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The most iconic kind of road trip you may undertake is a cross-country trip across the United States, offering sweeping highways, dramatic landscapes, and snapshots of the American cultural mosaic. Major attractions attract mostly tourists, yet the most fascinating part of traveling is the minor sights and cities that are located right next to a main highway.
These nonlinear destinations add depth, personality, and discovery, making a journey to the country memorable. So whether you are a complete cross-country drive novice, or have been on adventurous rental car trips in Costa Rica, Europe and beyond, keep reading.
The Whispering Dunes of Monahans, Texas
Most individuals who are in a hurry and travelling on I-20 are usually concerned with reaching their key destinations, such as Dallas or El Paso. Still, few people know that one of the most surreal scenes in the region lies in between. Monahans Sandhills State Park is a piece of the Sahara that is planted in West Texas. Tourists can also explore miles of shifting dunes, watch the sunset turn the sand gold, or even try sandboarding. It is silent, supernatural, and exceptionally uncongested, and thus a great spot to stop and drink in the openness of the southwest.
Time Capsule Town of Abilene, Kansas
The majority of vehicles traveling in Kansas follow the major interstates and rarely visit the small towns scattered across the state. One of such neglected treasures is Abilene. It is famous as the childhood residence of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and it has a nostalgic past with its pavements made of bricks, old stores and railroad history. The town is like time frozen, and it provides a very unwonted but delightful detour for anyone who takes an interest in either American history or the old Midwestern ambience. It is a place where you can amble, have a peaceful lunch, and reset to continue your trip.
Quiet Corners of Arizona’s Painted Desert
Painted Desert, a section of Petrified Forest National Park, is also a well-known destination, yet it is oddly under-trafficked compared to other desert attractions in the Southwest. Those who go off the main highways discover a landscape intermingled with a series of overlapping stretches of red, lavender and pink across the horizon. The morning and late-afternoon light shine, making the area a dream. Since it is less congested than nearby attractions, the Painted Desert offers peace, quiet, and a sense of grandeur that many travellers do not get to experience.
Mysterious Carhenge in Nebraska
A short distance north of the small town of Alliance, Nebraska, is one of the most unique roadside constructions of America. Carhenge is a full-sized replica of England’s Stonehenge, constructed entirely of old cars, and is whimsical, disorienting, and oddly beautiful at the same time. Visitors who accidentally discover it are inclined to say it is a surreal piece of art that appears out of nowhere in the plains. It reminds us that America is reeking with bizarre highway frugality that succeeds outside major metropolitan areas. It provides a welcome, comic, and inquisitive experience to cross-country drivers.
Riverfront Charm of Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is situated on the Mississippi River, blending scenic beauty with historic architecture in a way most road travellers can barely imagine. It has steep hills, river views, and residential areas with fine 19th-century houses. The Fenelon Place Elevator is the shortest and steepest scenic railway in the world, which provides a panorama of 3 states. Dubuque is a charming and picturesque oasis between the endless expanse of the highway and a view of the Midwest’s more feminine, scenic side.
The Mysterious Glow of the Great Basin’s Night Sky in Nevada
When visiting the US-50, the so-called Loneliest Road in America, Great Basin National Park is easily bypassed, yet it is considered one of the most peaceful and untouched natural areas in the country. The Lehman Caves, the ancient bristlecone trees, and the park’s mountainous scenery are amazing, but the night sky is what makes Great Basin stand out as one of the best places to see it. It has almost no light pollution, making it one of the best places for stargazing in the country. Being under the Milky Way and that quiet is something most cross-country drivers have not even thought they had missed.
A Coastal Calm of Port Townsend, Washington
And most visit either Seattle or Portland without even thinking of the silent beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. Port Townsend is a Victorian-era seaport that boasts artistic boutiques, a waterfront, and a slow, cosy vibe. The town has a distinctive character, thanks to its 19th-century buildings, and its position on the water offers some of the most relaxing coastal views on a cross-country trip to the Pacific Northwest. It is a serene destination of travelers who are completing their journey at the end of the continent.
A cross-country run is more than a walk along the coast to the other. It is an opportunity to see the neglected side of America, the places that are small yet gigantic in nature. These sub-destinations show the nation’s diversity, ingenuity, and silent beauty, even when the big attractions fail. Travellers who take a slight detour along the highway are exposed to a more intimate and unforgettable American road trip.
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