You do not need a spaceship to step foot on another planet—just a reliable car and a full tank of gas. The United States holds some of the most geologically bizarre landscapes on Earth, accessible via paved roads that slice through volcanic craters, neon-colored badlands, and blindingly white salt flats. These eight drives trade standard forests and plains for alien-looking terrains that challenge your sense of scale and reality. Whether you are climbing above the clouds on a dormant Hawaiian volcano or driving across prehistoric ocean beds in Death Valley, these routes deliver an otherworldly road trip. Pack extra water, check your tire pressure, and prepare to navigate landscapes that feel light-years away from home.
Why People Are Talking About This
In recent years, travel trends have shifted heavily toward domestic destinations that offer extreme visual contrast to our everyday environments. People want to feel entirely disconnected from the mundane, and the vast, diverse geology of North America delivers that escapism perfectly. Social media has undeniably fueled this fascination; a photo of a neon-pink canyon or a blindingly white dune field looks like it requires a passport and a transatlantic flight. Yet, discovering that these alien terrains sit just off standard American interstates has sparked a renewed golden age of the American road trip. Drivers are specifically mapping routes that challenge their visual expectations, proving that you do not need to leave the country to experience environments that defy logic.
1. Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240), South Dakota
Driving into Badlands National Park feels like crossing a threshold into a Martian colony. The Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway—a 39-mile stretch of South Dakota Highway 240—winds through thousands of acres of sharply eroded buttes, jagged pinnacles, and deep canyons banded in shades of rust, gold, and gray.
The entire paved loop takes roughly one to two hours to complete if you drive straight through, though you will inevitably want to pull over at the 14 designated scenic overlooks. Stop at the Yellow Mounds Overlook to see the soil glow with mustard-yellow hues, or walk the accessible Fossil Exhibit Trail to understand the prehistoric creatures that once roamed this ancient seabed. Access to the loop requires a $30 vehicle pass, which remains valid for seven days. As you navigate the steep passes, keep a close watch for the resilient wildlife that calls this harsh environment home, including bighorn sheep and sprawling prairie dog towns.
2. Valley of Fire Scenic Byway, Nevada
Less than an hour northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, the neon lights give way to the searing red Aztec sandstone of the Mojave Desert. The Valley of Fire Scenic Byway cuts straight through Nevada’s oldest state park, offering 40,000 acres of petrified trees, 2,000-year-old petroglyphs, and rock formations that look like a raging inferno frozen in stone.
The entrance fee is $15 for out-of-state vehicles and $10 for Nevada residents. Once inside, turning onto Mouse’s Tank Road immerses you completely in this deep-red environment. The rocks here reflect the sun so intensely that the landscape appears to be glowing. According to the Nevada State Parks department, summer temperatures frequently soar to dangerous levels, leading to annual trail closures between May and September to prevent heat exhaustion. To safely hike the famous Fire Wave trail or explore the pastel slot canyons, plan your road trip for the late fall or early spring.
3. Haleakalā Highway, Hawaii
Most roads take you across a landscape; the Haleakalā Highway takes you above it. Located on the island of Maui, this winding route starts at sea level and climbs a staggering 10,023 feet to the summit of a dormant volcano in just 37 miles. As you navigate the endless switchbacks, you will physically drive through the cloud layer, emerging into a stark, alpine desert filled with massive cinder cones that look identical to the surface of the moon.
Reaching the summit for sunrise is one of the most coveted travel experiences in Hawaii, but it requires strict logistical planning. Because parking is highly limited, you must secure a $1 reservation to enter the summit district between 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Research from official park guides shows that tickets sell out immediately, so you should book your spot through Recreation.gov exactly 60 days before your visit. This reservation is entirely separate from the standard $30 park entrance fee. Dress warmly; while the beaches below sit at a balmy 80 degrees, the summit regularly drops to freezing temperatures.
4. Craters of the Moon 7-Mile Loop Road, Idaho
Tucked away in the Snake River Plain of central Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument is a vast ocean of dark basalt lava flows, spatter cones, and dormant volcanic vents. The landscape is so authentically lunar that in 1969, Apollo 14 astronauts—including Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell—visited this exact site to study volcanic geology before their trip to the actual moon.
The monument features a paved, 7-mile loop road that grants access to the park’s most dramatic features. A $20 vehicle pass lets you drive the loop, pull over at the Inferno Cone, and hike the short, steep trail to a panoramic view of the blackened earth. If you want to explore the subterranean lava tubes, stop by the visitor center first to obtain a free caving permit, which is required to protect the local bat population. Keep in mind that heavy winter snows close the loop road to vehicle traffic from late November through April, transforming the area into a cross-country skiing destination.
5. Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire
The Mount Washington Auto Road is not for the faint of heart. This 7.6-mile private toll road climbs 4,618 feet to the highest peak in the Northeast, featuring an average gradient of 11.6 percent and no guardrails. As you drive past the timberline, the familiar New England forest strips away, replaced by an unforgiving alpine tundra that sustains some of the most extreme weather on the planet. In fact, a wind gust of 231 miles per hour was once recorded at the summit.
Because the descent places tremendous strain on a car’s braking system, the road enforces highly specific vehicle restrictions. You cannot carry more than 1,000 pounds of combined passenger and cargo weight inside your vehicle to prevent brake and transmission failure. The toll rates vary by season and passenger count, but expect a base fee of roughly $36 for the car and driver, with additional fees for each passenger. If you do not want to risk your own vehicle’s brake pads, you can book a guided van tour to the summit instead.
6. Dunes Drive at White Sands, New Mexico
Driving into White Sands National Park is a sensory illusion. Your brain tells you that you are driving through a massive blizzard, but the temperature gauge says it is 85 degrees. The park’s Dunes Drive is a 16-mile round trip that leads you straight into the heart of a 275-square-mile gypsum dune field—the largest of its kind in the world.
The first five miles of the road are paved, but the final three miles transition to hard-packed white gypsum sand. It is fully suitable for standard cars, motorcycles, and RVs. After paying the $25 vehicle entrance fee, you can park right along the side of the road, grab a waxed plastic saucer, and go sledding down the bright white hills. According to the National Park Service, visitors must remain vigilant for sudden road closures; the park sits adjacent to an active military base and periodically shuts down Dunes Drive for up to three hours during missile testing.
7. Artist’s Drive in Death Valley, California
Death Valley is famous for extreme heat and vast salt flats, but Artist’s Drive offers a concentrated burst of bizarre, unnatural color. This 9-mile, one-way paved road cuts through the foothills of the Black Mountains, weaving through tight canyons and plunging into deep dips that feel like a low-speed roller coaster.
The main attraction along the route is Artist’s Palette, an exposed rock face splashed with vibrant streaks of pink, green, purple, and yellow. These hues are not painted; they are the result of volcanic deposits rich in iron oxides and chlorite oxidizing in the desert air. Because the road is narrow and full of sharp, blind curves, the National Park Service strictly prohibits any vehicle over 25 feet in length. After paying the $30 park entrance fee, aim to drive this route in the late afternoon when the setting sun deepens the pastel colors of the rock walls.
8. Bonneville Salt Flats Access Road, Utah
If you want to experience the sensation of driving off the edge of the earth, head 110 miles west of Salt Lake City on Interstate 80. Take Exit 4, drive past the truck stop, and follow the access road until the pavement simply vanishes into a blinding white crust. You have reached the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Spanning roughly 300,000 acres, this prehistoric lakebed is perfectly flat, immensely vast, and completely free to visit. During the dry summer months, the salt hardens into a thick, geometric crust, allowing you to legally drive your car directly onto the flats. It is the site of the famous Bonneville Speedway, where land-speed records are routinely shattered. If you visit during the winter or spring, seasonal rains cover the flats in a thin layer of water, transforming the desert into the world’s largest natural mirror.
“While we look to the stars for alien worlds, our own planet hides landscapes that defy logic—vast gypsum dunes, ancient lava fields, and salt crusts that mirror the sky.”
Comparing the Planet-Hopping Routes
| Road Name | Location | Alien Vibe | Entry Fee (Per Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badlands Loop Road | South Dakota | Martian Canyons | $30 |
| Valley of Fire Byway | Nevada | Red Planet Rocks | $15 (Non-residents) |
| Haleakalā Highway | Hawaii | Lunar Crater Above the Clouds | $30 (+$1 sunrise reservation) |
| Craters of the Moon Loop | Idaho | Basalt Moonscape | $20 |
| Mount Washington Auto Road | New Hampshire | Extreme Alpine Tundra | ~$36 base fee |
| Dunes Drive at White Sands | New Mexico | Endless White Desert | $25 |
| Artist’s Drive | California | Painted Rainbow Mountains | $30 |
| Bonneville Salt Flats | Utah | Blinding White Mirror | Free |
Things to Watch Out For
Taking a vehicle into extreme environments introduces risks you will rarely encounter on a standard interstate. Before you embark on these alien drives, keep these specific hazards in mind:
- Overheating brakes on steep descents: Roads like Haleakalā and Mount Washington require you to drive down thousands of feet of elevation. You must shift into a low gear and let your engine do the braking. Riding your brake pedal all the way down will quickly boil your brake fluid and lead to total brake failure.
- Voiding rental car agreements: While you are legally allowed to drive on the Bonneville Salt Flats and the unpaved portions of Dunes Drive, nearly all rental car contracts explicitly prohibit driving on unpaved roads or salt flats. If a rental car breaks down or gets stuck in wet salt, the towing and damage fees will be entirely your responsibility.
- Sudden road closures: Extreme environments change fast. The Craters of the Moon loop closes to cars every winter due to heavy snow; White Sands occasionally shuts down traffic for missile tests; and Death Valley frequently closes roads to clear flash flood debris. Always check the park’s official conditions page the morning of your trip.
- Drastic climate shifts: Driving up a mountain means leaving the surface climate behind. You can start the Haleakalā drive in shorts and a t-shirt, only to step out of your car at the summit into 35-degree winds. Always pack heavy layers and extra water, regardless of what the weather looks like at the base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these scenic roads open year-round?
Most of these routes remain technically open all year, but seasonal weather heavily dictates access. The Craters of the Moon loop closes to vehicles in the winter due to snow, transforming into a ski trail. Mount Washington’s Auto Road typically only opens to personal vehicles from late May through late October.
Do national park passes cover the entrance fees?
The America the Beautiful annual pass covers the vehicle entry fees for federal lands like Badlands, White Sands, Death Valley, and Craters of the Moon. However, it does not cover state-run parks like the Valley of Fire, private toll roads like Mount Washington, or the specific $1 Haleakalā sunrise reservation fee.
Can I drive a rental car on the Bonneville Salt Flats?
While there is no entry gate stopping you, taking a rental car onto the Bonneville Salt Flats almost certainly violates your rental agreement. The corrosive salt easily damages the undercarriage and gets trapped in the wheel wells. If you get stuck in wet salt, the massive towing bill falls entirely on you.
Your vehicle is the ultimate ticket to seeing the strangest corners of the country. Pack your trunk, double-check your route, and go witness the landscapes that make Earth feel entirely foreign.
The information here is meant for educational purposes. Specific circumstances—including health conditions, finances, location, and goals—may require different approaches. When in doubt, consult a licensed professional or check official sources directly.
