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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 very scenic drive located in Flathead County, in the U.S. state of Montana, near the Canadian border.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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.

Joe Brown Highway is a mountain road deeply located in the wilderness, straddling western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, in the USA.

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."

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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