10 American Road Trips That Are Big on Scenery & Low on Driving Time
You want the epic views.
You want the kind of scenery that stops you mid-sentence.
But you also have a life.
Maybe you have kids in the backseat who max out after two hours.
Maybe you just hate the idea of spending your whole vacation behind a steering wheel.
Good news: some of America’s most jaw-dropping drives are surprisingly short…
1. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana
Fifty miles is all it takes to cross the Continental Divide through one of America’s most dramatic mountain landscapes.
This engineering marvel climbs to 6,646 feet at Logan Pass, carving through glacier-carved peaks, past turquoise alpine lakes, and alongside waterfalls that tumble right down to the road.
The whole drive takes about two hours without stops, though you will stop.
Vehicle reservations are required during peak season, and vehicles over 21 feet are prohibited on the alpine section, so plan accordingly.
2. The Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
At just 34.5 miles, the Kancamagus packs an absurd amount of beauty into one of America’s shortest designated scenic byways.
It winds through the White Mountain National Forest, climbing to nearly 3,000 feet before dropping down past waterfalls, swimming holes, and covered bridges.
In fall, the foliage here is considered some of the best in the world.
There are no gas stations or services along the route, so fill up in Lincoln or Conway before you start.
3. 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, California
Seventeen miles of California coastline that feels like driving through a postcard someone forgot to color inside the lines.
Wind-sculpted Monterey cypress trees cling to rocky outcrops above the Pacific, and the famous Lone Cypress has been holding its ground on its granite pedestal for over 250 years.
The drive passes world-famous golf courses and some of the most expensive real estate in America, all accessible for about twelve bucks at the gate.
That fee gets reimbursed if you spend thirty-five dollars or more at any Pebble Beach Resort restaurant.
4. Red Rock Scenic Byway, Sedona, Arizona
Just 7.5 miles of road deliver some of the most photographed landscapes in America.
The iron-rich sandstone formations along State Route 179 glow orange, red, and amber depending on the light, and landmarks like Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock look like monuments from another planet.
You can drive the whole thing in twenty minutes, but nobody does.
This stretch earned the All-American Road designation, one of only a handful in the country, for scenery that genuinely cannot be found anywhere else.
5. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Utah
Six miles of road deliver 2,000-foot canyon walls that seem to close in around you as you follow the Virgin River into the heart of Zion.
This is the kind of place where your neck hurts from looking up.
From March through November, private vehicles are not allowed on this road, so you will ride the free park shuttle and stop at trailheads along the way.
In winter, you can drive it yourself, and the canyon takes on a quieter, more contemplative quality.
6. Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
The mileage says 64 miles, but the 620 curves and 59 one-lane bridges mean this drive takes most of a day.
That is the whole point.
Black sand beaches, roadside waterfalls, bamboo forests, and lava tubes appear around every blind turn, and the lush green scenery feels almost impossibly tropical.
Start early, bring snacks, and accept that this is not a drive you rush through.
7. Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
One hundred thirteen miles of road strung across 42 bridges, island-hopping from mainland Florida all the way to Key West with turquoise water on both sides.
The Seven Mile Bridge alone is worth the trip, stretching across open ocean with nothing but water and sky in every direction.
This drive takes about four hours without stops, but you will want to stop for key lime pie, roadside seafood shacks, and the turtle hospital in Marathon.
Mile markers count down to zero at Key West, so you always know exactly how far you have come.
8. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
One hundred five miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with 75 overlooks offering views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Virginia Piedmont to the east.
The speed limit is 35 miles per hour, which feels about right when the scenery looks like this.
In fall, the foliage rivals anything in New England, and you can access over 500 miles of hiking trails, including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, directly from the road.
Deer, black bears, and wild turkeys regularly cross the pavement, so keep your eyes up.
9. Utah Scenic Byway 12
One hundred twenty-two miles of road that connects Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef through some of the most geologically diverse terrain in America.
The colors change every few miles, from red rock hoodoos to pine forests to slickrock desert, and the Hogback section crosses a narrow ridge with thousand-foot drop-offs on both sides.
This is an All-American Road, a designation given to routes so exceptional they are destinations in themselves.
The drive takes about two and a half hours without stops, but plan for a full day if you want to explore the slot canyons and overlooks along the way.
10. Kolob Canyons Road, Zion National Park, Utah
Five miles of pavement lead to views that most Zion visitors never see.
This northwestern section of the park is less crowded than the main canyon, and the finger canyons here display the same dramatic red and white Navajo sandstone in a more intimate setting.
The road climbs over 1,100 feet to Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, where you can take a short walk on the Timber Creek Overlook Trail for even bigger views.
The whole drive takes about fifteen minutes each way, making it one of the highest payoff-to-time ratios in the national park system.
Not every road trip has to eat your whole vacation.
Sometimes the best drives are the ones that leave you time to actually get out and explore.
These ten prove that epic scenery does not require epic hours behind the wheel.
