The longest road in America runs through 12 states (2024)

Story at a glance:

  • The national highway system was first created to a common standard in the 1950s.
  • U.S. Route 20 is the ​​longest road, beginning in Boston at Route 2 and runs through to an intersection with US 101 in Newport, Ore.
  • A dozen states make up U.S. Route 20, covering 3,365 miles of road.

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, better known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, is the national road and highway system that was first created to a common standard of the highway system, 24/7 Wall St. reported.

The highway system covers about 41,000 miles, according tothe official website.

U.S. Route 20, the ​​longest road, begins in Boston at Route 2 and runs through to an intersection with US 101 in Newport, Ore.

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In fact, 12 states make up U.S. Route 20, covering 3,365 miles of road: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts.

Among the 10 longest highways, each runs about 2,400 miles, according to EZ Freight Factoring:

These are the 10 longest highways in America:

  • U.S. Route 20 (3,237 miles)
  • U.S. Route 6 (3,207 miles)
  • I-90 (3,102 miles)
  • U.S. Route 30 (3,073 miles)
  • U.S. Route 50 (3,011 miles)
  • I-80 (2,899 miles)
  • U.S. Route 60 (2,670 miles)
  • U.S. Route 2 (2,580 miles)
  • I-40 (2,555 miles)
  • U.S. Route 12 (2,483 miles)

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  • The longest road in America runs through 12 states (1)
  • The longest road in America runs through 12 states (2)
The longest road in America runs through 12 states (2024)

FAQs

The longest road in America runs through 12 states? ›

US Route 20 is the longest in the United States, spanning 3365 miles and linking the hectic metropolitan landscapes of Boston, Massachusetts, to the tranquil coastal splendor of Newport, Oregon. This transcontinental route runs east to west across the country, passing through landscapes and settlements in 12 states.

What is the longest road in the United States of America? ›

US 20. US Route 20—the longest highway in the land. Route 20 covers 3,237 miles and stretches from Boston to Newport, Oregon.

What is the longest drive in the Americas? ›

According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road". The Pan-American Highway from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Quellón, Chile, and Ushuaia, Argentina, with official and unofficial routes shown in Mexico and Central and South America.

What is the longest Interstate Highway where does it start and where does end how long is it? ›

Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at 3,021 miles (4,862 km). It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and the Northeast, ending in Boston, Massachusetts.

Is I-40 the longest interstate? ›

Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west transcontinental Interstate Highway in the southeastern and southwestern portions of the United States. At a length of 2,556.61 miles (4,114.46 km), it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80.

What's the longest states to drive through? ›

When it comes to driving distance, Alaska is the longest. It's a large territory. To begin with, the journey to Alaska is far less challenging than most people imagine. Traveling from the U.S. to Alaska, it's impossible to ignore the breathtaking grandeur of Mother Nature.

What is the longest road in the United States I-95? ›

With a length of 1,924 miles (3,096 km), I-95 is the longest north–south Interstate and the sixth-longest Interstate Highway overall.

What is the longest trip in the United States? ›

The longest drive between any two cities in the contiguous United States stretches more than 3,600 miles from Cape Flattery, Washington, to Key West, Florida.

What is the farthest you can drive in the United States? ›

Greatest driving distance between any US territory in contiguous lower 48 states (via US highway system): 3,689 miles (5,937 km), from Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, Florida, to Cape Flattery, Washington.

What is the longest distance in the United States? ›

The greatest distance between any two mainland points within the contiguous 48 states is 2,892 miles (4,654 km) from Point Arena, California to West Quoddy Head, Maine.

What is the loneliest road in the United States? ›

In July 1986, Life magazine published an article that gave US 50 in Nevada the name "The Loneliest Road in America". The article portrayed the highway, and rural Nevada, as a place devoid of civilization.

What is the oldest Interstate in the United States? ›

When it opened on Oct. 1, 1940, the Pennsylvania Turnpike gave American motorists their first chance to experience what someday would be known as an "interstate." Pennsylvania calls the turnpike "The Granddaddy of the Pikes."

What is the shortest Interstate in the US? ›

What is the shortest Interstate? The shortest interstate is I-878 in New York City, which is all of seven-tenths of a mile long. That's just 3,696 feet. What is the highest Interstate route number?

What is the straightest Interstate in the US? ›

The longest straight stretch of Interstate anywhere in the Interstate Highway System is the approximately 72 miles (116 km) of I-80 occurring between exit 318 in the Grand Island area and milemarker 390 near Lincoln. Along this length, the road does not vary from an ideally straight line by more than a few yards.

What is the busiest Interstate in the US? ›

The I-5, which slices through the Los Angeles metro area, wears the crown as the busiest highway in the United States, witnessing over half a million vehicle trips daily. In the City of Angels, the I-5 is the lifeblood of regional commerce and a concrete symbol of LA's ceaseless activity.

What is the biggest highway in the USA? ›

US Route 20, part of the US Numbered Highway System, is the longest road in America. U.S. Route 20 covers 3,365 miles from Boston, Massachusetts, to Newport, Oregon. It is currently the longest highway in the country.

What is the longest continuous street in America? ›

Colfax Avenue: The Longest Continuous Street in the USA | Denver International Airport.

What is the longest distance you can drive in the US? ›

The longest drive between any two cities in the contiguous United States stretches more than 3,600 miles from Cape Flattery, Washington, to Key West, Florida. That's according to the research team at World Geography website StudyCountry.com, which took this curiosity a step further.

Is it true that Route 66 is the longest road in America? ›

Route 66 was not America's oldest or longest road, surpassed by transcontinental highways like U.S. Highway 40 and the Lincoln Highway. But it was the shortest, year-round route between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast. Route 20 is the longest U.S. highway, spanning 3,365 miles.

What is the longest road in the US with no turns? ›

ND-46 W (USA): 194km (121mi)

North Dakota claims its Highway 46 is the longest straight road in the US and Canada.

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