There is nothing quite like the thrill of hitting the open road, the windy road, or the long, long, long dirt road that leads into the wilderness. No matter the destination, often, it’s the road that takes you there that provides the most excitement.
Across America, there are numerous roads that will put your driving skills and car to the test.
From curvy mountain passes where you’ll need to be on top of your game at every turn to gravel routes that take you through some of the country’s most remote stretches of land, these roads should be on any driving enthusiast’s bucket list.
Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee/North Carolina
- Length: 11 miles
This famous stretch of road begins at the border of Tennessee and North Carolina and takes drivers through 318 turns along its 11-mile length. With no intersecting driveways or roads along its entire length, you can focus purely on the joy of the drive.
This is a great road for vehicle watching as sports car and motorcycle enthusiasts flock here to put their rigs to the test.
Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado
- Length: 19 miles
The 19-mile road up Pike’s Peak outside of Colorado Springs takes drivers to elevations of over 14,000 feet and along narrow hairpin turns where there is often nothing separating you from steep mountain slopes below.
This road is the setting for the annual Pikes Peak rally race where professional drivers tackle 156 curves on the ascent to the top.
Lolo Motorway, Idaho
- Length: 100 miles
This remote stretch of road spans the Lolo Forest between Idaho and Montana. Here, you won’t find any high-speed turns, but you will find miles and miles of solitude along this single-lane dirt road.
This path isn’t for the ill-prepared or faint of heart, as for much of this rugged drive, you’ll be out of cell phone range and you can go miles without seeing anyone else.
Million Dollar Highway, Colorado
- Length: 25 miles
This scenic route through the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado got its name from the steep cost of building a road through such a rugged area. Along this paved road, you can expect sheer cliffs, narrow lanes, and views that will leave you in awe.
Dalton Highway, Alaska
- Length: 414 miles
If isolation is on your driving adventure bucket list, then it’s hard to beat the Dalton Highway. This 414-mile road extends from Fairbanks to Deadhorse and passes through wild expanses of land, high mountain passes, and the occasional small town that isn’t much more than a gas station and restaurant.
This road is infamous for breaking windshields, as truck traffic kicks up rocks while hauling supplies to the oil fields on the north slope.
Beartooth Highway, Montana/Wyoming
- Length: 68 miles
This little-known road into Yellowstone National Park takes drivers over 10,000-foot mountain passes, by alpine lakes, and through areas filled with wildlife seen virtually nowhere else in the lower 48.
Along the way, you’ll pass by one of the only ski areas in the country that operates during the summer months.
With hairpin turns, high-altitude passes, and only a few places to stop for services, this road is an adventure all unto itself.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
- Length: 50 miles
Quite possibly the country’s most famous national park road, the Going-to-the-Sun Road passes through the mountains of Glacier National Park and offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
Just getting onto the road can be a challenge as traffic is limited through a permit system that is in high demand.
Once on the road, expect narrow lanes, steep cliffs, and the ever-present danger of tourists gawking at the views rather than paying attention to the road.
White Rim Road, Utah
- Length: 100 miles
The White Rim Road is a true off-road adventure that takes drivers along its 100-mile length through the park’s remote desert lands.
Come prepared with a well-equipped 4WD vehicle, plenty of water, and emergency supplies, as breaking down on this road can quickly become a life-or-death situation.
McCarthy Road, Alaska
- Length: 60 miles
Renting a car in Alaska often comes with a warning that prohibits renters from driving the car on certain roads, and McCarthy Road is one of them.
Once you take a drive down this rutted, rocky, and occasionally very wet road, you’ll understand why they don’t want their fleet subjected to the harsh environments of this remote stretch of Alaska.
Luckily for you, you can drive your own car to Alaska or rent from one of the few boutique agencies that offer cars equipped to handle the road.
U.S. Route 50 (The Loneliest Road), Nevada
- Length: 287 miles
Take a drive along U.S. Route 50 in Nevada, and you’ll quickly realize that boredom is the primary challenge along what is known as the loneliest road in America.
Along this route, you’ll pass by minimal services, be subjected to extreme desert conditions, and drive along some of the straightest stretches of roads in the country.
