The Most Beautiful Interstates In America 

You definitely missed Interstate H3 on Oahu, though it’s easy to forget the Hawaii interstates. That view of Kaneohe coming out of the Harano tunnel is stunning.

Exit 4 and I-676 is such a beautiful sightseeing spot 😱. Such a beautiful place to visit, I brought my wife’s boyfriend and my wife with me and we had a great time checking out these bizarre views. Would recommend this place on your family road trip.

I loved the gag at the end with Camden. Perfect level of humor for this channel

Hard to believe you didn't include the lovely drive on the I-70/68 route in western Maryland, traveling into West Virginia. Lovely rolling hillsides and mountains.

A few months ago my family drove from south Florida to Chicago and I've seen some scenic areas 1. I75 in Northern Georgia 2. I24 in Chattanooga 3. I65 north of Nashville

Being a truck driver, I’ve driven on every one of these sections (many of them multiple times) and I think you pretty much nailed it. However, I would substitute I-76 in PA for I-15 in AZ. Driving through the Virgin River Gorge makes you feel so small with the towering cliffs on either side, only to exit the gorge into a beautiful valley

I-80 in NJ from about Exit 19 out through the Delaware Water Gap is quite scenic, especially in fall when the leaves change

I would also add i-280 in California to this list as well. When it was first built in the 1960's it was called the "World's Most Beautiful Freeway". It certainly can't compete with a lot of these other options but having been through the appalachian and maine portions mentioned, I would say it definitely beats those out. Especially when I lived there, the coastal summer fog rolling over the green mountains was always a sight to behold.

I feel like the weather, time of day, and time of year has a lot to do with making some of these routes more scenic. Fall foliage makes some of these routes really stunning in the autumn. I80 between Sacramento and Reno has a totally different feel in the winter with all the snow at Donner Pass. Coming into Reno at night with all the casino lights makes for a pleasant drive too. I do love some of the desert mountain areas around sunrise and sunset like I40 around the AZ/NM border or I80 around Elko.

I-89 in New Hampshire and Vermont is beautiful through the White and Green Mountains.

Great video of some of the most beautiful scenery in America. Try taking a look at Hawaii’s “interstate” highway H3. If this technically qualifies as an interstate highwayfor the purposes of this video, I suspect it would’ve made your Top 5 ranking.

My favorite part of the I-5 drive is between Shasta Lake and Medford. The views of Mount Shasta are absolutely stunning.

Bronze medal: I'd encourage travelers to consider expanding on this route of I-90 to include from the terminus near downtown Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass. The trip takes you from urban Seattle with views of downtown onto a floating bridge to cross Lake Washington, onto Mercer Island, and then off to lead you eventually through the forested foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

Thank you for mentioning I-40 across the Appalachians. It’s always one of the most underrated parts of the Interstate system.

I can confirm the emptiness of I-95 north of Bangor. I've been up there once and it feels like the middle of nowhere, and I'm glad the speed limit is 75 mph there

Honorable mention: I-24 West from its terminus at I-75 through downtown Chattanooga. You start off at the top of the mountain and descend into the Tennessee Valley. You can see the whole city below you

A few stretches you forgot to mention are: I-77 from Beckley, WV down to the North Carolina/Virginia border as it has lots and lots of mountain scenery, plus the long 7 mile descent into North Carolina! i-68 in Maryland and West Virginia which is basically nothing but endless mountain scenery thruout! i-79 in West Virginia i-80 in Eastern PA and western New Jersey, especially in the Delaware Water Gap i-5 thru the Tehapachi Mountains outside of LA I-10 from Bourne, TX (outside San Antonia) to Junction, Texas due to the Hill Country! i-40 in the Flagstaff region of Northern Arizona i-81 in Virginia i-24 from north of Monteagle Mountain, TN all the way to Chattannooga, TN!

One spot I think is beautiful is coming north on I-71/75 through Covington KY. Right as you round a corner and come down a massive hill until you cross the Ohio river, you get an absolute stellar view of the Cincinnati skyline. This drive at night is absolutely stunning, just wanted to mention it here

I live in Asheville and the I-40 drive is great but the I-26 section from Erwin TN to Mars Hill NC is really great too. Definitely worth a mention if you make a part 2 video

I enjoy your list videos with their spirit of listing and ranking in the healthy "These are my notions and you have yours" way. As a born and raised Oregonian - as good as I5 is... if you are on a road trip for beauty... US 101 on the coast is magical and worth the extended trip times. Also the high desert out east has some amazing trips as well. Oregon 31 heading north gets you high desert plains, staggering cliffs and, on a clear day, a breathtaking view of so many peaks of the cascades!

Thumbs up for I-90 through Snoqualmie Pass and I-84 up the Columbia Gorge.

Loveeee this vid. I-70 west of Denver is just remarkable, you're so right.

Nice breakdown. Haven’t been on I-80 yet but plan to change that soon and hopefully hit some of these spots.

I traveled your number one spot in Grand Junction to Denver last July 2021! So beautiful!

As a native coloradan I also think that I-25 is really scenic south of Denver and even more scenic in Northern in New Mexico

Yes !! I-95 Northern Maine, when you pass the Medway exit start looking to your west in fall and seeing the snow cap Mount Katahdin is stunning ! Also Camden, New Jersey is out of this world !!

I-66 from exit 40 to 1 is a nice drive. Also, I-81 in Virginia from exit 300 to 1.

Surprised you didn’t include I-10 from Lafayette to Baton Rouge - you’re literally driving above the bayous of Louisiana - with water and cypress trees on both sides of the highway - which is nearly 40miles of gigantic bridges!

Being a native of western NC and taking the I-40 route between Asheville NC and Eastern TN many times, I can concur that this is one beautiful section of interstate. Also, living for a short time in the Phoenix AZ area,, and visiting Sedona, AZ a few times, I agree that I-17 to Flagstaff is also extremely beautiful. Hopefully, I'll get to see some of these others that you've mentioned in the near future. Thanks for the video.

It amazes me how many people think the interstates are ugly and encourage people to take “the scenic route”. The old highways are almost always overdeveloped and lined with businesses and billboards, and the interstates almost always provide a nicer view. I would add to your list I-80 through the Delaware Water Gap on the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border, I-55 next to Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, I-90 through the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, and I-68 across the Maryland and West Virginia panhandles.

I've been on most of these interstate highways. Interesting video

I love how you included all of the suggestions on your community post. I know the reasoning is 2fold, first budget & time limits your ability to actually travel every inch of the system, and secondly beauty is subjective. Great video keep up the good work.

I wish you also showed interstate 280 between Loloya and Hillsborough. The view of crystal springs redo our is stunning, and the road has actually actually been called “The most beautiful freeway in the world. I’m lucky enough to have taken that road many times to visit my grandma in Belmont. Funnily enough, the road you show at the start of the video is the end of I-280 in San Francisco, near Oracle Park. Great video!

The buffalo herd overlook in Genesee, Colorado is my favorite Vista on the interstate system. The way you climb up to it from Denver and you crest the hill, and a bridge just frames it beautifully.

The latest interstate I was on that was scenic was I-80 through Pennsylvania in early spring when there was a dusting of snow on the hills.

We live in a beautiful country. In many cases, interstate highways allow us unparalleled access to that beauty. Therefore, I must posit I-280 between San Francisco and San Jose as the most beautiful urban freeway in the interstate system.

Skiing at Snoqualmie pass when I was young will always be wonderful memories. Props to pronouncing it correctly. Also THANK YOU for bringing up I-84. The first time climbing Cabbage Patch Hill/Dead Mans Pass was awe inspiring. Summer of 2020 I took a road trip from Seattle to Denver and was able to do the top three all at once.

My Favorite Interstates: I 81 (The Entire Route) I 78 (The Entire Route) I 64 (From O'Fallon, Illinois to Norfolk) I 77 (From Elkin, North Carolina to Parkersburg, West Virginia) I 40 (From California Border to West Texas. West Oklahoma Border to Little Rock. And Jackson, Tennessee to Morganton, North Carolina) I 17 (The Entire Route) I 70 (Cove Fort to Denver. Columbus to Frederick, Maryland) I 80 (Sacramento to Reno. Salt Lake City to Cheyenne. And my personal favorite... Youngstown to New York) I 90 (Seattle to Billings) I 68 (The Entire Route) I 15 (Las Vegas to Salt Lake. And Pocatello to Great Falls) I 5 (North LA to Bakersfield. And, Redding to Salem) I 8 (The Entire Route) I 99 (The Entire Route) I 93 (Concord to St. Johnsbury) I 91 (New Haven to Hartford + Vermont) I 89 (Vermont) I 87 (Albany to Champlain) I 35 (Twin Cities to Duluth) I 76 (New Castle, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia) I 75 (Knoxville to Cincinnati) I 84 (Portland to Boise + Ogden to Echo) I 66 (Exit 1 to 40) I 24 (Chattanooga to Nashville) I 376 (Pittsburgh) I 275 (Tampa) (Some Oddballs) I 20 (Vicksburg to Anniston) I 25 (Las Cruses to Cheyenne) I 95 (Palm Bay to Florence) I 94 (Through the North Dakota Badlands) I 83 (York to Harrisburg) I 65 (Mobile to Louisville) There are so many Scenic Interstates, I also have to include the Alaska and Hawaii Highways, even though I haven't been on one of them

I'm from Oregon and I'm very flattered that your Silver medal choice is in my home state, the Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite places to experience nature.

I managed to drive through the I70 when I spent 4 weeks traveling through the 4 corner states, that includes the Flagstaff to Phoenix highway off course. Your country is beautiful, been 3 times already. Planning on doing a road trip to the US and may be Canada sometime within the next five years with my wife during the summer months. Still have plan it though, the distances are so vast. Great channel by the way.

Live in Colorado and yes you got it right with I-70 through the mountains it's a beautiful drive

Amazing video

Let’s go! Great you mentioned I-64. The views are amazing around Charlottesville/Harrisonburg best part of the interstate if you ask me.

One trip that I remember the most was traveling to Calgary, Canada from our home in California. The part of the I-15 heading north from Great Falls Montana to Canada opened up into wide open and empty country. For the first time in my life, there were no mountains on the horizon that I could see. It was flat and open. I spent most of that segment just staring up and out at the isolation (my Dad was driving) and in absolute awe. The state is known as "Big Sky Country" and for the first time ever, I saw "big sky". It was beautiful.

Lol love that you split I70 into two parts that both end in Grand Junction. I've driven that route three times, once eastward and twice westward. The one time I took it eastward my friend and I began instead in Zion on state highways up through Salina, then we got off in Colorado at Idaho Springs and drove north through the mountains on state roads to Boulder. One of the most scenic driving experiences of my entire life.

I would also add I-26 between Johnson City, TN and Asheville, NC, which is very scenic. There are also parts of I-81 in southern Virginia that are quite nice.

I-26 between Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN especially on the TN side on your way to Johnson City.

Great pics and content. I've had the privilege of driving all of these.

Damm. Throwing some hard shade on Camden.... Yeah, as someone from Denver, Colorado that is definitely the best to grand junction though.

I-90 in Western Massachusetts is also incredibly breathtaking! Btw that 676 joke was too good😂

1:26 I would say that the part of the I-80 from the USA pkwy to Canyon rd exits is pretty scenic too, because of the way the Washoe River manages to carve itself through and the fact that you can see pretty much the whole Reno-sparks area once you get to canyon rd

The scale of I-77 really puts everything in perspective. You can identify the profiles of singular trees among a whole forest as they set hundreds of feet above you. The rail route on Amtrak's Cardinal is spectacular, too.

See also: I-25 from Castle Rock to Albuquerque. My favorite stretch of interstate, great views of the Rockies, Spanish Peaks, and Sangre de Cristos!

I love being at work at Lake Keechelus at Snoqualmie pass and seeing my immediate surroundings show up in the thumbnail of the video I'm about to watch on my break.

Can’t believe that I-81 in Virginia wasn’t on this list. No major cities for hundreds of miles and there’s so many caves open to the public just off the interstate. Such a beautiful drive

W video from Beaverman

I15 from I 70 through western Utah, through the canyon lands around Bryce Canyon national park and the area just north of Las Vegas is unbelievable. I have travelled almost every mile of interstate in the contiguous 48 states, and this is my favorite, by far. Another missed one is I75 from Knoxville TN to Lexington KY. Again through the Appalachians, across the Cumberland Gap. Pretty amazing scenery. Road is somewhat treacherous north of Knoxville, too, adding driving challenge to beauty.

I like to add I-81 between I-78 and Syracuse NY. Going through the Wyoming Valley, as well as going through urban areas like Wilks Barre, Scranton, Birmingham and Syracuse itself, makes it a wonderful drive.

Glad you made sure to include I-87 in NY through the Adirondacks! I've been on all stretches you mentioned in the East, and the Northway, as I-87 from Albany north is called, is the most beautiful!

You were on the money with 1-70 in Colorado. Luckily, I haven't had to drive a semi on that stretch of highway. On the other hand, I've driven on I-676 through Camden.

there's one spot on the 110 going north just after you pass expo you have _the_ perfect view of the la skyline, i took a picture the last time i drove that way a few months ago

Honorary mention should go to H-1 in Hawaii. With tunnels, mountains and views of the Pacific, it's a gorgeous drive.

Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 is a pain in the ass when you have to drive through a raging snowstorm in April.

I live in Asheville!! Really nice to see some appreciation for the parkway :)

I know you’re mainly an Interstate guy, but you should consider making one of these for the most beautiful STATE freeways! As a Connecticuter, I can’t help but suggest the Merritt Parkway be featured ☺️ (honestly this road has such an interesting history that you could totally make an entire video about it!)

The small section of I-15 through the Virgin River gorge is pretty cool. I live south of Denver and used to have a vacation home in Bullhead City, Az. I went out there every 2 months. Even in the winter I'd risk the snow and altitude driving by way of I70 rather than taking the no snow and ice, southern route I25 to I40 because the drive was so much more spectacular to drive on I70/I15.

The interstates going around and through downtown Chicago is pretty awesome for the views of the city. I agree about that pass through Denver. I don't live too far from it and it's awesome.

I-71 from Louisville, KY to Cincinnati, OH was a beautiful drive through mountains, also I-75 from Lexington KY to Knoxville, TN, gorgeous mountains through Daniel Boone National Forest

Seriously surprised you didn't include the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona along I-15. It's for sure in top 5 most scenic interstate routes.

I Actually drove from Nashville to Ashville on my way down to SC, Best piece of interstate I have been on. The smoky mountains are just simply beautiful to drive through on a late summer's evening. The Semi drivers however are insane on I-40, those guys flyyyyyy down the hills and go 20 under climbing a grade. My parents even let me drive a section though, and it was quite fun pushing a minivan to 80 up and down a mountain. Another Great drive is I-70 in eastern Kansas along the flint hills, the rolling green landscape and farms are great scenery. Once you get past Salina however the state flattens out and you can practically see for miles in clear weather. Enjoyed the content and have a good day!

I was nervous during the first bit, but your top 3 are flawless.

The reveal of the Philly skyline still gets me. Then again I don't see it practically everyday like the Cedar Point skyline did when I worked there in summer 2021

I-81 from a bit south of Wilkes-Barre up through Scranton is breathtakingly beautiful also.

Huge miss without having I81 from Albany south to PA. Marvelously forested hilly vistas while driving along a narrow valley of small towns and farms.

You should look at the highways in western Canada in Alberta and BC. The routes through the Canadian Rocky mountains are unbelievably gorgeous

Thank you, sir for this lovely compilation. Please also check the beautiful I-15 route along the Virgin River canyon between St. George, Utah and the AZ, NV state line. IMO this rivals the Glenwood Canyon section of I-70.

so grateful to live in the most beautiful state and to have i-70 just a few miles away. colorado really is changing but its beauty can’t be questioned

Like I mentioned on the community post, if you like skylines, eastbound I-290 in Chicago east of western avenue opens up from a concrete canyon to an impressive view of the Chicago skyline from the west. You also end up passing under the old Chicago post office after you pass through the James M. Bryne interchange, which is a pretty impressive sight in its own right. Unfortunately, the rest of I-290 is just typical urban/suburban expressway pretty much all the way until it meets up with I-90 again at its west terminus.

I-91 in Vermont is a beatiful drive from Brattleboro to the Canadian Border. So many scenic areas especially the more North you go!

I-185 from from exit 12 on the north side of Columbus GA up to the junction with I-85, exit 47, is a scenic byway, lots of trees and no billboards.

Those are all beautiful interstates, so thank you for sharing! I would like to add one that I think is quite beautiful as well: I-99 from Bedford to Bellefonte in Pennsylvania. It's not very well known, but it is still gorgeous. The road is partway up a mountain most of the time with beautiful mountain views of the ridges and valleys the entire way with long, sweeping turns and a virtual lack of billboards to hinder the view. It's also not very well traveled ever. I think it's at least worth checking out.

I75 over the Mackinac Bridge. Overlooking the Straights of Mackinac and the Great Lakes

Another couple interstates that I think deserve a mention: I-25 from Raton to Denver: Yep, another mountainous area, but the Raton Pass is just gorgeous to drive through, so long as you haven't already gone for 7 hours leading up to it (true story). I-10 from Baton Rouge to New Orleans: Features some of the longest bridges in the US, goes through the swamps and low lying forests of SE Louisiana, it's a really pretty drive I-20 from Birmingham to Atlanta: Incredibly scenic drive through the Southern Appalachians that somehow doesn't stray far from populated areas

I can vouch for I-95 in Northern Maine being really nice, especially since it's *not* the best way to get to/from places in Maine you're actually going to (ME-9 [the Airline Road] and US-1 along the coast are the faster routes between Portland and Lubec, Acadia, and New Brunswick/Nova Scotia.

I"m in total agreement with i-70; the first time I drove through Glenwood Canyon I almost wrecked because of the beauty LOL. I lived in Denver during the pandemic so to get out of the house, on weekends I would drive I-70 west to Grand Junction, and then take back roads all the way back to Denver. I-84 along the Columbia River Gorge is also stunning. Now I'm with I-10 or I-35 as my closest interstates and they both suck LOL

Glad you hit 93. It’s my favorite chunk of interstate I’ve been on.

i84 is my favorite. Absolutely stunning, also Highway 14 on the Washington side js fantastic.

First time I drove i40 was as a brand new trucker on the spaghetti section in Tennessee. I pulled over and barfed.

I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff is one of my favorites. The stunning changes in geography in such a short distance is amazing.

I knew I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge would be on here! I-75 through the Cumberland Mountains and I-26 through the Blue Ridge Mountains could also easily be on this list.

I-376/former I-279 going through the hills and mountains in suburban Pittsburgh only to make the famous tunnel/bridge entrance into downtown brings the best of mountains and cities. And I-526 around Charleston with views of marshes, inlets and rivers is also pretty great.

Some other drives that I would have included: I-84 in Oregon between Portland and The Dalles. I-5 in California between Redding and Yreka. I-8 in California between San Diego and Ocotillo. I-19 in Arizona between Nogales and Green Valley. I-15 in Arizona between Littlefield and the Utah line.

That 676 add-on was brilliant. Been on that road quite a few times and can't agree more. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 That being said, that two lane interstate in New Hampshire is really a beautiful ride. I love driving that route up to Laconia every few years.

I’d like to list a couple of other interstate stretches which also provide good scenic views of mountains and valleys. •I-75 between Berea, Kentucky and Corwen, Tennessee. •I-70 in the Wheeling, WV area.

I think I-81 deserves a mention because the mountains there are beautiful and my reaction when driving north to Buffalo was priceless, and the 676 mention was funny since I always go through that highway atleast once a week

Out of what you mentioned I've been on I-80 between Sacto and Reno. Driven it at night going back from Reno to Sacto. I-40 between the Tenn/N. Carolina border with my dad trucking. Slept at the rest area on the I-40 westbound side between Asheville and the border overnight. Beautiful in the morning.

Totally agree about I-70 in Colorado. Probably one of the most beautiful stretches of Interstate both in terms of the scenery and the engineering of the highway through Glenwood Canyon. Check out Freewayjim's channel where he covered this highway. On another note I would nominate I-26 from I-81 to Asheville for its scenery as well.

You can't forget the Virgin River Narrows on I-15 between Littlefield, AZ and St George, UT!

I-90 from Mitchell, SD to Rapid City, SD could be on this list. Through the black hills and past Wall Drug. I would also say I-15 from St. george, UT to las Vegas, nv is wonderful. If you can approach las Vegas after sunset the view of the lit valley is outstanding. Also a fun bit of trivia, the couple towns in the corner of Arizona where I-15 cuts through are completely isolated from the rest of the state. To visit any Arizona cities outside of this corridor they have to go through Nevada or Utah and then re enter Arizona elsewhere.

3:28 I drove i-90 across Idaho pretty much every week this summer and while the scenery is amazing, the road is in absolutely garbage shape, the potholes are so bad that I was always afraid I'd pop a tire going 80 mph