There’s something about a road trip with kids that feels different to any other type of holiday. You’re not just getting somewhere, you’re travelling. The journey becomes part of the story, and the freedom to stop when something catches your eye (or when someone urgently needs the loo) is something a beach resort simply doesn’t give you.
We’ve done all of the road trips below as a family, flying out to the start point and picking up a hire car on arrival. Some are long-haul, some are a short flight away, and one doesn’t leave the UK at all. What they have in common is that I’d do every single one again, and I get asked about all of them regularly enough that it made sense to pull them together into one list.
Routes in this guide:
Routes we’ve loved
1. Ireland: Cork to Dublin via the Wild Atlantic Way
The route: Cork → Killarney → Dingle → Cliffs of Moher → Galway → Connemara → Dublin
Fly into: Cork (under 2 hours from London)
Ireland is one of the most naturally road-trip-friendly countries I’ve been to, thanks to the famous Irish hospitality if nothing else. Distances are short, the scenery changes constantly, and you’re never far from somewhere worth stopping. We flew into Cork and drove the length of the west coast over 10 days before finishing in Dublin, and it’s a route I’d recommend to anyone, with or without children.
Our highlights: cycling around Killarney National Park, the Cliffs of Moher at dawn before the crowds arrived, the absolute magic of the Connemara (we stayed at Lough Inagh Lodge and it was one of the best hotel settings we’ve stayed in), and Galway’s easy, walkable energy. And I mean it when I say that Irish hospitality is something else. B&Bs here are everywhere and an experience in itself.
Best time to go: May to September. We went in June and found it ideal with mild, long days, and slightly quieter than peak July/August.
2. The Florida Keys
The route: Miami → Key Largo → Islamorada → Marathon → Key West
Fly into: Miami (around 9.5 hours from London)
Drive south from Miami on the Overseas Highway and you understand quickly why this Florida road trip has such a devoted following. The ocean appears on both sides of the road, the speed limit drops, and everything slows down in the best possible way.
Our highlights: the water is warm and calm enough for little ones, the vibe is almost tropical, and there’s so much to do, like snorkelling at John Pennekamp, kayaking through mangroves, and spotting manatees from the dock. And that’s before you get to Key West.
Best time to go: November to April avoids the summer heat and hurricane season. We went in early December and it was perfect. Pick up a car in Miami – it’s an easy and affordable drive. We compare rates with Discover Cars.
3. The US East Coast into Georgia and up to Washington DC
The route: Atlanta (airport base) → Georgia → Charleston → North Myrtle Beach → Richmond → Washington DC
Fly into: Atlanta (around 9.5 hours from London)
Atlanta is one of the biggest airport hubs in the US, which makes it a practical entry point for this whole stretch of the East Coast. We drove straight into Georgia, and headed for Charleston which was gorgeous with its southern charm and pastel-coloured houses.
Our highlights: I loved Charleston, and from there we headed to North Myrtle Beach for four nights, which was a brilliant beach break in the middle of the trip. We then headed north to Richmond, Virginia (underrated, great for families who like history) and finished in Washington DC. The DC leg could fill a week on its own, as the Smithsonians are free, the monuments are spectacular at night, and the whole city is more child-friendly than you might expect.
Best time to go: April to June or September to October is ideal. Summer in the South is hot and humid – we found June manageable, but we wouldn’t want it any hotter and a tad cooler would have been more comfortable for sightseeing with young children.
Drive time: around 11–12 hours total across the full route – best spread over 10–14 days. We compare hire car rates with Discover Cars.
4. New England: Boston to Montreal via Vermont
The route: Boston → Stowe → Waterbury → Burlington → Montreal (return via New Hampshire, or the same route in reverse)
Fly into: Boston (around 6.5 hours from London)
This was R’s first American adventure and one we’ll never forget. We picked up a hire car from Boston and drove north. The highways are easy and the scenery is stunning once you’re in Vermont.
Our highlights: Vermont deserves more than a quick pass-through. We based ourselves in the mountain town of Stowe, which was a much-loved stop for us. We stayed at The Green Mountain Inn and it was excellent, and the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour in Waterbury is a fun novelty stop. Rather than driving straight up the Interstate, we took the scenic route north via the islands of Lake Champlain which added barely any time.
We crossed into Canada and spent a few days in Montreal, which was a real highlight compared to what we expected. On the way back, looping south through New Hampshire gives you a completely different perspective on the region and some beautiful scenery through the White Mountains.
Best time to go: September and October is supposed to be spectacular for the foliage, but the summer is lovely for outdoor activities – we went in August and it was perfect.
5. Boston to Cape Cod
The route: Boston → Cape Cod (Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Provincetown)
Fly into: Boston (around 6.5 hours from London)
Cape Cod can be bolted onto the Vermont/Montreal loop or done as a standalone trip. The drive south from Boston takes under two hours, and what you arrive at feels like stepping back in time: shingled houses, lobster shacks, wide sandy beaches, and a pace of life that’s wonderfully slow.
Our highlights: we based ourselves in Harwich, right in the middle of the Cape, which put us within easy reach of everything. Bank Street and Red River Beach are brilliant for little ones – calm, shallow water and gorgeous sand. The lobster roll at Chatham Pier Fish Market while watching the seals pop up below the pier was one of the best things we ate on the whole trip. Daily walks along the Cape Cod Rail Trail (flat, shaded, and endlessly pram-friendly) and Sundae School ice cream in Harwich round it all out perfectly.
Best time to go: July and August for the beach, given Cape Cod is a summer destination, though June and September are lovely if you don’t mind slightly cooler water.
6. The Scottish Highlands
The route: Inverness → Loch Ness → Glenfinnan → Isle of Skye → back to Inverness
Fly into: Inverness (around 1.5 hours from London, or a very scenic overnight sleeper train)
You don’t need to go long-haul for a great family road trip. The Scottish Highlands are world class, and Inverness is an easy domestic flight from most UK airports.
Our highlights: we drove this loop with R and had such a magical time with all seasons of weather appearing during our 10-day April stay. Loch Ness is beautiful and the monster spotting is taken very seriously indeed, plus the drive out to the Glenfinnan Viaduct (yes, the Harry Potter one) was really worthwhile, and then we had the Isle of Skye as the centrepiece: dramatic, wild, and endlessly photogenic. The Fairy Pools, the Old Man of Storr, and Neist Point lighthouse are all unmissable.
Best time to go: May to September is typically best, although we loved April and had sun, snow and rain (sometimes in one day). July and August can be busy on Skye so May (out of school holidays) would be our recommendation.
7. Croatia and Montenegro
The route: Split → Brač island → Dubrovnik → Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Fly into: Split (around 2.5 hours from London)
The Dalmatian coast is spectacular thanks to endless turquoise water, ancient walled towns, pine-covered islands, and a very manageable family drive.
Our highlights: Crossing into Montenegro and driving towards the Bay of Kotor was pretty memorable, with mountains dropping straight into the water, the walled old town of Kotor, and tiny churches on islands in the middle of the bay. We also took the ferry across to Brač early in the trip, which gave us a few days of proper beach time before heading south towards Dubrovnik.
Best time to go: May, June or September are best, as July and August are peak season on the Dalmatian coast and it gets very busy and expensive. Early June is our pick: warm enough to swim, not yet overwhelmingly crowded.
8. New York and the Hamptons
The route: New York City → The Hamptons (East Hampton, Montauk)
Fly into: JFK or Newark (around 7 hours from London)
I did this trip before R arrived and it’s one I’m most keen to revisit as a family. A few days in New York followed by driving out to the Hamptons for beach time is always a winning combination.
Our highlights: New York City is always going to be top of our highlight list, but Montauk at the far eastern tip of Long Island has the most beautiful beaches. We also loved cycling round the town of East Hampton, tasting the seafood and revelling in the picture-perfect streets and enjoying the spontaneous beach parties with fire pits and marshmallows.
When we went, we took the Jitney bus from the city and hired bikes once we were there, which was perfect for two adults. But with a toddler in tow, having a car makes more sense and gives you much more flexibility to explore beyond the main villages. If we did it again with kids we’d hire a car from the city and drive out.
Best time to go: You can see New York City in all seasons but for The Hamptons, you really want to plan a summer trip so it’s warm enough for the beach.
9. Nashville, the Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge
The route: Nashville → Great Smoky Mountains → Pigeon Forge → Charlotte
Fly into: Nashville (around 9–10 hours from London) and then fly home from Charlotte
We did this trip just before R came along and it’s one I can’t wait to redo. The combination of Nashville’s energy, the Smokies’ outdoor space, and the sheer fun of Pigeon Forge makes for a varied road trip that works at multiple ages.
Our highlights: Nashville is an easy city to spend a couple of days in as it’s walkable, friendly, and with enough going on beyond the music scene to keep everyone happy. I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit with a toddler, as the listening rooms are the best bit, but it works well as a starting point for a road trip. From there you drive southeast into Tennessee, and the scenery builds gradually until you’re properly into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which is free to enter and offers plenty of accessible trails.
Pigeon Forge is the natural next stop and unashamedly family-oriented. Dollywood anchors the area, but there’s plenty else around it (we actually didn’t stop at Dollywood but sure will next time). It’s not a subtle place, but children love it and it makes a fun contrast to the quieter mountain sections either side.
From there, Atlanta is a straightforward drive and a well-connected airport for the flight home. Or if you have longer, you could tag on a beach stop in the Outer Banks or fly from Charlotte to Cancun, like we did!
Best time to go: May to June or September to October. The Smokies are extremely busy in peak summer and the October foliage period so autumn visits give you much more breathing room on the trails.
Family-friendly road trips: what’s on the wish list
In October this year we’re doing our next US road trip, this time from San Francisco via Yosemite and down to Palm Springs and then San Diego. We can’t wait!
And below are some more routes I haven’t done yet but am actively planning, so I thought I’d share as further inspo:
- Chicago → St Louis → Route 66. Albeit a section of the classic rather than the whole thing, driving the original Route 66 corridor between Chicago and St Louis gives you the diners, the roadside Americana, and the sense of another era without it becoming a month-long commitment.
- Boston → Portland, Maine → Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor. A tighter New England loop with dramatic coastal scenery and fewer crowds than Cape Cod.
- New York → Philadelphia → Washington DC. A classic East Coast corridor with Philly as a brilliant, underrated middle stop.
- Las Vegas → Zion National Park → Grand Canyon → Los Angeles. The scale of Zion and the Grand Canyon is something children respond to in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
- Nashville → Memphis → New Orleans. My parents have done this music road trip route and rate it highly. Three cities, three completely different musical histories (country, blues, and jazz) with the Mississippi running through all of it. Probably one to save until the kids are teenagers, when the late nights and live music venues become part of the appeal rather than a logistical challenge.
Tips for road tripping with young children
A few things we’ve learned across all of these routes:
- Book your hire car early. Prices spike on popular routes, particularly in summer. We book our US car hire through Discover Cars and our European road trips through Auto Europe.
- Travel light and hire what you need on arrival. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned road tripping with R is not to take too much stuff. For US trips especially, we hire baby equipment like high chairs and toys through BabyQuip, which delivers directly to your accommodation and collects at the end. R loves a whole set of new toys to keep him busy in the evenings! Read more about our experience using BabyQuip and how it works.
- Hire a decent, comfortable car. This sounds obvious but a spacious SUV with good air conditioning, easy boot access, and a smooth ride makes a real difference over long driving days with children.
- Build in more days than you think you need. Road trips always take longer than the map suggests, especially when you want to bake in time to relax.
- Pack a cooler bag. Not just for car drinks and snacks, but for taking milk and other refrigerated items from A to B.
- Check car seat rules before you go. Requirements vary by country and by hire company. We have a full guide to travel car seats that’s worth reading before you book – and make sure you have the right family travel insurance in place too.
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