I'd just reiterate that a LOT of this depends on when you travel. All the locations mentioned can be pretty cold, desolate, limited service/closed for the season type situations if you're not traveling in the US summertime. And, if you are traveling to many of these places during the US summertime, you'll have LOTS of people going to the beach at these various locations w/ the attendant crowds and, more important, traffic. Up and down the east coast of the USA, there are hundreds ... thousands ... of "strategies" for driving to various locations during these times.