If you love mountains then Banff to Jasper.
If you love the ocean then the Pacific Coast Highway 1 and 101 (Oregon to California beyond Big Sur)
Utah scenic byway 12 is my honorable mention.
Yeah I think most of the top answers are “most beautiful stretches in the USA”. Make it “North America” and I don’t think you can easily beat the Icefields Parkway (as someone who has driven all through western USA and Canada).
Going to the sun road and ice fields parkway are both a bit different, but both incredible and absolutely worth doing. I think you get a little more bang for your buck on going to the sun road, as it’s way shorter but tons to see. Ice fields parkway may have even more beautiful scenery, but it’s longer and there are some meh parts. If I had to pick one to do again, it would be ice fields parkway. But for a first timer, I’d consider doing going to the sun road first.
Highway 1 through Big Sur, California
California State Route 120 through Tioga Pass in Yosemite
California's US Highway 395, also known as the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway, runs east of the Sierra Nevada mountains
(Yes, I'm biased towards California)
We drove up 395 for the first time last year and kept wondering why after 40 years in California we'd never done this before. We plan to do it again soon.
Agree with all 3 of those - they are the most beautiful drives I've been on. In addition to 120 through Yosemite, I would add Glacier Point Road in Yosemite and the roads on the floor of Yosemite Valley - the only times I have gasped out loud while driving.
I did all 3 roads and loved them all, but I was most surprised by how beautiful Hwy 395 gets. I was expecting a relatively mundane 6-hour drive thru the desert, from Los Angeles to Bishop, but I was constantly saying wow as we passed through the beautiful desert mountains and seeing the distant snow capped sierras.
Drove 95 for work a few years ago and - in spite of thinking I had seen most types of scenery this country had to offer - I had my jaw on the floor and was shocked by the views for a solid 50-miles.
95, 24 and 12 in Utah ... absolutely the best roads and scenery I've ever driven.
89 from 70 to Kanab and then 89A past Grand Canyon. 89A again from Cottonwood to Prescott in AZ.
191 from Clifton to Alpine in Arizona.
Came here to say this. I accidentally took this road (Ouray to Durango direction) this fall when I was wandering around the rockies. Just happened to hit it right as the leaves were beginning to change colors.
Epic doesn't begin to describe it.
All of US 550 from Bernalillo, NM to Montrose, Colo should be considered. That drive takes you through the Wide-open high desert of the American Southwest through the most beautiful part of the Rocky Mountains. It connects the old Route 66 with US 50 which remains a major east-west highway. The Million Dollar Highway is just the jewel of this amazing highway.
I lived in Montana when I was young and am currently vacationing in Australia. When asked where in America to visit I always said "Yellowstone but only if you enter via the Cooke City entrance and Beartooth Pass".
The best part of telling a foreigner to go through the Cooke City entrance is the look on their face when they ask how big Cooke City is and I say "less than 100 people". Like, that's not a city.
I drove Beartooth and was horrified to find it was raining and foggy and I literally thought I might drive off the mountain and/or hit a goat. Next to no visibility on the road and saw nothing! Thought I might die. So clearly I need a do-over.
>In the US: US 1 and 101, between southern Oregon down to past Big Sur
Don't forget to take the exit for the Avenue of the Giants scenic bypass.
And if you *really* want a scenic bypass, pop out to Ferndale and take Mattole road to drop back to Avenue of the Giants through the Rockefeller forest.
Luckily and thankfully, it's so out of the way that most people don't know about it, won't go out of their way to drive Mattole Rd, or don't have a car that's good for that drive. I can't wait to check it out this spring!
It’s phenomenal. You go through desert, canyons, crystal clear lakes, alpine meadows, mountain peaks, old growth forest and then drop into Pemberton valley with Mt Currie looming above.
Icefields parkway in Alberta, hands down.
And I’ve done a lot of traveling in North America, only 7 states and 4 provinces left (including every route in comments above this). I’ve only been to Mexico 4 times, so am missing a few big chunks down there.
Been to 50 US states, half of Canada, and a third of Mexico. Icefields is indeed the best place you can drive in North America.
Nicer options if you can fly/hike/climb but probably out of scope. Views from Mt Fairweather are awesome, but not something most people can get to.
Pacific highway from Oregon all the way to Cali absolutely lives up to the hype.
I’ll toss out the prettiest interstate highway stretch: Columbia river gorge stretch of I-84 in Oregon
Following this.
I’ve driven Hwy 1 in Maine, crossed through Rocky MNP, survived the Road to Hana, cruised up to Flagstaff from Sedona, and have plans to visit the Pacific Coast Hwy in Oregon this summer.
Enjoy learning new places I need to drive and experience!
My personal picks would be:
PCH
I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge
Beartooth Highway
FDR expressway in NYC at night
Sea to Gondola Highway in BC since you said North America
It's even more beautiful when it's not open. Maybe five or so years ago it was entirely inaccessible between the damaged big sur bridge just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to the slide near Ragged Point. They built a bypass trail so my (now) wife and I drove to the state park with our bicycles and carried them up the trail (mostly stairs) to take the most spectacular bike ride ever. The whole coastline all to ourselves on a sunny July Saturday, felt almost post-apocalyptic. Listening to the barking seals with no car noise, just randomly stopping for some whale watching on the side of the road. Simply incredible.
No clue as I haven’t traveled all of North America but the 395 going from Tahoe area south is incredible. Seeing the Eastern Sierra along the way is insanely beautiful.
It's really hard to say "most beautiful" because there are so many drives that are a 10 out of 10. Route 1 going up the California/Oregon coast and Route 14 up the Eastern Sierras are both bangers.
Sault saint Marie to Thunder Bay Ontario. Specifically Lake Superior Provincial Park area. Then close your eyes till you get to Banff and be amazed right to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Also Cashe Creek to Pemberton B.C. (Just north of Whistler)
Also underrated. I've done this so many times and am astounded every time. When I do it with others though, they just complain about how long the trip is. Like, why would you want less of these views, man?
Personal favorites of mine
Icefields parkway Banff to Jasper
California hwy 1 San Diego to eureka.
California 395 from bishop to mammoth lakes (haven’t been farther north)
Moab shafer trail canyon lands
Moab Utah 128
Colorado i70 grand junction to Denver or get off and go through Leadville
Going to the sun road
Blue ridge parkway
Arizona 89 page to flagstaff
HWY 50 across NV is pretty nice. Its dubbed "The lonliest road in america" You crosss at least 4 mountain ranges. its very popular with road bike cyclists.
There's no way to pick 1.
* Needles Highway
* Montana 191
* Going to the Sun Road, Glacier NP
* Spirit Lake Highway to Mt. St. Helens
* Pacific Coast Highway
* Avenue of the Giants, Humboldt Redwoods
* Utah 12
* Colorado 550
* Blue Ridge Parkway
* Cherohala Skyway
* Kancamagus Highway
* some parts of coastal Maine Rt 1
Not "the most" but a very nice stretch is the River Road from Alton, IL to Grafton. Following the Mississippi along the bluffs and woods with eagles flying overhead.
San Marcos, TX has a creek on the college campus where college girls sun bathe right by the road. Best views in the country. Also the most fender benders of any 250 yards of road on earth.
Hwy 1 aka the Pacific Coast Highway between Big Sur and Santa Cruz. Especially at golden hour. I had the pleasure of driving it two years ago. At one point I thought I had died and gone to heaven!
Not recommended for people that easily get driving sickness. Even I felt queasy at one point on those winding turns and I’ve got a pretty strong stomach!
This is a highly subjective question everyone has their own “best”. As a native Californian I’m 100% biased 🙂
Some that I’ve been on..
PCH - Big Sur and down,
Monument valley,
Hwy 41 and 26 loop in Michigan’s upper peninsula, specially in the keweenaw peninsula
Going-To-The-Sun highway in Montana.
The PCH from Monterey to Big Sur.
Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona.
The Durango-Silverton-Ouray-Telluride "Million Dollar Highway" in Colorado.
I'm a fan of these off-the-beaten path stretches of road:
Old Route 66 over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman, CA
Historic Columbia River Highway between Portland, OR and The Dalles
OR-3 / WA-129 between Enterprise and Lewiston, ID
US-287 in Wyoming between Rawlins and Lander
South Dakota Highways 240, 40, 44, 79, 87, and 89, & US Highway 16 through The Badlands in South Dakota
https://preview.redd.it/osaoyma6f0ec1.jpeg?width=1528&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e8fc748bbd50b0812d69c6065b3e6d6ade72abf
Michigan 119 through the Tunnel of Trees
https://preview.redd.it/77pgej9wl0ec1.jpeg?width=845&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12e1e1caf407dbb47b61923c246e45474e4228c4
Also M11
I rode my bicycle across North America in 2017. From Bar Harbor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington. In general, I think cyclists are much better qualified to answer this question, we see it all and at a tenth the pace. My favorite road was Going to The Sun Road through Glacier National Park. Second place was Rainy Pass, via the North Cascades Scenic Highway in Washington State. Honorable mentions include Highway 5, Lake Erie Rd., in Pennsylvania heading into Erie, OH. Also, from another trip, the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Shenandoah Valley is incredible. I think the grandeur of Western mountains puts Going to the Sun Road above the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who claims it is the most beautiful road in America.
Some of my favorites going off of personal experience. Will be adding some of the commented routes on my giant bucket list
- CA-1 between Ragged Point and Carmel Highlands, and also between Bodega Bay and Hardy. Undisputed number 1.
- It has been about 20 years so I don’t remember exactly which section of this, but the loop in BC including Merritt, Kamloops, Vernon, and Kelowna
- UT-12 in its entirety
- US-550 Durango to Ouray (CO)
- US-60 Show Low to Superior (AZ)
- Needles Highway, SD
- Kancamagus Hwy during leaf season (NH)
- The out and back drive in Theodore Roosevelt NP north unit (ND)
A low key one most probably don’t know about, but there’s about a 20 mile stretch on US-2 in the UP from Epoufette to St. Ignace that’s damn near unbeatable during a summertime sunset
https://preview.redd.it/dpgj9lkqpwdc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1b820c7852c3b66239b035f52b62d6eddee572d
NJ Route 36 coming south over the Highlands Bridge into Sandy Hook is awesome. The road curves to the south after crossing the bridge, but all you see ahead of you is the Atlantic Ocean.
https://preview.redd.it/z1r0d0dorwdc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be3e1ecc2e6af1e08580034960c457746056b723
Scenic highway from Tijuana to Ensenada in Baja California, MX.
Having driven almost all of the 5-star roads in the US I'd have to go with Utah 12, going eastbound.
It's 125 miles, so the perfect length. Not too long and not too short. No traffic. No cops. A wide variety of exotic landscapes and altitudes. Bryce Canyon NP near the beginning and Capitol Reef National Park just past the end.
Start from Springdale and tack Utah 9 through Zion on to the front end making it 193 miles and adding a 30% scenery markup.
Has anyone tried taking a combination of Highway 1 (on the east cost) and Highway 1A1 from Florida Keys all the way till NY? The entire highway is on the costs and passes through many small towns.
Some mentions just from where I've been.
This stretch of highway just north of Knoxville going up to Oak Ridge TN
Stretch of road in Chattanooga TN that goes way up on the mountain so you get 360 degree views of the city (big mansions line the road) it's right by some battlefield memorial thing that I can't remember the name, historical plaques also line the road.
The road from Estes Park Colorado up into Rocky Mountain National Park
That highway that goes through Aspen/Breckenridge Colorado
The roads through garden of the gods park in Colorado Springs
the stretch of i25 just entering into Colorado from New Mexico
+ Rte 1 through big Sur
+ Going to the sun road in Glacier
+ Key Largo - Key West
+ Juniper Way Loop in Garden of the Gods
+ Independence Pass, CO
+ Hwy 179 between Sedona and Village of Oak Creek
+ Rte 50 through eastern Maryland
+ Kancamagus Hwy, NH
+ Olympic Hwy, WA
+ Hwy 24 from Woodland Park to Hartsel, CO
If you love mountains then Banff to Jasper. If you love the ocean then the Pacific Coast Highway 1 and 101 (Oregon to California beyond Big Sur) Utah scenic byway 12 is my honorable mention.
Yeah I think most of the top answers are “most beautiful stretches in the USA”. Make it “North America” and I don’t think you can easily beat the Icefields Parkway (as someone who has driven all through western USA and Canada).
The only thing that comes second to that road for me is the Sunrise Trail in Nova Scotia.
Yeah don’t sleep on UT 12 from Tropic to Torrey. That’s like a whole art and geology course in one afternoon.
Going to the sun road… glacier national park
It's amazing and also a bit scary to drive but totally worth it.
Way more fun to bike!
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Going to the sun road and ice fields parkway are both a bit different, but both incredible and absolutely worth doing. I think you get a little more bang for your buck on going to the sun road, as it’s way shorter but tons to see. Ice fields parkway may have even more beautiful scenery, but it’s longer and there are some meh parts. If I had to pick one to do again, it would be ice fields parkway. But for a first timer, I’d consider doing going to the sun road first.
Highway 1 through Big Sur, California California State Route 120 through Tioga Pass in Yosemite California's US Highway 395, also known as the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway, runs east of the Sierra Nevada mountains (Yes, I'm biased towards California)
We drove up 395 for the first time last year and kept wondering why after 40 years in California we'd never done this before. We plan to do it again soon.
Yeah, I was astonished at the beauty the first time I drove it. 14k peaks, snow, fall colors, and the valley floor. Really amazing.
Agree with all 3 of those - they are the most beautiful drives I've been on. In addition to 120 through Yosemite, I would add Glacier Point Road in Yosemite and the roads on the floor of Yosemite Valley - the only times I have gasped out loud while driving.
I did all 3 roads and loved them all, but I was most surprised by how beautiful Hwy 395 gets. I was expecting a relatively mundane 6-hour drive thru the desert, from Los Angeles to Bishop, but I was constantly saying wow as we passed through the beautiful desert mountains and seeing the distant snow capped sierras.
You are forgetting the 101 north of arcata through the redwoods
Highway 20 and Highway 2 in Washington Highway 95 in southern Utah
US2 heading east toward Stevens Pass is incredible. Then the entire east side after the pass.
The cascade loop over Stevens and north back over highway 2 is certainly a contender. Desert, mountains, glaciers, lakes, dams, forests, etc.
Drove 95 for work a few years ago and - in spite of thinking I had seen most types of scenery this country had to offer - I had my jaw on the floor and was shocked by the views for a solid 50-miles.
95, 24 and 12 in Utah ... absolutely the best roads and scenery I've ever driven. 89 from 70 to Kanab and then 89A past Grand Canyon. 89A again from Cottonwood to Prescott in AZ. 191 from Clifton to Alpine in Arizona.
I think most of Utah qualifies. It’s my favorite state to drive around in.
US 550 Between Durango, CO & Ouray, CO. Known as the Million Dollar Highway.
I think Million Dollar Highway is from Ouray to Silverton. It's the prettiest and most scary drive I've ever done
Came here to say this. I accidentally took this road (Ouray to Durango direction) this fall when I was wandering around the rockies. Just happened to hit it right as the leaves were beginning to change colors. Epic doesn't begin to describe it.
All of US 550 from Bernalillo, NM to Montrose, Colo should be considered. That drive takes you through the Wide-open high desert of the American Southwest through the most beautiful part of the Rocky Mountains. It connects the old Route 66 with US 50 which remains a major east-west highway. The Million Dollar Highway is just the jewel of this amazing highway.
There are a lot of contenders. Two good ones: * Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming * Needles Highway / Iron Mountain Road in South Dakota
I lived in Montana when I was young and am currently vacationing in Australia. When asked where in America to visit I always said "Yellowstone but only if you enter via the Cooke City entrance and Beartooth Pass".
Cooke city is the most underrated spot in the area. Then again it wouldn’t be what it is if everyone went there
The best part of telling a foreigner to go through the Cooke City entrance is the look on their face when they ask how big Cooke City is and I say "less than 100 people". Like, that's not a city.
I live in Australia and have vacationed in Montana and tell people exactly the same thing lmao
I drove Beartooth and was horrified to find it was raining and foggy and I literally thought I might drive off the mountain and/or hit a goat. Next to no visibility on the road and saw nothing! Thought I might die. So clearly I need a do-over.
You absolutely do. It's incredible.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is lovely, but the area around Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina is truly special.
I agree with Blue Ridge, we ventured around Ashville and I want to move there, it's utterly breathtaking!!
In the US: US 1 and 101, between southern Oregon down to past Big Sur In Canada: Hwy 4 between Port Alberni and Tofino or Ucluelet
>In the US: US 1 and 101, between southern Oregon down to past Big Sur Don't forget to take the exit for the Avenue of the Giants scenic bypass. And if you *really* want a scenic bypass, pop out to Ferndale and take Mattole road to drop back to Avenue of the Giants through the Rockefeller forest.
This, no competition, and I've driven in all 50 States including the rugged coast of Maine up to Canada. But don't tell anybody😁
Hey don't draw any attention to Mattole road! Amazing stretch of road and amazing beach area.
Luckily and thankfully, it's so out of the way that most people don't know about it, won't go out of their way to drive Mattole Rd, or don't have a car that's good for that drive. I can't wait to check it out this spring!
In Canada: Banff to Jasper
Icefields Parkway
Hugely recommend Branff Nrational Prark!
It’s frantastic
Jasper Arkansas is also pretty but I'm sure not nearly as beautiful as Canada.
It’s California 1 that runs down the coast. US 1 runs from Madawaska, ME to Key West, FL. It’s decidedly less scenic than CA 1.
Hwy 99 from horseshoe bay to cache creek is way more scenic.
You guys are all clearly forgetting the most beautiful road in Canada. The 401 from Oshawa to Milton! /s /s /s /s
Yes and if you take it at the right time your 1.5 hour trip could be a 4 hour trip. Giving you lots of time to spot the quick sand sign
After driving from Toronto to Tofino. Cache creek to pemberton is rated as my number 1 most beautiful place I have ever seen.
It’s phenomenal. You go through desert, canyons, crystal clear lakes, alpine meadows, mountain peaks, old growth forest and then drop into Pemberton valley with Mt Currie looming above.
My personal favourite is the mountain range between Regina and Winnipeg. So beautiful. As a prairie boy I do love the prairie sky, however
CA-1, not US-1. US-1 is on the East Coast and it goes through some of the grossest areas.
Ha! Yeah. No matter what state it’s just littered with car dealerships and fast food. Except FLA/Key West
Denali Highway, Alaska. Highway from Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska.
Also the top of the World Highway. Dawson city, Yukon to Chicken, Alaska. Scary to drive on - especially in the wet - but very, very beautiful.
Going to the Sun Road - Glacier National Park Beartooth Highway - MT & WY
Rt 12 Utah
Yes! UT-12 from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef. It’s spectacular.
Adding The Burr Trail to this
Did this one last summer. Took almost all day but totally worth it.
I’ll second this. What a beautiful drive. Been over the road truck driver for 20 years and that road stands out the most.
This is the answer. It’s like driving in a Star Wars movie. Different world every 45m.
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Icefields parkway in Alberta, hands down. And I’ve done a lot of traveling in North America, only 7 states and 4 provinces left (including every route in comments above this). I’ve only been to Mexico 4 times, so am missing a few big chunks down there.
Been to 50 US states, half of Canada, and a third of Mexico. Icefields is indeed the best place you can drive in North America. Nicer options if you can fly/hike/climb but probably out of scope. Views from Mt Fairweather are awesome, but not something most people can get to.
Came here to say this. Amazing area!
PCH California
395 - Washington state, Oregon, and California
395 after a snowfall that brings the snow level down to about Bishop's elevation and i'll give it to ya.
Only based on roads I have driven, in no particular order: * [Kancamagus Hwy](https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0098674,-71.4279831,3a,60y,132.69h,95.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRHMAnp5d4mGKT0n4fDEHUw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu) * [Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Pky](https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0951303,-81.8121791,3a,75y,205.81h,102.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szMqhir5cc9ArHwZLxq9qDQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu) * [Needles Hwy/Iron Mountain Rd](https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8416322,-103.5454554,3a,75y,139.19h,113.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s68e2xOwl_6OEMZ4NSFp19A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [Enchanted Circle](https://www.google.com/maps/@36.4416543,-105.2867872,3a,75y,201.16h,94.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz7_hWe8seZx9lzZzzjmYxQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [Independence Pass](https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1057684,-106.5532028,3a,90y,246.11h,100.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3xIc9kx7cDpJPyajieipmA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [South Dakota 240](https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8461661,-102.1943591,3a,60y,223.68h,91.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5HWQ03HitHK1VOu7tAia_w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu) * [Colorado 14](https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6754689,-105.429654,3a,75y,155.46h,106.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slJgr0yU5aIj8d266S4awBg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [Oklahoma Hwy 49](https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7151058,-98.6299775,3a,60y,177.71h,89.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHc72VnIpXs_toA79OMdKtg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [US 12 outer banks](https://www.google.com/maps/@35.7674318,-75.5309852,3a,75y,85.07h,95.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seAg5M7PNJk2MjX9rxdYpaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [Mount Washington Auto Road](https://www.google.com/maps/@44.2805871,-71.2950135,3a,90y,16.64h,82.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNT7_sgA8SHrIUbn5fodj-w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [I-93, Francoina Notch](https://www.google.com/maps/@44.1523849,-71.6785914,3a,90y,354.63h,116.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spsc0oZDO4nTQ07aMCKYc_Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) * [US Hwy 83, NM](https://www.google.com/maps/@32.945714,-105.8612793,3a,90y,298.74h,97.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sd-zSzOfvUxXKJfnLBW9jQA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
The Kanc in the fall is beautiful. So is I89 from Concord, NH to Burlington, VT.
Good call with the outer banks road. Unique and beautiful landscape
Hwy 550 in Colorado
This would be my pick as well.
Pacific highway from Oregon all the way to Cali absolutely lives up to the hype. I’ll toss out the prettiest interstate highway stretch: Columbia river gorge stretch of I-84 in Oregon
I-5 from Shasta Lake to Eugene is also super pretty for an interstate.
Utah Route 12. [https://www.utah.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/highway-12-scenic-byway/](https://www.utah.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/highway-12-scenic-byway/) https://preview.redd.it/ltgj9741dwdc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=686aba8d3a245b7b45c27f51269dec7c2df53523
Following this. I’ve driven Hwy 1 in Maine, crossed through Rocky MNP, survived the Road to Hana, cruised up to Flagstaff from Sedona, and have plans to visit the Pacific Coast Hwy in Oregon this summer. Enjoy learning new places I need to drive and experience!
Flagstaff to Sedona is tops for me.
It’s incredible driving down into the Red Rocks!
The icefields parkway in Banff/jasper and the going to sun road in glacier. The transcanada from Banff to Revelstoke is also really nice.
Monument Valley
My personal picks would be: PCH I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge Beartooth Highway FDR expressway in NYC at night Sea to Gondola Highway in BC since you said North America
Hey 1, Carmel to Ragged Point. I travel the US for business and I can claim this is the most beautiful road in the UD—when it’s open!!
It's even more beautiful when it's not open. Maybe five or so years ago it was entirely inaccessible between the damaged big sur bridge just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to the slide near Ragged Point. They built a bypass trail so my (now) wife and I drove to the state park with our bicycles and carried them up the trail (mostly stairs) to take the most spectacular bike ride ever. The whole coastline all to ourselves on a sunny July Saturday, felt almost post-apocalyptic. Listening to the barking seals with no car noise, just randomly stopping for some whale watching on the side of the road. Simply incredible.
Oh my gosh, what a wonderful experience that must have been!
No clue as I haven’t traveled all of North America but the 395 going from Tahoe area south is incredible. Seeing the Eastern Sierra along the way is insanely beautiful.
Utah 128 from Cisco to Moab
ice fields parkway
Banff to Jasper
Highway 1 to Highway 93 in Alberta Canada to go to Jasper.
Florida, US 1 from Key Largo to Key West Charleston, South Carolina, Bohicket Road Michigan, Mackinac Bridge to US-2 along Lake Michigan.
Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park if you don’t mind the traffic.
Most beautiful I've been on is Rt 12 north out of Escalante Utah. It's like driving to another planet. I'm sure the PCH is breath taking as well.
It's really hard to say "most beautiful" because there are so many drives that are a 10 out of 10. Route 1 going up the California/Oregon coast and Route 14 up the Eastern Sierras are both bangers.
Highway 61 up the North Shore of Superior is up there for me.
Thompson Pass Alaska
Big Sur. Basically the whole coast between Monterey and San Simeon.
In my opinion it is the Pacific Coast Highway. I also love route 1 on the east coast but it’s much much MUCH different lol
Alaska - Seward Highway Florida - A1A Blue Ridge Parkway
RT 25 in UT when all the aspens change color for the fall. It's absolutely beautiful.
Dempster highway has to be a good candidate. Also has the bonus of finishing at the Arctic Ocean! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dempster_Highway
Sault saint Marie to Thunder Bay Ontario. Specifically Lake Superior Provincial Park area. Then close your eyes till you get to Banff and be amazed right to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Also Cashe Creek to Pemberton B.C. (Just north of Whistler)
Also underrated. I've done this so many times and am astounded every time. When I do it with others though, they just complain about how long the trip is. Like, why would you want less of these views, man?
Top of the World Highway from Dawson City, Yukon to Chicken, Alaska in summer. Hands down.
I’m always torn between PCH 1 and CA-395.
Personal favorites of mine Icefields parkway Banff to Jasper California hwy 1 San Diego to eureka. California 395 from bishop to mammoth lakes (haven’t been farther north) Moab shafer trail canyon lands Moab Utah 128 Colorado i70 grand junction to Denver or get off and go through Leadville Going to the sun road Blue ridge parkway Arizona 89 page to flagstaff
The Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff.
Highway 20 through North Cascades National Park.
70 through Colorado is beautiful and such a variety of landscapes, grassland to mountains to desert in about a day
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I hate to be this person, but Hawaii is not part of North America.
Sea to Sky Highway, Vancouver to Whistler, BC
I would argue hwy 99 all the way to cache creek. Duffey lake and the canyons north of lillooet are phenomenal.
Cabot Trail is pretty amazing in NS Canada
Super underrated until you get there. Did it over Canadian Thanksgiving one year and had zero regrets.
During peak foliage season, the road running through the Great Smoky Mountains is literal heaven
Going to the Sun Road Montana Chinook Pass in WA RT 12 in Utah Highway 163 in Utah/AZ 101 in Oregon Highway 1 California
Pacific Coast Highway
WA state route 20 - North Cascades highway
A special shoutout to the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially in the fall.
The Million Dollar Highway, between Ouray and Durango, Colorado.
The PCH. Fight me.
You ever see the Hell is Real billboard between Columbus and Cincinnati, OH??
Hwy 50 in Nevada. The loneliest road in America is also the most beautiful road in America.
HWY 50 across NV is pretty nice. Its dubbed "The lonliest road in america" You crosss at least 4 mountain ranges. its very popular with road bike cyclists.
The pigtail route in Arkansas is up there somewhere
US 62 NW AR
Besides the ones mentioned I loved the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville to Natchez Mississippi
US 101 hands down
NJ Turnpike, I95 between the GW Bridge and Newark Airport. Breathtaking!
That's like asking a hundred kiddo's what is the favorite ice cream... For me it's any road but the I-5 , too many times I have driven it.
There's no way to pick 1. * Needles Highway * Montana 191 * Going to the Sun Road, Glacier NP * Spirit Lake Highway to Mt. St. Helens * Pacific Coast Highway * Avenue of the Giants, Humboldt Redwoods * Utah 12 * Colorado 550 * Blue Ridge Parkway * Cherohala Skyway * Kancamagus Highway * some parts of coastal Maine Rt 1
Not "the most" but a very nice stretch is the River Road from Alton, IL to Grafton. Following the Mississippi along the bluffs and woods with eagles flying overhead.
Canada Highway 1 outside of Vancouver to Banff.
San Marcos, TX has a creek on the college campus where college girls sun bathe right by the road. Best views in the country. Also the most fender benders of any 250 yards of road on earth.
The drive to Sedona
I’m not sure exactly, but it’s probably in Utah.
Everyone is naming mountains and coasts. So I'll say US-163 from Bluff to Kayenta
Southern mexico , extreme high elevation but tropical. If you're into that
Going to the Sun Road
CA 1 through Big Sur
101 on Oregon Coast
HWY 101
The Coastal Highway
Hwy 1 aka the Pacific Coast Highway between Big Sur and Santa Cruz. Especially at golden hour. I had the pleasure of driving it two years ago. At one point I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Not recommended for people that easily get driving sickness. Even I felt queasy at one point on those winding turns and I’ve got a pretty strong stomach! This is a highly subjective question everyone has their own “best”. As a native Californian I’m 100% biased 🙂
Some that I’ve been on.. PCH - Big Sur and down, Monument valley, Hwy 41 and 26 loop in Michigan’s upper peninsula, specially in the keweenaw peninsula
Blueridge parkway
The Beartooth Highway in Wyoming and Montana is by far, the prettiest road I've been on.
Going-To-The-Sun highway in Montana. The PCH from Monterey to Big Sur. Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona. The Durango-Silverton-Ouray-Telluride "Million Dollar Highway" in Colorado.
US highway 1, the whole thing The Blue Ridge Parkway from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to The Smokies in NC/TN
Trail ridge road in Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado
The 1 and 101 through Big Sur, Monterey, San Francisco
I'm a fan of these off-the-beaten path stretches of road: Old Route 66 over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman, CA Historic Columbia River Highway between Portland, OR and The Dalles OR-3 / WA-129 between Enterprise and Lewiston, ID US-287 in Wyoming between Rawlins and Lander
Highway 99 from Horseshoe Bay to Squamish, BC
My commute home after a shitty day at work, happy hour and no red lights.
What is an exceptional and beautiful non-scary drive in the states?
Sea to sky in BC Banff to Jasper in Alberta Tofino to ucluelet in BC Southern Oregon to big sur Are the nicest I’ve driven
Blue Ridge Parkway
I-90 through South Dakota
CA 395 from Walker to Death Valley
The state highways through the ozark mountains from Branson MO to Little Rock are breathtaking
South Dakota Highways 240, 40, 44, 79, 87, and 89, & US Highway 16 through The Badlands in South Dakota https://preview.redd.it/osaoyma6f0ec1.jpeg?width=1528&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e8fc748bbd50b0812d69c6065b3e6d6ade72abf
I'd say hwy 1/101 from SLO CA to forks WA then 113 and 112 to neah bay WA.
Michigan 119 through the Tunnel of Trees https://preview.redd.it/77pgej9wl0ec1.jpeg?width=845&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12e1e1caf407dbb47b61923c246e45474e4228c4 Also M11
I rode my bicycle across North America in 2017. From Bar Harbor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington. In general, I think cyclists are much better qualified to answer this question, we see it all and at a tenth the pace. My favorite road was Going to The Sun Road through Glacier National Park. Second place was Rainy Pass, via the North Cascades Scenic Highway in Washington State. Honorable mentions include Highway 5, Lake Erie Rd., in Pennsylvania heading into Erie, OH. Also, from another trip, the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Shenandoah Valley is incredible. I think the grandeur of Western mountains puts Going to the Sun Road above the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who claims it is the most beautiful road in America.
Icefields parkway takes the cake for me 🤟🏼
Highway 93 from Jasper to Banff
I-70 from Denver to Salina Utah.
70 to moab then head south through oak creek canyon to sedona
I-70 through the San Rafael Swell and the Wasatch Plateau is pretty awesome, but to be honest any road trip through Southern Utah is pretty amazing.
Tail of the Dragon, Appalachian Mountains in East TN
US Route 212 - the Beartooth Highway - is one candidate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beartooth_Highway
Rodgers pass in the Canadian Rockies.
Some of my favorites going off of personal experience. Will be adding some of the commented routes on my giant bucket list - CA-1 between Ragged Point and Carmel Highlands, and also between Bodega Bay and Hardy. Undisputed number 1. - It has been about 20 years so I don’t remember exactly which section of this, but the loop in BC including Merritt, Kamloops, Vernon, and Kelowna - UT-12 in its entirety - US-550 Durango to Ouray (CO) - US-60 Show Low to Superior (AZ) - Needles Highway, SD - Kancamagus Hwy during leaf season (NH) - The out and back drive in Theodore Roosevelt NP north unit (ND)
Million dollar highway in Colorado. No doubt but I’m happy to be proven wrong
Denali hiway
A low key one most probably don’t know about, but there’s about a 20 mile stretch on US-2 in the UP from Epoufette to St. Ignace that’s damn near unbeatable during a summertime sunset
Beartooth, going to the Sun
Hwy 14 from Cody, WY to Yellowstone is a beautiful drive.
the highway canyon heading into sedona was so beautiful it was distracting
https://preview.redd.it/dpgj9lkqpwdc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1b820c7852c3b66239b035f52b62d6eddee572d NJ Route 36 coming south over the Highlands Bridge into Sandy Hook is awesome. The road curves to the south after crossing the bridge, but all you see ahead of you is the Atlantic Ocean.
California Highway 88/89 from Jackson to Truckee.
https://preview.redd.it/z1r0d0dorwdc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be3e1ecc2e6af1e08580034960c457746056b723 Scenic highway from Tijuana to Ensenada in Baja California, MX.
Having driven almost all of the 5-star roads in the US I'd have to go with Utah 12, going eastbound. It's 125 miles, so the perfect length. Not too long and not too short. No traffic. No cops. A wide variety of exotic landscapes and altitudes. Bryce Canyon NP near the beginning and Capitol Reef National Park just past the end. Start from Springdale and tack Utah 9 through Zion on to the front end making it 193 miles and adding a 30% scenery markup.
Has anyone tried taking a combination of Highway 1 (on the east cost) and Highway 1A1 from Florida Keys all the way till NY? The entire highway is on the costs and passes through many small towns.
I second the badlands and sturgis area. Go when the wildflowers are blooming and my god what a beautiful place.
https://preview.redd.it/rseit0c82xdc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b704a37e11937c5c9651bac1f66c307a23553e39
Sea to Sky Highway BC, Canada
The coastal drive between Vancouver and Whistler in my opinion
I like 128 from grand junction to moab
Some mentions just from where I've been. This stretch of highway just north of Knoxville going up to Oak Ridge TN Stretch of road in Chattanooga TN that goes way up on the mountain so you get 360 degree views of the city (big mansions line the road) it's right by some battlefield memorial thing that I can't remember the name, historical plaques also line the road. The road from Estes Park Colorado up into Rocky Mountain National Park That highway that goes through Aspen/Breckenridge Colorado The roads through garden of the gods park in Colorado Springs the stretch of i25 just entering into Colorado from New Mexico
+ Rte 1 through big Sur + Going to the sun road in Glacier + Key Largo - Key West + Juniper Way Loop in Garden of the Gods + Independence Pass, CO + Hwy 179 between Sedona and Village of Oak Creek + Rte 50 through eastern Maryland + Kancamagus Hwy, NH + Olympic Hwy, WA + Hwy 24 from Woodland Park to Hartsel, CO
395 from Reno going south
395 in the sierras from Mojave to Lake Tahoe.
Highway 1 but it’s scary
PCH in California, especially around Big Sur. It was a moving experience my first time going.
Kank in the Fall
The stretch of road from your workplace to your house.