angeles Road Trip part covers the journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles vacation and its main attractions.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days. 

Pin the Arizona Road Trip for Future Reference

We arrived in San Diego from Los Angeles taking the California Amtrak, which was an exciting journey with great views throughout. During our visit, we explored the San Diego parks, coves, beaches, kayaking, and had a relaxing time with good food and the San Diego tourism vibes. Though we did not see the Bio-luminescence effect, my memory of San Diego remains very blue from the blue water, skies, and reflective skyscrapers I saw throughout my stay.

Top Things To Do During A San Diego Road Trip: Itinerary

San Diego is a destination for both tourists and locals alike, with some of the top things to do in California rightly available here. Visitors to San Diego will be able to take part in all sorts of activities that they would not likely find anywhere else- from world-famous zoos and aquariums, stunning beaches with some of the best surfing waves on Earth. Here are five top things visitors should do when visiting San Diego:

• La Jolla Cave
• Windansea Beach
• Old Point Loma
• Old Town San Diego
• Fifth Avenue
• Coronado Ferry Landing
• Kayaking in Coronado

La Jolla Cove

We visited La Jolla Cove on the first day after we freshened up and grabbed some lunch. La Jolla is a posh neighborhood with a very long beach famous for breath-taking sunset views and is a real tourism gem in the United States. It was so relaxing for us to walk around the beach enjoying the weather, especially after my long and hectic week of being on the road.  Considering the beauty of La Jolla, it is no surprise that it is one the top of Trip Advisor’s San Diego Itinerary recommendation lists.

The beach features majestic sea lions along with sea birds. I saw sea lions for the first time here, and they looked as relaxed as if they had just finished a feast and were sleeping it off on the rocks. Their roar sound is special and echoes on the beach.

We spent the entire evening here waiting for the sunset, watching folks enjoying kayaking and surfing as well as the sea lions.

Typically, while we were eagerly waiting for the sunset, clouds came from nowhere and filled the sky. This did not meet my expectations during my trip to San Diego but still was a nice treat for the eyes. Sunset is still a sunset (: wink

After watching the sunset, we left to meet my friends Surabhi and Aneesh for dinner. They were both my classmates during my undergraduate degree in India. I don’t recall the name of the restaurant but I do remember sharing their famous Mango Margarita on Surabhi’s recommendation and that it was situated in the old town.

We started the day by heading to the University of California, San Diego, where my friend Divya studied. I met her during an internship in 2013 and we had not seen each other for 5 years. She was aware of my San Diego vacation, so Divya joined us for this day and we started off by treating ourselves to a giant American Breakfast with pancakes, fruit, omelets, and french toast.

Windansea Beach

We first went to the Windansea beach near La Jolla and had a short walk along the shore, which was very quiet and calm.

Old Point Loma

We then headed to the Point Loma peninsula which has a park that features a lighthouse. We first saw the lighthouse and I found it interesting to see the mock-up of the old facilities arranged for sea travelers. The southern tip of Point Loma has the Cabrillo National monument, which is a spectacular view of the sea and also for the San Diego naval base.

Old Point Loma offers a cliff-top view of the sea and the heavy naval traffic. There is a big USA flag flying here and the brisk sea wind provided a very invigorating stroll.

While we were watching the sea and naval activities, we spotted a submarine approaching in the distance. This was an exciting experience as I had never seen a submarine before. We stayed a very long time watching it very closely. We even saw a whale-watching cruise ship.

After spending some more time here chit-chatting and taking pictures, we reached another cove in Point Loma Park, as part of our San Diego Road Trip.

Old Town San Diego

We drove to the Old Town San Diego to spend our late afternoon there. The old town is a fantastic area for great Mexican food, music, and cute shops. It is worth paying a visit to see the charming specialty shops and enjoy the outdoor vibe at its cafes and restaurants.

After we finished eating here, we wandered around looking at the cute shops before leaving to spend the night in the city.

Live Music Joint in Fifth Avenue

We spent the night on Fifth Avenue which has some really cool places for a night hang out. The famous Tiny Roof pub hosts ‘A Live Music Joint’ with some really cool live music performances that reminded me of a few English pubs. I really enjoyed my time here and was envious of my friends who live in this city.

Around midnight we called it a day as Andriani and I had to check out of the Airbnb early the next day as it was our last day and we had a booking for Kayaking at Coronado.

Coronado Ferry Landing

Coronado Island is a pretty amazing location which is a must-visit in San Diego, filled with many specialty shops, water sports activities, and restaurants. It has a backdrop of a spectacular view of the sea, the harbor, and the skyscrapers of San Diego. Coronado Island and San Diego city are connected by a bridge that is 200 feet high allowing for even large aircraft carriers to pass underneath. So, I started filling in my Coronado activities list and was so excited.

While we were walking around, we met with a group of girls who were singing and dancing. I approached them and requested to dance with them, much to the embarrassment of Andriani, and they were kind to agree. I at least thought those girls were really cool and definitely enjoyed the experience of joining them to dance.

Kayaking in Coronado

We went to the tour company we booked Kayaking with. It was our first time and we were assigned a guide to instruct us. We started with our full energy chanting “Left”,  “Right” to helps us row the kayak in the right order, while listening to the guide explain the history of Coronado and San Diego. Things got real when we were in the middle of the sea, far away from Coronado beach. There were fierce waves demanding a heavy workout to come back. Our guide was a young guy who had traveled a lot in South America and shared his travel stories with us throughout our venture, which was very entertaining.

Once we made it back, we spend the rest of our time in Coronado visiting shops in the city and having a delicious Greek lunch in a cute downtown restaurant. Andriani, who has a Greek origin, did not approve of the Moussaka we ate, but I thought it was good Not a bad ending for our San Diego vacation. San Diego is perfect for a weekend getaway as well with many fun things to do such as camping at the beach.

A Silly Weed Giveaway Adventure

While we were chilling and we had just a few hours before we flew back to the UK, Andriani remembered that we were still carrying the weed we bought in Los Angeles (Blog story here). As we couldn’t fly with it, the obvious answer was to throw it in the bin. However, as we know weed is very precious for some people, it felt wasteful to throw it away (says someone who is constantly scolded for wasting food as I can never finish my meal), we came up with this brilliant idea of gifting it to our kayaking guide.

We went back to the shop and asked to speak with our guide who was away but was called upon our request. When he came, we proceeded to have the most awkward conversation ever. We asked him if he smoked to which he hesitantly responded yes and naturally asked why. We told him we had some weed but we couldn’t fly with it and wanted to give it to someone.  He blushed and agreed to take it but first I demanded that he show me his ID so that I could verify his age. He went back to the shop to find his ID, while Andriani tried to contain her laughter. At this point, we also had other shopkeepers from the nearby shops getting curious about our conversation watching us. When he returned, I verified his ID and handed over the goods. He was also laughing and stated it was one of the most awkward encounters he ever had too. Oh well, we hope he had a good time with it

Leaving San Diego and the USA

It was time for us to leave and end our amazing San Diego vacation and while driving to the airport, we captured the massive blue bridge that connects the city with Coronado.

The San Diego vibe was so good and it was the perfect end to my ten-day-long road trip. With the fine weather, amazing food, and ultimate beach experience, San Diego definitely qualifies to be “America’s Finest City”.

Other USA South West Road Trips

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a two week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Arizona Road Trip from Phoenix to Sedona & Grand Canyon covers the major attractions in Arizona around Sedona and Grand Canyon.
• The Nevada Road Trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam covers the most scenic routes in Nevada apart from Las Vegas.
• Los Angeles Road Trip part covers the journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles vacation and its main attractions.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days. 

Pin the San Diego Road Trip for Planning Your Trip

Let us break out the road trip games! Do you have a long drive ahead? Here are 20 games to play in your car. Whether you’re traveling with kids or adults, these games will keep everyone entertained and help make the miles fly by. The best part is, they take up no space at all – just use your imagination and creativity! Get ready for some serious fun on your next adventure, with these games for the road.

20 Fun Road Trip Games to Play in the Car

1) The Singing Game

Participants in this game have a blast singing and making up songs together. It is the perfect activity  for a fun road trip to do with kids as it involves both singing and music creation. What more could you ask for?

How to play the singing game: 

The best way to play this game is as a group activity, where all of the participants have some starting point and must sing on succeeding words or notes.

Who can play the singing game: 

Kids, adults, and even couples can all play the singing game.

2) Guess The Song

It is an activity that will surely give you a good laugh. The game tests your knowledge of music and lyrics! 

Put on Spotify, radio, or your favorite music playlist and see who can guess what song is playing from the clues. If they get it right, then that person wins! It works best when played by two teams.

How to play guess the song game: 

A round of music starts, and each member takes turns guessing what song it is before time runs out. The team or person that recognizes the song correctly gets points!

Who can play guess the song game: 

Anyone with an average knowledge of popular music (and lyrics) can participate in this game, including Road Trip Games enthusiasts.

3) I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing

It is a simple but hilarious game for a fun road trip that will have everyone roaring with laughter. The rules are very straightforward, and all you need is some paper to write the names of different foods on!

How to Play the Picnic Game: 

One person starts by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” then they fill in the blank with other food. 

The second person would say, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” then they fill in the blank with another food that starts with the last letter of the previous food.

Who can play the Picnic Game: 

This game is for all ages, and it’s a great way to get kids into Road Trip Games. The more they practice playing, the better their social skills will be!

4) The Alphabet Game

This game is another classic that will never get old.

How to play the alphabet game: 

Players take turns saying the alphabet, and each player must say a word that starts with the letter they land on when it’s their turn. If you have trouble thinking of words in time, try this trick – think about an object or category beginning with that letter. For example, if the letter is “N,” you might think of a noodle or an animal that starts with N!

Who can play the alphabet game: 

Anyone who knows how to count from 0-26 and recognize letters of the alphabet can join in on this game. Kids will love it when they get older because their vocabulary is sure to grow!

5) What’s Missing?

This game is a great way to keep your child’s mind sharp, and it’s enjoyable on long or short car rides!

How to play the what is missing game: 

As you are driving, pick an object that the players will see along the way, such as a stop sign or traffic light. Everyone has to think of three different instances where they have seen this item before (i.e., school, home, etc.). Once everyone has given their responses, make them guess which one is missing from the list!

Who can play the what is missing game: 

This game works best for kids because they will understand the concept of giving examples.

6) I’m Not Telling

It is a fun and engaging road trip game for kids of all ages. It’s also great if you’re playing with adults because it will help them develop their memory!

How to play the I am not telling game: 

One player starts by saying something like: “I’m going on an adventure!” Then the next person has to repeat what was said before adding something new. The game goes on like this until someone messes up and says something that was already said!

Who can play the I am not telling game: 

This is a great road trip game for kids because they will love seeing how long their memory lasts!

7) Lucky Number Game

This game is sure to make any car ride fly by because it tests your knowledge, speed, and agility!

How to play the lucky number game: 

Players take turns saying a number. Whoever says the next “lucky” number wins that round! If you accidentally say an incorrect number or go too slow, then you lose for that turn. The player with the most wins when playing this game is declared the winner.

Who can play the lucky number game: 

This Road Trip Game for Kids will keep them on their toes! Stick to counting by ones or twos to make it less confusing and easy for younger players.

8) Would You Rather?

It is a classic road trip game that you can play with friends or family. It’s also a great way to keep your child entertained!

How to play the would you gather game: 

One player starts by saying something like, “Would you rather eat 1000 hot dogs in one minute or drink an entire bottle of ketchup?” The other person has to answer and then ask their question. Make sure that the questions aren’t too challenging because some players may not understand them!

Who can play the would you gather game:

This game is best for kids at least three years old or older because they can comprehend more challenging questions.

9) Alphabet Guessing Game

This road trip game for kids will help them learn new words and how to spell!

How to play the alphabet guessing game: 

One player starts by thinking of a word, ensuring that it begins with the letter “A.” The other person has to guess what the first word is. Make sure not too many people are playing, so you don’t get overwhelmed! Continue going around in a circle until someone guesses the word.

Who can play the alphabet guessing game: 

This game works best for kids at least four years old or older because they can spell even longer words!

10) What’s Your Story?

It is an enjoyable road trip game that helps players develop their imagination and creativity. It’s also a great way to pass the time!

How to play what is your story: 

One player starts by thinking of something that happened in their life, such as going on vacation. Everyone else has to ask them questions about what was said so they can figure out how it ends! The first person has to say whether or not they want someone’s question to be included in the story.

Who can play what is your story: 

This is a great road trip game for kids because it will keep them entertained as you drive! Make sure that they are old enough to understand what’s going on and how to tell stories, which is usually at least six years of age or older.

11) License Plate Game

It’s a valuable road trip game because it will keep you entertained while also teaching your child how to spell!

How to play license plate game: 

One player starts by thinking of a state that begins with the letter “A.” The other person has to guess which one they are thinking of. Continue going around in a circle until someone guesses correctly. Whoever guesses correctly will be the winner.

Who can play license plate game: 

License Plate is a great road trip game for kids because it will help them understand how to spell! 

12) 20 Questions

20 Questions is a great game for family road trips to keep your child’s mind sharp while traveling long or short distances!

How to play 20 questions: 

One player thinks of an object. The other players then take turns asking yes/no questions to try and figure out what the task is before time runs out. If you have trouble thinking of questions, try to include details that narrow down the possibilities.

Who can play 20 questions: 

This game works well with any age and is an excellent way for kids to learn how to think outside the box! The more creative they get with their questions, the better chance they have at winning. It’s also one of those games where you might learn something new!

13) Past, Present, and Future

Play this game while in the car to keep your child’s mind sharp and keep him entertained during long or short journeys!

How to play past, present and future: 

Think of something in the past (i.e., yesterday). The other person has to think of something that happens before what you said, such as last week. Then the third person has to think of something that happens after what you said. It’s like a game of clues!

Who can play past, present and future : 

This game works well with any age and is one kid will enjoy playing for years to come – especially when they get older because their vocabulary will be getting bigger every time they play it! The more creative they are with their answers, the better chance they have at winning.

14) I Spy

Playing this car ride game on a long or short driving trip will keep your child’s mind active and keep them sharp!

How to play I spy: 

One person picks an object that everyone else has to spy. Then the player thinks of three clues for their friends, giving them a chance to guess what the object is before time runs out. If you have trouble thinking of clues, try to include details about the object that narrow down your options.

Who can play I spy: 

A fun game for kids of any age and teaches them to think outside the box! The more creative they get with their answers, the better chance they have at winning it. It’s also one of those games where you might learn something new!

15) Storytelling

People of all ages will enjoy playing this fun and engaging game. You’ll never get tired of playing this classic game.

How to play storytelling: 

One player starts telling a story. The other players then take turns adding their part (i.e., chapter) of the story as they go along. It may begin simple, but it will be sure to get more interesting as you go!

Who can play storytelling: 

This game works well with any age and is an excellent way for kids to learn how to think outside the box.

16) Who am I?

This game is a great way to get everyone involved and keep them engaged. It tests your knowledge of music, movies, TV shows, books… basically anything you can think of!

How to play who am I: 

The first person starts by saying “I’m from the ___series” where they fill in the blank with something they like. The next person must guess what that is, and then they say “I’m from the ___series.”

Who can play who am I: 

This game works best when played by small groups of people who have a wide range of knowledge of different topics! It’s also fun if you’re looking for some good laughs with your family or friends.

17) Quotation Mania

It is a slightly different car ride game because it uses quotations and proverbs! 

When someone finishes saying the proverb or quote, they must go in order. It’s an easy way to practice your knowledge of famous quotations without having to do any research.

How to play quotation mania: 

One person starts by saying, “You know you’ve been playing too much when…” then they fill in the blank with a proverb. The other person would say, “You know you’ve been playing too much when…” and must finish the sentence with another proverb that starts with the last letter of the previous quote or proverb.

Who can play quotation mania: 

This game is great for fun Road Trip Games enthusiasts of all ages. Parents can play this with their kids, and the whole family will enjoy it!

18) What’s in the bag?

It is a car ride game that everyone will surely love. It tests your observation skills and creativity! You can play this with kids or even by yourself, making it perfect when you’re on the go in a car.

How to Play what is in the bag: 

One person starts by placing an object inside of their bag. The next person has to guess what is inside of the bag by asking questions like “is it bigger than a bread box?” or “is it smaller than my hand?”

Who can play what is in the bag: 

This Road Trip Game is great for kids and adults alike, especially when you’re on the go! You don’t even need to follow a set of rules, so even when you’re in the car it’s easy to play!

19) Get to Know You

This game is ideal for families who want to get to know their kids better while having fun at the same time. 

How to play get to know you: 

The rules are very straightforward – each person writes three things about themselves on a piece of paper.

The papers are collected, and the first person reads the first fact out loud, then follows with another player who has to guess who wrote it by asking Yes-No questions! The players have to take turns to guess until they figure out whose is whose.

Who can play get to know you: 

This game works best for kids and adults, and anyone can play it – perfect for Road Trip Games!

20) Two Truths and a Lie

This game is perfect for getting to know your fellow Road Trip Games enthusiasts. It tests skills in social awareness, memory recall, quick thinking, creativity, deduction ability, and more! 

How to play two truths and a lie: 

The point of the game is that everyone has to share three statements about themselves, two are truths, and one is a lie. Then everyone else has the task of figuring out which one is false.

Who can play two truths and a lie:

It’s great for groups who want to get better acquainted with each other on a fun road trip! This game is a fun activity for all ages, and it’s a fun way to learn about your fellow Road Trip Games enthusiasts.

I hope you learned something new and now have a few ideas to help make your next road trip more fun. If you liked any of the games we mentioned, tell me in the comment section below which one is your favorite! Happy traveling everyone!

Road trip games for couples

• The singing  game
• Storytelling
• Guess the song
• What’s your story

Road trip games for two

• Guess the song
• What’s in the bag
• Quotation mania
• What’s missing

Road trip games no equipment

• What’s in the bag
• Quotation mania
• What’s missing
• Get to know you
• Two Truths and Lie
• I spy
• The singing  game
• Storytelling
• What’s your story

Road trip games for kids

• The Alphabet Game
• Alphabet Guessing Game
• What’s in the bag
• 20 Questions

Road trip games for families

• The singing  game
• Storytelling
• Guess the song
• What’s your story
• Two truths and a lie
• I spy

Homemade road trip games

• What’s in the bag
• Quotation mania
• What’s missing
• Storytelling

Pin Road Trip Games for Your Future Trips

1- Colorado National Parks

One of the best road trips in the USA has got to be in the great state of Colorado. With 4 national parks within Colorado, there’s no shortage of sights to see in this area. In this road trip itinerary, you can cover the following national parks.

National Parks

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park

Best time to go: While the absolute best time to go on this Colorado road trip is summer, you’ll see less crowds in the national parks during the other seasons.

Duration: To see all four unique national parks in Colorado, you’ll want a minimum of 5-7 days to fully enjoy this road trip.

Colorado Top Stops/Itinerary

Starting in Boulder or Denver, the first national park on the list is the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is located just northwest of Boulder, and is a unique gem in the United States. Be sure to witness the alpine tundra at the Alpine Visitor Center, where the summit is over 12,000 feet! Or grab your hiking shoes and hit the trail, with over 350 miles of hiking trails available in the park.

The next park on this Colorado road trip is Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The scenic drive through the 7-mile South Rim Drive is phenomenal! Be sure to visit the Painted Wall Overlook, Devil’s Lookout and Pulpit Rock Overlook. As an international dark sky park, this is a perfect spot for stargazing, too!

In the far southwest corner of the state of Colorado is Mesa Verde National Park. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly a sight to see. The must-see spot in this park is the ‘green table’ where there are 600 cliff dwellings and over 4,000 archaeological sites. See how the Ancestral Puebloans lived as you marvel at this ancient community.

The last national park stop on this road trip is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It’s a great demonstration of how diverse the landscapes truly are in the state of Colorado. If you’re up for an adventure, go off-roading up the scenic Medano Pass Primitive Road. Or go sand sledding on some of the largest sand dunes in North America!

With such a variety of sights in the great state of Colorado, this road trip has something for everyone.

2- Pacific Coast Highway- PCH California

Hands down, one of the best road trips in the USA lies in the beautiful state of California. Specifically, along the coast. The California’s Pacific Coast Highway, lovingly called PCH for short or Highway 1, hugs the entire state’s coast line, winding around curves that overlook the Pacific Ocean. You will visit one of the famous national parks during this trip.

National Park:

Redwood National Park

Duration: At the very minimum, plan for your trip to take three to four days to allow you to stop at a few sites.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

PCH Top Stops/Itinerary

The road trip technically starts in Southern California, Orange County to be specific. As you make your way up the coast, you’ll pass through the cities of Malibu, Santa Barbara, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and even San Francisco. The road trip will give you a chance to experience the most scenic landscapes in California, as well as cultural hot spots and cities throughout the state. You will also get to pass by famous sites such as the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, the Santa Cruz boardwalk, the Golden Gate Bridge, and even a beach whose pebbles look like colored glass. The PCH goes through one National Park, Redwood National Park, and you will discover the tallest trees in the Americas as you drive under their canopies – for free!

Best Time to Go: The best season to do a road trip along the Pacific Coast highway is between late spring and late summer/early fall. At the tail end of the hot season, California will often have wildfires raging the mountainsides, making the view muggy and ashy at best, or completely close the roads due to safety hazards at worst. Likewise, winter and early spring are California’s rainy season, turning the coastal cliffs into scary slick roads at best…or completely closed at worst. It’s best to avoid both fire and mudslide seasons all together to prevent getting stranded. 

Submitted by Kay from The Awkward Traveller

3- Arizona & Nevada

Arizona is home to some of the top national parks in USA, with incredible landscapes formed of red rocks being one of the major highlights. Nevada, the neighboring silver state is most famous for Las Vegas, but also has many scenic routes filled with range of mountains and attractions making it an amazing destination for road trips. Traveling from Arizona to California via Nevada can be a long road trip to plan for central and west America which you can even add Utah as a stop. Within Arizona, a loop road trip can be done covering some of the major highlights and national parks below.

READ: USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California via Nevada

National/State Parks:

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Sedona Red Rock State Park
• Petrified Forest National Park

Duration: This itinerary for Arizona, Nevada will take 10-14 days fully explore this area, you need at least 2 days in each of the Grand Canyon and Sedona national parks.

Best Time to Go: This road trip can be done all year around, but the best time to visit Arizona will be in spring/autumn. Summer is too hot and winter can be hard to drive.

Arizona-Nevada Top Stops/Itinerary

This road trip can begin in Phoenix or Las Vegas depending on your choice. The itinerary is laid out for starting from Phoenix. The first visit is Saguoro National Park in Tucson to see the Sonoran desert cacti beauty Arizona has to offer. You can stay the night in Saguoro or Holbrook depending on when you prefer driving etc. Cover Petrified Forest National Park and monument valley over the next 1 or 2 days. Don’t miss the famous Forrest Gump point for a picture in monument valley. From there, head onto Antelope Canyon and the Horse shoe bend the next day. You could stay somewhere near Page that day and head to Sedona the next day. It is best to see the red rocks in Sedona during sunset or sunrise. Spend 1 or 2 days in Sedona and head onto Grand Canyon National Park. Spend another 1 or 2 days exploring the Grand Canyon and drive towards Las Vegas via Hoover Dam. This drive has some epic highways not to miss. At this point you could either fly home from Las Vegas, or end your trip returning back to Phoenix from the Grand Canyon not covering Nevada at all.

4- New England – South & North

New England on the East Coast of the USA is referred to as the Europe of USA. Many places are named after European cities like Cambridge in Boston, Montpellier in France, Manchester in Vermont etc. With islands and charming B&B’s and Cottages, this region is one of the most popular touristic destinations and has some charming scenic routes to take for an epic road trip. You need at least 2 weeks to fully see this region, but you can always choose to cover only the South or the North of New England to cut down time as needed.

READ: An Epic Fall Foliage Road Trip Itinerary for Vermont

National Parks/Forests:

• Green Mountain National Forest
• White Mountain National Forest
• Acadia National Park

Best time to go: The best time for a New England road trip is Fall, with some of the world’s best autumnal views. Winter is famous for a visit as well with multiple winter outdoor sports destinations.

Duration: You need at least 3-5 days for Vermont to explore the scenic routes including the Scenic 600 route. New England also needs at least 3-5 days to fully explore, or a weekend for going to the Acadia.

Vermont Top Stops/Itinerary

This road trip can begin from Boston or even New York if you don’t mind the longer drive. The itinerary here is listed based on starting from Boston. Head to Wilmington to start the scenic route 100 in Vermont northwards up to Stowe. A fall foliage road trip in Vermont is best done with just this route to take in the beauty. Some of the top stops in this route include Woodstock, Mount Killington and Montpelier where you can find plenty of places to stay. This covers a good part of Green National Fort. Explore Montpelier, the capital city of Vermont for at least a day and visit Burlington if you have time from there. This can be a 3-5 day trip on its own. For further exploration head towards the North of England via White National Forest to Maine. Maine has many scenic towns to visit. The next major destination is Acadia National Park which can be explored in 2 days. Then drive towards Boston via Portland and Portsmouth, two major towns worth spending one day each. Other places to visit in this region include Martha’s vineyard,

5- Utah National Parks

Utah is home to five stunning national parks and you can see all of them in one epic road trip! 

National Parks

• Zion National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Arches National Park
• Canyonland National Park

Known as the Mighty 5, the national parks Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, are full of red rock canyons, and vistas reminiscent of the old west. 

Duration: To fully explore all the five national parks, you would need 10 days minimum.

Utah Top Stops/Itinerary

To start your road trip, you’ll want to fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. From there, hit the road in a car, but make sure you set aside about ten days to make the best of this Mighty 5 road trip. 

In Zion you’ll need to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. The Narrows is a bucket list worthy hike that’ll have you hiking in the river 20 to 30 feet wide, while canyon walls tower up to a thousand feet above you. 

After Zion, Bryce Canyon does not disappoint. The amphitheater is what the park is best known for, and the views at sunrise and sunset are incredible. Bryce also sits at a higher elevation, so expect cooler weather. 

Capitol Reef is perhaps the most underrated of all the parks, and has the least crowds. Check out the orchards, have a pie, and hit the trails here as well. 

Finally, you’ll end the trip in Moab, home to Arches and Canyonlands. The hike to Delicate Arch at Arches is a must do! In Canyonlands, the views go on for miles. 

Try this road trip in the spring or fall months for best weather, and smaller crowds! 

Submitted by Ale Leon from Sea Salt & Fog

6- Utah: Moab (Arches to Canyonlands via Gemini Bridges)

Moab is home to some of the most alluring desert magic the USA has to offer, and this road trip is all about exploring the Mars-like views this slice of Utah has to offer.

Moab Top Stops/Itinerary

To start the road trip off, head to Arches National Park and spend the day exploring the park to hit up the most beautiful arches it has to offer (Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch are a must). The Arches Scenic Drive is a 36-mile drive where you’ll get to see some of the biggest highlights of this national park if you’d rather not break a sweat during a hike. Drive back to Moab or spend the night camping in Arches (it’s renowned for being one of the best places for stargazing, so camping is a real treat here!).

Next, head to Canyonlands National Park via the Gemini Bridges – this is one of the most scenic drives in Moab and offers some insanely good views of Arches and the La Sal Mountains in the distance (note that you’ll need a high clearance vehicle for this road!).

Once in Canyonlands, you can visit the Island in the Sky District to see even more arches and strange rock formations on easy hikes or opt to drive the Island in the Sky Scenic Drive which provides views of the sheer cliff drop-offs into the canyons below. 

If you want to make your road trip a little longer, you can also visit the southern section of The Needles, where you’ll find hikes for more intrepid travelers, try your hand at off-roading, or go all in and go on a backpacking adventure.

Submitted by Gabby Abbott from Journey to the Destination

7- Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful, scenic drive spanning 469 miles from Cherokee, North Carolina to Charlottesville, Virginia. This parkway through the Appalachian mountains has beautiful views, amazing hiking trails, and plenty of waterfalls. The Blue Ridge Parkway has even been named “America’s Favorite Drive” and it definitely deserves that title! 

Duration: While the Blue Ridge Parkway can technically be completed in a day, I would recommend spending 3-7 days experiencing the parkway! This will give you enough time to go hiking, see the waterfalls, and spend some time in each town.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Blue Ridge Parkway Top Stops/Itinerary

With so many great stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway, it can be difficult to decide what to do. I recommend spending some time in Cherokee, NC to learn about Cherokee history and culture, Asheville, NC to enjoy some craft beer, Mount Mitchell, NC to reach the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and Roanoke, VA to learn more about America’s past.

While the Blue Ridge Parkway goes through some amazing towns, this roadtrip is an outdoor lover’s dream! Spending some time hiking and exploring waterfalls is a must.

Here are some of the best waterfalls to check out during your trip:

• Linville Falls
• Crabtree Falls
• Looking Glass Falls
• Graveyard Fields Falls
• Apple Orchard Falls 

Here are some of the best hikes to do during your trip:

• Graveyard Fields
• Devil’s Courthouse
• Waterrock Knob
• Humpback Rocks Loop
• Flat Top Mountain

Submitted by Gabby Abbott from Journey to the Destination

8- Western National Parks

One of the USA’s best road trips is the stunning drive to see three of the best national parks in the west.

National Parks

• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park

Duration: 5-7 days

Western National Parks Top Stops/Itinerary

Starting in Montana at Glacier National Park, you’ll want to spend at least 2 days exploring Lake McDonald, Avalanche Lake, and the iconic Going To The Sun Road. If you have the time, take a day to visit the gateway town of Whitefish, Montana.

Afterward, you’ll head south to America’s 1st National Park, Yellowstone. Yellowstone is massive and spans three different states. You’ll want at least 2-3 days to do justice to this epic national park. Yellowstone is unique for its location on top of a supervolcano. It’s a hotbed of interesting geothermal activity, so the main activities are viewing mesmerizing hot springs and exploding geysers. Make sure to see Old Faithful Geyser go off, then hike to Fairy Falls with a stop at the Grand Prismatic Overlook, and the trek along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. If you have extra time, take a scenic drive through the Lamar or Hayden Valley to see if you can spot bison, bears, wolves, or elk.

Next, you’ll take the quick one-hour drive to see your last National Park, Grand Teton. While they’re close in proximity, Teton is nothing like Yellowstone. Teton is an excellent hiking destination with gorgeous alpine lakes to dip into on a hot summer’s day. It’s a small park, so one day is enough to take a hike around Jenny Lake and watch the sunset over the Teton Mountain Range from Colter Bay. If you have more time, you’ll want to include some time in the hip mountain town of Jackson, Wyoming.

Best Time To Go: The best time to make this National Parks road trip is from late spring to early fall. Summer is the ideal time, but you might have to deal with crowds and expensive lodging. If crowds aren’t your thing, the best time is right after Labor Day weekend when the weather is still warm enough to enjoy water activities, and the crowds will have thinned out.

Submitted by Christina from Live A Wilder Life

9- Oregon Coast

One of the best road trips around the Pacific Northwest is exploring the Oregon Coast. The area is filled with beaches, rainforests, shipwrecks, cute coastal towns, waterfalls, sand dunes, and wildlife. There is so much to do, and the best part is that you can visit here all year round. 

Oregon Coast Top Stops/Itinerary

If you are starting from Northern Oregon, start at Fort Stevens State Park. This black sand beach has a neat shipwreck called Peter Iredale Shipwreck and is a great place to photograph. Next, check out Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park. The sea stacks in this area are out of this world. There are also many beaches and hikes to enjoy and people also love to bring their pets. Next, check out the underrated hug point. Hug point is absolutely stunning and has many sea creatures, caves, and a waterfall. Yes, a waterfall on a beach! 

Afterward, make sure to check out Cape Kiwanda for sunset. This sea stack is breathtaking and is a great spot to have a picnic with the whole family. The last area that is highly recommended is the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor area. The dreamy vibes of the natural bridge is one of the most photographed places in Oregon.

Best Time to go: No matter when you go, the Oregon Coast is a magical and whimsical experience for any outdoor lover. 

Submitted by Michelle from The Wandering Queeen

10- Big Bend National Park, Texas

A road trip from Austin to Big Bend National park is an epic road trip experience like no other. From mountains to valleys, to desserts – you will experience nature at its finest and get to take in some of the best art and culture that Texas has to offer. 

National Park:

Big Bend National Park

Duration: This trip can be done in 3-5 days

Big Bend Top Stops/Itinerary

Start your adventure in Austin. Ideally, you’d want to spend 2 days here. Start off with a visit to the Texas State Capitol, followed by lunch at Hop Doddy’s or at Guerro’s Taco Bar on South Congress. Enjoy the afternoon checking out the cute stores on South Congress. Finish off with a walk down South Congress bridge to see the bats in the summer or kayak down the beautiful Ladybird lake. For dinner head over to Rainey Street and stop at one or many bars that line the street while enjoying a local band. On Day 2, you can hike or bike downtown lake and then head over to Barton Springs Road to enjoy the awesome food trucks. Take a dip in Barton Springs pool or relax by Zilker Park post-lunch. End the day by taking the music scene on 6th street. 

The next stop is Marfa which is 6.5 hours away. Marfa is popular for its many unique art galleries including Prada Marfa and the mysterious Marfa Lights. Spend at least a day exploring this unique and artsy city. Stay at one the epic tipis at El Cosmico. 

End your trip at the spectacular Big Bend National Park. Spend 3-4 days exploring Big Bend. Do some hikes, do some stargazing, camp at one of the campgrounds or try glamping. If you have more time, you can explore some other places around Big Bend. Most of Big Bend gets very hot in the summer and lacks shade on trails. The best time to go would be between November and April when the days are cooler. You’re guaranteed a great time!.

Submitted by Preema from Wine Travel Kids

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Long Drive Road Trip Quotes

The appeal of the open road can’t be beat. Being in a car and driving down that long stretch gives you time to really experience what is around on your way, as well as take breaks along the way. There is a certain feeling that comes with driving for hours on end through mountains or along coastal cliffs without any set destination in mind: freedom. The sense of adventure and exploration being rewarded by beautiful views as you turn another corner can be exhilarating. The following quotes are so true for those who love being out there and take long drives!

1. “Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to make.” – Angela N Blount

2. “No road is long with good company.” – Turkish proverb

3. “The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” – Robert Earl Keen

4. “Sometimes the best therapy is a long drive, upbeat music and good company.” – Unknown

5. “Really in the mood for a long drive with no real destination.” – Unknown

6. “Take the long way home.” – Unknown

7. “A long drive to nowhere is the best way to clear the mind.” – Meggan Roxanne

Adventure Road Trip Quotes

Road trips are great adventures for those who want to take their time getting there without worrying about having enough vacation days left when they arrive! These quotes are for those adventure seekers, who would likes spontaneity and being on the open road!

8. “Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.” – Emma Chase

9. “Wherever you get to is better than where you started. To stay on the road is a massive achievement.” – Anthony Joshua

10. “Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan

11. “The freedom of the open road is seductive, serendipitous and absolutely liberating” – Aaron Lauritsen

12. “Even when I visit the most beautiful countries in the world, it’s the people I come home telling stories of.” – We Dream of Travel

13. “Look for chances to take the less-travelled roads. There are no wrong turns.” – Susan Magsamen

14. “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

15. “The road less travelled is the road to adventure.” – Unknown

16. “Nothing adventured, nothing attained.” – Peter McWilliams

17. “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

18.“Adventure, without it, why live?” – Hortense Odlum

19. “If you’re not lost, you’re not much of an explorer.” – John Perry Barlow

20. “Get your motor runnin’, Head out on the highway, Lookin’ for adventure…” – Steppenwolf, Born to be Wild

21. “It’s a road trip! It’s about adventure! . . . It’s not like we have somewhere to go.” – John Green

Friends & Family Road Trip Quotes

Everyone has their favourite way of spending an extended amount of family time together – but what could be better than a trip with your loved ones? Here are some quotes that illustrate the importance and beauty in sharing those moments.

22.“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by.” –Robert Frost

23. “And just like that, we’re on our way to everywhere.” – Emery Lord

24. “Just grab a friend and take a ride, together upon the open road.” – The Goofy Movie

25. “We are all travellers in the wilderness of the world & the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

26. “A road trip is a way for the whole family to spend time together and annoy each other in interesting new places.” – Unknown

27. “A family that travels together, stays together.” – Unknown

28.  “You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise.” — Florida Georgia Line, Cruise

Funny Road Trip Quotes

If you need a break from the seriousness of long drives, then funny quotes may be just what you’re looking for. While many people use these humorous phrases to keep themselves entertained on their journey or during traffic, they can also act as relief if one is feeling stressed out. Below are some examples that will make your drive more enjoyable!

29. “It doesn’t matter how old you get, buying snacks for a road trip should always look like an unsupervised 9 year old was given $100.” – Unknown

30. “We all have that one friend who is either on a road trip or planning a road trip or thinking about a road-trip or talking to people who are on a road trip or posting quotes about a road trip.” –Crestless Wave

31. “People having babies and getting married… and I’m like: where am I road tripping to next?” – Unknown

32. “That’s why I love road trips dude. It’s like doing something without actually doing anything.” – Unknown

33. “I feel like most of my problems could be solved with a trip to … anywhere.” – Unknown

34. “Yeah, working is great…but have you tried travelling?” – Unknown

35. “Never underestimate the therapeutic power of driving and listening to very loud music.” – Unknown

36. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman

37. “Road trips require a couple of things: a well balanced diet of caffeine, salt and sugar, and an excellent set of tunes – oh, and directions.” – Jenn McKinlay

Short Road Trip Quotes

Here is a collection of classic quotes that are short and sweet!

38. “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill

39. “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Unknown

40. “Life is beautiful if you are on the road to somewhere.” – Orhan Pamuk, The New Life

41. “It feels good to be lost in the right direction.” – Unknown

42. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Unknown

43. “Road trips aren’t measured by mile markers, but by moments.” – Unknown

44. “Always take the scenic route.” – Unknown

45. “Making memories, one road trip at a time.” – Unknown

46. “Happiness is a road trip.” – Unknown

47. “There are no mistakes. Only new paths to explore.” – Gregory David Roberts

48.“Adventure is out there.” – Unknown

49. “There is something about the momentum of travel that makes you want to just keep moving, to never stop.” – Bill Bryson

50. “Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.”– Unknown

Couple Road Trip Quotes

Road trips are a great way for couples to reconnect and make some awesome memories. The best thing about them is that they’re always new, even if you do the same trip every year. You can’t go wrong with road trips as an opportunity of getting back on the same page in your relationship! Unlike vacations where everything feels so familiar because it’s just like all other times before, experiencing something together again such as driving along scenic roads will allow both parties involved to explore anew without feeling bored or repetitive.

51. “Couples who travel together, stay together.” – Unknown

52. “Let’s find some beautiful places to get lost together.” – Unknown

53. “It doesn’t matter where you are going, it’s who you have beside you.” – Unknown

54. “Oh darling, let’s be adventurers!” – Unknown

55. “I want to see the world with you.” – Unknown

56. “Happiness is… planning a trip to somewhere new, with someone you love.” – Unknown

57. “And we will travel together and just be in love forever.” – Unknown

Solo Road Trip Quotes

There is something to be said for the freedom and independence that comes with traveling alone. It can provide a sense of security, but it doesn’t always have to make things lonely. Quotes below are meant as companions on your journey from one place to another

58. “I’m on the road constantly. I’m a nomad. I don’t really have a home right now. I don’t identify with one place in particular.” – Daya

59. “I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” – Rosalia De Castro

60. “I just go with the flow, I follow the yellow brick road. I don’t know where it’s going to lead me, but I follow it.” – Grace Jones

61. “Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” – Jack Kerouac

62. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

63. “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

64. “My favourite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

65. “Every journey is simultaneously a beginning and an ending: I was leaving my old life behind and starting on a road trip to find a new me.” – Debi Tolbert Duggar, Riding Soul-O

66. “On the road again, Goin’ places that I’ve never been, Seein’ things that I may never see again, And I can’t wait to get on the road again” – Willie Nelson, On The Road Again

67. “I love being on the road. I love that lifestyle, traveling city to city, rocking out and moving on to the next place.” – Caleb Johnson

68. “Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, the long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.” – Walt Whitman

69. “I travel not to go anywhere but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

70. “I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” – Rosalía de Castro

71. “I can speak to my soul only when the two of us are off exploring deserts or cities or mountains or roads.” – Paulo Coelho

72. “When you go on a road trip, the trip itself becomes part of the story.” – Steve Rushin

73. “I love road trips. You get into this Zen rhythm; throw the sense of time out the window.” – Miriam Toews

74. “I love being on the road. I love that lifestyle, traveling city to city, rocking out and moving on to the next place.” – Caleb Johnson

Life Inspirational Road Trip Quotes

The best way to get away from the every day grind is to take a road trip. Road trips are great for clearing your mind and freshening up your outlook on life. Here are some of our inspirational quotes about travel that should help you if you’re feeling stuck or just need a little inspiration before hitting the open road!

75. “Look at life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.” – Byrd Baggett

76. “Do Not Follow Where The Path May Lead. Go Instead Where There Is No Path And Leave A Trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

77. “The freedom of the open road is seductive, serendipitous and absolutely liberating” – Aaron Lauritsen

78. “Every journey is simultaneously a beginning and an ending: I was leaving my old life behind and starting on a road trip to find a new me.” – Debi Tolbert Duggar

79. “Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” – Unknown

80. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen,

81. “We had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road: the Original Scroll

82. “The world is too big to stay in one place, and life is too short to do just one thing.” – Unknown

83. “If we wait until we are ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our life!” – Lemony Snicket

84. “Live life with no excuses, travel with no regret.” – Oscar Wilde

85. “Fifty years from now, when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?” – Transformer3

86. “Travel brings power and love back into your life.” – Rumi Jalalud-Din

87. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you.” – Anthony Bourdain

Road Trip Sayings

One of the most excitement filled parts of any vacation is when you realize that it’s not a dream. That moment where one wakes up from their sleep to find themselves on an adventure, and everything they’re experiencing for real. The road trips people take are an important part of life. We all have our own experience with traveling and seeing new places, but we also share some sayings about this time. Here are a few road trip sayings to keep you going!

88. “Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before.” – Dalai Lama

89. “There’s nowhere to go but everywhere…” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road

90. “The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to.” – Alain de Botton

90. “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

91. “We’re almost there, but nowhere near it. All that matters is that we’re going.” – Gilmore Girls

92. “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

93. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

94. “The entire road trip could be summed up as one giant attempt to keep from crashing the car during fits of rage and fits of hysteria.” – Kari Martindale

95. “Sometimes the road less travelled is less travelled for a reason.” – Jerry Seinfeld

96. “A passenger on a road journey is in the hands of a driver; a reader embarking on a book is in the hands of a narrator.” – Romesh Gunesekera

97. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman

98. “Look for chances to take the less-travelled roads. There are no wrong turns.” – Susan Magsamen

99. “Road trips are the equivalent of human wings. Ask me to go on one, any one. We’ll stop in every small town and learn the history and the stories, feel the ground, and capture the spirit.” – Unknown

100. “Map out your future – but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip.” – Bon Jovi

Final Thoughts on Road Trip Quotes

The time has come to take a break, and go on that road trip you’ve been dreaming about. We hope these quotes have given you the inspiration needed for your journey! In addition to being entertaining, we encourage our readers to use this as a way of finding travel destinations or simply taking some much-needed vacation time with friends and family members. What is your favourite quote? Let us know in the comments below!

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Las Vegas to Hoover Dam Road Trip : Overview

Las Vegas to Hoover Dam is more than just a car ride. It’s an epic journey with plenty of stops along the way for exploring and sightseeing. 

Distance from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam

From the city of Las Vegas, Route 93 North takes you through 60 miles and two hours on your way to Hoover Dam. You can do this road trip in between an hour and a half hours and two hours depending on traffic conditions.

Las Vegas Airport to Hoover Dam

If you are driving from Las Vegas International airport you’ll be happy to know that the drive to Hoover dam is less than two hours and 60 miles. You might want to consider a tour with one of the many exciting options if you are not able to take a rental car yourself.

Hoover Dam Visitor Centre

The Hoover Dam Visitor Center is a modern, interactive museum that provides visitors with an up-close experience of this engineering marvel. With exhibits and tours for all ages, the visitor center offers something for everyone.

– All ages can enjoy the exhibits and tours at Hoover Dam Visitor Center. The museum is geared toward kids with interactive displays that teach about electricity and engineering while still being engaging for adults visiting on their own or in a group.

– You can also take an elevator ride to see the inner workings of this iconic landmark from a bird’s eye view!

Pro Tips: Arrive early if you want to beat the crowds as lines tend to get longer later in the day. Daily guided tour times are offered every hour on the half-hour from noon – 12 pm ET.

Las Vegas to Hoover Dam Road Trip Itinerary: Top Stops

Stop 1 – Lake Mead

On your way, you will first stop at this spectacular man-made lake which is one of the best lakes I have ever seen. Lake Mead is a manmade reservoir that supplies water for the surrounding area and also produces hydroelectric power. It has fluctuating levels due to the release of water downstream, but it always provides essential services in addition to being one of America’s largest lakes!

Stop 2- Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is one of America’s most iconic landmarks. It spans the Colorado River and creates Lake Mead, a man-made lake that can store up to 29 billion cubic meters of water. The dam also produces electricity through hydroelectric generators for millions living nearby. Hoover Dam is located on the border of Arizona and Southern Nevada, where the dam is constructed across the Colorado river whose middle forms the border of these two states. 

READ: Best Road Trips in USA covering major national parks

The water is very clear and almost still with tiny ripples making it a very calm atmosphere. The Hoover Dam bridge is very similar to the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls, Canada. This dam near Vegas gives a good view of all the engineering work done for its construction and operation and will leave you awestruck.

Stop 3 – Boulder City

We took the route via Boulder City to catch the I-15S highway, as our next destination was Los Angeles in California. Boulder City is a nice small city with some amazing art spotted here and there, where we stopped briefly in the city for a short break and a coffee. The number plate board in different designs of various states was interesting and I have got one of them.

From here, we continued our journey to Los Angeles taking the highway I-15S. On our way, I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I was lucky to find a quick stop to capture the moment.

READ: An Epic Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

Explore other Road Trips in the USA South West

If you wish to find out more about all these top bucket list destinations for road trips, below are the detailed blogs of all parts of the journey. 

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a 2 week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Arizona Road Trip from Phoenix to Sedona & Grand Canyon covers the major attractions in Arizona around Sedona and Grand Canyon.
• Los Angeles Road Trip part covers the journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles vacation and its main attractions.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days. 

Los Angeles Vacation : Overview

This epic Los Angeles road trip itinerary which is the third instalment of a USA South West road trip from Arizona to California via Nevada. During our visit, we explored the LA life visiting some beaches, Hollywood staples and had my ultimate La La Land experience gazing at the Californian sky at night from Mount Hollywood.

We drove ~300 miles non-stop from Las Vegas to LA on Highway I-15S which I think was the most difficult drive during the trip to California, especially when getting closer to LA. There was very heavy traffic and restless drivers switching lanes often without warning, which felt like a video game where you only get one life. If you don’t feel like driving yourself, you can find some cheap bus tickets from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on Wanderu and let someone else do the driving.

While I was in LA, the traffic reminded me of the opening song of La La Land, Another day of sun, showcasing bored drivers dancing in a LA traffic jam. It was very obvious why Los Angeles is one of the best places to visit in USA judging from the first look and vibe.

7 Unique Things to do during a Los Angeles Vacation

Los Angeles has so much that you could do, so don’t forget to include some of these top ten things on your itinerary during your Los Angeles vacation. Some of the unique attractions in LA include:

1. Beaches: Los Angeles has some great beaches to relax and explore. The first place I would recommend to visit is LA is the Venice Beach boardwalk. On a sunny day, this place can be so beautiful with all of its bright colours and people walking to their destination. Enjoy some seafood at one of the restaurants that line up along the beach side or take in some entertainment from street performers on Santa Monica pier!
2. Universal Studios: If you love theme parks, you may want to check out Universal Studios Hollywood which features famous attractions such as King Kong 360-degree Experience and Water world. These attractions are not only great for children, but also fun for adults!
3. Museums: With more than 400 different museums located within city limits, Los Angeles offers something for everyone when it comes to sightseeing. Museums range from art galleries such as LACMA and MOCA to space exploration centres like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
4. Rodeo Drive: For those who love shopping then Rodeo Drive is the perfect place to go with its luxury brands lining up store front after store front. Or if diamonds are what sparkle in your eye, there is no better location than Beverly Hills’ famed jewellery district known as “The Block”.
5. Art Galleries: LACMA & MOCA, both art galleries offer their own special exhibits that can range from modern art pieces to space exploration technology.
6. Disneyland/Disney California Adventure: If you are a disney fan or not, these theme parks are just so fun filled for anyone.
7. JPL Space Exploration Museum: If space exploration is what intrigues you then this may be one of your favourite spots during your stay – it features everything from Mars rovers to space expeditions all within city limits!
8. Griffith Observatory: Located atop Mount Hollywood, this observatory offers one of the most breath-taking views in Los Angeles as well as a planetarium, exhibition hall and educational resources for all.
9. Hollywood Wax Museum: Here you can take your family to see some of Hollywood’s biggest stars – such as Marilyn Monroe or Leonardo DiCaprio – right before your eyes!

Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

So ready for some adventure in Los Angeles? Here are some ideas for your first time Los Angeles road trip itinerary, based on our first road trip here:

• Explore Venice City & Beach
• Santa Monica Pier
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Beverly Hills
• Hollywood Sign Board
• Griffith Observatory
• Universal Studios

Venice City Beach

If you’re looking for some adventure, head on over to Venice Beach! You can’t really say you have been to LA without visiting this historic beach town. Venice Beach is an artistic hub and a mecca for all things summer. To get there, take the 10 freeway going South. It’s about a 20 minute drive from downtown LA. Park near the pier and walk up the boardwalk to the street.

Venice is a neighbourhood with residential and commercial areas next to a beautiful beach and gains its name probably from the residential complexes being connected by canals resembling the Italian Venice.

The Venice beach vibe is too good with folks and families all around enjoying activities such as cycling, running, skateboarding, BIRD-ing and you will also come across surfers, artists, performers, etc. I envied a few folks who were reading books in hammocks tied around the palm trees.

The public Art Walls of Venice are definitely worth a visit during your California vacations, they showcase stunning street art, not just on the walls themselves but also on nearby trees. We met and spoke with some artists busy painting while we were there and found some had travelled from around the world to paint on these walls. Graffiti artists are one of my favourite people on the planet, just like musicians, they can put out a lot of their thoughts so loudly via their paintings. Respect!

The Venice Beach Boardwalk is a one-mile street market that runs parallel to the beach and has lots of many funky shops and street performances by free-spirited people. While you enjoy all the weird and wonderful creative activities, you can also try a wide variety of food here. We were aware that in California marijuana is legal so when we saw the underground based marijuana shops, we decided to go try that too. If you are feeling adventurous, you need your passport to get hold of one.

Santa Monica Pier

Head on over to Santa Monica Pier for an iconic LA experience. The pier is a great place to take in the beauty of Southern California, and get some fresh ocean air! You can sit at one of the many restaurants, snack bar or ice cream shop that line the boardwalk. There are also carnival games and other amusements such as “The Revenge from Mars” arcade game you can play (even if you’re not into video games)!

Santa Monica Pier is very charming with lots of fun activities and parks making it a great place for a family day out. We strolled around for around two hours enjoying some live music, street shopping and even watching some scuba divers in the blue sea.

To reach Santa Mo in LA, take the 101 or 110 freeway going West. The pier will be on your left as you reach Pacific Coast Highway, just before Lawry’s Restaurant.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

We headed towards Hollywood Boulevard to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame first – one f the main destinations during a trip to Los Angeles This street has brass stars of all the famous celebrities engraved on them. We followed the star lane and managed to spot one name which we all recognized as the star of the American guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. 

Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills

Next, it was time to head towards the famous Beverly Hills which is a popular hunting ground for celebrity spotting as many famous celebrities live nearby. We have all watched many of those videos of celebrities shopping around here, so we wanted to make sure we saw this place. Of course, we had no intentions of scrutinizing people’s faces or quizzing anyone if they had seen any celebrities around

Sunset Boulevard

While we were strolling around, we were approached by many tourism agents who were offering to take us for a ride and offering their vacation packages to show us some celebrity houses. We were not going to pay the price for the guide but got intrigued and decided to take the Google approach to hunt celebrity homes. We read an article about a boy in Sunset Boulevard who sold maps containing the location of all the celebrity homes in the area and we became determined to obtain one for ourselves. We set off focused on hunting the celebrity map boy and almost forgot about hunting for the celebrity houses themselves. Throughout our searching we didn’t manage to spot anyone on the streets and found the majority of houses had huge gates that blocked any views, so after almost an hour we conceded defeat and decided to go check out the Hollywood sign instead since we at least knew where that was.

Hollywood Sign Board

We were pretty convinced that Hollywood board wouldn’t be anything pretty but for the sake of ritual we needed to check it off our list of California road trip ideas, as couldn’t say we’d been to LA but not seen the famous board itself. We drove as far as we could up the hill and discovered that to get to the sign itself required a long hike but after our unsuccessful celebrity hunting we didn’t have the energy left for this and decided the view from the Griffith Observatory in Mount Hollywood would be good enough for us.  

I captured a LA traffic from the top of the Hill when it again reminded me of the La La Land song, Another Day of Sun, and the lyrics.

“Climb these hills,
I’m reaching for the heights,
And chasing all the lights that shine,
And when they let you down,
You’ll get up off the ground,
‘Cause morning rolls around,
And it’s another day of the sun”

Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek
Music Composer, Lyricist

It was sooo…… relieving to get a picture with the Hollywood board from the Griffith Observatory before the sunsets. 

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is a public astronomy site also located on Mount Hollywood and gives one of the best views of the LA basin. The observatory makes a perfect location for either a romantic or geeky day out, or both, with a variety of attractions including a planetarium, geeky shops, cafes, and a public telescope to gaze at the Californian sky. It is a heaven for science lovers and when I saw Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s books in the stores, I just wanted to sit there and read them all maybe another time!

One of the main attractions here was the Pieces of Sky exhibition,  which displays actual meteorite pieces that had been excavated across the US. I found it so exciting to see these pieces that had originated far out in the solar system and fell to Earth many years ago.

Overall the Griffith Observatory was my favorite landmark in LA, and it gave me the ultimate La La Land experience. The sunset and city views from here were so magical and dreamy. I walked around many times and was constantly reminded of the La La Land movie poster. 

Other USA South West Road Trips

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a two week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Arizona Road Trip from Phoenix to Sedona & Grand Canyon covers the major attractions in Arizona around Sedona and Grand Canyon.
• The Nevada Road Trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam covers the most scenic routes in Nevada apart from Las Vegas.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days.

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