If you’re anything like me you can take the simplest things and turn them into an awesome road trip. So, if you have to take the kiddos back to school shopping and you need one last family vacation then this might be the perfect road trip for you! If your just a road trippin’ shopaholic then this itinerary was made for you! You will hit 19 states on this fast paced, see it all road trip.
If you don’t already have a Scratch off USA Map order this one from Amazon before your road trip! You’ll get to scratch off these 19 states; Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This picture USA Map looks great on hanging on the wall at home or in your RV. If you are trying to see all 50 states before your kids graduate this is a perfect road trip.
Get ready for a fun packed adventure. Feed a zebra out of your bare hand, see 7 states from one location, visit the world’s largest cave system, see the tallest monument in the National Park system, shop the biggest mall in the United States, go to one of the most thrilling water parks in the USA, you will tilt out over 1000 feet above the Magnificent Mile, go through one of the best zoos in America, tour a closed haunted once famous prison, visit one of the best piers in America, see street performers, live music, relax on the ocean, drive one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World, and see a town that is made for tourists. Did I mention you have a chance to stay in a teepee (yes with a bathroom :)).
Day One
St. Augustine
Arrive: 8:00am Depart: 7:00pm
Plan to spend an entire day exploring St. Augustine; an old town filled with amazing things to do. You can go shopping on St. George Street. Make sure to check out the Castillo De San Marcos National Monument. Downtown has Old Town Trolly Tours. This tour is the best way to see all of St.Augustine in the shortest time possible. Click here to see the full list of attractions in St. Augustine. Read More
Drive: about 3 hours to your hotel room
Day Two
Wild Animal Safari Inc
1300 Oak Grove Rd, Pine Mountain, GA 31822
Arrive: 10:00am Depart: 12:00pm
Drive: 3 Hours
This drive thru safari will have the whole car laughing! I highly recommend a GoPro so you can record everyone in the car. This dash camera is a good one too. You will want proof of this plain ole good time. You can buy feed when you get your tickets, then drive through and see Zebras, Giraffes, maybe even baby pigs, and much much more! There is also a walk thru section as well. Read More
Rock City Gardens
1400 Patten Rd, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Arrive: 3:00pm Depart: 5:00pm
Rock City Gardens is an awesome attraction. They have a ton to see including a swing bridge you can walk across or around. You can go to the lookout and see 7 states at once. Then you can take a walk through the needle’s eye and get to the fairy cave where you will be amazed at the skill of the artists in their wonderful work. This is a place that has a surprise around every corner. Read More
Drive: 3.5 hours to hotel
Hotels Near Mammoth Cave
Arrive: 8:30pm Depart: 8:30am
- Your chance to stay in your own teepee
Drive: 0.5 Hours
Day Three
Mammoth Cave National Park
1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
Arrive: 9:00am Depart: 4:00pm
Mammoth Cave National Park has one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World; the World’s longest known cave system. This cave is amazing and should be on everyone’s bucket list! You can take a guided tour or a self guided tour. Either way this is a must see! Read More
Drive: 5 hours
Hotel Nearby St. Louis
Arrive: 9:00pm Depart: 8:30am
- Econo Lodge Inn & Suites
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott St. Louis O’Fallon
- Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis O’Fallon, IL
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites O’Fallon
Drive: 0.5 Hours
Day Four
The Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO 63102
Arrive: 9:00am Depart: 10:30am
Take a ride to the top of the arch. This is the Number 1 attraction in Missouri, and the tallest monument in any National Park. Going up in the arch is an awesome experience, but looking at the arch from a distance is pretty cool too. Read More
Drive: till you can’t drive no more. The mall is 8 hours away
Hotels on the way
- Days Inn by Wyndham Faribault less than an hour from the mall
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Northwood, an IHG Hotel 1.5 hours before mall
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Northwood 1.5 hours to the mall
- Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo Cedar Falls 3.25 hours away from the mall
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cedar Rapids– 4 hours away from mall
Day Five
Mall of America®
60 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425
Arrive: 10:00am Depart: 7:30am
The Mall of America is boasting 5.6 million square feet, is 4 floors high, hosts 520 stores, has an amusement park; that includes 5 roller coasters, and an aquarium! This is the ultimate shopping experience. Read More
Drive: 3.5 hours
- Best Western Plus Bloomington Hotel
- Park Plaza Minneapolis Mall of America
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bloomington at Mall of America
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Minneapolis-Mall Of America
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Minneapolis Bloomington/Mall of America this is one of the cheaper and still very close
- Element Bloomington Mall of America
Day Six
Wisconsin Dells
Arrive: 11:00am Depart: 7:00am
Wisconsin Dells is a huge amusement town. They have everything you could think of. There are amusement parks, wineries, distilleries, museums, tours, ziplines, a safari, spas and a casino. There is so much more to do here, the whole family will have a great time. Wisconsin Dells is such an awesome town everyone should visit! See More
Drive: 3 Hours
Day Seven
Skydeck Chicago
233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Arrive: 10:00am Depart: 11:00am
Go to Chicago’s Famous Tilt where you can get tilted out over the Magnificent Mile to see the unforgettable view. Over 1000 feet in the air the views from here are amazing. After that you can walk the Magnificent Mile and check out the Bean and more. Read More
Walk: 0.5 Hours
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL
Arrive: 11:30am Depart: 5:00pm
Come see the Big Bean! With awesome 360degree reflections and great photo opportunity this is a must see while you are in Chicago. Check out more on the Magnificent Mile before hitting the road. Read More
Drive: 4.5 Hours
Day Eight
Detroit Zoo
8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Arrive: 9:00am Depart: 1:00pm
Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums the Detroit Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. The Detroit Zoo is 125 acres with more than 2,000 animals and more than 245 different species. Read More
Drive: 9:00 Hours
Hotels close to Philadelphia
Arrive: 10:00pm Depart: 9:30am
- Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Great Valley/Malvern
- Tru by Hilton Denver
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott Harrisburg West/Mechanicsburg
- Hampton Inn Carlisle
Drive: 0.5 Hours
Day Nine
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Arrive: 10:00am Depart: 12:00pm
Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison in Philadelphia; known as America’s most haunted prison. Take the awesome prison tour, where you can see how things might have been when the prison was open. The walls are crumbling and the feel in here is just something else. You can even see Al Capone’s old cell. Read More
Drive: 1.5 hours
Wildwood Boardwalk
3500 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Arrive: 1:30pm Depart: 8:00pm
Wildwood Boardwalk in New Jersey is a very happening place. There is so much you can see on this 2.5 mile boardwalk. There are amusement parks, water parks, casinos, food, and a ton more. The atmosphere here is amazing and well worth checking out! Read More
Drive: approx. 2.5 Hours
Hotels on the way to Virginia
- this is by the Wildwood Boardwalk incase you wanted to stay the night
- Sunset Beach Hotel
- Cape Motel 1931
- Hyatt Place Ocean City / Oceanfront by Ocean City Boardwalk
Day Ten
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia
Arrive: 9:00am Depart: 10:00am
Come drive across one of the one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world. This is an awesome bridge that turns into a tunnel and back to a bridge. This is a great experience while you’re in Virginia. Read More
Drive: 30 minutes
Virginia Beach
Arrive: 10:30am Depart: 8:30am
Come hang out on the beach and relax for the day. Once evening hits be ready for the buskers. They have many shows that go on for a few blocks. They have live music, dancing, and more. There is also an amusement park and some great shopping. The vibe here is something that will have you wanting to come back. Read More
Drive: 4.5 hours
- Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
- Travelodge by Wyndham Virginia Beach
- Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront A hotel you will NOT be disappointed in. AMAZING!!!
- Hyatt Place Virginia Beach / Oceanfront
Day Eleven
South of the Border
Arrive: 1:00pm Depart: 5:00pm
Come see a town made for tourists. This is a cool little stop. The perfect spot to get gas and look around at all the photo opportunities. Walk up to the top of the Mexican Hat to take in the view of the whole town. The hat is 200 feet up in the air. There are also motels if you chose to stay here. Read More
Drive: 1.5 Hours
Myrtle Beach
Arrive: 6:30pm Depart: 2:00pm
Myrtle Beach is known for great weather, loads of fun, sensational sunsets, spectacular food and ocean view accommodations! Have some fun in the sun, relax on the beach, and take a stroll down the boardwalk. Read More
Drive: 6.5 hours
Day Twelve
St. Augustine
Arrive: 8:30pm
We end our road trip back in St. Augustine. Spend another day exploring before heading home. Grab some dinner, and take a ghost tour before turning in for the night at one of the beautiful nearby accommodations. Read More
