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Travel & Experiences

11 epic drives around the U.S.

Explore the so-called Downeaster shoreline of rocky outcrops and lonely lighthouses on this ride. The vistas become more dramatic and amplified as the road slides north towards the Canadian Maritimes, and tiny fishing towns perfectly punctuate the ride, providing room for pause (and plenty of lobster rolls). Pull over in Brunswick, Bath, Rockport and Camden – and finish the day in Bar Harbor, famed for its storybook charm and backyard trailheads that wind through Acadia National Park. The drive is best undertaken during the summer months when the constellation of villages bursts to life with festivals, boat tours and seasonal eateries.

Explore the so-called Downeaster shoreline of rocky outcrops and lonely lighthouses on this ride. The vistas become more dramatic and amplified as the road slides north towards the Canadian Maritimes, and tiny fishing towns perfectly punctuate the ride, providing room for
pause (and plenty of lobster rolls). Pull over
in Brunswick, Bath, Rockport and Camden
– and finish the day in Bar Harbor, famed
for its storybook charm and backyard
trailheads that wind through Acadia
National Park. The drive is best undertaken
during the summer months when the
constellation of villages bursts to life with
festivals, boat tours and seasonal eateries.

  (Allard1 / Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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So much open road, so little time. Lonely Planet narrows down the drives you’ll want to take to make the decisions easier in “Epic Drives of the World.”

Grand Teton from Jackson to Mammoth, Wyoming

This 150 mile road trip will take you through Yellowstone with its geysers and the country’s largest high-altitude lake. To the south, Grand
Teton National Park complements with
craggy peaks and sublime alpine terrain. Wildlife spotting can start at Jackson, where elk, bison and bighorn sheep congregate in winter at the National Elk Refuge, and grizzly
sightings are not uncommon as soon as
you head out onto the Moose-Wilson
back road. Beyond Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, head east towards Lamar Valley, dubbed the ‘Serengeti of North America’ for its herds of bison, elk and the occasional grizzly or
coyote. It’s also the place to spot wolves,
particularly in spring.

  (Dean Fikar/Shutterstock)

Take a historical drive from Fredericksburg to Petersburg, Virginia

Virginia has a network of Civil War trails to
rival the Ho Chi Minh Trail but a highlight
is Grant’s Overland Campaign of 1864,
which pushed through the state and left
Lee stranded at Petersburg before a final
retreat and attempt to escape. Depending
on diversions, this is a 186-mile drive from
slightly west of Fredericksburg to the
outskirts of Petersburg. To get the most from
this drive, some research is necessary.
Just about every town you pass through
on this route has its own story. There
are also three national parks devoted to
preserving Civil War history.

  (Steve Heap / Shutterstock)

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