Best Road Trips to Take Across America — And Why National Car Rental Is My First Choice
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There’s a version of America you only ever see from a car window.
Not the America of airports and hotel lobbies — the other one. The one with empty highways that stretch to the horizon, roadside diners that haven’t changed since 1974, and national parks so vast and silent they make you feel genuinely small.
I’ve been chasing that version of America for years. And the one thing that’s made every trip better — smoother, more flexible, more enjoyable from the moment I land — is having the right rental car from the right company.
For me, that company is National Car Rental. Here’s why, and here are the road trips I’d recommend to anyone ready to actually see America.
Why I Choose National Car Rental Every Time
Before we get into the road trips themselves, it’s worth explaining why National keeps earning my loyalty — because it’s not just habit.
The Emerald Club is the main reason. It’s National’s free loyalty program, and what it means in practice is this: you land, you collect your bags, you walk straight to the Emerald Aisle, you pick whichever car you want, and you drive out. No counter. No forms. No one trying to sell you extras you didn’t ask for.
After a long flight, that experience — going from arrivals to the road in under 20 minutes — sets the tone for the whole trip. You feel in control from the start, which is exactly how a road trip should begin.
National also has locations at virtually every major US airport, which means whatever city your road trip starts in, there’s almost certainly a National location right there waiting for you.
Road Trip 1 — The Southwest Loop: Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon
This is the one that changes people.
Start in Las Vegas — fly in, pick up your National rental, and head northeast toward Zion National Park. The drive alone is something: the desert landscape shifts and deepens as you get closer, until suddenly you’re inside canyon walls that make everything feel ancient and enormous.
From Zion, head to Bryce Canyon — its amphitheaters of orange hoodoos are unlike anything else on earth. Then south to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, where no photo has ever done it justice and you just have to stand there and accept that it’s real.
The loop back through Sedona adds red rock scenery that feels almost cinematic. Plan for five to seven days minimum. Go slowly. Stop whenever something catches your eye. That’s the whole point.
Why you need a rental car: none of these parks have meaningful public transport between them. This trip is impossible without your own wheels — and with a National SUV, it’s one of the best experiences you’ll ever have.
Road Trip 2 — Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles
Six hundred miles of coastline. Cliffs dropping into the Pacific. Sea otters floating in kelp beds off Big Sur. The kind of drive that makes you pull over every twenty minutes because the view keeps getting better.
Pick up your rental at San Francisco International, point it south on Highway 1, and commit to taking your time. Stop in Half Moon Bay, spend a night in Carmel-by-the-Sea, drive through Big Sur with the windows down, and work your way through Malibu before dropping into Los Angeles.
This is a one-way trip — you’re not driving back the same route — which is why National’s one-way rental option matters. Pick up in San Francisco, drop off in LA, no doubling back required.
Three to four days is the minimum. Five is better. Resist the urge to rush it.
Road Trip 3 — New England in Fall: Boston Through Vermont & New Hampshire
October in New England is one of those travel experiences that genuinely lives up to the hype.
The foliage — deep crimson maples, golden birches, burnt orange oaks — covers entire hillsides in color that looks almost artificial. Small white-steepled towns appear around every bend. Farm stands sell apple cider and pumpkins by the road. The air is cold and clean and smells like something you can’t quite name.
Fly into Boston, collect your National rental, and head north into Vermont. Take back roads wherever possible — Route 100 through the Green Mountains is one of the most beautiful drives in the country. Cross into New Hampshire, drive through Franconia Notch, and loop back through Maine’s coast before returning to Boston.
Give yourself five or six days. Go slowly. Eat at every diner you pass. This is a trip for savoring, not rushing.
Road Trip 4 — The Florida Keys: Miami to Key West
The Overseas Highway is one of America’s most unique drives — 113 miles of road connecting a chain of islands, with the Atlantic on your left and the Gulf of Mexico on your right the whole way down.
Pick up your rental in Miami and head south. The Keys unfold at their own pace — stop in Key Largo for snorkeling, linger in Islamorada for the seafood, and keep going until you reach Key West, where the sunsets are a nightly event and the whole town shows up to watch.
This is a trip for slowing down. Two or three days each way, with as many stops as you feel like making. The whole point is to not be in a hurry.
What Makes National Car Rental Different on a Road Trip
A lot of rental companies are fine. National is consistently good — and on a road trip, that consistency matters more than you might expect.
A few things that stand out after years of renting with them:
The cars are well-maintained and reliable. On a long road trip, you need to trust the vehicle you’re in. I’ve never had a mechanical issue with a National rental — which isn’t something I can say about every company I’ve used.
The Emerald Aisle genuinely lets you choose. If you booked a midsize but there’s a full-size SUV sitting in the aisle, you can take it — and pay only the midsize rate. On a multi-day road trip with luggage, that upgrade matters.
Their app keeps everything in one place. Flight delayed? Change your pickup time in the app without calling anyone. Need to extend your rental because you’re staying an extra night in Sedona? Done in two minutes.
Customer support is reachable and helpful. On a long road trip, knowing that someone’s available if something goes wrong — a flat tyre, a lockout, anything — makes a real difference to how relaxed you feel behind the wheel.
The Road Is the Best Part
Every one of these trips has something in common: the best moments aren’t at the famous landmarks. They happen on the road between them — at an overlook you didn’t plan to stop at, in a town you’d never heard of, at a diner where the coffee is bad but the pie is extraordinary.
That’s the version of America worth chasing. And the only way to find it is with a rental car, a loose plan, and the freedom to follow whatever looks interesting.
National Car Rental has made every one of my US road trips smoother from the moment I land. If you haven’t tried them yet, start with the Emerald Club — it’s free, and the first time you walk past the rental counter and straight to your car, you’ll understand immediately why it’s worth it.
- A Few Questions About Renting with National
- What is the Emerald Club and how do I join?
The Emerald Club is National Car Rental’s free loyalty program. Members skip the rental counter entirely, walk directly to the Emerald Aisle at pickup, and choose their own vehicle — paying only the rate they booked. Joining is free and takes a few minutes online. Sign up before you book your first rental and the benefit applies immediately.
- Can I do a one-way rental with National?
Yes — National offers one-way rentals at most US locations, which is ideal for routes like the Pacific Coast Highway where you start in one city and end in another. A one-way fee may apply depending on the route, so check the details when booking.
- How far in advance should I book?
At least one to two weeks ahead for most trips. For peak travel periods — summer, Thanksgiving week, spring break, and fall foliage season in New England — book as early as possible. Vehicle availability drops quickly and prices rise closer to the date. Booking early almost always locks in a better rate.
- What size car is best for a US road trip?
For two people, a midsize sedan or compact SUV is comfortable and fuel-efficient. For three or more travelers, or for trips involving a lot of luggage or outdoor gear, a full-size SUV gives you the space you need without feeling cramped on long drives. With National’s Emerald Aisle, you can often upgrade yourself at pickup simply by choosing a larger vehicle from the available options.