Best Scenic Drives at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe’s crystalline blue waters and surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains create some of the West’s most stunning drives. Most routes circle the lake or climb to mountain passes with far-reaching views. Winter can bring road closures at higher elevations; check conditions before driving.

Lake Tahoe Loop — 72 Miles, 3-4 Hours

The complete circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe passing through California and Nevada. US Highway 50 (south and east) and Nevada Highway 28/89 (north and west) encircle the lake with constant water views and mountain backdrops. Different scenery on each side — developed south shore contrasts with quieter north shore.

Best Scenic Drives in Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley is synonymous with scenic driving. Rolling vineyard-covered hills, tree-lined valleys, and winding roads through wine country create some of California’s most picturesque routes. Most drives are compact but packed with views. Plan extra time for winery stops.

Silverado Trail — 29 Miles, 1.5 Hours

The quintessential Napa wine country drive running parallel to Highway 29 on the eastern side of the valley. Narrow two-lane road winds through vineyards with constant views of rolling hills and mountain ridges. Less traffic than Highway 29, with numerous winery turn-offs and small towns.

Best Scenic Drives Near Branson, Missouri

Branson’s Ozark Mountain setting offers scenic drives featuring clear lakes, forested ridges, and pastoral countryside. Routes are relatively compact but offer varied scenery. Spring and fall provide ideal driving temperatures; summer can be hot.

Highway 76 Strip — 10 Miles, 45 Minutes

The entertainment corridor through Branson’s main tourist zone. While not wilderness driving, the road itself winds through hilly terrain with lake glimpses and mountain backdrop. Primary attraction is roadside entertainment venues, but the actual drive offers pleasant mountain town scenery.

Best Scenic Drives Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

The Smoky Mountains surrounding Gatlinburg offer some of the most beautiful driving routes in the East. Mountain views, waterfalls, and twisting roads through dense forest make this region a road-tripper’s paradise. These routes are particularly stunning in fall (October) and spring (May).

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail — 5.5 Miles, 45 Minutes

A narrow, one-way loop winding through old-growth forest along a mountain stream. The road hugs the creek, passes several small waterfalls, and includes multiple pulloffs for photos. Dense trees and creek sounds create an immersive forest experience.

Best Scenic Drives Near Nashville, Tennessee

The countryside around Nashville features tree-lined routes, pastoral farmland, river valleys, and historic scenic byways. Routes are within an hour of downtown and offer diverse scenery from river gorges to rolling horse farms. Spring and fall provide ideal driving conditions.

Natchez Trace Parkway — 50 Miles, 2-2.5 Hours

A historic 444-mile parkway stretching from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. The northern sections near Nashville wind through deciduous forest with minimal commercial development. Historic route follows a 5,000-year-old Native American and pioneer trail.

Best Scenic Drives Near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Pigeon Forge sits at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, offering quick access to some of the East’s most dramatic scenic routes. Mountain views, historic drives, and river gorges dominate the region. Fall foliage (October) and spring wildflowers (May) peak this area’s beauty.

Cades Cove Loop — 11 Miles, 1.5-2 Hours

A scenic valley loop inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park featuring meadows, historic 1800s cabins, and a mountain backdrop. The one-way loop road provides consistent views and numerous pulloffs with short hiking trail access.

Best Scenic Drives Near Portland, Oregon

The Portland region offers dramatic scenic variety: river gorges, volcanic peaks, coastal highways, and wine country. Most routes are within an hour of the city. Spring and fall offer ideal driving conditions; summer is pleasant but crowded.

Columbia River Gorge / Historic Highway — 30 Miles, 1.5-2 Hours

The most iconic drive near Portland. Interstate 84 follows the Columbia River through a dramatic basalt gorge with waterfalls visible from the road. The slower, more scenic Historic Highway (Route 30) parallels I-84 on the Washington side with multiple waterfall viewpoints and pulloffs.

Best Scenic Drives Near Scottsdale, Arizona

The desert around Scottsdale offers dramatic landscapes of saguaro cacti, granite mountains, and desert valleys. Most routes are compact but offer stunning scenery. Spring (March-April) and fall (October-November) are ideal — summer temperatures exceed 110°F.

Apache Trail — 40 Miles, 2.5-3 Hours

A historic mining road connecting Apache Junction to the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. Dramatic desert scenery with saguaro forests, mountain views, and intermittent gravel sections. The road is partially unpaved but passable in regular vehicles (use caution).

Best Scenic Drives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod’s picturesque coastal landscape, salt marshes, beach villages, and Atlantic Ocean views create memorable driving routes. Roads are narrow and winding through dense trees with frequent stops at charming towns. Summer traffic is heavy — visit in spring or fall for better flow.

Route 6A (Old King’s Highway) — 40 Miles, 2.5-3 Hours

The most scenic north-shore route running from Dennis to Provincetown along the bay side. Narrows lanes pass through dense forest with glimpses of salt marsh and Cape Cod Bay. Multiple historic villages, antique shops, and seaside restaurants line the way.

Best Scenic Drives on Maui, Hawaii

Maui’s coastlines and mountains offer some of Hawaii’s most dramatic driving routes. Lush valleys, waterfalls, volcanic crater overlooks, and ocean vistas dominate these roads. Plan extra time — Hawaiian roads are narrow and scenic views demand frequent stops.

Road to Hana — 64 Miles, 10-12 Hours

The most famous scenic drive in Hawaii. Starting in Kahului (central Maui), the road climbs through lush tropical valleys with over 600 curves and 50 waterfalls. The drive is slow by necessity — narrow, winding road through dense vegetation with frequent one-lane bridges and waterfall pulloffs.

Free Things to Do in Maui

Maui is expensive — resort prices, activity prices, restaurant prices. But the island’s greatest assets — the beaches, the drives, the sunrises, and the natural beauty — are either free or nearly so.

Free Beaches

All beaches in Hawaii are public by law. You’ll never pay to access the sand.

Ka’anapali Beach — The resort beach on the west side. Walk past the resorts and lay your towel anywhere. Free. The daily cliff-diving ceremony at Black Rock (Pu’u Keka’a) at sunset is a tradition worth watching.

Scenic Drives Near Las Vegas

The desert around Las Vegas is stunningly beautiful — red rock formations, mountain passes, desert valleys, and some of the most dramatic road scenery in the American West. All within an hour or two of the Strip.

Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive — 30 Minutes

A 13-mile one-way loop through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Towering sandstone formations in shades of red, cream, and brown rise from the desert floor. Multiple pulloffs with short trails and viewpoints.