12 Road Trip Routes You Can Drive in a Weekend

You don’t need a week off work to take a great road trip. Some of the best drives in North America fit perfectly into a long weekend, giving you enough time to see dramatic scenery, stop at interesting towns, and still make it home before Monday morning.

These routes range from coastal highways to mountain passes to desert drives, and all of them are doable in two to three days. Gas up, pick your playlist, and hit the road!

1. Pacific Coast Highway: Big Sur Section, California (90 miles)

The stretch of Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon is one of the most famous coastal drives in the world. You’ll hug cliffsides while the Pacific Ocean crashes below, passing state parks, beaches, and viewpoints where you can pull over to take photos. The route takes about three hours if you drive straight through, but you’ll want to stop at Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, and several beaches along the way.

2. Blue Ridge Parkway: Asheville to Cherokee, North Carolina (130 miles)

This section of the Blue Ridge Parkway takes you through the highest peaks in the eastern United States. You’ll drive past overlooks with mountain views, hike short trails to waterfalls, and pass through tunnels carved into the rock. The speed limit is 45 mph, so this isn’t a route you rush through, but that’s the point!

3. Going-to-the-Sun Road: Glacier National Park, Montana (50 miles)

Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the Continental Divide through Glacier National Park, climbing from forested valleys to alpine tundra. The road is only open from late June through mid-October due to snow, and it’s narrow enough that RVs over 21 feet aren’t allowed. You’ll see glaciers, waterfalls, mountain goats, and some of the most dramatic scenery in the Rocky Mountains.

4. Overseas Highway: Miami to Key West, Florida (113 miles)

The Overseas Highway connects the Florida Keys with 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge. You’ll drive over gorgeous, bright blue water with views of the ocean on both sides, passing through small island towns where you can stop for conch fritters and key lime pie. The route ends in Key West, where you can visit the southernmost point in the continental United States.

5. Beartooth Highway: Red Lodge to Cooke City, Montana (68 miles)

The Beartooth Highway rises to nearly 11,000 feet as it crosses between Montana and Wyoming. You’ll drive through alpine plateaus, past glacial lakes, and across a landscape that looks more like Alaska than the lower 48. The road is only open from late May through mid-October, and weather can change quickly at high elevation, so check conditions before you go.

6. Great River Road: Dubuque to St. Louis (340 miles)

This section of the Great River Road follows the Mississippi River through Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. You’ll pass through river towns with Victorian architecture, stop at overlooks where you can watch barges move up and down the river, and visit historic sites like Hannibal, Missouri, where Mark Twain grew up. The route takes about six hours of driving time, but you’ll want to spread it over two days to really see the towns.

7. Olympic Peninsula Loop: Washington (330 miles)

The Olympic Peninsula loop takes you from Seattle around Olympic National Park, through rainforests, along rugged coastline, and back through small logging towns. You’ll drive through the Hoh Rainforest, where massive Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees are covered in moss, and along the Pacific coast, where sea stacks rise from the water. The full loop takes about seven hours of driving, but you’ll want at least two days to stop and hike.

8. Hill Country Loop: Texas (230 miles)

The Texas Hill Country loop connects Austin, Fredericksburg, and San Antonio through rolling hills covered in oak trees and wildflowers. You’ll pass German-influenced towns with breweries and bakeries, drive past working ranches, and stop at roadside BBQ joints. Spring is the best time for this drive when bluebonnets cover the roadsides, but fall offers cooler weather and fewer crowds.

9. Cabot Trail: Nova Scotia, Canada (185 miles)

The Cabot Trail circles Cape Breton Island through the Cape Breton Highlands, following the coast for much of the route. You’ll drive past fishing villages, through forests that turn spectacular colors in fall, and along clifftop roads with ocean views. The full loop takes about five hours of driving, but the scenery demands frequent stops for photos and short hikes.

10. Mohawk Trail: Massachusetts (63 miles)

The Mohawk Trail follows Route 2 across northern Massachusetts through the Berkshires. This is one of the oldest scenic routes in America, with roadside attractions that have been operating since the 1920s. You’ll climb hairpin turns to mountain summits, pass through small New England towns, and cross the historic Hoosac Range. The fall foliage season turns this drive into a color explosion.

11. Scenic Byway 12: Utah (124 miles)

Scenic Byway 12 connects Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks through some of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the American Southwest. You’ll cross narrow ridges with thousand-foot drops on either side, drive through red rock canyons, and climb over Boulder Mountain through alpine forests. The route includes the town of Boulder, which was the last town in the lower 48 to receive mail by mule train.

• Related: Here are four hikes you can do over two days in Zion National Park!

12. Icefields Parkway: Alberta, Canada (144 miles)

The Icefields Parkway runs between Lake Louise and Jasper through the Canadian Rockies, passing glaciers, waterfalls, and turquoise lakes. You’ll see some of the highest peaks in the Rockies, stop at the Columbia Icefield where you can walk on a glacier, and watch for elk, bighorn sheep, and black bears along the roadside. The drive takes about three hours without stops, but you’ll want at least a full day to see the highlights.

About the Author

Originally from Indiana, Heather believes every destination has a story worth telling and a reason to visit. With a deep love of adventure, history, and psychology, she shares travel trivia, tips, and inspiration to encourage you to explore the world with curiosity and optimism. Read her other articles on Frayed Passport here.

Featured image by Balkan Campers on Unsplash