Roads are more than lines between point A and point B. As Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” The longest roads connect places, cultures, and people. At their core, highways are functional components of infrastructure, but they’re also a product of human ingenuity that represents adventure.
It’s no wonder people are so fascinated with road trips. Which roadways across the globe qualify as the world’s longest? Here are a few you should know about.
What Defines the “Longest” Road?
What qualifies a highway to land on the list of the longest roads in the world? Continuous drivable length is perhaps the most important factor, but the longest roads will also connect multiple states or provinces, countries, or even continents.
The Longest Roads and Highways in the World
Roadways that cover large spans offer a convenient and affordable means of travel. They’re also essential to the flow of commerce.
Goods can be shipped by planes, trains, and boats, but at some point, transport by truck is required for local distribution. The longest drivable road in the world, and many others of shorter lengths, contribute to a vast, global network that carries people and goods to every corner of the planet.
The Pan American Highway: The Undisputed Champion
With a length of nearly 19,000 miles (about 30,000 km), stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in North America to Ushuaia, Argentina, in South America, the Pan American Highway is recognized as the longest highway in the world.
It passes through 14 countries and two continents but is interrupted in a section of Panama and Colombia, the roughly 60-mile Darién Gap, due to rough terrain. This section must be crossed by boat.
The Trans-Siberian Highway: Russia’s Vast Network
At just over 6,800 miles (11,000 km), the Trans-Siberian Highway is a network of federal highways that spans Russia from St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea to Vladivostok on the Atlantic Ocean. It passes through notable cities like Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Chelyabinsk.
The Trans-Canada Highway: Coast to Coast Across Canada
The 4,800-mile (nearly 8,000 km) Trans-Canada Highway crosses the country from coast to coast, connecting Victoria, British Columbia on the west coast with St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador in the east. It passes through all 10 provinces of Canada, hitting major cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal.
Australia’s Highway 1: The Scenic Perimeter
This highway in Australia circumnavigates the country and the continent, covering just over 9,000 miles (14,500 km). It is cited as the longest national highway, beating out Russia and Canada, and is the second longest highway in the world.
Notably, it connects six of the seven capital cities on the mainland (excluding Canberra) and crosses the Bass Strait to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania.
Major Continental Highways and Their Impact
Continental highways are a conduit for trade, tourism, and the spread of culture between countries and continents. Although some aren’t as long as others, they still have a major impact in their respective regions.
The Golden Quadrilateral: India’s Highway Network
The Golden Quadrilateral is a 3,600-mile (5,800 km) national highway in India that circles the country and connects the five largest metro areas: Delhi, Agra, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. It not only links the people and cultures of these regions but also industrial and agricultural centers.
The United States Interstate System: A Grid of Possibilities
The United States is a massive country, featuring some of the longest, but also the widest, roads. Texas boasts the biggest highway in the world, with 26 lanes on the Katy Freeway section of I-10. America has 70 interstate highways in the contiguous 48 states, covering almost 49,000 miles (79,000 km) of roadway.
The Future of Long Roads
The world’s longest highways didn’t come into existence overnight. They were the product of careful planning, years of construction, immense expenditure, and, in some cases, several countries working together.
These efforts continue today with the help of new technologies like cloud computing, big data, and AI. New tools that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability are already being used for infrastructure development.
