Curb To Coast From your curb to the coast

US scenic and coastal drives

These guides cover the classic American drives where the road itself is the point: the Pacific coast through Big Sur, the bridges of the Florida Keys, the mountain curves of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the full length of Route 66. They are for drivers who want a realistic number of days, current road status and the practical details (parking, tolls, detours, costs) that decide whether the trip feels relaxed or rushed.

How to choose a drive

Start with how much time you have, then check the road status. Two of these routes have been shaped by recent closures, and one is having a very busy anniversary year.

DriveDistanceDays to allowWatch for
Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco to LAAbout 450 to 470 miles3 minimum, 4 to 6 betterShort Big Sur closures for storms, fires and maintenance
Overseas Highway, Miami to Key WestAbout 163 miles3Hurricane season (June 1 to November 30) and Key West parking
Blue Ridge Parkway469 miles5The remaining Helene closure near Mount Mitchell and a 45 mph limit
Route 66, Chicago to Santa Monica2,300 to 2,450 miles14Centennial crowds and full historic motels

Short trips: the coasts

The Pacific Coast Highway guide breaks Highway 1 into segments and explains why southbound is the usual choice: you drive in the ocean-side lane, so vista turnouts are easier to use. Big Sur reopened end to end on January 14, 2026, after the Regent's Slide repair, but has closed for short spells since, so the guide includes the US-101 inland detour. The Florida Keys guide turns a four-hour drive into three days, with nights in the Upper and Middle or Lower Keys, mile-marker stops and Key West parking costs. US-1 itself has no tolls.

Mountain roads: the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway itinerary runs north to south by milepost, from Rockfish Gap to Cherokee. As of the NPS status page dated November 3, 2026, only mileposts 344.2 to 355.3 remain closed, and the guide maps the detour. It also covers adding Skyline Drive.

The long haul: Route 66

The two-week Route 66 itinerary keeps most days to three or four hours of driving across eight states and estimates costs for two people. The centennial falls on November 11, 2026, so book the best-known motels early. If you drive electric, pair it with the Route 66 EV charging plan.

Planning order

  1. Pick the drive that fits your days and season using the table above.
  2. Check the official road status (Caltrans QuickMap for Big Sur, the NPS page for the Parkway) when you book and again the day before each leg.
  3. Decide your direction and book lodging, especially on Route 66 and in the Keys during winter and spring.
  4. Sort out tolls on the way to the start with the multi-state toll pass guide.
  5. Get the car inspected about two weeks before you leave using the pre-trip checklist.

All 4 guides in this series