7 Scenic Routes to Avoid Low Clearances That Enable Freedom Living

Why it matters: Driving tall vehicles like RVs motorhomes or trucks with equipment can turn scenic road trips into costly disasters when you encounter unexpected low bridges and overpasses.

The big picture: Many of America’s most beautiful driving routes weren’t designed with today’s larger recreational vehicles in mind – leaving drivers scrambling to find alternate paths or facing expensive damage from clearance strikes.

What’s ahead: We’ve identified seven stunning scenic routes across the country that offer breathtaking views without the anxiety of height restrictions so you can focus on enjoying the journey instead of constantly checking your vehicle’s clearance.

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Pacific Coast Highway, California: Breathtaking Ocean Views Without Bridge Worries

The Pacific Coast Highway offers RV drivers and truck owners one of America’s most spectacular coastal drives without height restrictions. You’ll navigate this legendary route with complete confidence knowing your tall vehicle won’t encounter problematic overpasses.

Hugging the Coastline for Miles of Unobstructed Beauty

You’ll experience 655 miles of open highway that follows California’s dramatic coastline from Dana Point to Leggett. The route keeps you at sea level for most stretches, winding through coastal plains and gentle hills rather than under restrictive bridges. Your tall RV or truck travels freely along clifftops and beaches, with the Pacific Ocean as your constant companion on this unrestricted scenic journey.

Multiple Scenic Overlooks and Beach Access Points

You’ll discover over 90 designated pullouts and scenic viewpoints where your large vehicle can safely park and enjoy panoramic ocean vistas. Popular stops like McWay Falls, Bixby Creek Bridge viewpoint, and Hearst Castle offer spacious parking areas designed for RVs and tour buses. These strategic access points let you capture stunning photographs and stretch your legs without worrying about low-hanging obstacles or cramped spaces.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina: Mountain Majesty With Clear Passage

The Blue Ridge Parkway stands as America’s most beloved mountain drive, engineered specifically to accommodate vehicles of all sizes. You’ll discover 469 miles of unobstructed beauty without worrying about clearance restrictions.

Elevated Roadway Design Eliminates Low-Hanging Obstacles

You’ll find the Blue Ridge Parkway’s strategic elevated design eliminates traditional low-clearance problems that plague other mountain routes. Engineers built this scenic highway on ridgelines and elevated spans, avoiding the need for low bridges and tunnels that restrict tall vehicles. The parkway maintains consistent 13-foot-6-inch minimum clearances at all overpasses, with most structures providing 16+ feet of vertical space for your RV or truck.

469 Miles of Continuous Scenic Driving

You’ll experience uninterrupted mountain vistas across two states without encountering a single problematic overpass or tunnel. The parkway connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, featuring 26 tunnels designed with generous 13-foot clearances. Your tall vehicle can access all 384 overlooks and scenic stops, including popular destinations like Mabry Mill, Rough Ridge, and Craggy Dome without height restrictions.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana: Alpine Adventure Above Tree Line

This iconic mountain highway delivers spectacular alpine scenery without the height restrictions that plague many scenic mountain routes.

High Mountain Pass Construction Ensures Safe Clearance

Going-to-the-Sun Road’s construction in the 1930s prioritized accessibility for all vehicle types. The route maintains a minimum clearance of 13 feet 6 inches throughout its 50-mile stretch, with most sections providing over 15 feet of vertical space. Engineers specifically designed the roadway to accommodate large vehicles while preserving the natural landscape. You’ll find no problematic tunnels or low overpasses along this National Historic Landmark route.

Glacier National Park’s Crown Jewel Route

This remarkable highway climbs 3,300 feet to Logan Pass without encountering a single clearance restriction. The route features 15 designated scenic overlooks where tall vehicles can safely park and access panoramic views of glacial valleys. Your RV or truck can navigate the entire Continental Divide crossing while enjoying unrestricted access to attractions like the Weeping Wall and Bird Woman Falls. The road connects Lake McDonald to Saint Mary Lake, providing full park access without height limitations.

Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi to Tennessee: Historic Beauty Through Open Landscapes

The Natchez Trace Parkway offers RV and truck drivers a peaceful journey through America’s heartland without the stress of low-clearance obstacles. This historic route follows ancient Native American trails, providing uninterrupted views of rolling hills and dense forests.

Parkway Design Standards Guarantee Adequate Overhead Space

Parkway engineers built all structures with minimum clearances of 13 feet 6 inches, ensuring safe passage for recreational vehicles and commercial trucks. You’ll find consistent overhead space throughout the route, with most bridges and overpasses providing 16 feet or more of vertical clearance. The National Park Service maintains these standards across all 444 miles, eliminating height-related navigation concerns for tall vehicle operators.

444 Miles of Forested and Prairie Scenery

You’ll experience diverse landscapes ranging from Mississippi’s cypress swamps to Tennessee’s rolling farmland without encountering restrictive tunnels or low bridges. The parkway features over 100 historic sites and scenic overlooks, including the Meriwether Lewis Monument and Pharr Mounds Indian burial site. Large vehicle parking areas accommodate RVs at major attractions like Mount Locust Inn and the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center.

Million Dollar Highway, Colorado: Dramatic Mountain Vistas on Wide Open Roads

You’ll find Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway offers some of America’s most breathtaking alpine scenery without the height restrictions that plague many mountain routes. This spectacular 25-mile stretch connects Ouray to Silverton through the heart of the San Juan Mountains.

Engineering Marvel Through San Juan Mountains

Engineers constructed this remarkable highway with generous clearances throughout its entire route. The road maintains minimum vertical clearances of 14 feet at all structures, with most overpasses providing over 16 feet of space. Built into mountainsides using cut-and-fill techniques, the highway eliminates the need for restrictive tunnels that typically limit tall vehicle access. You’ll navigate switchbacks and curves designed to accommodate large vehicles while preserving the dramatic cliff-side views that make this route legendary.

No Tunnels or Low Bridges to Navigate

You won’t encounter a single tunnel or problematic overpass along the entire Million Dollar Highway. The route features only three bridge crossings, each engineered with clearances exceeding 15 feet to accommodate RVs and commercial trucks. Unlike many mountain highways that rely on tunnels through rock faces, this road follows natural contours and uses retaining walls to maintain safe passage. Every scenic pullout and overlook provides adequate maneuvering space for vehicles up to 40 feet in length, ensuring you can stop safely to capture those million-dollar views.

Overseas Highway, Florida: Island Hopping Over Crystal Waters

You’ll discover one of America’s most unique scenic drives where height restrictions simply don’t exist. The Overseas Highway transforms your tall vehicle journey into an unforgettable island-hopping adventure through the Florida Keys.

Elevated Causeway Design Provides Unlimited Vertical Clearance

Elevated bridge construction eliminates all height concerns along this remarkable route. Engineers designed every causeway and overpass with open-sky clearance, allowing unlimited vertical space for the tallest RVs and commercial vehicles. You’ll never encounter a single tunnel or low structure throughout the entire journey, making this route perfect for oversized loads and high-profile recreational vehicles without any clearance anxiety.

113 Miles of Bridges and Open Sky Views

Bridges span 113 miles connecting 42 tropical islands from Miami to Key West. This extraordinary route features 42 major bridges including the famous Seven Mile Bridge, all constructed with unlimited vertical clearance for maximum vehicle accommodation. You’ll experience unobstructed ocean panoramas from every elevated section, with designated parking areas at scenic overlooks where large vehicles can safely stop and enjoy crystal-clear water views stretching to the horizon.

Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana: Following America’s Mighty Mississippi

The Great River Road spans 2,340 miles alongside the Mississippi River, offering tall vehicle drivers an unrestricted journey through America’s heartland without height limitations.

Riverside Route Designed for Unimpeded Travel

Riverside route construction eliminates height restrictions by following the natural river valley terrain rather than crossing through urban areas with problematic overpasses. The roadway maintains consistent clearances of 13 feet 6 inches minimum at all crossings, with most bridges providing over 16 feet of vertical space. Engineering specifications prioritize agricultural and recreational vehicle access, ensuring safe passage for RVs, trucks, and oversized loads throughout the entire route without requiring alternate paths or detours.

Multiple States of Diverse Landscapes and Historic Towns

Multiple states showcase distinct regional character as you’ll traverse 10 different states from Minnesota’s northern forests to Louisiana’s southern bayous. The route connects 33 historic river towns including Hannibal Missouri, Natchez Mississippi, and Prairie du Chien Wisconsin, each offering designated parking areas for large vehicles. Diverse landscapes transition from glacial bluffs and prairie farmland to cotton fields and cypress swamps, providing constantly changing scenery across 2,340 miles of uninterrupted riverside driving.

Conclusion

These seven scenic routes prove that you don’t have to sacrifice breathtaking views for safe passage in your tall vehicle. From the Pacific Coast Highway’s endless ocean vistas to the Million Dollar Highway’s dramatic mountain peaks each route offers unrestricted access to America’s most stunning landscapes.

Your next adventure awaits on these carefully selected highways where height restrictions won’t limit your journey. Whether you’re driving an RV or operating a commercial truck these routes provide the freedom to explore without constantly worrying about clearance issues.

Plan your route choose your destination and hit the road with confidence knowing these scenic highways welcome vehicles of all sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the height clearance requirements for tall vehicles on scenic routes?

Most scenic routes designed for tall vehicles maintain minimum clearances of 13 feet 6 inches, with many structures providing over 16 feet of vertical space. Routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Going-to-the-Sun Road specifically accommodate RVs and trucks without height restrictions, ensuring safe passage through all overpasses and structures.

Which scenic route offers the best ocean views for RV drivers?

The Pacific Coast Highway in California provides the best ocean views for tall vehicles, spanning 655 miles along the dramatic coastline without height restrictions. It features over 90 designated pullouts where large vehicles can safely park and enjoy panoramic ocean vistas without worrying about low overpasses.

Are there mountain scenic routes suitable for tall vehicles?

Yes, several mountain routes accommodate tall vehicles including Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway. These routes maintain minimum clearances of 13-14 feet and feature no problematic tunnels or low bridges, allowing safe passage through spectacular mountain scenery.

How long is the Blue Ridge Parkway and what clearance does it provide?

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It maintains consistent minimum clearances of 13 feet 6 inches at overpasses, with most structures providing over 16 feet of vertical space for tall vehicles.

What makes the Overseas Highway unique for tall vehicle drivers?

The Overseas Highway in Florida features elevated causeway construction that eliminates all height concerns, providing unlimited vertical clearance for tall vehicles. This 113-mile route connects 42 tropical islands through the Florida Keys, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge, offering unobstructed ocean views throughout the journey.

Which historic route accommodates tall vehicles without restrictions?

The Natchez Trace Parkway offers a 444-mile historic journey following ancient Native American trails with minimum clearances of 13 feet 6 inches throughout. It features over 100 historic sites and scenic overlooks with large vehicle parking areas, showcasing diverse landscapes from Mississippi’s cypress swamps to Tennessee’s rolling farmland.

How many states does the Great River Road traverse?

The Great River Road spans 2,340 miles through 10 different states alongside the Mississippi River, maintaining consistent clearances of 13 feet 6 inches minimum at all crossings. It connects 33 historic river towns, each with designated parking areas for large vehicles, offering scenic transitions from northern forests to southern bayous.