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Highest-rated scenic drives in Utah by visitors

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Kirk Wester // Shutterstock
Kirk Wester // 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 Utah 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 Utah has to offer.

You may also like: Highest-rated specialty museums in Utah by visitors

#28. Notom Road Scenic Backway

Tripadvisor

2 / 29

#28. Notom Road Scenic Backway

- Rating: 4.6/5 (35 reviews)
- City: Capitol Reef National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway

Tripadvisor

4 / 29

#26. Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway

- Rating: 4.7/5 (75 reviews)
- City: Payson
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Colorado Riverway Recreation Area

Tripadvisor

13 / 29

#17. Colorado Riverway Recreation Area

- Rating: 4.8/5 (312 reviews)
- City: Moab
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Kolob Canyon Road

Tripadvisor

14 / 29

#16. Kolob Canyon Road

- Rating: 4.6/5 (161 reviews)
- City: Zion National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Kolob Terrace Road

Tripadvisor

16 / 29

#14. Kolob Terrace Road

- Rating: 4.7/5 (142 reviews)
- City: Zion National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Monument Valley – Highway 163 Scenic Drive

Tripadvisor

18 / 29

#12. Monument Valley – Highway 163 Scenic Drive

- Rating: 4.7/5 (130 reviews)
- City: Monument Valley
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel

Tripadvisor

19 / 29

#11. Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel

- Rating: 4.4/5 (649 reviews)
- City: Zion National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

Tripadvisor

21 / 29

#9. Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

- Rating: 4.8/5 (268 reviews)
- City: Bryce Canyon National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Scenic Byway of Highway 128

Tripadvisor

22 / 29

#8. Scenic Byway of Highway 128

- Rating: 4.8/5 (226 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Zion Canyon Shuttle

Tripadvisor

24 / 29

#6. Zion Canyon Shuttle

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,228 reviews)
- City: Zion National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway

Tripadvisor

26 / 29

#4. Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway

- Rating: 4.7/5 (506 reviews)
- City: Park City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Zion - Mt. Carmel Highway

Tripadvisor

28 / 29

#2. Zion - Mt. Carmel Highway

- Rating: 4.8/5 (896 reviews)
- City: Zion National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

Tripadvisor

29 / 29

#1. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,682 reviews)
- City: Zion National Park
- 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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