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.

Mount Ashland is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,284m (7,493ft) above sea level, located in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Nellie Creek Road (FSR#877) is a very gnarly drive located in Hinsdale County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. This is not a road for people inexperienced with 4wd roads.

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.

Hidden Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,344m (10,971 ft) above sea level, located in Salt Lake County, in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s one of the highest roads in Utah.

Salmo Mountain is a high mountain peak with an elevation of 2,083m (6,833ft) above sea level, located in Pend Oreille County in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest roads in Washington.

Scott Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,491m (8,172ft) above sea level, located in Boise County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Trail Canyon Road is a very exciting desert drive located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the challenging Backcountry roads in the Death Valley National Park.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recent analytics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate a critical surge in cyclist fatalities across the United States, with a 25% increase recorded between 2010 and 2018. California, despite its forward-thinking safety initiatives in cities like Davis, remains a high-risk zone. With an average of 139 cyclist fatalities annually, the state faces unique challenges where high-density urban transit intersects with vulnerable road users.

Located in Snohomish County, in the US state of Washington, Marine Drive and Fire Trail Road is said to be haunted. Legend has it that this road gets its name because the Ghost of Firetrail.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Located in Contra Costa County, in the U.S. state of California, the mysterious Empire Mine Road is said to be one of the most haunted roads in the area.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Buffalo Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,610m (8,562ft) above sea level, located in Apache County, in the US state of Arizona.

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.

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