It's gotta be the Historic Columbia River Hwy(AKA Old US 30) Great views of the Columbia River while you just wind through a forest. Very much a highway you have to appreciate. 2nd place is probably US 101 in the Central and North Coast, just so many spectacular ocean views in that part of the highway.
Mile for mile? If so, CA 49 in California. CA 1 has a couple top shelf segments such as Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur and the Shoreline Highway. Trouble is a lot of mileage included in the PCH segment is urban arterial and thus drags the scenery factor down.
I would go with MA 2 between the NY border and Greenfield. Massachusetts isn't the most impressive state for roads.
Nominations for Illinois:
- I-24 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/dKQ67sLF2TgQUeW58) if one omits most of the section south of the Big Bay/New Columbia interchange.
- IL 145 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/XWoMpbuAf7awRPgJ7) (omitting the section from Harrisburg to a little south of IL 34.
I might be biased, but QC 199. Island scenery is nice.
In Connecticut, going by metrics, CT 41 is officially a scenic road for its entire length, from NY border to MA border (17.87 miles).
CT 169 is more famous (and is a national scenic byway), but has some outlier sections: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dSBzNd2Zq2hMii7r8
In California, it's US-395. The best part is from Owens Lake up to the NV state line. Most of the time, you can see ahead for miles, but also have major mountains right next to you. Snow-capped peaks in the winter, Aspens in the canyons in the fall, wildflowers in the spring and summer. Several major POIs: Mount Whitney, Alabama Hills, White Mountain, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Mountain, Mono Lake, West Walker River Canyon. And the mostly divided four lane road is my favorite style of road.
NV-28 is probably the canonical example when it comes to conventional scenery, but my favorite probably remains I-11 from the Colorado River to Railroad Pass. That being the first part of Nevada I ever saw made a hell of a first impression.
For Michigan there are a few, M-22, M-25 and M-26 all rank high.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 04, 2024, 07:20:13 AMFor Michigan there are a few, M-22, M-25 and M-26 all rank high.
Plus M-185 and the former M-107.
A similar thread I started back in the day - https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=27496.msg2527158#msg2527158
In Wisconsin, WI-131 in the southwest part of the state.
IN 1 between I-74 and US 50
IN 135 between IN 46 and US 50
Quote from: SEWIGuy on December 04, 2024, 10:10:40 AMIn Wisconsin, WI-131 in the southwest part of the state.
I'd go with WI 13 in Bayfield County and WI 55 through Menominee County.
Mike
Quote from: mgk920 on December 04, 2024, 10:31:38 AMQuote from: SEWIGuy on December 04, 2024, 10:10:40 AMIn Wisconsin, WI-131 in the southwest part of the state.
I'd go with WI 13 in Bayfield County and WI 55 through Menominee County.
Excellent choices. WI-55 is beautiful, and lightly travelled, from there all the way to the Michigan border.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on December 04, 2024, 08:58:50 AMA similar thread I started back in the day - https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=27496.msg2527158#msg2527158
And now that I've traveled all of Colorado, I suppose I can expound on my answer from that thread.
Top 10 in no particular order:
CO65 - Goes over the top of Grand Mesa
CO141 - "Utah"-like scenery with lots of red rocks and canyons
CO145 - Awesome curvy drive in the San Juans
CO149 - Feels the most remote of any alpine highway in Colorado
CO92 - The switchbacks next to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison are awesome
CO82 - Independence Pass is pretty epic
CO91 - Hugging right behind a whole stretch of 14ers
CO5 - Climbs to the top of Mt. Blue Sky
CO12 - The drive around Cuchara is one of my favorite
CO139 - Douglas Pass in spring when it's green is awesome
And obviously US550 is the winner for US Routes (Million Dollar Highway) and I-70 the winner for interstates.
As far as I'm concerned NY 73 is the most scenic in NY.
Quote from: vdeane on December 04, 2024, 12:43:34 PMAs far as I'm concerned NY 73 is the most scenic in NY.
For an entire route, yes. There are other candidates, including NY 28 and NY 86, but none that are as consistently scenic end-to-end.
In Arizona if I was looking for a mile for mile winner than AZ 88 is hard to beat.
New Hampshire I would say is either I-93 through Franconia Notch or NH 112 in the White Mountains. Honorable mention for US 302 from Littleton to North Conway.
Quote from: pderocco on December 04, 2024, 12:30:00 AMIn California, it's US-395. The best part is from Owens Lake up to the NV state line. Most of the time, you can see ahead for miles, but also have major mountains right next to you. Snow-capped peaks in the winter, Aspens in the canyons in the fall, wildflowers in the spring and summer. Several major POIs: Mount Whitney, Alabama Hills, White Mountain, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Mountain, Mono Lake, West Walker River Canyon. And the mostly divided four lane road is my favorite style of road.
When my wife went with me for the first time on our Pacific loop (up US 395 to Canada, over to Vancouver, back down on US 101), she said 101 had some pretty parts, but 395 was more dramatic and she preferred the mountain route (so do I).
Quote from: ClassicHasClass on December 04, 2024, 01:11:43 PMQuote from: pderocco on December 04, 2024, 12:30:00 AMIn California, it's US-395. The best part is from Owens Lake up to the NV state line. Most of the time, you can see ahead for miles, but also have major mountains right next to you. Snow-capped peaks in the winter, Aspens in the canyons in the fall, wildflowers in the spring and summer. Several major POIs: Mount Whitney, Alabama Hills, White Mountain, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Mountain, Mono Lake, West Walker River Canyon. And the mostly divided four lane road is my favorite style of road.
When my wife went with me for the first time on our Pacific loop (up US 395 to Canada, over to Vancouver, back down on US 101), she said 101 had some pretty parts, but 395 was more dramatic and she preferred the mountain route (so do I).
While the southern segment US 395 is pretty to look at it falls off considerably near Ridgecrest. 395 swings east towards Kramer Junction whereas CA 14 continues along the Sierra Nevada through Red Rock Canyon.
Now the Redwood Highway segment of US 101 is something the road fandom is missing out on. It starts a little bland north of the Golden Gate Bridge but livens up more and more approaching US 199.
Quote from: MATraveler128 on December 04, 2024, 01:08:02 PMNew Hampshire I would say is either I-93 through Franconia Notch or NH 112 in the White Mountains. Honorable mention for US 302 from Littleton to North Conway.
Pfft. The Kanc is so overrated.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 03, 2024, 11:12:06 PMI would go with MA 2 between the NY border and Greenfield. Massachusetts isn't the most impressive state for roads.
I agree with this for MA. I drove it and it was pretty nice.
Quote from: Revive 755 on December 03, 2024, 11:12:45 PMNominations for Illinois:
- I-24 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/dKQ67sLF2TgQUeW58) if one omits most of the section south of the Big Bay/New Columbia interchange.
- IL 145 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/XWoMpbuAf7awRPgJ7) (omitting the section from Harrisburg to a little south of IL 34.
Although not ;scenic' in the 'nature' way, I have always savored the scenic views from US 41 along the Lake Michigan shore in Illinois.
Mike
I-68
South Carolina's highways are mostly boring and traffic clogged with little variation in foliage anywhere you go. But easily the most scenic that I've experienced is SC 11, the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, specifically from Campobello west to around Salem (have not been on it any further west). Very nice mountain vistas that you just don't see throughout the rest of the state.
There are a couple of other stretches of routes in the Sandhills region that I like a lot because of the unexpected terrain and low traffic volumes, both in Chesterfield County: US 1 from SC 145 outside McBee to US 52 outside Cheraw, and SC 145 from US 1 outside McBee to Chesterfield. The terrain is more rolling than you would expect, and sometimes you can catch a nice vista, especially on SC 145.
For Texas, the answer has to be TX 118. Sure, it has its flat-ish desert portions, but overall it is one of my favorite roads that I have been on (and I haven't even been on the best part of it).
Oklahoma's answer is definitely OK 1, but I am impartial to US 259 and OK 2 as well.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on December 04, 2024, 10:48:52 AMQuote from: JayhawkCO on December 04, 2024, 08:58:50 AMA similar thread I started back in the day - https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=27496.msg2527158#msg2527158
And now that I've traveled all of Colorado, I suppose I can expound on my answer from that thread.
Top 10 in no particular order:
CO65 - Goes over the top of Grand Mesa
CO141 - "Utah"-like scenery with lots of red rocks and canyons
CO145 - Awesome curvy drive in the San Juans
CO149 - Feels the most remote of any alpine highway in Colorado
CO92 - The switchbacks next to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison are awesome
CO82 - Independence Pass is pretty epic
CO91 - Hugging right behind a whole stretch of 14ers
CO5 - Climbs to the top of Mt. Blue Sky
CO12 - The drive around Cuchara is one of my favorite
CO139 - Douglas Pass in spring when it's green is awesome
And obviously US550 is the winner for US Routes (Million Dollar Highway) and I-70 the winner for interstates.
Thanks for the guide. I'll add these to my bucket list.
Well I will submit my nominations for the states I have lived in for roads I have been on.
Illinois:
US 20 - Galena to East Dubuque
US 41 - Lake Shore Dr in Chicago
IL 1 - Mt Carmel to Cave in the Rock
IL 26 - Princeton to East Peoria
Sheridan Rd - Evanston to Zion
Minnesota:
US 61 - Hastings to La Crescent
Mississippi River Blvd - MN 5 to Franklin Ave in St Paul
Wisconsin:
US 45 - Oshkosh to North Fond du Lac
US 51 - Stoughton to Monona
Wis 35 - La Crosse to Bridgeport
Wis 60 - Bridgeport to Prairie du Sac
Wis 67 - Eagle to Oconomowoc, Campbellsport to Kiel
Hwy D - Princeton to Berlin
For me, CO-141 Gateway Canyon. Colorado obviously has many mountain highways and passes, but to me, Highway 141 is the most beautiful and scenic highway with the red rock canyon towering over, between Gateway and Naturita. This highway is also far enough away from the Front Range, that traffic is minimal.
Also, CO-90 near Paradox, just so beautiful.
I didn't plan on taking either of these highways, but after getting rained out and stuck in mud on Rimrocker Trail, we had to take these highways back, and they were a real treat.
Quote from: CoreySamson on December 04, 2024, 01:52:46 PMOklahoma's answer is definitely OK 1, but I am impartial to US 259 and OK 2 as well.
Do OK 325 and see if you still think that.
OK 147 is a hidden gem, as well.
While ive not been everywhere here in my state of Texas, I feel like Interstate 10, US 90, SH 16 may be some of our most scenic.
Interstate 10 is very underrated as far as a long distance route is concerned. While it's certainly no I-70 or I-80, it's incredibly diverse in Texas.
From the swampy wetlands between the Louisiana state line to Houston, the urban landscape of Houston, including the famous 26-lane stretch west of downtown, to the flat fields between Houston and San Antonio, the urban landscapes of San Antonio, with the two double decked stretches, then immediately outside San Antonio you get the gorgeous hill country which stretches for miles before slowly becoming desert. Then, the desert and mountains provide quite a stark contrast as you head toward El Paso, which is an underrated city in my opinion.
US 90 has some great scenery in the towns and rural areas too.
Quote from: achilles765 on December 12, 2024, 03:16:22 AMWhile ive not been everywhere here in my state of Texas, I feel like Interstate 10, US 90, SH 16 may be some of our most scenic.
Interstate 10 is very underrated as far as a long distance route is concerned. While it's certainly no I-70 or I-80, it's incredibly diverse in Texas.
From the swampy wetlands between the Louisiana state line to Houston, the urban landscape of Houston, including the famous 26-lane stretch west of downtown, to the flat fields between Houston and San Antonio, the urban landscapes of San Antonio, with the two double decked stretches, then immediately outside San Antonio you get the gorgeous hill country which stretches for miles before slowly becoming desert. Then, the desert and mountains provide quite a stark contrast as you head toward El Paso, which is an underrated city in my opinion.
US 90 has some great scenery in the towns and rural areas too.
Loop 375 in El Paso is my answer for Texas.
My choices would be;
MA-6A, the Kings Highway on Cape Cod.
MA-127 around Cape Ann
MA-2, the Mohawk Trail in western Msss. .
Delaware 9, from Delaware City to its end at Delaware 1 south of Dover.
For Ontario, my vote would be Highway 17, mainly on the strength of the Lake Superior portion.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 03, 2024, 10:55:54 PMMile for mile? If so, CA 49 in California. CA 1 has a couple top shelf segments such as Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur and the Shoreline Highway. Trouble is a lot of mileage included in the PCH segment is urban arterial and thus drags the scenery factor down.
The portion of 1 south of Pismo Beach to Gaviota is underrated...for lack of ocean views! Did that route on a 2020 roadtrip and was surprisingly underwhelmed.
IMO, the most interesting part of that segment is the pre-1988 routing on Harris Grade Road between Route 135 (historic US 101) and Lompoc.
Quote from: Icyhot1111 on December 11, 2024, 10:40:58 PMFor me, CO-141 Gateway Canyon. Colorado obviously has many mountain highways and passes, but to me, Highway 141 is the most beautiful and scenic highway with the red rock canyon towering over, between Gateway and Naturita. This highway is also far enough away from the Front Range, that traffic is minimal.
Also, CO-90 near Paradox, just so beautiful.
I didn't plan on taking either of these highways, but after getting rained out and stuck in mud on Rimrocker Trail, we had to take these highways back, and they were a real treat.
Yeah, I think CO90 was the last one that got cut from my list above for Colorado. Very nice drive.
Quote from: CoreySamsonOklahoma's answer is definitely OK 1, but I am impartial to US 259 and OK 2 as well.
Quote from: Scott5114Do OK 325 and see if you still think that.
OK 147 is a hidden gem, as well.
I'm biased to OK-49, which runs through Medicine Park and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Highways like OK-1 do run on some significant ridge lines in the Eastern part of the state, but those highways are crowded by trees that often block the view. I do like the part of OK-43 where it crosses the dam on the SE side of Sardis Lake. The nice thing about OK-49 in the Wichita Mountains is the views are more open. Plus there are hiking trails near the road. And you'll probably see some buffalo and wild longhorns. There are things to see and do in Medicine Park. A side road from OK-49 circles up to the top of Mount Scott.
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on December 12, 2024, 06:40:32 AMMy choices would be;
MA-6A, the Kings Highway on Cape Cod.
MA-127 around Cape Ann
MA-2, the Mohawk Trail in western Msss. .
I love all three of those. But for me, 6A and 127 are less about scenery, which is usually natural stuff, and more about the quaintness of the towns. (I lived on Bradford St in P'town for a while, which is 6A.) 2 has that great hairpin just east of North Adams, which is especially beautiful when the foliage is peaking.
Quote from: TheStranger on December 12, 2024, 03:37:02 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on December 03, 2024, 10:55:54 PMMile for mile? If so, CA 49 in California. CA 1 has a couple top shelf segments such as Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur and the Shoreline Highway. Trouble is a lot of mileage included in the PCH segment is urban arterial and thus drags the scenery factor down.
The portion of 1 south of Pismo Beach to Gaviota is underrated...for lack of ocean views! Did that route on a 2020 roadtrip and was surprisingly underwhelmed.
IMO, the most interesting part of that segment is the pre-1988 routing on Harris Grade Road between Route 135 (historic US 101) and Lompoc.
And somehow the collective of the normal person populace somehow doesn't seem to know the Shoreline Highway exists.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on December 04, 2024, 10:10:40 AMIn Wisconsin, WI-131 in the southwest part of the state.
Agreed, and I'd also add WIS 60 west of Gotham. Honestly most of the Driftless Area highways have good scenic bits.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 12, 2024, 05:43:22 PMQuote from: TheStranger on December 12, 2024, 03:37:02 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on December 03, 2024, 10:55:54 PMMile for mile? If so, CA 49 in California. CA 1 has a couple top shelf segments such as Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur and the Shoreline Highway. Trouble is a lot of mileage included in the PCH segment is urban arterial and thus drags the scenery factor down.
The portion of 1 south of Pismo Beach to Gaviota is underrated...for lack of ocean views! Did that route on a 2020 roadtrip and was surprisingly underwhelmed.
IMO, the most interesting part of that segment is the pre-1988 routing on Harris Grade Road between Route 135 (historic US 101) and Lompoc.
And somehow the collective of the normal person populace somehow doesn't seem to know the Shoreline Highway exists.
I think it's because the PHC and Big Sur is between LA and the bay area so people wanting to go between the 2 will often look for a nice way to get there and see that. Not many people are trying to go up to Eureka unless you're the Alan. That area of NorCal is way more off the beaten path.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 13, 2024, 12:15:52 AMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on December 12, 2024, 05:43:22 PMQuote from: TheStranger on December 12, 2024, 03:37:02 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on December 03, 2024, 10:55:54 PMMile for mile? If so, CA 49 in California. CA 1 has a couple top shelf segments such as Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur and the Shoreline Highway. Trouble is a lot of mileage included in the PCH segment is urban arterial and thus drags the scenery factor down.
The portion of 1 south of Pismo Beach to Gaviota is underrated...for lack of ocean views! Did that route on a 2020 roadtrip and was surprisingly underwhelmed.
IMO, the most interesting part of that segment is the pre-1988 routing on Harris Grade Road between Route 135 (historic US 101) and Lompoc.
And somehow the collective of the normal person populace somehow doesn't seem to know the Shoreline Highway exists.
I think it's because the PHC and Big Sur is between LA and the bay area so people wanting to go between the 2 will often look for a nice way to get there and see that. Not many people are trying to go up to Eureka unless you're the Alan. That area of NorCal is way more off the beaten path.
PCH is only from the Rincon Causeway southward. The segment north of Gaviota Pass to the Golden Gate Bridge Cabrillo Highway.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 13, 2024, 12:26:02 AMQuote from: Roadgeekteen on December 13, 2024, 12:15:52 AMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on December 12, 2024, 05:43:22 PMQuote from: TheStranger on December 12, 2024, 03:37:02 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on December 03, 2024, 10:55:54 PMMile for mile? If so, CA 49 in California. CA 1 has a couple top shelf segments such as Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur and the Shoreline Highway. Trouble is a lot of mileage included in the PCH segment is urban arterial and thus drags the scenery factor down.
The portion of 1 south of Pismo Beach to Gaviota is underrated...for lack of ocean views! Did that route on a 2020 roadtrip and was surprisingly underwhelmed.
IMO, the most interesting part of that segment is the pre-1988 routing on Harris Grade Road between Route 135 (historic US 101) and Lompoc.
And somehow the collective of the normal person populace somehow doesn't seem to know the Shoreline Highway exists.
I think it's because the PHC and Big Sur is between LA and the bay area so people wanting to go between the 2 will often look for a nice way to get there and see that. Not many people are trying to go up to Eureka unless you're the Alan. That area of NorCal is way more off the beaten path.
PCH is only from the Rincon Causeway southward. The segment north of Gaviota Pass to the Golden Gate Bridge Cabrillo Highway.
Yeah I just found that out recently which is why I added the Big Sur to my comment.
Quote from: TheCatalyst31 on December 12, 2024, 10:08:57 PMQuote from: SEWIGuy on December 04, 2024, 10:10:40 AMIn Wisconsin, WI-131 in the southwest part of the state.
Agreed, and I'd also add WIS 60 west of Gotham. Honestly most of the Driftless Area highways have good scenic bits.
Strangely(?) I have always been partial to both WI 23 east of Fond du Lac and US 10 through Waupaca County for more major roads.
Mike
Utah SR 12, easily, with SR 95 a close second.
UT 128 and UT 279 have some punching power in terms of scenery.
For Virginia, I would put VA 263 just over VA 175. I wanted to sleep at the western terminus of VA 263 in Orkney Springs instead of driving back down the mountain.
For PA, I have chosen PA 93 (most specifically between I-80 and Berwick) in the sense that you get the scenery without a ridiculous amount of curves at the same time.
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on December 12, 2024, 04:10:31 AMQuote from: achilles765 on December 12, 2024, 03:16:22 AMWhile ive not been everywhere here in my state of Texas, I feel like Interstate 10, US 90, SH 16 may be some of our most scenic.
Interstate 10 is very underrated as far as a long distance route is concerned. While it's certainly no I-70 or I-80, it's incredibly diverse in Texas.
From the swampy wetlands between the Louisiana state line to Houston, the urban landscape of Houston, including the famous 26-lane stretch west of downtown, to the flat fields between Houston and San Antonio, the urban landscapes of San Antonio, with the two double decked stretches, then immediately outside San Antonio you get the gorgeous hill country which stretches for miles before slowly becoming desert. Then, the desert and mountains provide quite a stark contrast as you head toward El Paso, which is an underrated city in my opinion.
US 90 has some great scenery in the towns and rural areas too.
Loop 375 in El Paso is my answer for Texas.
Loop 375 is pretty gorgeous in spots.
US 281 is also rightfully many Texans' choice because it does have some nice views in hill country. But I love the desert and Mountain Views the most personally.
MN:
TH 61
TH 16 from Lanesboro to La Crescent
TH 95 from I-94 to Taylors Falls
WI:
WIS 13 from Ashland to the 90-degree N/S turn west of Port Wing
Texas 170 from Presidio to Big Bend.
Going by the entire length rather than picking an individual section, for Minnesota I would say former MN 249, now Houston CR 249. Although maybe 'highway' is a stretch—much of it is gravel, and even though it was at one point a state highway, it's now the only road maintained by Houston County that is specifically a County Road and not a County State-Aid Highway. For current state highways I would choose MN 61. If choosing individual sections, I'll agree with TheHighwayMan3561 and say MN 16 west of La Crescent, but extended to Preston, not just Lanesboro.
For North Dakota I'd love to pick Old ND 16 from Golva to Marmarth but alas, that section hasn't been a state highway in probably more than half a century. These days it's not even a county highway, just a minimum maintenance road. I suppose scenic highways are generally harder to maintain. I guess for full-length highway I'll say ND 73, for partial length ND 22 between Killdeer and ND 23.
New Jersey here, so I don't think "scenic" comes into mind when it comes to my state. That being said, I'll try pulling something here.
Entire highway length: NJ 94
Segment: NJ 23 north of I-287, NJ 36 between Long Branch and Highlands
NJ 94 takes the cake because of its route through rolling farmland and hills.
NJ 23 north of I-287 passes through multiple mountainous areas.
NJ 36 in that segment directly borders the Atlantic Ocean.