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.

Castle Creek Road (County Road 15) is a very scenic drive while seeing beautiful aspen trees in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Eagle Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,602m (11,817ft) above sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Wind River Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,790m (9,150ft) above sea level, located in Larimer County in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Grapevine Hills Road is an improved dirt road located in Brewster County, in the U.S. state of Texas. Some areas can be very rough, and you’ll need to be cautious.

Battle Ax Road is a primitive dirt road located in Pinal County, in the US state of Arizona. It leads to the White Canyon Wilderness area.

Middle Fork Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,767m (9,078ft) above sea level, located in Lemhi County, in the US state of Idaho. It's one of the highest roads in Idaho.

La Mosca is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,364m (11,036 ft) above sea level, located in Cibola County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico.

Located in Mariposa County, in the U.S. state of California, Mariposa Grove Road is a scenic drive leading to Mariposa Grove, the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and home to more than 500 giant sequoia trees.

Fix It Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,899m (6,230ft) above sea level, located in Emery County, in the U.S. state of Utah. The trail has recently become rougher than it was in the past.

Located in San Bernardino County, California, the road from Goffs to Ivanpah offers a scenic drive through the breathtaking high desert landscape.

Cal-Barrel Road is a very narrow, unpaved road located in Humboldt County in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the Redwood National and State Parks.

The historic Costilla Crossing Bridge spanning the Rio Grande is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. It’s a thacher type truss bridge located in a remote area between Conejos and Costilla counties, in southern Colorado, in the USA.

Virginia Lakes is the name given to eight pristine alpine lakes in Mono County in the U.S. state of California. A road leads to three of them: Trumbull, Little Virginia, and Big Virginia. Topping out at 2,993m (9,819ft) above sea level, it's one of the highest roads in California.

Bridger Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,355m (11,007ft) above sea level, located in Carbon County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It’s one of the highest roads in Wyoming.

Furnace Creek Road is a very exciting desert drive located in Inyo County, in the US state of California. A high-clearance vehicle is required. Due to frequent flooding in the area, road conditions often vary. It’s one of the challenging backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.

Rim Butte OHV Jeep Trail is a very difficult trail with some awesome scenic views, located in Deschutes County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Bursum Road is a stunningly scenic drive located in Catron County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Narrow and winding, this road is a single-lane route with occasional turnouts.

Monte Cristo Road is a short mountain trail located in eastern Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The road was washed out several years ago due to the South Fork Sauk River.

Mosca Pass is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,007 m (9,865 ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Located at the eastern end of Southern California, in the USA, the Joshua Tree National Park is immense, nearly 800,000 acres, and infinitely variable. Two desert systems, the Mojave and the Colorado, divide the park into two arid ecosystems. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land with strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. For your own safety and for the protection of the natural features of the park please stay on established roads. 

Green Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,407m (11,177ft) above sea level, located in Colfax County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The road to the summit is an old logging road and is not well maintained. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico.

Stunner Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,222m (10,570 ft) above sea level, located in Conejos County in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Potato Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,060m (10,039ft) above sea level, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.

Colorado Mines Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,812m (12,506ft) above sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The drive offers amazing views in nearly every direction. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Mineral Creek Road is a very challenging drive located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. This is a 4WD road. It’s the quickest way to get to Engineer Pass from Ouray, although not the easiest.

Motor vehicles are America’s lifeblood, and the roads and highways are the vessels. With over 160,000 miles of highway alone crisscrossing the country, it’s safe to say that we are a nation of drivers. And when it comes to individual states, Florida relies on cars, trucks, and other vehicles more than most. In fact, the state has more registered vehicles than most states, trailing only California and Texas.

Mitchell Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,277m (4,189ft) above sea level, located in Scotts Bluff County, in the U.S. state of Nebraska.

Mount Sherman is a high mountain peak located on the boundary between Park and Lake counties, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Located in the US state of Texas, the Chisos Basin Road is a very scenic drive, featuring sharp curves and switchbacks, through one of America's true hidden gems: Big Bend National Park.

Cayuse Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,425 m (4,675 ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Washington.

Bull Creek Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,206m (10,518ft) above sea level, located in Garfield County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest roads in Utah.

Saddlebag Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,091m (10,141ft) above sea level, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California and is said to be the highest drive-to lake in the region.

Located in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska, the Lakina River Bridge is a significant crossing in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It was one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Libby Flats Observation Area is an observation tower at an elevation of 3,313m (10,869ft) above sea level, located in Albany County, in the US state of Wyoming. It's one of the highest roads of Wyoming.

Upper Summers Meadow is a high mountain meadow at an elevation of 3,110m (10,203 ft) above sea level, located in Mono County in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.

Glorieta Baldy is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,096m (10,157ft) above sea level, located in Santa Fe County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico.

Lemoigne Canyon Road is an exciting, extremely slow, rocky drive located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. The road features numerous washouts and is often very rocky. It’s one of the most challenging backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.

Mount Marston is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,238m (7,342ft) above sea level, located in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of Montana.

Cyclone Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,212m (10,538ft) above sea level, located in Fremont County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It's one of the highest roads in Wyoming.

Blowout Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,590 m (11,779 ft) above sea level, located in Rio Grande County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road to the summit is brutally steep, hitting about 12% in gradient.

Prospect Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,829m (12,562ft) above sea level, located in Lake County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Old Red River Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,021m (9,911ft) above sea level, located in Taos County, in the US state of New Mexico.

Taos Ski Valley is a village and ski resort at an elevation of 2,878 meters (9,442 feet) above sea level, located in Taos County, in the US state of New Mexico.

Blackhall Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,345m (10,974ft) above sea level, located in Carbon County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It’s one of the highest roads in Wyoming.

Picuris Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,280m (10,761ft) above sea level, located in Taos County, in the US state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads in New Mexico.

New statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) paint a grim picture for cyclist safety in the USA. From 2010 till 2018, total cyclist fatalities jumped 25 percent across the nation.

Bruin Point is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,107m (10,193ft) above sea level, located in Carbon County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s a must-drive for those aiming to reach Utah’s top 100 most prominent peaks.

Pucker Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,783m (5,849ft) above sea level, located in Grand County, in the US state of Utah. The road to the summit is truly dangerous. High-clearance 4WDs are recommended, though any high-clearance vehicle can manage the drive.

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