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AAmerica’s interstate highways are great for covering vast distances, but if you want to get into the center of the country, you’ll have to veer off the beaten track and onto less traveled roads.
Here, we’ve highlighted five of the most fascinating trips: road trips Which exposes the soul of the nation.
dives deep into one of virginia Rich musical history, connecting you to the birthplace of country music; The second allows you to soak up the charm of the Old South via some epic beaches; While the “Loneliest Road in America” offers the chance to explore time-capsule ghost towns and otherworldly desert landscapes.
in up missouriYou can stop in the hometowns of some of America’s greatest thinkers and innovators, while our final route will take you across a tranquil landscape with not a stoplight or billboard in sight.
1. Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail – The Crooked Road
Drive Vibe: A cultural backroads driving trail that winds through the Blue Ridge and Cumberland Mountains with stops that celebrate how Virginia gave birth to country, bluegrass and old-time music.
Length and route: nearby 330 miles – Using two main arterials, Routes 58 and 23 – starts in downtown Rocky Mount and ends at Breaks Interstate Park in the west. Non-stop drive time is approximately seven hours, but it is recommended to allow three to four days to see notable sites and time the trip with concert dates.
Major sightseeing places: The first essential pitstop (if driving from east to west) is the Floyd Country Store in downtown Floyd. This remarkable spot is an actual store that sells everything from hand-dipped ice cream to kitchenware. But this is too much. Since the 1980s, it has been a hub for experiencing authentic Appalachian music with regular jam sessions and dances.
Great music ranging from bluegrass to country blues can also be heard at the Blue Ridge Music Center near Galax, an hour to the west.
Next comes the Holy Land – the city of Bristol, which straddles the border of Virginia and Tennessee. Here, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum celebrates the 1927 Bristol Sessions, recording 19 acts including the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers credited as country music’s “Big Bang” (the studio is technically located on the Tennessee side, in the Taylor-Christian Hat Company building).
Complete the itinerary with a visit to the Carter Family Fold at the Hiltons, home of country music’s first family and the last place where Johnny Cash ever performed, and the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, dedicated to the life and career of the bluegrass pioneer.
where to stop on the way
The giant glowing guitar at the entrance to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is a sign that music is at the heart of this property. Inside, you’ll find countless music memorabilia and a venue – Hard Rock Live Bristol – that hosts top acts.
2. US Route 17 – Coastal Highway
Drive Vibe: An inspiring journey along the historic North-South Highway, built in 1926, which runs parallel to the Atlantic, takes in one of America’s most epic beaches, beautiful coastal towns, evocative ruins, and cypress swamps. Take your time and enjoy the charming charm of the Old South.
Length and route: The total distance is approximately 1,200 miles, with US 17 connecting Winchester, Virginia, to Punta Gorda. FloridaOften roaming in small towns. The running time without stopping the wheels is 20 to 25 hours, but a journey of five to seven days will allow you to fully enjoy the fruits of the journey.
Major sightseeing places: Two irresistible blocks of sand are required to be removed. If traveling from north to south, the first stop would be Virginia Beach, which is recognized Guinness World Records As the longest blissful beach on the planet. The other is the Grand Strand, bordered by the resort town of Myrtle Beach – a strip of golden sand that stretches for 60 miles.
Further south, in Mount Pleasant, Gullah artisans sell traditional coiled grass baskets on a section of the road leading to the two-and-a-half-mile-long Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which provides a spectacular gateway to Charleston, the crown jewel of the route.
Here, you can wander the quaint cobbled streets, sample Lowcountry specialties like she-crab soup and shrimp and grits, and learn about the town’s past at the Old Slave Mart Museum.
In northern Beaufort County, visit the stunningly beautiful Old Sheldon Church ruins – the shell of a church burned during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War – then head south to Spanish-moss-draped Savannah, Georgia, before heading to heavenly islands like Jekyll and St. Simons.
where to stop on the way
The Spectator Hotel in Charleston features Art Deco-inspired rooms and a hidden cocktail bar.
3. US Route 50 – “America’s Loneliest Road”
drive vibe: Solitude. But in the best possible way. In 1986, this section of Route 50 passed through Central nevada was famously ridiculed by life magazine With “no points of interest”, drivers warned they would need “survival skills” to navigate it. Nevada’s tourism board cleverly turned an insult into an advantage, embracing the solitude of the route and marketing the highway as a “time capsule” featuring ghost towns and an opportunity to explore rugged landscapes.
Length and route: The entire coast-to-coast Route 50 journey is more than 3,000 miles, but the “Loneliest Road” segment in Nevada is about 400 miles and typically runs from Baker in the west to Carson City in the east. Without stopping, it is a six and a half hour journey. Take about five days for the retreat to work its stress-busting magic.
Major sightseeing places: Stop at the extraordinary Great Basin National Park. It is home to 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines, the spectacular Lehman Caves and 13,060-foot-high Wheeler Peak. It is also a world class stargazing site.
Then head to Ely at Pony Express Territory and take a ride on the 19th-century Nevada Northern Railway. Explore an 1860s-era station in Austin, featuring original Wild West-style false-front architecture that hides the building’s true size.
Take lots of walks around the area around these towns, as it is full of those charming, ghost towns from lost times.
At Sand Mountain, a massive Sahara-style mound 25 miles east of Fallon, a serene sunset walk attracts. Afterwards, stop for coffee or a bite to eat at Middlegate Station, a rustic rest stop dating back to 1859.
A few miles away is the bizarre Shoe Tree, a cottonwood with hundreds of pairs of shoes hanging from its branches.
Before you reach Carson City, visit the Frye Ranch Distillery, where all the whiskey ingredients are grown on the premises.
where to stop on the way
The attractively decorated Hotel Nevada and gambling hall dates back to 1929. Rooms are themed after famous guests from Gary Cooper to Jimmy Stewart, and the hotel operates a 24-hour casino.
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4. US Highway 36 – Route of American Genius
Drive Vibe: Important history brought to life. You’ll learn more about the thinkers, writers, and innovators who lived along this path, including Mark Twain and Walt DisneyAnd how his ideas left an indelible mark on America.
Length and route: ,American genius path” There are 200 miles of US 36 in northern Missouri, from St. Joseph near the Kansas border to Hannibal on the Mississippi coast. It’s a four-hour drive without stopping, but plan a two- to three-day trip to take time to enjoy the charming “genius stops” along the way.
Major sightseeing places: Genius stops come thick and fast.
Chillicothe is the self-proclaimed “Home of Sliced Bread”, where sliced loaves were sold since before 1928, and Marceline is the childhood hometown of Walt Disney that nurtured his vivid imagination. The downtown area inspired the Main Street USA neighborhood found in the Disney theme parks – and retains much of its charm.
Visit the Walt Disney Hometown Museum to learn more about the world-famous animator’s early years.
In Kirksville, visit the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, located on the site where Dr. Andrew Taylor Still founded the nation’s first osteopathic medical school in 1892.
The tour’s endpoint, Hannibal, is where Mark Twain grew up. The beloved Mississippi River city inspired many of his greatest works, including adventures of tom sawyer And adventures of huckleberry finn,
where to stop on the way
The Garth Woodside Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Hannibal – once the home of Mark Twain’s close friend John Garth – today is a luxurious Victorian retreat featuring ornate woodwork, period furnishings, and lush gardens.
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5. Natchez Trace Parkway
Drive Vibe: Calmness. It’s a less traveled road, with not a single billboard or stoplight in sight. The parkway was established to commemorate and preserve the history of the “Old Natchez Trace”, a route used by indigenous peoples, early settlers and soldiers through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.
Length and route: The 444-mile route runs between Natchez mississippi and the intersection with Tennessee State Route 100 near Nashville – the point designated as milepost 444. The 50 mph speed limit means about 10 hours of non-stop drive time, but take two or three days to soak in the tranquility.
Major sightseeing places: Turn at milepost 10.3 to discover Emerald Mound, a pre-Columbian ceremonial mound built by the ancestors of the Natchez people. It is the second largest formal earthwork in the US, and visitors can climb to the top for awe-inspiring views.
Other major stops include the Mount Locust Stand Tavern (MP 15.5), which dates back to the early 1800s; Sunken Trail (MP 41.5), a centuries-old sunken section of the original path that runs through lush forest; and Jackson Falls (MP 404.7), a wonderfully scenic picnic spot near the north end of the parkway.
Finally, don’t forget to stop at the iconic Lovelace Café, just past milepost 444.
where to stop on the way
The Monmouth Historic Inn in Natchez is situated on a 26-acre estate with carefully manicured gardens. Each room is en-suite and furnished with antiques.
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