Page Contents
Road trips for couples
Nothing brings two people closer than hitting the road and being part of its adventures together. It’s a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your partner. Fortunately, America is home to thousands of miles of scenic roadways along with numerous attractions along the way. Being the land of the open road, the U.S.A offers some of the best road trips for couples, these are so good that you can easily pick them up as your honeymoon road trips.
We have made a list of a few breathtaking road trips in America, which will excite you and your beloved to hop behind the wheel and get your adventurous selves out.
1. Route 66
Popularly known as the “Mother Road,” this 2,500-mile route passes through eight different states and four different regions. It is one of the best and foremost choices for road trips for couples because you can cut it quite short or make it as long as you want.
Chicago is the perfect starting point for this one. You can spend some time having the world-famous Chicago pizza and visiting some of the major attractions in Chicago. Then you can head towards Tulsa, Oklahoma. The area has tons of eateries and many interesting night activities. New Mexico is another great place to make a stop at. It offers the most incredibly scenic and diverse landscapes in North America, distinctive cuisine, and an impressive fine arts scene. Santa Fe and Albuquerque are a hub of attractions.
The next stop is full of natural wonders, vibrant cities. Located in the heart of the American Southwest, Arizona is home to deserts, lakes, mountains, slot canyons, saguaro cactus, buttes, waterfalls, and even a volcano. It is one of the most interesting stops actually. For hiking enthusiasts, the two national parks, Petrified Forest National Park and Saguaro National Park offer plenty of trails.
You can finally end your trip to the Golden State of California. Serene beaches; spectacular sunsets; and the spectacular mountain scenery of California provides the perfect opportunity to spend a romantic day at. Special mention to Big Sur. It is a quiet and soothing place perfect to spend some time with your partner at.
If you want to opt for the shorter scenic route, the portion from St. Louis, Missouri to Amarillo, Texas is a perfect getaway.
2. East Coast Road Trip
The East Coast of the US makes for some of the great options to put on the list of best road trips for couples. The shortest route requires just three days. It covers Bangor, Portland, and Mount Washington State Park. While the longest one includes exploring Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, White Mountains National Forest, Boston, Providence, Newport, Mystic and requires two whole weeks. In between these two options, there are others as well some of which require a week and some around Five days.
Beginning with the shortest route. Bangor, Maine is the perfect starting point for this one. The Cole Land Transportation Museum here is definitely worth some time. Also, to give your legs a little stretch before all the driving you can take a walk along the Penobscot River Walkway. Portland is the next eligible stop. The Old Port waterfront neighborhood is perfect for a coffee or dining break. The Portland Head Light is the spot if you want to take some beautiful pictures to remember this road trip, you can also rest here. Lastly, Mount Washington State Park in New Hampshire can mark an end to this trip. It’s a bliss for nature lovers and is home to 15 trails that take you through the best of it.
If you want to see New England at its Best then opt for the two-week East Coast road trip. It includes some of the most interesting places like Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Maine’s Acadia National Park is the great starting point for this. It’s a hub of activities like hiking, biking, and swimming. For year-round activities, Stowe, Vermont is perfect to visit in any season. To get a ride on the aerial tramway, set Cannon Mountain as your next stop. Then you can head to Boston. There is a lot to do here, from exploring museums to a beautiful lunch at the famous Quincy Market, the city will keep you entertained almost all the time.
You can finally make your last stop at the beautiful waterfront town of Mystic, Connecticut. The town is bursting with maritime charm and the Mistick Village is full of delicious food and unique places.
3. Road Trip to The Parks of The East Coast
If you love the outdoors, are ready to rent an RV or stay at small inns or B&Bs, and want to get away from the hustle-bustle of the city to spend some quality time with your beloved, this one is for you. This is one of the best road trips for couples because you’ll get plenty of opportunities to spend some quiet relaxing time and explore nature together.
Acadia National Park is a great spot to start this trip. It is rightly known as the “Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast.” With 158 miles of hiking trails, it offers plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs. It is also home to some jaw-dropping views and seven peaks that rise higher than 1,000 feet.
White Mountains National Forest in New Hampshire is another place worth your precious time. Especially in winter, it’s a famous place to hike at. Green Mountain National Forest found in southwestern and central Vermont is another famous place to hike at. Other activities include camp, fish, canoe in summer, and skiing in winter.
If you’re an animal lover and want to spend some time bird-watching or wild pony spotting head to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. The next and the main stop of this road trip is The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. It is a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, and skiers. If you simply want to relax then you can picnic here or pitch a tent and refresh your brain.
Last but not the least, Florida‘s Everglades National Park is another fun, National Park. Here, you can take an airboat ride, charter a fishing boat, sign up for an adventure tour, or walk the Anhinga Trail. Also, it’s highly possible that you spot gators here.
4. Blue Ridge Parkway
This is one of the most famous options when you think about road trips for couples. Also known as “America’s favorite drive,” the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is a destination in itself. It runs from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Owing to its incredible views of the Blue Ridge mountains and surrounding landscapes it is quite famous among motorcyclists and bicyclists too. Along the way, you can spend the night at some of the farms and lodges. It also includes several wineries and breweries, making the trip quite fun and romantic.
If you want to stretch your legs, you can choose to hike via the several hiking trails that branch off from the numerous pull-offs, some even leading to spectacular waterfalls. Along the way, a lot of picnic spots are also available, you can just simply rest and soak in the view there. To spend a romantic night under the stars, numerous campgrounds in spectacular settings are available along the way.
Apart from being a hotspot for nature lovers, to entertain history and art lovers, the parkway is also home to several visitor centers and museums. At The Folk Art Center, you can learn about the local history via folk art as well as demonstrations by local craftspeople. Another place to learn about history is the Museum of North Carolina Minerals. The museum has detailed exhibits that look at the region’s mineral resources and mining industry. If you’re visiting in summer Mabry Mill demonstrates grinding corn in the original mill, cutting boards in the sawmill, and the art of blacksmithing.
Hendersonville, Banner Elk, Highlands, and Burnsville are some of the small, cute mountain towns near the parkway where you can stay the night and also get delicious food to keep you happy during the drive.
5. Oregon’s Scenic Coast
What’s a better idea for road trips for couples than to drive along the Pacific Ocean via Highway 101. If your calendar can’t offer you a lot of free days, this one will work in your favor. The stops in this one are quite interesting, from scenic lighthouses, impressive sea stacks to shifting sand dunes and blazing sunsets. Also, you’ll have ample opportunities to spot whales along the way. If you get tired of outdoor exploration, you can spend time exploring cultural institutions like the Oregon Coast Museum.
To stretch your legs, you can make a stop at the scenic Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. It is home to a lot of natural beauty including 12 miles of lush forest, untouched beaches, and the Natural Bridge. On your way to Ecola State Park, you can take some time out for Haystack Rock, an impressive 235-foot sea stack on Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach is fun to explore and has plenty of space for relaxing. It is also a hub of cute shops and art galleries. For some fresh seafood, you can have a bite at the Wayfarer Restaurant. A tour of the historic Cape Meares Lighthouse is a must for history buffs. Guided tours are also available.
For hiking and giving yourself a break from driving, Cape Lookout State Park offers over eight miles of hiking trails. On the north-south of the park, you can visit miles of undeveloped ocean. The park is also a great place to camp and spends the night. The state park campground offers cozy cabins which will help to spend a comfortable night.
To visit the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, head towards Newport. While you’re in the city you can also spend some time at Oregon Coast Aquarium.
6. Miami to Key West via Overseas Highway
For short road trips ideal for couples, this one takes just over three-and-a-half hours (without any stops). But we suggest, we not many then you can make at least some stops. Especially the larger communities along with the Florida Keys. It offers a variety of attractions. Beginning with the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center. The Big Pine Key is home to Blue Water Hole which attracts a lot of visitors because of its turtles and alligators.
To learn about Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, The Dolphin Research Center is the spot. Here, you can even swim with the dolphins. For water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking, and jet skiing, Marathon is the place. You can also choose to just simply relax at the amazing beaches here. It is also the spot for several top-rated resorts that are popular among couples.
For snorkelers and scuba divers, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a hotspot. The park has a small swimming area with a shell-covered beach for these activities. For history enthusiasts, Duval Street, which runs from Mallory Square to the Southernmost Point is home to various historic houses and museums.
You can finally end your trip in Key West at Mallory Square, for the most romantic event of the trip: the Sunset celebration. The event invites everyone to partake in watching the glowing pink and red sun sink into the Gulf of Mexico horizon.
7. The Beartooth Highway
The Highway is one of the most beautiful highways in America and hence making it to this list of road trips for couples. You can start at Red Lodge, Montana. The town itself is a premier mountain destination and offers a lot of scenic places to explore. The beautiful Beartooth and Absaroka Mountains are visible from literally every corner of the town. The highway makes the town close to Yellowstone National Park and hence making it an ideal basecamp too.
The highway includes some jaw-dropping alpine views. If you want to make some stops, Glacial lakes, deep river valleys, and blazing sunsets got you covered. To give your legs a bit of a rest but still explore the area you can opt for activities like fishing, hiking or even shopping. Since several trailheads line the highway, exploring the national forest is itself perfect for a day trip.
Rock Creek Vista is a recommended stop. Finally, you can stop at Yellowstone National Park, the oldest national park in the United States. The park is famous for its scenery, diverse ecosystems, and fascinating geothermal wonders. Also, exploring the park requires a drive in itself. Hiking is also an option as it offers some breathtaking viewpoints.
