The American West offers unparalleled landscapes, from towering mountain peaks to sweeping desert canyons. For road trip enthusiasts and videographers alike, capturing these vistas with a dash cam timelapse creates dynamic, unforgettable footage. The perfect timelapse requires more than just equipment. It demands a route with continuous visual drama and scenic variety. These five western U.S. routes combine stunning vistas with iconic highways, making them the best dash cam roadtrips for spectacular results.
Each journey was selected for its scenic diversity, road conditions, and landscape transitions, essential elements for creating compelling timelapse footage from your vehicle.
1. Utah's National Park Circuit: The Mighty 5
The Route: Connecting all five of Utah's national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. This journey follows Utah Scenic Byway 12, renowned for its breathtaking diversity. View Map →
It's Great for Timelapses: This route showcases nature's geological artistry. Your timelapse will transition from Zion's sandstone cliffs to Bryce Canyon's crimson hoodoos, through Grand Staircase-Escalante's remote roads. Boulder Mountain on Scenic Byway 12 offers endless panoramas, while Highway 24 east reveals Moab's iconic red rock formations. The elevation changes and shifting colors create a visually rich narrative.
Key Highways: UT-9, US-89, UT-12, UT-24, US-191.
Dash Cam Tip: Use a wide-angle setting to capture the vast landscapes. Sunrise and sunset filming intensifies the rock formations' red and orange hues for professional-quality footage.
2. Colorado's San Juan Skyway
The Route: This 236-mile Colorado loop features the famed Million Dollar Highway (US-550) between Silverton and Ouray, known for steep cliffs and breathtaking vistas. View Map →
It's Great for Timelapses: Among the best dash cam roadtrips for altitude drama, this route crosses 10,000-foot passes like Molas and Red Mountain. Your footage will showcase winding mountain roads, aspen groves, and historic mining towns. The Million Dollar Highway's sheer drops create thrilling perspectives, while the San Juan Mountains' jagged peaks provide constant visual interest, especially with changing weather patterns.
Key Highways: US-550, US-160, CO-145, CO-62.
Dash Cam Tip: Use a vibration-free mount for stability on winding roads. Ensure your camera has excellent dynamic range to handle bright skies and dark shadows simultaneously.
3. Oregon's Pacific Coast Highway
The Route: Oregon's 363-mile stretch of US-101 offers a wild coastal experience from Astoria to the California border. View Map →
It's Great for Timelapses: This drive delivers continuous coastal drama. Capture Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock, crashing Pacific waves, and charming seaside towns. The cliff-hugging road alternates between ocean vistas and lush rainforests. Coastal fog creates atmospheric effects, while iconic bridges like the Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge offer perfect focal points.
Key Highways: US-101.
Dash Cam Tip: A polarizing filter reduces ocean glare for richer colors. Prepare for rapid light changes between forests and open coastline.
4. Idaho & Montana: The Sawtooths to Glacier
The Route: Journey from Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains to Montana's Glacier National Park via scenic byways through Big Sky country. View Map →
It's Great for Timelapses: This route highlights the Northern Rockies' dramatic evolution. The Sawtooth Scenic Byway's jagged peaks give way to Montana's sweeping valleys along US-93. Flathead Lake's expanse transitions to Glacier National Park's glacier-carved peaks. A showcase of vast spaces and mountain grandeur.
Key Highways: ID-75, US-93.
Dash Cam Tip: Use longer intervals (5-10 seconds) to smooth straight sections and emphasize cloud movements. Bring ample storage for this scenery-rich journey.
5. New Mexico's Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway
The Route: This 84-mile loop from Taos circles Wheeler Peak (NM's highest point) through Moreno Valley and charming mountain towns. View Map →
It's Great for Timelapses: This compact route packs remarkable diversity. Your footage will transition from Taos' high desert to Carson National Forest's lush greenery, past Eagle Nest Lake and through ski towns. The Angel Fire to Taos segment reveals stunning Moreno Valley and Sangre de Cristo Mountain views, a perfect mix of alpine scenery and adobe architecture.
Key Highways: US-64, NM-522, NM-38.
Dash Cam Tip: The short loop allows complete filming and experimentation. Try morning and afternoon runs to capture different mountain light patterns.
The Open Road Awaits (Don't Forget to Hit Record)
These five road trips through the American West offer some of the world's most cinematic landscapes, perfect for creating breathtaking dash cam timelapses. From Utah's red rock cathedrals to Colorado's sky-high passes, Oregon's moody coastline to Montana's glacial valleys, and New Mexico's enchanted high desert. Each route delivers nonstop visual drama. Whether you're a professional videographer or a road trip enthusiast, these journeys provide the ideal combination of smooth roads, ever-changing scenery, and iconic vistas to transform your footage into a moving postcard of the West. Just remember: charge your batteries, clear your memory cards, and hit the road, adventure (and incredible footage) awaits around every bend.