Best driving roads in Washington state

Eight roads across the Cascades, the Columbia River Gorge and Puget Sound: the North Cascades Highway and Sherman Pass share the same SR 20, Chinook Pass and Stevens Canyon Road both touch Mount Rainier National Park, and Chuckanut Drive and the Yakima Canyon offer a completely different kind of driving from either. Several of these close for winter — check current conditions before a trip.

8
Roads: 370
Miles: 395
Counted bends: 7
Areas

The roads

North Cascades Highway · SR 20North Cascades · 86 mi86 miles of State Route 20 from Marblemount to Winthrop, the last major road built across the Cascade Range in Washington (opened 1972) and the highest state highway pass crossing in the state at Washington Pass (5,477 ft). Old-growth forest, waterfalls and alpine scenery on a sustained mountain crossing rather than a short technical burst.
Sherman Pass · SR 20Colville National Forest · 43.3 mi43 miles of State Route 20 between Republic and Kettle Falls, crossing Sherman Pass (5,575 ft) — Washington's highest maintained mountain pass and the only one of the state's major passes kept open year-round. Part of a designated National Forest Scenic Byway through the Colville National Forest.
Chuckanut Drive · SR 11Puget Sound · 17.9 mi18 miles of State Route 11 hugging the sandstone cliffs of the Puget Sound coast between Bellingham and Blanchard, nicknamed "Washington's Big Sur." Narrow two-lane road with forest on one side and water below on the other; twisty and technical in places rather than a fast sweeper.
Yakima Canyon Road · SR 821Yakima River Canyon · 25.3 mi25 miles of State Route 821 ("Canyon Road") following the Yakima River between Selah and Ellensburg, past basalt rock formations of the Yakima River Canyon. Tight curves, esses and sweepers that demand full attention, with generally light traffic outside holiday weekends.
Chinook Pass · SR 410Mount Rainier · 91.6 mi92 miles of State Route 410 from Enumclaw to its junction with US 12 near Naches, crossing Chinook Pass (5,432 ft) along the Chinook Scenic Byway through Mount Rainier National Park's eastern edge. A sustained mountain crossing with real seasonal closure, not a short technical climb.
White Pass · US 12South Cascades · 58.9 mi59 miles of US Route 12 between Packwood and Naches over White Pass (4,500 ft), southeast of Mount Rainier. About 10 miles of steeper grade on the west-to-east climb to the summit; the east-side descent toward Naches is notably gentler.
Stevens Canyon RoadMount Rainier · 19 mi19 miles inside Mount Rainier National Park connecting the Paradise area to the SR 123/Stevens Canyon entrance, with switchbacks and sustained mountain views. Part of the larger Mount Rainier loop drive combining SR 410, SR 123 and this road.
Columbia River Gorge · SR 14Columbia River Gorge · 27.8 mi28 miles of State Route 14 along the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge between Washougal and Stevenson, with dramatic river-cut cliffs and sweeping curves following the water rather than tight technical corners.