Twelve classic family road trips for summer 2026

family road – From West Virginia’s statehouse dome to South Dakota’s buffalo-filled parks, these 12 family-friendly U.S. road trips for 2026 pair big scenery with kid-proof stops—and point-friendly hotel stays along the way.

The first “Are we there yet?” usually hits somewhere around the moment the scenery starts to change. So pick a route where the drive itself becomes the plan.

A new family-road-trip roundup for summer 2026 leans into exactly that: scenic highways, unforgettable stops, and practical ways to keep costs down—whether you redeem points, rent an RV, or build in plenty of affordable hotels, motels, and camping along the way.

Depending on how busy your chosen destination is during peak season, the guidance is straightforward: book your first few hotels in advance. Then, leave room for the kind of detours that turn a trip into a story.

Here are 12 classic summer road trips in the U.S. you can take with your family in 2026.

Appalachia to Nashville

Explore Appalachia with a big finish in Nashville on a route through West Virginia and Kentucky. Start in West Virginia’s capital, Charleston, at the convergence of three major state highways. You can fly into West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW).

Day One: Charleston
Visit West Virginia’s picturesque Capitol building, with a gold leaf-covered dome that’s 5 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol’s; the West Virginia State Museum for Appalachian history and culture; and the Avampato Discovery Museum, an interactive science museum for all ages.

All the major hotel chains are here in Charleston. Use Marriott Bonvoy points at the Charleston Marriott Town Center (rates start at $93 or 19. 500 points per night) or Four Points by Sheraton Charleston (rates start at $114 or 18. 500 points per night). or redeem Hilton Honors points at Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston (rates start at $194 or 59. 000 points per night).

Day Two: Lexington to Louisville
Drive three hours to Kentucky’s horse-culture capital of Lexington. Visit Keeneland Racecourse and tour the Kentucky Horse Park, then head to the Distillery District for pizza, ice cream, beer, live music and bourbon.

Continue with a 1 1/2-hour drive to Louisville, stopping at the Claudia Sanders Dinner House for a classic Southern family-style meal.

Louisville includes family-friendly attractions such as the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and the Kentucky Science Center. Kids can also cruise the Ohio River on the oldest steamboat, the Belle of Louisville.

Stay at the original 21c Museum Hotel, part of the Accor Live Limitless rewards program (rooms start at $193 per night). The Beaux Arts-style The Seelbach Hilton Louisville dates to 1869. with classically appointed rooms and lavish public spaces. including an opulent lobby featuring Renaissance-inspired carvings made of mahogany and bronze and a vaulted dome made of 800 glass panels.

Day Three: Nashville
Drive three hours south to Nashville for a big finish in Music City. Stay at Hotel Fraye. part of Hilton’s independent Curio Collection (rates start at $179 or 55. 000 Hilton Honors points per night). or at Hilton’s Graduate brand location (rates start at $189 or 65. 000 Hilton Honors points per night).

Guests can enjoy Nashville attractions including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Radnor Lake State Park, Nashville Zoo and the Grand Ole Opry. Families can also try Puttshack’s new tech-infused minigolf kingdom.

Pick up made-in-Nashville chocolatey treats at the Goo Goo Clusters Shop before flying out of Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Lake Michigan highlights

Hug the lake on this drive that starts in Milwaukee, heads south to Chicago and then back up through Michigan, ending in Traverse City.

Day One: Milwaukee
Fly into Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). Explore the Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum and the hands-on Discovery World Science and Technology Center.

Grab frozen custard at Kopp’s. Kids are also sure to love SafeHouse, the spy-themed burger joint.

Hyatt loyalists can use points or their free night certificates to stay at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee (rates start at $121 or 7,500 World of Hyatt points per night). Or redeem Marriott points at the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown (rates start at $178 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night).

Day Two: Chicago
In about two hours, arrive in Chicago. Family-friendly stops include Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Park Zoo and Millennium Park.

If you decide to spend the night, the Kimpton Gray Hotel Chicago is suggested for families (rates start at $187 or 33,000 IHG One Rewards points per night).

Day Three: Indiana Dunes National Park to Traverse City
From Chicago. curve around the lake shore. stopping at Indiana Dunes National Park before driving up to Holland. Michigan. Holland is a Dutch-founded town on the shores of Lake Macatawa with a centuries-old windmill. a tulip festival and Dutch-inspired food like pastries from deBoer Bakkerij & Dutch Brothers Restaurant.

The lakeshore includes Holland State Park, Laketown Beach, Tunnel Park and an adorable red lighthouse.

Traverse City is 168 miles north, with small towns and the Huron-Manistee National Forest to explore along the way.

Once in Traverse City, enjoy beach time. If you visit in early July, attend the annual National Cherry Festival.

For indoor water fun, stay at Great Wolf Lodge, or redeem IHG One Rewards points at Hotel Indigo Traverse City (rates start at $217 or 42,000 IHG One Rewards points per night). Fly out of Cherry Capital Airport (TVC).

Big Bend National Park in Texas

This 150-mile-long national park along the Texas and Mexico border is positioned as an adventure-filled road trip.

Day One: El Paso to Marathon
Fly in and out of El Paso International Airport (ELP), then drive about 300 miles southeast to enter the remote park. Stop for lunch at the Sentinel in Marfa along the way.

Park at the town of Marathon, where you can stay at the historic Gage Hotel (rates start at $229 per night) and eat at Brick Vault Brewery and Barbecue.

Days Two and Three: Big Bend National Park
Once inside the 800,000-acre park, the epic drive is dotted with picturesque attractions at every turn. Much of the park is the Chihuahuan Desert, hugging the Rio Grande and comprising the Chisos mountain range.

Highlights include traveling the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, discovering the Terlingua Ghost Town, walking the Santa Elena nature trail and exploring Boquillas Canyon.

The itinerary also emphasizes kid-friendly hiking trails and boat rides up the Rio Grande.

If you want to avoid camping. Big Bend Holiday Hotel is described as family-owned. with vintage rooms and charming casitas nearby (rates start at $112 per night). For more family-oriented amenities. including a golf course and swimming pool. the guide recommends Lajitas Golf Resort (rates start at $239 per night).

Central California coast

California’s coastline is pitched as ripe for adventure, especially along the central stretch. You can fly into and out of Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield (BFL) or San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SLO).

Day One: Pismo Beach
Drive to Pismo Beach. Walk the Pismo Pier and rent a multiperson surrey to pedal down the boardwalk. Eat at Splash Cafe and sample baked goods at Old West Cinnamon Rolls.

Stay the night using Hilton Honors points at the Hilton Garden Inn San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach (rates start at $135 or 41,000 Hilton Honors points per night).

Day Two: Morro Bay to San Simeon
Get on the Pacific Coast Highway and drive 30 minutes north along the coast to Morro Bay to see Morro Rock, the last of the Seven Sisters—ancient volcanoes between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. Try catching it at sunset.

Then drive to Cambria for farm love: cuddle some goats, see cows getting milked and eat cheese at Stepladder Ranch and Creamery, plus a ride on a Clydesdale horse at Covell Ranch. Explore Moonstone Beach and grab a bite to eat.

Keep heading north to San Simeon for the barking seals at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, just off the highway.

Continue inland for Hearst Castle and its 127 acres of gardens, pools and paths. If you’re lucky, you may spot zebras on the tram ride up to the castle.

Stay using 20,000 Choice Privileges points (or $134 per night) at Quality Inn Near Hearst Castle, or for a more luxurious option try Cavalier Oceanfront Resort (rates start at $183 per night).

Dramatic coastal Maine

The eastern coast of Maine is described as a road-trip standout with rocky cliffs, swirling waves and quaint lobster shacks.

Day One: Portland
Start in Portland, a walkable city with a food scene. Fly into or out of Portland International Jetport (PWM) or Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), a two-hour drive south of Portland.

Explore the Old Port district for fudge and browsing pottery and jewelry. Then head to the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine and climb the Portland Observatory for harbor views.

Use Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at the Press Hotel (rates start at $314 or 67,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night), part of the Autograph Collection.

Day Two: Rockland to Bar Harbor
Continue north through Freeport and stop at the L.L. Bean Outlet before heading to Rockland. Visit the Farnsworth Art Museum and check out the Maine Lighthouse Museum and the Coastal Children’s Museum.

Rockland hosts the Maine Lobster Festival from July 29 to Aug. 2, 2026 every summer.

From Rockland, drive north to Bar Harbor and nearby Acadia National Park. The guide suggests hiking and biking, sailing and kayaking, swimming in Echo Lake, and stopping at Jordan Pond House for the best popovers in the state. Try Travelin’ Lobster, which opened an outpost on Main Street.

Stay with Hilton Honors points at the seasonal Hampton Inn Bar Harbor (rates start at $368 or 100,000 points per night). The hotel includes panoramic ocean and mountain views and two pools.

Nature-based fun in Florida

Florida is pitched as more than theme parks, with a nature-focused route described as 118 miles, running from Tampa to Fort Myers. The guide recommends flying into Tampa International Airport (TPA) and out of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).

Day One: Tampa to Sarasota
Take Highway 60 west from Tampa to Clearwater Beach, then head south to Pass-a-Grille. The island road curves along a 20-mile-long strand of beaches and restaurants with grouper fresh from the Gulf.

Follow signs east toward Fort De Soto Park, with 1,136 acres of beaches, mangroves, bike trails and remnants of a Spanish-American War fort.

Drive an hour south to Sarasota for the night. Use Marriott Bonvoy points at the Westin Sarasota downtown (rates start at $191 or 37,000 points per night).

Sarasota attractions include the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden. part of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on Sarasota’s bayfront. with parents also enjoying the setting. Across Sarasota Bay. the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium offers Gulf of Mexico critters and marine biologist-led eco-boat tours of Sarasota Bay.

Day Two: Sarasota to Fort Myers
Head inland on Highway 72 to Myakka River State Park for alligators. Walk along boardwalks and canopy trails, with kayaks available or a boat tour offered.

Continue south on Highway 41 to Fort Myers for Manatee Park and wetlands at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.

For meals, the guide suggests Shrimp Shack for lunch and Fine Folk Pizza for dinner.

Stay at Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers using Hilton Honors points (rates start at $106 or 31,000 points per night).

Fun in the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes region in western New York is described as consisting of 11 lakes between Syracuse, Rochester and Elmira-Corning, surrounded by charming towns and wineries.

You can do a round trip in and out of Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), about an hour and a half from Skaneateles, your first stop.

Day One: Skaneateles
Start in Skaneateles (pronounced SKINNY-atlas). Visit Skaneateles Bakery for freshly made doughnuts and blueberry muffins, then snack while strolling the pier and walking along the lake.

In the evening, catch a movie at Finger Lakes Drive-In, then stay overnight at The Bond 1835 or Skaneateles Suites.

Points hotels are described as harder to come by here, but Hilton Garden Inn Auburn is suggested north of Owasco Lake, the next lake over (rates start at $128 or 34,000 Hilton Honors points per night).

Day Two: Seneca Falls to Canandaigua Lake
Drive 22 miles west to Seneca Falls to see Women’s Rights National Historical Park, where the first women’s rights convention was held in 1848.

Continue on Route 20 to Seneca Lake for kitesurfing and windsurfing, then enjoy a sail with Sail Seneca.

The guide suggests exploring Geneva at the top of the lake and stopping along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, with vineyards like Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Red Tail Ridge Winery, Barnstormer Winery and Fox Run Vineyards.

At the bottom of the lake, Watkins Glen State Park is highlighted for waterfalls, canyons and hiking.

Continue west to Canandaigua Lake. The Lake House Canandaigua is pitched as home to lakefront luxury (rates start at $491 per night), part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts network. It includes a lakefront pool and hot tub, the Rose Tavern with farm-to-table dishes, kayaks and a yacht.

For Hilton Honors points, the guide recommends Hotel Canandaigua, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (rates start at $253 or 80,000 points per night) with a lakefront location, pool and direct access to the Canandaigua Lady at Steamboat Landing.

Drive to the bottom of the lake to Naples to sample its famous grape pie.

Day Three: Rochester
Return to Rochester, 28 miles northwest of Canandaigua.

Check out the George Eastman Museum. a photography museum devoted to the founder of Kodak; the Strong National Museum of Play. an interactive museum dedicated to toys and games that expanded significantly in 2023; the Susan B. Anthony House, the home of the suffragette now a museum; and Highland Park for annual flower festivals.

For regional foods, visit the Rochester City Public Market, a massive farmers market, and for the city’s famous “garbage plate,” head to Nick Tahou Hots, the original.

Stay using Hyatt points at the Hyatt Regency Rochester (rates start at $205 or 6,000 points per night) or book at Courtyard by Marriott Rochester Downtown (rates start at $170 or 14,800 points per night).

The South Carolina coast

The South Carolina coast is framed as a beach-and-food drive that begins in Hilton Head Island and ends 220 miles north in Myrtle Beach. Fly into Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) or Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV). then book your flight home from Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR).

Day One: Hilton Head Island
Catch rays at Coligny Beach Park. or choose Alder Lane or Burkes Beach for quieter time. Learn about South Carolina’s Lowcountry and Gullah history and culture at the Coastal Discovery Museum. then enjoy natural beauty at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge and Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

The guide suggests authentic Gullah cuisine at Ruby Lee’s, seafood at Skull Creek Boathouse, and a points-friendly stay at Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa (rates start at $293 or 49,000 points per night).

Day Two: Charleston
Head north on Route 17 along the coast to Charleston.

Explore Museum Mile, a walkable route that includes the Charleston Museum and the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, plus historic homes and green parks.

The Battery and White Point Gardens feature displays of Civil War artillery, views of Fort Sumter and live oak trees. Kids are pointed to the South Carolina Aquarium, including a touch tank.

For beach time, check out the 6-mile-long Folly Beach and try Frogmore stew at Bowens Island Restaurant.

The guide also lists hotel options: Charleston Marriott (rates start at $171 or 24. 000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) and Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District (rates start at $213 or 12. 000 World of Hyatt points per night). For character, it suggests independent boutiques and historic hotels including Palmetto Hotel, The Loutrel, Planters Inn and The Dewberry.

For a mix of options, Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton is recommended (rates start at $226 or 76,000 Hilton Honors points per night).

Day Three: Myrtle Beach
Just before the North Carolina border, arrive in Myrtle Beach for 60 miles of beach known as the Grand Strand.

Check out the Golden Mile for a hotel-free zone, or hit the sand near 82nd Avenue for the gay beach. Beyond the beach. walk down the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk with live music and drinks. or stroll the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Save room for authentic barbecue at True BBQ, owned by Joseph and Sheila Evans.

Stay at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave Myrtle Beach using Hilton Honors points (rates start at $238 or 147,000 Hilton Honors points per night), just two blocks from the boardwalk with two pools, a kids activity center and an oceanfront restaurant.

Pacific Northwest parks trip

Oregon is billed as unspoiled, with Crater Lake National Park and Bend as a key pairing. Round-trip airfare is purchased into and out of Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR), 75 miles away from the park and 172 miles from Bend.

Days One and Two: Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is described as home to the country’s deepest lake and extremely pristine water shaped by rain and snow filling a deep caldera formed during a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago.

Drive the park’s 33-mile loop road around the crater, stopping for views and hikes. Camp at Farewell Bend Campground or redeem 15,000 Choice Privileges points at Sleep Inn & Suites in nearby Chiloquin (or from $144 per night).

Days Three and Four: Bend
Drive 100 miles north to Bend, Oregon, the high desert town.

Explore the Bend Ale Trail with over 30 breweries, the Old Mill District’s shops and restaurants along the Deschutes River, and the High Desert Museum on wildlife, history and art.

Stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Bend (rates start at $207 or 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night) or Residence Inn by Marriott Bend (rates start at $202 or 37,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night).

Finish with the McKenzie River Valley and the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail. Take advantage of Sahalie and Koosah Falls before taking Highway 5 south back to Medford.

Exploring Missouri via Route 66

Interstates have replaced much of this classic stretch, but the itinerary drives along parts of historic Route 66 in Missouri.

Day One: St. Louis
Fly into St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and start at Gateway Arch National Park, which includes the famous arch and the courthouse where the enslaved Black man Dred Scott sued for his right to freedom in the late 1840s.

Also visit the Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Art Museum and the City Museum, made of repurposed industrial objects inside an old shoe factory.

If you have little ones, Magic House is recommended. For food, consider City Foundry Food Hall, Balkan Treat Box, and the James Beard Award-winning Gioia’s Deli. For authentic St. Louis barbecue, head to Pappy’s Smokehouse.

Stay using Hilton Honors points at Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Louis Downtown (rates start at $120 or 41,000 points per night) or World of Hyatt points at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch (rates start at $185 or 7,500 points per night), which has views of the iconic arch.

Day Two: St. Louis to Lebanon
Go west on Interstate 44, which replaced Route 66 in Missouri. Stop at Route 66 State Park and campy roadside attractions like Meramec Caverns and the world’s second-largest rocking chair.

Drive through Cuba, “Route 66 Mural City,” with 14 murals depicting the town’s history.

If you’re craving barbecue, stop at Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que.

Then drive a portion of the original Route 66 through Mark Twain National Forest and the Devil’s Elbow bend of the Big Piney River. Treat kids to fudge at the Uranus Fudge Factory.

For a vintage Route 66 experience, stay in a Route 66-themed room at the vintage Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon.

Day Three: Springfield
Drive about 60 miles southwest to Fantastic Caverns, just outside Springfield. Then head to Springfield for the Discovery Center, Wonders of Wildlife and the Dickerson Park Zoo.

Grab burgers at Black Sheep and for sweets visit Askinosie Chocolate.

Sleep at the Best Western Coach House (rates start at $88 or 16,000 Best Western Rewards points per night) or Hilton Garden Inn Springfield, MO (rates start at $120 or 40,000 Hilton Honors points per night).

Book a flight home from Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF).

Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota

This region is described as a family-trip winner with history and natural beauty.

Day One: Rapid City to Badlands National Park
Fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP). After picking up your rental car. drive 55 miles east to Wall Drug Store in Wall. South Dakota. which advertises free ice water. 5-cent coffee and delicious maple doughnuts. plus souvenirs. an animated dinosaur and a gigantic jackalope out back.

Head south on Highway 240 to Badlands National Park, a 244,000-acre prairie with fossils and living wildlife including bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, eagles and buffalo roaming the area.

Evenings include programs where kids can meet Smokey the Bear, stargaze and learn about the park’s geological history.

You can stay outside the park, with Best Western Plains Motel back in Wall (rates start at $185 or 32,000 Best Western Rewards points per night), just a 10-minute drive north of the Pinnacles Entrance.

Day Two: Mount Rushmore to Custer State Park
Drive west to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone. The landmark carved into Mount Rushmore took 14 years to build and features George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

Walk the Presidential Trail for a closer look, plus wildlife sightings like mountain goats, marmots and birds.

About 20 miles south, head to Custer State Park for thousands of buffalo roaming. The itinerary warns they often are along the road, along with pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, wild turkeys and burros.

Options include hiking trails and a boat ride on tranquil Sylvan Lake.

The guide suggests reserving the Blue Bell Lodge hayride and chuck wagon cookout. which includes a scenic three-hour wildlife tour with singing cowboys and a steak dinner with all the fixings. Alternatively. dinner at the State Game Lodge Restaurant inside Calvin Coolidge’s “Summer White House” is listed. with an eclectic menu including rabbit and rattlesnake sausage. elk osso bucco and buffalo short ribs.

Outside the park, Choice Hotels’ Comfort Inn & Suites in Custer is suggested (rates start at $140 or 25,000 Choice Privileges points per night).

Day Three: Crazy Horse Memorial to Rapid City
Drive the Needles Highway, surrounded by needlelike granite points, to the Crazy Horse Memorial to see the impressive work-in-progress sculpture honoring the legendary Native American chief.

Also visit the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center. Have lunch at the on-site Laughing Water Restaurant, featuring Native American foods like tatanka stew and fry bread tacos.

End the trip in Rapid City. Set aside time to browse the massive Prairie Edge Trading Company & Galleries, featuring handmade Plains Indian arts and crafts, Native American galleries and an Italian glass bead library.

Spend the night at the historic Hotel Alex Johnson, part of the Hilton Curio Collection (rates start at $141 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night). The guide points to the lobby with Native American details like a chandelier made out of spears and an exquisitely painted ceiling.

Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia to North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is described as a 469-mile scenic drive connecting Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The route suggests flying into Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO) or Dulles International Airport (IAD), ending in Asheville. You can fly out of Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) or the nearby Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP). about an hour’s drive over the border in South Carolina.

Day One: Charlottesville to Blowing Rock
Start in Charlottesville, Virginia. Family history stops include Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, his former home and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Virginia Discovery Museum and IX Art Park are also described as fun for the whole family.

Stroll the pedestrian mall to visit shops, cafes and restaurants, then swing by the Dairy Market food hall. Continue on the parkway to Natural Bridge, a tall limestone arch dubbed “Nature’s Cathedral.”

Stop in Roanoke for lunch at Mama Jeans BBQ or at Pop’s Ice Cream & Soda Bar, which has a grilled cheese menu in addition to soda and ice cream.

For photos, stop at Mabry Mill, dating back to 1905, where the millhouse sells freshly milled buckwheat flour as a souvenir.

Cross into North Carolina and make the next stop in Blowing Rock. Stretch your legs on Main Street for gift and souvenir shops, fudge stores and antique shops.

Stay using IHG One Rewards points at Holiday Inn Express Blowing Rock South (rates start at $104 or 19,000 points per night).

Days Two and Three: Asheville
Visit the Tweetsie Railroad, a train-themed amusement park with historic steam locomotives, Wild West shows and rides. If kids are up for it, hike one of the 11 trails at Grandfather Mountain, with the Mile High Swinging Bridge offering panoramic views.

Then go to Linville Falls for twin waterfalls rushing into Linville Gorge. Drive the rest of the way to Asheville.

Asheville attractions include the Biltmore, the Vanderbilts’ expansive mansion and grounds; the Asheville Art Museum; the Asheville Pinball Museum; Western North Carolina Nature Center; the River Arts District; and Pisgah National Forest.

The guide lists kid-friendly food picks including Chai Pani, Neng Jr.’s, Luella’s BBQ and Asheville Pizza & Brewing, plus treats from Hole Doughnuts, OWL Bakery and French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe.

For points stays, use Marriott Bonvoy points at AC Asheville Hotel Downtown (rates start at $146 or 48,000 points per night). Or use Hilton Honors points at The Foundry Hotel, a repurposed industrial building turned hotel part of the Curio Collection (rates start at $225 or 73,000 points per night).

Bottom line

Road trips, the roundup concludes, don’t have to mean covering as much ground as possible at high speed. The routes it lays out focus on sights and experiences along the way, giving families a drive that feels like part of the vacation.

Editor’s note: Hotel prices were accurate at the time of publish; therefore, prices may be more, less or no longer available when booking.

family road trips 2026 summer 2026 vacations United States road trip itineraries hotel points Marriott Bonvoy Hilton Honors World of Hyatt IHG One Rewards Curio Collection by Hilton kid-friendly attractions