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.

Mayflower Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.441m (11,289ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Silver Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.004m (9,855ft) above the sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Wickiup Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.821m (9,255ft) above the sea level, located in Garfield County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

Trout Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.591m (11,781ft) above the sea level located in Mineral County, Colorado, In USA. 

Hilman Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.353m (11,000ft) above the sea level, located in Conejos County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Bull Park Trail (Forest Service Road 376A) is a very rough and bumpy road located in Teller County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Turkey Gulch Road is a challenging drive located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, in United States. The average gradient is 14,8%.

Summit Drive is a short mountain road located in Mono County in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, climbing up to 3.000m (9,842ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of California.

Spanish Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.012m (9,881ft) above the sea level, located in Nye County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

Pigeon Spring Road is a pretty steep gravel road located in Gila County, in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona.

Mount Ogden is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.915m (9,563ft) above the sea level, located in Weber County, in the U.S. state of Utah.

Sun Notch is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.176m (7,139ft) above the sea level, located in southern Oregon, USA.

Sunset Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.393m (7,851ft) above the sea level, located in Boise County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Mount Tom is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.751m (9,026ft) above the sea level, located in Fresno County, in the U.S. state of California.

Mount Patterson radio site is a cell site with solar at an elevation of 3.027m (9,931ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of California.

Thompson Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.366m (7,762ft) above the sea level, located in Plumas County, in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California.

Dead Man's Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.682m (8,799ft) above the sea level, located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, in USA.

Flat tyres are common on the road but can be a hassle to fix. If you continue driving on a flat tyre, you are putting yourself and those with you at great risk.

NF-1414 is a high mountain trail located in Stillwater County, in the U.S. state of Montana. Its highest elevation is 2.838m (9,311ft) above the sea level.

Ute Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.694m (8,838ft) above the sea level, located in Daggett County, in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Utah.

Barker Dam Road is a very scenic drive located in the Joshua Tree National Park, in Southern California, USA, leading to the Barker Dam, a water-storage reservoir constructed by ranchers in the early 1900's.

Barfoot Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.509m (8,231ft) above the sea level, located in Cochise County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona.

Located on the boundary of Garfield and Eagle counties in western Colorado, in USA, the 12.5-mile stretch of Interstate-70 through Glenwood Canyon is a marvel of engineering.

County Road 655 (Beaver Creek Road) is a high mountain road located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Wooden Pole Powerline Road is a rough bumpy road located in the heart of Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Highland Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.862m (9,389ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, in southeast Nevada, USA.

Black Lake is an alpine fishing lake at an elevation of 2.206m (7,237ft) above the sea level, located in Adams County, a rural county in the US state of Idaho.

Signal Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.744m (9,002ft) above the sea level, located in Grant County in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Blue Lakes is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.573m (11,722ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Tollhouse Road is the name of a challenging drive located in Fresno County, in the central portion of the U.S. state of California.

Mission Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.090m (6,856ft) above the sea level, located in Chelan County, in central Washington State, in USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Washington.

Daggett Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.239m (7,345ft) above the sea level, located in northwestern Douglas County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Vanderbilt is a mining ghost town located in Eureka County, in the western state of Nevada, in USA. The rough road to the town, also known as Geddes, is gravel and sandy. Visiting Vanderbilt today is a unique experience. One day the road can be ‘smooth and easy to drive’, the next, it can be full of washboards.

Forest Road 053 is a high mountain road located in Custer County in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Idaho.

Caballo Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.310m (7,578ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Morgan Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.757m (5,764ft) above the sea level located in Tehama County, in the northern part of the U.S. state of California.

Raft Lake is a high mountain sub-alpine lake at an elevation of 3.390m (11,122ft) above the sea level, located in Wayne County, in south-central Utah, in USA. Altitude and extreme weather is always a factor at any time of year. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.

Sheep Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.594m (8,510ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Idaho, USA.

Gospel Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.416m (7,926ft) above the sea level located in Idaho County, Idaho, in USA.

Bess Lake is a high mountain sub-alpine lake at an elevation of 3.381m (11,092ft) above the sea level, located in Wayne County, in south-central Utah, in USA. Altitude and extreme weather is always a factor at any time of year. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.

Telegraph Peak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.861m (9,386ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada.

Coyote Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.710m (5,610ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Peon Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.157m (10,357ft) above the sea level located in Saguache County, in Colorado, USA.

Dead Horse Point is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 1.814m (5,951ft) above the sea level, located in San Juan County,  in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah. The summit features a dramatic overlook of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park.

Last Chance Road (USFS Road 44-22) is a very demanding drive located. Placer County, California, in USA.

ID-64 is a short mountain road located in Lewis County, Idaho, United States. The road is 14.1 miles long.

Cerro Pelado is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.085m (10,121ft) above the sea level, located in Sandoval County, in northern New Mexico, USA. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.

Powder Mountain is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.517m (8,257ft) above the sea level, stretching between Weber and Cache counties in the U.S. state of Utah.

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