If wanderlust and family ties come together in a perfect storm, invoking the timeless image of a car loaded with suitcases and meals packed in picnic baskets, then a ye olde family road trip might be the ultimate satisfying endeavor.
The open road, breathtaking landscapes ripple out into the horizon, whistle-stop restaurants satisfying hunger and curiosity – travel romance wraps around a family road trip like little else.
From the echoes of a romanticized past on Route 66 to the thriving, modern culture along the Pacific Coast Highway, family road trips across America offer a unique blend of adventure, discovery, and an unrivaled opportunity for deeper connections with your loved ones.
In today’s post, we’ll share our top family road trip ideas for summer 2023. Let’s go!
Family Road Trip Ideas – Summer 2023
Family Road Trip Ideas – West Coast
Cross-Country Route 66 Adventure
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
As the car pulls away from home, the open road of Route 66 stretches out in front of you and the family. This is not just any old pavement. It’s an iconic symbol of American freedom and adventure, and one of our bucket list family road trip ideas at TheyFlySolo.
Beginning your journey in the cosmopolitan cityscape of Chicago, your tires will make the first of many reverberating thumps as they hit the historic route. Winding its way through Illinois, you’re greeted with a vista of flat fertile lands that define the Midwest.
Next, Route 66 unfurls through Missouri, showcasing cities that combine modern bustle with a rich history, muscle cars, and giant arches. The Ozarks’ scenic beauty begs for your windows to be rolled down, the fresh air invigorating the calm drive.
Yet another state waits along the path: Kansas, with its dash of Route 66 only 13 miles long! You pass through the tiny town of Galena, where the rusty truck ‘Tow Tater’ – the inspiration for a character in the Pixar movie ‘Cars’ – brings smiles to your children’s faces.
Oklahoma comes next, offering a tantalizing taste of cowboy culture with its rodeos, Native American festivals, and oil wells peeking through the vast prairie. You also meet Oklahoma’s weather, as unpredictable as a sudden plot twist.
For a fun family photo op, swing by Catoosa, just east of Tulsa, and visit The Blue Whale of Catoosa, a giant blue whale statue that is all that is left of a once popular water park attraction.
As the journey proceeds, Texas welcomes you with its grand plateaus and sprawling ranches. I want to note something here, Texas is large enough that it could have it’s own post for family road trip ideas, seariously!
The famous Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo captures your family’s imagination, where ten Cadillacs buried nose-down in the dirt make for an unusual canvas for spray paint.
Tourists are encouraged to contribute to the living canvas of Cadillac Ranch, so be sure to pack a few cans of spray paint in your family’s favorite colors. What beauty will you leave behind?
Next comes New Mexico, nudging the route into the sunburned hues of the Southwest. Pueblo-style architecture, chili-spiked cuisine, and Native American culture are treasured features of this beautiful state.
Arizona presents you with the crown jewels of Route 66, the ghost town of Oatman, and the Petrified Forest National Park, whose ancient, fossilized trees stand testament to a world that once was.
For a fun and truly unique experience, book a night of lodging at Wigwam Village Motel and stay in one of the vintage wigwam-shaped cabins.
Finally, you arrive in sunny California. The end of the road but the beginning of a new set of adventures. With its buzzing boardwalk and Pacific Park amusement park, the Santa Monica Pier is the perfect end to a memorable journey.
Waves crashing on the beach below, the gentle hum of life buzzing in the distance; you’ve made it. Before you go, though, make time to explore Santa Monica and Venice Beach for an authentic taste of California.
This is the magic of Route 66 – a blending of nature’s grandeur, historic landmarks, kitschy attractions, and a generous serving of Americana. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular family road trip ideas; It’s a testament to life on the road, windshield views, pit stops, and dashboard dining. It’s the perfect route for a family road trip that no one’s likely to forget.
Pacific Coast Highway – California Dreamin’
California Coastline Wonder
Another popular west-coast family road trip idea is to drive The Pacific Coast Highway, often called the PCH, which is a stretch of road that winds along the edge of the Western United States, hugging the coastline and providing views that can only be considered astonishing.
The ocean’s brilliant blue swells and crashes below while sandy cliffs and verdant trees frame the horizon. This isn’t just a drive; it’s an immersion into some of the world’s most striking landscapes.
On a family road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll start your journey in San Diego, a city known for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches, and family-friendly attractions. Spend a day or two soaking up the sun and surf, and then prepare for the scenic drive that awaits.
As you journey further up the highway, you’ll quickly find it’s more than just an asphalt road etched into California’s coastline. It’s a ribbon threading through various experiences that combine to form an enduring family memory with breathtaking landscapes.
One instant, you’re cruising through the heart of Los Angeles, the beaches twinkling with bodies basking in the sun. The skyscrapers of Santa Monica spring up, bounding the western horizon. The next minute, you’re driving along central California’s rugged coastline and the beautiful seaside town of Monterey.
Spend a day with the kids touring Hearst Castle, better known as La Cuesta Encantada, and marvel at its architectural beauty and an extensive collection of antiques and artwork. Bring your bathing suits because this is one pool you aren’t going to want to miss out on!
As you move further up the coastline, it’s time to put on your hiking gear for Big Sur State Park. Wander and wonder through the redwood grove forests. Enjoy the stunning pristine waterfalls that dot the landscape and trails, and don’t forget to hike down for a picnic on the beach, where you’ll enjoy the sound of the waves crashing against the rocky outcrops.
Grab your cameras and head over to Heceta Head Lighthouse in Oregon before you head home. Situated near Florence, the Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque lighthouses on the West Coast.
The location offers stunning coastline views, and you can even stay overnight in the historic light keeper’s house, which is now a charming bed and breakfast. If this isn’t a family road trip idea, I don’t know what is. Look at that view!
Family Road Trip Ideas – East Coast
If you’re one of our east-coast readers looking for fun family road trip ideas on this side of the Rockies, we’ve got you covered.
New England Charmer
Route 1 for family fun
California’s not the only state that can claim beautiful rugged coastline views. Make way for Maine. This family road trip idea starts in Boston, Massachusetts, where you’ll pick up Route 1A from the city and travel north.
After a few highway swaps, you’ll pick up Route 1 proper just a few miles north of Boston and be on your way. Your first point of interest will likely be Newburyport, MA, a small but lively fishing village on the north shore.
Take a stroll downtown to grab lunch, and feel free to gawk at the incredible seaside captain’s mansions that abound on the outskirts of downtown. The town has done an incredible job preserving and restoring these historic homes, and the residents take great pride in keeping them beautiful.
From Newburyport, you’ll head up to Kittery, Maine’s biggest seaside vacation area. If you love shopping and are always searching for discounts, the Kittery Outlet Malls aren’t to be missed, especially if you have kids returning to school in the fall. You’ll find everything from GAP, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Carters Babies & Kids, and everything in between.
Plan to stay here for the night and make sure to swing by Warren’s Lobster House for a classic New England seafood dinner.
Once you get further into Maine, you’ll veer off Route 1 to 1A again, where you’ll roll through a number of Maine’s beach towns. The water is cold, but the sand is soft, so if you’re looking for a beach day, you can’t go wrong here.
Our family summer tradition is to follow Route 1 up to Bath, where we can veer off and visit Popham Beach and Reid State Park; both offer incredible landscapes where children can climb on rocks, and old monuments, hunt for seashells, and swim in the ocean.
If you’re looking for places to stay and even more things to do in Maine for this particular trip, check out a few of our family-friendly beach towns in Maine for some inspiration.
Appalachian Trail Drive
Misty mountain Mysteries
Another common family road trip idea is driving along The Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190-mile (3,524-kilometer) hiking trail that spans 14 states from Georgia to Maine, which means the Appalachian Trail itself could be it’s own family road trip itinerary, if someone had the time.
It offers stunning scenery, diverse landscapes, and opportunities for outdoor activities. While the trail is primarily for hiking, you can plan a road trip to explore the regions near the trail, enjoying scenic drives, charming towns, and outdoor adventures.
While you could traverse the whole thing, we recommend a shorter route, starting your trip in Shenandoah National Park on Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is the main road that winds through the park and it offers unparalleled scenic views.
The drive is roughly 105 miles long, cresting the Blue Ridge mountains and offering panoramic vistas of rolling hills, forests, and deep valleys. Take a hike to Dark Hollow or Whiteoak Canyon Falls for a quiet family picnic and some photo opportunities.
Cheer with your children as you spot white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and even black bears, but keep your eyes on the road. Shenandoah is a magical place that will transport you back in time to the days of exploration and the adventure of the new land.
Heading south, you’ll also drive through Roanoke, VA, where you can mix culture, history, and outdoor historical exhibits. The food scene in Roanoke is known to be top notch, and our recommendation is that you take a night of rest here before continuing on.
Ready for some spooky time? From here on out it’s all about the mountains! You’ll be heading south through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC, and navigating the infamous Newfound Gap Road, where the many scenic overlooks will give you an unparalled view of the landscape.
If you have some time and packed your hiking boots, consider making your family a part of Appalachia’s history and hike a small part of the Appalachian Trail. The Charlies Bunion trail is a moderately strenuous trail that takes roughly 4 hours to complete.
We’ll end our trip in Asheville, NC, a vibrant city known for its arts, entertainment, and dining scene. Here you can take a more leisurely approach to your travels, strolling the downtown area and doing some shopping before heading home.
Outer Banks Adventure
Let Your Imagination Take flight in kitty hawk
If you’re looking for family road trip ideas that combine the best of both worlds – beach-y beauty and historical monuments, the Outer Banks has it all in one. While it’s not going to be the longest road trip on the list, the Outer Banks are truly one of America’s greatest gems.
Drive along the scenic Outer Banks of North Carolina where you can explore the sandy beaches, and creamy dunes constantly being reshaped by the weather. Enjoy the natural wildlife and bird sanctuaries that about the Outer Banks while the kids frolic in the warm ocean water.
Put on your imagination caps as you visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk. The memorial features a visitor center where you can learn about the Wright brothers and their groundbreaking achievements.
Exhibits showcase the history of flight, the brothers’ engineering innovations, and the challenges they faced in their quest for manned flight. The visitor center also includes a bookstore and educational resources.
Finally, see the wild horses on the remote Shackleford Banks. The preservation of the wild horse population on Shackleford Banks is of significant ecological and cultural importance.
The horses on Shackleford Banks are a population of wild horses that have roamed the island for centuries. They are believed to be descendants of Spanish mustangs, possibly brought to the island by early explorers or shipwrecks.
They play a vital role in the island’s ecosystem and contribute to its overall biodiversity. Their presence also offers a unique and captivating experience for visitors of all ages, but don’t get too close. They are wild animals.
The enchanting allure of the road leads us to wonderfully unexpected adventures, fostering stronger bonds over shared experiences and tales to tell for years to come.
Whether one remembers the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, the celestial coastline views along the Pacific Coast Highway, the mysterious fog of Appalachia, or the wild horses of the Outer Banks, each family road trip takes a unique place in the mosaic of beloved family memories.
I hope that these family road trip ideas have inspired you and your family to get out there and get going because the United States is beautiful, vast, and waiting for us all to learn a little more about it.
Until next time!