On the road

Scenic Road Trips

These routes are paced for people who get out of the car. Hours matter more than mile counts. Check closures the morning you drive.

By the Compass & Trails editor · Last updated 20 September 2026

National Park Road TripsCoastal DrivesMountain RoadsDesert Road TripsScenic BywaysWeekend Road TripsLong-Distance Adventures

National Park Road Trips

Utah National Parks Road Trip

Utah

5–8 daysAbout 700–1,000 miles depending on order and side trips

Redrock canyons, high plateaus, desert valleysModerate to high. Long desert connecting drives and early park mornings.

A classic loop of Utah’s canyon parks. Distances look moderate on a map and feel longer in real desert hours. Build slack for shuttle lines, timed entry, and heat.

Stops: Zion · Bryce Canyon · Capitol Reef · Arches

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Coastal Drives

Pacific Coast Highway

California

4–7 days for a sane paceAbout 650–800 miles depending on start and end points

Pacific headlands, agricultural valleys, beach townsModerate. Slow, winding coastal driving with frequent stops.

California’s Highway 1 between the Bay Area and Southern California is a sequence of headlands, agricultural benches, and beach towns. Plan for slow average speeds and landslide-related closures.

Stops: Pacifica and Devil’s Slide · Santa Cruz and Monterey Peninsula · Big Sur coast (when Highway 1 is open) · San Luis Obispo / Morro Bay

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Mountain Roads

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Montana

2–4 days in Glacier National Park50 miles across the park, plus approach drives

Glacial valleys, alpine passes, lakesHigh attention. Narrow alpine road, shuttles, and vehicle-length limits.

Glacier’s 50-mile alpine crossing is a destination, not a shortcut. Vehicle reservations, length limits, and snow removal dates decide whether your week works.

Stops: Apgar · Lake McDonald · Logan Pass · Jackson Glacier viewpoint

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Scenic Byways

Blue Ridge Parkway

Virginia / North Carolina

3–6 days469 miles end to end, plus town side trips

Eastern forest ridges, balds, and mountain townsLow speed, high attention. 45 mph design, fog, cyclists, and wildlife.

A 469-mile crest road between Shenandoah and the Smokies. You will not ‘do’ it in a day. Fog, leaf season traffic, and seasonal closures shape the plan.

Stops: Shenandoah / Rockfish Gap · Peaks of Otter · Mabry Mill · Linville Falls / Grandfather area

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Long-Distance Adventures

Route 66

United States

2–3 weeks for Chicago to Santa Monica; 5–7 days for a regional sectionAbout 2,400 miles of historic alignments, not a single modern highway

Midwest towns, Ozarks, High Plains, Southwest desert, Mojave, Southern CaliforniaHigh endurance, low technical driving. Long interstate days mixed with older alignments.

Route 66 is a collection of alignments across eight states. Drive a section well or budget two-plus weeks. Do not expect a continuous vintage road under your tires the whole way.

Stops: Chicago · St. Louis area · Tulsa · Oklahoma City

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Weekend versions live inside each long route (for example, ending the coast at Santa Barbara, or dropping a park on the Utah loop) rather than as extra thin URLs. Desert road trips overlap the Utah loop; that page is filed under National Park Road Trips.