Everyone knows about Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. They’re iconic for a reason, but they’re also some of the busiest road trips in America.
If you’d rather skip the crowds and discover roads that most travelers overlook, you’re in luck. Across the United States are scenic byways that wind through mountains, deserts, forests, coastlines, and historic small towns without the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
These underrated road trips offer breathtaking scenery, quirky roadside attractions, fascinating history, and plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy the journey.
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Here are some of the best hidden road trips in America that deserve a spot on your travel bucket list.
Indian Canyon Byway & Nine Mile Canyon, Utah
Distance: Approximately 145 miles
If you enjoy scenic mountain drives combined with fascinating history, this eastern Utah road trip is hard to beat.
Begin in the historic mining town of Helper before climbing through Indian Canyon Scenic Byway. The road winds past colorful cliffs, alpine forests, mountain meadows, and sweeping overlooks as it climbs to Indian Creek Pass at over 9,000 feet before descending toward Duchesne.
From there, continue onto the famous Nine-Mile Canyon Scenic Backway.
Despite its name, Nine Mile Canyon stretches nearly 46 miles and contains one of the largest collections of Native American rock art in North America. More than 10,000 petroglyphs and pictographs have earned it the nickname “The World’s Longest Art Gallery.”
Don’t Miss:
-Indian Creek Pass
-Ashley National Forest
-Native American petroglyphs
-Historic Fremont culture rock art
Vermont Cheese Trail
Distance: About 280 miles
Road trips don’t always have to be about mountains and overlooks.
If you’re a foodie, Vermont’s Cheese Trail combines beautiful countryside with dozens of artisan cheesemakers, charming villages, and working farms.
Drive through rolling green hills while sampling handcrafted cheeses, maple syrup, cider, and locally produced foods.
Shelburne Farms, overlooking Lake Champlain, is one of the highlights. This National Historic Landmark produces award-winning cheddar and offers walking trails, farm tours, and excellent dining.
Highlights:
-Shelburne Farms
-Lake Champlain
-Vermont Creamery
-Covered bridges
Pro Tip: Bring a cooler, you’ll almost certainly fill it before heading home. We like this MIYCOO Cooler Bag with Expandable Double Deck, it is leakproof and keeps food cold all day.
Michigan’s Shipwreck Coast
Distance: About 150 miles
Lake Superior is beautiful, but it’s also one of North America’s most dangerous lakes. History buffs will love this trip.
This unforgettable drive follows Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from Marquette to Whitefish Point, passing rugged shorelines, historic lighthouses, waterfalls, and pristine beaches.
The route also includes Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, where colorful sandstone cliffs rise above brilliant blue water.
Finish at Whitefish Point, home to the fascinating Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where you’ll learn why nearly 300 ships have been lost along this stretch of shoreline.
Can’t Miss:
-Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
-Whitefish Point Lighthouse
-Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
-Lake Superior overlooks
-Historic lighthouses
Pro Tip: You don’t want to forget your camera for this one. If you’re looking for a camera that not only takes great pictures, but records videos we recommend the Kodak PixPro.
Great Plains Adventure, Montana
Distance: Approximately 400 miles
Montana’s wide-open landscapes feel like stepping back into the Old West.
Beginning in Fort Benton, this scenic loop explores buffalo country, historic trading posts, ghost towns, and the rugged Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge.
Along the way you’ll encounter massive prairie landscapes, wildlife viewing opportunities, and some of the quietest roads in the American West.
Don’t Miss:
-Fort Benton
-Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
-Fort Belknap Buffalo Preserve
-Ghost towns
-Missouri River scenery
Talimena National Scenic Byway, Oklahoma & Arkansas
Distance: 54 miles
Running along the crest of Rich Mountain, the Talimena National Scenic Byway delivers incredible panoramic views across the Ouachita National Forest while transversing the Winding Stairs Mountains.
Fall transforms the route into one of the South’s premier leaf-peeping destinations, while spring brings colorful wildflowers and lush green forests.
Numerous overlooks make it easy to stop frequently without hiking.
Highlights:
-Rich Mountain
-Scenic overlooks
-Fall foliage
-Ouachita National Forest
Highway 197, Oregon
If you enjoy quiet roads with almost no traffic, Highway 197 is one of Oregon’s hidden gems.
Running between The Dalles and Madras, the drive passes wheat fields, basalt cliffs, river valleys, and expansive views of Mount Hood.
Nearby White River Falls State Park makes an excellent side trip.
Can’t Miss:
-White River Falls
-Mount Hood views
-Columbia Plateau scenery
-Historic small towns
Highway 395, California
Distance: 155 miles
Many Californians consider Highway 395 one of the most beautiful drives in America.
Running along the eastern Sierra Nevada between Lee Vining and Lone Pine, the highway passes alpine lakes, towering peaks, volcanic landscapes, ghost towns, and countless outdoor adventures.
Visit Mono Lake’s famous tufa towers, explore Devil’s Postpile National Monument, wander through Bishop, and finish in movie-famous Lone Pine.
Autumn is especially spectacular when golden aspens light up the mountainsides.
Don’t Miss:
-Mono Lake
-Devil’s Postpile
-Bishop
-Alabama Hills
-Museum of Western Film History
Anchorage to Valdez, Alaska
Distance: About 300 miles
If dramatic scenery tops your bucket list, few drives rival the route between Anchorage and Valdez.
You’ll pass glaciers, waterfalls, mountain passes, rivers, wildlife, and endless snow-capped peaks. You’ll pass tranquil Eklutna Lake, the Reindeer Farm in Palmer and the hulking Chugach Mountains.
Stop at Matanuska Glacier, Worthington Glacier, and Keystone Canyon before arriving in the picturesque fishing town of Valdez.
Highlights:
-Matanuska & Worthington Glaciers
-Eklutna Lake
-Keystone Canyon
-Reindeer Farm
-Chugach Mountains
Pro Tip: You’ll definitely want digital binoculars for this one. You won’t want to miss getting pictures of the wildlife and mountain summits you pass.
Enchanted Highway, North Dakota
Distance: 32 miles
This quirky road trip proves scenic drives don’t always have to involve mountains. It starts near Gladstone and ends in Regent.
The Enchanted Highway features enormous scrap-metal sculptures created by artist Gary Greff, including giant grasshoppers, pheasants, deer, and the world’s largest metal sculpture, Geese in Flight.
Every sculpture has parking areas and picnic tables, making it easy to stop for photos.
Pair the drive with a visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, about 45 miles, for an unforgettable North Dakota adventure.
Can’t Miss:
-Gift Shop in Regent
-Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Mendocino to Redwood National Park, California
Distance: About 240 miles
This Northern California road trip combines rugged Pacific coastline with some of the tallest trees on Earth.
Travel Highway 101 through charming coastal towns, stop at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, wander Victorian streets in Eureka, and drive beneath towering giants on the famous Avenue of the Giants before reaching Redwood National and State Parks.
Don’t Miss:
-Glass Beach
-Avenue of the Giants
-Eureka
-Redwood National Park
-Pacific coastline
High Road to Taos, New Mexico
Distance: About 105 miles
This cultural road trip showcases New Mexico’s rich blend of Indigenous, Spanish Colonial, and artistic heritage.
Historic adobe churches, mountain villages, local artisan shops, and scenic mountain views make this one of the Southwest’s most rewarding drives.
Finish in Santa Fe, one of America’s premier destinations for art, history, and Southwestern cuisine.
Highlights:
-Ranchos de Taos
-Las Trampas
-Cordova
-Carson National Forest
Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Camden, Maine
Although Interstate 95 is often overlooked as a scenic drive, this stretch of New England coastline offers charming fishing villages, rocky beaches, historic downtowns, and some of the best seafood in the country.
Take time to explore Portsmouth’s historic waterfront, Portland’s outstanding food scene, and finally Camden, often considered one of Maine’s prettiest coastal towns.
Highlights:
-Strawberry Banke Museum
-Portland, Maine
-Coastal Route 1
-Lighthouses
-Camden Harbor
Pro Tip: Use a dash cam on your road trips to record the scenery. You can pull some great pictures from your drive. You’ll be surprised at things you missed along the way.
Tips for Planning a Hidden Road Trip
Exploring lesser-known scenic drives often means fewer services and longer stretches between towns. A little planning goes a long way.
-Download offline maps before leaving.
-Fill your gas tank whenever possible in remote areas.
-Check seasonal road closures before your trip.
-Allow extra time for scenic overlooks and unexpected stops.
Pro Tip: Use roadtrippers.com not only to plan your route, but to find great stops on the trip, places to eat and where gas stations are. Use code BTR5QTP to save $5.
Final Thoughts
America’s most memorable road trips aren’t always the famous ones. Some of the country’s best adventures happen on quiet highways that wind through forgotten canyons, remote mountains, charming small towns, and breathtaking landscapes most travelers never see.
Whether you’re chasing colorful fall foliage in Vermont, towering glaciers in Alaska, ancient rock art in Utah, or giant roadside sculptures in North Dakota, these hidden road trips prove that sometimes the best journey is the one few people know about.
So, skip the crowded highways, take the scenic route, and discover a side of America that’s waiting just beyond the next curve.
We love sharing tips and information we learn along the way to help you plan your next vacation. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.