10 Most Scenic Drives In The Contiguous United States

The United States is full of remarkable drives through different biomes and landscapes, from stunning desert roads to high mountain passes. From the East Coast to the West, every state has at least one route that has the potential to truly blow your socks off. Kyle with Geography King has driven through many of these states, exploring the incredible highways and routes that fill the country. These are his top 10 favorite.

Most Scenic Drives in the United States

1. Oregon Coast: U.S. Highway 101 between Lincoln City and Brookings offers stunning coastal views with public beach access and minimal development, resembling one continuous state park.
2. Theodore Roosevelt National Park: The drive through the North and South units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Western North Dakota showcases unique Badlands scenery, abundant wildlife like bison and wild horses, and a serene, crowd-free experience.
3. Badlands, South Dakota: The route from Custer to Badlands National Park via Custer State Park features roaming bison and striking Badlands landscapes, perfect for a scenic drive without leaving the car.
4. Florida Keys: U.S. Highway 1 from Key Largo to Key West feels like driving on a continuous bridge surrounded by turquoise waters, with opportunities to spot wildlife like iguanas at stops.
5. Central Colorado: Interstate 70 between Eagle and Idaho Springs, with an optional detour over Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6, offers high-altitude mountain views and snow-covered peaks.
6. Blue Ridge Parkway: The stretch between Asheville and Boone in North Carolina and Virginia provides breathtaking Appalachian vistas, especially near Mount Mitchell, beautiful year-round but busiest in fall.
7. Big Sur, California: California Highway 1 from Carmel to San Simeon features dramatic cliffs, ocean drop-offs, and wilderness views, with frequent pull-offs for safe photo opportunities.
8. Michigan Upper Peninsula: The drive along Lake Superior’s North Shore from Marquette to Grand Marais offers picturesque lakeside views, sand dunes, and proximity to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
9. Western Maine Wilderness: The loop around Rangely Lake, Mount Blue State Park, and the Carabasset Valley in Western Maine showcases serene mountain lakes and deep wilderness scenery.
10. Southern Utah: The route through Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef National Parks, part of the Grand Circle, features vibrant sandstone canyons, the thrilling Hogback ridge, and diverse state parks, ideal for a multi-day adventure.

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