Sometimes, a scenic drive is just what you need to clear your head and see things from a new perspective. The Grand Canyon State has no shortage of roads with amazing windshield views, but the State Route 98 in Arizona is one of the best scenic drives in Arizona. It's also among the most remote highways you'll ever travel on!
Connecting US Highways 89 and 160, State Route 98 is a 67-mile scenic drive that runs through a sparsely populated area of the Navajo Nation.
Besides serving as a detour from the South Rim to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the road is very lightly trafficked - meaning you just might have it all to yourself.
Also known as the Naat'tsis'aan-Navajo Mountain Scenic Road, the winding route meanders through stunning red rocks dotted with lush greenery.
This beautiful Arizona highway is among the most remote in Arizona, so instead of constantly hearing cars zoom on by, it'll be nothing but you and the wide-open road.
You'll pass several noteworthy landforms.
This includes LeChee Rock and Navajo Mountain. Roll down the windows and feel the wind in your hair as you marvel at these awe-inspiring natural wonders.
While there are quite a few curves along the highway, few of them are sharp, so it's still a relaxing drive.
Parts of the road take you up close and personal with some of the rock formations, and you'll definitely want to pull onto the shoulder for a better scenic view.
The only town you'll enter is Kaibito, which is home to just over 1,500 people.
Otherwise, the highway is devoid of inhabited settlements. When was the last time you took a drive with so few signs of civilization?
If you start the drive at its western side near Page, you'll end up on the Navajo Trail portion of US 160.
From there, you can keep going into Flagstaff and Sedona for even more incredible scenery!
If you were to do a search for “scenic drives near me,” Route 98 in Arizona would most certainly pop up at the top of the list!
Would you take this scenic drive in Arizona down our state's most remote highways? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
If you’d like to explore hikes along one of the best driving roads in Arizona, you can find some great trails by going to the AllTrails website.
Don't forget to check out our previous article for more of the best scenic drives in Arizona made for cruising with the windows down.
If you’re still in the mood for more Arizona adventures, take a look at this video about the beautiful town of Sedona:
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!