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.

Tennessee Pass is a high mountain pass with an elevation of 3,183m (10,442ft) located in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Deadman Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 996 m (3,267 ft) above sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the challenging Backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.

Leviathan Peak is a high mountain peak with an elevation of 2,732m (8,963ft) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the U.S. state of California. The views from the summit are impressively remote.

Minaret Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,824m (9,265ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of California. It's one of the highest roads in California.

Anyone who has ever driven in or through a big city knows that it can be an agonizingly slow and possibly confusing experience that has the potential to drive you to sell your car and cut up your driver's license. Well, when driving in Atlanta, this kind of experience is… exactly what you can expect. While no amount of tips are going to make driving through Atlanta an enjoyable, relaxing experience, hopefully, they can at least minimize the madness.

Aiken Mine Road is an old mining track located in the Mojave Desert of the U.S. state of California. 4x4 vehicles are recommended.

Ripple Creek Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,158 meters (10,360 feet) above sea level, located in Rio Blanco County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Sundance Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,914m (6,279ft) above sea level, located in Bonner County, in the U.S. state of Idaho. The summit is accessible by high-clearance 4x4 vehicles during the summer. It was the site of a devastating wildfire caused by lightning in August 1967, which claimed two lives.

Signal Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,355m (7,726ft) above sea level, located in Teton County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

Hardscrabble Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,261m (10,698ft) above sea level, located in Eagle County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Kenosha Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.054m (10,019ft) above the sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Billings Lake is a shallow lake at an elevation of 3.594m (11,791ft) above sea level, located in Chaffee County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. 

Located in West Texas, in the USA, the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is a wonderful journey through one of America's true hidden gems: Big Bend National Park, winding along the Rio Grande.

8 Mile Road is a very scenic sandy drive leading to Lake Mead, a big reservoir on the Colorado River, located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Sangre de Cristo Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.886m (9,468ft) above sea level, located in the US state of Colorado.

Mount Spokane is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,785m (5,856ft) above sea level, located in Spokane County, in the U.S. state of Washington.

Wheeler Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,717m (12,194ft) above sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado and a difficult 4×4 trail.

Mountain Waters Scenic Byway is a very scenic winding mountain road located in the US state of North Carolina, running through the forest and by rivers and lakes, two river gorges, hardwood forests and countryside vistas.

Santa Fe Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4,008m (13,149ft) above sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road to the summit may be intimidating for novice drivers. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Trinchera Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,860 m (12,664 ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Rainy Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.486m (4,875ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Chelan and Okanogan counties, in the U.S. state of Washington.  

Beckwourth Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,591m (5,221ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of California.

Fandango Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,164 ft) above sea level, located in Modoc County, in the U.S. state of California.

Red Mountain Number 3 is a high mountain peak with an elevation of 3,932m (12,900ft) above sea level, located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Virginia Cascade Drive is a highly scenic route in the heart of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The road provides access to the north side of the Virginia Cascades, a 60 ft (18 m) waterfall on the Gibbon River.

Seafoam Lake is a pair of high mountain lakes at an elevation of 2,474m (8,116ft) above sea level, located in Custer County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Located in Ventura County in the US state of California, Deer Creek Road is one of the Top Scenic Drives in Malibu. The road is very steep (up to 12%), and the heights may give you a sense of vertigo.

Bitter Springs Trail is a challenging route linking old mining roads and washes through the Muddy Mountains, located in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Yuba Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,050m (6,725ft) above sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California.

Raynolds Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,086m (6,844ft) above sea level, located on the Montana-Idaho border in the USA.

Nuiqsut is a small village located on the Colville River Delta, in North Slope Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska.

Mount Walker is a mountain peak at an elevation of 844m (2,769ft) above sea level, located in Jefferson County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The road to the summit is brutally steep, reaching a 25 percent gradient on some sections.

Kitt Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,082m (6,830ft) above sea level, located in Pima County, in the U.S. state of Arizona.

Steese Highway is a very scenic drive with unforgettable sights and natural wonders, located in the U.S. state of Alaska, running from Fairbanks to Circle.

Tip Top is an abandoned ghost town located in Yavapai County in the U.S. state of Arizona. The road to this quiet town requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle in good condition.

Taylor Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,899m (12,791ft) above sea level, located in Chaffee County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. This is truly a breathtaking trail and is one of the highest roads in Colorado.

The Canadian-American (CanAm) Highway is an international highway running south-north from Mexico to Canada through the United States.

Elk Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,558 m (11,673 ft) above sea level, located in San Miguel County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico. The drive offers some of the most unique and remote views in the area.

Big Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,267m (7,437ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Utah.

Glenn Springs Road is a scenic trail located in Brewster County, in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas. The road provides access to the small town of Glenn Springs, which was abandoned around 1920.

Panoramic Point Road is a delightful drive located in Fresno County, in the U.S. state of California.

Mowich Lake is a high mountain lake with clear, blue waters at an elevation of 1,530m (5,019ft) above sea level, located in Pierce County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s the largest and deepest lake in Mount Rainier National Park.

San Miguel Mountain is a peak at an elevation of 782 m (2,567 ft) above sea level, located in San Diego County, in the U.S. state of California.

Pacific Grade Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.463m (8,080ft) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the US state of California. The pass is not plowed for snow.

Kite Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,671m (12,043ft) above sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It's one of the highest roads in Colorado.

El Camino del Diablo ("The Devil's Highway") offers an exciting and historic journey through the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, running close to the Mexican border. This route is suited only for those well-experienced in backcountry travel.

Richmond Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,738m (12,265ft) above sea level, located in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

La Poudre Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,111m (10,206ft) above sea level, located in Larimer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

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