This route, between Shenandoah National Park & Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is one of the best in the world. At 755km (469mi), it’s clearly not meant to be ridden in one go, but there are so many scenic views you’ll be more than happy to break your journey. Highlights on the Blue Ridge Parkway include the elevated Craggy Gardens and Asheville’s Folk Art Center. The roads are well maintained, but there aren’t many service stops, so be sure to have all the essentials on you before you go.

Also known as the Escalante National Monument, this route lies beyond the national parks that tourists flock to in Utah. The surreal landscape of red rocks and arid desert is a sight in itself, but press on by bike to the elevated roads, where you’ll be rewarded with unmatched views of colourful sandstone cliffs soaring above narrow slot canyons. Take a detour to explore the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, a superb attraction that warrants an overnight stay.

This stretch of narrow winding road, cut into the mountains along the Pacific coast, is an iconic road trip high on many peoples’ bucket lists; the views are breathtaking as the cliffs plunge into the ocean. Pretty Carmel is worth a stop in this affluent county, while in Monterey you can visit the old cannery buildings and high-end seafood restaurants.

The 169km (105mi) of winding country roads through Shenandoah National Park, in Virginia’s famous Blue Ridge Mountains, seem like the perfect ride to us, but this route does have some serious climbs to contend with. There are only a handful of refuelling points, so this is perhaps one for the more experienced cyclist. With exceptional views of the wider Piedmont region, it’s hard to believe this remote countryside is not much more than an hour’s drive from Washington DC.

Another lengthy trail, if you chose to ride all of it, is this Tennessee titan. The modern route can be traced back to a pathway used by Native Americans and has a number of historical sites to explore. Taking you through the Southern states of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, this trip starts at the mighty Mississippi River. The moderate climbs shouldn’t be a problem even for the novice rider, and this is a well-trekked route so there are plenty of amenities and signs to help you along.

Don’t let the relatively short span on the Hana Highway deceive you – this Hawaiian road, which hugs the east coast of Maui, packs in dozens of bridge crossings and hundreds of hairpins along 80km (50mi) of tarmac. Even if the quaint coastal village of Hana wasn’t enough of an incentive, where else can you ride through tropical rainforest and still be firmly on American soil?

A beachside jaunt along the cycle lanes of this state park makes for a very pleasant outing. It’s also a practical exercise, as during the busy summer months cars are often blocked from entering some of the smaller towns on the route due to lack of parking space. Many first-timers are surprised to find the sandy dunes and windswept reeds along the coastal portions of New Jersey, so be prepared for a very different landscape to the one you might be expecting.