America's Legendary Coastal Highways

Route 66 ran 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles before the interstate system quietly erased most of it. The Pacific Coast Highway took eleven years to build along cliffs most engineers thought impossible to road. Some highways are just routes. These six are destinations in themselves.

This guide covers six real American highways, how each one actually got built, and the specific stretch that makes each one worth the drive.

Iconic U.S. road trips and coastal drives like Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway were built decades apart for completely different reasons, yet all three became destinations people drive specifically to experience. Route 66 alone stretched 2,448 miles before most of it was decommissioned by 1985.

In this article

• Quick Facts ↓
• Why Some Highways Become Destinations ↓
• Three Roads Built for the Views ↓
• Three More Drives Worth Knowing ↓
• FAQ ↓

Iconic Highway Quick Facts

Why Do Some Highways Become Destinations?

Most roads exist to get people somewhere else. These six exist as the destination themselves. Route 66 became legendary because it was the fastest route west during America's biggest car-travel boom, and it collected diners, motels, and roadside attractions along the way. The Pacific Coast Highway and Blue Ridge Parkway were built specifically for the view, engineered along cliffs and mountain ridgelines instead of the flattest, fastest path.

That built-for-the-drive intent is exactly why these highways photograph so differently from an ordinary interstate. Each one was designed, planned, or simply worn into legend around a specific stretch of scenery, not just a destination at the end of it.

Three Roads Built for the Views

Route 66, Chicago to Los Angeles

Route 66 was officially established on November 11, 1926, stretching 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Novelist John Steinbeck nicknamed it the Mother Road in 1939, and it became the fastest overland route west during America's early car-travel boom. With the rise of the interstate system, the road was gradually decommissioned, and the last federally recognized segment, in Arizona, was removed in 1985.

The Pacific Coast Highway, California

The Pacific Coast Highway runs roughly 620 miles along California's coastline between Los Angeles and San Francisco, part of State Route 1. Construction began in 1919 and took eleven years to complete in 1930, cut directly into cliffs many engineers considered too dangerous to road. The highway now carries an All-American Road designation, one of the highest scenic recognitions a U.S. route can receive.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, connecting Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Established in 1936, the parkway climbs from 650 feet to a peak of 6,053 feet at Richland Balsam, the highest point on the entire route. It was built without a single traffic light or commercial vehicle, designed purely for scenic mountain driving.

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Three More Drives Worth Knowing

The Overseas Highway, Florida Keys

The Overseas Highway runs 113 miles from the Florida mainland to Key West, including the Seven Mile Bridge, a 6.79-mile span connecting the middle and lower Keys. The original crossing began as a railroad extension, destroyed by a hurricane in 1935 and rebuilt as a highway that reopened in 1938. The current Seven Mile Bridge, built between 1978 and 1982, still carries the same route out over open ocean.

The Oregon Coast Highway

The Oregon Coast Highway, U.S. Route 101, runs 363 miles along the entire length of Oregon's coastline from Astoria to the California border. The route crosses 98 bridges and aqueducts along the way, many of them historic spans over major bays and rivers. Lighthouses, state parks, and scenic overlooks line nearly the entire drive.

The Great River Road

The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River for roughly 3,000 miles, starting at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and ending in Venice, Louisiana. The route passes through 10 states and hundreds of river towns, making it one of the longest continuous scenic drives in the country. Unlike a single highway, it's a connected system of state and local roads that all trace the same river.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long was Route 66 and why was it decommissioned?

Route 66 stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles when it was established in 1926. As the interstate highway system expanded, Route 66 gradually lost its federal designation, with the last segment, in Arizona, removed from the federal system in 1985. Large sections remain drivable today as historic byways.

How long did the Pacific Coast Highway take to build?

The Pacific Coast Highway took eleven years to build, starting construction in 1919 and finishing in 1930. It runs roughly 620 miles along California's coastline between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The road now holds an All-American Road designation for its scenic value.

What is the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

The Blue Ridge Parkway's highest point sits at 6,053 feet above sea level at Richland Balsam in North Carolina. The 469-mile route ranges from 650 feet up to that peak as it winds through the Appalachian Mountains. It was established in 1936 and built without traffic lights or commercial vehicles.

How long is the Seven Mile Bridge on the Overseas Highway?

The Seven Mile Bridge spans 6.79 miles, connecting the middle and lower Florida Keys as part of the 113-mile Overseas Highway. The current bridge was built between 1978 and 1982, replacing an earlier crossing that began as a railroad extension destroyed by a 1935 hurricane. The highway version first opened in 1938.

Why does a road trip metal print make a great gift for someone who loves scenic drives?

A road trip metal print gift for someone who loves scenic drives is a thoughtful, ready-to-display choice because it captures the exact highway or overlook they still talk about, arrives with no framing needed, and includes a matching 5mm mouse pad for their desk. Handcrafted in North Liberty, Iowa and shipping in 3 to 5 business days, this road trip wall art is meaningful desk decor that still works last-minute.

Where can you get road trip decor like this for a desk?

X2Metal offers road trip and travel-inspired designs printed on glossy ChromaLuxe metal and sized for a desk, with matching 5mm mouse pads. Browse the Roadsters collection. Everything is handcrafted in North Liberty, Iowa.

About the author: Business Alchemist | Turning Ideas into Products, Brands & Businesses | Navid Malik. Navid is the founder of X2Metal, a metal print studio in North Liberty, Iowa creating bold, durable metal prints and 5mm mouse pads.

Sources: Route 66 Road Trip, official facts ↗, Wikipedia, Pacific Coast Highway construction ↗, Britannica, Blue Ridge Parkway ↗, Britannica, Seven Mile Bridge ↗, Wikipedia, Oregon Coast Highway ↗, Wikipedia, Great River Road ↗. X2Metal is not affiliated with any organization mentioned in this post.

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