Road trips are one of the best ways to experience the breadth and beauty of the U.S. From scenic landscapes and quirky roadside attractions to must-see historic landmarks, the open road turns travel into a hands-on adventure for the whole family.
With America’s 250th birthday on the horizon, you have the perfect excuse to load up the car, hit the highway, and discover the country’s stories, scenery, and flavors. Here are three family-friendly road trips to inspire your 2026 plans.
South Dakota: Deadwood to the Badlands
Kick off your South Dakota adventure in historic Deadwood, where the Wild West comes alive for kids and grown-ups alike. Stroll Main Street to admire Gold Rush–era buildings, then explore the Adams Museum, packed with artifacts tied to legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. At Saloon No. 10, kids can pull up a chair at the poker table where Hickok famously met his end. In summer, families line Main Street for Old West shootout reenactments.
Next, head to Rapid City, known as the “City of Presidents,” where life-size bronze statues of past U.S. presidents adorn street corners. Nearby, the National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone features more than 100 life-like wax figures, including every U.S. president.
Of course, no trip to Rapid City is complete without seeing Mount Rushmore, with its 60-foot-tall granite carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. In the evenings, catch the Monument’s seasonal lighting ceremony, complete with a ranger talk and the short film Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy. Grab a scoop of vanilla ice cream made using Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe.
A short drive away from Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial honors the Lakota leader, with the Indian Museum of North America showing art and artifacts from more than 300 Native Nations. Continue to Custer State Park, where the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road offers a chance to see bison, pronghorn, and wild burros. Finish at Badlands National Park, exploring easy trails like the Fossil Exhibit Trail, spotting prairie dog towns, and helping kids complete a Junior Paleontologist activity booklet.
Nearby KOAs:
Spearfish / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Deadwood / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Rapid City / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch
Hill City / Needles Hwy KOA Holiday
Custer / Crazy Horse / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Hot Springs SD / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Badlands / White River KOA Holiday
Arizona’s Route 66: Kingman to the Petrified Forest
Nothing embodies iconic American travel like a drive along Route 66, the famed Mother Road stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica. Arizona’s stretch offers quirky roadside stops, dramatic desert scenery, and family-friendly experiences.
Start in Kingman, about a 90-minute drive from Las Vegas, at the Historic Route 66 Museum. Exhibits show the road’s history through photos, artifacts, and a short film. Across the street, Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner serves up classic burger, fries, and root beer with a side of retro vibes.
Head east to Seligman, the town that inspired Disney’s Cars. Neon signs, kitschy storefronts, and playful attractions like Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In will keep the whole family entertained. Your small soda may come in a medicine cup, but quirky surprises are part of the fun!
Continue to Williams, known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon.” Explore neon-lit diners, browse local shops, and punch your ticket on the Grand Canyon Railway, a steam-powered train that chugs across ponderosa pine forests and wide-open prairies to the South Rim.
Further east, stop at Meteor Crater, one of the world’s best-preserved meteor impact sites. Rim views and interactive exhibits captivate all ages. Then, swing by Winslow, where you too can be “standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona,” as the Eagles song goes.
Finish up at Petrified Forest National Park. Route 66 cuts through colorful badlands and fossilized forests. Hike the Painted Desert Rim Trail, explore The Teepees and Blue Mesa, and follow the Giant Logs Trail at the Rainbow Forest Museum to see massive logs. It’s a hands-on history and geology lesson for the whole family!
Nearby KOAs:
Seligman / Route 66 KOA Journey
Williams / Exit 167 / Circle Pines KOA Holiday
Grand Canyon South Rim KOA Journey
Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA Journey
Virginia: Mount Vernon to Williamsburg
A Founding Fathers–themed road trip feels especially fitting for America’s 250th birthday, and there’s no better place than Virginia. Known as the “Mother of Presidents,” Virginia is the birthplace for eight U.S. presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Naturally, the state is packed with sites that shaped the nation’s early years.
Start at Mount Vernon, the historic home of America’s first president, George Washington. A guided tour highlights the rooms where Washington lived, entertained, and managed his affairs. Pick up an adventure map in the orientation center for a kid-friendly scavenger hunt, then meet the farm animals that live at Mount Vernon, including hogs, sheep, and chickens.
Continue south to Fredericksburg and George Washington’s Ferry Farm, where Washington spent much of his childhood. A reconstructed house, archaeological finds, and hands-on exhibits illustrate colonial family life. Families can easily add on a side trip like George Washington’s Birthplace National Monument in Colonial Beach, which has two nature trails, picnic tables, and a splashy river beach.
Next, make your way to Richmond, the political hub of Virginia and inland capital during the American Revolution. The Virginia State Capitol offers guided tours of the Rotunda and legislative chambers. Nearby St. John’s Church is where Patrick Henry gave his famous “Liberty or Death” speech, a moment kids have no doubt read about in their history textbooks.
End in America’s Historic Triangle: Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg. Walk Yorktown Battlefield, learn about the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown, and explore Colonial Williamsburg, where costumed interpreters bring the 18th-century to life. Kids will love the boxwood hedge maze at the Governor’s Palace!
Nearby KOAs:
Fredericksburg / Washington DC South KOA Holiday
Richmond North / Kings Dominion KOA Holiday
About the Author: Erin Gifford
Erin Gifford is a Virginia-based travel writer who loves road trips, outdoor adventures, and national parks. In honor of America’s 250th birthday, she created the digital travel guide Explore America: 250 Places to Go in 2026. Erin blogs about hiking at Go Hike Virginia and has written three hiking guides for Falcon Guides. Follow her on Instagram: @byeringifford.
