A road trip down the Atlantic Coast will take you from very early historic towns, like Plymouth in Massachusetts and Newport in Rhode Island, through the hustle and bustle of New York City, down Maryland's Chesapeake Bay to Virginia Beach and North Carolina's Outer Banks. From there, you'll pass through the gorgeous, sleepy hamlet of Savannah, Georgia and down to America's oldest city, St. Augustine Florida. Then it's an oceanside cruise along the Space Coast to vibrant Miami Beach, and you can finish off your trip in colorful Key West. It could be the trip of a lifetime, if you know where to find the can't-miss spots along the route. Sure, you could take I-95 all the way from Boston to Miami, but there are loads of detours and scenic byways that will take you on and off the highway. From Boston to Key West, you're looking at 2,400 miles of beaches, woodlands, two-lane country roads, vintage diners, charming small towns and urban adventures.
4194 New Cut Rd, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043-5514 USA
A short drive south of DC is the historic Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, where many military historians argue was the site of the Civil War's bloodiest climax. Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania are known collectively as "America's Battleground." The park itself is impeccably maintained and incredibly rich with information on the pivotal battles that occurred there.
When you've got a hankering for some delicious southern barbecue, head to Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue in Richmond, VA. They're famous for BBQ ribs, pork and brisket and refreshing microbrews.
Once you hit North Carolina, a great place to spend the night is the Foreman House Bed and Breakfast in Elizabeth City, which dates to the turn of the 20th century. The historic inn is an antebellum-styled bed and breakfast, just a mile off Route 17.
When you want to stretch your legs, pull over at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. This is a must-stop along Cape Hatteras National Seashore, most especially for bird-lovers! There's 13 miles of seashore land to explore and tons to do, besides bird watching. It's a very peaceful and relaxing wildlife refuge, and a great stop along an Atlantic Coast road trip.
While stopping at Rodanthe, check out the Inn at Rodanthe, a whimsical and beautiful inn that almost fell into the ocean. When the beach house, which was nicknamed "Serendipity," was first built, there were more than 400-feet between it and the ocean. Those 400 feet kept the Serendipity safe from the crashing waves, rocks, erosion, and anything else that could possibly threaten to topple it into the ocean. Now it's moved to a safer location, but still makes for an impressive photo op, or you can rent it out for a holiday.
Since this is a road trip focused on features of the Atlantic Coast, one last lighthouse that's absolutely worth a visit is the striking black and white-striped Bodie Island Lighthouse, in Nags Head, in North Carolina's Outer Banks, which offers tours and climbs (but, be warned, it's also rumored to be haunted).
Next up, is Myrtle Beach, a classic East Coast holiday town. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is a little over a mile long and a fun stop to make while exploring beautiful Myrtle Beach.
As you head deeper south, and if you're on I-95, you're going to start seeing some peculiar and kitschy billboards advertising a place called "South Of The Border" in South Carolina. This place is every bit as quirky and cheesy as the billboards suggest. But, kids seem to enjoy it, and it's right off the highway so it's pretty easy to hop off and check it out.
For a quieter stop, there's Savannah, Georgia, just down the road. This gorgeous historic town features an absolutely breathtaking public park, Forsyth Park, loads of restaurants and cute places to spend the night, a town further south with a similar feel is St. Augustine, the oldest town in America, and one of the most charming places in the country.
Just seventeen miles from Savannah's vibrant downtown is Tybee Island. A great place to stay on the island is Tybee Island Inn, which is just a four minute walk to the beach. There's also a gorgeous garden to walk through onsite. There are only seven rooms, but each is decorated with a nautical theme, and there's free wifi. TIP: Request an upgrade to a room with a private deck and whirlpool tub. Breakfast is free and so is parking.
Once you reach Florida, you're in the home stretch of your Atlantic Coast road trip. Definitely, plan on stopping at St. Augustine, and if you're hungry, The Gourmet Hut is the perfect spot, right in the historic downtown, off Cuna Street. Plan to hang out in the garden with a fantastic cup of coffee, a great mimosa, and a perfect eggs Benedict.
If you want to spend the night in St. Augustine, The Old Powder House Inn is a fantastic choice for lodging. They provide a delicious breakfast, and the charming historic inn is also very affordable, and within easy walking to shops, restaurants and the historic district.
As you drive down Florida's Space Coast, check out the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour in Titusville, it will seriously make you wish you became an astronaut. Only an hour outside Orlando, it's easily accessible and is a wonderful hands-on educational experience for everyone in the family.
When you want to soak up some of the Florida sun, head to John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach, FL. This is an underrated beach, but a great stop for your Atlantic Coast road trip. Here you can picnic, canoe, swim, fish or boat through Port Everglades, between mangroves and palm trees. There's an admission fee of $6 per car. If you boat, jet ski, or kayak, you can pull your boat right up to Whiskey Creek. There's some small reefs that you can snorkel to. Overall it's a great park for families. And there's very conveniently-located bathrooms.
Naples, Florida, United States
Best Time to Travel the Atlantic Coast: During winter the road conditions can vary, but in the Northern part of your trip be prepared for weather delays from December through mid-March. Spring is off-season, so you should be able to score some good rates at hotels along the route. Summer is high tourist season all up and down the Atlantic coast, which means hotel rates will be high and crowds at stops along your route will also be a factor. Fall however, is an ideal time to travel up and down the coast. Not only is the fall foliage particularly gorgeous from end of September through early November in New England, but once you get down to Georgia and Florida the temperature up north will be chilly, so you'll welcome the warmth of the south.