WASHINGTON, DC — Cross-country road trips remain one of the most iconic ways to see the United States, combining long highways, small-town stops and scenery that changes mile by mile.
A recent AFAR roundup updated July 3, 2026, highlights seven drives that range from the classic Route 66 to Alaska’s inland byways, each with its own history and landscape.
Route 66 and U.S. Route 2 trace classic coast-to-coast travel
Route 66 runs 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica and remains the nation’s best-known drive, even though it was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985. The route marks its centennial in 2026 and still passes major stops including St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Santa Fe.
U.S. Route 2 offers a different kind of coast-to-coast experience. The 2,575-mile drive begins in Houlton, Maine, crosses briefly through Canada, and ends in Everett, Washington. Travelers on this route can see the Great Lakes, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Glacier National Park.
U.S. Highway 50 and Highway 61 highlight the country’s quieter and musical roads
U.S. Highway 50 stretches 3,019 miles from Ocean City, Maryland, to Sacramento, California. Its Nevada stretch earned the nickname “The Loneliest Road in America” for its long desert sections, sparse services and isolated landmarks.
U.S. Highway 61 runs 1,407 miles from Wyoming, Minnesota, to New Orleans. The road is closely tied to blues history and follows parts of the Mississippi River corridor, with stops such as the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale and the Howlin’ Wolf Blues Museum in West Point.
U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Highway 80 connect the East Coast to the South and Southwest
U.S. Route 1 spans 2,369 miles from Key West, Florida, to Fort Kent, Maine. It links major East Coast cities such as Miami, Washington, D.C. and Boston while weaving through coastal stretches and smaller towns along the way.
U.S. Highway 80 runs 2,734 miles from Tybee Island, Georgia, to San Diego. First outlined by the Dixie Overland Highway in 1914, it still survives in pieces across the South and Southwest, with historic segments recognized in states such as Arizona.
Alaska closes the list with glaciers, wildlife and long inland drives
The Alaska itinerary covers 954 miles round trip and is designed as a weeklong overland journey from Anchorage and back again. It follows four scenic byways and reaches major sights including Denali, North America’s highest peak.
The route includes the Old Glenn Highway, stops in Chugiak and Chitina, a possible drive on the McCarthy Road, time in Gakona and Talkeetna, and a final look at glaciers near Anchorage. Activities range from glacier trekking to flightseeing and dog-sled history.
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