22 Most Scenic Drives in America and Canada For Epic Road Trips
The best scenic drives in North America are not just about getting from one place to another. They are the kind of routes where the drive itself becomes the main experience.
These roads take you through mountain passes, desert landscapes, coastal cliffs, national parks, forest roads, lakeshores, and some of the most beautiful viewpoints on the continent.
Many of the drives on this list can be done in a single day, but they are even better when turned into longer road trips. Some are perfect weekend routes, while others can be stretched into a full week or more if you want to stop for hikes, overlooks, small towns, waterfalls, beaches, or national parks along the way.
If this is your first time planning a major road trip, I recommend choosing one scenic drive based on the type of landscape you want most. For example:
Scenic Drive
Best For
Best Time to Go
Pacific Coast Highway
Coastal views
Spring | Summer | Fall
Icefields Parkway
Mountains and lakes
Spring | Summer | Fall
Going to the Sun Road
Alpine scenery
Summer
Blue Ridge Parkway
Fall foliage
Fall
Highway 12 Utah
Desert landscapes
Spring | Fall
Cabot Trail
Coastal cliffs
Summer | Fall
Monument Valley Scenic Drive
Southwest scenery
Spring | Fall
Road 9 and Canyon Drive (Zion National Park):
What Makes It Scenic
Road 9 and Zion Canyon Drive take travelers through towering sandstone cliffs, winding canyon roads, massive rock formations, and some of the most dramatic scenery in Utah. The combination of narrow canyon walls, desert landscapes, and mountain views makes this one of the most unforgettable drives in the American Southwest.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures and best hiking conditions.
How Long You Need
Plan for at least half a day, although a full day allows time for hikes and scenic stops.
Blue Ridge Parkway:
What Makes It Scenic
The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through rolling Appalachian Mountains, forested ridges, waterfalls, and countless overlooks. It is especially famous for its colorful fall foliage and peaceful mountain scenery.
Best Stops
Linn Cove Viaduct
Craggy Gardens
Mabry Mill
Rough Ridge Trail
Waterrock Knob
Best Time to Go
Fall is the most popular season for vibrant foliage colors.
How Long You Need
Two to five days is ideal for experiencing the most scenic sections. You can also check out this 5 day Blue Ridge Parkway itinerary for ideas.
Route 1 (California Coast):What Makes It Scenic
California’s Route 1 features rugged cliffs, ocean vistas, dramatic bridges, and charming coastal towns. It is one of the most iconic California road trips imaginable and one of the most scenic in North America.
Interstate 5 offers sweeping views of California’s agricultural valleys, distant mountain ranges, and open landscapes that showcase a different side of the state.
Best Stops
Sacramento Valley viewpoints
Mount Shasta area
San Joaquin Valley
Harris Ranch
Tejon Pass
Best Time to Go
Late winer through Spring offers greener landscapes and cooler temperatures.
How Long You Need
A full day drive can cover much of the route.
Route 152, Interstate 580 and Route 84 (California):
What Makes It Scenic
This route connects rolling hills, reservoirs, mountain passes, and some of the most amazing Northern California scenic drives around, but here you’re more in the countryside, exploring the areas which offer beautiful transitions between inland and coastal regions.
Best Stops
Pacheco Pass
Del Valle Regional Park
Livermore Wine Country
San Luis Reservoir
Sunol Regional Wilderness
Best Time to Go
Spring provides green hills and wildflower displays.
How Long You Need
A half day to full day drive is ideal.
Columbia River Gorge (Oregon):
What Makes It Scenic
The Columbia River Gorge combines waterfalls, dramatic cliffs, dense forests, and expansive river views into one of the most beautiful drives in the Pacific Northwest.
Red Rock Canyon features vibrant red sandstone formations, desert landscapes, and scenic mountain backdrops just outside Las Vegas. In fact, this area is one of the most popular day trips from Las Vegas to take.
Best Stops
Calico Hills
High Point Overlook
Sandstone Quarry
Red Rock Overlook
Lost Creek Trail
Best Time to Go
Spring and fall offer the most pleasant temperatures.
How Long You Need
Two to four hours is usually enough for the scenic loop.
More Western USA Road Trips
Looking for more epic road trip adventures in the American West?
The Icefields Parkway is famous for turquoise lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, wildlife, and towering Rocky Mountain peaks. It is the best way to do a Canadian Rockies road trip as it provides you with access to all of the most iconic spots along the way.
Best Stops
Peyto Lake
Bow Lake
Athabasca Glacier
Sunwapta Falls
Mistaya Canyon
Best Time to Go
Summer and early fall offer the best conditions.
How Long You Need
One to two full days is recommended.
Arches National Park’s park road:
What Makes It Scenic
This drive passes massive sandstone arches, red rock formations, desert landscapes, and unique geological features found nowhere else. Arches National Park itself is not just a gem, but so too is it’s scenic drive.
Best Stops
Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Balanced Rock
Double Arch
Park Avenue
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
Best Time to Go
Spring and fall are ideal.
How Long You Need
Half a day to a full day.
White Rim Trail And Grand View Point Road (Utah):
What Makes It Scenic
These roads showcase vast canyon systems, layered rock formations, desert plateaus, and some of Utah’s most expansive views. Canyonlands National Park has some of the most amazing desert drives you’ll find in the entire world.
Best Stops
Grand View Point
Shafer Canyon Overlook
White Rim Overlook
Buck Canyon Overlook
Green River Overlook
Best Time to Go
Spring and fall are best.
How Long You Need
Half a day to a full day.
Going to the Sun Road (Glacier National Park)
What Makes It Scenic
Going to the Sun Road cuts through Glacier National Park with alpine lakes, waterfalls, mountain peaks, and incredible overlooks. Many people post photos and videos of this place and for good reason, it’s a bucket list item for sure.
Best Stops
Logan Pass
Hidden Lake Overlook
Jackson Glacier Overlook
Lake McDonald
Wild Goose Island
Best Time to Go
July through September.
How Long You Need
A full day.
More Mountain Road Trips
Love mountain scenery? These guides showcase some of North America’s most beautiful mountain destinations.
Lake Crescent is one of the most beautiful drives in the Pacific Northwest, featuring crystal-clear blue water, forested mountains, winding shoreline roads, and stunning Olympic National Park scenery. The combination of old-growth forests and mountain reflections makes this drive feel almost untouched by time.
Late spring through early fall offers the best weather and hiking conditions.
How Long You Need
Half a day to a full day allows time for scenic stops and short hikes.
Road 108 (Vermont):
What Makes It Scenic
Route 108 through Smugglers Notch winds between towering cliffs, dense forests, and mountain scenery in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains. During fall, the route becomes one of New England’s most spectacular foliage drives.
Fall offers peak foliage, though summer is also beautiful.
How Long You Need
Half a day provides enough time to explore the area.
Yosemite Valley (California):
What Makes It Scenic
Yosemite Valley offers some of the most iconic scenery in North America, with towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, meadows, and breathtaking viewpoints around nearly every corner. The drive places visitors directly beneath some of the park’s most famous landmarks.
Best Stops
Tunnel View
Bridalveil Fall
Yosemite Falls
El Capitan Meadow
Valley View
Best Time to Go
Spring offers the strongest waterfalls, while summer provides easier access.
How Long You Need
A full day is recommended to fully experience the valley.
More Coastal Road Trips
If ocean views are your thing, these road trips belong on your bucket list.
Highway 12 crosses red rock deserts, alpine forests, canyons, and mountain landscapes while connecting several of Utah’s most famous National Parks (the Mighty 5).
Best Stops
Escalante
Boulder Mountain
Calf Creek Falls
Bryce Canyon area
The Hogback
Best Time to Go
Spring and fall.
How Long You Need
One to two days.
Route 89A (Arizona):
What Makes It Scenic
Highway 89A travels through Sedona’s famous red rock country, passing dramatic cliffs, canyons, pine forests, and colorful desert landscapes. The route between Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon is especially stunning.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures.
How Long You Need
Half a day to a full day.
Monument Valley (Utah/Arizona border):
What Makes It Scenic
This drive passes towering sandstone buttes, desert landscapes, and some of the most recognizable scenery in the American Southwest, that is Monument Valley.
Best Stops
The Mittens
John Ford Point
Artist’s Point
Totem Pole
North Window
Valley of the Gods (another epic scenic drive nearby)
Best Time to Go
Spring and fall.
How Long You Need
Two to four hours.
Honey Moon Trail (Arizona):
What Makes It Scenic
The historic Honeymoon Trail crosses some of Arizona’s most remote desert landscapes, offering colorful rock formations, wide-open vistas, and a glimpse into the region’s pioneer history. It is a lesser-known route perfect for travelers seeking solitude and Southwest scenery.
Minnesota’s North Shore Drive follows the rugged shoreline of Lake Superior, featuring dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, forests, rocky beaches, and charming lakeside communities. The route offers some of the best freshwater coastal scenery in North America.
Best Stops
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Split Rock Lighthouse
Tettegouche State Park
Palisade Head
Grand Marais
Best Time to Go
Summer and fall are the most popular seasons.
How Long You Need
Two to three days allows time to explore the highlights.
Interstate 15 (Arizona):
What Makes It Scenic
Interstate 15 passes through Arizona’s northwestern corner, offering travelers views of colorful desert landscapes, sandstone formations, mountain scenery, and the dramatic Virgin River Gorge. Though short, it is one of the most surprisingly scenic stretches of interstate highway in the United States.
Use our free Itinerary Generator to customize your road trip (or any state/city) for any number of days!
Best Scenic Drives by Category
Best mountain drive: Icefields Parkway or Going to the Sun Road (Glacier National Park) Best coastal drive: Pacific Coast Highway or Cabot Trail Best fall foliage drive: Blue Ridge Parkway Best desert drive: Highway 12 in Utah Best beginner friendly road trip: Blue Ridge Parkway Best bucket list drive: Pacific Coast Highway Best underrated scenic drive: Central California
Common questions:
What is the most scenic drive in America?
There are countless scenic drives in America, but the most popular are Route 66, Blue Ridge Parkway, Icefields Parkway and the Pacific Coast Highway (101).
Can Google maps show scenic routes?
Yes, if you expand your map and type in scenic drive, you will get numerous options in your area including scenic overlooks, landmarks, drives and more.
How many scenic byways are there in the US?
Over 1,300 which includes popular scenic roads in states as well as local drives in each.
While these are very common questions, if there is one you have regarding these scenic drives, whether you’re planning to do a road trip or just in general, you can just ask me about this below.
As I have said, I will be adding more top scenic drives as I go through them personally and again, if there any spots on this list you enjoyed and visited, let me know, but if you know of other places equally or even more beautiful, please let us all know!
Final Thoughts
North America has no shortage of beautiful roads, but the best scenic drives are the ones that make you slow down, stop often, and enjoy the journey just as much as the destination. Whether you are looking for mountains, coastlines, forests, deserts, lakes, or national parks, these routes offer some of the best road trip experiences you can plan.
If you are not sure where to start, pick the drive that matches the scenery you are most excited to see, then build your trip using the free itinerary generator here. It’ll include hikes, overlooks, small towns, and places to stay. That is usually the easiest way to turn a simple scenic drive into a memorable road trip.
Hi Judy, thanks for the recommendation! I have always wanted to visit Yellowstone and when I eventually do, I’ll be sure to do this drive and add it to the list!
You have to drive Beartooth Highway in Wyoming at the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone. It is amazing!
Hi Judy, thanks for the recommendation! I have always wanted to visit Yellowstone and when I eventually do, I’ll be sure to do this drive and add it to the list!