🛣️ Scenic

The 🛣️ Scenic Route tag is reserved for highway segments known for their visual appeal and memorable landscapes. These are the drives that invite you to slow down, roll the windows down, and take it all in—whether you’re surrounded by snow-capped mountains, winding through a canyon, hugging a coastal cliff, or coasting across rolling farmland. A route earns this tag not for its efficiency, but for its beauty, character, and ability to turn an ordinary trip into an experience.

Scenic routes vary widely in terrain and setting. In the Pacific Northwest, a scenic highway might weave through dense conifer forests with mist rising from the treetops. In the Southwest, it could mean miles of desert accented by red rock formations and wide-open skies. In the Midwest, a scenic road might stretch past prairie grasses and grain silos under an endless sky, while the East might feature tree-covered parkways that blaze with autumn color. Regardless of the region, a scenic tag indicates a road that offers something more than the usual commute—it delivers atmosphere and a sense of place.

These routes are often less direct than their bypass counterparts, with more curves, elevation changes, and natural features. They may pass through parks, along rivers, past historic landmarks, or into remote wilderness. While some scenic highways are part of official designations—like National Scenic Byways or state tourism trails—others earn the tag simply through reputation and traveler consensus. Many scenic routes also include well-placed overlooks, rest stops, or interpretive signs to help visitors fully appreciate the surroundings.