25 Fantastic Car Photo-Op Sites In America

With so many great driving roads and scenic routes, it’s hard not to feel the urge for road trippin’ when you’re in the US. Each of the 50 states has hundreds of cool spots for photographing your ride, but here are just a few to get your imagination going.

1. Glenn Highway

Alaska’s Glenn Highway is a scenic byway that was built parallel to the path left from the Matanuska Glacier, which can be seen from the road. It runs 135 miles from Anchorage north-east to Eureka, Alaska, with plenty of areas to pull over and snap a shot.

2. Pikes Peak

The Pikes Peak Highway is open all year round, and it goes as close to the summit as weather allows. For a small toll, you can travel the paved road, taking small breaks along the way to soak in the scenery.

3. Golden Gate Bridge

Spanning over the channel that connects San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge is a bright red giant with two towers holding the suspension that has allowed over two billion motorists to cross in its lifetime. It remains one of the most photographed bridges in the world, and it can serve as a backdrop for cars from one of the many parking areas adjacent to the toll. The Battery East parking area would be a great spot to capture the entire bridge in the background.

4. Las Vegas Strip

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…unless it involves showing off your sexy ride. The strip is best photographed at night, when the streets are alive with bright lights and entertainment. There is always a steady flow of traffic through down town, so bring someone else to film a drive by or stop in the entrance of one of the glossy hotels.

5. Tunnel of Trees

Hawaii always gets left out of the conversation, so this one is to show some island love. Sure, you probably won’t be taking your own ride to this vacation destination on the island of Kauai. If you have a rental car, be sure to take a cruise through the tunnel of trees. The mile-long stretch of tree canopies stays bright green and lush all year round.

6. Highway 12

Drive through two of the natural arches carved into the red stone near Bryson Canyon in Utah. The scenic highway has several attractions and crosses through a handful of national parks. Near the drive-through arches are spaces to pull aside and get your photo planned just right.

7. On the Beach

The fact that every state has different driving laws in the US can be both aggravating and rewarding. Some states allow vehicles to drive right up to the water on their beaches. In certain areas, you may only be allowed to drive on specific places. Others may require a permit, so check local ordinances before pulling up on the sand.

8. Redwood Trees

At one time, visitors could drive through the Giant Sequoias in Sequoia National Park near Visalia, California. Now, drivers can only cruise through one fallen tree in the park, but there are three Coastal Redwood trees near US 101 that still welcome motorists. The Chandelier Tree is privately owned and still open to passing cars.

9. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is known as ‘America’s Favourite Drive’ for its long scenic route through the Virginian and Carolinian Blue Ridge Mountains. There are several stopping areas to take photos with seemingly endless backgrounds of the blue tinted hills and mountains. The best time to enjoy the parkway is in fall when the leaves change colours, surrounding drivers with a beautiful view of orange and gold vegetation.

The great Oregon Trail was once a broad wagon path that lead settlers west for a new life. Its true path spans from cost to coast, but a part of the route near Portland, Oregon is the most enjoyable for driving. Its twisted road, climbing and dropping in elevation, has lured both leisurely and professional drivers from around the world.

11. Bonneville Salt Flats

Known as a site for world record land speeds, the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway is a ten-mile raceway with a natural surface. It was formed from an ancient dry lake bed, and it gained fame for racing over 100 years ago. A small fee and vehicle inspection will allow you to take your car to the fastest speeds it can muster.

12. London Bridge

You can actually drive over the historic London Bridge. Yes, the London Bridge that once took travellers over the Thames is now in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. A very rich man from Arizona who apparently had more money than he needed had the bridge moved and reconstructed in 1971 at a cost of almost $10 million. Parking areas on both sides of the bridge allow motorists to get a shot of this transplanted masterpiece.

13. Biltmore Estate

Located in Asheville, North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate is America’s largest private home. The home and the surrounding grounds are open to the public. Getting the dream shot of your car in front of the home can only be done during special events and car shows, unless you’re willing to pay the handsome fee for location shooting.

14. Miami Skyline

Unleash your inner Miami Vice fantasies by snapping photos of your ride against the bright Miami skyline. Take a short ride across the bridge to Watson Island Park, where there are plenty of parking areas with clear views of the city backdrop.

15. Cadillac Ranch

The Cadillac Ranch art installation was moved in 1997 to private land near Amarillo, Texas. Visitors can still walk right up to the cars and add their own spray paint artwork. You can get a clear shot of the half-buried cars from the road and parking area, but you will have to pass through a gate to get up close. Of course, it is courteous to ask permission from the owner before driving along side the row of Cadillacs.

The Mulholland Highway stretch of road known as ‘The Snake’ is famous for its deadly curves. It is as beautiful as it is dangerous, but even the casual driver can take on the beast as long as they drive at a careful speed. There are several areas to pull over safely and grab that perfect shot.

17. NASCAR Tracks

Whether you’re a NASCAR fan or not, driving the banks of the track in your own car will still give you chills. Aside from car shows, most NASCAR tracks host special “drive the track” events where you can witness first hand the severe tilt of the banks as you round the turns.

18. St. Louis Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch was built in St. Louis as a monument to the pioneers who headed west to continue building America. The city was considered the Gateway to the West because of its position on the Mississippi River, through which travellers passed to explore the Wild West. The 60 storey arch can be photographed in its entirety from across the river in Illinois where there is more space for parking.

19. Carhenge

When the pioneers settled west, they didn’t run into incredible ancient sites like Stonehenge. One man in Alliance, Nebraska, took it upon himself to recreate the famous site with cars as a tribute to his father. A nearby parking lot will get you a nice photo of the strategically piled old cars.

20. Route 66

Route 66 is such an iconic American highway. It stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, passing by dozens of famous landmarks. On some reaches, the road seems to go on forever, making it a perfect backdrop when you capture the classic Route 66 markings in the photo.

21. Bridal Veil Falls

In the mountains near Highlands, North Carolina, runs a curvy stretch of Highway 64 that twists through the mountains of the Nantahala National Forest. There is a small area where vehicles can drive under the flowing waters of Bridal Veil Falls. Just west of the falls is another area to turn around or designate someone to snap the photo. Depending on the season and the weather, the falls can become either heavy or faint.

22. Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast Highway crosses several types of landscapes, but the most incredible views are found along the Northern California coast. With mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, the feeling you get from driving it is incredible. Breathtaking cliffs at the side of the road add to the excitement, and it can all be photographed from the many road side stops.

Finding a good place to photograph with the New York City skyline can be difficult unless you cross the bridge to New Jersey to get a little distance. The city makes a great backdrop both day and night. Don’t forget the Statue of Liberty, which can only be filmed on a clear day from a great distance like Caven Point. The city has so much to offer up close as well. Take to the alleys and parking garages for an industrial vibe, or get some vibrant graffiti in the background for an urban note.

24. Cabazon Dinosaurs

There’s no good reason why you would need a photo of your car in front of these crazy huge dinosaurs, but it can be done. Located in Cabazon, California, this drive up attraction was used in the movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, and couldn’t be a more random site to add to your photo album.

25. Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is located on the border of Arizona and Nevada, holding back the country’s largest water reservoir. Although the Arizona side of the site has been closed to through traffic, some visitors who meet security requirement can still cross the dam and turn around. The best areas for car pictures are the parking areas near the Visitor Center, and while passing over the Hoover Dam Bridge (with a mounted action camera).

There have got to be a million other great locations for shooting cars in the US and this list could go on for days. What is your favourite backdrop, US or anywhere in the world, for a car photo shoot?