California's Highway 1 is the quintessential American coastal drive. The route winds along dramatic cliffs, past hidden beaches, through charming towns, and across iconic bridges. Start in Los Angeles with its beaches and culture, then drive north through Santa Barbara (Spanish architecture, wine tasting), Pismo Beach (sand dunes, monarch butterflies), Hearst Castle (historic mansion), Big Sur (McWay Falls, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach), Monterey (Cannery Row, aquarium), Carmel-by-the-Sea (fairytale cottages), Santa Cruz (beach boardwalk), Half Moon Bay, and finish in San Francisco. The one-way rental works perfectly here – fly into LA, drive north, and fly out of San Francisco. Spring and fall offer the best weather; summer brings fog but warmer temperatures inland.

Must-see stops: Big Sur, Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Monterey Aquarium, 17-Mile Drive, Santa Barbara Mission, Hearst Castle.

The reverse direction of the classic PCH route. Start in San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and head south along the coast. The same stunning scenery awaits, but you'll be driving on the ocean side of the road for most of the route, offering better pull-off opportunities for photos. Key stops include Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Malibu, and Los Angeles. One-way rentals work just as well in this direction. Many rental companies offer $0 drop fees on this popular relocation route.

Must-see stops: Golden Gate Bridge, Big Sur, Monterey Aquarium, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, Malibu beaches.

This epic route takes you through California's redwood forests, Oregon's dramatic coastline, and Washington's lush landscapes. Start in San Francisco, drive north through the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, visit Redwood National and State Parks (home to the tallest trees on Earth), cross into Oregon and explore Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, continue through Oregon Dunes, Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock), and Astoria, then cross the Columbia River into Washington and finish in Seattle. Summer is ideal for this route; winter brings rain and possible road closures.

Must-see stops: Redwood National Park, Avenue of the Giants, Cannon Beach, Oregon Dunes, Seattle (Space Needle, Pike Place Market).

The reverse direction of the Redwood Coast route. Start in Seattle, drive south through Washington's coastal forests, cross into Oregon, explore Cannon Beach and the Oregon Dunes, visit the redwoods in Northern California, and finish in San Francisco. The scenery is equally spectacular in both directions. Summer offers the best weather, but the route is beautiful year-round – just be prepared for rain in winter.

Must-see stops: Seattle, Cannon Beach, Oregon Dunes, Redwood National Park, Avenue of the Giants, San Francisco.

A short but sweet coastal drive through Southern California's best beach towns. Start in San Diego with its Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, and world-famous zoo. Drive north along the coast through Oceanside, Laguna Beach (art galleries, coves), Newport Beach, Huntington Beach (Surf City USA), and finish in Los Angeles (Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Hollywood). This route is perfect for a long weekend or as part of a longer California trip. The Mediterranean climate makes it enjoyable year-round.

Must-see stops: San Diego Zoo, La Jolla Cove, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach Pier, Santa Monica Pier.

The reverse direction of the SoCal beach hop. Start in Los Angeles, drive south through Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Oceanside, and finish in San Diego. The route follows the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) for much of the way, with ocean views throughout. This is one of the cheapest one-way routes with frequent $0 drop fee promotions.

Must-see stops: Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, La Jolla, San Diego Zoo.

This route takes you from Oregon's largest city through the Cascade Mountains to the high desert of Central Oregon. Start in Portland with its food carts, bookstores, and gardens. Drive east on Highway 26, stop at Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge), continue through the Warm Springs Reservation, and finish in Bend, a outdoor recreation paradise with craft breweries, hiking, and the Deschutes River. Summer offers hiking and mountain biking; winter brings world-class skiing at Mount Bachelor.

Must-see stops: Portland (Powell's Books, Rose Garden), Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge), Smith Rock State Park, Bend (breweries, Old Mill District).

The reverse direction of the Portland to Bend route. Start in Bend, drive west through the Cascades, visit Mount Hood, and finish in Portland. The scenery includes volcanic landscapes, pine forests, and stunning mountain views. This short but spectacular route is perfect for a weekend getaway.

Must-see stops: Bend, Smith Rock State Park, Mount Hood, Portland.

Explore Washington's premier wine regions on this scenic drive across the state. Start in Seattle, drive east through the Cascade Mountains (Snoqualmie Pass), visit the Yakima Valley wine region, continue to the Tri-Cities (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco), and finish in Walla Walla, home to over 120 wineries. This route is best in late spring through fall when the vineyards are in full production and the mountain passes are clear.

Must-see stops: Snoqualmie Falls, Yakima Valley wineries, Palouse Falls State Park, Walla Walla wineries and downtown.

While technically a loop, you can start in Seattle and end in Portland after exploring the Olympic Peninsula. Take a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, drive to Olympic National Park (Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach), continue south along the Washington Coast to Astoria, Oregon, then east to Portland. This route offers rainforest, mountains, coastline, and lighthouses. Summer is the best time for access to Hurricane Ridge; winter brings snow and road closures.

Must-see stops: Olympic National Park (Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest), Ruby Beach, Cape Disappointment, Astoria (Goonies house), Portland.

This route takes you through five of Utah's most spectacular national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. Start in Las Vegas, drive to Zion National Park (Angels Landing, The Narrows), continue to Bryce Canyon (hoodoos, amphitheater), cross through Capitol Reef (scenic drive, pie at Gifford Homestead), visit Arches (Delicate Arch) and Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), then finish in Denver. Spring and fall offer mild temperatures; summer can be extremely hot in the desert; winter brings snow to higher elevations but fewer crowds.

Must-see stops: Zion NP (Angels Landing), Bryce Canyon NP, Arches NP (Delicate Arch), Canyonlands NP, Monument Valley (detour).

The reverse direction of the Mighty 5 route. Start in Denver, drive west through the Rocky Mountains, then enter Utah and visit Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion, finishing in Las Vegas. The scenery is equally spectacular in both directions. This is one of the most popular one-way rental routes for national park enthusiasts.

Must-see stops: Denver, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, Las Vegas.

An extended version of the Mighty 5 that adds the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Mesa Verde. Start in Las Vegas, drive to the Grand Canyon (South Rim), then continue to Monument Valley (iconic sandstone buttes), visit Mesa Verde National Park (cliff dwellings), then drive through Utah's Mighty 5, and finish in Denver. This is a bucket-list route for any road trip enthusiast. Allow at least 10 days to avoid rushing.

Must-see stops: Grand Canyon South Rim, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde NP, Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP.

Drive through the heart of the Rocky Mountains on this spectacular route. Start in Denver, drive west to Rocky Mountain National Park (Trail Ridge Road), continue through the mountain towns of Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen, cross into Utah, visit Dinosaur National Monument, and finish in Salt Lake City. Summer offers wildflowers and accessible high passes; fall brings golden aspens. Winter is for skiers only – many passes close.

Must-see stops: Rocky Mountain NP (Trail Ridge Road), Vail, Aspen, Glenwood Springs (hot springs), Park City, Salt Lake City.