Ever dreamed of driving across America, watching the scenery change from cactus-covered deserts and towering red rocks to rolling green mountains, thundering waterfalls, and the rocky Atlantic coastline?
An Arizona to Maine road trip is the ultimate cross-country adventure, taking you through historic Route 66 towns, bustling cities packed with famous landmarks, incredible national parks, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.
But with thousands of miles to cover and so many amazing stops along the way, figuring out where to go can feel a little overwhelming!
That’s where this ultimate Arizona to Maine road trip itinerary comes in to help you plan an unforgettable adventure from the Southwest all the way to the East Coast!
1. Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona’s capital and the fifth-largest city in the United States, sits in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by rugged mountains and towering saguaro cacti, with more than 300 days of sunshine each year.
Start your adventure at Papago Park, where you can hike the short 0.2-mile Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, explore the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden, or visit the Phoenix Zoo, home to more than 3,000 animals.
For incredible city views, tackle the challenging 2.2-mile round-trip Echo Canyon Trail up Camelback Mountain, which rises to 2,704 feet above sea level.
Just note that only experienced hikers should do this trail and it’s rated as ‘extremely difficult’.
When you’re ready to do something less strenuous, explore the Heard Museum’s Native American art collections, grab a Sonoran-style Mexican meal in downtown Phoenix, or catch an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game at Chase Field!
2. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Once you’ve explored Phoenix, head to Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, where up to 225-million-year-old fossilized trees cover the desert floor in shades of red, purple, yellow, and orange, resembling colorful crystals.
The park stretches across 221,390 acres and is famous for its massive petrified logs, ancient fossils, Native American ruins, and the Painted Desert, all of which create some incredible views.
Drive the 28-mile scenic park road, with stops at Blue Mesa to hike the 1-mile loop through colorful badlands, and Crystal Forest, where a 0.75-mile trail winds past giant fossilized logs scattered across the ground.
Don’t miss a visit to Newspaper Rock, where you can spot more than 650 ancient petroglyphs carved into dark rocks, some dating back over 2,000 years!
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
After exploring Arizona’s ancient landscapes, cross into New Mexico and head to Santa Fe, the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1610 and famous for its adobe buildings, Native American art, and delicious green chile dishes.
Start at the historic Santa Fe Plaza, where you can browse handmade jewelry sold by Native American artists outside the Palace of the Governors.
Next, explore the impressive Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, then wander along Canyon Road, home to more than 100 art galleries showcasing everything from traditional Southwestern art to contemporary masterpieces.
For something more unique, visit Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, a massive interactive art experience filled with secret passages, colorful rooms, and mind-bending installations that you can actually walk through.
If you’re craving outdoor adventure, hike the 6.4-mile Atalaya Mountain Trail to enjoy sweeping views of Santa Fe and the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains!
4. Tucumcari, New Mexico
Your next stop?
Tucumcari, a small New Mexico town along historic Route 66, where vintage neon signs, old-school motels, and colorful roadside murals take you straight back to the golden age of American road trips.
Cruise down Tucumcari Boulevard to see the famous Blue Swallow Motel, a 1939 roadside landmark known for its glowing neon sign and classic garages, then stop by Tee Pee Curios, a quirky souvenir shop with a giant concrete teepee out front.
For a fun photo hunt, follow the town’s Route 66 murals, including colorful paintings celebrating classic cars, desert scenery, and the highway’s history.
Before hitting the road again, visit the Tucumcari Historical Museum, where exhibits explore Indian artifacts and Wild West history, making it a great place to discover the stories behind this classic American road-trip destination.
5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Route 66 leads you from Tucumcari into Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s capital, where cowboy culture, historic landmarks, and a canal lined with restaurants make for an exciting stop on your cross-country adventure.
Start in Bricktown, a former warehouse district where you can hop aboard a water taxi for a 40 to 45-minute cruise along the Bricktown Canal, admire colorful murals, or catch an Oklahoma City Comets baseball game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Next, visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, featuring more than 35,000 Western and Native American artworks and artifacts.
Then, explore the Oklahoma City National Memorial, honoring the 168 people killed in the 1995 bombing.
For something different, wander through the 15-acre Myriad Botanical Gardens, where you’ll find walking paths, beautiful gardens, and the tropical Crystal Bridge Conservatory!
6. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a small Arkansas town in the Ozark Mountains, famous for its natural springs, steep streets, and historic downtown filled with buildings dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Unlike most towns, downtown Eureka Springs has no traffic lights, and its narrow streets twist around the hills, passing colorful shops, art galleries, and the famous 1886 Crescent Hotel, which offers ghost tours and incredible mountain views!
For outdoor fun, visit Lake Leatherwood City Park, a 1,610-acre park with an 85-acre lake, hiking trails, and mountain biking routes, or explore Onyx Cave, a cave filled with fascinating rock formations.
Don’t miss Thorncrown Chapel, a stunning 48-foot-tall glass chapel tucked among the trees, featuring 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass.
7. St. Louis, Missouri
You’ll know you’ve reached St. Louis, Missouri, when the massive 630-foot Gateway Arch appears above the Mississippi River, marking the spot where countless pioneers began their journeys west during America’s expansion.
Take a tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch for incredible views of the city and river, then explore the free museum underneath to learn about the westward expansion and the people who shaped the region.
Next, head to Forest Park, a massive 1,300-acre green space that’s even bigger than New York City’s Central Park, where you can visit the free Saint Louis Zoo, explore the Saint Louis Art Museum, or stroll around the Grand Basin.
Before continuing your road trip, grab some famous St. Louis-style pizza with its thin, cracker-like crust and Provel cheese, or try toasted ravioli, a local favorite filled with meat or cheese.
8. Chicago, Illinois
Skyscrapers, deep-dish pizza, and stunning Lake Michigan views await in Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States.
It’s located along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and famous for its incredible architecture, world-class museums, and iconic waterfront attractions.
Start at Millennium Park, where you can snap photos with Cloud Gate, the giant mirrored sculpture nicknamed “The Bean.”
Then, stroll along the 1.25-mile Chicago Riverwalk or take a 90-minute architecture boat tour past some of the city’s most famous skyscrapers.
For unbeatable skyline views, head to Skydeck Chicago on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, where glass balconies extend 4.3 feet outside the building, a whopping 1,353 feet above the ground!
Before hitting the road again, explore Navy Pier’s 200-foot Centennial Wheel, relax along the 18-mile Lakefront Trail, or grab a famous Chicago-style hot dog loaded with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, dill pickles, and sport peppers.
9. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Next, head to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a 33,000-acre park near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, where the winding Cuyahoga River cuts through wooded hills, rocky cliffs, and historic farmland.
One of its biggest highlights is Brandywine Falls, a stunning 60-foot waterfall that tumbles over layers of sandstone and shale, with a 1.4-mile loop trail offering beautiful views from several lookout points.
For more adventure, hike the 1.8-mile Ledges Trail, which winds past massive moss-covered rock formations, narrow passageways, and towering sandstone cliffs, or explore the 20-mile Towpath Trail that follows the historic Ohio & Erie Canal.
You can also ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad through the park, passing forests, wetlands, and old canal towns while learning about the area’s fascinating history.
10. Niagara Falls, New York
Nothing quite prepares you for the roar of Niagara Falls, located on the New York-Canada border, where three massive waterfalls, the Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, send millions of gallons of water rushing over the cliffs every minute.
Start at Niagara Falls State Park, America’s oldest state park, established in 1885, where you can walk along scenic paths, explore Goat Island, and admire the 188-foot-tall Horseshoe Falls from Terrapin Point.
For an unforgettable adventure, hop aboard the Maid of the Mist boat tour, which takes you right beneath the American and Horseshoe Falls, or visit Cave of the Winds, where wooden walkways bring you within feet of the thundering Bridal Veil Falls.
If you have extra time, head to Whirlpool State Park for spectacular views of the Whirlpool and hiking opportunities along designated, open sections of the Niagara Gorge!
11. Stowe, Vermont
Covered bridges, mountain roads, and maple syrup shops await in Stowe, Vermont, a charming town in the Green Mountains that’s famous for its fall foliage, ski slopes, and picture-perfect white church steeples overlooking Main Street.
Start by exploring the 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path, a paved trail perfect for walking or biking past meadows, farms, and the West Branch of the Little River.
Then stop at the nearby Gold Brook Covered Bridge for some photos, better known as Emily’s Bridge, which dates back to 1844.
For mountain adventures, head to Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak at 4,395 feet, where you can drive the 4.5-mile Auto Toll Road for incredible views or hike the challenging 3.2-mile Sunset Ridge Trail.
Before continuing toward Maine, visit the nearby Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury for fresh apple cider, warm cider donuts, and Vermont maple syrup!
12. Acadia National Park, Maine
Your epic Arizona-to-Maine road trip ends at Acadia National Park, a spectacular 47,000-acre park on Maine’s Atlantic coast, where granite cliffs, rocky beaches, pine forests, and ocean views make for an unforgettable grand finale.
Drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island, stopping at Sand Beach and the roaring Thunder Hole before admiring Otter Cliff, a dramatic granite cliff rising 110 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
For an incredible sunrise, head to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern U.S. coastline at 1,530 feet, or hike the thrilling 1.4-mile Beehive Loop Trail, featuring iron ladders, steep ledges, and breathtaking coastal views.
Before wrapping up your adventure, explore the 45 miles of historic carriage roads, stroll around Jordan Pond, and head into nearby Bar Harbor for fresh Maine lobster rolls and homemade blueberry pie!
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