Road trip! 10 of America’s most beautiful highways & byways

Route distance: 125 miles

Suggested time: 2 to 4 days

Best time to do the drive: Mid-May to mid-October

The 147-mile Bold Coast National Scenic Byway in Maine isn’t the longest drive on our list, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. Get the authentic Down East Maine experience with history, crashing waves and vast landscapes. Wander from Milbridge in the west to Cherryfield before dipping down to Jonesport along the coast. Keep following a meandering path to hit towns like Machias and Lubec before ending up at Eastport on the coast. Spend a few days exploring to get the most from this trip. If you go in spring, you’ll find plenty of flowers in bloom, but if you wait until fall, you may catch the dazzling display of the leaves changing colors.

Route distance: 122.9 miles

Suggested time: 3 to 5 days

Best time to do the drive: March, April and October

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12  also known as s “A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway” connects Wayne and Garfield counties with 124 miles of beautiful byway. You can do the drive in a couple of days, but why not take your time and explore the sights? There’s plenty to see along this short route, including Dixie National Forest, where you’ll find almost two million acres of plateaus, lakes, and valleys. That isn’t even the only national park. There’s also Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks. You can drive through the iconic red rock arches or check out Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. There’s so much to see on this relatively short route that you might feel like it’s a lot longer than it actually is.

Route distance: 180 miles

Suggested time: 1 week

Best time to do the drive: between December and March

The Florida Keys aren’t just a place to stop and lay on the beach. There’s also 180 miles of road trip to be had here. The Overseas Highway takes you from Miami to Key West, with lots to experience along the way. It can get really hot here, so you might want to plan a winter trip for this drive. No matter when you go, give yourself about a week so you can see all the attractions long the way, including the many beaches in your path and Bahia Honda State Park. You can explore the Key West Lighthouse and historic Ernest Hemingway House or see Dry Tortugas National Park. Or do it all by setting aside enough time to take in everything this route has to offer.

Route distance: 49.71  miles

Suggested time: 2 days

Best time to do the drive: early July to late September

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a trip that takes some planning. It isn’t open all year, and the opening date can vary from year to year, so make sure you check whether the route will be open when you want to drive it. The 52-mile highway can take two days to drive because of all the things to explore along your way. It winds through Glacier National Park, with attractions like Logan Pass and Many Glacier Valley. Some people even travel the road in both directions, as you can get a very different experience going one direction and then the other.

Route distance: 408.8  miles

Suggested time:  1 week

Best time to do the drive: Late summer,  early fall

Loneliness isn’t always a negative, as the Loneliest Road proves. This journey across Nevada spans 400 to 500 miles and typically takes two to four days, though you can certainly take longer if you want to enjoy the sights. The name comes from a 1986 article that claimed there were no points of interest on the route and that travelers should be confident in their survival skills before driving it. While this road is certainly wide open, that has become part of its appeal. It leads to several worthwhile detours, such as historic mining towns and even state parks. You can see Great Basin National Park or enjoy towns like Austin, Eureka, and Ely, which are all packed with history.

Route distance: 2,170 miles

Suggested time: 2 to 3 weeks

Best time to do the drive: June to September

The name “Oregon Trail” is a bit misleading, as this trail actually stretches all the way from Cape Cod on the East Coast to the Columbia Gorge on the West Coast. That accounts for more than 2,170 miles – and that’s without the many worthwhile detours like Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. Many people start in the west and make their way back east, contrary to the historic purpose of the trail. And while this can be done in less than a week, many spend multiple weeks on this road trip. You can see Iowa’s Field of Dreams, stop for a break in Chicago or discover the beautiful Finger Lakes.

If you’re hankering for the open road, stunning views and historic sites, there’s no wrong road trip to pick off our list. A long drive is a great way to experience the country, whether you’re looking for national parks, a sun-drenched beach or a thrilling attraction. Plan your trip well in advance to get the most out of these drives. The time of year can impact some of these drives dramatically. Others are great all year round, but planning ahead can still let you plot out your stops so you get the most out of your adventure. Pack up the car and hit the road today.