I spent my summer on an East Coast road trip — these 8 towns deserve a detour

I'm a born-and-raised Mainer, but for most of my life, my nearest and dearest have lived in Florida. That means at least once a year for the past three decades, I've schlepped 1,600 miles down (and up … and back down … and back up) the East Coast in minivans, sports cars, RVs, rental cars and more.

While this began when I was a wee passenger princess, chain-eating sandwiches and thumbing through magazines for the entirety of the trip, those days are long gone. Now, I'm in the driver's seat. That's partially because my own parents have moved south, meaning my time yo-yoing across the Eastern Seaboard has only increased. (And now I'm largely doing the trip solo, with my big ol' hound dog as a copilot. Ideal, honestly.)

These trips are now such a part of my regular routine that I even bought a campervan to make it easier. Today, I'd estimate I've made the round-trip Maine-to-Florida trek more than 50 times, with yet another tick in the travel log coming this weekend.

So, yes, I have thoughts about where to stop — and spent my entire summer doing exactly that. Sure, you can knock out the drive in a day or two, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to take your time, a five- to six-day sightseeing trek will give you enough time for scenic detours, memorable meals and charming pit stops without venturing into "this trip is dragging" territory.

Whichever route and timeline you choose, my simple East Coast road trip rule is that every town has to fall along the route without demanding more than a 30-minute detour. These are the stops that fit the bill and make the drive feel like an actual vacation, not just places that merely happen to have hotels near an exit. I'd pull over for them every time.

First, I need to present a caveat: I generally avoid New England stops altogether because blowing through four state lines in a matter of hours delivers a dopamine hit that's gratifying enough to distract from the lower back pain that starts creeping in around hour four. But if that's not your vibe (fair), here are my favorites.

If you must (or want to!) stop in Mass., Sturbridge is a great pick. It's right on the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut at the convergence of I-84 and I-90, so you can recharge before or after the nightmare that is Connecticut traffic, depending on your direction.

It's easy to grab a last-minute overnight stay at chain hotels like Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn, but there are also charming options for boutique inns and historic bed and breakfasts if you want to make more of a day of it.

Sturbridge is also home to tons of forested trails and walking paths that wind around ponds and lakes, and Old Sturbridge Village is worth a visit, if you have time. It's a living museum of sorts that offers a glimpse into 19th-century rural New England. Otherwise, if you want to keep it quick, there are plenty of cute cafés for grab-and-go. Even the gas stations here have fresh espresso and gluten-free sandwiches — very New England.

Travel tip: Anyone who says "just take 95 the whole way" either hasn't done the trip or loves traffic and inefficiency. Through New England, you'll do plenty of highway hopping — I-495, I-290, I-84, I-91. As you travel south, you can stay on I-84 in Hartford to bear west through Danbury and avoid some famously horrible Connecticut and New York-bound traffic. If you do, you'll skirt New Haven, so just ignore the next section. Alternatively, you can pop onto I-91 and eventually I-95 for a more direct route south. (No matter, I suggest avoiding the Merritt Parkway/Route 15 at all costs. I hate the narrow roadways and the inevitable stop-and-go crawl along it, all of which are worse in a van.)

If you're on either I-91 or I-95, chances are high you'll find yourself snagged in Connecticut traffic as you approach New Haven. If you are, pull off. Right near the junction of these two highways, you'll find some of the best pizza in the region without having to brave any city traffic.

The key players here are Frank Pepe, Modern Apizza and Sally's Apizza , but you can't really go wrong — especially since even dining in won't delay your trip if you time it right. Have a little more time? Walk it off on the Gothic grounds of Yale University nearby.

Travel tip: Take this time to enter the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (formerly the Tappan Zee) as a stop in your GPS to avoid the George Washington Bridge when you travel through New York. I messed this up on my last trip and regretted it throughout the stomach-churning, choppy ride and eye-watering tolls. Never again! You can then choose whether to take the New Jersey Turnpike south or venture a bit farther west.

Carlisle is a great spot to pull off that feels a bit like a destination rather than a cluster of highway hotels, and there's enough nearby to fill an afternoon or morning without turning your pit stop into a major detour. Its downtown is historic and walkable with local boutiques, antique shops and a year-round farmers market.

The town is also a distribution hub, which is great news if you have a sweet tooth: The Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet , attached to the Lindt distribution center, is a must-stop. You'll find a massive assortment of truffles, including imported and rare flavors. Beware: Even at outlet prices, it's hard not to spend a bundle.

Travel tip: This is your moment to decide whether to stick largely to the I-95 corridor through Washington, D.C., Richmond, Va., and Fayetteville, N.C. (more direct) or head to I-81 through the Blue Ridge Parkway (much more scenic). If you do continue on I-81 here, you'll skirt some truly heinous traffic on D.C.'s beltway and between the capital and Richmond. If you have less time, there's still plenty to do and see when you grab I-95 for the rest of the trip south.

As a reminder, I only recommend this portion of the trip if you have upwards of a week to dedicate to the drive. Otherwise, you'll feel too rushed along the max-45-mph roads that connect the following destinations. If you can swing it, though, the breathtaking route will probably be your favorite portion of the journey.

Shenandoah National Park is incredibly dog-friendly, which makes it one of my favorite national parks. Traveling through keeps you on your pace south, but I'd suggest pulling off for some scenic overlooks and hikes along Skyline Drive, like Big Meadows, Byrd Visitor Center and Blackrock Summit. This road runs 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest to Rockfish Gap, where it becomes the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Travel tip: The Parkway is a 469-mile linear park that follows the Blue Ridge Mountains to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since it's a slow, picturesque route, navigation apps can be tricky here (the route is too slow to recommend, and service is spotty.) So, take care to follow signage and download maps ahead of time. There aren't gas stations along the Parkway either, so you'll have to hop on and off to refuel.

Most of the little mountain towns along the Parkway are perfect for a quick pit stop, but on your journey southeast, stop at the sprawling Sierra Nevada Brewing Company — the Mills River taproom and brewery is a must-see. Grab a to-go pack to crack into once you're settled in for the night. Then, trade trendy Asheville in favor of a stop in laid-back and quieter Brevard.

Some 130 miles west of Charlotte, near the border between the Carolinas, Brevard is an outdoorsy detour perfect for stretching your legs, grabbing lunch or staying a while longer. It sits at the edge of Pisgah National Forest , which is home to roadside marvels like Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock.

Downtown Brevard is filled with independent shops and local bakeries, breweries and restaurants like Morning Social, home of The Best Pancakes I've Ever Eaten. Stop at The Hub and Pisgah Tavern, a truly cool bike shop and café, to caffeinate before hitting the road.

Travel tip: This is a good spot to split from the Blue Ridge Parkway and take I-26 south. You can pick up I-95 again in South Carolina, just south of Santee (also a great place to stop if needed). I love Santee State Park for camping on the banks of Lake Marion. It's less than two miles off I-95, which is hard to believe once you experience its remoteness.

I wouldn't call Lumberton a must-see, but for road-trippers, it's an old faithful and has become one of my no-brainer midway stops on the I-95 route for its convenience. And frankly, those reliable staples are as important as their flashier counterparts.

Lumberton has plenty of recognizable restaurants, gas stations, hotels and some much-needed space to stretch your legs, including a riverwalk and dog park. I always appreciate its green space at this point in the trip; it's a welcome reprieve during I-95's longest stretch.

Travel tip: "Pedro sez" start counting the endless billboards for South of the Border , an iconic tourist attraction marked by an enormous sombrero on I-95. It's a fun way to pass time on the southern state slog, where the celebrations of putting another state behind you can start to feel far too infrequent. Would I recommend stopping? No. But it's a fun from-the-road spectacle no matter your age.

Just 15 minutes east of the interstate sits Savannah, one of the only cities I visit every time, no matter which route I take. The city is so close to I-95 but feels like a proper vacation destination with its shaded squares, Spanish moss-shrouded roads, spooky history and excellent food.

If you have the time, you should absolutely prioritize an overnight stay here. Take a ghost tour or walk from River Street to Forsyth Park and check out the SCAD Museum of Art. River Street Sweets is a must — I spend a small fortune on the candy shop's famous bear claws and pralines annually. Every time I try one, I am blown away by how good it is.

Travel tip: You'll stick to I-95 for the rest of the trip south. Don't miss pit stops at Buc-ee's in Brunswick, Ga. and Daytona, Fla. Part gas station, part barbecue joint, part truck stop haven, the massive, 24-hour spectacle attracts serious crowds for its fresh smoked meats, jerky, fudge, beaver-forward merch and, reportedly, "the cleanest restrooms in America." I stopped for the first time last year after much eye-rolling and scoffing, but I have been changed.

Jacksonville's Beltway traffic can be notoriously dicey and tricky to navigate, so if I'm northbound and see that I'll be hitting Jacksonville around rush hour, I'll pull off in historic St. Augustine to wait it out. Similarly, on my southbound trips, I'll drive into the night and push past the city to avoid its morning rush, in favor of a slower morning in or near St. Augustine's lovely downtown, which feels like a true escape.

St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental United States. Even on a short trip, it's worth walking the bayfront and stopping by the breathtaking Castillo de San Marcos fort, the 19th-century St. Augustine Lighthouse and the lore-laden Fountain of Youth.

Travel tip: You've hit Florida — yay! Celebrate cautiously, though, as the wildly long state can feel endless during a road trip. For context, the stretch of I-95 between Jacksonville and Miami is about 350 miles long, roughly the same distance between Portland, Maine and Princeton, N.J. Without traffic, you're looking at about five and a half hours, which is why there have been plenty of times where a day's worth of driving both started and ended within the Sunshine State.