Travel by car: 23 routes to see the most interesting things in America

From the coast of California to the historic streets of New England, the US is full of stunning scenic spots. Sometimes not only nature, but also man-made sights form the basis of travel. Edition Travel and Leisure collected 23 routes for traveling by car, where you can fully enjoy the stunning views.

Hana Highway, Maui

The 52-mile (84 km) journey from Kahului to Hana takes over two and a half hours as you snake past steep sea cliffs covered in flowering mango trees, stopping only occasionally to buy banana bread from roadside stalls and take in the scenery.

In the tiny east Maui town of Hana, a cinder cone protects a red-sand beach where nudists and endangered monk seals lazily bask in the sun. Just past where the road to Hana ends, about a 30-minute walk away, is the must-see Oheo Pools, a gently sloping seven-level gorge in Haleakala National Park.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Carolinas and Virginia

Nearly 469 miles (755 km) of asphalt pavement meandering through the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Park were built for hikers seeking views of the Appalachians. Panoramic route for all seasons: wavy colored slopes in autumn, lush forest cover in summer, and ski resorts in winter. In the mines of the mineral-rich Appalachians, visitors can even mine emeralds, amethysts, rubies, topazes, and gold. This trail is a paradise for nature lovers, with hundreds of bird species and more tree species than in all of Europe.

Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Rock stars of American architecture line this city street like soldiers facing Lake Michigan. Chicago's buildings are definitely stunning, from the blocky staircase of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower, once the world's tallest building) to the Belle Era elegance of Burnham and Rookery, to the austere post-Bauhaus buildings of Mies van der Rohe. It could easily be called the greatest road to explore architecture on earth. Lake Shore Drive is only 15 miles (24 km) long, but you'll want to cut the short trip short with a stop at Millennium Park to visit the iconic Cloud Gate (also known as Bean) sculpture.

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17 Mile Drive, California

The so-called 17 Mile Road circles the stunning Monterey Peninsula in California. Stretching from the cities of Pacific Grove to Carmel, the road skirts the Pacific coast and passes through parts of the Del Monte Forest that belong to the exclusive golf community.

In addition to surf-beaten cliffs, harbor seal colonies and plenty of viewpoints, the route offers breathtaking sunset views. Just off 17 Mile Drive, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has sun-drenched kelp tanks, a paddling pool, and a million-gallon aquarium with basking sharks and sea turtles.

US 1, Florida Keys

Heading from the mainland to the Florida Keys, travelers enter a paradise of beach bars, water sports and parrots. From Key Largo to Key West, the highway links the islands together like beads, passing lighthouses, underwater coral reef parks and crossing a 7-mile (11,2 km) bridge, one of the longest in the world. At the Islamorada docks, travelers can feed bait to tarpon. Further down on Big Pine Key, you'll see some of the most famous residents of the island chain in the National Wildlife Refuge.

Route 12, Utah

The majesty of Utah's red cliffs is triumphantly displayed along State Route 12, which runs between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks. The 124-mile (200 km) strip has quaint little towns and very few entry and exit points, so it takes some effort to witness steep sandstone canyons and purple sage cliffs, as well as a narrow road looming over Hogback Rock halfway through. . Stop by Escalante's artsy log-and-sandstone Kiva Coffee Shop, open Wednesday-Sunday from April to October, for a coffee and stunning views of the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument.

Photo: IStock

Bluebonnet Trail, Texas

Bluebonnet are spiky blue wildflowers native to the southwestern United States. They are especially abundant in Texas (they are the official state flower) from March to May. Start this journey in Austin, home to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center, named after the first lady who made national beautification a priority. Stop to admire a local flower and then travel east on Route 290.

Not only will you see them on the side of the road, but you can admire them to the fullest in Brenham, halfway to Houston. Visit the official Brenham travel site for up-to-date information on where to find the best bluebonnet sites, then travel to Houston to see them bloom at Buffalo Bayou and Hermann Parks.

North Shore Drive, Minnesota

The shoreline of Lake Superior in Minnesota is an incredible beauty. In Duluth, a walkway along the lakefront showcases the city's landmarks, including a rose garden and an airbridge. Nearby, you can see ocean-going tankers anchored in the last inland port of the St. Lawrence Seaway, waiting to be loaded with iron or grain from central America before being shipped out to the world. From Duluth, drive towards Two Harbors, just 30 minutes away, and admire the shining waters of the lake stretching to the right, birches and northern maples climbing high to the left. At your destination, you'll find the Split Rock Lighthouse, now a museum, overlooking the rocky shore of the lake.

Trail Ridge Road, Colorado

Welcome to the highest paved road in the US. Trail Ridge Road begins at the entrance to Beaver Meadows in Rocky Mountain National Park and rises to an elevation of 12 feet (183 km). Crossing the Continental Divide (following the same route the Native Americans once took), visitors can spot elk, deer, and rams. After about a two to three hour drive, you'll reach Grand Lake, Colorado's largest natural body of water, with the historic city adjacent to it. Please note that Trail Ridge Road is not a year-round route and can only be driven in good conditions, typically from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

While the White Mountains are a year-round athlete's paradise, fall fireworks are the undisputed highlights of New Hampshire's 34,5-mile (55,5 km) Cancamagus Highway. Leaf lovers come here in October to see the maple, alder and birch trees sparkling in all their glory. Expect yellow violets in spring.

This route starts in Lincoln and ends in Conway (or vice versa) and takes about two to three hours. However, you will have plenty of time to stop and explore the White Mountains. One of the highlights is the half-mile (800 m) hike to Sabbaday Falls, a three-tiered waterfall that is easily accessible from the road.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

One of the most inspiring public works projects in America runs along the Rocky Mountain range past the snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park, subalpine grasslands and lakes across the Continental Divide. The 50 km stretch takes about two hours to drive. In winter, snowdrifts reach a height of 100 feet (30 m), so «Road leading to the sun» only fully open when conditions permit (usually during the summer months). To learn more about glacier geology, native Native American customs, or the park's ecosystem, complete your trip with classes at the Glacier Institute.

Highway 101, Oregon

Unlike the rest of the West Coast, Oregon's Pacific Coast is wholly owned by the state and therefore open to the public. Some 400 miles (644 km) of beaches along Highway 101 provide tourists with beautifully preserved and unobstructed natural views.

Between Port Orford and Brookings, about an hour away, steep sea cliffs contrast with the grazing farmlands and roaming cattle of small Oregon towns. Pull over when you spot a roadside T-Rex in the Prehistoric Gardens, where 23 life-size replicas of dinosaurs are on display in a rainforest backdrop.

Olympic Peninsula Loop, Washington

This is a picturesque and the only major route on the peninsula. Highway 101 skirts one of the largest wilderness areas in the continental United States. From the base of the peninsula, travel counterclockwise to climb into the Hoh Rainforest, dominated by ancient Sitka spruce and western hemlock.

You can view the San Juan Islands from the top of Hurricane Ridge. At low tide, the pools on the beaches are full of starfish, sea urchins and crabs. Relax in Forks, a creepy logging town that's a must for Twilight fans, and head to Lake Movie Lodge if you're looking for a place to stay.

Route 6, Massachusetts

The easternmost section of Highway 6, which actually runs all the way to Bishop, California, ties together the Cape Cod network of sand dunes, beaches, swamps, tide ponds, and fishing towns. You can take it to music festivals and art galleries in Provincetown, to the bay for family beaches, or to the ocean for panoramic views of the Cape Cod National Coast.

From Anchorage to Valdez, Alaska

The drive from Anchorage to Valdez, which connects the Glenn and Richardson Highways, passes prehistoric glaciers and mountain ranges with so many peaks that many aren't even named. Along 300 Mile (482 km) of the Palmer route, observe domesticated musk oxen, wonders of the Ice Age Alaska landscape prized for their wool. Then the Trans-Alaska pipeline appears and disappears. As you approach Valdez, you'll experience a 30-mile (48 km) descent from Thompson Pass (2678 feet) to sea level through the waterfalls of Keystone Canyon.

Lemhi Pass, Montana and Idaho

Meriwether Lewis came to the ridge of the Rocky Mountains of North America in 1805. Instead of the fabled Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean, Lewis looked west over the mountains and saw more mountains. Decisive visitors can get historic views of Forest Service single lane roads from either Beaverhead Rock Park in Montana or Salmon Challis National Forest in Idaho.

Silverado Trail, California

This is a journey where the food rivals the scenery. Surrounded by dozens of vineyards and wineries, the Silverado Trail on the eastern edge of Napa Valley gives the traveler endless wine options and arguably some of the most delicious food on the American food scene. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' 1973 Cabernet made headlines for outperforming French wines in a blind tasting test.

Ocean Drive, Newport, Rhode Island

This 16 km coastal route is teeming with historic mansions and breathtaking views. The "cottages" of the Gilded Age rival seascapes for stunning splendor, including palatial homes built for the titans of the fin de siècle industry, the Vanderbilts, the Astors and the Morgans. War buffs will definitely want to visit the historic Fort Adams, which was an active United States Army post from the early XNUMXth century until World War II.

Photo: IStock

Park Loop Road, Maine

The loop through Acadia National Park can be completed in an hour. But you'll want to give yourself time to appreciate the high ridges, sheer cliffs, and rugged North Atlantic coastline along the way. An oceanfront cave dubbed the Thunder Hole explodes into a plume of foamy surf as the waves crash against the shore. If you have free time, spend some time on the lobster boat and then take your catch home for dinner.

Highway 143, Tennessee

Set off along the 12,5-mile (20 km) Highway 143 to Roan Highlands in Appalachia to see continuous heather slopes and purple rhododendron flowers blooming in early summer. The high-altitude part of the Appalachian Trail is known for its "bald" peaks (tops covered with dense grass, not trees). Stop to admire them as you take a stroll to Carvers Gap right across the North Carolina border.

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Michigan

This short drive along Lake Michigan's eastern shore, just 7,4 miles (12 km) long, showcases the majesty of giant dunes, dense forest canopies, and a freshwater lake so wide you can't see the opposite shore. The drive would take less than 30 minutes if you weren't distracted by the viewpoints above the lake and dunes. You will cross a covered bridge, reconstructed from a bridge built by Piers Stocking himself in the 1960s. To extend your trip a bit, head five minutes up the South Dunes Highway to take in views of Glen Lake from the top of the Dune Climb, a sand mound estimated to be about 450 feet (138 m) high.

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The High Road to Taos, New Mexico

The 77-mile (124 km) route between Santa Fe and Taos offers one photo op after another: ancient pueblos, deserts, forests, flower meadows and 13th-century adobe towns. The High Road to Taos Scenic Byway passes Chimayo, a haven of art and history with views of Truchas Peak Canyon at 102 feet (3,9 km). Whichever direction you drive, the High Road is surrounded by two towns full of color and personality.

Highway 2, Nebraska

Sandhills (grass-covered sand dunes) make up almost a quarter of Nebraska's territory, meandering in slow, hypnotic curves. Drive any section of Highway 2, which stretches the 52 miles (84 km) from the South Dakota border to Grand Island, for expansive views of the Great Plains and grasslands, and look for cranes at the Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center near Highway 2 in Wood River.

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