Five of the greatest driving roads in America for breathtaking views

This amazing route winds along the land-sea border of the Western US, sometimes dipping inward for mountain views before quickly returning to the coast. On one side you’ll see the outermost edge of California, while on the other you’ll see the endless canvas of the Pacific Ocean. 

Due to Highway 1’s mainstream popularity, much of it is busy with (shudders) other cars, construction, cyclists, residences, locals and tourists. That makes the more populated parts of the highway not the best for ‘spirited’ driving, but incredible for slowing down and taking it all in. 

This road cuts through Sedona's scenic red-and-green speckled atmosphere with tight bends and gorgeous views. It's not a particularly long circuit, but is definitely worth a few passes to take in the world around you, because it shows just how varied (and how spookily similar to Mars) our planet’s terrain can be. 

The beautiful thing about driving in Northern California is how one trip in the car can cover all kinds of bases: coastal, mountain, forest, and more. One of the most surreal views you’ll come across is the old, tall forests, where a skinny stretch of road winds through trees far older than anyone driving beneath them. 

A great example of this is Avenue of the Giants, which runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park a few hours north of San Francisco and Sacramento. The tree cover in areas like this creates an enchanted atmosphere, where much of the ground is dim, and the sun pokes through the thick tree cover to glisten on the vegetation below. 

This stretch of road near America’s off-roading hub cuts through all kinds of scenery; vast stretches of sandy nothingness morph into a vegetation-lined view of the Colorado River. From there, the scenery rises into rock formations that soon tower over the road and your car. 

You drive next to both the river and the large rocks that overlook it, wondering if this is actually real and how on earth you got there. It’s like living in a postcard, and it’s a must-see. 

Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the mountains in North Carolina and Virginia. Along its path, there are all kinds of beautiful views, recreation areas, hiking trails, restaurants, and much, much more. 

The parkway covers nearly 500 miles and the beautiful thing about a long, winding road is seeing how the terrain evolves over the drive. (Plus, there are plenty of attractions to stop and experience along the way.)