When it comes to the majesty that the U.S. has to offer, there’s arguably no better way to take it all in than by jumping in your car and cruising down the highway. Road trips are as American as baseball and apple pie, and they offer a one-of-a-kind way to soak in the country’s bountiful natural splendor, as seen in this most scenic road trip route boasting the absolute best of the West.
While any state is worth touring via a road trip, Arizona seems custom-made for such explorations. With its rugged mountains, mesas, and wide-open desert landscapes — such as this awe-inspiring national park — driving through Arizona is at once romantic and otherworldly. The Grand Canyon State is a road tripper’s paradise and is also criss-crossed by a network of well-maintained routes and highways that allow you to access every corner of this alluring western destination.
However, heading out on a road trip doesn’t come without risks, and here’s where Arizona falls short. Already infamous for this dangerous highway that may be best to avoid, as well as this historic route that is as scenic as it is dangerous, Arizona has recently gained national attention for deaths on some of its more prominent stretches of pavement. The open space that the state offers in spades makes it far too easy for drivers to step on the gas and approach velocities that put everyone in danger, so it pays to know which Arizona roads are most dangerous. In fact, a recent study showed that Arizona is home to 5 out of the 10 most dangerous roads for speeding in the entire country. Here’s what to know.
Speed kills, especially in Arizona
According to a recently released study by TruckInfo.net, the fatality rate on Arizona’s roads due to speeding is one of highest in the U.S. Five of its highways made the website’s top 10 most dangerous roadways in the country for speeding-related deaths, a distinction that no other state even comes close to matching. The study released in 2025, but used data from 2022 to make its analysis.
The deadliest road was Arizona’s stretch of Interstate 10 through Maricopa County, which — with 17 fatalities during the time of the study — came in second place overall (after I-15 in San Bernardino, California). Other Arizona highways that made the list included US-60 through Maricopa County, I-40 through Coconino County, Pinal County’s stretch of I-10, and Maricopa County’s section of I-17.
Maricopa County — which is home to the Phoenix metropolitan area — had the second-highest number of total speeding-related deaths in the country, with 232 fatalities recorded. Arizona also joined the illustrious ranks of South Carolina and Wyoming by having the most fatalities per “vehicle mile traveled” in all of the U.S., proving once again people are driving way too fast on its roads.
How to stay safe on Arizona’s roads
