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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crossing the historic Gandy Bridge in Florida
Located in the US state of Florida, Gandy Bridge is a famous 14,859 feet (4.529m) long bridge over the sea. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 the 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.
Boy Scout Lane is one of the American Top Haunted Roads
Boy Scout Lane is a secluded street located in Portage County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. According to local legend, the street derives its name from a tragedy that occurred there several decades ago. It's one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.
Kolob Terrace Road is a very scenic drive into the mountains of Utah
Kolob Terrace Road is a very scenic drive through Zion National Park, in the US state of Utah. In winter, this road is not plowed beyond Maloney Hill (one mile north of the Hop Valley Trailhead).
Bolam Pass in Colorado: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Bolam Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,487m (11,440ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. Although the lower portions of the road to the summit can accommodate cars, the upper portions should only be traveled by 4WD vehicles with high clearance.
The 32 Best Death Valley Backcountry Roads
Straddling the border between California and Nevada, in the USA, the Death Valley National Park is the hottest, driest, and lowest National Park. In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes.
Snowy Range Pass is one of the most beautiful drives in Wyoming
Snowy Range Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,310m (10,859ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It's one of the highest roads of Wyoming.
The Ultimate Road Trip on the Joe Brown Highway
Joe Brown Highway is a mountain road deeply located in the wilderness, straddling western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, in the USA.
What are the highest roads in Montana?
Located in the Western region of the United States, Montana can be divided into two geographic areas in general: the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountain Region. The state is slightly larger than Japan and it’s a vast and varied state of mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, badlands, and caverns. Its name is a word derived from the Spanish word meaning "mountainous."
What are the highest roads in New Mexico?
Located in the southwestern region of the United States of America, New Mexico is usually considered one of the Mountain States. The state is roughly bisected by the Rio Grande and has an approximate mean altitude of 5,700 ft (1,737 m). Its landscape ranges from wide, rose-colored deserts to broken mesas to high, snow-capped peaks. New Mexico is 2nd only to Arizona in days of sunshine per year.
Road trip guide: Conquering Laurel Lake in California
Laurel Lake is a small backcountry sub-alpine lake at an elevation of 2,981m (9,780ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.
Brasstown Bald is the highest road in the US state of Georgia
Brasstown Bald is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,458m (4,784ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Georgia. On clear days in late September and October, it’s even possible to see the skyline of Atlanta.
Why is Lombard Street in San Francisco so famous?
Lombard Street is located in San Francisco, in the US state of California. It's famous for having a steep, one-block section that consists of eight tight hairpin turns, making it one of the crookedest streets in the world.
The iconic road to Monitor Pass in California
Monitor Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.543m (8,343ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of California. The road is closed in winter.