Why is the Eisenhower Tunnel famous?
Usa, north-america
2.72 km
3,401 m
moderate
Year-round
Cruising through Colorado, you absolutely HAVE to experience the Eisenhower Tunnel! Straddling the border between Summit and Clear Creek counties, this engineering marvel punches right through the Continental Divide, about an hour west of Denver, inside the Arapaho National Forest.
Okay, so it's actually *two* tunnels: the Eisenhower Memorial Bore (completed in '73) and the Edwin C. Johnson Bore (finished in '79). Each one is about 1.7 miles long.
Why is it so special? At a whopping 11,158 feet above sea level, this is one of the highest vehicular tunnels on the planet. Sure, construction was a beast (seriously, it took years and cost lives), but now you get to shave off 9 miles compared to braving the hairpin turns of Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6!
The grade leading up to the tunnel is pretty steep, about 6-7%, so make sure your rig is ready for it. Oh, and heads up: HAZMAT vehicles have restrictions.
The drive only takes about 5 minutes, but experiencing this feat of engineering, and soaking in the surrounding Rocky Mountain views, is totally worth adding to your Colorado road trip itinerary. Just be prepared for company – around 10 million vehicles make the trek each year!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 2.72 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,401 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateWhere is Poncha Pass in Colorado?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through south-central Colorado on U.S. Highway 285, right on the border of Saguache and Chaffee counties. You're heading for Poncha Pass, a super accessible mountain crossing sitting pretty at 9,025 feet. This paved beauty stretches for about 21.6 miles, connecting Villa Grove in the south with Poncha Springs up north. It's the place where the Rio Grande and Arkansas River watersheds split, so you *know* the scenery's gonna be epic. The climb is pretty chill, too, with grades maxing out around 5% from the south. And since it's nestled where the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountains meet, it's one of the lower passes around, which is a bonus. Usually it's open year-round, but hey, this is the mountains – keep an eye on the weather! Winter can bring restrictions or even closures. Also, watch out for falling rocks and the occasional mudslide; nature's always keepin' things interesting!
hardBlue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the USA
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up road trippers, because the Blue Ridge Parkway is calling your name! This beauty stretches a whopping 469 miles through the stunning landscapes of Virginia and North Carolina, from Shenandoah National Park all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains. Think endless views of classic American scenery – this is one drive you won't forget. This paved road is generally open year-round, although winter weather can sometimes throw a wrench in the plans with temporary closures due to snow and ice. Heads up, though, this isn't a flatland cruise! The Parkway climbs to a lung-busting 6,053 feet at Richland Balsam, so expect some steep sections and hairpin curves. Speaking of which, this route is more suited for cars and motorcycles, so leave the big rigs at home. While it’s not overly challenging, those twisty roads demand your attention, especially if you're on two wheels. Trust me, the views are worth it! "America's Favorite Drive" is packed with overlooks where you can pull over, catch your breath, and soak in those incredible Appalachian vistas. You *could* technically drive the whole thing in 10-12 hours, but why rush? Seriously, plan for at least 2-3 days to really experience it all. And the scenery is out of this world. Every year, over a million visitors flock to this road, and let me tell you, it lives up to the hype. And those waterfalls, folks! There are 12 waterfalls accessible off of the road. Plus, keep an eye out for the New River (ironically, North America’s oldest), which flows alongside a section of the Parkway. The land around the parkway is teeming with wildlife. Deer, elk, wild turkeys, beavers, and even the occasional black bear (eek!) call this area home. Plant lovers, get excited: over 1,400 species of plants flourish here. Trust me, you need to experience the Blue Ridge Parkway at least once. Especially in the fall, when the foliage explodes into a fiery spectacle of reds, oranges, and yellows. It's pure magic!
hardWhere is Stanton Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! Stanton Pass in southern Utah, east of Capitol Reef National Park, is a wild ride. This unpaved beast clocks in at a pretty high elevation in eastern Garfield County. Forget smooth sailing — we're talking steep, rocky, and narrow all the way. Trust me, you'll want a high-clearance 4x4 that's in tip-top shape to tackle this. Be prepared for tough conditions. It's remote out here, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and cell service is sketchy, so self-sufficiency is key, especially with changeable weather on high ridges and exposed areas. While the roads are unreliable, those traveled by explorers are passable. This is not a Sunday drive, but if you crave raw, untamed beauty, Stanton Pass could be your next unforgettable off-road thrill. Just make sure your vehicle is ready for anything!
easyExtraterrestrial Highway
🇺🇸 United States
Nevada State Route 375 is one of those roads that feels genuinely otherworldly – and honestly, the official "Extraterrestrial Highway" designation (since 1996) isn't just a gimmick. This 158-kilometer stretch of two-lane blacktop cuts straight through the remote desert of south-central Nevada, skirting the edge of the Nevada Test and Training Range where the legendary Area 51 lurks just beyond the horizon. The drive is beautifully, almost eerily desolate. You're talking endless desert valleys, jagged mountain ranges that seem to go on forever, and practically zero signs of civilization for the entire journey. It's the kind of road where you might not see another car for hours. The only real pit stop is Rachel (population: basically a heartbeat), sitting roughly midway through. The town's main claim to fame? The Little A'Le'Inn, a quirky UFO-themed bar and motel that's basically become the unofficial nerve center for anyone obsessed with Area 51 and all that comes with it. What makes this route special goes beyond the conspiracy stuff. The isolation means you've got some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 – absolute stargazing paradise once the sun sets. And if you time it right, you might catch military aircraft doing training runs overhead, which definitely adds to the whole "something strange is happening here" vibe. It's weird, it's empty, and it's absolutely worth the drive if you're into that kind of thing.