America’s highways have served as more than just transportation routes—they’ve become the backdrops for some of cinema’s most memorable moments. From sweeping desert landscapes to winding mountain passes, these roads have captured the imagination of filmmakers and audiences alike, turning ordinary drives into extraordinary cinematic experiences.
The silver screen has transformed these stretches of asphalt into characters themselves, each with its own personality and story to tell. Here is a list of 20 iconic film route road trips that showcase America’s most cinematically celebrated highways.
Route 66, Illinois to California
The ‘Mother Road’ stretches 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, serving as the ultimate symbol of American road culture in countless films. Easy Rider made this highway legendary, while Pixar’s Cars brought it to a new generation of travelers.
The route passes through eight states, offering everything from neon-lit diners in Missouri to the painted deserts in Arizona.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
Highway 1 hugs California’s coastline for over 650 miles, providing filmmakers with dramatic ocean vistas and clifftop scenes. Movies like “The Big Lebowski” and “Sideways” have showcased their scenic beauty, particularly around Big Sur and Malibu.
The route offers some of the most photographed coastal scenery in the world, with crashing waves on one side and rolling hills on the other.
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Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles
This 21-mile road winds through the Hollywood Hills, offering panoramic views of Los Angeles that have appeared in dozens of films. David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive made the route synonymous with Hollywood mystery and intrigue.
The winding road connects the San Fernando Valley to the Westside, passing through some of LA’s most exclusive neighborhoods.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina
Spanning 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, this scenic byway has provided backdrops for numerous films seeking that quintessential American mountain experience. The Fugitive used portions of this route for its dramatic chase scenes.
Fall foliage along this parkway creates some of the most spectacular autumn scenery in the country.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
This 50-mile mountain road through Glacier National Park offers some of the most breathtaking alpine scenery ever captured on film. The road’s engineering marvel—carved into cliffsides and crossing the Continental Divide—has made it a favorite for filmmakers seeking dramatic, high-elevation landscapes.
Its narrow, winding path provides heart-stopping views at every turn.
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Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
The 113-mile stretch from mainland Florida to Key West includes 42 bridges connecting tropical islands across turquoise waters. True Lies featured spectacular chase scenes on the Seven Mile Bridge, one of the route’s most iconic structures.
This highway literally travels over the ocean, offering unparalleled views of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
Highway 101, Oregon Coast
Oregon’s coastal highway runs 362 miles along some of the most rugged and beautiful coastline in America. Films like The Goonies and Free Willy have showcased the route’s dramatic sea stacks and pristine beaches.
The highway passes through charming coastal towns and offers constant views of the Pacific’s crashing waves.
Lombard Street, San Francisco
Known as the ‘crookedest street in the world,’ this one-block section features eight hairpin turns that have thrilled filmmakers for decades. Bullitt’s famous chase scene made these curves legendary in cinema history.
The steep, flower-lined street offers a mix of challenging driving and stunning views of San Francisco Bay.
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Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming
This 68-mile high-altitude highway reaches elevations of nearly 11,000 feet, providing access to some of America’s most pristine wilderness. The route’s dramatic switchbacks and alpine lakes have appeared in several films seeking untouched mountain scenery.
Snow can close portions of this highway for up to seven months each year.
Million Dollar Highway, Colorado
Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton earned its name from either its construction cost or the valuable ore that once traveled this route. The road’s narrow ledges and steep drop-offs create a natural sense of drama that filmmakers often capitalize on..
This 25-mile stretch passes through some of Colorado’s most spectacular mountain scenery.
Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii
The Road to Hana features 617 curves and 59 bridges across 52 miles of tropical paradise. Films seeking lush rainforest and waterfall scenes often use this winding coastal route.
The journey takes most travelers three hours each way, passing through bamboo forests and alongside dramatic ocean cliffs.
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Great River Road, Mississippi
This route follows the Mississippi River for over 2,300 miles, providing authentic American heartland backdrops for numerous films. The highway passes through ten states, offering views of river towns and agricultural landscapes.
Mark Twain’s literary legacy adds cultural depth to any cinematic journey along these riverbanks.
Scenic Byway 12, Utah
This 124-mile route through southern Utah connects Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks, showcasing some of the most otherworldly landscapes in America. Films requiring alien or prehistoric settings often use this highway’s red rock formations and slot canyons.
The route passes through elevations ranging from 3,000 to over 9,000 feet.
Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park’s highest paved road reaches 12,183 feet above sea level, providing access to true alpine tundra. The 48-mile route offers views typically seen only by mountain climbers.
Weather conditions can change rapidly at this elevation, creating dramatic lighting conditions that filmmakers find irresistible.
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Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi to Tennessee
This 444-mile parkway follows an ancient trail used by Native Americans and early settlers. Films seeking historical authenticity often use this route’s preserved landscapes and historic sites.
The parkway maintains its rural character, offering glimpses of what America looked like centuries ago.
Alaska Highway, Alaska, and Canada
This highway stretches 1,387 miles from British Columbia to Alaska, representing the ultimate wilderness road trip. The route passes through vast forests, mountain ranges, and tundra that few other roads can access.
Wildlife encounters along this highway include bears, moose, and caribou.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Route 112 through the White Mountains offers 34.5 miles of pristine New England scenery without a single commercial establishment. The highway’s fall foliage displays create some of the most spectacular autumn colors in America.
This route provides access to numerous hiking trails and scenic overlooks.
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Highway 50, Nevada
Known as the ‘Loneliest Road in America,’ this 287-mile stretch crosses Nevada’s high desert with towns spaced far apart. The route’s isolation and vast open spaces create a sense of solitude that filmmakers use to great effect.
Services can be scarce, making proper preparation essential for travelers.
Angeles Crest Highway, California
This 66-mile mountain highway climbs from Los Angeles into the San Gabriel Mountains, offering an escape from urban sprawl. The route’s numerous curves and elevation changes have made it popular for car commercials and action sequences.
Views from this highway encompass both mountain wilderness and city sprawl.
Interstate 80, Wyoming
This transcontinental highway crosses 402 miles of Wyoming’s high plains and mountain passes, offering some of the most challenging winter driving conditions in America. Films like Starship Troopers have used portions of this route for dramatic weather scenes and stunning Rocky Mountain vistas.
The highway climbs to over 8,600 feet at Sherman Summit, making it one of the highest points on the Interstate Highway System.
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Roads That Built America’s Dreams
These cinematic highways represent more than just transportation routes—they embody the American spirit of exploration and freedom that has captivated audiences for generations. From the neon-lit nostalgia of Route 66 to the rugged wilderness of the Alaska Highway, each road tells a unique story of the American experience.
The cameras may stop rolling, but these iconic routes continue to inspire new generations of travelers to discover the open road’s endless possibilities. Today’s GPS-guided world hasn’t diminished their appeal; instead, these film-famous highways remind us that sometimes the journey truly is more important than the destination.
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