Winter Road Trip Ideas in the USA

When you think of Hawaii, road trips may not be the first thing to come to mind. But you’d be missing out if you didn’t experience the road to Hana. This iconic road trip takes you along the Maui coastline through lush rainforest, past flowing waterfalls and breath taking seascape views.  The best part is, you can enjoy this drive anytime of the year as it’s always summer in Hawaii.

Southern Arizona is one of the best destinations for a winter road trip. Driving through the Sonoran Desert in the winter you'll understand why it is known as the greenest desert on the planet: the vegetation is alive at this time of the year, you might even find some wildflowers and cactus varieties in bloom, you can’t beat the pleasant weather, perfect temperatures and sunshine. 

A winter road trip from San Francisco tp San Diego is a great way to avoid the snow that much of the U.S. experiences. The coastal drive will have less tourists and less fog that the summer months, but the views will be just as gorgeous. And for wildlife lovers, elephants seal pupping season lasts throughout the winter, and there are a couple of reserves along this route!

This Yellowstone National Park travel guide gives you all the information you need to plan a winter road trip: services and lodging available, road status, weather, and more!

If you're looking for an amazing winter road trip destination, Jackson Hole is the perfect town to add to your list. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is an incredible winter wonderland filled with skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and a charming town center. Grand Teton National Park is only a few minutes away.

Salt Lake City is the perfect winter road trip destination as there are many amazing things to do very close to the city such as skiing, tubing, and hiking. Additionally the city makes a great hub to explore surrounding areas such as the southern Utah national parks, Moab, Jackson Hole, Southern Idaho and more.

Winter is a quiet time at the Utah National Parks. Yes, you’ll find cold temperatures and maybe even snow, but that adds to the beauty of these stunning national parks. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a road trip to visit all 5 National Parks in Utah.

You’ll need to be prepared for snow, wind, and icy roads when doing a winter road trip to the Badlands. But the landscape is beautiful, covered in a layer of snow!

In addition to the normal winter fun to be found at a State Park (snowshoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing), Pokagon State Park in northern Indiana has something truly special - a toboggan run. With a vertical drop of 90 feet and speeds up to 35 mph, this refrigerated toboggan run is a fun and unique way to enjoy winter!

Known for being a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge makes a great winter road trip for anyone looking to spend the holidays surrounded by nature, twinkling lights, and plenty of southern charm.

While winter doesn’t have the best reputation for being the most ideal season to travel, Gatlinburg is an exception. This quaint little mountain town in Tennessee transforms into a winter wonderland, and there are still plenty of fun things to do!

For an underrated winter road trip idea, head to Asheville, NC where you can enjoy the city with fewer crowds. Visit between early November and early January to see Christmas at Biltmore and Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum. You can also visit one of the many spas for a relaxing getaway, award-winning craft breweries, or layer up for a stunning hike where you can see for miles through the leafless trees.

Take a winter road trip to Helen to experience authentic German culture in this Georgia mountain town modeled after Bavarian villages located in the Alps. 

The Florida Keys is one of the best winter road trips to go on in Florida. The weather is beautiful in the winter, making it a great time to visit. The views driving through the different keys is second to none. Once you get to Key West there are lots of fun things to do and very pretty beaches to visit. 

Orlando and the surrounding cities makes a great winter road trip. Starting in Orlando, you can visit the springs to see the manatees, visit historic St. Augustine, and enjoy the fun things to do in Clearwater and Tampa. If you want to continue your road trip, you can continue down to Fort Myers and Sanibel Island.