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.

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.

Mount Washington is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,493m (11,459ft) above sea level, located in White Pine County, in the US state of Nevada. The road becomes much more of an adventure. High clearance and four-wheel drive are required. It's one of the highest roads in Nevada.

Sheep Creek Road is a scenic drive located in western Bedford County, in the US state of Virginia.

Plum Brook Road Bridge is a closed bridge over the Muscoot Reservoir, located in northern Westchester County, in the US state of New York. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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.

Pelican Butte is a dormant shield volcano at an elevation of 2,450m (8,037 ft) above sea level, located in Klamath County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It’s one of the highest roads in Oregon.

Barker Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,372m (7,782ft) above sea level, located in Placer County, in the U.S. state of California. It is suitable for most stock 4WD vehicles.

Kelso Dunes is a majestic sand pile located in San Bernardino County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s said to be one of the largest dune fields in America.

Hogan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,736m (8,976ft) above sea level, located in Sevier County, in the U.S. state of Utah.

Barlow Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 718m (2,355ft) above sea level, located in Snohomish County, in the U.S. state of Washington.

State Route 99 (SR 99), which carves through California’s Central Valley, holds the somber distinction of being ranked as the most dangerous highway in the United States. Despite being shorter than the major Interstates, it leads the nation in fatal accidents per 100 miles. A combination of outdated structural design, insufficient lighting, and high-velocity commercial transit makes this 400-mile stretch a high-consequence environment for any driver.

Bill Williams Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,822 m (9,259 ft) above sea level, located in Coconino County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads in Arizona.

Clay Butte Lookout is a forest fire lookout at an elevation of 2,996m (9,829ft) above sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

Deadman Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,453m (8,047ft) above sea level, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California.

Ute Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,805 m (9,202 ft) above sea level, located in Teller County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Dinkey Creek Road is a very scenic drive located in Fresno County, in the U.S. state of California.

Leek Spring Hill is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,326m (7,631ft) above sea level, located in El Dorado County, in the U.S. state of California.

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.

South Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,499m (8,198ft) above sea level, located in Fremont County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

Wild Horse Road is a very scenic drive located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, in the US state of California. A 4WD vehicle is recommended. Its southern end is sandy and soft for two miles.

Warren Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,318m (10,885ft) above sea level, located in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado, Imperial Express SuperChair sits at an elevation of 3,652m (11,981ft) above sea level, just about 100 feet from the very top of Peak 8.

Brown Mountain is a mountain peak located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. A gravel road to the east of the summit climbs up to 3,939m (12,923ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Tucki Mine is an abandoned mine located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the most challenging Backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.

Located in Gunnison County, in the US state of Colorado, the Alpine Tunnel was once the highest railroad tunnel in the world, at an elevation of 3,559 meters (11,676 feet) above sea level.

West Side Road is a remote desert drive located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the challenging Backcountry Roads in Death Valley National Park.

Wilkerson Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,902m (9,520ft) above sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Located in Gila County, in the US state of Arizona, Phillips Mine Road is a short scenic drive into a seldom-seen part of Arizona mining history. High clearance is required, and 4WD is recommended but not necessary.

Tassajara Road is a mountain road located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, with one-lane corners and deep ruts in the road at various times of the year.

Birch Creek is a historic ranch located in Malheur County, in the US state of Oregon.

Lamoille Canyon Road is a very scenic mountain road located in Elko County, in the US state of Nevada.

Lassen Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,604m (8,543ft) above sea level, located in Shasta County, in the U.S. state of California.

Hawkins Peak is a volcanic peak at an elevation of 2,953 meters (9,688 feet) above sea level, located in Alpine County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.

Dagger Flat Auto Trail, also known as Dagger Flat Road, is a very scenic graded gravel road located in Big Bend National Park, in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas.

Located in Eugene, in the US state of Oregon, the Ferry Street Bridge opened in 1950. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Lydia’s Bridge is an abandoned railroad bridge located in Jamestown, Guilford County, North Carolina, in USA. Rumors of a vanishing hitchhiker have been reported on this road.

Mosquito Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4,165m (13,664ft) above sea level, located in Lake County, in the US state of Colorado. It's one of the highest roads in the USA.

Straddling Yavapai and Coconino counties, in the U.S. state of Arizona, Casner Mountain Trail No. 8 is one of the most scenic and rugged trails in Arizona. It’s designated as a motorized trail with very rugged conditions along a narrow ridge with limited opportunities for two-way traffic.

Located near Linville in North Carolina, USA, the Linn Cove Viaduct is a 1,243-foot (379 m) complex, S-shaped, undulating balcony across the side of Grandfather Mountain. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Square Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,435m (7,988ft) above sea level, located in Idaho County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Nantucket, situated 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, remains one of the few high-profile destinations in the U.S. without bridge or tunnel access. For the road explorer, reaching the island with a vehicle is a significant logistical and financial undertaking. While the island's roads are well-maintained, the "bottleneck" is the Nantucket Sound, which requires advanced maritime transport planning and a substantial budget for ferry transit.

Anniversary Mine Road is a very scenic drive located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It requires a carefully driven high-clearance vehicle, although 4WD would be safer.

Forest Highway 10 is a very scenic drive located in the U.S. state of Alaska, between the town of Yakutat and Harlequin Lake.

Born in Estonia and raised in California, Otto Mears emerged as a pivotal entrepreneur, leaving an indelible mark on the development of Southwestern Colorado. His legacy is defined by the construction of over 450 miles of toll roads and railroads, contributing significantly to the region's accessibility, settlement, and mining.

Cottonwood Canyon Road is an exciting desert drive located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. Be aware that it’s highly susceptible to washouts after precipitation events. It’s one of the challenging backcountry roads in Death Valley National Park.

La Salle Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,973m (9,753ft) above sea level, located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

The intersection of digital cartography and forensic investigation reached a turning point with the case of Davie Lee Niles. Missing since October 11, 2006, after leaving a local establishment in Byron Township, Michigan, Niles’ disappearance remained an unsolved cold case for nearly a decade. Ironically, the key evidence—a submerged vehicle—had been publicly accessible via satellite imagery for years before being identified by the human eye.

County Highway 730 is a high mountain road located in Grand County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

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