7 Scenic Drives To Take This Summer

The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for the summer of the road trip in 2020, and while more destinations have since reopened and fully vaccinated travelers will find far fewer obstacles this year compared to last, America's scenic highways and byways remain as appealing as ever. For those looking to hit the road this summer, here are the breathtaking routes not to be missed.

While California's iconic Pacific Coast Highway can be completed in a day if you're in a hurry, you're better off giving yourself several to explore the Golden State's spectacular coastline. Regardless of whether starting your road trip in San Francisco or Southern California, travelers are in store for a slew of pleasant surprises, including overlooked cities like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo and one-of-a-kind experiences like traversing the Bixby Creek Bridge and spotting the elephant seals of San Simeon.

The Hana Highway or Road to Hana on the Hawaiian island of Maui is a 52-mile coastal route connecting Kahului and Hana that requires lots of patience. The journey includes a whopping 617 hairpin curves and dozens of one-lane bridges. Plus, the speed limit doesn't exceed 25 mph. Nonetheless, if you've got the time you won't regret spending it on the Hana Highway, which wows drivers with waterfalls, lush rainforest, beaches and mouthwatering roadside stands.

Stretching 113 miles through the sun-kissed Florida Keys, the Overseas Highway is the only route to Key West, but that doesn't mean it lacks scenery. The journey to the southernmost point in the continental U.S. is every bit as much fun as the destination in this case as travelers will pass numerous roadside attractions and cross dozens of bridges, including the iconic Seven Mile Bridge connecting the Middle and Lower Keys.

The drive between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico is best experienced on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, a 50-mile journey rewarding road trippers with splendid scenery enhanced by the Sandia Mountains as well as plenty of charm in the form of historic mining towns like Golden, Madrid and Cerrillos.

You'll have to head out west to explore America's first scenic highway in Oregon's Historic Columbia River Highway. Constructed over a century ago, the "King of Roads" spans more than 70 miles along the magnificent Columbia River Gorge, treating road trippers to amazing views of the river, waterfalls, mountains and cliffs that are guaranteed to make them feel as if a car commercial has come to life.

Washington's Cascade Loop is a phenomenal road trip taking drivers on an epic journey through some of the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer, including one-of-a-kind destinations like the Bavarian village of Leavenworth and the stunning wilderness of North Cascades National Park. The diversity of landscapes set the Cascade Loop apart from other scenic routes, but having so much to explore means road trippers will need to leave themselves plenty of time to stop and take in their surroundings.

The best way to experience Wisconsin's underrated Door peninsula in as little time as possible is by making the 66-mile drive along the Door County Coastal Byway. Recently granted National Scenic Byway status by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the DCCB features plenty of open and winding roads boasting superb views of forests, mighty cliffs, Green Bay and Lake Michigan as you make your way north from Sturgeon Bay. If you've got the time, you'll want to stop and check out some of the quaint villages along the route like Egg Harbor.