Wise folks say that life's about the journey, not the destination. We agree, and that's why we love the road trip. And when it comes to beautiful views, the East Coast has got 'em, from mountain tops all the way down to sea level. There's no better way to see it all than from behind the wheel.

Though it's possible to do the whole thing in one 8-day jaunt, we've broken up this epic East Coast road trip into themed, bite-sized treks for those who may not have more than a few vacation days to spare at a time.

Click on one of the links below to take you to an East Coast road trip map to show our itinerary.

Trip #1: New England to Pennsylvania

Trip #2: Gettysburg to the Blue Ridge Parkway

Trip #3: Carolina to the Florida Keys

Planning on renting a car for your road trip? Find coupon codes for Avis, Budget, and more.

Trip #1: New England to Pennsylvania

Faded red barns, rolling fields, and charming villages—this is New England. While some might associate the upper East with New York City's hustle-and-bustle, this mostly rural trip has a slower pace to it. While you drive along country lanes and into picturesque small towns, you may have to remind yourself that what you're seeing isn't a set from a quaint 1950s TV show.

Day 1 | Maine Coast, Portsmouth, Salem, Lebanon

Start around: Portland, Maine

Drive on: Route 1A at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to pass sandy beaches and picturesque towns along the New England coastline

Make a stop in:

1. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a postcard-worthy colonial-era port town with a welcoming downtown
2. Salem, Massachusetts, where you'll find the Salem Witch Museum and The House of the Seven Gables, built in 1668
3. Lebanon, Connecticut, also known as "the heartbeat of the Revolution," where you can visit the historic town green or one of the town's four museums

Find Hotel Deals: Portland, ME | Boston | Providence

Day 2 | New Haven, Philadelphia & Pennsylvania Amish Country

Start around: Woodstock, Connecticut

Drive on: the charming Route 169, lined with stone walls and clapboard homesteads. Then, head west on Route 14.

Make a stop in:

1. New Haven, Connecticut, home of the campus of Yale University and two of region's best art museums
2. Philadelphia, for your choice of lunch at Reading Terminal Market (and a tour of Independence Hall, if you have time)
3. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the heart of Amish Country, where you'll see beautiful farms, covered bridges, and historic sites.

Find Hotel Deals: NYC | Philadelphia | Lancaster, PA

Trip #2: Gettysburg to the Blue Ridge Parkway

Whether you're at the base looking up or peering miles ahead from its peak, a mountain will always remind you just how big and grand the world is. As you travel up steep roads and descend into luscious valleys on this mountainside road trip, you'll have plenty of opportunities to just stop and stare.

Day 1 | Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Luray

Start around: Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Drive on: US Route 15, which leads you through mountain towns such as Thurmont, Maryland and over the scenic Roddy Road Covered Bridge

Make a stop in:

1. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where you can visit the hallowed Civil War battlefield and cemetery.
2. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a mountainside town and the site of a famous abolitionist uprising.
3. Luray, Virginia, where you can explore the same cave system that has been wowing vistors since its discovery in 1878.

Find Hotel Deals: Baltimore | Washington, DC

Day 2 | Monticello, Mt. Airy, and Skyline Drive

Start around: Luray, Virginia

Drive on: Skyline Drive, one of America's best scenic drives. The 105-mile route takes you on a leisurely drive through Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains

Make a stop in:

1. Charlottesville, Virginia, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Here, you walk through the University of Virginia quad and visit Jefferson's hilltop home, Monticello.
2. Mount Airy, North Carolina, where you'll tour the Andy Griffith Museum and stroll the streets that inspired the fictional town of Mayberry.
3. Blowing Rock, North Carolina, so named for the dramatic cliff rock that provides spectacular views of the Appalachians.

Find Hotel Deals: Charlottesville, VA | Richmond, VA | Roanoke, VA

Day 3 | Blue Ridge Parkway, the Biltmore & Chimney Rock

Start around: Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Drive on: Blue Ridge Parkway, a stunning series of twists and turns through the Appalachian Mountains that offer gorgeous mountain views and beautiful foliage

Make a stop in:

1. The Biltmore, the massive, Gilded-Age chateau of the Vanderbilts, considered to be America's largest home
2. Asheville, North Carolina, one of the gateway cities into the Great Smoky Mountains. Asheville is an up-and-coming town, and the ideal spot to stop and grab some barbecue and a craft beer.
3. Chimney Rock, North Carolina. Here, you'll find Chimney Rock State Park, where you can hike a 25-minute trail to soak in views that stretch out up to 75 miles.

Find Hotel Deals: Asheville, NC | Charlotte | Greenville, SC

Trip #3: The Carolina Coast, Miami & the Keys

At the end of the day, a road trip should still be a vacation, and nothing says vacation better than rolling waves, sandy beaches, and the smell of salt in the air. This East Coast road trip itinerary lets you roll down your windows and hear the waves as you follow the coastline past miles of seaside views. And, of course, don't forget to get out of the car once in a while to feel the sand between your toes and the sun on your face.

Day 1 | South Carolina to Savannah

Start around: Charlotte, North Carolina

Drive on: I-26 (from Landrum) until hitting Route 17. But be sure to take a detour on Route 174, which will lead you down to Edisto Island for your first look at the sea before looping back to rejoin the main route.

Make a stop in:

1. Charleston, South Carolina, one of America's most-beautiful coastal cities, rife with horse-drawn carriages, colorful colonial-era houses, and Lowcountry delicacies (try the shrimp and grits)
2. Hunting Island, South Carolina, where there's a 3-mile beach on which you can climb to the top of a centuries-old lighthouse
3. Savannah, Georgia, which is packed with centuries-old squares and Spanish moss hanging off massive oak trees. Take an evening tour of the city's haunted alleyways.

Find Hotel Deals: Charlotte | Charleston, SC | Savannah, GA

Day 2 | Georgia Down the Florida Coast

Start around: Tybee Island, Georgia

Drive on: A1A Scenic and Historical Coastal Byway until Palm Coast, which connects a series of islands off the Floridian coast and offers dazzling seaside views

Make a stop in:

1. Neptune and Atlantic Beach, Florida, for a day of beach-bumming and browsing beach-front shops in "The Corner."
2. St. Augustine, Florida. A Spanish colonial gem, considered the oldest city in America, home to a 17th-century fort.
3. Cocoa Beach, Florida, where water sports abound. Go surfing, kayaking, or take an eco-tour along the Atlantic Coast.

Find Hotel Deals: Jacksonville | St. Augustine, FL | Daytona Beach, FL

Day 3 | Miami to Key West

Start around: Cocoa Beach, Florida

Drive on: The Overseas Highway, a 113-mile road that connects the Florida Keys and delivers stunning 360-degree ocean views

Make a stop in:

1. Miami Beach. Miami is well worth spending a few days if you have time, but if you're just driving through, be sure to see the candy-colored Art Deco buildings in South Beach (and then go get a Cuban sandwich in Little Havana).
2. Marathon, Florida, to feed snacks to sea turtles at The Turtle Hospital. Or, you can stop to swim with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center on the nearby island of Grassy Key.
3. Key West, Florida. It's the end of the line—you literally can't drive any farther. Celebrate with a drink at Sloppy Joe's, where Ernest Hemingway used to hang out.

Find Hotel Deals: Miami | Key West, FL | Fort Lauderdale, FL

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This article was originally written by Nicola McConnell. It has been altered from its original version.