Western Scenic Drives

Utah's Scenic Highway 12 showcases a land of ancient cultures, pioneers, and explorers -- with a piece of history beckoning around every turn. Learn more about this scenic drive.

By Clark Norton

Washington scenic drives reveal a dramatic coastline, rugged mountain ranges, and gentle valleys. Check out photos, highlights, and detailed maps for three awe-inspring Washington scenic drives.

By Miriam Carey

Utah scenic drives showcase the state's unique terrain, offering lessons in natural history. Check out photos, highlights, and detailed maps for six of the best Utah scenic drives.

By Miriam Carey

New Mexico scenic drives showcase the state's rugged beauty and prehistoric treasures, and present opportunities for outdoor recreation. Learn about six fun-filled New Mexico scenic drives.

By Miriam Carey

Oregon scenic drives amaze travelers with unparalleled views of rugged wilderness and beautiful landscapes. Check out photos, highlights, and detailed maps for nine Oregon scenic drives.

By Miriam Carey

Nevada scenic drives offer mountain ranges, stretches of desert, the Las Vegas strip. Check out photos, highlights, and detailed maps for three of the best Nevada scenic drives.

By Miriam Carey

California scenic drives guarantee eye-catching landscapes, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and breathtaking views. Check out photos, highlights, and detailed maps of five such magnificent drives.

By Miriam Carey

Colorado scenic drives include mountains that provide stunning vistas access to largely untouched wilderness areas and clear starry nights. Check out photos highlights and detailed maps of seven of the most exploring drives in the state.

By Miriam Carey

Idaho scenic drives rugged and untamed feature amazing views of mountains and rivers. Check out photos highlights and detailed maps for three such scenic byways, Northwest Passage Payette River and Pend Oreille.

By Miriam Carey

Crossing over a gorgeous high plateau the Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway forms a scenic passage to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon nature's unsurpassed scenic wonder. Learn more about this amazing drive.

By Clark Norton

Infused with the romance of the Wild West, this route through Billy the Kid country rides the trails of outlaws, sheriffs, and cowboys. Learn more about the Billy the Kid Trail.

By Clark Norton

Ghost towns volcanic rocks hot springs American Indian pueblos campgrounds and forests -- the Jemez Mountain Trail beckons explorers to a land rich in history geology culture and recreation. Learn more about this incredible drive.

By Clark Norton

Ride the historic Santa Fe Trail in the footsteps of Western pioneers Spanish missionaries and American Indian traders. Enjoy prairie vistas rugged landscapes and the other Las Vegas along the way. Learn more.

By Clark Norton

Leave the freeway behind to travel the backcountry Turquoise Trail into a four-season mountain wilderness. Then gaze down from the top of a crest to savor some of America's most stunning views. Learn more.

By Clark Norton

Nevada's Las Vegas Strip -- the most glittering, neon-lit drive in America -- explodes with visual delights as it leads past exotic and lavish casino resorts. Learn about all the must-see spots along this drive.

Paralleling a historic corridor to the West modern-day travelers on Colorado's Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway retrace the routes of pioneers Native Americans traders ranchers and miners. Learn more about this incredible journey.

By Clark Norton

The Continental Divide and the country's highest-elevation community both lie along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway which cruises the mountaintops amid startling closeups of 14000-foot peaks. Discover more about this awe-inspiring scenic byway.

The highest continuous paved road in the United States the Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road offers stirring vistas at every overlook as it climbs through Rocky Mountain National Park. Learn more about this incredible drive.

By Clark Norton

The eastern shore of America's highest alpine lake is the centerpiece of Nevada's Lake Tahoe-Eastshore Drive. This roadway offers an abundance of four-season recreation, from swimming in crystalline waters to skiing snowcapped peaks. Learn more.

By the Scenic Drive Authors

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in Oregon is a feast for the senses and opens up endless opportunities for four-season recreation, both tranquil and thrilling. Learn about this awe-inspiring scenic drive.

By Clark Norton

Designed to offer incomparable views as it sweeps through the Columbia River Gorge, this engineering marvel -- the Historic Columbia River Highway -- is both a scenic byway and a historic landmark. Learn more.

By Clark Norton

Linking Seward to Anchorage, Alaska's Seward Highway offers vistas of snowcapped mountains, shimmering fjords, alpine valleys, ice blue glaciers, and glimpses of wildlife, waterfalls, or wildflowers around every turn. Learn about this beautiful sceni

The Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway offers an uncommon sightseeing journey complete with rugged cliffs sea stacks eagles whales and windy white beaches. Learn more about this incredible scenic drive along Washington's coast.

By Clark Norton

Black lava, white snow, blue lakes, green forests -- Oregon's McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway offers some of the most thrilling closeups of volcanoes in America. Learn about this vivid loop through two high mountain passes.

By Clark Norton

Rambling through Oregon's backcountry, the Outback Scenic Byway attracts such diverse devotees as photographers, birdwatchers, hang gliders -- and drivers who long to escape the beaten path. Learn about the unique aspects of this drive.

By Clark Norton