Atlantic City Road (South Pass)

Atlantic City Road cuts through the heart of South Pass, following wagon ruts where 400,000 pioneers crossed the Continental Divide on the Oregon Trail. The 28-mile route climbs from Highway 28 through sagebrush flats and granite outcrops to the weathered buildings of Atlantic City, a gold rush town that hung on longer than most. You’ll pass the actual Oregon Trail crossing at South Pass—a broad, gentle saddle that doesn’t feel like crossing the spine of a continent until you realize you’re standing at 7,550 feet.

This is an easy high-clearance route suitable for any SUV or truck, though spring mud and winter snow close it seasonally. The gravel road has some washboard sections but nothing technical. Best tackled May through October when Atlantic City’s few year-round residents might wave from their porches. Bring your own water and plan for dispersed camping along the route. You’re driving through the crossroads of American westward expansion—that’s worth the dust and washboard any day.