Just about everyone loves a scenic drive, and America has a lifetime’s worth of them to enjoy. For this article, we’re distinguishing a scenic drive from a road trip as something you can do in a day or less. However, some of them are so incredible that you could easily spend a few days getting out and exploring the amazing scenery.
Mt. Baker Scenic Byway, Washington
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There aren’t a lot of ways to appreciate the North Cascades, and this is one of them. The wildflower meadows are gorgeous, and on clear days, you’ll see Mt. Baker, one of the Cascade volcanoes, and Mt. Shuksan, one of the most beautiful mountains in America.
Tioga Pass, California
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Starting from its eastern end, this drive climbs into the High Sierra through Lee Vining Canyon, with views getting better with every mile. At Tioga Pass, you cross into Yosemite National Park and soon cruise through the beautiful, dome-studded Tuolumne Meadows area. Continue on to Tenaya Lake and then past more domes to Olmsted Point and its view of famous Half Dome.
Titus Canyon, California
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The one-way unpaved drive through this canyon in Death Valley National Park is accessed from Beatty, Nevada. It climbed to a high pass the the Grapevine Mountains and then descends Titus Canyon, passing through a ghost town before reaching the Narrows, a section where the canyon narrows to just 20’ in width. After you exit the canyon, you can continue your tour of the park along its many more miles of scenic drives.
Big Sur, California
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Just about the entire California coast is spectacular, but most people think the Big Sur region is the best of it. Scenic highlights include Pfeiffer Beach, where waves crash against rock outcroppings, and McWay Falls, which spills over a cliff onto a beach just yards away from the sea.
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop, Nevada
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Las Vegas isn’t all casinos and neon. Just west of the city is the beautiful Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. A 13-mile one-way drive lets you see the highlights, but you should stop at some of the many pullouts to go on hikes to petroglyphs, waterfalls, desert “tanks” that hold water, and more.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho
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From its northern end in Stanley, the scenic byway here runs through a valley with excellent views of the Sawtooth Range, Idaho’s Sierra Nevada. Spur roads lead to lakes and hiking trails, and eventually the road climbs to a mountain pass and then descends to the Sun Valley area.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
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This 53-mile road connecting the eastern and western entrances of Glacier National Park is, quite simply, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. You’ll drive past lakes, mountain streams, and waterfalls while enjoying mountain views and probably seeing mountain goats and bighorn sheep, and maybe bears, as well. The road crests at Logan Pass on the Continental Divide, where you should get out and hike a trail and boardwalks across alpine tundra to the overlook of stunning Hidden Lake.
Centennial Scenic Byway, Wyoming
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Over 163 miles, this byway connects the northwestern Wyoming towns of Dubois and Pinedale. From Dubois, it climbs through the dark volcanic peaks of the Absaroka Range to Togwotee Pass on the Continental Divide. Then it descends to Grand Teton National Park and passes through it for a stretch. After leaving Jackson Hole, the byway passes through scenic Hoback Canyon. When it ends at Pinedale, you’ll be in the shadow of the Wind River Range, which has most of Wyoming’s highest peaks.
Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
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The east-west artery through Rocky Mountain National Park, this drive’s highlight is the several miles that it winds above treeline through alpine tundra, yielding incredible views of the mountains. If it’s open, drive Old Fall River Road up into the alpine and its intersection with Trail Ridge Road. Then check out the best of that drive in both directions before descending to one of the park’s exits.
Monument Valley, Arizona-Utah
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The U.S. highway through this classic Western landscape is free to drive on, but you’re missing the best parts if you limit yourself to that. Take the detour to the park operated by the Navajo People to see the Mittens and Merrick Butte, made famous by Hollywood director John Ford’s Westerns, and many other features.
State Route 12, Utah
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With one end along U.S. 89 near Panguitch and the other at the town of Torrey, SR 12 passes through some of the best scenery in southern Utah’s amazing “color country.” Highlights include Red Canyon, a detour to Bryce Canyon National Park, Boulder Mountain, Hole in the Rock Road (an unpaved turnoff that leads to some great destinations), a state park with petrified wood, and Calf Creek Recreation Area, where you can hike to a desert waterfall.
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Texas
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Departing from the main road through Big Bend National Park, this drive has mountain views, open desert, tuff (hardened volcanic ash) canyons and pinnacles, and a historic site, among other things. It ends at the spectacular Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande, where a trail takes you into the mouth of the canyon.
North Shore, Minnesota
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Minnesota’s North Shore is the section of Lake Superior shoreline from Duluth to the Canadian border. Superior is rarely out of sight on this beautiful drive, and there are numerous state parks with access to the lake, waterfalls, cliffs, and more.
Skyline Drive, Virginia
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For 105 miles, Skyline Drive tracks the crest of the Blue Ridge from north to south in Shenandoah National Park. There are dozens of overlooks, and there are numerous trails to mountaintops, waterfalls, and other features. Campgrounds and lodges are also available, though they close in the winter.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
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This road journeys through some of the best scenery in the White Mountains. It’s beautiful in any season, but autumn is best for the dazzling display of fall colors. For more scenery and activity, pair this with a visit to nearby Franconia Notch State Park.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
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Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
The World’s 5 Friendliest and 5 Unfriendliest Cities
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Some cities welcome visitors and want them to be there. Other cities are rude to visitors and would just as soon see you leave. It can be jarring to be in an unfriendly city, though some of the world’s most enticing cities rank high on the rudeness scale. When you visit a friendly city, it’s much easier to soak in the culture and meet the locals. Rough Guides readers voted on the cities for their level of friendliness. According to Rough Guides, these are the world’s friendliest and unfriendliest cities.
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