RV road trips are great for so many reasons. One of the benefits of traveling by RV as opposed to flying are all the beautiful sights you can see right from your window along the way. Routes with breathtaking views make the long drive times worth every minute. There are tons of beautiful drives in the U.S. that are perfect for RV road trips.
If you are thinking of renting an RV and trying to decide where to go, we’re always here to help. I’m confident these drives will convince you to hit the road and don’t be surprised when you’re pulling over every few miles to snap photos! I know, from personal experience!
Here are 3 of (in my opinion) the most beautiful drives in America:
1. Going to the Sun Road
The name says it all. You literally feel as though you are at the highest point in the world. This road goes right through Glacier National Park, one of America’s most loved national parks. So it’s no wonder why Going to the Sun Road is one of the most scenic drives in the U.S.
You can see glaciers, wildlife, waterfalls, and some of the most dramatic mountain views during this drive. The road runs east to west through the park and will take about 2 hours to drive the whole stretch. This is partly because of all the crowds and how often everyone stops for photos. There are a lot of spots to pull off, which is great, but just be sure to plan extra time for those frequent stops and crowds.
The only downside to this drive is that Going to the Sun Road has a 21 foot length restriction, making it impossible to drive most RVs on it. But luckily there are lots of campgrounds and RV parks nearby. You can also take shuttles, if you’d rather just sit back and enjoy the views. The National Park Service website has all this information and more, including winter road conditions and closures.
2. The Blue Ridge Parkway
This drive is particularly breathtaking during the fall when you drive through tunnels of colorful foliage. However, each season has a unique experience to offer. The parkway runs for 469 miles and connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. There are more activities along the Blue Ridge Parkway than I can’t even begin to name.
Although we didn’t make it up to Virginia, we fell in love with the North Carolina stretch of the parkway. We enjoyed several waterfall hikes, stopped in Asheville for great breweries and visited The Biltmore Estate, took a dip into freezing cnew water while enjoying Sliding Rock, and more! The most scenic spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway that we saw was the Lynn Cove Viaduct. The bridge curving along gorgeous misty mountain views is a site we will remember forever.
3. The Pacific Coast Highway
Over 655 miles along the California coast…need I say more? Called, the “PCH”, but is technically State Route 1 (SR 1), it begins south at Dana Point and goes all the way north along the coastline through San Francisco and ends a little past Fort Bragg. Driving north to south will allow you to be ocean side and give you the best views of the jagged coastline. The most dramatic scenery is packed into the 240 mile stretch south between Monterey and Santa Barbara.
Our very favorite spot was the Bixby Bridge. How fast or slow you choose to travel the PCH is up to you. You could drive most of it in a (long) day, stopping only for short breaks and photos. Or, you could spend months, like we did, stopping in all major tourist towns and cities and staying for a week in each spot. Either way, it will be a trip to remember and the views will absolutely blow you away.
Many parts of the PCH are very narrow and windy. There are also several spots with no guard rail along the cliffs. Therefore, we chose to park the RV and drive our car along those parts instead. Plus, you’ll be wanting to pull off the road for photos often and it can be difficult to find spots large enough to pull over anything longer than 20 feet.
Also, be sure to check the road conditions before you hit the road. Recently there was a landslide near Big Sur and that portion of the PCH will be closed for possibly a few years before it’s repaired. Be sure to check the California Department of Transportation’s website for RV length restrictions and road closures/conditions.
These three beautiful drives are what great American road trips are all about. They all offer gorgeous views, outdoor activities, and the opportunity to create memories of a lifetime. They are personally our favorite spots that we have visited in our RV and are drives we can’t wait to take again in the future.
I’d love to hear about other great drives throughout the U.S. Leave a comment and share your favorites!
