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.
Craig Peak
Craig Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.234m (10,610ft) above the sea level, located in Eagle County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Mount Yeckel
Mount Yeckel is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.588m (11,771ft) above the sea level, located in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Take the Curvy Kingsbury Grade Road and Discover Daggett Pass in NV
Daggett Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.239m (7,345ft) above the sea level, located in northwestern Douglas County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
Big Bear Peak
Big Bear Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.709m (12,168ft) above the sea level, located in San Miguel County, Colorado, in United States. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Milk Cow Pass
Milk Cow Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.354m (11,004ft) above the sea level located in the Saguache County, in Colorado, USA.
Travel guide to the top of Mount Defiance in OR
Mount Defiance is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.514m (4,967ft) above the sea level, located in Hood River County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Kingston Summit
Kingston Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.647m (8,684ft) above the sea level, located in Lander County, Nevada, in USA.
Dawson Saddle
Dawson Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.415m (7,923ft) above the sea level, located in Los Angeles County, California, in USA.
Palmetto Mountain
Palmetto Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.724m (8,937ft) above the sea level, located in Esmeralda County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
Darley Mountain
Darley Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.997m (13,113ft) above sea level, located in Ouray County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado. Motorized vehicles are currently prohibited on the trailhead.
Garcia Peak
Garcia Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.333m (10,935 ft) 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.
Mount Jordan
Mount Jordan is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.889m (9,478ft) above the sea level, located in Custer County in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Idaho.
The defiant Lime Creek Road in Colorado will take your breath away
Lime Creek Road is a very scenic yet challenging road located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Bull Run Pass
Bull Run Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.313m (7,588ft) above the sea level, located in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California.
Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.814m (9,232ft) above the sea level, located in southern Douglas County, in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada.
Tollhouse Road Is Miles Of White-Knuckle Driving In Fresno County
Tollhouse Road is the name of a challenging drive located in Fresno County, in the central portion of the U.S. state of California.
Baker Creek Meadow
Baker Creek Meadow is a high mountain meadow at an elevation of 3.185m (10,449ft) above the sea level, located in Inyo County, California. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of California.
Government Harvey Pass
Government Harvey Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.170m (7,119ft) above the sea level, located in Lake County, in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon.
Dixie Butte
Dixie Butte is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.317m (7,601ft) above the sea level, located in Grant County, in Eastern Oregon, in USA.
Bull Park Trail: rough and bumpy
Bull Park Trail (Forest Service Road 376A) is a very rough and bumpy road located in Teller County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Lagunita Saddle
Lagunita Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.218m (10,557ft) 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. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.
Gentry Mountain
Gentry Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.066m (10,059ft) above the sea level, located in Emery County, in the U.S. state of Utah.
Forest Road 086
Forest Road 086 is a high mountain road located in Lemhi County in the U.S. state of Idaho. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Idaho.
Big Sam
Big Sam is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.298m (10,820ft) above the sea level, located in Tuolumne County, California, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of California.
Union Mountain
Union Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.755m (12,319ft) 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.
Forest Road 225
Forest Road 225 is a high mountain road located in central Duchesne County, Utah, United States. It’sone of the highest roads of Utah.
27 Lessons from 27 Films - Car Breakdowns
Breaking down is never good, especially if you're cruising across the states; with a staggering 89% of breakdowns below occurring on American roads! But is real life really like the movies?
Road trip guide: Conquering Sunset Mountain in ID
Sunset Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.393m (7,851ft) above the sea level, located in Boise County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.
The most scenic drives in Redwood National and State Parks
Located along the northern California coast, in the USA, the Redwood National and State Parks comprise a unique partnership between the National Park Service and California State Parks, preserving some of the tallest trees on Earth. The parks span Del Norte and Humboldt counties and include Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Together, they protect ancient redwood forests, rugged coastlines, oak woodlands, upland prairies, and diverse wildlife habitats.
Horse Mountain
Horse Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.103m (6,899ft) above the sea level located in Adams County, Idaho, in USA.
Skalkaho Mountain
Skalkaho Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.580m (8,464ft) above the sea level, located in Ravalli County, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. Elk, mule deer, badgers, coyotes, and black bears can be seen along the trail.
Coyote Summit, a climb on the legendary Extraterrestrial Highway
Coyote Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.710m (5,610ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
The Deadliest California Roadways for Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists are involved in many head-on collisions on the deadliest highways situated in some of the prominent cities of Southern California. Once the accident occurs, numerous factors need to be taken into account before the person or his family can do as far as medical aid is concerned.
Road trip guide: Conquering Big Hole Pass in Montana
Big Hole Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,256 m (7,401 ft) above sea level, located in Beaverhead County, in the U.S. state of Montana.
Miller Lake
Miller Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.247m (10,652ft) above the sea level, located in Wayne County, in south-central Utah, in USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.
Upheaval Dome
Upheaval Dome is a striking volcanic-type crater located in the Canyonlands National Park of southern Utah, in USA, at an elevation of 1.737m (5,698ft) above the sea level.
Ortega Ridge Road is haunted by 3 ghostly nuns
Located on the Central Coast of California, in USA, Ortega Ridge Road is the name of a road supposedly haunted by the spirits of 3 nuns.
Top 5 Used Cars Under $5,000 for Epic American Road Trips
For a college student in the U.S., a car is more than just a commute; it’s a gateway to exploring the country's most iconic highways. However, with a budget of under $5,000, reliability is the only metric that matters. You need a vehicle that won't leave you stranded in the middle of a desert pass or a remote mountain route. Here are the most resilient used cars for budget-conscious adventurers.
Aker Lake
Aker Lake is a mountain lake at an elevation of 2.703m (8,868) above the sea level, located in the White Mountains, in Greenlee County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It’s one of the highest roads of Arizona.
South Lake
South Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.999m (9,839ft) above the sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of California.
South Pass
South Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.248m (10,656ft) above the sea level located in the Saguache County, in Colorado, USA.
Haystack Gate
Haystack Gate is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.963m (9,721ft) above the sea level located in the Pitkin County, in Colorado, USA.
Mustang Pass
Mustang Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.011m (9,878ft) above the sea level, located in Esmeralda County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.707m (8,881ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Pegleg Mountain
Pegleg Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.166m (7,106ft) above the sea level, located in Lassen County, in the U.S. state of California.
Road trip guide: Conquering Old La Veta Pass in CO
La Veta Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.864m (9,396ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Costilla and Huerfano counties, in the US state of Colorado.
Little Molas Lake
Little Molas Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.333m (10,935ft) above the sea level, located in San Juan County, Colorado, in USA.
Round Mountain
Round Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.216m (10,551ft) above the sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of California.