Scenic drives should be one of your road trip essentials. Did you know there are scenic drive apps that will help you find a scenic drive near you and the most scenic roads to explore? There are a lot of reasons for you to include a scenic drive on your next road trip. This post will explore those reasons, apps to help find scenic drives and things to consider when taking a scenic drive.
For travel in 2020 and 2021, travel exerts expect people to indulge in day trips. As a matter of fact, recent estimates indicate 97% of travelers will travel locally. Visiting locations that are less crowded. Many experts include state parks and national parks in the “less crowded category”. These recommendations absolutely include road trips and scenic drives.
I agree with them.
Here is Papa Joe’s favorite reason to take the scenic route. He absolutely relishes the chance to conquer. To navigate a difficult road. Explore something new. Seriously, he actually leans in the vehicle as we navigate switchbacks and hairpin turns. Does this sound like you?
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Reasons to include a scenic drive on your next road trip.
Maybe I’m dense. But I believe every reason to take a road trip, is also a reason to include interesting roadways. Going on road trips allows you to discover the “hidden gems”. To explore and create your own adventures. They are also a great way to create memories and enjoy bonding time with your road-mates.
Those are also reasons why scenic drives are road trip essentials. Seriously, I can show you photo, after photo, after photo of incredible destinations Papa Joe and I explored on beautiful byways. But not one of those photos will allow you to fully experience how incredible the scenery is, or what we experienced while we were there.
I can even share stories about the scenic drives that were special. But those stories will never mean as much to you as they do to me.
For example. This Native American statue is in a rest area in South Dakota. By stopping and exploring the statue, we discovered an abundance of walking trails and beautiful lake scenery just beyond the hill. Do you want the full story? Probably not. But Trixie, Papa Joe, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
That is the treasure of scenic drives.
Getting off the main drag and into an area that allows you the freedom to set your own schedule and explore. Breathtaking scenery that just begs to be remembered.
Like this…
Do you need more incentives? Here are some of the scenic drive descriptions I found:
- steep switchbacks and expansive views
- astonishing views of the great meandering canyon
- breathtaking vistas
- quintessential western landscape
- eons of geologic activity are on view
- attractions include dinosaur tracks, Indian petroglyphs, and arches
Need I say more? If those phrases don’t make the more adventurous of you yearn for a scenic drive, I have failed.
When you take off on the path less traveled, who knows where you will end up at. That is the joy of exploring a scenic drive.
On one of our more recent adventures, we ended up at an early adulthood stomping ground, the Royal Gorge.
On another, we ended up at an early childhood stomping ground, the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge.
Where will the road less traveled take you?
Recommendations for scenic drive apps.
There are several recommendations for scenic drive apps. Papa Joe has used some of these, others come highly recommended.
I believe this standby is still the best way to go. Programming a route is as easy as 1-2-3.
- Do a standard Google Maps location search—tap the blue navigation button near the bottom of the screen
- Next, tap the three-dot menu button in the top corner of the screen
- Last, tap Route options, choices include avoiding highways, avoiding tolls, and avoiding ferries
Road Trip – Scenic Route Planner
Features include the ability to save a favorite route to your personalized catalog, worldwide routes, and access to an online community. There are both free and premium versions of this app. The description indicates primary usage is for motorcycle enthusiasts, but Papa Joe has downloaded it to use with the RV.
Features include offline maps, the ability to link the desired route to your GPS software, and access to over 1000 routes. This is a free cell phone app.
You may think carrying a paper map is nuts.
I consider it a road trip essential.
What if you are in the mountains and lose a GPS signal. Or your GPS is sending you in a direction opposite from your scenic route? I love paper maps, and here are a few examples of why.
Do you see the dotted lines and scenic byway signs on these segments of the Wyoming road map? Even if I hadn’t known there were scenic drives near me, the map would have told me.
The same with the red dotted-yellow lines on this Arizona map and the motorcycle routes marked out on the WildRides brochure.
Things to consider when taking a scenic drive.
Are you ready? First, bullet points, then more details below.
- Stop at visitor’s centers and welcome centers.
- Read the signs along the way.
- Leave yourself plenty of time to absorb time on the most scenic byways near you. Enjoy the scenery.
- Watch out for wildlife.
- As I said above – get a paper map or guide for the area. Otherwise, I guarantee you will miss what is “special” about the area.
Above all, look for the squiggly roads on the map or GPS. The more squiggly the road is, the better your chances to see some incredible countryside.
We also had the opportunity to get drone videos that we can’t get in the National Parks. Seriously – the scenic drives were worth it just for the drone video alone!
Stop at visitor’s centers and welcome centers.
There are details on paper maps that you just can’t get from a scenic drive app. Plus, having a live person at one of these centers tell you about the features of the scenic drive, and words of caution are invaluable information.
Here is one example of the benefits of stopping at a visitor center. We stopped in Blanding Utah for fuel and general supplies, and the visitor center was next door. In addition to having a large variety of printed material, the visitor center was manned by an incredibly helpful volunteer.
See the pink and blue lines marked out on this map? The visitor center volunteer highlighted these routes for me. He also gave me the pros and cons of each route.
The volunteer also shared a handout for Valley of the Gods & Moki Dugway. Now, if you have a day to explore, a reliable vehicle, and an adventurous spirit, Valley of the Gods & Moki Dugway is a scenic roadway for you!
We took the pink route, which led us to Mexican Hat, Valley of the Gods, and Monuments NP. The highlight of the highlighted route was the Flaming Gorge Uintas National Scenic Byway. Which, in a word, is incredible.
The cover photo, as well as these photos, are all results of taking a slight detour and exploring the pink route. Want to find the most scenic roads? Talk to people. Talking to this volunteer resulted in finding great scenic drives near me. You should try it.
Stopping at visitor and information centers should be a road trip essential for everyone.
Read the signs along the way.
The most scenic roads often have roadside markers explaining the significance of the roadway and may include information about the geologic formation of the area.
The scenic drives through Badlands National Park and Flaming Gorge Uintas National Scenic Byway are great examples of this. Unfortunately, there were limited spots to pull over and get photos of the signs. You will just have to check them out yourself.
Castle Rock, Wyoming is on the South Fork Road out of Cody Wyoming. You can see the rock formation on the left corner behind the sign. This Castle Rock scenic route photo is taken on the East Yellowstone Loop, which includes the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.
The next scenic route photo is taken on the East Yellowstone Loop, which includes the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. See the car just appearing on the left side of the photo? That gives you an indication of how steep the road is. Also, note the sign warning drivers of roaming wildlife.
The sign did not lie.
Take the time to enjoy the scenery.
These are a couple of our more memorable sights from our most recent RV road trip.
The photo with Papa Joe is him looking over the Flaming Gorge Uintas National Scenic Byway before diving in. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and no. No photo does the scenery justice.
This route was breathtaking enough, we are considering it for our next trip through the area.
Regardless, I took advantage of and enjoyed the scenic drive near me. I also have some interesting stories to tell…
Does anyone enjoy wildlife?
Here are some critters we met along the roadway during that same RV trip.
Seriously. Not only do you need to “stop and smell the roses” when taking a scenic drive, but a road trip essential is also taking time to enjoy everything around you. Frankly, who cares if that scenery is good or not.
Make sure you have plenty of supplies – food, fuel, and most importantly, water. Often, services are more limited on scenic byways than on the main route.
As you can see here, Trixie has her sunglasses, we have extra shoes, and her backpack is fully stocked for the day. I guarantee you there are paper maps in the car, ready to be tested out.
The US is known for scenic drives.
Here are a few of our all-time favorite scenic drives. How many of these have you been on?
- Highway 12, Utah. They have a great brochure, you can find it here
- Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
- Going to the Sun Road, Montana
- Overseas Highway, from Miami to Key West
- 89A, Arizona – I personally recommend taking Hwy 87 out of Mesa, up to Payson, and just keep going, pick up 89A outside of Payson
- Beartooth Highway, Wyoming
- Loneliest Highway, Nevada (Highway 50)
- North Shore Drive, Minnesota
- Highway 163, Arizona/Utah through Monument Valley
Click here for a listing of the 65 most beautiful routes in America.
Road trips and scenic drives have always been popular activities for exploring.
Go out. Explore this big beautiful world. Be socially responsible while you explore. Show the kiddos some of the most incredible landscapes known to man. Create your own path. Find a scenic drive near you. It really is a road trip essential. Use a scenic drive app if you need one. Believe me, I have plenty of other AMAZING photos taken on scenic routes. Just email me and I would be happy to share. Regardless, if you have the chance…
Just do it!
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