Roadways With a View
We’ve searched America for four breathtaking scenic drives
Skyline Drive
Front Royal to Rockfish Gap, Virginia
Distance: 105 miles
This road through Shenandoah
National Park crests the Blue Ridge
Mountains ( hard to believe noisy
Washington, D. C., is just 75 miles
away). See oak trees, evergreens,
and white-tailed deer. Stop at Range
View Overlook (at mile 17. 1) to gaze
at the fog-veiled mountains.
; MILE-MARKER MOMENT: Big Mead-
ows, at mile 51, boasts 130 acres of
wildflowers in spring, summer, and
fall (540-999-3500; nps.gov/shen).
California Highway 1
Carmel to San Simeon
Distance: 90 miles
The gnarly curves on this two-lane
road twist above the pounding surf.
See spouting whales and an 80-foot
waterfall before you stop to look at
wandering zebras near the Hearst
Castle museum.
; MILE-MARKER MOMENT: At Piedras
Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, with
vista points from miles 61. 3 to 65. 1,
you can gaze at more than 16,000 of
the water-loving creatures (831-667-
2100; byways.org/explore).
Newfound Gap Road
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to
Cherokee, North Carolina
Distance: 40 miles
Crossing Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, this route rises out of
Pigeon Forge and descends across
the state line. Drive through ever-
green forests and see Clingman’s
Dome—Tennessee’s highest point.
; MILE-MARKER MOMENT: Watch your
odometer and stop at mile 21. 5—this
is Newfound Gap ( 5,048 feet), where
you can stand in two states at once
(865-436-1200; nps.gov/grsm).
Going-to-the-Sun Road
West Glacier to St. Mary, Montana
Distance: 50 miles
This two-lane route hugs the moun-
tains of Glacier National Park, full
of thundering waterfalls and alpine
meadows. Shoulder lanes are some-
times missing; drive east to west to
cruise in the inside lane.
; MILE-MARKER MOMENT: Stop at
Garden Wall Overlook, at mile 31. 5,
which lets you glimpse grazing
mountain goats and reflect on your
just-conquered route (406-888-
7800; nps.gov/glac). —Laura Daily
