east coast brewery road trip

PLAN YOUR USA CRAFT BEER BREWERY ROAD TRIP

If you’re looking for some of the best craft beer brewery road trips in the United States, look no further! With cool breweries from Boston to Ashville , North Carolina to Cleveland , and more, there’s certainly several you can include on your next brewery road trip.

Brewery Road Trip with the Best American Breweries

Table of Contents

East Coast Breweries

Trillium Brewing Company – Boston, Massachusetts

Our brewery road trip now takes us back to New England. Boston tends to have been “the first” for a lot of things in the U.S. and craft beer in Boston is no exception. Back in 1984, Sam Adams became one of the first craft beer breweries in the U.S., and the city has been producing tastier and more innovative brews ever since. That’s where Trillium comes in…

Located down a little alley on the edge of Southie, an unassuming sign adorned with a flower marks the entrance to Trillium Brewing Company. Its “taproom” is barely large enough for a dozen patrons to stand in. But a trip to Trillium isn’t about the atmosphere; it’s about having a pint of truly amazing beer.

In 2016, Trillium was rated the world’s third-best brewery. Let that sink in; this little three-year-old upstart in Southie beat out all those European breweries with hundreds of years of history and hard-to-pronounce names.

Not only that, three of Trillium’s IPAs – Congress Street, Summer Street, and Melcher Street – have been ranked as among the best beers in the world. Hopheads love them for the upfront bitterness, usually only present in West Coast brews, combined with bursts of citrus flavor.

In addition to their location in Southie, Trillium also operates a taproom in Canton and a summer beer garden on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and they’re in the process of building a much larger taproom just around the corner from their current location.

You can stay at the Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall after you have had your fill of Trillium’s world-class beer.

Ryan Victor blogs at Passions and Places .

Dirt Farm Brewing – Bluemont, Virginia

Our brewery road trip now takes us to the Mother of States. Dirt Farm Brewing in Bluemont, Virginia is somewhere where you can truly enjoy a brew with a view! The family-run brewery is set on a hill in Northern Virginia, with a stunning mountain vista. It’s based in Loudoun County, which is becoming a popular craft beer and winery destination; however, I must say, out of all the breweries I’ve tried in the area so far, Dirt Farm is the best all-around experience!

They grow their own hops and experiment with local produce in their beers.  The results are some absolutely delicious craft beers. It’s well and truly a farm to table brewery or, in their words, “plow to pint”! Alongside the beers, they serve delicious flatbreads and pretzel bites. Oh, and their merchandise is pretty cool, too, if you’re a country gal or guy!

If you visit, make sure you try the “Stout of Control” stout and one of their homegrown beers, which are chosen based on the best harvest crops that year. The family that runs Dirt Farm Brewing also runs a winery down the road (Bluemont Vineyard) and a Pick Your Own farm (Great Country Farms) across the way, so there’s definitely something for everyone in the area!

Kelly Mongan blogs at A Pair of Passports .

Lickinghole Creek Farm Brewery – Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia has become an East Coast craft beer mecca — and is the next stop on our brewery road trip. Full stop. That said, while urban craft beer breweries have taken over many corners of this historic city, what’s still rare in the Richmond area are farm breweries, like Lickinghole Creek Farm Brewery, located about 45 minutes from downtown Richmond in nearby Goochland County. If you make the drive out to their location, and journey down the long gravel road to the brewery, you’ll find yourself passing their hops, pumpkin, and other ingredient fields before you roll up to their warehouse. This sets the mood to truly appreciate their beers, made with as many fresh, local ingredients as possible.

Their tasting room is largely situated outside on a large patio and seating extends to an open field adjacent to the warehouse with plentiful picnic tables and corn hole boards, plus an area for kids to play. Whether you’re here for a wedding, their famous sunflower field, one of their festivals-slash-beer releases, or just to enjoy a nice night outside with your dog and kiddos, there’s a little something chill for everyone. Brews to try include the Enlightened Despot, Magic Beaver, Three Chopt Tripel, and many of their riffs on these core beers as well as their huge selection of seasonal varieties.

Luke and Meagan blog at Two Restless Homebodies .

Fullsteam Brewery – Durham, North Carolina

Head down south for the next stop on our brewery road trip. Located in Downtown Durham, Fullsteam is a big part of the community in the city and is recognized throughout North Carolina for its contributions. The owner, Sean Lilly Wilson, was behind the famed Pop the Cap movement which successfully led to the raising of alcohol limits and relatively freeing up brewers to make stronger beers.

Aside from his strong activism against limits, Wilson is also passionate about sourcing ingredients from local, organic farmers. Step inside the taproom and you’ll learn that “Plow to Pint” is more than just a sign or t-shirt. It’s the Fullsteam way.

They do brew new beers pretty regularly according to seasons, but their mainstays always seem to grow better after each sip or glass. My personal favorite is Rocket Science, a 7% American IPA that goes well with pretty much any meal. For starters, though, I think you should also grab a flight that’s served on a board shaped like North Carolina. That’ll give you a nice feel for five of their top-notch beers before moving on to Rocket Science or something else.

Carl Hedinger blogs at NC Tripping .

Sierra Nevada Brewery – Asheville, North Carolina

Our brewery road trip once again takes us down south. Sierra Nevada Brewery is one of the largest craft beer breweries in the United States, so it’s only fitting that they have a massive production facility to go along with their success! Their 185-acre campus in Asheville, North Carolina houses a massive 400-seat restaurant, outdoor dining terrace and beer garden, outdoor amphitheater, and an impressive and expansive brewhouse.

They offer a variety of tasting and tour options, but tours fill up quickly and reservations must be made online in advance. Of course, you always have the options to just grab a pint of their signature IPA or any one of 22 other options on draft and enjoy the stunning scenery of the western North Carolina mountains. I’m a big fan of their Kellerweis, which is one of the only American Hefeweizens made using the traditional Bavarian style of open fermentation. It was a refreshing addition to the live music that accompanied the warm summer air during our visit!

When you’ve had your fill, you can relax in your room at the Double Tree by Hilton Downtown near the River Arts District. Or try a more rustic stay at the Deer Run Cabin . And don’t forget to visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

Sam and Toccara blog at Forget Someday .

Cerveceria La Tropical – Miami, Florida

In 1888, Cerveceria La Tropical was established in Havana , Cuba on the banks of the Almendares River. The brewery (“cerveceria” means brewery in Spanish) grew dramatically and by 1958 it supplied over 60% of all the beer produced in Cuba .

La Tropical was a must-visit destination with gardens, restaurants, dancing and, of course, beer. The future was bright. In 1959 the Cuban Revolution expropriated the brewery and the owners emigrated to Miami.

Over the next decades original family descendants fought to secure rights to the La Tropical brand and in 2021 La Tropical opened in Miami in the trendy Wynwood Arts District.

Cerveceria La Tropical offers a wide range of beers including the original from pre-revolutionary Cuba. How cool is THAT? Other selections include “Nativo Key” a refreshing IPA, and the high-octane double IPA appropriately named “Gasolina.”

The beautiful, tropical themed, full-service restaurant serves tapas to main courses, all with a nod to the brewery’s Cuban roots; black bean hummus, lager steamed mussels and citrus braised pork, just to mention a few delectable dishes. One mind-blowing take on a Cuban classic is a Cuban sandwich transformed into an empanada.

The desserts are, as they say, to die for. The individual dessert selections include some Cuban classics like coconut flan and flavored banana fritters, but the sampler, consisting of 4 small dessert selections is the star; think passion fruit and dark chocolate!

Set in Wynwood, one of Miami’s most interesting and artsy neighborhoods , La Tropical is a brewery destination with history and amazing food and drink. The décor is airy, artistically designed and tropical-themed with a stage for live music events.  A must stop on any U.S. brewery road trip and one of the best things to do in Miami.

Where to stay in Miami

Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Tampa Bay Brewing Company’s tag line is Beer is your friend. OK.  I’ll drink to that.

This Brewery/restaurant is in the iconic Centro Ybor, in the center of Tampa’s Ybor City. Here is a welcoming, cozy, neighborhood-type establishment with quality bar food and an excellent selection of beers.

The menu is varied: starters, pizza, burgers and satisfying entrees. But, really, it’s all about the beer. They brew lots of hop-centric IPAs and other premium craft beers on a constantly rotating basis so you can always have a new beer every time you visit.  Some of the beer names are…creative, Old Elephant Foot and Reef Donkey.    

TBBC is one of the areas oldest breweries. They have been family owned since 1995 and opened a branch in 2014 in Westchase.  They have live music on Fridays and an outdoor patio.

If you visit the Tampa area, you have to visit Ybor City, especially Centro Ybor. While there, don’t miss a stop at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company.       

Mid West Brewery Road Trip

Ellicottville Brewing Company – Ellicottville New York

So maybe it not EXACTLY in the Midwest, but it is closer to Ohio and  western Pennsylvania than it is to the east coast and is a better fit for the Mid West Brewery Road Trip.

Just a few miles north of Allegheny State Park ,  Ellicottville is a small village in western New York known for its ski slopes and called the Aspen of the East. Founded in 1820, the town has artsy shops and some really good dining options serving classic Americana fare; think bison burgers, ribs  and mac and cheese.  It is also home to one of the top breweries in the area, The Ellicottville Brewing Company or EBC.

EBC has wide and interesting collections of brews from lagers and ales to porters and stouts and everything in between.  The season selections are fun to try as are the popular releases with quirky names like Pumpkinville Latte Nitro Ale and Pineapple Upside Down Shake IPA.

A walk through the bar, indoor restaurant and brewery brings you to the outdoor German Beer Garden where you can create your perfect evening dining, tasting the beer samples and deciding which one is your favorite.

Talek blogs at Travels with Talek

4 By 4 Brewing Company – Springfield, Missouri

4 By 4 Brewing Company is hands-down my favorite brewery — and my favorite stop on our craft beer breweries road trip. This laid-back brewery is the perfect place to just grab a beer and spend time with your friends, family, or strike up a conversation with the bartender – it’s likely you’ll be talking to one owners. They’re always brewing up something special and unique, but my personal favorite is their Java the Kolsch. This coffee kolsch is incredibly flavorful, but light enough you’ll need at least one more. In addition to their exceptional brews, they have a wall of games, free popcorn and a Beer-it-4ward-Wall. Any patron can buy a beer for someone, then they put their name on the board. Normally it’s $5 for a beer, but if they will take a picture and tag the person and 4 By 4 Brewing to any social media, it will only be $4 at the time. How cool is that?

Paige Wunder blogs at For the Love of Wanderlust .

Badger State Brewery – Green Bay, Wisconsin

Our brewery road trip now heads north. If there’s anything the people of Green Bay, Wisconsin love more than the Green Bay Packers, it’s beer. A few years ago, a Green Bay local decided to take his love for craft brew and create what today is known as Badger State Brewery. Badger State offers an extensive list of creative, Wisconsin themed beers like “On Wisconsin Red Ale” and “Buzzy Badger Coffee Ale”, along with 24 local Wisconsin beers on tap.

But the beer at Badger State is just the icing on the cake. With a beer garden, taproom, and Barrel Haus event hall, Badger State is a venue for multiple events throughout the year. You can find larger, seasonal events like “Firkins in Fall” to smaller, mid-week activities like “Oysters and Beer Pairings” and “Yoga and Beer.” Pay a visit to Badger State Brewery and you get a taste of Wisconsin in every sense: community, fun, and really, really good tasting beer.

Great Lakes Brewing Company – Cleveland, Ohio

The next stop on our brewery road trip is one of the best craft beer breweries in the U.S., located in Cleveland, Ohio . Great Lakes Brewery in Cleveland not only serves up tasty craft brews, but each of the cleverly named beers and logo designs have a connection to the history in either Cleveland or the Great Lakes. You can find the beer in stores all across the country but actually going to the brewery in Cleveland is an experience of its own.

One of their brews is named after Eliot Ness, a famous prohibition officer who took down Al Capone in Chicago and later came to Cleveland. The actual bar in the Great Lakes Brewery has a real bullet hole in the wall by none other than Eliot Ness himself, a bartender will point it out during your visit.

Dining here is also a treat, all the food is farm to table, sourced from farms within 10 miles away. Great Lakes Brewery prides itself on its low waste solutions by sending all their restaurant scraps to compost. Ohio’s first microbrew is seriously cool inside and out.

Scott Herder and Megan Indoe blog at Bobo and Chichi .

Pacific Coast Brewery Road Trip

Pike Brewing – Seattle, Washington

Head to the Pacific Northwest to the next stop on our brewery road trip. The third microbrewery in Seattle, Pike Place Brewery, was founded by a beer-loving couple, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel in 1989. The name was inspired by the famous market in historic downtown Seattle which is also the location of this successful brewery. Today it is known as simply Pike Brewing but there is nothing simple about this iconic establishment. Over the years the Pike has grown to a 30-barrel brewhouse brewing 12,500 barrels of craft beer annually.

You can experience Pike Brewing through a brewery tour, the large, family-friendly Pike Pub, and the newest addition, the Tankard and Tun Restaurant. They even have a Microbrewery Museum where you can explore the history of beer and browse an impressive collection of beer art and memorabilia all with a pint in hand. Be sure to try some of the year-round favorites like Pike Space Needle IPA and Pike Kilt Lifter Scotch-style Ale. Depending on the time of year you can also get a taste of delicious seasonals like Pike Auld Acquaintance Holiday Ale and Pike Seafair Summer Ale.

Sarah Hughes blogs at Discover the Pacific Northwest

Top Rung Brewery – Lacey, Washington

Our brewery road trip starts at Top Rung Brewery in Lacey, Washington started as a dream for two firefighters. Friends and coworkers, they wanted an escape from their busy jobs and started brewing beers at home. Their love for beer finally turned into a real brewery in 2014. Top Rung is a 10 barrel craft beer brewery with a tasting room.

The owners both still work as firefighters and also work at the brewery. Top Rung partners with local food vendors and food carts and they also allow guests to bring food in. Top Rung has finally brought great craft beer to the South Sound area.

Tarah and Tip blog at FitTwoTravel .

Deschutes Brewery – Bend, Oregon

Founded in 1988, and the third stop on our brewery road trip, Deschutes Brewery (pronounced “duh – shoots”) makes some of my favorite craft beer in the United States. They grew from what was once just a brew pub in Bend, Oregon, into the 8th largest brewery in the U.S., with a brewery in Bend, a brew pub in Portland, and a new location on the East Coast in Virginia.

In Oregon, everyone knows Deschutes, and it’s quickly becoming available throughout the U.S. They brew 8 year-round beers, plus a handful of special reserves and seasonals, like my favorite Jubelale, which is a bold, complex winter ale.

A special feature of Deschutes is the way they name their beers after local landmarks, like Black Butte Porter. Deschutes itself is named after a river, a county and a National Park in Oregon. Black Butte (pronounced beaut) is a popular hiking spot in the national park. If you like whisky, Deschutes now makes a Black Butte whisky from this popular beer.

We typically visit the brew pub, so we can sit down for a beer and food pairing. Both locations have a Pacific Northwest feel and enjoyable atmosphere. They are always completely packed, as a testament to their popularity. At the Bend tasting room, they offer regular tours throughout the week. In an industry that often ends up being owned by conglomerates and big business, Deschutes stands firm as a 100% family- and employee-owned company.

Laura Lynch blogs at Savored Sips .

Russian River Brewing Company – Santa Rosa, California

Our brewery road trip now takes us to Wine Country! Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California is one of the most important craft beer breweries in the history of craft beer. The brewery was opened in 1997 by Vinnie Cilurzo, who was the brewer who first created the now-ubiquitous double IPA. Russian River is now famous for both their strong IPAs as well as their Belgian-style & barrel-aged beers. The famous Pliny the Elder is a double IPA that has always been rated as one of best beers in the world. It will always be a classic, no matter what new beers are released elsewhere.

The city of Santa Rosa hosts the annual release of Pliny the Younger, Russian River’s triple IPA. For two weeks each February, beer fans from all over the world line up for a chance to try the rare beer. If waiting in a line like that isn’t of interest to you, Russian River still has great beer & food all year long. Most importantly, Russian River is a pillar of the community in Santa Rosa. Following the tragic fires in the area, Russian River organized a fundraiser called “Sonoma Pride” that generated over $1 million to help the local community.

The Ultimate Island Brewery Road Trip

Kona Brewing Company – Hawaii

The next stop on our brewery road trip is in Hawaii. Kona Brewing Company was started in spring 1994 by a father and son team, followed by a pub in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. Kona’s year-round beers include Big Wave Golden Ale, Longboard Island Lager and Fire Rock Pale Ale. All three are very popular on the islands of Hawaii. Additionally, Kona Brewing Company has three rotating seasonal brews in their Aloha Series including Koko Brown, Wailua Wheat and Pipeline Porter.

Kona Brewing Company distributes its beers in 36 states and 10 different countries, which is an amazing, given the fact that they brew on Big Island. Design of the bottles is especially young and modern. Also, a tour of the brewery in Kailua-Kona is good fun. It takes about one hour and can be topped by a meal in their own pub. A nice additional fact is that Kona Brewing Company supports some community events on the islands, including surf and events and more.

Clemens blogs at Travellers Arch

Want to know more about the perfect brewery road trip and to learn about craft beer breweries? Can’t get enough of it? Want to cook with it, read about it, learn about its history? Try these books.

If this list of craft beer breweries in the U.S. appeals to you, you might like these posts (especially if you’re also a fan of good wine and food!):

11 Outstanding Wine Regions of the Americas

World’s Best Street Food in Amazing Cities

26 Authentic Ethnic Restaurants in New York City A to Z

Famous Places to Eat in New York City Without Going Broke

Which is your favorite craft beer brewery road trip? We’d like to know.

BTW, if you are getting ready for your trip, make sure to take advantage of these useful,  money-saving links  to book your trip:

• Research and  book your flight  with  Skyscanner . I have found them to be the best because they list all airlines including the budget ones. You are always sure of having researched all options.
• For  car rental around the world, Discover Cars has flexible pickup and drop-off options, I recommend   Discover Cars .
• Book your accommodation  with  Booking.com . I find they have a wide selection and a nice, user-friendly, transparent website.
• Protect your trip  and, more importantly, protect yourself with travel insurance. I use  Travelinsurance.com  and have been very happy with them.
• Looking for a  small group tour  to unforgettable destinations with top professionals?  Intrepid Trave l is your choice.
• For more  general tours  to any destination or attraction,  book with   Viator . Check them out.
• Need a visa?   Get your visa  for all countries with   Passport Visa Exp ress.
• Looking for a cool walking tour to explore a city? My favorite walking tours are offered by Take Walks.
• Food and drink tours are the best way to enjoy a city. And Devour Tours are my favorite.
• Looking for a good VPN to protect your security, privacy and freedom online while traveling? Nordvpn is your best option.

I personally use, and can recommend, all the companies listed here and elsewhere on my blog. By booking through these sites, the small commission we earn – at no cost to you – helps us maintain this site so we can continue to offer our readers valuable travel tips and advice.

Talek Nantes

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35 Best Breweries On The East Coast

Touring excellent breweries and noshing on pretzels at beer gardens are some of adult life's great pleasures. So is just kicking back at home with a 6-pack and a friend, for that matter. If you live on the East Coast and are looking for a fun day trip — or even just a delicious brew to sip while watching the game — you are fortunate to have a lot to choose from! Turns out that plenty of small craft breweries and big-name brands alike produce top-notch and award-winning beer. Be they IPAs , stouts, or lagers, brewmasters spend their lives trying to concoct the best flavors, all for your discerning palate. 

There's plenty of geographic variety, too: breweries on both rural farmsteads and in metropolitan regions have much to explore. From Maine to Florida, the East Coast states have something amazing to offer. Try seasonal mashes and flagship brews from any of these fine brewing companies, and perhaps even plan your next great road trip around these beloved watering holes!

Dogfish Head - Milton, Delaware

Dogfish Head claims to create "off-centered ales for off-centered people." The industrial sculpture "Steampunk Treehouse," found at their Milton location, serves as a 40-foot-tall testament to their weird creed.

But the brewery in Milton isn't Dogfish Head's only institution. The Dogfish Inn near Lewes Beach, about 20 minutes east of the Milton brewery, is the perfect place for beer-lovers to stay while they explore the area. Justs south of the inn is Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats on Rehoboth Beach — the brewery's original small-batch brewing location back in 1995. Here, Dogfish Head fans can munch on pub food like crab corn chowder, seafood tacos, and wood-fired pizza. Of course, they wash it down with any of the brand's ales, pilsners, and IPAs.

Not in a beer mood? Head on over to their seafood and cocktail restaurant, Chesapeake & Maine , and enjoy spirits made by Dogfish Head Distilling Co. Whatever you want, it's all the life's work of Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione, who was deemed the Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional at the 2017 James Beard Awards .

Flying Dog Brewery - Frederick, Maryland

Flying Dog actually began as a brewpub in Woody Creek, Colorado, in 1990. Located just outside Aspen, it played host to many travelers, including gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Thompson recommended Flying Dog use Ralph Steadman, the illustrator that created the messy, slightly crazed, and instantly recognizable drawings for "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," for the brewery's beer labels. Steadman's weird, ink-splattered caricatures can now be found on every Flying Dog bottle, including a dog chomping on a half-dolphin, half-mermaid type creature on the label for Flying Dog's Chesapeake Wheat Ale.

The brewery also took "Good people drink good beer," a quote from Thompson's most popular book, as the company slogan. BUt Flying Dog is more than just good marketing. The beer brand has won multiple awards, such as "Midsize Brewery of the Year" from the Great American Beer Festival in 2009 (via The Frederick News-Post ). The Maryland brewery did have a tasting room, but closed it when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They have since decided to not reopen it, so you'll just have to buy it or find it on tap somewhere.

Sapwood Cellars - Columbia, Maryland

While many people like the bitterness of a strong IPA, there are plenty who don't. Sapwood Cellars aims to make all of its brews easy to drink without sacrificing flavor. From barrel-aged stouts to fruity pale ales, Sapwood brewmasters strive for a balanced taste and a pleasant aroma.

While the Maryland brewery doesn't offer formal tours, tasting room visitors can ask to be shown around if the staff aren't too busy. The tasting room also accepts reservations and even books private events! There, you can try a diverse array of beer flavors such as maple-blueberry, coffee , thyme honey, and more.

It doesn't have a kitchen, but the brewery often hosts local food trucks. Keep tabs on its  Facebook page to find out what's going to pull up to the brewery next! Food truck announcements tend to be made day-of, so contact the brewery ahead of time with questions.

Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown, New York

Beer lovers can find Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York, about halfway between Syracuse and Albany. The sprawling 140-acre farmstead offers scenic valley views, a café, and an amphitheater for concerts and beer festivals.

But let's get to the important part: the beer. Ommegang's brews have won awards from the likes of the European Beer Star (via Brewbound ) and the World Beer Cup , with the latter naming Ommegang the world's best midsize brewery in 2016. The brand's calling card is, of course, their Belgian-style ales, many of which are made in the "kriek" (Belgian cherry beer) tradition. 

The New York brewery also offers other types of beer, including New England-style IPAs and limited edition stouts. In 2013, the company partnered with HBO to create a "Game of Thrones" line. The collaboration paired special craft brews with characters from the show, such as "Mother of Dragons" (a porter-kriek blend) and "King in the North" (a barrel-aged imperial stout).

Harpoon - Boston, Massachusetts

Harpoon has two brewery locations: the original in Boston and a second in Windsor, Vermont. The Harpoon Beer Hall in Boston's Seaport District offers daily tours and tastings (both in-person and virtual) and is also available for private events. Farther north,  Vermont brewery's "outdoor" seating consists of heated huts that can hold between six and 12 people. 

Harpoon's year-round beer lineup includes IPAs, pilsners , and stouts, with their signature brew being the Harpoon IPA. Seasonal beers include the Winter Warmer spiced ale, which they claim was the first seasonal craft beer ever released in New England in 1988. Limited edition brews tend to show off the brewery's New England roots, like their Boston Bruins collaboration pilsners. The Allston X-Mas IPA likewise celebrates an unofficial Boston holiday when the hordes of college students residing in the Allston neighborhood move out and leave their unwanted furniture for the taking.

Allagash Brewing Company - Portland, Maine

Allagash Brewing Company has won a dizzying amount of awards for its Belgian-style beers, including medals from the World Beer Cup, the Great American Beer Festival, and the European Beer Star. Additionally, both founder Rob Tod and brewmaster Jason Perkins have won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional and the Brewer's Association Russell Scherer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing, respectively. So yes, Allagash makes great beer.

The brewers' love for Belgium (Allagash employees are taken on a tour of the country's breweries when they hit their 5-year mark) is only matched by their love for Maine. The brewery dedicates its time and resources to  local charities  and its commitment to sustainability and the environment with recycling programs, clean water projects, and solar energy.

​​Those who want to visit the Allagash Brewing Company's tasting room can do so Thursday through Sunday. While there, you can sample beer straight from the Allagash tap and scarf down a lobster roll from local food trucks.

The Alchemist - Stowe, Vermont

The Alchemist  began as a brewpub in Waterbury, Vermont, in 2003. Several years later, it opened as a small brewery there and then launched a second facility in nearby Stowe. Today, the Stowe location offers daily guided tours, as well as limited edition beers. While The Alchemist occasionally ships its products to other states, the brewing company is primarily focused on selling its fresh, unfiltered IPAs to fellow Vermonters.

Like Allagash, The Alchemist is a certified B corporation , meaning it centers its business around positive social and environmental change. Most of the operation's energy comes from solar power, for instance. It also operates the Alchemist Foundation , which provides scholarships to local high school students who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to advance their education. The Alchemist brewing company also supports the arts by commissioning local and international artists for installations, as well as merchandise and label designs.

Victory Brewing - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Victory Brewing is a Pennsylvania beer company through and through, with four out of its five locations situated in the state. What was a Pepperidge Farm factory in Downingtown became the beer company's flagship facility in 1996. Victory has been dominating the local beer scene ever since.

The brewery abides by the motto "Brew forward," which hints at the brand's passion for innovation and furthering their community. Victory has crafted multiple award-winning beers, including Golden Monkey, Prima Pils, Storm King, and HopDevil . But it hasn't kept that success to itself. The brewing company's Brotherly Love Community Fund works to support local nonprofits, including the Back on My Feet organization, which helps secure housing and employment for homeless people.

Victory Brewing prides itself on establishing great partnerships as much as great beer. It's actually part of umbrella company Artisanal Brewing Ventures, which includes New York-based breweries Sixpoint Brewery and Southern Tier Brewing Company .

Maine Beer Company - Freeport, Maine

Maine Beer Company 's guiding principle is its motto, "Do what's right." This philosophy not only leads to excellent IPAs and ales, but helping the planet through concrete action. The brewery is a member of  1% for the Planet , which means that 1% of the company's gross sales are donated (in money or merchandise) to environmental nonprofits. So when you visit the brewery in Freeport, be happy knowing that part of every dollar is going to help our planet!

The brewery's spacious tasting room offers beers on tap and by the bottle, like the Black Barn Scottish ale and Mean Old Tom stout. There is also plenty of tasty food to pair with your favorite brew. Sit down and enjoy gourmet pizza featuring toppings like Buffalo cauliflower, lamb and tzatziki sauce, and pork with broccoli rabe. You can also find snacks such as pretzels and charcuterie boards.

​​Other Half Brewing Company - Brooklyn, New York

Other Half Brewing Company has a total of six locations: four in New York, one in Philadelphia, and another in Washington, D.C. Its flagship breweries are in Brooklyn, with the rest taking up residence in other metropolitan hubs. The one exception is its farmhouse brewery in upstate New York. Other Half mainly produces IPAs , as well as a budding line of hard seltzers, though beer lovers of all types can find the occasional stout or pilsner at any of its taprooms.

Beer enthusiasts can also  reserve private tours events at Other Half's original Taproom in Brooklyn. Walk-in tours are available Sunday through Thursday, and those who can't make it in person can reserve virtual tastings. Four selections will be sent to attendees prior to the virtual event, as individual state laws allow. If you live in the Northeast, there are plenty of ways for you to find your Other Half!

Hill Farmstead Brewery - Greensboro Bend, Vermont

Hill Farmstead Brewery has a centuries-old family history  – the Hill family helped build the town of Greensboro, Vermont, which includes a tavern founded in 1809. That tavern would prove to be the inspiration for the current Hill Farmstead Brewery, voted the best brewery in the world multiple times by RateBeer .

The rural farmhouse brewery produces an astounding variety of beers , from IPAs to bourbon barrel-aged porters. Founder and brewer Shaun Hill has worked with his team to create several unique lines, including Ancestral, Philosophical (Hill holds a degree in the subject), Single Hop, Singular, Grassroots Brewing, and various collaboration beers. Ancestral beers are named after members of the Hill family, while Philosophical beers are named after notables such as Thoreau, Nietzsche, and Heidegger.

Similarly, Hill Farmstead approaches the art of brewing beer according to what they call their seven pillars philosophy : awareness, belonging & trust, collaboration, deliberateness, inquiry, stewardship, and transparency. The company intends to put as much thought and care into community and sustainability as it does its many intriguing brews.

Fidens Brewing Company - Albany, New York

The word "fidens" is Latin for bold, confident, or courageous, and it's the creed the brewers of Fidens Brewing Company live by. It is that boldness that took a personal passion for beer and turned it into a DIY business with a learn-as-you-go approach. Fidens officially launched in 2019, and in a few brief years has already established a cult following.

Fidens Brewing Company primarily makes hoppy IPAs , but also ventures into the world of stouts from time to time. Wondering where to start? Its Necessary Means for a Necessary Means IPA took home a medal from the NYS Craft Beer Competition in 2020, so that should be a solid first choice.

Those who live in the area or happen to be driving by can buy beer straight from the brewery Wednesday through Saturday. Note that supplies are only available to go and sell on a first-come, first-served basis.

J. Wakefield Brewing - Miami, Florida

This funky Miami brewery imbues a love of pop culture into its taproom with wall-to-wall "Star Wars" murals and comic book art. Its 15 beer taps feature a number of their handcrafted sour ales , as well as a few IPAs, pilsners, and German wheat beers.

When visiting the taproom, guests can enjoy savory bites from local food trucks. J. Wakefield also has partnerships with several food companies in the area, which allows it to offer snacks like Bolivian-style empanadas and gourmet popcorn. Both the beer and the food go hand in hand to make J. Wakefield a top destination for beer enthusiasts.

All that work seems to be paying off for J. Wakefield. USA Today named the brewery's beer festival, Wakefest, one of the top 10 beer festivals in 2019. That same year, VinePair deemed the brewery one of the 10 best in America.

Trillium Brewing - Boston, Massachusetts

This New England-based beer company has several Boston locations in addition to its original Fort Point brewery, as well as one in Canton, Massachusetts, and a budding farmhouse in North Stonington, Connecticut. Visitors can drink and dine at each of its taprooms while experiencing each one's individual charms. Rose Kennedy Greenway, for instance, is a seasonal, open-air beer garden — the first in Boston's long history.

Trillium Brewing brings a variety of selections to the New England beer scene, including pale ales, stouts, oak barrel-aged blends, and even a line of hard seltzer called Soak . But its big goal is to eventually use its Connecticut farm to produce fresh fruit for the brewing process. With a focus on sustainable farming and local agriculture, Trillium will bring even more flavorful brews to the table. When that day comes, the farmhouse brewery will be open for all to visit.

Hudson Valley Brewery - Beacon, New York

Hudson Valley Brewery describes itself and its beer lineup as "somewhere between the rural and the urban, the traditional and the modern, the rustic and the industrial." One look at its product list proves exactly that. Each of their brews — IPAs, hard seltzers, lagers , sours — are inspiring, flavorful twists on traditional recipes.

At Hudson Valley Brewery, customers will find beer made with all types of fresh produce, such as blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb , and more. In 2020, VinePair named Hudson Valley Incandenza Sour IPA one of the best beers of the year. Its delicious hints of lemon and blueberry landed it in the 16th spot out of a total of 50 beers. 

The brewery's taproom is open Thursday through Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis. Wood-fired pizza by Groundlings Pizza is also available Friday through Sunday. Additionally, people living in select states can get Hudson Valley beer delivered by ordering online.

Tree House Brewing Company - Charlton, Massachusetts

What started in a small barn in Brimfield, Massachusetts, has evolved into a brewery with multiple locations across New England. Tree House Brewing Company's primary brewery can be found in Charlton, Massachusetts, which is also home to its coffee roastery and distillery.

Tree House mainly crafts IPAs and stouts, the latter of which is made with the brand's own coffee . Why does a brewery have its own roastery in the first place? By their own account, the workers at the brewery couldn't make it through each day without coffee. Since the beverage was such a big part of their work culture, they decided to blend their own roasts, such as the Aurora Blend and Paragon Espresso Blend.

Additionally, the Tree House Distillery  produces a wide array of spirits. Cocktails mixed with these liquors are currently only available at the Charlton location, though the Deerfield brewery is the only one that serves pizza.

The Veil Brewing Co. - Richmond, Virginia

The Veil Brewing Co. is a beer company focused on producing strong-tasting selections, such as hoppy ales and barrel-aged beers with higher alcohol contents. The Veil operates in four different locations — three in Richmond and one in Norfolk, Virginia — each possessing its own unique vibes.

Scott's Addition in Richmond is the brewing company's original spot, featuring industrial design and different food trucks each day. The Railroad District taproom in Norfolk is similarly sleek, and boasts a full menu curated by the chef at nearby restaurant Codex . The modern, black-on-black Forest Hill taproom also features its own special menu designed by Y Tu Mamá 's Mexican kitchen. 

Perhaps the most intriguing of all is the rustic Funkhaüst Café . This spot is known for its European flair and somewhat eccentric brews, such as Triple-Stuffed Hornswoggler (a chocolate milk stout loaded with crushed chocolate cookies) and Culminate Blackberry & Concord Grape (a spontaneously fermented ale blended with Virginia grapes and blackberries).

Aslin Beer Co. - Herndon, Virginia

While other craft breweries may focus on one or two types of beer, Virginia-based  Aslin Beer Co. aims to provide customers with brews of all kinds. Beer lovers across the spectrum can find lagers, pilsners, IPAs, sours, and more at both the Herndon and Alexandria locations. (In the future, Aslin will also be opening facilities in Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) The original Herndon location recently got a makeover, so visitors can now enjoy the brand new building and rooftop bar. 

About 30 miles southeast of Herndon is Aslin's Alexandria facility, which also houses Aslin Kitchen. Tuesday through Sunday, beer enthusiasts visiting there can savor pizza, salads, hamburgers, and more while indulging in their drink of choice. What's more, Eater  reports that Aslin has even added coffee to its lineup. More information about those roasts can be found on the new Aslin Coffee website.

Cigar City Brewing - Tampa, Florida

Cigar City Brewing is a Florida beer company that draws inspiration from its surroundings — especially the Cuban community in and around Tampa. Its name, ingredients, and taproom menu are all infused with Latin American culture. From citrusy IPAs to spiced chocolate stouts , Cigar City's beers are meant to reflect the story of Florida and its people.

The Tampa brewery has won multiple awards from the Great American Beer Festival, the Best Florida Beer Competition, and the U.S. Beer Tasting Championships. Resident Floridians and tourists alike can find out just what makes these beers so tasty when they visit any of Cigar City's three locations .

Those who go to the original facility on Spruce Street can take brewery tours, drink exclusive beers on tap, and order food from the in-house kitchen. What's more, parched travelers looking for a satisfying brew can breathe a sigh of relief when they stumble across the Cigar City brewpub inside the Tampa International Airport.

Westbrook Brewing - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

This South Carolina brewery is a Jack of all trades. Here, customers will find everything from American IPAs to Belgian-style wheat beers to fruity, sour mashes. Westbrook Brewing is particularly adept at taking traditional recipes and giving them delightful flavor infusions, such as key lime pie, raspberry, habanero pepper, lemongrass , and more. Each sip of Westbrook beer is exciting and imaginative.

The brewery's tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday and maintains a weekly food truck calendar so guests can plan ahead. Previous food offerings have included Pizza da Michelino  Neapolitan pizza and Smash City Burgers . Visitors can purchase beer cans, bottles, and crowlers. They can even bring in their own growlers for refills. South Carolina residents should also be aware that Westbrook Brewing does make beer donations to local nonprofits, as well as charitable events whose full proceeds go towards a local cause.

Kane Brewing Company - Ocean, New Jersey

The Jersey Shore is known for many things — boardwalks, zeppoles, reality TV — but what people may not know is that it's also home to the award-winning Kane Brewing Company . Located in Ocean, New Jersey, Kane produces all types of beer, including stouts, porters, IPAs, hard seltzers, and Belgian-style ales.

The brewery's Night to End All Dawns imperial stout has taken home several medals, including gold in the Wood & Barrel-Aged Strong Stout category of the 2014 (via Men's Journal ) and 2020 (via Street Insider ) Great American Beer Festival, and gold in the same category of the 2016 World Beer Cup .

The brewery is open every day of the week for beer and retail sales, while visitors have access to Kane's indoor tasting room on weekends. New Jersey residents, as well as those who live in other select states, can also order beer cans, bottles, and even kegs online.

Tired Hands Brewing Company - Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Tired Hands Brewing Company mainly produces IPAs inspired by French, Belgian, and American beer traditions, and has  won several awards . Philadelphia Magazine named Tired Hands the best brewpub in 2014, and founding brewer Jean Broillet IV was a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer category in 2016 (via Philly Voice ).

Tired Hands also has a record of donating to nonprofits such as The Humane League and Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. The brewery has even crafted  charity beers with the intent to donate some of the proceeds. A portion of the profits from TransMissions triple IPA sales, for instance, went to Trans Lifeline to support trans people.

However, despite all these good deeds, there's been controversy regarding ired Hands' brewery management. Broillet stepped down from his role at the company after allegations of sexism, racism, and a toxic work environment surfaced, per Philly Voice .

Brooklyn Brewery - Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Brewery is one of the most well-known and popular beer companies on the East Coast. Over the years, the brewery's iconic brick building has become a veritable institution in New York. Brewmaster Garrett Oliver was the first beer professional ever to receive the James Beard Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional award in 2014 (via Brewbound ), and the brewery's flagship Brooklyn Lager took home the gold at the 2018 World Beer Cup (via American Craft Beer ).

The brewing company's other selections include sour ales, IPAs, pilsners, and hard seltzers. One of their cornerstone beers is The Stonewall Inn IPA , honoring a partnership with the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, which supports LGBTQ+ people all over the world.

Sample Brooklyn Brewery's range of beers by visiting its spacious tasting room any day of the week (hours vary). Free hourly tours are available on Sundays, but private Small Batch Tours can also be booked during the week for a more in-depth experience.

Jack's Abby Craft Lagers - Framingham, Massachusetts

Those who wish to taste almost every lager imaginable should head to Jack's Abby, just outside Boston, where the brewers are quite obsessed with this type of beer. That passion has led Jack's Abby to win countless awards from the likes of the European Beer Star, the United States Beer Tasting Competition, the Great International Beer Festival, and more.

Lager lovers can visit Jack Abby's outdoor beer garden and indoor beer hall Wednesday through Sunday, where they will also find a full menu of German-inspired fare. (Schnitzel, anyone?) Tours set off at specific times every Wednesday and Sunday, so be sure to plan ahead and make a reservation.

For more experimental and barrel-aged brews, visitors will want to head to the taproom next door, Springdale . That facility has won awards in its own right, including gold at the International Beer Cup Japan.

Evil Twin Brewing - Queens, New York

Evil Twin isn't just a cool name for a brewery. Founder Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso actually has a twin named Mikkel Borg Bjergso who runs his own beer company (via  New York Times ). Evil Twin Brewing NYC has two locations: one in Brooklyn and another in Queens . Both taprooms feature a variety of beers, including ​​oak-aged lagers, IPAs, sours, stouts, and more. Flavors range greatly, from wildflower and honey to stroopwafel and salted caramel.

As far as food goes, the Ridgewood, Queens, facility hosts a Claudia's Cafe pop-up Thursday through Sunday, which offers Guatemalan bites to hungry beer enthusiasts. The Brooklyn location is unique because it sells coffee and freshly-baked pastries. Those who don't have time to sit inside (a.k.a. most New Yorkers) can grab their morning coffee to go.

Collaboration beers with other breweries are also a big part of Evil Twin's identity. The company has crafted beer in partnership with other breweries on this list, such as Cigar City's Columella ale.

NoDa Brewing Company - Charlotte, North Carolina

This North Carolina brewery consistently produces award-winning beers that have earned prizes from prestigious competitions such as the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and the U.S. Open Beer Championship. In addition to beer, the company also makes its own brand of hard seltzer,  Brizo .

NoDa has three locations around Charlotte: North End, The OG, and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. While The OG is reserved for producing small batch and wild fermentation beers, guests can head to the main brewery at North End to experience the taproom and beer garden. Visitors can take free tours of the brewery Friday through Sunday.

In acknowledgment of the fact that beer has calories, the NoDa Brewing Company also holds its own fitness events , including yoga and a weekly running group. The price of a yoga class gets participants a free beer, so you can rationalize that it all evens out.

Atlanta Brewing Co. - Atlanta, Georgia

Since its founding by a former Guinness executive in 1993, Atlanta Brewing Company has become a favorite brewery in the Southeast. Its first signature beer was the Red Brick ale, and they identified with it so much that it  changed its name to Red Brick Brewing Company for a while.

Some inventive brews are exclusive to its taproom , such as the Bikini Bottom pineapple sour ale and Bohemian Raspberry stout. When visiting the brewery in Atlanta, guests can sample any of the 20 beers on tap. While food trucks pull up from time to time, patrons can also order delivery from local restaurants.

Atlanta Brewing aims to be as sustainable and environmentally conscious as possible. The brewery has even partnered with the Georgia Aquarium — the biggest aquarium in the United States — to create aquatic-themed limited-edition releases. Previous brews such as the Whale Shark IPA and the Octopus brown ale helped raise money for conservation and research.

Highland Brewing Company - Asheville, North Carolina

Highland Brewing Co. made local history by being the first brewery to open in Asheville since Prohibition . More recently, founder Oscar Wong received the Brewers Association Recognition Award in 2020 for his pioneering work in the North Carolina beer scene.

Highland's taproom carries everything from American IPAs and porters to German-style pilsners (via Untappd ). But it's not just the beer that people come to see when they visit. The location boasts a vast meadow full of recreational activities, including walking trails, volleyball courts, and live music. Highland's private event spaces have also attracted a lot of positive attention over the years, with their Event Center and Barrel Room winning several Wedding Wire People's Choice awards. The brewing company also has a smaller taproom in downtown Asheville inside the S&W Market.

In an effort to maintain sustainability, the main brewery was made from a lot of repurposed materials. Broken kegs have been reused to make light poles, and shipping containers have been transformed into offices and bar space. The beer company also uses solar panels for energy.

Two Roads Brewing Company - Stratford, Connecticut

With an award-winning brewmaster at the helm (per Brewers Publication ), Two Roads Brewing Company has been captivating the attention of craft beer enthusiasts since its founding in 2012. The brewery is known for adventurous beers, like its fruit-forward IPAs and sour ales, as well as easy-to-drink lagers. Its second facility, Area Two Experimental Brewing, is essentially the brand's laboratory.

Both the main facility and Area Two have public taprooms, each with a distinctive beer list. Food trucks pull up to the main brewery almost daily, so guests can satisfy their hunger with bites from the likes of Urban Taqo, Wing It On, and more.

Two Roads has partnered with the University of Connecticut to bring locals a special TwoConn ale. Alumni, professors, and age-appropriate students can even find the beer at UConn sporting venues. Connecticut residents can find the collaborative brew on tap at Two Roads taprooms and at bars and restaurants across the state.

Union Craft Brewing - Baltimore, Maryland

This Baltimore brewery gets its name from the belief that beer is all about unity: that is, the union of proper ingredients and the union of people. On tap at Union Hall and Beer Garden is a collection of lagers, pilsners, IPAs, and other ales, including the brewery's very first Duckpin pale ale. The company has also been awarded medals for its German-style beers at the Great American Beer Festival (via DC Beer , Washington City Paper ).

Of course, another union worth talking about is that of beer and food. Thankfully, Union's taproom is also home to Well Crafted Kitchen , which provides guests with an array of snacks, pizzas , brats, and more. Those wishing to take a tour of the brewery can do so on Saturdays for $10 per person. That small fee not only gets you the tour but also a pint or flight of Union beer.

Whalers Brewing Company - South Kingstown, Rhode Island

Just west of Narragansett is Whalers Brewing Company, a brewery that has won numerous awards from the New York International Beer Competition, World Beer Championships, and other prestigious competitions. Head to Whalers to get a taste of its IPAs, ales, hard seltzer, and other flagship and seasonal releases. Its taproom is a playground for adults, featuring cornhole, giant Jenga, and pool tables.

The brewery doesn't make its own food, but it sometimes has food trucks offering everything from sandwiches to empanadas. On days when food trucks aren't available, Whalers encourages guests to order delivery directly to the brewery from a number of local spots, such as Chinese food from Jayd Bun or Mediterranean-inspired food from Gansett Wraps .

Whalers also hosts many different  events , including live music, paint night, and even an indoor cycling class. Reward yourself with a beer from the brewery after!

Oxbow Brewing Company - Newcastle, Maine

Oxbow Brewing Company is a truly enchanting farmhouse brewery in rural Maine. The company name was inspired by the many winding bends of the local rivers, which fit with brewers' philosophy of taking the long path — not the easy path — to brewing fine beers. The original Newcastle location and its rustic taproom are surrounded by walking trails, a scenic pond, and a fruit farm which is used to cultivate fresh ingredients for some of Oxbow's beers. The company's farmhouse ales take cues from European traditions, and are crafted with soft spring water from an onsite artesian well.

Oxbow also has two other locations. The Portland facility, known as Oxbow Blending & Bottling, is the home of the brand's sours and aged beers. The Portland taproom has a much more urban vibe, with rotating art galleries on display. The third location is the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford. Like the Newcastle brewery, this taproom is located on a beautiful patch of farmland. Here, patrons will find wood-fired pizzas, specialty crafted sodas, and more to satisfy their cravings.

Voodoo Brewing Co. - Meadville, Pennsylvania

The Rachocki brothers, who own Voodoo Brewing Co., just about emptied their bank accounts to build this brewing business. Now, they have an award-winning brewery franchise that has grown exponentially since its founding in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 2005. Voodoo has taken its mission to craft bold and inventive beers outside of its home state, opening locations in Ohio, Indiana, and eventually a new tap room in Nevada.

Still, their original Meadville taproom remains open, and people can order from a full pub menu offering appetizers, seafood, pizza, salads, and sandwiches. (Penn State faculty and of-age students can also count themselves lucky, as they have their own Voodoo taproom just off campus.)

There is something for everyone on the Voodoo beer list, from Belgian-style ales to American porters to West Coast-style IPAs. The brand is instantly recognizable by its labeling, which features strange, brightly colored cartoons.

Tröegs Independent Brewing - Hershey, Pennsylvania

A self-described "wayward home for the perpetually curious," Tröegs Independent Brewing follows the Trogner brothers' ideas wherever they may lead. That's usually someplace good, seeing as how the brewery's  Troegenator double bock beer has won multiple awards from all sorts of international competitions. Other selections include chocolate stouts, citrusy pale ales, and German-style wheat beers, to name just a few.

Located down the road from the world-famous Hersheypark, Tröegs Brewery offers guided tours (which USA Today named one of the best in America), an extensive tap list, and a rather eye-popping food menu that offers everything from rosemary popcorn to duck confit . The brewery also hosts an annual Art of Tröegs contest, which sees fans submitting beer-themed artwork. The winner's piece is transformed into a beer label, while the artist also receives a cash prize and other fun brewery perks. 

Lawson's Finest Liquids - Waitsfield, Vermont

For a brewery that began in 2006  in a hand-built barn, Lawson's Finest Liquids has seen tremendous success. From the most humble beginnings, it's become not only a pillar for its community but a multi-award-winning business. Its brews have repeatedly medaled at the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival. It's also produced IPAs that have twice been named National IPA Champion (via Burlington Free Press ).

When Lawson's Finest Liquids opened its much larger Waitsfield location in 2018, it was finally able to establish an indoor taproom and outdoor beer garden. The brewery also offers appetizers and small plates such as nachos , pretzels, and locally-made artisan cheeses. Going up to Vermont for the weekend? Lawson's original brewhouse is now an Airbnb !

The enduring success of this independent Vermont brewery, they say , is a commitment to excellence, authenticity, fun, community, and innovation. To carry out this vision, Lawson's Finest established the Social Impact Program, which has raised over $1 million in the last several years for local organizations.

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Home » North America » USA » East Coast

EPIC East Coast Road Trip Guide (2024)

If you want to explore America’s past and sample some of its splendor, then you can’t go wrong with an East Coast road trip!

On the East Coast, you’ll discover some of the most significant historical sites in the entire nation, not to mention a huge array of landscapes and an even greater diversity of people. While the West Coast gets most of the attention for its weather, natural beauty, and upbeat residents, the East Coast is usually considered the foundation of the nation.

But planning a road trip alongside the Atlantic Ocean can be stressful. With so many states and so many places to stop, it can be hard to know what NOT to miss and what you’d be better off skipping.

And that’s exactly why I wrote this East Coast Road Trip insider guide : so YOU know exactly what to do and where to stay along the USA’s Eastern Seaboard.  We’ll cover a wide range of topics over the course of this article including some East Coast road trip itineraries, food, lodgings, and sticking to a budget during your vehicular adventure.

Now without further ado, here’s everything you need to know to have an EPIC East Coast Road Trip!

A note on the format of this guide: Because the East Coast is massive and we have already written separate guides on New England, New York City, and Florida, this article will often refer you to other sources too. In order to best understand the East Coast, it’s very advisable to read these separate articles alongside this guide.

East Coast USA Road Trips Costs

Where to stay on your east coast road trip, best east coast road trips, places to visit on the east coast, east coast road trip tips, apartments and hotels on the east coast, renting a car or campervan on the east coast, final thoughts on an east coast road trip.

It’s hard to say how much the average cost of a road trip up the East Coast will be because there are so many routes one could take, not to mention each state is more or less expensive.

Almost every expense associated with going on an East Coast driving trip, including gas, lodging, food, drink, and whatnot, will vary depending on the state which, again, makes costs difficult to gauge.

I can say with certainty, however, that going on a road trip along the East Coast–like traveling in the USA as a whole– will not be cheap. All of the aforementioned costs add up very quickly and can be a substantial burden on your wallet. This is especially true if you’re the type of traveler who doesn’t pay attention to their spending…

Luckily you have us; we’re always looking for ways to travel cheap and love sharing the best tricks with you, the readers. Even if we are unable to travel on $10/day like in our favorite countries, we can at least help you minimize expenses. Plus, there are plenty of East Coast budget adventures to be had.

A ballpark estimate for an East Coast road trip budget would be around $175-$225 . This covers food, lodging, a rental car, gas, and entertainment.

There are a couple of things that you need to be mindful of while driving in the USA :

• Gas will be your biggest expense as you’ll be traveling a lot; more than you’re probably expecting.
• Hotels and lodging will be very expensive in popular destinations e.g. New York City, Florida beach resorts, the national parks, etc.
• Food will cost more or less depending on how often you eat out and how much you cook for yourself.

Average Costs of an East Coast Road Trip

This breaks down exactly how much you can expect to spend while traversing the East Coast.

Rental Car: $30 – $100/day

RV Rental: $100 – $300/day

Gallon of Gas: $3.50 +

Cheap Airbnb: $80 – $100

Hotel room: $130 – $150

Hostel: $15 – $35

Campground: $0 – $50

Sandwich: $4 – $9

Beer at a bar : $4 – $8

Coffee: $2-$5

Attractions : $0-$20

Dinner for two: $25 – $75

Looking for specific accommodation recommendations? Here are some of the top places to stay on an East Coast road trip:

Best East Coast Mountain Getaway: Bear Ridge Lodge

The Bear Ridge Lodge in New Hampshire is the absolute PERFECT East Coast road trip stop. The beautiful, secluded log cabin has been featured in several magazines and boasts epic mountain views without any neighbors in sight. You can relax on the beautiful porch, use the stone fireplace as a nightcap, or start a hike anytime as miles of trails are right outside the door. The lodge can sleep up to 8 guests and is a 15-20 minute drive from restaurants and stores.

Best East Coast Oceanside Cottage: Island Beach Living

Located on Pass a Grille beach alongside Florida’s West Coast, this idyllic oceanside cottage is the perfect beach stop on your East Coast road trip. Peaceful, secluded and free from the perils of mass tourism that plague most of Florida’s beaches, this cottage is literally steps from the ocean, and comes with a cycle! You can also utilize the full kitchen, or if not, several restaurants and shops are also within walking distance. This beach cottage can host two guests, and also has an outdoor shower to wash off after a sandy day!

Best Airbnb in Boston: Historic Beacon Hill Apartment

This Boston Airbnb is the best in the city for several reasons. First off, it’s located in a historic brownstone and is just minutes from the T and just a bit longer to some of Boston’s most iconic attractions. The booking gives you the entire apartment, which was recently renovated and can accommodate up to 3 guests. The picturesque space is well maintained and even has a fully functioning kitchen if you want to save money on meals!

• Boston to Washington D.C – 7 days
• East Coast Historical Road Trip – 14 days
• Ultimate East Coast Road Trip – 21 days

Below is a list of suggested itineraries for driving the East Coast of America. Varying from 7 days to 21 days in length, they cover many of the East Coast’s top attractions.

Each itinerary provides day-by-day highlights, which are meant to give you some good East Coast road trip ideas.

The USA is  blisteringly beautiful. It’s also blisteringly expensive! Visiting two national parks in day can run you $70+ in entry fees.

Orrrr… you kick those entry fees to the curb, buy an annual ‘America the Beautiful Pass’ for $79.99,  and get unlimited access to ALL 2000+ federally managed sites in the States totally FREE!

You do the math. 😉

Boston to Washington D.C – 1-Week East Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary

This is a great East Coast road trip if you only have 7 days, and you want to explore some of the USA’s best and most historic cities: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

With 7 days you can see each of these cities’ highlights and best cultural attractions, and camp one night in Shenandoah National Park.

• Boston’s Freedom Trail
• Fenway Park Walking Tour and Game
• Exploring Manhattan and Brooklyn
• Philly’s Liberty Bell
• The Lincoln Memorial
• White House
• Shenandoah NP and the Blue Mountains

Hyatt Regency Boston

Freehand New York

Hotel Baron (D.C.)

• Boston – Sam Adams Brewery
• Brooklyn – Brooklyn Brewery, Smorgasburg
• Philadelphia – Monk’s Cafe, Evil Genius, Yards, Love City, and Crime and Punishment for a good brew. Northern Liberties neighborhood, and Steve’s Prince of Steaks for… cheesesteak.
• Washington D.C. – Adams Morgan and The Shaw for nightlife.

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

• Governor’s Ball (June in NY)
• Tribeca Film Festival (NY)
• Philly Beer Festival (February)
• By the People Art Festival (Washington D.C in June)

Things to Do in 7 Days on the East Coast

• See the highlights of Boston
• Watch a game at Fenway Park
• Walk along the Freedom Trail
• Explore the Boston Commons
• Go on a Little Italy food tour
• Hit the food markets in NY
• Eat and go out in SoHo and Chelsea
• Walk the Highline
• Cycle in Central Park
• Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Get some views from the top of the Empire State Building
• Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
• Explore Brooklyn’s nightlife
• Eat some NY pizza .
• Walk around historic Philadelphia including Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
• The Betsy Ross House
• Visit the Museum of the American Revolution .

Explore the historical sites of Washington D.C.:

• Lincoln Memorial
• Washington Monument
• Capitol Hill
• The Smithsonian Museum
• The White House

PLUS take a scenic drive in the beautiful Shenandoah National Park and camp in the woods.

Many of the activities on this itinerary are great for history buffs and learning about the East Coast’s culture.

Historical Route from Boston to Savannah – 2-Week East Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary

With an extra week, you can really explore the East Coast’s most significant historical and cultural attractions. Any history buffs will love this East Coast itinerary as it will start with you exploring Boston and end all the way down to Savannah, Georgia, exploring some of the country’s most significant attractions along the way.

Along the way, you’ll pass through NYC, New Jersey, Philadelphia and the Gettysburg, D.C, Williamsburg + Fort Raleigh, and the must-visit Charleston.

• Plymoth Plantation
• Fort Raleigh
• Roanoke Island
• Myrtle Beach
• Apple Hostels of Philadelphia
• ARC THE HOTEL Washington DC
• Charleston – The Obstinate Daughter, Lewis Barbecue, and Bangkok Lounge for drinks and karaoke.
• Savannah – The Grey and Fox and Fig
• Scenic route on the Carolina coast to Savannah
• The entire Blue Ridge Parkway
• Savannah Music Festival (March)
• MOJA Arts Festival (Charleston)

Things to Do in 14 Days on the East Coast

Here are some of the best things to do in 2 weeks on the East Coast!

• Visit Bunker Hill
• Spend a day at Plimoth Plantation
• Visit the New-York Historical Society
• And the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• Spend a day at Battery Park
• Visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
• National Museum for African American History
• National Gallery of Art

Visit Colonial Williamsburg and the first English settlement

PLUS stop by Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, visit the plantations outside Charleston, and walk the cobblestone streets of Savannah.

Ultimate East Coast USA Road Trip – 3-Week Itinerary

This is the  ultimate 3 week East Coast itinerary. While the previous itinerary focuses on cities and historical sites, this itinerary also leaves plenty of room to discover this side of the coast’s best beaches, hikes, and parks.

Unlike the previous routes, we’ll be starting in Maine, one of the United States’ gems. If you like good seafood and great beer, you’re going to love Maine.

Next, you’ll continue down the East Coast in a similar fashion as itinerary #2, but will also visit Acadia National Park (in Maine) Shenandoah National Park, Asheville, and the Smoky Mountains.

This is the best itinerary for you if you want to explore some of the country’s most beautiful forests and beaches as well as the most eccentric concrete jungles. Make sure to check out some awesome bed and breakfasts in Maine along the way.

• Acadia National Park
• Aloft Miami Brickell (Miami)
• Generator Hostel (Miami)
• Scenic route on the Carolina Coast to Savannah
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Florida Keys highway
• Asheville Wine & Food Festival (August),
• Brewgrass in Asheville (October)
• Daytona 500 (February)
• Ultra Miami Music Festival (March)

Things to Do in 21 Days on the East Coast

• Grab a lobster roll in Portland Maine and explore the craft brew scene.
• Watch the sunrise in Acadia National Park before anyone else in the US.
• Stop by Camden Hills State Park on your way to Boston to gawk at some quintessential New England coastline.
• Explore some of the country’s most famous campuses like MIT and Harvard in Cambridge.
• Outside of Boston, visit Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau lived.
• Visit NYC’s best landmarks and neighborhoods.
• Eat yourself full in Queens.
• Visit all of Philadelphia’s historical landmarks.
• Explore Washington D.C’s National Mall.
• Visit some of the country’s best museums like the Smithsonian.
• Drive along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah.
• Camp in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Visit the hipster town of Asheville and Biltmore Estate.
• Explore the Charleston plantations and Carolina coastline
• Check out the Savannah Historical Center.
• Driving through Florida: Amelia Island, Castillo de San Marcos, Daytona Beach, and every beach in between.
• Hang out at on the beaches of Clearwater.
• Explore the historic city of St. Augustine.
• Take a boat ride in the Everglades.
• Explore Wynwood, stay on Miami Beach, and admire Brickell’s galleries.
• Shopping in Miami.
• Hit the town at night too; this is one of the best places to party in the USA..

PLUS, for more nature, visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and take a  Key West road trip to the Florida Keys, where you can check out places like Bahia Honda State Park, Key Largo, the southernmost point of the US and, of course, the legendary Key West itself.

Below is a list of the best road trip destinations on the East Coast. Study them well and decide which ones you like the most.

New England Road Trip

New England is often considered the cradle of American society because of its role in the early colonial days. Many of America’s original colonies were founded here but much of their remnants still remain. It’s one of the most quaint places to visit in the United States .

Those on a road trip on the Northeast Coast of the USA will find a treasure trove of historical sites, not to mention amazing coastal scenery, hearty food, and memorable locals too.

New England is a large region that is composed of 6 different states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, so in this section, we’re only going to be able to highlight the best of New England.

Staying in Boston is guaranteed to be a good time. It’s one of the best cities on the East Coast and it’s a truly awesome place to explore.

When in Boston, be sure to check popular local attractions like Fenway Park, Boston Commons, Trinity Church, and Uptown. Try attending a sports match, which is like church for Bostonians, and be sure to grab a drink in a local New England pub. I also HIGHLY recommend staying in Cape Cod for a few days if you get the chance.

The rest of New England is defined by pastoral villages, rugged coastline, and expansive woods. A bed and breakfast in Vermont is the perfect place to unwind in lush, mountainous greenery while famous coastal destinations like Acadia National Park, and the Connecticut Coastline are unlike any other beaches in the USA.

There are a ton of awesome bed and breakfasts in Connecticut where you can stay in a historical building and enjoy that welcoming East Coast hospitality.

Also consider driving through the New England countryside, particularly around the Litchfield Hills, Mohawk Trail, and the White Mountains. If you’re on an East Coast road trip during the autumn, you’ll be treated with the magnificent fall foliage that New England is so famous for.

New York Road Trip

New York, New York. It is the very symbol of the USA and probably its most well-known city. It is a bewildering busy place with an insane amount of people, who bounce around the city like atoms in a nuclear reactor. New Yorkers like to say that if they can make it in this city, then they can make it anywhere because where else could they feel so alive?

Traveling in New York City shouldn’t be taken lightly–the city is an absolutely enormous place that has more districts than one can count. It would take a lifetime to explore all of NYC’s neighborhoods – and I’m about to explain New York in the course of around 300 words. If you think this is a vastly underwhelming number, then we agree.

NYC is one of those places that’s absolutely worth spending some time in– staying in NYC is quite the experience!

New York is one of the greatest economic engines on the entire planet. This city churns out more money than most countries. Its skyline, which is one of the most recognizable in the world, is a representative of the city’s financial success. At the same time, New Yorkers, reaping the benefits of the economy, like to celebrate after a paycheck, often.

Hotels and Airbnbs are often expensive in and around the Big Apple, but elsewhere in the state you can look at staying in New York motels which are designed for road trippers!

As for gastronomy, people love to eat and drink in NYC. This city hosts one of the craziest nightlives in the world and more world-class restaurants than I can bother to imagine. Meeting up with friends after a hard day’s work or just visiting a local attraction like the MET, One World Trade Center or Central Park , is undoubtedly the top thing to do in New York.

There’s more to New York than just the city. Be sure to visit the oft-forgotten Upstate New York. Niagara Falls , the Hudson Valley , Catskills , and the picturesque stays in the Adirondacks should all be included on a road trip from New York.

New Jersey Road Trip

New Jersey is often seen as the butt-end of New York City – a state that only serves as a giant suburb for New Yorkers who want to settle down but still be close to the city. While its close proximity to the top places in NYC is certainly a boon – you can literally see Manhattan across the Hudson in New Jersey – it’s much more than New York’s backyard.

New Jersey has a lot to offer those on a road trip down the East Coast USA, including mountains, some of the best beaches in the Northeast, and lots of agrotourism opportunities. In fact, a bed and breakfast in New Jersey is so much cheaper than staying in the Big Apple, that many tourists visiting New York opt to stay in Jersey City/Newark and commute in.

The greatest density of people in New Jersey is in Jersey City/Newark , which, to little surprise, is right next to New York City. These places are often used as a cheaper base for exploring the city but are worthy of seeing as well.

As for what to do in Jersey City , you can eat and drink just as well as in NYC and, best of all, enjoy the best views of skyline without having to deal with the massive crowds. Newark has an excellent selection of museums and art galleries.

Most who visit New Jersey head straight for the beaches, which are very fine. Atlantic City , infamous for its gangsters and casinos, is the most visited coastal city in New Jersey and arguably the most famous resort town on the East Coast. Though many come here for more carnal reasons, Atlantic City still benefits from some gorgeous beaches and surfing opportunities.

Other popular beach getaways include Belmar, Asbury Park , the Wildwoods , and Sandy Hook . You can also opt to stay on Cape May for a truly spectacular Jersey seaside experience.

Few people realize that New Jersey has mountains! The Kittatinny Mountains , a subsection of the Appalachians, run along the western edge of the state and offers many hiking trails. Further south is the expansive Pine Barrens , which is great for camping and berry picking.

Pennsylvania Road Trip

Pennsylvania is one of the most historically significant states in the entire USA. The state has been the theater for many of America’s most important revolutionary events and has also been the birthplace of many of its greatest industries.

Coal, steel, mining, and even Amish woodworking are among Pennsylvania’s proudest exports and each of these paint a clear picture of what the state is today. A road trip through Pennsylvania will be an excellent insight into middle American life, both old and new.

You can’t pass through the state without visiting Philadelphia , which is one of the most historical cities in the USA. Philadelphia’s most important landmarks include the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall , the latter of which is where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Philadelphia also hosts a wide variety of museums and historic sites that are some of the finest on the East Coast. Most famous is the Philadelphia Museum of Art , which, aside from having an excellent collection, also hosts the steps that Rocky Balboa trained on.

The rest of Pennsylvania is mostly rural. Much of Pennsylvania’s natural splendor is found here, and it’s particularly beautiful if you stay around the Poconos , Lake Eerie, and the Laurel Highlands . Famously, the Amish also live in the Pennsylvania countryside, mostly around Lancaster .

If you make it as far as Pittsburgh in the western portion of Pennsylvania, you’ll be rewarded. Pittsburgh was once the steel capital of the USA and, though it had a couple of rough years, is now becoming one of the coolest East Coast cities. There are plenty of great places to stay in Pittsburgh too.

Maryland and Delaware Road Trip

Maryland and Delaware are two of more historically significant states in the country. Much of their two histories are defined by the vital Chesapeake Bay , which served as an extremely important waterway during colonial days.

Nowadays, Maryland and Delaware are pretty quiet and mostly act as residences for rich folk from DC. The states still benefit from being located next to the Chesapeake – the seafood here is some of the best on the East Coast and there are lots of little coastal haunts worth checking out. These, in addition to the many historical attractions, make both states worth seeing.

Baltimore , Maryland is the largest city in the region and hosts the densest collection of attractions. Staying in Baltimore , made famous for its criminal elements thanks to The Wire , is not nearly as dangerous as it used to be and is actually one of the most desirable cities on the East Coast.

It has several interesting neighborhoods -like eclectic Fell’s Point , vibrant Hampden , and the artsy, somewhat ritzy Midtown – that make Baltimore worth visiting. Visit these areas and be sure to grab a famous Blue Crab around the Inner Harbor .

East of Baltimore is the Chesapeake Bay and the Delmarva Peninsula, which is where you’ll find most the region’s coastal charm. The Delmarva is shared by both Maryland and Delaware. Interestingly, the peninsula is culturally unique from the rest of the Atlantic states in that it identifies more with the South for both historical and geographic reasons. You’ll find many awesome cabins in Maryland to make a pit stop in these coastal towns.

Delaware is a very small state situated almost entirely on the Delmarva Peninsula . Almost all of the state’s attractions are found in Wilmington and on the coast.

Although it’s the largest city in Delaware, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Wilmington aside from maybe visiting nearby Brandywine Country . The Delaware Coast at least has some nice beaches. Noteworthy Delaware beaches include Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach .

You can also check out some of the cool best bed and breakfasts in Delaware , many of which are ideally located close to the beach!

Washington DC Road Trip

Washington DC is the glorious yet under-privileged nation’s capitol. It’s a perfect example of American exceptionalism and, at the same time, economic stratification. At the end of the day, staying in Washington DC is one of the best cities on the East Coast to visit, if not for its sheer beauty then for its relevant social dynamics.

Few can argue against how gorgeous the city of Washington DC is. The city itself is the product of a city planning movement that was meant to represent a new age in America. As such, Washington DC is designed to be a very modern metropolis with perfect gridwork and several large areas designated for monuments.

Most of DC’s top things to do monuments are located in or near the Mall District – a 2-mile long park that runs through the center of the city.

Most of the city’s greatest landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument , the Smithsonian Museum , and the White House are located in this park. The Mall District is certainly one of the must-see places on any East Coast road trip route and makes for a very lovely day of walking.

On the edges of the Mall are the rest of Washington DC’s most iconic places . North is Adams Morgan and The Shaw , which is where you’ll find much of the city’s surprisingly active nightlife.

East is Capitol Hill where most of the United States’ politics are done. South is the gorgeous Jefferson Memorial and, across the Potomac River, the hallowed Arlington Cemetery .

One should definitely add the outskirts of the city to their Washington DC itinerary to experience a “realer” side of the capital, where gentrification is in full effect. Much of DC’s satellite neighborhoods, where most natural-born residents are from, were socially neglected in the 90s.

Nowadays, these districts are being renovated aggressively and, in the process, are losing their identity. Visit H Street, Columbia Heights , and the Near Northeast for a taste of the new DC, both the good and bad of it.

Virginia Road Trip

Virginia is a transition state where Southern culture begins to take hold. As the former capital of the US Confederacy during the Civil War, the state is certainly not lacking its historical landmarks.

Virginia also has some of the finest scenery in the Eastern United States–you’ll even find cool wonders like the Natural Bridge State Park. Those on a road trip down the East Coast will be both delighted and captured by Virginia’s beautiful cabins that give a full dose of nature.

Richmond is the capital of Virginia. It’s a very old and historically significant city that has been around since the Colonial days. Much of its original architecture was destroyed in a great fire that occurred after the Confederates fled the city but, regardless, Richmond is still full of history and pride.

Virginia Airbnbs are plentiful in Richmond and beyond–do try them out for a more local, residential feel.

Richmond is a fairly spread-out urban area with several neighborhoods. Strewn sparsely among them are several museums dedicated to everything from poetry to historic landmarks. Aside from these, Richmond is also an arc for art and music and there are several clubs spread throughout the city.

The Virginia Coastline is where you’ll find the largest population in Virginia in addition to the usual beachside resorts. Here you’ll find Virginia Beach, Chesapeake , and Norfolk , which sort of combine to form their own metropolitan area. This part of Virginia has lots of excellent beaches to lay on but most of them are family-oriented. Staying in Virginia Beach is a great choice if you want to relax for a bit.

The interior of Virginia is mountainous and is home to a couple of beautiful national parks, like Shenandoah . Many people visit Virginia to see these parks and make road trips on the gorgeous Skyline Drive .

There are many quaint bed and breakfasts in Virginia that offer an authentic experience and are usually in renovated historical buildings. I highly recommend checking one out and experiencing that warming East Coast hospitality.

You can navigate this route all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains if you want, and can take a break at any time to go on hikes or to visit local landmarks. The Natural Bridge and the town of Winchester are good stops.

Consider taking part in the Brew Ridge Trail , which is one of the best East Coast brewery road trips!

North Carolina Road Trip

If there were one Mid-Atlantic state that offered the most, then it would probably be North Carolina . North Carolina has beaches, interesting cities, awesome mountains, and, of course, plenty of southern charm.

There are several urban centers in North Carolina. Charlotte is the largest city in the state and is becoming increasingly hip each and every day with more and more things to do . There are many cool Charlotte Airbnbs to choose from for your stay.

It’s a working man’s city with a booming economy and growing entertainment district that will soon be the next Southern jewel. It is, admittedly at the moment, still a bit dull compared to some other East Coast cities though. But you can find some cool and trendy North Carolina Airbnbs to enjoy your road trip stop at–for a much better rate than New England, that’s for sure.

Raleigh and the surrounding communes of Chapel Hill and Durham are much more fun. These cities are home to several universities, including the popular North Carolin State University and Duke , which means that there are lots of young people looking to have a good time.

The cities themselves are often ranked as being some of the most livable in the country and so make for great East Coast road trip stops.

The North Carolina Coast is awesome, filled with white sandy beaches and some of the best destinations for an East Coast road trip. Here you’ll find the extremely historical Roanoke Island as well as Kitty Hawk aka the birthplace of modern aviation. Some of the best beaches in North Carolina are Holden, Carova, Carolina, and Corolla .

North Carolina’s greatest treasure may be the fabled Great Smoky Mountains , which is home to some fantastic hiking trails. Cloaked in mist and legends of bootleggers, the Smokies are one of the most storied parts of the USA and, consequently, the most visited national park as well.

Be sure to stay in Asheville while in the Smokies, which is hands down one of the best East Coast cities to visit. Asheville has an amazing art and beer scene, and is often compared to eccentric places like Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon. The grand Biltmore Estate is also near Asheville.

Charleston to Savannah Road Trip

Charleston (South Carolina) and Savannah (Georgia) are two cities that are fighting for your attention! Like squabbling children who want mommy to listen to them, these two cities have been in a fierce competition for generations. Visiting both of these cities will definitely be a highlight on your East Coast USA road trip.

Charleston is often considered to be the quainter and more intimate alternative to Savannah. It’s a small city that hosts some of the most well-preserved Southern architecture in the region. The French Quarter, Magnolia Plantation, Rainbow Row , and Boone Hall are all wonderful examples. A night in Charleston should definitely be prioritized, as should the epic Charleston City Market.

Savannah, on the other hand, is often seen as the larger and more charged of the two cities. As the birthplace of Georgia and a vital economic center for the South, a stay in Savannah has become much grander and, some locals would argue, more fun than Charleston.

Though Savannah lacks some of the singularly amazing landmarks that Charleston has, it still has that classy Antebellum style that we love about the South.

Savannah’s Historic Quarter is one of the largest in the USA and is most well-known for its gorgeous cobblestone streets and large public squares. Forsyth Park is a fantastic place to spend some time in, and there are also a lot of historic Georgia vacation rentals you can spend your trip in. Taking a walking tour in Savannah is arguably one of the best things to do on an East Coast road trip.

In the end, there are too many intangibles when it comes to Charleston and Savannah. The best way to experience these cities is just to visit them and compare the two yourself. Note how each prepares local Southern food and how each has worked to preserve their respective images.

Both the states of South Carolina and Georgia are much bigger than Charleston and Savannah. There are also lots of things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids. Consider visiting this beach resort town in South Carolina for your family getaway. Alternatively, head to Kiawah Island for an ocean escape.

A ways inland is Atlanta , which is the largest city in Georgia and arguably the cultural capital of the Deep South.

Florida Road Trip

Welcome to Florida ! Home to amazing tropical beaches, abundant sunshine, and most of the East Coast’s retirees. If you’ve been craving some Vitamin C and some delicious Latin food, you should be very excited to visit Florida.

If you’ve made the arduous road trip from Maine to Florida, congratulations – your beach chair and pina colada are waiting for you.

Florida is a gorgeous state with a shit ton of attractions and cities to visit. Staying in Florida is sure to be one hell of an experience. There isn’t another state quite like it, for better or for worse.

In order to better understand the Sunshine state, we highly recommend you read it.

The first place most people think when they hear Florida is Miami. (Cue corny Will Smith song.) Though much of what you hear about Miami is true – it’s glamorous, full of amazing beaches, and sometimes a shitshow – there’s a lot more to it.

Visiting Miami also means getting to experience an amazing art scene, which is best experienced in the Design District, Wynwood , and Midtown neighborhoods.

Thanks to its enormous immigrant population, Miami also has some most authentic Latin and Caribbean communes outside of their respective regions. Be sure to visit Little Havana and Little Haiti for the amazing cultures and food.

While Miami is safe for tourists, avoiding the neighborhoods of Overtown, Liberty City, and Opa Locka are musts. Luckily, there’s nothing for travelers to do in those places anyway.

The rest of Florida is defined mostly by endless stretches of beach, swamps, and Southern hospitality. The Everglades are one of the most important wetlands in the nation and are an impressive natural wonder.

Stunning beaches are a dime a dozen in Florida though the ones around the Emerald Coast, Tampa Bay, Florida Keys, and Atlantic Coast are particularly great (and yes, that’s just about everywhere.)

The only thing more numerous than beaches in Florida is Southern folk. Contrary to popular belief, only the area around Miami is predominately Latin – Central and Northern Florida are more similar to the Deep South. Expect lots of BBQ, fried gator, and charm. Places to stay in St. Augustine still have much of their Spanish colonial history and make great places to stay for a rest stop.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Off The Beaten Path East Coast Road Trip Ideas

Want to expand your road trip on the East Coast? Try connecting it with one of these other regions! They’re a bit off the beaten path but are worth visiting.

Why not just continue all the way into the Great White North for some good Canadian fun, eh?! With lovely people, hugely fun cities, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in North America, it’s no surprise that visiting Canada tops many’s bucketlist.

Visit the likes of Montreal , Toronto , Nova Scotia , and Newfoundland to experience some of the best of Canada.

2. Appalachia

The Appalachian Mountains are the greatest mountain chain on the East Coast, which separates it from the Midwestern and Great Plains regions. It is a relatively isolated place that, over the years, has developed its own distinct culture and identity. Renting a cabin in West Virginia will give you a real look into Appalachian life, which is notably different from most other US states.

Tennessee and Kentucky, though Southern leaning, are arguably a part of this region. There is no better way to experience the Appalachians than the epic Appalachian Trail, which traverses a staggering 2,200 miles and takes over 6 months to complete.

Perhaps you’re the type who likes frigid weather and lots of dairy products? Make a detour to the Midwest then for a chance to experience some of the warmest hospitality in the country.

Surrounding the Great Lakes are welcoming states like Michigan and its up-and-coming capital Detroit, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois that have been the subject of much love and ridicule (because of those funny accents). The Midwest hosts a number of cool cities–you cant go wrong with a visit to Chicago or Minneapolis.

4. Deep South

If you’re looking for pleasant winter weather and a chance to experience more Southern comfort, why not head further inland into the Deep South to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. If you drive through Alabama, check out some of the cool and unusual hotels in Birmingham and stay for a few extra days to sample some of the real staples of Southern living.

Larger cities are quite cosmopolitan–you can’t drive through the region without visiting New Orleans ! On the other hand, states like Mississippi and Alabama are where things just get plain weird.

Historical East Coast Road Trip Attractions

Want to travel through America’s history? Then stop by one of these many historical East Coast road trip attractions to learn more about how the US was made!

• Bunker Hill (Charlestown, Massachusetts) – Site of one of the earliest and most important battles in the American Revolutionary War. A granite obelisk now stands at this location. One of the first monuments erected in the USA.
• Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth, Massachusetts) – An open-air museum located on grounds of the former Plymouth Colony. Attempts to recreate life as the settling English pilgrims experienced it.
• Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) – Battleground for the largest battle of the American Civil War. Gettysburg was a decisive victory for the Union and it proved to be a turning point in the conflict. A sobering cemetery and military park are the only remains of the fight.
• Mt Vernon (Alexandria, Virginia) – Former home and plantation of the USA’s first president, George Washington. Open 365 days per year as ordained by the president himself.
• Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia) – A section of modern Williamsburg that was preserved in order to appear like an original colonial settlement. Includes American colonial buildings, educational tours, and actors dressed in anachronistic apparel.
• Biltmore Estate (North Carolina) – An enormous mansion built by the Vanderbilts, one of the foremost tycoon families of the American Gilded Age. Still owned by the Vanderbilts and still the largest private dwelling in the USA.
• Fort Raleigh (North Carolina) – The preserved remains of the Roanoke Colony, the first-ever English settlement in the USA. Shrouded in mystery as the residents famously disappeared after they lost contact with the crown.
• St. Augustine (Florida) – A modern-day city that actually has some of the most significant Spanish colonial architecture in the country. The impressive Castillo de San Marcos is the grandest and most popular attraction in the town.

National Parks on the East Coast

The national parks are among the must see places on the East Coast as they offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the region. Consider stopping by one of the following parks…

• Acadia (Maine) – A jewel of the Northeastern coastline. Features some of the best and most rugged coastal scenery in the United States. Great beaches, great fall foliage, and great attractions for a road trip up the East Coast. For easy access to the national park, we recommend staying in Bar Harbor as it’s one of the nearest towns.
• Shenandoah (Virginia) – A slim national park that is mostly visited by those making the superlative Skyline Drive. Mountainous scenery that bursts into color during the autumn. Lots of hidden vistas and waterfalls available to hikers.
• Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina) – One of the best places on the East Coast, though it’s actually a bit far from the ocean. Spending time in the Great Smoky Range means visiting the highest mountain chain in the entire Eastern USA. One of the most ecologically diverse places in the USA and officially the most visited national park in the country. The “smokey” title comes from the frequent fog that likes to hang around the mountains.
• Congaree (South Carolina) – A very large and well-preserved tract of hardwood forest that hosts some of the largest trees on the East Coast of the USA. It floods regularly, which brings in huge amounts of nutrients for local ecosystems. Overall, a very ecologically diverse park.
• Everglades (Florida) – Massive wetlands that are one of the most important natural habitats in the USA make Everglades National Park a must see. Features endless groves, glades, and inlets that hide several threatened species including the Florida panther, manatee, and the American crocodile. Usually explored by airboat or on foot via several trails.
• Dry Tortugas (Florida) – A small chain of keys that hosts the astounding Fort Jefferson, which is the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. Being a part of the iconic Florida Keys , Dry Tortugas also has excellent diving opportunities and that beautiful Caribbean water. Can only be reached by boat.
• Biscayne (Florida) – A offshore park that shelters an enormous amount of aquatic life. A very popular place among divers and fishers. 90% of the park is located in the ocean so camping and hiking opportunities are pretty limited.

East Coast Scenic Drives

Choose any one of these scenic routes listed below to gain more East Coast road trip ideas! Each one features more of the best places on the East Coast to visit.

• Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia/North Carolina) – The most scenic road trip on the East Coast. A very long road that traverses the Blue Ridge Mountains and connects Shenandoah with the Great Smoky Mountains.
• Skyline Drive (Virginia) – A road that runs the length of Shenandoah National Park, which is arguably the most popular destination in the park. Offers breathtaking views of the mountains and also provides access to several hiking trails, including the ACT. Connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway in the south.
• Kancamagus Highway (New Hampshire) – A spectacular East Coast road trip route through the White Mountains. Most popular during the fall when the mountains explode with autumn color. Several campgrounds and viewpoints are found along the 35-mile stretch.
• Florida A1A (Florida) – A highway that runs the entire length of Florida’s Atlantic Coast. The route hugs the entire coastline to Miami and affords amazing views of the ocean. Also includes the Florida Keys Scenic Byway, which is arguably one of the most beautiful roads in the USA.
• Acadia National Byway (Maine) – Ring road that offers the best sights of Acadia National Park . Most of the park’s top attractions can be reached via the byway including Sandy Beach and Jordan Ponds. Popular in fall when the trees are changing colors as well.
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad (Maryland) – A historical East Coast road trip route that follows the trail of the Underground Railroad – one of the most important escape routes for African slaves during the Civil War. Along the way, you’ll visit many museums, churches, and former residences that educate you about the railroad. Not very scenic but very humbling. Baltimore is a very cool city if you fancy hanging out a few days.

A few insider tips to help your East Coast Road trip go just a lil’ bit smoother!

Getting Insured

Do you need Travel Insurance for your trip? Even if you’re only going for a few days, that’s more than enough time to get smote by wrathful angels. Have fun on your road trip, but take it from us, overseas medical care and canceled flights can be seriously expensive – insurance can, therefore, be a life-saver.

Travel mishaps can and do happen and it is well worth thinking about insurance before you leave home.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Top Tips for Broke Backpackers

Below is a list of East Coast road trip ideas for saving money. Try and practice these as much as possible.

• Use vehicle relocation services: These brilliant services offer huge discounts to people on the condition they get a vehicle to a certain place at a certain time. No joke, you can rent a car sometimes for as low as $1/day! Availability is very limited though, so keep a watchful eye on the sites. Check immova and Cruise America to start with.
• Rent an economy car: Prices can be as low as $25/day depending on the time of year and how far in advance you reserve. Economy cars are also more fuel-efficient so you’ll save on fuel.
• Camp: Unless you want to fork out big bucks for a lodge, you have to camp. Campgrounds are way less expensive and sometimes even free. Check out this post for a breakdown of the best tents to take backpacking .  If you’re feeling really adventurous and want to save some cash, consider picking up a backpacking hammock.
• Sleep overnight in an empty lot: Though not technically legal, people sleep in parking lots all the time. Make sure the lot is safe by asking around. Walmarts are reportedly good places to park overnight as they allow overnight parking.
• Buy an America the Beautiful Pass : Seriously, if you’re visiting more than two national parks, you’d be a fool not to buy this.
• Cook your own food: Eating out can be very expensive. Cook your own food as much as possible to save – I recommend bringing a portable backpacking stove . Otherwise, have a fancy night out at a food cart.
• Do free shit: There are lots of free activities on the East Coast! From hiking to laying on the beach to going to the local monuments; all of these things cost you nill. Be sure to keep your ear to the ground for all things free in the East.
• Pack a filtered water bottle : It’s good for your wallet and the environment. Purified water is easy to come by in the States versus other countries.

Feeling a little gross after hanging out in the Great Smoky Mountains ? Got sand in every crack and corner of your body after laying on the beach too long? Maybe it’s time to take a break from your camping road trip on the East Coast and to check into a hotel.

Thankfully, hotels are everywhere in the USA and come in all shapes and sizes–there’s even quite the selection of USA budget hotel chains . You could perch yourself in a high-rise condo in the middle of the city or perhaps laze away in a small inn on the countryside.

If you’re on a budget East Coast road trip and need to cut costs, you’ll most likely have to settle for cheaper guesthouses and motels . These types of accommodation are fairly generic, drab, and offer a pretty limited amount of amenities. If you’re using hotels in more expensive states, than you’ll still end up paying $80/night minimum.

No matter what you end up choosing though, one thing is for certain – hotels on the East coast are expensive. Airbnbs in the US are a much better option than chain hotels most of time, and you can see plethora of reviews beforehand.

If you needed to save the most money on your East Coast road trip, then you should take advantage of hostels and campgrounds .

They are by far the most affordable type of accommodation on the East Coast, and are actually quite fun to stay at. Though hostels in the USA can be a little weird (we know: we’ve stayed at several), most are perfectly decent even if they’re not as rad as the ones in Europe or Asia.

Best Places to Stay on the East Coast

Here are some of the absolute best places to stay on your East Coast road trip:

East Coast Camping Road Trip

Spread across the entire Eastern seaboard is an endless variety of campgrounds set amongst dozens of landscapes. An East Coast camping trip is a fantastic way of seeing everything that the region has to offer, and you should rarely be left uninspired by the amazing selection.

There are all kinds of campgrounds in the East that offer a wide range of amenities and rates. Generally speaking, there are four types: private, public, dispersed , and backcountry . Below is a brief explanation of each.

• Private – Larger campgrounds that offer the most amenities including communal kitchens, showers, and maybe onsite restaurants. Most appropriate for demanding campers. Most expensive as well. Payment is made through the office of the owners.
• Public – More basic campgrounds that offer limited but crucial amenities. Running water, electricity, and bathrooms should be but are not always present. Good prices. Payment is made to a public organization either online or via a drop box at the camp.
• Dispersed – aka wild camping, primitive camping . Camping in an area that is not an official campground but is still legal. Little to no amenities. Almost always free.
• Backcountry – Camps located in the wilderness areas. Almost always require a hike to reach. Often no facilities so campers must bring food, cooking gear, camp supplies, etc. Permits are usually required and can be arranged at a nearby ranger station.

A lot of campgrounds, especially those at the national parks, can fill up very quickly. Consider booking a campground ahead of time to ensure that you have a spot.

If there are no campgrounds left at a specific place, there may be walk-up sites available, which you’ll need to arrive early to claim. If you strike out on the walk-up sites as well, there may be overflow camping nearby.

You can definitely camp for free while on a road trip down the East Coast! Most of these campgrounds are pretty remote or located on some sort of specially mandated land.

Each state offers different types of free backcountry camping so you will need to research each. To get started, check this website for a compendium of free camping on the East Coast.

Camping on the East Coast – Gear Checklist

The East Coast has some of the finest camping in the whole country. You could sleep in your car or an RV while traveling on the East Coast but sleeping outside under the stars is way more fun. Having a good tent will keep you comfortable on those chilly nights and give you lots of flexibility when it comes to finding a place to sleep.

Here are some other essentials that we recommend adding ton your road trip packing list …

Travel Security Belt

This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside – you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off.

Microfiber Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must.

‘Monopoly Deal’

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Don’t forget the insect repellent either!

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

Renting a car is the most popular way of getting around the Eastern USA. There are a myriad of car rental agencies here that offer varying deals and varying models.

To find the best rental car deal in the USA, use search engines that compare the prices of individual companies. I personally like using rentalcars.com as they’ve never failed to give us a great price.

You can also rent an RV or campervan, which means you don’t have to worry about packing camping gear. You will have to empty and refill the various water tanks though, which will require a visit to the proper facilities. RVs also cost more to rent, use more gas, and demand higher prices at campgrounds.

You can drive your own campervan around the country, but this is only practical if you already own one and are importing it into the country, or have a long enough US visa to make the most out of your wheeled home.

I suggest booking a campervan with Outdoorsy as they usually have a good selection and good prices. Better yet, Broke Backpackers also get a $40 discount with Outdoorsy! Just use the coupon code “BACKPACKER” when checking out.

The roads are generally very good and a sedan or economy car should deliver you to most of the East Coast’s top destinations. Only in the most remote portions of the Appalachia and the swamplands will you need to be concerned about having 4-wheel drive.

If you need any extra motivation to book that trip, here is the perfect mix of cheesy and inspirational road trip quotes . I’m sure they’ll give you the nudge you need.

Tips for Saving Money on Car Rentals in the US

• Reach out to vehicle relocation services, like Imoova and Cruise America , as a way of saving heaps of cash on rentals.
• Car insurance isn’t always mandatory in the USA but is highly encouraged. This being said, you don’t necessarily have to buy car insurance from the company you’re renting from. Purchase a RentalCover.com policy to cover your vehicle against any common damages such as tires, windscreens, theft, and more at a fraction of the price you would pay at the rental desk.
• Many credit card companies offer free car insurance if you book the car with the proper card. Call your credit card company for more information regarding terms and conditions.

Best Time to Visit the East Coast

The East Coast is a massive region that is subject to more than a dozen different climates. While on a road trip along the East Coast, USA, you could potentially experience rain, sunshine, snow, and tropical storms – all in the course of a few weeks!

Depending on what you want to do, you could visit the East Coast at any time of the year. Summers generally have the most reliable weather though you might get dumped on in Florida.

On the other hand, if you were on an East Coast road trip in the winter, you could totally go skiing in New England and then surfing in Florida! Just don’t forget a high-quality ski jacket .

I have broken the East Coast into three different climate categories. These are broad generalizations and, in reality, each state has much more complex weather patterns. These categories are relevant enough for you to understand how the weather works on the East Coast.

Northeastern States (New England -> Pennsylvania) – These states are subject to 4 distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, semi-humid summers. Winters in these states can be frigid as the Canadian winds wreak havoc. Summers are mostly mild but heat waves are still common.

Central Atlantic States (Maryland -> Georgia) – These states receive more regular rainfall throughout the year and less dramatic temperature swings. Winters are still relatively cold and summers are the hottest time of the year, which means that these states are still classified as having 4 seasons. Though rare, Georgia and the Carolinas can actually receive snow in the winter.

Tropical States (Florida) – While the climate of Northern Florida is more similar to Georgia’s, Southern Florida is textbook tropical. Rain comes in bucket loads during the summer, sometimes dangerously in the form of hurricanes. Winters are mild and clear.

Food on the East Coast

A road trip on the East Coast will afford endless opportunities for you to try different foods. The food of this region is so diverse and so different that it’s not possible to put all of it into one category (except, of course, a delicious category).

Each state has its own local delicacies. You could make a culinary road trip from Maine to Florida in pursuit of these dishes and it would certainly take up a lot of your time and attention!

But let’s briefly talk about what you’ll find on each part of the East Coast…

New England is famous for its seafood , which is often baked, stewed or steamed to divine results. Chowder is perhaps the most famous dish here, though you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ clambake or lobster roll. On that note, Maine lobster is highly regarded. Food in Boston is particularly famous for its clam chowder, Boston baked beans, and being a legendary baseball city, hot dogs.

New York City has just about every type of food imaginable because of its enormous immigrant population. You can seriously eat some of the best food from around the globe in one city. If there was one or two foods that could be called true New York food, it might be bagels and pizza . As pizza in the city is often priced at backpacker-friendly rates, just pair it with a cheap NYC hostel for an affordable adventure.

Pizza and, for that matter, Italian food is fairly common in the Atlantic states. Some places, like New Haven (Connecticut) and Scranton (Pennsylvania) even claim to have the best in the world.

The sandwich is also a staple of the East Coast and comes in many varieties. New Jersey is famous for inventing “the sub” while you can’t say you’ve visited Philadelphia’s tourist attractions without savoring its very well-known Philly cheesesteak.

As we drive further south the food begins to change. Southern cooking becomes the dominant trend and BBQ and fried foods are heavily featured. The Carolinas are particularly famous for their version of BBQ, though the Georgian variety is no slouch either.

Finally, Southern Florida has some of the best Caribbean and Latin food that you’ll eat in the USA. Cuban, Jamaican, Dominican, South American – all of these culinary styles are represented very well in Miami and the surrounding area.

Get your Buzz On

The East Coast is called the Beast Coast for a reason – people get wild on a regular basis and throw some of the best parties in the USA! You can party in a myriad of ways while on a road trip up the East Coast – you could go to a speakeasy in New York City, drink with rowdy Southies in a Boston dive, rub shoulders with politicians in Washington DC or dance all night in Miami. The possibilities are limitless.

Just make sure you know your personal limits (and that of your wallet) before dabbling in drug tourism, that’s all!

Drinking on the East Coast, particularly in the bigger cities, is by no means cheap though. Cover charges, exorbitant drink prices, and taxi fees add up very quickly; you could easily drop more than $100 in a single night.

I advise drinking at local dive bars for the cheapest drinks and taking advantage of the ubiquitous happy hour. You can get a beer for as low as $1 in some bars.

Beer is probably the most popular drink on the East Coast and is found in abundance at nearly every bar. No matter which bar you end up in, you’ll usually have a huge selection of domestic, craft, and imported choices. Best of all, it’s usually the cheapest drink!

One idea is to go on a brewery tour of the East Coast! There are hundreds of breweries on the East Coast making everything from shitty lagers to divine ales. I suggest visiting Brooklyn Brewing, Wicked Weed in Asheville, Ommegang in upstate New York, and Creature Comforts in Athens, Georgia.

Marijuana is legal for recreational use in several New England states! While on a Northeast coast road trip, you can drop by a dispensary and pick up a dime bag. All you need to buy weed is an ID proving that you’re over 21 and cash.

Be sure to brush up on local laws and don’t bring marijuana across state borders (especially into illegal states).

Being a Responsible Backpacker

Remember to be a respectful camper while on your East Coast road trip. Depart from the grounds at a decent hour, follow leave no trace principles , and be very, very aware of fire bans.

Reduce your plastic footprint: Perhaps the best thing you can do for our planet is to make sure you do NOT add to the plastic problem all over the world. Don’t buy one-use water bottles, the plastic ends up in a landfill or in the ocean.

I know it can be hard, but do your best to use the least amount of plastic water bottles that you can. Refill the ones that you do buy! Use a GRAYL GEOPRESS . Refill at your hostel/guest house! There are plenty of ways to reduce plastic!!!

Pack a tough and cool travel water bottle. You’ll use it every single day whether you are traveling or not! Be a responsible traveler , and grab a Grayl!

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

I hope this epic East Coast road trip guide has prepared you for your overland journey along the Atlantic Ocean. This region of the country is filled with unique landscapes, plenty of history, and some truly delicious food.

Traveling here will help you get to know the US, and give you a look at the diversity within it. Just look at the differences between Miami and Maine!

This is a lot to take in, but remember that road trips can be spontaneous. That’s half the fun! On the other hand, if you just can’t quite decide where to start, you can’t go wrong with the Ultimate East Coast Road trip, which truly hits all the best stops on this side of the United States.

So make those last-minute van repairs or secure your rental.

An East Coast road trip awaits !

Updated April 2023 by Samantha Shea from Intentional Detours .

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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I noticed a typo. The South Carolina State University is not located in Raleigh, NC. It should read North Carolin Satate University.

Awesome high level ideas for the ultimate East Coast road trip! As a Florida local, I’d recommend travelers check out some of the smaller, lesser-known FL West Coast areas like Anna Maria Island just south of Tampa or Sanibel if you’re heading even further south. All said and done, your guide did Florida justice — from visiting the Dry Tortugas to trying our BBQ and fried gator.

Wow, really long and informative article! Don’t have much to add but two tips that fall under the category general (obvious) advice:

– Don’t set the stops in stone and don’t try to keep a timeline. Take your time to explore places and stay flexible. Your trip will benefit greatly. – Keep a track of gas stations on your route. Because obviously there’s nothing worse but to run out of gas on a rainy day in the middle of nowhere…

Totally agree! You should really check out that ViaMichelin app for gas stations and what not. It’s brilliant.

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Top Brewery Road Trip, Routed Algorithmically

There are thousands of craft breweries in the United States (and the world) that make delicious beer. In 2014, the Brewer’s Association put the United States count at 3,464, with about 1,800 microbreweries and 1,400 brewpubs. BreweryDB currently lists about 4,500.

So there’s a lot of good beer out there — and yet so little time. Unless your job is to drink beer every day, visiting every brewery is probably not a practical goal to strive for. However, visiting the best breweries is something worth thinking about.

Community beer and brewery review site RateBeer puts out a list every year of the top 100 breweries in the world , “according to reviews taken last year and weighted by performance within and outside of style, balanced by indicators of depth.” From this year’s list, 72 of the breweries are based in the United States.

That sounds like a great road trip.

If we know where we want to go already, the next step is to figure out what route to take. You don’t want to pick breweries willy nilly, unless you’re a fan of driving aimlessly across the country. Randal Olson found a pretty good solution using genetic algorithms and the Google Maps API. He computed an optimal road trip to visit a historical landmark in each state.

Forget that though. I want beer. Tasty beer. I applied Olson’s solution to breweries to get the order in which to visit them in the least miles possible.

I omitted two breweries: Evil Twin, because it’s a gypsy brewery that originated in Denmark, without an official place to visit; and Anchorage Brewing Company in Alaska, because if you’re in the conterminous United States, you probably need another reason to go that far north by road other than a brewery visit.

Two breweries on the list — Clown Shoes in Ipswich, Massachusetts and the Alchemist in Waterbury, Vermont — are currently closed to the public, but I leave them on the map because they aren’t totally out of the way and maybe they will open some day.

Taking the route above, a trip to 70 breweries, you get about 197 hours of drive time across 12,299 miles. You stop in 28 states and pass through a total of 40.

You have to backtrack some to get to the Michigan breweries, but if you’re gonna do this, you might was well do it right.

If your only goal is to sample the beers at each of the top breweries, it takes you about 20 days. This figures in a couple of hours at each stop to sample and metabolize (so you don’t drive drunk), plus driving time in between each place. This assumes staying near one of the 70 breweries each night. You can of course drink what you want at the end of the day and sleep it off, nice and fresh in the morning.

When you take into account opening times and more importantly, when each brewery is closed, it likely takes a bit longer.

Of course, road trips aren’t all about the official stops. They’re also about what happens along the way.

With driving route in hand, and because there are certainly more than 70 excellent breweries in the country, I followed in the footsteps of BreweryMap and found breweries and brewpubs along the way. There are over 1,400 within a five-mile radius along the route. Time to drink and sober up applies here too, obviously. So the length of your road trip minus 20 days gives you how much leeway you have to stop elsewhere.

In the map above, thicker black lines represent areas along the route with more breweries to visit.

The northeast looks good, as does the northwest, southern and northern California, and around Denver, Colorado. Personally, I have a lot of east coast beers to try. Not many of them make it out here to California.

I suppose I could just order bottles through mail, but there’s no fun in that. You need to taste beer fresh from the source to fully appreciate it.

And so, go forth and enjoy responsibly. This is now on my bucket list.

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My work on FlowingData is supported by paid memberships . Since 2007, I have been analyzing data and making charts to help people understand and appreciate data in their work and everyday lives. I hope to keep it going for many more years.

If you liked this (or want to learn how to make similar data things), please consider supporting this small corner of the internet with a membership. You get unlimited access to visualization courses, tutorials, and extra resources. Thanks. — Nathan

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The Map of the Ultimate Brewery Road Trip is Missing One State

If you're a craft  beer geek , you've probably dreamed about quitting your job at some point and taking off on an epic brewery road trip across country. While you'll probably never indulge this fantasy, it's fun to think about. But where would you begin? With over 3,000 craft breweries in the United States , it would be impossible to visit them all. Luckily, Nathan Yau came up with the ultimate brewery road trip map across America to prioritize your desires and published it on Flowing Data .

In true beer lover fashion, the map had to be concisely planned out. Using a combination of RateBeer's  best breweries in the United States - there's 72 - and Randal Olson's method of using genetic algorithms and Google Maps API, then taking into consideration the least amount of travel time, this Holy Grail of breweries map was born. This is the craft beer version of the Kentucky bourbon trail .

Flowing Data

From New England to the Pacific Northwest, the best beers at these breweries are must-tries before you die and this isn't a bad way to start the trip. After all, how can you truly appreciate great American beer without checking out the local craft beer scene on this brew trail.

You may have noticed the two breweries left out of this map were Evil Twin and Anchorage Brewing Company. While both are certainly worthy of a visit, Evil Twin is technically brewed at ten different breweries, and Anchorage is in, well, Alaska - trying to be practical here. And although Clown Shoes in Ipswich, Massachusetts and The Alchemist in Waterbury, Vermont aren't open to the public for brewery tours, one can dream can't they?

FlowingData

Michigan may be a bit out of the way, but not visiting Founders  along this pilgrimage is blasphemy. Especially if you live nowhere near Grand Rapids, Michigan. And since I don't, it's certainly on the bucket list. So is Three Floyds and Surly .

Having had the pleasure of doing a West Ccoast brewery road trip and an East Coast brewery road trip, I've crossied a good amount of these off my bucket list. And I have to tell you, Maine Beer Co., Russian River , and Allagash are not to be missed. Well, really any of them are not to be missed.

Between the 70 breweries located in 28 states, you'll hit up 40 states in total. I'm sure that in the other 12 states you'll find some excellent brew pubs or breweries that weren't on the list, considering there's over 1,400 of them en route. There is one state missing from this road trip, though, and it is Texas. For a state that took home the third most medals at Great American Beer Festival 2017 , it's puzzling that none of the prized Texas breweries made the list, not even Spoetzl Brewery, the home of Shiner .

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And if no brewery is around, you can at least attempt to hit up some national parks with their matching beer for some more exploration. With about 197 hours of driving time and 12,299 miles on the speedometer, if you spend your time well you can accomplish the map in about twenty days.

Of course, along the way you could improvise and add a few more breweries worthy of a visit . Say, Jester King in the Texas Hill Country and Modern Times in San Diego anyone? That's just my opinion, but it's your trip. Let the map be your guide and wonder at your own will.

Watch: The 5 Most Creative Beer Names from Texas Craft Beer Fest

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Visit All Of The Top Breweries In The United States In One Road Trip

Visit 71 breweries over 197 driving hours and 11,984 miles. Totally worth it.

• Will Schuerman
• April 9, 2018

The growth in craft beer isn’t slowing down and that is a great thing. According to the Brewers Association , there are now over 3,000 breweries dotted across the U.S. Wouldn’t it be great if you could visit the best of the bunch in one trip?

RateBeer creates an annual listing of the top breweries in the world. The smart folks at Flowing Data took this data and crunched the numbers to figure out the most efficient path to visit the best breweries in the U.S.

Visit The Top 71 Breweries In The Country

There are a total of 71 breweries over 197 driving hours and 11,984 miles. Totally worth it. To make the trip you’d have to stop in 26 states — though you’d be passing through 40 out of 52!

From Sea To Shining Sea

You probably won’t be surprised to find clusters of craft breweries in locations along the East Coast, Midwest, Colorado and California.

But the beauty of this craft brewery road trip is it can take you from coast to coast with stops in places like Asheville, North Carolina, home of Wicked Weed beer, and Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Oklahoma for a pint from Prairie Artisan Ales.

You’ll definitely recognize some of the brewery names on this list, including Sierra Nevada, Smuttynose, Dogfish Head (which even has its own inn) and New Belgium.

Visiting the breweries where they’re made means not only getting to taste your favorites but to try new and limited-batch brews as well. Plus, if you’ve ever visited a brewery that has a restaurant, you know the food’s often as good as the beer!

Set Aside 20 Days In Your Calendar

Flowing Data estimates it would take about 20 days to sample the beer at all the top breweries — with eight of those days dedicated to driving time. If you did this in one fell swoop, it’s likely you and your liver may need a break at the end of this suds-filled road trip.

Who’s ready for a road trip?The map was created by  Randal Olson , a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. He had a little help from the  Traveling Salesman Problem , which calculates the shortest route you can take to hit up a number of different cities before ending up back where you started.

So, if you’re looking for a road trip to hit all 47 national parks (excluding those in Alaska, Hawaii and other U.S. territories), then, this would be the shortest, fastest way to do it. Olson recommends setting aside two months to take in all the sights.

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A Road Trip for the Love of Craft Beer

A recap of craft beer breweries visited on our “consolation corona-cation” usa road trip in 2020.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer  here .

Table of Contents

A road trip

In the year of 2020, there were so many up and down moments including cancelling and rescheduling a very anticipated trip overseas to Italy. My husband and I try to go to Europe at least once a year if we can make it work and lets just say after everything we had already been through with the Corona pandemic, we really just needed a change of scenery! We weren’t ready to get on a plane yet, but we had some vacation time to burn and lets just say that we were watching (ahem binging) wayyyyyy too much Beach Front Bargain Hunt . So, alas we decided to take a completely random road trip to hit up some craft beer breweries that have been on our list and make our way out to the ocean on the east coast.

Planning for a road trip

As we started to plan for a road trip it had been years since both of us had gone on a legit road trip. If I said we didn’t learn a lot about what to do and what not to do, I would be lying! We learned a lot about the top tips for an enjoyable road trip . This road trip we had a few too many long driving days stacked next to each other. One of the most important things in having an enjoyable road trip is driving for a bit, stopping and doing some things then driving some more so it doesn’t feel like you’re in the car for-ev-errr!

Disclaimer : some parts of the route were completely influenced by breweries. But, hey it was a brewery road trip so that makes complete sense! Otherwise, there would be a lot more straightforward routes that could be taken. But, we were in the business of checking out the brews in the not so popular spots. (And some popular spots too!)

Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota to Eau Claire, Wisconsin

We set out on our adventure after a full day of work road tripping to Eau Claire, Wisconsin for the night. From our house in the north western Minneapolis suburbs it took just under 2 hours to travel there. Once we arrived, we headed to a few breweries to have some drinks that evening. Details listed below in the specific brewery sections.

Click here for places to stay in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Eau claire, wi through madison, wi to columbus, indiana.

We spent the night in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and woke up the next day to make the trek to Columbus, Indiana. Why Columbus, Indiana? You guessed it! a bucket list brewery I’ve always wanted to visit! I’ll get into details about the breweries we visited later on.

Click here for places to stay in Columbus, Indiana

Columbus, indiana to virginia beach.

This was a hike! In other words, it was a very long driving segment. I don’t recommend it when you’re planning a brewery road trip to have very long driving days. But, after it was over Virginia Beach was one of the places we spent a majority of our time in. So, we had a break from driving days. Aside from brewery hopping we enjoyed some great food, golfed and took our dog to the beach. He had only ever been to lakes in Minnesota and he actually really loved the ocean. (Which I was so surprised by!)

Click here for places to stay in Virginia Beach

Virginia beach to obx (outer banks of north carolina).

This segment of our trip wasn’t a very far drive and it was 100 percent fueled by binge watching entirely too much beach front bargain hunt during the early 2020 lockdown in the United States. We decided to stay in Kill Devil Hills, NC but also considered staying in Nags Head.

Click here for places to stay in the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Kill devil hills obx to asheville, north carolina.

The drive from the OBX to Asheville wasn’t too bad. Especially after spending a few days on the beaches we were really excited to get to Asheville one of the best craft beer cities in the United States!

Click here for places to stay in Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, north carolina to decorah, iowa.

After spending a few days in Asheville and hopping to our fair share of breweries. (I mean it literally is a brewery road trip so I don’t know what you expect?) More on the breweries soon. (I promise!) We were ready to head back. I really wish we would have spent some time in Knoxville or Pigeon Forge area but we can always return! I really would like to go back to Asheville as I feel like we barely scratched the surface. But, when I really like a destination I usually always want to return.

From Asheville, we made a pit stop in Nashville which has one of my favorite breweries. The tap room wasn’t reopened yet so it was strictly a curbside beer pickup situation. The last time I was in Nashville I visited multiple locations.

Click here for places to stay in Decorah, Iowa

Decorah, iowa to rochester, minnesota.

Honestly, Decorah was all for specific breweries. Surprise, surprise right? I mean it was 2020 and we had been cooped up at home for so long so we were truly making the number of breweries we visited on this trip worth our while!

After our time in Decorah we headed to our last stop of Rochester, MN which is only a little under a two hour drive from home. But, since we were going to breweries we stayed one night before heading back the next morning.

Click here for places to stay in Rochester, Minnesota

The most important part: the breweries, eau claire, wisconsin: lazy monk brewery.

This is what I like to consider a “bonus” brewery. We were on our way to our main brewery we wanted to go to and we stopped in here. They were very hospitable and it had such a German beer hall vibe it was a really fun place!

Eau Claire, Wisconsin: The Brewing Projekt

The main reason why we chose to stop in Eau Claire to kick off our 2020 brewery road trip was to make the trek to The Brewing Projekt. Living in the Twin Cities, we have access to these beers in many liquor stores and they have come to be some of our favorites to try out. But, it always hits a little different actually have the beers you’re fond of in the tap room. I’m sure our experience was a little different given there were a lot of covid restrictions still. But, we were super happy to have taken a good chunk of time off and be at one of our bucket list breweries that the trip was really centered around. Cheers to that! My favorite beers they put out definitely are their Resist Milkshake IPA’s, Puff Tart, Puff Tart XL variants.

Columbus, Indiana: 450N Brewing

450 North Brewing Company really was one of the first breweries to make beers in the smoothie sour style. (Which I’m very much a fan of!) I feel like this brewery is a common stop on any brewery road trip. Because, the other kicker is they’re literally out in the middle of nowhere and do not distribute their beers at all. Because of these facts, the beers have become a hot commodity in the craft beer community. If you’re lucky enough to know someone that had access to their releases or if you could go to the taproom that’s the only way you could try out this brewery.

We ended up eating dinner here and having a few beers. It was a pretty relaxing vibe out on the patio while staring across the road at literal corn fields.

Virginia Beach, Virginia: Vibrant Shore Brewing Company

Virginia Beach was one of our longer stops during our brewery road trip. So naturally, we fit in some brews! This brewery was a pit stop in between the beach front where we spent most of our day and our hotel. It was nice to stop here to have a few brews while in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach, Virginia: Young Veterans Brewery Company

We stopped here after playing a round of golf. It was a smaller more intimate taproom and most of the clientele was locals. Compared to a lot of the places we went closer to Virginia Beach, that wasn’t always the case.

Virginia Beach, Virginia: New Realm Brewing

This was another brewery we visited post golf round. Their restaurant, beer and space were all amazing. There was a large outdoor area including plenty of space inside at tables as well as the bar.

Virginia Beach, Virginia: Commonwealth Brewing Company

This brewery really wasn’t on my radar until a friend of mine from a beer group realized I was in Virginia Beach. She recommended it highly so I knew we had to check it out. It ended up being our favorite brewery in Virginia Beach that we visited. Sometimes, the best plans are the last minute reccs you decide to jump on!

Norfolk, Virginia: The Veil

I had heard such great things about this brewery, although the location we visited was a second location for The Veil, the beer and food we had was worth the trek. We sat in an outdoor space as it’s dog friendly. At the time their menu was an elevated version of some Taco Bell favorites. (I had an amazing fancy crunchwrap supreme.) Their tap list was also equally amazing. It was a perfect late afternoon and evening although it was somewhat out of our way from where we were staying in Virginia Beach.

OBX, North Carolina: Weeping Radish Farm Brewery

Although we stayed for several days in the OBX on our brewery road trip there aren’t as many craft beer spots to hit up here. But while we were enroute to the Outer Banks, we stopped at the oldest micro brewery in North Carolina, Weeping Radish Farm Brewery. They have outdoor space and indoor where you can enjoy pub food and their German inspired brews.

Asheville, North Carolina: Wicked Weed

After leaving the outer banks, we spent what wasn’t long enough in Asheville, North Carolina. We definitely made it worth our time and went to a few too many breweries. But, I regret nothing! It actually really made me want to go back for an extended trip.

The name Wicked Weed was inspired by a quote from Henry the VIII “Hops are a wicked and pernicious weed”. They really had a lot of different beers to choose from on the tap list. We had many flights and also enjoyed lunch there. The patio area where we were seated was well covered from the sun and dog friendly. Barkley our little brewery pup loved his time there.

Asheville, North Carolina: Wicked Weed Funkatorium

Located close to the original Wicked Weed brew pub is the funkatorium. Truly, the name is not lying their sours are very funky! If that’s your thing you will absolutely enjoy this brewery. But, if you’re into more sweet and fruit forward sour beers I would skip this stop. Again, their space for both indoor and outdoor seating was amazing and they also offered food. The outdoor areas again, the same as the brew pub were dog friendly.

Asheville, North Carolina: Catawaba

We visited the location in the south slope of Asheville. (Many breweries are located in this area of the city.) They had many mainstays on their tap list at the time, however I was the most bummed out that they didn’t have one of their peanut butter jelly time brown ale’s available. They always do the different variants switching up the jelly flavor. Hopefully the next time I visit they’ll have it.

Asheville, North Carolina: Burial

I don’t even know where to start in talking about Burial. This was one of the breweries that I was looking forward to visiting the most and it was everything and more. We started out one of our days here and the tap list had soooooo many delicious pastry imperial stout bangers. Sadly, I was semi responsible and didn’t get to try them all because it would have made for a realllly long day! We also ate lunch here and the food was amazing as well. Their outdoor space is really quirky and eclectic.

It would be tough, but if I had to choose only one brewery in Asheville to return to the next time we go, it would 500% be Burial.

Asheville, North Carolina: Hi-Wire

Despite their colorful and fun aesthetic, this taproom experience was one of the breweries we didn’t stay at too long while in Asheville. There was limited seating available due to COVID restrictions so we actually spent more time waiting in line to get a table and snag a few tasters than we actually did enjoying said brews. They have many different locations in the USA so, I’d personally skip it while in Asheville if I were you. There are a lot better spots to hit up (in my opinion!)

Asheville, North Carolina: Bhramari

The beers here were good and it was so busy! We waited awhile and then finally got a table out on the patio. We were extremely unlucky to have an uncovered table and then it started raining. Just given that fact we didn’t stay here super long as we were really uncomfortable. But, the beers I had before it starting down pouring were definitely enjoyable.

Asheville, North Carolina: DSSOLVR

This brewery when we visited was newer so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But, we really enjoyed both their space and the beers that they offered on tap. The beer that really surprised me the most was a fruited sour beer that also had chocolate flavor to it. It really reminded me of my absolute favorite brewery in the midwest. I definitely will be returning the next time I’m in Asheville, that’s for sure!

Nashville, Tennessee : Southern Grist

Stopping at Southern Grist really was just a stop. At the time none of their taprooms were open but since it’s one of my favorite breweries, we had to stop to get some curbside goodies to bring home! You can read more about beer and things to do in Nashville here .

Decorah, Iowa: Toppling Goliath

Toppling Goliath is another Midwest banger brewery that we just hadn’t made the time to visit. So, on the way back home of course we made the stop. We’re able to get some of TG’s brews in the Twin Cities but some are only available from the brewery. My absolute favorite that I tried was their Cherry Fandango. We also ate here and the food was definitely tasty as well.

Decorah, Iowa: Pulpit Rock

Since we were in Decorah, we had to also check out Pulpit Rock. I’ll be honest I was somewhat disappointed in the beers that they had available at the time. That coupled with the fact that we had bees pretty much swarming us on the patio I’m not in a rush to go back! I have had some beers friends have gotten from Pulpit Rock and I really enjoyed them so it may have just been the luck of the draw. I always try to keep that in mind when visiting new breweries because so many places always have rotating availability of beers. I still really want to try the muffin man beer they offer!

Rochester, Minnesota: Forager

This definitely is a restaurant and brewery destination in Rochester. So, naturally we ate lunch here….I mean are you even a little surprised? Somewhat similar to Pulpit Rock, I had had some amazing release takeaway beers by Forager in the past. I mean think thick delicious smoothie sours with literal vanilla bean flecks visible in the beer. Swoooon! But, these beers typically are release only and only on tap close to the release date. Given that we visited not close to one of these releases their tap list was only so so at the time (in my opinion.) But, it’s definitely a great place to stop if you’re in Rochester.

Rochester, Minnesota: Little Thistle

Little Thistle has such a great indoor/outdoor space. They refer to the outdoor space as their outdoor beer garden. At the time we visited they had a pumpkin flavored latte (PSL) inspired beer that was an imperial stout. So of course that was right up my alley! The name was even better, Live Laugh Ugg making a jab at those basic B’s that love their PSL’s, fall foilage and Ugg boots. But i mean if the Ugg boot fits you might as well own it and have a pint, am I right?

We drove over 48 hours, 3,000 miles, passed through 10 states and hit up 20 Breweries to round out our very first brewery road trip!

Brewery Road Trip Best Practices

If you’re planning on going on a road trip where the focus is breweries, be very thoughtful about it. For example, if you’re planning on going to a brewery or two do not get in the car and continue your road trip. Make that destination where you are staying for the night and be responsible, take a taxi or uber/lyft (mobile rideshare app) to and from your accommodation. I cannot stress this enough!

Brewery Road trip & beyond: Beer Travel

Where ever I travel, it’s my goal to drink local. Taste the local craft beer (and sometimes local wineries/craft cocktails.) I have more articles on Beer & Travel listed below:

Guide to Craft Beer in Italy

The Best European Beer Experiences

The Best Breweries in the Twin Cities (of Minnesota)

Where are you going on your next brewery road trip? I know I have several breweries that I am definitely willing to travel for! Of course, I’ll write all about it so stay tuned and be sure to follow my blog and accounts on social media.

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3 Craft Beer Road Trips for Craft Beer Enthusiasts

The craft beer scene is booming across the country, with thousands of microbreweries and breweries. What better way to sample some of these breweries’ products than a craft beer road trip? Check out these road trip ideas for you and your craft beer enthusiast friends!

Portland, Maine to Charlton, Massachusetts

New England is home to some of the best beer in America, with everything from hazy IPAs to light organic lagers. To experience some of the region’s best brews, take a New England brewery road trip starting at Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. Allagash is known for its full spectrum of Belgian brewing, from classic brews to unique creations.

Make your way through southern Maine and New Hampshire, stopping in Portsmouth. Start at Earth Eagle Brewings for housemade gruit ales and other unique creations in a cozy atmosphere. Be sure to add Portsmouth Brewery to your itinerary as well. It’s one of the oldest brewpubs in New England, with several brews on tap and great food pairings!

As you head down New England’s east coast, be sure to stop in Boston, Massachusetts for some incredible taprooms, including Trillium Brewing Company, Samuel Adams and Harpoon. Finish your craft beer road trip through New England in Charlton, Massachusetts at Tree House Brewing Company.

Bemidji, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri

For the ultimate Midwest brewery road trip with your crew, travel through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri. Start at Bemidji Brewing, where there’s always at least a dozen brews on tap to choose from, as well as craft sodas. Travel south to the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, where you’ll find dozens of noteworthy breweries, like Dangerous Man and Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery.

As you continue to head south, be sure to stop in Madison, Wisconsin to try some cozy small-batch microbreweries. Next Door Brewing and One Barrel Brewing both offer great craft beer and a tasty food menu. Iowa’s east border is home to plenty of impressive craft breweries, including Catfish Charlie’s Brew Pub, Galena Brewing Company and Bent River Brewing.

Travel south on the west side of the Mississippi River, where you’ll find plenty of smaller breweries on your way to St. Louis, a brewery mecca. Finish your trip in downtown St. Louis, where you’ll find a wide variety of brews and taprooms. Be sure to try 4 Hands Brewing for a good mix of standards and seasonals.

Chico, California to Half Moon Bay, California

California is overflowing with trendsetting craft breweries. Take a Northern California brewery road trip to discover some of the delicious craft beer the state has to offer. Start in Chico at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, one of America’s first modern microbreweries, where you can choose from over 20 draft beers and try seasonal farm-to-table dishes from their menu.

Next, hit Fort Bragg to try North Coast Brewing Company’s hoppy IPAs and iconic Russian Imperial Stout, along with other unique brews at smaller craft breweries. On your way to San Francisco, make a pit stop in Santa Rosa to visit Russian River Brewing Company, with a variety of clean beers and sour barrel-aged beers, as well as a beautiful outdoor beer garden.

Head south along the west coast to San Francisco, where you’ll find a large cluster of microbreweries, including 21st Amendment Brewery, Cellarmaker Brewing Company and Black Hammer Brewing. End your craft beer excursion at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, just south of San Francisco, for award-winning beer and food!

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Drink a beer and spend the night at these 8 brewery hotels across the U.S.

With great drinks, cozy guest rooms, and unique amenities, brewery hotels offer truly special experiences for beer lovers

By Danielle Benjamin

Nothing tastes as good after a long day of driving as a cold drink. Breweries have been popping up in interesting places across the U.S. for years—you can find them in old churches, on the beach, in abandoned warehouses, and in hotels.

Not only can you sample local beers that you can’t find at home, but many breweries provide delicious meals and unique history as well. Plus, you might meet other travelers who are just as passionate about craft beer as you are at these eight brewery hotels.

1. Fitger’s Brewhouse

Spend a night in a brewery hotel that has been in operation for more than 100 years. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, Fitger’s Brewhouse first opened in 1857. After a short hiatus in the 1970s, the brewery complex reopened in 1984, complete with several hotel rooms and new dining options. Visitors to the property can take a self-guided tour, walk along the shores of Lake Superior, and indulge in the on-site spa.

2. 42 North Brewing Company 

When you spend a night at the Lofts at 42 Nort h in East Aurora, New York, you can look into both the brewing floor and the beer garden right from your room—while enjoying complimentary beer from the mini-fridge. Although the brewery was established in 2015, the entire brew campus feels like a piece of East Aurora history. During your visit, make sure to head downstairs to enjoy drinks in the taproom along with a barbecue meal from Fat Bob’s Smokehouse. If you’re lucky, you can listen to live music or chat with the bartenders to learn more about the brewery’s history.

3. Woodstock Inn Brewery

At Woodstock Inn, one of New Hampshire’s oldest breweries , you can choose from more than 40 different rooms and suites to make the most of your visit. Several buildings are scattered around the brewery campus, each with its own unique style. Stay in a rustic, mountain-inspired house, a modern suite, or a cozy room with all the charm that New England has to offer. Inside the main building, you’ll find four different pubs featuring delicious food and beer brewed on-site. Brewery tours are offered every day at 12 p.m.

4. Rusty Rail Brewing Company 

The suites at Rusty Rail Brewing Compan y in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, are as inviting as the beer is flavorful. The crew at this brewery pours their hearts into every aspect of the company. Guests can pamper themselves in spacious, Southwestern-inspired suites and enjoy an incredible meal at the restaurant. As for the beer, Rusty Rail crafts some creative flavors, including a peanut butter hefeweizen and an agave lime India Pale Ale. Plus, the brewery complex has a great event space perfect for a wedding between two craft beer lovers.

5. Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn 

Take a trip to the mountains in North Carolina near the Tennessee border and spend a weekend at Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn . The combined microbrewery, restaurant, and inn features locally-sourced meals made with Blowing Rock’s craft beer. Guests at the inn can choose from one of five rooms with beer-related names: Amber, Hops, Pint, Stout, or Wheat. A variety of beers can be enjoyed both with dinner and at the bar.

6. Fredericksburg Brewing Company

Just a few months after Texas legalized brewpubs, Fredericksburg Brewing Company opened its doors, making it the oldest brewpub in the state. Located in a building from the late 1800s, each of the 12 guest rooms features a different theme and charm. Guests receive a free pint for each night they stay in one of the “bed and brew” rooms. But great beer isn’t all the brewery is known for; Fredericksburg’s restaurant also makes some incredible food, and you can enjoy a meal in the Biergarten outside.

7. The Source Hotel and Market Hall

It comes as no surprise that one of the largest beer cities in the U.S. is also home to a well-regarded brewery hotel. The Source Hotel in Denver, Colorado, is more than just a brewery and 100 beautifully-designed guest rooms. You’ll also find a handful of retail shops and a food market featuring award-winning dishes. When you stay in the hotel, you wake up to a view of the Rocky Mountains from your bed. Spend your day shopping in the market hall before finishing your night at the rooftop bar with a pint of New Belgium beer brewed on-site.

8. Elks Temple

Elks Temple is just one of 24 McMenamins locations across the Pacific Northwest, but this one stands out from the rest. Located in a century-old Renaissance Revival temple, the Tacoma, Washington, location has seven floors of restaurants and accommodations. The temple provides enough food, music, and events to fill an entire vacation. Starting with the brewery on the first floor, numerous other themed bars populate the building until you reach the guest rooms on the sixth floor. And at the very top you can enjoy some of the best views of Puget Sound.

Meet the Author

Danielle Benjamin

After studying abroad and then working with international students, Danielle developed a passion to travel the world and tell other people how they can do the same—and that it doesn't have to be expensive. She now runs a travel blog focused on budget travel, local adventures, breweries, wineries, and off-beat attractions. When she's not off adventuring, you can find me curled up with my dogs and a cup of coffee or playing a board game.

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10 Best East Coast Road Trips for History, Beaches, and Seafood

Whether you're a foodie or history buff, prefer hiking or relaxing on the beach, these East Coast road trips will truly deliver.

Unlike the West Coast, where only three states border the Pacific, a total of 14 states lie along the Atlantic shores. Road trips on the East Coast offer plenty of variety, taking in mountains, beaches, rugged seashores, large cities, small towns, and Intracoastal waterways. To top it off, seafood — from Maine's lobsters and Maryland's oysters to Florida's stone crabs — is abundant. Nearly every East Coast state has a culinary specialty as well, making food a memorable part of any East Coast road trip.

We've put together 10 of the best East Coast road trips, and while these have been broken up into easy weekend itineraries you can do from major cities, you could certainly tweak them, connect the dots, and build the ultimate multiday road trip all the way from Maine to Florida. Whatever you decide, there's plenty of adventure and lots of beautiful sights to see, from the incomparable colors of Vermont in the fall to the wild horses on the beaches of Virginia and, of course, grand cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Miami.

Boston, Massachusetts to Burlington, Vermont

If you're on the East Coast when the trees begin to change color, a road trip through Vermont and New Hampshire will deliver some of the greatest autumn backdrops you could imagine. Starting in Boston, head north to Lake Winnipesaukee, where you'll find one of the country's best lake towns . Dubbed "America's oldest summer resort town," Wolfeboro is a place worth spending a night to soak up the Americana aesthetic in this town that many have called "Rockwellesque."

From the lake, drive an hour north on NH-16 to get to North Conway where you can get on the Kancamagus Highway, a top-tier National Scenic Byway for fall foliage lovers that offers scenic stopping points like waterfalls and gorges. The highway travels for 34.5 miles through the White Mountain National Forest . Once you've come out the other side in Lincoln, New Hampshire, you can continue on your way west and cross over into Vermont.

Set your sights next on Stowe, Vermont's most picturesque ski resort town , and the location of the Trapp Family Lodge , the historic home of the real von Trapp family that inspired Rodgers and Hammerstein to write "The Sound of Music." If there's no snow on the ground, the area offers plenty of trails for biking and hiking, or you can enjoy a scenic gondola ride and the charming downtown area. You'll finish the trip when you arrive in the state capital of Burlington, a small city with a youthful personality as the home of the University of Vermont. You can stock up on farm-fresh groceries at the celebrated Saturday farmers market and go barhopping among the city's many craft breweries.

Boston, Massachusetts to Acadia National Park, Maine

There's no shortage of ways to explore Boston — self-guided walking tours, museum visits, and strolls through Little Italy (in the North End) and historic spots like Faneuil Hall and Boston Common are all great options for soaking in the city. Visitors can also take a harbor cruise or ride a seasonal Swan Boat in the Public Garden lagoon. Don't leave town without sampling the city's famous clam chowder and Boston cream pie.

The fastest route on this 285-mile trip takes nearly five hours and passes through Salem, Massachusetts ; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; and Augusta, Maine's capital, before reaching Bar Harbor. You'll experience New England's scenery and history if you take U.S. Route 1 with a few detours along the way.

Traveling north on U.S. Route 1 from Boston, you'll pass over the Mystic River. If time allows, watch for the Yankee Division Highway heading east toward Gloucester — a worthwhile detour if you're interested in seeing lighthouses, fishermen's memorial statues, and historic buildings. Back on the highway, you'll drive north, just a mile or so from the sea most of the time, briefly passing through New Hampshire until you reach Portsmouth and enter Maine. Continue through beach towns and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge , and take State Route 9 for a detour to Kennebunkport. Spend the night, dine on Maine lobster, and check out the stunning mansions in this nearly 400-year-old town.

Take Route 9 around the shore, then head back to U.S. Route 1 on Route 208. Continue on U.S. Route 1 to Portland, another great option for an overnight stay. From Portland, three hours on the shore-hugging scenic route will get you to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park .

New York, New York to Newport, Rhode Island

Spending a few days in Manhattan is the ideal lead-in to a relaxing road trip to a quieter town like Newport. After noshing on bagels or pizza, shopping, visiting museums, and strolling through Central Park, it could be time for a change. Don't leave without walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, meandering along The High Line , and experiencing The National September 11 Memorial Museum .

When it's time to leave, head north on Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive (FDR Drive) along the East River to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which spans the Harlem River. Interstate 278 then takes you through the Bronx and onto Interstate 95 through Westchester County. The highway runs northeast, close to the shore of the Long Island Sound into Connecticut. You'll pass through New Haven, home of Yale University, and have an opportunity to explore the campus.

Shortly after the town of Guilford, exit onto State Route 1, which will take you closer to the sea and add about 30 minutes to the four-hour, 185-mile trip — but it's well worth it for the views and beach access. You'll join Interstate 95 again to get back on your way to Newport, eventually exiting onto State Route 102 and then Route 138.

In Newport, park your vehicle and spend a few car-free days along the shore, strolling the three-and-a-half-mile Cliff Walk , exploring vintage mansions, and enjoying fresh seafood. Take a bike ride along one of many trails or relax on a sunset cruise.

New York, New York to Washington, D.C.

Greg Pease / Getty Images

This 226-mile trip takes approximately four hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. From lower Manhattan, take the Holland Tunnel that passes under the Hudson River to New Jersey. You'll be on Interstate 78 in Jersey City, with views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty . The interstate highway crosses Newark Bay on the Vincent R. Casciano Memorial Bridge, then meets Interstate 95 heading south.

Driving south on Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike), Staten Island, one of New York City's boroughs, will be on your left across a narrow body of water called Arthur Kill — the word "kill" is derived from the Dutch, influential in settling this part of the northeast. Continue south on Interstate 95 through New Jersey — maybe taking a detour to the beaches of the Jersey Shore — until you cross the Delaware River into the state of Delaware. You'll soon enter Maryland, where Interstate 95 is named John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, cross the Susquehanna River, and go on to Baltimore.

Continue south on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (295) into Washington, D.C., where there's plenty to see and do, from museums, memorials, and monuments to outdoor activities on the waterfront. The Smithsonian museums alone could fill several days, plus there's hiking, biking, and boating for those who want to spend some time outdoors.

Baltimore, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia

Starting in Baltimore, this East Coast road trip will take you on a long detour from I-95 that passes through a rare coastal landscape populated by wild horses. From Baltimore, it's a 118-mile drive across the Chesapeake Bay to Delaware's Bethany Beach, a lovely first beach to set the tone for this coastal adventure. From here, travel south along the water until you reach Ocean City, Maryland, a classic American beach town to base your adventures in Assateague State Park. Open to beach campers, this 48,000-acre stretch of grass and sand is considered one of the country's most scenic camping destinations.

You'll find wild horses roaming the landscape on Assateague and further south on Virginia's Chincoteague Island, which is your next stop. There's no main road connecting the two islands (although there are many back-country campsites) so you will have to briefly go back inland to get to Chincoteague, where you'll find even more beautiful scenery, horses, and the famous Pony Swim , which takes place every summer. During the event, spectators can watch as the horses are herded across the bay by the "Saltwater Cowboys" in an impressive display of the animals' swimming chops.

From Chincoteague Island, it's a beautiful 105-mile drive with the Atlantic on one side and the Chesapeake Bay on the other. Make sure to stop for lunch in one of the small towns along the way for fresh seafood. When you reach the end of the island, you'll travel across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and arrive at your final destination in Virginia Beach, another classic American beach town, where you'll have your pick of chic hotels and a large boardwalk with plenty of restaurants and attractions for all ages.

Washington, D.C. to Nags Head, North Carolina

After taking in the sights, restaurants, and history of our nation's capital, you may be ready to head to the beach — this trip takes you about 280 miles south to the Outer Banks of North Carolina . As with most of these road trips, there's the faster way and the more scenic route. In this case, the scenic drive adds nearly an hour to the approximately five-and-a-half-hour trip, but if you're on vacation, it's worth the additional time.

Head south out of Washington, D.C. on Interstate 395 (which turns to Interstate 95). You'll pass the Thomas Jefferson Memorial , then cross the Potomac River into Virginia. Continue south until you reach State Route 3 around Fredericksburg — head east on Route 3, then south on Route 17. Called Tidewater Trail, Route 17 meanders along next to the Rappahannock River, a spot known for outdoor fun and delicious oysters.

You'll cross the York River and the James River, which empty into the Chesapeake Bay. In the city of Newport News, take Interstate 64 southeast, and in Chesapeake, take Route 168 into North Carolina. The highway meets up with Route 158, takes you along a narrow peninsula to the Wright Memorial Bridge, and south to the Outer Banks town of Nags Head. Relax on the beach, climb to the top of the still-active Bodie Island Lighthouse , or watch the hang gliders at Jockey's Ridge State Park among massive sand dunes.

Charlotte, North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee

For this scenic East Coast road trip, you'll travel to the heart of Appalachia, starting in Charlotte, North Carolina where you can pay a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame . From here, you'll head west to Asheville, another city with a lot of character and a unique history. Consider this your gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . While in town, you should stop by The Biltmore Estate, the impressive mansion of the famously rich Vanderbilt family, and plan to spend sunset at the Omni Grove Park Inn , a historic hotel that once hosted American authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and also has the best sunset views in town.

From Asheville, get yourself to the Blue Ridge Parkway, a road that provides 469 miles to explore the poetic Appalachian Mountain landscape from the comfort of your car — with plenty of stopping points to enjoy a cozy cabin lodge or gentle hike. The road goes northwest through Virginia, but we recommend traveling southwest to finish in the Smoky Mountains and then crossing the national park until you reach Gatlinburg. For a trip this grand, why not plan a big finale and book a night in one of the region's luxury tree houses? The Sanctuary Tree House Resort in nearby Pigeon Forge is home to beautiful feats of architecture with real tree houses boasting trip-making amenities like outdoor hot tubs and swinging day beds.

Wilmington, North Carolina to Savannah, Georgia

Daniela Duncan / Getty Images

Start or end this road trip by spending a few days in the riverfront city of Wilmington, strolling Cape Fear's 1.75-mile Riverwalk , browsing the shops, or dining at one of the waterfront cafes or restaurants. Tour the Battleship North Carolina , just across the river from downtown, to catch a glimpse of its role in World War II's Pacific Theater. Spend a day at the beach or ride in a horse-drawn carriage among Wilmington's historic mansions.

When it's time to begin your drive south to Savannah, you have a few options. The fastest route is inland on Interstate 95, a little less than five hours for 300 miles. But take your time and drive near the coast on U.S. Route 17. While this will add around an hour, you'll pass through small towns and be able to stop for lunch on a nearby beach. If time allows, you could happily take three days or more to enjoy this scenic and historic section of the coast.

Head west across the Cape Fear River, then U.S. Route 17 takes you inland for a few miles south before you get close to the Atlantic shore for most of the drive. You'll pass Shallotte, its river of the same name, and the Brunswick Islands , five barrier islands with beaches, seafood, and a historic atmosphere. North Carolina's Outer Banks region, which comprises 100 miles of shoreline, is a popular summer destination, and you might decide to spend some time (or even a night) in one of the beachside towns.

Myrtle Beach in South Carolina might be your next stop, or you can continue your scenic drive along the shore and spend the night in Charleston. Continue on U.S. Route 17, driving near the Sea Islands — hundreds of barrier islands along the shores of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida — for about two hours, before arriving in Savannah.

Savannah, Georgia to Orlando, Florida

It may not be easy to leave Savannah's squares, parks, riverfront, and restaurants, but if you're planning a visit to Orlando's theme parks and many attractions, it's time to get on the road. Most of the 300-mile trip will be on Interstate 95, which runs fairly close to the coast, but there's a short detour that takes you to Sea Island , Little St. Simons Island , and Jekyll Island that's well worth an extra hour or more.

Take Interstate 16 West out of Savannah to meet up with Interstate 95 South — you'll drive mostly inland, but pass over creeks and streams along the way. Shortly after the Altamaha River, watch for a turnoff onto State Route 99, then take Route 17 south. Take a road to whichever island you want to visit. Then, continue on Route 17, which meets up with Interstate 95 again. Continue south, passing Amelia Island, and on toward Jacksonville, where you'll cross the St. Johns River.

You'll drive near the coast as you pass St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, and a variety of beach towns. At Daytona Beach, home of the Daytona International Speedway , head southwest on Interstate 4, passing Lake Monroe and on to Orlando, where hotels, Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios, and entertainment of all kinds await. Explore the natural surroundings at Shingle Creek Regional Park , where you can paddle a canoe or kayak, or enjoy a quiet picnic.

Miami, Florida to Key West, Florida

Artur Debat/Getty Images

This classic road trip takes you to the furthest reaches of Highway 1 and the southernmost point of the continental U.S. From Miami, it's a 164-mile drive to Key West, but it's a trip that should be broken up along the way to enjoy the diversity of the many islands that make up the Florida Keys — and maybe even a detour to Everglades National Park if you've always wanted to see gators in person. Before you set out, make sure you take the proper time to enjoy the scene of South Beach, have a cafecito on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, and take a few shots for the 'gram at Wynwood Walls .

From Miami, embrace the laid-back style of the Keys by traveling slowly, first stopping at Key Largo for a slice of Key Lime Pie at Mrs. Mac's Kitchen . As you roll down Highway 1 past Islamorada and Marathon, you'll see fabulous resorts and cozy bed-and-breakfasts but for an experience that's a little different, park the car and hop on a boat to the celebrated Little Palm Island , a private island resort where you can have your own luxury bungalow. You can spend the entire trip exploring the many wildlife-rich snorkeling and diving spots, especially if you take an excursion to Dry Tortugas National Park , a protected marine reserve.

For literature fans and animal lovers, a visit to the Hemingway Home and Museum is a must, where you can meet the unique six-toed cats descended from the great American author's precious pet Snowball who lived there with him in the 1930s. Of course, with only one way to go from Key West, the drive back is just as scenic as the drive there, so keep track of your favorite spots and make sure you never miss the sunset, which is magnificent from just about every angle.

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15 East Coast Road Trip Itinerary Ideas!

February 29, 2024 //  by  Follow Me Away //   1 Comment

There are so many options for an East Coast road trip itinerary! I love road tripping and the East Coast states offer so much to see and do!

Whether you are interested in seeing gorgeous nature, historic sites, charming towns, or bustling cities, there are East Coast America road trip ideas in this list for you!

I’ve made sure to have options that hit almost every state on the East Coast. Some of them are all in one state, others you’ll spend time traveling to several different states.

If you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway or a few days on the road, I’m sure there is something here for you.

From Maine to Florida, there is so much waiting for you to explore on an East Coast trip.

Don’t forget to check out my list of the best resorts on the East Coast if you are looking for some inspiration!

Now, let’s dive into my road trip planner for the East Coast USA!

Coastal Maine Road Trip

• Ogunquit Beach
• Kennebunkport
• Acadia National Park

A coastal Maine road trip is a great way to see the northernmost state on the East Coast.

Begin your road trip in Ogunquit Beach, which has miles of beautiful sandy beaches. You’ll also find great shopping, dining, and a nice art scene.

Continue to Kennebunkport where you can visit the quaint Cape Porpoise, a lobster-fishing village.

From there, head to Rockland. This tourist spot is famous because it’s where the mountains and sea converge. After enjoying the pretty landscape, head to Acadia National Park.

Acadia is a perfect way to end your Maine road trip. It’s got stunning rocky beaches, plenty of hiking trails, and sweeping panoramic views.

This is also one of my favorite summer trips in the USA !

Picturesque New York Road Trip

• Hudson Valley
• Catskill Mountains
• Watkins Glen

If you want a New York road trip that takes you outside of New York City, then consider this East Coast USA itinerary.

Begin in Albany, a beautiful city that is actually the state’s capital. You’ll also find one of the oldest museums in the US. The Albany Institute of History & Art was founded in 1791.

From there, head to the Hudson Valley. This is a large area of the state and where the Hudson River flows. It’s a beautiful place to unwind and admire New York’s wild landscape.

Next, head to the Catskill Mountains. These pretty mountains are where people from NYC go to reset and relax. There are lakes and rivers you can hike to and enjoy.

Continue to Ithaca, a picturesque city in New York’s Finger Lakes region. It’s also home to the ice cream sundae, so make sure you enjoy one while you’re there.

You’ll end your trip by exploring Watkins Glen. It’s a small village with a canal that goes straight through it. Stop by Watkins Glen State Park where you can hike and discover lovely waterfalls.

Florida Springs Road Trip

• Ginnie Springs
• Devil’s Den
• Rainbow Springs
• Gilchrist Blue Springs

The best way to start your Florida springs road trip is at Ginnie Springs. You’ll find some of the clearest waters in Florida. It’s made up of seven springs with beautiful white sandy shores.

From there, head to Devil’s Den. This is the perfect Florida spring for divers, as it is inside a cave. It is super unique!

Next, head to Rainbow Springs. The waters of this state park were once believed to hold magical healing powers. Now it’s a favorite spring for visitors. Float down the natural “lazy” river or swim in the massive spring.

End your road trip at the Gilchrist Blue Springs. It’s a very popular tourist destination, so make sure you get there early if you want to be able to enjoy a swim.

This Florida vacation is great for an East Coast itinerary with kids!

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Road Trip

• Woodford Reserve Distillery
• Wild Turkey Distillery
• Lexington Brewing Distilling Company
• Maker’s Mark Distillery

Kentucky is known for its bourbon, so you should absolutely take a bourbon trail road trip while you’re there!

Start at the Woodford Reserve Distillery about 30 minutes outside of Lexington. See the still, the warehouse, and the bottling process before enjoying a bite to eat in the sampling room.

Then drive twenty minutes to tour the Wild Turkey Distillery.

Next, head to the Lexington Brewing Distilling Company. They make bourbon as well as beer, moonshine, vodka, and rum.

End this Kentucky road trip at the Maker’s Mark Distillery. It’s possibly the most famous dis tillery in the state. You’ll be able to finish your trip by dipping your bottle of bourbon in their signature red wax.

Kancamagus Highway In New Hampshire

• Loon Mountain
• Hancock Overlook and Pavilion
• Sugar Hill Overlook
• Rocky Gorge Scenic Area

Do you want to experience an amazing fall foliage road trip in the US? The Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire is one of the best routes!

Start this East Coast road trip at Loon Mountain. It’s a popular ski area and a great place to stop and walk around while you admire the changing leaves.

Next, head to the Hancock Overlook and Pavilion. On a clear day, you’ll get a beautiful view of the mountains. There is also a pavilion that has plenty of infographics about the area.

Continue to the Sugar Hill Overlook. There, you’ll have a great view of the Swift River Valley and mountains covered in fall foliage.

End your road trip at the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area. There are paved walkways and a bridge you can cross. You can even walk down to the river. It’s a beautiful area and a great stop to end your northeast road trip.

Virginia Monticello Wine Road Trip

• Flying Fox Vineyard
• Pollack Vineyard
• Knights Gambit Vineyard

The Monticello Wine Trail is one of the best road trips in Virginia! The route is inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s vision of grape growing in Virginia.

This scenic wine trail can be done in a day or you can spread it out over a few days. There are 30 wineries on the trail, but I’ll mention three favorite must-sees.

At all of the vineyards on the trail, you can take tours before sampling their wine selection. Most even have a small restaurant or café where you can grab a bite to eat.

I suggest at least stopping at the Flying Fox Vineyard, the Pollack Vineyard, and the Knights Gambit Vineyard. They are all beautiful vineyards with great views, tours, and wine to sample.

Waterfalls Of South Carolina

• Wildcat Wayside Falls
• Issaqueena Falls
• Reedy Falls

This Eastern USA road trip is great for seeing some of South Carolina’s best waterfalls.

Start at the 30-foot-tall Wildcat Wayside Falls, which you can see from the highway. Park near just off the highway and take a short walk to get a closer look.

Twin Falls, the most popular falls in the state, are nearby. So make sure you make a stop there too.

Then head to Issaqueena Falls, which is just a short hike away from the Twin Falls. You get to see two beautiful waterfalls at the same spot! At over 200 feet of cascading waters, it’s an absolute must-see.

Finish your tour of South Carolina waterfalls at the Reedy Falls. The 25-foot waterfall is actually in downtown Greenville, so take some time to enjoy the city while you see the falls.

Charming East Coast Towns

• Montpelier, Vermont
• New Haven, Connecticut
• New Hope, Pennsylvania
• Roanoke, Virginia

There are so many charming small towns on the East Coast ! This road trip will introduce you to some of the most popular townsto explore.

Start in Montpelier, Vermont. It is the capital, but it is not as bustling as other East Coast capital cities. While there, head to the Ben and Jerry’s factory to sample ice cream before heading to New Haven, Connecticut.

New Haven is home to the Ivy League University, Yale. It’s the state’s second-largest city, but still feels very much like a small town.

Grab some coffee, explore the city, or hang out on one of the beautiful lawns of Yale.

Next, head to New Hope, Pennsylvania. This is a charming small arts town near Philadelphia. You’ll find some unique shops, great food, and awesome art galleries to explore.

From there, head to your final small town: Roanoke, Virginia. While there, enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery, the world’s largest free-standing illuminating star, and the town’s many parks.

Cities of the East Coast

• Boston, Massachusetts
• New York City, New York
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Washington D.C.

Are you looking for a East Coast travel guide that focuses on the big cities? You can’t go wrong with this fun itinerary as all of the cities are vibrant and interesting!

Start your trip in Boston, Massachusetts, where you can explore art museums, historic sites, and amazing food and shopping. Boston with kids is amazing, so this is a great family road trip option for you!

From there, head to the Big Apple! In New York City, you can find some unique things to do outside of Times Square . There are a ton of iconic buildings and monuments to see!

In Philadelphia, see the Liberty Bell, grab a cheesesteak, and run up the famous stairs from Rocky .

End your trip at the nation’s capital. In Washington D.C., hit up the many Smithsonian museums, admire the famous national landmarks like the Washington Monument, and learn about the founding of the United States.

Make sure to check out these Washington D.C. travel tips before you go! You are sure to have a wonderful time on this road trip down the East Coast!

The Blue Ridge Parkway of North Carolina

• Cumberland Knob
• Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
• Linn Cove Viaduct
• Little Switzerland
• Crabtree Falls

The Blue Ridge Parkway is probably one of the most famous East Coast road trip destinations. This one focuses on all the great bits of the route in North Carolina.

Start at Cumberland Knob where you can explore scenic views. Linville Falls is also nearby, so make sure you hike out to see it.

From there, head to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. There are hiking trails and even a manor you can tour. You may even see people horseback riding.

As you continue down the parkway, you will pass over the iconic Linn Cove Viaduct.

When you make it to Little Switzerland, walk around before hiking to Crabtree Falls to end your road trip.

This is one of the best fall foliage weekend road trip ideas on the East Coast!

Hidden Gems Of Tennessee

• The Lost Sea
• The Minister’s Treehouse
• The First Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
• Geographic Center of Tennessee

Tennessee is a great place to see some unique attractions.

Start your road trip at the Lost Sea. The Lost Sea is a lake 3/4 miles beneath the ground in Craighead Caverns. When you take your tour, you’ll even ride in a little boat.

From there, head to the Minister’s Treehouse in Crossville. The Minister’s Treehouse is a massive, abandoned structure in the shape of a treehouse.

It was built by a minister in the 1990s and was officially closed years ago due to safety concerns. But you can still admire it from the outside.

Continue to the First Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Lebanon. You can see the original building and learn more about the chain restaurant’s early history.

End your road trip at the Geographic Center of Tennessee in Murfreesboro an hour outside of Nashville. There’s a small plaque marking this unique spot.

Ultimate New England Road Trip

• Newport, Rhode Island
• Mystic, Connecticut
• Burlington, Vermont

This East Coast road trip is all about exploring New England. You’ll do a sort of loop as you start in Boston.

Boston is the quintessential New England city, so take time to explore all it has to offer.

From there, head to Newport, Rhode Island. It is known for its massive and iconic mansions. Make time to tour one of them.

Next, head to Mystic, Connecticut. It’s a small, coastal town full of charm that you are sure to enjoy. It was also the filming location for the 1988 movie Mystic Pizza .

End your road trip in Burlington, Vermont. It’s Vermont’s biggest town and is super cool. You’ll find a great art scene, amazing restaurants, and more. It’s a great way to end your exploration of New England.

Georgia Film Buffs Road Trip

• Crawfordville

There have been so many amazing movies and TV shows filmed in Georgia . It has recently become the Hollywood of the East Coast, and this makes it one of the best Southeast road trip ideas.

Start in Atlanta, where films like Driving Miss Daisy and The Blind Side have been filmed. Even Marvel movies have been made there!

Check out the beautiful Swan House where scenes from The Hunger Games series were shot.

Next, head to Crawfordville, where you can tour the Taliaferro County Historical Society’s exhibits on local filmmaking. It’s also where Sweet Home Alabama was filmed.

From there, head to the cute small town of Monticello. In Monticello, head to the Whistle Stop Cafe, one of the filming locations for Fried Green Tomatoes .

End your road trip in Savannah. Savannah has been used as the backdrop to over 85 films, like Forrest Gump and X-Men: First Class .

This is the best road trip on the East Coast USA for anyone interested in film-making!

Historic East Coast Cities

• Salem, Massachusetts
• Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
• Optional Extensions: Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; St. Augustine, Florida.

When everyone thinks of historic East Coast road trip stops, they think of Boston first. While Boston is a great historic city, I suggest traveling just a little outside of Boston as well to Salem.

After learning about Colonial Boston, it’s interesting to learn about Salem, which is notorious for the Salem Witch Trials. The town leans into that history, and you’ll find tons of cool places to explore.

Nearby is also Plymouth, the site of Plymouth Rock and where European Settlers first landed in New England.

Next, head to Philadelphia. There, you’ll learn more about America’s fight for freedom. Check out the Liberty Bell, see where the Declaration of Independence was written, and visit the Betsy Ross House.

Next, head to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. While there, you’ll learn what daily life was like for Colonial Americans.

Finish your East Coast road trip itinerary in the nation’s capital: Washington D.C. You’ll be able to see the actual Declaration of Independence as well as learn more about the nation’s history.

If you have the time to extend your trip further south, consider checking out Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and St. Augustine, Florida. All have a unique and fascinating history!

Pennsylvania’s Route 30

• Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium
• Dutch Wonderland
• The Coffee Pot
• The Bicycle Built For Two

If you love kitschy roadside attractions, then you’ll love the best East Coast road trip stops on Pennsylvania’s Route 30.

Start your journey outside of Gettysburg at Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium. It is full of unique elephant memorabilia, and of course, lots of candy.

From there, head to Dutch Wonderland, which is in Lancaster just off Route 30. It’s a theme park centered around the area’s Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.

Next, head to The Coffee Pot. This is a roadside luncheonette in the shape of a massive coffee pot. It has been restored, and now you can visit it.

Finish your tour of Pennsylvania’s roadside attractions at the Bicycle Built For Two. It’s a 17-foot-high tandem bicycle!

This is one of the most fun family road trips on the East Coast USA!

There are so many great things to do on the East Coast. From big cities, charming small towns, and beautiful scenery, you will have a great time!

I hope you enjoyed this list of the top road trips on the East Coast and found one that is perfect for you.

Have you ever done any of these road trips? Is there one you’d like to try? Let me know in the comments!

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20 East Coast Road Trips (with Maps & 1-Week Itineraries)

The family road trip has made a comeback and with it, families are looking for even more road trip ideas. While plenty of East Coasters have made the road trip down 95 to Florida over the years, now families want to take time to stop and explore along the way. With so much to see, we have divided this part of the country up into 20 different East Coast road trips, each of which could be done in a one-week vacation.

Each of these mini East Coast road trip itineraries will give you ideas for new ways to explore sections of the East Coast of the U.S.A. Check off one at a time or string a few together for a longer vacation.

Not sure where to start? Here are my top picks:

• Best for nature fans: White & Green Mountains in NH and VT
• Best for history buffs : Colonial History Philadelphia to Williamsburg
• Best for beach lovers: Coastal Islands: Wilmington NC to Jacksonville FL
• Best for national park stampers: Blue Ridge Mountains
• Best for theme park fans: Daytona to Tampa
• Best iconic views: Florida Keys road trip

20 East Coast Road Trips

Each of these East Coast road trip ideas should take approximately 7 to 10 days to complete as outlined. My goal is to only require one week of vacation time from work, since that is the typical family vacation. I’ve linked to some more detailed road trip itineraries and included maps to give you an overview of the route.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own.

New England Coast: Boston to Bar Harbor, ME

The drive from Boston, Massachusetts up to Bar Harbor, Maine can be done in about four hours on the highway, but it is better to take the scenic route and explore Vacationland’s scenic coast along the way. One of the best East Coast road trips, this one is full of Maine foods like lobster rolls, blueberry soda, and whoopie pies; as well as lighthouses, rocky coasts, quaint small towns, and Acadia National Park .

Portland: spend 2 nights in Portland exploring the Old Port, maybe taking a lobster boat tour, climbing on the rocks by Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, or spending a day shopping at the L.L. Bean outlet up in Freeport. You could also visit some local breweries or take a day trip to Maine Wildlife Park in Gray to see some moose.

Where to stay: The Press Hotel , Inn by the Sea , or the Courtyard Marriott Waterfront

Boothbay Harbor: spend 1-2 nights in Boothbay Harbor . On your way, stop and enjoy the coastal towns, Giant’s Stairs in Harpswell, spend an afternoon soaking up the sun on Popham Beach, a rare sandy stretch of sand, and be sure to line up for lobster rolls at Red Eats.

The next day, get out on the water with one of Boothbay Harbor’s many sightseeing cruises to see puffins or whales, or rent a sea kayak to explore Muscongus Bay. Leave time to browse at the many boutiques in town.

Where to stay: Tugboat Inn , Fisherman’s Wharf Inn

Rockland: spend 1 night enjoying the artistic town of Rockland . Pop into the Center for Maine Contemporary Art or the Farnsworth Art Museum. If the outdoors holds more appeal, hop aboard a traditional Maine Windjammer for a short sail, walk along the Rockland Breakwater, or explore the trails at Camden Hills State Park. This arts city of Maine is such a delightful surprise!

Where to stay: 250 Main Hotel

Bar Harbor: finish up your road trip at the scenic town of Bar Harbor, just outside of Acadia National Park . You will want to spend 2 to 3 nights exploring the park. Try to catch a sunrise or sunset from the top of Cadillac Mountain, drive the Park Loop Road, relax on Sand Beach, stop to see the natural phenomenon at Thunder Hole, take in the view from Otter Cliffs, bike the Carriage Roads, and check out some of the popular hikes. Don’t forget to enjoy an authentic lobster pound before you take the fast route back to Portland. (See more things to do near Acadia National Park .)

Where to stay: Bar Harbor Grand Hotel , Hampton by Hilton Bar Harbor , or go glamping at the Terramor Outdoor Resort

Read more: Check out my full coastal Maine road trip itinerary

White & Green Mountains: Boston, MA to Burlington, VT

The drive from Boston to Burlington takes only about 4 hours, but use this New England road trip to spend time enjoying the beautiful scenery of the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont along the way, especially during fall foliage season.

Boston: if you haven’t been to Boston , plan on spending 2 nights enjoying this historic city. Don’t miss the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum , walk the Freedom Trail, enjoy a swan boat tour in Boston’s Public Garden, and taste your way through Boston’s Little Italy in the North End.

Where to stay: Fairmont Copley Plaza , Boston Harbor Hotel

Lincoln, NH: Lincoln can make a nice home base for 1-2 nights of exploring the White Mountains . Hike through the Flume Gorge, zip line, or hike at Loon Mountain, ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway, or drive the Mount Washington Auto Road. There are also plenty of hikes to try, rock climbing, a scenic drive on the Kancamagus Highway , and splashing in the waterfalls at Diana’s Baths.

Where to stay: Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain , Lumen Nature Retreat , Alpine Garden Glamping , or Huttopia

Stowe, VT: spend a couple of nights enjoying the Green Mountains from a home base in Stowe. On your drive from New Hampshire, you may want to stop at the Cabot cheese factory, Ben & Jerry’s Factory, and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. In Stowe, you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and other resort activities.

Where to stay: TopNotch Resort , Stowe Mountain Resort

Burlington, VT: Finish your road trip with a night in the hip waterfront city of Burlington. There are so many things to do in Burlington, VT and you can check out nearby Shelburne Farm, and the ECHO museum. Or if you prefer lake life, finish with a few days on Lake Champlain at the Basin Harbor Hotel .

On your drive back to Boston, be sure to stop and stroll through the charming downtown of Woodstock.

Where to stay: Hotel Vermont , Courtyard Burlington Harbor

Read more: Vermont Route 100 road trip stops , things to do in the White Mountains

Southern New England COast: New York, NY to Provincetown, MA

You should be able to make the trip from New York to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod in 5 to 6 hours, but the traffic can be horrendous on summer weekends so try to travel midweek for this east coast road trip if you can.

Mystic, CT: Break up the trip with a night in Mystic. You will want to visit the historic Mystic Seaport, stroll through downtown, and maybe stop in at the Mystic Aquarium. You will find plenty of things to do in Mystic with kids.

Where to stay: Mystic KOA , Inn at Mystic

Newport, RI: spend a night in the yachting capital of the world . You can walk the Cliff Walk, fly a kite at Brenton Point State Park, visit some of the Newport Mansions, shop along Thames, and take a sail in the harbor.

Where to stay: Newport Marriott , The Vanderbilt

Providence, RI: instead of skipping over Rhode Island’s Creative Capital, spend a night to discover this little gem. Take a Rhode Island food tour, visit the RISD Museum, take a gondola or river boat ride, bike along the East Bay bike path, and, if you are lucky, take in Providence’s famous Waterfire .

Where to stay: The Graduate Providence , Aloft Providence Downtown

Falmouth, MA: stay the next 2 nights on the elbow of Cape Cod in Falmouth. Take time to relax on the beach and then hop the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket for a day. You can also ride the Cape Cod bike trail or visit the Woods Hole Science Aquarium.

Where to stay: Sea Crest Beach Hotel or Autocamp Cape Cod

Provincetown, MA: finish your road trip with a couple of nights in the unique and vibrant town of Provincetown. You can shop, dine, take a tour of the sand dunes , go on a whale-watching tour, climb the lighthouse, or visit the Pirate Museum. The best part is searching the tide pools at low tide and watching the sunset.

Where to stay: Surfside Hotel & Suites

Read more: New York to Boston road trip itinerary, things to do in Providence

New York to Niagara Falls, NY

The drive from New York City to Niagara Falls can take 6 to 7 hours, but turn it into a road trip with a few days in the Finger Lakes region on the way and plenty of stops along the Western New York Upstate Eats Trail .

Watkins Glen: spend 2 nights in Watkins Glen, at the southern point of Seneca Lake. For fans of The Office, you may want to stop in Scranton, PA on your way for a self-driving tour of filming spots. Enjoy time on the lake, hike to the waterfalls in Watkins Glen State Park, or take a glider ride in Elmira, the Soaring Capital of the World.

Where to stay: Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

Hammondsport: move over to Keuka Lake and spend a couple of nights in Hammondsport. You can enjoy water sports, wine tasting, and a day at the fascinating Corning Museum of Glass.

Where to stay: Keuka Lakeside Inn

Niagara Falls: you will want to spend 2 to 3 nights in Niagara to explore all the attractions including the Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, Old Fort Niagara, jet boat tours, and hiking trails in Niagara Falls State Park.

Where to stay: Sheraton Niagara Falls , Hyatt Place Niagara Falls

Buffalo: on your return to New York, stop in for some food, history, and fun in Buffalo . This city is going through a renaissance and plenty of fun activities along the waterfront (in summer or winter). Make sure you try some of these must-eat foods in Buffalo too!

Where to stay: Buffalo Marriott LECOM Harborcenter

Cooperstown: on your return trip, be sure to stop in Seneca Falls and visit the Women’s Rights National Historical Park and the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Then spend a night in Cooperstown and visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Where to stay: Otesaga Resort , Inn at Cooperstown

Read more: Things to do in Hammondsport, NY , New York road trips

PA Pitstops: Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, PA

Driving from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh takes about five hours, but going straight through means you will miss out on some many historic, scenic, and family-fun spots along the way.

Lancaster: start your trip with a night in Lancaster’s Pennsylvania Dutch Country. You will want to take a buggy ride, indulge at an Amish feast, or take in some of the historic sites. You can also take a tour of the Turkey Hill Ice Cream Experience.

Where to stay: Residence Inn by Marriott Lancaster

Hershey: next stop is the sweetest place on earth, Hershey . You can spend the day at Hersheypark, visit Hershey’s Chocolate World, or the Hershey Experience. History buffs will enjoy the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, a good introduction before you head to Gettysburg.

Where to stay: Hershey Lodge

Gettysburg: next up is the historic town of Gettysburg . I would highly recommend a guided tour of the Battlefield, but there are many other things to do in town as well.

Where to stay: Hilton Garden Inn Gettysburg , Gettysburg Hotel

Laurel Highlands: the Laurel Highlands is a scenic mountainous region east of Pittsburgh offering spectacular natural scenery and outdoor recreation. You will want to spend 2 days rafting down the Ohiopyle, climbing through Pennsylvania’s largest cave at Laurel Caverns, and enjoying mountain resort activities including zip lining, rock climbing, summer tubing, and more.

Where to stay: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Pittsburgh: you can fit a lot into 1 day in Pittsburgh , but spend 2 nights if you can spare it. See the view from Mount Washington from the Duquesne Incline, visit the Heinz History Center, explore the Carnegie Science Center, and don’t miss the Tribute to Children statue of Fred Rogers near the Allegheny River. There is also the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Andy Warhol Museum. And if the Pirates are in town, try to catch a baseball game.

Where to stay: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh , Omni William Penn Hotel

COlonial History: Philadelphia, PA to Williamsburg, VA

The drive from Philadelphia to Williamsburg takes about five hours but why not turn it into a learning experience with an American history road trip?

Valley Forge, PA: if you have already explored the historical sites of Philadelphia like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, you may want to venture out of the city for a visit to the Valley Forge National Historical Park .

Baltimore, MD: spend 2 nights in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where you can easily visit Fort McHenry, visit the National Aquarium, stroll through the cobblestone streets of Fells Point, and enjoy the other Inner Harbor attractions.

Where to stay: Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor , Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore

Washington D.C.: you will want to spend at least 2 to 3 days exploring the nation’s capital. There are so many museums and monuments to explore, you may want to use our DC itinerary. Just remember if you want to visit the White House, you will need to make reservations in advance.

Where to stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Georgetown

Williamsburg, VA : finish your road trip in Colonial Williamsburg. You will need 2 to 3 days to enjoy the sites, including a full day in Colonial Williamsburg , a visit to Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown, and Busch Gardens or Water Country USA .

Where to stay: Kingsmill Resort , Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg

Read more: Northeast road trip for history lovers

Mid-atlantic Gems: Cape May, NJ to Chincoteague, VA

If you want to stick to the Mid-Atlantic coast, this road trip will bring you through cute Victorian towns, beautiful beaches, and nature preserves.

Cape May, NJ: start off your journey in Cape May. This quaint town isn’t like the rest of the Jersey Shore. Enjoy the gourmet restaurants, charming boutiques, and gingerbread-style Victorian homes.

Where to stay : Congress Hall

Lewes, DE: take the ferry across to Lewes, Delaware, another Victorian town full of history, cute cafes, and shops. You must stay a night so that you can take a sunset cruise past the lighthouse and if you get lucky, you may see some dolphins on the way.

Where to stay : Inn at Canal Square

Bethany Beach, DE: as you continue down to the beaches of Southern Delaware, you may also want to stop and check out some of the local breweries and wineries in this region. If you are seeking a boardwalk, combined with bike trails, and great restaurants, you may prefer Rehoboth Beach . Dewey Beach is full of seaside hotels and beach bars, along with gorgeous state beaches. But if you are seeking quiet for a few days at the beach, I would recommend Bethany Beach.

Where to stay: Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott

Chincoteague, VA: on your way to Assateague Island National Seashore to see the wild ponies , stop in the cute small town of Berlin, MD or for a stroll on the Ocean City boardwalk. To get up close to the wild horses, I would recommend taking a boat tour with Captain Dan from Chincoteague. Afterward, get some marsh mud ice cream at Island Creamery.

Where to stay: Hampton Inn and Suites Chincoteague Waterfront

Eastern Shore: Baltimore, MD to Virginia Beach, VA

Swing through Maryland and Virginia’s Eastern Shore on your way down to Virginia Beach. You can then take the highway back to Baltimore, with a stop in Norfolk or Williamsburg on your return trip.

Annapolis, MD: start off with a night in Annapolis. Spend the day exploring some of Annapolis’ historic sites, including the State House and the U.S. Naval Academy, as well as the boutiques and galleries downtown. Don’t leave town without enjoying some crab cakes!

Where to stay: Graduate Annapolis

St. Michaels, MD: spend a night enjoying the Chesapeake side of the Eastern Shore. The charming town of St. Michaels offers up plenty of retail therapy options, but also cultural attractions like the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Nearby you can go tasting at local wineries and breweries, or get out on the water with a kayak or paddle board.

Where to stay: St. Michaels Harbour Inn

Chincoteague, VA : the kids will then enjoy a night on the other side of the peninsula, finding the wild ponies at Chincoteague or exploring the Assateague National Seashore. Be sure to stop for ice cream at the Island Creamery!

Virginia Beach, VA: there are so many things to do in Virginia Beach that you will want to spend a few days enjoying the wide sand beaches and exploring. Also, check out my friend Brianna’s guide to where to eat in Virginia Beach . If you want to take a day trip, pop over to Hampton to explore some early history or visit the Virginia Air and Space Museum.

Where to stay: Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Wi lliamsburg, VA: finish your road trip in Colonial Williamsburg. Plan on a full day in Colonial Williamsburg , and if you have more time, include a visit to Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown, Busch Gardens, or Water Country USA .

Skyline Drive: Washington DC to Charlottesville, VA

This road trip will bring you through Shenandoah National Park for a mix of outdoor adventures and historic landmarks. We covered this ground during part of a more extensive Virginia road trip a few years back.

Woodstock, VA : spend 2 nights in Woodstock, exploring nearby Shenandoah Caverns, climbing the Woodstock Tower, tubing on the Shenandoah River, enjoying summer sports at Bryce Resort, and hiking in Shenandoah National Park.

Where to stay: Hampton Inn & Suites Woodstock

Harrisonburg, VA: spend the day exploring Shenandoah National Park and driving the Skyline Drive before arriving in Harrisonburg for the night. This is a great road trip for a college tour because James Madison University is also located here. Be sure to also stop at Kline’s Dairy Bar for its famous custard-style ice cream.

Where to stay: Residence Inn Harrisonburg

Charlottesville, VA: plan on spending 2 nights in Charlottesville . Stroll and shop downtown and then enjoy a traditional, Colonial-style luncheon at the historic Michie Tavern, followed by a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate.

In the evening, head up to Carter Mountain Orchard to catch a sunset and some live music. On your second day, you can either explore more history at President James Monroe’s home, do some local wine tasting, tour the campus of the University of Virginia, or kayak along the James River.

Where to stay: Graduate Charlottesville

Richmond, VA: finish up your road trip with a couple of days in Richmond . While it was once the capital of the Confederate South, today the state capital is finding a new identity with plenty of street art, craft beer, and fun dining options. You may want to check out the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, or the Institute of Contemporary Art before heading back to DC.

Where to stay: Graduate Richmond

Carolina Coast: Washington DC to Wilmington, NC

If you are ready to escape the city for the coast, it is time for a road trip down to Wilmington , North Carolina and Wrightsville Beach. The six-hour drive is long but then there is plenty to do on the Carolina coast once you arrive and this road trip gives you a chance to figure out your favorite beach.

Emerald Isle, NC: Emerald Isle is on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, or the “southern” Outer Banks. This area attracts visitors who have returned for decades for the simple beach pleasures of a family vacation. Emerald Isle offers 12 miles of pristine shoreline and incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Inlet. Spend a few days enjoying watersports, fishing, or simply sitting on the sand and enjoying the sound of the waves rolling in.

Where to stay: Inn at Pine Knoll Shores , Islander Hotel & Resort

Surf City, NC: stay a couple of days in Surf City, the center of Topsail Island. The relaxing and uncrowded beaches are what some call “the way the beach used to be.” You can also enjoy kayaking, fishing, and boating on the Intercoastal.

Wrightsville Beach, NC: once you have arrived in Wrightsville Beach set up your home base for the next few days to explore. You will want to spend some time in the historic downtown of Wilmington, take a food tour in Kure Beach, stroll the grounds of Airlie Gardens, take a hike in Carolina State Park, or enjoy some beach time. Don’t miss a stop at Britt’s Donuts — the best on the east coast!

Where to stay : Blockade Runner Beach Resort

Low Country: Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA

You can make the drive from Raleigh to Savannah in about five hours, but it pays to take the coastal route and make some stops along the way.

Myrtle Beach, SC : how long you spend in Myrtle Beach depends on the vibe of a beach town that you enjoy. If you enjoy a boardwalk, arcades, family attractions, and plenty of kitsch — then you will enjoy a classic family vacation to Myrtle Beach. But you can also get away from the crowds by kayaking through the salt marshes, strolling through Brookgreen Gardens, or paddle boarding.

Where to stay: Island Vista

Charleston, SC: for a complete change of pace, spend a night or two in the historic city of Charleston. Start off with a carriage tour through the downtown, visit some of the historic homes and gardens, and discover why Charleston is a foodie destination.

Where to stay: The Mills House Wyndham Grand

Beaufort, SC: spend a day exploring Beaufort, the upcoming-and-coming “next” Charleston or Savannah. Explore its antebellum mansions and downtown historic district. You can also enjoy the low country marshlands and waterways.

Where to stay: Anchorage 1770 Inn

Savannah, GA: finish up this east coast road trip in Savannah. Wander through the city’s many squares lined with oaks dripping in Spanish moss in Savannah’s historic district . Check out the Prohibition Museum, and then enjoy Savannah’s vibrant dining and craft cocktail scene. Stroll down touristy river street, take a ghost tour, visit some of the historic homes, or spend a day out on the beach at Tybee Island. See my friend Rob’s (who has an Airbnb there) favorite things to do in Savannah and my friend Karen has great suggestions on the best family restaurants in Savannah .

Where to stay: Perry Lane Hotel

Blue Ridge Mountains: Charlotte, NC to Gatlinburg, TN

If lakes and mountains are calling you, head towards the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park — with a few stops along the way.

Lake Lure, NC: the backdrop to Dirty Dancing, Lake Lure is a favorite family vacation destination. You will need a couple of days to explore Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, Chimney Rock State Park, and Chimney Rock Village which has plenty of shops and dining options, along with a scenic riverwalk next to the creek that kids will enjoy playing in on a warm sunny day. Plus you have to leave time to enjoy the lake, by boat or beach.

Where to stay: Lake Lure Inn & Spa

Asheville, NC: located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville has many fun things to do with kids . Take the Blue Ridge Highway to Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, and other hiking trails. Swing from the treetops at the Adventure Center of Asheville, play some games at the Asheville Pinball Museum, visit the Biltmore Estate , one of the most popular things to do in North Carolina , or sample some local craft brews. If you have more time to road trip, be sure to explore these Blue Ridge Parkway stops .

Where to stay: Aloft Asheville Downtown

Gatlinburg, NC: use Gatlinburg as your base for exploring parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (don’t miss Cades Cove Loop ) and Pigeon Forge as well. You can go hiking, bike through the park, spend a day at Dollywood, go zip lining, see the view from Clingmans Dome, go horseback riding, or see a show.

Where to stay: Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg

Coastal Islands: Wilmington, NC to Jacksonville, FL

Another coastal road trip, this one bypasses the cities in favor of luxury beach destinations and brings you from Wilmington, NC all the way down to Jacksonville, Florida. A 6.5-hour drive by highway, you can spend a week or more exploring the coast. This trip brings you to some of the best beaches in the USA .

Kiawah Island: start off your road trip in luxury at the Kiawah Resort. This private residential island and resort is famous for its acclaimed golf course, but families can also enjoy 5-Star accommodations and 10 miles of private sandy shoreline.

Where to stay: The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Resort

Hilton Head Island: spend a couple of days enjoying the beaches of Hilton Head Island. You can also golf, take a guided dolphin or kayak tour, or enjoy some low-country cuisine. You won’t find tacky souvenir shops or neon signs. HHI has a quieter, more relaxed way of life.

Where to stay: Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

Amelia Island: finish this luxe road trip at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Relax and enjoy the resort, search for shark teeth, star gaze from the beach, go shopping in downtown Fernandina Beach, take a kayaking tour, or hop a ferry for a day trip to Cumberland Island to see the wild horses.

Where to stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Civil Rights Trail: Atlanta, GA to Memphis, TN

It is a six-hour drive from Atlanta to Memphis, and I recommend turning it into a Civil Rights road trip .

Atlanta: starting off in Atlanta , if you haven’t already visited I would recommend spending a couple of days visiting some of the important Civil Rights sites including the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Another fun way of exploring some history is through a food tour with Atlanta Food Walks.

Where to stay: Loews Atlanta Hotel

Montgomery, AL: plan on spending a full day in Montgomery visiting the Rosa Parks Museum, the Freedom Rides Museum, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which honors victims of lynchings. On your way to Birmingham, you can make a detour to Selma to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and visit other Civil Rights sites.

Where to stay : Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa

Birmingham, AL: if you stop in Selma, you may want to plan on spending 2 nights in Birmingham so you don’t have to rush. Be sure to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Take some time to enjoy Birmingham’s up-and-coming neighborhoods and food scene too.

Where to stay: Westin Birmingham

Memphis, TN: it is easy to spend at least 3 days in Memphis , more if you want to do a day trip to Graceland. You will need a half-day to take in the sobering exhibits at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel (the place where MLK Jr. was assassinated.) Also visit Slave Haven, Sun Studios and STAX Museum of American Soul Museum. Just leave time to enjoy some great BBQ and soul food .

Where to stay: The Peabody Memphis

Read more: Plan a civil rights road trip

Golden Isles: Savannah, GA to St. Augustine, FL

This coastal road trip from Savannah to St. Augustine, Florida stops at many of Georgia’s Islands along the way.

Little St. Simons Island: spend a few days on this private island nature preserve with just 32 other guests and 7 miles of pristine beach to explore. Take advantage of twice-daily naturalist-led expeditions, kayak through the marshes to go bird watching, bike to the beach, or track some of the property’s resident armadillos.

Where to stay: Little St. Simons Resort

Jekyll Island: plan on spending at least 2-3 days on Jekyll Island, another of Georgia’s Golden Isles. You will want to visit Driftwood Beach, check out the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, picnic at South Dunes Beach Park, relax on one of the many Jekyll Island beaches or even enjoy a day at the waterpark.

Where to stay: Jekyll Island Club Resort

St. Augustine, FL: finish your road trip with a visit to historic St. Augustine — the country’s oldest continuously occupied city. You can stay on the beach or in town but be sure to check out both. You can visit the Fountain of Youth, walk the ramparts at Castillo St. Marcos, take a trolley tour, take a food tour to discover some of the town’s best places to eat , take a ghost tour, climb a lighthouse, or explore these other fun things to do with kids .

Where to stay: Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach

Florida Coast: St. Augustine to Miami, FL

Driving the east coast of Florida from Jacksonville to Miami can be done in five hours, but why miss all the great beaches, history, and fun attractions on the way?

Jacksonville / St. Augustine: you can fly into Jacksonville or start off in St. Augustine. In addition to all the historic town of St. Augustine has to offer (see above), Jacksonville offers plenty for kids too with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Museum of Science and History, Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop, TopGolf, and more.

Where to stay: The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach

Cocoa Beach, FL: spend 2 to 3 days enjoying the area near Cocoa Beach, including a full day at Kennedy Space Center . You can also kayak past the giraffes at nearby Brevard Zoo in nearby Melbourne or learn to surf at Cocoa Beach, the East Coast surf capital.

Where to stay: Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach

Hollywood, FL: next you can stay a couple of nights in Hollywood, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Enjoy strolling along the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, ArtsPark at Young Circle, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, and the Anne Kolb Nature Center, with mangrove trails and an aquarium.

Where to stay: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

Miami, FL: if you have had enough beach time, you can focus on Miami’s neighborhoods and cultural attractions including Wynwood Walls, Little Haiti, Little Havana, and the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Even plan a day trip to the Everglades for an alligator airboat tour! Of course, you can’t leave town without at least checking out Miami Beach.

Where to stay: Eden Roc Beach Hotel or The Diplomat Beach Resort

Florida Keys: Miami to Key West, FL

Driving from Miami to Key West is a classic American road trip. The trip can take a good five hours, but you need to leave plenty of time depending on traffic. It gives you the time to get into “island mode.”

Key Largo: it is best to break up the trip by staying a few days in the upper keys, since every key has its own personality. From here you can explore most of what Key Largo and Islamorada have to offer including John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, snorkeling or other watersports at Robbie’s, or glass-bottom boat tours of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary.

Where to stay: Baker’s Cay Resort

Duck Key: Hawk’s Cay at Duck Key is a great spot for families to stop and relax for a few days, enjoying all the activities on this family-friendly resort.

Where to stay: Hawks Cay Resort

Key West: on your way to Key West , you will want to stop at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and Bahia Honda State Park. Once in town, don’t miss out on the famous Sunset Celebration. You may also want to take a snorkel cruise or sunset catamaran. You can explore Key West’s vibrant food scene with a food tour — plus find out where to get the best Key Lime pie . Don’t forget to take a picture at the Southernmost Point.

Where to stay : Margaritaville Key West

Read more: Plan a Florida Keys road trip

Southwest Florida: Miami to Tampa, FL

Cross Alligator Alley from Miami to Southwest Florida to explore the beauty of the Paradise Coast. Each town has its own personality so you will want to do a little beach hopping on your way up Florida’s Gulf Coast .

Marco Island: the wide, white sand beaches of Marco Island will entice you to stay for a few days. On the way, you should stop at Everglades National Park and take one of the many airboat tours available. You may also enjoy a dolphin watch tour, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, parasailing, and even jet skiing. A nature walk in Big Cypress Nature Preserve will introduce you to the area’s plant and wildlife.

Where to stay: JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort

Captiva Island: shelling fans will find their paradise on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. With much of the islands kept as a nature preserve, you are bound to spot dolphins, manatees, and abundant birdlife.

Where to stay: Seven Seas Island Resort

Clearwater Beach: just west of Tampa, the sugar-soft white sand of Clearwater has long been recognized as one of the best beaches in the U.S. In addition to beach time and water sports, families enjoy visiting the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. You can also explore the cultural attractions and family attractions of Tampa, including Busch Gardens, ZooTampa, the Museum of Science and Industry, and more.

Where to stay: Hyatt Regency Clearwater

Central Florida: Daytona to Clearwater, FL

The shortest road trip may be across Florida from Daytona Beach to Clearwater. Yet there is so much to do in Orlando and Central Florida that you can easily spend a week or more getting the best of all worlds from the beach to the theme park.

Orlando: before leaving Daytona Beach, make sure you spend a day at the Kennedy Space Center , especially if you are lucky enough to be around to launch day. Of course in Orlando you can spend weeks in Disney , Universal , Legoland , and SeaWorld, plus all the water parks like Volcano Bay and H2O Live. But there are so many off-the-beaten-path Orlando attractions too from kayaking through the wetlands to visiting nearby natural springs.

Where to stay: Margaritaville Orlando

Clearwater Beach: before arriving in Clearwater Beach , you may want to hit up some of the attractions in Tampa, like Busch Gardens or ZooTampa. Then take time to relax on the sugar-soft white sand beaches of Clearwater. Take a pirate cruise, enjoy movies in the park, and visit Winter the Dolphin (famous from the movie A Dolphin’s Tale) and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Where to stay: Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach

Panhandle: Orlando, FL to Orange Beach, AL

When you are ready to escape Central Florida for the gorgeous beaches of the Panhandle, head north on this Florida road trip.

Tallahassee: the drive from Orlando to Tallahassee takes about 4 hours, but there are plenty of natural springs, like Crystal River or Rainbow Springs, to stop at along the way. Or, turn it into a college trip and visit the University of Florida in Gainesville. In Tallahassee, you will find trees lined with trees dripping in moss instead of the palm trees of South Florida. Kids will also enjoy the Tallahassee Museum, Challenger Learning Center, Mission San Luis, and the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab.

Where to stay: aLoft Tallahassee Downtown

Destin: get ready for a few days of beach life in Destin on the Panhandle’s Emerald Coast. There are a ton of things to do with kids including the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Indian Mound Museum, Big Kahuna’s water park, banana boat rides, parasailing, and more.

Where to stay: Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort

Orange Beach, AL: one of our favorite beaches, you can compare the Florida versus Alabama Gulf coast experience. In addition to relaxing on the sugar-soft sands of Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, there is so much else to do from biking in Gulf State Park, zip lining at The Wharf, sunset cruises with Sail Wildhearts, dolphin cruises, and of course, chowing down on amazing food !

Where to stay: Turquoise Place

Time to grab your road trip essentials and hit the road! If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can also take a New York to Florida road trip .

I hope this East Coast road trip planner was helpful. If you still need more inspiration, see more East Coast vacation ideas or things to do in New England .

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: November 19, 2023

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• Beercation Destination

Epic Craft Beer Road Trip: Pacific Coast Breweries

The drive from San Diego to Seattle covers 1500 miles of ridiculously gorgeous Pacific coastline along Highway 101 (or sometimes Highway 1 in California). Even though it could technically be tackled in two 15 hour driving shifts, as every traveler knows: it’s the journey not the destination.

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Having said that, if your summer road trip plans include this top-to-bottom stretch of jaw-dropping scenery, check out these 15 Pacific Coast breweries along the way, all conveniently located close enough to the beach to hear the waves crashing.

( TRAVEL: 5 Epic Craft Beer Road Trips )

Pacific Coast Breweries: California

Bagby beer co. | oceanside, ca.

Brewmaster Jeff Bagby of Pizza Port fame launched his eponymous brewery in San Diego’s North County a Frisbee’s throw from the beach. Need proof that this craft brewery caters to the hop geeks? Sip on pints of Dork Squad, Nerd Herd, Doofus, and Dinkus. That said, Bagby Beer Co. offers a world of pitch-perfect beer styles to discover beyond IPAs including German roggenbiers, Belgian-style blonde ales and Czech Pilsners.

Newport Beach Brewing | Newport Beach, CA

An hour north in Orange County where breweries are nearly as ubiquitous as surfboards and strip malls, this became the OC’s second craft brewery in 1992 and this neighborhood joint has kept up with the times. Sessionable beers rule the draft board and many take on the tropical flavors befitting the palm trees towering over the pub including a blood orange IPA, a blonde ale infused with coconut, and a kettle soured beer with pureed mangos.

Riip Beer Co. | Huntington Beach, CA

Surfer-dude pretty-boy Hansel, the Owen Wilson character in “Zoolander,” put it succinctly: “I grip it and I rip it.” Get “riiped” at this smaller spot on the OC coast that knows how to please locals and national beer judges alike as evidenced by their silver medal for Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in the almighty American-style India Pale Ale category. Typically shortened to “Super-Cali,” this IPA is indeed supercalifragilisticexpi-delicious and pops with bitter orange zest and other citrus notes atop a biscuity malt bill that still packs a 7.2% ABV punch.

( TRAVEL: Epic Route 66 Craft Beer Road Trip )

Beachwood Brewing | Long Beach, CA

For a brewery with an outsized reputation, a visit to Beachwood Brewing is sort of two breweries in one since there’s the brewpub that boasts one of Long Beach’s longest beer lists (crowd fave juicy IPAs include Thrillseeker and Melrose while stouts include Udder Love and Kilgore Stout). Sour beer lovers can then pop right around the corner into The Blendery where a nonstop parade of fruited sours (including the “Careful” line, like Careful with that Peach, Eugene, and Careful with that Pluot, Eugene, to give you the gist). All said and done, Beachwood has racked up more than a dozen GABF medals in the past five years.

Topa Topa Brewing | Ventura, CA

North of Los Angeles and below the Topatopa Mountains you’ll find Topa Topa Brewing where head brewer Casey Harris, who cut his teeth researching hops and writing recipes for Stone Brewing, creates over a dozen fresh beers on tap. The small tasting room offers a sunny patio where you can enjoy the various hop delivery vehicles as well as a few coffee-infused beers. Can’t make up your mind which to go for? There’s Howler Coffee IIPA.

Telegraph Brewing | Santa Barbara, CA

Surrounded on three sides by wineries (and one side by the beach that’s five blocks away), Telegraph Brewing is the brewery that put the “American Riviera” on the beer map. Their IPA is a benchmark of the West Coast style and California Ale is an earthy, yeasty Belgian-style pale ale. But for beer nerds and wine lovers alike, the Obscura series of wild ales makes Telegraph Brewing a destination. The sour beers, often aged in area wine barrels, sometimes get a boost from local citrus or stone fruits such as Gypsy aged on plums.

The Libertine Pub | Morro Bay, CA

Libertine Brewing’s ambitious beers are often made using the steinbier brewing method, which employs superheated rocks plucked from the bay. Launched as a tiny brewpub in tiny, charming Morro Bay, Libertine operates a larger brewery and tasting room inland in San Luis Obispo now but this waterside brewpub and music venue remains terroir-minded. The gose uses Pacific Ocean water for the requisite salinity. This cozy, entrancing joint offers dozens of taps ranging from session IPA to saison with several devoted to their in-demand, wild, barrel-aged creations.

Sante Adairius Rustic Ales | Capitola, CA

Sante Adairius Rustic Ales , dubbed “SARA” by those in-the-know, is a small brewery with a larger-than-life reputation. Most formidable for beer lovers is West Ashley, a pinot noir-aged saison with apricots. Each visit is a game of chance since you never know what they’ll have available, but if you come across Westly, which they could’ve called Westlier since it’s apricotier and oakier than West Ashley, do not miss your chance.

North Coast Brewing | Fort Bragg, CA

The North Coast Brewery Taproom’s clams are steamed in Blue Star Wheat and one pint will make you as happy as one of those mollusks. Old Rasputin (or “Old Raspy”) Russian Imperial Stout is so iconic, Russian River Brewing’s Vinnie Cilurzo swore off ever making an imperial stout out of respect. Not only can you catch some great live jazz at the pub, North Coast also supports jazz via their Brother Thelonius Belgian-style Dark Ale benefitting the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz for jazz education.

( READ: Farm Breweries to Visit This Year )

Pacific Coast Breweries: Oregon

7 devils brewing | coos bay, or.

Carmen Matthews and Annie Pollard had mused about opening their own brewpub as homebrewers before they’d even met and got married. Now 7 Devils Brewing with a seven-barrel system has given this Oregon southern coastal town the community hub it craved. Families, including four-legged “children,” dine out in the eco-friendly rain garden. For a true taste of terroir, try the Ebb Tide Oyster Stout, a velveteen dry Irish stout made with Coos Bay oyster shells.

Rogue Ales | Newport, OR

Having racked up more than 30 GABF medals since launching in 1988 (well, since it first medaled in 1990, really) Rogue is one of the best-known American craft beer brands worldwide and it all starts here in the marina of the Yaquina Bay. Legendary brewmaster John Maier ‘s greatest hits include Dead Guy, Shakespeare Stout, and that nuttily delicious Hazelnut Brown Nectar, but it’s their Rogue Farms-to-beer concoctions like 4 Hop IPA, 5 Hop (and up to 10 Hop) that show they keep forging new paths just as they did 30 years ago.

Pelican Brewing | Pacific City, OR

There are Pacific Coast breweries near the beach, but Pelican Brewing is the only one I know of that’s on the beach. As you gaze at Haystack Rock offshore or watch the dory boats, wiggle your toes in the warm sand while sipping imperial pints of Kiwanda Cream Ale on the patio, named for the Shore Pine-topped Cape Kiwanda that ameliorates the view. It’s not just the view, though. Pelican has garnered more than three dozen GABF medals across myriad categories. If you find it, dive into their 2018 World Beer Cup gold medal winning Queen of Hearts (Saison du Pélican aged in gin barrels) in the wood- and barrel-aged category.

Ft. George Brewing + Public House | Astoria, OR

OK, so Ft. George Brewing + Public House is a bit inland, but it is right off Highway 101 where it crosses from Oregon into Washington state and the view of the mouth of the Columbia retains its coastal aesthetic. Although their Festival of Dark Arts celebration of mega stouts makes beer lovers swoon in February, summer’s ideal for sitting on the patio and quaffing Vortex IPA bursting with Amarillo, Simcoe and Centennial hops for a huge trop-hop bomb that smells as good as it tastes. In fact, in a state rife with hop maestros, sample all the IPAs because Fort George bitters with the best of ’em.

( MORE: Great American Beer Festival 2018 Ticket Sales Announced )

Pacific Coast Breweries: Washington State

North jetty brewing | seaview, wa .

You, the readers of CraftBeer.com, recently voted North Jetty Brewing the best beer bar in Washington state . Far from the beer temples of Seattle, this southern Washington joint on the Long Beach Peninsula offers 12 beers from its 10-barrel system and a chill environment in which to enjoy them. The CDA, er, American-style dark ale will never die in Cascadia so enjoy Simquinox, a beer as dark as a winter’s day featuring Simcoe and Equinox hops. The local favorite, Leadbetter Red, is a malty Scottish ale that clocks in sub 5% ABV.

Blackbeard’s Brewing | Westport, WA

Although it’s 177 miles from the northwest corner of Washington state, Blackbeard’s Brewing is actually the northernmost brewery along the U.S. Pacific Coast. Where the Chehalis River flows into Grays Harbor, it’s no surprise the beers in this serene fishing town often feature pirate or seafaring named beers like Shiver Me Citra and Cannon Ball Cream Ale. But even more than Blimey Blueberry Wheat, it’s the strawberry blonde ale that’s plundered most frequently.

Yes, it’s a long drive. It’s literally a cross-country trip, just one from south to north (pro tip: you could easily do this in reverse.) Either way, when you end up in Seattle or San Diego, there are several dozen excellent Pacific Coast breweries to check out at the bookends, but not a single one comes with quite the same view.

Brian Yaeger

Brian Yaeger is the author of "Red, White, and Brew" and "Oregon Breweries." In addition to writing for most magazines with "beer" or a beer reference in the title, he has created several beer festivals playing off local character such as the all coffee-beer and doughnut festival in Portland, Oregon, and one exclusively for wild cherry beers produced among the Mt. Hood's cherry orchards. He earned a Master in Professional Writing (with a thesis on beer) from the University of Southern California. He once again lives in the coastal paradise along with his wife Half Pint, son IPYae, and dogs Dunkelweiß and Taz.

CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.

7 Epic East Coast USA Road Trip Routes

Planning to take an east coast USA road trip but not sure where you want to go?

We adore taking road trips in the United States, and for as long as I can remember, road tripping the east coast has been my travel comfort zone.

As a child, I was shuttled from Orlando to North Carolina to visit family at least a couple of times a year for the better part of a decade, and a few years later, my family spent a couple of months taking an east coast road trip all the way from North Carolina to Maine.

In my early twenties, I made some truly special memories taking road trips throughout the south with my mom and Grammy.

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Fast forward a few years, and Jeremy and I have put our dent in east coast USA road trips as well, touring both parts of New England and the south by car.

We haven’t been able to get everywhere (yet), though, so for this post, we’ve teamed up with several other travel bloggers to recommend some of the absolute best east coast USA road trip routes… and added a couple of new destinations to our bucket list in the process.

From the southernmost point in the continental USA to the rocky beaches of Maine, here’s where to go on your next USA road trip.

We have offered suggestions for the best hotels in each place but if you are doing this as a true road trip it is really cool to do it in an RV. You can rent incredible RVs and camper vans from Outdoorsy, book here for your next road trip!

Table of Contents

Southeast USA Road Trip Routes

Mid-atlantic road trip routes, new england road trip routes.

Miami to Key West Road Trip

From Sarah of Travels of Sarah Fay

The best way to see the beauty of Florida is a drive from the art deco-clad roads of Miami, to the beaches of Key West. Also, there is something very satisfying about reaching the end of the Route 1 highway in Key West.

It is so iconic that it is popular to take a photo at the last highway marker for Route 1 in Key West. 

This iconic overseas highway crosses 42 bridges that take you to a few destinations not to be missed including Key Largo, Islamorada, Bahia Honda State Park, and the famous Key West, which is indisputably one of the best beach towns on the east coast .

Top things to do in Key Largo include taking a glass-bottom boat tour or snorkeling to see one of the world’s best reefs.

The John Pennekamp State Park offers snorkeling tours that will show you the colorful wonders of the reef.

Before making your way to Key West, stop at Robbie’s to not only eat but feed the Tarpon off the pier and maybe see a shark. Then as you make your way down south, why not stop at the Florida Keys Brewing Company in Islamorada.

Along this drive, you will find one of the best beaches in the world at Bahia Honda State Park located on Marathon Key. The endless expanse of pearly white sand and turquoise waters and a little hike on one of the original bridges constructed from Miami to Key West is the perfect way to relax before getting to the party in Key West.

Finally, in Key West, you can have a slice of the famous Key Lime Pie, take a picture at the southernmost point of the continental USA, and party on Duval Street because you have completed this epic east coast USA road trip.

If you are feeling really adventurous you could also try and check out the Everglades, which is just a short detour off of Route 1 when leaving Miami.  

Driving Distance

Recommended trip length.

You can drive from Miami to Key West in about 4 hours if you go straight through. With a couple of days to explore, you’ll be able to see plenty of sights along the way, making this an excellent weekend road trip!

St. Augustine to Charleston Road Trip

For a mix of relaxing coastal vibes and delightful southern charm, plan an east coast USA road trip leading from St. Augustine, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina !

This road trip has its fair share of beaches and natural beauty, while also covering some of the best East Coast cities to visit .

Start your trip in St. Augustine, which happens to be the oldest city in the USA: founded by the Spanish in 1565, St. Augustine is packed with history. 

Be sure not to miss visiting the Castillo de San Marcos for a rare chance to visit a castle in the USA, the Lightner Museum, and the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Once you’ve had your fill of history for the day, kick back and enjoy some of Florida’s legendary beaches.

From St. Augustine, head to Savannah to admire what is arguably the most beautiful city in the south.

Stroll through the 22 town squares, wander down famous Jones Street to peek at one of the most beautiful streets in the USA, visit Forsyth Park, tour some house museums, hit up City Market, and, if you’re up for a scare, head out on a ghost tour.

After visiting Savannah and possibly stopping at nearby Tybee Island for a little more beach time, make your way to Charleston for the final stop on this east coast USA road trip.

In Charleston, be sure to snap photos at the famous Rainbow Row and on Folly Beach, visit Fort Sumter, check out the Charleston City Market, and visit the stunning 1500-year-old Angel Tree.

Those interested in military history will also enjoy a visit to Patriot’s Point, and food lovers can’t go wrong with a food tour in order to taste some of the best Lowcountry food around.

We suggest spending at least 5 days on this east coast road trip, but by slowing down and potentially adding other side stops like Tybee Island or Hilton Head, you could easily make this into a 7-10 day vacation!

Blue Ridge Parkway

From Bret Love & Mary Gabbett of Green Global Travel

One of America’s most iconic road trips, the Blue Ridge Parkway runs nearly 500 miles through North Carolina and Virginia, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks .

Construction of the route began back in 1935, and it has been the United States National Park System’s most visited attraction almost every year since the mid-1940s.

The route begins on U.S. Route 441 at Oconaluftee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cherokee, North Carolina. It ends at the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia at Rockfish Gap. 

Once you take this jaw-droppingly beautiful drive for yourself, you’ll see why. With stunning scenery, historic landmarks, and thousands of different wildlife species along the way (birds, bears, deer, and more), the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a taste of unspoiled Americana at its finest. 

There are way too many highlights of this route to adequately summarize here, but I’d definitely recommend spending a few days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and exploring the area in and around Asheville.

Heading north, there are great hiking and fishing in both the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests, as well as charming little mountain towns such as Boone and Blowing Rock, NC.

Virginia’s must-sees include Roanoke, George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, and of course Shenandoah National Park. 

Our favorite time to explore this region is autumn. The crowds are smaller, the weather is cooler, and the stunning color of the leaves turn the Blue Ridge Mountain scenery into something magical.

We suggest exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway over 3-5 days.

The Adirondacks Road Trip

From Jim of Uncovering New York

The Adirondack Mountains of northern New York are one of the most beautiful and remote regions of the east coast of the United States. While there are faster routes between Lake George and Lake Placid, this road trip route will take you through some of the region’s most beautiful small towns and past some of its best attractions.

Start in Lake George. While here, consider taking a boat cruise on the Minne Ha Ha and touring Fort William Henry.

From here, head north out of town on Route 9 before picking up NY-28 south and then NY-8 south.

Route 8 passes along the southern reaches of the Adirondack Park and past many great waterfalls and hiking trails. One to make sure not to miss is the 70-foot Auger Falls. Shortly after Auger Falls, take NY-30 north, making sure not to miss the beautiful shores of Indian Lake and the hike to Ok Slip Falls.

In the town of Blue Mountain Lake, the  Adirondack Experience  is a can’t-miss museum that tells the story of the Adirondack Park and people that call it home. This is a truly fantastic museum and is worth saving a few hours to experience. While in town, you can also explore local art at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.

Continue on the journey enjoying the incredible scenery of the Adirondacks as you pass by spots like Long Lake and Tupper Lake. Veer off onto NY-3 east for your final stop for the evening in Saranac Lake, New York.

The next day, explore the history of this community at the Saranac Laboratory Museum and learn how the community was built by tuberculous patients. You can also visit the former home of author Robert Louis Stevenson.

Finally, take NY-86 the short distance to Lake Placid, home to two Winter Olympics. While in town, tour the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, High Falls Gorge, and enjoy shopping in this quaint town. End your weekend road trip with a climb up Cobble Hill for great views of Lake Placid.

While you certainly spend a full week or even longer exploring this route and the communities along it, this is a great two-day road trip that’s perfect for any nature lover.

New Hampshire Road Trip

From Micki of The Barefoot Nomad

New Hampshire’s fiery fall foliage, mountain passes, serene lakes, and rugged coastline make for a picturesque east coast USA road trip. The state is a dream destination for nature lovers, with ample opportunities for hiking, kayaking, swimming, and outdoor winter sports. 

One of the state’s highlights is the charming seaside town of Portsmouth, where you can enjoy craft ale and fresh seafood among jewel-box colonial buildings.

Odiorne State Park is a short 10-minute drive from downtown Portsmouth, and home to rugged coastal views, the educational Seacoast Science Center, and the remains of Fort Dearborn.

From Portsmouth, make your way to the Kancamagus Highway, which is rightly touted as one of the USA’s most scenic drives. The Kancamagus twists through the White Mountains and offers stunning views of fall foliage and plenty of hiking and camping.

From the Kancamagus, continue on to Franconia State Park to see the Flume Gorge, a natural gorge that runs for about 800 feet at the foot of Mount Liberty. The 1886 Pemigewasset covered bridge at Franconia Notch State Park is well worth a stop. 

From there, it’s a short 10-minute drive from the Flume Gorge to the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, an 80-passenger cable car that reaches the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain. There’s a short hiking trail at the summit that offers views of the mountains of New Hampshire , New York, Vermont, Maine and even the Canadian province of Quebec.

Next up, a stop at idyllic Lake Winnipesaukee offers a change from the mountains. While some areas around the lake (like Weirs Beach in Laconia) are packed with tourists in summer, Winnipesaukee’s 183 miles of coastline, and more than 300 islands means that secluded spots aren’t hard to find.

While you can take this trip in any season, many mountain passes, like the Kancamagus Highway, are closed during heavy snowfalls. However, winter is a great time to try snowshoeing or skiing at any of the state’s 19 ski resorts. In autumn, North Conway, Kancamagus Highway, and Franconia boast incredible fall foliage. 

Start and end this trip by flying into Boston, Massachusetts, heading north through Portsmouth, Odiorne State Park, Kancamagus Highway, Franconia State Park, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, Lake Winnipesaukee, and ending your loop in Boston.

Four days is plenty for this drive, though you’ll have to limit your time in a few locations. You’ll be on the road for about 7 and a half hours during this east coast road trip.

Portland to Bar Harbor Road Trip

From Kaisa of Glam Granola Travel

The Maine stretch of US-1, also known as the Coastal Highway, is a classic New England-style east coast road trip. While you could drive this iconic seaside road in a day, there are so many things to do in Portland , Acadia, and everywhere in between, it’s best appreciated leisurely over several days. You can start at either end, but starting in Portland and heading north provides increasingly beautiful scenery. There are plenty of campsites and B&Bs along the way in Maine’s many state parks and harbor towns. 

Portland is famous for potato donuts, breweries, and quirky local charm. Allagash and Bissell Brothers are two award-winning breweries; the former often has food trucks, while the latter shares space with a great local café. The Old Port area near the water is full of cool shops, including one of the best Portland donut shops The Holy Donut. A picnic in the Eastern Promenade park overlooking the water is a particularly peaceful way to spend the afternoon. 

Heading north of Portland, one encounters more and more of what Maine does best—natural beauty and seafood. There are three unique state parks to choose from on this route, from south to north: Popham Beach State Park (Phippsburg), Camden Hills State Park (Cambden), and Moose Point State Park (Searsport).

Popham Beach State Park is known for its perfect sandy beach, rare along Maine’s rocky coastline, and picturesque lighthouses. Camden Hills’ main attraction is the panoramic view of Camden and the ocean from Mt. Megunticook, a moderate day hike. Moose Point has awesome tide pools, which are  so  much fun to explore and observe critters in.

In Wicasset, between Popham Beach and Camden Hills, Red’s Eats makes one of New England’s most delicious lobster rolls. For a state famous for its lobster rolls, being considered among the best is a massive accomplishment. 

Finally, end this east coast USA road trip in Acadia National Park.

Located next to Bar Harbor on Bar Island, it’s a true gem of the National Park system and there is no other park like it. Whale watching trips leave from Bar Harbor every day during the high season and are a definite must-see!

The hiking in Acadia is incredible, as well—don’t miss the Beehive, a short, thrilling (but still family-friendly) climb up rocky cliffs complete with metal bars and manmade bridges between the rocks. The view at the top, of the Atlantic Ocean, harbor, and endless lush hills, is New England at its finest.

While you can technically complete this US road trip route in a day, we suggest taking a couple of days to savor the sights along the way.

New England Road Trip Loop

From Danielle of Wanderlust While Working

Whether you’re looking for majestic mountains, breathtaking coastal views, photogenic lighthouses, or the excitement of a big city, New England has it all.

For the perfect northeast USA road trip, take an epic road trip through New England starting and ending in Boston.

Enjoy exploring Boston via the Freedom Trail and take in some of America’s oldest historical sites along the 3.5-mile route.

Next, drive southwest to the coast of Newport, RI, home of the extravagant Newport Mansions. After exploring Newport for a day, continue to follow the coast to the quaint seaside town of Mystic, CT, home of historic Mystic Seaport.

Next, cut across Western Massachusetts to the lush Green Mountains in Vermont with a stop in Burlington bordering the beautiful Lake Champlain. Spend the day wandering this cute college town and imbibing in one of the many breweries (Vermont has the largest number of breweries per capita of any state!).

From here, head east through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, home to Mount Washington, the tallest mountain on the East Coast. The last major stop of the loop is Maine’s Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, ME. See all Acadia has to offer whether it’s hiking, biking the famous carriage roads, or exploring the coast by boat for a few days before returning to Boston via Portland, ME.

While there is plenty to do in New England any time of year, visit in summer for the best weather and to enjoy the coastal beaches or in fall for a tour through New England’s famous fall foliage. Along the way don’t forget to try some of the food New England is famous for, including Maine lobsters and New England clam chowder!

1,100 miles

We recommend taking about 10 full days to road trip New England in depth.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

8 thoughts on “7 Epic East Coast USA Road Trip Routes”

In 2007 we drove part of one of your routes from Savannah (where we spent three nights) to Charleston (where we also spent a night). I had just read “Midnight In The garden of Good and Evil” (John Berendts) which brought extra meaning to Savannah’s sights. It was such a pretty city that allegedly in 1866 General Sherman refused to torch it as had been his custom in other towns.

On Tybee Island we had a dellicious crab meal at The Crab Shack. Hopefully it’s still there. I loved their novel idea of having a hole in the centre of the table where the food scraps are simply dropped where they fall into a bin.

On the way to Charleston, Beaufort is also a pleasant stop with a delicious chocolate shop and pretty houses.

The ferry to Fort Sumter IMO is a must for history buffs being where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired.

Love that part of the country! Savannah is one of our favorites, I’d like to keep going back forever.

Hi, Great blog packed with fantastic ideas for my as yet unplanned US road trips whenever we get back to a new normal for travelling. I’m thinking of combining my chosen road trips with some of the best rail journeys and thought about starting in New York across to San Francisco by Amtrak then drive to my next train and so on. Have you ever done this to get around the US or do you have you any route suggestions? Also, is interchanging between road and rail achievable? I’m looking at staying for no less than two months my idea being to cover many miles by train being far cheaper than renting a car for the whole time. Many thanks. Kev

Hi Kev! Honestly, traveling by rail in the US is, generally speaking, very expensive and very inefficient. You can technically do it, but it’s usually much more about the story of crossing the US by train than the fact that it’s a good way to see the country.

You can combine driving and trains, but again, it would be pricey to do so, especially if you’re consistently dropping your rental cars off at a different location than you pick them up at (many companies charge a fee for that).

That being said, 2 months exploring the US is an incredible trip and you can see a lot in that time!

Love all the pictures and descriptions of the places you have travelled! Truly gives great inspiration to see the World. Our little family tries to travel a couple of times per year but would love to take a first time RV trip from Eastern NC to destination unknown between Christmas and New Year Day. Wide open question, but any suggestions for a 5 day adventure?

That’s great to hear, thanks Brian! I’m actually typing this comment back to you from NC myself–we’re in town visiting my Mom and Grammy, who both live in the Raleigh area.

Five days from Eastern NC in an RV… the options are pretty limitless! My first thought is St. Augustine/Savannah/Charleston–a great trifecta with limited driving. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway, perhaps with a dip north into Virginia and the Chincoteague area (especially if any of your kids are horse fans) may feel close to home but could also be an amazing trip–no swimming, of course, but I have to say I love the wide open spaces of NC beaches in the winter (and parking will be much easier too–just be sure to check for seasonal ferry and RV park closures).

The mountains (GSMNP followed by Shenandoah, with a ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway along the way) is of course another great option, but I’d watch the weather carefully before committing to that one in December. If you do head that way, the Biltmore should still have its Christmas decor up!

With 5 days and it being your first time in an RV, I’d hesitate to include any of the large eastern seaboard cities or go much further afield, though of course you can if you’re determined to hit the ground running!

Love your ideas for putting together some touring routes. We need help – we will be arriving in Raleigh area for a wedding in August so expecting to do some travel prior in July. Looking for road trip ideas, my husband has very limited walking capacity and will not go near a city! Will we see much doing the Blue Ridge Parkway without hiking? Also the Shenandoah Forest? And I think Id like to see some American beaches!.

Some ideas to set us off would be great thankyou.

Thanks so much, Karen! My mom and Grammy both live in Raleigh and I’ve been visiting since I was a kid, so those are stomping grounds I’m very familiar with. 🙂

American national parks are generally very well set-up from an accessibility standpoint, and that includes Great Smoky Mountain, Shenandoah, and Blue Ridge Parkway (not technically a national park in its own right, but mostly part of the system). Not all of the parks will be accessible, of course, but scenic drives in the US virtually always have plenty of easy spots to pull off on and appreciate the views. Skyline Drive will be a hit for you guys, I suspect!

Definitely stop by the visitor’s center in each park and pick up maps–they’ll have clear markings of pull-off spots and also how much walking is involved in them, with the answer sometimes being little to none, plus the difficulty level, distance, and accessibility access of any trails.

National parks also tend to have at least one short wheelchair accessible trail that is paved, often found near the visitor’s center.

Beach wise, you’ll be close to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, which are very popular and beautiful. Kitty Hawk (home of the Wright Brother’s first flight) and surrounding towns might be a great fit. Other options include the Crystal Coast (a bit further south and my stomping grounds), or heading north into Virginia and the Chincoteague area (as in Misty of Chincoteague, if you remember those books from childhood).

In all of those places, sandy/wild beaches with lots of waves, lighthouses, fishing piers, and (in some cases) wild horse spotting on the various islands they live on are all popular attractions.

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2 Weeks on the East Coast USA: 3 Itineraries

DISCLAIMER: This post might have links to travel services and products that we enjoy. We might make a commission from it at no extra cost to you.

The East Coast of America is a travel destination with plenty to offer everyone. The scenic natural beauty and exciting cities, which stretch from Florida in the South to Maine in the North, is an excellent region to explore.

I actually spent 4 weeks in this part of the US during winter . And while I don’t think you need that much, know that there are plenty of things to do if you find yourself in the same situation as I did.

If you have 2 weeks on the East Coast USA, you could do so much. Whether you enjoy skiing, dining, water activities, hiking, or visiting museums, you’ll undoubtedly find a variety of activities to do in the top places in this region.

Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are among the 14 states that comprise the East Coast of the USA. ca

These states border the Atlantic Ocean and provide a variety of coastal activities and sights, including theme parks, beaches, lighthouses, and museums.

RELATED POST: If you prefer to see the West Coast of the US, we also have a 2 weeks in the West Coast USA Itinerary or our 2 weeks in California itinerary

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING THE EAST COAST OF USA

Before you get on your computer and make some travel arrangements, check out these things you should know about going on a trip to the East Coast of the US. This will help you ensure that you’re visiting at the right time and see if you can make a road trip or need to fly.

When is the best time to go to the East Coast US

This depends on what you want to do. The East Coast of the US is massive and features super unique seasons. For example, if you want to avoid high humidity in Florida, you must go in winter. But that means it will be too cold to explore around New England covered in snow in winter.

If you want to mix the south and northern east coast, it’s best to go during early spring for good weather in the south. At the same time, it’s no longer freezing in New England.

On the other hand, if you just want to see New England, then come visit in the autumn season when the fall foliage is at its best colour at the same time, it’s not too cold yet.

The best time to visit the East Coast of the USA is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to November) . These months offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and beautiful foliage in the fall.

Peak season is during the summer (June to August) when it’s warmest, attracting the most tourists, especially to beach destinations.

Winter (December to March) can be cold and snowy, especially in the northern parts. The rainy season varies but generally includes spring and summer.

RELATED POST: What to pack for a 2-week trip

Are 2 weeks enough for East Coast USA

Not really. As mentioned before, it’s a big region. However, if you are realistic about the places you want to see and decide to mix flying and driving, 14 days on the East Coast of the US can be ideal.

In this article, I’m featuring three travel itineraries. You can either just cover the south or just the north – which can be done as a road trip on the east coast of the US. But you can drive first if you want to do the entire region.

Then after exploring for seven days, take a flight to your next destination (especially if driving is longer than 6 hours), and then rent another vehicle there. Plan to see about 3-4 cities that are near one another.

Getting around

There is a train system (AMTRAK) on the East Coast, but they’re not well-connected through each state. Most trains travel within each state only, while the others are for cargo shipping only.

There are also public buses, trolleys, and subways you can rely on . Travelling around via bus and train is the most affordable, but it can take a chunk of your time from your limited days.

My best recommendation for getting around the East Coast US is to rent a car, especially if you plan to explore states or cities near one another. Then you can also book tours for city sightseeing to take a break from driving.

Of course, there are ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft. There are plenty of taxis, but they can be very pricey.

If you want to see the northern and southern parts of the East Coast, booking a flight is better when the driving is longer than 5 or 6 hours.

Language and currency

English is the primary language in the US. But once you reach Florida, especially in Miami, many people speak Spanish, and even restaurant signs and menus are displayed in both languages.

On the other hand, if you reach Vermont and Maine, you’ll notice how some people speak French since it’s by the border to the French-Canada Region of Quebec.

The US Dollar (USD) is the main currency here . You can pay both by cash or bank card. Cashless payment is super typical here , and most locals don’t even carry any cash with them. But as a visitor, having at least $50 with you for emergencies is best.

Since this is part of the US, the visa policy in place is not super easy. For travellers from Europe, Canada, Chile, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore, you can enjoy visa-free and enter the US for up to 6 months.

Other travellers must apply for the US tourist visa (B1/B2) before your planned trip.

What is the average cost for 2 weeks on the East Coast USA

On average, you should budget a minimum of $2,500 for 14 days on the east coast of the US. Accommodation will be the most expensive, followed by gas prices, then food. You can go on a shoestring budget of $1,500 if you stay in hostels or rent a small van where you can sleep.

For luxury, you must have a $4,000 budget to sleep in four or five-star hotels and eat out in top-dollar restaurants.

You should remember that store prices don’t include sales tax. This means that when you checkout, you’re more likely to pay a bit, around 8% more. You are also expected to give a 20%-25% tip in the service industry . This is for services such as food, taxis, hotels, etc.

This estimated budget doesn’t include your flight to and from the US, travel insurance, and travel items you will need.

Other basic travel tips

Medical travel insurance is a must for travelling to the US. The medical cost here, especially for emergencies, is super expensive.

You must get insurance from companies that are global or US-based , so you don’t have to expect to pay out of your pocket and wait for reimbursement. Leaving with a hospital bill in the US could affect your future travels in the country.

I know 2 weeks on the East Coast USA is not a long trip, but it’s undoubtedly not worth the risk of not getting medical insurance coverage. It’s also possible that the immigration officer will ask you to show one, and this might be a reason to deny you entry.

PINNED MAP OF TOP THINGS TO SEE ON EAST COAST US

Click the icon on the top right to enlarge the map. Credit: map data: Google

2 WEEKS ON THE EAST COAST USA ITINERARY

Planning 2 weeks on the East Coast USA can be challenging, as there is so much to see and do in the region. However, I have curated some example itineraries that can serve as a guide for you.

These itineraries include one for first-time visitors, one for a tour of New England, and one for a trip along the Southeast Coast.

The suggested itineraries are not mandatory, you can always make your own itinerary , depending on your interests and preferences. It’s important to note that the East Coast is a huge region with many more places to visit and things to do.

MUST-READ: 2 weeks in the US (across the country – 7 itineraries)

Itinerary #1: First-time visitor (Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Miami)

This itinerary for 2 weeks on the East Coast USA is designed for those visiting the East Coast for the first time and looking to experience some of the most iconic cities.

It includes New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., and Miami stops. These cities offer diverse experiences and attractions, providing a comprehensive overview of this region.

Apart from that, this itinerary is ideal, particularly if you have children who want to go to Disneyland, as it affords plenty of rides, parades, and shows that will keep them entertained for hours on end.

I highly recommend coming in the late spring or late summer season. It has warm weather and is not too humid.

This itinerary is most efficiently done by air travel (domestic flight), with the option to fly into Boston and fly back home from Miami.

However, if you prefer to drive, it is possible to do so from Boston to Washington D.C. However, remember that you must leave your rented car and catch a flight to Miami for the last leg of the trip.

Boston and around for 4 days

Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, is an exciting city with world-class museums, beautiful parks, and green spaces. If you’re interested in higher education, stroll through the campus of Harvard University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

You can also check out Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, which provides visitors an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy the outdoors. During my visit here, which is about a week, I went for a run at the Boston Common and it’s also where the Freedom Trail starts.

Located in the heart of the New England Region, this city is an excellent starting point for day trips. You can see some of America’s most iconic historic sites and attractions there. For those looking for a change of scenery, you can plan a day trip to the long beaches of Cape Cod.

New York City and around for 4 days

The first time I went to New York was in the middle of winter. While it wasn’t that cold, it was definitely gloomy. I didn’t mind though because I found a hotel room for $80 a night right in the heart of the Times Square.

New York City is a global destination renowned for its energy and iconic landmarks. Tourists are attracted to this bustling metropolis to enjoy the famous Broadway shows, indulge in world-class shopping and dining experiences, and explore the many popular tourist destinations.

I was a typical tourist in New York. I went to Times Square, saw a show on Broadway, ate at a local pizza place, saw the Lady Liberty, and walked everywhere. I honestly understand why many people dream of living here,

In terms of safety in New York , where there are lots of homeless, there’s also a big presence of police in the touristy areas. So, in general, I felt quite safe during my trip there.

The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Central Park are among the must-see attractions that draw visitors to the city. For those who are fond of the show Friends, you can do a DIY walking tour of the Friends NYC locations and find the Friends house in New York on your own.

The most popular option from Boston to New York City is a direct flight with a duration of 1 hr 20 min, although you still have to arrive at the airport at least an hour and a half before your flight (depending on Boston traffic and how busy the airport).

On the other hand, the road distance from Boston to New York City is 364.8 km (226.7 miles), and you can reach it by a 4 hr 40 min-car ride via route I-84. I took the bus from Boston and it took a bit over 6 hours since the bus was not going through a direct route.

Washington D.C for 3 days

Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, is an ideal destination for those interested in politics as it is home to many of the country’s most important government buildings.

Apart from that, The National Mall is a must-see attraction, featuring the city’s most prominent landmarks, such as the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Smithsonian Museums.

Visitors also have the opportunity to take a tour inside the White House , though it is important to note that these tours must be arranged in advance through your embassy or Congressional office.

There are several daily flights between New York City and Washington D.C., about 1 hr 23 min. When driving, the quickest route you should follow is I-95 S which is roughly 4 hr 25 min across a total distance of approximately 364 km (226.2 mi).

Florida for 4 days

I also thought of Florida is the destination for people of all ages. Bring the kids to the theme park and the adults to the beach and the bars.

Anyone looking for a magical and unforgettable vacation experience will find four incredible theme parks at Orlando’s Walt Disney World , including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Each has unique attractions, making it the best place to conclude your two weeks on East Coast USA trip.

Located on the waterfront in Miami, The Bayside Marketplace is the place to be if you’re looking for a place to shop and dine, as it features over 120 stores and 30 restaurants. Visiting Miami and Orlando on the same trip can be a great way to experience the best of Florida in 4 days.

You can take a 2 hr 48 min direct flight from Washington D.C. to Miami . The non-stop flight between Washington D.C. and Orlando is approximately 2 hr 40 min. You can also fly to Orlando, spend a day or two, and then drive down from Orland to Miami, which takes just a little over 3 hours to finish your 2 weeks on the East Coast USA

Itinerary #2: New England Route (Boston, Coastal Maine/Acadia, Burlington/White Mountain National Forest, Springfield, Providence)

History buffs will enjoy visiting these places since this itinerary takes you through the first colony area of the British Empire in the Americas.

The route passes through charming coastal towns, picturesque countryside, and bustling cities, offering a diverse range of experiences for travellers who enjoy a mix of outdoor activities and cultural experiences.

The Maine Archipelago is a group of islands situated off the coast of Maine, known for its scenic beauty. Some places you need to add to your itinerary include The Permaquid Point Lighthouse, Old Orchard Beach, The Farnsworth Art Museum, and Acadia National Park.

I recommend booking a flight to Boston as your starting point and catching home from Boston or Providence at the end of your trip to make it more of a circular itinerary.

One of the major draws of the New England Route is during autumn, when the region’s trees put on a spectacular display of fall foliage, making it an ideal time to explore the region’s parks, forests, and countryside.

However, the New England Route is best avoided in winter unless you plan to visit ski resorts. If you’d rather spend time in nature than the city, skip Burlington and head straight to White Mountain National Forest.

Boston for 3 days

Boston is a premier destination for those interested in the history of America’s colonial and Revolutionary War eras since it holds more history of this period than any other in the country, making it an ideal starting point for an East Coast USA trip.

Unsurprisingly, its main historical sites have become a famous pilgrimage for Americans and international visitors seeking to understand this period of time.

Riding the iconic Swan Boats around the lake surrounding the Boston Public Garden’s centre is one of the city’s most memorable experiences for people of all ages.

Popular tourist destinations in Boston include the Freedom Trail , a 3-mile long trail showcasing 16 historical sites, including the Old South Meeting House and the USS Constitution Museum. It took me about 3 hours to finish this trail as I took my time in stopping at every site.

Coast Maine and Acadia National Park for 3 days

The Permaquid Point Lighthouse offers magnificent coast and Atlantic Ocean views. Old Orchard Beach is a classic beach resort that embraces its retro charm as it is New England’s only remaining full-scale amusement park on a beach that will delight visitors of all ages.

In addition, The Farnsworth Art Museum has an exceptional collection of art by Maine-affiliated artists and its Wyeth Center, showcasing the works of N.C., Andrew, and James Wyeth. It is a must-see for fans of the Wyeth family.

For outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, Acadia National Park , located on the coast of Maine, extends a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, cycling, and kayaking.

The park is even home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak at 1,530 feet, providing views of the coast and islands. Other highlights in the park are Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and Thunder Hole.

If you’re looking for a beautiful road trip, pack your bags, fill up your gas tank, and hit the road from Boston to Acadia National Pa rk. With a distance of 451.3 km (280.4 mi), the drive is about 4 hr 28 min and takes you along the scenic route of I-95 N.

Burlington or White Mountain National Forest for 3 days

You can choose between White Mountain and Burlington, depending on what you want to do and see. You can see both, but your schedule will be tight.

Suppose you’re looking for an unforgettable experience in Burlington. In that case, you should definitely experience taking a cruise in Lake Champlain as it presents stunning views of the mountain, and provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the history of the lake and the Revolutionary War.

With over 100 stores and restaurants, the Church Street Marketplace, a charming pedestrian mall, is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

The White Mountain National Forest is a nature lover’s paradise, offering a wide range of outdoor activities year-round. One of the area’s main draws is its high peaks, including the iconic Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in New England.

Adventure-seekers can take on the challenging Franconia Ridge hike , which features a 9-mile loop trail with views of Mount Lincoln, Mount Lafayette, and Little Haystack Mountain.

On the other hand, there are also beginner-friendly options like the Flume Gorge hike, a 2-mile round-trip trail that leads to waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain views.

From Acadia National Park, you can drive directly to Burlington , which is around 6 hours, taking up 333 miles.

If you want to stop at White Mountain first and spend a night or two, the drive from Acadia National Park is approximately 3 hr 32 min through route I-95 S which spans 294.7 km (183.1 mi).

Then continue your drive from White Mountain National Forest to Burlington. This will take you under 1 hr 44 min on a scenic route along US-302 W and I-89 N with an entire distance of 136 km (84.5 mi).

Springfield for 2 days

Packed with a dozen thrilling coasters and a waterpark, get your adrenaline pumping at Six Flags, the largest theme park in New England . You can also pay homage to the sport of basketball at the Basketball Hall of Fame, which honours over 400 star players and coaches, featuring exhibits, skills challenges, and shooting contests.

Step back in history at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, and you’ll be at the very spot where guns that won the American Revolution were manufactured.

If you plan to get from Burlington to Springfield, you can drive by car down routes I-89 S and I-91 S. The trip will take about 3 hr 12 min and spans 336.5 km (209.1 mi).

Alternatively, if you’re skipping Burlington, Springfield is just a 2 hr 43 min drive away from White Mountain National Park via I-91 S for the entire distance of 255.9 km (159 mi).

You can also skip Springfield and drive directly from Burlington to Providence, which will take 4 hours (264 miles/424.8 km). Fro, White Mountain National Forest to Providence, that’s a 2 hr and 45 min journey covering 176 miles (283 km).

Providence for 3 days

Providence is the capital city of Rhode Island State. It is rich in history with incredible New England architecture, you can visit the State House and the John Brown House Museum. You can also dive into the culinary where you can check out food trucks and fantastic seafood dishes.

While at the park, visit the Botanical Center, New England’s largest public indoor display garden that boasts 12,000 square feet of gardens.

Whether you’re a fan of French Impressionists, Japanese prints, ancient Egyptian designs, or contemporary art, you’ll be able to indulge your artistic passions and discover new favourites at the RISD Museum of Art.

Travelling by car is a flexible way to get from Springfield to Providence. The quickest route is to go along I-90 E, which takes an average time of 1 hr 29 min from a distance of 136.5 km (84.8 mi).

Itinerary #3: Southeast Coast (Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Atlanta)

If you’re looking for a fun-filled adventure on the Southeast Coast of the United States , look no further, as I have the perfect itinerary for your 14 days on the East Coast USA.

Start your journey in Miami, where you can soak up the sun on Miami Beach. Next, head to Orlando, home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

From there, travel to Jacksonville, where you can explore the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Then, head to Savannah and take in the views of River Street. Finally, end your journey in Atlanta and visit the famous Georgia Aquarium.

This route is ideal for a road trip since the distance between the cities is not too long. I recommend booking a flight to Miami and ending your trip to Atlanta, where you can fly back home.

Miami for 3 days days

Escape to the sun-soaked paradise of Miami, a premier vacation destination in South Florida known for its picturesque beaches. Miami Beach is a seaside haven with peaceful neighbourhoods, lively entertainment hotspots, and miles of soft-sand beaches.

Take a stroll and admire the pastel-coloured buildings from the 1930s and 1940s in the Art Deco Historic District.

Experience the wild side of Florida with a visit to The Everglades National Park , where visitors can witness the incredible array of wildlife, including alligators, snakes, crocodiles, and more, in their natural habitat.

When it comes to beautiful beaches, you can also spend 2 weeks in Hawaii .

Orlando for 3 days

You can’t spend 2 weeks on the East Coast of the US without seeing at least one theme park or themed museum. If you’re looking for an out-of-this-world experience, add the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to your list of day trips since it provides a glimpse into one of NASA’s most well-known operations centres.

Another must-visit destination is Discovery Cov e, which allows you to interact with ocean life in a natural setting. You can sign up for snorkelling and discover coral reed with a full dive helmet. You’ll also see stingrays, and even swim with dolphins.

For fans of the Harry Potter series, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the place to be. It is designed to immerse visitors in the magical world of Harry Potter, such as experiencing thrilling rides, sampling delicious butterbeer, trying wand magic classes, and so on.

The fastest way to get from Miami to Orlando is by plane , with a 1 hr 9 min flight duration. If you prefer to travel by car, the distance between the two cities is around 378.5 km (235.2 mi) which is around 3 hr 28 min along Florida’s Turnpike.

Jacksonville for 2 days

One of the main reasons to visit Jacksonville is its beautiful beaches, like Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach, making it a perfect destination for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation.

Apart from that, Jacksonville is also home to several cultural attractions, such as the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and the Kingsley Plantation, which give visitors a glimpse into the city’s rich history.

Foodies will also appreciate the diverse range of dining options available in this city, from seafood restaurants and steakhouses to craft breweries and bars.

The road trip between Orlando and Jacksonville takes about 2 hr and 10 min , covering a distance of 229.8 km (142.9 mi). You can take routes I-4E and I-95 N.

Savannah for 3 days

From grand old mansions to lush parks with fountains and sprawling moss-covered trees , Savannah exudes a timeless elegance that is truly breathtaking. Strolling down Bull Street is the best way to experience the preserved Savannah Historic District.

With its cobblestone streets and restored warehouses, enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants on River Street or take a boat tour along the Savannah River to get the best riverfront photo ops.

You can expect the trip from Jacksonville to Savannah , which spans 223.5 km (138.9 mi), by driving to take 2 hr 4 min through route I-95 N.

Atlanta for 3 days

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for a fun and educational experience for the whole family, the High Museum of Art is a great choice.

If you’re looking for a serene escape amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, look no further than the 30-acre Atlanta Botanical Garden .

The most convenient way to travel from Savannah to Atlanta is to take a flight, which typically takes about 1 hr 11 min with Delta Airlines. If you drive, the quickest route is to take I-16 W to I-75 N . The estimated arrival time is 3 hr 52 min through the entire distance of approximately 399.1 km (248 mi).

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN (per city)

Atlanta, georgia.

• Save money and get an Atlanta CityPass
• High Museum of Art
• Atlanta – learn about Black History and Civil Rights
• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
• World of Coca-Cola – get your skip-the-line ticket
• Piedmont Park
• Centennial Olympic Park
• Atlanta Botanical Garden
• Day trip to North Georgia Wine Country – join a tour
• Stone Mountain Park

Burlington, Vermont

Boston, massachusetts.

• For exploring Boston downtown, get a hop-on, hop-off trolley pass or get a Go City pass
• Cape Cod National Seashore
• Boston Common and Public Garden Swan Boats
• Plimoth Patuxet
• Spooky Tours – Haunting of Salem – Haunting Salem or Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley
• Museum of Science
• Fenway Park – join a tour with a local guide
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• Freedom Trail – discover with history and food
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Day trip to Martha’s Vineyard – book a tour with a round-trip ferry
• Faneuil Hall
• Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – enjoy an interactive tour
• Crane Beach
• Boston Harbor Islands State Park
• Carson Beach
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library
• Harvard University – explore with a student guide
• Wachusett Mountain
• Jiminy Peak
• Learn about the cuisine of Massachusettes – book a walking tasting tour or underground donut tour or buffet cruise at Boston Harbor

Coastal Maine/White Mountain National Forest

Miami, florida.

• Miami – cruise to see Millionaire homes or join a speedboat sightseeing or evening cruise on Biscayne Bay
• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• Everglades National Park – book Everglades Airboat Tour and Wildlife Tour
• Deering Estate
• Fort Lauderdale – get a water taxi all-day pass
• Key West – sunset sail and live music
• Coral Castle
• St. Augustine – get a hop-on, hop-off trolley pass
• Go Food and Drinks Exploration – join Little Havana food walking tour (Miami)

New York City

• Discover New York – on a one-day sightseeing tour or purchase a New York CityPass
• Central Park
• Manhattan – go on a helicopter ride
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Statue of Liberty – combo with Ellis Island tour
• Times Square
• One World Observatory – get your admission ticket
• Brooklyn Bridge
• 9/11 Memorial Museum – purchase an entry ticket
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Summit One Vanderbilt – read the tour reviews
• Empire State Building – skip the line and go to 102nd Deck
• The High Line
• American Museum of Natural History – get your pass
• Rockefeller Center
• Friends Experience – visit the production set
• Top of The Rock
• Ice Cream Museum – book a ticket in advance
• Bryant Park
• Go on culinary experience – visit Chinatown and Little Italy or Greenwich Village or Brooklyn food tour or Hell’s Kitchen Tour
• Washington Square Park
• Enjoy a dinner cruise

Orlando, Florida

• Walt Disney World Resort
• Magic Kingdom Park
• Orlando – enjoy a pirate show with dinner
• Universal Orlando Resort
• Rock Spring – go kayaking with a glass-bottomed boat
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Snorkel with Manatee – tour with a photographer
• SeaWorld Orlando
• Tampa Bay – purchase a city pass
• The Dalí (Salvador Dalí Museum)
• LEGOLAND® Florida Resort
• Go to Kennedy Space Center – reserve an entry ticket

Savannah, Georgia

• Explore Savannah – by land and sea tour or hop-on, hop-off ancient trolley or join a narrated trolley tour or Riverboat Cruise
• The Davenport House Museum
• Wormsloe Plantation – join a tour from Savannah
• Savannah Theater
• Spooky Savannah – check this history and haunted tour
• Forsyth Park
• Tybee Island – book a guided tour
• Service Brewing Company
• Victorian Districts – combo with Bonaventure Cemetery tour
• Discover food and drinks culture – culinary and culture walking tour or pub crawl and food
• Enjoy nightlife – Savannah Drag Queen Show or Comedy Trolley Tour
• The Olde Pink House
• Ride a helicopter on a scenic tour – read the reviews

Washington D.C.

• Learn about Washington DC – in a one-day tour or on a bike tour or Capitol Hill guided tour
• Library of Congress
• United States Capitol and Capitol Hill – book a Moonlight tour by trolley or simply get your reserved entry pass
• Lincoln Memorial
• Discover DC Monuments – via big bus hop-on, hop-off or a night tour
• Washington Monument
• The White House – advance planning must be done
• National Air and Space Museum
• National Mall – tour on an electric vehicle
• Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin
• Mount Vernon – do a day trip combo with Alexandria
• National Gallery of Art
• Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Museum – visit the museum with a private guide
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Arlinton National Cemetry – walking tour with changing of guards
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial
• National Harbor Capital Wheel – check the ticket price
• International Spy Museum
• Try out local food and drinks – on a food and history tour or pub crawl and history or cruise and gourmet

MUST-TRY AMERICAN DISHES, DRINKS, AND SNACKS

You’ll visit lots of cities and at least eight states if you follow one of the 2 weeks on the East Coast USA itinerary. This means you can explore this region’s cuisine because it’s a must-not-miss.

The food scene from New England to the seafood capital of Maryland to the southern region is impeccable. Whether you like meat and seafood or are a dessert fan, there’s something for everyone. Heck, if you’re a brewery chaser, don’t miss out on discovering various breweries throughout your trip. Here’s a list of must-try dishes from the East Coast of the US:

• Lobster Roll (New England)
• Pizza (New York)
• Clam Chowder (New England)
• Philly Cheesesteak (Philadelphia)
• Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs (Maryland/Washington D.C.)
• Bagels and Lox (New York)
• Barbecue (South or North Carolina)
• Crab Cakes (Maryland/Washington D.C.)
• Cuban Sandwich (Flordia)
• Shrimp and Grits
• Buffalo Wings (New York)
• Portuguese Sweet Bread (New England)
• Key Lime Pie (Florida)
• Clambake (New England)
• Craft Beers (from Maine to Florida)
• Bourbon (Southern)
• Eggnog (Northeast)
• Cider (Northeast)

ACCOMMODATIONS

• Affordable: The Verb Hotel or HI Boston Hostel or Boston Homestel
• Mid-range: Oasis Guest House or DoubleTree by Hilton or The Godfrey Hotel
• Luxury: Encore Boston Harbor or InterContinental Boston or Seaport Hotel® or Hyatt Place

Portland, Maine

• Affordable: Hampton Inn & Suites or AC Hotel by Marriott or Inn at St John Portland
• Mid-range: Canopy by Hilton or Courtyard by Marriott or Embassy Suites by Hilton
• Luxury: The Press Hotel
• Affordable:
• Mid-range: Green Mountain Suites Hotel or Starlight Inn or Homewood Suites by Hilton
• Luxury: Hotel Vermont Burlington

Springfield, Massachusetts

• Mid-range: Fairfield Inn & Suites or Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn & Suites

Providence, Rhode Island

• Mid-range: Residence Inn or Hampton Inn & Suites
• Luxury: Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel or Homewood Suites by Hilton
• Affordable: The Local NY or HI New York City Hostel or West Side YMCA
• Mid-range: The Herald by LuxUrban or Raven Hotel by Wyndham
• Luxury: Riu Plaza Manhattan Time Square or Arlo Midtown or citizenM New York Time Square
• Affordable: Duo Housing or Duo Nomad
• Mid-range: Washington Plaza Hotel or citizenM Washington DC or HighRoad Washington DC
• Luxury: JW Marriott or Sofitel Lafayette Square or Hotel Madera or Riggs Washington DC
• Affordable: Red Roof Inn or La Quinta by Wyndham or Microtel Inn by Wyndham
• Midrange: Reverb by Hard Rock Downtown or The Darwin Hotel
• Luxury: The Candler by Hilton or Glenn Hotel Autograph Collection
• Affordable: Red Roof Inn & Suites Savannah Airport or Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham
• Mid-range: Hotel Indigo or The Thunderbird Inn
• Luxury: Mansion, Kessler Collection or The Marshall House

Jacksonville, Florida

• Affordable: Econo Lodge or Emerson Inn
• Mid-range: DoubleTree by Hilton or Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
• Luxury: Renu or Hyatt Regency or Aloft Airport Hotel
• Affordable: Hotel Monreale Express or Avanti Palms Resort or Orlando Palms
• Mid-range: Wyndham Garden Airport or Avid Hotels by IHG or Ramada by Wyndham
• Luxury: Hyatt Regency or Caribe Royale or Buena Vista Suites
• Affordable: Art Hostel Wynwood Concept
• Mid-range: Hampton Inn/Coconut Grove or Hilton Garden Inn
• Luxury: East Miami or InterContinental or The Elser Hotel Miami

SUMMARY OF 2 WEEKS ON THE EAST COAST USA

From bustling cities to quaint coastal towns, the East Coast offers diverse experiences. The East Coast is also a foodie’s paradise, with various cuisines and dining options. You’ll find it here whether you’re in the mood for a classic lobster roll in Maine or a slice of New York-style pizza.

You can also visit world-renowned museums, catch a Broadway show, or simply wander the streets and soak up the cities’ energy.

This region’s history and natural beauty are splendid, and a two-week trip will allow you to immerse yourself in all the East Coast fully has to offer. With so much to see and do, a vacation in this region should not be missed.

I hope I was able to help you plan your 2 weeks on the East Coast USA, whether you’re looking for a beach vacation or an autumn road trip to see the fall foliage.

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