Best Scenic Drives Destinations

This list represents the most popular scenic drives in North America (learn more about Top Trails). Use this list to plan your next scenic drives trip. Select a state and/or activity below to find even more top trails.

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#1. Icefields Parkway: Lake Louise to Jasper, Alberta

The Icefields Parkway, stretching 230 kilometers (138 miles) between Lake Louise and Jasper through the heart of two world-famous Rocky Mountain national parks, is one of the premier mountain drives o…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving British Columbia"
Lake Louise , AB - Scenic Drives - 138 miles

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#2. Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive: Kettle Moraine State Forest

This 115-mile drive follows the Kettle Moraine, a long ridge of forested hills that mark where two great arms of the last glacier butted up against each other. The route follows the Kettle Moraine Sce…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Wisconsin"
Slinger , WI - Scenic Drives - 115 miles

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#3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This park is close to major population centers, but its lush greenery and pleasantly rounded peaks create a soothing aura of tranquillity. And, of course, there is the famous “smoke” that seems to per…

From the guidebook "Great American Wilderness: Touring America's National Parks"
Gatlinburg , TN - Scenic Drives

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#4. Cottonwood Pass Scenic Drive: Buena Vista to Altmont

A 60-mile-long paved and gravel road that crosses 12,126-foot Cottonwood Pass on the Continental Divide and follows the Taylor River to Almont. The Sawatch Range lines the west side of the Arkansas Ri…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Colorado"
Almont , CO - Scenic Drives - 60 miles

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#5. Canyons and Rivers: Medina to Garner State Park

A 46-mile paved drive from Medina to Garner State Park through some of the most rugged parts of the Texas Hill Country. This drive crosses some of the most rugged parts of the Texas Hill Country as it…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Texas"
Medina , TX - Scenic Drives - 46 miles

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#6. Beartooth Highway

A 60-mile route across alpine plateaus and past many alpine lakes, with spectacular mountain views. The Beartooth Highway is one of the most spectacular routes on this continent. Charles Kuralt, the t…

From the guidebook "National Forest Scenic Byways Rocky Mountains"
Cooke City , MT - Scenic Drives - 60 miles

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#7. Denali National Park & Preserve

Mt. McKinley is the highest point in North America at 20,320 feet. The almost-four-mile-high giant was known to the Native Americans of Alaska as Denali – “The Great One” – a fitting tribute to one of…

From the guidebook "Great American Wilderness: Touring America's National Parks"
Healy , AK - Scenic Drives

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#8. Harbor Springs to Cross Village: Tunnel of Trees

One of Michigan’s most spectacular drives, Michigan Highway 119 leaves the exclusive resort town of Harbor Springs, whisks you through an area once largely inhabited by the Odawa, or Ottawa Indians, a…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Michigan"
Harbor Springs , MI - Scenic Drives - 20 miles

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#9. Mount Evans Scenic Byway: Idaho Springs to the Summit of Mount Evans

The 28-mile Mount Evans Highway, the nation’s highest automobile road and a national forest scenic byway, climbs from Idaho Springs to the boulder-strewn 14,264-foot summit of Mount Evans. Colorado’s…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Colorado"
Idaho Springs , CO - Scenic Drives - 28 miles

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#10. Delaware Water Gap Scenic Drive: From Portland, PA, to Grey Towers (outside Milford)

This 38.2-mile linear drive pursues the Pennsylvania shore of the unfettered Delaware River upstream through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (NRA) to the charming old grace of Milford. The…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Pennsylvania"
Portland , PA - Scenic Drives - 38.2 miles

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#11. Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park epitomizes the grandeur of classic mountain scenery. The park contains a large segment of the Rockies Front Range one of the most impressive collections of jagged peaks, v…

From the guidebook "Great American Wilderness: Touring America's National Parks"
Estes Park , CO - Scenic Drives

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#12. Blue Ridge Parkway: Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A 75-mile paved section of one of the most famous routes in America, following the dramatic crest of the Pisgah and Great Balsam Mountains to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkwa…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"
Asheville , NC - Scenic Drives - 75 miles

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#13. Independence Pass Scenic Drive: Twin Lakes to Aspen

This 44-mile-long drive climbs over 12,095-foot Independence Pass, Colorado’s highest paved pass, and the Continental Divide between the upper Arkansas River Valley and Aspen. This scenic drive crosse…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Colorado"
Aspen , CO - Scenic Drives - 44 miles

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#14. Mogollon Rim Road Scenic Drive: Forest Road 300

A spectacular 42-mile-long gravel U.S. Forest road that follows the lofty Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. Special Attractions: Camping, fishing, hiking, scenic views, photography, historic sites, Gen…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Arizona"
Payson , AZ - Scenic Drives - 42 miles

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#15. Connecticut Coast Scenic Drive

A 71-mile scenic route along southeastern Connecticut’s historic coastline. This scenic route traverses 71 miles of southeastern Connecticut’s coastline, passing numerous historic areas and towns, and…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving New England"
Westbrook , CT - Scenic Drives - 71 miles

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#16. Glacier National Park: Going-to-the-Sun Road (West Glacier to Saint Mary)

This spectacular 48-mile mountain drive switchbacks up and over the Continental Divide, following glacial river canyons and crossing an alpine mountain pass. Not only are there not enough words to des…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Montana"
Saint Mary , MT - Scenic Drives - 48 miles

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#17. Sedona - Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road: Flagstaff to Sedona

A 27-mile-long paved highway that drops from Flagstaff through spectacular Oak Creek Canyon to the red rock country at Sedona in central Arizona. Special Attractions: Scenic views, camping, hiking, fi…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Arizona"
Sedona , AZ - Scenic Drives - 27 miles

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#18. Skyline Drive: Shenandoah National Park

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park winds for 105 miles along the highest crests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. On one side of this crest is the Shenandoah Valley; on the other is the rolling Pied…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Virginia"
Front Royal , VA - Scenic Drives - 105 miles

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#19. Sonoma-Mendocino Coast Scenic Drive: Marin City to US101

This 209-mile-long drive borders the Pacific coast north of San Francisco. The highway passes historic sites, redwood forests, abrupt headlands, sandy beaches, windswept coves, and numerous recreation…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving California"
Gualala , CA - Scenic Drives - 209 miles

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#20. Lancaster Valley Amish Country Tour: From Morgantown to Lancaster

This 73.5-mile drive traces a serpentine path through the Lancaster Amish Country, avoiding for the most part the highly promoted tourist routes. It offers glimpses of Amish life and despite following…

From the guidebook "Scenic Driving Pennsylvania"
Morgantown , PA - Scenic Drives - 73.5 miles

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