Best Road Trips in the U.S. and Canada (2027 Edition)
After years of exploring the United States and Canada by car, these are the places that have earned their spot in what we’re calling The Road Trip Locals Superlatives: our personal list of “bests” from the road so far.
From breathtaking national parks to cozy mountain towns and unexpected hidden gems, each destination here left its mark for a different reason. Whether you’re planning your first road trip or your fiftieth, we hope this guide will help inspire your next adventure!
RTL Tip: We’ll update this post every year as we add new destinations to our ever-growing list of favorites.
Best Fall Road Trip: New England
If your dream road trip involves crisp mountain air and fiery fall colors, New England is the place to be.
Why we love it: We’ve chased fall colors all over the U.S., but nowhere compares to New England in October. Think pumpkin patches, covered bridges, apple cider donuts, and roads lined with orange and red maples. We spent weeks wandering between Stowe, the White Mountains, and Maine’s coast… hiking in the mornings, exploring small towns in the afternoons, and sipping hot cider every chance we got. Oh, and we spent Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts. There’s just nothing else like it.
Read Next: Picture-Perfect: A Festive New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary
Best Destination for Month-Long Stays: Kanab, Utah
Kanab is our favorite basecamp for roadtrippers exploring the Southwest. You can hit Zion, Bryce Canyon, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, The Wave, and the Grand Canyon North Rim… all from a home base in Kanab.
Why we love it: Kanab is a roadtripper’s paradise, surrounded by some of the best landscapes in the U.S. There are so many incredible places just a short drive away. It’s perfectly positioned for day trips, but still small and laidback enough to feel like home. After a long day hiking The Narrows or wandering through Peek-A-Boo Canyon, there’s nothing better than watching the sunset over red rocks from your front porch.
Keep Reading: 10 Jaw-Dropping Places to See Near Kanab, Utah
Best Casual Road Trip for Hiking: The Adirondacks
When you want a balance of adventure and relaxation, this East Coast destination delivers.
Why we love it: Lake Placid has scenic drives, shorter trails with big rewards, and plenty of charming small towns for rest days. Hikes from Cascade Mountain to Cobble Lookout are rewarding without leaving you exhausted. We spent three weeks here hiking by day and curling up with pizza and local craft beer by night, and this was the one place I didn’t want to leave.
Read Next: 10 Best Hikes Near Lake Placid, NY
Best Road Trip for Wildlife: The Grand Trifecta (Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Glacier National Parks)
If wildlife is on your bucket list, this trio is hard to beat.
We’ve seen bears, wolves, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, red foxes, coyotes, pronghorn antelopes… You name it, there’s a good chance you can see it here!
Why we love it: Each park has its own personality: geothermal wonders in Yellowstone, towering peaks in Grand Teton, and alpine lakes in Glacier. Together, they create one epic loop through the wild heart of the West. If you’re looking for highlight after highlight, this roadtrip is the one to plan next.
Read Next: The Grand Trifecta: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier Road Trip
Most Stunning Road Trip: The Canadian Rockies
We’ve roadtripped through some ridiculously beautiful places, but the Canadian Rockies are on an entirely different level.
The Icefields Parkway alone is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world, connecting Banff and Jasper national parks through more than 140 miles of mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and bright blue lakes.
Why we love it: The abundance of jaw-dropping scenery here is unmatched. Moraine Lake. Lake Louise. Peyto Lake. Athabasca Glacier. Jasper National Park. Banff. You could build an entire road trip around places that would be the highlight almost anywhere else, and here, you just keep driving to another one.
This is the road trip for anyone who wants to hike, spend as much time outside as possible, and repeatedly ask, How is this even real?
Read Next: Beginner’s Guide to Driving the Icefields Parkway
Best National Park Road Trip: Utah’s Mighty 5
Utah’s five national parks—Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion—are a must for anyone who loves roadtripping!
Why we love it: Every park is unique, but together they create one of the most iconic national park road trips in America.
Read Next: The Mighty 5: How to See Utah's 5 National Parks in 7 Days
Best “Tourist Trap” That Lives Up to the Hype: Niagara Falls
It’s touristy, crowded, and absolutely worth it. Standing near the edge of the Falls is pure delight, especially at sunrise or under the evening lights.
Why we love it: You can’t help but feel awestruck. And if you visit the Canadian side, plan to explore the nearby ice wine region afterward. It was one of our favorite surprises from our trip! Sometimes the most popular stops really are popular for a reason. (I had very little interest in visiting Niagara Falls… and I’m happy to admit I just didn’t understand what was waiting for me.)
Keep Reading: Ontario Road Trip: Niagara Falls, Ice Wine Country, and Toronto’s EdgeWalk
The Unsung Hero: New Mexico
New Mexico is one of the most underrated states in the U.S., and we say that with confidence.
Why we love it: From White Sands to Carlsbad Caverns and fall foliage that rivals Colorado, New Mexico is full of surprises. The variety is unreal: white dunes, red rock, and some of the most beautiful aspen groves we’ve ever seen. Plus, it’s refreshingly affordable for road trippers.
Keep Reading: The Unsung Hero: 10-Day New Mexico Road Trip
Best Foodie Road Trip: Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is small but mighty in the food department. You’ll find cozy shops, farm-to-table restaurants, and local cideries tucked between mountain views.
Why we love it: The perfect mix of scenic charm and indulgence, whether it’s brunch after a hike or dinner after a day on the slopes. This is one of those road trips we keep talking about… and one we recreate at home every chance we get.
Read Next: A Foodie Road Trip: Fun Things To Do in Stowe, Vermont
Best Epic Road Trip: Alaska
If you’re after once-in-a-lifetime scenery, Alaska wins.
Why we love it: Eight national parks, endless daylight, and drives that make you feel like you’re at the edge of the world. From bear-watching at Katmai to kayaking in Kenai Fjords, Alaska redefines “bucket list.”
Keep Reading: Alaska Diaries: 21 Days, 8 National Parks, 1 Great Alaskan Road Trip
Best Slow-Travel Road Trip: Blue Ridge Parkway
The Parkway is made for unhurried travel: winding through foggy mountains, roadside overlooks, and tiny towns.
Why we love it: We spent two months in the mountains of Bryson City, near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, breathe, and just be. If you’re looking for East Coast foliage and a classic scenic drive, you’ll find it in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And if you enjoy craft cider and beer, be sure to spend a night in Asheville, perhaps at the grand Biltmore.
Read Next: Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway: A Beginner’s Road Trip Guide
Best Sunshine Road Trip: Florida Keys
The drive from Miami to Key West seriously feels like summer in a bottle!
Why we love it: Turquoise water, key lime pie, and endless sunshine. Plus national parks, clear water beaches, and tropical drinks. What more do you need?
Keep Reading: Beginner’s Guide to Driving the Florida Keys Highway
Best Classic Road Trip: The Dakotas
If you want a good, old-fashioned American road trip, pack the car and head for the Dakotas.
We spent 10 days roadtripping through North and South Dakota in 2026, originally with a mission to visit the three national parks: Theodore Roosevelt, Wind Cave, and Badlands. But somewhere between the national parks, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, the Black Hills, scenic byways, wildlife, and a whole lot of roadside attractions, we realized this might be one of the most classic road trip destinations we’ve ever visited.
Why we love it: There are certainly road trips with bigger bucket-list attractions or more dramatic scenery, but if what you want is classic road trip vibes: windows down, snacks in the car, weird roadside attractions, scenic drives, wildlife sightings, national parks, and plenty of reasons to say, “Wait, should we stop there?”… the Dakotas have what you’re looking for.
Plan Your Next Adventure
🌎 Curious where we’ve been around the U.S. and Canada? Browse our Travel Seasons for real-life itineraries and practical tips from months spent living and working on the road.
🧳 Want to know exactly what we pack on the road? Check out our complete Road Trip Packing List for the exact things we use and love on every trip!
📚 Ready to plan your next adventure? Explore our Free Resource Library for road trip itineraries, planning guides, and stories from the road.
🐻 In the mood for adventure? Read Alaska Diaries, a seven-part travelogue from the time we roadtripped through Alaska on a mission to visit its eight national parks in one trip.
🏡 Wondering what it’s like to buy a fixer-upper just outside Yellowstone National Park? Follow all the chaos in The Cabin Chronicles.
🦬 And if Yellowstone’s on your list, don’t miss our Yellowstone Travel Guide: your step-by-step companion to planning an unforgettable trip to Yellowstone National Park!
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