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.

Requa Road (Patrick J Murphy Memorial Road) is a steep coastal drive in Del Norte County, California, in USA. The road is a little bumpy but definitely worth the journey.

Camel Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.877m (9,438ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada.

Battle Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.503m (11,492ft) above the sea level, located in Eagle County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Cone Peak is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.261m (4,137ft) above the sea level, located in Monterey County, on the Big Sur coast of California, USA.

Red Rock Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.485m (8,152ft) above the sea level, located in Lemhi County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Buffalo Gulch Road is a very narrow drive in Mariposa County, in the U.S. state of California. The road is very narrow and pretty dangerous.

White Pine Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.116m (10,223ft) above the sea level, located in Millard County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

Olson Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.578m (8,458ft) above the sea level, located in Deer Lodge 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.

Charnock pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.556m (8,385ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

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.

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.

Eiseman Hut is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.424m (11,233ft), located in Eagle County, Colorado, United States.

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.

Hunt Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.062m (10,045ft) above the sea level, located in Big Horn County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

Road accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. Statistics show that more than 38,000 people die every year from fatal road accidents across the country.

Cronin Peak is a high mountain peak located in Chaffee County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. An old mining trail west of the summit tops out at 3.914m (12,841ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Located in Kern County, in the U.S. state of California, Old Kern Canyon Road is a very challenging drive.

The historic Lolo Motorway is the name of a very scenic drive travelling through central Idaho, in the United States.

Driving a car can be a dangerous thing, especially when you're driving around trucks. While truck drivers aren't usually trying to harm anyone or cause accidents, they are much larger and harder to maneuver than other types of vehicles. If you know how to stay safe while driving around trucks, however, then neither vehicle is likely to be at fault in an accident.

Scott Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.014m (9,888ft) above the sea level, located in Salt Lake County, Utah, USA. It’s a gravel road with some steep drop-offs.

Located in southern Madison County, Arkansas, in United States, Mill Creek Trail is a challenging trail, leading the rider through remote forest areas of the Ozark National Forest.

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.

Oso Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.660m (8,727ft) above the sea level, located in Cibola County, New Mexico, in USA. The road to the summit is not maintained.

Broken Hand Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.483m (11,427ft) above the sea level, located in Saguache County, Colorado, United States.

Bodie Bluff is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.747m (9,012ft) above the sea level, located situated high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Mono County, California, United States.

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.

Herd Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.141m (7,024ft) above the sea level, located in Siskiyou County, California, in USA.

Indian Head is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.039m (9,970ft) above the sea level, located in Utah County, in the U.S. state of Utah.

Mustang Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.097m (10,160ft) above the sea level, located in Esmeralda County, in Nevada, USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Nevada.

Sawyer Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.228m (7,309ft) above the sea level located in Idaho County, Idaho, in USA.

Gallinas Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.635m (8,645ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States.

Calico Peak is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.385m (4,543ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. 4x4 and high clearance is a must. Never attempt alone. You cannot turn around and go back in the most difficult spots.

Oscura Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.630m (8,628ft) above the sea level, located in Socorro County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Pajarita Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.438m (7,998 ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Snow Summit is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.498m (8,195ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, in Southern California, United States.

Located in San Francisco, in the US state of California, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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.

Those looking for a diverse road trip should look no further than the United States, which offers a variety of terrains, stunning scenery, and unique roadside attractions that will ensure you have an unforgettable journey.

Forest Road 040 is a gravel road located in Sevier County, in the central section of the U.S. state of Utah. It’s a high mountain road climbing up to 3.172m (10,406ft) above the sea level. 

Devils Head is a lava dome at an elevation of 2.786m (9,140ft) 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.

West Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.314m (10,872ft) above the sea level, located in San Juan County, Utah, in United States. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.

Guthrie Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located in Greenlee County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona.

Looking to sell your old 4x4 truck or SUV? You have a great opportunity to make a kill. According to a report by This Is Money, used car prices have soared by 30%, mainly because of a shortage of semiconductor chips used to manufacture new vehicles.

Trail Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.210m (10,531ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Utah.

Potosi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.905m (6,250ft) above the sea level, located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Crystal Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1,854 m (6,082 ft) above sea level, located in Fergus County, in the US state of Montana.

Cinnamon Butte is a basaltic scoria cone at an elevation of 1.958m (6,423ft) above the sea level, located in Douglas County, Oregon, in USA.

Aurora Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.664m (8,740ft) above the sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

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.