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.

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.

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.

Mountain Baldy is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Lemhi County, Idaho, in USA. It's one of the highest roads in Idaho.

Mores Creek Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.871m (6,138ft) above the sea level, located in Boise County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

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.

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.

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.

Abajo Loop Scenic Backway is a very exciting journey located in San Juan County, in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah. The trail loops up through the forested Abajo Mountains north of Blanding, climbs to nearly 11,000 ft, then descends to Monticello. The road is single-lane dirt/gravel and is impassable when wet.

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.

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.

Table Rock Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.908m (6,259ft) above the sea level, located in Columbia County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.

Bald Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.847m (9,339ft) above the sea level, located in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California. It's one of the highest roads of California.

Yogo Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.686m (8,812ft) above the sea level located in Judith Basin County, in Montana, USA.

Stillwater Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.246m (10,649ft) above the sea level located in Grand County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The pass divides the Never Summer Wilderness Area and the Arapaho National Forest.

Niles Canyon Road is a short drive located in Alameda County, in the U.S. state of California. The road is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman.

Mingus Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.146m (7,040ft) above the sea level, located in Yavapai County, in the U.S. state of Arizona.

Little Truckee Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.954m (6,411ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California.

Ocate Mesa is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.157m (10,357ft) above the sea level, located in Colfax County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of New Mexico.

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.

Located in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains in the US state of California, Mulholland Drive is one of the most iconic roads in the country, providing a captivating journey through Los Angeles. The views of the city skyline and distant landscapes are unparalleled.

Ella Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.280m (7,480ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, Nevada, in United States.

North Rim Lookout is a high mountain lookout tower at an elevation of 2.798m (9,179ft) above the sea level, located in Coconino County,  in northern Arizona, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.

Santa Rosa Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.456m (8,057ft) above the sea level, located in Riverside County, in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California.

Lovell Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.075m (6,807ft) above the sea level, located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. The road to the summit is winding, gaining elevation to above 6000 feet.

UT-44 is a very scenic winding mountain road located in northern Utah, in USA.

Cory Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,201m (10,501ft) above sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest roads in Nevada.

Arizona 62 (Highway 62) is a very scenic drive through the Santa Rita Mountains, in Pima County, in the south central region of the U.S. state of Arizona.

Calamity Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.956m (9,698ft) above sea level located in Jackson County, in the US state of Colorado.

Almagre Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.774m (12,381ft) above the sea level, located in Teller County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Encinal Canyon Road is the name of 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. It’s one of the Top Scenic Drives in Malibu.

South Summit Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.483m (11,427ft) above the sea level, located in Garfield County, Utah, United States. It's one of the highest mountains roads of Utah.

Mentasta Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 739m (2,424ft) above the sea level, located in Alaska, in United States.

London Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.695m (12,122ft) above the sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Willow Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.503m (8,211ft) above the sea level, located in Ravalli County, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. Elk, mule deer, badgers, coyotes, and black bears can be seen along the trail.

Yaki Point is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 2.213m (7,262ft) above the sea level, located in Coconino County, in the US state of Arizona.

Belfort is an old mining village located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, near the Nevada border. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

Blackhead Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.301m (10,830ft) above the sea level, located in Archuleta County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Pioneer Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.004m (9,855ft) 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.

With an average of 15 fatal accidents annually, Highway 63 remains the most hazardous route in Missouri. However, several urban stretches in St. Louis and Kansas City present even higher fatality rates per mile due to infrastructure limitations and high traffic density.

McKays Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level, located in Navajo County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads of Arizona.

Lake Isabelle is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.619m (11,873ft) above the sea level, located in Lake County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Blue Lakes Road is a very scenic jourmey in the heart of Alpine County, in Eastern California, USA. The road runs entirely over 2.200m above the sea level.

Situated in Coconino County, in the US state of Arizona, Highway 180 offers a picturesque drive from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon, meandering through mountains and forests.

Colorado is the ultimate high-altitude proving ground in the United States. Dominated by the Rocky Mountains, the state offers a landscape where pristine alpine tundra meets the rugged remains of the 19th-century Gold Rush. For the adventure motorist, Colorado is less about the destination and more about the ascent. This 5-day expedition focuses on the technical climbs and historic trails that define the "Centennial State."

Big Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.383m (11,099ft) above the sea level, located in Duchesne County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Utah.

Spruce Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.129m (10,267ft) above the sea level, located in Elko County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

Petes Hole Reservoir is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.718m (8,917ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in central Utah, USA.