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.
Promontory Divide
Promontory Divide is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.621m (8,599ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Custer and Huerfano counties, in southern Colorado, USA.
Smith Peak
Smith Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.340m (7,677ft) above the sea level, located in Plumas County, in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California.
Malemute Peak
Malemute Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.899m (12,791ft) above the sea level, located in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Islip Saddle
Islip Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.036m (6,680ft) above the sea level, located within the Angeles National Forest, in San Bernardino County, California, in USA.
Mount Werner
Mount Werner is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.222m (10,570ft) above the sea level, located in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Colorado, in USA.
FDR Drive offers stunning views of Brooklyn
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.
Saddleback Mountain
Saddleback Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.843m (9,327ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Thompson Pass
Thompson Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.669m (8,756ft) above the sea level, located in Sublette County, Wyoming, in USA.
Wauconda Pass, a chillout road in high mountains
Wauconda Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.316m (4,317ft) above the sea level, located in Okanogan County, in the U.S. state of Washington along the Canada–US border.
Interstate-84 Highlights: Navigating Rattlesnake Pass in Utah's Box Elder County
Rattlesnake Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.620m (5,314ft) above the sea level, located in Box Elder County in the US state of Utah.
UM Pass
UM Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.208m (10,524ft) above the sea level, located in Sevier County, in the central section of the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Utah.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Gass Peak Road in NV
Gass Peak Road is a very scenic drive located in the Las Vegas Range of Southern Nevada, in USA.
Bigelow Divide
Bigelow Divide is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.866m (9,403ft) above the sea level, located in Custer County, Colorado, in USA.
Sacramento Peak
Sacramento Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 9,262ft (2.823m) above the sea level, located in Otero County, in the south-central part of the US State of New Mexico.
Sourdough Peak
Sourdough Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.076m (6,811ft) above the sea level located in Idaho County, Idaho, in USA.
The spectacular 1925 Italian Bar Bridge in California
1925 Italian Bar Bridge is a very scenic bridge located on the boundary of Fresno County and Madera County, at the geographic center of the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Parker Mountain
Parker Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.622m (8,602ft) above the sea level located in Lemhi County, Idaho, USA.
Fox Mountain
Fox Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.864m (9,396ft) above the sea level, located in Catron County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Richardson Highway: a historic trip from Valdez to Fairbanks in AK
Richardson Highway is the name of a very scenic drive into the heart of Alaska's mining districts, connecting Valdez to Fairbanks. It was the first major road built in the state.
Cass House Peak
Cass House Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.203m (10,508ft) above the sea level, located in Elko County, in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
Fishhook Lake
Fishhook Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.249m (10,659ft) 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.
Burnt Knob
Burnt Knob is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.466m (8,090ft) above the sea level, located in the southern Clearwater Mountains of Idaho County, Idaho, in USA.
Take the Scenic Route and Discover Highland Lakes in CA
Highland Lakes are a pair of freshwater alpine lakes at an elevation of 2.631m (8,631ft) above the sea level, located in Alpine County, in the U.S. state of California.
Mid-Basin Road
Mid-Basin Road is a short gravel road located in the the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, in Nevada, USA. It’s a 4wd track.
Little Bald Mountain
Little Bald Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.189m (7,182ft) above the sea level, located in Placer County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s also known as Duncan Peak.
A sensational road to Lobo Overlook
Lobo Overlook sits at an elevation of 3.585m (11,761ft) above the sea level in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The summit offers breathtaking panorama views of the San Juan Mountains and west toward Pagosa Springs.
Webb Peak
Webb Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.043m (9,984ft) above the sea level, located in Graham County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
White Pine Pass
White Pine Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.924m (9,593ft) above the sea level, located in Larimer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Mount Guyot
Mount Guyot is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.571m (11,715ft) above the sea level, located in southeastern Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Volkswagen's electric car breaks the all-time record at Pikes Peak
On June 2018, the French auto racing driver Romain Dumas climbed behind the wheel of the electric Volkswagen I.D. R and beat the all-time Pikes Peak record from Sebastien Loeb by setting the first-ever time under eight minutes.
Mount Emerine
Mount Emerine is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.631m (8,631ft) above the sea level, located in Granite County, in the U.S. state of Montana.
North Oscura Peak
North Oscura Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.437m (7,995ft) above the sea level, located in Socorro County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.683m (5,522ft) above the sea level, located in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. At the summit there’s a fire lookout.
Upper McCain Spring Road
Upper McCain Spring Road is a gravel road located in the Lake Owyhee State Park, in eastern Oregon, USA.
Road Conditions in California’s Central Valley: A Regional Overview
Road infrastructure in California’s Central Valley has been the subject of concern for many residents and transportation analysts. Multiple urban areas across the region have been ranked among the most deteriorated in the United States based on federal road condition data.
Driving the wild Sandstone Canyon Trail in California
Sandstone Canyon Offroad Trail is the name of a very delightful yet challenging drive through a narrow canyon with impressive high rock walls, in San Diego County, in the southwestern corner of the state of California, in the United States.
Vermilion Pass
Vermilion Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.838m (6,030ft) above the sea level located in Sanders County, in Montana, USA.
Staying Safe On America’s Most Dangerous Roads
Traffic deaths in the U.S. exceeded 40,000 for the third straight year in 2018, according to the National Safety Council. Despite the development of useful safety technologies such as automatic emergency braking, relatively few cars have these features.
Cerro Picacho
Cerro Picacho is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.071m (10,075ft) 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.
An Unforgettable Drive to Snowstorm Peak in CO
Snowstorm Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.669m (12,037ft) above the sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. 4WD with good clearance is required.
Ellis Mountain
Ellis Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.091m (6,860ft) above the sea level located in Sweet Grass County, in Montana, USA.
Glenn Highway is not something to miss
Glenn Highway (part of Alaska Route 1) is a very scenic drive located in southcentral Alaska, in USA. The road takes you through several towns and natural wonders of Alaska.
Adventure along Scenic Skyline Drive to North Tent Mountain
North Tent Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.214m (10,544ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.
Driving to Mackinaw Lake is not a piece of cake
Mackinaw Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.295m (10,810ft) above the sea level, located in Garfield County, in northwestern Colorado, USA.
Inner Basin
Inner Basin is a high mountain basin at an elevation of 2.997m (9,832ft) above the sea level, located in Coconino County, in the north central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
Cave Lake
Cave Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.713m (12,181ft) above the sea level, located in Chaffee County of south-central Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Clara Peak
Clara Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.604m (8,544ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Rabbit Peak
Rabbit Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.640m (8,661ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.