13 Longest Highways in the US
- US Route 20
- US Route 6
- US Route 30
- Interstate 90
- US Route 50
- Interstate 80
- US Route 2
- Interstate 40
- Interstate 10
- US Route 1
- US Route 64
- Interstate 70
- US Route 52
1. US Route 20
US Route 20 is the longest highway in the US, stretching 3,365 miles from the Pacific Northwest to New England. It begins in Newport, Oregon, and travels eastward through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts. Its journey starts at the intersection with US 101 in Newport and ends in Boston, Massachusetts.
Along the way, US 20 passes through various landscapes and landmarks, including Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and the Missouri River in Iowa. In New York and Massachusetts, it roughly parallels major interstates, providing a scenic alternative route for travelers.
2. US Route 6
US Route 6 is another one of the longest highways in the United States. It stretches across 3,198.87 miles from Bishop, California, to Provincetown, Massachusetts. US Route 6 is also known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Despite its lengthy journey, it takes a diagonal route, making its number stand out among the US routes. Starting at US 395 in Bishop, California, US 6 heads northeast through the semidesert Queen Valley, passing Boundary Peak.
In Utah, it joins US 50 in the remote Great Basin Desert before paralleling or sharing the path with I-70, especially as it heads towards Denver. Moving through states like Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and finally Massachusetts, US 6 travels through various landscapes and urban areas, honoring American Civil War veterans along the way.
3. US Route 30
US Route 30 stretches across the United States, covering a lengthy 3,072 miles. It's the third-longest US Highway, trailing behind US 20 and US 6. Starting at US 101 in Astoria, Oregon, it reaches its eastern end at Virginia Avenue, Absecon Boulevard, and Adriatic Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Beginning in Astoria, it crosses through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and finally New Jersey. Passing through various landscapes and towns, it showcases a diverse slice of American life, from the rural highways of Indiana to the bustling streets of Atlantic City.
4. Interstate 90
Interstate 90, stretching 3,021 miles from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the longest highways in the United States. It journeys through 13 states, including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and New York, serving as a vital artery connecting the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast regions.
With 15 auxiliary routes, it links major cities like Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Rochester. The Chicago stretch sees a bustling average of 306,574 vehicles daily. Starting at Washington State Route 519, it concludes at the eastern terminus of I-84 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
5. US Route 50
US Route 50 stretches a whopping 3,019 miles, starting from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, and reaching all the way to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland. It crosses varied terrains, from the rugged desert and mountains of the western United States to the rural expanses of the Midwest. There, it skirts past farms and stops at major cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, and Cincinnati.
In Nevada, it earns the moniker "The Loneliest Road in America" for its isolated stretches. As it moves eastward, it traverses the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia before finally cutting through the bustling capital, Washington, D.C.
6. Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is a massive highway stretching over 2,900 miles, designated back in 1956. It's the second-longest interstate in the United States, trailing only I-90. Starting from downtown San Francisco, California, it journeys all the way to Teaneck, New Jersey.
Along its route, it passes through major cities like Oakland, Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Des Moines, and Toledo, and it comes close to big cities like Chicago, Cleveland, and New York City. Interestingly, its path closely mirrors the historic Lincoln Highway, which was the first road to span the United States.
7. US Route 2
US Route 2 stretches a long 2,571 miles across America, making it the northernmost east–west highway in the country. It's also the lowest primary-numbered east–west US road. Starting from an interchange with Interstate 5 and State Route 529 in Everett, Washington, the western part of US 2 spans all the way to I-75 in St. Ignace, Michigan. On the other side, the eastern segment begins at US 11 in Rouses Point, New York, and wraps up at I-95 in Houlton, Maine.
8. Interstate 40
Interstate 80, stretching a whopping 2,556.61 miles, is also one of the longest highways in the nation. This mammoth road spans from west to east, cutting through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Along its path, it connects bustling cities such as Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh, and Wilmington. Starting in the Mojave Desert, it ventures through the Colorado Plateau, the southern Rockies, the vast Great Plains, skirting south of the Ozarks, and eventually conquering the Appalachian Mountains.
9. Interstate 10
Established in 1957, Interstate 10 (I-10) spans a whopping 2,460.34 miles, stretching from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 (SR 1, Pacific Coast Highway) in Santa Monica, California, to I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida. This massive roadway connects major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Cruces, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Gulfport, Mobile, Pensacola, and Tallahassee.
Particularly, over one-third of its journey cuts through Texas, where it stretches across the state at its broadest point, showcasing the immense scale and importance of this vital transportation artery.
10. US Route 1
US Route 1 is a big road running up and down the East Coast of the United States. It stretches a long way, about 2,370 miles. Starting at 490 Whitehead Street in Key West, Florida, it heads northward. In Georgia, it goes through quiet countryside areas, passing by marshes and old plantations.
South Carolina sees it winding through mostly rural spots, to the west of I-95. As it reaches the Mid-Atlantic, US 1 gets busy, passing through some of the busiest places on the East Coast. Finally, up in New England, it takes on a smaller role, weaving through big cities on quieter streets.
11. US Route 64
US Route 64 stretches a long way, covering 2,281 miles from its beginning to its end. It was established back in 1926, and later in 1931, it was extended as part of US 64. Starting from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, where it meets US Route 160, it winds through various cities until it reaches its eastern endpoint at NC 12 and US Route 158 in Whalebone Junction, North Carolina.
This highway links major cities like Tulsa, Conway, Memphis, Chattanooga, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount along its route. Additionally, there are several sections of Business US 64, which act as alternate routes to the main highway.
12. Interstate 70
Interstate 70, the penultimate option on our list of longest highways in the US, stretches across 2,171.71 miles from I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to I-695 and Maryland Route 570 (MD 570) in Woodlawn, just outside Baltimore, Maryland. It holds the distinction of being the first Interstate to receive a contract for pavement.
Notably, sections of the Interstate in Missouri and Kansas claim to be the first Interstate in the United States. The construction of I-70 in Colorado and Utah is widely regarded as an engineering marvel, navigating through the challenging terrains of the Eisenhower Tunnel, Glenwood Canyon, and the San Rafael Swell.
13. US Route 52
US Route 52, is also one of the longest highways in the US. It is a significant road traversing the heart of the United States, stretching 2,072 miles from Portal, North Dakota, at the Canada–United States border to Charleston, South Carolina, at Number 2 Meeting Street and White Point Garden along the Charleston Harbor.
Its origins date back to its initial routing along University Avenue between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Over time, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, the highway underwent a gradual shift to its current path along Interstate 94, cementing its importance as a major artery in the central US.