Tunnels have a way of making a road trip feel a little more magical. Maybe it’s because we grew up hearing fairy tales about secret passages and mysterious tunnels leading somewhere unexpected. Even as adults, there’s still something exciting about driving into a tunnel and wondering what’s waiting on the other side.
And when the tunnel is made from towering trees, carved through red rock, or cut into a massive sequoia, the experience becomes part of the road trip itself.
Across the United States, you’ll find some incredible scenic tunnel drives, from tree-covered roads in the South to mountain tunnels in the West. Some are completely natural, created by generations of trees growing over the roadway, while others were carved through rock or even through the trunk of a giant redwood.
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If you’re looking for unusual scenic drives and road trip destinations that are a little different from the usual attractions, add these magical tunnel drives to your list.
Best Tree Tunnel Drives in the U.S.
SE Bridge Road (SR-706) – Hobe Sound, Florida
One of Florida’s most famous tree tunnel drives can be found along SE Bridge Road in Hobe Sound. Nearly a century of growth has created a dramatic canopy of banyan trees that arches over the road.
The Hobe Sound Company planted the banyan trees along the road during the 1930s as part of a landscaping project. Decades later, the trees have grown into the dense, almost otherworldly tunnel visitors see today.
The most photogenic section is near Hobe Sound. After driving beneath the canopy, make some time for Hobe Sound Beach for an easy combination of a scenic drive and relaxing beach day.
Best Time to Visit: All year is a good time for great weather, but early morning and sunset offer the best views.
Road Trip Tip: Slow down and enjoy the scenery, but remember this is a public road, so pull over only where it is safe and legal to do so.
M-119 Tunnel of Trees – Harbor Springs to Cross Village, Michigan
The M-119 Tunnel of Trees is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in Michigan and one of the best-known tree tunnel roads in the country.
The 20-mile route follows the Lake Michigan shoreline between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. Hardwood trees and evergreens line the narrow, winding road, creating a canopy that changes dramatically with the seasons.
Fall is especially spectacular, but there’s something beautiful about this drive throughout the year. The road is narrow and winding, which naturally keeps traffic moving slowly. That’s actually part of the charm; you’re not supposed to rush through this one.
Best Time to Visit: June to August for lush greenery and September to November for fall colors.
Road Trip Tip: Along the way, stop at scenic overlooks for views of Lake Michigan and explore some of the small communities and attractions along the route.
Blue Ridge Parkway – Craggy Gardens, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is already one of America’s most famous scenic drives, but the section near Craggy Gardens at Milepost 364 has an especially beautiful tree tunnel effect.
Hardwood trees and rhododendrons arch over sections of the road, creating a natural corridor that looks completely different depending on the season. Late spring brings blooming rhododendrons in shades of pink and purple, while autumn transforms the canopy into brilliant gold, orange, and rust.
Be sure to stop at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and allow time to explore the area rather than simply driving through. Be sure to bring your digital binoculars for the great views and pictures. A bit down the road you’ll come to a man-made tunnel, Craggy Flats Tunnel.
Best Time to Visit: Late Spring for rhododendron blooms or Fall for colorful foliage.
Road Trip Tip: The surrounding Pisgah region also makes this a great addition to a longer North Carolina road trip, especially if you want to combine scenic drives with waterfalls and mountain overlooks.
Wormsloe Historic Site – Savannah, Georgia
Outside Savannah on the Isle of Hope, Wormsloe Historic Site is home to one of the most recognizable tree-lined avenues in the South.
More than 400 live oaks line the entrance road, their twisting branches stretching overhead and covered with Spanish moss. The result is a classic Southern landscape that looks like it belongs in a movie. The combination of ancient-looking live oaks, Spanish moss, and the historic setting makes this one of the most beautiful tree tunnels in Georgia.
The tree-lined avenue is only part of the experience. Wormsloe also offers a chance to explore the history and archaeological remains of the former colonial estate.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and Fall for the most vibrant colors.
Road Trip Tip: Combine Wormsloe with a few days exploring Savannah for an easy Georgia road trip.
Pig Trail Scenic Byway – Arkansas
The Pig Trail Scenic Byway follows 19 miles of Arkansas Highway 23 through the Ozark National Forest. Known as one of the best curviest roads in America.
Trees crowd both sides of the road, creating long stretches of natural tunnel through the forest. The route is particularly popular with motorcyclists and road trippers because of its winding roads, steep grades, and lack of commercial development. Spring brings wildflowers, while fall turns the forest into a spectacular corridor of red, orange, and gold.
The nearby Mulberry River offers opportunities for fishing and floating, making it easy to turn this scenic drive into a full day of outdoor adventure. Be sure to stop for a roadside view of the Pig Trail Falls.
Best Time to Visit: Spring for wildflowers or fall for foliage.
Road Trip Tip: Pig Trail Scenic Byway is in Ozark National Forest so be sure to explore more areas of the forest including Blanchard Springs Caverns.
Read More: 12 Curviest Roads in America for Epic Scenic Drives and Bucket List Adventures
St. Bernard Highway – Louisiana
Southeast of New Orleans, a section of Louisiana Highway 46 between Meraux and Violet passes beneath an impressive canopy of live oaks.
The road runs through the area around Docville Farm, where mature oak trees arch over the roadway and Spanish moss hangs from the branches. Unlike some famous Southern tree tunnels located on private properties, this is a public road, so you can enjoy the drive without paying admission or planning around tour hours.
Early morning can be especially beautiful, when the low sunlight filters through the trees and catches the Spanish moss.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and Early Summer
Road Trip Tip: This is an easy scenic addition to a New Orleans-area road trip.
Smugglers’ Notch – Vermont
Smugglers’ Notch is one of Vermont’s most dramatic scenic drives, particularly when fall foliage arrives turning maples and birch trees brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Vermont Route 108 winds through a narrow passage in the Green Mountains, where towering hardwoods create a natural canopy above the road. Massive rock formations squeeze the roadway into a narrow corridor, making the drive feel more like an adventure than a simple trip from one town to another.
Allow time to explore Smugglers’ Notch State Park, Smuggler’s Cave and nearby trails.
Best Time to Visit: Fall for fall colors.
Road Trip Tip: The road closes during the winter because of snow and difficult driving conditions. Check current conditions before planning your trip.
Botany Bay Road – Edisto Island, South Carolina
On South Carolina’s Edisto Island, Botany Bay Road creates a beautiful tunnel beneath mature live oaks draped with Spanish moss. The road branches off SC-174 and continues for about three miles toward Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve. The route includes stretches of sand and dirt, so check conditions before heading out.
One advantage of this tree tunnel is that the live oaks remain green throughout much of the year, meaning the tunnel effect isn’t limited to fall.
At the end of the road, you can continue on foot toward Botany Bay and its undeveloped coastal landscape.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and Fall
Road Trip Tip: This is a great choice if you want to combine a scenic drive with a quiet South Carolina beach getaway.
Upper Hoh Road – Olympic National Park, Washington
The drive into Washington’s Hoh Rain Forest is like entering another world.
Upper Hoh Road runs about 18 miles from Highway 101 toward the Hoh Rain Forest, with the forest becoming increasingly dense as you travel deeper into Olympic National Park. Towering Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and bigleaf maple create a green canopy overhead. Moss covers branches and tree trunks, giving the entire landscape an almost enchanted appearance.
By the time you reach the Hoh Rain Forest trailheads, you’ll understand why this area is one of the most memorable places to visit in Olympic National Park. Be sure to allow time for the Hall of Mosses and other nearby trails.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and Fall
Road Trip Tip: The drive itself is part of the experience, so don’t rush to the trailhead.
Maluhia Road – Kauai, Hawaii
You don’t have to stick to the mainland to find amazing tree tunnel roads.
On Kauai, Maluhia Road is famous for its approximately one-mile stretch of towering eucalyptus trees. The trees were planted in 1911 and have grown into a dense canopy that creates one of the island’s most recognizable drives.
The road has a 25-mph speed limit and no designated pull-offs through the tunnel, so this is one you’ll most enjoy from the car. Morning and late afternoon light can filter beautifully through the branches.
The road also serves as a gateway to Koloa and Poipu and connects with the longer Holo Holo Koloa Scenic Byway.
Best Time for Photos: Early morning
Road Trip Tip: Continue beyond the tree tunnel to explore Old Koloa Town and Spouting Horn.
Drive-Through Trees
Some road tunnels are created by trees growing over the road. Others take the idea of a tunnel quite literally; by carving a road directly through a massive tree.
Tunnel Log – Sequoia National Park, California
Sequoia National Park is famous for its enormous trees, including the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume. So, it seems fitting that the park also has one of the country’s most unusual road trip attractions: Tunnel Log.
When a giant sequoia fell across Crescent Meadow Road in 1937, park officials decided not to remove it. Instead, they carved a tunnel through the fallen tree. Today, visitors can drive through the enormous log when the road is open.
Best Time to Visit: June through August
Road Trip Tip: Tunnel Log is just one of many things to see in Sequoia National Park. Give yourself time to explore the giant sequoias, visit General Sherman, and enjoy the park’s mountain scenery.
Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree – Leggett, California
If driving through a giant tree sounds like your kind of road trip adventure, head to northern California.
The Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree is a 2400-year-old coast redwood with a tunnel carved directly through its enormous trunk. It is located inside the privately owned Drive-Thru Tree Park in Leggett. The tree stands about 276 feet tall, and its unusual branches give it the appearance of a chandelier, hence the name.
The park also has walking trails, a duck pond, a gift shop, and other redwood scenery to explore.
Best Time to Visit: May through July
Road Trip Tip: Bring cash or check the website for the current admission policy before visiting, as this is a privately operated attraction.
Scenic Rock Tunnels and Mountain Tunnels
Tree tunnels aren’t the only tunnels worth adding to your road trip itinerary. Some of the most spectacular tunnel drives in America were carved through mountains and massive rock formations.
Nada Tunnel – Red River Gorge, Kentucky
The Nada Tunnel is a single-lane tunnel carved through solid sandstone in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.
The 900-foot tunnel was constructed between 1910 and 1911 by the Dana Lumber Company as a way to transport lumber to a nearby sawmill. Today, the tunnel serves as an unusual gateway into the Red River Gorge Geological Area of the Daniel Boone National Forest.
The surrounding area is an outdoor playground with hiking, rock climbing, scenic overlooks, and other opportunities to explore.
Best Time to Visit: Spring for flowers and green leaves, Fall for autumn foliage.
Road Trip Tip: Because the tunnel is narrow and single-lane, approach slowly and be prepared for vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
Road Trip Idea: Magical U.S. National Forests You Need to Experience
Red Arch Road Tunnel – Bryce Canyon Area, Utah
Located along Scenic Byway 12 near Bryce Canyon, the Red Arch Road Tunnel, also known as the Red Canyon Tunnel, is a completely different kind of tunnel experience.
Instead of trees forming a canopy overhead, the roadway passes directly through brilliant red rock. The tunnel was created in 1925 to improve access to the Bryce Canyon area and has become a popular photography stop.
The contrast between the red sandstone, blue sky, and roadway makes this a particularly striking section of Scenic Byway 12.
Best Time for Photos: Early morning or late afternoon when the light is softer.
Road Trip Tip: As you drive through Dixie National Forest be sure to stop at the overlooks and then head to Bryce Canyon National Park for a day of amazing sights.
Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel – Zion National Park, Utah
The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is one of the most impressive road tunnels in the National Park System. The tunnel is particularly important for road trippers traveling between Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.
Built in 1930, the 1.1-mile tunnel carries Route 9 through the massive sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park. One of the most interesting features is the series of large windows carved into the tunnel walls. As you drive through, these openings provide brief glimpses of Zion’s dramatic landscape.
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or evening to avoid crowds
Road Trip Tip: Because of the tunnel’s narrow design and heavy traffic, there are special traffic controls for larger vehicles. Check NPS website for current information before your trip.
Wawona Tunnel – Yosemite National Park, California
The Wawona Tunnel on Highway 41 is an impressive engineering feat and one of the gateways into Yosemite Valley.
At 4,233 feet long, it was carved through solid granite and opened in 1933. The real payoff comes when you emerge from the eastern end of the tunnel.
Just beyond the tunnel is Tunnel View, one of Yosemite’s most famous overlooks. From here, you can see some of the park’s most iconic landmarks, including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Fall.
Best Time to Visit: Spring
Road Trip Tip: Don’t just drive through the tunnel. Plan a stop at Tunnel View for one of the classic Yosemite photographs.
Needles Eye Tunnel – Custer State Park, South Dakota
The Needles Eye Tunnel is one of the most recognizable stops along South Dakota’s Needles Highway.
The highway winds through the granite formations of Custer State Park, with towering rock spires rising dramatically around the road. The tunnel itself was blasted through granite and shaped into a narrow opening resembling the eye of a needle.
Some of the surrounding granite formations are 30 to 40 feet tall and incredibly thin, giving this stretch of road its distinctive appearance.
Best Time to Visit: September and Mid-October
Road Trip Tip: The Needles Highway is a destination in itself, so allow plenty of time for scenic overlooks and wildlife viewing.
Important: The road is closed to motor vehicles during winter, typically from late October through March, although exact dates can vary.
Tips for Planning a Tunnel Road Trip
These aren’t the kind of attractions you want to rush through. A tunnel might only take a few seconds to drive through, but many are located on scenic roads where the journey is much more important than the tunnel itself.
Before you go:
-Check road conditions. Mountain roads and seasonal routes can close because of snow or weather.
-Look for vehicle restrictions. Some tunnels are narrow or have restrictions for RVs, trailers, or larger vehicles.
-Don’t stop on the roadway. If photography is allowed, use designated pull-offs.
Pro Tip: Use a dash cam to get great views as you’re driving. This way if you can’t pull off somewhere you’re not trying to get pictures through the car windows.
-Slow down. Many of these roads are narrow and winding.
-Allow extra time. Scenic overlooks, hiking trails, beaches, and small towns often make the drive worthwhile.
-Check Park websites before visiting. National parks can have seasonal closures, traffic controls, and special regulations.
-Watch the weather. Conditions can change quickly, particularly in mountain areas.
Final Thoughts: Add a Little Magic to Your Next Road Trip
There’s something special about driving through a tunnel. Whether you’re passing beneath a canopy of ancient trees, squeezing through a narrow mountain passage, or literally driving through a giant redwood, these unusual scenic drives turn the road itself into an attraction. And that’s what makes them so much fun for road trippers.
You don’t necessarily need a famous destination at the end of the road. Sometimes the drive is the destination.
So, the next time you’re planning a road trip, skip the most obvious route and look for one of these magical tunnel drives instead. You might discover that the most memorable part of the trip is the few seconds when you disappear into the trees or rock and emerge somewhere completely different.
We love sharing tips and information with you to help you plan your next trip. We hope to encourage you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.
The original post’s focus on magical tunnel drives, tree tunnels, drive-through trees, and rock tunnels supports this overall structure and destination grouping.