Not every road trip has to involve bumper-to-bumper traffic and packed tourist spots. Some of the best journeys take you through empty highways, quiet landscapes, and small towns where time moves a little slower.
If you’d rather drive in peace, away from the usual chaos, these routes deliver the kind of open-road freedom that makes road trips unforgettable. Here is a list of 15 road trips where solitude and scenery take center stage.
The Loneliest Road, Nevada
US Route 50 stretches across Nevada like a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the desert. Towns are few and far between, making it a perfect escape for those who crave solitude.
With vast open skies, mountain backdrops, and old mining towns along the way, it feels like driving through a Western movie—but without the audience.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina & Virginia
This scenic drive rolls through the Appalachian Mountains, with winding roads that hug misty ridges. There are no billboards, no traffic lights, and no rush to get anywhere.
Every turn reveals another sweeping view, another quiet hiking trail, or another sleepy town where life moves at its own pace.
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Highway 12, Utah
Cutting through red rock country, Highway 12 is an ever-changing showcase of Utah’s rugged beauty. One minute, you’re driving past sandstone cliffs; the next, you’re winding through high alpine forests.
With very few cars on the road and nothing but dramatic landscapes in every direction, it’s the definition of a peaceful drive.
The Enchanted Circle, New Mexico
Northern New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle lives up to its name, looping through mountains, forests, and quiet villages. The road connects Taos, Red River, and Eagle Nest, offering a mix of wide-open scenery and historic stops.
It’s the kind of drive where you roll down the windows, let in the mountain air, and just enjoy the ride.
Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur, California
The most famous parts of California’s Highway 1 can get crowded, but Big Sur remains a peaceful stretch of winding coastal beauty. The road hugs the cliffs with the Pacific Ocean crashing below, and the only traffic jams involve the occasional deer or wandering fog bank.
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Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi to Tennessee
This 444-mile route follows an ancient Native American trail, with zero commercial traffic allowed. It’s a road where time slows down and cypress swamps, rolling fields, and moss-draped trees pass by like scenes from another era.
The speed limit stays low, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy the drive instead of rushing to the destination.
The Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana
Tracing the Mississippi River for over 2,000 miles, the Great River Road offers endless stretches of quiet beauty. From forested bluffs in Minnesota to bayou country in Louisiana, the road shifts with the landscape but never loses its laid-back charm.
Beartooth Highway, Montana & Wyoming
This high-altitude road climbs through the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains, delivering some of the most dramatic views in the country. With sharp switchbacks and elevation changes, it’s not a route for speed—but that just means more time to soak in the glaciers, alpine lakes, and endless sky.
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Seward Highway, Alaska
Alaska’s Seward Highway feels like driving through a National Geographic documentary. Glaciers spill down from the mountains, waterfalls crash beside the road, and wildlife sightings are just part of the journey.
The best part? There is hardly any traffic to break the spell.
The Flint Hills Scenic Byway, Kansas
Wide-open prairie might not sound exciting, but there’s something deeply peaceful about the rolling grasslands of the Flint Hills. The two-lane road stretches for 47 miles through an untouched landscape, where the only sounds come from the wind and the occasional meadowlark.
Highway 61, Minnesota to New Orleans
This historic highway, also called the “Blues Highway,” follows the Mississippi River and is lined with small towns, delta landscapes, and deep musical history. Unlike the busier interstates, this road keeps things quiet and soulful, with plenty of hidden gems along the way.
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Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
This breathtaking road through Glacier National Park is only open in summer, but it’s worth the wait. Towering peaks, glacier-fed lakes, and wildflower meadows surround the narrow mountain road. With limited traffic and strict preservation rules, it remains a pristine and peaceful route.
The High Road to Taos, New Mexico
An alternative to the busier highways, the High Road to Taos winds through tiny adobe villages, art-filled towns, and pine-covered mountains. The mix of history, culture, and scenery makes for a road trip where every stop feels like stepping back in time.
Lake Superior Circle Tour, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota & Canada
This massive loop around Lake Superior passes through remote wilderness, rocky shorelines, and charming lakeside towns. The northern sections, especially in Canada, feel completely untouched, with stretches of road where you might not see another car for miles.
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The Lost Coast, California
While much of California’s coastline is well-traveled, the Lost Coast remains wild and empty. This rugged, often fog-shrouded stretch of road leads through ancient redwoods, black sand beaches, and misty cliffs. It’s not the easiest drive, but that just keeps the crowds away.
The Best Road Trips Are About the Journey
Crowded highways and packed attractions don’t define every road trip. Sometimes, the best drives are the ones where the road feels like your own, stretching out ahead with nothing but open space and adventure.
Whether it’s a desert highway, a winding mountain pass, or a coastal route with waves crashing beside you, these road trips remind us that the best journeys aren’t about getting somewhere fast—they’re about enjoying the ride.
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