The Longest Road in the U.S. Stretches From Boston to Oregon

This coast-to-coast champion stretches from Boston, Massachusetts, to Newport, Oregon, running farther north than most other major east-west routes. The historic route carves through the northern United States, linking bustling cities, quaint towns and national parks.

Known also as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Route 20 intersects with other historic paths like the Lincoln Highway and meets both the east entrance and west entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

It continues west through Salt Lake City, over the Rocky Mountains and ends near the Pacific Ocean, offering an epic road trip for the ages.

Originally a transcontinental route stretching from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Long Beach, California, Route 6 now ends in Bishop, California.

Despite the shortened path, it remains a massive stretch across America and part of the numbered highway system.

This is the longest interstate highway, starting in Boston and ending in Seattle. It's a major artery in the interstate highway system and the Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, built for both travel and strategic movement.

Mimicking the path of the Lincoln Highway, Route 30 runs from Atlantic City, New Jersey, through Kansas City and Sioux City, before ending in Astoria, Oregon. It’s still one of the great cross-country journey options.

From Ocean City, Maryland, to Sacramento, California, Route 50 hits the Appalachian Mountains and rolls through breathtaking landscapes. It's a true highway system icon.

As part of the defense highways network, I-80 starts in San Francisco and ends in Teaneck, New Jersey, running parallel to historic paths like the Lincoln Highway.

Route 60 — from Virginia Beach to Quartzsite, Arizona — connects major cities and rural spaces alike, offering a more direct route for cross-country travelers.

Hugging the Idaho-Montana border and running from Houlton, Maine, to Everett, Washington, Route 2 is a quiet but essential east-west connector.

Following the East Coast from Fort Kent, Maine, to Key West, Florida, U.S. Route 1 is a staple of the main street and Boston Post Road legacy.

A legendary state highway, Route 101 travels up the West Coast, from Los Angeles to Tumwater, Washington, often paralleling the Pacific Ocean.

This route from Atlantic, North Carolina, to Globe, Arizona, cuts across South Dakota, Arkansas, and more, bridging east-west corridors through the country’s center.

Starting in Aberdeen, Washington, and ending in Detroit, Michigan, Route 12 runs through South Bend and Michigan City, weaving into the greater highway reaches.

Part of the interstate system, I-40 stretches from Barstow, California, to Wilmington, North Carolina, hitting major east-west routes and vibrant cities like Nashville.

From Miami to Copper Harbor, Michigan, Route 41 slices through America’s heartland and past the Mississippi River, offering views of bustling streets and serene lakes.

This road follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains — from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Rouses Point, New York — shadowing old trade paths.

Spanning almost 19,000 miles (30,578 km), the Pan-American Highway is located exactly where the name implies: across North and South America.

Composed of several routes including U.S. Route 101, the U.S. part of the Pan-American Highway starts in San Diego, but the U.S. portions aren't a continuous stretch of highway that can be directly measured.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.