Presidents’ Day Road Trips: Drive Through U.S. History

Presidents’ Day is the perfect opportunity to hit the road and explore some of America’s most historic sites related to U.S. presidents. From birthplaces to iconic landmarks, these road trip routes will take you on a journey through the past, offering fascinating insights into the lives and legacies of the nation’s leaders. Pack your bags, fuel up the car, and get ready for a history-filled adventure!

1. Washington D.C. to Mount Vernon, Virginia

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Route Highlights: Washington, D.C. → Arlington, VA → Mount Vernon, VA

Start your trip in the nation’s capital, where you can visit the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the National Archives, home to the Declaration of Independence. Drive across the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery, where John F. Kennedy is buried. Then, head south to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s beautifully preserved estate along the Potomac River. Tour the mansion, stroll through the gardens, and visit Washington’s tomb.

2. Boston, Massachusetts to Hyde Park, New York

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Route Highlights: Boston, MA → Quincy, MA → Plymouth, MA → Hyde Park, NY

Begin in Boston, a city deeply connected to early U.S. history. Visit the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum before heading to Quincy, Massachusetts, the birthplace of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Stop by Plymouth Rock, a symbolic site of the Pilgrims’ landing, before heading west to Hyde Park, New York. Here, you’ll find Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Home and Presidential Library, where you can explore the estate and learn about his four-term presidency.

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Monticello, Virginia

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Route Highlights: Philadelphia, PA → Gettysburg, PA → Charlottesville, VA

Philadelphia is home to Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. After soaking in revolutionary history, drive west to Gettysburg National Military Park, where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Continue south to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s iconic hilltop home, where you can take a guided tour of the mansion and gardens.

4. Springfield, Illinois to Kansas City, Missouri

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Route Highlights: Springfield, IL → Hannibal, MO → Kansas City, MO

This trip begins in Springfield, Illinois, home of Abraham Lincoln. Visit the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and Lincoln’s Tomb. Drive southwest to Hannibal, Missouri, where you can explore Mark Twain’s boyhood home, a town that greatly influenced American literature and history. End your journey in Kansas City, where you can visit the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum to learn about his presidency and decision to drop the atomic bomb.

5. The Southern Legacy Trail: Atlanta, Georgia to Warm Springs, Georgia

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Route Highlights: Atlanta, GA → Plains, GA → Warm Springs, GA

Begin in Atlanta with a visit to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. From there, drive south to Plains, Georgia, the small town where Jimmy Carter was born and raised. Tour the Carter Boyhood Farm and see where the 39th president shaped his worldviews. Finish in Warm Springs, where FDR sought treatment for polio at the Little White House, now a museum dedicated to his life and leadership.

6. Midwest Heartland Tour: Ohio Presidential Loop

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Route Highlights: Cincinnati, OH → Dayton, OH → Canton, OH → Cleveland, OH

Ohio is known as the “Mother of Presidents” since it has produced eight U.S. presidents. Start in Cincinnati, where you can visit the birthplace of William Howard Taft. Drive north to Dayton, home of the Wright Brothers National Museum, then head to Canton, where you can visit the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum. End your journey in Cleveland, home of the James A. Garfield National Historic Site.

7. The West Coast Legacy: Southern California to Northern California

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Route Highlights: Los Angeles, CA → Simi Valley, CA → San Francisco, CA

Start in Los Angeles, where you can visit the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda. Drive north to Simi Valley, home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where you can walk aboard Air Force One. Finish your road trip in San Francisco, where you can explore historic sites related to U.S. history, including Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.

8. The Texas Presidential Trail: Dallas to Austin

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Route Highlights: Dallas, TX → Waco, TX → Austin, TX

Begin in Dallas at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, where you can learn about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Drive south to Waco, Texas, where you can visit the Dr Pepper Museum (not presidential, but a fun stop). Finally, head to Austin, home of the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, which chronicles his legacy, including the Great Society programs and Civil Rights legislation.

Plan Your Presidential Adventure

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These road trips offer a unique way to celebrate Presidents’ Day while exploring the places that shaped America’s leaders. Whether you’re driving along the East Coast, through the Midwest, or across the South, these routes provide a deeper connection to U.S. history and the presidents who shaped the nation. So buckle up, enjoy the ride, and take in the history along the way!