{"id":2250,"date":"2016-08-09T15:45:18","date_gmt":"2016-08-09T22:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/?p=2250"},"modified":"2025-03-21T05:25:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T12:25:47","slug":"hit-the-road-the-midwest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/wayfaring\/hit-the-road-the-midwest\/","title":{"rendered":"Hit the road: The Midwest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Letting loose on the open road is a treasured American tradition, and the Midwest contains some of the country\u2019s most iconic and historical roads, not to mention some pretty stunning scenery. Read on for our picks of the routes you won\u2019t want to miss this summer, whether you\u2019re already in the Midwest or planning a trip just for these destinations. <\/span><\/p>\n

Route 66, Chicago to Tulsa, IL, MI, and OK<\/span><\/h3>\n

Be swept away by the kitsch and nostalgia permeating the Midwest portion of one of the nation\u2019s most iconic highways. Stop in Springfield, Illinois to pay homage to where Lincoln built his career, then grab a corn dog at <\/span>Cozy Dog Drive In<\/span><\/a> as you peruse the Route 66 memorabilia. Next, cruise by <\/span>Meramec Caverns<\/span><\/a> to see Jesse James\u2019 hideout, and finish off at the <\/span>Will Rogers Memorial<\/span><\/a> in Claremore, Oklahoma to round out your all-American road trip. <\/span><\/p>\n

Route 7, AK<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hundreds of miles of tree-lined highway culminate in a singularly stunning national park. For your first stretch break, stop at <\/span>Hot Springs National Park<\/span><\/a> for a soak in one of the 47 thermal springs bubbling up to 143\u00b0, then cross the Arkansas River towards the <\/span>Ozark National Forest<\/span><\/a>. This is the true gem of the drive, featuring picturesque waterfalls tumbling into strikingly blue lakes, plus similarly scenic gorges, canyons, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cranberry Highway, WI<\/span><\/h3>\n

Festooned with delicate pink blossoms in the summertime, the 50-mile stretch of <\/span>Cranberry Highway<\/span> takes you past thousands of acres of marshland riotous with color. Duck into any of the local cafes for treats made with the region\u2019s fresh cranberries, then finish off your visual and gustatory tour with a stop at the <\/span>Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company<\/span><\/a> to see cheese-making in progress and sample their famous cran-jack variety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis and Clark Trail, IL, MO, KS, IA, NE, SD, and ND<\/h3>\n

Though the full Lewis and Clark Trail<\/a> extends over 4,600 miles, the region from Illinois to the Dakotas showcases some of the Midwest\u2019s best. Take a journey back through history to discover this region through the intrepid explorers\u2019 eyes. For the full historical experience, start with Camp River Dubois<\/a> in Hartford, Illinois for some info on the original expedition to set the tone, then stop in the Sergeant Floyd River Museum<\/a> and take a stroll along the riverfront in Sioux City, Iowa. Cap it off at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site<\/a> in North Dakota to learn about the Northern Plains Indians, and take in the quiet beauty of the forested peninsula.<\/p>\n

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US 12 Heritage Trail<\/span>, MI<\/span><\/h3>\n

Laid out along an ancient Native American trail in 1825, the <\/span>US 12 Heritage Trail<\/span><\/a> traces the historical route between the east and west shores of Michigan. Not only is this a lovely way to wind through Michigan\u2019s greenery, it\u2019s also home to the <\/span>US 12 Heritage Trail Garage Sale<\/span><\/a>, held from August 12\u201314 this year. Each year, individuals clean out their attics to present an impressive display of wares ranging from antiques to homemade jams, which are up for sale everywhere from front yards to local businesses and farms. You\u2019ll find live entertainment at many stops, plus the chance to meet and socialize with a variety of people \u2014 allow some time to listen to their unusual stories and you won\u2019t be sorry. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Letting loose on the open road is a treasured American tradition, and the Midwest contains some of the country\u2019s most iconic and historical roads, not to mention some pretty stunning…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[196],"class_list":["post-2250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wayfaring","tag-summer-road-trips"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t