Driving on any sort of road can be a harrowing challenge on a regular old road trip. It's easy to get preoccupied with dodging other bad drivers or pedestrians, but still, those scenarios get a little trickier when the roads themselves involve pretty beautiful scenery, but also pretty terrifying conditions.
1. Skippers Canyon Road, Queenstown, New Zealand
Recently ranked as one of the 22 most dangerous roads in the world, we advise praying to whatever deity you believe in before making this drive, because it's going to be a doozy. It's perfect for thrill seekers though -- some of whom are now paying upwards of $385,000 to take the sports car of their choice out on the roadway.
2. Pali Highway, Oahu, Hawaii
The section of the Pali Highway leading up to the Nu'uanu Pali lookout may be steeped in history, but it's also a highway on a steep cliff, filled with winding roads and the occasional haole that isn't concentrating on the road. Anyone who's more interested in taking in the Koʻolau mountains than the car in front of them needs to get out of the way!
3. Ring of Kerry, Ireland
This jaw-dropping scenic route is well known for its incredible views of woodlands ferns and waterfalls. It's also known for tourists accidentally driving the wrong way when their GPS leads them astray.
4. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
This road isn't nicknamed "El Camino del Muerte" (The Road of Death) for nothing. 200 to 300 people die each year on the 12-foot-wide road, known for its aggressive drivers, falling rocks and perpetual mudslides, leading us to one conclusion -- no guardrails, no driving for us.
5. Los Caracoles Pass, Chile
Winding through the Andes Mountains, this path is really for experienced drivers or locals only. We don't envy anyone who has to navigate these extreme inclines in the snow on their way to Chile or Argentina.