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.
Willow Mountain
Willow Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.503m (8,211ft) above the sea level, located in Ravalli County, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. Elk, mule deer, badgers, coyotes, and black bears can be seen along the trail.
Mount Hough
Mount Hough is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.204m (7,230ft) above the sea level, located in Plumas County, in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California.
Ruby Peak
Ruby Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.738m (12,263ft) above the sea level, located in the Ruby Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America, in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Mentasta Pass, a paved road in Alaska
Mentasta Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 739m (2,424ft) above the sea level, located in Alaska, in United States.
Table Rock Mountain
Table Rock Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.908m (6,259ft) above the sea level, located in Columbia County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.
Larkspur Mountain
Larkspur Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.430m (11,253ft) above the sea level, located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, in USA.
Mountain Baldy
Mountain Baldy is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Lemhi County, Idaho, in USA. It's one of the highest roads in Idaho.
A wild unpaved road to Point Six in Montana
Point Six is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.421m (7,942ft) above sea level located in Missoula County, in the US state of Montana.
The paved road to Willow Creek Summit in ID
Willow Creek Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.183m (7,161ft) above the sea level located in the Custer County of central Idaho, in the United States.
Old Durow Road Bridge
Located in Iowa, United States, the Old Durow Road Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Patricks Knob
Patricks Knob is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level located in Sanders County, in Montana, USA.
A memorable road trip to McKays Peak in AZ
McKays Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level, located in Navajo County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest roads of Arizona.
Revenue Mountain
Revenue Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.725m (12,221ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Big Lake
Big Lake is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.870m (9,415ft) above the sea level, located in Apache County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
Blackhead Peak
Blackhead Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.301m (10,830ft) above the sea level, located in Archuleta County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Bartlett Mountain
Bartlett Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.016m (13,175ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Sheep Mountain
Sheep Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.912m (9,553ft) above the sea level, located in Johnson County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
Butch Cassidy Pass
Butch Cassidy Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.217m (3,992ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in southern Nevada, USA.
Cerro del Oso
Cerro del Oso is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.261m (10,698ft) above the sea level, located in Taos County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of New Mexico.
Road trip guide: Conquering Burned Mountain
Burned Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.048m (10,000 ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.
Woodchuck Pass
Woodchuck Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.937m (9,636ft) above the sea level, located in Sheridan County, Wyoming, in USA.
Arta Lake
Arta Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.139m (10,298ft) above the sea level, located in Wasatch County, in the U.S. state of Utah.
Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.129m (10,267ft) above the sea level, located in Elko County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
The Wild Road to Almagre Mountain
Almagre Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.774m (12,381ft) above the sea level, located in Teller County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Relay Peak
Relay Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.102m (10,177ft) above the sea level, located in Washoe County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
A paved road to Campbell Pass in NM
Campbell Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.219m (7,280ft) above the sea level, located in McKinley County, in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.847m (9,339ft) above the sea level, located in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California. It's one of the highest roads of California.
Utah State Route 44
UT-44 is a very scenic winding mountain road located in northern Utah, in USA.
Kaibab Plateau
Kaibab Plateau is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.817m (9,200ft) above the sea level, located in Coconino County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Arizona.
Calamity Pass
Calamity Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.956m (9,698ft) above sea level located in Jackson County, in the US state of Colorado.
Spooner Summit
Spooner Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.178m (7,146ft) above the sea level, located in the Carson Range of Douglas County, Nevada, in USA.
A marvelous scenic back country road to Zenobia Peak in CO
Zenobia Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.745m (9,006ft) above the sea level, located in Moffatt County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Estes Mountain
Estes Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.900m (9,514ft) above the sea level, located in central Custer County, Idaho, in USA. It's one of the highest roads in Idaho.
South Summit Ridge
South Summit Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.483m (11,427ft) above the sea level, located in Garfield County, Utah, United States. It's one of the highest mountains roads of Utah.
Alaska’s Highest Highway Passes
Located on the northwestern portion of the North American continent, Alaska is a state in the Western United States. It’s bordered only by Canada on the east and surrounded by oceans on three sides: Arctic Ocean to the North, Bering Sea to the West, and the Pacific Ocean to the South. It’s an extraordinarily beautiful place and with wide open spaces. It deserves its reputation for being cold. Much of the state is covered in a layer of permafrost—permanently frozen soil.
New Castle-Buford Road, a scenic mountain drive in Colorado
New Castle-Buford Road is a very scenic mountain drive located on the boundary of Rio Blanco and Garfield counties in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Lake Isabelle
Lake Isabelle is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.619m (11,873ft) above the sea level, located in Lake County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Sullivan Mountain
Sullivan Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.977m (6,486ft) above the sea level, located in Pend Oreille County, in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Washington, along the Canada–US border. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Washington.
A mining road to the ghost town of Belfort in California
Belfort is an old mining village located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, near the Nevada border. It’s one of the highest roads of California.
Corey Peak
Corey Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.201m (10,501ft) above the sea level, located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.
The unpaved road to Mount Mamma
Mount Mamma is a high mountain peak located in Chaffee County, Colorado, USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Drews Gap is a drive worth taking in OR
Drews Gap is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,306ft) above the sea level, located in Lake County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Heart Lake
Heart Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.653m (11,984ft) above the sea level, located in Hinsdale County, Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Sliderock Mountain
Sliderock Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.386m (7,828ft) above the sea level, located in Granite County, in the U.S. state of Montana.
Petes Hole Reservoir
Petes Hole Reservoir is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.718m (8,917ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in central Utah, USA.
Jones Mountain
Jones Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.866m (12,683ft) above the sea level, located in Chaffee County of south-central Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Carnero Pass
Carnero Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.100m (10,171ft) above the sea level located in the Saguache County, in Colorado, USA.
I-15 in Nevada, a bigger risk than casinos in Las Vegas
The I-15 or Interstate 15 is a paved highway located in the U.S. state of Nevada. It is the main route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.