Most Beautiful Drive in U.S.
 

What is the most beautiful stretch of road in the continental U.S. for sightseeing? Granted some people find mountains more beautiful than oceans, vice versa, etc. <BR>But if you were taking a foreign visitor on a driving tour of the most beautiful scenery in the U.S. where would you take them? Thanks.

Three favorites are Highway One in Northern California, The Kankemus (spelled wrong highway on New Hampshire through the White Mountains and the road that winds through the canyons of the southwest, in Utah and Arizona. There are many others, of course, but these are the ones I'd choose.

Hi Chris. It all depends on what you like to see. My 6 nominations are as follows, not in order of preference: <BR>1. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Winds up to 12,000 feet with stunning views.) <BR>2. The Beartooth Highway from the North east Gate of Yellowstone National Park to Red Lodge, Montana. (Reaches an elevation of more than 11,000 feet with great views of the Absaroka and Beartooth ranges.) <BR>3. The "Million Dollar Higway" from Ouray to Durango Colorado. (Gives good views of the San Juan mountains.) <BR>4. From Blanding Utah, drive west to route state route 261. Take 261 south to the overlook of Monument Valley. Descend the mesa, and drive through Monument Valley. How far you go depends on where you are headed. <BR>5. The Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Best driven to the west in the morning; or to the east in the afternoon. Stunning views of a glaciated landscape, with sharp arretes and glacial valleys. Usually open by mid June. <BR>6. Sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina are absolutely gorgeous, particular in mid to late October because of the gorgeous colors, or mid to late June when the flame azaleas, mountain laural and rhododendrons are in bloom. <BR>I particularly like the route south from Blowing Rock to Mount Pisgah, near Ashville, N. C. (This is a long drive, worth one full day; more if you stop, walk, and look around frequently.) <BR>If you are talking North American, I also include the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper in Alberta. It is worth 3 days minimum because of all the lovely places to stop and wander around. <BR> <BR>You could not do all of these drives in one trip unless you took 2 months or so. But I don't think you would be disappointed with any of them. There are several more I could add, but these are my top choices.

PS. I must include the Oregon coast, particularly the section north of Newport. If you drive it, I suggest south to north so the sun will be at your back. Combined with a start along the Redwood Higway, through Brookings. <BR>

The most beautiful are usually not easy to get to, but among those that are easy to reach, I just got back photos from a short drive down Skyline Drive out of Front Royal, Virginia. It was quite lovely, and can be turned into a nice weekend trip from the Washington DC area if combined with a visit to Charlottesville, VA. It wasn't as heart stoppingly beautiful as the drive from San Francisco up the coast (even just to Stinson Beach), but both those trips are very pretty and accessible from frequently visited cities on both coasts.

I agree with those that have suggested the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's been a favorite of mine for many years. The end of May is a great time to see the colors of Spring. <BR>

Another one to mention: Hiway 61 north from Duluth to Grand Portage has several absolutely gorgeous state parks and scenic overlooks.

The USA has so many gorgeous places and stretches of road, but I do agree with Paul that Minnesota's Hwy 61 from Duluth to Grand Portage, Mn. is fabulous.

Great question, Chris -- but so many of the responses concentrate on mountains! Only a few re:desert and seashore. I think for many foreign visitors, the Florida keys or the Outer Banks National Seashore (from south of Nags Head to Ocracoke) would be remarkable (one highway runs down the "spine" of each), and there are stretches, I'm sure, along the Maine and Mass. seashore that must be wonderful, even if they don't go on for miles and miles. <BR> <BR>

From Sedona, AZ, drive north on 89A through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, then on 180 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Take 64 east to Cameron, then 89A north to Page and Lake Powell, backtrack to 89A and north across Navajo Bridge, west to Jacob Lake. South to the North Rim (from May to October).

Two more votes for the coasts of Oregon and Maine (above Augusta). Also, Santa Fe to Taos or Los Alamos (Bandolier) is spectacular. And I've never been, but whatever road that is that people always drive in the movies that looks like it's in Monument Valley, that one looks like a winner as well.

I'm glad to hear of all of these interesting drives...I'll certainly keep them in mind! <BR> <BR>My vote is for the overseas highway from Homestead(?) to Key West in Florida. the views are spectactular...it's not a good road to go on if you're in a hurry (you pass through many small towns & have to watch out for speedtraps!), but if you aren't in a hurry, it's DEFINITELY worth it!

I would have to add the scenic highway through the Columbia Gorge on the Oregon side of the river from Troutdale to Bonneville, I believe it is Highway 30. Lots of stunning views of the gorge, a number of lovely waterfalls beside the road, including Multnomah Falls, the third highest waterfall in North America. It was considered an amazing feat of engineering when it was built early in the century. Also, the road through Zion Canyon in Zion National Park is incredible, just eye-popping scenery around every bend. And any highway in northern Arizona or Southern Utah seems to have an endless supply of scenic delights, especially 163 through Monument Valley, from what we experienced on our trip out West this past Summer. I also heartily agree with the endorsement of Skyline Drive/ The Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina

Hi all, <BR>Having taken foreign visitors (Euros) on a variety of drives, I would only comment on a couple of big inhale moments I've witnessed. <BR> <BR>On Interstate 90 westbound, your first view of the Missouri River. Have "Shenandoah" playing on the cassette.

It depends how long of a drive you are looking at. <BR>THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROAD IN NORTH AMERICA AT THAT IS: Highway 101 from Port Angelas Washington to EUreka Califorinia then HWY 1 from Eureka all the way down to San Diego. <BR>It is spectacular even if you only do certain parts. The Best part is Big Sur from Monterrey Califorinia to San Luis Obispo. This Highway Hugs the Pacifac coast all the way down. <BR>Another Beautiful drive as well as historicly significant is the Nachez-Trace Parkway which goes through Mississipi and Alabama Plantation Country.

Hi all, <BR>Having taken foreign visitors (Euros) on a variety of drives, I would only comment on a couple of big inhale moments I've witnessed. <BR> <BR>- On Interstate 90 westbound in South Dakota, your first view of the Missouri River. Have "Shenandoah" playing on the cassette. The drive across SD, prairie to Badlands to Black Hills, is marvelous. <BR>- Agree with Bob on the entry to Monument Valley. <BR>- Crossing the bridge from Arlington into Washington DC. <BR>- Coming into Las Vegas northbound on I-15 at night. Really. <BR>- The Seward Highway from Anchorage to Portage, along Turnagain Arm. (Well, it IS on the continent.) <BR>- Many gasps followed by a great big gasp: Southbound on California SR1 from Mendocino, then the merge with US 101 in Marin County, then the big Oh when you emerge from the tunnel and face the Golden Gate Bridge, huge and orange and fog-tipped, with the gleaming city in the background. Yow. <BR> <BR>

Well - if you're willing to go to California or Montana, perhaps you might venture up to Canada. The Icefields Parkway that runs from Jasper (in Alberta??) down to Calgary is without doubt the most gorgeous road I have ever driven. The Canadian Rockies are huge and snow covered and thrilling to see. As you approach Calgary, if you are lucky, you can witness the most spectacular sunset in the biggest of big skies. Second choice - Route 1 from San Fran to Santa Barbara - thru Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur - BEAUTIFUL and thrilling.

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions! Looks like we'll have to try out Highway 101 for starters. Hope to cover several of the others with passing years!

Yet another vote for the Oregon coast followed closely by the Hwy 1 stretch that's south of Big Sur. IN Oregon, be sure to visit the Dunes area - a peculiarity of nature (relative to its location) and truly beautiful in its own right.

If you are ever in Virginia, the Colonial Parkway between yorktown & Jamestown is very pretty, esp in the fall. 2007 will be the 400th anniv. of the founding of Jamestown, should be a great time for a trip. Also the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia, down into North Carolina, is great in the spring or fall.