Most beautiful stretch of road in the US

OK...this will not be a poll...

There are just too damn many fine stretches of highway in this country...

So I'll throw in mine.


Oregon. Highway 34. The stretch from Lebanon to Bend. The part that starts off in what looks like rainforest, and the ferns are slowly dusted with snow as you climb, and climb, and climb...

And soon you find yourself in gorgeous snow country.

Soon followed by the best second of 126/20 from Eugene to Bend (also Oregon) that follows the McKenzie river all the way up into the snow covered mountains.

I've been all over the continental US, and Alaska too. I've never seen anything that compares. You could almost believe you've passed over.

absolutely beautiful

I believe it reaches the highest altitude of any US road. Way up into the mountain tundra.

although I haven't been there in a long time, and you now have to deal with pollution limiting the visibility

One of these days I will drive it....

Absolutely breathtaking.

although the traffic is a bear.

but really, but me on the amtrak coast starlighter or the trip i'd really like to take is the the trans-canada rail. i hear that's a gorgeous ride. and then i don't hafta drive.

baltimore to philadelphia

i'm sure there are some very pretty routes out there, but this is the best we have around here, IMO. very nice alternative to the hectic, high-speed alternatives.

Start in Harrison AR and drive up onto the Ozark plateau. You eventually go into Boxley Valley. There's a herd of elk here, and the Buffalo River, which has not been dammed and is great for canoeing. Take a side trip and you can see Lost Valley with its spectacular rock formations, or go to Bat Cave, a large wild cave just up the mountain. Finally, take a drink from Llewellyn Springs at the southern end of the valley. Its mostly forest and there are some spectacular views. If you're lucky, you'll see a great blue heron or a bald eagle.

I'm very lucky, because this is my daily commute to work!

PCH..California 1, between Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg was pretty spectacular, but the road to and up through the Capay Valley in the Coast Ranges was pretty spectacular too.]

I didn't do it the last time I visited CA, I'm determined to do it this time. I'll be going from Santa Monica to Monterey. Any must see stops along the way, other than Big Sur?

Colorado State Highway 17 coming down from La Manga Pass in the morning.

in the fall when the aspens are on fire with bright yellow leaves shimmering in the sun. It is breathtaking and I am lucky enough to call it my 'backyard.'



2nd choice: Highway 1 along the west coast from Washington State to northern California or vice versa. An incredible drive!

Kaua'i

goes past Koko Head, Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, "Sandy's" Beach, Sea Life Park, and the Magnum, P.I. estate, all in about 10 miles.

truly the great corniche road in the USA. One of the first limited access highways in the USA

The vast blue horizon of Lake Michigan to the left, fringed by beach, the skyscraper cliffs of Chicago to the left, bowing in and out with the bounds of Lincoln Park....with the art deco details of the bridges




..from the air...really doesnt do it justice.

road to drive on in Chicago! It's very beautiful and I really miss it.

Haven't had a chance to check out Bend or Eugene, but I've spent some time in Astoria and driving some of the coastal highway. I'm totally in love with Oregon and can't wait to get there (from Texas). We're finishing up our packing and projects on the house so we can list it, then we are OUTTA HERE!

On our drive out, I'll suggest we check out 34. Although there won't be any snow, I'm sure it's still beautiful. And I'll be sure to check it out when there is snow.

Hooray!

RV

When I lived in Corvallis, I went to Sisters with some friends. We decided to take the alternative route back, even though there was a sign saying, "Road closed due to snow."

It was May, and there was no snow to be seen, so we just assumed that they had forgotten to take down the sign. We thought that until we had climbed a bit and found the road blocked by a sudden wall of snow.

Oregon is a weird mix of Rednecks and Hippies peacefully coexisting for the most part....

And the scenery...man! You'll love it.

Mine is in Oregon, too.

Oregon 218 from Fossil to Shaniko.

What's it like? Should I do it my next trip to Eugene?

The John Day Fossil Beds, the John Day River, a straight-on view of the eastern Cascades, incredible rock formations. And almost no traffic, save the occasional tractor, hay truck, or cattle crossing. A slice of Oregon seldom seen.

I drove that one a few years ago, I'll never forget it.

At one point you get to about 11,000 feet and feel like you can see forever...

Some rich and varied topography in Yellowstone country.

Amazing views. Good place to drive.

Damn, I miss Montana.

this picture was taken in late June a few years ago up there.

I also like driving through the Olympic National Forest.

that left out of Sekiu that went along the cliffs at the ocean then dipped to the HoKO river.

Yes, the Midwest!

The North Shore of Lake Superior between Two Harbors and the Canadian border.

The Mississippi River between Red Wing, Minnesota and La Crosse, Wisconsin.

further south of la crosse. also old rt.2 down the rock river from rockford il to rock island il.

The drive from Lacrosse to Prairie Du Chien is one of my favorite places to be.

From it's start at I-15 in Utah all the way to Denver.

Just amazing.

The cliffs, the canyons, the rock formations in Utah are magnificant. Then you hit the Rocky Mts...

When I saw the title of the thread that is the stretch of highway which came to mind. Stunning drive.

Any reccomendations?

We're planning on 2 weeks...1 week in Utah, one in Colorado.

on a honda 450 thirty two years ago. remember when rockies first came into view.

Now, I'm willing to bet theres nicer roads, but this is the one closest to home and closest to my heart.

Cuts straight across the Everglades and related ecosystems. Althought there's more development now than 20 years ago, most of it runs through protected areas.

Here's the rest of my ten:

2. US 90 Del Rio to Marfa TX, where the southwest begins
3. US 101 Astoria to Florence OR, makes you want to trade it in for a VW bus
4. WV 55 Wardensville-Elkins-Richwood WV: This is probably the best overall mix of Appalachian forests, geology, and small towns.
5. Choose your route, NW Wyoming. 14/14A, 287, 212, can't choose.
6. US 1 Homestead to Key West. Not as good as it was over the old Flagler rail line, in less built up days, but probably still the best East Coast beach route. Runners up NC 12 and US 98 St Marks to Panama City FL.
7. US 550 Durango-Montrose CO. My favorite Rocky Mtn. Pass highway outside Yellowstone.
8. US 40 Cumberland MD-Uniontown PA. One of the better segments of historical roads.
9. Broadway, NYC. I can't think of a better urban road.
10. US 50. I'll take this one as my cross-country choice.

Spearfish Canyon US 14A



Needles Highway SR 87



Badlands SR 240

but I'll second the drive following the McKenzie river.

My pic in the gallery is me standing right there.

The Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway (if you like lots of waterfalls and seeing the results of the Great Missoula Flood)

The Redwoods Highway (Grants Pass OR to Crescent City CA)

The hwy from John Day OR through Picture Gorge and the John Day Fossil Beds, the Painted Hills through Fossil up the plateau through Condon and the windmills through Waco coming out at the Columbia at Biggs (several hwys)...extremely isolated country but there are people here and there...a few!

the Beartooth highway. It straddles the Montana/Wyoming border on the way to Yellowstone Park. The Beartooths are huge, awesome mountains. The highway goes up right over the top of it, above the tree line. The views are incredible. You can look down into mountain valley with mountain lakes...you can see forever.

I lean toward the tropical life, and green-blue oceans.:hippie:
It has been 12 years since I have been there, immediately after Hurricane Andrew, the Keys survived much better than south Miami.
I haven't been back since, but would like to.

I was a kid in Miami and my granpdarents lived gulfside in Key Largo.

So for us, the song went "Down through the swamp and into the Keys, to grandmother's house we go!" :)

Hwy 61 (of Bob Dylan lore) from Duluth, MN to Grand Marais, MN.

'specially around Exit 13.

It makes your eyes tear, it does.

.

I guess I'll know it when I see it. Maybe the roads within the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but maybe not. Not sure yet.

The Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper, Alberta. I've been through many times and it just gets more spectacular.

keep your eyes open, its pretty coming back too

God's country.

through the Texas Hill Country is nice as is Highway 220 I believe that takes you east-west through the Hill Country.

It's been a long time since I travelled from Savannah to Darien; but I remembered reading Sidney Lanier's poem before I saw the Marshes that inspired him. This is one of those places that profoundly touches your soul. Here's a map: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/plan-prog/planning/projects/scenic_byways/altamaha.shtml

is worth a mention

Magnificent in summer or winter, weaving around the lake with gorgeous tree lines alongside. The road on the western side is more removed from the lake and not as scenic.

Northofdenali needs to chime in on this thread. She could isolate the most breathtaking stretches of Alaskan highways, too many to mention or for me to remember. I loved every minute of touring Alaska, even with my Landcruiser totally covered with mud.

Although not as spectacular as some mentioned, this is a really pretty and fun drive if you are ever in Southeast Oklahoma. It goes from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena ( yes that Mena) Arkansas.

For a "virtual tour" click: http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/virtual_tour.html

Through the Nez Pierce Reservation in Idaho....I think its Hwy 12....

I used to call on the coal mines in northern West Virginia. Route 7 and Route 218 were beautiful drives. Nothing but high hills and rolling green...

JM

That incredible cathedral to modernism, the Gary U.S. Steel plant in all its glory.

The Frank Borman expressway ? Cline Ave, I-65, Burr St, and all in that area ? I worked at the Gary Tube Works for 8 years before Reagan let the imports close the plant.

...to the U.S. Steel plant and (across the highway) the Gary Rail Cats stadium (one of the nicest-looking minor league ballparks I've ever seen).

I don't know why I'm such a sucker for steel and fire....

I forgot about that way.

Spent the night in Fayetteville, got up at dawn to finish my drive from Chicago to Houston. Wonderful drive, great scenery through the Ozarks.

The Pacific Coast Hwy through Marin is also a favorite.

And of course, Wisconsin Rt 18 to 151, Madison to Dubuque is really pretty too, especially in Autumn.

US 20 from about Concrete, WA east to the desert. Another spectacular view around each curve. The hits just keep comin'.

:hi:

they are spectacular in the spring, starting with bluebonnets (the state flower) sometime in March and then extended through the summer with different flowers blooming at different times. The autumn foliage in the Hill Country of Central Texas is also beautiful. The Texas DOT even has a wildflower hotline - 800-452-9292 - that gives information on the roadsides that have the best displays of flowers. They also have information on fall foliage in the fall (duh!)

Here's a good Texas Wildflower site:

http://www.lone-star.net/mall/txtrails/wildflowers/index.html

This is a Texas Tourism site, but has several driving tours mapped out that you can take depending on your interests:

http://traveltex.com/?SN=5318910&LS=0

Alps, Northern Cali...from McKinnleyville to Redding........

Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but I love it out there.

You're talking about my hometown!

Like you said, not everyone's idea of heaven on earth, but I love it!

I'd give you the "gee, I've never met anyone from Tucumcari" routine, but I get that when I tell people I'm from *Oklahoma*, so I know how obnoxious it is. :)

I never got to spend much time south of Albuquerque, but the whole northern half of the state is pretty much my idea of paradise, yes. *sigh*

One can, at the right time of the year, go through 5 different seasons on a hundred mile stretch.

The road that takes one through the Painted Desert in No. Arizona, and the one that goes through Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains.