Prepping & Packing for Your Road Trip
Before setting off, you need to make sure your INFINITI is serviced and stocked with everything youll need for your trip — and anything you might need in case of an emergency, too. Visit your local retailer for any oil changes and a complimentary brake check, and shop online for genuine replacement parts to equip your vehicle with the right parts.
In addition to your luggage, there are a few safety items youll want to bring along on your trip. In fact, its wise to keep a few items in your car at all times, including water bottles, an emergency roadside kit, a USB cable, a phone charger, and a blanket.
Naturally, youll be spending a ton of time in your car when youre taking a road trip. An INFINITI cargo organizer and cargo net can help keep everything organized and easily accessible, while a cargo cover will conceal your belongings while youre out having fun.
Before hitting the road, its a good idea to equip the right tires on your INFINITI. All-season and all-weather tires can help keep you going mile after mile on the scenic American backroads, while all-terrain tires can help take you off the beaten path with confidence. Visit your local INFINITI service center, and our INFINITI technicians can help pair your vehicle with the right set of tires for your next adventure.
Road Trip Routes
Pacific Coast Highway/US Highway 101
Olympic National Park, WA to Orange County, CA
A famous route and easily one of the best summer road trip ideas, youll see everything from lush forest to sunny beaches on your trip down the Pacific coast. Start in Washingtons Olympic Peninsula and choose your adventure as you head south. Make stops in “Dune Country” Oregon, San Francisco, Monterey, San Simeon, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Dana Point… to name just a few options!
Protecting your car from heat is key as you travel in the California sunshine during the summer months. Accessories like windshield shades and cargo liners and covers can protect your INFINITIs cargo spaces from sun damage, while leather conditioners and specialized waxes can keep both the interior and exterior surfaces in tip top condition.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Afton, VA to Cherokee, NC
The Blue Ridge Parkway is nicknamed “Americas Favorite Drive,” and if you drive a few miles on it, youll quickly see why. The 469-mile parkway winds through the Appalachians and offers drivers jaw-dropping mountain, river, waterfall, and canyon views. Some of the attractions you might include on your itinerary are the Natural Bridge, the Blue Ridge Music Center, Linville Falls, Chimney Rock State Park, and the Biltmore estate.
Many of the natural attractions on your trip boast perfect biking trails, so bring your bike along! With a hitch mount bike rack, you can pack it without wasting any precious trunk space.
Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway
Taos, NM
The 83-mile Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway starts and ends in magical Taos, New Mexico. The loop will take you through Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Questa, New Mexico, with each stop offering sights and attractions unique to this region of the United States.
Some of the must-sees include Taos Pueblo, Carson National Forest, the Red River, Eagle Nest Lake State Park, The San Antonio del Rio Colorado Church, and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Of course, youll also need to stop for some authentic New Mexican cuisine!
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway
Miami to Key West, FL
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway proves that there is such a thing as a tropical road trip. Nicknamed “the Highway that Goes to Sea,” this 113-mile path of roads and bridges will take you from Miami to Key West, over crystal blue waters and through swaying palm trees.
A few of the best road trip destinations include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Dolphin Cove, Seven Mile Bridge, Pigeon Key, Bahia Honda State Park, Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, and Dry Tortugas National Park. Dont forget your sunscreen!
National Parks Road Trip
Jackson, WY to Glacier County, MT
If youre a nature lover, this road trip that goes through not one, not two, but three national parks might be your idea of the best summer road trip. Start at Grand Teton National Park, where you can relax on the shores of Jenny Lake, hike Lake Creek Trail, or venture out to camp at Curtis Canyon.
From there, head north to Yellowstone National Park, home of Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Finally, youll embark on a seven-hour drive through Montana to reach Glacier National Park, where you can explore Lake McDonald, hike the Iceberg Lake Trail, or take a picturesque boat tour.
The Great River Road
Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA
The Great River Road, which starts in northern Minnesota and extends to the Gulf of Mexico, traces the course of the Mississippi River through ten states. While ambitious road trippers can certainly drive the entire thing, the stretch from Memphis to New Orleans offers 400 scenic miles through big cities and small towns alike, and plenty of things to see and do.
Route 66
Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA
You simply cant create a list of road trips without including Route 66, the most iconic cross country road trip of all. While the original Route 66 is no longer, you can still drive approximately 80% of it (though it may require a bit of extra homework). The route is about 2,500 miles long and goes through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California – which means listing the top roadside attractions would be futile. There are hundreds! However, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site (Springfield, IL), the Gateway Arch (Saint Louis, MO), the Blue Whale (Catoosa, OK), the 66 Diner (Albuquerque, NM), Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX), Petrified Forest National Park (AZ), and the Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, CA) are some of the most famous stops. Before you set your cruise control, make sure your INFINITI is ready for the trip by purchasing genuine replacement parts from INFINITI Parts for your repair and maintenance needs. Head to your local INFINITI service center for professional installation.