Something is soul-stirring about slipping off the interstate and onto a quiet two-lane road, where time slows and the scenery becomes part of the story.
These forgotten road trips aren’t about rushing to a destination—they’re about rusted neon signs, sun-faded maps, and motels where you still get a real room key. You’ll pass through places where jukeboxes still play and wildflowers grow unchecked along the shoulder.
No crowds, no chains—just the hum of your engine, an open window, and that rare sense of freedom we’re all quietly chasing. This is your invitation to find the roads most travelers left behind.
1. Route 66 (Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA)
Though it’s far from a secret, Route 66 has become a forgotten gem in the age of interstates and GPS shortcuts. Known as the “Mother Road,” it once bustled with cross-country travelers and family vacations. Today, stretches of it are eerily quiet—but that’s exactly the charm. You’ll weave through ghost towns, quirky roadside attractions, and mom-and-pop diners that haven’t changed since the ‘50s.
From Illinois through Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico, all the way to California, this route is a time capsule. You’ll pass places like Seligman, Arizona, a town that inspired Pixar’s Cars, and Cadillac Ranch in Texas, a field of nose-diving vintage cars turned graffiti landmark. But the real joy? Staying in vintage motels with neon signs that flicker back to life when the sun goes down.
It’s not about the destination—it’s about the detours. One moment, you are in a classic gas station converted into a café, the next, you are in a town that appears to have never had a coat of paint applied since Dwight Eisenhower was president. You won’t find a chain hotel or Starbucks on every corner, and that’s awesome.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: April to June, September to October (avoid desert heat in summer)
- Ideal Trip Length: 2–3 weeks for the full route, or 3–5 days for a regional section
- Must-See Stops: Petrified Forest (AZ), Tucumcari (NM), Blue Whale of Catoosa (OK)
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari), El Rancho (Gallup), Wigwam Motel (Holbrook)
- Driving Tip: Use printed maps or Route 66-specific GPS apps; the road disappears in places
2. US-41 (Chicago, IL to Miami, FL)
US-41 is like Route 66’s forgotten cousin—it takes you from the heart of the Midwest to tropical Florida, and yet hardly anyone talks about it. But that’s part of the appeal. This route takes you past sleepy lakeside towns, civil rights landmarks, and swamplands alive with alligators before rolling into Miami’s vibrant edge.
You’ll start in Chicago with Lake Shore Drive, which alone is worth the ride. If you head in a southern direction, you can go past places like Paducah, Kentucky—a river town with an arts community—and Atlanta, where you can view sites related to Martin Luther King Jr., before continuing south. Eventually, you will drive the Tamiami Trail in Florida—an older highway through the Everglades with wildlife crossing in front of you!
Along the way are vintage motels with character, especially in Georgia and northern Florida. Some have drive-in movie setups, others neon signs, and 1940s tile bathrooms. It’s Americana in slow motion, the kind you can’t find on I-75.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: March to May, October to early December
- Ideal Trip Length: 1–2 weeks
- Must-See Stops: Everglades City, MLK Historic Park (Atlanta), Lake Geneva (WI)
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Skylark Motel (Chicago), Motel Safari (GA), Gator Motel (FL)
- Driving Tip: Avoid summer; heat and humidity in the Deep South can be intense
3. Natchez Trace Parkway (Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN)
You have found it if your dream road is one free of big-box stores, stoplights, and billboards. Protected by federal law, the 444-mile scenic Natchez Trace Parkway winds across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Once a Native American trail, the Natchez Trace Parkway, sometimes known as the “quiet road,” is among the most calm and beautiful road trips available in the United States. Still, it hardly ever shows on lists of destinations for scenic road trips.
Rich in Southern history, this motivation is lush, meditative. You will cross sun-dappled forests dotted with wild turkeys and deer, old tobacco farms, and Civil War battlefields. Particularly in towns like Tupelo, birthplace of Elvis, or French Camp, where you can find blacksmiths and early 1800s log cabins maintained, it feels like entering another century.
There’s also a quirky side: a rock mound believed to be haunted, Native American burial sites, and even a sunken section of the original trace you can walk through. There are no gas stations on the Parkway itself, so plan—but the quiet, slow pace is worth the extra effort.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: April–May (wildflowers) and October (fall foliage)
- Ideal Trip Length: 3–5 days
- Must-See Stops: Emerald Mound, Meriwether Lewis Monument, Elvis’ Birthplace
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Natchez Grand Hotel, Belmont Hotel (Belmont, MS)
- Driving Tip: Bring snacks, water, and a full tank—services are off the route
4. Highway 61 Blues Trail (Vicksburg, MS to Memphis, TN)
Called the “Blues Highway,” Highway 61 is the soundtrack for the Mississippi Delta. Along this road, which pulsates with musical history, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Robert Johnson came from small towns. It’s a cultural pilgrimage that happens to be scenic and crowd-free.
Driving Highway 61 feels like you’ve stumbled into a sepia-toned record. Cotton fields still stretch for miles, and juke joints seem to appear out of nowhere. One day, you’re eating catfish at a diner with a jukebox that only plays vinyl; the next, you’re touring the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, or the crossroads where Johnson allegedly sold his soul.
The real magic is in the people and places off the map—you’ll be invited to church services with live gospel or impromptu barbecues in front yards. And when night falls? Vintage motels with names like “Starlite” and “Delta Dream” wait to welcome you.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: April–May and October for festivals and mild weather
- Ideal Trip Length: 4–7 days
- Must-See Stops: Clarksdale, B.B. King Museum, Robert Johnson’s Crossroads
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Riverside Hotel (Clarksdale), Shacksdale Motel, Moon Lake Inn
- Driving Tip: Tune in to local blues radio stations—they’re still alive and well
5. Beartooth Highway (Red Lodge, MT to Yellowstone, WY)
This one’s short—but oh, is it epic. Toping out at almost 11,000 feet, the Beartooth Highway is a journey across the highest highway in the Northern Rockies rather than just a drive. And the elevation causes the road to be accessible only a few months out of the year. But when it is, it’s unlike anything else in America.
Starting in the historic town of Red Lodge, Montana (with its log cabin diners and old-school motor inns), the road climbs through alpine lakes, switchbacks, and snowfields—even in summer. Wildflowers bloom in July, and the views feel like you’re driving through a Bob Ross painting. Eventually, the road eases down into Yellowstone’s northeast gate.
It’s not uncommon to see mountain goats on the road, or pull over to find yourself in total silence above the tree line. The elevation changes rapidly, so bring layers. But above all, bring a camera—this is one of the most jaw-dropping routes in the U.S., and hardly anyone is on it.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Late June to early September (highway is closed in winter)
- Ideal Trip Length: 1–2 days
- Must-See Stops: Vista Point, Rock Creek Canyon, Cooke City
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Yodeler Motel (Red Lodge), Alpine Motel (Cooke City)
- Driving Tip: Gas up in Red Lodge; there are no stations on the highway
6. Talimena Scenic Drive (Talihina, OK to Mena, AR)
This 54 mile road in the Ouachita Mountains is to die for, in the fall when the hills are filled with amber, red and gold. Talimena Drive they built as a scenic route which goes along the mountain tops and gives you great views and spots which seem out of this world for a state park. It is very park like in its beauty in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
What makes this road trip special is how remote and untouched it feels. You won’t hit traffic here—maybe the occasional biker or vintage car club cruising the curves. And while the route is peaceful, the mountain weather is ever-changing, with mist one moment and sunbeams breaking through the next. It’s like a slow dance with nature.
You will pass historic wayside hotels, sturdy cabins that have stone fireplaces, and some with the original 1960s interior. No chainsaws, but porch swings, nice host,s and somewhere you can listen to the pine trees rustling in the wind out back.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Late October to early November (fall colors), April for wildflowers
- Ideal Trip Length: 2–3 days
- Must-See Stops: Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Rich Mountain Fire Tower, Horse Thief Springs
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Green Country Inn (Heavener), Sassafras Inn (Mena)
- Driving Tip: No gas stations along the byway—fuel up beforehand in Talihina or Mena
7. High Road to Taos (Nambe to Taos, NM)
The High Road to Taos is an art, history, and rugged beauty travel in Northern New Mexico, a scenic trail. It may only be 59 miles long, connecting Santa Fe and Taos, but along the way, you will pass through villages from ancient times, a Spanish colonial church, and vast high-desert expanses. It’s not a highway, it’s a feral sorta drive, and that was where it oughta be.
Along the way, you’ll pass chimayo weavers still working on wooden looms, galleries nestled in adobe homes, and places where the line between spiritual and scenic blurs. The Santuario de Chimayó, a historic pilgrimage site, is a soulful stop even for the non-religious. Further along, the mountain views start to open up, with roadside stands selling piñon nuts and ristras (chili strings) by the dozen.
What makes this road unforgettable are the vintage adobe motels and artsy bed-and-breakfasts in Taos. Some are run by local artists, others by families who’ve lived in the region for generations. At night, the sky goes velvet black and the stars seem close enough to touch.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: September to November (cool, clear skies), March for spring break
- Ideal Trip Length: 2–4 days
- Must-See Stops: Santuario de Chimayó, Truchas, Las Trampas Church
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Sagebrush Inn (Taos), Casa Benavides Historic Inn
- Driving Tip: Take your time; the road is winding and filled with places to stop and explore
8. Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway (Loop around Taos, NM)
This 84-mile loop is Northern New Mexico at its most magical. Starting and ending in Taos, the Enchanted Circle circles Wheeler Peak, the state’s tallest mountain, and passes through high desert, alpine forests, and Old West towns. It’s the kind of drive where the landscape changes dramatically every 20 minutes.
Questa, Red River, and Eagle Nest each have their charm—Red River in particular feels like an old mining town turned alpine resort, with wooden boardwalks, saloons, and lodges that haven’t changed much in 50 years. Along the loop, you can stop at riverside fishing spots, ancient petroglyph sites, or climb up into aspens and pines so thick the sun barely gets through.
The vintage motels here are pure Western nostalgia—some with wagon wheel beds or cast iron stoves. You’re not just taking a road trip—you’re stepping into the pages of a vintage travel magazine from the 1950s.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: May to October for hiking; December to February for skiing
- Ideal Trip Length: 2–3 days
- Must-See Stops: Red River, Eagle Nest Lake, Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Angel Fire)
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Alpine Lodge (Red River), Laguna Vista Lodge (Eagle Nest)
- Driving Tip: Watch for elk, especially around dusk near Eagle Nest
9. Historic Columbia River Highway (Troutdale to The Dalles, OR)
The Historic Columbia River Highway — the Pacific Northwest’s lost gem: America’s first scenic byway with stone guard rails, hand-carved tunnels, and panoramic river views from the early 1900s. Though the original route takes a few main streets and still exists in patches between Bend and Prineville though Interstate 84 cuts a direct highway past it.
The journey drives through many waterfalls including the popular Multnomah falls and also hiking trails, everywhere from mossy forests to overlooks that hang over the Columbia River Gorge like shack’s.
Then there are motels from the 1940s and into the 50s with names like Whispering Pines or Columbia Inn with rivers you can hear out behind your window.
Best of all, it rarely feels crowded, especially compared to other national scenic areas. You’ll share the road with cyclists, wildflowers, and the sound of falling water.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: April–June (spring bloom), September for fewer tourists
- Ideal Trip Length: 1–3 days
- Must-See Stops: Multnomah Falls, Crown Point Vista House, Oneonta Gorge
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Columbia Gorge Inn, Bridal Veil Lodge, Cousins’ Country Inn (The Dalles)
- Driving Tip: Some stretches are car-free—walk or bike for a unique experience
10. Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway (Arkansas)
This byway through northern Arkansas is a hidden marvel of the American South. The Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway winds through deep forests, over clear-running creeks, and past limestone cliffs that look like something from a Tolkien novel. But best of all, it’s free from tourist crowds, even in peak season.
Measuring in at 35 miles of Road 21, the drive winds from Boxley Valley through to Buffalo National River. Wildlife is abundant — expect elk roadside browsing or hawks soaring overhead. Old barns lean against hillsides, and towns like Jasper and Ponca are filled with general stores and motor courts that still use metal keys.
Time feels like it is frozen here. Hike, float the Buffalo River: sit on a front porch and watch trees in wind. Stop if you want to see scenery, peace, and authenticity at their best!
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Mid-April to early June; October for fall foliage
- Ideal Trip Length: 2–4 days
- Must-See Stops: Lost Valley Trail, Ponca Elk Education Center, Buffalo River Bluff Overlook
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Little Switzerland Cabins, Cliff House Inn, Arkansas House (Jasper)
- Driving Tip: Cell service is spotty—download maps in advance
11. Flint Hills Scenic Byway (Council Grove to Cassoday, KS)
You might think Kansas is flat and uneventful—until you drive the Flint Hills Scenic Byway. This 47-mile stretch along Highway 177 rolls gently through one of the last remaining tallgrass prairies in the world, where wind moves the land like waves on water. There’s a haunting kind of beauty here, and if you time it right, you’ll have the road practically to yourself.
Don’t expect flashy roadside attractions. What you’ll get instead are stone barns built by settlers, old cemeteries nestled in the hills, and historic towns like Council Grove with vintage diners that haven’t changed their menus in decades. This is Americana in its purest form—quiet, vast, and deeply rooted.
For overnight stays, the area offers heritage inns and 1950s-era motels that feel like preserved time capsules. Some are run by families who can point you to the best sunset spots or invite you to morning coffee on a wraparound porch.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Late May to early June (prairie wildflowers), September for golden grasslands
- Ideal Trip Length: 1–2 days
- Must-See Stops: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase County Courthouse, Council Grove Reservoir
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Prairie Fire Inn & Spa (Cottonwood Falls), Cottage House Hotel (Council Grove)
- Driving Tip: Expect no fast food or chain stops—pack snacks and enjoy the slow rhythm
12. Kancamagus Highway (Lincoln to Conway, NH)
Known to locals simply as “The Kanc,” this 34-mile highway through the White Mountains of New Hampshire is short but dazzling. This is the road for a tranquil forest drive with granite monoliths and secret waterfalls to find. At least the Kennebec — unlike much of Vermont’s more popular leaf-peeping travel corridors midweek.
The route is undeveloped—no gas stations, stores, or phone signal—just winding blacktop through the kind of landscapes that made the Northeast famous. Autumn gets the most attention here (and deservedly so), but summer mornings with mist hovering over the Saco River? Just as breathtaking.
There are a few charming, woodsy motels at either end that feel straight out of a 1960s road trip postcard. Think knotty pine interiors, fire pits out back, and owners who hand you real keys and homemade cider.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Early October for foliage, June for fewer crowds, and lush greens
- Ideal Trip Length: 1–2 days
- Must-See Stops: Sabbaday Falls, Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, CL Graham Wangan Overlook
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Kancamagus Swift River Inn (Albany), Woodstock Inn & Station (Woodstock)
- Driving Tip: Drive early or late in the day to avoid peak foliage traffic
13. San Juan Skyway (Loop through Southwestern Colorado)
Loop road that weaves through alpine meadows, ghost towns of mining out of time, and canyons painted red at sunset, the San Juan Skyway. The 236-mile loop that drives from Durango, Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride is probably one of the most scenic but underexposed mountain roads in the U.S.
What makes it feel forgotten? The sheer remoteness. Drive includes Million Dollar Mile — a scenic twisty cliffside road with no guardrails for the nerveiest of views. Every town in between reveals a little texture, West garishly, Telluride oddly elegant. Between them, though? Miles of wilderness to stop and listen to nothing but wind, water.
Many of the vintage inns here were originally built for 19th-century railroad travelers. Today, they’ve been lovingly preserved, with creaky floorboards, clawfoot tubs, and mountain views that haven’t changed in a hundred years.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Mid-June to early October (snow closes high passes in winter)
- Ideal Trip Length: 3–5 days
- Must-See Stops: Million Dollar Highway, Mesa Verde National Park, Historic Ouray Hot Springs
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Grand Imperial Hotel (Silverton), Beaumont Hotel (Ouray), New Sheridan Hotel (Telluride)
- Driving Tip: Bring altitude sickness remedies—passes exceed 10,000 feet
14. Great River Road (Alton, IL to Natchez, MS segment)
Winding along the Mississippi River, the Great River Road has multiple legs, but the Alton, IL to Natchez, MS stretch is a soulful journey into America’s cultural and musical roots. This is where bluffside views meet blues legends, and vintage neon motels blink softly at twilight.
Starting in Illinois’ limestone river towns and heading south into Missouri, Kentucky, and finally Mississippi, you’ll trace the path of paddleboats and freedom seekers. You’ll pass Civil War sites, soul food shacks, and dusty main streets where time slows to a crawl.
Every town feels different, but connected by that wide, steady river. And the motels? Some are motels in name only—restored Victorian inns or 1940s roadside gems with screen doors and back porch rocking chairs.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: April–May or October (cooler, fewer bugs)
- Ideal Trip Length: 5–7 days
- Must-See Stops: Vicksburg, Natchez Trace Parkway, Clarksdale (home of the blues)
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Hotel Nauvoo (IL), Clark House Inn (Clarksdale), Natchez Grand Hotel
- Driving Tip: Follow the green paddlewheel signs to stay on the official scenic route
15. Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (Bend to Crescent Lake, OR)
This drive starts just outside Bend, Oregon, and carries you into a realm of volcanic peaks, glacier-fed lakes, and lodgepole pine forests that feel as remote as they are magical. At 66 miles, it’s not long, but every curve brings a new alpine lake or mirror-like reflection of snow-capped Mount Bachelor.
You’ll find pull-offs to kayak, hike, or just picnic in silence. Unlike the crowds at Crater Lake, this route often feels like your own private national park—even in summer. There are no towns along the byway, just a scattering of old-school resorts and motor lodges with dusty signs and smoky fireplaces.
This is the kind of road trip where the stars come out in full force, the air smells like pine and campfire, and you start to forget about your phone entirely.
Good to Know:
- Best Months to Visit: Late June to mid-September (the byway is closed in winter)
- Ideal Trip Length: 2–3 days
- Must-See Stops: Sparks Lake, Elk Lake, Lava Lake, Devils Lake
- Vintage Motels to Stay: Elk Lake Resort, Odell Lake Lodge, Entrada Lodge (Bend)
- Driving Tip: No gas stations after leaving Bend—fill up and pack extra snacks
