America, more than any other country, has developed a love affair with the open road. Nothing can remove the nostalgia we have for the classic American road trip, immortalized in countless films. Although gas prices have gone up, there are a few trips you can’t afford to miss.

ROUTE 66, ILLINOIS TO CALIFORNIA

The iconic Route 66 runs 2,400 miles all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles, through six states.  As you travel along this historic road, you’ll pass farmland, forest, plains, and desert, as well as kitschy gas stations, motels, and mom-and-pop stores. Plenty of roadside attractions await, such as the 1927 KiMo Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois.

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY (ROUTE 101), CALIFORNIA TO WASHINGTON

The PCH is another must in the U.S. lexicon of road trips. This breathtaking drive hugs the coast, overlooks cliffs and passes through the fantastic scenery of Big Sur, several state parks, Hearst Castle, Bixby Bridge, and the Rainbow Canyon. There’s plenty to explore and whether you take the route all the way or partially, you won’t find better views of the Pacific.

CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

If you prefer the quaint and historic East Coast, take a drive along Route 6A and visit the charming towns of vintage Cape Cod. Plenty of forests, miles of beaches, resort towns, and, of course seafood await you.

MAINE COAST (ROUTE 1)

For more stunning New England scenery and lighthouses, take Route 1 along Maine’s coastline. You’ll have a chance to eat lobsters and see the “Million Dollar View,” a 12-mile stretch between Grand Lake and Peakaboo Mountain. Make sure to visit Portland Head Light, one of the oldest lighthouses in the US. For those with a full tank of gas, Route 1 can even take you all the way down to Florida and continues into the Keys.

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Claiming the title “America’s Favorite Drive,” this drive is an undertaking for the autumn, when foliage turns to a vibrant sea of orange, yellow, and red fire. This road winds through the Appalachian Highlands, between North Carolina and Virginia. You can get a taste of Americana at the Blue Ridge Music Center or pull off for a hike or picnic in Shenandoah National Park. Rock climbers can hit up the 4,000-foot Looking Glass Rock.

BADLANDS LOOP SCENIC BYWAY

The landlocked regions of the US have their share of road spectacle, as proven by the South Dakota Badlands, with amazing cliffs, buttes, and some 14 overlooks. This drive is for nature lovers. While there are not many people in sight, you’ll see plenty of bison, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, antelope, and the symbol of the nation, the bald eagle.

UTAH HIGHWAY 12

Part of the great American West, Utah offers limestone canyons, red rock cliffs, old pueblos, and pine forests. This highway is also home to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where your jaw will drop at the fossil filled plateaus, lush canyons, and old cliffs.

ROAD TO HANA

If you make it off the mainland to Hawaii, get yourself a convertible and cruise along the coast, to take in waterfalls, surfers, gardens, parks, and beaches. You can get a taste of paradise with gorgeous panoramas, tropical flowers, and even check out the Hana Lava Tube.

SEWARD HIGHWAY

Alaska is the last stronghold of unspoiled scenery in the US and if you take the 127-mile stretch between Anchorage and Seward, you’ll pass by Chugach State Park and National Forest. Here, you can take in amazing views of glaciers, fjords, rivers, lakes, mountains, and alpine valleys. For perfectly picturesque photos and an experience you’ll never forget, this road trip is a must.

Whether you’re packing up the family or going with friends, a road trip along one of America’s great highways is a must!