Top 5 Scenic Driving Roads in America

The United States has so much to offer in the way of beauty when it comes to driving along scenic highways. Whether you are looking for a short drive or you are looking for driving along a long and winding road that takes you through multiple states or through hundreds of miles of beautiful highways the following 5 scenic roads are the best.

The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a great road for driving if you are looking for scenic beauty, mountains and woodland animals all along 469 miles that snake from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. You will find many areas to pull off and take pictures along the Parkway and plenty of places to start a hike through the mountains.

The Kancamagus Scenic Highway

The Kancamagus Scenic Highway passes along 35 miles from Lincoln to Conway that takes the driver straight through New Hampshire's White Mountains. You will be driving to the top of Mt. Kancamagus while on the highway, and there will be lots of areas to stop and take pictures along scenic areas and overlooks. While driving on The Kanc you can visit the Russell Colbath Historic Site, which offers visitors information about colonial America or explore the Forest Discovery Trail.

Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)

Stretching along 332 miles of California from San Francisco to Santa Barbara the Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful driving experience that gives you the chance to drive along along the beautiful Pacific Ocean and see the mountains that jet up from the Ocean. Along the way you will have plenty of opportunities to take side trips to Sunset Blvd. and Malibu Canyon Road among other places.

Route 66

America's most famous road starts in Chicago on Adams St. and continues until you reach Santa Barbara, California. While this is a newer version of the old Route 66 you can still see parts of the original highway running parallel with the new one in Illinois. You will find many roadside attractions and oddball stops all along Route 66 where you can find almost everything you can think of associated with the famous highway. You will also find places like the Cadillac Ranch and the St. Louis Archway among many other attractions.

Overseas Highway

Running along U.S. Highway 1 from Miami to Key West, the Overseas Highway is a 127.5 mile road that runs along the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. You can even see pieces of the original Overseas Railway bridge that was destroyed by the Category 5 Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. There are few places to stop along the bridge between Key Largo and Key West, but you can pull over and get out to walk around or fish from the pier. The state of Florida is planning a future walk way and educational center along the bridge for school children, families, hikers and fishermen. If you plan to do the drive it takes about 5 hours with traffic.

Hana Highway

Located along 38 miles of lush, beautiful scenery in Maui from Pauwela to Hana, Hawaii the Hana Highway will take you on a driving adventure deep into jungle valleys and along the rugged Pacific coastline. Along the way you will find 54 one lane bridges, numerous roadside waterfalls you can swim in and hairpin turns with amazing views of the islands. It's definitely a once in a lifetime experience everyone should try.