Van Life Diaries - 3 Stunning Short Roads Everyone Should Drive

Here are our TOP THREE picks for beautiful - relatively short - roads everyone should experience at least once in their life. 

Remember, the best way to get to where you're going is often WELL out of your way. 

Here's to traveling Americas most beautiful winding roads and scenic byways! 

As always, we’ll also take listener questions at the end - questions include: 



Did Thoreau eve marry? 

What has been your favorite meal on the road? 

What is Transcendentalism? 

Have you ever thought about quitting van life? 

Noah and Noodles here!

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Your support fuels our passion and inspires us to keep sharing stories and discover overlooked locations.

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Transcript

Van Life Diaries - 3 Stunning Short Roads to Travel 

Welcome to van life diaries! 

My name is Noah and it’s just, myself and my dog Noodles in my van today.

No edits. No script. 

In my 60,000+ mile of van life I’ve traveled roads from Florida, to Main to Texas and Washington 

Here are our picks for beautiful - relatively short - roads that everyone should experience at least once in their life. 

As always, we’ll also take listener questions at the end… 

I’m drinking a modelo  Chelada - feel free to join with a drink of your own and let’s get started! 

We’re starting strong with a road synonymous with jaw-dropping heights and beauty …. 

Going-To-The-Sun Road …. 

Located in Glacier National Park in Northeast Montana - Going-To-The-Sun Road - is 50 miles across the continental divide. You pass glaciers, waterfalls, wildflowers and mountains - there’s also a good chance you’ll see wildlife along the road. 

Because it’s wildly curvy, often steep, and looms over valleys well below where you’re driving it’s open seasonally - so you’ll want to go typically July through September or October, but closures of the road will fluctuate depending on weather conditions … I went in July - it was Wonderfull, there’s nothing else like it but there are some things you should know… 

Like much of Glacier park driving along the road before 3:00PM requires a vehicle pass, it’s generally easy to get - it’s something like too dollars you just have to go on Recreation.gov the day before at 7:00PM and they go incredibly fast, you’ll see people all around the park looking down at there phones at 7:00 trying to get a pass… 

But honestly, while I wasn’t a big fan of the hassal of doing this at first - it really does keep the crowds at bay, which makes for a much more relaxing drive, especially when you get up towards the continental divide there are some steep drop offs … 

If you’d like to not drive, if it makes you nervous, that’s alright! There’s a Red Bus Tour and shuttles you can take along the road as well. 

Maybe one of my favorite things about this particular drive is the plentiful pull offs you can park at to see certain views, have lunch and generally just take it all in … 

Some quick tips, you’ll want to - get you’re pass - do that first - than the day of your drive, start early - it will be less busy, animals will be more active and you’ll generally just have a better experience… 

Another thing you want to remember is that weather conditions can very tremendously, it’s something like 10 degrees cooler than the valleys below, so bring layers - 

But other than that, there are plenty of towns around glacier to stay in - Whitefish, Kalispell on the west side and further south there’s Flathead lake, home to the soon to be explored flathead lake monster … 

In summery, everyone, at least once should trek going to the sun - especially if you’re already visiting glacier or even if you’re checking out Yellowstone or the Tetons further south - worth the drive … trust me… 

Next, we have the Avenue of the Giants - a 31 mile gently curving road passing titanic redwood trees, a brisk 200 miles north of San Francisco … 

It’s, more than any other route I’ve completed, absolutely and unequivocally jaw dropping… 

Although there are taller trees in the area, Avenue of the Giants provides a relaxing and effective way to see the true scale of both the redwoods and the collective gargantuan forest they collectively make … 

Like Going to the Sun - there are many places to pull over, and trailheads that each lead deep into the redwoods… 

I don’t know if we have any Star Wars fans listening, but it feels genially like a little Ewok could poke out at any moment… 

The entire drive is a great and undeniable example of what can happen when we leave things as they are in the world … 

Some practical advice, generally June is the best time - you’ll avoid tourism while likely getting sunnier days…. 

It’s an easy day trip if you’re in San Fran and if you drive 2 hours further north you’ll get into redwoods national and state parks which is still worth he effort to spend more than a day or two in if you can spare the time … 

We might just have a future episode on a hidden gem within these woods that you should look out for … 

But again, to get a great taste of the scale of everything - a day trip from San Fran -  Avenue of the Giants - has you covered… worth it even if you don’t leave your car - although, I highly recommend you doing that at well … 

Next we have something a choice that might surprise you but I assure you by the end I’ll make a good point … 

So while driving, I’ve always said there are two kinds of beautiful drives - drives that are beautiful in their grandiose nature, just the scale of the scenery and the epic nature of the valleys, waterfalls, rivers and mountains you encounter along you drive …. 

Then there’s another kind of beauty while driving, a simpler beauty, a calm beauty a comforting beauty … 

And maybe nothing fits this description more - in my mind  - than what’s often referred to as “Thoroughbred Alley” -

Essentially, it’s a stretch of 17 mile road  in Kentucky that connects the small town of Frankfort to Lexington - The rolling hills take you past sprawling horse farms, blue grass fields and immaculately maintained lawns… 

Truly is one of the most calming drives I’ve experienced in my two years on the road … 

It’s not grandiose, it’s not otherworldly but it’s indescribably beautiful in another way …  

The many pictures bourbon distilleries nearby also provide a great way to slow down and soak in the scenery and lifeblood of Kentucky  … truly beautiful… 

And this brings me to another point - that beauty when driving in subjective - you might enjoy and search out routes that take you through the most dramatic scenery in whatever state you’re in - conversely you might appreciate the gentle slopes and inviting pastures of a less known or sought after state … either situation you prefer, make it happen - any state, any area of the country you are looking towards, know that beauty comes in many shapes and sizes …. 

Equally, true is my opinion of these three roads,, while I th9ink you should check them all out at some point - you’re favorite byway by your house - is equally as valid and important of a drive to appreciate … 

With that said, let’s get to listener questions!