19 of the Scariest Roads to Drive in an RV

Oct 27, 2021 | Travel & Destinations

19 of the Scariest Roads to Drive in an RV

Just in time for Halloween, RVers share nightmare driving—and learning—experiences from their travels across the U.S.

By Togo RV

Pacific Coast Highway

We asked Togo RV users and newsletter subscribers to share their most wheel-clenching RV moments. Read on for some scary experiences and learn what roads to avoid when planning your next trip.

Always prepare a safe route ahead of time, use an RV GPS, plan overnight stops, and know your RV’s specific dimensions.


West

The scariest road we’ve ever been on is the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s absolutely beautiful but I felt like we could drive off the edge to our death at any minute. You don’t want to take your eyes off the road so make use of the pull-offs. — A.A.

U.S. Highway 14A in Wyoming over the Bighorn Mountains. — Ronald S.

Top of the World Highway from Dawson City in Canada into Chicken, Alaska. — John K.

California Highway 49 southwest of Yosemite on the way to Mariposa was absolutely the worst road we’ve been on. Sheer cliffs with no railing and sharp, tight 10- to 20-mile-per-hour switchbacks for 11 miles. It was my first time driving an RV outside of town as well. — Ernie S.

Top of the World Highway in Alaska | Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock
Top of the World Highway.

State Route 140 from Denio Junction, Nevada, toward Grants Pass, Oregon. Scariest road to date! — Caroline J.

The Lost Coast in Northern California. — Catherine R. 

California State Route 4 in our Class C Jayco Melbourne Prestige. We were traveling from South Lake Tahoe to Murphys, California, and it seemed like the most direct route. Route 4 doesn’t even have a centerline most of the way. — Catch T.

Red Mountain Pass in Colorado between Silverton and Ouray. — Michael D. 

U.S. Route 550 from Durango to Ouray, Colorado. Great road, great scenery for passengers—but if you’re the driver, pay attention or you might become part of the scenery. — Thomas M.

Highway in the mountains of Colorado
U.S. Route 550 in Colorado.

The scariest road we have found ourselves on with our 30-foot travel trailer is the Douglas Pass in Colorado. — Nancy R.

Southwest

Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona. It’s treacherous enough with all the curves and steep inclines, but add high volumes of traffic that think there’s no speed limit. — Robert D.

Burr Trail Switchbacks and Moki Dugway, both in Utah. — Carol K.

Burr Trail in Utah
Sign along the Burr Trail in Utah.

We were entering Sedona, Arizona. Unknown to us yet, we took the mountain entry. Hanging over a cliff, the driver had the evening sun in his eyes, and it was impossible to see what’s around the bend. The next day, we drove it in our car. Beautiful, and we found the alternative entrance, which was flat. — Heather J.

Midwest

Custer State Park roads were very narrow and curvy. — George and Kathryn G.

Winding road in South Dakota
Needles Highway in Custer State Park.

Southeast

We just traversed (unknowingly) the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway with a 39-foot diesel and toad. The 11-foot, 7-inch tunnels were tricky since our rig is 12 feet, 8 inches tall—we rode the centerline through the tunnels and crept around every curve and switchback. By the way, we did this at 10 p.m., in total darkness. But we made it safe and sound and arrived in Cherokee, North Carolina unscathed. — Jerry A.

Georgia State Route 71 south of Columbus, Georgia, to Mexico Beach, Florida. — A.A.

Tunnel in the Great Smoky Mountains
Tunnel going through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Not Tail of the Dragons, but the road getting to it in western North Carolina. — E.R.

The 5-miles-per-hour curve in Troup County, Georgia. The speed goes from 45 to 15 miles per hour in the blink of an eye. — D.C.

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