You don’t have to be a hardcore hiker to enjoy the jaw-dropping beauty of America’s national parks. In fact, some of the best views come straight from the comfort of your car. Whether you’re chasing epic mountain vistas, desert landscapes, or winding forest roads, these scenic drives offer a front-row seat to some of the most iconic and underrated sights in the country. We’re not exactly hiking fanatics ourselves (give us a snack and a view any day), so I went on the hunt for national parks where the road does the work showing plenty of overlooks, photo ops, and yes, a few short, sweet trails if you’re up for it. Here are the best parks to explore without breaking a sweat.
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East Coast Sights
Acadia National Park, Maine
Park Loop Road– This is a 27-mile loop through Mount Desert Island. This very scenic road connects several of Acadia’s popular spots, such as Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, and the carriage roads. Most this road is one-way. Starting in the north near Bar Harbor and traveling clockwise, the Park Loop Road is one-way until you reach Jordan Pond. The section between Jordan Pond and Cadillac Mountain is a two-way road. You can also take a side trip to Cadillac Mountain.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Skyline Drive – Running for 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive is the only road through Shenandoah National Park. Four entrance stations offer access to this exceptionally scenic mountain road. Along the way, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley from more than 70 overlooks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee
Various Trails – There is more than 270 miles of road, mostly paved, offering a variety of scenic drives in this park. Many of them are short drives, such as Cades Cove Loop which is 11 miles, and some are longer. Stop at one of the visitors centers to get maps to plan your trip. All offer amazing views.
Tamiami Trail Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
US Hwy 41-This two-hour drive on US Hwy 41 between Miami and Naples takes you through the heart of the Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Scenic stops along the way offer even better wildlife-viewing experiences. When to Go: The summer wet season is the best time to view alligators. Visit between November and March to avoid extreme heat, humidity, and mosquitoes.
Northern Wonders
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway – One of the most remarkable drives you’ll ever do is in South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. Officially known as Route 240, this road winds its way for over 30 miles through a landscape dominated by grasslands and colorful sandstone hills, buttes and spires. There are more than a dozen amazing overlooks, many of which offer truly phenomenal views of the Badlands.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
South Unit -The South Unit’s scenic drive is a 48-mile scenic drive beginning and ending in Medora, ND. Driving alone takes 2 hours but you’ll want to stop at the overlooks, so plan more time. The entire loop lies within the Little Missouri Badlands.
North Unit– The North Unit’s 28-mile scenic drive takes a little over an hour to complete without stops, out-and-back. The road rolls across the badlands and then climbs up to the historic River Bend Overlook. From there, it follows the rim of the prairie with sweeping views all the way to the end of the road at Oxbow Overlook. The scenic drives usually have the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Lamar Valley Road – This road is between the northeastern entrance and Lamar Valley and is 29 miles long. It is arguably the best place for Yellowstone National Park wildlife watching from your car. There are a few other drives you can take through the park. Of course, you have to visit Old Faithful while you’re here!
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Teton Park Road – Twenty miles long, Teton Park Road runs from Moose Junction to Jackson Lake Junction. There are countless attractions along the way, including the Jenny Lake Visitor Center and numerous overlooks. If you’re looking for those iconic Grand Teton views, this is the road for you!
Glacier National Park, Montana
Going-to-the-Sun Road – One of the most scenic drives in America. Nearly 50 miles long, this road features a bunch of hairpin bends, which render it unsuitable for vehicles longer than 21 feet and wider than 8 feet. Plenty of facilities make the drive an absolute breeze with smaller vehicles, though. There are three visitor centers, five campgrounds and several overlooks and picnic areas. In early summer, when the snow and ice start to melt, you will find beautiful waterfalls. Going-to-the-Sun Road is absolutely amazing.
Southwest Beauty
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Trail Ridge Road -This road connects Estes Park and Grand Lake, Colorado. The road traverses the breathtaking Rocky Mountains near Denver, climbing several thousands of feet in mere minutes. Eleven of the 48 miles lie above tree level, offering amazingly undisturbed views of the Rockies and the Great Plains. The road reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet, which makes it the highest continuously paved road in the United States.
Arches National Park, Utah
Arches Scenic Drive – This road doesn’t even have an official name but is unquestionably one of the most gorgeous scenic drives in national parks. It’s generally referred to simply as the Arches Scenic Drive or the Arches Park Road. This is the only road through Arches National Park, along with its two spur roads offering access to most of the park’s main attractions. The scenic drive is only 18 miles long, but it can take an entire day to see if you stop at the overlooks and take those photos of the natural beauty including more than a dozen spectacular arches. It’s hard to miss them considering that the road literally runs past many of them.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Utah Scenic Byway 24 – The section of Utah Highway 24 that runs through Capitol Reef National Park is one of the must-see scenic drives of all the national parks. Since Capitol Reef lies essentially in between Bryce Canyon National Park to the east and Arches and Canyonlands National Parks near Moab, it’s one of the most popular and best national parks to drive though. In addition to the Utah Scenic Byway 24, the park also has its designated Scenic Drive, a 25-mile journey through epic desert and canyon landscapes.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Desert View Drive– Following the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for 25 miles, Desert View Drive is one of the most sensational national parks roads in the nation. It runs from Grand Canyon Village eastward to Desert View, passing by six fantastic viewpoints, four picnic areas and the Tusayan Museum. For more helpful tips for visiting the Grand Canyon National Park, read our blog.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Petrified Forest Road – The trip from one end of the park to the other is about 28 miles. There’s so much to see, from the Painted Desert in the north to the southern half of the drive, where most of the petrified wood lies. The 28-mile drive passes through a variety of environments, colorful rock formations, and scenic pullouts with spectacular views. At the Crystal Forest Trail, petrified logs can easily be seen within steps of the parking area. It’s possible to spot wildlife along the drive as well.
West Coast Adventures
Death Valley National Park, California
California Highway 190 – There’s almost 800 miles of roads, paved and unpaved, in Death Valley National Park, the largest U.S. national park outside of Alaska. They make even the remotest areas in this vast desert park accessible. The most convenient road, however, is California Highway 190, which cuts through the middle of the park. From Panamint Springs in the west to Death Valley Junction in the east, this is one of the classic and most iconic highways in California, if not in the entire U.S.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Park Boulevard – This may be one of the easiest drives in this list. This essentially flat road runs between the north and west entrances and crosses the high desert area in the park. This is where most of the iconic Joshua trees are found. There are a few side roads where you can explore some of the rock formations, but even if you stay on this drive, there are many overlooks to stop and see the beautiful rock formations and Joshua Trees. Learn more about this amazing park here.
Yosemite National Park, California
Tioga Road – Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park is an extension of Route 120 through the park. This wonderful mountain road snakes 47 miles from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass. It runs along Yosemite’s iconic granite domes, past lakes, through forests and across Tuolumne Meadows, one of the park’s most beautiful areas. Because of its relatively high elevation, inclement winter weather causes the road to be closed from approximately late-October through late-May.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregan
Rim Drive – One of the most fun drives in any American national park is the Rim Drive in Crater Lake National Park. This 33-mile road loops around the Crater Lake caldera and is spectacular for both driving and road cycling. Because of the area’s heavy snowfall in winter, the road is usually closed to vehicle traffic from mid-October through late spring. What makes this drive so unique and awesome is that it offers you stunning views of Crater Lake and its iconic island (a mini volcano within the caldera) from every possible angle.
Olympic National Park, Washington
Hurricane Ridge Road –One of the shortest scenic drives in national parks on this list, 17-mile-long Hurricane Ridge Road is among the most spectacular ones. Climbing from Port Angeles to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center in Olympic National Park, it leads visitors through subalpine meadows, old-growth forests and a stunning mountain landscape. The view from the visitor center is outstanding.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Road to Paradise – The “Road to Paradise” starts at the Nisqually Entrance, where you’ll start your drive through old growth forests. It actually leads to an area in the park named Paradise. The road provides stunning views of Mt. Rainier, Nisqually Glacier, Narada Falls, and several other glaciers. You will find amazing scenery and beautiful vistas on this road. This trip will take you around the entire park and can last 4- 8 hours depending on the number of stops you make.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a road tripper, a casual explorer, or someone who prefers wheels over hiking boots, these national parks prove you don’t have to trek for miles to be wowed. Scenic drives offer a relaxing, accessible way to connect with nature and witness some of the most stunning landscapes in the U.S., no blisters required. So, fill up the tank, grab your camera, and start planning your next park adventure. Trust me, the views are worth every mile.
We want to help you plan your next adventures with knowledge and tips we’ve learned along the way to help make your planning easier and less stressful. If you want to make your adventure a road trip and need some help, check out roadtrippers.com and use code BTR5QTP. I used them for our trip to Palm Springs and it gave me some great places to stop along the way! We hope to inspire you to find your own adventure, have fun and make lots of memories.