Experts at Audley Travel have analysed global Google Search
data to reveal the most popular road trips across the world, with
US routes coming out on top.
WITNEY, England, July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following analysis of global
Google search data, experts at Audley Travel are now able to
reveal the most popular road trip routes worldwide, with four of
the top five being based in the US.
What is it about US road trips that we love so much?
Audley Travel's USA experts
believe they know what makes the country so special for a
self-drive holiday.
"Only in North America can you
enjoy such wide open roads," says Audley USA expert Carl
Smith. "Some of these routes span the length of whole
countries — several countries even — and they boast a patchwork
quilt of landscapes to match.
It helps, too, that driving is such a fixture of the culture.
Road trips are as American as apple pie, especially along the gold
standard of US drives, Route 66.
"Nowhere illuminates nostalgia-tinged Americana quite like Route
66," remarks another Audley USA
specialist, Ellie Stone.
For a shorter, single-state journey, the Pacific Coast Highway
is another winning road trip. Audley specialist Ewan
Petrie recalls his time on this Californian coastal
road:
"It's like all your California
dreams come true. The counter-cultural streets of San Francisco, the glitz and glamour of LA,
the laidback surfer towns of Cambria and Huntington Beach…They're all tied
together on a trip along the Pacific Coast Highway.
As for the other two US road trips on the list — the classic New
England route and Blue Ridge Parkway — both are excellent options
for travellers looking to explore the splendours of the Eastern
Seaboard.
"Up in New England you have all these wild, windswept coastlines
and far-reaching salt marshes. They're all knitted together between
seaside towns of brightly coloured fishing boats and
weatherboard-clad homes, which you'd never see on a typical US city
break.
"Along the Blue Ridge Parkway," she continues, "it's the
national parks that take centre stage. Driving through Shenandoah
National Park, you'll pass city-sized valleys of blue-hazed maple,
birch, and poplar forests, but it's the overlooks that make the
journey so special.
Why are self-drive holidays so popular?
Audley's Carl Smith is of the opinion that driving
holidays give travellers greater freedom and flexibility.
"People like to explore the world in different ways at different
paces," he states. "A self-drive trip allows you to discover the
locations you want to see, take the stops you want to take, and do
it all in a time span that suits you best."
For those seeking alternatives to commonly travelled road trip
routes, check out Audley Travel's guide to lesser-known road trip
destinations in the US.
Full top five list:
- Route 66 — Chicago to
Santa Monica
- Pacific Coast Highway — San
Francisco to San
Diego
- New England road trip — Boston to Maine
- Green Ocean Road — Victoria,
Australia (joint 4th)
- Blue Ridge Parkway — Virginia to North
Carolina (joint 4th)
For more information
Nicole Barnard
tmwi, acting on behalf of Audley Travel
outreach@tmwi.co.uk
01789 404180
Note to editors:
Audley Travel is an expert in individually designed travel,
creating meaningful experiences in more than 80 destinations across
all seven continents. Its dedicated destination specialists use
their first-hand knowledge to plan your trip down to the finest
detail, choosing experiences that speak to your passions and
pairing you with local guides who are top of their field.
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