Nothing matches a road trip for excitement, adventure and making lasting memories with your one and only. And, while taking the journey is full of fun, finding the most ideal trip for you and your partner can be quite the challenge – the USA has over four million miles of roads! Which is why we’ve teamed up with the first-ever Chevy Cruze Hatch to help you find the best road trips for two. From quaint New England fishing villages to the breathtaking Pacific Ocean, we bet one of these adventures will be the perfect itinerary for your next couple’s getaway.
Pacific Coast Highway
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Officially called California State Highway 1, this 655-mile road features stunning ocean views, perfect beaches, fantastic food and historic attractions. It’s the legendary road featured in Jack Kerouac’s novel Big Sur – one of many can’t miss stops along this dream drive. Whether you start the trek from the north in Mendocino or the south in San Diego, make sure you turn up the tunes and roll down the windows -- to make the most of this quintessential drive.
Oregon Wine Country
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While not quite as well known as its Californian cousin, the Oregon Wine Country provides an ideal weekend road trip, especially if you and your bae are wine enthusiasts. From Mount Hood and Yamhill County through Eugene and the Cascades and up to Salem, choose from over 700 wineries, enjoy extraordinary restaurants and revel in natural beauty.
Texas Hill Country
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Hey Cowboy! The Texas Hill Country has everything a city slicker could ask for: chicken-fried steak, Biergartens, charming small towns, rivers for tubing, and Country music that is the real deal. Start in Austin and wander your way through Bandera, Fredericksburg and New Braunfels, wrapping up on the famed Riverwalk in San Antonio. If you miss live music at Gruene Hall, you’ve got no one but yourself to blame.
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New England Coastline
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A visit to the New England shores is always in season. Head north from Boston to the lesser-known Cape Ann for clams and chowder in Essex, then hop back on Route 1/1A North toward New Hampshire and Down East Maine. End your day in Portland where you can tour a brewery or trade in your wheels (temporarily, of course) for a boat tour of the Casco Bay Islands. After dinner, make sure you take a romantic evening stroll through Old Port.
Historic Leaf-Peeping in Pennsylvania
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Autumn leaves are stunning nearly anywhere, but if you want to see the full glory of fall colors and mix in some fascinating American history at the same time, begin in Washington Crossing Historic Park (about 20 minutes northeast of Trenton, NJ) in late October and then head west through Bucks County to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where you can stop in Amish country and eat some Shoofly Pie. Hop back on Route 30 towards Gettysburg National Military Park to complete the journey. An added bonus: in Gettysburg, you can tour the battlefields on horseback!
Blue Ridge Parkway
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A designated National Parkway, the Blue Ridge Parkway follows the Blue Ridge Mountains 469 miles from Rockfish Gap, Virginia to Swain County, North Carolina. Along the way you’ll see unparalleled panoramas, a range of wildlife and wildflowers and dozens of great hiking trails. Stay at the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Virginia or the Mt. Pisgah Inn and Lodge in North Carolina, just plan to do it during the season -- between April 15th and October 30th. Many of the parkway facilities, and parts of the parkway itself, are closed in the off-season.
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Utah’s National Parks
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Quick! How many National parks are in the state of Utah? The answer is FIVE! Five stunning jewels featuring mind-blowing, surreal landscapes with canyons, arches, sheer cliffs, hanging gardens and hoodoos. Pick any one of the parks to start, but Zion is closest to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. From there, follow where the roads lead you -- through Southeastern Utah to Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
The Blues Highway
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It doesn’t get more all-American than Blues music, and the Blues Highway--Route 61 from Memphis, Tennessee to Vicksburg, Mississippi will take you to the roots of this exceptional form of music. Kick off your musical road revue in Memphis at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music followed by an unforgettable barbecue lunch at Central BBQ. From there, head south to Clarksdale, Mississippi to the Ground Zero Blues Club (co-owned by Morgan Freeman) before ending the set at Vickburg’s Bottleneck Blues Bar.
The Rocky Mountains 101
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No American road trip compilation would be complete without at least one peek at the majestic Rocky Mountains. For a taste of the great Continental Divide, try the Top of the Rockies Byway. Begin your trip in Denver, heading west to Copper Mountain, where the Byway begins. Head south toward Leadville and Twin Lakes and then loop west toward Aspen and north to Glenwood Springs before heading east again to Denver. Much of this route is above 9,000 feet and you’re likely to see a variety of indigenous wildlife, from Red Tail Foxes to Pronghorn Antelope!
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The first-ever Chevy Cruze Hatch, with enough space for all your gear, impressive efficiency, and a sporty profile for taking on an adventure, is the perfect car for your next road trip together.