Best Country Drives

by Brettani Shannon

The San Juan Skyway, Southwest Colorado
The San Juan Skyway has been called “The Most Beautiful Drive in America.” The highway loops 236 miles around the San Juan Mountains through the towns of Mesa Verde, Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, and Dolores. Visit natural hot springs, hike, fish, gold pan, and go on a jeep tour through the incredible Colorado forests. Visit ghost towns, railroad museum, and historic monuments. End your trip in Telluride for gourmet restaurants, summer festivals, and roaring nightlife.
>> go to The San Juan Skyway

The Harvest Trails, California
The Harvest Trails are new routes through scenic California wine country. Local growers and ranchers have realized the frustration visitors faced in trying to tour the vineyards on the slow moving byways, so they have begun drawing the traffic onto pleasant back roads, offering them fun and food along the way. They have “taken a page from the wineries, and offer and array of tasting rooms where you can sample everything from fresh-baked bread to olive oil.” Expect clear blue skies, beautiful countryside, and warm hospitality on your day trip through California wine country.
>> go to The Harvest Trails

Acadia National Park, Maine
Featured in National Geographic’s “The Best of the National Parks: Drives,” state route 102 and Park Loop Road stand out as a magical experience. It's like “dropping into a forgotten world, where coastal New England was all lighthouses, lobster villages, and deeply forested mountains tumbling into the sea.” You will surely feel as though you have driven yourself right into a Monet, making this drive perfect for reflection on life’s beauty.
>> go to Acadia National Park

Highway 138, Southern Oregon
Highway 138 was elected a National Scenic Highway in 2002. You will find more than 25 waterfalls in the area! Hike from Lemolo Lake down to Lemola Falls and take a dip in the crystal clear water, stand under the magical cascading mist of Watson Falls, or soak in the hot springs near Tokede Falls (watch out though, many visitors soak in the buff.) You will find class 3 and 4 whitewater challenges, archeological digs, Native American preservations, and the amazing salmon run. The highway runs from Roseburg to beautiful Diamond Lake, which is lined with summer and winter sport resorts, campgrounds, and hiking trails.
>> go to Highway 138

Music City Highway, Kentucky
Music City Highway has been home to country music stars like Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless. It is here that you'll find the Kentucky Opry, a nationally recognized group of musicians dedicated to preserving Kentucky mountain music. The Opry is only one of the many concert venues and music museums lining this country drive. Virtually every week in summer, you will find a music and food festival. This area of the country celebrates its history and tradition to the fullest. Besides the entertainment, there is plenty of natural beauty to be enjoyed along the way. Hike trails, visit parks that feature nature walks, eat at great restaurants, go horseback riding or river rafting, take museum tours, and more.
>> go to Music City Highway

Do you have a favorite country drive? Tell us about it, and we could feature it in an upcoming article!