This Picturesque Road Trip Is the Most-searched Route in the U.S. — and It Passes by Mountains and Beaches

Put the pedal to the metal on the Pacific Coast Highway.

A whopping 75 percent of Americans said they planned to take a road trip in the summer of 2024, according to The Vacationer's summer travel survey. If you haven't hit the road yet this season, you better hop to it, as we only have a few weeks left until the fall air starts to set in. And if you need ideas on where you should go on said road trip, Rustic Pathways, a student travel company, has a list.

In late July, Rustic Pathways released its research on the most searched-for American road trips. It came to its conclusive list after compiling search terms relating to routes, including terms like "road trip," "itinerary," "The loneliest road," "Route 66," and "Hana Highway," and then assessed those terms using Google Keyword Planner to see the average monthly search term figures. The team added that "all search terms for the same routes (i.e., 'Hana Highway', 'Hana Highway road trip') were combined to give an overall monthly figure." The routes were then ranked by the most combined searches.

After looking at all the data, the team named the Pacific Coast Highway — also known as the PCH — the No. 1 route.

"Pacific Coast Highway is the most searched-for trip, with an average of over 257,000 monthly searches," the findings revealed. "The route covers the West Coast of America, running across California through Highway 1, and is known for its stunning coastal views. The route takes you along sites like Hollywood's Walk of Fame, Big Sur mountains, and scenic beaches such as Pismo and Huntington Beach."

20 'Secret' Spots Along the Pacific Coast Highway

California's iconic Highway 1 has many natural and historic attractions along the Central Coast, famous for its beaches and migrating whales. But there are also numerous "secret" spots along the coastal drive between San Francisco to the north and Los Angeles to the south (where Highway 1 becomes Pacific Coast Highway) — and one local has shared them with Travel + Leisure. Read more here.

And really, the PCH is heads above the rest when it comes to popularity. Coming in a distant second is Route 66, which has a still impressive 191,000 Google searches monthly.

"Perhaps the best-known internationally, Route 66 initially stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica, covering over 2,400 miles and passing through eight states," the findings added. "While it was removed from the U.S. Highway System in the 1980s, giving way to the interstate, the remaining parts still prove popular, and the historic route even has multiple museums dedicated to its history."

Interestingly, third place also went to California, with "Big Sur Road Trip" taking the bronze spot thanks to its 172,000 monthly searches. The trip takes you down a specific section of California’s Highway 1 and provides some of the most stunning views on earth, with panoramic ocean vistas and famed spots like the Bixby Creek Bridge and the McWay Falls along the way.

Blue Ridge Parkway came in fourth with 112,000 monthly searches, followed by Hana Highway, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Oregon Trail, the Southern Pacific route, the Beartooth Highway, and the Lincoln Highway rounding out the top 10.

And really, as Shayne Fitz-Coy, the CEO of Rustic Pathways, said, any and all of these would make for a fantastic journey this summer and beyond. “Road trips have long been a staple of the American summer. Plus, there are so many iconic scenic routes to choose from," Fitz-Coy said. “Traveling with family and friends provides that exciting adventure and can open your eyes to the beauty of our country, all within the confines of your car. You pair this with a great playlist, and you're in for one of the best trips of your life.” 

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