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.

McKays Peak

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.

Mentasta Pass

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.

Benton Crossing Road

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Benton Crossing Road

Benton Crossing Road is the name of a very scenic drive with vast mountain views, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California.

London Mountain

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.

Mount Mamma

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.

Bingham Mine Overlook

Bingham Mine Overlook

Located at an elevation of 2.748m (9,015ft) above the sea level, in Tooele County in the U.S. state of Utah, Bingham Mine Overlook offers stunning 360 degree views. The average gradient is 9.35%.

Top 10 dangerous roads for drivers in the USA

Top 10 dangerous roads for drivers in the USA

When it comes to selecting the ideal roads for drivers, long uninterrupted stretches where you can push the car to its limits seems viable. But, when you are experiencing the unexpected, danger comes in hovering. Though there are many thrilling road sections in the world where you can enjoy to the fullest, we have some popular patches in the U.S. itself. 

Spruce Mountain

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.

Petes Hole Reservoir

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.

Witches Rock Road

Witches Rock Road in Connecticut is said to be the scary of scaries

Witches Rock Road is located in Hartford County, in the US state of Connecticut and has a long story of witchcraft. It's one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.

Ute Pass

A paved mountain road to Ute Pass in Grand County

Ute Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.924m (9,593ft) above the sea level, located in Grand County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

County Road 50

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.

Spooner Summit

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.

Butch Cassidy Pass

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.

Nogal Peak

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.

Cerro del Oso

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.

Larkspur Mountain

Larkspur Mountain

Larkspur Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.430m (11,253ft) above the sea level, located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, in USA.

Aspen Mountain

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.

Willow Creek Summit

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.

Jones Mountain

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.

Hecker Pass

A haunted road to Hecker Pass in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California

Hecker Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 408m (1,338ft) above sea level, located in the US state of California. The road through the pass is said to be haunted.

Sullivan Mountain

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.

Copper River Highway

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.

Kaibab Plateau

Kaibab Plateau

Kaibab Plateau is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.817m (9,200ft) above the sea level, located in Coconino County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.

Bull of the Woods Pass

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.

Grand Targhee Resort

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.

US Route 1

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.

Black Mountain

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

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.

Mount Hopkins

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.

Zenobia Peak

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.

Blue Lake

Blue Lake

Blue Lake is an alpine lake at an elevation of 3.728m (12,230ft) above the sea level, located in San Miguel County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Broken Arrow Trail

Broken Arrow Trail

Located on the border of Coconino and Yavapai counties, in the U.S. state of Arizona, Broken Arrow Trail is one of the most popular off-road trails in all of Arizona and offers one of Sedona’s most exhilarating off-road adventure.

North Star Mountain

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.

Osha Mountain

Osha Mountain

Osha Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.240m (10,629ft) 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.

Heart Lake

Heart Lake

Heart Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.653m (11,984ft) above the sea level, located in Hinsdale County, Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Woodchuck Pass

Woodchuck Pass

Woodchuck Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.937m (9,636ft) above the sea level, located in Sheridan County, Wyoming, in USA. 

Bartlett Mountain

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.

Supreme lift

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.

Revenue Mountain

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.

Patricks Knob

Patricks Knob

Patricks Knob is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level located in Sanders County, in Montana, USA.

Mount Peale

Mount Peale

Mount Peale is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.287m (10,784ft) above the sea level, located in San Juan County, in the southeastern part of Utah, United States. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Utah.

Spectacle Lake

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.

The River Road

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.

Henderson Mountain

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.

Relay Peak

Relay Peak

Relay Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.102m (10,177ft) above the sea level, located in Washoe County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

Warrior Mountain

A very bumpy, grueling road to Warrior Mountain

Warrior Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.433m (11,263ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado just south of Hwy 103 (Squaw Pass Road).

Cathey Peak

Cathey Peak

Cathey Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.940m (9,645ft) above the sea level, located in Otero County, in the south-central part of the US State of New Mexico.