Best of USA
The 5 Best Scenic Drives in the United States
From the soaring granite passes of the Rocky Mountains to California's desert oases and coastal redwood cliffs—discover the absolute finest driving routes in America.
The Soaring Trail Ridge Continental Divide Highway: Denver to Rocky Mountain
Scale the highest continuous paved highway in North America, tracing Denver's high-altitude granite gaps, alpine tundra wildflower fields, and the Continental Divide.
“Offers unparalleled, god-like Rocky Mountain vistas, high-altitude alpine passes above the timberline, and abundant wildlife sightings like massive elk herds.”
The Desert Oasis & Mid-Century Modern Highway: LA to Joshua Tree
Escape the Los Angeles basin down through the retro, mid-century modern palms of Palm Springs and up into the ancient Joshua Tree desert wilderness.
“Perfectly bridges Southern California's retro-glam resort lifestyle with wild, wind-swept monzogranite boulder piles and starry desert skies.”
The Coastal Redwoods & Cliff-Hugging Byway: SF to Mendocino
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and trace California's wild, cliff-hugging Highway 1 through wine valleys, historic fishing ports, and soaring coastal redwood forests.
“The absolute pinnacle of Northern California's scenic contrast—combining towering 300-foot ancient redwoods with rugged, wind-swept Pacific sea cliffs.”
The Peak Foliage & Scenic Gorges Pass: NYC to White Mountains
Escape the Manhattan skyscrapers up into New England's historic covered bridges, granite notches, and the spectacular, colorful notches of New Hampshire.
“The single most spectacular autumn fall-foliage drive in the country, scaling the legendary Kancamagus Highway amidst a crimson-and-gold forest canopy.”
The Crimson Canyons & Mojave Desert Pass: Las Vegas to Zion
Leave the neon lights of Las Vegas behind and cross the dramatic Valley of Fire desert into Utah's spectacular, sheer red-rock canyon monoliths.
“Offers an epic geologic progression from neon casinos to surreal fire-colored desert sands, culminating inside the soaring crimson cliffs of Zion Canyon.”