9 Amazing Weekend Road Trips You Can Take From Major US Cities

With Napa and Sonoma to the north and Yosemite National Park to the east, San Francisco has stellar road trip potential in practically every direction. However, you should definitely head south to Monterey and Carmel, a duo of oceanside cities just 120 miles (193 kilometers) down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway.

First, prioritize marine fun in Monterey, home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, excellent year-round whale watching, and resident sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf. Then, continue toward cozy Carmel, passing windswept beaches and cypress trees en route, or enjoy the same views on a 17-Mile Drive tour by e-bike.

Insider tip: Check for road closures in advance if you want to extend your road trip to Big Sur: wildfires and rockslides often shut down parts of Highway 1.

Related: 9 of the Top Road Trips in the US—For Every Type of Traveler

It’s easy to cross state lines from Jacksonville, Florida, especially given that Savannah’s Southern charm and Spanish moss-draped squares are just two hours away by car. Ghost tours and historical tours are especially popular in this 18th-century city—both showcase landmarks such as Forsyth Park, River Street, and the many historic mansions lining the city’s oldest district.

And when hunger strikes, fuel up on shrimp and grits and she-crab soup on a culinary and cultural walking tour—you’ll need the energy to explore the sprawling Bonaventure Cemetery. Be sure to work the coast into your weekend, too, whether you’d prefer a Tybee Island dolphin cruise or a beach day on Hilton Head Island.

Fewer than 90 minutes away by car from Denver, Colorado Springs is definitely close enough for a day trip, but it can easily keep you busy for a whole weekend. And, of course, the best things to do in the Rocky Mountain town mostly take place outdoors.

Start your road trip to Colorado Springs with a detour along Pikes Peak Highway, which takes you to the mountain’s 14,115-foot (4,300-meter) summit and offers stunning lake and forest views along the way. Next, let a guide take the wheel on a Garden of the Gods Jeep tour—it's the most efficient way to see the park’s many red-rock formations if you have limited time. Finally, round out your adventure with cliffside ziplining at Seven Falls.

Related: Visiting Colorado Springs For the First Time? Here’s What to See and Do

From Washington DC, you can get to Charlottesville—where the main claim to fame is Monticello, former president Thomas Jefferson’s mountaintop estate that's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site—in a little more than two hours. Jefferson also founded a vineyard that paved the way for Virginia wine country—book a private wine tour that takes you to the region’s best spots.

However, it’s worth extending your road trip to follow Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park. The scenic 3-hour route spotlights the Blue Ridge Mountains and, in the fall, fantastic foliage. Listen to an audio driving tour to ensure you see the highlights.

Insider tip: You’ll need an entrance pass to visit Shenandoah National Park, including for Skyline Drive.

Related: 9 of the Best Places To See Fall Foliage in North America

If you’re looking for outside-the-box road trip ideas from US cities, the 4-hour drive from Houston to Fredericksburg is an unexpected gem (though you can also get there from Austin and San Antonio, too). Tiny Fredericksburg sits smack in the middle of Texas Hill Country and stands out for its German heritage and vineyard scene.

Learn about the town’s German founding on a narrated trolley tour that cruises past Marktplatz, the Pioneer Museum, and beer gardens, then take a deep dive into 20th-century history at the National Museum of the Pacific War. If a wine trolley is more your style, ride it to nearby wineries for tours and tastings.

Insider tip: On your way back to Houston, you can even hit the trails in the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

While Nashville is the home of country music, Memphis—reachable on a 3.5-hour road trip from the Tennessee capital—is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and the blues. And you can’t visit Memphis without going to Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former estate. (If you're a big fan of the King, you can even pair Graceland with a day trip to Elvis’ childhood home.)

Alternatively, once you're there, strike out on a music-themed bus tour which will take you down Beale Street—where artists including BB King created the blues—and past Sun Studio, where many of the earliest rock ‘n’ roll hits were recorded. However, if you're more interested in harder-hitting history, the National Civil Rights Museum, which preserves 1950s and ‘60s American history on the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, is one of the nation’s most respected museums.

America’s Southwest has an overwhelming variety of natural wonders, but if you could only choose one highlight, it'd have to be the Grand Canyon National Park. On an easy half-day road trip from Phoenix, you can reach the Grand Canyon South Rim, where guided hikes and sunset driving tours showcase the canyon.

But don't overlook picturesque Sedona en route. Situated about halfway between Phoenix and the canyon, it makes for an ideal overnight stop with plenty adventures of its own. For example, you can see red sandstone marvels such as Cathedral Rock and learn about the city’s curious energy vortexes on a Sedona sightseeing tour.

Insider tip: Plan your Grand Canyon road trip for March to May or October to November, when you’ll enjoy cooler weather and fewer crowds at the South Rim.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting the Grand Canyon

Milwaukee’s nickname is Brew City—a hint at the refreshments that await you at the end of the 90-mile (145-kilometer) drive from Chicago. After parking up, head to Lakefront Brewery for a tour that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s craft beer culture—or, pair your beverage with some cheese curds on a Milwaukee food tour.

As for culture, the Milwaukee Art Museum is a city standout, known for its Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, Haitian art collection, and lakeside Quadracci Pavilion (a sculptural building with “wings” that open and close throughout the day). If you're over all the driving, take a bus tour to see the sights, including the famous Pabst Theater and trendy Historic Third Ward.

Related: 9 of the Best Weekend Getaways from Chicago

While these two Pacific Northwest cities have a lot in common, you can still enjoy a major change of scenery on a 3-hour road trip from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon. After you've made your way across state lines, it's time to experience Oregon at its best—by getting outdoors.

Take a half-day hiking tour of Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge to see two of the most impressive natural attractions near Portland, including Oregon’s tallest waterfall, or a Willamette Valley wine tour which lets you sip local wines with a view of Mt. Hood. If you’d rather stay in central Portland, sample the city’s most popular sweets on a donut walking tour, pick up a souvenir at Powell’s City of Books, or smell the blooms at the International Rose Test Garden.

Related: Visiting Portland for the First Time? Here’s What To See and Do