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Highest-rated scenic drives in Arizona by visitors

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haveseen // Shutterstock
haveseen // Shutterstock
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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. 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 centennial celebration 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—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 Arizona using data from Tripadvisor 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 Arizona has to offer.

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#21. White House Overlook

Tripadvisor

3 / 23

#21. White House Overlook

- Rating: 4.7/5 (95 reviews)
- City: Chinle Apache County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Historic Road - US Route 89A

Tripadvisor

6 / 23

#18. Historic Road - US Route 89A

- Rating: 4.6/5 (74 reviews)
- City: Clarkdale
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Point Imperial Drive

Tripadvisor

8 / 23

#16. Point Imperial Drive

- Rating: 4.8/5 (117 reviews)
- City: Grand Canyon National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. South Rim Drive

Tripadvisor

11 / 23

#13. South Rim Drive

- Rating: 4.7/5 (347 reviews)
- City: Chinle Apache County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Hermit Road

Tripadvisor

12 / 23

#12. Hermit Road

- Rating: 4.5/5 (181 reviews)
- City: Grand Canyon National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway

Tripadvisor

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#11. Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway

- Rating: 4.7/5 (194 reviews)
- City: Marble Canyon
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive

Tripadvisor

17 / 23

#7. Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive

- Rating: 4.6/5 (284 reviews)
- City: Globe
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. East Rim Drive

Tripadvisor

18 / 23

#6. East Rim Drive

- Rating: 4.8/5 (337 reviews)
- City: Grand Canyon National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)

Tripadvisor

22 / 23

#2. Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)

- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,292 reviews)
- City: Village of Oak Creek
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway

Tripadvisor

23 / 23

#1. Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway

- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,282 reviews)
- City: Tucson
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 29 states.

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