10 Awesome North American Roads You Need to Drive
I should maybe preface the title with, if you like driving. If not, rent a car, fly me in, and I’ll drive you on these roads. Did I ever see myself writing a post about my favourite highways. Absolutely I did not. I was actually petrified of learning to drive. I remember having arguments with my Dad and saying I didn’t want to learn. I’m so glad he made me get used to driving, because these days driving is my therapy. Old Taylor Swift on the speakers and winding roads with stunning views is all I need. Here’s a non-definitive list of some awesome North American roads I highly recommend driving and my own experiences on them.
Extraterrestrial Highway
Location: Nevada. The Middle of NOWHERE, Nevada, USA
Drive this road for: the chances to see all kinds of weird things, and to see a road stretch infinitely in front of you
OK arguably everywhere in Nevada is the middle of nowhere. To get to the extraterrestrial highway we had to drive ‘the loneliest Highway in America’. Luckily for me, it wasn’t lonely because; A) my brother was in the car with me and B) We followed one of those Cruise America RVs for a lot of the journey. Anyway, this isn’t about that highway, this is about the highway that passes by Area 51! We were driving this road to get to Utah’s national parks from San Francisco.
I’m going to be honest, we actually had ZERO CLUE we were on the Extraterrestrial Highway until we came upon the ‘Ale-Inn’ in Rachel, Nevada. Our first clue should have been when the Navy planes came and zipped past us on the highway. We were minding our business on a big empty highway, probably listening to Queen when suddenly on both sides of us there were low flying fighter jets zooming along with us. It was a surreal experience, made even more surreal by my brother popping the haunting and majestic Planet Earth soundtrack on the speakers.
I recommend driving this highway because it is legitimately CRAZY to see a road stretching out to nothingness in front of you, it’s a weird feeling. Yet, at the same time there are still sights to see. For us they were; tall cacti on the side of the road, fighter jets, the Ale-Inn, and the Las Vegas Corvette owners club on their monthly jaunt. This is the kind of road where you could see well, anything!
John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway
Location: Grand Teton Ntl Park, Wyoming, USA
Drive this road for: So much wildlife and the incredible views of the Teton range
This Highway is one of my favourites because it has wildlife viewing opportunities as well as mountain views. This highway is not daring or anything risky, this is a highway you can comfortably drive. The only thing to be aware of here is wildlife. This is a stop for bears, bison, moose, and elk crossing kind of highway. And that sentence pretty much nailed why I like it and recommend it so much.
I first hit this highway on a May evening in 2016, I got out of the car at the Jackson Lake Overlook and I cried it was so beautiful. That may be why I’m facing away from the camera in the photo above, tears were in my eyes. The John D Rockefeller Memorial Parkway joins Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, so yes, encouraging you to drive this highway is me just tricking you into visiting more national parks.
I wrote something else about this: The Most Magical Photo Spots In Grand Teton National Park
Pacific Coast Highway
Location: California, USA
Drive this road for: A quintessential west coast road trip and all things California
Have you heard of Malibu? Or have you watched Big Little Lies? Right, well, you might know of the area this highway is on. The Pacific Coast Highway (California’s Highway 1) stretches along the coast from the south of Los Angeles to an area north of San Francisco. I have only done the Redwoods part of this drive (north of San Francisco) recently. My parents drove my brother and I on the LA – SF part of this highway when I was 16, so I didn’t get to do it my way back then! It’s on my list to go back to though, and I figured you all needed to be reminded it’s worth the drive. This road can have all kinds of fun stops, from the stunning and iconic Bixsby Creek Bridge, to a stop to view a colony of elephant seals.
For me the town of Monterey is a stand out part of the drive. I’m highlighting Monterey for surprise, surprise, the wildlife. This area was the first time I saw dolphins and sea otters (yep, holding hands in the kelp), and from a massive distance, a whale. Go to the aquarium here, go whale watching here, go kayaking, go see some wildlife for me. If you need any more motivation to visit this area, Monterey Bay Aquarium is the real-life inspiration for the aquarium in Finding Dory.
Sea To Sky Highway
Location: Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
Drive this road for: World class views of the water and mountains, and world class skiing & hiking.
Oh, Canada. It’s local (to me). It’s accessible but also STUNNING. This fjord-side scenic drive is some peoples’ commute, and that blows my mind. There is nothing like rounding the corner at Horseshoe Bay and seeing the Howe Sound with it’s glacial blue water stretching out in front of you next to the Highway. Apparently this has been argued to be the most beautiful highway in the world. THE WORLD. This is the highway that connects Vancouver with the world-renowned ski resort of Whistler. Also the highway that connects me with one of my favourite hikes and some of my favourite humans, all located in Squamish, BC. The turns of the Sea to Sky Highway are smooth and the views are distracting, so try to remember to actually pay attention to the road. Oh, and the cops will get you if you speed through Lions Bay, so stay smart, friends.
Icefields Parkway
Location: Canadian Rocky Mountains, Canada
Drive this road for: mind blowing views of colossal mountains and viewing tons of other natural wonders and wildlife.
I’ve just realised a parkway is a highway in a national park. Wow! What a realisation. Did you know that? I know you come here to learn, so voilà. ANYWAY, so, this road folks. If you want the highest impact road you could ever drive. Like towering mountain views on either side of you that will blow your mind, this is the road for you. In terms of practicality it doesn’t really take you anywhere, it just connects Jasper and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. This is a road you drive just to drive. Unless, I guess, you’re trying to get from Jasper to Lake Louise. The drive itself is stunning but there’s also a billion stunning stops to see on the way. I’ll include some photos of the must-see stops in the gallery below. My highlights were stopping for a roadside wild swim and finally seeing the iconic bright blue wolf-shaped Peyto Lake.
The Alaska Highway
Location: Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, Canada
Drive this road for: mountains, lakes, hikes, and a truly Yukon experience.
This road deserves an honourable mention as being one of the roads that had me smiling the most. And the road that made me think being an ice road trucker might not be so bad. It might just be because I’m obsessed with visiting Alaska and this is the closest I’ve ever got. We drove this in February so the landscape was still snowcovered. The snow danced in the wind and swirled around in front of us obscuring the road in the coolest way (would not recommend it at night). If you’re in the Yukon I have to assume you’re going to make moves to visit Kluane National Park and Reserve (this is where you’ll find Canada’s tallest mountain and some serious glaciers). To reach Kluane you’ll take this highway. In my opinion, this highway really came into its own as it skirted along the edge of Kluane, heading north from Haines Junction. We only made it to Kluane Lake before we had to turn back, but I can’t wait to one day follow that road all the way to Alaska.
Not For The Faint of Heart...
The last few roads in this blog are just a little bit riskier. I’d recommend doing some more research and only taking these on if you’re a confident driver. But the risk/ reward payout is definitely worth it in my opinion!
Million Dollar Highway/ Red Mountain Pass
Location: Ouray, Colorado, USA
Drive this road for: the fall colours at the top!
I LOVED THIS ROAD. I drove this road in fall and I’m tearing up just thinking about how stunning it was. This highway connects the adorable town of Ouray (I need to spend more time here, probably at the hot springs and on the hiking trail that circumnavigates the town) to Silverton. Million Dollar Highway is also known as Red Mountain Pass as it’s a mountain pass that summits at an elevation of 11,018 ft. The older couple that takes care of me in Colorado warned me against this drive and said it was a little scary, but I’d venture to say that for most drivers it would be okay. There were a few parts where the mountain did tumble away not far from the side of the road. As long as you usually stay within the road markings when you drive, this is no problem. That being said, driving a high mountain pass with steep grades in winter is never a calming time, so maybe stay away in winter? I found this youtube video of someone driving it, for a low down of what it’s really like.
I drove Red Mountain Pass in early October and was rewarded with the most amazing fall colours at the top of the pass. This is an area locals often come to leaf peep. Should I stop for a quick definition lesson? This is pretty self explanatory but also apparently a vernacular not common to everyone. Leaf peepin’ is what basic birches (like myself) do when they just go looking to frolic in trees with fall foliage. Yes, I made a tree pun there on purpose, you’re welcome.
Chilcotin - Bella Coola Highway/ Freedom Road
Location: Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Drive this road for: access to bears & a magical rainforest. And a sense of accomplishment.
Fondly known by locals as ‘The Hill’ this road is the way you descend into the lush valley of the Great Bear Rainforest. It almost doesn’t feel real, driving down into such a densely forested little part of the world. This road is at many points a one-track single-file deal. This also doesn’t feel real as it’s a steep unpaved road with hairpin turns frequented by massive and laden logging trucks. Those things shouldn’t go together but if you want to access the remote town of Bella Coola by road, they have to. And trust me, you do want to access Bella Coola. This road drops a whopping 4,020 ft in a distance of 19.4 km, I’m not kidding when I say it’s steep. For a more in depth look at this kind of insane road you can visit this website of someone who documented it way better than I did. In terms of roads I’ve driven, I’d say this was probably the most dodgy. I wouldn’t recommend if you’re not a confident driver or have even the faintest whisper of a fear of heights.
Old Fall River Road
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA
Drive this road for: the experience of driving an old mountain road and the views at the top.
Oh yes, it’s another thinly veiled attempt to trick you into visiting a national park. This road takes you up to the alpine tundra of Rocky Mountain National Park and the top boasts stunning 360 views (and a cafe/ visitor center/ gift shop). Colorado’s elevation is just wild; once you reach the top you’ll be at a height of 11,796 feet above sea level! There are a few stops to view waterfalls on the way up, and pull outs on the corners for you to just enjoy the views. Being an old mountain road (opened 1920) it’s gravel, it’s steep, and in some places narrow. In case this road isn’t for you, consider driving the Trail Ridge Road. It takes you up to the same summit point and is a well-paved, much less risky feeling road.
My first experience of this road was my Dad driving my family on it. At the time, I was not yet even learning to drive and I don’t think I even noticed it was a risky road my Dad drove it so confidently. When I decided I would drive it myself, I let my parents know over Whatsapp and they didn’t seem to bat an eyelid. Honestly, I think I would have liked a little more concern, but nice to know they had confidence in me. I had also been a bit wary of taking a rental onto a dirt road like this one. I shouldn’t’ve worried it was completely fine. Plus, I went on to drive a road in Utah on the same trip that I had way more chance of getting stuck on (again, it was fiiiiiiine).
I wrote something else about this: Why You Should Visit Rocky Mountain National Park in Fall
Shafer Trail
Location: Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
Drive this road for: desert views and to get your blood pumping.
Full disclosure, I haven’t actually really driven this road. But I know I need to in my lifetime. The dusty switchbacks of this dirt road fall away from a viewpoint in Canyonlands and then it seems to stretch on limitlessly. These first switchbacks cling to the cliff edge and apparently the driver’s side of the road drops off 1100 ft. I found the end of it once, in a tiny Ford focus rental. I drove my tiny rental a little ways down my dream road, until the washouts were getting to a point I knew I might run into some trouble. One day I would like to descend the switchbacks and see where I ended up. If you like a desert dirt road, this one’s for you. Read some of the reviews on tripadvisor for how scary some people consider this road to be.
I can’t believe I just wrote this many words just about roads. I hope you enjoyed, or at least enjoyed the photos because I can’t imagine you read all the spiel inbetween. Let me know of any iconic roads I need to drive ASAP or drop me a comment if you can tell me about driving the Shafer Trail!
Alaska Highway is on the LIST! I didn’t realize how many places I would recognize, I wish I captured the memories like this!
Let’s drive it together one day! Honestly, I was so surprised when I looked back through all my photos that I had documented these roads so comprehensively.