United States, Colorado
The highest continuous paved road in America, tundra above the treeline the whole way.
Length
77 km
In miles
47.8 mi
Driving time
1 hr 56 min
Atlas rating
9.3 / 10
The run
Estes Park to Grand Lake, following the US 34. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
Closed from mid October to late May
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 27 March 2026
Nearby
89 km away
Mount Blue Sky Road
No guardrails, thin air and switchbacks to the highest paved road in North America.
161 km away
Independence Pass
Narrow shelf tarmac to 3687 metres, tight, exposed and completely absorbing.
184 km away
Pikes Peak Highway
156 corners to 4302 metres on the hill climb road every driver knows by name.
324 km away
San Juan Skyway
A full loop of the San Juans taking in Coal Bank, Molas and Lizard Head passes.
328 km away
Million Dollar Highway
A mining road cut into the San Juan cliffs with sheer drops and no barrier.
518 km away
Bighorn Medicine Wheel Passage
A wall of a climb onto the Bighorn plateau with a descent that tests every brake.
Drive here from
Plan around it
Curated drives
A to B journeys
2 days
Los Angeles to San Francisco
Highway 1 through Big Sur, the coast drive every other coast drive gets compared with.
4 days
Washington DC to Asheville
Skyline Drive into the Blue Ridge Parkway, 1000 km of ridge top tarmac with no lorries on it.
3 days
Nashville to The Great Smoky Mountains
Country music to 318 curves in 11 miles, taking in the Cherohala Skyway on the way.