Visit NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Colonial Parkway, Outer Banks, Charleston, Savannah, Amelia Island, Orlando & Miami.
East Coast America is packed with incredible places to visit. Vibrant cities, beautiful beaches and historic places pepper our Ultimate East Coast route. Start this road trip adventure in New York, you’ll then collect your car and cruise 1,600 miles down the Atlantic Coast all the way to Miami Beach in southern Florida.
Key road trip highlights:
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We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your road trip.
All of our American road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 21 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
Start your East Coast America road trip with four amazing days exploring the world’s most incredible city on foot and by cab. An epicentre of the arts and America’s true dining and shopping capital. If you’ve got the energy and arrive early enough, we recommend starting with an open-top bus tour. Not only is it great value for money, but it will also help you familiarise yourself with the lay of the land. Your detailed Road Trip Pack is packed with recommendations on where to eat and what to see and do in The Big Apple.
Highlights today could include visiting The Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Times Square, Broadway and the Rockefeller Centre. Just make sure to allow time to watch the sunset from one of New York’s skyscraper viewing platforms like The Summit, Rockefeller’s “Top of The Rock” or The Empire State Building. Watch as the sun disappears beyond the Hudson River and The Big Apple’s lights switch on to bring a new look from these awe-inspiring vista points. After dinner, you might still have time for some shopping on 5th Avenue; this is the city that doesn’t sleep after all.
The magnificent Central Park is the most visited urban park in the US. You can easily spend an entire day here with 843 acres of walking trails, ice rinks, cycle paths, a Zoo, and even a castle. Bordering one length of the park is 5th Avenue, home to some of the world’s most renowned museums, such as The Met, Guggenheim and The Natural History Museum. Madison and Park Avenue are here, too, great for watching the wealthiest New Yorkers dip in and out of the numerous lavish designer stores.
Downtown stretches to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, where ferries leave to visit the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The financial district is anchored by Wall St, home to the New York Stock Exchange and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Surrounding neighbourhoods offer a great contrast to this commercial hub – Soho, Greenwich, Tribeca and the Meatpacking District are all crammed with cool bars, shops and restaurants.
Philadelphia is often overshadowed by its noisier neighbours – New York to the north and Washington, DC to the south. However, we think Philly holds its own in this illustrious company, boasting as much history and great shopping, nightlife, and museums. Where else in the world can you recreate that famous scene from Rocky? The steps of the Museum of Art await. Who’ll be the first to reach the top? Lastly, if you don’t fancy driving just yet, then you can ride the train to Philly and possibly DC. You’ll then collect your car for the rest of the journey when you leave Washington. As always, the choice is yours.
Take a Big Bus Tour to experience Philadelphia’s unique history and beauty from the top of an authentic London double-decker. Enjoy spectacular city views while hilarious tour guides entertain you with fascinating facts and fun stories about Philadelphia’s important history. Get on and off the bus as you please; this is a great way to explore the City of Brotherly Love.
You’ll drive down to Washington DC, today via one of two routes. Either head straight for DC, which will take two to three hours. Alternatively, you can go on a little history tour that visits Amish Country, Gettysburg, and the historic Harpers Ferry en route. Your detailed Road Trip Pack will tell you all the available route options for every leg of this East Coast road trip; which route you take will be totally up to you, of course. After dinner in the Capitol, consider visiting some of the main sights along The Mall, which are proudly lit once the sun sets.
This unique “Federal District” contains much of the world’s political and financial power. World-class museums lie between the US Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial; this is the planet’s finest repository of knowledge and culture. Just like in the UK, these enormous museums are free to enter and are true national treasures. We also recommend you explore Georgetown. This is a charming corner of the city, and well worth a couple of hours to explore the lovely boutiques, restaurants and streets that surround the famous Georgetown University.
This historic part of America forms a triangle between Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Williamsburg, in particular, will educate you about the lives of the early English settlers who arrived in the 17th Century. Travel west from here, and you’ll discover the affluent plantation homes of former enslavers which line the James River.
Just off the East Coast of the US landmass lies the world’s longest stretch of barrier islands in North Carolina. A surfer’s paradise and a sea captain’s worst nightmare, the Outerbanks form a 150-mile barrier parallel to the mainland. Skinny and fragile in places, the islands are dotted with lazy inns, wild horses and historic lighthouses.
Spend the morning exploring the beaches and lighthouses of the Outerbanks, as you head south along scenic Highway 12. Should you decide to take the coastal route to Wilmington, we’ll book you onto two ferries that link the island’s roads in this area. Spend the late afternoon and evening in Wilmington, which features a scenic Riverwalk lined with boutiques, cafés and a vibrant nightlife by the Cape Fear River. The city’s historic charm comes from its brick-lined streets, Victorian and Antebellum architecture, and mossy oaks.
Steeped in Colonial and Civil War history, Charleston is a perfectly preserved Southern Belle of a City. Visitors fall in love with its grace, charm and historic value, which is usually enjoyed in the warmth of the South Carolina climate. Cobblestone streets and colourful houses make this a unique city and a firm favourite with our clients.
Spend a full day discovering the history and architecture of Charleston. The city is thriving at the moment, attracting new restaurants and culture into the mix. As always, your detailed Road Trip Pack will show all the available visitor options. These include Magnolia Plantation, Charleston City Market, and so many more. After spending two memorable days in this beautiful city, Charleston will stay with you for many a year.
Continue south to Savannah in the morning, exploring beautiful beaches as you take this short drive. Be sure to work up an appetite en route; Savannah is home to fantastic BBQ restaurants and the famous Leopold’s Ice Cream Parlor. Savannah is such a lovable and friendly city, so be sure to check out the riverfront area’s bars, restaurants and cruises whilst in town.
More than 2 square miles of lovingly restored colonial houses and commercial property are expertly arranged around 21 of Savannah’s 1-acre squares. It is a great city to walk around in the warm sun found here. Look out for Forrest Gump whilst you stroll; he likes chatting to people on the park benches here. Which will be your favourite Southern Belle city? Charleston or Savannah? Let us know when you get home; it’s a very close vote indeed.
Located just off the coast of northeast Florida, Amelia Island is easy to reach but hard to forget. With 13 miles of beautiful beaches, abundant native wildlife, and pristine waters, this barrier island has long been a beloved destination for visitors and residents alike.
You now have the option to leave the coastline for a few days and head inland to visit Orlando. Where a former orange grove is now known as Walt Disney World. This resort is the size of Greater Manchester alone and boasts an incredible range of theme parks and water parks. Orlando’s numerous parks are continually evolving, making Orlando a mecca for theme park enthusiasts. Would you prefer to stay on the coast and avoid Orlando? Then, you can opt to have an additional day on Amelia Island and a stop at Cape Canaveral or Palm Beach instead.
Another day to explore Orlando’s theme parks, water parks and swimming pools. If you plan to visit Orlando’s theme parks in a significant way, then feel free to ask for additional days here when you get in touch for a quote.
You’ll complete your Ultimate East Coast road trip by driving down to Miami today; here, you’ll find miles of sandy beaches backed with sensational Art Deco hotels. South Beach is the perfect base for your three-night stay. It is a great place to cruise around, walk the boardwalk or enjoy a meal while you peoplewatch. Forget Miami Vice, this area is classy, and the hotels are amongst America’s finest. Miami is also packed with great shopping options, from gigantic malls to the trendy boutiques on Collins Ave. Whatever your tastes or budget – Miami has your retail needs covered.
Enjoy your first full day in Miami. We recommend exploring one of the many characterful neighbourhoods to really get a feel for the city. Little Havana is particularly distinctive and is home to the largest Cuban community outside of Cuba itself. We also recommend that you check out The Wynwood Walls Art District, which has colourful murals pastleered throughout this thriving neighbourhood. Alternatively, you may want to take a refreshing visit to the 1920s Venetian Pool in Coral Gables.
You should spend your last day and a half of the holiday relaxing by the hotel pool or chilling on the beach. Check out the cool lifeguard huts that watch over the Atlantic coastline. It’s been an action-packed three weeks, so why not rest up to recharge your batteries before flying home from your East Coast holiday.
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You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!
Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.
We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.
Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.
No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.
The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.
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