A road trip can be an incredible couple’s vacation. Taking a journey together is a rewarding and fun way to spend time with someone you love, and the romance of the open road can set an amazing mood.
The United States is full of great routes for couples’ road trips, and in this article, we’ll talk about a few of the best. Any one of these seven legendary journeys will give you golden memories and allow you and your sweetheart to explore a uniquely wonderful section of our nation.
1. Route 100 (Vermont)
Does your love tend toward the pastoral? Then you’ll adore the rich New England scenes of rural Vermont, which are best seen while on a road trip along the state’s Route 100. It’s packed with things to do and bursting with the quaint charm of the Northeast.
For starters, there’s a mountain along Route 100 that’s quite literally named Romance Mountain, in case you didn’t get the point, so make some time to stop for a hike or a picnic.
You’ll also find plenty of artisans and vendors selling one-of-a-kind crafts and local produce. And ski and snowboard enthusiasts will love a winter road trip on Route 100, which connects many of Vermont’s greatest winter sports spots.
2. Beartooth Highway (Wyoming/Montana)
You say you and your lover are REAL nature fans? You’ve got the perfect opportunity to prove it on the Beartooth Highway, one of America’s most ludicrously scenic (but also most challenging) roads.
The actual Beartooth itself runs only 68 miles, but it can easily be connected with other scenic highways in the area and rolled into a trip to the always-breathtaking Yellowstone National Park.
Driving the Beartooth demands that you pack the right supplies and pay attention to the road, as the highway is often curvy and beset by bad weather. Motorcycle riders should definitely come equipped with Bluetooth motorcycle helmet communicators to ensure they can communicate about road hazards, and make sure to check the current conditions to verify that the highway is open at all.
This may be the time to visit the American Motorcycle Trading Company to upgrade your motorcycle. Taking a trip like this, especially long distance, you will want to be sure you have a comfortable and reliable motorcycle so you can focus more on the road and scenery than whether or not your motorcycle can make it.
But the views are absolutely out of this world, and the Beartooth offers a chance to see something for yourself that no Instagram post could ever capture.
3. Historic Route 66 (Illinois to California)
Although the Route 66 of 20th-century pop songs no longer exists, the highways that replaced it still do, which means that couples in the mood for a few days of romantic driving can replicate this historic highway for themselves. The “new” Route 66 starts in Chicago and crosses down through Missouri and the Southwest states before finally ending in Los Angeles.
By crossing through the American heartland, this road trip shows you a side of the country that’s often ignored, but is no less beautiful. And the route also starts and ends in two of America’s greatest cities, Chicago and Los Angeles, each of which is very much worth seeing in its own right.
What’s more, the roads between are packed with fun and iconic tourist attractions like Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch and San Bernardino’s Wigwam Motel.
4. Pacific Coast Highway (California)
Speaking of iconic American roads, let’s talk about California’s Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the amazing feat of engineering that winds its way from San Luis Obispo all the way to San Francisco. The PCH offers some truly breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and includes a variety of flavors of the California experience.
That’s because the highway is packed with stuff to do. You’ll find epic views of Big Sur available from its many famous nature trails, and if you’ve never seen the Golden Gate Bridge in person, well—there’s a reason that it’s so famous!
Surfers, of course, will find even more to love here than most, with amazing waves available up and down the PCH in famous surfing hangouts like Crescent City and Mendocino.
5. The Overseas Highway (Miami to Key West)
Looking for something a little more leisurely, with plenty of sun and surf? The Miami-to-Key-West Overseas Highway is one of America’s true paradises, with crystal-clear water and blue skies as far as the eye can see. Start this journey, and you might never want to come back!
Each one of the Florida Keys offers something uniquely wonderful to see and experience, such as the shy key deer of Big Pine Key (when you can spot them) and the snorkeling and diving attractions of Key Largo.
And don’t forget to grab a slice of key lime pie while you’re here. There’s just something different about it when it’s made from homegrown limes! Make sure to mind the highway’s speed limits, as they’re strictly enforced.
6. Maui (Hawaii)
Yes, you’ll have to rent a car, and yes, it will be worth it. Maui is a paradise unlike any other, and it’s on any sane person’s list of the world’s most romantic locations. The island makes a perfect weeklong road trip for lovers, and it’s full of natural beauty that’s unlike anything else you’ll find on our planet.
A good tour through Maui should take in the island’s incredible state parks, including the black sand beaches of Wai’anapanapa State Park and the unique “cinder desert” ecosystem of Haleakalā National Park.
In some places, you’ll even be able to spot ancient Hawaiian ruins that will remind you that Hawaii had a thriving native culture long before the U.S. was even founded. Finally, don’t forget to stop for some delicious local food, which often fuses influences from Japanese, American, native Hawaiian and all kinds of other cuisines.
If you’ve been dreaming of getting out on the road to make some memories with your sweetheart, why wait? Start planning and saving for your trip now, and you’ll be ready to go before you know it.
