One Week East Coast USA Itinerary: Road Trip from DC
The East Coast of the United States is a large region with many states, unique cultures, and incredible sites to see. This East Coast USA itinerary will explain how to road trip from DC to Florida in one week.
Although I have seen much of the world, I have not spent a lot of time visiting the states. When the COVID pandemic cancelled my international plans, I took the opportunity to visit more of the United States. On the road trip, I visited DC, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Savannah, and Disney World.
Keep reading this east coast USA itinerary to learn where I went and how to plan your own east coast road trip.
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Overview of This East Coast USA Itinerary
One week is not long enough to explore the whole coast or all the potential cities. At the end of this guide, I will recommend extensions to this east coast USA itinerary.
For one week, follow the following schedule to road trip from DC to Florida.
Day 1: Arrive in Washington DC
2: Explore the Capital
3: Drive to Myrtle Beach
4: Visit Charleston
5: 24 Hours in Savannah
6-7: Disney World
Day 1-2: What to do in Washington DC
Washington DC is a great starting point for an east coast road trip. As a large metropolitan hub, DC has direct flights from many states and international destinations.
Washington DC is the capital of the United States, is full of history and has a unique international culture. Follow this following tips for optimizing your short time in Washington DC to launch your east coast USA vacation.
What to Do: Visit the national mall, Explore the Georgetown neighborhood, Tour the White House, Check out a Smithsonian museum
Where to Eat: Lincoln for southern dinner, GCDC for a grilled cheese lunch, Il Canale for authentic Italian, Levain for dessert
Where to Stay: St Regis Washington DC, JW Marriot Washington DC
Click here for my complete guide to Washington DC in one day.
Day 3: Drive to Myrtle Beach
The first driving day on this east coast USA itinerary is the longest, but well-worth the time. Pick up a rental car at a convenient location in DC then embark on the 7 hour drive to Myrtle Beach.
On the drive, you will pass through Virginia and North Carolina. Some potential stops are historic Williamsburg, Richmond, Virginia Beach or Raleigh.
After a day of driving, you will likely arrive in Myrtle Beach in the late afternoon. While Myrtle Beach is not the most modern or luxurious beach town, the views are great and it makes a great break during the road trip.
What to Do: Walk the Myrtle beach boardwalk, Watch the sunset on the beach
Where to Eat: Banditos Cantina for tex-mex with an incredible view
Where to Stay: Marriott Myrtle Beach, Ocean Enclave by Hilton
Day 4: 24 Hours in Charleston
Next on this East Coast USA itinerary is one of my favorite cities: Charleston South Carolina. The drive from Myrtle Beach to Charleston is a short two and a half to three hours.
On the way into Charleston, stop at the Boone plantation for an informational tour. In Charleston, enjoy the fantastic food, unique architecture and Southern hospitality.
What to Do: Tour Boone Plantation, Visit the Pineapple Fountain, Take a Carriage tour of the city, Shop the city market, Sip at a rooftop bar, Snap photos at rainbow row
Where to Eat: Leon’s for fresh oysters in an old garage, Lewis Barbecue for the best BBQ in South Carolina
Where to Stay: Hotel Bennett, Charleston Place
Read my full guide to 24 hours in Charleston for more details.
Day 5: One Day in Savannah
From Charleston, continue two hours to Savannah Georgia. Since the drive is short, I recommend driving straight through to optimize your time.
Savannah is like Charleston in many ways but has its own unique culture. The river walk and town squares are serene and beautiful. Spend your day in Savannah enjoying the below restaurant and activities.
What to Do: Walk through Forsyth park, Explore river road, Walk Bull street, Take a ghost tour
Where to Eat: Matthew B’s for Southern brunch, Olde Pink House for luxury Southern food, Leopold’s for dessert
Where to Stay: Perry Lane Hotel, Bohemian Hotel
Day 6-7: Walt Disney World
The final stop on this east coast USA itinerary is Orlando Florida for a couple days in Disney World. While many view Disney as a family or child destination, Disney for adults is fantastic.
After a long week of driving and fast travel, it is nice to settle down in one place for a while. For me, Disney feels like home and is quite relaxing.
What to do: Visit Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, Relax by the pool, Shop at Disney Springs
Where to eat: Parks for fun snacks, Wine Bar George for wine and small bites, Morimoto Asia for Asian-fusion, Gideons for dessert
Where to Stay: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Grand Floridian, Polynesian Resort
Tips for Driving this East Coast USA Itinerary
- Rental car with space: Since you will drive around one thousand miles on this trip, get a comfortable rental car with space to spread out. We loved our Toyota Camry that comfortable fit two adults and our luggage.
- Take turns driving: To keep the drive interesting, take turns driving. I suggest trading off every few hours or each leg of the journey. The passenger can help navigate and DJ.
- Limit full travel days: This road trip from DC only has one long travel day. Limit full driving days to focus time visiting actual destinations. A good rule of thumb is one full travel day for every four days of destinations.
- Download podcasts: Music can be super fun on a road trip but podcasts are a great way to get variety. Some of my favorites are Girls Gotta Eat, the Joe Rogan Podcast and Confidently Insecure.
- Stop fun places for lunch: Food is a huge part of travel for me. Pick out a fun place for lunch to have something to look forward to during your drive.
Other Cities to Add to Your East Coast USA Itinerary
If you have more time, add additional cities onto your road trip from DC. The below options would be great additions with an extra 1-2 days for each of them.
New York: Start your trip by flying into New York city, explore then city then take a train to DC to begin your road trip.
Asheville: Between DC and Charleston, spend a couple days in Asheville. As a bonus, you can drive a portion of the Blue Ridge mountains to get there.
Miami: After Disney, continue south for a couple days in Miami at the beach or even further to enjoy the Florida Keys.
Final Thoughts: East Coast Road Trip from DC
Overall, this road trip from DC is a great way to see the United States in a short period of time. It will explore history, culture and even your inner child.
This east coast itinerary is a great starting point for your trip and can be customized to fit your needs. Spend more time in some cities, add in new ones or skip some I recommended.
Enjoy your east coast road trip and comment below with any questions or comments.
Related Posts:
- 24 Hours In Washington DC: Complete Guide To DC In One Day
- 24 Hours In Charleston: What To Do In Charleston South Carolina
- One Day In Savannah Georgia: What You Must See In Savannah
- How To Visit Disney World In Two Days
- 200+ Instagram Captions for Road Trips
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So many beautiful places. Thank you for sharing this itinerary. Will definitely come back to it when travelling to this part of the USA.
I moved to the East Coast last year right before the pandemic, my hubby and I love road trips so I cannot wait to get started on some here! Thanks for the itinerary, it’s a great place for me to get started with my planning!
I really like all these cities that you have on your itinerary.Ending in Florida at Disney World is always great. Beautiful photos of everything.
This is a great overview! Leon’s in Charleston sounds great! Savannah is one of my favorite places too! The Olde Pink House is great.
A great summary and definitely brings up some good ideas. Would love to do a USA road trip one day.