The most scenic routes near the Bay Area

Conzelman Road, Mill Valley: Lets face it, we can't get enough of the Golden Gate Bridge, and if you've been wanting to see it from another angle, look no further. Conzelman Road, Mill Valley: Lets face it, we can't get enough of the Golden Gate Bridge, and if you've been wanting to see it from another angle, look no further. Photo: Jeff Diener/Getty Images/Aurora Creative Photo: Jeff Diener/Getty Images/Aurora Creative Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close The most scenic routes near the Bay Area 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Nothing is quite as serene as hitting the open road and taking in the views. Lucky for Bay Area residents, there's a wealth of beautiful roads just waiting to be driven on.

We’ve rounded up the most scenic routes found in or near the Bay Area, from the more touristy routes such as 17-mile drive (just two hours away from San Francisco) to the less journeyed ones like Lucas Valley Road.

Some of these routes, like Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay, and Highway 116 to Sebastopol, are even special enough to be officially designated State Scenic Highways.

This isn't a title bestowed on any route, however, since three factors need to be taken into consideration first.

The amount of natural landscape that can be seen by travelers, the scenic quality of landscape and how much travelers can enjoy the view without the obstruction of development are all considered before a route is marked as scenic, the California Department of Transportation notes.

Either way, you can’t lose on whatever path you decide to spend the day on because the Bay Area is chock full of great options — regardless if they’re officially "scenic."

Click on the slideshow above to see the most scenic routes in the area.