Five Road Trip Destinations Worth Driving To

Every road trip has a destination. When we talk about road trip destinations, we're talking about places you want to plan a road trip to. Places where you actually want to vacation, but you're choosing to drive there rather than fly.

In other words, if you're itching to hit the open road but would like to spend a couple days having fun in your destination before heading back, choose one of these spots.

You'll enjoy the vacation as well as the drive. Here, in no particular order, are some of our top road trip destinations:

• Las Vegas. If you're a gambler or enjoy attending glitzy shows, you hardly need to be reminded of Vegas' existence. If you're more of a quiet family type (like us), Vegas is still worth a drive. I mean, it's so tacky and showy and overdone that it's almost beautiful.
  
  If you do go see it just to see it, try to time your arrival for nighttime. The neon lights are stunning - and you can probably get a good deal on a hotel room and a steak dinner. Vegas is easily accessible on Interstate 15.
  
  
• Kayenta, Arizona. Never heard of it? This reservation town of about 5,000 is fascinating. The grocery store has the Navajo words for Dairy, Produce, and Pharmacy written on the walls. The town's Burger King has a small museum exhibit dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers. You can drive around town and see what reservation houses look like.
  
  And with a few decent hotels, Kayenta can be the perfect base for daytrips to nearby Monument Valley or Four Corners National Monument. Driving on U.S. Route 160 to get to Kayenta, you'll see some of the most spectacular desert scenery imaginable.
  
  
• Cheyenne, Wyoming. There's just something about the Wyoming capital. It feels just enough like a real city - with a small, clean downtown and the majestic Capitol building - but it has a strong Western flavor, thanks in part to the giant ornamental cowboy boots positioned around the downtown area.
  
  Cheyenne is easy to reach on Interstate 80 or Interstate 25.
  
  
• Mackinac Island, Michigan. It's ironic to be listing an island that doesn't allow cars on a list of road trip attractions. But Mackinac Island is worth the drive - and ferry ride.
  
  Just 3.8 square miles in total area, Mackinac Island is small enough to see in a day. It's famous for its fudge shops, but watch out for the horse manure.
  
  Be sure to visit in fall. I was there in early October 1992 while the leaves were changing. I stood at the highest point on the island and looked down towards the bay. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.
  
  You can drive to ferries in Mackinaw City (Lower Peninsula) or St. Ignace (Upper Peninsula). While you're in the area, consider driving the length of the Upper Peninsula on U.S. Route 2, which has to be one of the loneliest highways in the world.
  
  
• Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Not many towns of 2,500 would seem like prime road trip destinations, but Wisconsin Dells definitely qualifies. The Dells is home to several water parks and theme parks - more than enough to keep a family busy for a day or a weekend.
  
  The town is not far off Interstate 90, north-northwest of Madison in south central Wisconsin. If you're coming from the Twin Cities area, you'll get to see a huge swath of America's Dairyland up close.

What are some of your favorite road trip destinations? Do you have questions on good spots for your next driving vacation? We'd love to hear from you below.