The 10 Best Road Trips For Serious Car Lovers

Sometimes you just want to get into your car and drive until you run out of gas. Check out these gorgeous scenic highways located in North America.

10. The Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi

This 444-mile scenic route drives through three states. The road follows along “Old Natchez Trace,” a historic corridor used by indigenous natives and European settlers. You can hike, camp, and horseback ride all while traveling through 10,000 years of history.

9. California State Route 1

There are so many sites to see along this famous route. You can take a dip in Pismo Beach. You can stroll through the gardens of Santa Barbara Mission. And you can even take a tour through Hearst Castle which was once owned by publishing giant, William Randolph Hearst.

8. Artists Drive, Death Valley National Park

This is the perfect trip for landscape artists or sci-fi fans. This nine-mile road moves through colorful hills that were formed by volcanic deposits. The colors look the most beautiful in afternoon light. If you are a fan of Star Wars, you’ll be happy to know that parts of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope were filmed at this park. Though don’t try to make a fan film. That type of filming is no longer permitted in the park.

7. Blue Ridge Parkway

This gorgeous mountain drive takes you from Rockfish Gap Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina. It connects Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Along the way you can visit The Blue Ridge Music Center or the Round Peak Vineyards. Or you can just enjoy the sight of the beautiful Appalachian mountains that hold so much history and lore.

6. Skyline Drive, Virginia

The song should’ve started with the lyric “Almost Heaven, Skyline Drive Virginia.” But then the scansion would’ve been way off. This route stretches 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains, from the southern end of the Shenandoah National Park to its northern side. The route offers almost 70 pullouts and lookouts that offer breathtaking views of Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont region. There are several hiking trails off the drive as well.

5. Million Dollar Highway, Colorado

The Million Dollar Highway won’t cost you a million dollars to travel it. But you will feel like a king as you drive through the land that is affectionately nicknamed “The Switzerland of America.” The road connects Silverton and Ouray and takes you through alpine forests, mountains, canyons, and historic mining villages. The route is part of the greater San Juan Skyway Colorado Scenic Byway, so there is even more to see.

4. Going-To-The-Sun Road, Montana

This is the perfect route for all of you horror film buffs out there. This 50 mile route was used for the opening credits of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece The Shining. The road closes in the winter due to snow and ice… Kind of like the Overlook Hotel. But in the warmer months, you can travel amongst the mountain goats and glaciers. Enjoy this beautiful mountain road, just don’t go crazy and try and try to kill your entire family.

3. Overseas Highway, Florida

Not everyone is a city person or a mountain person. Maybe you prefer the ocean. Does the deep blue sea call to you? If that’s the case then check out Overseas Highway in Florida. This route stretches 113 miles, from the very tip of the Florida peninsula all the way down to Key West. You can visit all of the Keys, while driving over the Gulf of Mexico. You will also get to drive over the Seven-Mile Bridge. Make sure your tank is full before embarking on this trip.

2. Viking Trail, Newfoundland

This trail is for all you history buffs and Renaissance Faire enthusiasts. This drive is 344 miles along the northern peninsula coast. This scenic route starts in Deer Lake, Newfoundland and it ends at L’anse aux Meadows, the only verified viking settlement in North America. The settlement includes viking artifacts, a recreation of a viking village, and an archeological site. The route encompasses Gros Morne National Park, which is a great spot for boat tours and hikes.

1. U.S. Route 66

Get your kicks on Route 66! This historic road stretches from Lake Michigan all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The route takes you through the Ozarks, old mining towns, and the Mojave desert before finally stopping in Los Angeles. You will see historic buildings and get to experience the vast amount of cultures that make up our great nation.