North America has boundless beauty that would take months to fully explore on a road trip. Luckily, there are some amazing scenic drives that can be done in a single day. Here are the best scenic drives you can do in a day.
1. Route 1 Big Sur Coast Highway
Part of the larger Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1 Big Sur Coast Highway in California is one of the most scenic drives in North America. Easy to drive in just a day, this scenic drive is 72 miles of pure beauty with gorgeous oceanfront vistas and passes by an elephant seal colony and redwood forest.
2. North Shore Drive
At 143 miles, this scenic route is perfect for a day trip. Minnesota’s North Shore Drive travels along the shore of Lake Superior, passing through several state parks as well as the beautiful Superior National Forest. You will see picturesque lighthouses dotting the massive lake’s shoreline as you drive from Duluth to Grand Portage, near the Canadian border.
3. Trail Ridge Road
Passing through Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado’s Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved road in the United States, reaching elevations over 12,000 feet high. Wildlife watchers will love this scenic drive with plenty of bighorn sheep and elk sightings along the way.
4. Cabot Trail
Located on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, the Cabot Trail is 185 miles of gorgeous scenery and perfect for a day trip. This coastal drive takes you through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and is replete with stunning ocean views and towering cliffs, and forests with colorful foliage in the fall.
5. Going-to-the-Sun Road
Although this scenic route is only fully accessible during the summer months, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana is 50 miles of awe-inspiring sightseeing. Passing through the northern Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park, you will see everything from snow-capped peaks to pristine glacial lakes and meadows as well as wildlife sightings.
6. The High Road
This 56-mile route known as the High Road begins in the desert in New Mexico’s Sante Fe and climbs to the town of Taos, located in the Rocky Mountains. As you pass through the desert, you will see quaint adobe towns and the Carson National Forest before ending at San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, made famous by artists Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams.
7. Route 100
Perfect for a day road trip, the scenic Route 100 in Vermont takes you along the spine of the Green Mountains, with views of ski towns, maple syrup mills, and old barns. The best time to take this 200-mile drive is during the fall months when the leaves explode with color.
8. Blue Ridge Parkway
Passing through the Carolinas and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic 500-mile drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park. If you are a fan of autumn colors, be sure to make this drive during the fall when the leaves change colors.
9. Sea to Sky Highway
British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway takes you through 100 miles of some of Canada’s most beautiful scenery, from Vancouver to Whistler. From glacial lakes and waterfalls to snow-capped mountains, this scenic drive is one of the best day trips in North America.
10. U.S. 1
Explore the exotic Florida Keys via U.S. 1, which connects the small islands from Key Largo to Key West. This scenic drive affords you panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and coral reefs and passes over one of the longest bridges in the world, Seven Mile Bridge.
Not in the mood to drive? Many USA Tours including fall foliage tour vacations and National parks tours include these scenic drives in their itinerary.
