5 Best Spring Road Trips to Take
Spring time is when nature awakens and cold weather subsides. Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood said,
“in the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt!”
Now is the time to spring into action, plan your route, pack your bags and enjoy the ride. Here are 5 best spring road trips to take:
1. Bluebonnets Road Trip
Each spring the Texas State Flower - the bluebonnets bloom in Texas Hill Country, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and as far south as Houston.
Taking a road trip to see the bluebonnets is an important activity each spring in Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation even has a dedicated wildflower hotline. You can call them at 800-452-9292 for information to find the best blooms.
We suggest you start your road trip from Austin, the easternmost city in the Texas Hill Country. While in Austin, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and see what’s in bloom.
Take a
one-hour 25-minute drive to Fredericksburg. Enjoy the picturesque views and visit a few wineries while you are in Fredericksburg. In early April, visitors can join the yearly Wine and Wildflower Trail. There are over 48 participating wineries. Find more information at
Texas Wine Trail.
Information:
Texas Highways Wildflower Report
2. National Cherry Blossom Festival Road Trip
Washington DC has been celebrating the
National Cherry Blossom Festival since 1912. Join in the fun festival and visit thousands of cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, East Potomac Park, and Washington Monument grounds. According to washington.org, Tidal Basin is the central hub for the blossoms.
For less crowded places to view the blossoms, head over to Stanton Park, Anacostia Park, and U.S. National Arboretum.
To enjoy a quieter place for spring blooms, take a road trip (
two hours 19 minutes) from Washington DC to
Longwood Gardens where millions of spring bulbs are in full bloom. It takes about two hours 19 minutes to drive.
3. Spring Wildflowers in the Smokies Road Trip
There are 1,500 types of flowering plants in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. According to NPS, it has more than any other American national parks. These wildflowers and flowering shrubs are commonly seen during spring months.
Start your road trip from Knoxville TN and take the
35-minute drive to Gatlinburg. If you have the time you may want to drive
111 miles to Cherokee, NC.
Common flowers include bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, foamflower, False Solomon’s Seal, Smooth Solomon’s Seal and a variety of Trilliums.
More information:
NPS
4. Desert Spring Wildflowers Bloom Road Trip
According to Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California spring flowers bloom in the Eastern Mojave Desert near Palm Desert. There are beavertail cactus and lupine blooming along the roads. Other wildflowers in the desert include desert primrose, sand verbena, desert marigold and desert sunflower.
Guided tours are available in March in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
Start your trip in Palm Desert or Palm Spring. The BLM recommended these Wildflower Viewing Routes and Sites:
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center
Highway 74 and the Cactus Spring Trail
Indian Canyons
Oswit Canyon
Tahquitz Canyon
Museum Trail
Tramway Road
Snow Creek Road
For details go to
BLM.gov.
5. Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in Orlando Road Trip
If you are looking for roller coaster rides, live entertainment, and spring flowers, Disney World’s Epcot Center is the place to be. Pay one price and get all three different activities for the whole family.
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is an annual event that showcases more than 70 world-renowned Disney-themed topiaries, flowers, outdoor concerts and a variety of foods.
Take a road trip there or fly to Orlando, pick up a rental car and enjoy the “happiest place on earth”!
Read:
5 Free Things to Do in Disney
10 Best Kid-Friendly Places to Stay in Disney World
The best part about a road trip is you can drive as fast or as slow as you want. Are you planning a spring road trip? Where will you be heading to? Let us know.
