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.
A drive to the top of Henness Pass in California
Henness Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,115m (6,938ft) above sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California. In its entirety, the trail is suitable for high-clearance vehicles.
Canton Avenue is one of the steepest streets in the USA
Canton Avenue is a little street tucked into a corner of Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh, in the US state of Pennsylvania. It’s said to be one of the steepest streets in the United States, with a maximum gradient of 33 percent.
Pennock Pass is a great drive in Colorado
Pennock Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,793m (9,163ft) above sea level, located in Larimer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The trail can often be very dusty.
Driving the challenging NM-567 road in New Mexico
New Mexico State Road 567 is a short scenic mountain road located in southwestern Taos County, in the US state of New Mexico.
Georgia Pass is a long bumpy ride in the Rocky Mountains
Georgia Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.535m (11,598ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado. The entire route is very suitable for stock sport utility vehicles unless snow covered. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Top of the World is one of the gnarliest roads of Moab
Top of the World is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 2,149m (7,050ft) above sea level, located in Moab, Grand County, in the U.S. state of Utah. At the top, you are treated to one killer view from a 3,000-foot cliff overlook. It features one of the most scenic drives and best views in Moab—or perhaps all of Utah.
Mormon Emigrant Trail is a drive worth taking in California
Mormon Emigrant Trail is a very scenic journey in El Dorado County, in the US state of California. The road was originally named Iron Mountain Road.
How to get by car to Badwater Basin, the lowest point of North America?
Badwater Basin is a salt pan at 86m (282ft) below sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. At this elevation it’s the lowest point in North America.
A steep unpaved road to Mount Graham in Arizona
Mount Graham is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.192m (10,472ft) above sea level, located in Graham County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads of Arizona.
A beautiful road with lots of historical sights to Hancock Pass in Colorado
Hancock Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.702m (12,145ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado. This driving route is not only incredibly scenic but also chock-full of mining history. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
The haunted Witches Bridge in Illinois
Located west of Clarksdale, in Christian County, Illinois, in USA, Witches Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Driving the scenic Cherohala Skyway through the mountains
Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, the Cherohala Skyway is one of the most scenic drives in the USA.
Teton Park Road is one of the most sensational drives of Wyoming
Teton Park Road is a very scenic drive in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, in the US state of Wyoming, running along the base of the Teton Range. This road has many scenic pull offs.
Beef Basin Trail is a challenging 4wd road in Utah
Beef Basin Trail is a challenging four-wheel drive located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Utah. The road is easy as long as it is dry.
Daniel’s Pass is a classic road trip in Utah
Daniels Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.439m (8,001ft) above the sea level, located in Wasatch County, in the U.S. state of Utah.
The steep Tuna Canyon Road is one of the 5 Best Driving Roads in Malibu
Tuna Canyon Road is a very scenic yet demanding drive located in western Los Angeles County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s said to be one of the 5 Best Driving Roads in Malibu. The road is very steep (up to 18%).
Mengel Pass in California: Only Experienced Drivers with Advanced Off Road Skills
Mengel Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.314m (4,311ft) above sea level located in Inyo County, in the US state of California. Famous for the site where Charles Manson was captured by police, it is a favorite Jeep trail in Death Valley. Rough 4WD vehicle needed.
Granite Pass is a beautiful drive through the Bighorn Mountains
Granite Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.757m (9,045ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic drive in Escalante National Monument
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic dirt road located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s suitable for passenger cars in good weather but a 4WD vehicle is required the last miles.
A remote paved road to Gore Pass in Colorado
Gore Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.909m (9,543ft) above sea level, located in Grand County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Ruby Road is a beautiful drive with lots of historical sights in Arizona
Ruby Road is a very scenic drive straddling Santa Cruz and Pima counties in the US state of Arizona. The road got its name from a once-thriving mining camp on its route. A high-clearance vehicle is required.
Driving to the top of Mount Scott in Oklahoma
Mount Scott is a mountain peak at an elevation of 751m (2,464ft) above sea level, located in Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
Sawyers Bar Road: 12 miles of snake track using 1st gear in California
Sawyers Bar Road is a stunning drive in the Klamath National Forest, in the US state of California. The drive features a 3,713ft drop in 12 miles of snake track, using 1st gear. Brakes are just not suitable for that long of an incline. One of the best rides in California, without a doubt.
Enjoy a road among the clouds to Cameron Pass in Colorado
Cameron Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.137m (10,291ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado.
Driving the challenging Fish Rock Road in California
Fish Rock Road is a very scenic mountain road located in Mendocino County, on the North Coast of the U.S. state of California.
What is the story of the haunted Avon Bridge in Indiana?
Avon Bridge is a triple-arch railroad trestle spanning a rural road located in Avon, Hendricks County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. Legend has it that if you wander near the old bridge at night, you may hear the screams and moans of the ghost of Avon's Haunted Bridge. Additionally, on hot summer days, you can see the ghost's tears on the concrete of the bridge.
Driving an old mining road to Mount Lincoln in Colorado
Mount Lincoln is a high mountain peak located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. An old mining road climbs up to 4.297m (14,097ft) above sea level, just below the peak. It's one of the highest roads of USA.
A pleasant gravel road in summers to Old Monarch Pass in Colorado
Old Monarch Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.473m (11,394ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Breathtaking scenery on the road to Lemhi Pass (Idaho-Montana)
Lemhi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.250m (7,381ft) above sea level, located on the border of Idaho and Montana, in the USA.
A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Gunsight Pass in Colorado
Gunsight Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.692m (12,112ft) above sea level, located in Gunnison County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. This high alpine road is brutal and going through some severe erosion so use caution. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
The historic Old Plank Road in California was built in 1915
The Old Plank Road, also known as the Imperial Plank Road, was an innovative transportation project constructed in the early 20th century in Imperial County, in the US state of California. Built in 1915, the road ran through the Algodones Dunes, a large sand dune field.
A scenic paved road to Santiam Pass in central Oregon
Santiam Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.471m (4,826ft) above sea level located in the US state of Oregon.
A winding narrow road through Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina
Located in the US state of North Carolina, Cataloochee Valley is nestled among some of the most rugged mountains within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hurrah Pass in Moab: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Hurrah Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.461m (4,793ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Utah. At times the road to the pass is very thin and very close to the edge of far drops.
Driving the scenic Six Mile Cove Road to Lake Mohave
Six Mile Cove Road is a short badly wash-boarded road located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
Mirror Lake Highway: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Mirror Lake Highway is a very scenic mountain road running from Kamas (in Utah) to Evanston (in Wyoming). It’s a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
Hatcher Pass is an awe-inspiring road through remote areas of Alaska
Hatcher Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.148m (3,886ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Alaska.
Driving Interstate 90 to Homestake Pass in the Rocky Mountains of Montana
Homestake Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.954m (6,410ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Montana.
The high Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, nicknamed as the Hoover Dam Bypass, is an arch bridge that spans the Colorado River, in USA. Stay away if you're scared of heights. At 880 feet over the Colorado River, it is the second-highest bridge in the United States and the highest concrete-arch bridge anywhere. It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Onion Valley Road is one of the steepest climbs of California
Located in the heart of Owens Valley, in Inyo County, in the US state of California, Onion Valley Road is one of the steepest roads of California: this climb averages nearly 8%.
How to have the ultimate road trip to Bodie, a ghost town in California
Situated high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Bodie is a ghost town in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California. The town sits at an elevation of 2,554m (8,379ft) above sea level.
Willamette Pass is a classic road trip in Oregon
Willamette Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.563m (5,128ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Oregon.
The road to Montgomery Pass in Nevada: the world’s highest casino
Montgomery Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.185m (7,167ft) above sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
The scenic yet remote Kimsey Mountain Highway in Tennessee
Kimsey Mountain Highway is a scenic drive through a truly remote region of wilderness, located in Polk County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee.
Coronado Bridge is a suicide magnet in California
Located in the U.S. state of California, the San Diego–Coronado Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. The bridge crosses over San Diego Bay and links San Diego with Coronado.
Unraveling the Secrets of Kern Canyon Road in California
Kern Canyon Road is a very scenic but dangerous journey located in Kern County, in the U.S. state of California. If you enjoy twists and turns, this is a great option.
South Grade Road in California features 21 hairpin turns
South Grade Road is a very challenging yet dangerous drive located in San Diego County, in the US state of California. The road features 21 switchbacks.
McCarthy Road is a drive you'll never forget in Alaska
McCarthy Road is an epic road trip in a very Alaskan sort of way, located deep in the heart of Valdez-Cordova Census Area, in the USA. Rough road conditions and potholes are common.