What are the most spectacular roads in the USA?
The vast expanse of the USA, stretching from the amber waves of grain to the majestic purple mountain majesties, boasts a network of roads that are as diverse as the nation's tapestry of cultures. One such road, the Million Dollar Highway, is often touted as America's crown jewel of roadways, leading adventurers through awe-inspiring terrains and offering unparalleled vistas. Further north, the Iron Mountain Road, with its dizzying 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 pigtails, and 3 tunnels, stands as a testament to man's desire to conquer nature, providing a thrilling drive that's not for the faint-hearted.
Journey to Colorado, and you'll find yourself face to face with the infamous Black Bear Pass - a road that promises not just breathtaking beauty, but also adrenaline-pumping excitement. For the off-road enthusiasts, Engineer Pass offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with Colorado's high mountain terrains, challenging drivers to push their limits amidst staggering beauty. Not to be outdone, Utah’s Canyonlands beckons with the Shafer Trail Road, an iconic route that cuts through the heart of some of the most stunning canyons, making you feel like you're driving through the very pages of history.
In the USA, each road is a journey, an exploration, a challenge, and a story. They are gateways to discovering the grandeur of the nation, to feeling the pulse of its land, and to embracing the spirit of adventure that is quintessentially American. Whether bathed in the golden hues of sunrise or shrouded in the mysteries of twilight, these roads promise experiences that linger long after the journey's end.
Things to Know Before Driving Arizona State Route 261
State Route 261 is a very scenic high mountain road located in Apache County, in the US state of Arizona. It’s one of the highest roads of Arizona.
The breathtaking road to Meridian Peak in CO
Meridian Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.789m (12,432ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Summit and Eagle counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. This is truly a breathtaking trail. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Mount Hopkins
Mount Hopkins is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.612m (8,569ft) above the sea level, located in the Santa Rita Range, in Santa Cruz County, southern Arizona, USA.
Carlsbad Cavern Highway: A Comprehensive Travel Guide
Carlsbad Cavern Highway (New Mexico State Route 7) is a very scenic drive located in Eddy County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Mesa Seco is one of the highest roads of CO
Mesa Seco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.846m (12,618ft) above the sea level, located in Hinsdale County, in southwestern Colorado, USA.
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory at an elevation of 2.210m (7,250ft) above the sea level, located in Flagstaff, in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States.
An old 4wd road to Mount Edwards
Mount Edwards is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.844m (12,611ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Osha Mountain
Osha Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.240m (10,629ft) above the sea level, located in Colfax County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of New Mexico.
Little Truckee Summit, a 5 stars road in the Sierra Nevada
Little Truckee Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.954m (6,411ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California.
A memorable road trip to Santa Rosa Mountain in CA
Santa Rosa Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.456m (8,057ft) above the sea level, located in Riverside County, in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California.
Road trip guide: Conquering the Red Hill Road in NV
Red Hill Road is a short gravel track located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s a 4wd drive.
Mentasta Pass, a paved road in Alaska
Mentasta Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 739m (2,424ft) above the sea level, located in Alaska, in United States.
Moses Mountain
Moses Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.066m (6,778ft) above the sea level, located in Okanogan County, in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.
London Mountain
London Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.695m (12,122ft) above the sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Davison Road, a scenic unpaved road in California
Davison Road is a scenic drive located in Humboldt County, in the U.S. state of California.
Road trip guide: Conquering Burned Mountain
Burned Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.048m (10,000 ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.
Devil Peak
Devil Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.128m (6,981ft) above the sea level, located in Mariposa County, in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park, in California, USA.
Table Rock Mountain
Table Rock Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.908m (6,259ft) above the sea level, located in Columbia County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.
Grand View Point
Grand View Point is an overlook at an elevation of 1.915m (6,282ft) above the sea level located in the Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah.
Canwell Glacier Trail
Canwell Glacier Trail is a very exciting&demanding journey located in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, in United States. This fantastic mountain trail follows the lateral moraine of the Canwell Glacier.
Success Loop Scenic Drive
Success Loop Scenic Drive is a very enjoyable scenic drive nestled in the deliciously remote high elevation mountains of White Pine County, eastern Nevada, in United States.
The Wild Road to Toro Peak in CA
Toro Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.655m (8,710ft) above the sea leevel, located in south-central Riverside County, in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California.
Tip Top Mountain
Tip Top Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.295m (7,529ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The road to the summit is rocky with some great inclines and large, sharp rocks that require a little skill to maneuver. It’s 9.0 miles long starting from Baldwin Lake.
North Rim Lookout
North Rim Lookout is a high mountain lookout tower at an elevation of 2.798m (9,179ft) above the sea level, located in Coconino County, in northern Arizona, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
Driving the wild Fisherman Road to Lake Owyhee in OR
Fisherman Road is a gravel wild road located in Malheur County, in the U.S. state of Oregon, leading to Indian Creek Campground, on the southern shores of Lake Owyhee.
Mount Hough
Mount Hough is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.204m (7,230ft) above the sea level, located in Plumas County, in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California.
Ella Mountain
Ella Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.280m (7,480ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, Nevada, in United States.
Willow Mountain
Willow Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.503m (8,211ft) above the sea level, located in Ravalli County, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. Elk, mule deer, badgers, coyotes, and black bears can be seen along the trail.
Larkspur Mountain
Larkspur Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.430m (11,253ft) above the sea level, located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, in USA.
A memorable road trip to McKays Peak in AZ
McKays Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level, located in Navajo County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads of Arizona.
Strawberry Peak
Strawberry Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.155m (10,351ft) above the sea level, located in Wasatch County, in the U.S. state of Utah.
Mountain Baldy
Mountain Baldy is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Lemhi County, Idaho, in USA. It's one of the highest roads in Idaho.
Hancock Lake
Hancock Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.556m (11,666ft) above the sea level, located on the Rocky Mountains in Chaffee County, western Colorado, USA.
A marvelous scenic back country road to Zenobia Peak in CO
Zenobia Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.745m (9,006ft) above the sea level, located in Moffatt County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Butch Cassidy Pass
Butch Cassidy Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.217m (3,992ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in southern Nevada, USA.
Relay Peak
Relay Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.102m (10,177ft) above the sea level, located in Washoe County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
Patricks Knob
Patricks Knob is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level located in Sanders County, in Montana, USA.
The paved road to Willow Creek Summit in ID
Willow Creek Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.183m (7,161ft) above the sea level located in the Custer County of central Idaho, in the United States.
Woodchuck Pass
Woodchuck Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.937m (9,636ft) above the sea level, located in Sheridan County, Wyoming, in USA.
Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.129m (10,267ft) above the sea level, located in Elko County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
Arta Lake
Arta Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.139m (10,298ft) above the sea level, located in Wasatch County, in the U.S. state of Utah.
Bartlett Mountain
Bartlett Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.016m (13,175ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Cerro del Oso
Cerro del Oso is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.261m (10,698ft) above the sea level, located in Taos County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of New Mexico.
Blackhead Peak
Blackhead Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.301m (10,830ft) above the sea level, located in Archuleta County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Revenue Mountain
Revenue Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.725m (12,221ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Ruby Peak
Ruby Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.738m (12,263ft) above the sea level, located in the Ruby Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America, in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Medicine Mountain
Medicine Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.039m (9,970ft) above the sea level, located in Big Horn County, in north-central Wyoming, USA.
Sullivan Mountain
Sullivan Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.977m (6,486ft) above the sea level, located in Pend Oreille County, in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Washington, along the Canada–US border. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.