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.

Masket Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.105m (10,187ft) 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.

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. 

Summit Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.597m (11,801ft) above the sea level, located in the Rio Grande County, in Colorado, USA. There are a few water crossings along the way. 

California’s Central Valley holds a dark record in American transit. In 2019, State Route 99 (SR 99) was declared the most dangerous freeway in the United States. Running through Fresno County, this route combines heavy agricultural logistics, high speeds, and unique environmental hazards that challenge even the most seasoned drivers.

Bess Lake is a high mountain sub-alpine lake at an elevation of 3.381m (11,092ft) 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.

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

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

Meadow Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.045m (6,709ft) above the sea level, located in Flathead County, Montana, in USA.

Thompson Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,366m (7,762ft) above sea level, located in the northeastern part of California, USA. Situated within the Plumas National Forest, the summit offers an extensive view of the surrounding Sierra Nevada range and the high desert of the Great Basin.

Blue Jay Hill is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,182m (10,439ft) above sea level, located in Taos County, northern New Mexico. While it sits below the state's highest summits, it remains one of the highest roads in New Mexico, offering a challenging off-road experience within the Carson National Forest.

Pipestone Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.972m (6,469ft) above the sea level, located in Silver Bow County, in the U.S. state of Montana.

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.

Morgan Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.757m (5,764ft) above the sea level located in Tehama County, in the northern part of the U.S. state of California.

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.

Silcox Hut is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.114m (6,935ft) above the sea level, located in Clackamas County, in the US state of Oregon.

The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River generally from New Orleans to Minnesota. For long stretches, the road is a wonderful panoply of river, bluffs, and picturesque small towns. For other long stretches, the road is too far from the river for travelers to see the river and the towns are less than picturesque.

Success Summit is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.742m (8,996ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada. On the ascent up to the pass, the traveler goes through groves of aspen trees.

Squaw Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.698m (8,851ft) above the sea level, located in Placer County, California. Views from the summit are pretty spectacular.

Onyx Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.782m (9,127ft) above the sea level, located in the southwestern part of San Bernardino County, in the US state of California.

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.

Ute Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.694m (8,838ft) above the sea level, located in Daggett County, in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Utah.

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.

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.

Louisiana’s road network is a marvel of hydraulic engineering, traversing some of the most complex wetland ecosystems in North America. Beyond the urban grid of New Orleans, the state’s infrastructure relies on extensive causeways and elevated byways designed to withstand tropical storm surges and the shifting silt of the Mississippi Delta. Navigating these roads offers a study in maritime-terrestrial transition, requiring drivers to manage high-velocity crosswinds and the unique mechanical stress of high-humidity environments.

Telegraph Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,861m (9,386ft) above sea level, located in White Pine County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Isabel Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.005m (3,297ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Valdez–Cordova Census Area and Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska. It’s one of the highest roads in Alaska.

Off-roading is a pillar of American adventure, from the legendary slickrock of Moab, Utah, to the remote forest corridors of the Pacific Northwest. However, the transition from pavement to trail introduces a high-risk environment where vehicle physics and terrain assessment become critical. In 2020, the U.S. recorded over 200 off-road–related fatalities, emphasizing that preparation is the difference between a successful expedition and a mechanical or personal disaster.

Hilman Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.353m (11,000ft) above the sea level, located in Conejos County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Located in the Spring Mountains of Clark County, in Nevada, Potosi Mountain South is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.491m (8,172ft) above the sea level.

Sheep Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.594m (8,510ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Idaho, USA.

In the state of Florida, driving is classified as a privilege, not a right. To manage the safety of its vast highway network, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) utilizes a graduated point system to track moving violations. Accumulating points on your record does more than increase insurance premiums; it serves as a primary metric for license suspension and revocation, effectively removing high-risk operators from the road.

Uncle Bud's Hut is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.474m (11,397ft), located in Lake County, central Colorado, United States.

Located in Clark County, in the US state of Nevada, The Strip is the best-known street in all of Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. It is perhaps the most iconic and well-known street in the city, and indeed, one of the most famous streets in the world.

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.

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.

Transitioning from vehicular transit to on-foot exploration in the American wilderness involves a significant escalation in risk management. Many of the most dangerous roads in the U.S. serve as the only access points to high-altitude, technical trails where atmospheric volatility and topographical isolation are constant factors. For the expeditionary traveler, preparing for a challenging trek requires more than physical fitness; it demands a disciplined approach to gear redundancy, thermal management, and search-and-rescue (SAR) protocols.

Haystack Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.613m (8,572ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Idaho, USA.

Muddy Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.884m (9,461ft) above the sea level located in Albany County, in Wyoming, USA.

Castle Butte is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.032m (6,666ft) above the sea level, located in Idaho County, in the US state of Idaho.

Glacier Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.917m (12,851ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Summit and Jefferson counties, in the United States. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Wolverine Loop Road is an exciting drive with great views located in Garfield County, in the US state of Utah.

Dead Man's Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.682m (8,799ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, in USA.

Crown Point Road is the name of a very scenic high mountain drive located in Larimer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Josephus Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.150m (7,053ft) above the sea level, located in Custer County, in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho.

Located outside of the small coastal community of Yakutat, in the U.S. state of Alaska, Nine Mile Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

The market for used 4x4 vehicles and expedition platforms in the United States has seen a significant increase in demand. For owners of off-road trucks and SUVs, selling a vehicle is no longer just a transaction, but an evaluation of mechanical readiness for challenging environments. Whether your vehicle was built for the rock crawls of Moab or the frozen reaches of the Arctic, documenting its specialized upgrades and structural integrity is essential for achieving a professional-grade valuation in today’s high-demand landscape.

While most drivers on America’s roads focus on hazards like speeding or distracted driving, the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) suggests that up to 96% of accidents could be avoided by addressing less obvious factors. From the backroads of Maine to the highways of Ohio, some of the most dangerous threats are also the most surprising.

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