Winter road trips offer a unique charm that’s hard to match. Despite the cold snap which affected large parts of the country recently, the winter months usually bring scenic routes to life with snow-dusted landscapes, serene coastal drives, and cozy small-town stops that feel like hidden gems. With fewer crowds, travelers can enjoy peaceful adventures, whether winding through national parks, exploring quaint towns, or chasing the crisp horizon of a quiet beach.
UT recently surveyed their entire database of seasoned travelers to establish the best winter road trips in America, based on their experiences.
The top results are as follows:
#1. Great Smoky Mountains Loop (Cherokee to Fontana Village) – North Carolina
This loop takes you through the Smokies, with snow-draped trees, misty valleys, and frozen cascades. Stops include the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Bryson City, where you can enjoy the scenic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
#2. Hudson Valley Drive (Tarrytown to Hudson) – New York
This route along the Hudson River is magical in winter, with snow-draped historic estates like the Vanderbilt Mansion and quiet riverfront towns like Rhinebeck and Hudson. Warm up at local wineries or enjoy farm-to-table dining along the way.
#3. Scenic Byway 12 (Panguitch to Torrey) – Utah
This 122-mile route through Utah’s red rock country is stunning in winter, with Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos blanketed in snow and Capitol Reef’s colorful cliffs glowing in the soft winter light. The drive offers numerous overlooks and opportunities for winter hikes.
#4. Lake Tahoe Loop (Incline Village to Zephyr Cove) – Nevada
This loop around Lake Tahoe offers stunning winter views of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada. Stop at Incline Village for lakeside dining, and enjoy winter activities like snowshoeing or sledding in Zephyr Cove. The serene lake reflections and frosty scenery make this a magical drive.
#5. Coastal Route 1 (Portland to Camden) – Maine
This drive hugs Maine’s rocky coast, passing through charming towns like Freeport, Rockland, and Camden. Winter highlights include quiet lighthouses, like Portland Head Light, and cozy seafood shacks serving hot chowder.
#6. Green Mountain Byway (Waterbury to Cambridge) – Vermont
This drive offers breathtaking views of the snow-covered Green Mountains. Winter highlights include visiting Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury and enjoying Stowe’s vibrant downtown and ski slopes.
#7. Richardson Highway (Valdez to Fairbanks) – Alaska
Traveling the Richardson Highway in winter is an unforgettable experience, with glacial valleys, frozen waterfalls, and towering mountain ranges creating a dreamlike setting. The route connects Valdez and Fairbanks, passing through Thompson Pass, known for its incredible snowfall and dramatic vistas. Highlights include Worthington Glacier and Keystone Canyon, where ice climbers scale frozen waterfalls like Bridal Veil Falls, making for a unique roadside spectacle.
#8. Lakes Region Scenic Drive (Alton to Wolfeboro) – New Hampshire
This 97-mile route around Lake Winnipesaukee offers peaceful views of frozen waters and snow-covered hills. Stop in Meredith for cozy inns and Wolfeboro for quaint shops and winter lake activities.
#9. Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway (Phoenicia to Andes) – New York
This drive through the Catskills offers snow-draped forests, quiet villages, and opportunities for winter hiking or skiing. Stops include the charming towns of Phoenicia and Margaretville, known for their cozy cafes and artisan shops.
#10. Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (Astoria to Brookings) – Oregon
This 363-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast offers dramatic ocean views, quiet beaches, and iconic landmarks like Heceta Head Lighthouse. Winter storms create stunning waves, while the cool season ensures fewer crowds.
The remaining 100 include:
| 11 | San Juan Islands Scenic Drive (Friday Harbor to Doe Bay) | Washington |
| 12 | Bourbon Trail (Louisville and surrounds) | Kentucky |
| 13 | Tamiami Trail (Miami to Naples) | Florida |
| 14 | Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway (Fort Calhoun to South Sioux City) | Nebraska |
| 15 | Overseas Highway (Miami to Key West) | Florida |
| 16 | Ohio Amish Byway (Holmes County) | Ohio |
| 17 | Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia Border to Oconaluftee) | North Carolina |
| 18 | Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway (Annapolis to Chesapeake City) | Maryland |
| 19 | Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway (Taos to Angel Fire) | New Mexico |
| 20 | Bayou Teche Scenic Byway (Morgan City to Arnaudville) | Louisiana |
| 21 | Great River Road (Vicksburg to Greenville) | Mississippi |
| 22 | Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (Gaffney to Lake Hartwell) | South Carolina |
| 23 | Charleston to Beaufort Coastal Drive | South Carolina |
| 24 | Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (Cambridge to Hells Canyon Dam) | Idaho |
| 25 | Ohio River Scenic Byway (Madison to Newburgh) | Indiana |
| 26 | Cane River National Heritage Trail (Natchitoches to Cloutierville) | Louisiana |
| 27 | Great River Road (Baton Rouge to New Orleans) | Louisiana |
| 28 | Davis Mountains Scenic Loop (Fort Davis to McDonald Observatory) | Texas |
| 29 | Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive (Whitewater to Elkhart Lake) | Wisconsin |
| 30 | San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway (Durango to Telluride) | Colorado |
| 31 | Delaware Bayshore Byway (New Castle to Milton) | Delaware |
| 32 | Mohawk Trail (North Adams to Greenfield) | Massachusetts |
| 33 | Mount Hood Scenic Byway (Hood River to Troutdale) | Oregon |
| 34 | The Lake Champlain Byway (Burlington to Alburgh) | Vermont |
| 35 | Olympic Peninsula Loop (Port Angeles to Forks) | Washington |
| 36 | New River Gorge Scenic Drive (Fayetteville to Hico) | West Virginia |
| 37 | Mobile Bay Coastal Drive | Alabama |
| 38 | Highway 7 (Hot Springs to Little Rock) | Arkansas |
| 39 | Liberty State Park to Sandy Hook | New Jersey |
| 40 | Blue Ridge Parkway (Roanoke to Afton) | Virginia |
| 41 | Illinois Route 66 (Chicago to Springfield) | Illinois |
| 42 | Indiana Covered Bridge Loop (Rockville and Parke County) | Indiana |
| 43 | Gunflint Trail (Grand Marais to Boundary Waters) | Minnesota |
| 44 | Paradise Valley Scenic Loop (Livingston to Gardiner) | Montana |
| 45 | Monadnock Region Loop (Keene to Gilsum) | New Hampshire |
| 46 | Route 66 in Oklahoma (Texola to Vinita) | Oklahoma |
| 47 | Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway (Apache to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge) | Oklahoma |
| 48 | Adirondack Northway (Albany to Champlain) | New York |
| 49 | Skyline Drive (Shenandoah National Park) | Virginia |
| 50 | Parks Highway (Anchorage to Denali National Park) | Alaska |
| 51 | Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway (Putnam and Hancock Counties) | Georgia |
| 52 | Teton Scenic Byway (Ashton to Victor) | Idaho |
| 53 | Great River Road (Dubuque to Burlington) | Iowa |
| 54 | Great River Road (Hannibal to New Madrid) | Missouri |
| 55 | Route 66 in Missouri (St. Louis to Joplin) | Missouri |
| 56 | Loneliest Road in America (Ely to Lake Tahoe) | Nevada |
| 57 | Lake Erie Coastal Trail (Toledo to Conneaut) | Ohio |
| 58 | Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway (Elliottsville to Seward) | Pennsylvania |
| 59 | The Texas Wine Trail (Hill Country) | Texas |
| 60 | Coastal Highway 17 (Savannah to Brunswick) | Georgia |
| 61 | Loess Hills National Scenic Byway (Sioux City to Council Bluffs) | Iowa |
| 62 | Hermann Wine Trail (Hermann and Surrounding Areas) | Missouri |
| 63 | Flathead Lake Loop (Kalispell to Polson) | Montana |
| 64 | Pine Barrens Scenic Byway (Hammonton to Tuckerton) | New Jersey |
| 65 | Scenic Route 100 (Stamford to Newport) | Vermont |
| 66 | Glenn Highway Scenic Byway (Anchorage to Glennallen) | Alaska |
| 67 | Crowley’s Ridge Parkway (St. Francis to Helena-West Helena) | Arkansas |
| 68 | Salmon River Scenic Byway (Stanley to Salmon) | Idaho |
| 69 | Bold Coast Scenic Byway (Milbridge to Lubec) | Maine |
| 70 | Natchez Trace Parkway (Natchez to Tupelo) | Mississippi |
| 71 | Mark Twain National Forest Scenic Highway (Rolla to Lebanon) | Missouri |
| 72 | Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway (Valley City to Lisbon) | North Dakota |
| 73 | Natchez Trace Parkway (Nashville to Collinwood) | Tennessee |
| 74 | Coronado Trail Scenic Byway (Springerville to Clifton) | Arizona |
| 75 | Illinois River Road (Ottawa to Havana) | Illinois |
| 76 | Creole Nature Trail (Lake Charles to Holly Beach) | Louisiana |
| 77 | Great River Road (Itasca State Park to La Crosse) | Minnesota |
| 78 | PA’s U.S. Route 6 (Pymatuning Reservoir to the Delaware River) | Pennsylvania |
| 79 | Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Cape Charles to Chincoteague) | Virginia |
| 80 | Great River Road (Prescott to La Crosse) | Wisconsin |
| 81 | Historic National Road (Richmond to Terre Haute) | Indiana |
| 82 | Grant Wood Scenic Byway (Stone City to Bellevue) | Iowa |
| 83 | Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway (Albuquerque to Santa Fe) | New Mexico |
| 84 | Cherokee Hills Scenic Byway (Gore to West Siloam Springs) | Oklahoma |
| 85 | Talimena Scenic Drive (Talihina to Mena, AR) | Oklahoma |
| 86 | The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail (Clintwood to Ferrum) | Virginia |
| 87 | North Shore Scenic Drive (Duluth to Grand Portage) | Minnesota |
| 88 | Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway (Grand Island to Alliance) | Nebraska |
| 89 | Litchfield Hills Loop (New Milford to Norfolk) | Connecticut |
| 90 | Door County Coastal Byway (Sturgeon Bay to Northport) | Wisconsin |
| 91 | Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway (Larned to Dodge City) | Kansas |
| 92 | Scenic Route 31 (Lake Michigan Beach to Mackinaw City) | Michigan |
| 93 | Great Platte River Road (Fort Kearney to Scotts Bluff) | Nebraska |
| 94 | Hunterdon 579 Trail (Bethlehem Township to the Delaware River Valley) | New Jersey |
| 95 | Coastal Rhode Island (Pawtucket to Watch Hill) | Rhode Island |
| 96 | Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway (Keystone to Custer) | South Dakota |
| 97 | Wyoming Highway 130 (Laramie to Saratoga) | Wyoming |
| 98 | Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway (Silver Springs to Ormond Beach) | Florida |
| 99 | Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail | Alabama |
| 100 | Seward Highway (Anchorage to Seward) | Alaska |
