Classic American Road Trips – Coastal

West and East Coast of America, Pacific and Atlantic Coast Drives

Aug 19, 2009 Sharon Falsetto

Choosing one of America's classic American road trips is difficult; the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the USA alone provide two classic American road trips.

The USA has many classic road trip choices and driving across, up or down America is seen as a challenge by many; indeed, in the early days, the European pioneers which arrived on America's east coast soon began to make their way across the country to the west coast, exploring unknown country in a search for a 'better' life.

Today, two classic road trips choices include the coastal routes of America – the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. The Pacific coast road trip will take in all the flavors of the west whereas the Atlantic coast road trip will provide classic east coast moments; whichever route is chosen, a classic American road trip will be remembered for a long time.

Driving the West Coast of America, the Pacific Coast

Choosing to drive the Pacific coast road trip of America will mean passing through a variety of both landscapes and climates, depending on the season. The Pacific coast American road trip starts (or ends) at the Mexican border, just south of San Diego in southern California and ends (or starts) at the Olympic National Park in Washington state, on the Canadian border.

On this classic American road trip, it is possible to side trip to vineyards, neighborhood beaches and national parks and stay in big city hotels or rural B&Bs. The Pacific coast road trip also takes in:

San Diego and the southern California beaches
the Big Sur coastline of California
San Francisco
the redwood forests of northern California
the beauty of Oregon state
the rural communities of Washington state
Seattle.

Total length of the Pacific coast road trip (excluding side trips) : approximately 1,500 miles

Driving the East Coast of America, the Atlantic Coast

Driving the American east coast road trip will offer a similar diversity of sights and sounds as the west coast of America. The Atlantic coast American road trip starts (or ends) at New York City in the north and ends (or starts) at Key West, the southern most tip of Florida and the USA.

The Atlantic coast American road trip passes through:

New York, Miami and Atlantic City
European style beach towns with old fashioned roller coasters, lighthouses and boardwalks
historic Civil War locations in Virgina, the Carolinas and Georgia
the Caribbean style towns of the Keys in southern Florida.

Total length of the Atlantic coast road trip (excluding side trips) : approximately 2,000 miles

Driving the Classic Coastal Routes of America

Both the west and east coast of America can be broken down into several road trips; it is possible to plan a route which involves only part of the coast and include alternative side trips of interest. However, it is the dream of many to drive one of America's classic road trips and if the coastal routes of America are not appealing, it is possible to choose from many other classic American road trips including driving from one coast to another instead up and down the Pacific or Atlantic coast.

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