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The perfect itinerary for an epic USA roadtrip (48 states at once)

• Post author: Andrew D'Amours
• Post published: December 28, 2022
• Post category: Travel inspiration / Trip itineraries & destination discoveries
• Post comments: 23 Comments

Do you like roadtrips? They happen to be a very American tradition and we found the perfect itinerary to visit every state in the continental USA during 1 epic roadtrip. A great trip idea for those who have a lot of time but want to stay closer to home .

Personally, I love roadtrips and I hit the road as much as I can, despite also being an aviation geek: you can like both, right? What matters is traveling and seeing new places , no matter how.

So here are the maps and details of the 2 itineraries that allow you to see all the lower 48 states at once, depending on your travel preference.

Basics of the 2 epic USA roadtrip itineraries

The USA is a huge country, almost as big as Europe (it’s even larger than Canada when considering land area alone).

So the USA has a lot of variety in terms of landscapes, but even in terms of culture too (even if many who aren’t from the country don’t realize that).

If you aim to eventually visit every state, any 1 of these 2 itineraries is a great way to almost all of them at once. The only 2 states you’ll have left to visit after this roadtrip will be Hawaii and Alaska.

There’s a version for national parks and points of interest and a version for cities.

I’m on the quest to visit all 50 states myself (in addition to also visiting every country obviously), and I’m not doing too bad with 47 already.

But let’s just say it would’ve been much quicker to get to 48 at once with this roadtrip instead of having to do it over dozens of trips.

Here are the details.

48-state roadtrip – national parks/points of interest version

Here’s a map of the 1st itinerary.

It was conceived by American Ph.D. student Randy Olson, on  his blog , and it was done scientifically to optimize the routing: each stop represents a national park or a point of interest.

So you’re not just seeing every state, you’re seeing cool parts of every state (which sadly wasn’t our case in North Dakota during our very random 1200-miles-nonstop-in-2-days Flytrippers roadtrip across the Midwest just for fun).

Good times. Roadtrips always make for great stories.

Anyway, the itinerary has also been optimized to be as efficient a route as possible to see all 48 states, so you can rest assured you won’t be wasting any time.

If you only stop to sleep, you can complete this roadtrip in only 9 days, but we recommend taking at least a couple of weeks to explore all these places obviously.

And gas is significantly cheaper in the US in case you were wondering. You can start anywhere, it’s a continuous loop, and it passes through many spots near the Canadian border.

You can even take a shortcut from Michigan to Vermont through Canada, as the stop in Cleveland is only to keep Americans without a passport from crossing into the Great White North.

Here is the complete list of all 50 landmarks (48 states + Washington, DC + a bonus stop in California):

1. Grand Canyon, AZ 2. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 3. Craters of the Moon, ID 4. Yellowstone National Park, WY 5. Pikes Peak, CO 6. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM 7. The Alamo, TX 8. The Platt Historic District, OK 9. Toltec Mounds, AR 10. Elvis Presley’s Graceland, TN 11. Vicksburg National Military Park, MS 12. French Quarter, LA 13. USS Alabama, AL 14. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL 15. Okefenokee Swamp Park, GA 16. Fort Sumter National Monument, SC 17. Lost World Caverns, WV 18. Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center, NC 19. Mount Vernon, VA 20. White House, Washington, D.C. 21. Colonial Annapolis Historic District, MD 22. New Castle Historic District, DE 23. Cape May Historic District, NJ 24. Liberty Bell, PA 25. Statue of Liberty, NY 26. The Mark Twain House & Museum, CT 27. The Breakers, RI 28. USS Constitution, MA 29. Acadia National Park, ME 30. Mount Washington Hotel, NH 31. Shelburne Farms, VT 32. Fox Theater, MI 33. Spring Grove Cemetery, OH 34. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY 35. West Baden Springs Hotel, IN 36. Abraham Lincoln’s Home, IL 37. Gateway Arch, MO 38. C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, KS 39. Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion, IA 40. Taliesin, WI 41. Fort Snelling, MN 42. Ashfall Fossil Bed, NE 43. Mount Rushmore, SD 44. Fort Union Trading Post, ND 45. Glacier National Park, MT 46. Hanford Site, WA 47. Columbia River Highway, OR 48. San Francisco Cable Cars, CA 49. San Andreas Fault, CA 50. Hoover Dam, NV

These are all very enticing attractions, for the most part. It seems I’ve only seen 14 of those, so maybe I should hit the road again after all.

How about you? Tempted?

48-state roadtrip – city version

Here’s a map of the 2nd itinerary.

If you’re more of a city slicker, the map’s author has created a 2nd version that routes you through amazing cities instead.

It is slightly shorter but quite as impressive: it makes you go through the “Best City to Visit” in each state, according to TripAdvisor .

But you won’t have all the lower 48 states, unlike the other itinerary. That’s because no city in Vermont, West Virginia, or North Dakota made the top 400 cities to visit ranking, unfortunately. So plan on making a few extra detours if you want to hit all states at once with this version of the itinerary.

Here is the complete list of all cities:

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Wichita, Kansas
• Denver, Colorado
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• San Francisco, California
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle, Washington
• Boise, Idaho
• Park City, Utah
• Jackson, Wyoming
• Billings, Montana
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Omaha, Nebraska
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Chicago, Illinois
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Detroit, Michigan
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Manchester, New Hampshire
• Portland, Maine
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Providence, Rhode Island
• New Haven, Connecticut
• New York City, New York
• Ocean City, New Jersey
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Wilmington, Delaware
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Washington, D.C.
• Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Orlando, Florida
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Jackson, Mississippi
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Houston, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Branson, Missouri

I do a little better on this list, with 31 already visited. You can see I love cities. How about you?

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If you were looking for an excuse to go on a roadtrip, this is it. And since we always enjoy giving you more for your money, we think 48 states instead of only 1 or 2 is something you’ll enjoy!

What’s the coolest roadtrip you’ve ever been on? Tell us in the comments below.

See the deals we spot: Cheap flights

Explore awesome destinations : Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks : Travel tips

Discover free travel: Travel rewards

Featured image: The itinerary (image credit: Randy Olson)

Original publication date: May 29, 2018

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Andrew D'Amours

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This post has 23 comments.

Hello Andrew, the PHD student suggests in the 1st Itinnerary that the one stop to make in Washington State is the Hanford Nuclear Reservation?! Flat out, that is a terrible idea. It is in the middle of nowhere, I am just shocked it’s mentioned. Out of all the beautiful and amazing places to see in such a diverse state as Washington, a Nuclear Site was chosen? Surely this student could have done so much better. Thank you for allowing comments.

Having been all around the Olympic Peninsula, I agree that’s there are better stops. But my understanding is that he really optimized for the quickest way to do all 48 and had to choose a point of interest that wasn’t too far off that optimal path, hence that choice (I think).

thanks for sharing this information with us.

I have taken a road trip from California to the the most northeastern part of theUS. west Quaby light house. it was my 1st trip across the us. .I seen so many amazing places.

Quite the drive for sure! Must have been epic.

Why do Americans always think the Statue of Liberty is in NY? it is in NJ. I’ve done road trips now that have taken in 39 states. Here’s a quiz to see how well you know the USA: Which state has only one syllable? Only one city has been name-checked on the moon. In which state is it? Which is the most Northerly of the contiguous states? In which state were Tennessee Williams and Elvis Presley born? Which was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted into the USA? Which four states all share a border with each other? Which state has the lowest population? Twelve cities are name-checked in “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” but only three states. Which? Which state has the longest name? Which two states have the most borders with other states? In which state is the geographical centre of the USA – and which one if you exclude Hawaii and Alaska? Which of the states of the USA has respectively the most Northerly, Southerly, Easterly and Westerly points?

The official Statue of Liberty address is Liberty Island, New York, NY, 10004.

Wow, these comments are very rude for no reason. Thanks for the article, maybe when I graduate from college I’ll consider hitting part of one of these itineraries.

“it’s a huge country (even larger than Canada when considering land area alone).”

Canada – 3.855 million mi² USA – 3.532 million mi² Where does this math fail you?

Where did reading fail you :P? It explicitly says “ when considering LAND area alone ” The quote you copied literally has a link provided under “even larger than Canada” and if you read that, it explains how Canada is only larger than the US due to water area being counted 🙂

There is no stop in North Dakota on the city version. You should stop in Fargo after Billings and before Sioux Falls

I’m 46 years old .. I have been to all 50 states and I’m 17 away from all 50 twice .. I have driven to 47 .. flown to Alaska, Hawaii and Washington..

Wow! That’s impressive :O

This is awesome

This is inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

“this roadtrip in only 9 days“ is extremely false statement. It is only 9 days if you are driving non stop, no breaks to even get out of your car, get gas, or actually see these places. From start to finish drive time it is 225 hours, 16 minutes = 9 days. Wow. Take some time to enjoy the view.

Yes, that’s what we said too 😛

Thanks for the tip 😊

Do you know the total distance of this itinerary? At what moment of the year doing this trip would be the best? Thanks!

Hi! It is 13,699 miles (22,046 km) for the landmarks itinerary and 12,290 miles (19,780 km) for the city version. You can even have the Google Maps links on the creator’s original post (I’ve reposted the link below). As for the timing, I guess it depends on your preferences, but I’d want to avoid that top half of the country (so half the itinerary) in the winter for sure! http://www.randalolson.com/2015/03/08/computing-the-optimal-road-trip-across-the-u-s/

Crappy itinerary! Does not even include Zion National Park… and so many stops in the North Eastern states?? Nobody cares about those places except maybe a couple of places.

As explained, the PhD student who built the itinerary wanted to have one stop per state, and there are many states in the North-East so that’s why there are many stops there. I agree that Zion is an iconic spot, but his goal was also to optimize a routing that was as short as possible so that’s why it’s billed as an itinerary to see all lower 48 states at once and not an itinerary to see *the best spots*. But those interested in doing this can definitely adapt it and add many interesting stops for sure 🙂

Curtis, you are crappy. Obviously this is meant as a guide that can be adapted to add spots. I think it’s awesome.

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How to Visit All 50 States in 12 Trips: Epic US Road Trip

If it’s been your dream to tour the entire US, you’ve come to the right place. Today, I’ll provide an overview of how to visit all 50 states in 12 trips.

I tried to keep these trips to a few days to two weeks at the most. If you take two trips in a year, you can visit all 50 states in 6 years!

How To Visit All 50 States in 12 Trips

My approach is to separate the 2 non-contiguous states (Hawaii and Alaska) into their own trips and then divided the 48 contiguous states into 10 regional trips.

These are listed from west to east and north to south, but the actual order you take these trips is completely up to you.

Trip 1: Hawaii

Kick off your journey to 50 states in the latest state to join the US.

Hawaii is a tropical paradise with plenty of beaches for different types of travelers, as well as history and culture that needs to be preserved and respected.

This trip takes you to beaches, volcanoes, historic villages, and a memorial to a war that changed the course of world history.

Google Maps Itinerary

Fly In: Daniel Inouye International Airport, Honolulu (HNL)

Days 1 to 2: Honolulu

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Iolani Palace

Waikiki Beach

Honolulu Zoo

Diamond Head

Days 3 to 4: North Shore, Oahu

Waimea Bay Beach

Haleiwa Town

Kaʻena Point State Park

Days 5 to 6: Kona, Big Island

Honokohau Beach (swim with manta rays)

Historic Kailua Village (Kailua-Kona)

Keauhou Bay (swim with the dolphins)

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Mauna Kea Observatory

Fly Out: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA)

Alternative Day 7: Back to Honolulu

Fly Out: Daniel Inouye International Airport, Honolulu (HNL)

Other Information

Best time to visit: April to May, September to October

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 7 days

Related Articles:

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Trip 2: Alaska

The 49th state is worlds away from the continental US, with its vast glaciers, dramatic snow-capped mountains, abundant wildlife, and northern lights.

Fly In: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)

Day 1: Anchorage

Anchorage Museum

Alaska Native Heritage Center

Days 2 and 3: Seward

Kenai Fjords National Park (spend one whole day here for whale-watching and exploring)

Alaska SeaLife Center

Lowell Creek Waterfall

Waterfront Park

Seward Mariner’s Memorial

Day 4: Denali National Park and Preserve

Stay overnight for a chance to see the northern lights

Days 5 and 6: Fairbanks

Running Reindeer Ranch

Museum of the North

Pioneer Park

Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Aurora Ice Museum

Chena Hot Springs (spend a night or two here for a chance to see the northern lights)

Day 7: Back to Anchorage

Fly Out: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)

Best time to visit: September to March if you’re after the northern lights; May to September is whale-watching season

• West Coast National Parks
• Best Places to See Northern Lights

Trip 3: Pacific Coast States

The Pacific Coast States feature mountains, waterfalls, forests, and of course, neverending beaches, all against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

I’ve included an eastward drive to Las Vegas because it’s close enough to Los Angeles to make it worthwhile. Its glamor amid the desert is also a nice break from all the beach cities.

Washington Oregon California Nevada

Fly In: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Days 1 to 2: Seattle, Washington

Space Needle

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Museum of Pop Culture

Pike Place Market

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Great Wheel

Days 3 to 4: Portland, Oregon

International Rose Test Garden

Powell’s City of Books

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Oregon Maritime Museum

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Optional Side Trip: Columbia Gorge Waterfalls

Add one more day to your Portland stay if you plan to see the waterfalls along the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area.

Days 5 to 6: San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Bridge

Fisherman’s Wharf

Lombard Street

Day 7: Pacific Coast Highway, California

Half Moon Bay

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Santa Barbara

Days 8 to 9: Los Angeles, California

Santa Monica Pier

Venice Beach

Grauman’s Chinese Theater

Griffith Observatory

Days 10 to 11: Las Vegas, Nevada

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

Las Vegas Strip

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Bellagio Fountain

High Roller

Fly Out: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

Best time to visit: September to October means great weather in Seattle, Portland, and Las Vegas, as well as fewer people; San Francisco and Los Angeles have great weather all year round

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 12 days to comfortably explore each city, but you can make this trip in 8 days if you stay in each city for only a day and drive the PCH without stopping or take the I-5 instead.

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Trip 4: Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on earth, featuring rugged landscapes surrounded by lakes, rivers, forests, and desert scenery.

This trip will take you around the national parks that preserve this magnificent geography and to the cities that thrive in this gorgeous backdrop.

Colorado Utah Idaho Montana Wyoming

Fly In: Denver International Airport (DEN)

Days 1 to 2: Denver, Colorado

Denver Art Museum

Larimer Square

Union Station

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

Days 3 to 4: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel (if you’re a big fan of haunted places or movie sets, this is a great place to stay a night).

Trail Ridge Road

Days 5 to 6: Salt Lake City, Utah

Temple Square

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Natural History Museum of Utah

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Liberty Park

Days 7 to 8: Boise, Idaho

Old Idaho Penitentiary Site

Boise Whitewater Park

Freak Alley Gallery

Basque Block

Camel’s Back Park

Days 9 to 11: Glacier National Park, Montana

The drive here from Boise and from here to Yellowstone takes around 12 hours, so plan accordingly.

Lake McDonald

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Days 12 to 13: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Grand Prismatic Spring

Old Faithful

Fly Out: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Optional Side Trip: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Add 2 more days to your trip if you plan to explore Grand Teton National Park

Fly Out: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Best time to visit: September to October are the best months to go on this trip; fewer tourists in the cities, plus emerging fall colors and wildlife in the national parks

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 14 days, plus 2 days if you want to explore Grand Teton National Park

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• Best Things To Do In Grand Teton National Park

Trip 5: Southwest

The American Southwest is home to several natural wonders and historic cities. This trip takes you to the most visited national park in the country and to extraordinary cities.

Arizona New Mexico Oklahoma Texas

Fly In: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Day 1: Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona

Papago Park

Hole In The Rock

Desert Botanical Garden

Old Town Scottsdale

Days 2 to 3: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Days 4 to 5: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument

ABQ BioPark

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Sandia Peak Tramway

Day 6: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe Plaza

Palace of the Governors

La Fonda on the Plaza

Canyon Road

Days 7 to 8: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Skydance Bridge

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Oklahoma City Zoo

Stars and Stripes Park

Days 9 to 10: Austin, Texas

University of Texas Tower

Bullock Texas State History Museum

Zilker Metropolitan Park

Lady Bird Lake

Greetings From Austin Mural

Fly Out: Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

Best time to visit: March to May are the ideal months to take this trip; great weather, fewer crowds (especially in the Grand Canyon).

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 10 days

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Trip 6: The Great Plains

The Great Plains is literally a wide expanse of flatlands covered in prairie and grassland in the middle of the US. This trip takes you through the states comprised almost entirely of The Plains.

North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas

Fly In: Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS)

Days 1 to 2: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Painted Canyon

Days 3 to 5: The Great 8 , South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Crazy Horse Memorial

Custer State Park

Jewel Cave National Monument

Wind Cave National Park

Badlands National Park

Missouri River

Days 6 to 8: Omaha, Nebraska

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge (Bonus State! Cross this bridge and you can be in both Nebraska and Iowa at the same time.)

The Old Market

The Durham Museum

Lauritzen Gardens

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Days 9 to 10: Wichita, Kansas

Great Plains Nature Center

O J Watson Park

Douglas Design District

The Keeper of the Plains Statue

Mid-America All-Indian Museum

Fly Out: Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)

Best time to visit: Early fall (September to October) has the best weather, fewer tourists in the city, and wildlife are active in the national parks

How many days to allot (minimum): 10 days minimum

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Trip 7: Great River Road States

The Great River Road follows the mighty Mississippi River and encompasses 10 states. To keep this trip to less than two weeks, this trip will cover five out of the 10 states.

Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana

Fly In: Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

Days 1 to 2: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minnehaha Park

Matt’s Bar and Grill – Home of the Original Jucy Lucys

Mill City Museum

Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Days 3 to 4: Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa State Capitol

East Village

Rotary Riverwalk Park

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

Des Moines Art Center

Days 5 to 6: St. Louis, Missouri

Gateway Arch National Park

The St. Louis Wheel

Soldiers Memorial Military Museum

Forest Park

Days 7 to 8: Hot Springs, Arkansas

Hot Springs Mountain Tower

Buckstaff Bathhouse

Gangster Museum of America

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Mid-America Science Museum

Days 9 to 11: New Orleans, Louisiana

French Quarter

Jackson Square

New Orleans Jazz Museum

New Orleans City Park

The National WWII Museum

Fly Out: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Best time to visit: April to May and September to October (shoulder seasons) are the best time to go on this trip.

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 11 days

• Best Things To Do In Iowa
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• Best Things To Do In Louisiana

Trip 8: The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—stretches across eight US states. The region features miles and miles of shoreline, thick forests, and pristine waters.

This trip takes you to five of the eight states of the Great Lakes region and two of the Great Lakes (Lakes Michigan and Erie).

Wisconsin Illinois Indiana Michigan Ohio

Fly In: General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)

Days 1 to 2: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mitchell Gallery of Flight

Harley-Davidson Museum

Milwaukee Riverwalk District

Veterans Park

Historic Third Ward

Days 3 to 4: Chicago, Illinois

Millennium Park

Chicago Architecture River Cruise

Lakefront Trail

The Art Institute of Chicago

Willis Tower

Days 5 to 6: Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Days 7 to 8: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Heritage Hill

Riveredge Trail

Grand Rapids Public Museum

Ah-Nab-Awen Park

Days 9 to 10: Cleveland, Ohio

Edgewater Park

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Cleveland Public Square

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Rockefeller Park & Greenhouse

Fly Out: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

Best time to visit: April to May and September to October are the best months to visit this region (summer means mosquitoes and winter means road closures and unforgiving weather).

• Best Things To Do In Chicago, Illinois
• Ohio Showdown: Cleveland vs Columbus

Trip 9: Southeast A: Mountains, Music, and Culture

The Southeast states are known for their diverse experiences, making this region a memorable road trip destination.

This trip takes you through five of the Southeastern states, from the Appalachian Mountains, bluegrass country, Music City, the center of the civil rights struggle, and down to the former Seafood Capital of the World.

West Virginia Kentucky Tennessee Alabama Mississippi

Fly In: West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW)

Days 1 to 2: New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia

Days 3 to 4: Louisville, Kentucky

West Main Street ( Whiskey Row )

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Old Louisville Neighborhood

Kentucky Derby Museum

Days 5 to 6: Nashville, Tennessee

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Honky Tonk Highway

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

The Gulch Neighborhood

Grand Ole Opry

Days 7 to 8: Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham Civil Rights District

Railroad Park

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Days 9 to 10: Biloxi, Mississippi

Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art

Biloxi Beach

Biloxi Shrimping Trip

Ship Island

Fly Out: Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport (GPT)

Best time to visit: April to May are the best month for all the cities on this trip; best weather, Kentucky Derby season, and fewer crowds. But there are more events in Nashville in the summer, plus Biloxi Beach is the perfect escape in winter from the colder weather up north.

• Best Things To Do In West Virginia
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Trip 10: New England

Beaches, lighthouses, chowder, lobster: yup, you’re in New England.

This trip takes you to cities, towns, and a national park rich with history, culture, and cuisine, all set against breathtaking natural scenery.

Maine Vermont New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut

Fly In: Bangor International Airport (BGR)

Days 1 to 2: Acadia National Park, Maine

Days 3 to 4: Burlington, Vermont

Church Street Marketplace

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum

World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet

Days 5 to 6: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Market Square

Black Heritage Trail

Strawbery Banke Museum

Prescott Park

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse

Days 7 to 8: Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Common

Freedom Trail

Fenway Park

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Spectacle Island

Days 9 to 10: Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island Mansions Tour (the starting point is at Newport Mansions Welcome Center at The Breakers)

Days 11 to 12: New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University

Beinecke Rare Book Library

New Haven Green

Lighthouse Point Park

East Rock Park

Fly Out: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Best time to visit: New England weather is generally comfortable all year round (except Maine winters), but the spring months (April to June) mean fewer tourists (and maple syrup season in Vermont!), summer months (July to August) mean more events but also more crowds (baseball fever in Boston!), and fall months (September to October) present beautiful fall foliage.

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 12 days to thoroughly explore, but you can probably shorten it to 10 days

New England Wineries

Trip 11: Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic states are surrounded by mountains to the north, lakes to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Within is a mix of hundreds of years of history, bustling industrial towns, and sprawling metropolitan areas.

This trip takes you through modern cities, serene beach towns, and historic neighborhoods.

New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland Washington, DC

Fly In: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Days 1 to 2: New York City, New York

Central Park

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Empire State Building

The National September 11 Memorial Museum

Statue of Liberty

Day 3: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Washington Square

Independence National Historical Park

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Penn’s Landing

Day 4: Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Atlantic City Beach

Tropicana Atlantic City (said to be the luckiest casino)

Day 5: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Cape May–Lewes Ferry (cross Delaware Bay)

Lewes Beach

Rehoboth Beach

Days 6 to 7: Baltimore, Maryland

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse

National Aquarium

9/11 Memorial of Maryland

Top of the World Observation Level

Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

Fly Out: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Optional Side Trip: Washington, DC

Add up to 2 more days to your trip if you plan to explore Washington, DC

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Best time to visit: Spring months (late March to May) are the perfect time to go on this trip; best weather, fewer crowds, especially for the beach towns.

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 7 days (up to 2 extra days if visiting Washington, DC)

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Trip 12: Southeast B: The Atlantic Coast States

This second set of southeast states borders the Atlantic Ocean, which means this is a beach road trip!

Along the way, you’ll get to experience each one’s unique charms. From urban beaches to rural, quiet ones, you’ll get to appreciate them all.

Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida

Fly In: Norfolk International Airport (ORF)

Day 1: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach Boardwalk

Neptune’s Park

Day 2: Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Emerald Isle Beach

Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier

Salty Pirate Waterpark

Days 3 to 4: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach

Broadway at the Beach

SkyWheel Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade

Day 5: Tybee Island, Georgia

North Beach

Tybee Island Light Station & Museum

Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Mid Beach, Tybee Island

Tybee Beach Pier

Days 6 to 7: Savannah, Georgia

Forsyth Park

Chippewa Square

Savannah City Hall

River Street Boardwalk

Leopold’s Ice Cream

Days 8 to 9: Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Jacksonville Beach Pier

Jacksonville Beach

Beaches Museum

Cradle Creek Preserve

South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground

Fly Out: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)

Optional Side Trip: Miami, Florida and Miami Beach, Florida

Add at least 1 day to explore Downtown Miami, and 2 more days to explore Miami Beach (see our detailed 3-day Miami itinerary )

Optional Side Trip: Florida Keys

Add at least 5 days to drive through the Florida Keys and back north to Miami (see our detailed Florida Keys road trip guide )

Fly Out: Miami International Airport (MIA)

Best time to visit: Beach road trips are best driven during the summer months. But if you prefer to have the beaches all to yourself, early spring (avoid the spring breakers) and fall would be ideal.

How many days to allot (minimum): At least 9 days if your last stop is Jacksonville Beach, and at least 17 days if you plan to travel all the way through the Florida Keys.

• Best North Carolina Beaches
• Best South Carolina Beaches
• Best Georgia Beaches
• Best Things To Do In Savannah, Georgia

Which of These Trips Will You Take First?

It’s incredible that you can break down 50 states into 12 trips, and what’s even more amazing is that you can take them at your own pace!

Go on one or two trips a year, combine adjacent trips into a bigger trip, or take a few months off and go on a 50-state pilgrimage!

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This Map Shows the Ultimate U.S. Road Trip

By caitlin schneider | apr 10, 2023, 12:50 pm edt.

The concept of a road trip is as American as apple pie, and yet, devising the “best” U.S. driving route is a bit of a head scratcher. Much depends on time parameters, personal preference, and frankly, how long you want to spend behind the wheel.

In 2015, Tracy Staedter at Discovery News decided to take on that challenge, enlisting Randy Olson —the data scientist behind the famed (and super helpful) Where’s Waldo algorithm —to devise what you might call the platonic ideal of the United States road trip. The parameters were: It had to hit all of the 48 continental states; every stop had to be a National Natural Landmark, a National Historic Site, a National Park, or a National Monument; and of course, had to be confined to car travel and within U.S. borders.

With a stop in Washington, D.C. and two in California, the result is 50 points of all American awesomeness. Here are the destinations:

• Grand Canyon, Arizona 
• Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
• Craters of the Moon, Idaho 
• Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 
• Pikes Peak, Colorado 
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
• The Alamo, Texas
• The Platt Historic District, Oklahoma 
• Toltec Mounds, Arkansas 
• Elvis Presley’s Graceland, Tennessee 
• Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi 
• French Quarter, Louisiana 
• USS Alabama, Alabama 
• Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida 
• Okefenokee Swamp Park, Georgia 
• Fort Sumter National Monument, South Carolina 
• Lost World Caverns, West Virginia 
• Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center, North Carolina 
• Mount Vernon, Virginia 
• White House, Washington, D.C. 
• Colonial Annapolis Historic District, Maryland 
• New Castle Historic District, Delaware 
• Cape May Historic District, New Jersey 
• Liberty Bell, Pennsylvania 
• Statue of Liberty, New York 
• The Mark Twain House & Museum, Connecticut 
• The Breakers, Rhode Island
• USS Constitution , Massachusetts 
• Acadia National Park, Maine
• Mount Washington Hotel, New Hampshire 
• Shelburne Farms, Vermont 
• Fox Theater, Michigan 
• Spring Grove Cemetery, Ohio 
• Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky 
• West Baden Springs Hotel, Indiana 
• Abraham Lincoln’s Home, Illinois 
• Gateway Arch, Missouri 
• C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, Kansas 
• Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion, Iowa 
• Taliesin, Wisconcin 
• Fort Snelling, Minnesota 
• Ashfall Fossil Bed, Nebraska 
• Mount Rushmore, South Dakota 
• Fort Union Trading Post, North Dakota 
• Glacier National Park, Montana 
• Hanford Site, Washington 
• Columbia River Highway, Oregon 
• San Francisco Cable Cars, California 
• San Andreas Fault, California 
• Hoover Dam, Nevada

That list starts with the Grand Canyon , but you could theoretically begin anywhere as long as you drive in sequence after that. Staedter guessed it would take a little over nine days of driving straight through, but more realistically is a two- or three-month trip.

Want to drive across the U.S. & see all major landmarks? #MSU 's @randal_olson made a map. http://t.co/KbFjQGXBXM pic.twitter.com/jDs1EsP1xS — MSU (@michiganstateu) March 9, 2015

For the details on how he came up with the route, check out Olson’s blog . After determining the stops, the main goal of the algorithm was to find the shortest distance between points.

Olson wrote to Staedter: “Instead of exhaustively looking at every possible solution, genetic algorithms start with a handful of random solutions and continually tinker with these solutions—always trying something slightly different from the current solution and keeping the best one—until they can’t find a better solution any more.”

And whether or not you understand the specifics of how it was created, the map is truly a marvel and the kind of itinerary you'll probably spend all winter dreaming about. See the map here , and for additional travel goals, check out Olson’s road trip maps for South America and Europe .

A version of this story ran in 2015; it has been updated for 2023.

Science Says This Is the Perfect U.S. Road Trip

Ashley Corbin-Teich/Getty Images 

What if you took a list of 50 must-see American attractions and plotted a road trip to hit all of them? Your route would likely look like this, says  Discovery News , which partnered with a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University and used an algorithm to come up with what they say is the perfect cross-country American road trip .

You may disagree. Though the idea of a best-of-the-best itinerary is fun (if gimmicky), the attractions on this route are subjective. Discovery News may rate the Terrace Hill Governor's Mansion in Des Moines as a must-see, yet you might give it a disinterested shrug. There are quite a few places on this list that some experts might consider second- or even third-tier sites (such as the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, Fox Theater, Hanford Site, and others).

The itinerary is contrived to fit Discovery News ' criteria of:

• Remaining solely in the United States
• Including designated national landmarks, historic sites, and national parks and monuments
• Including only one attraction in each one of the lower 48 states (except for California, which got two).

The White House in Washington, D.C., rounded out the 50 picks. The issue is that some states are overflowing with road trip-worthy national landmarks and others are, well, not so much. This explains why a governor's mansion makes the cut while Zion National Park and Niagara Falls do not.

Methodology aside, this is a pretty comprehensive itinerary that does hit many iconic American landmarks. And if hitting all the states in the contiguous United States is one of your goals, this route accomplishes that. The researchers used an algorithm to come up with a loop that allows you to start this road trip in any state and follow it until you’re back at your starting point.

Grand Canyon, AZ

No question—of course , you need to see the Grand Canyon when you're driving through Arizona. Whether you go to the South Rim or North Rim (open May through October) depends on what time of year you're visiting. There are lookout points where you can get some nice photos if you don't have a lot of time, but a longer trip will allow you to dive deeper into this natural wonder.

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Utah is overflowing in natural beauty with five show-stopping national parks , but it's Bryce Canyon National Park that made the top of this list. Consisting of large gravity-defying rock formations known as hoodoos, geology-lovers should give themselves plenty of time to enjoy this park.

Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID

Want wilderness? The Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho is an official Wilderness Study Area. This ancient lava-shaped landscape's nature remains "substantially uninfluenced by humans," which is hard to come by these days. A looping road takes you through a big part of the park and there are lots of places where you'll be able to park and explore the caves and craters on foot.

Yellowstone National Park, WY

Another bucket list place for multitudes of Americans is Yellowstone National Park , known for its geysers, amazing vistas, hot mud, and the way the ecosystem has rebalanced with the reintroduction of wolves. There are also entrances to the park in Montana and Idaho.

Pikes Peak, CO

Attracting more than half a million visitors every year, Pikes Peak is one of the most popular mountains in Colorado due to its proximity to the town of Colorado Springs . In this part of the state, you'll also find the Garden of the Gods nearby, an area filled with dramatic rock formations that jut out of the ground.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

TripSavvy / Alisha McDarris

Caves, cacti, desert, and fossil reefs are all at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Spelunkers can even arrange for permits to travel off-trail on self-guided or ranger-guided trips underground. Non-spelunkers can explore the caves on foot or sign up for a guided tour, which will allow you to walk through more physically challenging parts of the cave.

The Alamo: San Antonio, TX

The Alamo as a fort was significant in the creation of San Antonio and its designation as "Military City, U.S.A." Just in case you don't remember, this is the site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo (before Texas officially became a state) between Mexican and Texan soldiers including the famous raccoon hat-wearing Davy Crockett.

Platt Historic District: Sulfur, OK

Thirty miles of trails in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in the Platt Historic District (formerly Platt National Park) are available for a variety of skill levels of hikers and have varying scenery among them, such as waterfalls, wildlife, Travertine Creek, ponds, and lakes.

Toltec Mounds: Scott, AR

Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park contains ancient mounds—what remains from a "ceremonial and governmental complex"—from A.D. 650 to 1050 when the area was inhabited by prehistoric Native Americans. It's a short drive away from the Arkansas capital of Little Rock.

Elvis Presley’s Graceland: Memphis, TN

Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion is like a time capsule and the home captures all the King's favorite 1977 kitsch. The best time to visit is in August during Elvis Week when mega-fans come together to celebrate his life and music.

Vicksburg National Military Park: Vicksburg, MS

A key city in the opinion of both sides fighting the Civil War, Vicksburg, Mississippi , was the site of a 47-day long battle. Here, you can see an ironclad ship used on the Mississippi River during the war, visit 1,400 monuments and memorials, and watch battle reenactments.

French Quarter: New Orleans, LA

There's always something to see, hear, do, and eat in the New Orleans'  French Quarter . You'll find many revelers enjoying the neighborhood's open container laws on Bourbon Street at night, but there is also plenty of history to explore during the day in this charming district.

USS Alabama: Mobile, AL

At home in the Mobile Bay, the USS Alabama is a World War II battleship that saw action in the South Pacific. You can buy a ticket to walk around the ship and learn about the United States' military history from the inside.

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station: Cape Canaveral, FL

Kids and adults alike can imagine their space-explorer dreams at Cape Canaveral , a historic site and home to three rocket launch pads. Here, you can see where the U.S. space program began and tour the Kennedy Space Center and Visitor Complex .

Okefenokee Swamp Park: Waycross, GA

The Okefenokee Swamp Park is nature like you've likely never seen it before. The Natural Wildlife Refuge covers nearly half a million acres. Surrounded by the sounds of animals, it's a peaceful place to enjoy nature and learn about swamp ecosystems.

Fort Sumter National Monument: Charleston, SC

Located in the Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter is the site where the American Civil War began. You'll have to catch a ferry to get to this island, but when you get there you'll find a small museum that tells the story of the first battle.

Lost World Caverns: Lewisburg, WV

About five hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains , West Virginia's Lost World Caverns inspire awe. Here, you can travel on a simple self-guided cave tour on trails 120 feet down, or you can go all in, deeper, on a four-hour guided excursion, where few humans have traveled.

Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center: Kill Devil Hills, NC

The Wright Brothers weren't the only ones trying to fly, but their few moments sustained in the air in 1903 were historic. At the National Memorial Visitor Center , you can see the spot where the first successful flight first took off. It's located in North Carolina's Outer Banks, which also happens to be a great beach destination .

Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon, VA

Mount Vernon is the historic home of George Washington, who was not only the United States' first president but was also a hero of the Revolutionary War. Visiting the place he lived is one way to get a peek into the home life of the historical figure.

White House: Washington, D.C.

It's easy to see the White House from the street when you're exploring Washington D.C., but if you want to take a tour of the inside, you will have to submit your application directly to your congressional representative way ahead of your visit. The process is a little complicated, but at the end of the day, there's no charge for a tour. If you're not a U.S. citizen, applications must be submitted to your home country's embassy in Washington, D.C.

Colonial Annapolis Historic District: Annapolis, MD

Annapolis has more 18th century structures standing than any other city in the United States. Sometimes called the "Athens of America," the downtown area draws more than two million visitors per year. It's also home to the U.S. Naval Academy , which is open for tours.

New Castle Historic District: New Castle, Delaware

If you can't get enough of colonial buildings, set your GPS for New Castle, Delaware. Founded in the 17th century, this charming colonial city beset with cobblestone streets has many historic homes you can visit, such as the Dutch House and the Amstel House. You can learn more in the museums and at and the Old New Castle Courthouse, which was the location of the colonial and state government until 1777.

Cape May Historic District: Cape May, NJ

Down the shore, you can check out the famous Cape May lighthouse at New Jersey's southernmost point. There are also many historic homes and businesses in this area, some that date back to the mid-1800s. Not far from Cape May, you can also visit the beaches and boardwalk in Wildwood , one of the beach towns in New Jersey.

Liberty Bell: Philadelphia, PA

When you're in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell is a must-see. At the Liberty Bell Visitor center, you can see the bell in person and learn all about its long journey from practical noise-maker to a symbol of freedom. Many historians believe this was one of the bells rung when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall .

Statue of Liberty: New York, NY

When visiting New York City, you can take a ferry from Battery Park out to Liberty Island to see the iconic Statue of Liberty . However, tickets need to be purchased in advance if you want to climb to the top and the National Park Service only allows 240 visitors per day to do so. If you don't have a ticket, you can still walk along the grounds and tour the National Museum of Immigration. 

Mark Twain House & Museum: Hartford, CT

In Hartford, Connecticut, you can visit the home of one of America's most famous authors. You won't see rivers and riverboats at Mark Twain's house in Connecticut, but you will see the place where he wrote his most famous novels from "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Prince and the Pauper."

The Breakers Mansion: Newport, RI

In Rhode Island, you can see the Newport mansion of the Vanderbilts, one of America's richest families. Referred to as their "summer cottage," The Breakers is a 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo and open for tours. Visiting is a fun way to take a fun peek into the lush lives of the wealthy at the turn of the century.

USS Constitution: Boston, MA

In Boston, you can climb aboard and tour the USS Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard. And if this visit inspires you to seek out more of Boston's military history, you're just a short walk of the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum.

Acadia National Park, ME

Maine's pristine Acadia National Park is one of the east coast's hidden gems. The best time to visit is in the fall when the leaves change color and light up the whole landscape in shades of red and gold.

Omni Mount Washington Hotel: Bretton Woods, NH

New Hampshire's Mount Washington was first explored by colonists in 1642, but three centuries later in 1900, construction began on the Omni Mount Washington. The century-old resort in a popular ski area is now a luxury hotel that has attracted elite guests from presidents like JFK and authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Shelburne Farms: Shelburne, VT

At Shelburne Farms in Vermont, you can learn about sustainable agriculture and indulge at their farm-to-table restaurant. The farm holds programs about historic preservation, natural resources, and farming practices. It's located just seven miles south of the Vermont capital of Burlington.

Fox Theater: Detroit, MI

The Fox Theater isn't your run-of-the-mill cinema chain. When it opened in 1928 it had the second-largest seating capacity in the world with more than 5,000 seats. It's one of the largest surviving movie palaces of its era and has since been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Spring Grove Cemetery: Cincinnati, OH

Not just historic and beautiful, Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery is enormous, spanning over 700 acres. You could spend a whole day enjoying the peaceful grounds and exploring the lakes, islands, footbridges, and protected wooded areas. Historic figures laid to rest here include Civil War-era Major General Joseph Hooker and Salmon P. Chase , the founder of Cincinnati Law School.

Mammoth Cave National Park, KY

Not far from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is the world's longest cave system with more than 400 miles of underground caverns. Much of the cave was first mapped out in the late 19th century by Stephen Bishop, a slave who was the first person to cross what was known as the "Bottomless Pit" and discover the sections beyond it.

West Baden Springs Hotel: West Baden Springs, IN

The most historic and luxurious hotel in Indiana, the West Baden Springs Hotel hosts special events, entertainment, and historic tours, for those staying or not. It's worth visiting just to take a gander at the humungous atrium that spans 200-feet across and has a fireplace so big that it can burn 14-foot logs.

Abraham Lincoln’s Home: Springfield, IL

In Springfield Illinois, you can tour the home of President Abraham Lincoln. The museum is filled with personal artifacts of the Lincoln family and the tour explores his rise as a lawyer and politician leading up to his presidential campaign.

Gateway Arch: St. Louis, MO

You don't just have to look at the arch, you can go to the top of it! In St. Louis, the Gateway Arch's tram will take you to the top for some incredible 360-degree views of the Twin Cities. The arch was completed in 1965 and is one of the city's most popular attractions.

C.W. Parker Carousel Museum: Leavenworth, KS

In Leavenworth, Kansas, you can take a spin through the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum . Here you'll find restored carousels that date back to the mid-1800s like the Liberty Carousel and a Primitive Carousel and can learn about the history of C.W. Parker's carousel factory, which produced about 1,000 carousels during its time.

Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion: Des Moines, IA

In Des Moines, you can tour the governor's mansion at Terrace Hill . The governor's mansion hosts special events such as the "Tea & Talk" series and the annual garden party and the ​piano competition. While you're in Des Moines, the State Capitol is also a beautiful building worth seeing.

Taliesin: Green Spring, WI

In Wisconsin, you can visit one of world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wight's creations at Taliesin Wisconsin. You'll be able to walk around Wright's home, which is also a designated National Historic Landmark, and studio, where he lived during the beginning of his career.

Fort Snelling: Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN

Originally built as a frontier post in the 19th century, Fort Snelling is located near the Mississippi River. The fort tells the tense history of the region's new arrivals and the Native Americans who already lived here and in visiting you can learn the story of the Dakota War of 1862 and how the fort was used as an internment camp. On the river outside of the fort, you'll find a memorial for those that did not survive.

Ashfall Fossil Beds: Royal, NE

A must-visit for dinosaur lovers of all ages, more than 200 fossils have been recovered from the Ashfall Fossil Beds in Royal, Nebraska. Here, you'll find remnants of North America's prehistoric rhinoceroses and horses that roamed the land millions of years ago.

Mount Rushmore: Keystone, SD

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

It was a massive project, that extended over decades, to carve the presidents' heads into a granite bluff at Mount Rushmore . Just down the road is Crazy Horse Memorial , which is even bigger—although still under construction

Fort Union Trading Post: Williston, ND

Located right on the North Dakota-Montana border, Fort Union was one of the region's most important fur trading posts between the years of 1829 and 1867. It was here that Northern Plains Indian Tribes peacefully traded furs for goods until the smallpox epidemic decimated the area.

Glacier National Park, MT

One of Montana's many natural gems, Glacier National Park is full of turquoise lakes, snowy meadows, precipitous mountains, and 25 active glaciers. The park is a part of the Rocky Mountains and shares a border with Canada's neighboring province of Alberta .

Hanford Site: Benton County, WA

If you've got a taste for dark tourism and are curious about what it would be like to walk around a decommissioned nuclear testing location, Washington's Hanford Site is open for visitors. It was here where the U.S. government conducted its plutonium research as a part of the infamous Manhattan Project, which would lead to the development of nuclear weapons.

Columbia River Highway, OR

Not just a scenic road, this highway is historic and has been well cared for over the years. Driving along this stretch of road, you'll be able to see the Pacific Northwest's temperate rainforests, which offer great opportunities for hiking and biking. There are also dozens of waterfalls to see when you get to the Columbia River Gorge, including the popular Multnomah Falls .

San Francisco Cable Cars: San Francisco, CA

When you're in San Francisco, you have to ride one of the city's iconic streetcars in the place they were invented. Of course, after you've had your fun riding up the city's steep hills, there is plenty more to enjoy in the city from the food scene to the Golden Gate Bridge views.

San Andreas Fault, CA

You've probably heard plenty about the San Andreas Fault , an area of high tectonic activity where the Pacific plate meets the Atlantic plate, but did you know there are spots where you can see it for yourself? Many sections of the fault are easy to visit throughout California and you can find fault sites near Palm Springs , Frazier Park, Pinnacles National Park , and even San Francisco .

Hoover Dam: Boulder City, NV

TripSavvy / Deanna Mazzola

On the border of Nevada and Arizona, you can see one of the country's greatest feats of engineering. The Hoover Dam draws approximately seven million visitors a year and while you're there, you can walk across it, crossing state lines and even a time zone border, and take a tour of the plant to learn more about how it works. 

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Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!

Pacific Coast

Border to Border

The Road to Nowhere

The Great River Road

Appalachian Trail

Atlantic Coast

The Great Northern

The Oregon Trail

The Loneliest Road

Southern Pacific

Classic American Road Trips

Pacific Coast Highway

Starting at the northwest tip of the United States at Washington’s Olympic National Park and remaining within sight of the ocean all the way south to sunny San Diego, this 1,650-mile, mostly two-lane road trip takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert.

Highlights along the Pacific Coast Route: Olympic National Park (WA), Three Capes Loop (OR), Redwood National Park (CA)

Historic Route 66

The romance of traveling along historic Route 66 from where it starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles continues to captivate people around the world. If you’re looking for great displays of neon signs, rusty middle-of-nowhere truck stops, or kitschy Americana, do as the song says and “get your kicks on Route 66.”

Highlights along Route 66: Chicago (IL), Meramec Caverns (MO), Tucumcari (NM), Painted Desert (AZ), Santa Monica (CA)

• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million
• Indigo (Canada)
• Powell's Books
• Apple Books

Running coast-to-coast from San Francisco to Ocean City, Maryland, “The Loneliest Road in America” is a 3,200-mile odyssey from sea to shining sea. US-50 passes through a dozen different states, four state capitals, and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Highlights along the Loneliest Road: South Lake Tahoe (CA), Moab (UT), The Million Dollar Highway (CO), Washington D.C.

Following in the footsteps of pilgrims and pioneers, US‑20 takes in a little of everything during its two-lane trek from Oregon’s rugged coast to the glorious sea and sand of Cape Cod.

Highlights along the Oregon Trail: Cannon Beach (OR), Fort Boise (ID), Yellowstone National Park (WY), Mt Rushmore & Carhenge (NE)

Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US‑2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.

Highlights along the Great Northern: Tumwater Canyon (WA), Glacier National Park (MT), Lake Michigan (MI), Acadia National Park (ME)

The Appalachian Trail

This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.

Highlights along the Appalachian Trail: Mt. Washington (NH), The Poconos (PA), Shenandoah National Park (VA), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC)

Old Man River, Father of Waters, “body of a nation,” Big Muddy: By any name, the mighty Mississippi River cuts a mythic figure across the American landscape. Tag along from its headwaters in Minnesota to where it meets the sea in Louisiana via the GRR.

Highlights along the Great River Road: Main Street USA (WI), St. Louis (MO), Natchez Trace Parkway (MS), New Orleans (LA)

Starting at the Statue of Liberty and ending with a drive across the Overseas Highway to free-wheeling Key West, these almost 2,000 miles of roadway run within earshot—if not sight—of the Atlantic Ocean.

Highlights along the Atlantic Coast: The Statue of Liberty (NJ), Assateague Island National Seashore (MD), Savannah (GA), Cocoa Beach (FL)

Starting at Canada’s Jasper National Park, and winding down in the Sonora Desert, this route traverses some of the wildest and most rugged lands imaginable: mighty mountains, glaciated valleys, raging rivers, and two very different deserts.

Highlights along the Border to Border Route: Columbia Icefield (AB), Bitterroot Mountains (MT), The Extraterrestrial Highway (NV), Joshua Forest Parkway (AZ)

Once the only entirely paved route from Canada to “Old Mexico,” US‑83 cuts across America’s heartland and remains a must-do long-distance byway—transnavigating this broad, odd nation without once grazing a conventional tourist destination.

Highlights along the Road to Nowhere: Sitting Bull Memorial (SD), Nebraska Sand Hills (NE), Monument Rocks (KS), Paint Rock Pictographs (TX)

Following old US-80 and its contemporary equivalents takes you through more varied cultural and physical landscapes than you’ll find along any other cross-country route. From deserts to bayou swamps and Tex-Mex to barbecue, this route offers a full-flavored taste of America.

Highlights along Southern Pacific: The Desert View Tower (CA), Tombstone (AZ), Roswell (NM), Civil Rights Movement National Historic Trail (AL)

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The perfect road trip map to drive across the United States

Summer is the perfect time for a road trip, and spring is the perfect time to plan one! With the weather warming up, we tend to get itchy for travel. Today I’ll share our perfect road trip map to see any part (or all) of the United States. Let’s hit the road and take that great American road trip!

When we started our family gap year , two and a half years ago, we planned to travel from the Pacific Northwest, down the coast of California, through Texas to Florida, and then up the east coast.

We did just that, but then we continued to travel and have now circled the United States four times — and we’re preparing for our fifth cross-country road trip!

Each route has been a little different, which has helped us hit new regions, see diverse landscapes, and visit unique attractions.

The perfect United States road trip map

So where do you want to go? From coast to coast, there is SO much to see and do in the United States. It’s one of the biggest countries in the world, and your experience can be just about anything you’d like — from a tropical adventure in south Florida, to the snowy mountains of Colorado, to the misty Pacific Northwest.

You can try to visit all of the national parks and national monuments. You can head to New York and experience that big city life or escape to the quiet plains of the midwest.

There are two different kinds of road trips: those that are focused on the destination and those that are focused on the journey. Maybe you’re driving on a road well-known for its beauty, like the Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, or maybe you’re driving just to get from city to city and visit the hot spots.

But ideally, you can combine both of those goals and see gorgeous landscapes on your way to fun activities!

Don’t miss: Our Family Gap Year Itinerary

The best route to visit all 50 states at once

Unless you’re a very extreme or long-term traveler, I’m guessing you don’t plan to hit every single state — but if you are, I can point you in the right direction!

Check out Randy Olson’s  optimal US road trip maps , or visit TripSavvy’s list of  must-see American attractions  in an ordered loop you can begin at any point. These are two great resources if you are trying to go everywhere!

Our biggest tip for traveling the whole country: go south in the winter and north in the summer! Yes, being snowbirds is basically our life goal.

The best road trips by region in the United States

I’d love to share our favorite road trip routes in each region of the US. This will help you plan the perfect road trip in your own neck of the woods, or anywhere you plan to visit across the country!

For more details on fun things to do in each region of the US, check out my guest post on The Art of Travel: Visiting all 50 US States

Getting misty in the Pacific Northwest

We’ll always have a soft spot for the northwestern corner of the country, as that was our very first stop on our full-time family travels. We had never visited before, so the giant trees and almost-perpetual rainbows had us captivated.

Head to Seattle for a wide range of activities : go up to the top of the Space Needle, ride a wooden boat on Lake Washington, wander through Pike Place Market, and visit Amazon HQ .

If you’ve got plenty of time to spend in Washington, consider driving the Cascade Loop, visit Mount Rainer National Park or Olympic National Park, or look for orcas in the San Juan Islands.

Then go south to Portland and browse the shelves at Powell’s Books and eat a Voodoo Doughnut. Head just to the east to visit gorgeous Multnomah Falls, then drive to the west coast to visit Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock.

Your Pacific Northwest road trip map

Cruise down the coast of California

I couldn’t write a blog post on great road trips without including the Pacific Coast Highway ! We got to drive highway 1 down the coast of California near the end of 2018, and we’ll never forget it!

Start in San Francisco — visit the redwood trees, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, and be sure to take a ride on one of the San Francisco cable cars!

From there, follow highway 1 and drive through Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Big Sur. Stop in San Simeon and see the elephant seals.

Then cruise through the southern California beach towns of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Malibu, and end your journey at the Santa Monica Pier (or continue on to San Diego).

Your Pacific Coast Highway road trip map

Get your kicks on Route 66

Having lived in Arizona for many years, we’ve driven along Route 66 more than once. Yes, it extends all the way “from Chicago to LA”, but there are some great iconic landmarks you can still visit along the Mother Road in Arizona, so it’s our pick for the southwestern region of the US.

Top stops along the way include the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, “standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona”, the Meteor Crater, Twin Arrows, Seligman, and Kingman. Visit soon — some landmarks are sadly wasting away.

All 50 States Tip: Once you get to Kingman, it’s just about 90 minutes to get to Las Vegas, if you need to check Nevada off your 50 state bucket list!

Your Route 66 road trip map

Complete the Texas Triangle

Texas boasts a number of major cities, living up to the saying that everything is bigger in Texas! And you can visit each of these metro areas when you take a triangle-shaped road trip in the middle of the state.

Start in San Antonio: walk the Riverwalk and tour the Alamo. Drive up to Austin for some great live music and nightlife. At the peak of the triangle you’ll find Dallas: smell the flowers at the Dallas Arboretum, play around at the National Videogame Museum, and eat a steak…because you’re in Dallas and living that cowboy life.

Head southeast to Houston and visit the Houston Space Center, and then drive to the coast to ride the rides at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston.

All 50 States Tip: If you’re coming to Texas from Arizona, you might try to time your trip so you hit the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico on your way. It happens in October and is well-worth the stop!

Your Texas Triangle road trip map

Glide along the Gulf Coast

You’ll find small beach town charm and pristine white sugar sand along the Gulf Coast of the United States. It’s one of our favorite spots in the country!

Start in New Orleans, Louisiana and soak up all the French Quarter has to offer, including muffalettas, beignets, and really great jazz. Then drive east, across the bottom of Mississippi and Alabama. Leave I-10 to drive south to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and then stick to the roads closest to the beach as you drive along the Florida panhandle, stopping at any beach towns that take your fancy.

If you’ve got the time and the budget, continue heading into central Florida for some fun at the theme parks, and then drive south to our next road trip recommendation…

Your Gulf Coast road trip map

Road trip through the tropics

In Southern Florida, you can get a real taste of the tropics without having to leave the continental US! Miami is just a 3-hour drive from Orlando, and about another 3-hour drive will take you through the Keys all the way into Key West.

In Miami, visit the colorful Wynwood neighborhood, and make sure to grab some Taiyaki ice cream! Then head over to South Beach and check out the nightlife.

In Key West, walk down Duval Street and say hi to all the chickens that roam free. Make sure to have a slice of key lime pie and watch the sunset in Mallory Square.

Your southern Florida road trip map

Adventures in Appalachia

Discover the delights of the southeast in what you might call the “Appalachia” region. You can make a bit of a circle traveling through Savannah and Atlanta in Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina — or the other way around!

See the Spanish Moss in Savannah, taste every Coke product in the World of Coke tasting room in Atlanta, experience Music City in Nashville, stroll the botanical gardens at UNC Charlotte, and take a carriage ride through Charleston’s cobblestone streets.

This route will also take you through Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Asheville — other great cities to explore, so be sure to stop if you have time!

And if you have to make the pilgrimage to Graceland, just extend your route to include Memphis, thank you very much!

Your Appalachia road trip map

Explore US history in the mid-Atlantic

Heading north, the mid-Atlantic states are a great place to learn about our country’s history and visit some of the biggest, busiest cities in the world.

In Virginia, you can experience colonial life at Historic Jamestowne. In Washington DC, you could spend hours and hours exploring all the free museums and memorials (and don’t forget to visit the pandas at the National Zoo). Our big kids even had the chance to tour the White House!

All 50 States Tip: Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia is just one hour west of DC, and there you can hike part of the Appalachian Trail!

In Pennsylvania, you can visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

Then drive up to New York City and experience the Big Apple! If you’re visiting after Broadway has reopened, definitely take in a show. Take the requisite visits to Times Square and Rockefeller Center, and stroll through Central Park.

Ride the Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park and tour the Statue of Liberty. Then, take the Q train to Coney Island and eat some hot dogs and deep-fried Oreos.

That’s right — historic sites AND deep-fried Oreos. You’re welcome.

All 50 States Tip: This is where you should check off Delaware and New Jersey, too. Visit Rehoboth Beach and Atlantic City and enjoy the beaches and boardwalks!

Your mid-Atlantic road trip map

Take a pilgrimage to New England

Get it…pilgrimage?

All 50 States Tip: As you head north, stop in at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and stroll the cliff walk in Newport, Rhode Island.

Get your dose of history by walking the Freedom Trail in Boston, and have some fun on a Duck Tour. Then drive north for a trip through the most quaint, picture-perfect New England port towns. Walk around Portsmouth, New Hampshire, then make your way into Maine.

I was born and raised in Maine, so yes my New England road trip is a little Maine-heavy!

Visit Dock Square in Kennebunkport for some primo shopping and a summertime treat, like a fresh-squeezed lemonade or ice cream from Aunt Marie’s.

Then, head to Old Orchard Beach for a day of fun at the beachside amusement park, Palace Playland. Do NOT leave without getting an order of pier fries — and eat them like the locals, doused in vinegar and caked with salt.

Portland is a much-loved Maine “big city” so take a stroll through the Old Port and check out the unique shops and bars. Then, if you’ve got the time, drive to Acadia National Park and catch the earliest sunrise in the United States.

All 50 States Tip: If you’re headed to the midwest from New England, drive through Vermont and tour the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, then stop at Niagara Falls in New York!

Your New England road trip map

Meander through the Midwest

Things get a little tricky in the Midwest and central US just because there are so many options for where to go and in what order. So I’ll detail the two routes I would take, but you can mix-and-match the cities in this section and the next, and curate your own perfect road trip map through the middle of the country!

If you’re coming from the Northeast, stop in Cleveland, Ohio to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, then head to Detroit, Michigan to visit the Motown Museum and take the Coney Dog Challenge .

If you’d like, stop to explore Cincinnati on your way to Louisville, Kentucky. In Louisville, see how they make baseball bats at the Louisville Slugger Factory and learn all about horse racing at Churchill Downs (or hey, time your road trip to attend the Kentucky Derby!).

Check out the Indy 500 track in Indianapolis, or try your hand at some duckpin bowling. Then drive west to Chicago. See The Bean, eat a Chicago dog and some deep-dish pizza, and admire the artwork at the Art Institute of Chicago. If you must have the full Ferris Beuller experience, go to the top of Willis Tower and put your forehead against the glass.

Head north and cross into Wisconsin. Visit the Milwaukee Public Market and get your fill of local cheese! From there, go to Minneapolis and get lost in the Mall of America or go downtown and toss your hat in the air a la Mary Tyler Moore.

All 50 States Tip: You can drive about 3.5 hours from Minneapolis to Fargo, North Dakota, where you can join the Best for Last Club (IF North Dakota is your 50th and final state visited)!

As your last midwestern stop, head south to Iowa and explore Des Moines. Walk through the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and visit the famous bridges of Madison County.

All 50 States Tip: You can fit Nebraska in here by heading to Omaha — enjoy a leisurely walk across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and then have a nice sit-down dinner in Omaha’s Old Market. Or, if you prefer, you can visit the other side of Nebraska on our next route.

Your Midwest road trip map

Go through the Gateway to the West

Start your exploration of the central US in St. Louis and go up in the Gateway Arch. Then, on your way to Oklahoma City, stop in Bentonville, Arkansas to tour the Walmart Museum and the Crystal Lakes Museum (both free and worth the visit!).

In Oklahoma City, visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial (the site of the 1995 bombing) and the Land Run Monument. Then head north to Kansas and stop in Hutchinson to go 650 feet underground into the Strataca Salt Mine.

From there, drive west to Denver. There’s lots to do here! Stand a mile high on the Capitol steps, relax in one of the many parks, climb Pikes Peak, and take in the majestic view of the Rocky Mountains.

After you’ve gotten your fill of Denver, it’s time to visit the Dakotas. On the way, you can take a quick detour into Nebraska to stop by Chimney Rock, of Oregon Trail fame.

In the southwest corner of South Dakota you’ll definitely want to stop and see Mount Rushmore. Then drive north to Medora, North Dakota and visit the prairie dogs at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. From here, you’re in a great place to take our final road trip route!

Your Gateway to the West road trip map

Tour the western national parks

Last summer, we took an epic road trip across the US and the final third was comprised mostly of national parks on the western side of the country. We had a blast and saw some incredibly diverse, beautiful terrain.

Start in Glacier National Park and spend a day driving the Going-To-The-Sun Road. Then head to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and be sure to see Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring.

After Yellowstone, stop in at Grand Teton National Park, just south of Yellowstone. We missed this one but hear it’s a must-see.

From there, go south to Zion National Park in Utah and drive through the breathtaking red rocks. Then drive into Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon. You’ll see so many wonders on this trip that you’ll never forget it!

Your western national parks road trip map

Our top road trip tips

As expert US travelers (we’ve been to 49 of the 50 states — just gotta make it to Alaska!), here are some of our top tips to consider while you plan your road trip:

1. Make a plan but stay flexible

It’s good to know where you plan to be and when, how long it will take to get there, where you plan to stay, and what you want to do while you’re there. Especially in this post-Covid world, a lot of activities require planning ahead.

That being said, leave room for flexibility wherever possible. If we know we’ll be spending the night somewhere on the way to a destination, we won’t book a hotel until we’re almost ready to stop. Sometimes we are able to drive further than planned, and sometimes things come up and we get delayed — like the time it took 7 hours to drive 20 miles in New Mexico!

2. Prep your car

Fill your tires, check the oil, top up the fluids. Give yourself every reason to believe your car will get you from point A to B to C…and home again!

Also, consider getting your car detailed or deep-cleaned ahead of time, and be prepared with paper towels and wet wipes to keep things clean.

3. Stay comfy and entertained in the car

You’ll be seeing some incredible things…but also spending a lot of time just driving down the highway. A pillow and a blanket per person goes a long way, as does trivia games, books, podcasts, and (when all else fails) well-charged devices!

4. Pack light

You need some clothes and your phone. Not much else! Your phone (assuming it’s smart) is your map, your entertainment, and your way out in an emergency. Like I mentioned, toss in a blanket and pillow, maybe some non-screen books and games, and you’re good to go! Oh and snacks. Because is it really a road trip if you don’t have snacks? (No.)

Visit our sister site for some truly incredible road trip car hacks !

5. Combine touristy attractions with local hidden gems

A Google search can easily tell you the must-do activities in every city you visit, but also visit Atlas Obscura for some more, well, obscure things to see and do!

I sure hope this has given you some great information on where to road trip in each region of the US. Combine two or three routes (or all of them!) to create your own perfect road trip map to really see and experience this beautiful country, by car!

Thinking of heading out on a full-time family travel journey? Learn absolutely everything you need to know in our Family Gap Year Academy !

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Family Travel Expert

Megan Tenney traveled full-time for four years with her husband and four children. She's visited 49 of the United States, backpacked across Europe, and spent some time in Canada, Mexico, Asia, and the Caribbean. Megan is the owner and author of Family Gap Year Guide , where she shares stories and tips from her family travel adventures and teaches other families how they can take life on the road!

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Kamala Harris Leads Push to Shore Up Democratic Support From Black Voters

Speaking in Atlanta, the vice president began a national tour to highlight how the Biden administration is trying to help Black Americans economically.

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By Maya King

Reporting from Atlanta

• April 29, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris made a new effort to energize Black voters in battleground states on Monday, visiting Atlanta for the kickoff of a national economic tour that will highlight how the Biden administration says its policies are helping a constituency that will be vital to Democrats’ success in November.

Speaking to a largely Black crowd of about 400 people, Ms. Harris laid out ways that she and President Biden have sought to improve Black Americans’ upward mobility and help them realize their business ambitions. A chief objective of the tour, she said, was to let Black business owners and entrepreneurs know about the resources available to them.

“I need the help of the leaders who are here to get the word out so people know what is available to them,” she said during a conversation at the Georgia International Convention Center with Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of the financial literacy podcast “Earn Your Leisure,” which offers business advice to its more than two million listeners, a majority of whom are Black.

Explaining how government policies have widened the racial wealth gap over the years, Ms. Harris pointed to the Biden administration’s attempts to try to narrow it, including small-business grants and efforts to forgive student loans.

“We want to make sure people know about it — and then know where they can receive — the support to be ready to take on the work and then to grow their capacity,” she said.

Her remarks at the official White House-hosted event — drier and less political than her forceful campaign speeches on abortion recently — meandered at times.

“As much as anything, the spirit behind the push for access to capital, and in particular, on this tour, focusing on minority small businesses and Black-owned small businesses, and small businesses and entrepreneurs who are Black men, is to recognize the disparities that have existed around the access to the opportunity to achieve success,” she said at one point.

But at other moments Ms. Harris was more pointed, including when she defended diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that conservative lawmakers have pushed to dismantle in state governments and at colleges and universities .

“In spite of those who in certain parts of our country want to attack D.E.I., we understand that you can’t truly invest in the strength of our nation if you don’t pay attention to diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said.

The vice president’s Atlanta visit, her 12th trip to Georgia since taking office, was the first stop in a tour of several battleground states in the coming weeks. Much of the tour will focus on Black small businesses and economic issues that are especially pressing for Black communities. She will visit Detroit next week, aides said.

Ms. Harris’s tour will also seek to engage Black men, whom Democrats are urgently courting as polls show them softening in their support for Mr. Biden. Much of the crowd at the vice president’s event consisted of Black male political and business leaders, as well as a contingent of students from Morehouse College, a historically Black men’s college in Atlanta where President Biden will deliver the commencement address next month.

Before her speech, Ms. Harris visited an entrepreneurship hub near downtown Atlanta where she spoke with Black small-business owners.

Flanked by Georgia’s Democratic senators, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, as well as Representative Nikema Williams, the state Democratic Party chair, Ms. Harris highlighted the Biden administration’s marquee legislation, like the CHIPS and Science Act, which offers funding for small-business research projects.

She also underlined the roughly $7 billion that the administration has poured into historically Black colleges and universities, the largest investment of any White House administration.

Atlanta is set to receive more than $150 million for a project called The Stitch that is meant to revitalize the city’s downtown areas and connect them to its growing midtown neighborhoods. Georgia is one of 40 states that will receive money from a White House program that aims to repair the decades-old societal damage from federal transportation projects that disproportionately displaced Black communities.

Maya King is a politics reporter covering the Southeast, based in Atlanta. She covers campaigns, elections and movements in the American South, as well as national trends relating to Black voters and young people. More about Maya King

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

Protests and arrests on college campuses exploded into the forefront of the presidential race recently, opening up a new line of attack for Republicans  and forcing President Biden to directly address an issue that has divided the liberal wing of his party.

In a stop in Wilmington, N.C., a possible swing state in the fall election, the president announced $3 billion  in new spending to upgrade water systems around the country.

Biden has been under pressure to prove he can be tough at the border. But at a campaign reception, he also tried to voice his commitment  to America’s long history of immigration, calling Japan and India “xenophobic” in the process.

A Key to 2024:  As Democrats confront a presidential race against a resurgent and resilient Trump as well as a brutally challenging Senate map, they believe they have an increasingly powerful political weapon: ballot measures to protect  abortion rights.

Presidential Medal of Freedom:  With the election looming, Biden assembled a list of 19 people to honor that was heavy with major Democratic Party figures and others he has worked with  over the years.

The Ultimate D.C. Veteran:  In 30 years of Senate bids, Joe Biden was such a formidable incumbent  that he did not face a serious threat to his return to office. But his last re-election is shaping up to be a fight.

Awash in Federal Money:  Across Milwaukee, there is evidence of federal money from laws passed under the Biden administration. The president hopes voters will notice .

Public school enrollment falling nationwide, data shows

More and more, parents are opting America’s children out of public school.

The share of children ages 5 to 17 enrolled in public schools fell by almost 4 percentage points from 2012 to 2022, an NBC News analysis of Census Bureau data found, even as the overall population grew.

NBC News’ analysis found:

• 87.0% of children were enrolled in public school in 2022, compared to 90.7% in 2012.
• In Kentucky, the share of school-age children in public schools decreased by almost 8 percentage points. 
• In South Carolina, the share of children enrolled in public schools decreased by 7.4 percentage points. 
• In Alaska, enrollment decreased by nearly 7 percentage points.

During the same period, the share of 5 to 17 year-olds enrolled in private schools increased by 2 percentage points, the Census Bureau data showed. Charter schools saw a similar increase , according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a nonprofit group dedicated to advancing charter schools. 

Educators and researchers say the swing has been caused in part by laws that have targeted public schools while propping up alternatives. 

“[The rise in charter schools] is a thread of the larger campaign of privatization,” said Abbie Cohen, a Ph.D. candidate in UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies. “Those two things are happening at the same time, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence.” 

Policies that make private, charter and homeschooling options more available to families — dubbed “school choice” by advocates — have expanded rapidly since 2022. Such policies grant families public funds for alternative schooling in the form of vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, refundable tax credits and more. In 2023, at least 146 school choice bills were introduced across 43 states, according to FutureEd, an education-focused think tank at Georgetown University. 

Nineteen school choice laws were enacted last year in 17 states, including South Carolina and Florida, which have seen some of the most dramatic declines of students enrolled in public schools. 

As part of the push for school choice, states are eliminating income limits and other eligibility requirements, allowing higher-income families to receive benefits. Eight states passed such laws or created such programs in 2023, FutureEd’s data shows, bringing the total number of states with these programs — commonly referred to as  “universal school choice” — to 10.

Though Kentucky has seen the most students leave public schools, it is one of 18 states without a school choice program, and the state doesn’t fund charters. Homeschooling and “microschooling,” where students are homeschooled together and may be supervised by someone other than their own parents, are increasingly popular alternatives. An EdChoice/Morning Consult poll reported that 15% of parents in Kentucky prefer homeschooling, compared to 9% of parents nationwide. 

Robert Enlow, the CEO of the nonprofit school choice advocacy group EdChoice, said he is “agnostic” to which options are chosen, but believes the money should follow each student wherever they go. 

“Families are saying, ‘Let me have the resources that are due to me, that I get through taxes that are set aside for my kid, and then let me choose,’” Enlow said.

At the same time that states are pushing school choice programs, public schools — already dealing with declining enrollment — have faced budget cuts, teacher shortages, and laws and fights over what is taught in the classroom. 

More than 20 states have considered bills since 2022 that would give parents more control over the curriculum in public schools, from granting parents access to course materials prior to classes, to banning instruction on sexual orientation and gender and allowing parents to opt their children out of any classes. 

One state that has pushed such laws is Florida. The state has passed several parent rights laws since 2020, including changes to make it easier for parents to ban books from classes, a ban against discussing sexuality and gender identity in younger grades and a ban on teaching critical race theory in classes .

Florida’s 5 to 17-year-old population has grown 9% since 2012, but NBC News’ analysis found that  its public school enrollment fell 7% during that span.

Andrew Spar, the president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, said new laws have unclear directions and handcuff teachers’ ability to instruct without fear of retaliation for what’s discussed in class. 

“In Florida, there’s so much micromanaging of our public schools, so many bureaucratic rules and laws that get in the way, that it becomes increasingly difficult for us to do our jobs,” Spar said. “Teachers are vilified; they can’t do their jobs.”

Cohen, from UCLA, said parents are unenrolling students from public schools when they either feel the curriculum is not teaching accurate history, or hope for more conservative changes in school policies and curricula. Her research found that funding cuts are among the policies “fueling mistrust” in public schools and could be leading families to alternatives. 

The states with the largest declines in public school enrollment also have the lowest per-pupil spending, Census Bureau data shows . Educators and researchers question whether public schools will bounce back from recent enrollment declines as districts experience a wave of financial struggles and closures . 

“Who is hurting the most are the students who have been most historically marginalized in society,” Cohen said. “When more kids are leaving the public schools, that’s less funding for the public schools and those who are left, are left with less.”

Catherine Allen is an intern on the Data / Graphics team at NBC News.

Money latest: Supermarket caught out over 'fake farm'; bank boss reveals interest rate prediction

Our series on how to eat more healthily for less is back - and we're looking at breakfast. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Friday 3 May 2024 19:30, UK

• Lidl rushes to remove 'fake farm' references after MP grilling
• HSBC chair predicts when interest rate cut will come
• Prescription charges rose this week - but there are ways to pay less
• Weak US jobs news sparks rise in bets on interest rate cut

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A cash ISA offering an interest rate of 4.5% has been launched today by Melton Building Society .

The interest is paid annually on 31 March and can be added to the account, transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton savings account.

Here's what you need to know...

How do you open an account?

• You must be a UK resident and be aged 16; 
• Accounts can be opened with a minimum amount of £25 and the maximum that can be held in this account is £500,000.

Can you withdraw money?

Yes, you can withdraw money as long as you give the bank 180 days' notice in branch, by post or phone

Once you have done this, all or part of the investments in the ISA, including any interest earned, will be transferred to you.

You can also access your money without giving notice, but you will be charged 180 days' interest on the amount you withdraw. 

A lack of demand for new electric cars has led some brands to begin slashing prices. 

Even some of the UK's best-selling electric cars are thousands of pounds cheaper than a year ago, according to Auto Trader figures shared with The Times . 

Among the most heavily discounted vehicles are the Honda E, down 20% versus a year ago at £29,600, and the Peugeot E-2008, which has fallen in price by 15% to £30,000. 

The Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e are both being advertised at a 20% off sale price, while the MG ZS and MG5 are discounted by 15%. 

Meanwhile, Ford's flagship electric car, the Mustang Mach-E, has fallen in price by 14%. 

Ian Plummer, Auto Trader's commercial director, said lower prices are good news for car buyers and that it was "encouraging" to see more affordable electric cars on the market. 

He said the discounts had been "driven by a softening in consumer demand, coupled with the introduction of the zero-emissions vehicle mandate, which is putting pressure on manufacturers to comply with the new regulations or face heavy fines". 

The government's zero-emission vehicle ( ZEV ) mandate requirers manufacturers to produce a certain percentage of zero-emission cars and vans each year.

It started when comedian Peter Kay, who was supposed to be the first official act for the new Manchester Co-op Live on 23 April, had his performances rescheduled.

Rick Astley's performance on 20 April was a "test event" for the venue but ticket capacity was slashed just hours before his gig was due to begin.

Astley fans who had their tickets cancelled were instead offered seats to see US rock band The Black Keys play - but their show has also been affected.

And to add to the chaos, this week Olivia Rodrigo's concerts, scheduled for 3 and 4 May, were postponed.

Then, Take That announced they were moving their shows from the venue to the AO Arena in Manchester.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie concert was also postponed just over an hour before the rapper was set to perform.

Today, Barry Manilow also said he had a "back-up plan" to move his Manchester performance from the beleaguered venue. 

The ongoing mayhem has left disgruntled concert-goers voicing their frustration, with some calling for travel and accommodation to be reimbursed and others calling the situation "embarrassing".

"There will be countless people who would've booked travel and hotels just for you to stitch them up because you couldn't meet assured deadlines," one person wrote on X.

Another person said the music venue should "at the very minimum" be "looking at refunding travel/hotel costs for people that can prove they paid for cancelled dates".

And another person asked: "How do I get a refund for parking? There's no info on your site or app."

Organisers at Co-op Live said the venue would be taking "a short pause to events" before welcoming members of the public to the arena from 14 May.

A Co-op Live statement said: "At this time, we do not expect further impact on our opening season. We are aware our actions have frustrated and angered ticketholders."

Tim Leiweke, chairman and chief executive of Oak View Group, which developed Co-op Live in partnership with the City Football Group, has said they cannot run any event until it is "absolutely safe to do so".

A Co-op Group spokesperson said: "As naming rights sponsor for Co-op Live we are disappointed with these further schedule changes.

"Co-op is a sponsor and does not own or run the venue, and we have made it clear to Oak View Group, who are responsible for the building, that the impact on ticketholders must be addressed as a priority."

An Itsu freezer product is being urgently recalled over fears it could contain plastic. 

Customers are being told not to eat Itsu's sizzling pork gyoza, which is sold at Asda and Sainsbury's.

The 240g packs with a best before date of 8 March 2025 are those affected by the recall.

A 200-year-old Edinburgh attraction is reopening this month after being closed for four years. 

The Nelson Monument is a 150ft tower overlooking the city, and was built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

It has been shut for essential works for years, but visitors will soon be able to climb its 143 steps again.

An official opening date has not yet been given.

HMRC's Welsh-language app is only being used by two in every 100 native speakers, according to a new report by The Telegraph .

A freedom of information request by the paper found that 13,831 Welsh speakers have used the app since its launch in June 2022.

That equates to 1.5% of the nearly 900,000 people who say they speak the language.

Jonathan Eida, researcher at the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, told the newspaper he thought the move was a "gimmick".

Gig ticket prices may be eye-wateringly high at the moment (just like everything else, let's face it) but a big sale next week will see tens of thousands of tickets at discounted prices. 

LiveNation is holding a sale for 24 hours from noon on Thursday until noon on Friday, with prices starting from £25. 

Artists who you can get discounted tickets to see include Doja Cat, Meghan Thee Stallion, Shania Twain, Becky Hill, Avril Lavigne, Eric Prydz, Giggs, Glass Animals, James Arthur, JLS, Jungle, Kaiser Chiefs, Limp Bizkit, Offset, McFly, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith, Placebo, Tom Jones, Tiesto and The Streets. 

You can find the full line-up of artists and venues with discounted tickets  on the LiveNation website here .

The company will also be holding promotions and competitions throughout next week. 

By James Sillars , business news reporter

Financial markets are strange beasts.

You would think that fewer new jobs being created in the United States would be a cause for concern.

Hardly. It is being positively celebrated.

Closely watched figures out at 1.30pm showed an easing in both jobs and wage growth by more than expected last month.

It has led to greater bets on the US Federal Reserve, the central bank, introducing its first interest rate cut in September.

A hot economy and stubborn inflation have dragged on market sentiment in recent weeks.

Investors desperately want to see cheaper borrowing costs.

In reaction, US stock market futures showed the S&P 500 would open more than 1% higher.

The FTSE 100 was also on track for another record close. It was trading 0.8% higher at 8,234.

That was despite a big weakening in the dollar.

The pound gained three-quarters of a cent to $1.26 versus the US currency after the jobs data dropped.

Tech giant Apple has recorded the biggest drop in iPhone sales since the early months of the COVID pandemic.

Sales for January to March were down 10% on the same period last year - something not seen since the 2020 iPhone model was delayed due to lockdown factory closures.

Overall, Apple earned $90.8bn (£72.4bn) in the latest quarter - down 4% from a year ago. It was the fifth consecutive three-month period that the company's revenue dipped from the previous year.

Apple's profit in the past quarter was $23.64bn (£18.85bn) - a 2% dip from a year ago.

It was good news, however, for the overall value of the company as its share price rose nearly 7% after investors had expected a bigger drop in sales.

You can read more here ...

The chair of HSBC has predicted the Bank of England will cut interest rates in June.

Speaking at HSBC's annual general meeting today, Mark Tucker said he expected the European Central Bank and Bank of England to cut rates next month, both lowering by 150 basis points by the end of 2025.

He also said he expected the US Federal Reserve to cut rates in September.

However, yesterday, one of the world's leading economic authorities, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, said interest rates, which are at a post-2008 era high of 5.25%, should stay there.

"The fiscal and monetary policy mix is adequately restrictive and should remain so until inflation returns durably to target," the OECD's economic outlook for 2024 said.

Mango plans to open 20 new stores this year as it continues to strengthen its UK presence.

The Spanish fashion retailer, which arrived in the UK in 1999, will be opening stores in several cities in Northern Ireland and central and southern England, as well as Scotland.

There are also plans to open four stores in London. 

Daniel Lopez, Mango director of expansion and franchising, told Retail Gazette the expansion "will consolidate the Mango brand" and help "strengthen it internationally".

The retailer recently unveiled a spring/summer collection in collaboration with Victoria Beckham.

Lidl has rushed to remove old references to so-called fake farm branding on its website after being questioned by MPs.

The retail chain told MPs yesterday that a picture of its "Strathvale farm chicken" was a "mistake" after telling them they did not use so-called fake farms.

Appearing in front of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on fairness in the food supply chain, Lidl GB's chief commercial officer Richard Bourns was questioned on the fairness of supermarkets using fake farms to market their food.

Mr Bourns, who was questioned by committee member Rosie Duffield on using "Strathvale farm" branding for meat products, replied: "We don't use Strathvale farms, we use Strathvale.

"We do not use farm brands, just to be absolutely clear."

Committee chairman Robert Goodwill, who had access to the internet, said: "Oh wait a minute, we have here a Strathvale farm Scottish large chicken, for £3.85. Gosh that's cheap.

"So there is on the website at least, a reference to Strathvale farm."

Mr Bourns replied: "If there is a reference to Strathvale farms on our website I'd want to take that away and correct it.

"It could be the case that our website is not up to date.

"We do not have an online offering but I can categorically tell you we do not have farms brands in our business, just to be absolutely clear."

After the committee hearing a Lidl spokesperson said: "Any historic web pages featuring old packaging that appear via a search engine are in the process of being removed to ensure complete accuracy."

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Fani willis grilled during hearing over amount of money spent on prosecuting trump case — instead of county’s backlog of criminal cases.

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Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ use of funds came under the microscope at a Georgia state Senate Special Committee hearing Friday.

Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert asked financial officers about numerous “enhancement requests” for extra money Willis has made, including one for roughly a million dollars in 2023 for general trial expenses.

Fulton County Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whittmore said the amount was made as a “lump sum, not specific with line item details,” to explain what it would be used for, according to the Washington Examiner .

Cowsert said he was trying to “get a feeling for exactly how much oversight,” there was in the office, adding it “sounds like it’s very loose as far as employment practices and expenditures for independent contractors.”

He was likely referring to Nathan Wade, who Willis brought on as prosecutor in the county’s election fraud prosecution against Donald Trump and 18 others in 2021.

It later emerged Wade and Willis had been in a romantic relationship, and a judge ruled one had to step down from the case, resulting in Wade quitting.

Elsewhere during the meeting, Cowsert criticized Willis for the amount of money spent on prosecuting the Trump case rather than tackling the county’s backlog of criminal cases, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution .

Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts was asked whether the county signed off on Willis’ hiring of Wade.

“That’s solely the prerogative of the District Attorney,” Pitts told members of the committee.

“We don’t get into that sort of detail.”

Whitmore testified that the county commission reviews and votes on the district attorney’s annual general fund budget request, the Rome-News Tribune reports .

Willis received $36.6 million from the general fund for the current fiscal year, she said.

According to Whitmore, additional funds came from the federal government in the form of pandemic relief.

Willis did not seek prior approval from the commission before using those funds to hire Wade and two other special prosecutors to take on the election interference case.

“The board of commissioners has no oversight over the district attorney,” Whitmore added.

Willis did not attend the hearing, but responded at a press conference, saying: “They can look all they want. The DA’s office has done everything according to the books.”

The committee was expected Friday to address the timing of Willis and Wade’s relationship and the use of campaign funds.

The findings of the investigation will inform legislative actions, including possibly enacting laws to ensure more accountability and oversight of the DA’s offce, a statement from the Georgia Senate read.

Both Willis and Wade have admitted to a love affair but both insisted under oath the relationship only became official in 2022 after they had already brought the case against the former president and his co-defendants.

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NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour 2024: Be aware of these Staten Island street closures on Sunday

• Updated: May. 03, 2024, 2:15 p.m. |
• Published: May. 03, 2024, 8:00 a.m.

To accommodate the final leg of the NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour, the Department of Transportation has announced that several Staten Island streets, and lanes on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, will be closed on Sunday, at the discretion of the NYPD. (Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance)

• Ann Marie Barron | [email protected]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — With more than 32,000 participants and thousands of spectators heading to Staten Island on Sunday, May 5, for the finish of the TD NYC Five Boro Bike Tour, residents should be prepared for several road closures and travel delays.

The event is billed as the largest charity bike ride in the world, with participants riding through all five boroughs of the city and crossing five major bridges as part of their 40-mile journey, including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge , before completing their journey in Fort Wadsworth.

The tour is the primary fundraising event for the nonprofit Bike New York, and proceeds from the event help to fund free public bike education and access programs for more than 30,000 adults and kids throughout the five boroughs, the organization says.

To accommodate the final leg of the tour, the Department of Transportation has announced that the following Staten Island streets, and lanes on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, will be closed on Sunday, at the discretion of the NYPD:

— Bay Street between New York Avenue and Hylan Boulevard

— Hylan Boulevard between Bay Street and Edgewater Street

— Edgewater Street/ Front Street between Hylan Boulevard and Hannah Street

— Hannah Street between Front Street and Bay Street

— Bay Street between Hannah Street and Richmond Terrace

— Richmond Terrace between Bay Street and Nicholas Street Wall Street between Richmond Terrace and dead end

Due to the event, part of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge will be also closed for the majority of the day on Sunday.

The Staten Island-bound lower level of the bridge will be closed from 2 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The Bay Street exit near the bridge will also be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Staten Island-bound upper level of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge will remain open during the event, and is accessible from 92nd Street and the Belt Parkway entrance ramps.

Drivers are advised that closure times are subject to change and delays are expected.

In addition, the BQE/Gowanus Expressway will be closed between BQE West Entrance Columbia Street and Verrazano Bridge to accommodate the event.

NYC Five Boro Bike Tour 2024

• NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour 2024: Here’s what we know about whether cyclists will have to pay lost bridge tolls
• Weather forecast for NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour 2024 calls for rain, cool temperatures
• NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour 2024: Will the Verrazzano Bridge be closed on Sunday?
• NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour 2024: What cyclists need to know about riding the Staten Island Ferry

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Release: house overwhelmingly passes gottheimer-led bipartisan legislation standing up to antisemitic hate on campuses, requires the department of education to use widely-supported ihra definition of antisemitism in title vi investigations. builds on gottheimer’s commitment to protect students and stand up to hate in all forms.

Above: Gottheimer on the House floor.

WASHINGTON, DC —  Today, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Mike Lawler’s (NY-17) bipartisan legislation — the  Antisemitism Awareness Act  — overwhelmingly passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation, which is supported by thirty of the country’s leading Jewish groups, requires the Department of Education to use the widely-supported International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in Title VI discrimination investigations. The IHRA definition has been used by the U.S. State Department over the last three administrations. By codifying this definition into law, Jewish students will be more protected from antisemitic discrimination, harassment, and threats. This bill will give investigators at the Department of Education a clear framework and the proper tools for  identifying and evaluating antisemitism, helping resolve some of the 137 active Title VI investigations and hold harassers accountable. The bill passed the House by a vote of 320-91.

Video of Gottheimer’s remarks on the House floor can be found  here .

“We cannot stand idly by as protesters call for the death of Jews on college campuses and across the country,”  said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) . “When I spoke at Columbia last week, I told administrators that we need deeds, not words to protect Jewish students. This bill is a critical step to take the action we so desperately need to stand against hate.”

“What is happening at Columbia, at Yale, at UCLA, and so many other schools, is reprehensible and alarming,”  said Congressman Lawler (NY-17).  “When people engage in harassment or bullying of Jewish individuals where they justify the killing of Jews or use blood libel or hold Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government – that is antisemitic. It’s unfortunate that needs to be clarified, but that’s why this bill is necessary.”

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, to ensure that we’re standing up to the Jew hate that’s spreading like wildfire on campuses across our country. I’m proud to lead this legislation with my fellow Problem Solvers Caucus member, Congressman Lawler.

As we are voting, in real time, our country’s universities are experiencing a tidal wave of antisemitism. Protesters have targeted Jewish students, haranguing them with awful Jew-hating insults and cheering on Hamas — a barbaric foreign terrorist organization that murdered Americans on October 7 and still holds five living Americans hostage, including my constituent, Edan Alexander.

I saw these protests up-close and personal at Columbia earlier this month. I’ve heard the sickening comments, comparing Zionists to Nazis, promising a redux of October 7 “a thousand times over,” and calling for resistance “by any means necessary” and “intifada revolution.” Intifada is used to call for violent uprising against Israel. These protests embolden Hamas, America’s enemy. In fact, they’ve put out a statement lauding protesters as “the leaders of the future.”

Let me clear up any confusion: this bill protects the First Amendment. It allows criticism of Israel. It doesn’t allow calls for the destruction or elimination of the Jewish state. Even more, our universities have a Title VI obligation to stamp out harassment on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

Colleagues, we cannot stand idly by as protesters call for the deaths of Jews on college campuses and across the country. 

This bill will require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance or IHRA definition of antisemitism when carrying out Title VI investigations. IHRA’s antisemitism definition is the most widely recognized in the world, used by 36 states. It condemns traditional hatred and the ugly, modern antisemitism that we’re seeing on campuses.

There is no excuse to vote against this bill. When it was first introduced in 2018, 50 Democrats and Republicans co-sponsored it, including members still in this body.

Right now, the Department of Education has 137 active Title VI investigations, some of which have been open for years. The bill will give investigators a clear framework to evaluate antisemitism and finally hold harassers accountable. 

Don’t just take my word for it. Thirty of our nation’s leading Jewish groups back this bill. Under the last three administrations, the State Department has used the IHRA definition to monitor antisemitism worldwide. This bill takes a commonsense step to formalize the IHRA definition for our education system.

When I spoke at Columbia last week, I told administrators that we need deeds, not words to protect Jewish students. Colleagues, I’m making the same ask of you. This bill is a critical step we can take to stand against hate. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting this legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.

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Above: Gottheimer announces new Nonprofit Security Grants TEANECK, NJ — Today, May 3, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) visited Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls to announce a record $4.8 million in Nonprofit Security Grants to 34 nonprofit organizations across North Jersey. The grantees — a mix of synagogues, mosques, churches, gurdwaras, religious schools, and […]

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Above: Gottheimer speaking to colleagues at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) co-hosted a bipartisan tour of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Gottheimer co-hosted the tour with Reps. David Kustoff (TN-8), Anthony D’Esposito (NY-4), Don Bacon (NE-2), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Dean Phillips […]

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NYC Five Boro Bike Tour 2024: Street closures

UNITED STATES -May 7: Thousands of Bicyclists take part in the Five Boro Bike Tour, some of whom are seen here as they travel along the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn on Sunday, May 7, 2023. (Photo by Theodore Parisienne for NY Daily News via Getty I (Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY - The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is returning to NYC this Sunday, May 5.

At 7:30 a.m., cyclists will begin their 40-mile journey in Manhattan, will ride through the boroughs, and will finish at Ford Wadsworth in Staten Island.

Cyclists can expect showers with a high of 58.

Map of bike tour route

(Courtesy of Bike New York )

Here's a list of street closures this Sunday:

• Greenwich Street between Battery Place and Morris Street
• Trinity Place between Morris Street and Liberty Street
• Church Street between Liberty Street and Canal Street
• Chambers Street between Broadway and West Broadway
• Worth Street between Broadway and West Broadway
• Canal Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between Franklin Street and West 59th Street
• West 59th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• Grand Army Plaza between West 59th Street and East Drive
• East Drive between Grand Army Plaza and Center Drive
• Center Drive between 5th Avenue and East Drive
• East Drive between Center Drive and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard
• Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard between West 110th Street and West 135th Street
• East / West 135th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and Madison Avenue
• Madison Avenue between East 135th Street and East 138th Street
• Madison Avenue Bridge (Bronx-bound)
• Harlem River Drive / FDR Drive (Southbound) between 3rd Avenue Bridge and East 116th Street
• East 116th Street between FDR Drive and Pleasant Avenue
• Pleasant Avenue between East 116th Street and East 114th Street
• Harlem River Drive / FDR Drive (Southbound) between 116th Street and 63rd Street Exit
• East 63rd Street between FDR Drive (Southbound) and Queensboro Bridge Exit
• Queensboro Bridge Exit between East 63rd Street and East 60th Street
• Queensboro Bridge Upper Level (Manhattan-bound)
• Broad Street between Pearl Street and South Street
• Broadway between Morris Street and Battery Place
• South Street between Broad Street and Whitehall Street
• Whitehall Street between South Street and Water Street
• Water Street between Whitehall Street and Broad Street
• 138th Street between Madison Avenue Bridge and 3rd Avenue
• 3rd Avenue between 138th Street and 3rd Avenue Bridge
• Rider Avenue between 138th Street and 137th Street
• 137th Street between Rider Avenue and 3rd Avenue
• 3rd Avenue Bridge (Manhattan-bound)
• 21st Street between Queens Plaza South and Hoyt Avenue North
• Queens Plaza South between 21st Street and Vernon Boulevard / Alternate Route
• Hoyt Avenue North between 21st Street and 19th Street
• 19th Street between Hoyt Avenue North and Ditmars Boulevard
• Ditmars Boulevard between 19th Street and Shore Boulevard
• Shore Boulevard between Ditmars Boulevard and Astoria Park South
• Astoria Park South between Shore Boulevard and 14th Street
• 14th Street between Astoria Park South and 31st Avenue
• 31st Avenue between 14th Street and Vernon Boulevard
• Vernon Boulevard between 31st Avenue and 44th Drive
• 44th Drive between Vernon Boulevard and 11th Street
• 11th Street between 44th Drive and Pulaski Bridge
• Pulaski Bridge (Brooklyn-bound)
• McGuiness Boulevard between Pulaski Bridge and Greenpoint Avenue
• Java Street between McGuinness Boulevard and Franklin Street
• Greenpoint Avenue between McGuinness Boulevard and Franklin Street
• Franklin Street between Java Street and North 14th Street
• Kent Avenue between North 14th Street and Williamsburg Street West
• Williamsburg Street West between Kent Avenue and Flushing Avenue
• Flushing Avenue between Williamsburg Street West and Navy Street
• North Elliot Place between Flushing Avenue and Park Avenue
• Navy Street between Flushing Avenue and York Street
• York Street between Navy Street and Gold Street
• Gold Street between York Street and Front Street
• Front Street between Gold Street and Old Fulton Street
• Old Fulton between Furman Street and Prospect Street
• Cadman Plaza West between Prospect Street and Tillary Street
• Tillary Street between Cadman Plaza West and Adams Street
• Brooklyn Bridge Promenade between Tillary Street and Centre Street
• Furman Street between Old Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue
• Atlantic Avenue between Furman Street and Columbia Street
• Columbia Street between Atlantic Avenue and BQE West Entrance Columbia Street
• BQE / Gowanus Expressway between BQE West Entrance Columbia Street and Verrazano
• Verrazano Bridge Lower Level (Staten Island-bound)

Staten Island

• Bay Street between New York Avenue and Hylan Boulevard
• Hylan Boulevard between Bay Street and Edgewater Street
• Edgewater Street/ Front Street between Hylan Boulevard and Hannah Street
• Hannah Street between Front Street and Bay Street
• Bay Street between Hannah Street and Richmond Terrace
• Richmond Terrace between Bay Street and Nicholas Street Wall Street between Richmond Terrace and Dead End

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