The Most Dangerous Road in Each State

America is a nation of roads. In many ways, roads keep us connected, weaving into one another, allowing us to freely pass state lines. Roads allow us to visit family, travel to new places, and take in the country as a whole. Zipping down the highway in an automobile can be one of the most relaxing weekend experiences, provided you are on the right path. 

While there are plenty of safe roads to travel with gorgeous views to behold, there are other roads where you need to be a lot more vigilant. Some roads, you may even want to avoid entirely if you can help it. We've compiled a list of the most dangerous roads in the country, based on the average number of fatalities that occur each year. Many of these roads are extremely busy, making fatal crashes inevitable. Remember that Robert Frost took the road less traveled by. Why? Because he knew the other one would kill him! 

Okay, maybe that's not what he meant - but the point is there's an advantage in taking the road less traveled. With that said, here are the most dangerous roads in each state. Avoid these roads or travel at your own risk…

Interstate 80 is easily one of the most dangerous roads in the country, so expect to see it on this list more than once.  Nevertheless, Wyoming is one of the states that is well-aware of its dangers.

Passing through the southern part of the state, the I-80 stretch in Wyoming has seen an average of 21 fatalities each year. And when you consider that Wyoming only has a population of about 578,759, it's kind of a big deal.

The US 7 in Vermont passes through the entire state, so it may be difficult to avoid. Considering that - it's important to make sure you are extra cautious when using it.

The 308-mile-long road, which passes through Massachusetts and Connecticut as well, sees an average of 5.5 deaths every year. It intersects with Interstate 89 multiple times, so consider taking that road if it gets you to where you are going.

This state road is, of course, located solely in the state of Alaska. It runs for 323 miles, from Anchorage to Fairbanks, which is why it was originally referred to as the Anchorage-Fairbanks Highway.

Out of all of Alaska's roads, Route 3 is the most dangerous one. Each year there are around four deaths on this road. Don't let it be your last frontier.

The US Route 2 highway extends 2,571 miles along the northernmost continental United States. But out of all the states, it passes through, North Dakota suffers the most. 

On North Dakota's US Route 2 stretch, the state sees an annual average of 10 fatalities. This four-lane highway should be used with extreme caution.

Along the US 18 highway in South Dakota, there has been an average of 5.5 fatalities annually. The road starts in Edgemont and passes through Hot Springs, two Indian reservations and even crosses the Missouri River.

Thus far, there have been 48 crashes and 55 fatalities reported along this highway with a fatal crash rate of 1.4. So, if you need to use US Route 18, err on the side of caution. Don't be another statistic!

The US Route 13 in Delaware has seen 103 crashes in a span of ten years. Out of all crashes in that time, there were 112 deaths. That puts the average number of deaths per year at 11!

That's twice the number of deaths compared to most of the roads on the list thus far. Going through the entire state of Delaware, this may be a tough road to avoid if you are in a hurry but remember to drive safely. Getting there in one piece is more important than getting there on-time. 

The Interstate 95 highway is the main highway of the East Coast United States, starting in Maine and ending in Florida. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, and the Interstate 95 stretch that passes through the state is only 50 miles long.

But even on such a short stretch, Rhode Island has come to expect around four deaths each year. Over the course of 10 years (2008 to 2017), there has been 39 crashes and 40 people killed in accidents.

The US Route 2 in Montana is ideal for traveling to Glacier National Park but visitors should be well aware of the road's dangers. Over 10 years, there were a reported 130 crashes and 152 fatalities related to accidents.

This puts the average number of deaths per year along the US Route 2 stretch in Montana at 15 people annually. That's triple the number of most roads included so far!

The US Route 1 goes along the entire east coast of Maine. It is over 526 miles long. And while it provides a better view than the Interstate 95 highway, it's not without its dangers as well.

The US 1 highway has seen 10 fatalities each year among drivers traveling along the coast. Its 10-year record showed 89 crashes and 99 fatalities.

The I-93 is the most notorious road in New Hampshire, although the number of fatalities and crashes are a lot lower compared to other states. Over 10 years, there were 57 crashes and 60 fatalities – not great numbers by any means, but likely lower due to the size of the state.

The I-93 has an average of six people killed in accidents each year. It starts in Canton, Massachusetts and ends in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Route 11 in Hawaii is, of course, located exclusively in the state. Part of the Hawaii Belt Road that circles along Hawaii's largest island, this road is particularly dangerous.

On Route 11, Hawaiians have had an average of 7.2 fatalities. Out of 61 crashes, 72 people were killed on this road between 2008 and 2017.

The US 19 stretch in West Virginia is truly brutal. The state saw 101 crashes over 10 years and 111 fatalities. Taking these numbers into consideration, the average number of people killed on US Route 19 is 11.

US Route 19 is a massive road that stretches 1,438 miles. It goes from Pennsylvania to Florida, connecting Lake Erie and the Gulf of Mexico. 

The US Route 95 in Idaho covers up to 538 miles across most of the state. Along that stretch, there is a fatal crash rate of 1.1, where there 163 fatalities over 10 years.

The average number of deaths per year is estimated at 16. More people have died on this road than any other in the state.

We said, you'd see it again and we weren't lying. Interstate 80 is just as dangerous for the people of Nebraska as it is for those in Wyoming.

Like Wyoming, Nebraska has an average of 21 fatalities every year along Interstate 80. However, the state has a population about twice the number of Wyoming – so there's that at least.

The Interstate 40 highway is another one of the country's most dangerous highways, and arguably more dangerous than Interstate 80 for many people. It's particularly dangerous for those in New Mexico.

New Mexico residents and travelers know just how deadly interstate 40 can be. There's an average of 40 annual deaths on the I-40 – wow, how appropriate…

The Interstate 70 highway is another major highway in the US, connecting the eastern and western United States. It extends 2,151 miles, beginning in Maryland and Ending in Utah.

It can be dangerous for anyone but for people living in Kansas, it is especially dangerous. The I-70 highway has seen 15.5 people die each year along the Kansas stretch with over 155 fatalities in a 10-year span.

The US 61 route in Mississippi has seen 120 deaths over 10 years since 2008. The road, which travels through western Mississippi has had about 14 fatalities each year.

The massive road extends about 1,400 miles, from Minnesota to Louisiana. Since 1990, the Mississippi stretch has undergone numerous upgrades and expansions.

The US Route 65 mainly passes through Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas, but starts in Minnesota and ends in Louisiana. It is about 1,407 miles long.

The US Route 65 has about 14 fatalities per year in Arkansas. The "good news," at least, is that the number of crashes exceeds the number of fatalities In 10 years, there were 143 crashes and 120 deaths.

Nevada drivers are also in a world of trouble when it comes to Interstate 80. Current estimates place the annual fatalities along this road at 17. But at least it's not 21…right?

The I-80 stretches through Nevada starting in California and ending in Utah. It passes directly through Reno, so if you are going there, you'll need to be careful.

Yes, again…Interstate 80 in Iowa, which runs through Des Moines and Iowa City is bad news for Iowans. Along this road, about 19 people die in car crashes every year.

To make matters worse, the number of fatalities exceeds the number of crashes. Over a decade, there were 188 fatalities and 154 crashes.

The US Route 89 is 1,252 miles and runs through central Utah. Constructed in 1926, its almost a century old. But while it may be old, it's not always reliable.

Reckless driving has caused the death of 13 people each year in Utah. Over 10 years, there were 131 reported fatalities in total.

Interstate 95, just as with those in Rhode Island, is also a dangerous path for the people of Connecticut – if not more so. On the Connecticut stretch, there is an average of 16.4 deaths annually.

Out of 147 crashes in 10 years, there were 164 fatalities. The route runs along the southern border of the state.

Oklahoma residents can tell you just how bad US 69 can get. More than 15 people on average will die on this road each year. For a little perspective, there were 155 fatalities and 132 crashes from 2008 to 2017.

The road is now 1,136 miles in length and has become a major highway. However, when it began it was just 150 miles long.

The US Route 101 in Oregon runs along the state's coast. It's great for a scenic drive, but you have to be at full alert if you plan to take it.

About 14 people are killed on US Route 101 in Oregon. It was last reported that there were 140 fatalities and 125 crashes between 2008 through 2017.

The Kentucky US Route 62 stretch can be a real problem for Kentucky residents and travelers. There have been 115 crashes and 124 fatalities over 10 years.

The average number of deaths each year is about 12 per year, and unless people start driving better, that's not likely to change. Better luck this year…hopefully.

The Louisiana US Route 90 suffers from a staggering 29.5 deaths per year. From 2008 to 2017, there were 271 crashes in total in the section of Route 90 and 295 fatalities. The road stretches across the southernmost states of the US. In 2005, many of the highway's bridges were destroyed in Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina.

Interstate 65 in Alabama is exceptionally dangerous. There have been 336 crashes in a 10-year period and 389 fatalities.

An average of 33 people have died each year on this highway. The total length of the road is just 887.30 miles, going from Illinois to Alabama.

Interstate 95 appears again on this list but this time in South Carolina. Each year on the South Carolina section of the I-95, around 30 people die.

Starting in 2008 and over 10 years, there were 244 crashes and 301 fatalities. This makes the number of deaths significantly higher than the number of fatal incidents, which means more people were killed while driving with another person.

Generally, Minnesota's death totals are quite low considering its 5 Million+ population. There were only 60 crashes in a period of 10 years and 68 fatalities.

The US 169 crash rates indicate an average of 7 fatalities annually. It's not good but it's not too terrible either.

Colorado's US 160 route doesn't have too many crashes either but when it does have them, it's really bad. There were 111 crashes from 2008 through 2017 and 135 fatalities in total.

The total number of fatalities each year is about 11 on this highway. Considering it’s a 1,465-mile highway and a third of it is located in Colorado, things could be a lot worse.

Connecting the Great Plains and the Great Lakes, the I-94 is ideal for travelers but, of course, you need to drive cautiously.  Let's take a look at the statistics to get a better idea of what to expect.

The I-94 has about 13 fatalities per year along the road. There were 115 crashes and 132 fatalities in a 10-year span of time.

The US Route 1 is the longest North-South road in the country at 2,369 miles. At that length, surely the death totals must be high?

And you'd be right - in part. Maryland contains only a small section of the road and yet there are 13.5 deaths each year.

The Missouri US Route 63 is a major northbound and southbound highway in the Midwest. It is a total of 1,286 miles. The Missouri section is about 338 miles.

In that relatively small stretch of the highway, there are 18 people killed every year in an accident. From 2008 to 2017, there were 158 crashes and 179 fatalities.

Indiana is well known for its motor speedways and it seems its drivers also think they are on a motor speedway when they commute to work.

The US 41 route in Indiana has had 106 crashes and 111 fatalities over 10 years. The average number of annual fatalities is 11.1. Slow down there, guys.

The Interstate 40 section in Tennessee has a downright shocking number of deaths each year. About 52 people are killed in car crashes along the I-40.

The road runs through Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. Along this highway, 517 were killed in a 10-year period among 437 crashes. Yikes!

Massachusetts has a population of 6.893 million, which is pretty huge - but luckily car crashes aren't a huge problem along the I-495. There are about 9.5 deaths each year.

Out of 87 crashes, there were 95 fatalities. That's certainly not the worst on the list but there's always room for improvement when it comes to people's lives in the balance.

The Arizona I-40 segment suffers from 35 fatalities every year, making it the most dangerous road in the state. Out of 249 crashes, there were 293 fatalities reported.

Unfortunately, if you are planning to visit the Grand Canyon, it might be hard to avoid I-40 as there are multiple exits leading to the Grand Canyon National Park. Altogether the I-40 covers 359 miles in Arizona.

The I-5 is the main highway running along the west coast of the United States. The North-South highway travels through Washington, Oregon and the entire coast of California, yet Washington has the greatest number of fatal crashes.

The I-5 in Washington has 26 fatalities every year. There were 245 crashes altogether from 2008 through 2017 and 258 fatalities in total.

The US Route 460 stretches for 655 miles, from Virginia to Kentucky. With that said, the number of fatalities in this somewhat small stretch will surprise you.

Among 190 crashes there were 208 fatalities in Virginia. Each year, there are around 21 deaths along this route.

The New Jersey US 130 route is located solely in the state. It is 83.46 miles long and is northeast-southwest bound.

Each year, 11 people are killed along this highway. Fatalities and the number of crashes are about the same at 112 and 111, respectively.

The US 31 route in Michigan is the most dangerous road in the state with 12 deaths per year, on average. Over 10 years, there were 111 crashes and 123 fatalities.

The US 31 route runs from Michigan all the way to Alabama. It is 1,280 miles in total.

The Interstate 95 section in North Carolina runs diagonally across the state. It stretches 181.71 miles, mostly allowing for easy travel through rural areas – although, not necessarily safe travel.

The I-95 stretch sees 24 deaths annually. Of 201 crashes, 240 people were killed in 10 years.

The Georgia State Route 11 has been the doom of 14 people each year since 2008. Among 124 crashes, there were about 141 fatalities.

State Route 11 is a 376-mile-long highway that has been around since 1919. It stretches across the entire length of the state.

The I-71 highway in Ohio has contributed to the death of 19 people each year. Of 186 crashes, 194 people have been killed over a decade's time.

Running diagonally across the state, the I-71 is an essential road for many travelers. It is just 343.78 miles.

The US Route 45 Illinois stretch has been the site of around 11 fatalities each year. Among 100 crashes, 112 fatalities were reported.

The entire route is 1,297 miles long. The Illinois section takes up 428.99 miles, which is about a third of it.

You missed it, so it's back on the list! The I-80 highway is a danger to the 11.5 people who are killed each year.

From 2008 to 2017, 106 crashes and 115 fatalities make this the most dangerous road in the state. The highway travels west-east bound.

The 333.49-mile-long highway is a northbound-southbound highway that passes through much of rural New York. It begins, however, in New York City – the Bronx to be more exact.

On I-87, there are about 19 fatalities each year. There have been 156 crashes and 188 fatalities over a 10-year span.

The US Route 1 in Florida runs for 545 miles, along the state's east coast – all the way from Key West. This section of US 1 is not only the most dangerous in the state, but the entire country!

There has been over 1011 fatal crashes from 2008 to 2017 and a whopping 1079 fatalities. Each year, there are 108 fatal incidents on US 1 in Florida – and that's the highest average number of highway deaths per year, bar none.

The US 83 route in Texas is a rural highway that offers a beautiful view of the Texas landscape. But every so often, you may also be a witness to a horrific accident.

Each year there are about 34 fatal accidents in the state, along the US 83. This highway is located exclusively in the state of Texas.

Knowing California is the most populated state in the country, you might expect there to be more crashes there than anywhere else – especially with all the traffic jams. However, in California, you have to drive everywhere, so all the driving experience must be the reason for all the relatively low fatalities.

In California, the most dangerous road, a small section of the I-40, accounts for just 136 fatalities among 116 crashes. On average, 11 people die on the freeway. And that's really shocking when you consider all the people speeding on the freeway, not indicating when changing lanes, using cell phones and well…you get the point.