National Scenic Byways Are the Best Road Trips in the Southern U.S.

You can't beat National Scenic Byways for the best road trips in the south. These roads are recognized by Congress because of their intrinsic value to the United States and each one offers unique cultural, historic or scenic value.

The incomparable Skyline Drive in Virginia is a tour through the Shenandoah Valley. For the best experience possible, bring a picnic lunch or pick up basic supplies and foodstuffs at one of the camp stores on the road trip.

Natural beauty makes this scenic byway one of the best road trips in the south. When you stop at the overlooks be sure to watch the sky and the ground. You can sometimes see birds of prey soaring through the air. Binoculars will give you the best viewing advantage.

Visitors won't want to miss the hiking opportunities offered in Shenandoah National Park. I first stood on the Appalachian Trail on this National Scenic Byway and you can too. The parking areas at the trailheads put you within a few feet of the trail. This makes it convenient to walk the trail or just have your picture taken while standing by a sign or marker.

I like to pick up Skyline Drive in Swannanoa, Virginia. The road goes through Shenandoah National Park and ends later in Front Royal, VA. Scenic byways are without tolls but the national park does collect an entrance fee. Their rates are subject to change so check current prices online.

Another one of the top National Scenic Byways is the stunning Cherohala Skyway. Known for its link to history and Cherokee Indian culture, this byway is one of the best road trips in the south.

The byway name is a combination of the two forests through which the highway runs. The forests are the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina.

From Tennessee, a drive along this scenic byway begins at the Cherohala Skyway visitor center in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. Staff members are eager to tell you about the byway and will give you lots of information. Maps and souvenirs are both available here.

Be sure to buy gas and pick up lunch Tellico Plains, as there aren't any restaurants on the skyway. The best places for these supplies are either near the visitor center or a few hours away in Robbinsville, NC.

While traveling on this unique journey, you will develop an appreciation for the changes in the terrain. The Cherohala Visitor Center is 900 feet above sea level. By the time you cross into North Carolina you will have climbed beyond 5,000 feet above sea level.

What helps make this one of the best National Scenic Byways is the number of overlooks that are on the route. There are at least 15 overlooks. At some, you are looking at mountains across the valley. Other overlooks are on mountains that are higher than the surrounding treetops.

The route for this National Scenic Byway is just over 50 miles but I've found that driving takes at least all day. People who want to spend the night can find space at Indian Boundary Campground or one of the lodges on either end of the byway.

National Scenic Byways are the best road trips in the south. A journey on one of the drives in this article forces you to leave the rat race behind and enjoy a quieter side of life.