I recently drove from New Hampshire to my new home in Florida, and saw many more subtle differences in scenery that I hadn't thought about, and that can help set a location. 

For example, highway overpasses are painted different colors in different areas.  In some cities, they are made with more concrete and less steel.

Cars vary from region to region, too...more rust in New England, for example.  The loads on big rigs were different around Scranton and vicinity--many more big loads on flatbeds.  Before leaving New England, I had seldom seen a horizontal traffic light--elsewhere they're more common.  Bridge conditions vary, also--more rust in some states than others, and more in places that get lots of snow.

As you go south, some states have signs warning motorists that bridges get slippery when icy.  Those signs vanish again when you get further south.

In short, I saw lots of differences that I might not have thought of--road colors, also.

Center left turn lanes are also different--and more common in some states than others.

Also, billboards in New England only occasionally bear religious messages--and also seldom advertise "adult" establishments.  In some southern states, billboards with both messages were common.

In short, there's subtle differences that I might never have thought of before I took that trip--but they can help set a scene.