Top 5 Scenic Drives to Connect with Nature

No list of scenic drives would be complete without the Blue Ridge Parkway, which features nearly 500 miles of Appalachian splendor. If you’re looking to spend just one day on this famous roadway, we recommend its southwestern segment, which begins just outside the bustling city of Asheville and ends at the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Along the way, you’ll pass numerous overlooks that highlight America’s oldest mountain range, including Balsam Gap. This primeval landscape was protected over the course of decades thanks to hard work by western North Carolinians, local land trusts, and The Conservation Fund — and our work isn’t done yet. Make sure to pull over, stretch your legs, and take in the land we’re still fighting to protect.

You never forget your first time taking in Wyoming’s Teton Range. The iconic view sticks with you and reminds us why conservation is so important. And even though the mountains themselves are protected forever as Grand Teton National Park, the valley south and east of the park is under constant threat of development. Since 2001, we’ve partnered with Grand Teton National Park on seven projects to secure at-risk lands and expand the park by more than 852 acres. Drink in unimpaired scenic views and search for wildlife as you move through one of the most recognizable views in the country. Don’t forget your camera!

Fuel up in the Twin Cities and get an early start for your journey through the land of Paul Bunyan and to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, which starts as a mere trickle in Lake Itsaca State Park. And the path to protecting these verdant landscapes was nearly as winding as the road itself! Many of the trees you spy on your drive were once owned by a single timber company, which began selling off disconnected tracts of land more than a decade ago. Recognizing this threat was also an opportunity, The Conservation Fund stepped in to purchase tens of thousands of acres of forestland that could have otherwise been developed, but instead benefits millions of people, wildlife habitat, and the headwaters of America’s mightiest river. 

Our longest trip recommendation takes you down Highway 101 and past one of the country’s largest living things: California’s coastal redwoods. Since 2004, we’ve conserved more than 74,000 acres of Northern California forests, saving thousand-year-old redwoods from the threats of encroaching development and fragmentation. Now, as part of The Conservation Fund’s North Coast Forest Conservation Initiative, these trees are helping to protect habitat for spotted owls and native salmon, as well as local jobs. Turn off your car, sit quietly, and be transported into the past — all while knowing these massive trees are protected for future generations. 

Central Florida’s barrier islands offer visitors a unique opportunity to combine wildlife viewing and history into one beautiful drive. Take in ocean and river views along part of Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway, which passes the Archie Carr and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuges. Each of these wildlife havens could have become new sites for trophy homes in this ecologically sensitive area — until The Conservation Fund stepped in. Thanks to our local conservation experts, these lands are now protected, safeguarding sea turtles, rare birds, and mangrove islands. End your trip in Fort Pierce at the final home of renowned author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, which we protected in 2025.