Most scenic drives in the US
The thrill, excitement, and mystery of the open road is a huge part of the American spirit. The full, glorious majesty of the American landscape is best appreciated by being right in the middle of it and there’s nothing quite like an empty stretch of road ahead of you with nothing but natural beauty everywhere you look to inspire you.
From vast mountain ranges to sun-drenched coasts, with craggy canyons, dark forests, lush rainforests, and parched deserts in between, the diversity of the American continent is what makes driving it such a wonderful experience.
And there has never been a better time for a road trip! In your car, you can stay as isolated and secure as you feel necessary while still appreciating everything nature and America have to offer.
So take a look below at some of the most scenic and beautiful drives in the US and start planning your own road adventure today!
Highway 78, Alabama
Highway 78 takes you all the way across Alabama, stretching nearly 200 miles in total from South Carolina to the Arkansas border, encompassing everything the state has to offer from the Appalachian Mountains to the Talladega National Forest. Best of all, it’s just a thin strip of road, two lanes nearly all the way, meaning you really feel like you are right in the thick of the landscape. There are plenty of interesting places to stop on the way too, from the retro delights of the Grand River Drive-In in Leeds to the cultural highlights of Birmingham.
Haines Highway, Alaska
Haines Highway might have one of the most beautiful backdrops of any drive in North America. But that’s not why you take this route. If you are in Alaska you are already overloaded with stunning scenery and gorgeous views. The real treasure of the Haines Highway is its wildlife, as this stretch of road has animals and birds in incredible abundance, including the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world at the Valley of the Eagles. For wildlife lovers, it is a true bucket-list road trip, and a perfect opportunity to get back to nature in America’s most remarkable wilderness. Camp along the route and finish your drive at the Haines Brewery for something cold and refreshing to complete the experience - you will have earned it!
Pacific Coast Highway, California
One of the US’s most famous roads, but all too often driven just to get somewhere, the Pacific Coast Highway in California should be a destination in its own right. The route is absolutely inundated with recognizable names like Long Beach, Malibu, Big Sur, and Pebble Beach, which makes stopping off en-route a treat. However, the most important thing to do on the PCH is just sit back, enjoy the ride, and drink in the incredible scenery. With mountains and towering redwood forests on one side, and the gorgeous Pacific coastline on the other, it’s a view you won’t forget in a hurry.
Seven Mile Bridge, Florida
The longest bridge in the Florida Keys and one of the longest in the US, Seven Mile Bridge is an iconic drive. Set completely over water, you are surrounded by open sea as you drive from Knights Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck in the Lower Keys, which is quite a surreal experience. The bridge is part of the awesome 120-mile long US-1 route which takes you all the way down to Key West on an island-hopping adventure and it is well worth completing the entire drive if you have time!
Hana Highway, Hawaii
When a road comes with a commemorative t-shirt that says “I survived the road to Hana”, you know that it has to be something special. This twisting, winding, undulating snake of a road is just 52 miles long, but takes a minimum of two and a half hours to drive...and that’s before you factor in the many, many stops you will want to make! Pause for photos on top of towering sea cliffs, buy fresh fruit and banana bread from pop-up market stalls, and just marvel at the prehistoric scenery and landscapes. Once you reach the tiny town of Hana, head on a little bit beyond the end of the road for the chance to swim in the Pools of Oheo at Haleakala National Park.
Chuckanut Drive, Washington
The Pacific Northwest is one of North America’s most spectacular regions, with a rugged coastline, looming mountain ranges, and rainforests creating a stunning visual overload. Chuckanut Drive is a wonderful stretch of road just north of Seattle, all tight turns and twisty mountain bends, and is the perfect route if you are cruising out of Vancouver BC, Seattle, or Portland. Surrounded by untouched forests it offers some quintessential Pacific Northwest views as well as fantastic trekking on the hiking trails of Larrabee State Park.