Scenic Drives You Must Take in Each of the 50 States

Travel

Whether you’re dreaming of traveling to Hawaii’s tropical paradise for the first time or you’re an old hand at visiting the islands, insider tips make the difference between the typical tourist trip to Hawaii and a truly amazing adventure. GOBankingRates talked to Hawaii natives and travel experts to uncover some of the top tips to keep in mind when planning your vacation.Click through to find the best and worst deals in Hawaii that’ll make your vacation a trip to remember.
When you travel to the Sunshine State for your family vacation, a few things are certain: There will be mosquitoes, you’ll need tons of sunscreen and you will have no shortage of activities.In fact, when you’re planning a Florida vacation, you might find yourself overwhelmed with the state’s wealth of tourist attractions, from Orlando to the Keys, year round. If you’re not careful, you might find your budget a little overwhelmed, too.Here are some exciting things to do in Florida and tips to experience all the sights and sounds on a budget.
Slide 1 of 51: A cross-country road trip is the ultimate bucket-list experience, but finding the right route is key. Don't have time to plan or take the ideal long-haul road trip? Don't worry, we've compiled a list of the roads and trip routes in every state with views that will take your breath away. Whether one of these is right down your street, a quick jaunt away, or a destination to be set thousands of miles from your home, all of them are worth exploring. Click through to see a scenic drive from every state in the U.S.A.
Slide 2 of 51: When you're making your way through Alabama, the Dauphin Island Bridge on Route 193 offers views of the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay.
Slide 3 of 51: Fair warning: Local wildlife can bring traffic to a standstill on Parks Highway 3 while you're driving through Denali National Park. Then again, that is part of this road's allure.
Slide 4 of 51: Use Scenic Byway 163 to make your way through Monument Valley and marvel at the sandstone buttes set against the backdrop of blue skies off in the distance.
Slide 5 of 51: If you time your fall road trip just right, you could catch the full splendor of the leaves changing colors along Highway 74 and across the Buffalo River Bridge.
Slide 6 of 51: Park Boulevard is one of the prettier detours from Highway 62 that you can take to get a better view of Joshua Tree National Park.
Slide 7 of 51: Vistas just don't come as striking as Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6. In fact, we'd suggest driving there and then stopping your car, getting out, and taking a minute just to look around and appreciate the surroundings.
Slide 8 of 51: Even if you have no business in Danbury, find a reason to take a drive down Ohehyahtah Place in autumn. Between the towering trees lining the street and the upscale homes beyond them, you'll want to move in.
Slide 9 of 51: Get a dose of small-town charm by driving down Barley Mill Road in Hockessin. The picturesque Ashland Covered Bridge has been there since 1860, and it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Slide 10 of 51: Take State Road A1A through Hutchinson Island for gorgeous ocean views.
Slide 11 of 51: The oak trees lining Skidaway Road in Savannah make it not only a Wormsloe Historic Site but a must-add to your travel list. The way the trees arc over the road makes it a great spot for an epic car photo, too.
Slide 12 of 51: Let's be real; no matter where you drive in Hawaii, chances are the scenery will be beautiful. But if we must be more specific, know that you can really get the full scope of Kauai's landscape by taking a ride on Waimea Canyon Drive.
Slide 13 of 51: You'll think you're looking at a fake movie backdrop while making your way down Idaho State Highway 75, otherwise known as Sawtooth Scenic Byway-that's how pristine the place is.
Slide 14 of 51: Pull over on Peoria's Grandview Drive and have a picnic. You'll be able to eat while taking in views of Lake Peoria.
Slide 15 of 51: In the spring and summer, a drive through Brown County State Park in Indiana will overwhelm you with greenness. There is so much greenery, in fact, that it'll feel as though you're wearing tinted sunglasses. As an aside, the roads nearby are excellent-so much so that we used some of them during a compact-car comparison test in 2016. Too bad we visited during the winter months, missing the State Park's lushness by a season.
Slide 16 of 51: Explore the Iowa River Valley via the 77-mile stretch of land known as the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway. The ride is bracketed at each end by Iowa's only Native American community and an area settled by Germans in the mid-1800s, and both sites offer immersive historical experiences.
Slide 17 of 51: Dig wildflowers? They litter the Gypsum Hills along U.S. 160.
Slide 18 of 51: Just about every town has a Main Street, but few can match the quaintness of the street with the ubiquitous name that runs through Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.
Slide 19 of 51: Atchafalaya Basin Bridge gives you a tongue twister to try, as well as water running its length between each direction of traffic and treetops lining both elevated roadways. Needless to say, this is the worst place to be caught up in traffic.
Slide 20 of 51: A trip to New England just wouldn't be complete without a leisurely drive on Loop Road through Acadia National Park. If you're into low-key, traditional waterside activities, it's worth pulling off the road to skip a stone on Beaver Dam Pond.
Slide 21 of 51: Step back in time with a drive through Antietam National Battlefield. Several roads in the park will guide you through the area where the famous Civil War battle of the same name took place.
Slide 22 of 51: Head to North Adams by way of McAuley Road to see what remains of a former marble quarry in Natural Bridge State Park.
Slide 23 of 51: Follow the Lake Michigan shoreline up Highway 22 and try not to let northern Michigan's natural beauty distract you from the curvy roads. As an added bonus, just north of 22 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula runs the similar Highway 2, which also hugs sandy beaches along Lake Michigan. Try both.
Slide 24 of 51: Wilderness Drive in Itasca State Park is the ultimate escape from the freeways and urban highways you might be used to. It's out there.
Slide 25 of 51: History buffs should definitely add Vicksburg National Military Park to their road-trip itinerary. The park has a 16-mile drive route commemorating the Civil War's Battle of Vicksburg.
Slide 26 of 51: The hills (of Rolla) are alive with the sound of cars rushing past. Mostly, this is because whether you're traveling on Route 66 or Interstate 44, you can see one from the other: The two highways run parallel to each other and are draped over southern Missouri's topography.
Slide 27 of 51: For a majestic view, make your way to the Saint Regis–Paradise Scenic Byway in Montana's Lolo National Forest, which runs between I-90 and the 200.
Slide 28 of 51: Heading down Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway, you'll transition from prairie land to sandhills. This is a drive you can enjoy for a longer period than most-it's a 197-mile haul along Highway 20.
Slide 29 of 51: Feeling chilly? Check out the Valley of Fire State Park, which is best experienced via the White Domes Scenic Byway. The brightly colored sandstone formations are sights to behold.
Slide 30 of 51: If you're making your way through New Hampshire, map your journey to get to the White Mountains. There are a few major roads to choose from, but we recommend cutting through the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, a 30-some-mile section of Route 112 that, like most scenic runs in the Northeast, puts on its best show during the fall season.
Slide 31 of 51: If you're a morning person, catch the sunrise over the Stone Harbor Bridge. This daily occurrence is nearly better than coffee.
Slide 32 of 51: The views-plural!- from the Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway are some of Mother Nature's best work. Along the 132-mile drive loop consisting of State Road 4 and the 550, you can see the Valles Caldera volcanic crater and the Soda Dam and visit the Jemez Falls waterfall.
Slide 33 of 51: The Big Apple isn't the only thing New York has to offer. Take Route 3 into the Adirondacks, and you'll see what we mean. To beat the Northeast's drum yet again, rural New York is most visually stunning in autumn.
Slide 34 of 51: The Blue Ridge Parkway gives you spectacular scenery no matter the season. Icy roads in the winter mean slower speeds-and more time to soak it all in.
Slide 35 of 51: Highway 57 is a convenient and visually appealing way to get across North Dakota. Check out nearby Devil's Lake while you're in the area.
Slide 36 of 51: Bask in the Amish Country Byway's pastoral glory. Be advised: you'll be sharing the road with horse-led buggies.
Slide 37 of 51: Don't let the fog cloud your assessment of one of Oklahoma's scenic routes; the Talimena Scenic Byway is absolutely worth your time. This 54-mile stretch runs between Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma (hence the name Talimena), and is so packed with things to do that the Talimena National Scenic Byway Association has an interactive map to help you plan your trip.
Slide 38 of 51: The West Cascades National Scenic Byway is just a quick (just kidding) 220-mile cruise offering a tour through the Cascade Mountain region that is as thorough as it is long.
Slide 39 of 51: Get lost in the Susquehanna River Valley's lush landscape by way of Route 120. No, literally, get lost here-there is no shortage of things to do and see, from historic Revolutionary War sites to antique shops.
Slide 40 of 51: Stick to Ocean Avenue and the other coastal roads in Newport for million-dollar views on your way to see the island's historic mansions.
Slide 41 of 51: The trees lining Botany Bay Road on Edisto Island create a tunnel-like effect similar to those we showed you on Skidaway Road in Savannah, Georgia. Visit it for the obligatory Instagram photo.
Slide 42 of 51: Travel Highway 240 during your time in Badlands National Park. The geologic formations poking up from the landscape are incredible, with layered deposits that are up to 75 million years old.
Slide 43 of 51: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is worth visiting in and of itself, but the Newfound Gap at its center is worth the trip because of U.S. 441, the road that takes you there. Whether you're heading into Tennessee or North Carolina by way of the Newfound Gap, be sure to shoot the gap. Not literally, of course.
Slide 44 of 51: Route 67 spans several states, but the section running through Texas provides surreal views of the state's flatlands as far as the eye can see.
Slide 45 of 51: Scenic Byway 12 runs for more than 112 miles, but make it to the road's summit and you'll find yourself 9000 feet up with the world at your toes. From the peak's vantage point, one can see Grand Staircase-Escalante, the Henry Mountains, and Capitol Reef National Park's red rocks.
Slide 46 of 51: Explore Vermont's Green Mountains by taking the Scenic Route 100 Byway. There are plenty of little New England towns to scope out along the way. Can you guess which time of year we suggest visiting Route 100?
Slide 47 of 51: You'll feel like you're floating atop the Chesapeake Bay as you make your way to Fisherman's Island via the 23-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. The original bridge opened in 1952, while its parallel twin was added in 1973.
Slide 48 of 51: Hit up Heather Meadows and Artist Point by way of the 58-mile Mount Baker Scenic Byway, known formally as State Route 504. You can watch bald eagles munching on salmon in the Nooksack River from the road. What does your commute offer? No bald eagles snacking on fish? We thought not.
Slide 49 of 51: People with a fear of heights might want to avoid the New River Gorge Bridge, which at its tallest point sits nearly 900 feet above the New River. Everyone else, go ahead and savor all 3030 feet of its length and the rich views it affords of the Appalachian Mountains.
Slide 50 of 51: The curvaceous Jens Jensen Winding Road in Door County is fun to drive. That its woodsy setting qualifies as scenic is icing on the cake.
Slide 51 of 51: Heading to Yellowstone National Park? Be sure to visit Highway 296, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Over its 47-mile length, you'll leap the Absaroka Mountains on your way through the Shoshone National Forest.

A cross-country road trip is the ultimate bucket-list experience, but finding the right route is key. Don’t have time to plan or take the ideal long-haul road trip? Don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of the roads and trip routes in every state with views that will take your breath away. Whether one of these is right down your street, a quick jaunt away, or a destination to be set thousands of miles from your home, all of them are worth exploring. Click through to see a scenic drive from every state in the U.S.A.

Alabama

When you’re making your way through Alabama, the Dauphin Island Bridge on Route 193 offers views of the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay.

Alaska

Fair warning: Local wildlife can bring traffic to a standstill on Parks Highway 3 while you’re driving through Denali National Park. Then again, that is part of this road’s allure.

Arizona

Use Scenic Byway 163 to make your way through Monument Valley and marvel at the sandstone buttes set against the backdrop of blue skies off in the distance.

Arkansas

If you time your fall road trip just right, you could catch the full splendor of the leaves changing colors along Highway 74 and across the Buffalo River Bridge.

California

Park Boulevard is one of the prettier detours from Highway 62 that you can take to get a better view of Joshua Tree National Park.

Colorado

Vistas just don’t come as striking as Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6. In fact, we’d suggest driving there and then stopping your car, getting out, and taking a minute just to look around and appreciate the surroundings.

Connecticut

Even if you have no business in Danbury, find a reason to take a drive down Ohehyahtah Place in autumn. Between the towering trees lining the street and the upscale homes beyond them, you’ll want to move in.

Delaware

Get a dose of small-town charm by driving down Barley Mill Road in Hockessin. The picturesque Ashland Covered Bridge has been there since 1860, and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Florida

Take State Road A1A through Hutchinson Island for gorgeous ocean views.

Georgia

The oak trees lining Skidaway Road in Savannah make it not only a Wormsloe Historic Site but a must-add to your travel list. The way the trees arc over the road makes it a great spot for an epic car photo, too.

Hawaii

Let’s be real; no matter where you drive in Hawaii, chances are the scenery will be beautiful. But if we must be more specific, know that you can really get the full scope of Kauai’s landscape by taking a ride on Waimea Canyon Drive.

Idaho

You’ll think you’re looking at a fake movie backdrop while making your way down Idaho State Highway 75, otherwise known as Sawtooth Scenic Byway-that’s how pristine the place is.

Illinois

Pull over on Peoria’s Grandview Drive and have a picnic. You’ll be able to eat while taking in views of Lake Peoria.

Indiana

In the spring and summer, a drive through Brown County State Park in Indiana will overwhelm you with greenness. There is so much greenery, in fact, that it’ll feel as though you’re wearing tinted sunglasses. As an aside, the roads nearby are excellent-so much so that we used some of them during a compact-car comparison test in 2016. Too bad we visited during the winter months, missing the State Park’s lushness by a season.

Iowa

Explore the Iowa River Valley via the 77-mile stretch of land known as the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway. The ride is bracketed at each end by Iowa’s only Native American community and an area settled by Germans in the mid-1800s, and both sites offer immersive historical experiences.

Kansas

Dig wildflowers? They litter the Gypsum Hills along U.S. 160.

Kentucky

Just about every town has a Main Street, but few can match the quaintness of the street with the ubiquitous name that runs through Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

Louisiana

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge gives you a tongue twister to try, as well as water running its length between each direction of traffic and treetops lining both elevated roadways. Needless to say, this is the worst place to be caught up in traffic.

Maine

A trip to New England just wouldn’t be complete without a leisurely drive on Loop Road through Acadia National Park. If you’re into low-key, traditional waterside activities, it’s worth pulling off the road to skip a stone on Beaver Dam Pond.

Maryland

Step back in time with a drive through Antietam National Battlefield. Several roads in the park will guide you through the area where the famous Civil War battle of the same name took place.

Massachusetts

Head to North Adams by way of McAuley Road to see what remains of a former marble quarry in Natural Bridge State Park.

Michigan

Follow the Lake Michigan shoreline up Highway 22 and try not to let northern Michigan’s natural beauty distract you from the curvy roads. As an added bonus, just north of 22 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula runs the similar Highway 2, which also hugs sandy beaches along Lake Michigan. Try both.

Minnesota

Wilderness Drive in Itasca State Park is the ultimate escape from the freeways and urban highways you might be used to. It’s out there.

Mississippi

History buffs should definitely add Vicksburg National Military Park to their road-trip itinerary. The park has a 16-mile drive route commemorating the Civil War’s Battle of Vicksburg.

Missouri

The hills (of Rolla) are alive with the sound of cars rushing past. Mostly, this is because whether you’re traveling on Route 66 or Interstate 44, you can see one from the other: The two highways run parallel to each other and are draped over southern Missouri’s topography.

Montana

For a majestic view, make your way to the Saint Regis–Paradise Scenic Byway in Montana’s Lolo National Forest, which runs between I-90 and the 200.

Nebraska

Heading down Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway, you’ll transition from prairie land to sandhills. This is a drive you can enjoy for a longer period than most-it’s a 197-mile haul along Highway 20.

Nevada

Feeling chilly? Check out the Valley of Fire State Park, which is best experienced via the White Domes Scenic Byway. The brightly colored sandstone formations are sights to behold.

New Hampshire

If you’re making your way through New Hampshire, map your journey to get to the White Mountains. There are a few major roads to choose from, but we recommend cutting through the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, a 30-some-mile section of Route 112 that, like most scenic runs in the Northeast, puts on its best show during the fall season.

New Jersey

If you’re a morning person, catch the sunrise over the Stone Harbor Bridge. This daily occurrence is nearly better than coffee.

New Mexico

The views-plural!- from the Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway are some of Mother Nature’s best work. Along the 132-mile drive loop consisting of State Road 4 and the 550, you can see the Valles Caldera volcanic crater and the Soda Dam and visit the Jemez Falls waterfall.

New York

The Big Apple isn’t the only thing New York has to offer. Take Route 3 into the Adirondacks, and you’ll see what we mean. To beat the Northeast’s drum yet again, rural New York is most visually stunning in autumn.

North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway gives you spectacular scenery no matter the season. Icy roads in the winter mean slower speeds-and more time to soak it all in.

North Dakota

Highway 57 is a convenient and visually appealing way to get across North Dakota. Check out nearby Devil’s Lake while you’re in the area.

Ohio

Bask in the Amish Country Byway’s pastoral glory. Be advised: you’ll be sharing the road with horse-led buggies.

Oklahoma

Don’t let the fog cloud your assessment of one of Oklahoma’s scenic routes; the Talimena Scenic Byway is absolutely worth your time. This 54-mile stretch runs between Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma (hence the name Talimena), and is so packed with things to do that the Talimena National Scenic Byway Association has an interactive map to help you plan your trip.

Oregon

The West Cascades National Scenic Byway is just a quick (just kidding) 220-mile cruise offering a tour through the Cascade Mountain region that is as thorough as it is long.

Pennsylvania

Get lost in the Susquehanna River Valley’s lush landscape by way of Route 120. No, literally, get lost here-there is no shortage of things to do and see, from historic Revolutionary War sites to antique shops.

Rhode Island

Stick to Ocean Avenue and the other coastal roads in Newport for million-dollar views on your way to see the island’s historic mansions.

South Carolina

The trees lining Botany Bay Road on Edisto Island create a tunnel-like effect similar to those we showed you on Skidaway Road in Savannah, Georgia. Visit it for the obligatory Instagram photo.

South Dakota

Travel Highway 240 during your time in Badlands National Park. The geologic formations poking up from the landscape are incredible, with layered deposits that are up to 75 million years old.

Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is worth visiting in and of itself, but the Newfound Gap at its center is worth the trip because of U.S. 441, the road that takes you there. Whether you’re heading into Tennessee or North Carolina by way of the Newfound Gap, be sure to shoot the gap. Not literally, of course.

Texas

Route 67 spans several states, but the section running through Texas provides surreal views of the state’s flatlands as far as the eye can see.

Utah

Scenic Byway 12 runs for more than 112 miles, but make it to the road’s summit and you’ll find yourself 9000 feet up with the world at your toes. From the peak’s vantage point, one can see Grand Staircase-Escalante, the Henry Mountains, and Capitol Reef National Park’s red rocks.

Vermont

Explore Vermont’s Green Mountains by taking the Scenic Route 100 Byway. There are plenty of little New England towns to scope out along the way. Can you guess which time of year we suggest visiting Route 100?

Virginia

You’ll feel like you’re floating atop the Chesapeake Bay as you make your way to Fisherman’s Island via the 23-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. The original bridge opened in 1952, while its parallel twin was added in 1973.

Washington

Hit up Heather Meadows and Artist Point by way of the 58-mile Mount Baker Scenic Byway, known formally as State Route 504. You can watch bald eagles munching on salmon in the Nooksack River from the road. What does your commute offer? No bald eagles snacking on fish? We thought not.

West Virginia

People with a fear of heights might want to avoid the New River Gorge Bridge, which at its tallest point sits nearly 900 feet above the New River. Everyone else, go ahead and savor all 3030 feet of its length and the rich views it affords of the Appalachian Mountains.

Wisconsin

The curvaceous Jens Jensen Winding Road in Door County is fun to drive. That its woodsy setting qualifies as scenic is icing on the cake.

Wyoming

Heading to Yellowstone National Park? Be sure to visit Highway 296, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Over its 47-mile length, you’ll leap the Absaroka Mountains on your way through the Shoshone National Forest.

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