What are the most spectacular roads in Mexico?

In the vibrant heart of Latin America, where mariachi rhythms echo amidst ancient pyramids and sun-kissed beaches, the roads of Mexico unfold stories of legends, beauty, and heart-pounding adventures. Take a journey down the serpentine Carretera Federal 1, where the Pacific's relentless waves play a tantalizing duet with the silent whispers of the desert. Traverse the mesmerizing Espinazo del Diablo, aptly named the 'Devil's Backbone', for its spine-chilling twists and treacherous turns.

But for those yearning for an unparalleled driving escapade, Mexico 40D, also known as the Autopista Durango-Mazatlán, awaits. This engineering marvel, etched through the rugged terrains of the western Sierra Madre, boasts an intricate network of bridges and tunnels, each offering a unique window into Mexico's grandeur. And if the mountains call out to your wanderlust soul, the road to Sierra Negra, perched high in the clouds, provides breathtaking panoramas that are nothing short of poetic.

Yet, beyond the asphalt and the scenic detours, it's the spirit of Mexico that truly enchants. The warm smiles of its people, the allure of its street markets, and the haunting beauty of its landscapes make every kilometer a testament to the nation's rich tapestry of history and culture. So, fuel up, tune into some vibrant salsa beats, and let the captivating routes of Mexico lead you to memories that will last a lifetime.

Ruta Tepehuana (Camino a Huzamota) is a challenging road located in Durango, Mexico. It's windy, narrow, and potentially hazardous, yet it offers incredible views of the Sierra Madre mountains and canyon views ranging from 2,700 meters above sea level to the canyon's bottom at 500-0 meters. On either side of the road, spectacular views extend over 2 km high.

Cerro de la Cúpula is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,806m (9,206ft) above sea level, located in the Mexican state of Baja California.

Cumbres de Maltrata is part of the main highway linking Mexico City to the gulf. This section of the highway is extremely dangerous due its pronounced curves, steep grades and high traffic volume. It’s said to be the most dangerous highway in Mexico (with 4 accidents per day) according to CAPUFE.

Ubicado en la parte sur de América del Norte, México es un país de extremos. El país tiene 9.330 kilómetros de costas, pero está atravesado por dos sierras montañosas conocidas como Sierra Madre Oriental y Sierra Madre Occidental. México tiene un gran número de montañas combinadas con cañones profundos en el centro del país, vastos desiertos en el norte y densos bosques con abundantes lluvias en la zona sr y este.

Urique is a small town located at the bottom of Urique Canyon, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. The road to the town is a terrible steep, unsurfaced and rugged mountain road. The road will put both vehicle and driver through their paces.

Queretaro-León (Mexico 45) is a busy highway in Mexico which gets almost all traffic from northwest and north of Mexico and the US (except northeast Mexico).

Cuesta del Cajón (Chihuahua state route 11) is a beautiful scenic road running through pine forests and small rocky canyons, located in the state of Chihuahua, in Mexico.

Barranca de Beltrán roads (both Mexico 54D and Mexico 54, autopista Guadalajara-Manzanillo) link Guadalajara to the Pacific Ocean, mainly the cities like Colima and the resort city of Manzanillo.

Baja California Scenic Highway (Mexican Federal Highway 1D) is a very scenic scenic toll road located in the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California.

Bajada a Xichú is a scenic road in Guanajuato state in central Mexico. The road offers spectacular views of Sierra Madre Oriental mountains and canyons.

Autopista Mexico 40D and Mexico 40 were considered Mexico deadliest highways, until the new toll route opened to traffic in 2009. The original “libre” route had sharp curves and long steep grades, until it was improved around 2000’s. Currently “libre” highway is still dangerous, but the dead list was reduced due the traffic changes after the opening of the toll route.

Located in the northwestern Mexican state of Chihuahua, Cañon Peguis is a breathtaking geological feature where the Conchos River cuts 2000 feet through a mountain.

Refugio Piedra Grande is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 4.255m (13,959ft) above the sea level, located on the eastern end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, on the border between the states of Veracruz and Puebla.

Mexico 16 (Chihuahua-Hermosillo road) is one of the most scenic or boring roads at the same time in northern Mexico, because it has beautiful pine forest and desert sceneries in the same route and boring because it’s a too long road offering almost same views.

Mexico 199 is a high mountain road located in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The road is 227 km (141 miles) long.

Autopista Mexico-Tuxpan (Mexico 132D) is another great engineer achievement. This highway was under construction for over 30 years, due scandals of corruption, not enough funds and the challenge of the rugged mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Plan de Barrancas roads (Mexico 15 and Mexico 15D, autopista Guadalajara-Tepic) link Guadalajara to the Pacific Ocean, mainly the cities of Tepic and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta.

Camino Rivera del Pilón is a scenic road running along the Pilon river in Nuevo León state and Coahuila state, in Mexico.

Carretera a Puerto Cancún is a short gravel road located in the western coast of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.

Highway Mexico 150D is a windy 6 lanes highway that links Mexico City and Puebla with a length of 130 kilometers. It’s a mountainous highway topping out at 3.230m (10,597ft) above the sea level.

La Ventosa (English; for the windy) is a small town in Oaxaca state and nickname of Mexico highway 185 because of its high speed crossing winds in almost every time in the year. 

The Tuxtepec road is said to be Mexico’s most scenic road! It offers everything you can wish on a road trip: mountains, desert, pine forest, jungle, cactus, mountain lakes, lots of curves, scenic views, hairpinned curves, rivers, and canyons... Except polar or ice environment can be found here.

Bajada a Zirupa is a gravel mountain road, with a length of 29.5km, nestled in the mountains of the northwestern Mexican state of Chihuahua. 

La Lobera road is a dusty and bumpy track located in the west coast of the Mexican state of Baja California, driving to a magnificent sea lion crater. Known as La Lobera, the hole looks down into a sort of underground beach, which has now been populated by sea lions.

This is an uncategorized state route in Hidalgo and Querétaro offering great views of the mountains, the Zimapan reservoir and canyon walls.

Nestled deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region in southern Mexico, the road to Calakmul, a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, is 64km long.

Carretera Federal 307 is a very scenic jungle drive locate within the Montes Azules National Park, in the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico.

Located on the border between Mexico State and Mexico City, the road from Xalatlaco to El Ajusco is one of the most scenic drives of the country.

Located in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, the Nuevo Leon 20 runs along the San Isidro canyon.

Located in the State of Mexico, El Capulin is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.075m (10,088ft) above the sea level. The town is famous because its church.

Located southwest of Ciudad del Carmen, in the state of Campeche in Mexico, Puente El Zacatal is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. The bridge connects the Atasta peninsula and the Isla del Carmen.

Mesa del Nayar (Road from Ixcatán-Jesús María Mexico 44) departs at Jesús María (430 masl) and goes to the coast at Ruiz, Nayarit, but it has to go up to a mountain pass of 1.780 masl near Mesa del Nayar, offering spectacular views of the coastal mountains and some canyons.

Death Pass (Paso de la Muerte in Spanish) is a terrible high mountain road linking the small community of Coronado Castillo to the rest of the state of Tamaulipas. Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice.

Mexico City-Toluca (Mexico 15D or 134D) is a windy 6 lanes highway that links Mexico City and Toluca in a length of 45 km. It’s a mountainous highway with a maximum elevation of 3.170m (10,400ft) above the sea level.

Cofre de Perote is an extinct volcano at an elevation of 4.160m (13,648ft) above the sea level, located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Autopista del Sol (Mexico City-Acapulco, Mexico 95D) is a modern 4 lanes toll highway located in south of Mexico that communicates Mexico City with Acapulco.

Seguridad de la página de inicio

Drive Us to Your Road!

We have cataloged over 13,000 roads, but we're always looking for more. Have you traveled a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to submit your road story, and we'll feature it on dangerousroads.org!