Most Scenic Drives In North America – The United States has some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet, and there are many scenic drives across the country that offer spectacular views and dreamy sunsets. Here are 10 of America’s most scenic drives.
Before you leave, be sure to check the health and safety regulations and weather conditions for any area you’re traveling to. Especially mountain roads are closed due to snow. Before you embark on any road trip, make sure your car is ready. You can save 15% or more on your auto insurance by switching to GEICO.
Most Scenic Drives In North America
Montana’s Glacier National Park’s Going-To-The-Sun Highway winds its way through the beautiful Rocky Mountains for nearly 50 miles. This is the only road through the park that leads to Logan Pass on the Continental Divide. The winding alpine road takes up to 10 weeks a year to be cleared by snow plows, so the best times to visit are late summer and early fall. We recommend staying at the western end of Kalispell Park, which also has an airport.
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Skyline Drive is a 105-mile mountain drive through Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, starting in Front Royal, about an hour west of Washington, D.C. There are 75 observation decks with breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont. Especially beautiful in summer and autumn. Drivers should plan to spend a full day on Skyline Drive, and we highly recommend making time to watch the evening sunset from the west-facing observation deck.
The advantage of this national road is that you can pass through two national parks in a short time. The first is General Grant’s Grove, a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park. The road continues for 50 miles through the western mountains to Kings Canyon National Park, an underrated gem of the national park system. The closest major city to Kings Canyon is Fresno, California.
The 11-mile Cades Cove Loop dips into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is the perfect recreational ride. Spend 2-3 hours exploring an early 19th century European settlement, enjoying the clean air and mountain views. Be sure to plan a picnic and stop at Cable Mill, which also has restrooms. For lodging, we recommend nearby Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The closest airport is in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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110 miles of Overseas Highway travel overseas, connecting Miami and Key West through all the islands. Drivers will feel the salty air and sunshine on their faces and find many fascinating corners to explore along the way. There is a beach with public parking and a unique local art garden. Finally, arrive in beautiful Key West.
The North Falls Scenic Byway in northern Washington is the hilliest and most chilling drive through the park. You’ll see turquoise blue glacial waters and rolling mountain peaks. Be sure to stop at the Washington Pass Observation Deck for photos. Dine, explore and stay in one of the 1920s towns along the way and spend time outdoors in the Methow Valley. Like most mountain passes, it is closed in winter due to snow. North Cascades is far from society and the closest airport is Seattle.
This 68-mile pass runs from the town of Red Lodge through southwestern Montana to the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Pass through the beautiful Beartooth Mountains, one of the most remote and ecologically diverse areas in the United States. Climb the mountain on the Beartooth Highway for incredible views. The closest major airport is in Billings, Montana.
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US Rt 163 is a 64-mile highway that runs from Arizona through the Navajo tribe of southern Utah, showcasing Utah’s spectacular and beautiful scenery in Monument Valley. The red rocks and cliffs are one of America’s most iconic scenes, and the wide open spaces make the drive feel uncrowded. Plan a trip of at least two hours and take time to stop and take photos. The sunsets are especially spectacular. The closest major airport to Monument Valley is in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The 27-mile park loop is the main road around the desert mountains of Acadia National Park. It offers panoramic views of the ocean, with rocks crashing against the water and forests that change colors with the seasons. Be sure to plan extra time for hiking and photography. For cheap lodging, we recommend staying in nearby Bangor, Maine.
The Trail Ridge Road is a 48-mile mountain road nicknamed “The Highway to the Sky.” The road starts in Estes Park in the east and continues west to Grand Lake. Soar more than 4,000 feet above treeline in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is considered the highest paved road in Colorado and features many sharp turns. Plan at least half a day to fully appreciate the tour. The closest major airport is in Denver.
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This story was produced in partnership between GEICO and Lonely Planet. Both parties contributed selected research and content to craft this story. We disclose information when it does not belong to us. This 39-mile journey through South Dakota’s Badlands National Park takes visitors through an eerie landscape of twisting canyons, jagged rock walls, native grasslands, and dreamy pinnacles.
Whether it’s a one-hour jaunt or an epic week-long adventure, there’s nothing quite like hopping into a car and hitting the road. But where?
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These attractive US road trips will enhance any road trip through the lower 48 states. From the most foodie-friendly roads to scenic landscapes and the country’s most historic roads, a dream road trip awaits. Here are 25 of our favorites.
Not to be confused with the National Trail of the same name, this nearly 600-mile trail celebrates New Mexico’s Native American heritage by traversing Navajo and Zuni lands. Are you short on time? Head straight to the Chaco Culture National Historic Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose earliest occupation dates back to 850 AD.
The route will take you 283 miles through the Acadiana countryside of southern Louisiana, where French-speaking Cajuns find open prairies, a fascinating mix of cultures. With 3 main routes (plus 1 short side road), there’s plenty to explore, including the intimate Cajun Music Hall of Fame and memorabilia museum, and the Louisiana State Arboretum, where you can stretch your legs and get back behind the wheel. .
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Access historic Newport, Rhode Island easily from RI 114 North, a more local and scenic alternative to I-95 or I-195. Along the 30-mile drive, visit Bristol’s Colter State Park, hike the Bay Trail, and experience 18th-century farm life at the Coggeshall Farm Museum. In Middletown, try the Portuguese fish chowder at Anthony’s Seafood and tour the winery at Newport Vineyards.
Check out the complete “X-Files” with Travel Nevada’s tongue-in-cheek itinerary for interstellar travelers. All life forms are welcome on a 487-mile (or 8,284e-11 light-year) journey into the Silver State, which includes driving the alien freeway in Lincoln County north of Area 51 (a forbidden military base in the center of the area) Many UFOs plot) and traverse Mars-like landscapes at Valley of Fire State Park in Overton.
Admire the famous peaks of the Colorado Rockies, blue alpine lakes, and the two intersections of the Continental Divide on this 75-mile drive. Stop for pizza at High Mountain Pies in Leadville (10,200 feet), once a center of silver mining.
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Open from late June through October, the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road offers breathtaking views of Glacier National Park. Stop at the McDonald Creek Lookout and watch the water flow over narrow rocks. At Lunch Creek, see waterfalls and wildflowers, but stay on the paved parking lot, as there are no official trails in this sensitive area. If you’re looking for a longer break, the park also offers a free shuttle service on some roads.
Just south of foodie favorite Portland, this delicious route passes through 18 native Oregon stops, including farms, vineyards and wineries, as well as farm stands and farmers markets. Must-see: Visit Bob’s Red Mill World Headquarters in Milwaukee, Oregon.
Known as the “Great Skyway” when it opened in 1926, the 95-mile replacement I-80 (open from late May to mid-November) is a feast for the eyes. The east-west drive gives you the first view of 12,013-foot Medicine Bow Peak towering over Lake Mary. Stay overnight at Saratoga’s historic Wolf Hotel, a former stagecoach stop, then soak in the public hot springs.
North Shore All American Scenic Drive
In Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, you can drive the 105-mile Skyline Drive to waterfalls, climb Old Rag Mountain, and try Skyland’s signature dish: a 1-mile-tall blackberry ice cream pie.
Celebrate Illinois’ favorite son on the 200-mile round trip designed by Looking for Lincoln, coordinator of the 42-county Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Popular stops along the route include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield (pictured above) and Bicentennial Plaza, which opens in August.
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