5 National Park Scenic Drives Worth Planning a Trip Around

Most of the time, you’ll find me out on a trail. There’s nothing like feeling the earth underneath your feet…and getting a little dirt in your shoes!

But every now and then, a park road is so spectacular that it earns a spot on the bucket list. And I’m excited to share these 5 national park scenic drives that I find myself on again and again. The adventures are endless!

They’re long, high, jaw-dropping drives that take you through tundra, over mountain passes, and right alongside glaciers.

A couple of important notes before you go — almost all of these national park scenic drives are seasonal, and at least one has strict vehicle size limits. But we’ll cover all of that below, so you know exactly how to plan your trip!

1. Trail Ridge Road — Rocky Mountain National Park

The Trail Ridge Road travels roughly 48 miles across Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting Estes Park on the east side with Grand Lake on the west.

It also sits at 12,183 feet above sea level, making it the highest continuous paved road in the United States. How cool is that?!

On this road, you’ll go up above the treeline and into the alpine tundra. Normally, you’d have to hike for miles to reach this kind of landscape, but here you can drive right into it. 

Keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep, and marmots along the way, too.

INSIDER TIP
The high-alpine stretch of the Trail Ridge Road can close temporarily for snow even in summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common and can be extremely dangerous at this elevation, so morning hours along this road are best. Be sure to pack a jacket, no matter the season; it’s cold and windy at 12,000 feet!

Plan your scenic drive along the Trail Ridge Road

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Open Season: Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, weather permitting. Call the NPS hotline for the most current road status.

Where to Stay: Estes Park or Grand Lake. Learn more about where to stay here.

Ash’s Recommended Activities along the Trail Ridge Road: Tundra Communities Trail, Forest Canyon Overlook, Alpine Visitor Center, and the Holzwarth Historic Site. Learn more about these amazing activities here.

How to Avoid the Crowds: This road stays busy, busy, busy during the summer months — try to visit on a weekday if you can, especially during the fall leaf peeping season. An early morning start + my hour-by-hour itinerary will help you see the best sights and avoid the crowds!

2. Tioga Road — Yosemite National Park

Everyone flocks to Yosemite Valley for the famous views, but the Tioga Road climbs up and above the valley into Yosemite’s high country, sitting at nearly 10,000 feet at its peak. It’s quieter, cooler, and absolutely stunning.

On this road, you’ll see alpine lakes, granite domes, and the gorgeous open expanse of Tuolumne Meadows before topping out at Tioga Pass. There’s fantastic hiking up here, and plenty of wildlife, and it feels like a deep breath after the crowds down in the valley.

INSIDER TIP
Tioga Road is one of the snowiest roads on this list, and it’s tough to plow, so it’s typically open from about June through October. Plan accordingly and don’t come too early in the season hoping to drive it — an early-summer trip can mean the road is still closed. There’s no gas along Tioga Road either, so fill up at Crane Flat before you head up.

Plan your scenic drive along the Tioga Road

Location: Yosemite National Park, California

Open Season: June through October, weather permitting. In a high-snow year, the road can open as late as July. Check current status and opening dates here.

Where to Stay: Yosemite Valley. Learn more about where to stay here.

Ash’s Recommended Activities along the Tioga Road: Tenaya Lake, Cathedral Lakes, Tuolumne Meadows, and Olmsted Point. Find out more here.

How to Avoid the Crowds: The Tioga Road is one of the quietest parts of Yosemite — most people don’t even know what treasures are waiting up here for them! An early morning start + my hour-by-hour itinerary will help you see the best sights along the Tioga Road and avoid the crowds at the popular Yosemite Valley spots!

3. Icefields Parkway — Banff & Jasper National Parks

Okay, we’re cheating a little on this one, because it takes you up to Canada…but a bucket list of scenic drives just wouldn’t be complete without it!

The Icefields Parkway runs about 144 miles through the Canadian Rockies, connecting the Lake Louise area in Banff National Park to Jasper National Park.

The views are well worth the trip. We’re talking giant mountains, enormous ice fields and glaciers, lake after lake, and waterfalls everywhere you look. 

Start near Lake Louise and work your way north, stopping at gorgeous spots like Peyto Lake and Athabasca Falls along the way.

INSIDER TIP
Services are only available along the Icefields Parkway from June through September, so plan accordingly! We love to stop at the General Store at The Crossing for unique flavors of chips and to fill up at the only gas station along this scenic drive. Don’t plan on having cell service out here!

Plan your scenic drive along the Icefields Parkway

Location: Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Open Season: Year-round, but the conditions can get pretty gnarly in the winter. I recommend May through October for the best driving conditions. Check current road conditions here.

Where to Stay: You’ll want to book a few nights in Banff before you start driving the Icefields Parkway, and then a few nights in Jasper for when you finish. You will not regret spending time in both parks before and after your drive!

If you want to break up your drive and stay along the Icefields Parkway, consider Glacier View Lodge, The Lodge at Bow Lake, HI Wilderness Hostels, or one of the many campgrounds.

Ash’s Recommended Activities along the Icefields Parkway: Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier, Parker Ridge, and Athabasca Falls. Some of these activities are in Banff, and some are in Jasper!

How to Avoid the Crowds: Banff is an extremely busy national park, so make sure to get your lodging and activity reservations early. As you head further north on the Icefields Parkway toward Jasper, you’ll find fewer crowds and more rugged landscapes. An early morning start is important for getting ahead of the crowds in both of these national parks and along the Icefields Parkway.

4. Going-to-the-Sun Road — Glacier National Park

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a Hall of Famer in our book. This roughly 50-mile road cuts straight through the heart of Glacier, running from the Apgar and West Glacier area up to Logan Pass (the highest point at 6,646 feet!) and back down to the St. Mary side on the park’s east side.

The road was specifically engineered to blend into the mountainside, so as you drive it, you genuinely feel like you’ve become part of the landscape. 

There’s lots of wildlife, and this is where you’ll find some of Glacier’s marquee hikes, like the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail and the Highline Trail, plus countless smaller overlooks to pull off and take in. 

It really is a once-in-a-lifetime drive!

INSIDER TIP
There are firm vehicle size restrictions on the narrow middle section between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun: nothing longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet. These restrictions are strictly enforced, and for good reason — you’re right on the cliff edge in places. 

Plan your scenic drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road

Location: Glacier National Park, Montana

Open Season: The road typically fully opens for the season sometime in late June and closes in early October. Portions of the road are open as they are plowed, weather permitting. But if you want to drive the entire road (which I highly recommend for a first-time visitor), you’ll want to plan your trip for July – September! Check current status here.

Where to Stay: I prefer booking a couple of nights in the West Glacier area and a couple of nights in the St. Mary area. Read more about why I do this here.

Ash’s Recommended Activities along the Going-to-the-Sun Road: Avalanche Lake, Hidden Lake Overlook, Highline Trail, and Wild Goose Island are just a few of the most incredible sights you’ll see along this route. We outline our favorite stops in this podcast episode, all about the Going-to-the-Sun Road!

How to Avoid the Crowds: This road is probably the MOST busy scenic drive in any national park in the country — try to visit on a weekday if you can. But parking here can be a nightmare! An early morning start + my hour-by-hour itinerary will help you see the best sights and avoid the crowds!

5. Newfound Gap Road — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Our fifth drive takes us east to the Great Smoky Mountains. Newfound Gap Road connects Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on one side of the Smokies to Cherokee, North Carolina, on the other, climbing high into the mountains to Newfound Gap at about 5,046 feet.

If you want to cross more than one state off your bucket list of places to visit, this is the place to do it, as the road straddles the state line!

As you climb, you’ll pass through beautiful forest, roll through a couple of tunnels, and find gorgeous views in every direction. There’s great hiking right off this road, including Alum Cave and Chimney Tops.

INSIDER TIP
Newfound Gap Road generally stays open year-round but closes during winter weather, since it does get snow up at the gap. Temperatures at the gap run cooler than down in Gatlinburg or Cherokee, so pack an extra layer even in summer.

Plan your scenic drive along the Newfound Gap Road

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Open Season: Year-round, but it will close down when big snowstorms roll through. I recommend April through November for the best driving conditions. Check current road conditions here.

Where to Stay: The Newfound Gap Road connects Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, NC. Either town is a great option for driving this road. Read more about the best places to stay for visiting the Smokies here.

Ash’s Recommended Activities along the Newfound Gap Road: The hiking along this road is so. dang. good! We love the Alum Cave Bluffs, Chimney Tops, and Charlie’s Bunion trails along this road. Be sure to stop at the many gorgeous overlooks you’ll pass by as well, such as Newfound Gap Overlook and Kuwohi. Learn more about all of these stops here.

How to Avoid the Crowds: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in America, so expect lots of people. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find solitude out here if you do things right — let me show you how! This hour-by-hour itinerary will help you see the best sights and avoid the crowds.

So, which scenic drive is going on your bucket list first?

Five incredible national park scenic drives with their own breathtaking landscape and views. Any one of them is worth building a trip around. If you’re ready to start planning, check out the resources above, and we’ll help you map out your trip so it stays smooth and enjoyable the whole way through!

Your Next Read:

• Best Scenic Drives in the National Parks — if you want even more incredible scenic drive suggestions, you’ll love this article + podcast episode where we share our favorite lesser-known and hidden gem scenic drives in the national parks!

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!