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 old mining road to Mount Patterson in California
Mount Patterson is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,560m (11,679ft) above sea level, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.
Driving the scenic Cherohala Skyway through the mountains
Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, the Cherohala Skyway is one of the most scenic drives in the USA.
Mormon Emigrant Trail is a drive worth taking in California
Mormon Emigrant Trail is a very scenic journey in El Dorado County, in the US state of California. The road was originally named Iron Mountain Road.
Jones Pass in Colorado may be intimidating to novice drivers
Jones Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.804m (12,480ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road to the summit has a relatively good road surface given its high altitude. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
How to drive the Sedona's Red Rock Scenic Byway in Arizona
Red Rock Scenic Byway is one of the most scenic drives in the USA. It contains some of the most spectacular views that Arizona has to offer winding through Sedona's Red Rock Country, often called a “museum without walls”.
Pennock Pass is a great drive in Colorado
Pennock Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,793m (9,163ft) above sea level, located in Larimer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The trail can often be very dusty.
Hunter Mountain is a Most Tricky Scenic Drive in Death Valley NP
Hunter Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,185m (7,168ft) above sea level located in Inyo County, in the US state of California. It’s one of the challenging Backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.
Potosi Mountain is one of the gnarliest roads of Nevada
Potosi Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,580m (8,464ft) above sea level, located in Clark County, in the US state of Nevada.
The closed road to Devil’s Slide Trestles in Colorado
Devil’s Slide Trestles is a narrow-gauge unstable railroad located in Boulder County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It was built to allow the defunct Denver & Salt Lake Railroad to cross the Continental Divide via Rollins Pass.
Daniel’s Pass is a classic road trip in Utah
Daniels Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.439m (8,001ft) above the sea level, located in Wasatch County, in the U.S. state of Utah.
Driving the challenging Fish Rock Road in California
Fish Rock Road is a very scenic mountain road located in Mendocino County, on the North Coast of the U.S. state of California.
How to get by car to Badwater Basin, the lowest point of North America?
Badwater Basin is a salt pan at 86m (282ft) below sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. At this elevation it’s the lowest point in North America.
Antelope Canyon Road in Arizona is pure adventure
Located in the U.S. state of Arizona, Antelope Canyon Road is the access road to the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest. The road is actually a riverbed.
Eureka Summit is the highest point on the Glenn Highway
Eureka Summit is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.016m (3,332ft) above sea level, located in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. It’s one of the highest roads in Alaska.
Driving to the top of Mount Scott in Oklahoma
Mount Scott is a mountain peak at an elevation of 751m (2,464ft) above sea level, located in Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
Mirror Lake Highway: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Mirror Lake Highway is a very scenic mountain road running from Kamas (in Utah) to Evanston (in Wyoming). It’s a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
Granite Pass is a beautiful drive through the Bighorn Mountains
Granite Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.757m (9,045ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
Ruby Road is a beautiful drive with lots of historical sights in Arizona
Ruby Road is a very scenic drive straddling Santa Cruz and Pima counties in the US state of Arizona. The road got its name from a once-thriving mining camp on its route. A high-clearance vehicle is required.
A steep unpaved road to Mount Graham in Arizona
Mount Graham is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.192m (10,472ft) above sea level, located in Graham County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads of Arizona.
Kelbaker Road is a scenic drive across the Mojave Desert
Kelbaker Road is a very scenic drive across the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, in the U.S. state of California.
A remote paved road to Gore Pass in Colorado
Gore Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.909m (9,543ft) above sea level, located in Grand County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
How to get by car to Carson ghost town in Colorado?
Carson is a mining ghost town situated at an elevation of 3,531m (11,584ft) above sea level located in Hinsdale County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge: Driving the Hoover Dam Bypass
The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is a massive concrete-arch bridge that spans the Colorado River, linking the states of Nevada and Arizona in the USA. Known as the Hoover Dam Bypass, the bridge carries U.S. Route 93 at a height of 270 meters (880 feet) above the river bed. Since its opening in 2010, it has served as the primary logistical corridor for heavy commercial traffic between Las Vegas and Phoenix, bypassing the narrow and winding original road over the Hoover Dam.
Georgia Pass is a long bumpy ride in the Rocky Mountains
Georgia Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.535m (11,598ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado. The entire route is very suitable for stock sport utility vehicles unless snow covered. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
The historic Old Plank Road in California was built in 1915
The Old Plank Road, also known as the Imperial Plank Road, was an innovative transportation project constructed in the early 20th century in Imperial County, in the US state of California. Built in 1915, the road ran through the Algodones Dunes, a large sand dune field.
A drive to the top of Henness Pass in California
Henness Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,115m (6,938ft) above sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California. In its entirety, the trail is suitable for high-clearance vehicles.
Driving the challenging NM-567 road in New Mexico
New Mexico State Road 567 is a short scenic mountain road located in southwestern Taos County, in the US state of New Mexico.
Breathtaking scenery on the road to Lemhi Pass (Idaho-Montana)
Lemhi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.250m (7,381ft) above sea level, located on the border of Idaho and Montana, in the USA.
Crossing rivers on the scenic Halfmoon Road in Colorado
Halfmoon Road (FSR 110) is a challenging road located in Lake County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Many parts of the road cross rivers and water sections. In the spring, water crossings may be too deep to safely cross.
The scenic yet remote Kimsey Mountain Highway in Tennessee
Kimsey Mountain Highway is a scenic drive through a truly remote region of wilderness, located in Polk County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee.
The road to Montgomery Pass in Nevada: the world’s highest casino
Montgomery Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.185m (7,167ft) above sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
The Chicken Corners Trail in Moab is a breathtaking road along the Colorado River
Chicken Corners Trail is a very scenic drive located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Utah. The road follows the Colorado River downstream.
A winding narrow road through Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina
Located in the US state of North Carolina, Cataloochee Valley is nestled among some of the most rugged mountains within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Driving the scenic Six Mile Cove Road to Lake Mohave
Six Mile Cove Road is a short badly wash-boarded road located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
Unraveling the Secrets of Kern Canyon Road in California
Kern Canyon Road is a very scenic but dangerous journey located in Kern County, in the U.S. state of California. If you enjoy twists and turns, this is a great option.
Teton Park Road is one of the most sensational drives of Wyoming
Teton Park Road is a very scenic drive in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, in the US state of Wyoming, running along the base of the Teton Range. This road has many scenic pull offs.
A beautiful road with lots of historical sights to Hancock Pass in Colorado
Hancock Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.702m (12,145ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado. This driving route is not only incredibly scenic but also chock-full of mining history. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Sawyers Bar Road: 12 miles of snake track using 1st gear in California
Sawyers Bar Road is a stunning drive in the Klamath National Forest, in the US state of California. The drive features a 3,713ft drop in 12 miles of snake track, using 1st gear. Brakes are just not suitable for that long of an incline. One of the best rides in California, without a doubt.
Hurrah Pass in Moab: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Hurrah Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.461m (4,793ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Utah. At times the road to the pass is very thin and very close to the edge of far drops.
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic drive in Escalante National Monument
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic dirt road located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s suitable for passenger cars in good weather but a 4WD vehicle is required the last miles.
A pleasant gravel road in summers to Old Monarch Pass in Colorado
Old Monarch Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.473m (11,394ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado.
17 brutal switchbacks in the Green River Cove Road of North Carolina
Green River Cove Road is a classic drive for the experienced motorcyclist located in Polk County, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The road hits a stunning 22% through some of its 17 sharp hairpin turns.
Hatcher Pass is an awe-inspiring road through remote areas of Alaska
Hatcher Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.148m (3,886ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Alaska. It’s one of the highest roads in Alaska.
What is the story of the haunted Avon Bridge in Indiana?
Avon Bridge is a triple-arch railroad trestle spanning a rural road located in Avon, Hendricks County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. Legend has it that if you wander near the old bridge at night, you may hear the screams and moans of the ghost of Avon's Haunted Bridge. Additionally, on hot summer days, you can see the ghost's tears on the concrete of the bridge.
A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Gunsight Pass in Colorado
Gunsight Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.692m (12,112ft) above sea level, located in Gunnison County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. This high alpine road is brutal and going through some severe erosion so use caution. It's one of the highest roads of Colorado.
What is the maximum grade on Colorado mountain passes?
Buckle up and brace yourself, for we're about to embark on a roller-coaster journey through Colorado's towering titans. From the whispering pines to the snow-capped peaks, Colorado is not just a state; it's a state of mind for thrill-seekers.
Enjoy a road among the clouds to Cameron Pass in Colorado
Cameron Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.137m (10,291ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado.
San Diego-Coronado Bridge: An Engineering Marvel with a Complex History
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge is more than just a functional link between San Diego and Coronado, California; it is a world-renowned architectural landmark. Spanning 2.1 miles (3.4 km) over the San Diego Bay, this blue-hued concrete and steel structure is famous for its dramatic 90-degree curve and its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the city skyline. It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.