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There is no greater way to connect with your kids than spending quality time together, exploring, and going on an adventure.
Road trips are one of our favorite ways to travel – there’s nothing like that liberating feeling that comes with loading up the car and getting out on the open road. You get an amazing sense of freedom. It gives you the chance to pop the daily routine bubble and allow life to show you how great it really is.
Road tripping is one thing, but road trips with your daughter is something else.
No husband, no friends, just you and your main girl, hitting the open road.
If you are thinking of taking a mother daughter road trip in the USA, here are some ideas of where to go and what to do.
Mother-Daughter Road Trip Ideas For The USA
Below are a series of mother-daughter trip ideas that vary in duration and travel styles, so hopefully there will be one road trip that speaks to you.
1. Great River Road from Illinois to Iowa
- START | END: Chicago – St Louis
- DISTANCE: 297 miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-7 days
The Great River Road from Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, a city just over the border into Missouri, is a great route for a girls trip as it’s all about outdoor activities, small towns, nature, historic sites, and bonding time.
This scenic road extends on the border between Illinois and Iowa, following the Mississippi River.
The road also extends into the National Scenic Byway, which extends into Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Some of the most iconic attractions along the way are Crystal Lake Cave, Iowa’s longest living cavern, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a United Nations World Heritage Site near East St. Louis and Collinsville, Monk’s Mound, a 100-foot-tall, four-tiered platform that took 300 years to build and much more.
Some small towns and villages to stop by for a night in are Maeystown, Galena, and Nauvoo, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Don’t rush off from Chicago on your mother-daughter getaway either, as we found it was one of the best cities for a mother-daughter trip. You can read more about our mother-daughter trip in Chicago here.
2. New York City to Boston
- START | END: New York City – Boston
- DISTANCE: 216 miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2-3 days
NYC is an iconic destination to visit with your daughter. You could easily spend a weekend there watching a Broadway Show, doing some shopping, or visiting the city’s parks.
But if you want to get out of the chaos and into the quaint and charming, consider a short New England road trip up to Boston.
This road trip could easily be done within a weekend, making a stop at Newport, Rhode Island, which is roughly halfway.
This route is part of the Revolutionary War Road Trip. There’s no better experience for a mom and daughter to have together than to go on an educational journey – learning and diving deep into culture and history.
Ditch the textbooks, jump in the car, and head to the areas along the east coast where the story was born.
Some iconic stops along this road trip are Amazing World of Dr. Seuss in Springfield, birthplace of the children’s author, Hudson Highlands State Park and Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, The Breakers in Newport, RI.
3. Charleston, South Carolina to Savannah, Georgia
- START | END: Charleston SC to Savannah GE
- DISTANCE: 154 miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 days
A great weekend getaway road trip is from Charleston in South Carolina to Savannah in Georgia – a short but scenic drive.
The Southeast Coast is one of our favorite regions in the USA, of course we may be biased living only 3 hours drive from it.
What I love about Charleston is its packed full of Southern charm and historic architecture. Here’s your chance to stay in a boutique hotel in downtown Charleston, nestled inside a historic inn, or go for some rest and relaxation with spa treatments.
As the USA first national seashore, you will find endless lighthouses, wild beaches, Victorian-era mansions, and a laid-back vibe. Be sure to go on a carriage tour, a unique way to see the city.
Be prepared for delicious food, friendly locals, and tons of natural beauty on the way to Georgia.
Extend the trip up the South Carolina coast to Myrtle Beach, known for its white-sand beaches and excellent surf, if you have more time on your side.
Need some help planning your activities? Check out these additional resources:
4. Grand Circle Road Trip, Southwest USA
- START | END: Las Vegas
- DISTANCE: 1,000+ miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 12-14 days
The Grand Circle road trip takes you through some of the most famous National Parks and outdoor adventure spots in the American Southwest.
It goes mostly through Utah, passing sites such as Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park, but it also crosses into Arizona for a while as well to visit the Grand Canyon National Park.
This road trip is all about the color red. Red rock formations, red hued canyons, as well as buttes, mesas, arches, and more.
If you love hiking trails, then you will find more than enough hikes to do together on this route.
The entire route is about 1,000 miles long depending on how many detours you take, one of which should be to Sedona, Arizona to experience the vortex’s. This is such a unique experience!
Other detours and stops you can take are to Monument Valley and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Read more: Utah Bucket List and Arizona Bucket List
5. North California Road Trip (10 days)
- START | END: San Francisco
- DISTANCE: 297 miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 10-14 days
California is full of iconic destinations, from Los Angeles to San Francisco to San Diego.
On a California road trip, we recommend getting out of the big city and to check out California’s nature, small towns, and wine region.
On a NorCal road trip, you can start and end in San Francisco, and drive to Sacramento, Redwood National and State Park, Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park, Mammoth Mountains and Yosemite, before heading back to San Fran.
If your daughter is of legal drinking age, consider stopping in Napa Valley, the most prestigious wine country in California, for some wine tasting at the many vineyards and tasting rooms.
6. The Texas Triangle
- START | END: Fort Worth or Austin
- DISTANCE: 1,000+ miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 12 days
The Texas Triangle is a route taking you to the top five cities in Texas – Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas.
Start in either Fort Worth or Austin, depending on which is easier for you, and head in a clockwise loop.
We recommend basing yourself in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, and taking day trips from each city.
Some iconic stops to check out are the Houston Space Centre, historic San Antonio and the San Antonio Riverwalk, The Alamo, Fort Worth Stockyards, the site of JFK’s assassination in Dallas, Dealey Plaza and Texas Hill Country.
You may want to spend more time in Texas Hill Country visiting small towns and ranches. Go horseback riding around a ranch, or visit wineries and vineyards! Texas Hill Country is the USA’s fastest-growing wine region.
7. Yellowstone to Glacier National Park
- START | END: Glacier National Park – Yellowstone National Park
- DISTANCE: 373 miles
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 5-7 days
One of the best mother-daughter trips for those who love nature is to drive from two iconic national parks in Montana – Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.
The Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain ranges in the USA, and also extend into Canada. Yellowstone and Glacier National Park are right next to each other, and offer very different perspectives of this mountain range.
Glacier National Park is filled with stunning glacial views, adventurous hikes and the exhilarating Going to the Sun Road – one of America’s most loved scenic drives. Some popular hikes are the Upper Grinnell Lake Hike and Avalanche Lake Hike.
Yellowstone National Park is unlike anywhere else in the world. It has swirling, bubbling, geyser-shooting land, bison, wolves and bears, and hikes for all skill levels. Don’t miss Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs / Boiling River, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Old Faithful.
Need help planning activities for each stop? Check out these additional resources:
8. Olympic Peninsula Loop Road Trip, Washington State
- START | END: Seattle
- DISTANCE: 375 miles round trip
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 6-9 days
Another one of the beautiful nature-inspired girls trips both mom and daughter will enjoy, head to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in the state’s northwestern corner. Here you will find Olympic National Park, where the Twilight movies were filmed.
If you or your daughter are Twilight Fans, this road takes you along the Highway 101, starting in Seattle and past the Hoh River rainforest, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock. You can stop by Fawks, Port Angeles and La Push, which were used as the setting for Twilight.
Even if you don’t like Twilight, it’s a beautiful drive. This pristine region is full of ancient cedar spruce trees, glacial lakes, sub-alpine meadows, verdant old-growth rainforests, and remote and rugged coastlines.
Some iconic stops are Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and the Hoh Rain Forest, and the charming and historic town of Port Townsend, bordered by Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Final Thoughts
On Mother-Daughter vacations, it’s just the two of you, facing the world and making decisions together. The two of you, free to sing your favourite songs at the top of your lungs without an ounce of self-consciousness.
Your kids get to see you as you, not as Mum, but as an individual.
It doesn’t mean they will respect you any less. In fact, they may respect you more, because they see that you are like them, yet not like them at all. That’s a priceless experience.
I knew as a mother, the days of hanging out with my daughter were limited. Soon, I’d be tossed aside for the girlfriends, and then boyfriends.
My daughter is now sixteen and we have a great relationship. After our first road trips together, we have committed to a road trip every year.
We’ve since updated this guide with some of our favorite road trips we’ve taken, so you can pick destinations that work for you and your daughter.
More Road Trip Ideas
Need more inspiration about planning a road trip? Here are some other helpful guides…
- The Best USA Road Trips
- Ultimate Road Trip Planning Guide
- Reasons Why Travel With Kids Creates A Better Traveling Experience
- Adventures for your Oregon Road trip
- Epic adventures in the American Southwest not to miss
Have you ever taken a mother daughter trip? Please share your experiences with us in the comments!
Great post.
This was probably last moment for such trip. I doubt that many teenegaers would like to take the road trip with their parents.
After this you will probably have to wait until she gets into late 20ies for the next one 🙂
Neno
Actually Neno I just road tripped with my (now) 16 year old in N.Z. for two weeks. She claims it was the best road trip we’ve ever had. We’re talking about a Tasmania road trip next, so time is still on my side! YAY!
What a lovely post – it’s awesome to see a strong mother/daughter relationship. It reminds me of my close relationship with my mum, both growing up and now. Thank you!
I’m very lucky Alexandra. I think part of what made it strong for us was starting the travel experience with my daughter when she was young, just as Caz and Craig are doing with theirs. It really has formed a strong bond between my daughter and I. Glad you have that kind of relationship too! Sadly, I missed much of the adult experience with my own Mum. I’m sure she would have been whooping it up with us, if she was still around. So, hold on to those moments as much as you can! Life is too short!
Wonderful article Tara, I’ll have to take a trip with my little princess…
I write in my todo list… 🙂
Thank you
Definitely!!! I highly recommend it. Start when they are young and you’ll be doing it years to come.
What a wonderful experience. My mom was originally from MO but moved to CA when she was about 13. She has a lot of memories from MO and TN but has never been back. Next year, when she turns 70, I am planning on taking her on a road trip back to MO. It will be so nice and a great time to get to talk and be ourselves without others around. I really enjoyed reading this post and thank you for sharing.
I have goosebumps just reading about your upcoming road trip. What a great opportunity!! Since we’ve moved back to Sydney, I’ve been able to share so much of my childhood places with my own daughter. It’s amazing what memories come flooding back! I hope the trip goes smoothly for you both and you have a beautiful memory to treasure!
What great memories you have created with your daughter. My daughter is heading for 17 and I think just the two of us heading off on a road trip together would be awesome. I think I will have to make it happen soon!
I hope you do Melissa! It’s something you will both remember and think of the girly time you’ll have! I’d love to hear how you do.
Such a heartwarming trip you took with your daughter. As a mother of an 11-year-old and a former overworked corporate lackey working, 70+ hours a week, I really relate to everything you’ve written. You’re right, my daughter is seeing me more now not only as a mother but as an individual.
Makes a huge difference, doesn’t it?! I probably work more than I ever have, but I can now take time out when I want to, when she needs it and when I need it too!
Hi Tara,
My son has become 16 we were stayed alone together, a lot of things quite worrying so before the time gone by, I plan the trip to come across for. Feels finds its way to get opportunity to have a reality relationship between father and son
Thanks Tara, your have great post.
Thanks Fransiskus! I hope you can find the time and money to take a road trip together. It’s a worthwhile journey to take together.
Wow, I really loved reading this post! My 10 year old and I are going on a road trip in a couple weeks. Our first real trip where we’re not just trying to getting from point A to point B! I was excited before reading this but am even more excited now! We’re doing the historic route 66 route this time. We don’t get to spend much quality time together due to my work schedule and I’m excited for 10 uninterrupted days of just the two of us. I already can’t wait to start planning our next U.S. road trip adventure! 🙂
Thank you for sharing!!
Wow! That’s exciting Miranda! It truly will be an experience you will never forget.
We did only part of Route 66 on our adventure but when I saw that sign, I got goosebumps! Oh I so want to tag along! Make a music playlist. Find some audio books (Harry Potter is great, but even better is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe!). Ask each other questions about your dreams, things you’ve never shared before…. You’ll be amazed at how much you will get to know each other as PEOPLE.
Let us know how you do! Good luck and most of all – enjoy every second of it.
I LOVED this post!!! My 16-year-old daughter and I just got back from a road trip like you described and it was AWESOME! We didn’t care that it was last minute, we didn’t care that most of the places along the way that we had intended to see were closed, and we didn’t care what other people thought of us. We laughed, we sang, and we connected in a way we had been missing for a long time. I can’t wait to go again!
So awesome Jenismom. Priceless memories and moments for you both. Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome Jenismom!! My daughter is now 16 – it was a while ago we took this life changing roadtrip – but we’ve continued to take a roadtrip every single year since. (We’re about to head out for another in the next two weeks.) It’s AMAZING what hitting the road together does to reconnect again. I loved hearing your story. So glad to hear yours was so memorable. Keep it going!
Hi Tara very great article ,i have little daughter but we newer traveling together she loves traveling too,one day we will do this,your are so inspiration .
Thanks Roberto. Definitely start travelling together when your daughter is young – just as Caz and Craig are doing with their two – and you will have a traveller for life. I started travelling with my daughter when she was a baby and she’s the best travel companion I’ve ever had (better than my husband!)
Love that you are spreading this excellent chance to be together… You write of road trips with your kids and I could not more heartily agree with your sentiments. I love driving and traveling, and the trips we have had were luxuriously sweet. My children, now grown, manage their own methods of togetherness, removed from the hustle of daily work and routine. One daughter recently drove to Florida from Maine with her 5 1/2 yr old for a week of swimming, relaxing, hugging, laughing, “wrestling” alligators, and exploring dinosaur lands! All 6 of my kids know the importance of spending time away from the unreal…so often the daily grind of school and work…to pursue family time, one-to-one time. And now, I am happy to report that my Mom and I are doing road trips together!! She’s 84, and totally game to do cross country this fall! It’s a trick to stop and do, but life just gets shorter…don’t ever hesitate to get off the train and take a look around…even if it’s a short trip for discovery thru the backyard!
I love it Christine!! Not only have you taught your own kids this important life lesson, but that your Mom is in for a cross-country road trip. I often think of the trips I would take with my other Mum (with my daughter, of course) if she were still alive. Unfortunately we missed out on that chance but I’m sure they would have been epic. Oh, enjoy the road trip!! And, yes, absolutely get out and enjoy the world with whatever time you have because life IS short! Thanks for your comment!
My daughter is 4 and she will be 5 in November,just last month we had our first road trip to Cleveland,Ohio. It wasn’t that far but its a good start!
Awesome to hear that Jill. Happy travels.
So true! Start road tripping with your daughter early, and it will become a tradition you both will love! My twin girls and I have taken trips since they were 5 years old. We have taken one almost every year, and if not a “road trip”, we will go away for a few days or a week skiing or to a warm weather destination. They are now 21 and we are thinking of a world tour after they finish college, but before they are immersed in full time jobs and careers.
Hi Tara,
Enjoyed your story-good for you!!
I would like to take my 12-year old daughter on a 6-week cross country trip. My biggest concerns are safety and money (paying for 72 nights of hotel stays). Do you have any suggestions or resources to recommend?
Thanks so much and congratulations on your new career!
–Jan
Thanks for sharing your story, I am going on our first road trip with my 14 and 12 year old daughters. I am excited for a fun and bonding time. Great to hear how life changing it was for you. All the best.
This is a great blog! I recently just had a daughter as well. She is 1 years old now. I live in Indonesia, I was reading about the best ways to travel with toddlers and you website came up! Sorry I am still learning English. If you ever travel to Indonesia, and want to see Komodo National Park, we have local company here. I would love to show you arounds. Mom got to stick together. Ha. You can reach me at https://www.komodoislandtour.com Much love – Jejey