Best national parks for scenic drives

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring through remote northeastern Washington highlands with virtually no crowds

Why it ranks for scenic drives: 131-mile scenic byway loop retracing historic Cripple Creek gold-rush travel routes

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring refuge roads for accessible wildlife viewing without a boat or long hike

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route through wetland and upland habitat for accessible wildlife viewing

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring route through wetland impoundments and grassland units - the backbone of a wildlife-viewing visit

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, following a corridor that Indigenous peoples, frontier travelers, and early American soldiers used for centuries before the federal government converted it into a managed scenic road.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic drives on Hot Springs Mountain Road with city and forest overlooks

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Skyline Drive: a roughly 100-mile scenic road running the full length of the park with frequent pull-offs and trailhead access

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Rim Rock Drive: a roughly 23-mile scenic road tracing canyon rims with pull-offs above sheer sandstone walls

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The park road carries most of the experience, and the majority of visitors drive its length in half a day, stopping at overlooks and short walks.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic driving the Desert View corridor with multiple distinct overlooks

Why it ranks for scenic drives: There is no entrance gate, no single visitor center, no famous overlook with a queue of photographers.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring routes that provide accessible wildlife viewing without requiring a boat

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route through managed wetland pools with consistent wildlife sightings

Why it ranks for scenic drives: OHV access on primitive side roads branching off the main byway

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Driving the Energy Loop - Huntington/Eccles Canyons Scenic Byway as a route connecting to Moab or the San Rafael Swell

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring the refuge loop through Missouri River floodplain habitats

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River corridor earns its 83 experience score, and the reason is pretty simple: this is not a single overlook you drive to and check off.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Wildlife Drive auto tour through open tidal marsh with frequent eagle and waterfowl sightings

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Free auto touring route providing accessible wildlife viewing without leaving your vehicle

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route through managed wetland impoundments for close wildlife viewing from your vehicle

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route through oak savanna, prairie, and wetland habitats in a single loop

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic auto touring routes that provide access points into otherwise remote terrain

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring through managed marsh impoundments with dense concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route for accessible wildlife scanning without leaving your vehicle

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic drive through Navajo sandstone canyon walls with road-cycling appeal

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour loop offering close-up wetland and riparian wildlife viewing from your vehicle

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring the refuge roads for close-range views of waterfowl, wading birds, and marsh wildlife

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Resident bison herd viewable on the auto tour and from hiking trails

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route covering mixed-grass prairie and wetland habitats

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Biking the scenic drive or surrounding roads with dramatic canyon backdrops

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring the park as a scenic connector between Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase - Escalante destinations

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour loop through active wetland impoundments, one of the best ways to observe migratory waterfowl from your vehicle

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring the refuge loop for close wildlife viewing without leaving your vehicle

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route covering diverse habitat from wetlands to bottomland hardwood forest

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring the 35-mile Souris River corridor during spring and fall waterfowl migrations

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring the Old Spanish Trail corridor, a historically layered county road connecting the park to the broader region

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto tour route through a mosaic of wetlands, pine stands, and croplands purpose-built for wildlife observation

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring route for wildlife viewing when trails are wet or time is short

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Tule elk viewable from dedicated auto tour routes, one of the few reliable spots in California for this endemic subspecies

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Glacier-carved gorge overlooks along the 52-mile Backcountry Byway, including Kiger and East Rim

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic auto touring routes that follow the historic corridor through dramatically varied landscapes across five states

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour connecting preserved earthworks and fortification positions

Why it ranks for scenic drives: There are no grand overlooks, no iconic geologic features.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: But if you're expecting a short loop trail to some scenic overlook and a gift shop, this place will likely leave you disoriented.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: You are not hiking toward a summit or a canyon overlook.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: If you need paved overlooks and interpretive signs, you will be lost here.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Visitors expecting paved overlooks and easy payoffs will leave frustrated.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The McCarthy Road scenic drive, a gravel route leading to the historic Kennecott copper mining district

Why it ranks for scenic drives: If you expect dramatic scenery from a quick overlook, the flat barrier island landscape will let you down.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic drive through rhyolite pinnacle formations rising to over 7,300 feet elevation

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Driving the full Rim Drive with continuous caldera overlooks from multiple elevations

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Going-to-the-Sun Road - a scenic drive across the Continental Divide that reaches true alpine elevations without a single trail step

Why it ranks for scenic drives: If you prefer a neat overlook pullout or a clearly signed trail, the loose setup here might get on your nerves.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: A solid day is genuinely possible on the scenic road loop, with short front-country hikes and wildflower meadows well within reach, but the park can just as easily swallow weeks of backcountry routes and technical glacier climbing.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic driving route with high-bluff overlooks accessible by car

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Yellowstone works for almost any type of visitor - families, wildlife photographers, backcountry hikers, anglers, winter travelers, people who just want a scenic drive.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Sandstone Bluffs Overlook at sunset, where red sandstone and black lava create a striking visual contrast

Why it ranks for scenic drives: You can pull off at a scenic overlook, take it in, and drive on - plenty of people do - but there is much more here than a windshield tour.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Summit Road scenic drive with panoramic views of the North Platte River valley

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Rim road scenic drive above one of the deepest canyons in the eastern United States

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The experience score of 76 reflects genuine range: scenic drives, backcountry trails, stargazing, biking, and family programming.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic overlook drives above the Snake River canyon framing the fossil-bearing bluffs

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Driving the scenic road deep into the world's largest gypsum dunefield

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Nine rim overlooks on two separate drives offering canyon and cliff dwelling views with no guide required

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour across the actual 1876 battlefield terrain with marked positions

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Recorded activities and topics here include auto touring.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Recorded activities and topics here include auto touring.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Documents auto touring among its National Park Service activity and topic listings.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Mountain biking and scenic auto touring through the dramatic spire landscape

Why it ranks for scenic drives: That perfect Experience Score of 100 reflects real variety: multi-day canoe routes, bank fishing, camping under properly dark skies, migratory bird watching, and scenic drives through the Missouri valley.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: This is not a viewpoint-and-overlook park.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through the Appalachian Highlands of Virginia and North Carolina, and it holds up as one of the most accessible scenic roads anywhere in the country.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Even casual sightseers can get real value from a scenic drive alone.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour covering the full sweep of the three-day battle across preserved ground

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided walking and auto tours that let you pace your own exploration of the battlefield

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Nine-stop auto tour road traversing the actual 1777 battlefield terrain, open April through November

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour through the full Shiloh battlefield, interpretable at your own pace

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour threading through earthworks, artillery positions, and reconstructed log huts

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour road covering the core battlefield terrain with interpretive stops

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour covering the battlefield terrain where Federal troops held against a force three times their size

Why it ranks: Civil War history buffs will get the most out of this park.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Fall foliage scenic drives along both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey banks in October

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tour following the actual phases of the March 1781 battle across the preserved landscape

Why it ranks for scenic drives: You pick a segment, plan your own route, and piece together the expedition's story from a scattered mix of visitor centers, river access points, historic sites, and scenic byways.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: The four-mile, eight-stop Eastern Front auto tour road, which traces the siege lines at a walkable, bikeable pace

Why it ranks for scenic drives: 16-mile auto tour road through preserved siege lines, earthworks, and artillery positions

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic drive to Montezuma Pass with sweeping views of the U.S.-Mexico border region

Why it ranks for scenic drives: This is not a scenic overlook park, and it is not a place to hunt for quiet wilderness.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Self-guided auto tours that structure the experience across specific regional segments

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring a specific state segment to follow the original 1846 to 1847 wagon route across real landscapes

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic auto tour routes that trace the original emigrant path through open plains and mountain terrain

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Auto touring routes that trace the actual removal paths across nine states

Why it ranks for scenic drives: What you get instead is a dispersed network of sites, interpretive museums, scenic drives, and occasional hiking segments spread across two states and managed by multiple landowners.

Why it ranks for scenic drives: Scenic drive approach to the grounds that transitions visitors into the tone of the site

Why it ranks: Serious campers, anglers, kayakers, and families ready to pack everything in and out will find the trip worthwhile.

Why it ranks: Craters of the Moon pulls in geology fans, dark-sky and astronomy enthusiasts, families whose kids want to crawl through lava tubes, and winter visitors looking for uncrowded snowshoeing or skiing.

Why it ranks: Boaters and renters will find plenty here, and so will water sports fans, campers planning multi-day lake trips, and road trippers who want to pair this with nearby parks.

Why it ranks: Grand Teton works for just about every type of outdoor traveler, from families chasing Junior Ranger badges to serious alpinists grinding technical Teton routes.

Why it ranks: This setup works well for water sports fans, boating families, anglers, desert hikers, and campers who want the widest range of activities from a single base.

Why it ranks: This park works for just about anyone.

Why it ranks: The area suits self-sufficient desert travelers, stargazers, dispersed campers, off-road drivers, and mountain bikers who want the Mojave's character without Joshua Tree National Park's crowds.

Why it ranks: Paddlers, climbers, mountain bikers, and backcountry hikers will get the most out of this place.

Why it ranks: This park ranks among the best in the country for hikers, backcountry campers, paddlers, and technical climbers.

Why it ranks: Cave enthusiasts, grassland wildlife watchers, and families who want a guided underground tour combined with surface hiking all have solid reasons to visit, and since entry is free it works for a tight budget.

Why it ranks: Yosemite suits hikers, climbers, families, and anyone who wants a full week of varied outdoor activity in one park.

Why it ranks: Families, surf fishermen, kayakers, surfers, and birders all get something out of this stretch of coast, especially anyone planning a multi-day stay who wants to skip the entrance fee.

Why it ranks: Lake Roosevelt suits boaters, kayak campers, anglers, and families driving through eastern Washington.

Why it ranks: Stargazers, cave explorers, hikers after altitude and solitude, and families willing to drive farther for a genuinely uncrowded park will all find something here.

Why it ranks: Road-trippers, families, wildlife watchers, and stargazers all find plenty to love here, particularly anyone who wants a western landscape without a serious physical commitment.

Why it ranks: Self-sufficient road trippers, serious hikers, paddlers, birders, and anyone chasing genuinely dark skies will get a lot out of this place.

Why it ranks: Families, paddlers, cyclists, surfers, birders, winter hikers, and history-minded travelers all find something here.

Why it ranks: Paddlers, anglers, and hikers can find real backcountry here within a few hours of a major city.

Why it ranks: A good fit for families within driving distance of Chicago, serious birdwatchers, paddlers after a freshwater Lake Michigan experience, and anyone wanting a multi-season national park they can reach without flying.

Why it ranks: Climbers can treat this as a bucket-list destination.

Why it ranks: Geology enthusiasts, families with curious older kids, cavers at any experience level, dark-sky seekers, and anyone interested in Native American history or 19th-century conflict will find a lot to like here.

Why it ranks: Desert lovers, stargazers, birders, backcountry campers, and road cyclists comfortable on remote sun-baked routes will find plenty to enjoy.

Why it ranks: This spot suits beach campers, surf anglers, birders, and paddlers best - basically anyone drawn to a raw stretch of coastline who has no use for amenities.

Why it ranks: This place works best for paddlers, backpackers, and anyone planning a multi-day trip around dramatic water scenery.

Why it ranks: A good choice for hikers, wildlife watchers, families, and anyone who wants high-altitude scenery within a reasonable drive of Denver.

Why it ranks: Road-trippers crossing the Northern Plains, wildlife watchers after bison and birds, and anyone serious about dark-sky stargazing will find a lot to work with here.

Why it ranks: Families, boaters, anglers, ATV riders, and anyone looking for a free, active outdoor weekend in the Texas Panhandle will feel right at home here.

Why it ranks: Mesa Verde rewards travelers who want cultural depth alongside outdoor activity.

Why it ranks: Tomoka works best for families who want to combine paddling, birding, and a bit of history in one outing.

Why it ranks: Travelers with a soft spot for history, families with young kids, and anyone driving the Flagstaff to Cameron corridor will get a lot out of this place, as will people curious about Southwestern archaeology who would rather skip a strenuous hike.

Why it ranks: Best suited for experienced backcountry campers, overlanders, high-clearance ATV and 4WD drivers, and dark-sky astronomy enthusiasts who self-supply everything.

Why it ranks: Active travelers already on the Big Island will get the most from this trail, particularly those who want some cultural weight to go with their time outside.

Why it ranks: Hikers, campers, and paddlers will probably get the most out of this park, though it holds up well for almost anyone.

Why it ranks: History buffs, Civil War enthusiasts, veterans, military families, and teachers leading student groups will get a lot out of a visit to Andersonville.

Why it ranks: Families, campers, anglers, mountain bikers, and boaters all find something worth their time here.

Why it ranks: This place works well for anglers, waterfowl hunters, dedicated birders, paddlers, and anyone wanting multi-season access to a major river system at no cost.

Why it ranks: Anyone drawn to the Creek War, Andrew Jackson, or early American expansion should put this on their list.

Why it ranks: Great for D.C.

Why it ranks: Civil War history enthusiasts will get the most out of this place, and families with school-age kids have real options too, with interpretive programs and Junior Ranger activities worth building time around.

Why it ranks: Boaters, bass and crappie anglers, families who want free multi-day camping with water sports, and OHV riders looking for a lakeside base will get the most out of this place.

Why it ranks: History buffs with a soft spot for the Revolutionary War, road-trippers crossing the Southeast who want a real narrative to follow, and outdoor users - hikers, cyclists, equestrians - who want genuine history woven into their activity will all find this trail worth their time.

Why it ranks: Palisade suits families, RV travelers, and anglers who want a low-key stop in central Utah.

Why it ranks: OHV riders get the most out of this area's infrastructure, but hikers, mountain bikers, hunters, anglers, and wildlife photographers looking for free, uncrowded public land near the Bay Area or Sacramento will find plenty here too.

Why it ranks: This route rewards travelers who care about Spanish colonial history and its complicated relationship with Indigenous communities.

Why it ranks: Paddlers, anglers, and river campers will find plenty here, whether you want a multi-day float or a quiet put-in.

Why it ranks: History buffs, rock art fans, and families who want real archaeology mixed into their outdoor time will find a lot to like here.

Why it ranks: Families torn between OHV trails and water time will find this place handles both without much friction.

Why it ranks: History buffs driving cross-country, riders planning a multi-day horse trek, and families building a road trip around American frontier history will find a lot to love here.

Why it ranks: Hunters, OHV riders, equestrians, and dispersed campers who plan ahead and thrive on solitude will feel right at home.

Why it ranks: Knolls is a good fit for OHV riders who want wide-open desert without the crowds, and photographers who like spare salt desert landscapes will have no shortage of material.

Why it ranks: If you love Spanish Colonial Southwest history, this place genuinely delivers, and the same goes for road trippers moving between Santa Fe and Southern California, or riders and hikers who want a trail with documented history behind it.

Why it ranks: History buffs drawn to the colonial period and the American Revolution will find plenty to dig into here.

Why it ranks: Rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout draw anglers to this reservoir, making it one of Utah's better fishing destinations.