From East to West: Your full guide to exploring the USA by road 

Have you really experienced the USA if you haven’t been to where it all began? Well, that’s where Travelbag’s Boston to the Big Apple itinerary comes in. This twin-centre trip starts in Beantown, for history and modernity in equal measure. Stroll the Freedom Trail for churches, museums, and houses, while uncovering the truth behind the American Revolution.

Next, catch your breath (and some local seafood) in Cape Cod. Fresh fish, beaches, boat rides, and quaint buildings are the order of the day. Head onto New Haven, Connecticut to find world-famous Yale University, as well as the Chapel Street Historic District – choc-full of shopping, museums, and galleries.

For your grand finale, finish in New York City which is overflowing with iconic sights. Head up Empire State, Rockefeller, Edge, or SUMMIT, where double-height floor-to-ceiling windows give you unrivalled views of the world’s most famous skyline. And that’s just the start. The Empire State Building, Rockerfeller Center, Brooklyn Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Broadway, and Fifth Avenue all await. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a slice of pizza.

From the Panhandle to the Keys, the Sunshine State gets over 230 sunny days every year. Good job too, as there’s so much more to Florida than first meets the eye, and Travelbag can help you to discover it all on its Sunshine Trails self-drive itinerary.

From Miami, Key West and Key Largo are a breezy jaunt, cruising across 42 bridges, 44 islands and the Overseas Highway. The vibes are thoroughly tropical: think crystalline waters, local catch, and technicolour marine life at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Back on the mainland, the Everglades won’t disappoint. Keep your eyes peeled for both ‘gators and crocs – as this is the only place where they coexist – then enjoy some downtime in Naples, where fine dining is served alongside Gulf Coast views.

In Sarasota and Fort Myers, make a beeline for Ding Darling State Park, where you can hike, bike or kayak to explore mangroves and wetlands. The wilderness continues into Crystal River, home to endangered manatees at Nature World, and at the mythical Fountain of Youth in St Augustine. Over in Orlando, hone your surfing skills at Cocoa Beach, and of course, don’t miss the Kennedy Space Center for an out-of-this-world travel experience.

Music aficionados, assemble. Travelbag’s luxury escorted Country Roads of the American South tour will help you discover the USA’s rhythmic soul.

North America’s musical heritage begins in Nashville – aka ‘Music City’. Home to The Country Musical Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, and honky-tonk fave Broadway, the bluegrass roots run deep here. Head for legendary RCA Studio B, where Elvis, Roy Orbison and Dolly Parton laid down some of their best-loved tunes.

Memphis is the USA’s rhythm, blues, and rock heartland. Explore the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the King’s Graceland Mansion, and Beale Steet. For a dose of history, combine your visit with some time in Greenwood – for this duo is where the Civil Rights Movement began.

The music here never stops, even when you reach the swamplands. In Lafayette you’ll find Creole and Cajun culture as standard, not to mention decades of accordion origins. Then make way for the birthplace of jazz. You’ll go barely a few steps in New Orleans without hearing live music on the breeze, accompanied by the mouth-watering smell of po’boys. Festivals abound in The Big Easy, none more vibrant than Mardis Gras – where music, masquerades and all-round Mississippi magic emanates from every corner. 

Texas’ nickname as the ‘Lone Star State’ may be a nod to its flag of independence, but we like to think its incredible dark skies play a part too. For this state is a force of American spirit and nature, with more national parks and dark-sky reserves than you can shake a whip at. Travelbag's Lone Star Explorer motorhome trip is a great way to explore them.

Arguably one of the best parks in Texas, Caprock Canyons State Park is lauded for its hiking and biking, with over 90 miles to explore. By day you can spot bison, prairie dogs, and 175 bird species, but, after dark, it really comes to life. Search for a patch of grassland, lie back, and admire the Milky Way. In remote Davis Mountains State Park, you’ll find even more stargazing opportunities, while Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend National Park and Devils River State Natural Area all boast international dark-sky accolades. All three parks routinely attract budding astro-photographers from around the globe.

Finally, for an altogether different landscape, head for the Monahans Sandhills State Park, and its 4,000 acres of towering dunes. Sure, you can ogle great night skies here, but you won’t want to miss the sand surfing.

Six states in 15 days? Travelbag’s escorted Rocky Mountain Frontiers itinerary is a great way to see it all without even glancing at a map. Instead, sit back and explore Denver, Colorado’s capital, before being driven along the epic Highway to the Sky...

You will begin in Rocky Mountain National Park where 415 square miles of trails, scenic drives, lakes, wildlife, and waterfalls await. It’s a true wilderness, ripe for exploration – especially if you’re an avid hiker. Then there’s the Bighorn National Forest, fringed by the Rockies’ sister range. the Bighorns. It too has an abundance of tramping routes – 1,200 miles worth to be precise – not to mention a million acres of forest. It’s also nestled midway between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, two more stops on this action-packed trip.

In Mount Rushmore, admire Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln etched into granite in honour of their contributions to American history. Then, in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, get back to nature once more. From grizzly bears to geysers and from moose to mountain peaks, these neighbouring national parks sit side-by-side, a veritable wonder for any lover of the great outdoors. Be sure to stop off in nearby Jackson Hole and discover a town where cowboy culture is still very much alive.

Think Nevada’s only draw is Las Vegas? Think again. This dramatic state is renowned for its proximity to world-class national parks, and is the starting point in Travelbag’s National Parks Explorer.

Nestled on the Nevada/Utah border, Zion National Park is one of the most picturesque. The views from atop its precipitous Angel’s Landing stretch for miles, showcasing a patchwork of limestone, sandstone, and lush greenery. It’s a worthy reward for the 5.5-mile hike to the summit, comprising slippery sandstone and soaring walkways. Speaking of incredible trails, the day-long route to The Narrows – the narrowest part of Zion’s canyon – sees you trekking through knee-deep waters, hemmed in by skyscraper-sized rocks.

Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos give Zion a run for their money, however. These quirky rock spires look like an alien city amid the desert, with natural arches and amphitheatres spread as far as you can see.  And then there’s Lake Powell. Easily one of the most picturesque lakes in the USA, it’s flanked by red rocks and the Glen Canyon Dam – second in height only to Hoover.

And, how could we possibly overlook the Grand Canyon? With its hiking, rafting, and stargazing, there’s a reason (or several) this is regularly one of the States’ most-visited national parks.

The great outdoors and the bustle of modernity join forces in Western USA. One day you can be strolling the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the next, gazing in awe at Yosemite’s mesmerising Firefall. Head out on an escorted Western USA Discovery tour with Travelbag, and let someone else do the navigating.

Cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Las Vegas are in great contrast, which makes it fascinating to experience them all in one itinerary. We especially love the waterfront dining and shopping in San Diego’s Seaport Village, or heading to the City by the Bay for a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. The best thing about these thriving metropolises, though, is that they’re surrounded by wilderness.

In the Sonoran Desert for example, a mere 60 miles from Phoenix, Arizona, you can get up close to old Western-style cacti. The mighty Monument Valley, with its Navajo roots and Painted Desert, shouldn’t be missed either. And let’s not forget Bryce Canyon and Zion.

Did you know that Aloha isn’t a standard greeting? This oft-used phrase in fact has a deeper meaning than ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’, one intrinsically linked with love, peace, and compassion. The same can be said for Hawaii itself. There’s so much beyond beaches and laid-back living. In reality, it’s packed with great culture and heritage – especially along the coastline. Enter Travelbag’s Four Island Adventure.

Time in Oahu offers the chance to ride iconic surf, and see the 52 themed gardens of the culturally significant Waimea Valley. In Honolulu, you’ll discover the state’s true heritage, the warmth of the Polynesian people, and fresh history at Pearl Harbor.  

Big Island offers big charm in Hilo – with its traditional Hawaiian fare – as well as on Kona’s Sea Salt Farm, and at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Indeed, this UNESCO-listed lava field enchants with its impressive geology, notably the Thurston Lava Tube, Holei Sea Arch, and Kīlauea volcano. It also offers easy access to Punalu Beach Park with its hawksbill and green sea turtles.

Kauai’s Waimea Canyon is also a geological wonder, and arguably offers the islands’ most scenic vistas. And while there’s more to Hawaii than sand, there’s no denying how inspirational those coastal Pacific Ocean landscapes can be – especially in Maui.