Photo by Sergey Tarasov on Unsplash
If you’re planning to hit the highway for a road trip this year, you’re in good company! Road trips have become increasingly popular — and for good reason: They offer a sense of freedom and adventure that is hard to match. Why? Because they provide flexibility in ways that other forms of travel can’t — allowing you to set your own pace and itinerary, take detours, make spontaneous stops, and easily visit off-the-beaten-path destinations. Whether you're exploring scenic byways, visiting national parks, or discovering hidden gems in small towns, road trips are a great opportunity to create unforgettable memories!
Nearly Three Quarters of Summer Travelers Hitting the Highway in 2025
With all of those benefits plus the fact that the price of gas is down more than 35 cents a gallon from this time last year, it’s no surprise that Americans are expected to take to the road in record numbers this summer. Deloitte’s Summer Travel Survey found that a whopping 71% of summer travelers will be grabbing their keys, loading up the car, and taking to the open road for a getaway in 2025. And in a Bank of America Institute survey, nearly two-thirds of middle- and low-income travelers and more than half of high-income ones said driving is now their favorite mode of vacation transportation.
Road-tripping Inspiration
If you’re planning a road trip, Choice Hotels has lots of great accommodations wherever you’re heading and all along the way. We’ve got some 4,000 hotels across the United States located within a mile of an interstate exit and more than 2,000 near beaches and national parks — all bookable on ChoiceHotels.com at guaranteed lowest prices.
Looking for some road-tripping inspiration? Check out our handy guides to the best Summer Road Trips, Fall Road Trips, Winter Road Trips, Spring Road Trips and more on our Road Trips page! It’s filled with fun road-tripping ideas for every region of the country and every season of the year. Below are a few suggested itineraries to get your road trip juices flowing!
Photo by Craig Melville on Unsplash
Soak Up the Sun in SoCal
How about a summer weekend road trip on the West Coast to explore the scenic summits, cities and sandy beaches of southern California? Start out on CA-94 E out of San Diego and head to The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon and then jump on Japatul Valley Road and visit the Lions Tigers & Bears exotic animal sanctuary in Alpine. Continue north on CA-79 to the beautiful Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in Julian, then drive east to experience the epic views at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert.
When you’re ready to call it a day, check into a room at the Comfort Suites Palm Desert I-10 or the Rodeway Inn & Suites Thousand Palms - Rancho Mirage.
On the next day, head west toward Cabazon and visit the kid-friendly Cabazon Dinosaur Park before continuing on to a scenic drive on the Banning-Idyllwild Panoramic Highway to Mount San Jacinto State Park. From there, you can take CA-79 to CA-74 to beautiful Lake Elsinore. And on the drive back to San Diego, you can enjoy a scenic stretch of I-5 that follows the coast and offers numerous opportunities to stop at the area’s top beaches — like Capistrano Beach, San Clemente State Beach, Trestles Beach, San Onofre Beach and La Jolla Cove.
Need a hotel in the San Diego area? Check into the Comfort Inn Gaslamp Convention Center, the Quality Suites San Diego Otay Mesa, or the Rodeway Inn National City San Diego South.
Photo by Donnie Rosie on Unsplash
Explore Historic Pennsylvania Dutch Country
What about a drive through winding roads and across covered bridges in historic Pennsylvania Dutch country? Begin in Lancaster and drive through scenic Lancaster County Central Park, where you’ll see your first covered bridge at Kurtz’s Mill, then hop on Old Philadelphia Pike / Kings Highway (PA-340) and head to Hatfield-Hibernia Historic District in Chester County, where you can visit Hibernia County Park and the beautiful 19th century Hibernia Mansion. Next, take PA-345 N and wind your way through the scenic countryside until you reach Greisemer’s Covered Bridge, then continue north on PA-662 N and make your way to the Dreibelbis Station Covered Bridge and visit the historic 1787 Brewing Company or Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in nearby Hamburg. Continue on to Reading to see Wertz’s Covered Bridge, hike through the Penn Preserve and visit the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower, as well as the town’s inimitable landmark, The Pagoda.
When you decide to call it a day, check into the Comfort Inn & Suites Wyomissing/Reading or the Econo Lodge Douglassville-Pottstown.
The next morning, head south on New Holland Road (PA-625 S), make your way to Churchtown and stop by the Pool Forge Covered Bridge on your way to Terre Hill to visit the Oberholtzer's Mill and Red Run Covered Bridges. Next, take Division Highway (US-322 W) to Ephrata, where you can see the Historic Ephrata Cloister, and then on to the Amish village of Lititz. Head toward Landisville and you’ll find three more covered bridges nearby: Shenck’s Mill, Siegrist Mill and Forry’s Mill. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Susquehanna River as you navigate your way back to Lancaster.
Ready for a rest? You can book yourself a room at the nearby Comfort Suites Manheim - Lancaster or Comfort Inn New Holland Amish Country.
Photo by Clark Wilson on Unsplash
See Beautiful Views Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
For a scenic southern road trip, take a drive down the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway and explore the dense forests and breathtaking views from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Blue Ridge Mountains and down into the beautiful Shenandoah River Valley.
Start off with a drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, and experience the park’s beautiful old-growth forests, rounded mountaintops and rough-hewn rocks. Then head to the Biltmore Estate, “America’s Largest Home,” in Asheville, North Carolina, and tour its historic mansion and 8,000 acres of gardens.
When you’re done for the day, check into one of our many nearby hotels, like the Clarion Inn Biltmore Village, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Asheville - Outlet Mall, the Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville, or the Brookstone Lodge near Biltmore Village, Ascend Collection.
The next day, you jump back on the Blue Ridge Parkway and cross the North Carolina state line into Virginia and visit Shenandoah National Park, where you’ll find spectacular vistas and cascading waterfalls. Finally, navigate to the iconic Skyline Drive, set high on the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains with gorgeous views at every bend.
Choice Hotels has several great properties in nearby Harrisonburg, including the Sleep Inn & Suites Harrisonburg near University, the Comfort Inn & Suites Harrisonburg and the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Harrisonburg.
Maximize Your Road Trip Time Off with Vacation Maximization-er Keegan-Michael Key
Not sure when to take time off work for your road trip? Check out our guide to How to Get the Most Out of Public Holidays. Once you choose the dates for your trip, be sure to use our Time-Off Toolbox and let Choice Hotels brand ambassador and famed actor and writer Keegan-Michael Key help create your customized time-off request video and out-of-office reply.
Before you take to the road, take a look at our Tips for Saving Gas (and Money) on Your Next Road Trip, a helpful guide to keeping your road trip budget in check by making sure your car is well maintained, using good habits behind the wheel, and finding the best gas prices on your route.
Then book your stays at ChoiceHotels.com, pack your bags, grab your keys, and prepare to hit the highway and maximize your road trip!
About Choice Hotels®
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. The one to watch in upscale and a leader in midscale and extended stay, Choice® has over 7,500 hotels, representing nearly 650,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories. A wide-ranging portfolio of 22 brands that includes full-service upper upscale, midscale, extended stay, and economy properties enables Choice® to meet travelers' needs in more places and for more occasions while driving more value for franchise owners and shareholders. The award-winning Choice Privileges® rewards program and co-brand credit card options provide members with a fast and easy way to earn reward nights and personalized perks. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.
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