The 9 Most Scenic Coastal Road Trips in America, From Maine to Maui

There’s just something about a road trip that I continue to love. Okay, sure, I may hate flying and that could be part of it, but truly, who can resist the pull of the open road, the wind in your hair, the endless potential for adventure around every corner?

During a road trip, the journey is as much the point as the destination you’re headed toward. There’s so much freedom, too. If something catches your interest, whether it be a roadside attraction or picture-perfect scenery, you can just stop! And you never really know when those opportunities are going to pop up.

Coastal road trips are particularly special—hopping from seaside town to seaside town, beach to beach. If a coastal road trip sounds right up your alley, here are 9 to consider for your next getaway.

You’ll be as south as you can go in the continental United States when you take a little road trip between Miami and Key West. The journey along the Overseas Highway actually wouldn’t take that long if you were to drive straight through, with no stopping. It’s just about 110 miles. But, what’s the fun in that?

Start your journey in Miami, where you’re definitely going to want to spend a day or two, and then take a leisurely journey through the Keys, with potential stops in Key Largo, Islamorada, Big Pine Key, and then finally Key West. You could probably spend a day each on all the “big” Keys, before settling into Key West for another few days and then heading back to Miami (with stops along the way or not).

As you go, not only will you enjoy the breathtaking scenery that these islands offer, but also the amazing food culture, electric vibe, and laid-back environment that woos so many. Whether you like to spend your days snorkeling, paddling, historic sightseeing or literally just digging your toes into the sand—cold drink in hand—you can do it in the Keys.

On the other side of the country, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway stretches for more than 350 miles along the Oregon coast. U.S. Route 101 will take you through adorable oceanside towns, to beautiful beaches, past scenic bluffs and lighthouses.

All in all, you could technically make this drive in a day, if you rushed it, but linger longer and drive just a few hours per day, letting this road trip take its time over five days to a week. That’ll give you the opportunity to actually visit those lighthouses, stop into the small towns for lunch, stroll along the scenic beaches, or hop on a whale watching tour.

Start your journey in Astoria and go all the way to Brookings.

Note: The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway in Oregon is sometimes confused with California’s Pacific Coast Highway—which we’ll get to shortly.

Try to chart a route between Waveland, Mississippi, and Moss Point, Mississippi and the app will do its darnedest to try to reroute you so that you’re not following the coast. Ignore the Google overlords’ suggestions, though, and take U.S. Highway 90 East between the two.

The journey can take as little as an hour and a half, as it’s only about 60 miles, but there’s so much to do and see along the way. This little itinerary will take you through numerous small communities along the coast, all of which offer their own charm. After Waveland, you have Diamondhead, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, D’Iberville, Ocean Springs, Gautier, Pascagoula and finally—finally!—Moss Point.

This is truly a technically short road trip that you could stretch out as long as you like. As you go, you’ll discover lots of beaches, museums, hiking and paddling opportunities, shopping and antiquing, great food, historic sites, casinos and lighthouses, just to start.

Now, back to the Pacific Coast. California’s Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous, if not the most famous, coastal road trips in the country. California’s longest road, the PCH or California State Route 1, will take you from Orange County to Mendocino County (or vice versa) over more than 650 miles.

There are certain towns that are more or less considered requisite stops along the PCH, including Malibu, Big Sur, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Additionally, it’s worth noting that some road-trippers combine the California State Route 1 with the Pacific coastal highways in Washington and Oregon as well, for an even longer, more immersive road trip.

One could write a book on all there is to see and do on such a grand adventure (and plenty have!) but check out some of the best Pacific Coast Highway beaches for your road trip, as well as some of the best Pacific Coast highway restaurants with a view to get your inspiration rolling.

The Outer Banks almost seem made for a road trip. The long stretch of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina sit in a straight line cut through by North Carolina Highway 12.

This scenic byway runs between Ocracoke in the south to Corolla in the north, allowing you to see not just some of the most famous spots, like Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Duck, but the whole of the Outer Banks and its less-touristed towns.

From historic sites to the beaches, shopping to museums, there’s plenty to do during this laid-back leisurely road trip. Plus, the whole journey is only about 120 miles, so you could feasibly craft a road trip itinerary that will allow you to see the top spots over a long weekend—though I wouldn’t blame you if you extended your explorations throughout an entire week. After all, you’ve got to get in some beach days amid all that adventuring!

This scenic highway received a new name in recent years. You may know it better as the A1A, but it was recently renamed in honor of Jimmy Buffett. 

A 338-mile coastal highway along Florida’s Atlantic coast, it technically runs from Key West all the way up to the northern state border. However, some portion of the route down into what’s known as the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, which runs from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to Flagler Beach. Doing so gives you a much more condensed drive, at just 60 miles.

For this particular road trip, you’d likely want to fly into Jacksonville, and then start your journey in Ponte Vedra Beach (which is worth a day’s stay all on its own), before you begin driving south. As you go, some of the highlights will be St. Augustine, Vilano Beach, and the end point, Flagler Beach.

You’re very likely not going to be able to bring your own car along for this road trip, but grab a rental once you land on the island of Maui and you’ll be fine.

The Road to Hana—or Hana Highway—takes you on a breathtaking 64-mile journey across Maui. The road can be pretty tricky to navigate, so make sure you have a seasoned driver at the wheel. Otherwise, just ensure that you pack your hiking boots and a swimsuit, because the beaches and waterfalls are the hands-down highlight. Itineraries should stop at Wai’anapanapa State Park and Pua’a’ Ka’a State Park, at least. 

You can take to this road in a guided excursion, but you’ll be rushed and the entire road trip takes place over just one day. To go at a more leisurely pace, plan this road trip for at least two days and spend the night in Hana.

Spend several days or a week traveling Maine’s Highway 1, from Portland all the way up to the Canadian border. Along the way, you’ll get to see and potentially stop into some of Maine’s most charming seaside towns, including Rockland, Camden, Bar Harbor, and Lubec, among many, many others. It’s worth spending at least a day in Portland, Camden, Bar Harbor, and Lubec, for sure. (Camden and Rockland are so close together that you can probably see them in one go.)

As you travel, you’ll quickly discover that not all Maine towns are the same, and where you started is far different from where you ended. Portland is a bustling seaside city with a vibrant culture, and Lubec charms with its natural ruggedness and remoteness.

Over about 60 miles and just over an hour, you can travel the length of the Cape Cod peninsula, from Sandwich to Provincetown. However, why not pull over every now and again, and spend some time exploring the individual little towns and villages that dot the landscape.

For example, Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape, with plenty of history, museums, and a boardwalk. Chatham is known for its seaside charm. Then, when you finally get to Provincetown, you can enjoy all the lively culture. All the while, you’ll be able to stop off at beautiful beaches and dramatic dunes, with the Cape Cod National Seashore offering loads to explore throughout the journey.