A recent study shows that Route 66 topped the list of the most scenic road trips in the United States.
According to a report in Yahoo! Life:
The study, conducted by vehicle data site 0-60 Specs, analyzed Tripadvisor’s Most Scenic Drives in the United States list and compared each route by the number of Instagram posts. The results offer a snapshot of how certain stretches of road, whether iconic or unexpected, have become part of America’s shared travel imagination.
At more than 2.3 million posts, Route 66 took the top spot by a wide margin. Known as the “Mother Road,” it once linked Chicago and Los Angeles, stretching 2,400 miles through eight states. Travelers today still flock to the route for its neon motels, roadside diners, vintage gas stations, and cultural history. […]
Emir Bacic, owner of 0-60 Specs, said the results show how travel habits are increasingly shaped online.
“Route 66, with its legendary pop culture status and rich history, tops the ranking with over two million Instagram posts, demonstrating how reputation can contribute to a drive’s social media popularity,” Bacic said.
Ranking No. 2 is the Blue Ridge Parkway, with the Willamette Valley in Oregon rated third. Fourth was the Pacific Coast Highway in California, and the Hana Highway in Hawaii was fifth.
(A scenic vista along Oatman Road, aka Route 66, in western Arizona by Bill Swingle via Flickr)