Speedy US road trips for time-poor clients

Total miles: 130
Trip length: One week

For a foodie road trip with a good dollop of history, clients can drive along Louisiana’s Great River Road as it meanders past the Mississippi from New Orleans to Lafayette. The drive is an easy one, and quiet roads are lined with the distinct raised levees – plus there are plenty of refuelling pit stops along the way.

Suggest clients begin with two nights in New Orleans, where visitors can take in the city’s eclectic mix of cultures by sampling everything from oysters and Creole jambalaya to beef-filled po’ boys and sugary beignets (donuts), served with chicory-infused coffee.

In the evenings, they can head to one of the city’s myriad jazz bars, or slurp cocktails until the early hours on pumping Bourbon street.

On day three, clients will depart New Orleans and drive along the River Road, exploring the history of Louisiana via the plantation homes they pass.

There’s also the opportunity to stay in one, such as Houmas House. Clients will move on to Lafayette, where they can chow down on authentic Cajun dishes from hole-in-the-wall restaurants and taste boudin sausage and fresh seafood.

A final visit to Avery Island – where every bottle of Tabasco is made and where clients can try out the different kinds of sauce – completes the food-filled experience.

“This itinerary is perfect for foodies looking to discover all that Louisiana has to offer in terms of cuisine,” says Neil Jones, senior account manager for Louisiana Office of Tourism in the UK & Ireland.

“Visitors will also be able to check out a lot of Louisiana highlights on this trip, so they get two types of holiday in one itinerary. I’d recommend visiting in spring and autumn for the mildest weather and fewer tourist crowds.”

Book it: USAirtours offers a seven-day Louisiana driving trip from £1,349pp including accommodation, flights with British Airways and car hire. Price is based on two people travelling on May 3, 2018. usairtours.co.uk

Total miles: 287
Trip length: Six hours

“One of my favourite experiences in Nevada is travelling Highway 50, which is more commonly known as the ‘Loneliest Road in America’,” says Karen Farrar, product and marketing manager at North America Travel Service.

Highway 50 stretches from West Sacramento, California, in the west to Ocean City, Maryland, on the East Coast, totalling a truly whopping 3,000 miles.

The Nevada stretch is much more manageable, traversing the state from east to west at 287 miles. On the journey, clients will have the beauty of the mountains, state parks and sky for company, with old mining towns, gas stations and diners offering a glimpse into the route’s bygone days.

Clients can also drive along the remaining sections of the Pony Express route, which young men used to travel on horse to deliver mail from Missouri to California.

“The drive is a fun option for families as they receive a survival kit on completion of the journey which includes a certificate, a Route 50 lapel pin and a bumper sticker announcing that they have survived the Loneliest Road in America,” says Farrar.

“The whole journey only takes around six hours, so it’s great for those wanting to drive an iconic route in a manageable amount of time.”

Book it: North America Travel Service offers a 14-night fly-drive Scenic Nevada Adventure including flights, car hire and accommodation in Las Vegas, Ely, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Elko and Salt Lake City, starting at £2,420pp. The trip includes a six-hour drive on Highway 50 in Nevada. Price is based on two adults sharing and travelling in April 2018. northamericatravelservice.co.uk

Total miles: 105 miles
Trip length: Six to eight hours

If it’s crisp mountain air and stunning surroundings they’re after, recommend the Skyline Drive, which runs along the narrow crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia’s Shenandoah national park.

The route gazes on to the lush Shenandoah Valley in the west – nicknamed Daughter of the Stars by the Native Americans who once lived here – moving across to rolling hills in the east.

From Front Royal, clients can follow the route through forests and past the winding Shenandoah River, then six miles later reach Blue Ridge Parkway with its soaring peaks.

Andrew Bird, director at Purely America, says: “Virginia’s Skyline Drive takes you into the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, allowing clients to discover the true beauty of Appalachia.

“En route, stop off in Luray and experience the East Coast’s largest caverns or walk the quiet main streets of Lexington or Staunton, home to a quaint collection of antique shops and local eateries.”

Bird recommends visiting the region in spring for luscious green vistas, summer for warm evenings and abundant wildflowers or autumn for the majesty of the changing leaves.

Book it: Purely Capital Region USA offers a five-night trip to Virginia from £999pp based on two sharing, including flights to Washington and car hire. Price based on travel in May 2018. purelycapitalregionusa.co.uk

Total miles: 430
Trip length: One week

A California road trip is on many bucket lists, but the state’s size means it can be tricky for clients to know where to begin.

Tim Greathead, product executive for USA at Premier Holidays, suggests exploring Northern California as a great short road trip option, starting in San Francisco and taking in Napa Valley and Yosemite national park to discover another side to the Golden State.

“I’d recommend two nights in each destination as one night isn’t really enough to make the most of this delightful area,” advises Greathead.

“Clients can combine the classic sights of San Francisco with the relaxing surroundings of the Napa Valley vineyards, including the vine hopper train for a day excursion.”

They’ll then move on to the majestic wilderness of Yosemite, with its giant trees and amazing waterfalls. If clients tire of the car, they can stretch their limbs here with outdoor activities including hiking, biking or rock climbing.

Book it: Premier Holidays offers a six-night Northern California self-drive from £1,119pp with two nights in San Francisco, two nights in Yosemite and two nights in Napa Valley, including flights from Heathrow and car hire. trade.premierholidays.co.uk

If clients are nervous drivers or don’t have a licence, they can still get in on the road trip action by having someone else do the hard work on an escorted tour.

Grand American Adventures’ new selection of week-long road trips keeps road time to a minimum and clients will travel in a private vehicle with a maximum of 13 people, led by an expert local guide.

Its Alaska & Kenai six-day tour combines pristine national parks, sparkling fjords and spectacular wildlife.

Iain Shiels, head of product at Grand American Adventures, says: “It’s fantastic to have the ranger commentary on the wildlife.

"The scenery is rugged and you’re right out in the wilderness. We saw whales fully breeching the water, sea lions, puffins, eagles and a smack of jelly fish, literally thousands of them carpeting the water.”

Book it: Grand American Adventures offers the six-day Alaska and Kenai In-Depth tour from £2,493pp. grandamericanadventures.com

Charlie Adams, destination manager at Hayes & Jarvis says:

• "Make sure you look at the driving distances and plan the top sights that clients want to visit so that they know how much time to spend at each place and don’t feel rushed.
• Clients must check fuel when driving through national parks to make sure they don’t run out.
• For added thrills, why not hire an EagleRider Harley Davidson? Or if clients don’t hold a motorbike licence, they can drive one of their new Slingshots, a three-wheeled motorcycle, to cruise the open roads with the wind in their hair.