Road Trip in the Western US!

Remember those family vacations where everyone crammed into the car and you drove for what seemed like forever to reach grandpa’s house? Now that you’re older, maybe you need to rethink the meaning of “road trip.” In the US adventures await just around the next bend. Check out these trip-worthy drives ... destination unknown!

Route 66

Arguably the most sung about and celebrated road in the US, Route 66 passes through eight states and runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, ending at the Pacific Ocean. This road is the subject of numerous songs ( "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66"), the Route 66 television show from the 60s, and a potent symbol of loss n John Steinbeck's classic Great Depression-era novel, The Grapes of Wrath. While you can hop on portions of the road in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, cities in Missouri still celebrate Route 66 days. Although many portions are incorporated into the Interstate Highway System, many historical lay-by designations dot the map along the route. Celebrate hitting the Pacific Coast with a visit to the Santa Monica Pier, or hitting Chicago with a day at the Navy Pier. From one Ferris Wheel to another, this trip is one for the memory books.

Highway 1

The US Highway system numbers evenly from North to South with odd numbers moving West to East. Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is the westernmost road in the Continental US. A trip from Dana Point in Orange County, through Los Angeles all the way to where it joins Highway 101 in Mendocino County takes you through breathtaking scenery along Big Sur and across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. At nearly 660 miles, it is the longest state highway in California.

Highway 93

If you have plenty of time, consider a trip up (or down) Highway 93. This route begins just north of Phoenix, Arizona where it’s known as the Joshua Forest Parkway and heads north. You’ll cross the Hoover Dam in Nevada, just outside Las Vegas and pass through Sin City where it joins up with Interstate 15 for ways until it splits off to take you toward the Great Basin National Park. Continuing north, you’ll intersect with Interstate 80 at Wells, Nevada before crossing into Idaho near Jackpot. The fantastic scenery moves you across the Snake River Canyon northward where it becomes a portion of the Salmon River Scenic Byway. Along the route, you’ll follow parts of the Lewis and Clark Trail as it enters Montana at Lost Trail Pass. From there, you’ll cross Western Montana through the Bitterroot Valley, into Missoula, and then through the Flathead Indian Reservation. Portions of the road run along the National Bison Range where you’ll likely see buffalo. It runs alongside Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. Headed northward, Highway 93 ends at the Canadian border.

As you pass through any of these beautiful areas, you may be tempted to stay. If so, reach out to a local real estate professional to see if a permanent move or vacation home is in the cards for you.