Plan a multigenerational trip on these US historic trails and iconic corridors for a history-fueled experience
By Sofia Bellafiore
Family road trips will always be a favorite pastime, and when you incorporate our great nationβs historic roadways and trails, it becomes an exceptional experience filled with authentic Americana. If you are traveling with family, historic trail trips and journeys along historic corridors provide a unique opportunity to learn through shared experiences. Explore Americaβs landscapes together and step into the stories that shaped our nation. This guide highlights how groups can experience iconic routes and sites with ease, including ranger programs, kid-friendly activities, living history add-ons, and easy day hikes, and incorporate them into reunion itineraries.
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WHY FAMILY HISTORIC TRAIL TRIPS ARE PERFECT FOR REUNION ITINERARIES
With inherent flexibility and diverse landscapes, historic trails and heritage corridors offer groups manageable trips filled with exciting experiences for all ages and abilities. Adults gain meaningful context about Americaβs defining moments, while children and teens learn through engaging, fun activities focused on history.
The National Park Service supports many historic trails, so your family can rest easy knowing they are well-maintained, safe and accessible, with ranger-led programs and Junior Rangers booklets available. Other popular park activities include leisurely walks, hiking, biking, and scenic drives. With a built-in infrastructure, national parks provide simple planning and peace of mind.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRAIL FOR YOUR GROUP
When planning your heritage road trip, consider the following key factors:
- Mobility & Accessibility: Seek trails with shorter sections and paved portions, roadside pull-off viewing areas, and visitor centers with exhibits and activities.
- Preferred Travel Style: Whether your group is full of thrill-seekers, grandparents and young children, or everyone in between, national parks provide attractions and activities for all skill levels, interests and abilities.
- Time Availability: These locations make for great day trips or long weekends, so thereβs no need to take a whole week or two off from work.
- Season & Weather: Extreme heat, heavy snow, and other types of weather can affect trail conditions, often leading to closures. Check seasonal notes for each region on the National Park Service website.
- Nearby Lodging & Dining: Many national heritage areas, scenic byways and historic trails weave through small towns and communities with family-friendly lodging, attractions and dining options.
TYPES OF FAMILY HISTORIC TRAIL TRIPS TO CONSIDER
When planning a family adventure focused on American history, itβs essential to understand what each trail and corridor represents. While all are vital to American history, some involve sensitive topics that are more suitable for teens and adults. Here are examples of the types of trails to consider, along with highlights and other notable mentions.
U.S. NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is 4,900 miles long and follows the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of the early 1800s, connecting 16 states and Indigenous lands. You can participate in the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition via auto routes while also witnessing the remarkable nature and visitor centers, which offer an up-close, personal experience. This National Historic Trail is ideal for those interested in exploring a vast outdoor portion of U.S. history. Rather than limiting yourself to one specific state, consider road trips in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana, which offer many educational opportunities.
Family-friendly trail highlights
The National Park Service hosts a Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Ranger Program at 30 locations across 13 states. The partners who work in this program are incredibly welcoming, and itβs a community-based, unique experience for young children to join, promoting connections and combining historical learning with the outdoors.
A picturesque view of the Niobrara River in Nebraska, along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. Photo credit: NPS Ryan Schmieder
OTHER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS FOR FAMILIES
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail β There are multiple land and water routes representing the forced removal of the Cherokee people. Access to this trail includes Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. In Tennessee, the Charles Hall Museum and Heritage Center is a living history stop commemorating the tragic Native American history that took place along what is now known as The Trail of Tears. The nonprofit museum contains over 10,000 historical artifacts, as well as Cherokee panels that showcase information about the lives of the last Native Americans to live in the area, the Overhill Cherokee.
Barn Quilt Trails β In South Carolina, combine heritage with art along Barn Quilt Trails. These trails feature rural history, with more than 300 barns adorned with geometric paintings on their front walls. The art pieces are accessible to family historic trail trips since this route is meant to be enjoyed via a leisurely vehicle ride by all ages.
Pony Express National Historic Trail β The general route of this historic trail begins in St. Joseph, Missouri, and travels to Sacramento, California. States include Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California.
Part of the Pony Express National Historic Trail in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo credit: NPS
CIVIL RIGHTS CORRIDOR & TRAILS
The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama travels along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and is an honorary route of the 1965 Voting Rights March. The Civil Rights Corridor hosts special events and offers the opportunity to view scenery across 54 miles. Centers are available along the trail for story explanations of the voting rights movement.
Family-friendly trail highlights
The Selma Interpretive Center, which opened in 2011, serves as a welcome center for those curious to explore offerings such as exhibits, videos, and a bookstore that recall the area’s history. The accessible history of the Civil Rights Corridor, which runs from Selma to Montgomery, is perfect for young adults seeking an informative trip in civic education, or simply a stop for the family that your older teens will enjoy interpreting.
OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS TRAILS (found on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail website above)
The Little Rock Central High School Historic Site. Photo credit: U.S. Civil Rights Trail Facebook
Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail β This ever-growing collection of historic sites in Little Rock showcases significant events of the Civil Rights Movement. Take a journey along the trail that begins outside the Old State House and culminates at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Along the route, visit the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site to learn about profound and thought-provoking civil rights history.
Louisville Downtown Civil Rights Trail β This trail highlights the often-overlooked history of desegregation in Louisville, Kentucky. Groups can walk through downtown and view historic markers that honor the legacy of those who participated in civil rights demonstrations.
Mississippi Freedom Trail β Walk through Jackson, Mississippi, where historic markers honor vital figures in the fight for equality, including Medgar Evers, and sites such as the Greyhound Bus Station, the Mississippi State Capitol, the site of the 1963 sit-ins at Woolworthβs, and others. The northern portion of the trail showcases historic locations, including the home of Amzie Moore, an underappreciated champion of civil rights, and the gravesite of equality heroine, Fannie Lou Hamer.
NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS & SCENIC BYWAYS
Probably the most iconic road in America, Route 66 traverses eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Beginning in Chicago and ending in Santa Monica, this legendary highway boasts living Americana throughout iconic roadside attractions, classic diners, retro motels and gas stations, neon signs, and nostalgic stops that are perfect for everyone from children to grandparents.
Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, is an iconic Route 66 roadside attraction boasting a hands-on, everchanging art installation. Photo credit: Cadillac Ranch Facebook
Family-friendly Route 66 highlights
Start in Illinois and visit the Cozy Dog Drive In, located in Springfield, the birthplace of the corn dog. In Missouri, Route 66 State Park offers easy trails and a visitor center, while Meramec Caverns provides guided tours for groups.
Route 66 stretches 13 miles through Kansas and highlights iconic sites, including Galenaβs Cars on the Route (the inspiration for Disneyβs Cars) and the Historic Marsh arch Rainbow Bridge. In Oklahoma, families can stop at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton for a fascinating and comprehensive history lesson through vibrant exhibits. Discover Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, an iconic, hands-on art installation, and enjoy a meal at Midpoint CafΓ© in Adrian, Texas, the exact halfway point along Route 66 between Chicago and Santa Monica.
Cool off at Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, a stunning natural swimming hole, and explore Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona, for a drive-through safari experience. Finally, glimpse the quirky art exhibition at Elmerβs Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, California, a classic roadside art stop in the Mojave Desert. Be sure to visit the official endpoint of Route 66, the Santa Monica Pier.
Bearizona offers engaging experiences, including a drive-thru safari and live animal demonstrations. Photo credit: Bearizona Facebook
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OTHER SCENIC BYWAYS
Historic National Road (Midwest/East) β This scenic road travels through Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and is the first federally funded interstate highway. Along this road, travelers can stay at inns and historic lodgings and have a group meal at a local diner. Historically, this road served as a resource corridor and carries the legacy of 200 years of American History. This byway spans 824 miles with thousands of unique and historical stops along the way.
Blue Ridge Parkway (East) β One of the most picturesque byways in the Eastern US, the Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles through the Appalachian Highlands from Virginia through North Carolina. The route connects the beautiful Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering family-friendly outdoor adventures and fascinating American history.
The Blue Ridge Parkway offers sweeping views of stunning Virginia and North Carolina landscapes via scenic pull-offs. Photo credit: Blue Ridge Parkway Facebook
Great River Road (Midwest/South) β For more than 3,000 miles, the Great River Road traverses 10 states from Minnesota to Louisiana. It is a classic heritage corridor rich with river culture, music and American history. Groups can visit local museums, enjoy paddlewheel boat cruises, explore historic river towns, enjoy traditional food, and much more.
Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway (West/Southwest) β Tracing parts of the historic Santa Fe Trail, this scenic byway travels through southeastern Colorado, following ancient wagon routes that were once used for trade between Missouri and the Southwest. Groups can explore fort museums, reconstructed trading posts, epic landscapes, and frontier history.
HISTORIC RAIL & CANAL ROUTES
The C&O Canal provides outdoor adventures and stunning scenery. Photo credit: C&O Canal Professional Services Division
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal β For those up for a more adventurous historical stop, canal routes can offer insight into manmade history. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is preserved today to expose its rich history to citizens and to further research on cultural history. In the past, this canal was βa lifeline for communities,β and today it stands as a lesson in human viability. This landmark is ideal for enjoying the quiet of nature, witnessing wildlife, walking, or taking a boat ride on a legacy of efficient trade. The region is filled with unforgettable liveliness, making it a perfect addition to your itinerary. This trail travels through Washington, D.C., Maryland and West Virginia.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor β This historic trail runs for 500 miles through Upstate New York, preserving the history of the system that once served communities in the 1800s. There are many opportunities for family-friendly fun, whether that be fishing, boat tours, hands-on history at a local museum, visiting downtown areas, or walking/biking on the historic towpath. Cities along this route include Albany, Schenectady, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.
LOGISTICS & BENEFITS OF HERITAGE TRAVEL
Heritage travel offers many benefits, such as creating a one-of-a-kind family adventure that is equally fulfilling, affordable, and fun. Interacting with history with your family on scenic byways and finding renowned national parks to visit not only keeps alive the legacy of the human condition but also nurtures a closer family dynamic.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Firstly, learning alongside those you trust, raise, or look up to creates room for conversation, social interactions, and the habit of spending free time to further personal knowledge.
Secondly, the options for family historic trail trips in the United States are vast, so try taking baby steps when planning your first adventure. One routed bypass will typically have more than enough content to entertain the family for a weekend.
Lastly, take advantage of community websites and maps before hitting the road. Itβs best to have a written game plan or at least a few must-see locations noted in your back pocket. All of these trails and byways pass through historic towns and cities, which offer a myriad of historic attractions, museums, parks, Main Street events, and other family-friendly activities.
Visit towns along the Blue Ridge Parkway for family-friendly events, like this street fair in Hendersonville, NC. Photo credit: Blue Ridge Parkway Association J. Kay
BUDGETING FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAIL TRIPS
Traveling by vehicle is the only way to fully immerse your family in American history along the suggested historic trails and routes. Itβs essential to be well prepared for unexpected situations and budget according to your familyβs reunion goals. Here are a few questions and considerations:
- How long are you planning to travel? Ensure you budget for gas, tolls, road snacks, and souvenirs.
- What type of lodging are you looking for? What is your group size and how long will you be staying?
- Will you sign up for a guided program or create your own itinerary?
- Are you traveling an iconic route to explore one destination/town, or do you plan to visit multiple destinations along an iconic route?
- How will you pack to accommodate everyoneβs needs?
- Is there a location that requires outdoor gear? Will you need a rental van for this road trip?
BONUS MATERIAL: 15 Smart Budgeting Tips for Any Reunion or Family Gathering
WHY CONSIDER FAMILY TRAVEL ON HISTORIC TRAILS
We have covered the undeniable reasons why heritage travel is unlike any other and how you can introduce American history to the entire group with family historic trail trips. For a successful journey, itβs crucial to anticipate small decisions, such as rest stops and weather, as well as larger ones, including individual interests and local heritage area coordinators that provide group tours.
Incorporating American history into your family reunion is easy when you consider the many historic corridors and trails around the country and what they provide. From iconic roadside attractions and quirky art installations (perfect photo ops!) to thought-provoking historic sites and legendary trade routes, these unique locations offer learning opportunities and exciting experiences for all ages.
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