Curviest Highways...
 

What do you believe to be the curviest highways in the United States?

The road to Hana on Maui is definitely one of them. Also Hwy 1 around Big Sur. Almost any road at high elevation in the Rockies.

Highway 1 is pretty curvy most of the way, but the stretch that wins the prize is the 28 most northern miles--from Rockport to Leggett.

Route 2 between Albany and Williamstown must be one of them.

May not be the curviest, like rt 1, but the combination curves, elevation change, traffic, narrow lanes, construction, snow, and speed make it one hairy drive (daily)

Taconic Pkwy in NY, from Westchester northwards, especially the part where there's a sheer rock wall 6" from your bumper to the right and the SUV to your left inches over into your lane.

I'd love to drive it some day on a closed highway in a sports car.

There is a section of 128 between 101 and 1, in Northern California that is incredibly curvy. I had an interesting race with a BMW along there once.

My favorite narrow, curvy, HIGH road is Independence Pass, between Aspen and Twin Lakes.

There is a stretch out west between Dayton and Lovell, WY that is nothing but curves and switchbacks for 11 miles

Road 1 from San Francisco to Fort Ross. It was so winding, we took a different road home.

Highway 12 in Idaho along the Lochsa River. And there's another very curvy highway near Joseph, OR but I can't remember the name of it.

I believe most motorcycle folks would vote for "The Dragon": US 129 mostly in TN just NW of Deal's Gap, NC.
318 turns in 11 miles.
M

Hmmmm, which publication can we expect to see this article in?

Hwy 70 through Kansas.... Not!!

I love the curves on Hwy Mrs Kal. :-"

I go with the Dragon in Tenn - North Carolina. Not only are there a lot of curves, but in the summer you cannot see far because of the trees. It is the devil to drive at night.

Let me amend my comment.
There is another road in California that is just wretched: California 36 from Fortuna to Red Bluff.

When I drove it not only was the road curvey, but none of the curves were banked and the drops were quick and unmarked.

I was driving an Olds 98 that had the road hugging ability of an elephant.

Before the new road was opened, the road over Tioga Pass in Yosemite was pretty bad, also. But that is history.

My vote is for route 6A, the Old Kings Highway on Cape Cod, which winds its way along the bayside shore of the Cape and was laid out following an old Indian trail many moons ago.

There is an old straight track of the Cape Cod railroad that runs alongside of it and crosses route 6A three times just from Sandwich to Hyannis a distance of less than 20 miles.

The Old Blewett Pass road in the Washington Cascades outstrips any of these new-fangled highways. The pavement is starting to break up, leaving some gravelly patches, but the 1920s-era series of switchbacks is hard to beat. Pretty, too.

How about the Going-to-the-Sun road in Glacier NP?

The Nordschleife at der Nurburgring is officially a public (toll) road and a bit of a challenge.
M
(yes, Germany, but why stop with the US?)

California State Routes 36 and 3 between say Mad River and Weaverville is pretty crazy, too.

After a little research I have found several sites that have claimed the Coronado Trail the curviest in the contiguous US. That's a drive I'm planning to take soon. I really like curvy drives.

happytrailstoyou may have hit it - Rockport to Leggett is as curvy as any road I've driven.

One to consider is 89 From Camp Richardson to DL Bliss state Park. The road around emerald bay is pretty curvy but the main thing is the straight drop off down the mountain on both sides of the road w/ emerald bay on one side and Cascade lake on the other.

Don't know the name of the highway - but we took the "scenic route" from Chattanoogo to Lake Lure, NC and the part getting to Ashville about did us in. I've never been car-sick in my life - but this almost did it!!!!

Practically all the Alp passes in Europe.
For the States I would say the road up Mount Washington in the White mountains N.Hampshire and perhaps The going to the sun road inGlacier N.Park but they are small fry compared to the Alps and especially the three Dolomites passes.Paul

The Coronadotrail, in the eastern part of Arizona.Not only winding, but also a big heightdifference.

Dedicated in 1926, the roadway provides a route for tourists seeking the beauty of the forests and its wildlife, but few people either then or now have taken advantage of it. Often fewer than 100 cars a day use the highway. The reason partly lies in its remote location near the New Mexican border and partly because the drive is very slow going. It takes 4 hours or more to traverse its 123 miles of switchback after switchback, but the adventure is clearly worth the effort. The Coronado Trail Scenic Road climbs 4,300 feet in elevation through a wilderness region that is home to three endangered mammals, three endangered birds and two endangered fish.

I would have to agree with the posters who said The Tail of the dragon..was fun on the motorcycle, but I got sick when we drove it in the truck
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

fnarf--I know which road you mean, and I agree, it is really pretty too!

Any one ever drive the Merritt Parkway?


http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2452/overview.html

I drove part of the Merrit Parkway - got rerouted from I-95 due to a tanker truck explosion in Bridgeport, Conn under and overpass which closed the interstate. It was dark though, so we didn't get to see much. That section at least wasn't very curvey.

Hi autumn_grace

My pick is a paved road off of highway 299 in Trinity County it goes from Hawkins Bar to Denny. Beats 36, Hana, Big Sur or any other section of 1 in California.

Have Fun
GP

How about the Beartooth highway?

Also in Arizona - hwy 89A from Flagstaff thru Oak Creek Canyon to sedona then to Jerome where you go over Mingus Mtn. In Prescott switch to Hwy 89 and go to Wickenburg

Try the Storm King highway which runs north along the Hudson. Especially impressive in the summer if you run into the masive thunderstorms for which the area is known.

Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge, Mt. to Cook City.