Mismaloya Road
Mexico, north-america
N/A
N/A
easy
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're cruising south of Puerto Vallarta on Highway 200, wind in your hair, heading towards Tomatlán beach. This isn't just any road trip, it's a coastal dream called the Carretera a Mismaloya!
Get ready for some seriously stunning views – we're talking panoramic vistas of Banderas Bay dotted with the iconic Los Arcos islands. And the best part? You'll have easy access to some seriously gorgeous, hidden tropical beaches right off the roadside.
Trust me, you absolutely HAVE to stick around for sunset here. The location is perfect, and the views as the sun dips into the ocean are unbeatable!
Where is it?
Mismaloya Road is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 22.5193, -101.6438
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Difficulty
- easy
- Coordinates
- 22.5193, -101.6438
Related Roads in north-america
extremeWhere is Sierra Negra?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, picture this: you're in Puebla, Mexico, itching for an adventure, and someone whispers about Sierra Negra. This extinct volcano, also called Cerro La Negra, is nestled near Veracruz in the Pico de Orizaba National Park. The views? Absolutely insane! But here's the catch: the road to the top, also known as Tliltépetl or Volcán Atlitzin, is not for the faint of heart. Forget smooth tarmac – it's all unpaved and seriously bumpy. You absolutely NEED a 4x4 to even think about tackling it. Speaking of tackling, this road is twistier than a pretzel! Hairpin turns galore as you wind your way up. And steep? Oh yeah, some sections hit a crazy 17% gradient. From the town of Atzitzintla, it's about 18.5 km (11.5 miles) to the summit, climbing a staggering 1,849 meters. That's an average gradient of almost 10%! Heads up though: this is serious altitude. We're talking 4,576m (15,013ft) above sea level! The air gets thin, and the weather can be unpredictable. Plus, this road isn't generally open to the public. You need special permission to drive it. But if you can pull it off, you'll be rewarded with views and bragging rights that are out of this world. Oh, and you can check out the Large Millimeter Telescope at the summit, the biggest of its kind!
hardHow to get to San José del Pacífico by car, the paradise of hallucinogenic mushrooms?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along Mexico 175 (aka the Carretera de Puchutla) heading towards the tiny village of San José del Pacífico, nestled high in the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca. At 2500m (8,202ft) above sea level, this place is famous for two things: magic mushrooms and insane cloudscapes. The road? Oh, it's an adventure. All 125 km (77 miles) of it from Copalita up to Barranca Larga. Fully paved, yes, but get ready for super winding roads, hairpin turns, and some seriously steep climbs. If you're heading to Zipolite and Mazunte, you HAVE to take this route. Trust me, it's one of the most stunning – and challenging – drives in the country. San José itself has a fascinating vibe. Back in the day, hippies flocked here seeking enlightenment through the local mushrooms (used in ancient Zapotec rituals, BTW). These days, from June to September, the village gets packed with visitors looking for a spiritual journey of their own. Just remember the region follows its own rules when it comes to "special" plants!
extremeWhy is it called Bloody Basin Road?
🇺🇸 Usa
Bloody Basin Road! Just the name conjures up images of the Wild West, doesn't it? This epic Arizona adventure begins near Black Canyon City, winding right through the Agua Fria National Monument and Tonto National Forest. About that name... legend has it, Bloody Basin Road got its moniker from a fierce battle back in 1873 – the Battle of Turret Peak. History says the army surprised an Apache camp, and during the chaos, some tribal members tragically fell to their deaths from the cliffs. A somber origin story for sure. This isn’t a quick jaunt, folks. We're talking about 42 miles (67.59km) of pure, unadulterated, unpaved road! It’s FR 269, if you're looking for it on a map. The road descends all the way down to the Verde River, where you’ll be greeted by the iconic Sheep Bridge. This 476-foot suspension footbridge has some history itself, originally built in 1943 and then rebuilt in 1989. Located north of Phoenix, it's usually in pretty good shape, but things can change quickly out here. A vehicle with decent clearance is recommended, but you probably won't need 4WD unless it's been raining or you want to explore some of the rockier side trails. Expect a bit of a bumpy ride, especially the last quarter as you drop down to the bridge. Passenger cars can manage, but expect a SLOW and jiggly journey. Keep your eyes peeled for semi-blind curves! It gets brutally hot in the summer, and flash floods can definitely happen after heavy rains, so be prepared. Plan on around 6 hours to soak it all in. You’ll be cruising through some seriously stunning, remote landscapes east of the Agua Fria River and within the Agua Fria National Monument. This drive is all about stopping to soak up the scenery, grabbing lunch in the middle of nowhere, or even setting up camp under the stars. And don't forget to check out the archaeological sites and petroglyphs along the way! The road tops out at 4,993 feet (1,522m) above sea level, offering expansive views on a clear day.
moderateNeedles Highway
🇺🇸 United States
# Needles Highway: A Must-Drive Masterpiece in the Black Hills Buckle up for 22 kilometers of pure scenic magic winding through South Dakota's stunning Black Hills. This isn't just any highway—it's a 1922 engineering marvel that still feels ahead of its time, dreamed up by state highway engineer Scovel Johnson, who was determined to create something that could rival the country's most famous national park drives. What makes Needles Highway absolutely wild is the dramatic granite spires—the "needles" themselves—that tower alongside you as you navigate some seriously tight curves. You'll encounter jaw-dropping pigtail bridges (those spiral overpasses that cleverly gain elevation in tight spaces) and tunnels carved right through solid rock that are almost claustrophobically narrow. The showstopper? The Needles Eye Tunnel, where you're barely squeezing through at 2.4 meters wide and 3.7 meters tall. Fair warning: if you're driving anything larger than a standard car, this road isn't your friend. The Cathedral Spires dominating the landscape have earned this area serious bragging rights as a world-class rock climbing hotspot, and the road threads right past them for maximum drama. Continue into Custer State Park and you'll spot around 1,300 free-roaming bison casually hanging out in their natural habitat.