Romantic Road Trips for Couples
Brad and Tonya Clement enjoy champagne by firelight at their glamping accommodations at Manzanita, Oregon. Photo by Brad Clement
Story by Patricia Corrigan
Patricia is a journalist, photographer and book author based in San Francisco.
Plan a fun getaway for a weekend or a longer trip for two.
Family road trips are fun and solo vacations can be restorative, but sometimes the ideal break from routine is time away for the two of you to relax and reconnect.
Chill out in a sleepy coastal town, retreat to a campsite among giant trees or explore a bustling city together. Go with an agenda — scenic drives or leisurely hikes or must-see museums — or make plans in the moment, following every whim. And at the end of each day, linger over dinner and then watch the sunset together.
Couples have particularly enjoyed these destinations, and we think you will, too.
A couple walks toward the sunset. Photo by Charles Williams
Michael Ciaglo and Sarah Lozano take a sunset cruise on the Schooner Suprise in Camden, Maine. Photo by Michael Ciaglo
On the Water
Maine
The Pine Tree State specializes in breathtaking scenery year-round, but especially in autumn when the leaves put on a dazzling show. In every season, Maine features rugged coastlines, iconic lighthouses and fresh seafood. Camden, a quiet seaside town, offers sailboat rides on Penobscot Bay and scenic hikes on mountain trails.
Chesapeake Bay
A charming town on Maryland’s eastern shore, St. Michael’s invites the two of you to explore a maritime museum, tour a working boatyard and get out on the water aboard a replica of a 1930s steamship. At dinner, fill up on fresh crab, but save room for dessert!
The Hawaiian Islands
On a do-over honeymoon on Oahu, a couple fills each day with coastal drives, paddle boarding, a garden tour and sampling Hawaii’s legendary shave ice.
Joe Rogers, and his wife, Hailima, swim off the coast of Oahu. Photo by Joe Rogers
Posh Primitive offers campsites in the Adirondacks of New York. Photo by Denny Brownell
In the Woods
New York
Glamping — a term short for glamorous camping — combines hotel amenities with the benefits of camping, such as fresh air, seclusion and waking to the sound of birds. The Catskill Mountains in southeastern New York and the Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York offer several glamping options, from tents with comfy beds to treehouses to earth-bound geodesic domes.
Oregon
Lured by the promise of rustic luxury and close proximity to both the ocean and the mountains, a couple opts for a glamping trip in Manzanita, Oregon. Highlights of the road trip include listening to ocean waves while enjoying a bottle of wine with cheese and crackers, driving the coast, kayaking, picking blackberries and relaxing during a couple’s massage.
A couple hikes through Hug Point State Park. Photo by Brad Clement
The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac dominates the Quebec City skyline. Photo by Charles Williams
Along the Streets
Quebec City
A couple adjusting to an empty nest seeks a new beginning in an old place situated on the Saint Lawrence River — Canada’s Quebec City, founded in 1608. They explore Upper Town and Lower Town, stroll a pedestrian walkway, learn a bit of history, sample Quebecois cuisine and take a scenic drive to nearby Montmorency Falls.
Sedona
A desert city in a canyon in central Arizona, Sedona awes visitors with the incomparable natural beauty of its towering red sandstone bluffs, which offer one scenic vista after another. Visit local galleries for artwork that showcases the influence of local Native American tribes or head out for a hike in the wilderness — or both!
Berkeley Springs
If head-to-toe pampering appeals to you both, consider a road trip to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, home of the nation’s first spa. Relaxing options include massage therapy, facials, whirlpool baths, saunas and mineral spring showers at your choice of spas. The town also boasts trendy restaurants, galleries and unique antiquing.
Solvang
In California’s Santa Ynez Valley, this Danish-themed town boasts gabled-roof buildings, windmills and a replica of Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue. Traditional Danish bakeries tempt the palate even as they further boost the fantasy of visiting an international destination.
Niagara Falls
Known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World, Niagara Falls has served as a romantic destination for couples since Aaron Burr’s daughter visited with her new husband in 1801 on her well-publicized “bridal tour.” The small town of Niagara Falls, New York, has drawn crowds ever since, and for good reason.
One writer describes the world-famous natural attraction as “terrific, tacky, fascinating and fun,” but words fail to adequately describe the breathtaking thrill of watching 757,500 gallons of water spill over the three falls every second. (That’s enough to fill almost 19,000 bathtubs!) Enjoy the roaring falls from a variety of perspectives — including on a boat ride — or simply stand up top, hold hands and stare in awe.
A boat takes tourists past American and Bridal Veil falls at Niagara Falls. Photo by Charles Williams
Related
Read more stories about romantic getaways.
- Romantic Weekend Getaway at St. Michaels on Chesapeake Bay
- Romantic Weekend Getaway in Quebec City
- 5 Great Hawaiian Beaches
- Weekend Getaway to Camden, Maine
- Romantic Road Trip in Coastal Maine
- Weekend Getaway to Berkeley Springs Spas
- Relaxing in Maui, Hawaii
- Weekend Getaway From Washington D.C to Berkeley Springs
- Glamping in Oregon
- Honeymoon in Hawaii
- Romantic Getaway in Sedona, Arizona
- Weekend Getaway to Half Moon Bay
- Niagara Falls Attractions
- Couple’s Weekend Trip to Solvang, California
- Romantic Road Trips