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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There are actually two roads to Hana. The back way is not even recognized as a road as the rental car companies do not want you to take it. It’s a narrow road hugging a cliff most of the way makes the other way (620 hairpin turns and 59 narrow bridges) to Hana look easy. There are several places when you look out the window and all you see is down.
I-10 is nuts because several times I have seen what appeared to be illegal immigrants drive very erratically. Once I had a guy in front of me in the left lane, slam on his breaks (smoking tires) and pull into the median and make a u-turn.
I-285 – Atlanta’s racetrack. Always nerve-racking because of the sheer volume of traffic doing 80+mph.
I miss the Garden State Parkway.
I-4 is like driving Route 22
You left out the Pasadena Freeway which connects Pasadena, CA and downtown Los Angeles. Oldest freeway in the LA system with twists and turns that challenge the most experienced LA driver. Plus onramps with stop signs which necessitate entering a freeway lane from a standing stop.
All but Hana, never driven in Hawaii
Years ago, Route 2 in Maine between Houlton and Bangor would have been on this list. It was so bad, an old country singer wrote a sone about it called “Tombstone Every Mile”.
I’ve done 7 of the 12.
Million Dollar Highway sounds great! Must do someday!
Route 1 & I-4 in Florida. No big deal, IMO.
Lake Pontchartrain is interesting! It gets weird after about halfway!
I-10 in AZ & I-15 in NV are just boring!
I-285 around Atlanta is a speedway! Do more than 80, or you get run over!
The Road to Hana is outstanding! We had a Mustang convertible for our trip, and loved it!
I live in Arizona, and I love visiting southwest Colorado where US 550 is located, but only in summer months. On 550 between Ouray and Silverton, the beauty is breathtaking, but if you are driving, keep your eyes on the road. I live in Sedona, AZ, and there is a 2 mile stretch of Highway 89A that has been listed in the top 10 most dangerous roads in Arizona. This part of 89A traverses a portion of Sedona we locals call West Sedona. The road is 5 lanes wide with center left hand turning lane and bike lanes on either side. Speed is 35 mph. Mostly a shopping district. Mostly level with 1 gentle curve. Sounds okay on paper but it isn’t. Four things make it not so. 1. Sedona is a popular tourist destination with lots of traffic during the day, combined with drivers not familiar with the area. 2. Large group of elderly retirees with some who should not be driving (numerous traffic incidents). 3. In a 2 mile stretch there 180 turnouts (driveways and streets). 4. And, of course, everyone is driving above the speed limit. One accident had a car upside down in the middle of an intersection. We have even had 2 planes crash on the same stretch of road (one nearly missing a gas station by about 2 ft.).
I’ve been on parts of many of those roads, but the scariest I’ve seen was I70 in western Kansas in a 1967 VW bug with strong crosswinds takes the cake, especially when passing or being passed by a truck!
Million Dollar Highway is beautiful no matter the time of year. Definitely need winter tires for safety. High mountain passes in Colorado get hairy in general. I would have to say I-45 is my least favorite road though. Coming from the woodlands north of Houston, all the way to Galveston. I’ve seen several crashes happen right in front of me going to Galveston. I would much rather deal with snowy roads.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (US 13) is my nightmare road. In a storm, or twilight, you go bridge, tunnel, bridge, tunnel — it’s hard to refocus your eyes. You also feel like you are just above the water height — it’s terrifying.
Montana 191 is a death trap between four corners and west Yellowstone due to poor driving tourists, temp workers from the south and elk strikes. 360 carcasses this year alone.
I’ve driven the Hana Highway 3 times. It’s a challenge although the scenery along the way is beautiful. I was constantly turning for 4 hours.
California State Route 41 between Paso Robles and the SR 41/46 junction at Cholame can be dangerous. Passing multiple vehicles at one time leads to many collisions. Also, factor in the impaired drivers from the Lemoore casino.
My Daughter was 13 when she first heard me utter the “F” word. Naturally, we were on the Road to Hana when one idiot too many decided they were crossing that one lane bridge no matter who was already on it. I tried everything I could to stop it but once F… started tumbling out there was nothing could do. After several seconds of total silence, I apologized to my Wife and Daughter for what I said, to which my Daughter replied “Dad, I go to public school.”
I-15 is definitely dangerous. You always see crashes and it is pretty routine to get caught in the backup of a crash leaving from Vegas back to So Cal.
You really have to pay attention.
The George Washington or (fka Tappan Zee) Mario Cuomo Bridge, both over the Hudson River in any wind is downright treacherous in a light or heavy vehicle
I was a driver for a large grocery chain. You can go 85 south or north through the center of Atlanta and stay off I285. Also if you need to go through Atlanta go very early in the morning or after 9am or before 3pm. You can also go up hwy 29 all the way to South Carolina. In addition, a road atlas or map is useful if you can read one. GPS is useful but it is a tool not the final answer. I carried a laptop with wifi to plan my trip. Also common sense is useful if you have any. Plan your trip don’t just start driving. I’ve got more than a million miles driving experience. Don’t use phone and pay attention.
John
So many roads not counted.
– The California coast leading up towards Oregon – people have literally died
– Siskiyou Pass (N. California –> Southern Oregon) – doing it at night when it’s snowing is extremely problematic
– Western Washington, I believe it’s 520, the bridge that goes over the water. That actually DID collapse in the past and you can feel it swaying in the high winds
– The junction between N. California/S. Oregon and NW. Nevada, if you rely on Google Nav, it will send you down an unpaved road, I’m talking ROCKS, not dirt, complete with gates that look forced open, through a forest, and at one point you’re literally hairpinning down the side of a mountain until you get to a perfectly paved road in Nevada. You talk about gripping.
Driving at night in a snowstorm..Isn’t that every road in the world ??
I’ve driven seven of the highways and bi-ways mentioned. The author is on track on all the highways I’ve driven. I’ll describe my adventures as follows:
1971 — Hwy. 2– If the roads don’t get you, the lightning will. I nearly exploded when the lightning struck my 56’ Chevy during a lightning storm.
1972 — Colorado’s million dollar mistake: Two college kids drove this road in February. No snow tires in Ford Fairlane. We could have slid right off the mountain!
1980-1993
I-285 encircling Atlanta was never a problem, except when downpours poured water.
I-4 at rush hour was downright miserable for reasons stated.
US Route 1 in Florida and US Route 17 in SC get to meandering awards!
1994 – Road to Hana
There’s nothing like getting up at 2:30am to head to Haliakilea. And then riding a mountain bike down as temps rose from 32 to 80 degrees.
That not the road to Hana
The Road to Hana, hands down is the most dangerous road I’ve ever been on. Maybe it didn’t help that I wasn’t behind the wheel, and I was bare knuckling it all the way, because I was uncomfortable with the driver. It took us all afternoon to get there. Once you get to Hana, the road ahead is not paved. If we had gone back the way we came, we would have been doing it at night and driving on the ocean side. One false move, and we would have been going down the cliff. I was in charge of the map. Even though, technically, we were supposed to keep our rental on paved road, I told the driver to keep going on the dirt road. The scenery was unbelievable. It was tough going in the beginning, but we didn’t hit any major problems. More importantly, there was no cliff or ocean on either side of the road. Eventually, we hit pavement, and I started to breathe again.
I have to agree with you on all factors.