A Few Ideas For Weekend Road Trips

Tennessee, Johnson City to Gatlinburgcool scenery.
So dang gorgeous, these 90 miles of rural TennesseeFrom Pierre, follow U.S. Route 83 across the Missouri
might inspire you to grab a banjo and strum anRiver and striking grasslands to Interstate 90, going
Appalachian love song.west. The good stuff isn'tvisible from the interstate, so
Take U.S. Route 11E toward Davy Crockett'sbe sure to turn off at Murdo for buffalo burgers,
birthplace (Everyone: "Born on a mountaintop..."). AtBadlands National Park for dusty canyons and Rapid
Greenville, where twohomes of Andrew JohnsonCityfor dead presidents carved into the Black Hills.
anchor a presidential historic site, veer onto U.S. RouteCalifornia, Monterey to Morro Bay
321, skirting the majestic Great SmokyLike you needed reminding that state Route 1 along
Mountains National Park. Next day, depending on yourCalifornia's central coast ranks as one of America's --
preference, visit the park or, for mountains of aheck, the planet's --best road trips. South of Monterey
different kind, nearby Dollywood.begins 125 miles of windy highway within incredible
Florida, Overseas Highwayscenery, most amazing at Big Sur,where the Santa
Only car-crazy America would link a 105-mile longLucia Range slopes steeply into the Pacific. By the
chain of islands -- from Key Largo, just south of Miami,time you hit San Simeon, the Hearst Castle's
west to Key West --with a highway, U.S. Route 1.architecturalwonders will barely register against what
"You're on either a bridge or a causeway, surroundedMother Nature just showed you.
by shimmering water," says Janet Groene,author ofFinally, regardless of your road trip, travel pros urge
Great Eastern RV Trips. "It's a lovely, lovely drive."folks to plan their routes in advance and to pack a
Two tips: Crowds are smaller during spring and earlymap, not just directionsspat out by a Web site. Don't
summer, andcatch the sunset at Key West's Mallorybe one of those that thinks they know it all and can't
Square Dock.get lost. Many a great weekend trip has been ruinedby
South Dakota, Pierre to Mount Rushmoresuch poor planning. For the best maps available go to
Mythic Mount Rushmore does not disappoint, evenDrivingDirectionsAndMaps.
after driving more than 200 miles across jaw-dropping