Whenever the phrase ‘road trip’ is heard or read, the open roads of the USA are often brought to mind. America is obviously a huge country and offers a wealth of road trip routes to choose from – roads that criss-cross the country and enable drivers to travel through some truly diverse landscapes – from mountains to forest, from beaches to huge cities.

But arguably one of the best road trip routes is that of America’s west coast, specifically between the Olympic National Park in Washington State – and San Diego in southern California. Many people think that the west coast of the USA is full of beach bums, surfer dudes and crazy hippies – but the reality is quite different. Of course, those characters do exist, but are more common in the southern tract of California.

Driving from the north (Olympic National Park) you get to see some of America’s most beautiful scenery – including vast forests and stunning beaches. The good thing about much of the coastline is that it is public domain, and can therefore be enjoyed whenever you wish (within reason).

In northern California you will find the famous Giant Redwoods – an awesome sight indeed. Among the intact Redwoods, you’ll find Redwoods that you can drive through – and even Redwoods that have been carved into houses!

In southern California you’ll discover that beach-loving lifestyle seen on TV and in film really does exist – and you’re sure to have a great deal of fun in the process.

If you’re using a hire car for such a trip, you won’t need to worry about annual breakdown cover, as it will be included in the hire price.