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.

TV Hill: Driving to the 10,291ft summit in Nevada's Wassuk Range

Reaching a staggering elevation of 3,137m (10,291ft) above sea level, TV Hill is a high mountain peak located in Mineral County, within the rugged wilderness of Nevada. As one of the highest roads in Nevada, this summit offers an extreme off-road experience for those looking to reach the heights of the Great Basin Desert.

How to drive the 4x4 road to Daniel’s Pass in Utah?

Daniel’s Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,129 m (10,265 ft) above sea level, located in Sevier County, in the U.S. state of Utah. Logistically, the pass is situated in the high-altitude plateau region of the Fishlake National Forest, a terrain characterized by volcanic soil and rapid weather shifts that can significantly alter road surface conditions within hours.

San Miguel Island: Military service tracks and UXO hazards

San Miguel Island, the westernmost of the Channel Islands in California, features a unique network of unpaved service tracks within a high-risk environment. Established during the U.S. Navy's tenure (1930s–1970s) when the island served as a bombing and gunnery range, these tracks were built for military logistics. Today, the island remains a high-security zone managed by the National Park Service, where the presence of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) makes driving and even walking a strictly regulated activity.

How to Get by Car to the Lookout at the Summit of Whitmore Mountain in Washington?

Whitmore Mountain is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,201m (3,940ft) above sea level, located in Okanogan County, in the U.S. state of Washington.

How to drive the paved CO-125 road to Willow Creek Pass in Colorado?

Willow Creek Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2951m (9683ft) above sea level, located of the Continental Divide in the US state of Colorado.

How to drive the unpaved NF-2150 road to Aldrich Mountain in Oregon?

Aldrich Mountain is a high-altitude peak reaching 2,127m (6,978ft) above sea level, located in Grant County, Oregon. Tucked away in the Malheur National Forest, the summit is home to an active fire lookout. Accessing the top requires driving the Forest Service Road 2150 (NF-2150), a remote and unpaved track that demands mechanical self-sufficiency and caution due to its isolation in the central Oregon wilderness.

How difficult is the 4x4 road to Tetilla Peak and Costilla Peak?

Tetilla Peak (3,283m / 10,771ft) and Costilla Peak are two high mountain summits located in Colfax County, New Mexico. Situated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near the Colorado border, the primitive road connecting these peaks is one of the highest roads of New Mexico.

How to drive the unpaved road to Desert Queen Mine in California?

Desert Queen Mine is an abandoned gold mine located in Riverside County, in the US state of California. You can still see some of the equipment on site, but all the mine entrances and stuff like that is fenced off.

How to drive high-mountain AZ-366 Road in Arizona?

Arizona State Route 366 (AZ-366) is a high-mountain winding road, with sharp curves and no guardrails, located in Graham County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It tops out at 2,936m (9,632ft) above sea level near Mount Graham.

How to drive the unpaved road to Pennellen Pass in Utah?

Pennellen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,411m (7,910ft) above sea level, located in eastern Garfield County, in the US state of Utah.

How to drive the unpaved road to Stanton Pass in Utah?

Stanton Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,253m (7,391ft) above sea level, located in eastern Garfield County, in the US state of Utah.

Dutchman Peak: Driving to the historic 1927 lookout in Oregon

At an elevation of 2,243m (7,358ft) above sea level, Dutchman Peak is a high mountain summit in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon. Located within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest near the California border, the peak is home to one of the oldest fire lookouts still in service in the United States.

Scenic but Demanding: Roads That Test Driver Focus and Precision

A mountain highway carves through a granite canyon, every curve revealing another postcard view. The problem is that each of those curves also demands total concentration, split-second steering corrections, and zero room for error.

How to drive the mine road to Gibbs Peak in Colorado?

Gibbs Peak is a high mountain peak located on the boundary between La Plata and Montezuma counties in southwestern Colorado. While the summit sits higher, a minor gravel road situated on its eastern side tops out at an elevation of 3,507m (11,505ft) above sea level. This rugged mine road within the San Juan National Forest is a demanding 4x4 transit that requires precise vehicle placement and high-altitude experience.

How to drive the steep Spirit Mountain Road to Cedar Mountain in Cody?

Cedar Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,405m (7,890ft) above sea level, located in Park County, in the US state of Wyoming.

Driving history: The abandoned 7:30 Mine Road in Colorado

The 7:30 Mine Trail is an abandoned mining road in the historic town of Silver Plume, in the US state of Colorado. Built in 1872 as a toll road, it climbed the steep slopes of Republican Mountain to reach the silver mines.

How to drive the Staircase Road in Washington?

Staircase Road, or Forest Service Road 24 (NF-24), is the only access to the southeastern corner of Olympic National Park in Washington.

How to drive the unpaved road to the lookout at Stonewall Mountain in Montana

Stonewall Mountain is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2.525m (8,284ft) above sea level, located in Lewis and Clark County, in the U.S. state of Montana.

How steep is the 4x4 road to Uncompahgre Butte?

Uncompahgre Butte is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,955m (9,694ft) above sea level, located in Mesa County, in the US state of Colorado. The summit is reached via a short but brutal 1.6 km spur that branches off the Divide Road on the Uncompahgre Plateau.

How to stay safe on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago

The Dan Ryan Expressway isn't just another highway. As one of the most heavily traveled urban stretches in the Midwest, it registers a disproportionate share of Chicago's 100,000+ annual traffic crashes. Treating this corridor as a routine commute rather than a high-risk system is a mistake.

How to drive the unpaved County Road 204 in Colorado?

County Road 204 is an unpaved mountain track located in La Plata County, within the southwestern sector of the U.S. state of Colorado. Climbing high into the San Juan Mountains, the rough dirt track reaches a maximum elevation of 3,253 meters (10,672 ft) above sea level at the summit of Monument Hill.

Can I drive to the lookout at the summit of Hershberger Mountain in Oregon?

Hershberger Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,853m (6,079ft) above sea level, located in Douglas County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.

How to drive the 31 hairpins of the abandoned road to Diorite Peak?

Diorite Peak is a high mountain peak located on the boundary of La Plata and Montezuma counties in southwestern Colorado. While the summit sits higher, a gravel road situated south of the peak tops out at an elevation of 3,583m (11,755ft) above sea level. This route, an abandoned wagon road within the San Juan National Forest, is one of the most technical and eroded tracks in the region.

How to drive the paved Battle Highway Scenic Highway to the historic Battle Pass in Wyoming

Battle Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,038 m (9,967 ft) above sea level, located in Carbon County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

How to drive the unpaved road to Indian Creek Point in Idaho?

Indian Creek Point is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,608m (8,556ft) above sea level located in Valley County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

How to drive the unpaved road to Thunder Mountain in California?

Thunder Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,613m (8,572ft) above sea level, located in San Bernardino County, in the US state of California. The road to the summit is a service road for the ski lifts.

How to drive the Forest Road 91B to Burned Mountain in New Mexico?

Burned Mountain is a high pass at an elevation of 3,048m (10,000ft) above sea level located in Rio Arriba County, in the US state of New Mexico. It is the highest roads of New Mexico.

How high is the unpaved road to Van Diest Peak in New Mexico?

Van Diest Peak is a high mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. While the peak reaches 3,731m, the unpaved track stops at an elevation of 3,396m (11,141ft) above sea level in Taos County. This high-altitude spur is one of the highest roads of New Mexico, though it remains behind private gates.

How to drive to Mount Union in Arizona?

Mount Union is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,431m (7,975ft) above sea level, located in Yavapai County, in the US state of Arizona.

How to drive the unpaved road to Cougar Peak in Oregon?

Cougar Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,415m (7,923ft) above sea level, located in Lake County, in the US state of Oregon.

How to drive the unpaved road to High Mountain in Utah?

High Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,030m (9,940ft) above sea level, located in Iron County, in the US state of Utah.

How to drive the unpaved road to Cat Peak in Utah

Cat Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.976m (9,763ft) above sea level, located in Utah County, in the U.S. state of Utah.

Driving the steep Forest Road 4717 to South Mountain in Utah

South Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,258m (10,688ft) above sea level, located in San Juan County, in the US state of Utah. It is one of the highest roads in Utah.

How to drive the unpaved road to Buena Vista Peak in Colorado?

Buena Vista Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,614m (8,575ft) above sea level located in Moffat County, in the US state Colorado.

How to drive the unpaved road to Treasure Hill in Nevada?

Treasure Hill is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,805m (9,202ft) above sea level located in White Pine County, in the US state of Nevada.

How to drive the unpaved road to Whites Flat in Utah?

Whites Flat is a high-altitude alpine meadow at an elevation of 2.611m (8,566ft) above sea level located in Garfield County, in the US state of Utah.

How to drive the 4x4 road to Duck Creek Point in Idaho?

Duck Creek Point is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2,515m (8,251ft) above sea level located in Lemhi County, in the US state of Idaho.

How to drive the 30 hairpin turns to Skalkaho Mountain in Montana

Skalkaho Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,580m (8,464ft) above sea level, located in Ravalli County, in the US state of Montana.

Driving the Forest Service Road 310 to Blue Nose

Blue Nose is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,641m (8,664ft) above sea level located on the border between Montana and Idaho.

How to drive the unpaved Sleeping Deer Road in Idaho?

Sleeping Deer Road is a very challenging 4x4 road located in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho. It’s one of the highest roads in Idaho.

How to drive the unpaved road to Old Baldy Mountain in Montana?

Old Baldy Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,499m (8,198ft) above sea level, located in Lewis and Clark County, in the U.S. state of Montana.

How Long Do You Have to Drive to Bar Island Before the Tide Covers the Track?

Bar Island Land Bridge (commonly known as The Bar) is a tidal gravel causeway in Bar Harbor, in the US state of Maine. Located within Acadia National Park, the natural land bridge emerges across Frenchman Bay during low tide to connect the town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island with Bar Island. It’s one of the periodically flooded roads around the world.