The American Road Trip Is the Ultimate Holiday
Nothing defines America like the open road. 4 million miles of highways connecting coast to coast. Massive distances, dramatic landscape changes, roadside diners, motels with neon signs, and the kind of freedom you simply can't get on a European rail pass.
For UK visitors, an American road trip is a rite of passage. You can drive for 6 hours and still be in the same state. The scenery changes from desert to forest to mountains to coastline. Petrol is cheap (about half UK prices). Roads are wide, well-maintained, and — outside major cities — blissfully empty.
You can drive in the USA on a valid UK driving licence for up to 90 days. No International Driving Permit required (though some rental agencies recommend one). Just bring your UK licence, book a rental car, and go.
Route 1: Pacific Coast Highway (California)
Distance: 656 miles (San Francisco → San Diego) | Time: 3-5 days | Best season: April–October
The Route
This is the most beautiful coastal drive in the world — and it's not close. Highway 1 hugs the California coast from San Francisco south through Big Sur, past Hearst Castle, through Santa Barbara, Malibu, and down to San Diego.
Day-by-Day
Day 1: San Francisco → Monterey (120 miles)
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop at Half Moon Bay for coffee and coastal views. Arrive in Monterey — visit the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. Stay in Pacific Grove or Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Day 2: Monterey → Big Sur → San Simeon (90 miles)
Drive 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach (£8 toll). Enter Big Sur — 90 miles of the most dramatic coastline you've ever seen. Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls (an 80-foot waterfall onto a beach), and Pfeiffer Beach. Stay near Hearst Castle.
Day 3: San Simeon → Santa Barbara (150 miles)
Tour Hearst Castle (William Randolph Hearst's legendary clifftop estate — £20-30). Continue south through rolling Central Coast landscape. Arrive in Santa Barbara — the "American Riviera." Steak and wine on State Street.
Day 4: Santa Barbara → Los Angeles (100 miles)
Coastal drive through Malibu. Stop at Point Dume for clifftop views. Arrive in LA via Pacific Coast Highway past the Malibu Colony and Santa Monica Pier. Beach sunset.
Day 5: Los Angeles → San Diego (120 miles)
Continue south through Orange County (stop in Laguna Beach). Arrive in San Diego — Balboa Park, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado Island beach.
Route 2: The Southwest Loop
Distance: ~1,400 miles (Las Vegas loop) | Time: 7-10 days | Best season: March–May, September–November
The Route
A loop from Las Vegas through the greatest concentration of natural wonders in America: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, and Zion National Park.
Day-by-Day
Day 1-2: Las Vegas → Grand Canyon South Rim (280 miles)
Drive east through the Arizona desert. Arrive at Grand Canyon Village. Sunrise and sunset at the rim are the most spectacular views in America. Hike the Bright Angel Trail if fit (don't attempt to reach the bottom and return in one day — it's 9 miles each way with 4,400 feet of elevation change).
Day 3: Grand Canyon → Monument Valley (180 miles)
Drive north through Navajo Nation land. Monument Valley is the landscape from every western film — towering red buttes rising from the desert floor. Take a Navajo-guided jeep tour (£40-60) for the best experience.
Day 4-5: Monument Valley → Moab (150 miles)
Drive north to Moab, Utah — base camp for Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Arches has over 2,000 natural stone arches. Delicate Arch (the icon) is a 3-mile hike. Canyonlands has viewpoints that rival the Grand Canyon with a fraction of the crowds.
Day 6: Moab → Capitol Reef / Bryce Canyon (250 miles)
Drive south through Capitol Reef National Park (underrated, stunning), then to Bryce Canyon — amphitheatres of red rock hoodoos (tall spindly rock formations). The Navajo Loop Trail is one of the best short hikes in America.
Day 7: Bryce Canyon → Zion National Park (85 miles)
Zion is dramatic — a deep red-rock canyon with the Virgin River running through it. The Narrows hike (wading through the river between 1,000-foot canyon walls) is unforgettable. Angels Landing (chains attached to rock, sheer drops) is legendary but requires a permit.
Day 8: Zion → Las Vegas (160 miles)
Return to Vegas through the desert. Stop at Valley of Fire State Park for final dramatic landscapes.
Route 3: Route 66 (The Abbreviated Version)
Distance: ~550 miles (Flagstaff, AZ → Santa Monica, CA) | Time: 3-4 days | Best season: March–November
The full Route 66 (Chicago to Santa Monica, 2,448 miles) requires 2-3 weeks. This abbreviated western section captures the best of the nostalgia — neon motels, desert diners, ghost towns, and the terminus on Santa Monica Pier.
Highlights
- Flagstaff, AZ — Mountain town, gateway to the Grand Canyon, great breweries
- Seligman, AZ — The town that inspired "Radiator Springs" in Pixar's Cars
- Oatman, AZ — Ghost town with wild burros roaming the streets
- Needles, CA — Desert crossing into California
- Barstow, CA — Route 66 "Mother Road Museum" + alien jerky at the alien-themed exit
- Santa Monica Pier — The official western terminus. Stand at the "End of the Trail" sign.
Route 4: Florida Keys Drive
Distance: 113 miles (Miami → Key West) | Time: 1-2 days | Best season: November–April
The Route
The Overseas Highway (US Route 1) runs from mainland Florida across 42 bridges and 32 islands to Key West. It's one of the most unique drives on earth — a motorway across the open ocean. Seven Mile Bridge is the highlight — a straight road across turquoise water with nothing but sky around you.
Key Stops
- Key Largo — John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Snorkelling and kayaking.
- Islamorada — "Sportfishing Capital of the World." Robbie's Marina has tarpon feeding.
- Marathon — Side trip to Bahia Honda State Park — one of America's best beaches.
- Key West — Ernest Hemingway's house, Mallory Square sunset, Duval Street bars, conch fritters, rum cocktails.
Practical Driving Tips for Brits
Right-Hand Drive
You're driving on the right. This sounds terrifying. In practice, you adjust within 10 minutes on a highway. Roundabouts (rare in the US) and junctions are where you need to concentrate. Always look right first at junctions.
Speed Limits
- Interstate highways: 70-80 mph (legally faster than the UK motorway limit)
- State highways: 55-65 mph
- Urban areas: 25-35 mph
- School zones: 15-25 mph (heavily enforced)
Speed traps are real. Small-town police fund their departments with speeding tickets. Stay within 5mph of the limit on state highways.
Fuel
Called "gas" (petrol). Pumped before you pay. Use the "Regular" (87 octane) option unless your rental requires premium. A gallon is about £3-4 (roughly half UK fuel prices).
Toll Roads
Several routes have electronic tolls. Rental cars sometimes include a toll transponder (SunPass in Florida, E-ZPass in the Northeast). Check with your rental agency. Toll charges can be added to your rental bill automatically.
Essential Road Trip Gear
Plan ahead by grabbing these essentials before your trip — they'll make long drives more comfortable and keep you prepared for anything:
- Phone mount — Essential for navigation. Don't hold your phone while driving (it's illegal in most states).
- Cooler bag — Fill with drinks and snacks from a gas station or supermarket. Saves money and time.
- Portable charger — Long drives drain your phone. A 20,000mAh bank keeps you navigating all day.
- Sunglasses — Non-negotiable in the Southwest and California. Polarised lenses cut desert glare.
- Reusable water bottle — Hydration in desert climates is critical. Many gas stations have free water refill stations.