The American landscape is known for many things, from the world-famous cities and sprawling metropolises, to the beautiful, wide open spaces and natural wonders. But one of the best features of America is its roads. Home to some of most picturesque, scenic roads in the world, these asphalt and dirt networks connect creatives to some of the photogenic places on earth.
But with thousands of miles of roads, highways, routes, and scenic byways, it’s difficult to narrow down the best options out there. So here, once and for all, are the top 15 most most scenic drives in America. Grab your camera, fill up your fuel tank, and let’s get started.
1. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
The Kancamagus Highway, NH-112, is a beautiful road that winds deep through the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and is just north of the beautiful Lakes Region of the state. It seems to take you back to a much simpler time, with farms and houses that look to date back a century. The road winds tight, and creates switchbacks and curves that are mesmerizing to photograph. However, this road truly shines in the fall, when it is surrounded by some of the most vibrant and beautiful fall colors you will ever experience. There’s a reason it’s one of the top Insta-worthy fall destinations in the United States.
2. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina/Virginia
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a road that is actually recognized as a national park, and for good reason. Starting in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, and weaving its way down into North Carolina, the 469 mile-long Blue Ridge Parkway highlights some of the most beautiful sections of the eastern United States. Cutting straight through the Appalachian Highlands, it winds through the Blue Ridge Mountains and gives you access to some of the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi River and some of the most beautiful mountain vistas you will ever see and shoot. The best part? The Blue Ridge Parkway is open year round, giving photographers access and opportunity in all four seasons.
3. Overseas Highway, Florida
The Overseas Highway, U.S. Route 1, is nicknamed “The Highway that Goes to Sea,” and is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the world. Starting at the southern tip of Florida, it traverses, mostly over water, to the beautiful Florida Keys, and is an engineering marvel of concrete and steel, highlighted by the Seven Mile Bridge (in the photo above), which spans — you guessed it — almost seven miles across the beautiful Atlantic Ocean, and is incredible to cross. The journey is marked by some of the most beautiful waters in the world, and some of the most vibrant sunrises and sunsets you can photograph, so it is a no-brainer for any photographer visiting Florida.
4. Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
When Trail Ridge Road was completed, it was dubbed a “scenic wonder road of the world”” This awe-inspiring 48-mile stretch of road, begins in Estes Park, ends in Grand Lake, and climbs more than 4,000 feet to a sprawling 11,500 feet, with sweeping, 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains. While this road is only open from May to November due to severe winter weather, when it is open, it offers some of the most breathtaking high-alpine terrain you can photograph, including ample opportunities to photograph wildlife like elk, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep. It is one of the highest paved roads in the world, and is a must-photograph road in America.
5. Highway 145, Colorado
Winding through the San Juan Mountains, and some of the most rugged and beautiful peaks of the Rocky Mountain Range, Highway 145 in Colorado is a must for photographers. This area of the state is special, and the road takes you through beautiful mountain towns like Ouray and Telluride, with several stretches that are flanked by massive 14,000-foot mountains and beautiful rows of aspens and spruce trees. Dallas Divide is the famous highlight of this highway, with incredible views of Mount Sneffels covered with aspens, that come fall, turn golden and illuminate this picturesque alpine basin.
6. Scenic Byway 12, Utah
Connecting two of Utah’s most beautiful national parks — Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef — Scenic Byway 12 truly highlights why the American Southwest is one of the most special places in the world. Weaving through canyons and the warm-colored sandstone landscapes, it is a road that is truly unique and special to photograph. One of the best stretches of this road is called the Hogback, where the road rises above the desert landscape on a large rocky spine, and offers incredible views, along with a beautiful, twisting section of road that is amazing to photograph.
7. Highway 163, Arizona/Utah
Ever seen Forrest Gump? While you don’t have to run it, the drive up Highway 163, from Arizona into Utah is one of the most famous stretches of road in America. This incredible road crosses through Navajo Reservations lands and Monument Valley, a tribal park that has been made famous by several western films and Hollywood movies, with beautiful orange and red buttes that tower thousands of feet above the desert floor below. But the best section of this highway is “Mile Marker 13,” the famous spot where Forrest Gump stopped his run across America. It is one of the most breathtaking stretches of highway you will ever see, and is simply magical to shoot during golden hour and sunset.
8. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
Located in Glacier National Park, one of America’s premier national parks, Going-to-the-Sun Road is truly incredible. Traversing straight through the park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road begins in West Glacier near Lake McDonald and ends at St. Mary Lake, two gorgeous glacier-carved lakes. In between lies a high-alpine road, weaving through some of the most breathtaking sections of the Rocky Mountains. There are several incredible stops and hikes along the way, making this road a marvel.
However, while sections of this road are open year round, the high-alpine sections are closed in winter, and frequently close in the fall and spring due to sudden winter storms, so make sure to plan your trip for warmer months when visiting Glacier National Park and Going-to-the-Sun Road.
9. Pacific Coast Highway, California
Beginning in San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles, this stretch of Highway 1 lies directly parallel to the Pacific Coast, weaving high above the ocean as a beautiful viaduct. It is a true wonder, and highly regarded as one of the top road trips in the world. Stretching through beautiful locations like the Golden Gate Bridge, Monterey County, Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Malibu Beach, this road is incredible and should be experienced by photographers at least once in their life, even though once will probably not cut it.
10. Highway 101, Oregon/California
If you aren’t familiar with the west coast, there is a constant debate on whether Highway 101 or the Pacific Coast Highway is best, because both are on the same level of beauty. Highway 101 is incredible, and another road that weaves directly parallel to the Pacific Ocean, but 101 offers a much more Pacific Northwest feel, with massive douglas firs that line the road, temperate forests, and massive sea stacks that make the Oregon Coast one of the greatest in the world. It will not be difficult to find a beautiful section of this road, with landmarks like Cannon Beach, Cape Kiwanda, Cape Perpetua, Coos Bay, Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor in Oregon, and the Redwood Forests in Northern California, to name only a few. Highway 101 is incredible, and one of the best in the Americas.
11. Historic Columbia River Highway, Oregon
This incredible, 75-mile stretch of road is a true Oregon treasure. Around 30 minutes outside of Portland, this road lines the beautiful and historic Columbia River, and is the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, one of the best outdoor destinations in America. Known for its massive, thundering waterfalls, framed by lush, temperate vegetation, the Columbia River Gorge is easily accessed by this highway. To make things better, several of these waterfalls, like Horsetail Falls, Latourell Falls, and the 620-foot tall Multnomah Falls, lie right on the side of this highway, which make it easy to capture some incredible photos.
12. Olympic Peninsula Loop, Washington
Another Pacific Northwest classic, the Olympic Peninsula Loop is incredibly beautiful and diverse. It leads to incredible beaches like Second, Ruby, and, Rialto, then passes through Olympic National Park, home to some of the largest temperate rainforests in the United States, the snow-capped Olympic Range, and deep, beautiful lakes like Crescent Lake. It is a road that needs to be photographed and traveled when visiting Washington.
13. North Cascades Highway, Washington
The North Cascades Highway winds through the Cascade Mountains and North Cascades National Park, which is nicknamed the American Alps for good reason. These dramatic peaks are some of the most beautiful in the United States, and this road gets you up close and personal to many of them. The crown jewel of this highway is Diablo Lake, a gorgeous lake situated in the heart of the national park, known for its bright turquoise waters that are simply sensational to photograph. If you are looking for an alps road trip experience but don’t want to travel across the world, take a drive up North Cascade Highway for an experience you won’t forget
14. U.S. Route 1, Alaska
Alaska is nicknamed the “Last Frontier,” and Route 1 will make you realize very quickly why that name is so fitting. This road runs from Homer to Anchorage, then cuts south to the Canadian border, and is incredibly beautiful. This road travels through the massive mountains of the Brooks Range, that span from sea to sky, and are also known for its beautiful glaciers. Route 1 is also an access point to Denali National Park, home to Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, looming over 20,000 feet tall above the high tundra landscape. The best part about Route 1? In the winter, this road is a perfect place to view the northern lights, which shine especially bright in Fairbanks, Alaska, a pit stop on U.S. Route 1.
15. Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii
Last, but certainly not least is the Hana Highway in Maui, Hawaii. This 64-mile stretch of road feels like you’ve entered an untouched paradise. Known for its lush jungle, beautiful waterfalls, and narrow construction that winds beautifully along the coast, the Hana Highway allows access to the east side of the island and popular destinations like Haleakala National Park. For those planning to photograph the Hawaiian Islands, the Hana Highway must be included on your itinerary.
