Self-Guided Driving Tours

It’s been a long couple of years. You deserve a vacation. It’s time to travel! October is the time of the year for a road trip! Now is the time to start planning your fantastic holiday. Only one thing, how do you decide where to go? Here are ten ideas to help you get started on your self-guided driving tour.

Yellowstone

Let’s start with a classic. Yellowstone is THE quintessential national park experience. You probably know it as the home of Old Faithful, but there are dozens of other geysers, waterfalls, and hot springs to discover! And the local wildlife loves it too. Yellowstone is home to the most significant population of grizzly bears in the contiguous U.S., and it’s the only place in the country you’ll still find wild bison.

The Grand Canyon

The majesty of nature is on full display at the Grand Canyon! There’s no way to explain the massive scale and breathtaking beauty–– you have to see it to believe it. The driving tour will point you to all the best vistas and hiking trails so you can appreciate this natural wonder to the max.

Grand Canyon - Dusk Resized — Grand Canyon – Dusk Resized

Maui, Hawaii

Let’s say a tropical getaway is more your speed. In that case, consider the Hana Highway tour in Maui. You won’t get a more comprehensive look at Hawaii than this. The 65-mile road takes you past glorious beaches, waterfalls, botanical gardens, and even volcanoes. Along the way, the app tells you all about the island’s unique history and culture.

Road to Hana - Haleakala National Park — Road to Hana – Haleakala National Park

Gettysburg

History buffs will LOVE Gettysburg! The battlefield tour takes you back in time to the most pivotal moment in the American Civil War. The narrated audio reconstructs the battle so you can imagine exactly what these fields looked like 150 years ago.

Ghosts of Gettysburg

The Civil War was bloody and intense; it’s no wonder that it spawned many spooky ghost stories. If you’re into the supernatural side of history, let me direct you to the Ghosts of Gettysburg self-guided driving tour! All the most famous local legends are combined into one continuous driving route.

Great Smoky Mountains

While we’re talking about the East Coast, there’s plenty to explore along the Appalachian Trail. I especially love Great Smoky Mountain National Park, located between North Carolina and Tennessee. From a Cherokee campout to a pioneer town to a nature preserve, the valley is stocked full of exciting stories waiting to be heard.

Great Smoky - Geology — Great Smoky – Geology

San Francisco

National parks are incredible, but the city can be just as astounding! A self-guided tour is the best way to navigate through the maze of streets in San Francisco, from City Hall to Chinatown to the Golden Gate Bridge. I especially recommend this drive if you’re a movie lover–– so much of the city has made its way into famous Hollywood moments.

Cape Cod and Provincetown

New England is a fantastic vacation destination any time of year! The most popular place to spend the summer is Provincetown, or “P-Town,” as the locals call it. After the whaling industry ended, this remote fishing town became a bohemian artist colony, and it’s remained a haven for creative-minded nonconformists ever since. During the long drive out to the P-Town peninsula, the app tells stories about the beaches, lighthouses, and marine wildlife you pass along the way.

Houston

If anyone in your travel crew loves space, you can’t miss Houston, home to NASA headquarters! The two-hour tour through Texas culminates in the incredible Johnson Space Center, operating since 1958. But Houston is more than just rocket science. You can visit any number of other museums and historical sites along the way!

The Florida Keys

How far can a driving tour take you? Take a look at the Florida Keys tour. You can drive down to the southernmost point in the continental United States–– 150 miles from mainland America! You’re in good company if you travel to Florida as a refreshing retreat. Many famous figures famously spent their winters in the Keys: Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and even former President Harry S Truman. Plus, where ELSE are you going to get a picture with a 40-foot-long lobster statue?