United States, Utah and Arizona
The straight every film crew shoots, buttes rising straight out of the desert floor.
Length
72 km
In miles
44.7 mi
Driving time
1 hr 48 min
Atlas rating
8.9 / 10
The run
Mexican Hat to Kayenta, following the US 163. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
Summer heat and sudden dust storms
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 10 June 2026
Nearby
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Zion Mount Carmel Highway
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Oak Creek Canyon, AZ 89A
Red rock Sedona at one end, pine forest at the other, with a hairpin climb between.
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Independence Pass
Narrow shelf tarmac to 3687 metres, tight, exposed and completely absorbing.
Plan around it
Curated drives