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.

An awe-inspiring road to Mount Rose Summit in Nevada

Mount Rose Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,720m (8,923ft) above sea level, located in Washoe County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

The Ultimate Road Trip To Mount Bross in Colorado

Mount Bross is a high mountain peak located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. An old mining road on the way to the summit tops out at 4,071m (13,356ft) above sea level. It's one of the highest roads in the USA.

Scenic Byway 163 is where Forrest Gump stopped running

Scenic Byway 163 is a beautiful drive from the Arizona border through Monument Valley in the US state of Utah. It is a fascinating experience in itself.

Cottonwood Canyon Road in Utah: adventure and beauty, not for everyone

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a very scenic drive located in Kane County, in the US state of Utah. Do not attempt this trail if there is rain in the forecast or if it has recently rained.

Rim Drive is a scenic 33-mile road around Crater Lake in Oregon

Rim Drive is a very scenic drive loop located in Klamath County, in the US state of Oregon, which circumnavigates Crater Lake. It’s one of the highest roads in Oregon.

ND-46 W is the longest straight road in the US and Canada

Located in the US state of North Dakota, the paved ND-46 W is one of the longest straight roads in the world, with 194km (121mi) of straightness.

The closed road to Mount Ka'ala, the highest peak of Oahu

Mount Ka'ala is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,231m (4,038ft) above sea level, located in Honolulu County, in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The road to the summit is closed to private vehicles.

An awe-inspiring drive to Paulina Peak in Oregon

Paulina Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.434m (7,984ft) above sea level, located in Deschutes County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It’s one of the highest roads in Oregon.

Long Canyon Road is a challenging drive in Utah

Long Canyon Road is an epic adventure located in Grand County, in the US state of Utah, in the western part of the United States. The road is truly dangerous.

Why is Lombard Street in San Francisco so famous?

Lombard Street is located in San Francisco, in the US state of California. It's famous for having a steep, one-block section that consists of eight tight hairpin turns, making it one of the crookedest streets in the world.

Driving the truly epic Big Pine Death Valley Road

Big Pine Death Valley Road is a very exciting desert drive in the heart of Death Valley National Park, in the USA. It’s often signed as CLOSED by Inyo County after floods.

What are the highest roads in Utah?

Located in the Rocky Mountain Region of the western United States, Utah is a land defined by its dramatic and unique geological duality. It is a stunning territory of snow-covered peaks, vast arid deserts, and beautifully colored canyons. The state's vertical core is dominated by the majestic Wasatch Range, where elevations soar, contrasting sharply with the expansive high plateaus and arid basins.

Brazos Summit in New Mexico: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Brazos Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,209m (10,528ft) above sea level, located in northern Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico.

Driving the legendary Rubicon Trail in California is a lifetime experience

Rubicon Trail is one of the most famous jeep trails and off-road adventures in the western United States, crossing through El Dorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Lake Como is said to be Colorado's roughest road

Lake Como is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,586m (11,765ft) above sea level, located in Alamosa County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Is the Nada Tunnel in Kentucky haunted?

Located in Powell County, in the US state of Kentucky, Nada Tunnel is a harrowing one-lane tunnel on a two-way road. The tiny hole, with layers and layers of limestone outcroppings sitting above it, is reportedly haunted.

Elephant Hill Road is a thrilling off road experience in Utah

Located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Utah, Elephant Hill is said to be one of the most technical four-wheel-drive roads in Utah.

Hoosier Pass in Colorado: enjoy a drive among the clouds

Hoosier Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.518m (11,542ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. The small road with beautiful nature views is one of the steepest paved mountain passes in Colorado.

A rocky and rough road to Hermit Pass in Colorado

Hermit Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.986m (13,077ft) above sea level, located in Custer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It's one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Bald Mountain Pass is the highest paved road in Utah

Bald Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.272m (10,734ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s said to be the highest paved road in the state.

The beautiful and scenic road to Ohio Pass in Colorado

Ohio Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,072m (10,078ft) above sea level, located in Gunnison County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s a scenic drive that any 2WD vehicle can handle in the summer.

Mana Road is one of the oldest dirt roads on the Big Island

Located in the U.S. state of Hawai’i in the Pacific Ocean, the scenic Mana Road is one of the locals' best-kept secrets. This is a road that you don’t want to travel alone. Be warned, it's not for the faint of heart.

Crossing the historic Gandy Bridge in Florida

Located in the US state of Florida, Gandy Bridge is a famous 14,859 feet (4.529m) long bridge over the sea. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

The spectacular San Luis Pass Bridge in Texas

Located at the south-western end of Galveston Island off the shores of the U.S. state of Texas, the San Luis Pass Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

What's America’s most dangerous intersection?

According to comprehensive data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding fatal traffic accidents, the most hazardous intersection in the United States is located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The crossing of Knights Road and Street Road has become a case study in high-risk urban engineering, highlighting the lethal consequences of inadequate traffic flow management in densely populated corridors.

Carson Pass in California: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Carson Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,619m (8,592ft) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the US state of California.

Black Mountain is the highest road of Kentucky

Black Mountain is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,263m (4,145ft) above sea level, located in Harlan County, in the US state of Kentucky.

The 32 Best Death Valley Backcountry Roads

Straddling the border between California and Nevada, in the USA, the Death Valley National Park is the hottest, driest, and lowest National Park. In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes.

Inside North Fork Road is a scenic dirt road in Glacier NP

Inside North Fork Road is a very scenic drive located in Flathead County, in the U.S. state of Montana, near the Canadian border.

The Road to Dante's View Offers Death Valley's Best Views

Dante's View is a viewpoint at an elevation of 1.672m (5,485ft) above sea level, located in Inyo County, in the US state of California. It’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.

Horseshoe Meadow is one of the highest roads of California

Horseshoe Meadow is a sub-alpine meadow at an elevation of 3,070m (10,072ft) above sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.

Denali Highway in Alaska is one of America's top drives

Located in Alaska, the Denali Highway (Alaska Route 8) is one of the most scenic highways in the entire United States. Watch out for potholes and stretches of 'washboard' road if it's been raining.

Steens Mountain is one of the highest roads of Oregon

Steens Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,968m (9,737ft) above sea level, located in Harney County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It’s said to be the highest road of Oregon.

Bolam Pass in Colorado: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Bolam Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,487m (11,440ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. Although the lower portions of the road to the summit can accommodate cars, the upper portions should only be traveled by 4WD vehicles with high clearance.

Sitgreaves Pass in Arizona is a fabulous road if you are not scared of heights

Sitgreaves Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,096m (3,595ft) above sea level, located in Mohave County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. Very few guardrails give you no leeway for error.

Boy Scout Lane is one of the American Top Haunted Roads

Boy Scout Lane is a secluded street located in Portage County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. According to local legend, the street derives its name from a tragedy that occurred there several decades ago. It's one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.

Rim of the World is a Scenic Byway in Southern California

Rim of the World Scenic Byway is a very scenic drive running through some of the most beautiful areas of Southern California, in the USA.

A road trip to Lobdell Lake in California is truly epic

Lobdell Lake is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.827m (9,274ft) above sea level, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California. It's one of the highest roads in California.

What are the highest roads in New Mexico?

Located in the southwestern region of the United States, New Mexico is a land of dramatic altitude, rightfully classified as one of the Mountain States. Bisected by the Rio Grande, the state maintains a high approximate mean altitude of 5,700 feet. Its spectacular landscape is a tapestry of wide, rose-colored deserts, broken mesas, and towering, snow-capped peaks.

Driving the scenic Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin

Door County Coastal Byway is a very scenic drive with stunning views across the beautiful Door Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

Robertson Road is one of America's Creepiest Roads

Located in Bulloch County, in the U.S. state of Georgia, Robertson Road is said to be one of America's Creepiest Roads and one of the most haunted parts of the state. As the story goes, people have witnessed unexplainable lights on the road as well as large ghost dogs.

Brasstown Bald is the highest road in the US state of Georgia

Brasstown Bald is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,458m (4,784ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Georgia. On clear days in late September and October, it’s even possible to see the skyline of Atlanta.

Natchez Trace Parkway: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Natchez Trace Parkway is a very scenic drive running through three states in the southeastern United States. It may not strike you at first, but as you drive along the road, you'll be traveling down the approximation of a 10,000-year-old pathway steeped in history.

State Route 12 is A Journey Through Time in Utah

The stunning Utah Scenic Byway 12 is a road trip through time that connects Wayne County and Garfield County, in the US state of Utah.

Ebbetts Pass is a very steep narrow road in Sierra Nevada

Ebbetts Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.666m (8,746ft) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the US state of California. The pass is not plowed for snow. It is an idyllic drive for those who crave tight switchbacks, tiny hamlets, and multiple alpine vistas.