There is nothing like the freedom you get from hitting the open road in your own campervan. Equipped with everything you need to live, you and your van can go anywhere you like and stay as long as you please. America has some of the best and most iconic self-drives in the world, so hold on to your hats and get ready as we motor through some of best.
Route 66
This is known as the mother road of America, route 66 was one of the first roads built by the U.S Highway system. It links Chicago to Los Angeles, providing an amazing self-drive opportunity of over two thousand miles. As you motor past truck stops and motels with flickering neon signs, you will feel as if you’ve found the real America. It is now a designated historic route, and if you do your research beforehand, learning how the Great Depression farmers and post war Americans fled the dustbowl to find riches in the sunshine, the trip has a whole new meaning.
Pacific Coast Highway
This windy road runs along the northern California coast, offering some of the best views in America. It stretches from San Francisco to Los Angeles, hugging the cliffs as it takes you from historic Monterey, through arty Carmel and on to Big Sur, where the cliffs drop dramatically into the Pacific. Leaving the ocean, you drive past hills and pasture land before reaching Morro Bay, the end of most people’s trip. There are plenty of places to stop, but Point Lobos State Reserve should definitely be on your list. This 550-acre park is full of coves, tide pools and the nation’s first undersea ecological reserve.
Las Vegas to San Francisco
After the thrills of Vegas, it will be a relief to drive into the sunset and get away from the noise and chaos. People forget that casino city was built in the middle of a desert, and immediately after exiting the suburbs you feel as if you have been transported to another world. The ground is covered in cactus and the only twinkling lights are the stars! If you like hiking this is a fabulous trip as you get to visit Death Valley National Park, where the Queens Garden loop takes you into the fantastical scenery of hoodoo land (hoodoos are sandstone spires). You can also stop at Yosemite, where you can trek around Bridalveil Falls and the towering monolith of El Capitan are incredible.
New Orleans to Nashville
This is a cool city to start your adventure holidays, so don’t pick up your camper at the airport and drive straight out. Enjoy a beignet and some oysters before you go at least! Heading out through Louisiana, stop at Atchafalaya Basin. A boat trip through the swamps will get you as close as you want to be to alligators. Another good stop is Houmas House on the River Road. It is filled with antiques and artwork, providing a beautiful setting for weddings, of which they have even catered to two glamorous dogs… only in America! Heading into Memphis you step back in time, as the town that gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll still plays Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis at the famous Beale Street parties.
New York to Niagara
It’s not a long trip, but it’s a good one if you like wineries and walking! Heading through the Hudson Valley, you can visit some of the oldest vineyards in America before cutting across to Watkins Glen. Here you can follow the gorge path past 19 waterfalls, enjoying spectacular scenery. The final leg is a drive to Buffalo – the closest city to the falls.