A lot of people are deprived of the option of flying these days. For that reason as well as the fact that gas prices are slowly dropping back down, hitting the road is a better idea for many. Let’s look at the best destinations if you’re planning on making the trip a weed-infused one.
Road trips are all the rage once again, with the pandemic having blown them up big time (if you want proof, check out vans or other road trip vehicles, and you’ll find they’re being rented out at a dizzying pace).
For weed lovers getting stir crazy, there are some superbly attuned destinations, in that they’re located in states that have legalized marijuana by the time of this writing, while also being a delight to visit. Some of these places can be gotten to if you save up enough, while others only require you to get the timing right.
San Francisco – Humboldt County
Weed road trip veterans consider this to be the mecca of weed-filled journeys. Starting in SF works best, since this way it’s easier to round up all of the essentials and also rent a car from the city. SF also happens to be the first place ever in the country to have its own medical marijuana dispensary.
Route 1 lets you enjoy a slow pace while you take pleasure in the coastal breeze and take in the natural beauty. You eventually arrive at Humboldt County, which is the most famous area in the Emerald Triangle. This place produces some of the finest medical marijuana the world has seen, and also has small towns where you get to take part in all kinds of activities, with the central theme being marijuana. Fun fact: Humboldt has some of the world’s largest trees—there’s no need to be high on weed to be struck by the size of the giant Redwoods you’ll find here.
Among the Humboldt coastal towns to try out are Trinidad and Shelter Cove, before you set a course back for the Golden Gate. Fair warning though: it’s a bit pricey—gas in California is nowhere near cheap, as are car rental prices, which means you’d need to save up a bit before setting out.
Arizona – New Mexico
Both the source and destination here have some seriously beautiful desert scenery to offer. Also, both states have marijuana as a legal substance, making a road trip between the two an enticing prospect. That said, it is still illegal to bring weed from one of these states and into the other, so to make things easy, finish off what you’re carrying before passing the state border.
Marijuana is not legal in national parks, so you’ll have to go without if you plan on visiting the Painted Desert or the Grand Canyon. Northern Arizona also has Monument Valley, from where you can head directly into Santa Fe to partake in the deliciously and culturally rich environments there. They also have a good variety and number of cannabis dispensaries, so you’ll get to try out New Mexico’s finest herb.
Surrounding Santa Fe is a bunch of ornate towns, including the nationally renowned Roswell. This dusty trail offers up a lot of interesting history, as well as unique shopping opportunities. IT’s best to make the trip in early fall, so that the temperatures as well as prices are low.
To Alaska
Wilderness lovers all have this kind of trip on their bucket list, and many of them look forward to the long drive and the occasional cannabis high. Alaska is formidably vast, but that said, taking a road trip through it can prove highly rewarding.
Gas isn’t exactly cheap here, but you do have the legal option of sleeping inside your car. It’s also legal to camp on the roadside, and while there you’re sure to see a lot of people doing it. Alaska is great for people who have summers off but can’t stand the beach—it has cool summer weather, with almost 20 hours of daylight throughout the season.
The Oregon Coast
If you’re planning to get to the Emerald Triangle but have a tight budget to stick to, Oregon to Seattle is a good way to go. The Emerald Triangle covers Oregon—which means the latter has the same marijuana conditions—but it costs just a fraction of what you’d be paying at other places. Salary.com says that LA has 19.9% higher living costs than Portland, the largest among Oregon’s cities.
While paying 20% less, you still get a ton of breathtaking beauty, including old-growth forests to seaside towns lining the cliffs. Gas prices are high here, sure, but a trip to Oregon won’t set you back as much as going to LA instead.
Reno – Las Vegas
Cannabis lovers on tight budgets are sure to love this option. Las Vegas not only lets you have weed but also party, take in the nightlife, and even step in and try your luck and skill at one of the myriad casinos. Hotel room rates can be very reasonable if you know what you’re looking for, and this can be instrumental in keeping down trip costs.
Lake Tahoe is one of the great stops for nature lovers who happen to find themselves between Reno and Vegas. After arriving in Vegas though, what really stands out is the option to try out a cannabis lounge of the kind that was legalized only recently. People who’ve tried one say the experience is particularly rewarding after a long day spent on the road.
