The southern coastline of the United States offers an incredible diversity of landscapes, from wild barrier islands to historic harbors and tropical keys. These seaside routes provide travelers with ever-changing vistas where land meets ocean, often accompanied by regional cuisine, historic sites, and natural wonders worth exploring beyond the car window.
Unlike the more famous Pacific Coast Highway, many southern coastal drives remain pleasantly uncrowded, allowing for spontaneous stops and unhurried exploration.
Here is a list of 15 outstanding coastal drives across the American South that deserve a place on your travel itinerary.
Overseas Highway, Florida
This engineering marvel stretches 113 miles from Miami to Key West, connecting a chain of islands with 42 bridges that create the sensation of literally driving across the ocean. The most spectacular section spans the Seven Mile Bridge, where endless horizons of turquoise waters stretch in all directions, often with rays and dolphins visible from your car window.
The journey passes through distinct island communities, from Key Largo’s diving culture to the artistic enclaves of Islamorada and the tropical paradise of Key West. Numerous roadside seafood shacks offer fresh catches and Key lime pie, making culinary stops as essential as scenic ones on this iconic drive.
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida & Mississippi
This pristine coastal route connects some of the whitest sand beaches in the world, with powder-fine quartz sand that squeaks underfoot and remains cool even on the hottest summer days. The road alternates between causeways directly over the water and sections through maritime forests where Spanish moss creates natural canopies over the pavement.
Wildlife spotting opportunities abound, with ospreys, great blue herons, and even alligators frequently visible from the comfort of your vehicle. The route includes the historic Fort Pickens area, where military history buffs can explore one of the largest brick forts ever built while enjoying panoramic views of Pensacola Bay.
Alabama’s Coastal Connection, Alabama
This 130-mile scenic byway traces Alabama’s surprisingly diverse Gulf coastline from the Mississippi border through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to the Florida state line. The route passes through the unique ecosystem of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, where maritime forests give way to pristine dunes and beaches largely undiscovered by tourists.
Cultural highlights include the historic Mobile Bay area, where the USS Alabama battleship stands as a floating museum alongside spectacular views across the bay. Local seafood features prominently along the route, with roadside restaurants serving fresh Gulf shrimp, oysters, and the regional specialty of West Indies salad made with fresh crab.
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Highway 90, Mississippi
The coastal section of this historic highway offers 26 miles of uninterrupted Gulf views with the longest artificial beach in America running alongside the entire route. Stately antebellum homes that survived Hurricane Katrina stand as testaments to southern resilience, their grand columns and broad porches facing the sea just as they have for generations.
The route passes through delightfully different coastal communities, from the casino resorts of Biloxi to the artsy atmosphere of Ocean Springs with its oak-lined streets.
Highway 82, Louisiana
This less-traveled coastal route takes adventurous drivers through some of America’s most productive wetlands, where seafood goes directly from boat to roadside restaurants serving authentic Cajun cuisine. The highway crosses the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, where alligators sunning themselves roadside and roseate spoonbills feeding in shallow marshes create wild Louisiana postcards at every turn.
The route ends at Holly Beach, nicknamed the ‘Cajun Riviera,’ where locals gather to appreciate sunsets and simple pleasures rather than tourist amenities.
Highway 87, Texas
This Gulf Coast highway follows the Texas shoreline from Galveston to Port Arthur, passing through preserved coastal prairie and salt marshes teeming with wildlife. The Bolivar Peninsula section features uninterrupted beach views with remarkably little development, allowing natural coastal ecosystems to dominate the landscape.
Ferry crossings at both Galveston and Port Arthur add maritime adventures to the journey, often accompanied by playful dolphins that follow the wake. Crystal Beach along this route remains one of Texas’s best-kept secrets, with regulations allowing responsible drivers to park directly on miles of hard-packed sand for the ultimate waterfront camping experience.
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Highway 361, Texas
This barrier island route connects Corpus Christi to Port Aransas through Mustang Island State Park, offering miles of undeveloped coastline with public beach access throughout. The narrow two-lane road creates a properly immersive coastal experience, with dunes on one side and Corpus Christi Bay on the other for much of the journey.
Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, particularly for birders who can spot many of the 400+ species recorded on Mustang Island without leaving their vehicles. The drive ends in charming Port Aransas, where fresh seafood restaurants and locally owned shops provide a welcome antidote to the chain-store uniformity found in many beach towns.
Creole Nature Trail, Louisiana
This 180-mile route through southwestern Louisiana takes drivers through one of America’s last great wildernesses, where alligators outnumber people and birds fill the sky during migration seasons. The road passes through three national wildlife refuges, with elevated sections crossing vast marshlands that change character dramatically with the seasons and tides.
Roadside crab shacks and seafood markets offer the freshest possible Gulf bounty, often caught that morning in waters visible from your table. The route includes convenient boardwalks and observation areas where travelers can safely exit their vehicles to experience the sights, sounds, and distinctive aromas of healthy coastal wetlands.
SR A1A, Florida
This historic coastal highway runs intermittently along Florida’s Atlantic coast, with the most scenic sections found between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. The route passes directly alongside cinnamon-colored beaches where right whales can occasionally be spotted during winter migration, just a few hundred yards offshore.
Historic lighthouses punctuate the journey, including the distinctive red-topped St. Augustine Light, which visitors can climb for panoramic views of the ancient city and surrounding coastline.
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Coastal Highway 17, South Carolina
This historic route connects Charleston to Myrtle Beach through the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where coastal marshes, maritime forests, and plantation landscapes create distinctly southern scenery. The highway passes through the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, where endangered red wolves roam forests visible from several scenic pull-offs.
Cultural highlights include Georgetown’s Harborwalk, where visitors can view shrimp boats unloading their catches while historic homes provide glimpses into the region’s rich maritime past.
Colonial Parkway, Virginia
This meticulously designed 23-mile roadway connects Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, offering both coastal views and passage through three centuries of American history. The distinctive aggregate surface incorporates shells and local materials that complement the natural environment, with overpasses constructed of handmade red brick to maintain the historical atmosphere.
The route includes several sections directly alongside the York River, where working watermen still harvest oysters and blue crabs using methods passed down through generations. Seasonal changes dramatically transform the experience, with spring dogwoods and redbuds giving way to summer canopies, spectacular fall colors, and austere winter beauty along this carefully preserved corridor.
Highway 12, North Carolina
This remarkable road traverses the entire length of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, crossing narrow spits of land where Atlantic waves are visible on one side and Pamlico Sound on the other. The most dramatic section passes through Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, where seasonal migrations bring thousands of snow geese and tundra swans within view of passing vehicles.
Historic lighthouses punctuate the journey, including the iconic candy-striped Cape Hatteras Light, the tallest brick lighthouse in America.
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Dauphin Island Parkway, Alabama
This quiet coastal route connects mainland Alabama to Dauphin Island via a spectacular three-mile bridge across Mobile Bay that offers panoramic water views. The island portion passes through the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, an essential stopover for migratory birds where painted buntings and other colorful species are frequently spotted from the roadway.
The drive culminates at historic Fort Gaines, where cannons still face the Gulf of Mexico and visitors can stand where Admiral Farragut famously ordered, ‘Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!’
State Road 30A, Florida
This 24-mile scenic highway parallels the Gulf of Mexico through South Walton County, connecting distinct beach communities with architectural styles ranging from Old Florida cottages to the innovative New Urbanism of Seaside. The route features frequent access points to beaches with sand so white and fine it genuinely squeaks underfoot, composed of nearly pure quartz crystals that keep it cool even on the hottest summer days.
Ecological highlights include passages through rare coastal dune lakes, unusual features where freshwater systems occasionally connect directly to the Gulf, creating unique brackish environments.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia
This engineering marvel stretches 17.6 miles across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, alternating between tunnels beneath shipping channels and bridges over open water for an unforgettable driving experience. The journey creates the illusion of driving directly across the ocean, with ships passing overhead while travelers drive through underwater tunnels nearly a mile long.
The route includes a restaurant and fishing pier at Sea Gull Island, allowing drivers to stop midway for fresh seafood while watching container ships and naval vessels navigate the busy waters.
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Southern Coastal Connections
These 15 drives represent more than just scenic routes; they’re pathways through the diverse cultural and ecological tapestry that defines the American South’s relationship with the sea. From the wild barrier islands of the Carolinas to the tropical paradise of the Florida Keys, these coastal highways offer windows into regional identities shaped by maritime influences, historic events, and natural forces.
Unlike mountain roads that often close seasonally, these year-round routes reveal different characters across changing seasons, rewarding repeat visits with fresh perspectives and experiences.
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