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.
Black Canyon Road
Black Canyon Road is a very scenic drive in Arizona, United States, located within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
Reno Lookout
Reno Lookout is a high mountain lookout tower at an elevation of 2.775m (9,104ft) above the sea level, located in Greenlee County, Arizona, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
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.
Drake Peak
Drake Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.509m (8,231ft) above the sea level, located in the Warner Mountain Range of Lake County, Oregon, in USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Oregon.
200th Street Bridge
Located in Iowa, in USA, the 200th Street Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
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.
Jones Gap, an awe-inspiring drive
Jones Gap is a mountain pass at an elevation of 893m (2,929ft) above the sea level, located on the border between South Carolina and North Carolina, in the Southeastern region of the United States.
Driving the 9 steepest paved mountain passes of Colorado
Located in the western United States, Colorado is notable for its majestic mountains. It’s classified as one of the mountain states, located in the Rocky upland part of the country. Due its topography, the roads can also get extremely steep. If you’re not used to it, driving there can feel like you’re falling off the side of a cliff.
Barillas Peak
Barillas Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.847m (9,340ft) above the sea level, located in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States.
Don Fernando Peak
Don Fernando Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.147m (10,324 ft) 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.
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.
Yellow Peak
Yellow Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.190m (7,185ft) above the sea level, located in Washoe County, in northwestern Nevada, in United States.
Sheriff Reservoir
Sheriff Reservoir is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.987m (9,799ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Blanco County, in northwest Colorado, USA.
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.
KPQ-FM Wenatchee Radio Broadcaster
KPQ-FM Wenatchee is a high mountain radio broadcaster at an elevation of 2.081m (6,827ft) above the sea level, located in Chelan County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.
Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 2.461m (8,074ft) above the sea level, located in Deschutes County, in central Oregon, USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Oregon.
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).
Mount Lewis
Mount Lewis is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.933m (9,622ft) above the sea level, located in Lander County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
Switzerland Trail
Switzerland Trail is a very scenic journey in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. This trail had lots of twists and turns, bumps and wonderful sites to see. It’s an old railroad grade that zigzags across the mountains of Boulder County.
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.
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.
Alta Lakes
Alta Lakes is a a serie of three lakes at an elevation of 3.484m (11,430ft) above the sea level, located in San Miguel County, Colorado, United States. This is a long and bumpy trail, but the scenery is worth the trip.
Driving the Haines Highway
Haines Highway is one of the most spectacular drives in North America. This scenic drive running from Alaska in the United States to Yukon in Canada is truly awesome when you travel it in the fall.
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.
Helmet Peak
Helmet Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.481m (11,420ft) above the sea level, located in Montezuma County, the southwesternmost of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Bear Valley Mountain
Bear Valley Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.528m (8,293ft) above the sea level located in Valley County, in Idaho, USA.
Hawley Mountain
Hawley Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.223m (7,293ft) above the sea level, located in Boise County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.
Lem Peak
Lem Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.083m (10,114ft) above the sea level, located in Lemhi County in the U.S. state of Idaho. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Idaho.
Crossing the scenic Geysers Road Bridge
Geysers Road Bridge is a truss bridge with Phoenix columns located in Sonoma County, in Northern California, in USA. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Road trip guide: Conquering Lucky Boy Pass in NV
Lucky Boy Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.449m (8,034ft) above the sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
Sunrise Peak
Sunrise Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.248m (10,656ft) above the sea level, located in Apache County, in northeastern Arizona in the United States. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
Tray Gap
Tray Gap is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.171m (3,841ft) above the sea level, located in White County, Georgia, United States. Beauty and isolation are what you will find here.
Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.766m (9,074ft) above the sea level, located in the Glass Mountain Range, Mono County, in the U.S. state of California.
Monument Ridge
Monument Ridge is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.518m (8,261ft) above the sea level, located in Sublette County, in western Wyoming, United States.
Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.758m (12,329ft) 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.
Granite Pass, the highest point of Kelbaker Road
Granite Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.233m (4,045ft) above the sea level, located within the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, California, USA.
Fairview Peak
Fairview Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.812m (5,944ft) above the sea level located in Umpqua National Forest in southwest Oregon, in USA. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for travel to this site. At the summit there’s a lookout tower.
Kiowa Mountain
Kiowa Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.967m (9,734ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Ord Mountain
Ord Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.380m (4,527ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California.
Fordyce Creek
Fordyce Creek is an extremely tough and challenging trail located in Nevada County in Northern California, USA. On high flow days the creek remains impassable. Never underestimate this track.
Mount Callaghan
Mount Callaghan is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.107m (10,193ft) above the sea level, located in Lander County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada. Thanks to a communications structure located near the highest point on this mountain which can be seen easily from highway 305, a road has been built which makes access easier.
Boca Chica Road
Boca Chica Road is a short asphalted road located in the lower Florida Keys, in Key West, Florida, USA.
Casco Peak
Casco Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.925m (12,877ft) 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.
170th Street Rock Creek Bridge
Located in Keokuk County, Iowa, in USA, the 170th Street Rock Creek Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Take the Scenic Skyline Drive and Discover High Top
High Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.321m (10,897ft) above the sea level located in the Sanpete County, in Utah, USA. It’s one of the highest roads in Utah.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a very scenic loop road located in Gatlinburg, a mountain town in in Sevier County, eastern Tennessee, in USA. The road is open to cars only (no trucks or RVs).
The Olympic Hot Springs Road in WA, closed to vehicles due to road washout
Located in Clallam County, in the U.S. state of Washington, Olympic Hot Springs Road is totally washed out and closed to vehicles indefinitely.
Mineral Peak
Mineral Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.233m (7,326ft) above the sea level, located in Missoula County, in the U.S. state of Montana.