Route Overview
The classic East Coast drive runs down I-95 from Boston to Miami, hitting nearly every major city along the way. 1,500 miles total, doable in 14 days with time to explore. Fly into BOS, fly out of MIA.
Boston (Days 1-2)
Start in Boston. Walk the Freedom Trail (2.5 miles of red-line-marked historic sites), visit Fenway Park, eat a lobster roll at Neptune Oyster, tour Harvard. Day trip to Cape Cod if time.
New York (Days 3-5)
Drive Boston → NYC (3.5h). Park in a garage ($40-60/day) and see NYC on foot. Manhattan in 3 days covers Central Park, Times Square, Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, one Broadway show and one major museum.
Philadelphia (Day 6)
Drive NYC → Philly (2h). Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market, cheesesteaks at Pat's or Geno's. One full day is enough for first-timers.
Washington DC (Days 7-8)
Drive Philly → DC (3h). Smithsonian museums (all free), National Mall monuments, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial at night.
Richmond (Day 9)
Drive DC → Richmond (2h). Civil War history, Monument Avenue, excellent beer scene. Short stop or overnight.
Charleston (Days 10-11)
Drive Richmond → Charleston (6h — or break it up in Wilmington NC). Charleston is America's most beautiful small city — cobblestones, antebellum mansions, Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, shrimp and grits.
Savannah (Day 12)
Drive Charleston → Savannah (2h). 22 historic squares, Spanish moss, ghost tours, best Southern food. Overnight, dinner at The Grey or Mrs. Wilkes.
Jacksonville / St Augustine (Day 13)
Drive Savannah → St Augustine (3h). Oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the US. Castillo de San Marcos fort. Beach time.
Miami (Day 14)
Drive St Augustine → Miami (5h). South Beach, Ocean Drive art deco, Little Havana, Wynwood Walls, stone crabs at Joe's. Fly home from MIA.
Costs
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels (13 nights) | $1,100 | $2,400 | $5,000 |
| Car rental (14 days) | $550 | $750 | $1,400 |
| Gas (1,500 miles) | $180 | $220 | $250 |
| Food | $550 | $1,100 | $2,200 |
| Attractions | $200 | $400 | $800 |
| Total (1 person) | $2,580 | $4,870 | $9,650 |
For the opposite coast, see our Pacific Coast Highway road trip.