Where Will Your Summer Road Trip Take You?
Driving is an American passion. It transports us from our everyday routines into a world of leisure, where we can relax in our favorite pastimes and recreational activities. Whether you are taking a weekend trip from home or visiting one of North America’s major destinations, AAA Road Trips will lead the way.
Northern CA Wine Country
This twisting, turning route is full of sights, sounds, smells and tastes found nowhere else in the world. Delighting your senses are mint-infused eucalyptus groves, the sounds of waves and the resplendent beauty of Wine Country’s rolling hills. Here are the oenophile (and everyone else) can sip on fine wines and enjoy everything else the region has to offer.
San Francisco to Jenner 94.1 miles – 3 hours, 10 minutes
Recommended stops: Fort Point National Historic Site
Jenner to Mendocino – 87.1 miles – 2 hours, 17 minutes
Recommended stops: Fort Ross State Historic Park, Bowling Ball Beach
Mendocino to Cloverdale – 67.0 miles – 1 hour, 35 minutes
Recommended stops: Navarro Vineyards, Cloverdale History Center and Historic Gould-Shaw House
Cloverdale to Napa – 63.9 miles – 1 hour, 38 minutes
Recommended stops: Castello di Amorosa, Robert Mondavi Winery, Domaine Chandon
Historic Virginia
A wealth of history unfolded in Virginia. North America’s first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown in 1607; Williamsburg became the seat of Colonial government in 1699. Fredericksburg was George Washington’s boyhood home and the scene of intense fighting during the Civil War. This route connects several of the Old Dominion’s landmark sites.
Norfolk to Williamsburg – 60.6 miles; 1 hour, 34 minutes
Recommended stops: Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, Governor’s Palace
Williamsburg to Fredericksburg – 105.1 miles; 1 hour, 49 minutes
Recommended stops: James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, Kenmore Plantation & Gardens
Fredericksburg to Manassas – 43.1 miles; 57 minutes
Recommended stops: Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, The Manassas Museum
Manassas to Norfolk – 196.7 miles; 4 hours, 0 minutes
Recommended stops: Norfolk Botanical Garden, Nauticus
Grand Ole Music
This road trip covers four states and more than 1,000 miles. There’s a musical theme–Tennessee all but gave birth to rock ‘n roll, the blues and country, while Branson is a major live entertainment center boasting a slew of name performers. But it’s not just about guitar pickin’; the Ozark Mountains region in Arkansas and Missouri also offers outstanding scenery.
Nashville, TN to Memphis, TN – 229.8 miles; 3 hours, 56 minutes
Recommended stops: International Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame and Museum, Elvis Presley’s Graceland, The National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
Memphis, TN to Little Rock, AR – 137.2 miles; 2 hour, 15 minutes
Recommended stops: William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Old State House Museum
Little Rock, AR to Branson, MO – 191.5 miles; 3 hours, 59 minutes
Recommended stops: Titanic – World’s Largest Museum Attraction, Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, Silver Dollar City
Branson, MO to St. Louis, MO – 263.2 miles; 4 hours, 16 minutes
Recommended stops: Meramec Caverns, Saint Louis Zoo, The Gateway Arch
St. Louis, MO to Nashville, TN – 321.0 miles; 4 hours, 58 minutes
Recommended stops: Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, The Johnny Cash Museum
Florida’s Southern Tip
The Sunshine State’s southern tip has something for everyone. A primeval environment endures at Everglades National Park; Key Largo and Key West move to a laidback tropical rhythm. Then there’s Miami. Want flash and excitement? Head to this internationally flavored metropolis, where Art Deco buildings and blingy clubgoers showcase the city in seductive fashion.
Miami to Key Largo – 71.0 miles; 1 hour, 58 minutes
Recommended stops: Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Zoo Miami, Coral Castle
Key Largo to Key West – 131.6 miles; 3 hours, 6 minutes
Recommended stops: Bahia Honda State Park, National Key Deer Refuge, Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Key West to Everglades National Park – 135.3 miles; 2 hours, 57 minutes
Recommended stops: Dolphin Research Center, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Everglades National Park to Miami – 49.9 miles; 1 hour, 27 minutes
Recommended stops: Monkey Jungle, Deering Estate
For more AAA Road Trips inspiration, visit AAA.com/RoadTrips.