Top Notch Used Car’s Top Road Trip Destinations

From the Appalachian Mountains to the Mojave Desert, and everywhere in between, the United States of America is home to some of the most beautiful natural wonders and scenery in the world. The U.S. has over 45,000-miles of interstate highways, which makes for some pretty scenic road trips throughout the U.S., a must-have experience if you own a luxury or sports vehicle. Push your dream car to the limits, and explore America’s natural beauty with this list of top road-trip destinations. 

Out West

If you’re out on the western coast of the U.S., you’ll have plenty of scenic roadways at your disposal to explore in your dream car. The western coast of the U.S. is home to a variety of landscapes and climates, ranging from the dry desert parts of California to the ultra-rainy Seattle in Washington state. Get the most out of your Top Notch car by taking it on a scenic road trip along the United States’ western coast!

Pacific Coast Highway

One of the most recognizable roadways in America, the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, runs from San Diego all the way up to San Francisco and has some of the most scenic views in the state of California. Formally known as Highway 1, the PCH began construction in 1919, thanks to the labor of inmates at the infamous and local San Quentin Prison. If you travel the entirety of the PCH, you’ll have traveled over 650 miles, and crossed 33 different bridges along the way, all with incredible views of nature like you’ve never seen before. 

Traveling along the PCH in your dream car, you’ll see the best of California’s vineyards, valleys, mountains, redwoods, and rivers, making for an unforgettable weekend experience. If you want to see California’s beauty in a way you’ve never seen before, take a drive on the Pacific Coast Highway in your dream car. 

Highway 101

Oregon’s continuation of the Pacific Coast Highway, Highway 101 spans the entirety of Oregon’s coast and is home to some of the most beautiful ocean views in America. Established in 1926, Highway 101 picks up at the California border, carrying on the PCH spirit for over 300-miles along the gorgeous Oregonian coast. The 101 is far more mountainous than its Californian counterpart, the PCH, as it runs between the Pacific Ocean and the Oregon Coast Range. In 2015, the Oregon state legislature passed and designated Highway 101 as the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Veterans Memorial Highway, although the Highway 101 name remains popular among locals. 

Olympic Peninsula Loop

Located in Washington state, the Olympic Peninsula Loop is a continuation of Oregon’s Highway 101, meaning it is also a continuation of the Pacific Coast Highway down in California as well. This incredibly scenic route picks up near the Columbia River, just after the Astoria-Megler Bridge in Oregon, leaving you with no shortage of breathtaking backdrops for photos of your dream car. This route loops around the famous Olympic National Park, another incredibly scenic area of natural beauty, that is a must-see if you’re traveling along the OLP.

Pikes Peak Highway

A great way to close out your road trip out west as you head back east is Colorado’s Pikes Peak Highway. Host to the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, this roadway is 19-miles long and travels to the top of Pikes Peak, presenting plenty of technical driving challenges as well as stunning views along the way. Hop behind the wheel of your dream car and hit the twists and turns of Pikes Peak as you make your way toward our other top road trip destinations.

The American Midwest

If a midwest adventure is what you seek, we have some of the best roadways in the midwest for you to experience in your dream car. America’s midwest is full of scenic roadways for you to fully enjoy your dream car on, with stops in South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. From exciting city nightlife and skyline views in Chicago to the sandy dunes along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Michigan, midwest America has a lot to offer when it comes to breathtaking scenery, so why not check it out in your Top Notch car?

Highway 240: The Badlands Loop

Despite its menacing name, there is nothing but good scenery and good times to be had on South Dakota’s scenic Highway 240, also known as Badlands Loop Road. This 58-mile loop of highway will take you and your dream car through desert-like hills, along cliffsides and buttes, and valleys, providing plenty of photo opportunities. As you travel along Highway 240 you’ll see some of the most staggering views of South Dakotas rock formations, formed by glaciers and rivers from millennia ago. South Dakota may not seem like a road trip destination, but when you’re behind the wheel of a dream car, any roadway can be a destination.

North Shore Scenic Drive

If the pseudo-deserts of South Dakota’s Badlands aren’t for you, then head on up to Duluth, Minnesota to embark on the 142-mile journey that is the North Shore Scenic Drive. This adventure starts off in Duluth, and travels 142-miles along Lake Superiors coastline, providing plenty of mind-blowing views the entire way. The North Shore Scenic Drive will take you amongst the forestry and wilderness, with sweeping roadways leading along river beds, and through small towns like Grand Marais, ensuring that you get a little taste of everything the North Shore has to offer. If you’re looking for a road trip packed with history, beauty, coastal drives, and small towns, look no further than a trip on the North Shore Scenic Drive, as it’s even designated as an “All-American Road”, meaning it’s a must-see for anyone traveling in America’s Midwest. 

Lake Shore Drive

As you make your way through the midwest in your dream car, make sure to stop off in one of America’s most scenic cities, Chicago, and drive along Lake Shore Drive. Lake Shore Drive’s 26-miles are made up of some of the most stunning American architecture views along with incredible views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. A good dinner and nightlife aren’t hard to find along Lake Shore Drive and make sure to stop by Millenium Park to visit Anish Kapoor’s famous Cloud Gate sculpture. If you’re craving an exciting trip through one of America’s most beautiful cities, jump in your dream car and head on down to Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive tonight!

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

Finish off your tour of America’s midwest, and specifically Lake Michigan by traveling along this 7.4-mile long scenic drive on Lake Michigan’s eastern shore. This short drive offers a ton of unique views along its 7.4-miles, including sand dunes, dense forestry, and even some covered bridges. Don’t just travel along Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, have the full experience and enjoy Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Michigan as you head east to our other top road trip destinations.

The East Coast

Now that you’ve made your way through our list of the top road trip destinations in the midwest, it’s time to find out what the east coast has to offer. There is a lot to see on the east coast, and it isn’t just the New York City skyline either. Surprisingly enough, the east coast is full of lush greenery, mountains, valleys, and gorgeous views throughout, meaning you’ll see some of the best views America has to offer while you’re on the east coast. Hop in your dream car and buckle up for this scenic ride throughout America’s east coast. 

Skyline Drive

While there are many “Skyline Drives” throughout the U.S., the “real” Skyline Drive is located in Virginia and spans 105-miles throughout Shenandoah National Park. This ultra-scenic drive is the only public roadway in Shenandoah National Park, and on a good day, it amounts to about a three-hour drive through the park from start to finish. Open year-round, save for inclement weather closures, Skyline Drive is one of the best ways to enjoy your dream car to the fullest, as it boasts nearly 70 overlook stop-offs, offering some of the most jaw-dropping views you may ever see. A bonus to Skyline Drive is the Marys Rock Tunnel on mile 32, which will allow you to fully enjoy the sound of your dream car exhaust as you rip through the tunnel. 

Mid-Cape Highway

As you travel further toward the eastern coast, another wonderful scenic route to take is Massachusetts’ Route 6 through Cape Cod. This roadway runs 118-miles throughout Massachusetts, it links together all of Cape Cod’s beaches, fishing towns, and marshes, making travel easy and scenic. Whether you’re stopping off in one of the small fishing towns to whale-watch or heading to Cape Cod itself for a family vacation, Route 6 will take you there while delivering breathtaking views along the way. Don’t miss out on one of the most scenic coastal roads the east coast has to offer, hop in your dream car and hit Route 6 today!

Kancamagus Highway

A true mouthful, the Kancamagus Highway is quite the jaw-dropping roadway, traveling through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Running 36-miles along the White Mountains, the Kancamagus Highway is one of the top places to go if you love watching the leaves change colors in the fall. Get in your dream car and take a ride along the Kancamagus Highway, rising 2,855 feet in elevation while you traverse New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The Kanc, as it’s known to locals, is one of America’s 184 national scenic byways, making it a top road trip destination for any luxury vehicle owner. 

Route 100 Vermont

Known as “The Skier’s Highway” or “Vermont’s Main Street”, Route 100 is recognized as one of the most scenic roads in New England. This 146-mile roadway is home to some of Vermont’s best views of the surrounding Green Mountains, as well as the best dining and lodging options. Route 100 has plenty to do along its route, with wineries, arts, crafts, and a load of small historical towns, this road trip will be jam-packed with activities to do. Traverse the windy mountainside roads of Vermont’s scenic Route 100 in your dream car for a trip of a lifetime. 

Park Loop Road

Our final destination in our list of top road trip destinations in a luxury vehicle, Maine’s Park Loop Road is a great last hurrah. Park Loop Road is a 27-mile long roadway that gives you incredible views of Acadia National Park and the gorgeous rocky coastline of Maine. You can complete the loop in an hour, but it’s worth slowing down in your dream car to enjoy all of the scenery the Park Loop has to offer. Along Park Loops 27-miles, you’ll encounter cliffs, steep ridgelines, and rock faces overlooking the northern part of the Atlantic, making for some fantastic photo opportunities and backdrops for your dream car. As always, make sure to stop off at a local seafood spot to enjoy some of Maine’s famous seafood, the best the east coast has to offer. 

Go Adventuring!

With so many scenic roadways and destinations in America, you could spend the rest of your years exploring every nook and cranny, and who wouldn’t want to in a dream car? Whether you like coastal vacations along the western shore or a scenic drive along Lake Superior, there is no shortage of road trip destinations to enjoy in your dream car. Before you book that next flight, dust off the old road map and refer to this list to plan your next scenic exploration of America. 

Need a car for your next road trip? Stop by Top Notch Used Cars here in Conroe, TX, as we have the best selection of used cars, trucks and SUVs available in the area. If you’re looking for a great deal on your next used car, truck or SUV, look no further than here at Top Notch Used Cars in Conroe, TX.