When we travel walking can take us pretty far and introduce us to a lot of interesting stuff, but when we need to cover more ground driving is the way to go. Here are some of the best scenic roads in the U.S. that are worth the trip.

Hana Highway

The Hana Highway in Maui is a 52 mile road from Kahului to Hana that can take two and a half hours to finish. The road looks out over the water at some points and has lush cliffs to admire. At the end of the road you can actually keep going further to see the Seven Sacred Pools at the Haleakala National Park. There is also a nudist beach in the small town of Hana.

U.S. 1

The U.S. 1 in the Florida Keys has a seven mile bridge which is one of the longest bridges in the world. The oversea highway actually links together all 120 miles of the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West.

17-Mile Drive

The 17-mile drive in California’s Monterey Peninsula is actually only ten miles long and goes from Pacific Grove to Carmel. It is a privately owned stretch of the road going through the Del Monte forest which is owned by the Pebble Beach golf club. There is  $9 entrance fee to get onto the road, but it’s worth it to check out the amazing sunset views.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway in both Virginia and the Carolinas is over 500 miles of road that goes through the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah national parks. There are over 50 resident species of birds in the area, which means that the area has more diversity than the entire continent of Europe. There are even mines in the mountains where you can stop and mine for emeralds, amethyst, rubies, topaz, and gold.

Lake Shore Drive

Lake Shore drive in Chicago is one of the best drives to take when looking at architecture is more your thing. The road spans 26 miles and gives an impressive look at the skyscrapers downtown.

Route 12

Route 12 in Utah goes between the Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks, and gives a gorgeous view of all the red rock in the area. The drive is 124 miles long and there are some unique spots to stop to eat along the way.

Bluebonnet Trail

The Bluebonnet Trail in Texas goes between Austin and Houston, and as the name suggests it’s where a whole lot of bluebonnet flowers bloom. The best time of year to see the flowers is from March to May when they are blooming the most intensely. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center is a great stop when you want to learn more about the flowers.

North Shore Drive

The North Shore drive in Minnesota is a great way to see Lake Superior and also the birch and maple trees that grow in the area.