What is Your Favorite Driving Road?

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Roads give us freedom. They take us to our destination, whether that’s an actual place or a metaphorical reference to the thrills and fulfillment of the perfect combination of automobile and path. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a miles-long straight, a gravel farm road, mountain pass, or canyon asphalt, we all have at least a few favorites on our lists.

So we humbly ask members of the Hagerty Community one question to help us celebrate next week’s special award: What is your favorite driving road?

This is normally where your humble author chimes in with a suggestion in hopes of spurring conversation. But good driving roads are over an hour away from me, and I rarely get the chance to drive that far just to drive some more.

Don’t Look At Me

Katy Freeway Aerial Greater Houston Texas
Katy Freeway intersection in Houston, Texas, USA.Getty Images

Instead I have this monstrosity, the Katy Freeway, just a couple of miles from me. I admit the flyovers can give you a giddy little thrill sometimes, but otherwise my life as a car enthusiast revolves around visits to other places with better roads, smaller highways, elevation changes, and a lack of streets designed around a grid.

So help me out here, Hagerty Community, and tell me your thoughts on the matter. What are some good driving roads, and what is your favorite driving road?

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Comments

    This may be a resubmit. The combo, on my Ducati GT 750, at the right time of day, of the Lincoln Drive and the Kelly Drive in Philadelphia was an ideal route. A bit further out is Morris Rd from Germantown Academy all the way up to Salford Twp. Take those roads both ways; it is a very different experience.

    Route 100 in Vermont from the MA line to Stowe and beyond. Route 2 above Burlington through the island in Lake Champlain up to Alberg and Quebec.

    I take my Lotus to Tail of the Dragon ( NC-TN) at least twice a year ( a ritual). For relaxing driving Natchez Trace Hwy ( TN)

    In Atlanta, we’re 1-2 hours away from some of the most amazing driving roads in the country. The tri-state corners region of TN, GA, and NC is full of opportunities for spirited driving on twisty roads. We frequently make that trek north and it never gets old.
    My all time favorite is the Cherohala Skyway between Tellico Plains, TN and Robbinsville, NC.
    Drive it from west to east on a Sunday late afternoon in the fall. With the setting sun behind you, illuminating the ridges and valleys beyond with a warm glow, cruising the perfectly engineered, constant radius corners can flow so wonderfully (if you go fast enough) that it takes on a zen-like character. The elevation changes and views are dramatic, too. Highly recommend!

    Cabot trail on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia Canada. It’s like a country racetrack with tight corners and lots of hills. Fun driving, but careful of driving off a cliff. Engine breaking will likely destroy your clutch.

    Did I mention amazing scenery.

    Google Cabot Trail.

    I have to pick just one??
    In my current small state of Delaware, there are two roads that I go out of my way to travel with my Miata: The first, along my daily commute, is Fork Branch Road, southwest of Frederica DE. It’s a quiet lane with a few hills (a rarety in such a flat state), passes horse farms, cornfields, and crosses a tidal creek between an undeveloped tract of woodland. My second-favorite in Delaware is Rout9 from Reedy Point Bridge to just south of Dover Air Base. The view from Reedy Point Bridge offers a breathtaking view of the C & D Canal, marshlands, and Delaware Bay, and it winds its way through quaint fishing villages, historic farms, and wildlife refuges.

    in northern michigan explore leelanau county roads ,, something for everyone sleeping bear national lake shore ,, M22 with beautiful water views and lots of fruit tree orchards which are especially beautiful when they blossom !! roads are in great condition

    CT Route 7, from it’s junction with RT 202 in New Milford, all the way to the Mass border. A/K/A “The Road to Lime Rock.

    My favorite drive is Apache Trail, aka AZ88, east of Phoenix AZ, starting from Apache Junction
    Nice and smooth pavement, twisty, great sceneries until Tortilla Flat, after the road turn into gravel .

    My favorite would be Arizona State Route 89A from Flagstaff to Oak Creek Village, passing through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona along the way.

    As many have mentioned the Tail of the Dragon is very iffy depending on traffic conditions, I luckily hit it late on a fall afternoon and had the road to myself – fantastic. Don’t get behind in your steering !
    The Dragon is several hundred miles from me in Michigan, but I found a great road in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – H58 between Melstrand and Grand Marias, along the shore of Lake Superior – approximately 25 miles, well paved, mostly in the wilderness with plenty of curves and elevation changes – don’t tell anyone – OK?

    Highway 9, from Saratoga CA to Santa Cruz will always be my favorite. It can be frustrating on weekends, but a wonderful twisty, scenic ride.

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