Top U.S. Road Trips

Whether you’re seeking adventure, peaceful countryside drives or breathtaking scenery, road trips are the way to go. Taking into consideration the cost of gas, accommodations, distance and ease of travel, GoCompare.com put together a list of the top road trips to take in the United States. Here are some of our favorites.

Badlands National Park

A short but nonetheless stunning trip through the Badlands National Park offers views of distinctive rock formations on the way to the historic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Top sights include the Badlands Wall, Big Badlands Overlook, Notch Trail and the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway. The 31-mile trip starts in Scenic and ends in Wall, S.D., and is doable in two days.

San Juan Skyway

The San Juan Skyway is the ultimate journey across America’s Wild West, featuring old Western towns and beautiful national parks. Stopping points on this 236-mile trip include Durango, where you can take tours of old saloons and historic homes; Mesa Verde National Park, home to hundreds of cliff dwellings built by the Anasazi People; Lizard Head Peak Vista Outlook, where you can admire volcanic rock formations; and Red Mountain pass, a stunning 11,000-foot-high roadway.

Blues Highway

Music lovers can hit Highway 61, also known as Blues Highway. The 1,429-mile trip stretches from New Orleans to Wyoming, passing through Clarksdale, the birthplace of blues; Graceland, a must for Elvis fans; Memphis; and Nashville, the pinnacle destination for country music fans.

Big Sur

Head out west to experience Big Sur — one of America’s most iconic drives. The route along Highway-1 boasts California’s most picturesque coastal areas, through bedrock cliffs with ocean views and sandy beaches. Stopping places between San Francisco and Los Angeles include Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and Malibu.