The Best Weekend Road Trips You Need to Take This Summer
I don’t know about you, but summer is sneaking up on me faster than I can believe. It feels like I was just planning my winter vacation yesterday!
Warmer weather means it’s time to start thinking about your summer plans, which hopefully include a nice, luxurious vacation. If you can’t take a grand international journey this summer, however, don’t stress! I’ve put together a list of awesome road trips you can take in one weekend—perfect for a mini-getaway that won’t break the bank.
Miami // Key West
This is a classic road trip every Floridian should take at least once in their life. There are so many stops along the route to Key West you could easily spend more than one weekend road tripping this stretch of highway. The 165-mile drive from Miami to Key West is filled with quirky hole-in-the-wall shops, the best seafood restaurants, and beautiful views.
Things to do:
Take a sunset cruise
Grab brunch at Blue Heaven in Key West
History of Diving Museum in Islamorada
Green Parrot Bar in Key West
Dry Tortugas National Park
Visit the Hemingway House
Jackson Hole // Yellowstone
I encourage every traveler to put "visit national parks" at the top of their bucket list, especially Yellowstone! Located 60 miles from the south entrance of the park, Jackson Hole is the ideal Yellowstone base camp one of the best preserved western towns in the country. You truly feel like you’re on the set of an old-timey western film here! Don’t let the sunshine fool you, though—Yellowstone is known to receive some snowfall even during the summer. Pack those jeans and jackets!
Things to do in Jackson Hole:
Visit the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Take a scenic drive
Hike Goodwin Lake or Hidden Falls
Must-sees in Yellowstone:
Old Faithful
Grand Prismatic Spring
Mammoth Hot Springs
Yellowstone Lake
Blue Ridge Parkway // Asheville
The Blue Ridge Parkway connects two national parks, Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but the drive itself is gorgeous enough you could spend an entire weekend just on the parkway! Millions of people flock to the parkway during its peak month of October but there is still plenty to see and do in the area during the summer.
Things to do:
Crabtree Falls
Grandfather Mountain State Park
River Arts District in Asheville
Biltmore Estate
Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island (or AMI, as the locals say) is one of the most underrated destinations in Florida. This laid-back beach town has stayed true to its small-town charm despite becoming a budding tourist destination. You won’t find any chain restaurants or large office buildings here. It’s all white sand, turquoise waves, and island vibes in AMI.
Things to do:
Go shopping on Pine Ave.
Made-to-order donuts at the Donut Experiment
Dine at the Sandbar restaurant
Relax on the beach
Charleston
Charleston is THE classic summer destination! The southern charm of this town can’t be beat. Between the historic landmarks, outstanding restaurants, and exquisite shopping, you definitely won't want to miss out on a visit to Charleston this summer. Plus, it’s centrality makes it a pretty easy location to get to for most southerners!
Things to do:
Visit Rainbow Row
Sullivan’s Island
Shop on King St.
Eat at Poogan’s Porch
Sedona
As one of the hottest weekend destinations in Arizona, Sedona offers everything from hiking to shopping. One of the most popular reasons people visit Sedona (besides the great views) is to be fully immersed in a vortex. Vortexes are places where energy is prominent and projects out of the earth and supposedly exist in only a few places in the entire world. You can visit Sedona to meditate, soak up the good vibes, and get a psychic reading, or go the adventurous route with a hike or a jeep tour of the famous red rocks.
Things to do:
Take a hike
Enjoy a jeep tour
Get a psychic reading
Shop for local art
Ride the Sedona Trolley
Vancouver
Surrounded by some of the most incredible natural beauty in Canada, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city that can please everyone from outdoorsy types to shopaholics. Museums, hiking, shopping, and good eats are just a few of the things you can experience in this unique city. My favorite spot to visit is the Vandusen Botanical Garden!
Things to do:
Brickhouse pub
Bloedel Conservatory
Visit Neptoon Records
Museum of Anthropology
Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway is known as one of the most scenic highways in the world. You can cruise a portion of the highway if you're pressed for time or opt to drive the whole thing from Washington to San Diego for a longer trip. The route can be done in one weekend if you don’t stop, but I recommend taking your time and enjoying everything this stunning route has to offer!
Things to do:
Stop in Malibu
Santa Monica Pier
Park your car and watch the sunset
Big Sur
Ready to hit the road and tick off a few of these trips from your Bucket List this summer? Then TRvLB may be the right fit for you!https://www.trvlbclub.com/membership about all the travel perks enjoy!
Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.
