DALLAS, TX – Taking a road trip is one of the most fun and unique ways to explore America’s most popular cities, but not everyone can afford to spend several weeks or a month on the road. Some travelers opt to fly to a destination and hit the road in a rental car to save precious time. Whether your wanderlust is food, music or sports, the experts have picked three of the best “fly and drive” road trip itineraries for summer travel.
“So much of our typical travel revolves around family or work obligations, but road trips offer travelers a way to discover parts of the country that they would never see otherwise,” said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. “Travelers with limited time can make the most of their road trips taking advantage of the one-way car rentals that many companies offer.”
Food: Southern BBQ Tour
Stops and Hotel Rates: Dallas ($120), Hot Springs, Ark. ($110), Memphis, Tenn. ($110), St. Louis ($119), Kansas City, Mo. ($109)
Total Distance (one-way): 1,013 miles
Average Daily Driving: 3 hrs
Estimated Gas: $145
Memphis, St. Louis and Kansas City-style BBQ each a have taste of their own that make these cities famous for a classic staple of American cuisine – smoked and barbecued meat. Foodies will also find some of the best BBQ joints in Dallas, Texas, while Hot Springs is home to some of the most famed and unique BBQ restaurants in the country.
Music: Live Music Road Trip
Stops and Hotel Rates: Austin, Texas ($143), Lafayette, La. ($92), New Orleans ($173), Memphis ($110), Nashville, Tenn. ($142)
Total Distance (one-way): 1,119 miles
Average Daily Driving: 3 hrs 18 min
Estimated Gas: $160
Whether your music preference is jazz (New Orleans), country (Nashville) or the blues (Memphis), these cities are renowned for their local acts and live music venues. Music lovers can also appreciate the origins of Cajun music and the Zydeco dancehalls of Lafayette, as well as the live music capital of the world that is Austin.
Sports: Ballpark Tour
Stops and Hotel Rates: Boston ($190), New York City ($267), Philadelphia ($148), Baltimore ($130), Pittsburgh ($143)
Total Distance (one-way): 656 miles
Average Daily Driving: 3 hrs 29 min
Estimated Gas: $94
Some of the country’s most renowned and breathtaking ballparks can be found in the northeast according to Athlon Sports. Baseball fans can catch a home game while visiting or simply take a tour of a historic ballpark like Fenway Park or Oriole Park at Camden Yards.