Some bridges are engineering marvels that happen to trigger every fear response in your nervous system. Whether it’s the dizzying height, the narrow lanes, or the fact that you’re suspended over churning water with nowhere to pull over, certain crossings turn even confident drivers into white-knuckle passengers in their own cars.
Here’s a list of 15 US bridges that are genuinely scary to drive across.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
This 17.6-mile crossing between Virginia’s Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach isn’t just long—it’s relentlessly exposed. You’re driving across open water with waves visible on both sides, and the bridge includes two mile-long tunnels that dip beneath shipping channels.
When wind picks up, which it frequently does, smaller vehicles get buffeted sideways, and there’s no shoulder to escape to if anxiety kicks in.
Royal Gorge Bridge
Suspended 955 feet above the Arkansas River in Colorado, this bridge holds the title of one of America’s highest suspension bridges. The wooden plank roadway and the sheer drop visible through the gaps make it feel more like a theme park attraction than actual infrastructure…