Because we’re in the business of moving families across the country, we’re constantly speaking with customers who are planning to hit the road. Some are weighing the options of using a rental truck for their move, while others are planning fun road trips driving their own vehicle (and letting U-Pack do the driving). We like to advise customers to check the roads they’ll be driving on, and make decisions about travel routes based on safety. Most highways and byways in the United States are great for travel, but some roads do pose dangers. Here is a list we have compiled of the 10 most dangerous roads in the U.S.
Honoapi’ilani Highway- From Honolua Bay to Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii I was actually a passenger while driving this stretch of highway on my honeymoon. It was scenic and beautiful, but super scary. I’m pretty sure my nail marks are still embedded in the armrest of the Jeep we rented. It’s a very narrow two-lane road that eventually goes down to one lane, wrapping around mountains. You’ll find many areas where there are no guardrails and some spots where the road is only dirt/gravel. Combine that with the occasional landslide, and few towns along the way, and you have trouble. Many rental car companies actually forbid customers to drive along this road. This is definitely one of the most dangerous roads in the USA.
I-5 in San Diego This stretch of dangerous highway leads from California to Tijuana, Mexico. The drinking age is lower in Tijuana, and as a result, young people tend to drive this road to the border to buy drinks; the unfortunate result is increased drunk driving accidents.
US Highway 2 in Montana This stretch of highway is relatively flat and straight, leading people to drive very fast. Pair that with few hospitals and service stations along the route, and this is the perfect storm for Highway 2 to be the highway with the highest fatality rate. Sadly, it’s one of the deadliest roads in the U.S. If you’re involved in a serious accident on this highway, you could travel hours before reaching a town or hospital. Drive with caution!
I-26 in Charleston, South Carolina This is another straight highway with many accidents happening due to driving too fast. This highway is tree-lined, with sloped shoulders, so if a driver loses control, they’re in for trouble.
US 6 in Utah This is a heavily-traveled winding stretch of road that links six major cities and interstates; the result is a lot of traffic on the roads. A large number of cars driving twisty roads at freeway speeds, along with snow and ice in the winter and random animal crossings makes US 6 a dangerous road. Some locals, who drive this road often, have bumper stickers that read “I drive 6. Pray for Me.”
Colorado 550 from Ouray to Silverton Often called “Million Dollar Highway,” 550 is a two-lane mountainous road full of sharp curves. There are narrow lanes, few guardrails, and unexpected animal crossings. Winter weather often brings avalanches as well. This road is often seen on lists of deadly and dangerous roads and is surely one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado.
US Route 1 in Maine This road has poor signage; pair that with being smack dab in the middle of moose migration routes, plenty of tourists driving slowly to sightsee, and icy winters, and you have a recipe for road danger.
I-15 in Nevada I-15 is 125 miles of highway with few curves, leading to drivers being bored and driving way too fast. Many drivers lose control on this stretch of highway, making it one of the most dangerous roads in the U.S. to drive.
I-10 in Louisiana This road is dangerous because of the state of the road. Soft swamp land doesn’t make for a great foundation for an interstate. Hurricane Katrina also caused plenty of damage. This road is full of potholes, cracks, and other road issues. The poor conditions make it dangerous to you and your car.
US 129 in North Carolina 11 miles of this road are called “Tail of the Dragon” because of the windy curves in the road. In 11 miles, there are 318 curves. This road is a popular destination drive for motorcyclists. While there is little development along this stretch of road, it is dangerous because of the topography. Be sure to take those curves slow and stay in your lane.
Have you ever driven on any of the most dangerous roads in the U.S? We would love to hear about your experience!
If you’re moving and traveling along any of these routes, you may want to re-think driving a rental truck. Go U-Pack and let us do the driving! Then, you can drive your own car, choose the best route, and you don’t have to worry about driving a large, unfamiliar truck on dangerous roads. Get a free moving quote today and see how closely U-Pack prices compare to truck rental!
Name: Gary Date: 3-20-2013
Do you actually check the roads in question? US 2 in montana is sparsely settled, but "hours" from a town or hospital is inaccurate. Check it out. And if you knew anything about the area, you would know that speed zones never used to exist in montana, which has spawned astate full of people who pay scant attention to their odometers.
Name: Brittney with U-Pack Date: 3-25-2013
Gary, thank you for your comment! I did extensive research on these roads, but unfortunately I have not driven all of them personally. Here are the sources of my research so you can follow my train of thought. Montana’s US 2 made Dateline’s list of dangerous roads, and we took the trip recap from this travel blogger about difficultly finding a gas station and were inspired to check the major towns for health care facilities. The major towns along the route are typically 1.5-2 hours apart, and not all of them have hospitals. According to our research, the high speeds and road conditions do contribute to a high number of fatalities each year. According to this travel blogger, with such a sparsely populated area, you could wait hours to get help will traveling in this area. It sounds like you’re actually from the area, or at least have driven it, so your feedback is definitely appreciated.
Name: gary Date: 5-12-2013
have driven the hi-line many times. distances no different than is common in great plains and western states. every city along the hi-line has a hospital. but yes, it is common for folks on that road to drive at dangerous speeds. just saying i do not see the difference in comparison with other western states. they are all potentially deadly.
Date: 3-20-2013
Do you actually check the roads in question? US 2 in montana is sparsely settled, but "hours" from a town or hospital is inaccurate. Check it out. And if you knew anything about the area, you would know that speed zones never used to exist in montana, which has spawned astate full of people who pay scant attention to their odometers.