What is your vote for the most scenic drive in the continental US?

The coast highway from San Francisco to Santa Monica.

I agree - The Pacific Coast Highway with The Beartooth Highway second.

Beartooth Highway? Really? I'll have to check it out.

What about the road that goes through Zion National Park.

If WatersonFamily had said North America, I might have considered Icefield Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper, in Canada.

When I read in a guidebook that Hiway 61 in Minnesota between Duluth and Grand Rapids was as spectacular as Hiway 1 near Big Sur, this Californian thought the statement preposterous. After driving it, I'll admit the statement may just be correct.

To many to pick just one!

The scenic drive in Arches National Park

The scenic drive in Zion National Park

The scenic drive in Capitol Reef National Park

Hwy 12 between Escalante and Boulder

Beartooth Highway

Utahtea

Oh yes, TOO MANY indeed!

Agree with the above posters and also, coming into NYC from the 59th Street Bridge at dusk / dark especially, or anytime!

Beartooth HIghway

Going to the Sun Rd.--Glacier N.P,

I too have to vote for the Pacific Coast Highway. I like the section along Pt. Reyes.

I also thoroughly enjoyed several drives in Colorado, although I think my favorite would be the drive up to Leadville.

Great post!

Route 73 in New York. From I-87 Exit 30 to Lake Placid. In the begining of October

If we'd limit this to just Interstates, then I'll say I-70 across the Rockies, as well as in eastern Utah.

The most scenic drive in the U.S. (or just about anywhere else)is Highway 1 from Marin County to the town of Mendocino.

Though I have been driving it all my life, this route never ceases to amaze with with its beauty and dramatic vistas.

The drive to Leadville was terrific. A rainstorm was coming in when we passed through there and it was magnificent!

We will be driving from SF to Monterey. How long is the drive if we take PCH? Is that portion very scenic or will be need to go further south? We will only be there two days though. Thanks.

SF to Monterey is the least scenic part of the highway.

As Utahtea said, too many to choose just one. Some of my favorites:

The million dollar highway from Durango to Ouray. Also, any of a dozen other drive in Colorado.

The coast of Maine

The Gold Rush Trail - Hwy 49 in the Sierra foothills of California.

I also vote for those Utahtea selected, especially Hwy 12.

The Coast Hwy from Mendecino Point to The Olympic Peninsula

And, slightly outside of the geographic area you specified, my absolute favorite in the US, the highway from Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage to Seward.

SF to Monterey is less scenic than south of Monterey, but it's still beautiful and very worth the drive, IMO. If this stretch of highway were any place else, people would probably rave about it, but it happens to be just north of some of the most beautiful coastline in the world - perspective is everything. It should take about 2 1/2 hours.

While you are in Monterey, make sure you drive down past Carmel. You will be amazed!

AZ: Oak Creek Canyon, coming down from upper elevations and firs of Flagstaff down to Sedona's red rocks. AND keep your windows open, you can hear the big creek waters rushing by many times, esp. during spring thaw.

I'd vote for California's Coast Highway between SLO and Carmel.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned The Blue Ridge Parkway, which I also found quite impressive.

My home state of Michigan's most scenic drive has got to be the "Tunnel of Trees" along the bluffs of Lake Michigan from Harbor Springs Northward. It is occasionally reminiscent of the PCH.

PaulRabe

My atlas shows 61 going northeast along the coast from Duluth to Grand Portage, but not northwest to Grand Rapids . . is that the route you were thinking about? . . we'll be up there in a couple of weeks and are looking for a good scenic drive.

How far north would we have to drive? . . it is out of our way, but not so much we could not take a extra day to do it

Thanks . .Rich