Summary
- Some of the most scenic roads in the south US can be found in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
- These scenic southern roads offer stunning views of national parks, forests, mountains, lakes, and other natural landscapes.
- Motorists can embark on memorable road trips, experiencing the beauty of the South and exploring notable sights along the way.
From the deserts and lush forests of the West Coast to the grasslands and rolling hills of the East Coast and everything in between, there's no better way to explore some of the USA's most beautiful landscapes quite like buckling up and hitting the open road.
And while unparalleled beauty and wondrous views can be seen in just about every nook and cranny of the US, some of the most scenic US drives can be found in the South, making a road trip throughout Southern states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee a quintessential bucket list excursion for any adventurous motorist. Out of all the routes to explore, these are some of the most scenic southern roads for stunning drive-by scenery.
10 Explore Southwest Texas On The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
Featuring views of Big Bend National Park and Tuff Canyon, among others, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is undoubtedly one of the most scenic roads in Texas.
The picturesque road begins in the Chisos Mountains and winds down to the Santa Elena Canyon, passing by a number of breathtaking sights along the way.
- Route length: 30 miles
- Notable sights: Big Bend National Park, Castolon Historic District, Sam Neil Ranch, Sotol Vista Overlook, Mule Ears Viewpoint, Tuff Canyon
For those interested in exploring Big Bend National Park, there is a $30 admission fee per vehicle ($25 per motorcycle or $15 per bicyclist or pedestrian), which must be paid with a debit or credit card.
9 See Georgia On The Cohutta-Chattahoochee Scenic Byway
Drive through the lush Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests for a Georgia road trip to remember.
This route, which largely follows along the SR 2 and SR 52, begins in Cohutta and winds through the state's northwest region to see panoramic mountain views at the Fort Mountain Scenic Overlook.
- Route length: 54 miles
- Notable sights: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Prater's Mill, Chief Vann House Historic Site, Dalton Confederate Cemetery and Memorial Wall, Hamilton House Museum, Fort Mountain State Park
8 Discover The Virginia Wilds On The Great Falls Scenic Drive
Without a doubt, this is one of the most scenic road trips in the southern US, showcasing some of the best views in Virginia.
Traverse the beautiful Virginia countryside with a road trip through the Great Falls Scenic Drive, a loop route that starts and ends in Great Falls, a city that's located about 20 miles west of Washington, DC.
- Route length: About 30 miles
- Notable sights: Great Falls Park, Riverbend Park, Seneca Regional Park, The Turner Farm
7 Visit Northern Mississippi Via The Grenada Lake Loop
Buckle up for a road trip around Mississippi's Grenada Lake, a route that's one of the best road trips in the south USA when it comes to gorgeous scenery.
The 50-mile route, which starts and ends in the city of Grenada, makes stops in Gore Springs and Coffeeville and affords motorists fantastic views of the lake's shimmering waters and bluffs along the way.
- Route length: 50 miles
- Notable sights: Lee Tart Nature Preserve, Grenada Lake, Hugh White State Park, Carver Point State Park
6 Drive Tennessee's Cades Cove Scenic Loop
One of Tennessee's most breathtaking scenic drives can be found within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
See Insta-worthy views of the surrounding mountains and local wildlife along the 11-mile Cades Cove Scenic Loop, which circles a remote valley nestled in the Tennessee portion of the National Park.
- Route length: 11 miles
- Notable sights: John Oliver Historical Cabin, Methodist Church Historical Building, Cades Cove Visitor Center, Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill, Henry Whitehead Place Historical Structure, Abrams Falls
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park doesn't charge an admission fee; however, there is a $5 daily fee for parking, which isn't required for motorists who are just passing through or who park for less than 15 minutes.
5 Tackle Florida's Alligator Alley
There are a few things to know about Florida's Alligator Alley — namely, that it offers motorists exceptional scenic views of the Everglades.
. Formally known as the Everglades Parkway, the stretch of the I-75 connects Naples on the Gulf of Mexico and Weston, which is nestled on the Atlantic Coast just west of Fort Lauderdale.
- Route length: 80 miles
- Notable sights: Picayune Strand State Forest, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park
4 Drive Arkansas' Mount Magazine Scenic Byway
Connecting Paris and Havana, Arkansas, the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway is another one of the most scenic drives in the South USA.
This stunning route provides spectacular views of the surrounding forests and mountains as it winds to the top of Magazine Mountain, which is the highest point in Arkansas, towering above the valley below at 2,753 feet.
- Route length: Nearly 25 miles
- Notable sights: Mount Magazine State Park, Ozark Mountains, Ouachita National Forests, Cove Lake Recreation Area
3 See The Blue Ridge Mountains On Virginia's Skyline Drive
Traverse the luscious Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with a jaunt along Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic mountain road that can be accessed via four different entrances.
These entrances are the Front Royal Gap Entrance Station at mile 0, the Thornton Gap Entrance Station at mile 31.5, the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station at mile 65.7, and the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station at mile 105.
- Route length: 105 miles
- Notable sights: Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center, Range View Overlook, Hogback Overlook, Big Run Overlook
The speed limit throughout this drive is 35 miles per hour, and drivers should always be cautious of any wildlife crossing the road, such as black bears and white-tailed deer.
2 Explore Louisiana's Cajun Corridor Byway
This scenic byway, which runs along Highway 14, provides a wondrous journey through the southwestern region of Louisiana.
The byway passes through cities like Gueydan and Abbeville for a memorable road southern trip through the Bayou State.
- Route length: 34 miles
- Notable sights: Gueydan Museum, Le Musee de Kaplan, Abbeville Cultural & Historical Museum, Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum
1 See Stunning Ocean Views On Florida's Overseas Highway
One of the more thrilling roads in the US, embark on a truly awe-inspiring drive across Florida's Overseas Highway, which spans from Key Largo to Key West.
Known as the "Highway that Goes to Sea," it features an astounding 42 bridges spanning over the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Bay, affording motorists views of the shimmering waters as they traverse the Florida Keys.
- Route length: 113 miles
- Notable sights: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Long Key State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, Crane Point Hammock, Seven Mile Bridge, Key West, Key Largo, National Key Deer Refuge