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25 Most Popular Road Trips in the US

By: Jennie Baird and Deanne Revel

From On the Road to Thelma and Louise to Easy Rider, is there any endeavor more American than the road trip? On these popular drives, getting there is more than half the fun.

Photo: Pierre Leclerc
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Take the Scenic Route

Are we there yet? Who cares. The magic of a road trip is the unexpected sights along the way, from roadside attractions to the ever-changing great outdoors just outside the car window. Here at HGTV, we’re big fans of road trips and know how to get the most mileage out of travel, from RVing in luxury to nifty car organization. As for the destination, these fan-favorite routes are packed with must-dos. But more importantly, these popular drives (and detours) feature sights you’d miss if you took the most direct route. And where’s the fun in that?

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Black Hills of South Dakota

For history, scenery and a distinctly American taste of culture, begin your road trip on I-90 and take exit 131 for the Badlands Scenic Byway. As you travel through the Black Hills, make sure to stop at Wall Drug, Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. Keep your eyes peeled (and drive with caution) for bison, especially on the road to Wind Cave National Park.

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Photo: John Greim
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Downeast Maine

You won't be traveling north — at least not according to Mainers — if you head out on Coastal Route 1, also known as the Lobster Trail. Starting in Kittery —where you might drop by Bob's Clam Hut for a bit of sustenance — the road hugs the rocky coastline "down east" through quaint New England fishing villages like Belfast and Rockland.

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Blue Ridge Parkway

The 469-mile drive that connects two national parks — Shenandoah in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina — is the most visited road controlled by the US National Parks System. Starting at Front Royal in Virginia, travel along Skyline Drive to Luray Caverns and on south to the Natural Bridge and into North Carolina, where you can stop in Asheville before seeing the attractions of the Great Smoky Mountains.

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