The Open Road Travel

A USA east coast road trip will take you down almost the entire Atlantic coast of the United States.

A USA east coast road trip takes you from Massachusetts, through Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, D.C, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to Florida, travelling almost the entire height of the eastern U.S.

For anyone planning to make this amazing journey for themselves, I highly recommend reading on.

The route for our USA east coast road trip takes us from Boston to Miami.

While the most direct route covers 1,500 miles (2,410 kilometres) and takes 23 and ½ hours to complete, the best route for a USA east coast road trip covers 1,580 miles (2,540 kilometres) and takes 25 hours to complete.

You begin by picking up I-90 where it begins and following it to Exit 78, where you will start heading south on I-84.

When you reach Hartford, Connecticut, take Exit 57 and continue heading south on I-91, before joining Connecticut Route 15 at Exit 17 and following it to the New York state line.

You will enter New York state on the Hutchinson River Parkway but will quickly use Exit 15B to join I-287 and go west.

Take Exit 2 to pass through Elmsford then re-join the freeway by going south on I-87, before using Exit 7 to go southeast on I-95. You’ll remain on this for 370 miles (590 kilometres).

Take Exit 51 in Petersburg, Virginia to join the I-85 at its origin and follow it for 270 miles (435 kilometres), to Charlotte, North Carolina. Use Exit 38 to keep heading south on I-77, until it reaches its conclusion 100 miles (161 kilometres) later, near Columbia, South Carolina.

Here you will merge onto I-26 and keep going south for 62 miles (100 kilometres), to Exit 169A, near Whetsell, South Carolina. Here you will re-join the I-95 and follow it for 580 miles (935 kilometres), to its conclusion in our destination of Miami, Florida.

The best time for a USA east coast road trip is between mid-April and early August. While the temperatures at our destination are generally warm throughout the year, this window gives you the best chance to experience the weather at its best along the entire route.

Meanwhile, it also makes sure you avoid the height of Florida’s hurricane season, which runs from mid-August to the end of September. Using our mid-April to early August window therefore means you will experience the east coast in all of its glory, with very little risk.

With around a full 24 hours’ worth of driving on a USA east coast road trip, everyone is going to need to break this journey up, no matter how many miles they are used to driving per day. Given the length of the route, you have plenty of great options to do just that.

However, that can cause a headache of its own, as it can make working out the optimal places to take a longer stop a little harder. That is why we have picked out the following 2 locations as the best places to stop on a USA east coast road trip, to make life a little easier for you.

New York City is the most populous city in the U.S. and one of the most famous cities on Earth.

From its legendary attractions like the Statue Of Liberty and Empire State Building to iconic skyscrapers and areas like Times Square, and even the beautiful Central Park, there is plenty here for everyone.

You can travel the city on bus, boat, or helicopter tours, take one of the trademark yellow cabs over some of the famous bridges, learn your history in museums and on walking tours, or simply explore New York City’s various neighbourhoods to soak in some culture and snap some photos.

With a seemingly endless choice of 5-star hotels, high end stores, luxury restaurants, and plenty more, New York City is the ideal place to combine style, relaxation, and tourism in a single stop.

The iconic, 5-star Plaza hotel is set on the south edge of Central Park, in the heart of Manhattan, offering stunning views from its rooms and communal areas. Having featured in various Hollywood movies through the years, you will feel at home here from the second you arrive.

Each of the rooms is spacious, beautifully styled, and kitted out with luxury furnishings and a range of amenities that includes flat screen TVs, iPads, rain showers, 24-karat gold plated fixtures, and Wi-Fi that is available throughout the property.

With features like a gym, spa, and salon, a range of bars, shops, and restaurants on site, and many more in the surrounding area, you will never need for anything during your stay here.

The United States capital and one of its most famous and populous cities, Washington D.C. is located on land donated by both Virginia and Maryland. Its United States Capitol building is considered among the most wonderful pieces of architecture in the country.

Each year, more than 20 million visitors arrive in Washington D.C. to explore its legendary sites and enjoy all the wonders it has to offer.

With sites like The White House, The Pentagon, The Smithsonian, The Lincoln Memorial, and The Washington Monument, countless shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels, and many great attractions and areas to stay, there is truly something for everyone in Washington D.C.

The Willard InterContinental Washington is a wonderful, 4-star hotel, located opposite Presidents Park, just 550 yards from The White House. A historic building inside and out, it offers stunning views and is ideally situated to help you explore Washington D.C’s most famous attractions.

Rooms all boast beautiful décor, luxury furnishings, incredible views, and amenities like a mini bar, coffee maker, flat screen TV, stereo, and work desk, as well as air conditioning and Wi-Fi that can be accessed throughout the property.

With a café and restaurant serving French cuisine and pastries, a wine bar, 24-hour lounge, sauna, fitness centre, a range of shops including a florist, and concierge and private limo services, this pet friendly hotel will cater to your every need throughout your stay.

Covering almost the entire height of the country, it should come as no surprise that a USA east coast road trip will take you past countless exciting locations and attractions. Yet, with such a great number, your trip would take you years if you hoped to try and see them all.

That is why we have compiled a list of the 17 top attractions on a USA east coast road trip for you. These cover all of the simply can’t miss destinations, to make your life as easy as possible when it comes to planning your dream travel itinerary for the journey.

The capital city of Connecticut, as well as one of the oldest in the country, Hartford is a historic city that boasts attractions like the nation’s oldest public park, art museum, and continuously published newspaper, as well as the Connecticut State Capitol building and Mark Twain House.

Sleepy Hollow is the iconic town that features as the main setting of Washington Irving’s horror classic “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow”. With various creepy locations from the book and even Washington Irving’s grave, it is a fabulous destination for fans of the tale.

Meanwhile, with Sleepy Hollow often ranking among America’s most haunted towns, it has plenty to offer for fans of horror and the supernatural in general. This makes it a particularly great stop if you happen to be travelling around Halloween.

New Jersey’s most populous city and one of the oldest in the country, Newark is a historic destination filled with iconic buildings, bridges, monuments, museums, parks, and more.

Located just across the river from New York City, it provides a great opportunity to learn more about the region’s past, without constantly being surrounded by the mobs of tourists that are common in its more popular neighbour.

The 6th most populous city in the United States, as well as one of its oldest, Philadelphia is a destination that has countless cultural and historical locations. Perhaps the most iconic and important of these is Independence National Historical Park.

The site of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the locations where both the Declaration Of Independence and American Constitution were adopted, it is perhaps the most historically important location in the entire country.

Wilmington is Delaware’s largest, most populous city. Located on the site of the oldest Swedish settlement in the United States, the historic Fort Christina, Wilmington offers a unique look at the early days of the nation, which is unlike anything you will find elsewhere.

Meanwhile, there are also countless opportunities found throughout the city to learn more about the Du Pont family, one of the richest families in America and perhaps the most important in the history of the state of Delaware.

Susquehanna State Park is a fabulous destination for outdoor recreation, filled with biking, hiking, and equestrian trails running through the valleys along the banks of the Susquehanna River.

With fishing and boating piers, campsites and picnic spots, and various historic buildings and museums dotted throughout its 2,753 acres, it has plenty to offer for anyone who wants to get out, stretch their legs, and enjoy a little nature for a while.

Maryland’s most populous city and the largest independent city in the U.S., Baltimore has a long history as a transport hub.

With the historic Port Of Baltimore and the eastern end of the Baltimore And Ohio Railroad, it is an ideal destination for anyone interested in American infrastructure.

That said, with its stunning ocean views and various other historic locations, Baltimore is a city that can be enjoyed by all types of different people.

Richmond is Virginia’s capital and 4th most populous city, as well as one of the oldest permanent settlements in all of the United States.

Historic attractions are abundant throughout the city, with battlefield parks, buildings, monuments, and museums covering every aspect of Richmond’s past.

Add in the Virginia State Capitol building itself, the home of the oldest elected legislative body in North America, and Richmond is simply bursting with some of the most iconic sights in the entire region.

Petersburg, Virginia is a city surrounded by locations that played pivotal roles in the American Civil War, such as The Petersburg National Battleground and Pamplin Historical Park.

Meanwhile, it is also among the oldest settlements for free black people in the entire United States.

With countless historic locations, restored and recreated buildings, and museums filled with exhibits and artefacts, Petersburg is a can’t miss location for anyone interested in American history.

North Carolina’s 3rd most populous city, Greensboro is the region’s art and culture hub. With various art galleries, festivals, gardens, historic buildings, museums, parks, stadiums, and theatres to enjoy, the city is equally ideal for both culture vultures and history buffs.

The most populous city in North Carolina and 2nd most in the south-east U.S., Charlotte is a great stop for anyone wanting to experience quintessential southern culture in the big city.

Charlotte is also the perfect destination for any fans of NASCAR. Located near the site of its founding, home to the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, and host of many of the biggest races each year, Charlotte has plenty of sites dedicated to the past, present, and future of the sport.

The capital and 2nd most populous city in South Carolina, Columbia is a vibrant destination with a lively student atmosphere, thanks to the presence of the University Of South Carolina.

With plenty of amenities and historical attractions like the South Carolina Capitol building, Columbia is a city with plenty to keep visitors of all tastes and interests happy.

One of the smallest, newest, least visited national parks in the United States, Congaree National Park is the only national park in South Carolina. Its beautiful landscape is filled with rivers and forests, making it one of the best places to enjoy the region’s landscape.

It is particularly famous for the firefly displays that take place every year between late spring and early summer, which give visitors an incredibly unique way to explore the park’s boardwalks.

Savannah is the 5th most populous city in Georgia, as well as its original capital and one of the state’s oldest cities.

Perhaps best known for playing a crucial role in the both the American Revolutionary and Civil wars, its historic seaport, streets, and buildings make it a great stop for history lovers.

The most populous city in Florida and the largest by area in the contiguous United States, Jacksonville is known as “The River City”, due to the incredible number of bridges that cross the various waterways flowing within its boundaries.

Much less touristy than many of the more popular cities further south, Jacksonville offers a perfect opportunity to experience the real culture, history, and lifestyle of the people of north Florida.

A mid-sized city in the “Fun Coast” region of Florida, Daytona Beach is a beautiful oceanfront location that is perhaps best known for its connection to motorsports.

Home to the Daytona International Speedway, which hosts various NASCAR events each year, as well as the NASCAR headquarters, it is a great stop for fans of car racing.

Meanwhile, Daytona Bike Week in March and Biketoberfest in October make it equally perfect for motorbike enthusiasts too.

The 4th most populous city in Florida, Orlando is best known as the home of Disney World Florida.

With a huge collection of different theme parks and tourist attractions, it is perfect for families with members of all sizes and ages to stop off and enjoy some carefree fun on their journey.

A USA east coast road trip is an incredible journey that gives you the opportunity to experience all of the cultures and landscapes on offer down the entire height of the Atlantic coast of the United States.

From small towns and big cities to historic landmarks and ocean vistas, the route you will follow on this expedition has it all.

While there is an endless collection of stops, sights, and attractions along the way, this article will hopefully have helped you to plan your dream travel itinerary for the trip.

All you have left to do now then is start getting everything booked. That way you will guarantee you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything and can start looking forward to experiencing it all for yourself.