The Best Scenic Drives in America for Travelers Who Hate Flying
The open road remains one of America’s greatest gifts to itself. From the volcanic coastline of Hawaii’s Hana Highway to the alpine peaks of Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway, the United States features some of the most breathtaking driving routes in the world.
These are roads where the journey is the highlight, not just a way to reach your destination. If flying makes you uneasy, these drives prove that skipping the airport can be the best travel choice you’ll ever make.
Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), California
California’s Highway 1 is the standard by which all other American scenic drives are measured. The route along the Big Sur coast, where the Santa Lucia Mountains drop straight into the Pacific and the road clings to the edge, offers over 100 miles of nonstop, breathtaking scenery.
It’s truly one of the most beautiful driving experiences in the world. Head south in the morning light, and take your time.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia & North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through the Appalachians, from Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains, and is America’s most visited scenic highway. In autumn, it transforms into what might be the most beautiful drive in the eastern United States.
Scenic overlooks, wildflower meadows, craft heritage sites, and the absence of commercial vehicles all combine to make this a uniquely peaceful journey.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is considered America’s most daring feat of road engineering. This 50-mile, two-lane highway climbs from the lakeshore up to Logan Pass at 6,646 feet, winding along sheer cliffs with glaciated peaks towering above and deep valleys below.
The road is only open in summer, typically from late June through October, and it offers a driving experience unlike any other in the Lower 48.
Million Dollar Highway, Colorado
Colorado’s US-550 between Ouray and Silverton is known as the Million Dollar Highway for good reason. This 25-mile stretch of winding mountain road has minimal guardrails, steep drop-offs that plunge thousands of feet, and scenery that feels almost overwhelming in its grandeur.
The San Juan Mountains here are some of the most beautiful in North America. Head toward Silverton on a clear morning, and you’ll see why this route has such a reputation.