Why Highway 395 Might Be the Best Road in America (And Nobody Talks About It)

Everyone is wrong about the “best road in America.” After driving some of the most famous routes in the country — including the Pacific Coast Highway, Blue Ridge Parkway, Overseas Highway, Million Dollar Highway, Oregon's Highway 101, the western portion of Route 66, and Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 — we found one road that quietly does everything better. Welcome to Highway 395 — California’s Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway. In this video, we take you on a full road trip from Topaz Lake to Lone Pine, exploring why this route might be the strongest contender for the best road in the United States. But we’re not just going on vibes — we’re using 9 strict criteria: ✔️ Fast between real destinations ✔️ Truly scenic ✔️ Open nearly year-round ✔️ Packed with things to do ✔️ Diverse activities along the way ✔️ Minimal traffic ✔️ Easy to drive ✔️ Frequent amenities ✔️ Meaningful history Most famous roads score a few. Highway 395? It checks all nine. Along the way, we explore: Yosemite National Park's eastern side Mono Lake and the surreal South Tufa formations Mammoth Lakes and the Sierra Nevada’s four-season playground Convict Lake & Crowley Lake and hidden alpine gems Bishop (and its legendary bakery) South Lake, the Northern entrance to Kings Canyon National Park Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (4,000+ year-old trees) Manzanar National Historic Site Alabama Hills and Mount Whitney, the eastern entrance to Sequoia NP Owens Lake and California’s complex water history Death Valley's western entrance And that’s just scratching the surface. This isn’t just a scenic drive — it’s an entire ecosystem of adventure, history, and jaw-dropping landscapes. 👇 Let us know in the comments: What road do YOU think is the best in America? 👍 If you enjoy first-person, no-stock-footage travel content, subscribe for more road trips and hidden gems. 🔔 New travel videos John and Kathy Have to Go! Related Videos: Eastern Lake Tahoe:    • Nevada’s Lake Tahoe: Monkey Rock Hike, San...   Overseas Highway:    • Ultimate Florida Road Trip: Florida Keys O...   Blue Ridge Parkway:    • North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway Fun   Utah Route 12:    • From Bryce to Moab: Utah’s Most Epic Drive...   Bristlecone Pine Forest:    • Hunting the Oldest Tree on Earth in the An...   Death Valley:    • Is Visiting Death Valley Possible in One Day?   Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:57 Best Road 01:23 The Criteria 02:10 Start of our Drive 03:45 Yosemite East 04:38 Mono Lake South Tufa 05:46 Mammoth Lakes 06:45 Bishop 07:14 Lake Sabrina & South Lake 07:37 Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest 08:12 Manzanar National Historic Site 08:49 Mt. Whitney & Alabama Hills 09:27 Death Valley Western Entrance 10:20 Road Comparison 11:51 Disclaimer #highway395 #bestroadtrip #californiaroadtrip #scenicdrive #easternsierra #monolake #mammothlakes