Summer brings warm breezes, longer days, and the perfect opportunity to explore America’s stunning landscapes from behind the wheel. The open road becomes an invitation to discover hidden gems and iconic vistas that showcase the country’s diverse natural beauty. From coastal highways hugging dramatic cliffs to routes winding through ancient forests, these journeys offer memories that last far beyond the trip itself.
Here is a list of 20 scenic road trips across the United States that promise unforgettable summer adventures. Each has its distinct charm and attractions.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
This legendary 655-mile route along California’s rugged coastline delivers breathtaking ocean views at virtually every turn. Travelers can witness massive waves crashing against jagged cliffs while driving through charming coastal towns like Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur.
The journey feels like moving through a living postcard, with opportunities to spot sea lions basking on offshore rocks and migrating whales in the distance.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
Cutting through the heart of Glacier National Park, this engineering marvel spans just 50 miles but packs in more alpine splendor than roads many times its length. The narrow two-lane highway climbs to over 6,600 feet at Logan Pass, where summer wildflowers create colorful meadows against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks.
Wildlife sightings are common, with mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and even grizzly bears appearing along the forested sections.
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Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
Connecting Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this 469-mile scenic byway meanders through the ancient Appalachian Mountains. Morning fog often blankets the valleys, creating an ethereal landscape that explains the ‘Blue Ridge’ name.
Summer brings lush green forests, cascading waterfalls, and roadside stands selling fresh local produce and homemade jams that capture the flavor of summer.
Overseas Highway, Florida
Hopping from key to key across 113 miles of turquoise waters, this engineering wonder transforms island-hopping into a drive-through experience. The route includes crossing the famous Seven Mile Bridge, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico stretch endlessly on either side. The brilliant blue-green waters alongside the road appear almost artificially enhanced, but are entirely natural: nature’s perfect filter.
Route 100, Vermont
Known as Vermont’s Main Street, this 200-mile journey through the Green Mountains showcases quintessential New England charm in every mile. Covered bridges, rolling farmland, and pristine mountain lakes create a landscape that feels pulled from a storybook.
Summer brings vibrant green hillsides dotted with grazing dairy cows and roadside farm stands offering maple syrup straight from the source.
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Beartooth Highway, Wyoming and Montana
Often described as the most beautiful 68 miles in America, this high-altitude route climbs to nearly 11,000 feet with switchbacks revealing increasingly dramatic vistas. Snow can linger well into summer at the highest elevations, creating the rare experience of snowball fights in July.
The highway is the northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, making it the perfect scenic prelude to that natural wonderland.
Hana Highway, Hawaii
This 64-mile tropical adventure along Maui’s northeastern coastline features over 600 curves and 59 bridges, many single-lane bridges. The journey showcases Hawaii’s lush landscapes with roadside waterfalls, bamboo forests, and black sand beaches appearing around virtually every bend.
The road itself is secondary to the experiences along the way, including swimming in waterfalls and sampling tropical fruit at roadside stands.
Scenic Byway 12, Utah
This route connects Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks by winding through 124 miles of southern Utah’s otherworldly landscapes. Red rock formations create a Mars-like terrain that changes color dramatically throughout the day as sunlight shifts across the landscape.
Summer temperatures can soar, but the higher elevations provide relief and spectacular overlooks of multicolored rock layers stretching to the horizon.
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North Shore Scenic Drive, Minnesota
Following Lake Superior’s dramatic shoreline for 154 miles, this route offers constant views of the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. Summer brings wildflowers to the lakeside meadows and pleasant temperatures perfect for exploring the numerous state parks.
The lake appears more like an inland sea, with water stretching beyond the horizon and waves crashing against ancient volcanic rock formations.
San Juan Skyway, Colorado
This 236-mile loop through southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains takes drivers through old mining towns and over high mountain passes. Summer transforms the landscape with vibrant wildflower displays in alpine meadows and crystal-clear mountain streams flowing alongside portions of the route.
The section known as the ‘Million Dollar Highway’ features cliff-hugging turns without guardrails that deliver million-dollar views with every mile.
Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee
Following ancient Native American trading routes, this 444-mile historic corridor offers a peaceful journey through the rural South. Massive oak trees draped with Spanish moss create natural tunnels along sections of the route, providing welcome shade during hot summer days.
Commercial traffic is prohibited, creating a relaxed driving experience punctuated by historic sites and natural attractions that tell America’s early story.
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Olympic Peninsula Loop, Washington
Circling Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, this 300-mile route showcases incredible ecological diversity within a relatively compact area. Travelers sometimes experience temperate rainforests, wild Pacific beaches, and alpine meadows in a single day’s drive.
Summer brings the best weather to this notoriously rainy region, with crystal clear days revealing snow-capped Olympic Mountains rising dramatically from lush green forests.
Skyline Drive, Virginia
This elevated route runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and offers panoramic views from 75 designated overlooks. Summer brings vibrant greenery to the rolling mountain landscape, with morning mist often filling the valleys below.
The 35-mph speed limit encourages travelers to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty, including frequent wildlife sightings like white-tailed deer and black bears.
Historic Columbia River Highway, Oregon
America’s first scenic highway, this 73-mile route parallels the mighty Columbia River through the dramatic Columbia River Gorge. Summer temperatures create perfect conditions for exploring the numerous waterfalls accessible via short hikes from the highway, including the iconic 620-foot Multnomah Falls.
The road is an engineering marvel, designed in the early 1900s to blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape rather than dominating it.
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Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana
This network of roads follows the Mississippi River for over 2,000 miles from its humble headwaters to its massive delta, telling the story of America’s most iconic river. Summer offers the perfect conditions for exploring river towns with distinct regional flavors, from northern logging communities to southern plantations.
The landscape transforms dramatically along the journey, reflecting the changing relationship between the river and the communities it has shaped over centuries.
Acadia All-American Road, Maine
This 40-mile loop, which circles Mount Desert Island and passes through Acadia National Park, delivers classic New England coastal scenery. Summer brings perfect temperatures for exploring the park’s rocky beaches, granite peaks, and dense forests that meet the Atlantic Ocean.
The route includes the 27-mile Park Loop Road, with its carefully designed overlooks that frame views of the rugged coastline and offshore islands dotting the horizon.
Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
Crossing the Continental Divide through Rocky Mountain National Park, this 48-mile alpine journey climbs to over 12,000 feet. Summer reveals a landscape of contrasts, from dense subalpine forests to the stark beauty of the tundra above treeline.
The road offers unobstructed views of distant peaks and valleys that stretch forever, creating a genuine sense of being on top of the world.
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Highway 101 Oregon Coast, Oregon
Hugging Oregon’s 363-mile coastline, this route offers constant views of the dramatic shoreline where forest-covered mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. Summer typically brings clearer skies to this often misty region, revealing offshore rock formations, expansive beaches, and historic lighthouses.
Unlike many coastal areas, Oregon’s beaches remain public, allowing travelers to easily access the shore for beach explorations between scenic drives.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Cutting through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, this 34-mile route offers dense forests, crystal-clear rivers, and mountain vistas without commercial development. Summer transforms the landscape into a lush green paradise with numerous hiking trails and swimming spots accessible directly from the highway.
The absence of gas stations, restaurants, or hotels creates an immersive natural experience that feels increasingly rare in today’s connected world.
Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, New Mexico
This 83-mile loop around Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest mountain, showcases the diverse landscapes of the southern Rockies. Summer brings mild temperatures to this high-elevation region, perfect for exploring mountain meadows bursting with wildflowers.
The route passes through distinct communities with rich cultural heritage, from the artistic enclave of Taos to former mining towns that retain their historic charm.
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America’s Enduring Road Heritage
These scenic routes represent more than just beautiful drives—they embody America’s relationship with the automobile and the freedom of exploration it provides. What began as rugged paths has evolved into engineering marvels that balance accessibility with preservation of natural beauty.
Today’s road-trippers follow in the tire tracks of countless adventurers who discovered that sometimes the journey truly is the destination.
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