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.

Butler Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.570m (8,431ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. A vehicle with decent ground clearance and good tires shouldn’t have an issue.

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.

Mount Silverheels is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.589m (11,774ft) above the sea level located in Park County, in Colorado, USA.

Gunsight Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.930m (6,332ft) above the sea level, located in Malheur County, in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon.

Hamels Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.067m (10,062ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

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.

Mount Givens is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.091m (10,141ft) above the sea level, located in Fresno County, California, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

Eightmile Mesa is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.494m (8,182ft) above the sea level, located in Archuleta County, Colorado, in USA.

Ladybug Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.524m (8,280ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California.

Cameron Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.030m (9,940ft) above the sea level located in the Chaffee County, in Colorado, USA.

Johnson's Mill is an historic site at an elevation of 3.074m (10,085ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Nevada.

Those looking for a diverse road trip should look no further than the United States, which offers a variety of terrains, stunning scenery, and unique roadside attractions that will ensure you have an unforgettable journey.

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.

Carrizo Mountain is a mountain peak at an elevation of 661m (2,168ft) above the sea level, located in Imperial County, California, in USA.

Herd Lake Road is a high mountain road located in Custer County, Idaho, United States, climbing up to 2.778m (9,114ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Idaho.

Cone Peak is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.261m (4,137ft) above the sea level, located in Monterey County, on the Big Sur coast of California, USA.

Monumental Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.628m (8,622ft) above the sea level located in Valley County, in Idaho, USA.

Belleview Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.951m (9,681ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

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.

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.

Located in Kern County, in the U.S. state of California, Old Kern Canyon Road is a very challenging drive.

Us Forest Service Road 162 is a very challenging high mountain road located in Garfield County, in south-central Utah, in USA. It’s one of the highest roads of Utah running entirely over 3.000m above the sea level.

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.

Silvertip Basin is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.241m (10,633ft) above the sea level, located in Park County, Wyoming, United States. It’s one of the highest roads of Wyoming.

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.

Jefferson Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.271m (10,731ft) above the sea level, located northwest of Jefferson off US Highway 285, in Park County, Colorado, in USA.

Santa Fe Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.173m (10,410ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

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

Located in the upper Chihuahuan desert mountain ranges, the Quebradas National Back Country Byway is a beautiful scenic drive located east of Socorro, in Socorro County, New Mexico, USA. Quiet and remote. No cell phones can be heard out here.

American Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,113m (3,652ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Alaska. It’s one of the highest roads in Alaska.

Mount Davenport is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.853m (9,360ft) above the sea level, located in Catron County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

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.

Sunflower Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.135m (7,004ft) above the sea level, located in Placer County, in the U.S. state of California.

Masket Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.105m (10,187ft) 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.

Whether you're commuting through winding mountain passes or tackling city potholes, the condition of your vehicle highly impacts your safety. For car owners, unexpected mechanical failures can add to the stress of driving on precarious roads. The best way to ease concerns about repairs and maintenance costs is by opting for an extended warranty. Keep reading to learn more.

Most of us associate traveling by car with traffic, and this is not something that should surprise us. In 2015 alone, there were no less than 263.6 million registered vehicles in the US alone. Even more so, statistics show that in 2019, there are over 276 million vehicles that are operating on our roads. 

Fawn Creek Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.105m (10,186ft) above the sea level located in the Grand County, in Colorado, USA.

Road accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. Statistics show that more than 38,000 people die every year from fatal road accidents across the country.

South Tent Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.157m (10,357ft) above the sea level, located in Sanpete County, in the U.S. state of Utah. 

Lone Cone Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.357m (11,015ft) above the sea level located in San Miguel 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.

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.

Munkres Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.881m (9,452ft) above the sea level, located in Johnson County, Wyoming, in USA.

Dangerous roads might be exciting but not every exciting road is dangerous. So, in this article we will talk about one of the most unsung great roads in the United States: the Great River Road. There are many much more famous roads in the US such as Route 66 or the Pacific Coast Road also known as Highway 1.

Stein Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.608m (8,555ft) above the sea level, located in Lemhi County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

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.

Hunt Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.062m (10,045ft) above the sea level, located in Big Horn County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

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.

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.