Scenic Getaway Guides: Honest Picks for 2026
Drives and viewpoints worth the detour, planned around light, weather and crowds.
Scenic Getaway
Updated 2026
A scenic getaway is a schedule as much as a road. This section covers coast roads, mountain passes, viewpoint timing, fuel stops and the photography that works without a studio.
What this category covers
We cover route planning, seasonal closures, light, parking, driving fatigue and the practical stops that make a day work. We also cover the difference between a road worth driving and a road worth stopping on.
How we judge a scenic route
We compare driving time with the number of safe stops, check pass openings and ask whether the route works in bad weather. A road that looks spectacular on a map but has nowhere to pull over is not a good day out.
Where to start
Start with the ten scenic getaway ideas if you need a route, then read the planning guide before you book a car. Both assume you would rather enjoy three stops than collect ten photographs.
