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Whether you're headed to the West Coast to see the big, blue Pacific, wanting to take in the fall foliage in New England, or traveling through the Midwest to geta sense of rural America, there's a must-see road along the way.
Some are major highways with views that could very well cause wrecks, but others are off the beaten path just waiting to be discovered.
Here are the best scenic roads to drive down in each state :
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Driving through TalladegaNational Forest along state road 9 will give you bucolic views of tree-coveredhills and small mountains. There are also several small side roads off the highway that lead to waterfalls and walking trails.
Denali National Park is known for being home toNorth America's tallest peak. Driving on Interstate A-3 offers stunning views of the mountains, wildlife and greenery throughout the park.
The Apache Trailis one of Arizona's oldest highways. The partially unpaved drive takes you through the stunning canyons, desert scenes, and geologic formations that lie right outside of Phoenix.
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The Pig Tail Scenic Byway will take you through canopies of greenery during spring and summer, and stunning fall foliage in autumn. Theroad winds its way through the Ozark Mountains, and is a favorite amongmotorcyclists.
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The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous drives in the world, and for good reason. The cliff side drive on state route 1 offers epic vistas and stunning views of the Pacific, and, if you take the road long enough, you'llpass thefamous redwoods andthe Golden Gate Bridge.
The Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain NationalPark was specifically designed foroptimal views drivers and passengers can enjoy stunning panoramasfrom every turn.
There are several back roads, interstates and byways that will show off Connecticut's incredible autumncolors, but Route 169 might be the best. The small, two-lane road passes through quaint towns and offers stunning views of the state's famousfall foliage.
Delaware's Brandywine Valley , along the I-95 corridor,makes for a unique road trip by offering aglimpse into history: the rolling hillsare where the 1777Battle of the Brandywine took place, whenGeorge Washington and his armyfaced British General William Howe. It is also dotted with picture-perfectmansions and gardens.
To get to the southernmost point of the continental USyou have to take Florida's seven-mile bridge to The Keys. You'll besurrounded by piercing blue water for your entire drive on the Overseas Highway.
The Cohutta-Chattahoochee Scenic Byway travels along several roads, the best of which isU.S. 41. The route takesdrivers throughChattahoochee National Forest, and offerscan't-miss views of the Cohutta Mountains.
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The Hana Highway in Hawaii is another one of America's most iconic roads. The coastal highway takes 620 twists and turns along the outskirts of Maui. You'll see waterfalls, rainforests, and dramatic cliff sides.
The Sawtooth Scenic Byway takes cars driving northbound on State Highway 75 into Sun Valley, a region famous for its many resorts and itswhite-capped mountains.
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Chicago traffic may be a bit tedious, but Lake Shore Drive will offer a view like no other. With the big cityscape on one side and the Lake Michigan shoreline on the other, you'll get the best of both worlds.
Parke County is the covered bridge capital of the world, and takes a lot of pride in its31 covered bridges, many of which are fromthe 1800s. Highway 36 is the perfect road from which to explore thishistoric infrastructure.
Iowa's vast plains might seem repetitive, but Loess Hills along Interstate 29 givesdrivers a unique lookinto rural America.
Kansas' Castle Rock is an off-road attraction justoff the seemingly endless Interstate 70. The small detour offers some much needed excitement if you're ona cross-state road trip through the plains.
One of the best parts of Route 77 in Kentucky is the 900-foot Nada Tunnel.
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Bourbon Street is one of the most iconic streetsin the world. You can easily drive throughit during theday, but be wary of party-goers and tourists at night.
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ParkLoop Road in Acadia National Park isa 27-mile drive along the coast and through the park, which takes fall foliage to a new level every autumn.
The Loys Stationbridgeis a historic, 90-foot long covered bridge that you can still drive through onOld Frederick Road, just south of Route 77.
Massachusetts' Route 6 starts at the very tip of cozy Cape Cod. The road takes drivers through the southern part of the state until it reachesProvidence, Rhode Island.
Taking M-77 intoPictured Rocks National Lakeshore will lead straight to the south shore of Lake Superior. The relaxing drive will provide a bright, colorful scene during the spring and summertime, or a deep cascade of orange and red hues in the fall.
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U.S. 10 in Minnesota takes you through a variety of landscapes. It's part of the Great River Road, which offers stunning views of the Mississippi River before continuinginto Minneapolis, where you can see the state's grandestskyline.
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For scenic views of the Mississippi River, take the aptly named Great River Road. It'll drive you over, under, and alongside the river until Minnesotaif you stay on it long enough.
Iconic Route 66 makes its way through Missouri, and pastaquaint townnamed Devil's Elbow. Arusting bridge named theDevil's Elbow Bridgetakes travelers over the Big Piney River and through scenic bluffs.
Beartooth Highway makes its way into Yellowstone National Park, thus providing picturesque views of the world-famous vistas the park is internationally famousfor.
Highway 61 in Nebraska propels drivers into true American farmland. There's not a lot of action on this drive, but it will give you a good look into the classic Midwest agricultural scene.
The Valley of Fire Highway travels through the Mojave Desert for a little over 10 miles. The fiery red formations are a stunning sight, andthere are several parking areas if you want to see them up-close.
New England's fall foliage isworld famous. Seeit in all its glory on New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway.
This small road in New Jersey lets cars pass under a canopy of white blossoms every spring. Spring Road in Holmdel is a popular drive for both locals and tourists, so expect slow moving cars and a bit of traffic during peak season.
The High Road to Taos is a scenic, winding drive that runs through several small Pueblo Indian villages, which offera glimpse into the high desertand the lives of thosewho live in it.
Driving through the Adirondacks is much more relaxing than navigating the crowded streets of the Big Apple. The Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, also known as State Route 431, shows off the surrounding mountains as you make your way up Whiteface Mountain.
Visiting North Carolina without taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway would be a huge mistake. TheLynn Cove Viaduct, which wraps around Grandfather Mountain,is easily the best part of the entire drive.
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The endless plains of North Dakota take a turn for the interesting at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where the badlands begin. You can catch a glimpseof them from Interstate 94, or take a detour on one of the side roads.
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Sharon Woods may seem likea hotspot for hiking and otheroutdoor activities, but it also offers a scenicdrive in the fall. Cruise down the tree-lined Buckeye Falls Drive for a breathtakingbreak.
Highway 49 leads right to Wichita Mountains. Watch out for free range buffalo, which are known to crowd the roads here.
Similar to California's Pacific Coast Highway, U.S. 101 in Oregon travels along the Pacific coast, and offerover 300 miles of seaside driving and rugged cliffs.
U.S. Route 30 will take you straight through several Amish and Mennonite towns and into Lancaster , one of America's oldest Amishcommunities. Don't be surprised if most of the traffic consists of horse-drawn carriages.
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Ocean Drive in Newport will take you throughtheOcean Drive Historic District, and thus past the many ostentatious homes built herein the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as it was a favorite spot to summer for the wealthy. If your legs need astretch, take a stroll down Cliff Walk.
South Carolina's Botany Bay on Edisto Islandis one of the most famous roads in the south. Its canopied trees make for a stunningly shaded and super Instagrammable drive.
Driving offInterstate 90 and heading west on U. S. 16 will give you an amazing view of Mount Rushmore. If you want to stare a little longer, there's a spot topull over and park.
The Tail of the Dragon sees quite a few motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts thanks to the318curves that snake along the 11-mile, two-lane road. It doesn't hurtthat the views are great too.
The Big Bend National Park, which sitson the border of Mexico, can be seen by driving onHighway 118. You'll travel through a stone tunnel and get epicviews of the Chisos Mountains.
U.S. Route 163 is also know as the road to Monument Valley. The highway cuts straight through the center of theMonument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which is a Navajo Nation equivalent to a national park.
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Route 100 travels nearly the entire length of Vermontand earned the title of Best Foliage Drive In Vermont .
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Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park runsalong the ridge of the mountains for105 miles pretty much the entire lengthof the park. Its views are some of the best in the state.
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Loop around Olympic National Park, and get breathtaking scenery that ranges frommountains to forests to the ocean, as well as several different ecosystems.
TheNew River Gorge Bridge allows cars tocontinue on U.S. 19 over the New River. The3,030-footsteel arch bridge wasonce the world's longest single-span arch bridge (it's now the third longest), and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.
US 61 runs alongthe Mississippi River offering stunning views of the northern parts of the river.
There's also The Lake Superior Byway , which runs on Highway 13, showing off Wisconsin's quaint, northernmost towns, as well as the Lake Superior shorelinethey all share.
Wyoming's section of Beartooth Byway runs onU.S. 212, and is dotted with wildlife, mountain views, and scenic plateaus.
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