The most scenic jaunts in the U.S.
You might think that Europe has the market cornered on scenic drives, what with its old world charm, looming castles, rolling vineyards and ancient ruins.
The folks at MSN Travel, however, think that the United States has some pretty drives as well, and in honor of the days being ripe for road trips, they've narrowed the list down to their top 10 faves.
Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina starts the list off with nature at its best, Highway 1 in California is thrown in there as an obvious choice, and the drive through Sonoma and Napa Valley could give the French countryside a run for its money.
But what about the roads less traveled? Not to disappoint, the article includes drives like Seward Valley through Resurrectoin Bay to Anchorage in Alaska, as well as Going to the Sun Road through Montana's Glacier National Park.
[Source: MSN Travel]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex Zhao 5:33PM (7/24/2006)
Angeles Crest in the mountains of Southern California (from la canada to palmdale) is one of the greatest routes of all time! 55 miles of super sharp curves and a 9 mile straightaway in one stretch.
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VW-Guy 5:57PM (7/24/2006)
I've done the million dollar highway in Colorado and believe me, I wasn't asking for change back! Simply breathtaking. You guys that live (relatively) close to this road are simply lucky beyond belief.
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Edward 6:03PM (7/24/2006)
Can't argue with the list! Anyone of them would compete well with any of the Europe's greats. For pure driving exhiliration, few can match Tail of The Dragon, 318 curves in 11 miles!!!(http://www.tailofthedragon.com)
Except of course, it is now so crowded on weekends with all the motorclubs' activities. Just headoverto the nearby Cherohala Skyway.
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Marc James 6:43PM (7/24/2006)
I'm lucky enough to live near some incredible mountain roads in NC. I hit the Blue Ridge Parkway in my BMW and a few others this summer:
Blue Ridge Parkway: http://flickr.com/photos/marcjames/sets/72157594201615529/
Tail of the Dragon: http://flickr.com/photos/marcjames/sets/72157594154573906/
Automative nirvana!
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pd 7:23PM (7/24/2006)
Driven many a mile on the blue ridge pwky,however it is too becoming way over crowed with tourist. So please keep from mentioning it so i can enjoy it more!
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Mike 8:36PM (7/24/2006)
The Valley of Fire in Nevada, outside of Las Vegas (and the loop out from Vegas and back around Lake Mead, and out to Hoover Dam if you want) is terrific. Probably similar scenery to a couple other drives they mention there, but still very nice. Last time I was in Vegas, I rented a Z4 and took it out for the day. might have to go back for an Elise.
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bgdc 8:46PM (7/24/2006)
I've driven both. Europe has the USA beat hands down for travel. The countryside is cleaner, prettier and far less built-up in Europe. Additionally, speed limits really don't exist on the Autostrada, French toll roads and Autobahn. I'd rather take a 600 mile drive through europe in 4-5 hours than endure the same thing in the USA.
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apollo322 9:24PM (7/24/2006)
I have been on each of the top three at one time or another and I personally think The Pacific Coast Highway should be #1 instead.
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chuck goolsbee 10:24PM (7/24/2006)
I have actually had the luck to drive all these roads but one (the one in Arizona) and i have to agree, they are great high points.
I'd add to that list:
The Cabot Trail and the Sea-to-sky highway (yeah, technically they are in Canada, but both worth the effort to get to. The former is in Nova Scotia, the latter in British Columbia.)
US 50, west from I-15 through Utah, Nevada and the Sierra.
A mind-blowing drive, best done in a fast car. Very "Vanishing Point"...
SR20 cutting across northern Washington State from Idaho to the Puget Sound. Mountains, deserts, mountains, spectacular mountains, deep valleys, Islands and gorgeous views.
Chuckanut Drive, Bow to Bellingham WA.
Short, but remarkably sweet. You could spend a day exploring every nook & cranny, eating fine food and soaking in awesome views... or just go up and down it fast.
US 191... a magnificent tour of the Rockies, top to bottom
Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ultra high altitude driving.
US 101, from Olympia WA, around the Olympic Peninsula, then down the coast to Eureka, California.
The Kangamangus Parkway, New Hampshire.
Smugglers Notch, Vermont.
You can do both in a day, it is after all New England where states are small (and unfortunately drivers are slow).
I know a bunch more, smaller, less well-known "driver's roads" but I'm hogging those for myself. ;)
--chuck
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jeffrey 10:29PM (7/24/2006)
My faves in Washington State, ranging from 1/2 hour jaunt to 8-hour road trip:
Hwy 101 around Olympic Peninsula, and SR112 out to Cafe Flattery http://www.experiencewashington.com/Byways/Byway.aspx?bwid=12
Cascade Loop http://www.experiencewashington.com/Byways/Byway.aspx?bwid=8
Chuckanut Drive http://www.experiencewashington.com/Byways/Byway.aspx?bwid=2
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jeffrey 10:30PM (7/24/2006)
and...
Columbia Gorge, SR14 http://www.experiencewashington.com/Byways/Byway.aspx?bwid=15
Canyon Road (SR821 Ellensburg to Yakima), http://www.experiencewashington.com/Byways/Byway.aspx?bwid=17
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David 11:11PM (7/24/2006)
I'm sure we all have our own favorite local back roads we like to cruise down... you know those curvy roads the cops hardly ever venture down. Personally I love the Blueridge pkwy but damn after a while its just not worth it to take 3 extra hours on a trip.
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TheRaven 2:28AM (7/25/2006)
I can vouch for the columbia gorge. The Washington side is much more fun driving-wise than I-84 on the oregon side, except for a few scenic trails that jut off 84. There is also this cool little mansion on the Washington side of the gorge along with a smaller scale re-creation of stonehenge.
US-101 from Norcal through Oregon and up into Washington is also an extremely fun drive, though often crowded for obvious reasons. You can stop by the seal caves in Oregon, lots of good little restaurants along the way. Up at the north-east tip of Oregon is Astoria, where the Columbia River meets the sea. Nice place to stay overnight.
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Thomas 5:45AM (7/25/2006)
You must be kidding me. All national pride aside, this is no comparison to europe. and i mean it. No comparison.
There are roads in Europe that'd make you piss your pants.
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John 9:02AM (7/25/2006)
I've driven the SR20 in Washington (mentioned in a comment above) many a time, and I have to agree, it's a great place to drive. The Pacific Northwest is absolutely gorgeous. I just did a road trip from Phoenix, AZ, to Seatle, WA, to Hamilton, MT, and all the way back again, putting over 5,000 miles on my '94 325is, but it was all worth it, even the $3.50/gal gas. Driving through the California Redwoods on the 101 is absolutely fantastic.
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JohnA 9:10AM (7/25/2006)
If majestic is your thing, and you have a turbo (most turbos are great at altitude; esp Saabs) try the Banff - Jasper Highway, rated as world class.
Then, you can go to the Royal Tyrrell Museum with your small children if they are still facinated by dinosaurs. the RT is Canada's only 5-star attraction.
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rodan32 6:42PM (7/25/2006)
The fact that the US features both Going-to-the-Sun Road and US-50 through Nevada makes me doubt that Europe can offer anything in quite the same caliber. I'll reserve judgment, though, until I get a chance to drive over there, but I would hope Europeans would do the same for our scenic roads.
Seriously, driving through Glacier is life changing. I've done it twice, both early Sunday mornings later in the season, and it was among the most beautiful things I'd ever experienced. I'm sure the alps are lovely, but this is the American West at its best.
In complete contrast is US-50 across Nevada from Utah. From Notch Peak, a sheer 4500' drop into the barren and stark Tule Valley, through the most empty and alien part of the country (on fresh asphalt, when I drove it last) it's one of the most compelling places on earth, and a bad place to run out of gas. Gotta agree with the previous poster; take a fast car. You'll see 50 miles in both directions, and you'll be the only one on the road.
Also, I could spend (and have spent) days driving in Utah, but any western state has completely unknown treasures of roads. You can follow the Salmon River up through Idaho, and then past the Bitterroot range in Montana, or take any of the roads in the Four Corners and be staggered by the huge spaces and monoliths. Take Highway 40 across Colorado, or 89 through Star Valley, Wyoming - really, I could gush forever, but you can't beat the American West for scenic driving.
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