September 2, 2024, 3:44 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
From the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty: American Randy Olson used a computer algorithm to calculate the most efficient route to see 50 highlights in the USA. TRAVELBOOK shows the interactive road trip map to follow.
Observing bison in Yellowstone National Park, tracing Elvis Presley’s steps in Graceland, touring the White House and Mount Rushmore, and taking a cable car ride in San Francisco are just a few of the 50 highlights on Randy Olson’s ultimate USA route, which the data scientist pinpointed with a computer algorithm. Olson has also devised the ideal road trip across Europe.
The sights of every state
“Seeing all the states in the USA – that had been on my list for a long time,” writes the computer scientist in his blog. “That’s why I was excited about Tracy’s idea of calculating an optimal road trip.” US journalist Tracy Staedter had asked him to do this when she noticed that most of the previous USA road trip maps didn’t include all the states.
Tracy compiled a list of highlights according to three criteria: 1) a popular attraction in each state, 2) they had to be national parks, national historic sites, or monuments, and 3) drivers had to be able to reach them without leaving the USA – Alaska and Hawaii are therefore missing from the list. Nevertheless, it includes various highlights, including the home of author Mark Twain, the Grand Canyon, and the Statue of Liberty in New York. Below, you will find an overview of all 50 attractions.
50 places in 9.33 days
The journalist increased the tally of attractions to an even 50. Subsequently, the data expert employed his algorithm to determine the most efficient route connecting these landmarks. Theoretically, you could cover them in 9.33 days – if you never stop. For those wishing to dine, rest, take breaks, and leisurely explore the sights, two to three months is recommended. USA fans who want to discover other highlights can put together their own dream trip: The data expert has published instructions and the source code, especially for this purpose.
The 50 attractions on the route of the perfect USA road trip
- Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
- Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Pikes Peak, Colorado
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
- The Alamo, Texas
- The Platt Historic District, Oklahoma
- Toltec Mounds, Arkansas
- Elvis Presley’s Graceland, Tennessee
- Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi
- French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
- USS Alabama, Alabama
- Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
- Okefenokee Swamp Park, Georgia
- Fort Sumter National Monument, South Carolina
- Lost World Caverns, West Virginia
- Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center, NC
- Mount Vernon, VA
- White House, Washington, DC
- Colonial Annapolis Historic District, Maryland
- New Castle Historic District, Delaware
- Cape May Historic District, New Jersey
- Liberty Bell, Pennsylvania
- Statue of Liberty, New York
- The Mark Twain House & Museum, Connecticut
- The Breakers, Rhode Island
- USS Constitution, Massachusetts
- Acadia National Park, Maine
- Mount Washington Hotel, New Hampshire
- Shelburne Farms, Vermont
- Fox Theater, Detroit, Michigan
- Spring Grove Cemetery, Ohio
- Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
- West Baden Springs Hotel, Indiana
- Abraham Lincoln’s Home, Illinois
- Gateway Arch, Missouri
- C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, Kansas
- Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion, Iowa
- Taliesin, Wisconsin
- Fort Snelling, Minnesota
- Ashfall Fossil Bed, Nebraska
- Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
- Fort Union Trading Post, North Dakota
- Glacier National Park, Montana
- Hanford Site, Washington
- Columbia River Highway, Oregon
- San Francisco Cable Cars, California
- San Andreas Fault, California
- Hoover Dam, Nevada
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8 tips for the perfect USA road trip
1. Book flights and rental cars in good time
A good guideline for booking is six months before the start of your trip. “There is sufficient capacity,” says Frieder Bechtel from the comparison portal Billiger-mietwagen.de. Wolfgang Streitbörger also advises considering package tours. Those who book flights and rental cars as a package tour benefit from the EU Package Travel Directive, explains the head of the Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee tourist office. The advantage is better service and regulated claims in the event of travel defects.
2. Keep an eye on your insurance cover
Securing travel health insurance is invariably a prudent investment. In some US states, car rental expert Bechtel warns that the statutory liability cover for cars is only 5,000 US dollars. It is, therefore, advisable to take out fully comprehensive theft insurance. It is most advantageous to arrange for insurance from Germany. “This is almost always cheaper than topping up your insurance cover with the local provider,” says Bechtel.
3. Special features of the traffic
If a sheriff with flashing blue lights asks you to stop, the rule is: “Keep calm, stay seated in the vehicle, and keep both hands on the steering wheel,” recommends Streitbörger. Getting out of the car is seen as provocation. However, if the police officer asks you to leave the vehicle, it is better to comply. Also, be careful when changing lanes: Americans like to stick to their lane on the highway and sometimes drive faster on the right than on the left. Europeans must apply for and carry an international driving license to drive in the USA.
4. Pay attention to the speed
Corinne Hilbert and Laurens Mauquoi, who jointly run the travel blog mightytraveliers.com and have already undertaken several road trips in the USA, write on their website: “Determining the maximum speed on highways has been left to the states themselves for several years. Stay alert when crossing state lines, as speed limits can change abruptly and without obvious cause. As a rule, however, the speed limit in the eastern states is 70 mph (113 km/h), while in the west it is usually 75 mph (121 km/h).”
5. Nothing works without a credit card
Whether in a hotel, at the petrol station, or in the supermarket, even pennies can be paid by credit card in the USA, says German expat Stephanie Pardue, who has already taken several road trips herself. What’s more, many rental companies won’t let you rent a car without a credit card.
6. Book accommodation spontaneously
With a smartphone, hotels on a road trip can be easily organized via the Internet; simply book the night before for the next day. Prices on websites are often cheaper than over the phone. Only in major cities and for the first night near the airport does USA expert Streitbörger recommend booking from home. Motels are also an inexpensive option for overnight stays on the road. “The motels are always well signposted and can’t be overlooked. You’ll always find one, especially on the highways,” says travel blogger Janine Domnick from bereisediewelt.de.
7. Weekdays in the country, weekends in the big cities
In almost all US metropolitan areas, the hustle and bustle of business life reigns on weekdays. Overnight rates are more expensive, and the stress is greater. “City trips at the weekend are much more relaxed,” says Streitbörger. The opposite is true for national parks – overnight guests often pay more on weekends.
8. Less is more
The enormous distances in the USA are easily underestimated. Travelers should allocate ample time to experience the national parks during their road trip. Frieder Bechtel says that many people in the USA have overdone it in the rush of sightseeing and hardly taken their foot off the gas pedal. Stephanie Pardie, a convinced road tripper, also advises: “Less is more.”