Did you know you don’t have to leave the continental United States to experience some of the world’s greatest natural wonders? All you need is a car and, well, maybe a few full tanks of gas. Grab your favorite road trip snacks and buckle in for these 15 beautiful drives across America.
1. Highway 2 – Nebraska
Driving through the Great Plains can feel monotonous, even for the most experienced road-trippers. A travel day through this vast, flat part of the United States is usually filled with scenery featuring cornfields and wind turbines. But take Highway 2 through Nebraska between May and June, and you’ll have a chance to see one of the largest mass migrations of birds in the United States. Your road trip will fly by!
2. Coastal Highway 1 – Maine
The Pacific Coast isn’t the only coastline that offers a scenic drive. Starting across the Canadian border, Coastal Highway 1 begins its American journey in Northern Maine and stretches down the East Coast to Florida. You can experience the rocky cliffs, misty lighthouses, and diverse seafood offerings of the East Coast, wrapping up your trip with the sunny skies and beautiful beaches of the Florida Keys.
3. Natchez Trace – Mississippi
If John Denver’s classic hit “Take Me Home, Country Roads” evokes one road trip route, it would be the Natchez Trace. This Rocky Mountain monolith starts in Mississippi and winds through the heart of the South in Alabama and Tennessee. With misty mountains and winding roads through the lush valleys, time will pass quickly on this road trip.
4. The Loneliest Road – Nevada
If spooky vibes are your thing (or you’re just feeling brave), look no further than the Loneliest Road. Officially known as U.S. Route 50, the forebodingly named road is a disturbingly remote 3,000 stretch of highway across the continental United States.
Travelers have described the stretch of highway from Lake Tahoe to Great Basin National Park as “eerily remote.” If you’re brave enough to make it through, Lake Tahoe and Arches National Park await you.
5. Historic Columbia River Highway – Oregon
Oregon is a hugely popular state for outdoor adventurers and travelers due to its stunning scenery.
From mountains and cliffs to forests and waterfalls, Oregon attracts hikers, skywatchers, and more year-round. If you’re driving through the Beaver State and want to get a taste of the scenery, take a turn onto the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway. The 12-mile stretch between Portland and Hood River is riddled with some of the state’s most scenic hiking trails.
6. Scenic Byway 12 – Utah
Utah is famous for its vast canyon land, which features geological formations and natural beauties you can’t find anywhere else. Driving through Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 will take you to some of the most well-known of these formation sites, including Red Canyon and the Petrified Forest State Park.
7. Kancamagus Highway – New Hampshire
If you wish that cozy season were year-round, this next scenic drive is for you. Winding through the heart of the Smoky Mountains is a series of highways notable for their sharp turns, even sharper drops, and stunning photograph opportunities.
While you can experience the mountain air and the stoic vegetation all year, driving down the Kancamagus Highway in the fall will fill your drive with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Just don’t take those curves too quickly.
8. Olympic Peninsula Loop – Washington
The Olympic Peninsula Loop offers a diverse range of ecosystems, from rugged coastal cliffs to Amazon-like rainforests. With over 300 miles of highway, this man-made path through a terrain full of vastly diverse nature is sure to keep the drive fresh for everyone in the car.
9. Chuckanut Drive – Washington
For another drive with various views and one shorter than 300 miles, head to the coast of Washington and hop on Highway 11, more commonly known as Chuckanut Drive. This stretch of highway is only 20 miles, yet offers the scenery of one much longer. There are very few places in the world where you can see massive forests just feet from the ocean, and Chuckanut Drive is one of them.
10. Going to the Sun Road – Montana
Glacier National Park in Montana is one of the world’s most popular and beautiful tourist attractions for hiking, rafting, camping, and more. If you left your tent at home, you can still enjoy some Rocky Mountain Views by driving down Going to the Sun Road. It’s only safe to travel between July and October due to icy and dangerous road conditions during the winter and spring, but the views of picturesque glacial lakes are well worth the wait.
11. Great River Road – Mississippi
You won’t find the history and spirit of the South as authentic anywhere on this list quite like Great River Road. Right in the heart of Mississippi, you can take in the majesty of the state’s famed eponymous river as you pass over generations-old bridges. Great River Road has that classic Southern charm that travelers can’t miss.
12. Road to Hana – Hawaii
This tropical Maui drive tells you exactly where it’s taking you: Hana. With lush vegetation blending on this stretch of highway, you can enjoy watching the waves crash against the coastline. Winding from Kahului to Hana, this stretch of paradise will mesmerize you.
The residents of Hana take pride in preserving their local traditions, and visitors often find a welcoming atmosphere that allows them to immerse themselves in the authentic Hawaiian way of life without the tourism hustle and bustle of larger cities like Maui.
13. Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina
No matter what time of the year you find yourself meandering through the Smoky Mountains, you will surely be amazed by the rolling hills, waterfalls, and endless foliage. This Appalachian wonder is exceptionally breathtaking not only in the fall but during the winter as well. Blue Ridge Parkway is reminiscent of a winter wonderland during the fall and winter months.
14. Pacific Coast Highway – California
A true West Coast wonder, the famous Pacific Coast Highway winds down the coast of Southern California, running from San Francisco down to Los Angeles. Mentioned in too many films to name, this historic highway highlights all of the cliche wonders that make Southern California what it is.
Take a drive down this stretch of highway and treat your eyes to roaring waves crashing on massive cliffs juxtaposing the rolling peaks of the Sierra Nevada.
15. Overseas Highway – Florida
The beautiful Overseas Highway stretches just over 100 miles across the Florida Keys, and the views are as breathtaking as possible. As you cross the Old Seven Mile Bridge, you can see the crystal clear ocean waters straight through to the sand and coral below.