One of the best ways to admire America’s vast, beautiful landscapes is on a good old-fashioned road trip. As you’re planning your next vacation, consider these scenic drives.
1. Blue Ridge Parkway
This 469-mile drive connects two national parks — Shenandoah in Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina.
- Noteworthy stops and scenery: Skyline Drive and Luray Caverns in Virginia; Asheville, North Carolina
- Places to Stay:
2. Route 66
Spanning over 2,500 miles from Los Angeles to Chicago, Route 66 is the ultimate cross-country road trip.
- Noteworthy stops and scenery: Cadillac Ranch in Texas; World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Oklahoma; Santa Monica Pier in California
- Places to Stay:
3. San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway
Winding through the San Juan Mountains, this 233-mile drive takes you to Colorado’s historic mining towns.
- Noteworthy stops and scenery: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; Telluride; Mesa Verde National Park
- Places to Stay:
4. Pacific Coast Highway
California’s longest highway runs 653 miles from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County.
- Noteworthy stops and scenery: Malibu, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Monterey, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Mendocino Headlands
- Places to Stay:
5. Jackson, Wyoming, to Glacier, Montana
You could drive the 513 miles from Jackson to Glacier National Park in a day, but why not explore Big Sky Country?
- Noteworthy stops and scenery: Grand Teton National Park; Yellowstone National Park; Glacier National Park
- Places to Stay: