Whether you’re traveling solo or with a family, road trips are one of the best ways to see the United States. And while you can take one of the more famous thoroughfares—thinking of you, Route 66—why not take a road less traveled the next time you put your pedal to the metal?
In November 2024, travel curation company Journeyscape released its list of the best “hidden gem” road trip routes in the United States. For its analysis, the company sourced data from rental car company Hertz to determine the number of stops, days, and distance it takes to complete each journey. It then referred to Tripadvisor data to find out additional things like how many restaurants, landmarks, and hotels are available nearby. Then, it gave each road trip route a score out of 10.
After crunching the numbers, it named the Pacific Coast Paradise route—a 1,428-mile stretch from Seattle to Santa Barbara, California—the best road trip to take on the West Coast. It came in the second-best in the country, overall.
“… The Pacific Coast Paradise route is just under 1,500 miles from Seattle to Santa Barbara. Along the way, you will see incredible scenery, from high mountains to stunning beaches and everything in between,” Journeyscape said in a press release obtained by Travel + Leisure. “In addition, there are many vibrant towns, cities, neighborhoods, and outdoor areas along the route, including the stunning Waterfront Park in Portland and Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southwestern Oregon and Northwestern California.”
One of the best things about driving along Pacific Coast Paradise is that more than half of the hotels along the way are rated as four-star establishments or above, as are 55 percent of the restaurants—so, it’s entirely possible to have a five-star road trip.
As for the No. 1 hidden gem road trip in the U.S., the Roller Coaster Tour, a 3,000-mile route involving stops at 13 different theme parks across the Midwest and Southeast, topped Journeyscape’s list. But if you’d prefer a more soulful, sonic journey, consider embarking on the third best road trip route on the list, Sounds of the South, which explores the blues, country, and rock and roll roots of the American South.
