Check ahead to ensure the way will be clear, and have alternative inland detours in mind.Īn Atlantic Coast alternative: On the other end of North America, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway links 43 barrier isles via a 100-mile overseas route with endless ocean vistas extending from either side.įair warning: In both California and Florida, traffic reaches its peak in the summer months. The landscape here can be unstable, and every so often (such as in 20), portions of the cliffside route collapse from erosion and need to be rebuilt. Start thinking up synonyms for “stunning” now. You can also see sunbathing sea lions, charming villages and artist communities, the only waterfall on the continent that empties into the Pacific, and Big Sur Bridge (aka Bixby Bridge, pictured above), one of the most photographed sights in California. Traveling north to south along the Big Sur Coast from Carmel to Cambria, California Route 1 twists and turns along 1,200-foot cliffs flanked by crashing waves and redwood forests. The most scenic of the state’s many scenic stretches of pavement hugs the jagged sliver where North America meets the Pacific Ocean.

Given its size and embarrassment of natural riches, California was made for road trips.

Critically acclaimed road tripper