Best Driving Roads... State-By-State
05-14-2018, 08:04 PM
#1
Best Driving Roads... State-By-State
I’m hoping we can create a single thread that lists great driving roads you’ve enjoyed - listed State-by-State.
It might be best to list the geographical section (i.e. Northeast) of the State as well so we can more easily string together different roads within a region - for example while planning a road trip.
Additionally, if anyone already has planned a road trip using multiple roads (either in one State, or a “multi-State” trip… please feel free to post the whole trip, listing the roads you took.
It might be best to keep the style of the posts consistent (for easier reading). I suggest something like this:
STATE (Geographic Region of State)
I’ll start:
CALIFORNIA (Southern)
“Pine to Palms Scenic Byway”
Start City: Temecula
End City: Palm Desert
Miles: Approx. 60
Link: https://www.total911.com/pine-to-pal...alifornia-usa/
Directions from Temecula:
Take CA Highway 79 South. You slowly climb into the mountains.
Continue past Vail Lake Resort.
Enjoy 13 miles of Hwy. 79 until you come to CA-371 East / Cahuilla Road in Aguanga. - Take an immediate left at the stop, and follow the signs to Palm Desert.
Continue on CA-371 for 20-plus miles through the town of Anza until you come upon Highway 74, and turn towards Palm Desert. From Palm Desert, it’s only about 30 minutes to Palm Springs - and all the options that offers.
My son and I had a great time driving this road. Very beautiful scenery and fun roads. Saw two Porsches along the way. From Palm Desert, it's only about 30 minutes to Palm Springs and all of its housing and entertainment options.
It might be best to list the geographical section (i.e. Northeast) of the State as well so we can more easily string together different roads within a region - for example while planning a road trip.
Additionally, if anyone already has planned a road trip using multiple roads (either in one State, or a “multi-State” trip… please feel free to post the whole trip, listing the roads you took.
It might be best to keep the style of the posts consistent (for easier reading). I suggest something like this:
STATE (Geographic Region of State)
- Name (or nickname) of road
- Town at Start of Road / Town at End
- Approx. Miles
- Relevent LINK (or two)
- Basic Directions
- Personal Comments
I’ll start:
CALIFORNIA (Southern)
“Pine to Palms Scenic Byway”
Start City: Temecula
End City: Palm Desert
Miles: Approx. 60
Link: https://www.total911.com/pine-to-pal...alifornia-usa/
Directions from Temecula:
Take CA Highway 79 South. You slowly climb into the mountains.
Continue past Vail Lake Resort.
Enjoy 13 miles of Hwy. 79 until you come to CA-371 East / Cahuilla Road in Aguanga. - Take an immediate left at the stop, and follow the signs to Palm Desert.
Continue on CA-371 for 20-plus miles through the town of Anza until you come upon Highway 74, and turn towards Palm Desert. From Palm Desert, it’s only about 30 minutes to Palm Springs - and all the options that offers.
My son and I had a great time driving this road. Very beautiful scenery and fun roads. Saw two Porsches along the way. From Palm Desert, it's only about 30 minutes to Palm Springs and all of its housing and entertainment options.
The following 4 users liked this post by 991carreradriver:
05-14-2018, 09:46 PM
#3
Race Director
In Florida it’s Sebring Intl Raceway...3.7 miles 17 turns.
The following 2 users liked this post by mdrums:
flsupraguy (10-24-2021),
regajohn (10-20-2021)
05-14-2018, 10:06 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
In Utah there are a lot of great roads, but the best is Hwy 12 beginning outside Escalante, UT over the slickrock and then over the Boulder mountains towards Torrey, UT. It's 65 miles between the towns and more than half of that is filled with twisties and elevation changes surrounded by beautiful scenery. In the middle of the drive lies the town of Boulder where it's required to stop for a meal at Hell's Backbone Grill. In the fall and spring the traffic is typically sparse.
Now don't tell anyone else.
Now don't tell anyone else.
The following users liked this post:
huntflyer (07-01-2022)
05-14-2018, 10:38 PM
#7
Sorry to hear that New Jersey has no driving roads. Surely a bit north and it gets better ?
Texas ( West )
FT Davis Loop
Start at Fort Davis
Take hwy 118 west ( past McDonald Observatory )
Turn back south on Hwy 166 ( back to Ft Davis )
Hit this on a weekday and you have it all to yourself.
Twisty enough to be fun with plenty of room to stretch your legs
Another good one in Central Texas is.
Kerrvile to Medina to Leakey and back to Mountain Home
Start in Kerville . Take Hwy 16 south to Medina
Then right on 337 W to Vanderpool and on to Leakey
Right again on 336 N to 41 East to Mountain Home.
This is a good several hour loop and once again,, if you catch it on a weekday you will have light traffic .
Lots of turns and elevation change ( some of the corners on Hwy 16 are pretty tight ! )
Texas ( West )
FT Davis Loop
Start at Fort Davis
Take hwy 118 west ( past McDonald Observatory )
Turn back south on Hwy 166 ( back to Ft Davis )
Hit this on a weekday and you have it all to yourself.
Twisty enough to be fun with plenty of room to stretch your legs
Another good one in Central Texas is.
Kerrvile to Medina to Leakey and back to Mountain Home
Start in Kerville . Take Hwy 16 south to Medina
Then right on 337 W to Vanderpool and on to Leakey
Right again on 336 N to 41 East to Mountain Home.
This is a good several hour loop and once again,, if you catch it on a weekday you will have light traffic .
Lots of turns and elevation change ( some of the corners on Hwy 16 are pretty tight ! )
Trending Topics
05-14-2018, 11:31 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
In Utah there are a lot of great roads, but the best is Hwy 12 beginning outside Escalante, UT over the slickrock and then over the Boulder mountains towards Torrey, UT. It's 65 miles between the towns and more than half of that is filled with twisties and elevation changes surrounded by beautiful scenery. In the middle of the drive lies the town of Boulder where it's required to stop for a meal at Hell's Backbone Grill. In the fall and spring the traffic is typically sparse.
Now don't tell anyone else.
Now don't tell anyone else.
05-15-2018, 12:06 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
OK, I might be biased, but the best road(s) in Colorado make up the San Juan Skyway. You want twisting two-lane? Plenty. You want twisting two-lane with stunning mountain views? Yep. You want twisting two-lane, stunning mountain views, and 500 ft drops with no guard rails? Yeah, some of those, so pay attention.
As a loop you can start anywhere, but pick Durango. Go north on US 550 through Silverton and Ouray to Ridgway (81 miles), west on Hwy 62 to Placerville (24 miles), south on Hwy 145 past Telluride, through Ophir and Dolores to Cortez (85 miles), ad then east on US 160 past Mesa Verde National Park, through Mancos and Hesperus, and back to Durango (46 miles). Thats 235 miles total, with elevations ranging from 6000 to 11,000 ft.
Do it in a day or spend a long weekend. Besides driving, look for movie stars (Telluride), movie sets (Ridgway--the John Wayne version of True Grit), blue collar mining towns (Silverton), indian cliff ruins (Mesa Verde), and steam trains (Durango).
As a loop you can start anywhere, but pick Durango. Go north on US 550 through Silverton and Ouray to Ridgway (81 miles), west on Hwy 62 to Placerville (24 miles), south on Hwy 145 past Telluride, through Ophir and Dolores to Cortez (85 miles), ad then east on US 160 past Mesa Verde National Park, through Mancos and Hesperus, and back to Durango (46 miles). Thats 235 miles total, with elevations ranging from 6000 to 11,000 ft.
Do it in a day or spend a long weekend. Besides driving, look for movie stars (Telluride), movie sets (Ridgway--the John Wayne version of True Grit), blue collar mining towns (Silverton), indian cliff ruins (Mesa Verde), and steam trains (Durango).
05-15-2018, 01:27 AM
#13
Race Car
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
Posts: 4,014
Received 3,864 Likes
on
1,352 Posts
Well, ummmm....its already been done. A heck of a lot easier than listing them here. Here's Porsche's Map:
https://www.porsche.com/microsite/gt...x#/menu/filter
And there are many motorcycle apps as well that show you on your phone - best roads.
https://www.porsche.com/microsite/gt...x#/menu/filter
And there are many motorcycle apps as well that show you on your phone - best roads.
The following 2 users liked this post by daberlin:
CaptainPcard (05-31-2022),
Liste-Renn (07-02-2019)
05-15-2018, 02:14 AM
#15
Rennlist Member
California
From Bakersfield up to Lake Isabella on CA HWY 178 is a fun run following the river canyon.
I was nervous about rockfalls, but I got over it.
California
If you are in Palm Springs and want to get to LA or San Diego, take CA 111 south to CA 74.
CA HWY 74 has a nicely paved series of twists through the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains and it's fun even if you don't exceed the speed limit.
Utah
It's been mentioned above, but UT HWY 12 is hands down the best road I've EVER driven.
I started in Torrey where it intersects UT 24 and then took it through Boulder and Escalante eventually to Bryce Canyon.
It's high altitude with amazing views, and from Boulder through the grand staircase is the best twisty canyon carving I've ever experienced.
The first leg was an okay surface (and defintely not gravel), but the switchbacks down into the canyon and back up again are freshly paved and smooth.
From Bakersfield up to Lake Isabella on CA HWY 178 is a fun run following the river canyon.
I was nervous about rockfalls, but I got over it.
California
If you are in Palm Springs and want to get to LA or San Diego, take CA 111 south to CA 74.
CA HWY 74 has a nicely paved series of twists through the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains and it's fun even if you don't exceed the speed limit.
Utah
It's been mentioned above, but UT HWY 12 is hands down the best road I've EVER driven.
I started in Torrey where it intersects UT 24 and then took it through Boulder and Escalante eventually to Bryce Canyon.
It's high altitude with amazing views, and from Boulder through the grand staircase is the best twisty canyon carving I've ever experienced.
The first leg was an okay surface (and defintely not gravel), but the switchbacks down into the canyon and back up again are freshly paved and smooth.