Top Western US Road Trips:

Pacific Coast Highway:

  • Route:  655 miles along California coastline
  • Description: The sweet spot of the PCH is about 123 miles starting in Monterey and going south through Carmel and Big Sur, where mountains and cliffs butt up against the Pacific. Farther south, the road goes through oak-studded hills and passes Hearst Castle on its way to Morro Bay.

Going-to-the-Sun Road:

  • Route: 53 miles through Glacier National Park (Montana)
  • Description:  Completed in 1932, it's the only road crossing Glacier National Park.  Points of interest include Lake McDonald, Trail of the Cedars, Heavens Peak, Bird Woman Falls, Logan Pass, and Jackson Glacier.

Olympic Peninsula Loop:

  • Route: 330 mile loop around Olympic Peninsula (Washington)
  • Description: Starting in Seattle, it passes through the Dungeness Spit (one of the world's longest natural sand spits), Neah Bay, beautiful Lake Crescent, Sol Duc Hot Springs, and two rain forests (Hoh & Quinault).

Columbia River Scenic Byway:

  • Route: 75 miles from Troutdale to The Dalles (Oregon)
  • Description: Starting just east of Portland, it features the Columbia Gorge and offers waterfalls, mountain views, plenty of pull-off vistas, the Bonneville Dam, a museum & discovery center.

Road to Hana:

  • Route: 64 miles between Kahului & Hana (Maui, HI)
  • Description: This very narrow & winding road has 620 curves and passes over 59 bridges.  It winds through beautiful tropical rain forests, by waterfalls, natural pools, beaches, & Waianapanapa State Park.
Cost:
$ $ $
 Difficulty:
⚒ ⚒ 
 Bliss Level:
☺︎ ☺︎ ☺︎