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.
Driving the legendary Rubicon Trail in California is a lifetime experience
Rubicon Trail is one of the most famous jeep trails and off-road adventures in the western United States, crossing through El Dorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Driving the paved road to Tehachapi Pass in California
Tehachapi Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,241m (4,071ft) above sea level, located in Kern County, in the U.S. state of California.
A road with an intimidating sheer cliff to Black Rock Reservoir in California
Black Rock Reservoir is a small remote yet scenic lake at an elevation of 1,260m (4,133 ft) above sea level, located in Fresno County, in the U.S. state of California.
A Once in a Lifetime Drive through Hell's Backbone Road in Utah
Hell's Backbone Road is a very scenic unpaved road located in Garfield County, in the US state of Utah. This one-way road is closed in winters. The drive offers heavenly day tripping.
What's America’s most dangerous intersection?
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatal traffic accidents, the most dangerous intersection of USA is located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
A journey to the legendary Union Pass in Wyoming
Union Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.808m (9,212ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It offers stunning views and serves as a vital route through the rugged landscapes of northwestern Wyoming.
A rocky and rough road to Hermit Pass in Colorado
Hermit Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.986m (13,077ft) above sea level, located in Custer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It's one of the highest roads in Colorado.
Scenic Byway 163 is where Forrest Gump stopped running
Scenic Byway 163 is a beautiful drive from the Arizona border through Monument Valley in the US state of Utah. It is a fascinating experience in itself.
Bloody Basin Road is a classic Arizona drive
Bloody Basin Road is a classic drive located near Black Canyon City, in the US state of Arizona, running through the Agua Fria National Monument and Tonto National Forest.
Elephant Hill Road is a thrilling off road experience in Utah
Located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Utah, Elephant Hill is said to be one of the most technical four-wheel-drive roads in Utah.
Denali Highway in Alaska is one of America's top drives
Located in Alaska, the Denali Highway (Alaska Route 8) is one of the most scenic highways in the entire United States. Watch out for potholes and stretches of 'washboard' road if it's been raining.
Driving the scenic Emerald Bay Road in Lake Tahoe
Emerald Bay Road is a very scenic drive located in the US state of California. Running along the Lake Tahoe, the road can be a bit intimidating and scary since it can occasionally be along steep cliffs that lack guardrails.
Hoosier Pass in Colorado: enjoy a drive among the clouds
Hoosier Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.518m (11,542ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. The small road with beautiful nature views is one of the steepest paved mountain passes in Colorado.
Everything you need to know about the Soldier Summit in Utah
Soldier Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.284m (7,493ft) above the sea level, located in the U.S. state of Utah.
Long Canyon Road is a challenging drive in Utah
Long Canyon Road is an epic adventure located in Grand County, in the US state of Utah, in the western part of the United States. The road is truly dangerous.
Steens Mountain is one of the highest roads of Oregon
Steens Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,968m (9,737ft) above sea level, located in Harney County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It’s said to be the highest road of Oregon.
An exceptionally scenic drive to Owl Creek Pass in Colorado
Owl Creek Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,084m (10,118ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Trail Creek Road in Idaho is not for novice mountain drivers
Trail Creek Road is a very scenic high mountain drive located on the boundary between Blaine and Custer counties in the U.S. state of Idaho.
Rim Drive is a scenic 33-mile road around Crater Lake in Oregon
Rim Drive is a very scenic drive loop located in Klamath County, in the US state of Oregon, which circumnavigates Crater Lake. It’s one of the highest roads in Oregon.
Driving the scenic Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin
Door County Coastal Byway is a very scenic drive with stunning views across the beautiful Door Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
Lake Como is said to be Colorado's roughest road
Lake Como is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,586m (11,765ft) above sea level, located in Alamosa County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.
Needles Highway is a scenic curvy road in South Dakota
Located right in the Black Hills in Custer State Park in the US state of South Dakota, Needles Highway (South Dakota Highway 87) is a spectacular drive with stunning views.
The closed road to Mount Ka'ala, the highest peak of Oahu
Mount Ka'ala is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,231m (4,038ft) above sea level, located in Honolulu County, in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The road to the summit is closed to private vehicles.
Aztec Peak is a road to the highest point of Sierra Anchas
Aztec Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,361m (7,746ft) above sea level, located in Gila County, in the U.S. state of Arizona.
Is the Nada Tunnel in Kentucky haunted?
Located in Powell County, in the US state of Kentucky, Nada Tunnel is a harrowing one-lane tunnel on a two-way road. The tiny hole, with layers and layers of limestone outcroppings sitting above it, is reportedly haunted.
Eisenhower Tunnel is one of the highest tunnels in the world
Located on the boundary between Summit and Clear Creek counties, in the U.S. state of Colorado, the famous Eisenhower Tunnel is one of the highest vehicular tunnels in the world, at 3,401m (11,158ft) above sea level.
The spectacular San Luis Pass Bridge in Texas
Located at the south-western end of Galveston Island off the shores of the U.S. state of Texas, the San Luis Pass Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Crossing the historic Gandy Bridge in Florida
Located in Florida, USA, Gandy Bridge is 14,859 feet (4.529m) long over the sea. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Inside North Fork Road is a scenic dirt road in Glacier NP
Inside North Fork Road is a very scenic drive located in Flathead County, in the U.S. state of Montana, near the Canadian border.
Mana Road is one of the oldest dirt roads on the Big Island
Located in the U.S. state of Hawai’i in the Pacific Ocean, the scenic Mana Road is one of the locals' best-kept secrets. This is a road that you don’t want to travel alone. Be warned, it's not for the faint of heart.
Bald Mountain Pass is the highest paved road in Utah
Bald Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.272m (10,734ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s said to be the highest paved road in the state.
What are the highest roads in Utah?
Located in the Rocky Mountain Region of the western United States, Utah is known by its vast expanses of desert and the Wasatch Range mountains. It’s a land of snow-covered peaks, natural rock formations, and beautifully colored canyons. The state is famous for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with sand dunes to thriving pineforests in mountain valleys.
Driving the truly epic Big Pine Death Valley Road
Big Pine Death Valley Road is a very exciting desert drive in the heart of Death Valley National Park, in the USA. It’s often signed as CLOSED by Inyo County after floods.
Brazos Summit in New Mexico: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Brazos Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,209m (10,528ft) above sea level, located in northern Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico.
Titus Canyon Road is a rugged drive in Death Valley
Titus Canyon Road is a rugged trail located to the east of Death Valley in the Mojave Desert of the US state of California. It’s one of the challenging backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.
The Road to Dante's View Offers Death Valley's Best Views
Dante's View is a viewpoint at an elevation of 1.672m (5,485ft) above sea level, located in Inyo County, in the US state of California. It’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.
How to drive the Madeline Island Ice Road of Wisconsin?
Madeline Island Ice Road is an ice road located on Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, in the US state of Wisconsin. Drive at your own risk.
Carson Pass in California: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Carson Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,619m (8,592ft) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the US state of California.
What are the highest roads in Wyoming?
Located in the Western United States, and defined by vast plains and the Rocky Mountains, Wyoming is a very mountainous state. Its geography includes wide-open plains, swaths of high desert and sweeping mountain ranges.
Manchac Swamp Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the world over water
Located in the Tangipahoa Parish of the US state of Louisiana, over the Lake Maurepas the Manchac Swamp Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Black Mountain is the highest road of Kentucky
Black Mountain is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,263m (4,145ft) above sea level, located in Harlan County, in the US state of Kentucky.
Horseshoe Meadow is one of the highest roads of California
Horseshoe Meadow is a sub-alpine meadow at an elevation of 3,070m (10,072ft) above sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.
Bradford Street is the steepest (41%) street of San Francisco
Located in the hilly Bernal Heights, a neighborhood in San Francisco, in the US state of California, Bradford Street is said to be the steepest street in the city with an astonishing 41% grade.
Rim of the World is a Scenic Byway in Southern California
Rim of the World Scenic Byway is a very scenic drive running through some of the most beautiful areas of Southern California, in the USA.
Ebbetts Pass is a very steep narrow road in Sierra Nevada
Ebbetts Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.666m (8,746ft) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the US state of California. The pass is not plowed for snow. It is an idyllic drive for those who crave tight switchbacks, tiny hamlets, and multiple alpine vistas.
Wabash Cannonball Bridge is a single-lane bridge pretty narrow
Located on the Illinois and Indiana border, in USA, the Wabash Cannonball Bridge is a single-lane bridge pretty narrow. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Take the Scenic Route and Discover Wheeler Peak in Nevada
Wheeler Peak is a high mountain peak located in White Pine County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest roads of Nevada.
Hayden Pass: The Complete Guide to Colorado's Scenic and Challenging Off-road Adventure
Hayden Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.274m (10,741ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado.