United States · UT
Red rock scenery so relentless that ordinary connecting roads become memorable, and Byway 12 sits near the top of any national list.
Scored roads
3
Combined length
192 mi
Driving time
8 hr 58 min
Best season
April to June and September to October, avoiding peak summer heat
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Scores combine driving quality and scenery, checked against current closure notices for Utah. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 26 April 2026
Ranked
01 · Utah
Slickrock, the Hogback ridge with drops both sides, and red canyon after red canyon.
123 mi · Rating 9.6 / 10 · 6 hr 11 min
Snow on Boulder Mountain from November to April
02 · Utah
Switchbacks out of Zion Canyon into a mile long tunnel with windows cut in the rock.
24.2 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10 · 59 min
Escort required for large vehicles in the tunnel
03 · Utah and Arizona
The straight every film crew shoots, buttes rising straight out of the desert floor.
44.7 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10 · 1 hr 48 min
Summer heat and sudden dust storms
Planning
Moab, Torrey or St George
April to June and September to October, avoiding peak summer heat
Allow roughly 2 days to drive all of these without rushing, plus transit time to reach the state.