Scenic drive
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun Road guide: Lake McDonald, The Loop, Logan Pass, Wild Goose Island, vehicle size limits, opening dates, the free shuttle and when to drive.
Scenic Drives
America’s most beautiful roads for an ordinary car: mountain passes, coastal highways and historic byways, with distances, vehicle limits, stops and the best season.
Scenic drive
Scenic drive
Million Dollar Highway (US-550)
Million Dollar Highway guide: Ouray, Red Mountain Pass, Silverton, Molas Pass and Durango, tips for the drop-offs, the Durango & Silverton steam train and the best season.
Scenic drive
Road to Hana
Road to Hana guide: Paia, Twin Falls, the Keanae Peninsula, the black-sand beach at Waianapanapa and its reservation, Hana town, driving etiquette and how to plan the day.
Scenic drive
Historic Columbia River Highway
Historic Columbia River Highway guide: Vista House at Crown Point, Multnomah Falls, the waterfall corridor, Hood River, the Rowena Loops, permits, parking and the best season.
Scenic drive
Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road guide: Estes Park, Many Parks Curve, Forest Canyon, the Alpine Visitor Center, Milner Pass, Grand Lake, timed entry, altitude, opening dates and tips.
Scenic drive
Skyline Drive
Skyline Drive guide: Front Royal, Thornton Gap, Skyland, Big Meadows, Loft Mountain and Rockfish Gap, mileposts, fall color, the Marys Rock tunnel and tips.
Scenic drive
17-Mile Drive
17-Mile Drive guide: the gates and the per-vehicle fee, Spanish Bay, Bird Rock, the Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach, how long it takes, rules for motorcycles and tips.
Scenic drive
Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway guide: the gate and toll, summit reservations and the shuttle, Crystal Creek, Glen Cove, Devils Playground, the summit visitor center, altitude, brakes and tips.
Scenic drive
Mount Washington Auto Road
Mount Washington Auto Road guide: the toll and vehicle rules, guided tours, the Halfway House, the Cow Pasture, the summit and its weather station, the famous bumper sticker and tips.
Scenic drive
Kancamagus Highway
Kancamagus Highway guide: Lincoln, the Kancamagus Pass, Sabbaday Falls, Rocky Gorge, Lower Falls, the Albany Covered Bridge, Conway, parking passes, fall foliage and tips.
Scenic drive
Red Rock Scenic Byway
Red Rock Scenic Byway guide in Sedona: the visitor center, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Tlaquepaque, the Red Rock Pass, trail parking and tips.
Scenic drive
Route 66 in Arizona: Seligman to Topock
Route 66 in Arizona guide: Seligman, Grand Canyon Caverns, Peach Springs, Hackberry, Kingman, the hairpins of Sitgreaves Pass, Oatman’s burros, fuel, vehicle limits and tips.
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Choosing scenic drives for an ordinary car
You do not need a motorcycle or a camper to enjoy America’s great roads. The routes in this section are paved, open to ordinary rental cars in season and short enough for a day or two, yet each one ranks among the most beautiful drives in the country.
Mountain scenic drives
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier and the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado climb above 2,000 and 3,300 meters. Both open fully only in summer, and the Glacier road limits vehicle length, so leave large RVs at the campground.
Coast and waterfalls
The Road to Hana on Maui is all rainforest, waterfalls and one-lane bridges, while the Historic Columbia River Highway near Portland links some of the tallest waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest.
Driving tips
Mountain roads are slow, so plan by hours, not miles: a 100-kilometer pass can take three hours with photo stops. Use low gears on long descents to save your brakes, pull over at turnouts to let faster traffic pass, and never stop in the road for a picture.
Rental contracts sometimes exclude unpaved or remote roads, so read the small print. Fill the tank before you start: many of these roads have no gas for long stretches. Every route page shows where the fuel stops are and the road rules of each state along the way.
When to go
Summer and early fall are the safest seasons for high roads, while coastal and waterfall routes are lovely all year. Start early on summer weekends, when popular viewpoints and parking lots fill by mid-morning.