This post is sponsored by Autotrader; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you are planning a Spring Break family trip, definitely consider taking a road trip instead of flying. If you are anything like my family and me, then you know how much we love road trips.
Planes are great, of course, but it’s nothing like the experience of hitting the road and seeing everything along the way until you get to your final stop.
A reliable car is one of the most important things to have when going on a spring break road trip. If you’re looking for one, Autotrader has experts that can help with this, so make sure to check them out.
15 Best Spring Break Road Trip Destinations For Families
It’s important to create fun experiences with your family that don’t include a theme park or a water park. Taking road trips to fun cities and towns is a great alternative! If you are ready to start planning a fun road trip for your family, then here are some of the best Spring Break road trip destinations in the United States.
Do note that the Spring Break destinations for families below are not listed in any specific order of preference as all of them are just as amazing!
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park is the 2nd most visited park in the United States with roughly 6 million visitors annually. The canyon itself is 277 miles long, yet there are 1000 miles of road trip possibilities that you can explore to really understand and see the true beauty of the canyon.
That means that whether you want to take a short road trip or a long one, the Grand Canyon is the perfect place to do it.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
If you could travel on just one highway in the United States, I highly recommend that it be Pacific Coast Highway in California. This highway (U.S. 101) actually goes north through Oregon and Washington and offers some of the most amazing views you will ever see.
The highway follows the Pacific Ocean so your drive through The Golden State will be so much more than just a drive. It’s an experience of a lifetime. You could even start with a trip to the San Diego Zoo to begin (or end) your journey!
Niagara Falls, Ontario / New York
Are you thinking of a Niagara Falls road trip? Making your way up through New York to the main attraction can in itself be fun, some stops along the way can really make your trip amazing!
These always popular attractions include; Cooperstown, Letchworth State Park, and the Erie Canal among other great attractions.
If you want the true Niagara Falls Experience, be sure to pack your passport, because the most famous view of Niagara Falls is on the Canadian side. In addition, there are many hotels, attractions, and restaurants on the Canadian side too!
Once on the Canadian side of the falls, make sure to fit time in to travel on the Niagara Parkway and pay a visit to the famous town of Niagara on the Lake which is full of shops, and other wonderful places to visit.
Yosemite National Park, California
The great thing about choosing a road trip to Yosemite National Park is that the drive itself is half the fun! There are countless routes that you can take here.
This will depend on whether or not you want to just drive and get to the park, stop in fun places along the way, or even if you just want to enjoy beautiful scenic views along the way.
This is one of the most beautiful national parks I’ve visited with my family. Our time spent camping there was truly memorable.
Valley Of Fire State Park, Nevada
Want a break from the bright lights of Las Vegas? Then a road trip to Valley Of Fire State Park should be on your itinerary! It’s only an hour’s drive from Las Vegas and it is truly one of those places that you need to visit and take your camera as well. It is very kid friendly with plenty of hikes fit for everyone.
The drive through Valley of Fire is easily one of the most breathtaking drives you will ever take, the orange, red, pink, and clay-colored sandstone rocks create the most amazing vistas.
You can enjoy spending a day spotting landmarks such as The Beehives and Elephant Rock without even getting out of your car – although you definitely want to get out and capture some photos.
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion is very centrally located, which means it makes a great road trip destination for many! Many people don’t realize this, but it’s just 2 hours outside of Vegas, making it a perfect road trip if you’re in the Las Vegas area.
If you are new to exploring Utah, you will be surprised to learn that this state is home to 5 of the nation’s most beautiful National Parks, Zion being the most popular of them.
With its beautiful expansive canyon, awesome hiking opportunities, natural rock arches, and spectacular views, it’s no wonder why.
Hana Coastline, Hawaii
When you start looking for the best road trips in the U.S. you will almost always see the Hana Coastline on the list. This road trip is taken by hundreds of tourists each and every day and for good reason.
With 35 winding miles of awe-inspiring views of the coastline, sights of classic Hawaiian farms, and more, this is a drive that is well worth it!
Florida Keys, Florida
Looking for a relaxed road trip, then head down Overseas Highway – U.S. 1 to the Florida Keys. This drive is approximately 100 miles each way and lets you drive down the Florida Keys to experience, sandy beaches and amazing seafood esp conch ceviche.
While you’re there, visit the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo and take a snorkeling tour! Either way, plan to make several stops before you get to Key West, where you’ll find the Southernmost point of the US which is also only 90 miles from Cuba. Can you believe that?
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia & North Carolina
Whether you are looking for a one-day drive or a multi-day experience, you should consider a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile-long road that starts from Washington DC, and weaves through Virginia and North Carolina. And if you want to stop and see the beauty of the Appalachian mountains, head over to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee!
The cultural experiences here are like no other and will introduce you to Southern Appalachian history, Cherokee history, and more.
Route 66, Illinois to California
I don’t think there is any road trip more popular than Route 66. This road trip has been very instrumental to pop culture. To do the entire Route 66 road trip it is said that you need a solid 2 weeks, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy part of Route 66 with less time.
Route 66 begins in Chicago and officially ends at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, where you can enjoy a mini-amusement park. Despite being removed from the U.S. Highway System in the mid-80s, this road trip route has maintained its popularity.
Estes Park, Colorado
Whether Estes Park is your destination, or you just happen to be passing through on your way to the Rocky Mountain National Park, this is a must-stop location for a Colorado road trip.
The views look like they come straight off of a postcard or a nature photography book, they are that amazing.
A road trip through Estes Park means that you will be treated to amazing mountain views while driving through areas surrounded by sheer granite walls. Another bonus is that this is a road trip that can easily be enjoyed regardless of the time of year!
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is an excellent place for a road trip! From awesome tourist attractions like Stone Mountain Park (the state’s number 1 attraction), The Jimmy Carter Museum, and more you are going to find so much to do!
Atlanta is also well known as the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr! The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a must.
If you want to get away from the city for a bit, then add Athens as one of your road trips stops, which has been named “The #1 College Music Scene in America” by Rolling Stone Magazine.
If you are a music lover, this is a must on any Atlanta Georgia road trip as it is the birthplace of such iconic groups as Widespread Panic, The B-52s, and R.E.M.
Portland, Oregon
A Pacific Northwest road trip truly is an unforgettable experience that you will want to relive over and over. While there are countless awesome places throughout the Pacific Northwest, Portland, Oregon needs to be on your road trip list.
With a couple of extra hours, you can even visit the Oregon Coast or the beautiful high desert area of Central Oregon. Portland is a road trip destination that deserves at least a week so you can get a real feel for the beauty of the state itself!
Door County, Wisconsin
If you are road-tripping with kids, then a road trip through Door County is going to be a hit! Not only will you be treated to some of the most beautiful scenic drives (especially in the fall), but the attractions along the way make for a wonderful family spring break vacation!
These attractions include such quirky things as Pinkie the Elephant in DeForest, the World’s Largest Six Pack in La Crosse, the Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha, and more!
Portland, Maine
On a Portland, Maine road trip, you will be lucky enough to experience the quaint coastal towns, rugged coastline views, delicious lobster rolls and so much more.
Late summer is always a wonderful time to visit, although a road trip like this is wonderful any time of year. Stopping by to see all the beautiful lighthouses are a must.
If you have enough time, make sure to drive to Acadia National Park. The drive down there and the beauty of the national park are totally worth it.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this article has given you a few ideas and you can begin planning a road trip.
The goal is to use these family spring break destinations above as the main point of your road trip and then add other stops along the way. That’s what we do when we are planning a road trip.
For other road trip ideas check out these posts below:
Don’t forget to check out Autotrader for reliable tips before heading out on your next road trip!
