Tripadvisor
1 / 29#29. Lobo Overlook / Radio Tower
- Rating: 4.6/5 (48 reviews)
- City: Pagosa Springs
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Highest-rated scenic drives in Colorado by visitors
路爆料TV
There's no shortage of scenic drives to take in the United States. According to the, 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. Since 1926, travelers have been hitting the 2,448-mile road that has more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2026, a will feature dozens of special events along the route.
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.
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 sight: 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鈥攊t's on the shorter side at only 34.5 miles long.
For those looking to take to the open road, compiled a list of the best scenic drives in Colorado using data from as of August 2025. 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. Only routes with at least 20 reviews were included.
Once you locate the closest scenic drive, gather your favorite passengers, turn on an epic playlist, and take in the beauty that Colorado has to offer.
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Tripadvisor
2 / 29#28. Owl Creek Pass and Silver Jack Reservoir
- Rating: 4.7/5 (36 reviews)
- City: Ridgway
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Tripadvisor
3 / 29#27. San Juan Skyway
- Rating: 4.9/5 (75 reviews)
- City: not available
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Tripadvisor
4 / 29#26. Highway of Legends Scenic Byway
- Rating: 4.8/5 (87 reviews)
- City: La Veta
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Tripadvisor
5 / 29#25. West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
- Rating: 4.8/5 (65 reviews)
- City: Carbondale
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Tripadvisor
6 / 29#24. East Portal Road
- Rating: 4.5/5 (77 reviews)
- City: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
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Tripadvisor
7 / 29#23. Spiral Drive
- Rating: 4.3/5 (82 reviews)
- City: Salida Chaffee County
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Tripadvisor
8 / 29#22. Kenosha Pass
- Rating: 4.7/5 (49 reviews)
- City: Fairplay
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Tripadvisor
9 / 29#21. Lariat Loop National Scenic Byway
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- City: Golden
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Tripadvisor
10 / 29#20. Monarch Pass
- Rating: 4.4/5 (113 reviews)
- City: Monarch
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Tripadvisor
11 / 29#19. Alpine Loop
- Rating: 4.6/5 (86 reviews)
- City: not available
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Tripadvisor
12 / 29#18. South Rim Road
- Rating: 4.8/5 (223 reviews)
- City: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
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13 / 29#17. Red Mountain Pass
- Rating: 4.8/5 (118 reviews)
- City: Ouray
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14 / 29#16. Schofield Pass
- Rating: 4.5/5 (84 reviews)
- City: Crested Butte
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Tripadvisor
15 / 29#15. Peak 9 Road
- Rating: 4.6/5 (311 reviews)
- City: Breckenridge
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Tripadvisor
16 / 29#14. Cottonwood Pass
- Rating: 4.8/5 (115 reviews)
- City: not available
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Tripadvisor
17 / 29#13. Animas Forks
- Rating: 4.7/5 (237 reviews)
- City: Ouray
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Tripadvisor
18 / 29#12. Old Fall River Road
- Rating: 4.7/5 (522 reviews)
- City: Rocky Mountain National Park
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Tripadvisor
19 / 29#11. Shelf Road
- Rating: 4.7/5 (182 reviews)
- City: Cripple Creek
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Tripadvisor
20 / 29#10. Phantom Canyon Road
- Rating: 4.6/5 (255 reviews)
- City: Cripple Creek
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Tripadvisor
21 / 29#9. Guanella Pass
- Rating: 4.8/5 (354 reviews)
- City: Georgetown
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Tripadvisor
22 / 29#8. Kebler Pass
- Rating: 4.8/5 (484 reviews)
- City: Crested Butte
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Tripadvisor
23 / 29#7. Skyline Drive
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,268 reviews)
- City: Canon City
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Tripadvisor
24 / 29#6. Boreas Pass Road
- Rating: 4.7/5 (689 reviews)
- City: Breckenridge
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Tripadvisor
25 / 29#5. Independence Pass
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,738 reviews)
- City: Aspen
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Tripadvisor
26 / 29#4. Million Dollar Highway
- Rating: 4.8/5 (769 reviews)
- City: Silverton
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Tripadvisor
27 / 29#3. Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,845 reviews)
- City: Estes Park
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Tripadvisor
28 / 29#2. Trail Ridge Road
- Rating: 4.9/5 (3,490 reviews)
- City: Rocky Mountain National Park
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Tripadvisor
29 / 29#1. Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
- Rating: 4.7/5 (7,827 reviews)
- City: Cascade El Paso County
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 29 states.
