Drive North America This Summer

Many people are starting to think about summer vacation. To narrow the possibilities and help you decide, AAA’s travel experts have compiled a list of top-notch driving experiences to get you revved up for the upcoming travel season. Many include attractions of exceptional interest and quality, designated as AAA GEMs - Great Experiences for Members.

Blue Ridge Parkway
A dreamlike smoky haze envelops lofty mountain crests of the Blue Ridge and other ranges along this meandering route linking Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a AAA GEM attraction. Skyline Drive is a delightful stretch with views of rolling Piedmont country and the lush Shenandoah Valley. Trails, overlooks, caverns, and other scenic diversions dotted along this verdant AAA GEM attraction provide frequent opportunities to take a break and stretch your legs. Wildflowers bring a colossal burst of color in summer, while autumn presents a gorgeous palate of coppery tones.

Florida's Tip: Miami, Key West, and Everglades National Park
Pastel bungalows, graceful flamingos, the mystique of untouched wilderness, and Key West’s thriving tropical beat are all ingredients in this multifarious drive. Miami’s trendy South Beach and artsy Coconut Grove pack a punch, while laid-back pursuits like fishing and diving are the norm in the state’s secluded Keys. Sample conch fritters in Key West as you savor one of the legendary sunsets and get a real taste of Old Florida as you spy endangered wildlife amid the saw-grass marshes of Everglades National Park, a AAA GEM attraction.

Montana-Wyoming National Park Adventure
This awesome outing delivers three national parks, all AAA GEM attractions. Begin your excursion on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, a AAA GEM attraction that loops over the Continental Divide and offers panoramas graced by sub-alpine meadows, mammoth glaciers, and gushing waterfalls. Poke through Great Falls and Bozeman before arriving at Yellowstone National Park to capture photos of shooting geysers, bubbling hot springs, and colorful canyon walls. Then, it’s off to Grand Teton National Park, a land of snowfields and shimmering lakes - the Snake River’s flat waters are perfect for a peaceful float ride.

Mount Rushmore - Badlands
Three national park properties, all AAA GEM attractions, are the focus of this intriguing South Dakota route. The enormous, stone-sculpted faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln stoically welcome you to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the starting point. You’ll also investigate Badlands National Park, its ridges and cliffs weathered into a mesmerizing portrait of stark beauty. Look for bighorn sheep and bison or study the park’s fossil remains before venturing to Rapid City, gateway to the mysterious rock formations of the Black Hills. Top off your trip by weaving through the subterranean maze of limestone chambers at Jewel Cave National Monument.

Northern New England
Although "Leaf Peepers" travel this section of Vermont and Massachusetts in fall to witness maples and other foliage drenched in a vibrant palette of copper, gold, yellow, orange, and red, the views are marvelous year-round. Relish such picture-postcard scenery as Bennington’s three quaint covered bridges, and State Road 9, which curves past gentle streams and thick forests in the shadow of Hogback Mountain. Pass through Brattleboro and indulge in a relaxing cruise on the Connecticut River to view the area’s abundant wildlife.

San Juan Skyway
This titillating Colorado tour presents a treasure trove of stunning mountain vistas. Nestled between Ouray and Silverton, the "Million Dollar Highway" is perhaps the most jaw-dropping segment, carved from nearly vertical cliffs — drive with caution and stop at the overlooks to snap photos of the seemingly endless chasms. You’ll be captivated by unusual dwellings carved into the rugged cliffs of Mesa Verde National Park, a AAA GEM attraction. You’ll also experience Durango’s Old West charm, Silverton’s Victorian ambience, and the ski haven of Telluride, an eclectic mix of high-end boutiques and down-home saloons.

Grand Pacific Northwest
This enticing trip encompasses the Historic Columbia River Highway, a AAA GEM attraction and engineering marvel snaking along what locals fondly call "the gorge." Snowcapped Mount Hood provides a majestic backdrop as you pass historic hamlets and cascading waterfalls while taking in the river’s splendor. Cruise by bountiful orchards in the fertile Hood River Valley, and admire the towering 14,410-foot active volcano at AAA GEM attraction Mount Rainier National Park. Stop in Portland for a dose of art and culture, or simply stroll through one of the Rose City’s enchanting gardens.

Icefields Parkway, Alberta
Big city sophistication and nature’s wonders blend to present an adventure with wide-ranging pleasures. Explore two of Calgary’s AAA GEM attractions - Olympic Park and the West Edmonton Mall - before traveling to Jasper, where elk freely roam the streets. Photograph the sparkling turquoise lakes of Jasper National Park before entering the phenomenal Icefields Parkway, both AAA GEM attractions. You may spot a black bear or moose roaming about the fairytale landscape of grandiose mountain peaks, frothy white water, gleaming glaciers, and alpine meadows. At Lake Louise, kayak the serene emerald waters or trek on one of the rustic trails spiraling skyward.

Visit the Automotive section of AAA.com (click on the Driving Trips link in the right-hand column) to read about these and other itineraries in more detail and for a complete selection of AAA Drive Trips for nearly 100 regions of the United States and Canada. AAA Drive Trips are available free to AAA Central Penn members on AAA.com and include overview maps, photos, drive-time and mileage estimates, sightseeing information, plus online reservations and low member rates at AAA Diamond rated hotels.