Drive USA — The British Road Trip Guide

Drive USA

Plan Your American Road Trip — A Guide for UK Drivers

Everything a British traveller needs to plan the ultimate USA road trip — routes, car hire, destinations, culture, dining, and driving tips across all 50 states.

9
Road Trip Regions
10,000+
Miles of Routes
£
Budget Guides
🇬🇧→🇺🇸
Made for Brits
🌊 Pacific Coast 🛣️ Driving Tips

🗺️ Road Trip Routes

Classic American drives, planned for British travellers.

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Pacific Coast — California, Oregon & Washington

A coastal road trip from San Diego to Olympic National Park. Highway 1, Big Sur, the Redwoods, and the wild Oregon coast.

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Southwest — Arizona, Utah, Nevada & New Mexico

Red rock country, Route 66, the Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley. The Southwest is the road trip landscape you've seen in every American film.

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Deep South — Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama & Georgia

The Blues Trail, Cajun country, plantation history, and Gulf Coast beaches. A road trip through America's musical and culinary heartland.

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Northeast — New England & the Atlantic Seaboard

Fall foliage, coastal Maine, covered bridges, and historic cities. New England in autumn is the most beautiful drive in America.

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Great Lakes — Chicago, Michigan & Minnesota

America's freshwater coast. Chicago's skyline, Michigan's cherry-lined shorelines, and the wild Boundary Waters of Minnesota.

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Mountain West — Montana, Wyoming & Colorado

Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road, and the Rocky Mountains. America's most dramatic mountain scenery.

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Texas — Big Bend, Hill Country & the Gulf

America's biggest state. Desert canyons, live music in Austin, BBQ that'll ruin you for life, and the vast Texas Gulf Coast.

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Florida — The Keys, Everglades & Space Coast

Tropical road tripping from Miami to Key West, through the Everglades, and up the Space Coast. Palm trees, alligators, and rocket launches.

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Pacific Northwest — Oregon & Washington

Volcanic peaks, ancient rainforests, wild coastline, and the craft beer capitals of America. The Pacific Northwest is America's green frontier.

✈️ Trip Planning

Everything a British driver needs to know.

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Car Hire Guide for British Travellers

Hiring a car in the US with a UK licence: age rules, credit cards, CDW and liability insurance, excess cover, counter upsells, pick-up checks and one-way fees.

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Driving Tips — A British Guide to American Roads

US road rules for UK drivers: driving on the right, speed limits, right on red, four-way stops, school buses, fuel grades, tolls, parking and police stops.

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Road Trip Planner — Budget, Packing & Timing

Plan your American road trip: budgeting, packing lists, route timing, accommodation strategies, and practical planning advice for UK travellers.

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Alternatives to Driving — Trains, Buses, Rideshare & More

Not everything in America requires a car. Trains, buses, rideshare apps, ferries, and the emerging world of autonomous vehicles.

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FAQ — American Road Trip Questions Answered

Answers to the most common questions British travellers ask about driving in the United States, from licences and insurance to tipping and time zones.

Welcome to Drive USA

A US road trip is one of the few holidays where the driving is the point. You collect an automatic hire car at the airport, and within an hour you can be on a desert interstate, a cliff road above the Pacific or a two-lane highway through New England maples. For a British driver the adjustments are real but learnable: driving on the right, turning right on a red light, four-way stops, fuel sold by the gallon and hire-car insurance that works differently from home.

This site is written for UK licence holders. The regional pages give day-by-day routes with distances, stops and the best months to go. The planning pages cover car hire, road rules, budgets and the paperwork, including the 2026 changes to national park fees for overseas visitors, which add real money to a western itinerary.

Drive USA is published by Tabaconda LLC, Florida, USA. Where a rule or fee changes, we name the official source so you can check it before you travel.

Why Drive in America?

  • Scale — The contiguous US is more than 30 times the size of the UK. Crossing a single western state can take a full day
  • Variety — Desert, mountain, coast, canyon, bayou, tundra, and prairie — all in one country
  • Running costs — Petrol (gasoline) usually costs around half the UK price per litre, and chain motels are common on every interstate
  • Freedom — National parks, state parks, scenic byways and county roads, with no tolls on most western and rural routes
  • Automatic Gearboxes — Nearly every hire car is automatic, making long distances effortless

What You'll Find Here

Regional Road Trip Guides

Detailed routes through every major region of the United States — with distances, suggested stops, accommodation tips, and local highlights.

RegionHighlightsBest Season
Pacific CoastHighway 1, Big Sur, Olympic PeninsulaMay–October
SouthwestGrand Canyon, Monument Valley, Route 66March–May, Sept–Nov
Deep SouthBlues Trail, plantation houses, Gulf CoastMarch–May, Oct–Nov
NortheastNew England fall foliage, coastal MaineSept–October
Great LakesChicago, Michigan shoreline, Boundary WatersJune–September
Mountain WestYellowstone, Glacier, Going-to-the-Sun RoadJune–September
TexasBig Bend, Hill Country, Gulf beachesOct–April
FloridaKeys, Everglades, Space CoastNovember–April
Pacific NorthwestOregon coast, Cascades, rainforestsJune–September

Planning & Practical

  • Car Hire Guide — Booking, insurance, pick-up tips, and UK licence rules
  • Driving Tips — Right-hand driving, speed limits, fuel, road etiquette
  • Trip Planner — Budgeting, packing, route timing, accommodation
  • Alternatives to Driving — Trains, buses, rideshare, and autonomous vehicles
  • FAQ — Answers to the most common questions

Quick Reference

TopicUK → US
Driving sideLeft → Right
Speed measurementmph (same)
FuelLitres → US gallons (3.785 L)
DistanceMiles (same)
Minimum hire age25 standard (21 with surcharge)
LicenceFull UK photocard licence accepted by the major hire companies for visits of up to 90 days
InsuranceCDW/LDW and extra liability cover essential — UK credit cards rarely include them
Motorway nameMotorway → Interstate / Highway / Freeway
Fuel cost (approx.)£1.40/L → ~$3.50/gal (~£0.70/L equivalent)

Before You Go

  1. ESTA or Visa — Apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before departure (esta.cbp.dhs.gov — the only official site). The fee is $40.27 per person since 1 January 2026, per the US Federal Register
  2. Driving Licence — Your UK photocard licence is valid in all 50 states. An International Driving Permit is recommended but rarely required
  3. Credit Card — Essential for car hire deposits. Debit cards are often refused or require extra checks
  4. Travel Insurance — There's no reciprocal healthcare deal between the UK and US, and the FCDO warns that treatment is very expensive. Buy comprehensive cover that includes driving
  5. Phone Plan — Get a US SIM or eSIM for data. Google Maps offline maps are a lifesaver in rural areas
  1. National park pass — If your route includes Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Zion or the other parks with the new non-resident fee, budget for the $250 non-resident annual pass (see the trip planner)

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