You’re planning your next road trip using your RV road trip planner, and you want to know: What are the best scenic routes in America? As I’ve traveled around the United States some of my favorite moments have been driving scenic routes.
They’re better than interstates for many reasons, including: they’re quieter, less crowded, and they take you through the most beautiful landscapes on the planet.
There’s a lot of them though, and with so many options, we know how hard it can be to choose the best scenic drive.
So, we looked for scenic drives with the most breathtaking views, must-see sights, and unique scenery. Using these criteria, we found the top 20 scenic drives in North America.
Along with the best scenic routes in the U.S., we also included the top three must-see sights for each scenic drive AND the best time of year to drive these most beautiful roads.
Since, these routes are sometimes isolated, and include clearance restrictions, hairpin turns, and steep inclines, we’ve also included some safety tips for driving scenic driving routes.
Let’s get started so you can get driving!
Safety on the Best Scenic Routes in America
Check Fluids and Tires
Many of the best scenic routes are isolated. They lack the services that you’ll find along the bigger interstates such as mechanics, and sometimes even gas stations.
So, if you get a flat tire, you’re unlikely to find help nearby, and you might have limited or no cell-service. Uh-oh.
Getting caught in a situation like this can be stressful. Avoid it all together by consistently checking your fluids, tires, and gas levels while on the road.
Check Road Restrictions
You’re driving one of the best road trips in the U.S. when your passenger starts shrieking.
The bright yellow sign above the tunnel ahead of you screams: CLEARANCE 11’ 3”.
You realize, in a fraction of a moment, that your RV stands at 12’ and you slam on the brakes. Fortunately, you stop in time, but now what?
Avoid this situation by planning ahead. Contact the Department of Transportation for the scenic route you plan on driving.
Ask them about it’s road restrictions, clearance levels, etc. It can save your RV, or even your life.
Take it Slow
You feel like you’re on a rollercoaster. Another hairpin turn makes your stomach do a flip as you peer over at the driver.
Their white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel and wide-eyes do nothing to reassure you. Slow down. It’s the scenic route for a reason—you’re supposed to be enjoying the scenery.
Many of the best roads in the U.S. are a little more perilous than their interstate counterparts.
Some travel along high cliffs, involve tight turns, or steep inclines. It’s best to take your time while driving on them so you avoid becoming a statistic.
Use These Roadside Assistance Companies
When you’re traveling on one of the best scenic routes in the U.S. You want peace of mind.
These companies will help you when you get a flat tire, need to be towed, run out of gas, and more. Enlist in one of their plans so you don’t get caught in a bind.
- Good Sam (Find a plan HERE)
- AAA (Find a plan HERE)
- Your Insurance Company
–Many major insurance companies offer roadside assistance, including: Allstate, Statefarm, Nationwide, Farmers, Progressive, etc.
America’s 20 Most Scenic Road-Trip Routes
1. Pacific Coast Highway, California
No other road in the state of California so thoroughly captures the Golden State’s spirit.
Along it’s 655-mile length you’ll find yourself driving past sun-drenched beaches near LA, over the Golden Gate Bridge near San Francisco, and below towering Redwood tress in Northern California.
It gets better! The entire highway winds along the Pacific Ocean, giving you breathtaking views the entire drive. It’s my favorite scenic road- trip route on this list.
Where: California 1 and Highway 101 – California
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Year-Round (Thank you beautiful, California beach weather)
2. Volcanic Scenic Byway, Northern California & Southern Oregon
It’s sometimes easy to forget that the Northwestern U.S. hides a ring of volcanoes.
These slumbering behemoths molded the beautiful landscape into what it is today.
Drive along it’s dark pine forests and among it’s towering mountain ranges.
It’s one of the best roads in the U.S. because it’s tall height seems to stand above the rest of the world.
Where: Northern California & Southern Oregon
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Summer/Spring
3. The Overseas Highway, U.S. 1 – Florida Keys
Florida is known for it’s year-round, sub-tropical climate. I mean come on, it’s pretty much a jungle paradise edged with sugar-white sand beaches.
Nowhere is this more apparent than along The Overseas Highway.
It’s basically one enormous bridge that connects the Florida Keys—a series of islands—with some of the best wildlife, natural features, and beaches in the world. You won’t find any other road like this in the United States.
Where: U.S. 1 – Florida Keys
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Winter/Spring (Probably best to avoid hurricane season)
4. Route 66 – Missouri
Good ol’ Route 66. It’s the Mother of all Roads, giving birth to American road culture as we know it.
While the entire route, stretching from Illinois to California, is surely worth checking out, there’s a must-see section.
The Missouri segment passes through the Ozarks with it’s winding rivers, limestone caverns, and forested hills.
Where: Route 66 – Missouri
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Late Spring/Summer
5. Monument Valley Scenic Route, Northern Arizona & Southern Utah
This must-see scenic route provides views you won’t find anywhere else on the planet.
The sandstone bluffs that made Monument Valley famous line this epic highway.
You can immerse yourself in the Navajo culture that can be found here, or hike one of the Valley’s many trails.
Where: US Route 163 – Northern Arizona & Southern Utah
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Fall/Spring
6. Beartooth Highway, Northern Wyoming & Southern Montana
You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world when driving this scenic route. It’s a 5,000-foot rise in elevation covers over 68 miles of beautiful highway.
Along the way you’ll see snow capped mountain ranges, endless seas of lodgepole pines, and teeming wildlife.
Where: Beartooth Highway – Northern Wyoming & Southern Montana
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Late Spring/Summer
7. The Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana
What’s the United States’ great river? Every American school kid knows the answer—The Mississippi.
So, it only makes sense that the 3,000 miles of road following it, carry the name: The Great Road River. This scenic route passes through 10 states and hundreds of river towns.
Where: Minnesota to Louisiana
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Fall (The iconic Fall landscape)
8. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina
Lovingly referred to by many as ‘America’s Favorite Drive’, Blue Ridge Parkway weaves through 469 miles of Appalachian Highlands.
It’s 45 MPH speed limit and ban on semi-trucks makes for a relaxing drive through the surrounding wilderness with plenty of chances to spot it’s diverse wildlife.
Where: Virginia to North Carolina
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Summer/Fall (Autumn colors galore)
9. 12 Scenic Byway, Utah
The best road trip in Utah involves Highway 12—the spiritual spine of the state.
This stretch of highway passes Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Escalante National Monument, through Dixie National Forest, and into Capitol Reef National Park.
You’ll see pine forests, rusty red landscapes, and unique hoodoos.
Where: Utah
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Fall/Spring
10. Highway 101, Oregon
The twin sister of California’s Pacific Coast Highway. It’s practically a continuation of that highway, but it has so much to offer that it deserves it’s own mention.
Along it’s coastal route you’ll see dark green mountains meeting wind swept seas. The combination of the two gives the highway an otherworldly appearance.
Where: Oregon
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: September through mid-October
11. The Cascade Loop, Washington
This 440-mile loop passes through the Northern Cascade Mountain Range and Puget Sound.
You can stop off in Seattle to enjoy the cities beautiful views and unique architecture, or immerse yourself in the diverse wildlife of the Cascades.
Where: Washington
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Summer/Early Fall
12. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
We all have that stereotypical image of Fall impressed into our minds—multicolored forests, crisp air, and autumnal festivals galore.
If you want to see the real-life version of that mental image, drive The Kancamagus Highway. It’s one of the best roads in the U.S. to experience Fall.
Where: New Hampshire 112 – Northern New Hampshire
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Fall (Autumn colors galore)
13. Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
In terms of best roads to drive in the U.S., Trail Ridge Road is the highest, reaching 12,183 feet at it’s peak. It meanders through Rocky Mountain National Park.
You’ll be provided with some of Colorado’s most beautiful wildernesses including huge pine forests and soaring mountain peaks.
Where: Colorado
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Summer
14. Coast Connection Scenic Byway, Alabama
If you’ve ever wanted to get a taste for Southern living in the United States this is the best U.S. road trip for you.
Alabama’s Coast Connection Scenic Byway features cultural downtowns, relaxing beaches, wildlife preserves, history, and the freshest seafood you’ll find in the South.
Where: Alabama
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Spring/Fall
15. Lake Michigan Coastal Road, Michigan
Bordering the largest lake in the United States, M-22 has been reported by many to be one of the top five drives in the U.S.
That’s unsurprising when you consider the spectacular scenery, delicious restaurants, and quaint fishing towns.
Where: Highway M-22 – Michigan
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Fall (Autumn colors galore)
16. Richardson Highway, Alaska
Many refer to Alaska as ‘The Last Frontier’ of the United States. You can see why by driving one of the best scenic routes in the country.
Richardson Highway unfolds along glaciers, towering mountain ranges, and fertile Alaskan soil. It’s the best way to see Alaska, and all the nature it has to offer.
Where: Alaska Route 4 – Alaska
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Summer
17. Cherohala Skyway, Tennessee
This scenic road trip snakes through the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest.
You’ll find trout-filled lakes, secret waterfalls, and gorgeous wildflowers along the highway. In the Fall it becomes a place of unparalleled autumnal beauty.
Where: Highway 143 – Tennessee
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Fall (Autumn colors galore)
18. Park Loop Road, Maine
This short, but amazing scenic route takes you through some of the best Maine Wilderness.
You can spend time looking for wildlife in it’s dense forests, or relax on it’s beaches. It’ll make you feel like you’re on the edge of the world.
Where: Acadia National Park – Maine
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Late Spring – Fall (Autumn colors galore)
19. 10-Mile Road, New England
What this scenic route lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. This quaint stretch of road will put you at ease instantly.
It’s the best of what the United States East coast has to offer: Gentle deciduous trees, sandy shores, and gentle sunsets.
Where: Oceanic Drive – Newport, Rhode Island
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Late Spring – Fall (Autumn colors galore)
20. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
Once you drive this beautiful road, you’ll understand why the state gave it the name: ‘Going-to-the-Sun-Road’.
It quite literally ascends thousands of miles into the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
The entire drive is breathtaking. Make sure you’re the passenger so you can fully enjoy it.
Where: Glacier National Park – Montana
What to See:
Best Time to Visit: Summer
There’s 20 of the best scenic routes in the U.S. Truth be told, the United States has over 4.8 million miles of road, more than any other country in the world.
More than likely we missed your best U.S. road trip. So, tell us about it in the comments below!
