Best scenic drives in Tennessee

Best scenic drives in Tennessee

There’s no shortage of scenic drives to take in the United States. According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, there are 184 designated byway routes with beautiful vistas, as well as historic and cultural sites across the country. That means, no matter where you are in the U.S., a stunning drive isn’t too far away.

Some drives have reached celebrity status, one of the most well-known being Historic Route 66, which stretches from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica Pier in California. For nearly 100 years, travelers have been hitting the 2,448-mile road that has more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other famous drives include the Pacific Coast Highway in California, which hugs 650 miles of the state’s coast; the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic 444-mile route from Tennessee to Alabama and Mississippi; and the highest fully paved road in North America, Colorado’s Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, which sits at a cool 14,264 feet at its peak.

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Of course, there are plenty more drives that may not be as famous but are just as alluring. The Highland Scenic Highway in West Virginia gives riders a picturesque view through the Monongahela National Forest. Make a pit stop in the Cranberry Glades for an unusual site: bogs full of carnivorous plants. Further north, the Kancamagus Scenic Byway in New Hampshire is a particularly beautiful drive as the leaves turn in the fall and won’t take you too long to drive—it’s on the shorter side at only 34.5 miles long.

For those looking to take to the open road, Stacker compiled a list of the best scenic drives in Tennessee using data from Tripadvisor as of March 2024. Note that Tripadvisor ranks attractions using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a drive with a 5/5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4/5.

Once you locate the closest scenic drive near you, gather your favorite passengers, turn on an epic playlist, and take in the beauty that Tennessee has to offer.

#13. Meadow Creek Mountain Fire Tower

– Rating: 5/5 (1 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Tullahoma Campaign Civil War Trail

– Rating: 3.5/5 (6 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

(Source: Adobe Stock)
(Source: Adobe Stock)

#11. Rocky Top

– Rating: 5/5 (5 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Veterans Overlook

– Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

| Check out more lists and rankings from across Tennessee

#9. Rich Mountain Road

– Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Balsam Mountain Road

– Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge

– Rating: 4.5/5 (95 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

(Source: Adobe Stock)
(Source: Adobe Stock)

#6. Cherohala Skyway

– Rating: 5/5 (138 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Little River Road

– Rating: 5/5 (226 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Newfound Gap

– Rating: 5/5 (258 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Foothills Parkway

– Rating: 5/5 (606 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

(Source: Adobe Stock)
(Source: Adobe Stock)

#2. Newfound Gap Road

– Rating: 5/5 (780 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook

– Rating: 4.5/5 (1,384 reviews)
– Read more on Tripadvisor

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This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Sheeka Sanahori, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 46 states.

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