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.
County Road 50
County Road 50 is a very scenic high mountain road located in Grand County, Colorado, United States. It climbs up to 3.163m (10,377ft) above the sea level.
How to drive the unpaved road to Big Ridge in Utah?
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 roads in Utah.
Ella Mountain
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.
How to drive the curvy road to Black Mountain in New Mexico?
Black Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.132m (10,275ft) above sea level, located in Colfax County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.
Blue Ridge Parkway: One of America’s Prettiest Roads
The United States is filled with winding roads that allow you to view incredible scenery. Pacific Coast Highway winds its way along California's coast. Highway 101 in Oregon allows people to look at the state's stunning shoreline. Then there is the Blue Ridge Parkway in the eastern part of the country.
Jordan Peak
Jordan Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.619m (8,592ft) above the sea level, located in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California.
Blackhead Peak
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.
The unpaved road to Mount Mamma
Mount Mamma is a high mountain peak located in Chaffee County, Colorado, USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Lovell Summit
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.
A memorable road trip to Santa Rosa Mountain in CA
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.
Lake Isabelle
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.
A memorable road trip to McKays Peak in AZ
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.
Jones Mountain
Jones Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.866m (12,683ft) above the sea level, located in Chaffee County of south-central Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Taking Your Chances on US Route 1
With the average number of car accidents in the United States standing at a whopping 6 million each year, it goes without saying that the country is home to some dangerous roads.
Copper River Highway, one of the most scenic roads in Alaska
Located in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, in USA, the Copper River Highway is a very scenic drive, a pure scenery gem.
Patchen Pass in California: this road is not for timid drivers
Patchen Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 562m (1,843ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties in the U.S. state of California.
Spooner Summit
Spooner Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.178m (7,146ft) above the sea level, located in the Carson Range of Douglas County, Nevada, in USA.
Cerro del Oso
Cerro del Oso is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.261m (10,698ft) above the sea level, located in Taos County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of New Mexico.
Spruce Mountain
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.
Driving the NF-245 to the abandoned Sullivan Mountain lookout
Sullivan Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,977m (6,486ft) above sea level, located in Pend Oreille County, in the northeast corner of Washington, USA. Sitting right along the Canada–US border, this is one of the highest roads in the state and offers a deep dive into the rugged wilderness of the Colville National Forest.
How to drive the unpaved road to Blue Lake in Colorado
Blue Lake is an alpine lake at an elevation of 3.728m (12,230ft) above sea level, located in San Miguel County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.
London Mountain
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.
Petes Hole Reservoir
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.
The paved road to Willow Creek Summit in ID
Willow Creek Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.183m (7,161ft) above the sea level located in the Custer County of central Idaho, in the United States.
How to drive the scenic backcountry road to Zenobia Peak in Colorado?
Zenobia Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.745m (9,006ft) above sea level, located in Moffatt County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Nogal Peak
Nogal Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.685m (8,809ft) above the sea level, located in the Southern White Mountain Wilderness in Otero County, in the southeastern part of New Mexico.
The Ultimate Michigan Road Trip: a Stop-by-Stop Guide
Michigan offers one of the most diverse driving environments in the American Midwest. From the industrial logistics of the Motor City to the high-latitude wilderness of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.), a road trip across this state is a study in coastal geography and infrastructure. Navigating the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior requires a strategic approach to route planning, especially as roads transition from standard interstates to narrow, wind-exposed scenic byways with limited service availability.
Butch Cassidy Pass
Butch Cassidy Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.217m (3,992ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in southern Nevada, USA.
Hot to get by car to Kaibab Plateau in Arizona?
Kaibab Plateau is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.817m (9,200ft) above sea level, located in Coconino County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads of Arizona.
Bull of the Woods Pass
Bull of the Woods Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.010m (9,875ft) above the sea level, located in Park County, Montana, in USA. It's one of the highest roads of Montana.
Mentasta Pass, a paved road in Alaska
Mentasta Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 739m (2,424ft) above the sea level, located in Alaska, in United States.
North Star Mountain
North Star Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.960m (12,992ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado. The wind is usually quite strong at mountain areas. High winds blow here all year long. Even in summer you can confront with snowy days.
Enjoy a Drive Among the Clouds to Aspen Mountain in Colorado
Aspen Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,422m (11,227ft) above sea level, located in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Ultimate 4wd destination: Libby Flats
Libby Flats is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 3.252m (10,669ft) above the sea level, located in Carbon County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Wyoming.
Spectacle Lake
Spectacle Lake is a high mountain sub-alpine lake at an elevation of 3.323m (10,902ft) above the sea level, located in Wayne County, in south-central Utah, in USA. Altitude and extreme weather is always a factor at any time of year. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.
Grand Targhee Resort
Grand Targhee Resort is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.430m (7,972ft) above the sea level, located on the Wyoming/Idaho border near Grand Teton, in USA.
Bartlett Mountain
Bartlett Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.016m (13,175ft) 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.
How to drive the unpaved road to Mount Peale in Colorado?
Mount Peale is a high mountain peak located in San Juan County, in the US state of Utah. East of the summit, a gravel road climbs up to at an elevation of 3.287m (10,784ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.
Supreme Lift
Supreme Lift is a high mountain lift at an elevation of 3.200m (10,498ft) above the sea level, located in Salt Lake County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.
Driving the rugged 4x4 road to Revenue Mountain in Colorado
Revenue Mountain is a high-altitude summit sitting at 3,725 meters above sea level in the Clear Creek County of Colorado. Positioned on the Great Divide within the Mosquito Range, the road to this peak is one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado. This is a raw, high-alpine world of mining ruins and jagged rocks where the air is thin and the weather can turn lethal in minutes. Driving here is a slow-speed battle against an unpaved track that is consistently bumpy, muddy, and covered in loose scree that will test the clearance and traction of any 4x4.
Driving through the challenging River Road in TX
River Road is a very scenic 4x4 trail located in Brewster County, in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas. It’s said to be one of the most scenic drives in Texas. The road is pretty challenging, as it travels through and across many desert washes.
The road to Pine Creek Reservoir in OR isn’t an easy one
Pine Creek Reservoir is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.003m (6,571ft) above the sea level, located in Baker County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.
How to cross the bridge on the Red Bridge Road?
Located in Linn County, in the US state of Iowa, the bridge on the Red Bridge Road is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
An awe-inspiring drive to Jones Gap
Jones Gap is a mountain pass at an elevation of 893m (2,929ft) above sea level, located on the border between South Carolina and North Carolina, in the Southeastern region of the United States.
Henderson Mountain
Henderson Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.043m (9,983ft) above the sea level located in Park County, in Montana, USA. It's one of the highest roads of Montana.
Mount Hopkins
Mount Hopkins is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.612m (8,569ft) above the sea level, located in the Santa Rita Range, in Santa Cruz County, southern Arizona, USA.
How to drive the unpaved road to Mount Bachelor in Oregon?
Mount Bachelor is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 2.461m (8,074ft) above sea level, located in Deschutes County, in the US state of Oregon. It’s one of the highest roads of Oregon.
Caught Speeding in the USA? Here's what to do next...
Navigating the vast highway systems of the United States requires strict adherence to variable jurisdictional speed limits. Getting clocked by a radar or being pulled over by state troopers can be a complex logistical and legal challenge, especially for international travelers or long-distance overlanders. Understanding the specific protocols of a "Traffic Stop" and the subsequent administrative steps is essential for mitigating the impact on your driving record and insurance standing.