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.

Butler Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.570m (8,431ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. A vehicle with decent ground clearance and good tires shouldn’t have an issue.

Fawn Creek Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.105m (10,186ft) above the sea level located in the Grand County, in Colorado, USA.

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.

Johnson's Mill is an historic site at an elevation of 3.074m (10,085ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

Ladybug Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.524m (8,280ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California.

Stein Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.608m (8,555ft) above the sea level, located in Lemhi County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Going to the local river or lake for a fishing game doesn’t require much preparation—just wake up early and grab your gear. However, planning a full outdoor adventure, far from your comfort zone, is a different story. If you’re an avid angler, you may dream of catching trout, bass, tuna, or exotic fish in remote waters—whether in India, the Mediterranean Sea, or the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re preparing for a fishing trip far from home, here are some key things to keep in mind to stay safe and ready.

Every college student needs one when it comes to cars. Some want the luxury ones to show off in college, while others want the basic ones to fulfill their daily transport needs. Whatever the case, if you are a student looking for a car under $5000, you have come to the right place.

Mount Givens is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.091m (10,141ft) above the sea level, located in Fresno County, California, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

Silver Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.004m (9,855ft) above the sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Santa Fe Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.173m (10,410ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

American Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,652ft (1.113m) above the sea level, located in east-central Alaska, in USA.

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.

Shafer Butte is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.315m (7.595ft) above the sea level, located in Boise County, Southwest Idaho, in USA.

Murray Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.150m (7,054ft) above the sea level, located in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States.

Munkres Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.881m (9,452ft) above the sea level, located in Johnson County, Wyoming, in USA.

Lone Cone Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.357m (11,015ft) above the sea level located in San Miguel County, in Colorado, USA.

Flesher Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.872m (6,141ft) above the sea level, located in Lewis and Clark County, in the U.S. state of Montana.

Sunflower Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.135m (7,004ft) above the sea level, located in Placer County, in the U.S. state of California.

Located in the upper Chihuahuan desert mountain ranges, the Quebradas National Back Country Byway is a beautiful scenic drive located east of Socorro, in Socorro County, New Mexico, USA. Quiet and remote. No cell phones can be heard out here.

Blue Jay Hill is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.182m (10,439ft) above the sea level, located in Taos County, in Northern New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. It’sone of the highest mountain roads of New Mexico.

Mount Patterson radio site is a cell site with solar at an elevation of 3.027m (9,931ft) 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 mountain roads of California.

Mission Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.090m (6,856ft) above the sea level, located in Chelan County, in central Washington State, in USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Washington.

Signal Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.744m (9,002ft) above the sea level, located in Grant County in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Flat tyres are common on the road but can be a hassle to fix. If you continue driving on a flat tyre, you are putting yourself and those with you at great risk.

Mount Davenport is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.853m (9,360ft) above the sea level, located in Catron County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Blue Lakes is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.573m (11,722ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Dead Horse Point is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 1.814m (5,951ft) above the sea level, located in San Juan County,  in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah. The summit features a dramatic overlook of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park.

South Tent Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.157m (10,357ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

Mine Camp Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.115m (10.222ft) above the sea level, located in Millard County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

Last Chance Road (USFS Road 44-22) is a very demanding drive located. Placer County, California, in USA.

Barker Dam Road is a very scenic drive located in the Joshua Tree National Park, in Southern California, USA, leading to the Barker Dam, a water-storage reservoir constructed by ranchers in the early 1900's.

Jefferson Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.271m (10,731ft) above the sea level, located northwest of Jefferson off US Highway 285, in Park County, Colorado, in USA.

Pilot Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.476m (8,123ft) above the sea level, located in Boise County, in the U.S. state of Idaho. The top is adorned with a building, solar panels, and a bunch of communication gear.

Powder Mountain is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.517m (8,257ft) above the sea level, stretching between Weber and Cache counties in the U.S. state of Utah.

Raft Lake is a high mountain sub-alpine lake at an elevation of 3.390m (11,122ft) 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.

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.

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.

Cape Horn is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.031m (9,944ft) above the sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Turkey Gulch Road is a challenging drive located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, in United States. The average gradient is 14,8%.

Most of us associate traveling by car with traffic, and this is not something that should surprise us. In 2015 alone, there were no less than 263.6 million registered vehicles in the US alone. Even more so, statistics show that in 2019, there are over 276 million vehicles that are operating on our roads. 

Vanderbilt is a mining ghost town located in Eureka County, in the western state of Nevada, in USA. The rough road to the town, also known as Geddes, is gravel and sandy. Visiting Vanderbilt today is a unique experience. One day the road can be ‘smooth and easy to drive’, the next, it can be full of washboards.

Wickiup Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.821m (9,255ft) above the sea level, located in Garfield County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

Mayflower Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.441m (11,289ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Jureano Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.546m (8,353 ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Idaho, USA.

Spanish Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.012m (9,881ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

Highland Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.862m (9,389ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, in southeast Nevada, USA.

Wooden Pole Powerline Road is a rough bumpy road located in the heart of Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

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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.