2-Week USA Road Trip: Costs, Routes & Complete Planning Guide

A USA road trip is one of the great travel experiences, and the cost is more manageable than most people expect. When we drove Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles in our rented RV, the whole 16-day trip came to $2,382 for two people ($149/day). That includes accommodation, food, gas, activities, and a National Parks pass. For comparison, a round-trip flight from Toronto to Los Angeles can cost more than that before you even leave the airport.

Whether you want two weeks on the Pacific Coast, a drive through the Rocky Mountains, or the full coast-to-coast Route 66 experience, a USA road trip is one of the most flexible holidays you can take. You set the pace, change the route, and spend as much or as little as you like. This guide covers the best 2-week routes, a real cost breakdown from our personal trip, and everything you need to plan your own.

Check Out Our Latest Road Trip

We have done several USA road trips over the years. Here is a look at one of our favourites to inspire your own planning.

Best 2-Week USA Road Trip Routes

You do not need to drive all 48 states to have a great American road trip. These five routes each work well in two weeks and offer very different experiences. Use the table below to find the right fit.

Route	Best Duration	Key Highlights	Est. Daily Cost (2 people)
West Coast, Highway 1	10–14 days	Big Sur, San Francisco, Oregon Coast	$130–$200 USD
Route 66, Chicago to LA	14–18 days	Cadillac Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona	$120–$180 USD
East Coast, Route 95	10–14 days	NYC, Washington DC, Savannah, Miami	$140–$220 USD
Colorado Loop	7–10 days	Rocky Mountains, Mesa Verde, Pikes Peak	$120–$180 USD
Southern USA, Savannah to San Diego	14–18 days	Civil rights history, Texas, Sonoran Desert	$120–$180 USD

West Coast America Road Trip: California, Highway 101

The West Coast road trip along Highway 101 is the most popular USA road trip for good reason. The California coastline is packed with stops ranging from windswept cliffs to surf towns to redwood forests. The classic route runs from San Francisco south to San Diego, though driving north into Oregon adds some of the most dramatic scenery on the continent.

Plan for 10 to 14 days to do it properly without rushing. Here are the highlights worth building your itinerary around:

• Open in San Francisco with a day for the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz.
• Stop in Santa Cruz for the Beach Boardwalk, then wind south to Monterey, home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and one of the best waterfront dining scenes on the California Coast.
• Big Sur is the highlight for many drivers. The road hugs the cliff edge above the Pacific and the views are genuinely hard to describe. Allow a full day here and stop at McWay Falls.
• San Simeon sits just south of Big Sur. Stop at the roadside pullout to see hundreds of elephant seals hauled out on the beach.
• Pismo Beach has excellent wine country nearby and is a popular overnight stop before Santa Barbara.
• Santa Barbara is worth a full day for the Spanish colonial architecture, the waterfront, and the wine bars. It is one of the most liveable towns in California.
• Finish in Los Angeles and San Diego, which together could easily absorb three or four days depending on how much city time you want.

For a more detailed breakdown of this route, see our California Coast road trip itinerary. It covers daily stages, overnight stops, and what to skip if you are short on time.

READ NEXT: ULTIMATE WEST COAST ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Chicago to Los Angeles Road Trip, Route 66

Route 66 is the original American road trip. Running from Chicago to Los Angeles across 2,400 miles of Midwest plains, desert canyons, and old western towns, it is the route that defined road trip culture in North America. We drove it ourselves in a rented RV over 16 days, and it is still one of the best trips we have taken.

The route passes through eight states and offers a real cross-section of American culture. Here are the stops worth planning around:

• Start in Chicago with a couple of days for the museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the famous Bean in Millennium Park, and a walk along Lake Michigan.
• St. Louis is where you see the Gateway Arch up close. Allow half a day here before continuing west.
• The heartland stretch through Oklahoma is underrated. Both Tulsa and Oklahoma City have impressive Art Deco architecture and excellent local BBQ.
• Through the Texas Panhandle, stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, where 10 half-buried Cadillacs stand nose-down in a wheat field. It is weird and very photogenic.
• Albuquerque and Santa Fe in New Mexico deserve at least two days. The food, the art scene, and the high-desert landscape are all worth slowing down for.
• Arizona delivers the most dramatic scenery on the route. Flagstaff is a great base for a day trip to the Grand Canyon, and Sedona is one of the most visually striking towns in the Southwest.
• Finish in Los Angeles with time for at least Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, and Santa Monica Pier.

Route 66 works best at a relaxed pace. If you rush it, you miss the quirky roadside attractions and the small towns that make the route so memorable. Allow three weeks if you can.

East Coast Road Trip: New York City to Miami, Route 95

The East Coast route along Interstate 95 connects two of America’s most iconic cities while passing through a stretch of history, coastline, and southern charm that most visitors only see from the air. It covers roughly 1,300 miles and works well in 10 to 14 days.

• Open in New York City with time for the Statue of Liberty, a Broadway show, or a guided city highlights tour. Budget at least two days.
• Baltimore and Washington, DC are worth a stop each. The Smithsonian museums in DC are free and genuinely excellent.
• The drive through Virginia and North Carolina takes you past the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the eastern US.
• Savannah, Georgia is a highlight of any East Coast road trip. The Spanish-moss-draped squares, antebellum architecture, and slow pace make it one of the most atmospheric towns in America.
• In Florida, the detour to St. Augustine is worth it. It is the oldest city in the US, with a Spanish fort from the 1500s and a walkable historic district.
• Finish in Miami with time for South Beach, the Art Deco district, and an Everglades airboat tour.

For history enthusiasts, the East Coast route is hard to beat. The cities along this corridor played central roles in American independence, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement. Budget generously for this route as accommodation costs in major cities can significantly increase your overall spend.

Colorado Road Trip

For a road trip through the interior United States, Colorado is hard to match. The state packs some of the best national parks, mountain towns, and scenic drives in the country into a relatively compact loop starting and ending in Denver.

• Start in Denver and spend a day exploring the city before heading into the mountains. The Lookout Mountain drive west of the city gives you a good sense of what is to come.
• Boulder is worth a day for the Pearl Street Mall, the Flatirons, and the trailheads into Rocky Mountain National Park.
• The drive through Glenwood Canyon on I-70 is one of the most dramatic stretches of highway in the country. The canyon walls rise hundreds of metres on either side. Stop in Glenwood Springs for the hot springs.
• Grand Junction is the gateway to the Colorado National Monument, a canyon landscape that most visitors fly over without realising it is there.
• Allow a full day at Mesa Verde National Park. The Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings are unlike anything else in North America.
• Loop back through Colorado Springs to see the Garden of the Gods and, if time allows, ride the Cog Railway to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Colorado is one of the best American road trip options for getting close to nature and spending time in national parks. If you camp along the way, you can also reduce your road trip costs significantly, as there is no shortage of free and low-cost camping on public land throughout the state.

READ NEXT: OUR ULTIMATE COLORADO ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Southern USA Road Trip: Savannah to San Diego

The Southern route is the true coast-to-coast option, running from the Atlantic to the Pacific across roughly 2,000 miles of deep south, Texas plains, and Sonoran Desert. It is the slowest of the five routes and the most culturally rich, passing through towns that were central to the American civil rights movement.

• Start in Savannah, Georgia, a quintessential southern town with moss-draped squares, antebellum architecture, and excellent food. The city is compact and very walkable.
• Atlanta deserves a stop. Take a trolley tour of the city highlights and visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
• The route continues through Birmingham, Alabama and Jackson, Mississippi, both of which have powerful civil rights museums and memorials that are well worth the time.
• Big Bend National Park in west Texas is one of the most remote and undervisited national parks in the country. The landscape is extraordinary and the dark skies make for some of the best stargazing in North America. See our guide to visiting Big Bend for what to know before you go.
• Tucson, Arizona sits in the Sonoran Desert and offers some genuinely unique experiences including horseback riding through the desert terrain.
• Finish in San Diego with a day for the historic old town trolley tour and an afternoon at the beach.

The Southern route gives you a genuine taste of American regional identity. The history along this corridor is sobering and important. Keep your accommodation budget flexible because there are not many options between major cities in some stretches, and that scarcity drives up prices.

How Many Days Do You Need for a USA Road Trip?

Two weeks is the sweet spot for most USA road trips. It gives you enough time to cover one region properly without the trip feeling like a series of long driving days with no time to stop. Each of the five routes above fits comfortably into 14 days if you pace things sensibly.

A 7-day road trip is possible but requires focus. One region works well at that duration, such as the Colorado loop or the southern California stretch of Highway 1. A 3-week or month-long trip gives you the freedom to slow down in places you love and is ideal for Route 66 or the Southern cross-country route.

If your goal is to check off the maximum number of states in the minimum time, you could technically drive coast to coast in 35 to 45 hours non-stop. We have even met people attempting the 48-states-in-10-days challenge. That approach prioritises mileage over experience, and we prefer the slower version.

Best Time for a USA Road Trip

The best time for a USA road trip depends entirely on which route you are driving. The country spans such a range of climates that the ideal season shifts significantly from region to region.

• West Coast (California): Year-round. Summer brings fog on the northern California coast, which some people love and others find frustrating. Spring and fall offer warm temperatures without peak crowds.
• Route 66: Spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) are ideal. Summers in the Arizona and New Mexico desert can exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Winters are mild in the south but can bring snow in northern stretches.
• East Coast: Late spring and early fall are the most pleasant. Summer is humid and busy. September through November offers cooler temperatures, fall foliage in the north, and smaller crowds.
• Colorado: Summer (June to August) is the most popular time for road tripping, with all mountain passes open. Fall colour in September and October is outstanding. Avoid the mountain routes in winter unless you have significant experience with winter driving.
• Southern USA: Winter and spring are best. Summer temperatures in Texas and the Southwest desert regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius, which can make driving uncomfortable and increase fuel consumption from constant air conditioning.

Road Trip Across America: Cost Considerations

Before we get into our actual cost breakdown, here is the honest overview: a USA road trip costs more than most people initially estimate. Vehicle rental, fuel, and accommodation add up quickly, and the USA is a large country with long distances between stops.

A rental car in the US typically starts at $50–$70 USD/day for a standard vehicle, and it is genuinely hard to find a decent RV rental for under $150/day in peak season. In 2025, RV relocation deals (where companies need vehicles moved between locations) can still bring that down significantly. We paid the equivalent of $39/night on our trip using this strategy.

Add fuel, food, accommodation, and activities, and your daily costs will depend heavily on your travel style. Budget campers cooking their own meals can manage $80–$100 USD/day per person. Mid-range travellers staying in motels and eating out once a day should plan for $130–$180 USD/day for two people. Our 16-day RV trip from Chicago to LA averaged $149/day for the two of us combined.

Is It Safe to Drive Across America?

Yes, driving across America is very safe for the vast majority of travellers. That said, there are a few practical things worth knowing before you go.

Speed limits vary by state and are strictly enforced. Highway patrol is active on major interstates, particularly in the Southwest. Keep your speed reasonable and be aware that large transport trucks are a constant presence on American highways. Passing etiquette matters here more than in many other countries.

For desert driving, particularly in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, carry extra water in the vehicle. Mobile coverage can disappear for long stretches. Download offline maps via Google Maps or Maps.me before you leave populated areas. If your vehicle breaks down in a remote location, stay with it and wait for assistance rather than walking.

Mountain driving in Colorado requires caution in winter months and on narrow switchback roads. Check weather and road conditions on the Colorado Department of Transportation website before heading into the mountains.

Cross-Country Road Trip Cost Breakdown

Here is our actual cost breakdown from our 16-day, 3,000-mile (4,500 km) Route 66 road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. These are real numbers from our trip. We have added 2025 estimates for each category to help you plan at current prices.

RV Costs

The vehicle was the single largest cost of the trip. We knew before we started that keeping it under control would make or break our budget. The strategy that worked for us: an RV relocation deal.

RV Rental: $610 ($38/day)

RV rental companies sometimes need to reposition vehicles between locations and offer significantly reduced rates to cover the cost. We found a brand-new Cruise America RV at $39/night through this method, which was exceptional value for a vehicle that could sleep seven people. The 16-night total came to $610.

In 2025, standard RV rental rates from companies like Cruise America and Outdoorsy typically run $150–$250/day in peak season. Relocation deals still exist and can bring this down to $40–$80/day, but they require flexibility on route and timing. Search iRV2.com and RVshare to compare current rates.

READ NEXT: 12 Best Van Conversion Companies That Will Build Your Van for You

Fuel: $682 ($42/day)

Fuel was almost 30% of our total trip cost and more than we had budgeted. Driving 3,000 miles in a large RV with a low fuel efficiency rating added up quickly. We needed around six full tanks to complete the route, and gas prices varied considerably between states.

In 2025, average US gas prices hover around $3.20–$3.80 USD/gallon depending on the state. California consistently runs higher. Use the GasBuddy app to find the cheapest stations along your route, and fill up before entering California, Nevada, or major cities where prices spike.

Propane: $60 ($4/day)

Propane was a cost we had completely overlooked when budgeting. The RV stove, fridge, furnace, and water heater all ran on propane, but the total was relatively modest over 16 days. Add a $60–$80 propane budget to your RV cost estimates so you are not surprised.

Accommodation Costs: $179 ($12/day)

Even with a fully self-contained RV (shower, toilet, full kitchen), we could not go more than two or three days without pulling into an RV park. The fresh water tank needed refilling, the waste tanks needed emptying, and we periodically needed shore power to charge camera batteries.

We expected RV park rates of $10–$15/night. In reality, we never found powered sites for under $30/night. Budget $30–$50/night for an RV site in 2025, more in California and popular national park areas.

On nights when we did not need to be plugged in, we used two free options: Walmart parking lots (most locations allow overnight RV stays) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, where dispersed camping is free and often strikingly beautiful. The iOverlander app is excellent for finding free spots.

Food Costs: $339 ($21/day)

To keep costs down, we cooked almost all of our meals in the RV. That does not mean we ate badly. We stocked up at grocery stores along the way, cooked proper meals, and still found room for wine and dessert most nights. Cooking in the RV saved us significantly compared to eating out daily, which could easily add $60–$100/day to your costs.

If you are driving without cooking facilities, budget $40–$60 USD/day per person for food if you mix grocery stops with occasional restaurant meals. American grocery prices vary by region. The Midwest and South tend to be cheaper than California and the Northeast.

Cost of Supplies

RV Supplies: $292 ($18/day)

Outfitting the RV for the trip cost a few hundred dollars. Cruise America offers bedding and crockery rental but the quality is basic. We bought our own and found it much better value. Bedding, kitchen supplies, and a handful of road trip accessories that we had not thought of beforehand rounded out the total.

At the end of the trip, we brought everything to Oksana’s family in Canada for storage. The next time we do an RV trip, those supplies are already waiting for us. Amortised over future trips, the per-day cost drops considerably.

READ NEXT: BEST ROAD TRIP ACCESSORIES

Mobile Phone: $60 ($4/day)

We bought a 30-day, 10GB T-Mobile prepaid plan for $60 to stay connected on the road. It worked well across most of the route, though coverage gets thin in parts of rural New Mexico and Arizona. In 2025, a US eSIM through a provider like Holafly or Airalo typically costs $20–$40 for 15 days of data, which is better value than a physical SIM for most travellers.

Cost of Activities: $160 ($10/day)

We kept activity costs low by choosing destinations where the scenery itself was the main event. National parks, scenic drives, and hiking trails cost nothing beyond the park entrance fee. The main splurge was a Cog Railway ticket to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, which was worth every dollar.

National Parks Pass: $80

The America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 USD and covers entrance to all US national parks and federal recreation areas for 12 months. If your route includes two or more national parks, this pass pays for itself immediately. The Grand Canyon alone is $35 per vehicle. Joshua Tree is $30. We visited both on this trip and the pass was an obvious win.

Buy your pass in advance at the National Parks Service website. You can also purchase it at the first national park you visit, but buying online means you can start the 12-month clock when it suits you.

Our Total USA Road Trip Cost: $2,382 ($149/day)

Our 16-day Route 66 road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles cost $2,382, or $149/day for two people. That is a combined total, not per person. On a per-person basis, we spent around $75/day each, which is very manageable for a road trip across one of the most travelled routes in the world.

We had budgeted $125/day and came in over by about 20%. The main surprise was RV park costs, which were higher than we expected. If we had used more free camping spots from the start, we would have been very close to budget.

Looking at 2025 prices, a comparable trip would likely cost $2,800–$3,500 for two people over 16 days, primarily due to higher RV rental rates and fuel costs. The proportions remain roughly the same: vehicle and fuel together account for about 55–60% of total costs on an RV trip.

READ NEXT: US ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

How to Save on a USA Road Trip

There is plenty of room to reduce costs on a USA road trip without sacrificing the experience. Here are the tactics that make the biggest difference:

• Find relocation deals for RVs and campervans. Rental companies regularly need to move vehicles between depots and offer steep discounts. Search on iRV2.com, Transfercar, or directly through Cruise America and Apollo RV. The deals require flexibility, but savings can be enormous.
• Use free camping. Bureau of Land Management land across the West allows dispersed camping for free with no reservation required. Walmart parking lots are another well-known option for overnight RV stays. The iOverlander and The Dyrt apps both have large databases of free and low-cost camping spots.
• Buy the National Parks annual pass. At $80 USD, it covers entrance to every national park in the country. If you are visiting two or more parks, it pays for itself immediately.
• Cook your own meals. Grocery stores are everywhere in the US and prices are reasonable compared to eating out. We cooked almost every meal on our RV trip and it was one of the most effective budget moves we made.
• Fill up on gas before entering California. Gas prices in California regularly run $0.50–$1.00 more per gallon than neighbouring states. Fill the tank in Nevada or Arizona before crossing the border.
• Drive shorter routes. More miles means more fuel, more wear on the vehicle, and more days of rental fees. A well-designed 7 to 10-day loop through one region can be just as satisfying as a cross-country marathon.
• Travel with a group. Vehicle rental, fuel, and many activity costs are fixed regardless of passenger numbers. Adding two or three more people to a large RV dramatically reduces the per-person daily cost.

USA Road Trip Packing Essentials

Packing well makes a road trip significantly more comfortable. Here are the categories worth thinking through before you leave:

• Navigation: Download offline maps before you leave. Mobile data is unreliable in remote areas. Google Maps, Maps.me, and Gaia GPS all offer offline functionality.
• Emergency kit: A basic kit with jumper cables, a tyre pressure gauge, a flashlight, first aid supplies, and emergency contact numbers. Roadside assistance through AAA or your rental company is also worth having.
• Comfort gear: A good pillow, a reusable water bottle, a portable cooler or fridge, and a power bank for charging devices while driving.
• Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brim hat. Desert driving means significant UV exposure, particularly through windshields that do not block UVA rays.

See our full road trip essentials list and our comprehensive road trip checklist for a deeper dive into what to bring. If you are going the RV route, our campervan hacks guide has tips for getting the most out of van life and camping road trips.

Road Trips USA: Eco-Friendly Tips

Road trips have a real environmental footprint, but there are practical ways to reduce it. We find that the most eco-conscious choices often turn out to be the most cost-effective ones too.

• Choose a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle whenever possible. In 2025, hybrid SUVs are widely available through major rental companies and cost about the same as standard vehicles. Electric vehicles are practical on the West Coast and in the Southwest where charging infrastructure is strong.
• Check tyre pressure and fluid levels regularly. A properly maintained vehicle runs significantly more efficiently. Rental agencies service their vehicles, but a quick check every few days on a long trip is worthwhile.
• Use windows instead of air conditioning when temperatures allow. At highway speeds, open windows create drag that increases fuel use at speeds above 80 km/h. Below that, windows beat A/C for efficiency.
• Camp in national parks and on public land rather than commercial RV parks wherever possible. The experience is better, the cost is lower, and the environmental impact of dispersed camping on designated land is minimal.
• Avoid single-use plastics. Bring reusable grocery bags, a reusable water bottle, and collapsible containers for food storage. Many US towns in popular road trip corridors have banned single-use plastics, but carrying your own is the simplest solution regardless.
• Shop at local farmers markets and independent restaurants rather than fast food chains. The food is better, the money stays local, and it is a more authentic travel experience.
• Fill your seats. Travelling with a full vehicle is the single most effective way to reduce the per-person carbon footprint of a road trip. A five-person RV shared between five people has a lower emissions per person than a solo driver in a compact car.

USA Road Trip FAQ

How Much Does a 2-Week USA Road Trip Cost?

A 2-week USA road trip typically costs between $2,000 and $4,500 USD for two people, depending on your vehicle, accommodation style, and route. Our 16-day Route 66 RV trip cost $2,382 combined ($149/day for two). In 2025, equivalent trips run closer to $2,800–$3,500 due to higher RV rental and fuel costs. Budget travellers camping with a smaller rental car can manage $1,500–$2,000 for two weeks.

What Is the Best 2-Week USA Road Trip for First Timers?

The California Coast along Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco is the best USA road trip for first-time road trippers. It is manageable in 7 to 10 days, offers clear navigation along a single highway, and has abundant accommodation options at every budget. The scenery is consistently impressive and the route is well-documented with plenty of guides and travel resources.

Is It Cheaper to Do a USA Road Trip in an RV or a Regular Car?

For groups of three or more, an RV can be cost-effective because it combines transport and accommodation in one rental. For solo travellers or couples, a rental car plus budget motels or campsites is usually cheaper. Standard RV rentals run $150–$250/day in 2025 before fuel. A compact rental car costs $50–$70/day and gets significantly better fuel economy, which adds up over a long route.

Do I Need an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass?

Yes, if your route includes two or more national parks. The America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 USD and covers entrance to all US national parks and federal recreation lands for 12 months. Individual park entry fees range from $20 to $35 per vehicle. The pass pays for itself at your second or third park visit.

How Far in Advance Should I Book for a USA Road Trip?

For summer travel (June to August), book your rental vehicle at least 3 to 4 months in advance. Campsite and RV park reservations at popular national parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon should be made as soon as the booking window opens, often 6 months out. For shoulder season travel in spring or fall, 4 to 6 weeks of lead time is usually sufficient.

Final Thoughts

A USA road trip does not have to be an expensive or complicated undertaking. With the right route, a realistic budget, and a few smart choices about accommodation and food, it is one of the most rewarding travel experiences available. The country is enormous, the landscapes are diverse, and the freedom to stop wherever interests you is what makes it so different from any other kind of holiday.

Whether it is your first time driving the California Coast or you are finally tackling Route 66, the road is out there waiting. We hope this guide gives you the numbers and the confidence to plan your own trip. If you have questions about any of the routes or costs above, leave them in the comments below.