The Return of the American Family Road Trip
There’s something timeless about piling into a car with your family and heading off down the highway, windows cracked, snacks on hand, and playlists ready. Long before cheap flights and all-inclusive resorts, the classic American road trip was how families saw the country. Back in the 1960s, it meant hopping into a station wagon and heading west — to see the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, or maybe just grandma’s house two states away. Fast forward to 2025, and that spirit is very much alive again, only now the cars are quieter, the tech smarter, and the snacks probably organic.
Family travel is booming. Remote work and flexible school schedules have opened the door to longer, more spontaneous trips. More families are skipping the airport and rediscovering the beauty of the open road — from the Pacific Coast Highway’s cliff-hugging curves to the pine-scented hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway. America is big, wild, and wonderfully diverse, and the road is still the best way to experience it.
There’s a sense of freedom in knowing that you’re not tied to a gate number or boarding time. You can pull over when something looks interesting, turn back if you miss a turn, or stay an extra night just because the view is too good to leave. And when you’re traveling with kids, that flexibility is golden. The right car makes all the difference — not just in how you get there, but in how you experience the journey.
From the Grand Canyon to Cape Cod — Where Families Are Headed in 2025
Ask a family in 2025 where they’re going this summer, and odds are good they’re hitting the road. One of the most popular routes this year is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, looping back through Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and dropping down into Death Valley before arriving in Las Vegas. It’s a spectacular mix of coast, forest, mountain, and desert — and it’s doable in just over a week if you’re ambitious.
Another favorite is the Southern stretch between Atlanta and Nashville. It’s a slower, sweeter ride that winds through rolling hills, roadside peach stands, and some of the best barbecue joints in the country. Families love stopping in small towns like Chattanooga and Franklin, places where kids can stretch their legs and parents can breathe in a bit of Americana.
Up north, summer brings thousands to the coast of Maine. The route from Boston to Bar Harbor via U.S. Route 1 is a dream for families who love lighthouses, rocky beaches, and lobster rolls eaten with your feet in the sand. Acadia National Park is a major draw, especially in early June when crowds are thin and the weather is just right.
Florida, of course, is still a classic. But instead of flying straight to Disney World, more families are driving the Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West — a jaw-dropping ride over endless blue water, where the journey feels like a vacation all by itself.
And in the heart of the country, road tripping from Chicago to Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone continues to be a rite of passage for Midwestern families. This route slices through cornfields, crosses into South Dakota’s Black Hills, and finally delivers you into the vast wilderness of Wyoming, where geysers steam and bison roam.
Choosing the Right Ride for the Road Ahead
Not all family road trips are created equal — and neither are the vehicles that take you there. In 2025, the variety of family-friendly cars has never been better, but your destination still plays a huge role in what’s best for the journey. The car you take through the foggy forests of Oregon is not necessarily the car you’d want for the sunbaked curves of Highway 190 in Death Valley.
If you’re heading out west — especially anywhere near elevation, like Yosemite or the Colorado Rockies — a larger SUV like the Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Tahoe gives you the power and stability you need, especially when pulling gear or dealing with mountain switchbacks. These vehicles are not just big; they’re refined, with quiet cabins, excellent visibility, and space for everyone’s hiking boots, coolers, and half the kids’ bedroom.
For more coastal or urban adventures — say, a week exploring San Diego and the Pacific Coast, then up through Santa Barbara and Monterey — something like the Toyota Highlander Hybrid hits a sweet spot. It’s fuel-efficient, smooth on winding roads, and big enough to feel comfortable without being a burden in tight parking lots. In real-world use, families are averaging around 35 MPG with the hybrid option — a welcome relief when gas in California creeps above $5 per gallon.
If you’re doing a mix of city-hopping and national parks — think Denver to Moab to Salt Lake City — a midsize SUV like the Honda Pilot or Hyundai Palisade brings both comfort and versatility. Parents love the safety tech and how smooth they feel on long drives, while kids appreciate USB ports in every row and enough cupholders to store an entire soda aisle.
Then there’s the Kia Telluride, a road trip legend at this point. Stylish, spacious, and surprisingly affordable for what it offers, it’s the kind of SUV that feels more like a rolling living room. Families love it because the third row doesn’t feel like a penalty box, and the quiet cabin means even toddlers might nap between Bryce Canyon and Zion.
Minivans still have a loyal following too — especially the Chrysler Pacifica, which in its hybrid form can run errands all week on electric and then stretch its legs on the weekend. Sliding doors, flat floors, and rear entertainment systems aren’t flashy, but they’re magic on long trips when attention spans start to fray.
And yes, electric vehicles are officially part of the family road trip conversation. The Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X offer long range, fast charging, and enough tech to entertain even the most screen-addicted teenager. More importantly, charging networks across the U.S. have expanded — especially along major highways and in popular tourist areas — making it easier than ever to plan EV-friendly routes. Apps like PlugShare help find chargers near Yellowstone or Zion, where even a 30-minute recharge becomes a chance to grab lunch and stretch out.
Renting the Right Way
Let’s be honest — most of us don’t need a giant SUV or a three-row hybrid sitting in the driveway all year just for two big road trips in July and December. That’s the beauty of renting. In 2025, the car rental world has evolved into something flexible, fast, and way less frustrating than it used to be. Families can now pick exactly what they need — when they need it — without worrying about long-term costs, storage, or maintenance.
Say you’re a city family living in a Brooklyn brownstone with a compact car you love for school runs and Trader Joe’s parking lots. But come summer, you’re dreaming about the Adirondacks, with grandparents in tow and a trunk full of paddleboards and backpacks. That’s when a rental makes sense. Book a week with a roomy SUV, enjoy the extra legroom and comfort, then go back to your urban lifestyle when the trip’s done. No need to own the beast full time.
Car rental prices vary widely depending on location, demand, and vehicle type. A midsize SUV in Phoenix in May might run you about $420 a week, while the same model in Boston during Labor Day could creep above $650. Larger vehicles like the Ford Expedition or Toyota Sequoia can reach $900–$1,200 per week in peak summer. Booking early, comparing deals, and being flexible on pickup locations can make a big difference. Airport rentals are convenient but often pricier — sometimes it’s worth grabbing a Lyft to an off-site branch a few miles away.
And yes, renting electric vehicles for road trips is finally practical. Companies like Hertz and Avis now offer EVs like the Tesla Model Y, Chevy Bolt EUV, and Polestar 2 in major cities and airports. Just make sure your route has plenty of fast chargers, especially if you’re headed into rural areas — Utah and parts of Montana, for instance, still have stretches without solid EV infrastructure.
Here are ten reliable rental platforms that families across the U.S. are turning to in 2025:
- Enterprise continues to dominate for long-distance family rentals. Their neighborhood branches make pickup easy even in the suburbs, and their SUV inventory is deep — often including new Kia Tellurides and Honda Pilots.
- Hertz is great for travelers flying into major airports. Their Gold Plus Rewards program can make pickups nearly instant, and their lineup now includes EVs and premium trims like the Grand Cherokee L.
- Avis is a solid choice for hybrid options and frequent deals — especially for weeklong rentals. Their mobile app experience has improved a lot in the past year, making check-in and returns much faster.
- Budget delivers what the name promises. You won’t always get the flashiest ride, but it’s one of the best choices if you want affordability without sacrificing space. Families booking early can often land minivans for under $500 a week.
- Alamo is a go-to for families flying with kids. Their “skip the counter” feature is a game changer when you’re juggling strollers and diaper bags in the arrivals hall. They also tend to stock plenty of Pacificas and Siennas.
- National Car Rental is technically aimed at business travelers, but their Emerald Aisle lets renters choose from a wide range of vehicles — useful if you need to make a last-minute switch to something roomier when Grandma decides to come along.
- Sixt is known for having newer, often higher-end vehicles. If you’re planning a west coast drive from San Francisco to Big Sur and want to feel just a bit fancier, this is a solid option. Their Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sports and BMW X5s are surprisingly common.
- Turo flips the rental model by letting you book directly from individual car owners. Want to try a Subaru Ascent with all the baby gear already installed, or a Tesla with free Supercharging? You’ll probably find one within a few miles of your hotel.
- Getaround works similarly to Turo but focuses more on hourly and short-term rentals. It’s useful for families needing flexibility — say, grabbing a larger vehicle just for a two-day trip out of the city.
- Zipcar still exists, and while it’s more of a car-sharing service, it can be a great backup for urban families doing day trips. You probably won’t take one cross-country, but it’s handy for quick beach runs or surprise weekend hikes.
More than ever, renting a car in 2025 is about customizing the experience to fit your family’s trip, not the other way around. Whether it’s a three-day escape to Lake Tahoe or a full summer road trip across the Dakotas, the right rental makes everything smoother. You get the space you need, the comfort you want, and none of the baggage when it’s over.
More about companies: Top Car Rental & Carsharing Companies in the USA
On the Road
Somewhere on Highway 89, just south of Bryce Canyon, a little girl in the third row of a Toyota Highlander asked the most important question of the trip: “Are we going the right way if it still looks like Mars?” Her dad, gripping the steering wheel with one hand and a half-eaten granola bar in the other, laughed and nodded. It didn’t matter if they were five miles off course — the detour had turned into the highlight of the day.
That’s what family road trips are made of in 2025. Not just schedules and Google Maps pins, but the unscripted moments — a misty overlook in the Blue Ridge Mountains where everyone suddenly goes quiet, a tiny coffee shack in Idaho that turns out to have the best blueberry pie of your life, or a thunderstorm over the Mojave that leaves the windshield vibrating with streaks of light.
In a rented Kia Telluride, one family traced the Pacific Coast from San Diego up to Mendocino. Somewhere near Big Sur, the kids fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing below. The parents, wrapped in that rare silence, just drove — no music, no conversation, just cliffs and ocean and the hum of the road. When they talk about that trip now, they don’t mention the hotels or even the meals — they remember that stretch of highway as a moment of pure stillness in the middle of family chaos.
Over in Maine, another family made the classic drive from Boston to Bar Harbor. Their Chrysler Pacifica was packed to the ceiling — beach toys, coolers, a folding tent — but somehow still felt roomy. They stopped in Ogunquit for lobster rolls and skipped stones in Camden. When they reached Acadia National Park, they didn’t race to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Instead, they let the kids explore tide pools while the adults finally opened that bottle of local wine they’d been saving. It wasn’t Instagram-worthy, but it felt like vacation.
Even EVs are part of the magic now. A family driving from Denver to Moab in a Rivian R1S planned every charging stop with surgical precision. At first, the idea of “fueling up” for 45 minutes seemed like a chore. But those pauses became moments. They had picnics at quiet rest areas, spotted wild mustangs in Utah, and played card games in the car while electrons flowed. The kids still talk about the roadside diner in Rifle, Colorado, where the waitress brought them extra pancakes “just because.”
The best family road trips are never about perfection. The baby will cry, someone will drop a phone in the lake, and at least once, you’ll miss the exit. But somewhere between the missed turns and melted crayons, a kind of magic settles in. The car becomes more than transportation — it’s your shared space, your safe zone, your memory-maker.
Final: The Car Is More Than the Vehicle
Years from now, your kids probably won’t remember what brand of car you rented for that trip to Yellowstone. But they’ll remember the cinnamon rolls in Jackson Hole. The way the desert sky turned purple outside Sedona. The joke someone told just as the GPS said, “Recalculating.” They’ll remember that moment near the Utah border when the whole car gasped at the same sunset — the kind that makes you pull over just to feel small.
That’s the thing about family road trips. The vehicle is part of the story, but it’s never the whole story. It’s the background music to your vacation — the seats where arguments start and laughter ends them. The place where you sing together, snack constantly, and sometimes sit in silence watching the road unravel in front of you like a ribbon.
In 2025, there are more cars than ever that can handle the journey. But choosing the right one — whether it’s a rented SUV with rear-seat screens or an electric crossover that hums down the highway — can change the way the trip feels. It’s not about horsepower or touchscreen size. It’s about how a car fits your family’s rhythm, your destination, and your sense of adventure.
So go ahead — map the route, pick the playlist, rent the car. Load up the snacks, let the dog hop in, and don’t worry if the plan shifts halfway through. Because the best part of any family road trip has never been about where you’re going. It’s about what happens when you get there together.
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