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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Antora Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,823 m (12,542 ft) above sea level, located in Saguache County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

While most American highways are built to high safety standards, several routes across the country remain notorious for their high fatality rates and extreme environmental hazards. From the frozen isolation of the Arctic to the congested arteries of Florida and California, these five roads test the limits of even the most experienced drivers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Badlands Loop Road (SD 240) is the name of a very scenic drive running on the boundary between Jackson and Pennington counties in the U.S. state of South Dakota.

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.

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.

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.

Located in San Francisco, in the US state of California, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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.

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.

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.

Located in Frederick County, in the northern part of the U.S. state of Maryland, the Jug Bridge ruins and its connecting roads are all that remains of what was once a beautiful and historic piece of American infrastructure. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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

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.

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.

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