Loud music playing, the wind in your hair, the open road underneath you, and tons of snacks. These are the best parts of going on a road trip, along with, of course, whatever amazing destination you're headed toward.
Traveling is always full of both the good and the bad, from seeing beautiful sights to being delayed and feeling exhausted. And road trips have some not so great parts as well.
If you're planning on a road trip throughout the United States, there are some stops that might not be super safe, along with some places that you really do have to see in order to make your trip the best one ever.
Read on to find out 10 of the most dangerous stops you don't want to make on your U.S. road trip, along with 10 favorites.
20 Dangerous: Arizona's I-10 Is The Worst Since It's The Desert
Driving through the desert might sound beautiful and peaceful, but it isn't always that way.
As Insider says of Arizona's 1-10 from Phoenix to California, it's "particularly dangerous, sending drivers straight through the desert." This might not be a stop that you want to make when driving through the U.S.
19 Favorite: Sedona's Red Rock Canyon Can't Be Missed
According to this Reddit post, people think that you should definitely go to Red Rock Canyon in Sedona. As one person shared, "It's one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen. It's like someone took a paintbrush and painted the entire desert."
It does look amazing. Just imagine all the cool social media pics.
18 Dangerous: Skip Arizona's Interstate 10 As It Can Get Dicey
Some people feel nervous whenever they have to drive on the highway, and if you're a really anxious driver, then Arizona's Interstate 10 might not be the place for you.
According to Sky Scanner, this can be a pretty dangerous place to drive. There has been a really high number of accidents and things get worse because it's the desert.
17 Favorite: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada Is Beautiful
According to My Domaine, Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is a place that you definitely want to check out.
Just imagine getting out of the car and stretching your legs here. It would be absolutely breathtaking and you might never want to leave. It's close to Las Vegas so it would be fun to go to Vegas and then drive over here.
16 Dangerous: There Are Zero Guardrails On Million Dollar Highway, Colorado (Yikes)
Sky Scanner says that Million Dollar Highway in Colorado is dangerous because there aren't the typical guardrails that you would be expecting. Just look at how the road curves. That doesn't seem like a good idea.
Thinking about driving down this highway is definitely scary, even though based on this pic alone, we can see that it is really beautiful...
15 Favorite: The Grand Canyon Is A Must
My Domaine says "No American road trip would be complete without a stop at the Grand Canyon" and that is totally true.
When you're heading out onto the open road next, you should consider stopping here and making it part of your overall travel plan. It would be so amazing to see it firsthand after hearing about it for so long.
14 Dangerous: You Can't Even Rent A Car If You're Going On Alaska's James Dalton Highway
James Dalton Highway in Alaska is another dangerous place that you want to skip.
According to Best Life, if you're trying to rent a car in this area and they know that you're heading there, the company is going to be nervous about letting you do that. Based on that fact alone, we can see that it sounds pretty sketchy.
13 Favorite: Monument Valley Will Totally Take Your Breath Away
Another favorite stop that you absolutely have to make is Monument Valley. It's located in Arizona and will be perfect for photographers or anyone who just loves gorgeous settings.
Hand Luggage Only says of this place, "Take your car through this 17-mile trail that weaves through this stunning landscape to enjoy the views."
12 Dangerous: California State Route 138 Is Super Scary
According to Popular Mechanics, California State Route 138 isn't a great road to drive down, so it sounds like this is something that you want to miss on your next road trip.
The website says that the name for this place is "death road" which is not really what we want to hear...
11 Favorite: Oregon's Historic Columbia River Is Gorgeous
Travel + Leisure suggests checking out Historic Columbia River in Oregon. The publication calls this a "great feat of engineering" because of the waterfalls.
From this picture alone, we can see that it's incredibly peaceful and gorgeous. This seems like a good pick if you're going on a road trip in the spring or fall months since you could see the changing trees.
10 Dangerous: Skip South Carolina's I-26 As People Crash Into Ditches And Trees
According to Popular Mechanics, 1-26 in South Carolina isn't the safest, and people crash into ditches and trees sometimes. That doesn't make us feel super confident about making our way down that road...
Since highway driving can be nerve-wracking even for people who don't mind it, it sounds like we should skip this particular place.
9 Favorite: Stop In Cape Cod For The Charm
Vroomvroomvroom.com says that you have to go to Cape Cod for a "scenic drive" and it does seem like a beautiful place.
You've probably heard of Cape Cod as a summer destination as it's known for great weather and lobster, so it would be a nice place to stop by during your summer 2020 road trip.
8 Dangerous: Rhode Island Wasn't Considered Super Safe
Rhode Island is known as being an adorable state and it is a really nice place to go in the summer.
But Travel + Leisure says that Rhode Island "scored 48th for cost, 6th for safety" so it doesn't sound like the safest place to stop by on your next road trip.
7 Favorite: Badlands National Park Will Be A Magical Drive
Another favorite stop that you should definitely visit is Badlands National Park, according to National Geographic.
This would be another awesome place to stop, stretch your legs, get out and walk around, and take some epic photos. You would remember this place forever and the views would really stick with you.
6 Dangerous: Highway 1 In Florida Won't Be Much Fun
Of Florida's Highway 1, Insider says, "In fact, 1,079 people have died on the road in the last 10 years alone."
That's a really high number and so it does sound like an incredibly dangerous place to drive. Perhaps you should skip Florida as a road trip destination and fly to the beach instead?
5 Favorite: Don't Miss Pacific Coast Highway In California For The Most Epic Trip Ever
Vroomvroomvroom.com suggests driving down Pacific Coast Highway in California.
You've probably heard about the epic and magical highways in California, as they offer up the most incredible views of the water and sky and land that you really have to see to believe. Just imagine the memories that you and your friends can make here.
4 Dangerous: Too Many Drivers Have Partied Too Much On I-15's Road From LA To Vegas
Popular Mechanics suggests skipping I-15 from LA To Vegas as people tend to party a bit too hard and then drive down there, which can definitely result in some sketchy and dangerous situations. That's really good to know, right? If you're around that area and need to drive, perhaps there's an alternative route that would be better.
3 Favorite: Stop In Seattle To Go To Pike Place Market
According to Hand Luggage Only, you should go to Seattle on a road trip and go to Pike Place Market. This is where the first Starbucks location opened, so this will not only be a gorgeous place to snap pictures but if you're a coffee fan, it's going to be really fun.
2 Dangerous: Highway 2 In Montona Is A Bad Place To Get Into An Accident
According to Sky Scanner, Highway 2 in Montona isn't the safest place to drive because if you get into an accident, it would take over an hour to get an ambulance to pick you up.
That is nerve-racking because you never know what will happen and you do want to know that help would be on the way in a timely manner.
1 Favorite: Drive Down Blue Ridge Parkway In Virginia In Autumn
Vroomvroomvroom.com says that when Autumn comes, you have to check out Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. As the website explains, the colors that you will see in the fall are "scarlet sourwoods to deep reds and vibrant yellows."
That sounds beautiful. We can't wait for next fall and our bags are already packed.