What is Your Favorite Driving Road?
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
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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Highway 1 up the California coast.
Route 100 up the gut of Vermont just east of the Green Mountain Range
I’m in Italy right now in the mountains of Abruzzo. SS 81 or SS 263 going west into the Appeninis are absolutely amazing. Forget switchbacks, think teardrops. All blind. Every thirty, fifty or one hundred yards, uphill and down. Constant shifting, braking, gas and fun as hell, even in a Fiat. Almost as good as racing. Just watch out for all those “highly skilled” Italian drivers who can’t keep it between the lines.
Starting in Lewiston, Idaho. Head East on US Highway 12 to Lolo Hot Springs in Montana. This is a great motorcycle ride, with plenty of big sweeping curves and not much traffic. Just make sure to fill your gas tank in Lewiston because there are few gas stops on this 180-mile route. Spend the night at the Lolo Hot Springs Resort. On to Missoula, Mt next morning for breakfast and I-90 back to Coeur d’Alene, Id or Spokane, Wa.
Great drive, I agree, John!
New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway, Lincoln to Conway, stopping for a swim or a hike or to camp nearby – but used to be even better long ago when it was rough and undeveloped, and parking was free. then go north to Mt Washington Road, pay the toll and up to the top – in foliage season – along with everybodyelse in New England. there’s lots nearby if you got the time, like a cog railway on the west side of Mt W.
unrelated ans – according to J Denver, there were some pleasant country roads in W. Virginia too.
Hands down, most incredible road in North America is the Dempster Highway. The Dempster Highway is a 740 KM bucket list journey from Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, Northwest Territories offering incredible scenery, wide open spaces and remote beauty.
Lakeshore Drive along lake St. Clair through the Grosse Point’s. Nothing fast or winding, just a relaxing stretch with the lake on one side and Mansion’s on the other (some of the Mansions have been demolished to make way for More “Mini Mansion’s over the years “. Most originally owned by Famous families (Dodge, Ford of automotive fame), Bankers, Department store Executives, Doctors, Designers etc. Like I said….an extremely relaxing drive.
My top 3, in no particular order: Avenue of Giants, Highway A1A from Miami to Key West, WA SR 542 from Bellingham to Artist Point. All offer absolutely breathtaking views and I’ve found myself all alone on these roads while driving at sunrise.
I-90 west of Wisconsin til you run outta road. Speed limit is a reference for fun. Avoid Sturgis during bike-week. Nobody to hassle you.
My favorite drive has to be the Road to Hana on the island of Maui. 65 miles of nonstop fun, one lane spots, blind curves, no shoulders, centerlines that reduce down to 1 inch and super steep dropoffs-its got it all. Plan for a bit of a trip as it takes 3.5-4 hrs to make it thru and well worth it!
We just did the Road to Haha – 50ish one lane bridges and 600+ curves. The destination isn’t much but the journey has lots of beautiful scenery, surf hangouts, scenic overlooks. Not for the weak of stomach.
I’m leaving the name of the road out on purpose but sometimes either to or from Round Rock to the Houston area there is a farm road that goes for over 20 miles that has lots of hilly sections and lots of clear views if you have to pass the slow mover going nowhere fast. It makes a 2.5 hour drive something more fun than it has the right to be.
The “million dollar highway”, north of Durango, CO. Back in the dark ages they blasted/chipped a 2 lane paved road out of a solid rock mountain side, a million dollars a mile, twisting & turning with the mountain contour. Most doesn’t have a guard rail, so down you go, a few hundred feet. Exciting in the summer, try it in the winter. Scenic, if you care to look while driving it.
Mine is M-32 between US131 and East Jordan, Michigan. About 18 miles, lots of twists (when on our way from Indiana to Charlevoix, the kids used to refer to this road as “The Twisty’s), hills, and a couple of long stretches where you could let the car out a bit. I have to admit that, when I owned a 97 Viper GTS, I used to make a point of doubling the speed limit signs (including curves) without getting anywhere near the car’s limits. It helped that, in 40 years of weekends Up North, I have seen exactly ONE County Sherriff on that road.
Trail Ridge Road from Estes Park CO to Grand Lake CO it is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, It crosses the continental devide and at its highes point is over 12000 ft. Beautiful views and lots of fun driving streches. Also lots of Elk and other wildlife.
The 100km (62-miles) uphill route on the N-103 from Braga to Montalegre, northern Portugal. Uphill, all curves with a few hairpins thrown in. Equally enthralling in the downhill reverse direction. Those who know, know…