What are Carolyn Scott's top travel recommendations for scenic road trips in the United States?

Hi, I’m Carolyn Scott-Hamilton from The Healthy Voyager. I love a good scenic road trip, especially when you can keep it budget-friendly and close to nature.

Some of my favorite U.S. road trip routes are:

• Pacific Coast Highway (California) – epic ocean views from the Oregon border down to San Diego
• Oregon Coast Highway 101 – cliffs, beaches, forests, and great thrifting stops
• Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee to North Carolina) – mountain vistas, small towns, wildlife
• Cape Cod (Massachusetts) – ocean views, lighthouses, beaches, and trails
• Rocky Mountains (Idaho to New Mexico) – towering peaks and valleys, plus easy access to national parks

I also highly recommend stringing together national parks, like Grand Teton–Yellowstone–Glacier, or a Pacific Coast loop that includes Redwood and Olympic National Parks.

What part of the country are you thinking of starting from?