If your only vision of a cross-country trip involves interstates, fast food and outlet malls, you are paying top dollar for the privilege of repeat experiences.
That fast food burger in Bangor, Maine looks and tastes the same as the one in suburban Phoenix. The overpriced chain hotel room doesn't change much, either.
Interstate highways have become pathways of commerce. You'll notice lots of warehouses and industrial parks lining the roadway.
Is that the scenery you pay good money to see on a vacation?
Save some time for a slower but more rewarding journey. The National Scenic Byways Program includes 155 roads in 47 states. There is something for every travel taste: Woodward Avenue in Detroit and the Santa Fe Trail in Colorado are two examples offering very different attractions.
With the exception of gasoline, you will also notice lower prices for most things on these less-traveled routes. Mom-and-Pop diners replace the chain restaurants. Bed-and-breakfast inns might charge as much or more than the chain hotels on the interstates, but offer the personal touches that money doesn't usually buy on the busy roads.
Click "next" to read about a 444-mile route that takes you through the heart of the American South.
