5 Scenic Spring Road Trips

Hit the open road to enjoy beautiful views, historic sites and natural wonders

Mild weather, colorful flowers and breathtaking landscapes make spring an ideal time to hit the road. The Blue Swallow Motel is along Route 66 in Tecumcari, New Mexico.

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Erin Gifford and Cassandra Brooklyn

Updated March 17, 2026

AARP

Published March 13, 2025

/ Updated March 17, 2026

Spring can be a great time for a road trip, with mild weather, colorful flowers and breathtaking landscapes — without the summer crowds. According to the 2026 AARP Travel Trends report, road trips are popular among older adults, with 42 percent of travelers 60 to 69 and 41 percent of travelers 70-plus preferring to travel by car. Top domestic travel destinations are found in the South and West, including Florida (17 percent) and California (9 percent). Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or an adventure-filled journey, these five spring road trips offer unforgettable experiences.

Route 66 marks its 100th anniversary in 2026.

New Mexico True

1. New Mexico’s Historic Route 66: Albuquerque to Tucumcari

Kick off your adventure in Albuquerque, where you can wander Old Town’s historic adobe buildings and eclectic art galleries. Stop in the New Mexico Wine Studio, which opened in late 2024 to showcase the state’s family-owned wineries. At Petroglyph National Monument, home to 25,000 ancient rock carvings, the easy Piedras Marcadas Canyon hiking trail offers views of 400 petroglyphs.

Take a short detour to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, which is known for its striking cone-shaped rock formations (note: ticketed entry reservations are required via Recreation.gov). Continue north to Santa Fe, where you can stroll Canyon Road’s world-class galleries, visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and shop for handmade goods at the Santa Fe Farmers Market.

Wrap up your road trip with a nostalgic excursion down Route 66 in Tucumcari, where neon-lit motels and classic diners celebrate the golden age of road travel. With more than 500 miles of historic Route 66 stretching across the state, travelers can take their time exploring the history and culture of the Mother Road, which marks its 100th anniversary this year.

“What feels especially meaningful about the Route 66 anniversary in New Mexico is that it invites us to look beyond nostalgia and into transformation,” says Angelisa Murray, CEO and founder of tour company Heritage Inspirations. Route 66 and the automobile reshaped how communities “gathered, built and imagined possibility.”

A guided tour is your ticket to see Hearst Castle’s opulent architecture, manicured gardens and impressive art collection.

Highway 1 Road Trip

2. California’s Pacific Coast Highway: Monterey to San Luis Obispo

California’s Pacific Coast Highway stuns with vibrant green hills, dramatic cliffs and sparkling ocean views. Start in Monterey, where you can visit the enormous, conservation-focused Monterey Bay Aquarium, go scuba diving in an underwater kelp forest and rent an e-bike for a casual coastal ride to Asilomar State Beach and beyond.

About 30 minutes north of Monterey, kayak among sea otters in Elkhorn Slough, then hit two sites along the region’s “Artichoke Trail” in one fell swoop. Pezzini Farms offers fresh heirloom artichokes, artichoke bread and marinated artichokes. The Choke Coach food truck, located right in front of the shop, serves steamed artichokes, grilled artichoke tacos and fried artichoke po’boy sandwiches.

On your way out of Monterey, pop into Point Lobos Nature Reserve, where flat, winding waterfront trails along the western part of the peninsula often include views of whales, sea lions and seals, while the more challenging, wooded trails allow you to meander to and along the eastern part.

If national parks are on your checklist, take an hour and 20-minute detour from Point Lobos inland to Pinnacles National Park, which is one of the best places in the country to spot California condors. Back on Highway 1, don’t miss Big Sur, known for several state parks and breathtaking coastal cliffside views. Take in the scenery while dining on the terraces at Nepenthe or The Sur House.

Further down the coast in San Simeon, explore Hearst Castle, the lavish former estate of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. A guided tour is your ticket to see its opulent architecture, manicured gardens and impressive art collection.

Wrap up your journey in San Luis Obispo, where you can blend urban fun and fine dining with nature, hiking and visits to vineyards, wineries and cideries. Should you be in town on a Thursday, the sprawling farmers market is the place to be. And, if you’re a film buff, plan your trip around late April’s International Film Festival.

An airboat ride in Everglades National Park offers the chance to see alligators in their natural habitat.

Shutterstock

3. Florida’s national parks: Miami to the Florida Keys

Spring can be a wonderful time to explore Florida’s national parks before peak heat and humidity arrive in summer. Begin in Miami at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, home to the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, which turned 200 in 2025.

Next, head to Everglades National Park, a prime spot for birdwatching, where you can spot species such as herons, egrets and roseate spoonbills. Take an open-air tram tour at Shark Valley for views across the wetlands or join a ranger-led bird walk at the Guy Bradley Visitor Center. A fan-propelled airboat ride offers the chance to see alligators in their natural habitat.

Continue to Biscayne National Park, where 95 percent of the park is underwater. It’s home to coral reefs, shipwrecks and marine life such as sea turtles and manatees. A three-and-a-half-hour boat tour with the Biscayne National Park Institute includes a one-hour stop at Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key or Adams Key. On the boat, a guide shares stories of the park’s rich history.

End your adventure with a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, accessible only by boat or seaplane, which features historic Fort Jefferson and exceptional opportunities for snorkeling. “I’m not typically a snorkeler, but the water is so absolutely gorgeous,” says Melody Pittman, 57, of Jacksonville, Florida, who runs a travel blog called Wherever I May Roam. “We saw a parrot fish, a goliath grouper, stingrays and then a million colorful tropical fish … I definitely advise [that you] bring an underwater camera.”

When on a Nebraska road trip, make sure to stop in Lincoln to visit Sunken Gardens.

Alamy Stock Photo

4. Nebraska’s Great Plains: Omaha to Kearney

Spring in Nebraska brings a vibrant mix of nature, wildlife and big city fun. Start your road trip in Omaha, where the city’s riverfront comes alive in spring, with walkable paths, peaceful gardens and events such as watercolor workshops, yoga and crafting.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is fun for all ages, as are the Joslyn Art Museum and the quirky shops in downtown’s Old Market area. Should you visit in May, head to the annual Junkstock festival (about 25 minutes from Omaha). It’s a huge outdoor flea market full of vintage and handmade finds.

Take a 45-minute ride south to Nebraska City, home to the 260-acre Arbor Day Farm and Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. In addition to special events on Arbor Day itself (April 24), both sites offer year-round history and activities such as tree planting, wagon rides and educational tours.

Flowering grounds come alive in April and May, including in the park’s lilac collection, which is one of the largest and most diverse in the country. Arbor Day Farm also has an on-site lodge and spa, should pampering be on your agenda. Or, for more unique digs, you can overnight at Kimberly Creek Retreat, where glamping pods and geodesic domes accompany more traditional cabins (and where you can stargaze) or Platte River State Park with its campground and cabin accommodations.

Next, stop in Lincoln to visit the colorful Sunken Gardens, take a free tour of the state’s capitol building and visit the Branched Oak Observatory, which offers public viewing nights.

Wrap up in Kearney, a small city of nearly 35,000 that swells with avian visitors each spring. Approximately 60 to 80 percent (more than 700,000) of the world’s sandhill crane population travels through the surrounding Platte River Valley, making this one of the world’s largest and most impressive animal migrations. Peak season occurs in late March through early April.

an aerial shot of the may river in bluffton, south carolina

A Lowcountry drive should include a stop in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Hilton Head Island Bluffton VCB

5. Lowcountry escape: Charleston, South Carolina, to Jekyll Island, Georgia

This spring road trip kicks off in Charleston, where you can stroll past pastel-colored historic homes on Rainbow Row, meander through the French Quarter or relax at Waterfront Park while taking in views of the iconic Pineapple Fountain. At Middleton Place, centuries-old gardens come alive with blooming azaleas, magnolias and camellias.

Continue to Bluffton, a quiet coastal retreat full of Lowcountry charm. Follow the Shell Art Trail, which features 21 giant hand-painted oyster shells scattered across town. At Hunting Island State Park, take a ferry to St. Phillips Island for a naturalist-led ecotour to explore this unspoiled barrier island, which is home to native wildlife such as fox squirrels, raptors and sea turtles.

Next, head to Savannah, Georgia, where blooming azaleas bring vibrant color to the city’s historic squares. Stroll through the 30-acre Forsyth Park, the city’s largest and oldest public park. Tour house museums, explore the Savannah Botanical Gardens and indulge in homemade ice cream at Leopold’s, which has been scooping since 1919.

Finish your journey on Jekyll Island, a 5,500-acre barrier island and one-time retreat for America’s wealthiest families, like the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. “What I love about Jekyll is that I love the history … and the Jekyll Island Club has a lot of history,” says frequent visitor Sue Rodman, 57, of Atlanta. “It was an island just for millionaires.” Rent a bike to explore more than 24 miles of scenic trails, as well as Driftwood Beach, where weathered trees create a striking, other-worldly landscape.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published on March 13, 2025. It has been updated to reflect new information.

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Erin Gifford is a travel and outdoor writer based in northern Virginia. She has written for The Washington Post, Parents, Thrillist and The Wall Street Journal.

Cassandra Brooklyn is a contributing writer who covers travel, caregiving, human-interest stories and the outdoors. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time and National Geographic, among other publications.

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