norshor1

The drive from Sedona, AZ up to Flagstaff, AZ through Oak Creek Canyon is beautiful (Highway 89A). You'll ascend from the red rock country around Sedona up to the Ponderosa pine forests on the Colorado Plateau. And as long as you are in that neck of the woods, you might as well head up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and then drive the rim road (Highway 64) between the Nat'l Park HQ at Grand Canyon Village to Cameron, AZ (on the Navajo Indian Reservation), taking advantage of the various viewpoints along the way.

Crampedin13A

+1

That drive from Denver to Moab is one thing I definitely miss about not visiting the States anymore. Fantastic. Old mining towns,ski resorts, mountains,Eisenhower tunnel,Glenwood Canyon(anyone who ever was into model railroads as a kid will love that),high desert around Fruita,etc. Plus the driving once you get out of Denver is so unstressful.^

tev9999

Thanks for the great info! Hopefully the weather cooperates.

Gardyloo

Thought I'd top this thread as this trip approaches. Over the past 24 hours it's snowed 41 inches at Paradise Inn on Mt. Rainier.

UA Fan

Did this a few weeks ago, and I concur. Some of the drives were right through canyons and was breathtaking.

Maybe it was b/c of cloudy weather, but the route till Portage was average, the road from Portage till Kenai ford was amazing.

Ancien Maestro

California Coastal Highway, Road to Hana, Road on west Maui, Coastal Drive BI, or the highway through BI

CApreppie

California coast from San Diego to the Oregon border, although it is really beautiful into Oregon as well.

CMK10

Arizona:
AZ-87 from Scottsdale to Payson
AZ-89A from Sedona to Flagstaff

California:
CA-1 from Santa Monica to Point Mugu (as far as I've gone, I'm sure it's great north of here)
CA-1 from Santa Cruz to Carmel
The 17 Mile Drive in Monterey
CA-17 from Mountain View to Santa Cruz

North Carolina:
NC-12 on the Outer Banks
NC-49 from Charlotte to Asheboro

CubsFanJohn

Going along the Pacific Coast on the 101
US-2 Thru Glacier Park

RichardInSF

Regarding California:

SR17 doesn't start in Mountain View, it starts where 280 hits 880, there, 880 becomes 17. I don't think it's that scenic. And if the driver gets distracted for a moment on this very busy mountain freeway, it can be very dangerous.

I'd certainly add SR89 around Lake Tahoe and many other parts as well. Also most mountain roads, such as SR108 (Sonora Pass), SR120 (Tioga Pass), SR140 (Yosemite Valley), SR198 (Sequoia Park loop), and on and on! In winter there are the desert roads, SR190 & 178 (Death Valley) and others.

Also SR1 in the northern part of the state has some beautiful stretches.

In Hawaii, don't forget the road around Kaua'i and up into the mountains.

I have to say that people who view the Blue Ridge Parkway as beautiful have never driven on a really scenic road. It's pleasant and even pretty in spots, but that's about it. Maybe the best you can do in the southeast, though.

beaum

I think the drive from Santa Fe to Taos is beautiful. Especially via the high road to Taos.

YVR Cockroach

CA 49 trough California is one of my favorites, as are CA 4, 88, 89, 108 and 120. US 395 from Washington to southern CA must be up there too.

Showbizguru

The Woodford Valley from Amesbury to Salisbury in Wiltshire, UK.

Millions of tourists come within a few hundred yards of this road but thankfully few of them know of its existence.

This is perfect walking country, rich in archaeological treasures, such as Bronze Age barrows and Stonehenge, Wiltshire's most famous prehistoric monument, with the valley dotted with chocolate-box villages filled with idyllic thatched cottages.

It's only about 7 miles long but winds through an undulating chalk valley following the course of the River Avon, one of the best trout-fishing rivers in England.

There are a few houses - ranging from small thatched cottages to grand country mansions,one of which is owned by Sting - and a couple of pubs that could have been the template for every Olde England tavern you've ever seen.

When I was younger I used to run the valley but since I moved away from the area I only get the occasional drive down it once every few years - early morning mid-winter with mist on the river is magical but mid-summer with the hedgerows in full bloom is my favourite time.







Edit: Just noticed OP mentioned routes in the US !

UA Fan

Anymore recomendations? I am considering doing a PCH and Yosemite tour, how many days would I need? I am not someone who spends too much time in one place. My style is to see just the highlights of a place.

cbn42

I recommend the 405 from Northridge to Long Beach

(Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.)