What are the most spectacular roads in the USA?

Located in North America, the USA is a true paradise for drivers, as it hosts more than 2,000 roads listed as the most spectacular in the world.

Featuring mountains, deserts, coasts, and snow, in the USA you’ll get your dream road. And you’ll never want to wake up. For instance, at the top of your list, you need to drive the Million Dollar Highway, the most beautiful road in America, and probably in the world. Built in the late 1880s, you'll be on the "outside" for a while with a hell of a view to your right (let the passenger enjoy the view; you'll want to watch the road). Another paved option must be the Iron Mountain Road, featuring 17 miles, 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 pigtails, and 3 tunnels in the Black Hills of South Dakota. No list would be complete without the winding Tail of the Dragon: 318 curves in 11 miles. Spanning Tennessee and North Carolina, it is one of the most scenic drives in the USA. You also can’t skip driving Mount Evans Scenic Byway, the highest paved road in North America, climbing up to 4,310m (14,130ft) in Colorado. It is said to be the highest paved road in North America.

For those who prefer unpaved experiences, the country hosts some of the most defiant yet scenic roads in the world. You can’t miss Black Bear Pass, a high mountain adventure in the Colorado Rockies. Climbing up to 3,915m (12,844ft) above sea level, it's one of the highest roads in Colorado. You can also discover the beauty of Engineer Pass, a mountain pass at an elevation of 3,901m (12,800ft) above sea level in Colorado. It’s mostly a first-gear ride because the road is rough and rocky. The legendary Shafer Trail Road in Utah's Canyonlands National Park is an iconic drive located on the east-central edge of Utah. At times, the road is so narrow that only one car can pass. And Lippincott Mine Road in California is for experienced 4WD drivers using high-clearance vehicles only. You'll need a good map, as the routes are not marked and there are no signs. It’s one of the challenging backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.

Juniper Lake is a picturesque mountain lake at an elevation of 2,094m (6,870ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of California.

Coastal Drive Loop is a very scenic road located at the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of California, running along the Pacific Ocean. Whales, sea lions, and pelicans may often be seen from overlooks high above the crashing surf. is one of the most scenic drives in the Redwood National and State Parks.

Big Indian Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.987m (9,799ft) above the sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest roads of Nevada.

The Great River Road is said to be one of the Best Drives in America, tracing the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles through 10 states, from Minnesota to Louisiana.

Resolution Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.638m (11,935ft) above the sea level, located in Eagle County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Located on the northwestern portion of the North American continent, Alaska is a state in the Western United States. It’s bordered only by Canada on the east and surrounded by oceans on three sides: Arctic Ocean to the North, Bering Sea to the West, and the Pacific Ocean to the South. It’s an extraordinarily beautiful place and with wide open spaces. It deserves its reputation for being cold. Much of the state is covered in a layer of permafrost—permanently frozen soil.

Burcham Flat Road (Forest Road 31) is a very scenic alternative to US-395 through the Walker River canyon located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California.

Cerro Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.451m (8,042ft) above the sea level, located east of Montrose, Colorado, in USA.

South Baldy is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.288m (10,789ft) above the sea level, located in Socorro County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.

Black Hills Scenic Byway is a scenic unpaved road located on the boundary between Greenlee and Graham counties, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona.

Saint Sophia Ridge is a high mountain ridge at an elevation of 3.829m (12,562ft) above the sea level, located in Ouray County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Trico Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.849m (12,627ft) above the sea level, located in San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Difficult Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.712m (12,178ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Gunnison and Pitkin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Latigo Canyon Road is a very technical drive located in Los Angeles County, in the U.S. state of California. The road is a test for any kind of rider. It’s one of the Top Scenic Drives in Malibu.

New Castle-Buford Road is a very scenic mountain drive located on the boundary of Rio Blanco and Garfield counties in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Coyote Ridge is a high mountain ridge at an elevation of 3.492m (11,456ft) above the sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

Monument Hill is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.253m (10,672ft) above the sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Granite Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.002m (9,849ft) above the sea level, located in Madison County, in the U.S. state of Montana. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Montana.

Martis Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.652m (8,700ft) above the sea level, located in Placer County, in the U.S. state of California.

Keystone Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.677m (12,063ft) 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.

Located in Los Angeles County, in the US state of California, Malibu is a picturesque beach city known for its 21 miles of scenic coastline. With a laid-back vibe, Malibu—lovingly called “The Bu” by locals—is a top destination for surfers, sunbathers, and those hoping to catch a glimpse of its famous residents.

Turnagain Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 300m (984ft) above the sea level, located in the U.S. state of Alaska.

McGee Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.204m (10,511ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, California, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

Teton pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.905m (6,250ft) above the sea level located in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, along the Rocky Mountain Front, in Teton County, Montana, in USA.

Mestaa’Ėhehe is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.493m (11,459ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Bears Ears Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.999m (9,839ft) above the sea level located in Routt County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Big Lake is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.870m (9,415ft) above the sea level, located in Apache County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.

Located in Pinal County, in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona, Box Canyon trail is a unique and scenic drive through a narrow, steep-walled canyon. It’s one of Arizona’s most popular 4-wheeling areas.

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.

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.

Located in Iowa, United States, the Old Durow Road Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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.

Yvonne Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.893m (12,772ft) above the sea level located on the boundary between Hinsdale and San Juan counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

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.

Antora Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.823m (12,542ft) above the sea level, located in Saguache County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Piney Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.864m (9,396ft) above the sea level, located in Eagle County, Colorado, in USA. It is one of the highest lakes in the state that you can drive to. The road is a bit rough.

Red Hill Road is a short gravel track located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s a 4wd drive.

Oxford Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.831m (9,288ft) above the sea level, located in Franklin County in southeast Idaho, USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Idaho.

US 93 Highway (US 93) is a major highway located in the western United States. The drive features scenic views.

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.

Point Six is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.421m (7,942ft) above sea level located in Missoula County, in the US state of Montana.

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.

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.

Sunnyside Saddle is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.030m (13,221ft) above the sea level, located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous dropoffs. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

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. 

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.

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.

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.