Best Road Trips 2022

Over the past couple of years, many people have done without vacations while dealing with pandemic woes. Now that we’re ready to get out there and go somewhere interesting, it may come as a shock to realize that many parts of the world are still off limits to travelers. Did you know that there are 134 countries on the CDC do not travel list because of the ongoing risk of COVID-19? Fortunately, Americans have an ace up our sleeves. We’ve got a big, beautiful country open to us, and all we have to do is hit the road! Where will you find your next adventure? We’ve got some great suggestions.

• Check out Route 66 for an epic road trip. This one has been immortalized in song, and with good reason! It’s the ultimate American cross-country road trip, covering more than 2,000 miles of continent-spanning open road. The one catch is that Route 66 no longer exists. It’s been replaced by the interstate highway known as I-40, which doesn’t have as much of a lyrical ring to it. It’s worth driving though, starting in Wilmington, North Carolina and traveling through mountains, cornfields, canyons, and wide open spaces before reaching California’s Pacific coast. Whether you travel the entire route or just a stretch, it’s a memorable route that’s well worth driving.
• Explore a little stretch of the Sunshine State. Check out the Overseas Highway, a 120 mile segment of US-1 that crosses the Florida Keys. From Key Largo to Key West, it’s a dreamy drive, riding over sandy islands, verdant atolls, and beautiful turquoise waters. All along the way you’ll encounter charming seaside communities, white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and much more, as you enjoy landscapes, seascapes, and the laid-back, relaxing culture of the Florida Keys.
• Wind your way up the West Coast. Running between Seattle, Washington and San Diego, California, the Pacific Coast Highway offers some of the most breathtaking coastal views in the world. Travel north to south along this 1,675 mile route, enjoying beautiful woodlands, the Northern California redwoods, the gorgeous ocean cliffs of Big Sur, and enough interesting sights to keep you occupied for at least two weeks. From Olympic National Park and the Oregon Sand Dunes, to the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, to the beautiful beaches of Orange County and the San Diego Zoo, you’ll find plenty to delight everyone in your family on this exciting road trip.
• Plan a New England getaway. As long as it’s not the snowy season, New England’s blend of rich history and gorgeous scenery makes it the perfect place to enjoy a road trip. Traveling from Boston, Massachusetts to Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, Maine takes about six hours if you drive straight through, but where’s the fun in that? Plan to take at least a week to soak it all in. Along the way, enjoy beautiful beaches, charming towns, and plenty of clam chowder and lobster rolls. There are tons of great things to do in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, so plan to take your time and make the most of this scenic drive.
• Hit some National Parks in the Southwest. For an amazing and unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime road trip through scenery reminiscent of the wild west, you’ll see breathtaking sights and enjoy an amazing outdoor adventure. Between Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, there are a total of twelve National Parks, each more stunning than the last. See the Grand Canton, the Petrified Forest, Death Valley, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Park, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park, the Canyonlands, Arches National Park, Zion National Park, and more. Here’s a pro tip for you: purchase a National Parks Pass to avoid hundreds of dollars of entrance fees along the way. If you’re a senior, military, or disabled, that pass is actually free! It’s hard to imagine that you could ever grow weary of all the natural splendor of the deserts, caverns, canyons, and gorgeous rock formations, but if you do, there are plenty of places to visit just a short hop away from the parks, including Las Vegas, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. You can also take a quick jaunt over into Colorado for even more National Park fun, including Mesa Verde National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park.
• Enjoy the views from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Mountains are right around the corner from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you could really spend a ton of time exploring this gorgeous region. Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, though, is something particularly special. Passing through Virginia and North Carolina, this 469 mile long route has no stoplights, allows no commercial vehicles, and has a speed limit of 45 miles per hour. As you meander through pristine landscapes, you’ll enjoy ridges, lakes, and dense forests in the majestic Appalachian countryside. Along the way, jump off to enjoy local shopping and dining in quaint little mountain towns, or visit Asheville for its thriving cultural scene.

Now that you’ve got some ideas of where to go, how will you get there? If you need a new car to carry you on your journey, stop by the car dealership Floridians have trusted for more than 85 years. At Dixie Buick GMC, we’ve been serving the community of Fort Myers, Florida since 1934. With an extensive online inventory and welcoming showroom, we work with customers to help them find the right new or used vehicle to meet their needs and fit their budgets. Buying a car can be an overwhelming process because there are so many options out there, but we’re here for you, from the trade in process, through working with your credit, to providing excellent service, performed by certified factory-trained technicians, after you’ve purchased your vehicle. Whether you’re looking for a new or used car, we’ve got you covered. To learn more about what our award-winning sales and service team can do for you, visit our showroom, browse vehicles on our website, give us a call at 239-330-9918, or contact us online.