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.

Medicine Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,039m (9,970ft) above sea level, located in Big Horn County, Wyoming. Situated within the Bighorn National Forest, the access to the summit via Forest Service Road 12 is a technical high-altitude drive characterized by extreme weather exposure and sensitive logistical constraints.

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.

Walkers Peak is a high mountain summit reaching 2,735m (8,973ft) above sea level in Valley County, Idaho. It is situated in the Salmon River Mountains, right in the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, one of the most remote areas in the United States. It's one of the highest roads in Idaho.

Stevens Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.243m (4,078ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of King and Chelan counties in the U.S. state of Washington.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a specialized mountain loop located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Situated within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this road offers a high-stakes driving experience characterized by its narrow profile and lack of safety barriers. Operating on this road requires total commitment; once a driver enters the one-way circuit, there are no turn-around points. It is a masterclass in low-speed technical handling through a dense, high-moisture forest environment.

Windy Gap is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.354m (11,004ft) above the sea level located in Montezuma County, the southwesternmost of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado.

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.

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.

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.

Campito Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.294m (10,807ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. It's one of the highest roads of California.

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.

McKinney Tanks Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.951m (6,400ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

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.

UT-211 is a very scenic journey in the heart of the Needles region of Canyonlands National Park,in San Juan County, in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah. Driving in is beautiful with amazing views along the way.

Located in Iowa, in USA, the 200th Street Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Salinas Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.730m (8,956ft) above the sea level, located in the White Sands Missile Range of Sierra County, south-central New Mexico, in the United States. There is no public access to this peak nor is photography permitted.

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.

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.

Traveling through mountain passes, isolated coastal routes, and remote inland tracks offers unmatched freedom, but it also demands a higher level of preparation. Beyond the basics, ensuring your safety on high-risk routes requires specific protocols that can prevent a scenic drive from turning into a life-threatening situation.

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.

Red Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.754m (12,316ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

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.

Austin Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,423m (4,668ft) above sea level, located in Whatcom County, in the U.S. state of Washington.

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.

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.

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.

Pu’u O Kila is a jaw dropping lookout at an elevation of 1.266m (4,153ft) above the sea level, located in Kauaʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The view to the coast is legendary.

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.

Don Fernando Peak, also known as Sierra de Don Fernando, is a high mountain summit reaching an elevation of 3,147m (10,324ft) above sea level in Taos County, New Mexico. Located in the northern part of the state, south of Taos, the drive to the top is one of the highest mountain roads in New Mexico. This is a primitive journey through the dense timber of the Carson National Forest, where the smooth forest floor can quickly turn into a rocky, bone-jarring climb that demands a capable vehicle and a driver who knows how to manage traction on loose soil.

Mount Wilcox is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,770m (12,368ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Clear Creek and Summit counties in the northern part of Colorado. Situated within the White River National Forest, the summit is reached via a technical spur off a historical mining route. Logistically, it is one of the highest driveable points in the state, offering a raw look at high-altitude Front Range terrain.

Nevada State Route 375 (the Extraterrestrial Highway) is a very scenic journey on the boundary of Nye and Lincoln counties in south-central Nevada, United States. Many visitors have reported UFO sightings and other strange activity along the way.

Bear Lake summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.383m (7,818ft) above the sea level, located in Cache County, on the northern edge of Utah, United States.

When the pavement ends on high-consequence routes like Engineer Pass or the Dalton Highway, the distinction between a standard SUV and a true expedition vehicle becomes a matter of survival. Navigating unpaved, rocky, or ice-saturated terrain requires more than just all-wheel drive; it demands superior ground clearance, heavy-duty suspension articulation, and mechanical locking differentials. This analysis reviews the elite platforms engineered to maintain traction and structural integrity where standard vehicles fail.

Jersey Jim is a high mountain lookout tower at an elevation of 3.002m (9,849ft) above the sea level, located in Montezuma County, Colorado, in USA.

Navajo Point is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.188m (10,459ft) above the sea level, located in Iron County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

There is a profound disconnect between perceived driving competence and actual on-road behavior in the United States. While a vast majority of motorists self-identify as "safe" or "expert" drivers, forensic traffic data and behavioral surveys paint a more alarming picture. This phenomenon, often referred to as the "Illusion of Superiority," creates a dangerous environment where overconfidence leads to a systematic disregard for basic safety protocols, turning high-speed arterials into zones of high-consequence risk.

Boca Chica Road is a short asphalted road located in the lower Florida Keys, in Key West, Florida, USA.

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.

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.

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.

Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive is the name of a very scenic route in the heart of New York City, in the US state of New York.

Located in Kane County, in the U.S. state of Utah, Peek-a-boo Gulch is a short slot canyon. Driving is a challenging option. This is not the road to practice your sand driving skills if you are inexperienced.

Cook Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.604m (5,262ft) above the sea level, located in Kern County, in the U.S. state of California.

Italian Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.584m (11,758ft) above the sea level, located in Gunnison County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Schultz Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.468m (8,097ft) above the sea level located in the U.S. state of Arizona.

Locaeted in Buchanan County, Iowa, in USA, the Victor Avenue Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Mount Buckskin is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.881m (12,732ft) 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.

Panther Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above the sea level, located in Brewster County, Texas, in USA.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.