taytrum travels

Doing a cross country road trip in the south? Here are 34 noteworthy stops to add to your southern USA road trip itinerary.

In the summer of 2021, I drove from Los Angeles, California to Key West, Florida and back to Santa Barbara. I gave the road trip two months and it took me over 7,000 miles winding through the south. On the trip I used both campgrounds and hotels for accommodation while I visited many of the country’s coolest national parks, famous cities, historic sites, and quirky gems.

Working from west to east and organized by state, these are the best cities, towns, national parks, and special spots to see along the way. Most spots are either on or within 1 hour of Interstate 40 and Interstate 10.

California

1. Los Angeles

Whether you start or end your road trip in Los Angeles, this famous city offers countless things to explore. If you’re a foodie, you should check out Koreatown’s best Korean BBQ. Los Angeles also has tons of museums such as the Broad and Getty. You could head up to Griffith Observatory for a great view of the city or over to the beach at Santa Monica. In fact, the I-10 Highway ends (or starts) in Santa Monica specifically. Other popular attractions in Los Angeles are Disneyland and Universal Studios.

2. San Diego

San Diego is a great addition to a road trip because it offers tons of outdoor recreation opportunities. Pacific Beach is where you’ll find most of the rooftop bar scene, while Mission Beach has miles of beach front outdoor biking and walking paths. If you’re looking for museums, head to Balboa Park where you can stretch your legs and explore many museums within just a short walk of each other, to include the Botanical Gardens. San Diego is also an excellent spot to drink unique beer, as the county is home to more than 150 craft breweries.

Arizona

3. Grand Canyon National Park

Considered a bucket list destination in the United States by many, it is perhaps one of the most famous national parks in the country. As one of the most visited parks, it welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors in 2023. Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919 and is considered one the seven natural wonders of the world. The south rim is the most popular side to visit. Here you’ll find Grand Canyon Village and the Rim Trail. If you’re looking for a hike, the steep and difficult Bright Angel Trail is a 9.5-mile hike down to the Colorado River. As an added bonus, it is not uncommon to see elk in the park.

4. Monument Valley

Located on the border with Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley boasts incredible butte rock formations. One of my favorite things about this place is Forrest Gump Point, the filming location where Gump decided he was tired of running and turned back home. The unpaved Valley Drive takes you 17 miles through scenic views. You can also hike the 3-mile Wildcat Loop Trail. Monument Valley is not managed by the U.S. National Park Service, but rather is a Navajo Tribal Park.

5. Saguaro National Park

This national park is meant to preserve the iconic saguaro cactus. Found almost exclusively in the south of Arizona, these tall cacti dot all across the landscape in Saguaro National Park. The habitat was protected as a national monument in the 1930s, but was promoted to a national park in 1994. You can find the park near Tuscon, which despite its desert location has quite a few bodies of water nearby to visit.

The park has two districts with the city of Tuscon separating them at the center. Both sides are worth visiting and beautiful, but I think I enjoyed the west side (Tucson Mountain District) slightly more. Gates Pass Road is a scenic drive where you can see the red hills. The 5-mile Scenic Bajada Loop Drive is an unpaved, but leveled dirt road that takes you on a clockwise loop around this side of the park.

Rincon Mountain District is more than twice as large as the west side and receives more rainfall. This makes visiting the east district better in the spring when there is more greenery and wildflowers. On this side you’ll find the paved 8-mile Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive.

6. Petrified Forest National Park

Despite its desert location, Petrified Forest National Park offers a colorful palette of oranges, purples, reds, and pinks. This location in Arizona has one of the greatest concentrations of petrified logs on Earth. There are also fossilized dinosaurs and one thousand-year-old petroglyphs.

Interstate 40 actually bisects the park into northern and southern halves, but its proximity to the highway makes it very easy to visit. On the northern side, Painted Desert Visitor Center marks the start of a 28-mile road through the park with many stops for short walking trails and viewpoints. The Painted Desert Rim Trail is one of the best stops.

New Mexico

7. Santa Fe

Located at 7,000 feet of elevation, Santa Fe, New Mexico is best known for its art and pottery scene. The state is famous for their green and red chiles, with the ingredient making its way into lots of local food. While here, I even tried green chile beer at a local brewery. Here you can visit the Georgia O’Keefe Musuem, dedicated to one of Santa Fe’s most famous residents. Santa Fe is a unique town in that it prides itself on quirkiness and art. Most buildings, even gas stations, conform to an adobe style architecture to add to the allure of this desert retreat.

8. White Sands National Park

Established in December 2019, White Sands National Park is one of the newest national parks in the country. It was also one of my favorites during the cross-country trek. One of the fun things about White Sands is that unlike other national parks, you are allowed to go off the trail here. Many people bring sleds and slide down the dunes. Leashed dogs are even allowed to wander across the dunes with you.

The white sand found here constitutes the world’s largest expanse of gypsum dunes. Gypsum is a type of calcium sulfate, giving it its white color. It you visit for just a day trip, the 8-mile, one way Dune Drive is a great option for exploring the park. The drive offers a few stops along the way where you can get out and wander. One of the best stops is the Interdune Boardwalk, an easy and fully accessible trail with informative signs along the way.

9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad is one the most famous caves in the world. The massive size and scope of the chambers awe visitors. These caves were formed by dissolving sulfuric acid, as opposed to rushing water. Another striking feature are the stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (protruding from the ground), formed by the slow and steady evaporation of water containing calcite from the limestone.

Most visitors can expect to take an elevator down into the Big Room, where you can begin your self-guided 1.25 mile walk around the caverns. The path is paved, has railings, and is relatively flat. If you prefer, you can also enter through the Natural Entrance which requires a steep climb down. Even in the summer, the caverns stay cool all year so bring a light sweater or jacket.

Texas

10. Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is a unconventional art installation found in Amarillo, Texas. Created by the group Ant Farm in 1974, it is free to access. It is also very close to Interstate 40, making it easy to get to. The art is comprised of 10 Cadillacs buried front-end first into the ground. They are lined up chronologically so you can look at the evolution of the tailfin as the car goes through each generation. The cars are covered in paint and graffiti, which is actually encouraged.

11. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Established in 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is very close to the border with New Mexico and Carlsbad Cavern National Park. Texas’ highest point can be found here at Guadalupe Peak (8,751 feet). The park also features El Capitan, a limestone bluff that’s easily recognizable from miles away as you approach the park from the south. Pine Springs Visitor Center offers some easy and short nature trails nearby, while you can find more strenuous hikes in the mountains. In the fall, McKittrick Canyon receives more visitors than usual due to the maple trees changing to hues of orange and red.

12. Big Bend National Park

Hugging the Mexico border, Texas’ best-known park is Big Bend. Located in western Texas, it isn’t really on the way to anything else and constitutes a worthwhile detour from the I-10. A bend in the Rio Grande, also known as the Rio Bravo, gives the park its name. The river also is the demarcation point for the U.S.-Mexico border.

Many come to see the Santa Elena Canyon, and some even go rafting here. The Chisos Mountains are a unique habitat within a largely flat swath of desert. You can also find a nice campground here called Chisos Basin. The main visitor center at the heart of the park roads is Panther Junction. Watch for javelinas and roadrunners; I saw a few during my visit.

13. Austin

Austin is perhaps the most hipster and cosmopolitan city in Texas. They have a vibrant night life, good BBQ, and live music. If you prefer outdoor activities, Lady Bird Lake offers a variety of things to do such as the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. You can also walk around the Texas Capitol building, which is free to do. South Congress Avenue features cute boutique stores for shopping. If you like food trucks, Austin has eight in one location called The Picnic. There are also many colorful murals in the city. The most popular is the “Greetings from Austin” postcard mural on the side of Roadhouse Relics. In the evening, many crowd around the Congress Ave bridge to watch the bats come out.

14. The Alamo

Located in San Antonio, the famous Alamo is part of a Spanish mission and fortress. It gained fame after the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 between Mexico and Texas Revolutionaries. Mexico won the Battle of the Alamo, but Texas would declare independence from Mexico within two months. Later, the United States annexed Texas which led to the Mexican American War of 1846-48.

Today you can visit the monument to learn more about the historic site. It is also in short walking distance to the River Walk, a fun area to shop and eat where you will usually find live music.

Oklahoma

15. Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

The OKC National Memorial pays tribute to the victims, survivors, and rescuers of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on the second anniversary of the Waco siege. It was deadliest attack of terrorism in the United States up until the 2001 September 11th attacks. Today, the memorial features 168 empty bronze chairs to represent the 168 people who were killed in the bombing. The chairs are arranged in such a way to represent the floor of the building and where they people were when they died. Shortly after the bombing, a tall fence went up around the site. People left flowers and tied heartfelt cards to the fence in memorial. A portion of this fence, known as the Memorial Fence, has been left up.

Arkansas

16. Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park was established as a national park in 1921 to protect the thermal springs. This is a rather unique national park as it mixes urban and nature. It is best known for Bathhouse Row, a 0.3 mile stretch down Central Avenue where bathhouses are either still in operation (Buckstaff) or have been repurposed for other things like a visitor center and a brewery. Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery operating within a national park and uses the local spring water in the making of their beer. It is a can’t miss stop in Hot Springs National Park. Besides the brewery, there’s also plenty of fun things to do with kids around Hot Springs National Park.

17. Little Rock Central High School

Little Rock Central High School is a historic site in the capital city of Arkansas. The Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954 ruled that segregation based on race in school was unconstitutional. Many states governments resisted the order to desegregate schools. Nine black students, known later as the Little Rock Nine, were denied entrance to the school despite the ruling. In 1957 President Eisenhower made history when the Army and Arkansas National Guard were deployed to forcibly desegregate Little Rock Central High School.

In 1982 the school was designated as a National Historic Landmark, although it still operates as a public school today with over 2,000 students enrolled. You can see the school from outside and visit the visitor center across the street where there is a small museum.

Louisiana

18. New Orleans

Also known as the “Big Easy,” New Orleans is a popular destination in the American south. It is well known for its jazz music, Cajun food, and of course Mardi Gras. One of the first tops when visiting New Orleans is the French Quarter. This is the oldest neighborhood in the city and was founded in 1718. This is where you’ll find the infamous Bourbon Street and the oldest cathedral in the United States, the Saint Louis Cathedral. The Art and Warehouse District is a great spot to look at painted wall murals. A stop in New Orleans is incomplete without trying the famous beignets at Cafe Du Monde at least once.

Tennessee

19. Memphis

Memphis is located in the western part of the state. It is home to several key sites. The first is Elvis Presley’s home Graceland where you can take a tour and see memorabilia. Memphis is also home to the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Today, the motel is preserved alongside the National Civil Rights Museum.

One of the quirkier features of Memphis is the Peabody Hotel where you can watch the daily “duck march” where the very real ducks in the lobby fountain march into the elevator and head to their room for the night. Even more unusual is the unmissable glass pyramid Bass Pro Shop store off the I-40 and Mississippi River. Whether you visit the store or not, simply seeing the giant glass pyramid is memorable.

Finally, in the evening you can watch blues performances on Beale Street where blues legends like BB King regularly performed in the 1940s and 50s. In addition, the Memphis brewery scene is quickly growing.

20. Nashville

Popular among bachelor and bachelorette groups, Nashville is a great city to visit. Downtown Broadway is where you’ll find most of the nightlife action. There is live music in nearly every bar on Broadway.

Besides bars and line dancing, Nashville also offers tons of concerts at venues like the Ryman Auditorium, Bluebird Cafe, and Grand ‘Ol Opry. In addition, the recently opened National Musuem of African American Music is an excellent and interactive place to hear and explore music. There’s also the Country Music Hall of Fame, housed within a building meant to look like a piano keyboard.

Head to 12 South for hipster stores and Frothy Monkey Coffee. If you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon this is also where you’ll find her flagship store Draper James. You can also find The Gulch nearby, a youthful neighborhood with popular art murals and cool restaurants. Trying Nashville Hot Chicken is usually a top priority for visitors. The two best are found at Hattie B’s and Prince’s.

Related: 14 Things to Do in Nashville in the Winter

21. Great Smoky Mountain National Park

This may surprise some readers, but Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the country year after year. It is also the most visited by a long shot. Straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, almost 13 million people entered Great Smoky Mountain in 2023. This park offers tons of hiking and biking opportunities in the Appalachian Mountains. If you don’t have time to stop, you could instead do the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The park was established in 1934 and was the first national park to use federal funding as opposed to only state or private funding.

North Carolina

22. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic and famous roadway through the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was built in 1936 as part of a series of public works projects to give a boost to the local economy and create jobs during the Great Depression. It offers many hiking opportunities and cute small towns are found along the way. In fact, the road is 496 miles long. While you might not drive the whole thing, you can visit part of the route nearby Asheville. Craggy Gardens is one of the most popular stops along the roadway in North Carolina. Though not a national park, there is a visitor center managed by the National Park Service.

23. The Biltmore

The Biltmore is the largest private home in the United States. It has immaculate gardens and its own estate winery. The house was built for George Washington Vanderbilt II who amassed great wealth from the railroads and steamboats. The home finished construction in 1895. The vision of the construction was to mirror working estates seen in Europe. In 1963 it was established as a National Historic Landmark and receives more than a million visitors a year. You can book tickets to visit in advance online.

24. Asheville

There are many attractions in the general Asheville area, but the city deserves a visit itself. With a population of about 100,000, Asheville attracts visitors with vibrant restaurants and a charming downtown. Asheville is also known for a buzzing beer scene, with more than 30 craft breweries in the city. Wicked Weed and Burial Brewing are two of the best. There’s also the Pinball Musuem where you can play the classic arcade game. If you’re looking for coffee, head to Double D’s Coffee where the drinks and pastries are served out of a red double decker bus.

South Carolina

25. Congaree National Park

Congaree is the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the country. It contains some of the tallest trees on the east coast. Congaree National Park is one of the least visited national parks. Having fewer visitors is one of the assets of this park in my opinion. It is very quiet and uncrowded. Many might describe it as a swamp, however that is ecologically inaccurate. It is home to many unique plants and animals. During my short day visit I saw countless snakes, turtles, big spiders, and skinks. The recently completed Boardwalk Loop Trail takes you for a nice walk through the forest. The boardwalk loop is even dog friendly.

26. Charleston

This is one of the most popular cities in South Carolina. People mainly visit Charleston for its historic charm. Don’t miss the famous pineapple fountain. Many local souvenirs feature a pineapple because of the famous fountain.

Rainbow Row, a colorful block of houses also attracts tourists. Broad Street is the main avenue where you can find Charleston’s characteristic tall white spindle church named Saint Michael’s and many picturesque store fronts. The White Point Garden is a good spot for a walk. Nearby, Folly Beach is a great coastal location to relax, while the town itself is walkable and easily explored. Plus, these and many other fun things to do in Charleston are kid friendly.

27. Angel Oak Tree

Located outside Charleston is Angel Oak Tree. This live oak tree is estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old. You can find it in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island. It draws crowds not just for its age, but for the immensity of its size, with many of the mossy green tree limbs roping around down low. Many of these limbs are now supported by metal props and suspension wires. People are asked not to climb on the tree. It is a pretty quick and easy stop, depending on the crowds. It is a can’t-miss thing to see in South Carolina.

Georgia

28. Savannah

Savannah, Georgia is a popular destination for ghost hunting and wandering the walkable, historic town. In fact, it’s known as the most haunted city in the USA. Joining an evening city ghost tour is a fun way to learn a bit of history and legends about some of the building and plazas. Spanish moss hangs off the trees on the Avenue of Oaks at the Wormsloe State Historic Site. It is also famously legal in Savannah to openly drink alcoholic beverages in public. This is one of the few cities in the country that permit open container carrying of alcohol. The river front street has tons of bars and restaurants, in addition to views of the Georgia Queen Riverboat usually anchored there.

Florida

29. Miami

Miami is a world-renowned city for many reasons. From its beaches to its nightlife, the city hardly needs an introduction or explanation as to why you should visit.

While the city is better known for glitz and glamour, you may think this might not pair well with a road trip, however Miami offers many other things to see besides South Beach. If you are looking to relax, Key Biscayne is a calmer, quieter places to lay on the beach as well as to check out the Cape Florida Lighthouse. More urban, you can ditch the high rises and explore Little Havana where you should not miss eating at Cafe Versailles. If you like art, you should head to the more hipster Wynwood neighborhood and visit the Wynwood Walls Museum.

30. Everglades National Park

At over 1.5 million acres, Everglades National Park is a large preserve in the south of Florida. It was established in 1967 to protect the unique ecosystem found here. Here you can find manatees, crocodiles, and alligators. There are two main visitor centers along the southeast entrance to the park and a third visitor center to the north, however access to all three centers is only done by exiting the park and reentering. The Flamingo Visitor Center is a good spot to see crocodiles and manatees. Alligators are frequently seen along the 0.8-mile Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm. This trail is part pavement, part boardwalk.

31. Biscayne National Park

Biscayne is a unique national park in that the vast majority of it under water. A visit to this park will likely entail a boat tour for most visitors. It is also incredibly close to Miami, making it accessible but also challenging for preservation. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is where many will go to start their visit and check in for a boat tour. One of the popular draws here is Boca Chita, a key with camping and a 65-foot tall lighthouse. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse for a view. Many of the tours stop here for visitors to get out and stretch their legs. Snorkeling and kayaking are also popular activities in the park.

32. Crystal River

The number one reason to stop in Crystal River is to paddle board or kayak with manatees. During certain times of the year you can also swim with the mantees. This is the only place in North America where you can legally do this. You are required to passively observe the mantees, as touching them or harassing them is not allowed. If you prefer not to swim, you can walk the boardwalk at Three Sisters Springs to observe them from above.

33. St. Augustine

Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, St. Augustine is the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States. Many old, historic building still stand, such as the Castillo de San Marcos. For a long time, St. Augustine was actually the capital of Florida until it became Tallahassee in 1824. Other features of this road trip stop are the Bridge of Lions, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and Anastasia State Park.

34. Key West

Key West is famous for its distinction as the southernmost point of the continental United States. To get here you’ll drive along the Overseas Highway which connects many small keys with more than 40 bridges and offers sweeping ocean views. For those making the journey in a camper, you can find lots of campgrounds in Key West. In addition to the southernmost point landmark, Key West is also fun visit for its opportunities to go to the beach and snorkeling. Honeymooning and babymooning in Key West is popular because of this. You can even sometimes see fish and sharks within the harbor. And of course, don’t leave without trying the local key lime pie.

Map of Southern USA Road Trip Stops

As an east-west road trip, most of these stops are found off of or near the I-40 or the I-10. The list includes stops in 12 states, although if you complete the whole loop you will visit 14 states.

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