15 Most Awe-Inspiring Scenic Drives in America

Table of Contents

We all know going for a drive can solve all kinds of problems, from a crying baby that won’t sleep to a boring afternoon in the house. A well-timed drive can give you time and space to cool-off during a fight, or take you somewhere you weren’t expecting. Sometimes you just need to roll the windows down and feel the wind. Taking a drive is can be an adventure in itself, especially when the scenery surrounding you is magical. Luckily, America has no shortage of roads where you can cruise through jaw-dropping backgrounds, whether it be the west coast, southern deserts, or the mountainous Appalachians with plenty things to do in Pigeon Forge; you should blast your favorite music, and pretend your starring in your own epic movie. Here are the 15 most awe-inspiring scenic drives around America.

Pacific Coast Highway

I-5 south of San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

One of the most classic scenic drives in the world is the PCH! This exhilarating 123-mile trip takes you from NorCal to SoCal.

Lake Shore Drive

N Lake Shore Dr Chicago, IL 60611

This 26-mile scenic drive runs all along the Chicago shoreline, giving you the best of both worlds — the famous downtown architecture and lovely views of the lake.

Scenic Byway 12

US-89 – Panguitch, UT 84759

A 122-mile route that takes you through some of Utah’s most gorgeous geological attractions. Don’t miss a stop at the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument.

U.S. 1

U.S. Route 1, FL

If you’re looking to take a scenic road trip with your family, we recommend driving 113-miles all the way from Miami to the tip of the keys: Key West! The U.S. 1 is surrounded by beautiful blue waters, beaches, and of course, palm trees.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Cherokee, NC 28719

Save this scenic drive for fall — you won’t want to miss the treetops changing colors as you travel up to 500 miles through the Appalachian mountains.

Hana Highway

HI-360, Hana, HI 96713

This 52-mile scenic drive from Kahului to Hana can take up to two hours. The beautiful views you expect of Hawaii are abundant as you drive along the steep, windy road and look out over the beach.

Trail Ridge Road

Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

This route is famous for being the highest continually paved road in the U.S., and the route to the hotel from The Shining.

Bluebonnet Trail

Ennis, TX 75119

If you’re looking for the most scenic drives in America, we recommend traveling on the Bluebonnet Trail in Ennis, Texas during the Spring. During this short but sweet (about a 40-mile trip), you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous Texas wildflowers as far as the eye can see.

Highway 101

Oregon Coast Hwy, Oregon

Take in the whole Oregon coast as you travel 300 miles down the coast with views straight to the ocean waters and sea cliffs.

Richardson Highway

Valdez, AK 99686

This is a longer haul — 368 miles — that’ll take you all the way from Valdez to Fairbanks with all of the gorgeous scenery Alaska has to offer as you go. You can do a lot more things in Valdez, Alaska that you can check from here. From the starting point, you can explore numerous things to do in Valdez, Alaska.