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.

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.

Located in southwest Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Big Bend National Park is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the state. Scenic vistas, diverse wildlife, and historic siteswhere night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. This remote park features rugged mountains, steep canyons, amazing views, unparalleled night skies, and solitude in a high desert setting.

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.

Tennessee Pass is a high mountain pass with an elevation of 3,183m (10,442ft) located 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Eagle Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,281m (7,484ft) above sea level, located in Hudspeth County, in the US state of Texas. The climb is brutal, with an average gradient of 11.72%. It's one of the highest roads in Texas.

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.

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.

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.

Located in the Glacier National Park of Montana, United States, the Quarter Circle Bridge is a wood bridge where McDonald Creek merges with the Middle Fork Flathead River. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Calispell Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,090m (6,856ft) above sea level, located in Stevens County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest roads in Washington. 

Route 32 South is a very scenic yet defiant road located in Cocke County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. This drive is definitely not for beginners, as it features hundreds of turns that demand focus and skill.

Elliott Highway is a scenic drive located in the U.S. state of Alaska. The road, which includes both paved and gravel stretches, connects the community of Fox with Manley Hot Springs.

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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