Nothing says summer like a road trip past wondrous natural sights, including waterfalls in Hawaii, the Badlands of South Dakota and picturesque small towns all across America. Many of these trips can be done over a weekend, making them an economical way to see the best the U.S. has to offer.

Route 66, New Mexico : One of the country's most famous highways, known as "the Main Street of America,” Route 66 ran all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles when it debuted in 1926. It has since been decommissioned, and in many locales replaced by interstates, but a thriving fan base has ensured that the route's retro-kitsch fame lives on. Tucumcari, N.M., still boasts a glowing strip of neon signs on "Motel Row," along with Route 66-themed murals dotted around the city. Williams and Seligman, Ariz., are two other top stops, with the latter home to the Historic Route 66 Motel and the Roadkill Café.