Four Must-See Bucket List Roads to Travel

Jun 2, 2024

Looking for something to shake things up? We’ve got just the thing for you! Today, we’re covering some of the best scenic drives and iconic roadways you should visit at least once in your lifetime, from east coast to west coast and everything in between. If you’re planning the ultimate road trip, we suggest using these four must-see bucket list road trip destinations as starting points to your itinerary.

The Overseas Highway – Mainland Florida/Key West Florida

This stunning 113-mile highway consists of 42 bridges spanning across the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, connecting Florida Keys to Key West via Route 1. It is considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the whole US. This beautiful bridge crosses sparkling aqua hued waters, offering spectacular views of the islands and waterscape. There are several stops available along the way such as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Long Key State Park, Seven Mile Bridge, and then some. For families, locals recommend stopping at the Florida Keys Aquarium, or paying a visit to the charming Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

The Pacific Coast Highway – Washington, Oregon, California

This 1,650 miles journey offers unique perspectives through varied landscapes such as mountains, beaches, and forests, but the bulk of the excitement runs through California. In California, 650+ miles of PCH spans from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you’ll experience the beauty of cliffside views, wide-open spaces, stunning views of the ocean and seaside wildlife, and explore dozens of seaside locations such as Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, and Malibu. It’s one of the most scenic and iconic drives in the world. The route can be traveled north-south or south-north, depending on your preference, and the California portion can be driven through in total in 10-12 hours from start to finish, though we truly recommend savoring it with a few days’ stay. There’s plenty of time to go swimming, sunning, surfing and outstanding opportunities to snap some iconic photography.

Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia and North Carolina

500 miles of roadway twist and turn through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park as well as the Shenandoah National Parks. From the lush green canopies of the dense forest during summer, or rolling hills of fiery oranges, yellows, and reds in the autumn, to the snow capped mountains and bustling ski slopes of winter weather, it’s worthy of a trip during each season, and never the same experience twice. History buffs will love exploring all the historic sites along the way, such as the Mountain Farm Outdoor Museum, James River Canal Trail, Johnson Farm, Bobletts Gap Overlook, and more! If you’re looking to limit yourself to just a few must- see points, here’s some key spots: Grandfather Mountain, Crabtree Falls, The Biltmore Estate, Appalachian Mural Trail.

Cascade Loop – Washington

Whether you opt for a clockwise or counterclockwise route, there’s no denying that traversing 440-miles through some of the Evergreen state’s most majestic forests and mountains is a real memorable experience. From the Seattle city skyline and salty sea air of Puget Sound to the grand scale of Stevens Pass Greenway and the stunning views of the North Cascades, there’s so many different regions to explore. Whidbey Island is located north of Seattle in the Puget Sound, and offers beautiful beaches, rolling hills, and farmlands. Leavenworth offers a Bavarian-themed little enclave with charming shops and restaurants. Skagit Valley is known for its magnificent spring time flower fields. But there’s so much more to cover it really needs its own blog post! The route is jampacked with numerous hiking trails, scenic overlooks, rivers and lakes for kayaking and paddleboarding, horseback riding trails, and more. We recommend taking your time with a minimum of 5 days journey, but 10 would be ideal!