It’s been said that danger lurks around every corner. This is never more true than on the road. Crashes can, and do, occur on any street, regardless of location, condition and speed limit. But not all roads are created equal. While some may have danger around the corner, others have danger all around. All this danger can make for some hair-raising drives.
Roads can be scary for a variety of reasons. Some travel through hazardous terrain, while others are so flat and straight they become breeding grounds for speeding and unsafe driving. You’ll find dangerous roads from coast to coast, in crowded metropolises and areas so remote they’re difficult to access.
Here’s a look at some of the scariest, nerve-racking roads in America.
Million Dollar Highway, Colorado
Officially known as U.S. Route 550, local legend says Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway got its moniker after an early traveler proclaimed she’d have to be paid $1 million to drive it again.
Winding through Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains, the roadway is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking in the country. But those stunning views don’t come easily. You’ll encounter steep cliffs and hairpin turns as you climb the highway more than 11,000 feet above sea level. If that’s not unnerving enough, the road, carved into the side of the mountains, has no guardrails. Throw in some harsh Colorado weather and the occasional rock slide and you have one of the most dangerous roads in the country, according to a list compiled by USA Today.
U.S. Route 1, Florida
Florida doesn’t have Colorado’s mountains, but it does have another lurking danger: It’s one of roughly half the country’s states without a full ban on using a handheld cellphone while driving. That might help explain why a recent study found that 17 of the 100 deadliest roads in America were in the Sunshine State, the most in the country. The research, which looked at death totals from 2015 to 2019, found Florida’s section of U.S. 1 to be the country’s second deadliest road. In total, 87 people died there over that time.
Most of the route up the eastern coast is straight as an arrow, inviting drivers to reach dangerous speeds. The southern end, known as the Overseas Highway, connects the Florida Keys to Miami. It consists of miles and miles of bridge driving, something many people find distracting or unsettling.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Louisiana
At nearly 24 miles long, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the Guinness World Record for longest bridge over water. Depending on how you feel about driving for a half-hour suspended over a lake, the causeway can be a thrilling or nerve-racking experience. When you get toward the middle of the bridge, where dry land is completely out of view, it will likely veer toward the latter.
Being surrounded by water also leaves drivers open to the elements: The causeway can become enveloped in fog so thick that police have to usher drivers across the lake.
I-4, Florida
Interstate 4 between Tampa and Daytona Beach was once found to be the deadliest interstate in the country, recording 1.41 fatalities per mile. One explanation for the road’s high incident rate could be its route directly through Orlando, one of the country’s premier tourist destinations. “What’s the first thing they do when they get off the plane?” Glenn Victor of the Florida Safety Council asked Fox 35 Orlando. “They rent a car that they’re not familiar with and they’re on their GPS, so they’re looking at the phone and their GPS which, of course, is a distraction while they’re driving.”
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Some roads are innately dangerous because of how they were designed or the terrain they traverse. Others are dangerous simply because of how many drivers use them – and the number of ensuing crashes they cause. The congested Galveston to Dallas section of I-45, which runs through downtown Dallas, was recently named the deadliest road in America by Budget Direct. Citing heavy traffic and driver complacency, the company found I-45 averages 56.5 fatal accidents for every 100 miles of roadway.
I-10, Arizona
Interstate 10 spans the width of the country, stretching from Jacksonville, Fla., to Santa Monica, Calif., but it’s the roughly 300-mile stretch through Arizona that has proven most foreboding. The highway’s long, straight stretches through the desert are hot spots of high speeds, aggressive driving, illegal passing and inattentive drivers. Nearly 500 fatalities were recorded on Arizona’s I-10 over a recent six-year period.
I-15, Nevada and California
The 181-mile stretch of Interstate 15 connecting Las Vegas and Los Angeles is a straight, well-maintained roadway, conducive to safe traveling. And yet, it routinely ranks as one of the country’s most dangerous roads. One study looked at data over a 15-year span and found it to be the deadliest roadway in the country.
The problem isn’t the road – it’s the drivers. Motorists often speed on I-15 while traveling through the openness of the Mojave Desert. The fact they are likely coming or going from the party city of Las Vegas doesn’t help either. The same study found that nearly a quarter of the crashes occurring on that section of the I-15 involved a drunk driver.
I-285, Georgia
Atlanta’s I-285 is known as “The Perimeter” because it circles the city in a 64-mile loop. It connects all the area’s interstates and highways and, in doing so, welcomes an onslaught of traffic, including tractor-trailers. The combination of congestion, sharp turns, interchanges and large trucks has turned I-285 into a lethal stretch of pavement. In 2015, Vox calculated the road’s fatality rate at 3.5 per every 10 miles, which, at the time, made it the country’s deadliest interstate.
U.S. Route 17, South Carolina
Winding through forests, marshlands and oceanside towns, South Carolina’s Highway 17 is one of the most scenic drives in the southeast. But looks can be deceiving. The road is filled with an endless number of sharp, blind turns and narrow lanes. The area is also home as well as an abundance of wildlife, creating another potential driving hazard.
All told, U.S. 17 in South Carolina is one picturesque – but perilous – drive. In fact, one study named it the country’s most dangerous highway for summertime travel.
Dalton Highway, Alaska
The James Dalton Highway stretches 414 miles through the Alaskan wilderness from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, located on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. The dirt-and-gravel roadway was constructed in 1974 to help facilitate the oil industry and to this day is mostly used to transport oil.
The Dalton traverses through some of Alaska’s most treacherous terrain, including forests, tundras, steep grades and the Yukon River. Traveling along the road is so dramatic, in fact, it’s the focus of the hit television show “Ice Road Truckers.” But what makes the Dalton Highway particularly dangerous is its remoteness. There are only three towns along the entire route, which includes a 240-mile stretch without a single gas station or rest stop. Should something happen to you along the way, it may take a long time to get help.
Highway 2, Montana
Montana is the country’s fourth-largest state by size, but the eighth-smallest in population. This means you can drive for a quite some time before coming across anyone else. Open roads can lead to pleasant drives, but they can also be quite dangerous. Nowhere is this more true than on Montana’s Highway 2, which stretches east-west across the northern end of the state.
The roadway maintains a 70 mph speed limit, even as it winds through some mountainous regions. And while the scenic nature may be eye-popping, it also means you’re far away from the nearest help. In 2021, the median EMS call in Montana took a total of nearly 45 minutes. That number only gets higher when first responders have to travel to and from remote Highway 2.
Road to Hana, Hawaii
Driving around the islands of Hawaii seems like a journey through paradise, but be careful what you wish for, especially if you’re traveling along Maui’s Road to Hana.
The 52-mile road connects Kahului to Hana along the island’s rugged eastern shoreline. And though the highway offers picturesque views of mountaintops, lush greenery and crashing waves, the Road to Hana is far from a luxurious drive. Along the way, you’ll encounter a whopping 620 turns and 59 narrow bridges. The route requires such caution it takes motorists anywhere from two to four hours to complete. That’s why the Hawaii Tourism Authority recommends traveling with a permitted tour company instead.
Have you driven on any of these dangerous roads? Tell us in the comments below.
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146 Thoughts on “Are These The Most Nerve-Racking Roads in America?”
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Try averaging 68 MPH up the MT Washington Auto toll road.
I did the Road to Hana years ago with two (2) other friends in a rental car. My friend who was driving was a terrible driver, but she put her name on the rental agreement before the rest of us go to the desk, so she was the only one to drive. We started about noon, and got to Hana about 6:00. The scenery was beautiful but nerve wracking, with hair pin turns all the way. By the time we got to Hana, the sun was going down. If we had turned around, we would have been driving on the cliff side, with a terrible driver, at night. The other choice was to keep going, which would carry us over the unpaved road. Since I had the map, I chose the unpaved road. The scenery was surreal, but I actually felt safer. We eventually hit pavement, and I started to breathe. I’m glad for the experience, but I’ll never do it again.
How can California Highway between Carmel and Big Sur, and probably south of that too. No guardrails where road hangs over the ocean, and solid rock cliffs down to the edge of the highway. Also California drivers whizzing past me as I observed the posted speed limit. Definitely not for the faint-heartrd.
Why are dangerous roads allowed to be used by the public? This is unbelievable in the 21st Century!
I’ve driven 5 of roads listed. By far, the most dangerous to me is I-15 between Vegas and LA. Speed plays a big part in making it so dangerous plus the California drivers never wanting to get in line to pass a slower moving vehicle. They will pass you on the right and cut in over and over. Thus your slamming on your brakes constantly because they will cut you off. Never drive it on a weekend or the eve of a holiday, bumper to bumper traffic for 200 miles is no picnic.
How about those crazy, winding mountain roads in West Virginia? On one side you’re looking over the side of a mountain, often with no guard rail, and on the other you see a deep ditch that would wreck you car immediately beside a steep rock face with no escape. It’s just living with the terrain that exists, but intense adaptation is required in order to survive!
I just got back from North Carolina and took a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great views but very scary. We were driving along and the traffic stopped for 15 minutes. When we finally got going again we passed an ambulance, a fire truck, and several men wearing climbing gear. There was a woman sitting on the side of the road and looked like she was in shock. We never did hear what happen but it must have been awful. I won’t be driving that road again.
US-14 near Sheridan Wyoming has my vote. I would not want tp drive it with a trailer!
Most dangerous highway? US Route 22 between GardenStatePkwy and MountainsideNJ. Most of it is 3lanes each way. Worst part is when road divides and there are many stores in the middle. Picture drivers exiting median store parking lots (or U-turns) into the left lane (with drivers already in the left lane doing 50-60mph or more!). Not to mention folks driving at those speeds close to bumper-to-bumper!
#2? The TaconicStateParkway (NY) at night. Folks doing 60-70mph with almost no streetlights, very short entrance/exit ramps, and very little visibility due to lots of vegetation close to the road.
Storrow Dr is bad enough but Jamaicaway has smaller lanes, more and tighter curves to add to the excitement. If you don’t go fast enough someone will be right on your bumper.
Clearly no one has been to NY and NJ. Potholes deep 1 to 4 feet aren’t considered dangerous? damaging vehicles daily. potholes at every corner.
This article is invalid without the stretch of US-22 in Union, NJ (and Morris Ave., NJ-82, also in Union).
I agree with the Rt-22 Union, especially during holiday shopping time when people don’t know where the store they are looking for is located so the dart between the island stores in the middle, the outer edge stores to the right and the endless u-turns whhich you can use to get the the extreme left hand side stores or to loop around again if you mess-up – within 3 lanes of speeding traffic each way!
Article should have included “The Dragon” in North Carolina and the “old” Alligator Alley”, South Florida
Definitely both of these!
I live on Maui. The road to Hana is a cakewalk compared to the alternative road back from Hana that snakes along Maui’s south shore. Single lane in places, often blocked by landslides and floods, the virtually unmaintained road is carved into sheer cliffs and is a mashup of dirt and ancient potholed blacktop. The views, however, put those of the conventional road to shame. A far tougher road, IMHO is the Kahehili Hwy along Maui’s north shore. Mostly single lane with sheer cliffs and blind curves. Backing up a steep cliff-side incline with no guard rails to accommodate an impatient local going in the opposite direction is not for the faint of heart. The newspaper has occasional reports of fatalities associated with cars that went off the edge. Stick to the beaches.
My dearest friend lives in Kihei, and we do Hana every time I come visit. So I’ve been doing it for roughly 9-10 years now, and while it can be unsettling, so long as you rent a smaller car, go slow, and take some Dramamine, it’s one of the most magical experiences. Is it a tad unsettling? Sure, but Ive never been terrified or white knuckling through the experience. I think there’s a misnomer in it being called “The Road to Hana” because people think there’s something in Hana that is the point of the endeavor, while the scenery and incredible hiking along the way is the point. I havent been back to Maui since the pandemic, but my friend said the road has been a complete nightmare since the influx of travelers. Imagine those hair pin turns only to immediately find yourself in the face of a parking lot of cars having parked haphazardly all along the sides of the road (that does NOT have room for a ton of cars!). Nightmare. I wonder if you’ve seen this over the last two years? I’ve also always been shocked people turn around at Hana. I go start at Paiea and once I hit Hana, I go through, coming out through Up Country and back down to Kihei. The backside is even more stunning, IMO! Lastly, your comment on Kahehili Hwy is so accurate. I was so scared the first 10 minutes I just turned around (I was terrified in turning around because it was a near impossible feat). I havent EVER felt that way when on the Road to Hana!
The entire length of I95 both ways from the RI border through CT and into NY to the George Washington Bridge has got to be an honorable mention. The road is in bad shape, under construction of some sorts in several locations often at the same time, not to mention constant horrible traffic that barely moves anytime of the day or night, often with accidents in both directions of various degrees. Forget Fridays in the Summer it’s even worse; and with year round west bound sun glare in the late afternoon/evenings it’s a nightmare with unfortunately few easy alternatives to avoid any of this in either direction.
Here’s the trouble with the road to Hana. We were told how dangerous it is and that when the paved section (which provided magnificent views) ended, we should turn around. I don’t remember seeing the warning while driving that the paved section was ending and the dirt road was beginning. We came upon the unpaved section so suddenly that we decided to do a U-turn at the first opportunity. That opportunity never arrived. There were no turn-offs or side roads or driveways and the road was too narrow to do a U-turn. We crawled along and along the roadside was grass so tall you could not see around any bends. We did come across one van coming in the opposite direction and getting past was like conducting a military operation. We must have driven for more than an hour and eventually saw a small village (Hana?) in the valley below where we turned around. Driving back, we were terrified because if we had met a car coming towards us, we would have had to maneuvre on the steep downslope side of the road. So I drove fast to reduce the time that an oncoming vehicle may have been on the road. There were none. Next time we drive on this road, we’re packing parachutes just in case.
What about the Cross Bronx Expressway? I mistakenly got on it last Friday afternoon around 5 PM and the GPS lady came on and said, “The Cross Bronx? Really? At this time of day?
that’s hilarious!
Thought I’d see something in Massachusetts, Boston in particular. How about the Jamaicaway or Storrow Drive?
WARNING!!! The Jacky Robinson Pkwy E (formerly the Interboro Pkwy) has many narrow turns and a kink in it as it travels under Queens Blvd. West to east is the worst direction. Suggestion-try not to travel along side another vehicle.
It was much worse 50 years ago, when the curves were sharper and the lanes were narrower. (They couldn’t improve the section you mentioned.)
How about the Taconic State Parkway? Narrow lanes, curves, stone walls, crazy drivers.
The Taconic! A friend told me to never drive in the left lane. At about 1-2 AM he was driving north in the right lane and saw a car heading south towards him in the north bound left lane! The driver got confused getting onto the Taconic and perhaps alcohol was involved.
US Route 1, Florida, “Overseas Highway from Key West to Miami
Been there, done that, can’t wait to do it again.
I-10, Arizona
Been there, done that, not planning to do it again. Rt. 66 yes, I-10, not so much.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Louisiana
Now on the list, can’t wait!