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.

Groundhog Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.379m (11,085ft) above the sea level, located in Dolores County, in Colorado, USA.

Twin Lakes are a couple of sub-alpine lakes at an elevation of 3.402m (11,161ft) 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.

Ramcharger Lift is a lift at an elevation of 2.652m (8,700ft) above the sea level, located in Madison County, in the Rocky Mountains of southern Montana, in USA.

The Knoll is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.902m (6,240ft) above the sea level, located in Grand County, on the east central edge of Utah, United States.

All adventurous parks are full of enjoyment and relaxation containing obstacle courses, rope climbing exercises, climbing walls, and ziplines. Mainly situated close to significant tourist destinations in amusement parks, club, and resorts, etc.

Treasure Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.805m (9,202ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada.

Lewis Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.837m (9,307ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Morgan and Summit counties, in northern Utah, United States.

Anderson Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.455m (8,054ft) above the sea level, located in Lemhi County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Forest Road 140 is a scenic drive through the high mountains of Garfield County, in south central Utah, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.

Cottonwood Road (Forest Road 125) is a high mountain road in Garfield County, in south central Utah, in USA, running entirely above 2.500m above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads in Utah.

Robinson Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.317m (7,601ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada.

Richland Balsam is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.845m (6,053 feet) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Haywood and Jackson counties in the far southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Are you bored of spending most of your days stuck indoors this year? Well, despite the frigid chill and the symbolism of death in nature, winter is a beautiful time to get out of the house. Use the holiday break to travel and explore new horizons. Below is a list of places and activities that are sure to make this year’s holiday and winter season worthwhile.

Indian Creek Point is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.608m (8,556ft) above the sea level located in the Salmon River Mountains, in Idaho, USA.

Gold Strike Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 734m (2,408ft) above the sea level, located in Clark County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Spodue Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.959m (6,427ft) above the sea level, located in Klamath County, Oregon, in USA.

Located in Clark County, in the US state of Nevada, The Strip is the best-known street in all of Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. It is perhaps the most iconic and well-known street in the city, and indeed, one of the most famous streets in the world.

USFS 503 is the name of a defiant short mountain road located in Mineral County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Tyres are the first point of your car's contact with the road. Therefore, replacing your tires every 5-10 years is essential because tread levels in your tires decrease with usage.

Sand Point is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.506m (8,221ft) above the sea level located in Judith Basin County, in Montana, USA.

La Plata Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.104m (10,183ft) above the sea level, located in Lake County, Colorado, in USA.

If the late summer sunshine is calling your name, you aren’t alone! Many are taking advantage of the remaining warm weather to hit the road, but unfortunately summer is also the time when collisions are more common, especially those involving two-wheel vehicles.

Utah Forest Road 17 (FH-17) is a very scenic fairly wide drive through the high mountains of Garfield County, in south central Utah, United States.

Lava Point Overlook is a vantage point at an elevation of 2.386m (7,828ft) above the sea level, located in Washington County, in the US state of Utah.

Antelope Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.343m (7,687ft) above the sea level, located in Lassen County, in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of California.

Bent Peak is a high mountain peak located in Hinsdale County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. A minor gravel road south of the peak climbs up to 3.953m (12,969ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

All over the country, locals talk about the danger of infamous roads in their areas. In actuality, many of the roads that we consider dangerous, such as the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, the Moki Dugway in Utah, the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee and North Carolina, and Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, are not the most dangerous of our roads.

Sol Duc Road is a very scenic drive with stunning views located in Clallam County, in the U.S. state of Washington, leading to Sol Duc Falls.

From California all the way to New York, the USA is known for having a wide array of haunted roads: miles-long stretches of road, short alleyways, and interstate highways.

The best hunting is when you step outside of your comfort zone and head to somewhere entirely new. Loading up your vehicle and heading off to a hunting location that you're not familiar with can make you feel like a fresh-faced beginner all over again.

Mills Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.232m (7,322ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, California, in USA.

Located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest, the Olympic National Park is a must see.

Taylor Peak is a high mountain peak located on the boundary between Pitkin and Gunnison counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. A minor road, north of the summit, climbs up to 3.602m (11,817ft) above the sea level, It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Green Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.204m (7,230ft) above the sea level, located in Idaho County, Idaho, in USA.

Parents know that it is a dream of most children to have their own cars. Those who can afford it would even give cars to their children when they reach a certain age. Yet, parents cannot help but wonder if it would be safe for teenagers to drive on their own.

FR514 is a high mountain road located in Piute County, in south-central Utah, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah.

Distracted driving laws in Arizona ban all cell phone use for drivers, unless it is hands-free. This means that neither texting and driving, nor hand-held cell phone use is permitted while operating a vehicle. The law applies to drivers of all ages, but it was originally passed for novice drivers, as they are the least experienced on the road and the most vulnerable to accidents.

Breckenridge Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.291m (7,516ft) above the sea level, located in Kern County, California, in USA.

In 2020, 5,579 motorcyclists lost their lives in crashes in the U.S. Well, that was an 11% increase from what was recorded in 2019. Furthermore, around 89,000 motorcycle accidents happen every year in the U.S.

Meadow Creek is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.699m (8,854ft) above the sea level, located in Valley County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Iron Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.892m (9,488ft) above the sea level, located in Inyo County, California, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

Cox Knoll is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.132m (10,275ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in central Utah, USA. 

Lewis Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.573m (11,722ft) above the sea level, located in La Plata County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Salsberry Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.006m (3,300ft) above the sea level, located in Inyo County, in the eastern central part of the U.S. state of California.

Colorado State Highway 103 is a high mountain road located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Join us as we explore the story of this scenic road.

Graham Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.701m (8,861ft) above the sea level, located in Cassia County in south central Idaho.

Forest Road 121 (Lakeshore Drive) is a very scenic journey in the heart of Mesa County, Colorado, United States.

North Fork Clear Creek Trail (Forest Road 390A) is a very scenic journey located in the heart of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.