world's longest trip

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

The 10 Longest Nonstop Flights in the World (From a Points and Miles Perspective)

Erin Miller

Content Contributor

188 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 26 U.S. States Visited: 28

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

29 Published Articles 3084 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 45 U.S. States Visited: 28

Michael Y. Park

14 Published Articles 150 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 60+ U.S. States Visited: 50

1. Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK) on Singapore Airlines: 9,537 Miles

What happened to cathay pacific, 2. singapore (sin) to newark (ewr) on singapore airlines: 9,535 miles, 3. doha (doh) to auckland (akl) on qatar airways: 9,032 miles, 4. perth (per) to london (lhr) on qantas: 9,009 miles, 5. melbourne (mel) to dallas (dfw) on qantas: 8,992 miles, 6. auckland (akl) to new york (jfk) on air new zealand : 8,828 miles, 7. dubai (dxb) to auckland (akl) on emirates: 8,824 miles, 8. singapore (sin) to los angeles (lax) on singapore airlines: 8,770 miles, 9. bengaluru (blr) to san francisco (sfo) on air india: 8,701 miles, 10. houston (iah) to sydney (syd) on united airlines: 8,596 miles, mapping the flights, boeing 777-200lr, boeing 787-9 dreamliner, airbus a350-900ulr, airbus a350-1000, airbus a380-800, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re a true points-and-miles geek, here’s a quick test:

You’ve just booked a nearly 10,000-mile, 17-hour ultra-long-haul flight. What’s your immediate reaction?

• You cringe at the thought of most of a day spent in a cramped economy seat.
• You pop the bubbly, either literally or metaphorically.

If you answered the latter, you’re probably the kind of travel-hacking ninja who’s been ecstatic about the increasing number of ultra-long-haul flights. Heck, you may have already joined the legions of points nerds who go out of their way to hop on the longest commercial flights in the world. (Guilty!)

So why would anyone willingly subject themselves to nearly 10,000 miles and more than 17 hours on a tin can 40,000 feet in the air? Because they’re probably not flying economy.

For points-and-miles geeks, jetting around the world on one of the longest nonstop flights in existence means they get to maximize their time on the truly fantastic products they and their friends aspire to. It’s a big redemption win for hard-earned miles!

To that end, we’re diving into the 10 longest nonstop flights in the world and what they’re worth from a points perspective — along with fun facts about the aircraft primed to get you to your destination.

And if you didn’t pass the points-and-miles geek test this time, one of these fabulous redemptions might convert you!

The Top 10 Longest Nonstop Flights in the World

Airlines use nautical miles, not on-the-ground miles. Every nautical mile is equal to a little over 1.15 land-based, or statute, miles. However, for the purposes of this article, we’re sticking to the more familiar statute miles unless otherwise stated. We’re also not including the return flights on the same routes.

Scheduled flight time: 18 hours, 50 minutes Flight Number : SQ 24 Aircraft:  Airbus   A350-900ULR Best business class redemption: 111,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles one-way (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards , Brex Rewards , Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy )

Though it was temporarily dethroned last winter by Cathay Pacific’s improvised Hong Kong-to-New York route (keep reading to find out why), Singapore Airlines has again regained its crown for longest-distance commercial flight.

• Watch all 7 movies in the “Mission Impossible” franchise, “Top Gun,” and “Top Gun: Maverick” and still have about 25 minutes left over — or enough time to catch much of the 2005 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” with that infamous couch-jumping interview with Tom Cruise.
• Mileage-wise, drive from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, and back again — and then turn around and drive to Portland, Oregon 1 more time.

The A350-900ULR on this route uses 94 premium economy and 67 business class seats.

These incredibly long flights halfway around the world won’t pay for themselves! Before you pack your bags, think about what you’re packing in your wallet: Check out our guide to the best credit cards for travelers .

Though Singapore Airlines has long ruled the roost of long-distance flights, it wasn’t on top from 2022 to early 2023. That’s when Cathay Pacific flew A350-1000s from New York City (JFK) to Hong Kong (HKG), listed at 10,326 miles for 17 hours and 50 minutes. Cathay Pacific pilots relied on strong but seasonal tailwinds to make the flight possible without consuming too much fuel.

Cathay Pacific chose this incredibly long flight path because of the Russia-Ukraine war. The short-lived route took planes over the Atlantic Ocean, over the U.K., through southern Europe, and over parts of Central Asia to avoid flying through Russian airspace.

Japan Airlines similarly did a temporary, much longer rerouting for flights from Tokyo to London for the same reason, going eastbound over the Pacific instead of westbound through Russia. Cathay Pacific has since returned to a more conventional flight plan over the Pacific with a shorter official flight distance of just over 8,000 miles.

• In terms of time, the temporary Cathay Pacific JFK to HKG route was long enough to watch all 10 of the “Star Trek” feature films in which James T. Kirk is the lead character (i.e., all of the original series and J.J. Abrams-reboot movies but omitting the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” films), with 1 minute to spare.
• It was also about the same distance as driving from the southernmost point in the continental U.S. — Key West, Florida — to the northernmost U.S. settlement —- Utqiagvik, Alaska, formerly known as Barrow — then deciding it was too cold and driving back down to sunny San Antonio, Texas, instead. By the way, you should never attempt to drive to Utqiagvik, even in a snowcat, during the short window when the sea ice is solid enough for some crossings.

Want to make the whole longest-flight-in-the-world debate even more confusing? Despite airlines’ listed flight distances for routes, pilots routinely take advantage of conditions like jet streams, which can shorten the flight time but increase the distance. So, though the official flight distance of SQ 24 is around 9,500 statute miles, in reality, it’s not unheard of for pilots on the route to actually cover more like 10,700 statute miles.)

Bottom line? Don’t take “official” records for longest flights too seriously.

Scheduled flight time: 18 hours, 25 minutes Flight number: SQ 22 Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR Best business class redemption: 111,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles one-way (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all of the original “Harry Potter” movies (“Sorcerer’s Stone” to “Death Hallows: Part 2”) without credits, with 13 minutes left over, or about enough time for a quick meal with the Yule Ball dinner scene on pause during “Goblet of Fire.”
• Mileage-wise, drive from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Los Angeles to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and back — and then do most of the round-trip journey all over again. (Get your portkey ready as you near Tucson, Arizona, for the fourth time.)

This flight crosses a seemingly impossible 10 time zones!

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 20 minutes Flight number: QR 920 Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000 Best business class redemption: 140,000 Avios plus about $150 (transfer from British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub , Iberia Plus , Bilt Rewards , Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

Qatar resumed the longest nonstop route in its network on September 1, 2023, after putting it on hold for 3 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. For its return, the route now features Qatar’s newest plane, the Airbus A350-1000.

• Watch every Roger Moore James Bond movie, then throw in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” You could still get in 2 007-minute bathroom breaks.
• In terms of distance, you could drive 3 times between New York City (the site of the opening scene of Moore’s first Bond movie, “Live and Let Die”) to San Francisco (as in Moore’s final scene as Bond in “A View to a Kill”). You’d have about enough leftover miles to make it from San Francisco to San Diego and back once, futilely searching for “Moonraker” villain Hugo Drax’s “California” mansion (which was actually a chateau in France).

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 35 minutes Flight number: QF 9 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Best business class redemption: 85,000 American miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy) Best first class redemption: 115,000 American miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 6 “Rocky” movies (including the 3 “Creed” spinoffs) and still have enough time to watch most of the “30 for 30” episode “42 to 1,” about Mike Tyson’s first defeat in the ring.
• Mileage-wise, drive from the steps Rocky ran up (at the Philadelphia Museum of Art) to the site of Rocky’s last fight (Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas) and back nearly twice.

Scheduled Flight Time:  17 hours, 35 minutes Flight number: QF 21 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Best business class redemption: 55,000 Alaska miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy) Best first class redemption: 70,000 Alaska miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 5 feature films in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise , followed by both “Fantastic Beasts” movies that Johnny Depp appears in, leaving you about an hourlong break from your own personal Deppfest.
• Mileage-wise, make a round trip from pirate Jean Lafitte’s favorite haunt, New Orleans, to Pittsburgh, home of baseball’s Pirates, 4 times.

Qantas plans to use the A350-1000 to fly 2 of the world’s longest routes, Sydney to New York and Sydney to London, as early as 2025.

Scheduled flight time: 17 hours, 50 minutes Flight number: NZ 2 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Best business class redemption: 120,000 ANA miles one-way (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy (theatrical editions) and still have about 40 minutes to spare.
• Mileage-wise, drive from Gimli, Manitoba, to Drake Bay, Costa Rica, and back — and still have time for a detour through part of the Rocky Mountains (which you can pretend are the Misty Mountains).

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 10 minutes Flight number: EK 448 Aircraft:  Airbus A380-800 Best business class redemption: 85,000 Japan Airlines miles plus a large cash surcharge one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy)

Emirates used to fly this route on the Boeing 777-200LR but is currently operating the larger, 2-level Airbus A380.

• Watch all 5 movies in the “Indiana Jones” franchise, plus all 3 movies in the “Jurassic Park” franchise (not including the “Jurassic World” sequels) with 1 minute of time to yourself free from adventuring scientists.
• Mileage-wise, drive from the state of Indiana to the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant (Roswell, New Mexico) and back nearly 4 times.

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 50 minutes Flight number: SQ 38 Aircraft:  Airbus A350-900ULR Best business class redemption : 135,000 Asiana miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy) or 200,000 United miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy) Best first class redemption : 180,000 Asiana miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 3 movies in “The Godfather” trilogy (original cuts), “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” and “The Departed” and still have a little under an hour to ponder the morality of your life choices.
• Mileage-wise, you could make the trip between Little Italy in New York City to Las Vegas nearly 3.5 times. Don’t forget to take the cannoli!

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 40 minutes Flight number: AI 175 Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR Best business class redemption: 100,000 Air Canada points plus about $35 in taxes and fees (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 5 movies in the “Die Hard” franchise, plus “The Fifth Element,” “The Sixth Sense,” and “12 Monkeys” for a Bruce Willis festival. Then, top it off with “Over the Hedge,” in which Willis plays a raccoon.
• Distance-wise, you could recreate the real-life trajectory of Bruce Willis by driving from his hometown of Carney’s Point, New Jersey, to Hollywood, California — 3 times.

The ancient Indian city of Bangalore officially changed its name back to its traditional, non-Anglicized Kannada name, Bengaluru, in November 2014, though many still refer to it by its colonial name.

Scheduled flight time: 17 hours, 35 minutes Flight number: UA 101 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Best business class redemption: 250,000 United miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

United resurrected this route on October 28, 2023, after putting it on hold for 2 years because of the pandemic.

• Watch all 5 movies in the “Scream” franchise, then all 5 movies in the “Scary Movie” franchise.
• Mileage-wise, drive from the northern Illinois suburbs (where the granddaddy of slasher flicks, “Halloween,” was set) to Santa Rosa, California (the hub of most of the original “Scream” filming locations), and back. And then, like any horror franchise, do it all over again.

We ranked flights by distance rather than flight time because flight time can vary significantly for many reasons. Please note that because flight times vary so widely from flight to flight, the actual time you spend in the air will likely differ from the listed time if you take one of these trips.

We listed flights by the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth’s surface, also known as the great circle distance. This can also differ from the actual distance for reasons including wind, severe weather, and the need to avoid closed airspace. 

Need trivia to throw out at your next AvGeek party? The record for the longest nonstop commercial flight in terms of time in the air is held by Qantas for its August 30, 1943, flight in a Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplane from what is now Sri Lanka to Australia.

It took 32 hours and 9 minutes to travel 3,512 statute miles. The route was nicknamed “The Double Sunrise” because it experienced 2 sunrises per flight — scheduled that way so that it flew through Japanese-occupied territory at night.

About the Aircraft

As planes become more fuel-efficient and fuel costs remain relatively low, we’ll continue to see big competition for a spot on the leaderboard for the longest nonstop flights in the world.

Boeing and Airbus continue to find new ways to increase the range and passenger capacity of their aircraft, allowing airlines to turn a profit from these ultra-long-haul flights.

These aircraft (currently) make up the roster for the longest nonstop flights in the world:

• Boeing 777-200LR — Air India
• Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — Air New Zealand, Qantas, United
• Airbus A350-900ULR — Singapore Airlines
• Airbus A350-1000 — Qatar Airways, Qantas (by 2025)
• Airbus A380 — Emirates

Range: 9,845 miles/8,555 nautical miles/15,843 kilometers Capacity: 317 passengers Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89/683 mph Engine:  GE90-115B turbofan

The Boeing 777 commercial series is made up of 3 long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners. Boeing says that the 777 aircraft provides considerably improved reach and increased revenue potential.

In 2015, General Electric proclaimed the GE90-115B turbofan engine the most powerful engine in the world . The GE90 series held the title of history’s largest aviation engine until the introduction of the GE9X, which began flight testing in 2018. The Boeing 777 series has also won several awards for its interior cabin design and passenger satisfaction.

The 777-200LR (the “LR” is for “Long Range”) is the aircraft of choice for Emirates’ Dubai-to-Auckland route and Air India’s Bengaluru-to-San Francisco route. Air India flies a 777-200LR previously flown by Delta Air Lines for this journey.

Range:  8,786 miles/7,635 nautical miles/4,140 kilometers Capacity: 290 passengers Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.85/652 mph Engine: GEnx-1B/Trent 1000

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner series comprises 3 midsize, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners. Combined, the 787 series currently services over 170 nonstop flights worldwide. The 787-9, however, is the only Dreamliner to make it on the list of longest nonstop flights in the world.

Boeing says that its 787 series provides advantages. including higher distance range and fuel efficiency, more cargo volume, lower operating costs, and a more reliable aircraft.

The 787-9 is the aircraft of choice for all Qantas Perth-to-London and Melbourne-to-Dallas routes, and United’s Houston-to-Sydney flight.

Range:  11,163 miles/9,700 nautical miles/17,964 kilometers Capacity: 161 (SQ configuration — premium economy and business class only) Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89/683 mph Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84

Airbus introduced the A350 series in response to the success of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, and the A350-900 is the first member of the company’s Extra Wide Body, or XWB, a family of next-generation, high-efficiency, high-capacity passenger jets for long-haul flights.

The A350-900’s first test flight was in 2013, and it flew its first commercial flight (with Qatar Airways) in 2015. Currently, however, Singapore Airlines is the only airline to fly the A350-900ULR version of the -900.

That A350-900ULR variant (“ULR” for “Ultra Long Range”) is a lighter aircraft that can fly farther and is more cost-efficient than large double-decker jets like the 747 or A380. Because of the materials used, there’s also less maintenance required — an important aspect for global airlines. Passengers find the engine noise substantially quieter , too.

The main feature of the ULR is that the fuel tanks hold more fuel, critical for ultra-long-haul flights. In addition to extra fuel storage, there are aerodynamic improvements that allow the aircraft to serve routes that previously would have required a technical stop.

The A350-900ULR is the aircraft of choice for Singapore Airlines’ routes from Singapore to New York, Newark, and Los Angeles.

Range:  10,001 miles/8,700 nautical miles/16,112 kilometers Capacity: 480 passengers maximum (327 on Qatar Airways) Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89/683 mph Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97

Qatar Airways launched the first A350-1000 route in February 2018, traveling from Doha, Qatar, to London with 46 Qsuites and 281 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

Measuring 23 feet longer than the A350-900, the fuel-efficient A350-1000 is the largest version of the A350. It can squeeze in more dedicated passenger space, has a more powerful engine, and fits in more comfort-focused technology like climate zones, improved air circulation and filtration, and ambient lighting designed to reduce jet lag.

With a maximum range that’s 1,000 nautical miles shorter than the A350-900ULR’s, the A350-1000 hasn’t received Airbus designation as a ULR model.

Qantas has ordered A350-1000s that it plans on putting into service starting in 2025 . Singapore, which has today’s largest fleet of A350s, has standing orders with Airbus for dozens of A350s, with a clause that allows it to pick from either the -900 or -1000 variants closer to delivery.

Range:  9,206 miles/8,000 nautical miles/14,800 kilometers Capacity: 555 passengers maximum (489 on Emirates) Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.88/675 mph Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or GE-Pratt & Whitney GP-7200 turbofans

Also called the Super Jumbo, the Airbus A380-800 is the largest commercial passenger airplane in the world. It’s a double-decker that began development all the way back in the 1990s as a direct challenger to the then-dominant Boeing 747 when it came to long-haul flights. Early company visions of the plane even included the possibility of onboard shops, restaurants, and casinos.

The A380-800, sometimes called the A388, was the passenger variant of the 2 A380 models Airbus originally offered. The other option was the freighter version, the A380F.

Singapore Airlines was the first airline to fly the A380 in October 2007, with Emirates eventually amassing the largest fleet of A380s and becoming the leading A380 customer by far, accounting for nearly half of all orders of the A380.

But the shifting realities of the industry didn’t mesh well with a jet even larger than the 747, and the last A380 rolled off the production line in 2021, eclipsed by smaller, more efficient planes like the A330, A350, and 787.

The competition for the top spot on the list of the longest nonstop flights in the world won’t end any time soon. The only question is: How will the airlines choose to get there?

Within the past few years, we’ve seen the final flight of the last U.S. carrier-operated Boeing 747, once the hallmark of long-haul flights. In 2021, we saw several carriers announce plans to move away from the behemoth A380 to save on fuel and match current passenger demands. Moving forward, will airlines shy away from enormous jets in search of slimmer, more efficient aircraft? Or will the so-called superjumbos also evolve, eventually providing a more efficient and profitable means of carrying passengers around the world?

From a points perspective, we certainly hope jumbo jets make a comeback at some point. The optimized business and first class cabins of the more upscale carriers are every miles chaser’s dream.

Rewarding your hard-earned miles with 17 hours in business class on a 787-9 is unbeatable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest flight time in the world.

The longest nonstop commercial flight in the world is usually scheduled to last 18 hours and 50 minutes from Singapore (SIN) to New York City (JFK), serviced by Singapore Airlines.

What is the longest flight in the world by distance?

The longest flight in the world by distance is Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK) on Singapore Airlines, officially measuring 9,537 miles.

What plane can fly the farthest in the world?

The current record for the longest-distance commercial flight is held by a Boeing 777-200LR for a journey in 2005. This flight from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to London Heathrow (LHR) took the long way (vs. great circle distance) and was logged at 21,602 km (13,423 miles/11,664 nautical miles).

What is the largest plane in the world?

The largest commercial jet airliner in the world by capacity is the double-decker Airbus A380-800, which can hold up to 863 passengers. It’s also the biggest in terms of wingspan, at 261.7 feet. But the Airbus Super Jumbo loses out in length to the Boeing 747-8I (“I” for “Intercontinental”), which is 250 feet long, compared to the A380’s 238 feet.

Was this page helpful?

About Erin Miller

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

These Are the Longest Flights in the World

On these flights, you could watch the entire “jurassic park” franchise and still take a five-hour nap..

• Copy Link copied

During the world’s longest flights, sometimes fliers will experience more than one sunrise.

Photo by Shutterstock

As flight technology advances (such as being able to hold more and burn less fuel) and long-haul carriers make improved efforts to provide a more comfortable journey (be that with jet lag–reducing lighting, serving healthier food , and enhancing business-class and economy seats for a more comfortable journey), the longest flights in the world are gradually getting even longer. The lengthiest now connect cities on opposite sides of the globe and are upwards of 17 hours.

When Australia’s national carrier Qantas debuts its Project Sunrise routes in 2025 (which will include nonstop service between Sydney and both London and New York, at 10,573 and 9,950 miles, respectively), they will be the longest flights in the world ; the longer flight (London) will clock in at a staggering 20 hours.

What is the world’s longest flight?

Currently, the world’s longest flight is the 9,585-mile route between New York City and Singapore, operated by Singapore Airlines with a flying time of 18.5 hours. The flight takes place on an Airbus A350-900ULR, which is configured with 67 pod-style business-class seats and 94 premium economy seats—there are no regular economy seats.

As of fall 2023, the world’s longest flight is between New York City and this city-state in Asia.

Courtesy of Hu Chen/Unsplash

The longest flights in the world

Whether you love the idea of knocking out most or all of your travel time (and likely a few seasons of your favorite show) in one go or would rather avoid an ultra-long-haul journey and break it up with a layover ( stopover programs are a great way to sneak in added sightseeing between two legs of a trip), here are the 10 current longest flights in the world by miles.

The 10 longest routes flown by airlines in 2019

• OAG has unveiled the top 10 longest flight routes for 2019 as part of its Busiest Routes 2020 report.
• Flights touching the US or Asia-Pacific countries make up the entirety of the list, with United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas being featured more than once.
• Singapore Airlines operates the most flights on the list out of any other airline with its Singapore-Newark route in the top spot. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Aviation data firm OAG has released the list of the world's longest flights for 2019 in its Busiest Routes 2020 report, highlighting the top 10 longest air routes flown by airlines during the year. 

The ever-changing list sees new entrants nearly every year as flight technology evolves and airlines become more ambitious with their route networks. Last year saw the first full year of operations for multiple flights on the list as many launched or re-launched in 2018. 

The year saw the Airbus A350-900 XWB best the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in terms of the number of longest routes operated, as well as the continued decline of quad-engine aircraft flying the longest routes. Airbus' new twin-engine jet has been redefining long-haul travel with its capabilities and has earned the top spot for the year.

Seven out of the 10 routes originate or terminate in the US with all but one touching Asia-Pacific as Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia feature heavily on the list. The list is currently set to change with at least two new routes starting in the next year that will shake-up the list including Qantas' planned Brisbane-Chicago route and Air New Zealand's planned Auckland-Newark route. 

Here's the full list.

10. Between Atlanta and Johannesburg

Delta Air Lines operates a daily service on the tenth longest route in the world between its hub in Atlanta and Johannesburg, one of its furthest outstations from the US. Its largest jet, the Boeing 777-200, can be found on the flying the route which is typically scheduled at over 16 hours and 30 minutes in the westbound direction.

The Atlanta-based airline is also one of only two US airlines featured in the top ten list, having flown 713 flights on the 7,329-nautical mile route in 2019.  The route is one of the few non-stop routes between the US and South Africa and the only one operated by Delta. 

9. Between San Francisco and Singapore

Two airlines currently compete on the 7,330-nautical mile route between the Bay Area and the Asian city-state, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines. United flies the route using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner while Singapore Airlines opts for the Airbus A350 XWB.

Flight times are scheduled on both airlines for around 16 hours and 30 minutes. Singapore Airlines also operates a one-stop, same-plane option through Hong Kong ravelers turned off by the excessive transpacific flight time.

The route is the only in the top 10 featuring two airlines with nearly 2,500 flights being flown on the route in 2019.

8. Between New York and Manilla

Philippine Airlines' nonstop route between Manilla and New York saw its first year of non-stop service in 2019 after being debuted at the end of 2018, replacing one-stop service through Vancouver, Canada.

The Philippines flag carrier utilizing its new Airbus A350 on the 7,392-nautical mile route, typically scheduled for 16 hours and 30 minutes.

7. Between Dallas, Texas and Sydney

Qantas operates the only nonstop flight between Dallas and Sydney, its deepest flight into the continental US, for which the Airbus A380 is used. The Australian flag carrier began operating the route in 2011 which, between 2013 and 2016, was the longest scheduled in the world. 

Less than a decade later, the route has fallen to the number seven spot as new aircraft technology makes longer flights possible. The 7,452-nautical mile route saw 636 flights in 2019, which are typically scheduled at over 17 hours in the westbound direction. 

6. Between Houston, Texas and Sydney

The nonstop route between Houston and Sydney is the longest route for United Airlines, which launched in 2018. The 7,467-nautical mile route is only 15 nautical miles longer than the next-nearest Sydney-Dallas route operated by Qantas. 

United flew 530 flights on the route in 2019 using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flights in the westbound direction from Houston to Sydney are typically scheduled for over 17 hours.

5. Between Los Angeles and Singapore

Singapore Airlines resumed its nonstop service between Singapore and Los Angeles in 2018 after receiving the Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft, earning it another spot on the longest route list. Having first competed with United Airlines on the route at the time of its launch, the Singaporean flag carrier now has a monopoly on the service.

Over the course of 2019, 1,034 flights were flown on the 7,611-nautical mile route, which can be scheduled between 17 and 18 hours depending on the time of year.

4. Between Auckland, New Zealand, and Dubai

Auckland is at the furthest reaches for some Middle Eastern airlines, including Emirates, which began service to the New Zealand capital city in 2016.

Primarily using its flagship Airbus A380, Emirates flew 710 flights on the 7,664-nautical mile route, which can take nearly 17 hours and 30 minutes in the westbound direction.

3. Between Perth, Australia, and London

Qantas launched the route in 2018 at which point it became the first regularly scheduled non-stop link between Australia and the United Kingdom, a title which it holds today. Flight times vary on the 7,829-nautical mile route but it can be scheduled for as long as nearly 18 hours in the westbound direction. 

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is used for the services, of which 730 were flown. Travelers from Eastern Australia cities including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane can now fly to London in a single stop within the same country. 

2. Between Doha, Qatar, and Auckland, New Zealand

The longest route for yet another Middle Eastern airline terminates in Auckland, New Zealand with Qatar Airways in the number two spot for its 7,843-nautical mile route. Operated by the Boeing 777-200LR, scheduled flight times on the route can exceed 18 hours.

Qatar Airways flew 721 flights on the route in 2019. 

1. Between Singapore, and Newark, New Jersey

The title of the world's longest route belongs to Singapore Airlines' Singapore-Newark route, which re-opened in 2018 using the airline's Airbus A350-900 XWB. The behemoth 8,277-nautical mile route takes nearly 19 hours in the eastbound direction with three meals served during the flight. 

Singapore Airlines abandoned the nonstop route in 2013 but re-opened it once the fuel-efficient Airbus A350 made it financially feasible, especially in a two-class configuration consisting of business class and premium economy. A total of 728 flights were performed by the Singaporean flag carrier in 2019.

Business Insider flew on the inaugural flight in 2018 in business class and then returned in premium economy . 

The report did not include a handful of research flights that Australian airline Qantas flew as part of its Project Sunrise which aims to connect Sydney with London and New York with non-stop flights.

Flying from Sydney to either London or New York requires a connection that adds a few hours on to the journey. A non-stop flight removes the inconvenience of having to deplane only to get back on a few hours later.

Project Sunrise intends to find a way to safely perform the ultra-long-haul flights that would be longer than the current longest flights between Singapore and Newark, ushering in a new era for Australian aviation and the country's connections to its strongest allies. 

The flights were not included as they were not running as a regular passenger service. 

The first flight flew from New York to Sydney in October.

The flight surpassed Singapore Airlines' Newark to Singapore flight by a few hundred nautical miles at a flight time of nearly 19 hours and 30 minutes. It made history as the first non-stop flight between New York and Sydney, a route which Qantas offers daily with a stop in Los Angeles. 

Business Insider was onboard the flight , which sought to test the effects of such a flight on passengers. 

The longest flight in the series was flown between London and Sydney.

The London to Sydney flight came next, with a length of over 10,500 nautical miles.

Qantas hasn't decided if it will move forward with regularly scheduled nonstop flights, though it has chosen the Airbus A350 for Project Sunrise if it ever comes to fruition. 

• Main content

• Advertising

The 10 Longest Non-Stop Flights in the World in 2021

The aviation landscape has changed so much since the pandemic, including many ultra-long-haul routes being suspended. In this post, we share the current top 10 World's longest non-stop flights in the world.

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ23 is currently the World's longest non-stop flight, operated from New York JFK to Singapore Changi, lasting around 18 hours and 50 minutes. This flight is operated by an Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft.

*Note that all routes are ranked by "great circle" distance.

1.  New York JFK-Singapore, Singapore Airlines SQ23

     First flight: November 9th 2020

     Flight distance: 15,349 km (8,288 NMI)

     Flight time: 18 Hours, 50 Minutes

     Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR

Singapore Airlines recently changed the longest flight to/from New York/JFK Airport. This flight used to operate to/from Newark in the past.

The World’s Longest Flight – Singapore Airlines Newark to Singapore

2.  Los Angeles-Singapore, Singapore Airlines SQ37

     First flight: November 2nd 2018

     Flight distance: 14,144 km (7,621 NMI)

     Flight time: 17 Hours, 50 Minutes

     Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR/ A350-900

3.  San Francisco-Bengaluru, Air India AI176

     First flight: January 9th 2021

     Flight distance: 14,004 km (7,562 NMI)

     Flight time: 17 Hours, 45 Minutes

     Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR

4.  New York JFK-Manila, Philippine Airlines PR127

      First flight: October 29th 2018

      Flight distance: 13,712 km (7,404 NMI)

      Flight time: 16 Hours, 40 Minutes

      Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

Philippine Airlines receives their first Airbus A350

5.  San Francisco-Singapore, Singapore Airlines SQ33

       First flight: October 23rd 2016 

       Flight distance: 13,593 km (7,340 NMI)

       Flight time: 17 Hours, 35 Minutes

       Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR

6.  Johannesburg to Atlanta , Delta Airlines DL201

      First flight: August 1st 2021 

       Flight distance: 13,581km (7,333 NMI) 

       Flight time: 16 hours, 20 Minutes 

       Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

7.  Dubai-Los Angeles, Emirates EK215

       First flight: October 26th 2008

       Flight distance: 13,420km (7,246 NMI) 

       Aircraft: Airbus A380-800

8.  Doha-Los Angeles, Qatar Airways QR739

       First flight: January 1st 2016

       Flight distance: 13,367km (7,218 NMI) 

       Flight time: 16 hours, 25 Minutes 

       Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000

9.  Toronto-Manila, Philippine Airlines PR119

      First flight: February 2nd 2019

      Flight distance: 13,230 km (7,144 NMI)

      Flight time: 16 Hours, 20 Minutes

10.  Dubai-Houston, Emirates EK211

       First flight: December 3rd 2007

       Flight distance: 13,144km (7,097 NMI) 

       Flight time: 16 hours, 15 Minutes 

       Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR

Future Long-Haul Flights

Two more long-haul flights have been announced, one each by Qantas and Singapore Airlines. The flight details of these flights are as follow:

Darwin-London Heathrow, Qantas QF1/QF9

    First flight: November 1st 2021

    Flight distance: 13,872 km (7,490 NMI)

    Flight time: 17 Hours, 25 Minutes

    Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Once this flight begins operation, the Qantas Darwin-London Heathrow flight will become World's fourth-longest flight.

Vancouver-Singapore, Singapore Airlines SQ27/29

    First flight: December 2nd 2021

    Flight distance: 12,821 km (6,923 NMI)

    Flight time: 17 Hours, 50 Minutes

    Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

The 10 Longest Non-Stop Flights in the World in 2022

Have you ever flown on one of these flights mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below:

I flew the Delta flight Atlanta to Johannesburg with my daughter when she was 5 years old. My wife was already there for a medical mission. My daughter was an excellent young traveller because she had flown on many long flights with us. This one was the longest. All was well until she vomited and vomited and vomited 30 minutes out of Johannesburg. The joy of traveling with young kids!! Bless her heart. Now 17, she is a world traveler with a desire to see as much as possible.

Hello Folks and a pleasant Sunday morning to you all. This morning Sunday March 27, 2022 saw an almost record breaking flight that arrived at Toronto Pearson Airport-CYYZ. Biman Bangladesh Airlines introductory technical flight arrived from Dhaka (DAC) as BG305 after a 18h 35m flight. This flight almost eclipse SQ23 JFK-Singapore record 18h 50m flight. Cheers! Nigel

i fly all the SQ-US routes regularly — sometimes coach, sometimes premium economy, sometimes business. super convenient in all cabins, and much better than the old days when we had to wake up mid-sleep and roam around like zombies in HKG / ICN / NRT / FRA.

I flew San Francisco-Singapore, Singapore Airlines SQ33 last month. I was sick the whole way in Economy. Never again. If I cannot afford Business I will stay home. Also Covid made it very stressful on entry and exit from country to country as I was going to Bangkok.

Looks like a funny comment, “long whole flights” do not “make you sick”, neither does the class of travel 😀 lollll I have been sick on airplanes too, short hauls or long hauls, Economy Class or Business Class. Probably rather depends on what you chose or decided to eat just before, or the day before, so do not blame the flight or the plane for that.

I wont set any records for non-stop flights but I bet I have 99.9% people beat with total travel time including layovers. In 1999 I flew from Salt Lake City to Zurich, Zurich to Moscow, Moscow to Novosibirsk (siberia). Total travel time was 30+ hours. And upon my arrival in Novosibirsk I hopped on a train for 2 days of travel to Omsk.

There is also ORD-HYD AI flight once a week and return HYD-ORD. 16+ hours.

Can any aircraft fly nonstop from Bangalore to Los Angeles?

My 4 longest flights ever were 1.4.2008 SQ22 SIN-EWR 16600km A340-500 9V-SGA 4.4.2008 SQ21 EWR-SIN 15344km A340-500 23.8.2014 QF7 SYD-DFW 13804km B747-400ER VH-OEI 11.10.2016 + 3.10.2017 + 22.10.2019 AC16 HKG-YYZ 13769km B777-200LR C-FIVK and C-FIUF

Southern gate way of Indian city Chennai should get connect non stop service to one of the major cities in US , probably jfk ,Chicago or Atlanta.

Where About Sidney to London non stop with Quantas ?!

that was a one-off experimental flight. We’re talking current schedule flight.

Flew into and out of YVR (Vancouver CA), although I am US guy I love YVR airport, so easy, nice and clean. Never a Tarmac delay. PAL flight YVR to MNL, I think was about 6500 NMI. About 13 hrs to MNL and 11.5-12 hrs to Vancouver CA. Boeing 777-300, Busn. class.Retired so I “wintered” in PI. Pre covid.

Airbus industries produces the better planes .however , fly by wire is a scary thought . I enjoy the articles but I rarely get to fly . I’ve been an airplane watcher for 42 years .

I don’t think Airbus produce the better planes, maybe good planes, but not better.

A few years back did LAX/BKK on Thai Airways, A340, 17 + hours

Qantas QF9/10 PER-LHR operated for a long time, and will return post covid, the Darwin schedule will be a temporary replacement.

Dec.2017 I flew lagos dubai to dallas texts,from dubai to dallas we spent over 16hrs.so stressful

I flew from Dubai to Houston and back on Emirates. It was my longest flight, but I saved some hours if I had flown on other routes. Thanks

It is crazy how many of these flights fly so close to the North Pole due to the pairings being at almost exact opposite longitudes.

I flew lax to Sin last week. In coach! First international flight in over 7 years flown in coach. So few flying I knew I would have a row to myself so saved the miles. I won’t do again though on that flight. One business class seat is much better than 3 coach.

Worlds longest flight was here Tahiti from Tahiti to Paris🗼🍬Worlds longest flight was here Tahiti from Tahiti to Paris flown by 787-9. Who ever wrote this article sounds like a airbus fan boy.

Pls note this article is focus on current route. Air Tahiti Nui and French Bee no longer flies nonstop from Tahiti to Paris. We do not focus on favor any manufacturer in the article.

Oh snap Richard!

may be the title should read “the longest non-stop flights”.

I have flown round trip EWR to SIN, and SFO to SIN, time saver!

I think Delhi Vancouver Air Canada should Also be included in the list.

What about AKL to DOH and AKL to DXB?

Currently suspended. Not operating.

Please correct. I added 2 hours to my trip from Atalanta to IAH . Should read 21 hours. Thanks

In 2004, I boarded a South African Aways A340 in Johannesburg thinking that the flight was nonstop to Atlanta. Before takeoff the pilot welcome us aboard and stated it was going to be a 2 hours flight to Cape Town. We refueled at Cape Town and because of headwinds we had to land at Cape Verde to refuel. We were not allowed off the A340 until we landed at Atlanta 23 hours after departing Johannesburg. Never again!

BLR-SFO route got terminated months before & is no longer in operation. Please remove it from the list.

It is flying once a week: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ai176

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The World's Longest Flight Is Back

The route, which flies between NYC and Singapore, covers nearly 9,000 miles

Courtesy of Singapore Airlines

The world's longest flight—a mere 18-hour, 9,000-mile jaunt—is back. Starting on Nov. 9, Singapore Airlines will launch thrice-weekly nonstop service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport . The flight, which was previously flown out of Newark from 2004 through late 2013, then 2018 through March 2020, will once again be the longest continuous flight in the world.

While the ongoing pandemic will continue to lower the demand for passenger travel, the airline is looking forward to meeting cargo needs in order to increase interest in the route. “Operating to JFK International Airport would allow Singapore Airlines to better accommodate a mix of passenger and cargo traffic on its services to New York in the current operating climate,” the airline said in a statement. The airline is hoping the need for shipping of technology, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce tools will be in high enough demand to support the lack of passengers. The airline expects to operate only 15 percent of its normal capacity by the end of 2020. At present, almost none of the carrier’s operating routes fly daily.

“Non-stop ultra-long services are the bedrock of our services to the key U.S. market. We will continue to ramp up existing services and reinstate other points as the demand for both passenger and cargo services return," said Lee Lik Hsin, Singapore Airlines' executive vice-president for commercial services. Cargo shipping isn’t the only factor in reintroducing the route, however. The airline points to the “growing number of transfer passengers who can now transit via Singapore’s Changi Airport” in the decision.

The airline will operate Airbus's A350-900 long-range aircraft on the route. The aircraft is configured with 42 business class, 24 premium economy, and 187 economy seats. Using this aircraft will allow SIA to offer economy class fares on the route, whereas the ULR model only has premium economy and business class cabins available.

New York joins Los Angeles as a North America destination for the carrier—that route also operates on a thrice-weekly basis flying on the A350-900.

Singapore Airlines' New Menu Wants to Make Long-Haul Flights Less Painful

Turkish Airlines Travel Guide and Review

How I Spent 17 Hours Onboard Air New Zealand's First Flight From JFK to Auckland

These 10 Airlines Offer the Best in In-Flight Entertainment

You Can Now Fly Nonstop From Miami to Paris for Less Than $220 Each Way

Low-Cost Airline Norse Atlantic Will Launch Affordable Flights to Paris in 2023

Is Premium Economy Worth the Splurge? On These Airlines, the Answer Is Yes

Delta's New Routes Will Include the Launch of Flights to New Zealand

10 Airlines That Offer Stopover Programs

The Top 10 Airlines in Latin America

What It’s Like to Fly Halfway Around the World During the Pandemic

The 14 Cheapest Airlines in North and South America

British Airways Accidentally Sent a Dog to Saudi Arabia Instead of Nashville

Booking a Baby Bassinet for Your Flight

Air New Zealand's Cyber Monday Sale Is Offering Amazingly Low Fares to Auckland

Airlines Are Now Adding—and Dropping—Flights in Anticipation of Future Travel

Longest journey by car

As of 4 April 2017 the longest driven journey is 741,065 km (460,476 miles) and was achieved by Emil and Liliana Schmid (Switzerland) who travelled across 186 countries in the same Toyota Land Cruiser in a journey that started on 18 October 1984 and is still ongoing.

The Schmids arranged for the 3rd rejuvenation of the Land Cruiser in East Malaysia in March 2017. The next destination will be Indonesia where they will visit new corners and new islands. They still have not decided what's afterwards.

Related Records

Longest tandem ATV wheelie

Longest continuous journey by a driverless and autonomous lorry

Longest vehicle drift (prototype electric car), greatest distance driven on a single tank of fuel.

Longest journey by a battery-powered electric car in a single country

8 of the World's Longest Train Rides

By Nell McShane Wulfhart

The Trans-Siberian Express

Distance: 5,772 miles

Duration: More than six days

The longest rail journey in the world (and getting longer ) is the stuff of legend—a train ride that starts in Moscow and ends, more than six days later, in Vladivostok. Over the course of the journey, the train crosses time zone after time zone and the landscape changes constantly, from the Ural Mountains to Lake Baikal and all the steppes one could want in between. Trains depart every two days.

Eastern & Oriental Express

Distance: About 1,200 miles

Duration: Three to four days

This classic journey aboard the Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express winds through Southeast Asia from Singapore to Bangkok (and vice versa), with stops at River Kwai and the Malaysian district of Kuala Kangsar. You can choose from routes lasting either three or four days, usually stretching over the weekends. Accommodations are private and richly decorated but compact, making the trip a great option for solo travelers .

The Canadian

Distance: 2,775 miles

Duration: Three days

There’s no Wi-Fi on VIA Rail's transcontinental jaunt, so be prepared for hours of watching the scenery. Luckily, what you'll see—snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the forest of the Canadian Shield, and the rest of Canada ’s strikingly empty landscape—is breathtaking. Beginning in Toronto and ending in Vancouver , the ride is made even better by comfortable sleeper cars and the chances of seeing moose, deer, and even bears from the windows.

California Zephyr

Distance: 2,438 miles

Duration: 51 hours, 20 minutes

With each trip taking a little more than two days, this Chicago -to- San Francisco journey is the longest in the U.S. It covers 2,438 miles along the trail of the pioneers, taking in the Rockies, the canyons of Colorado’s Western Slope, and the Sierra Nevadas, but you can also jump off at Reno if you're ready to trade nature for neon.

Jessica Puckett

Caitlin Morton

Olivia Morelli

The Indian Pacific

Distance: 2,704 miles

Duration: Four days

Over the course of four days and three nights, the Indian Pacific traverses the width of Australia , from Perth to Sydney . It stops in Adelaide, the ghost town of Cook, and Broken Hill (an artist colony that was once a mining town). From the comfort of your seat, you'll see the Australian outback as well as the forests and waterfalls of the Blue Mountains; meanwhile, off-train excursions have been added for travelers headed east.

Vivek Express

Distance: Around 2,650 miles

Duration: Approximately four days

This 80-plus-hour trip on the Vivek Express is the longest train journey in India and one of the world’s longest as well, clocking in at approximately 2,650 miles. It takes between three and four days aboard the train to arrive, traveling the length of the country at an average speed of 32 miles an hour. There are 57 stops in total, beginning in the far north at Dibrugarh and ending in Kanyakumari, at India’s southern tip (pictured).

Beijing-Guangzhou Bullet Train

Distance: 1,200 miles

Duration: Eight hours

At roughly 1,200 miles, this isn’t a competitor for the longest journey, but it takes the prize for the fastest long-distance train. This high-speed train service launched in 2012, and has cut the 21-hour trip down to eight, reaching speeds of 186 miles per hour. At this pace the scenery flies by, but there are 35 stops, most in major cities like Wuhan.

The Blue Train

Distance: 994 miles

Duration: 27 hours

Spot wild game on the savannah from the windows of South Africa ’s famously decadent Blue Train, which crosses the country in just over a day. Traveling from Pretoria to Cape Town , the train is more like a fast-moving luxury hotel, with butler service, Cuban cigars, and gourmet dinners. But the main attraction is the view of the country’s spectacular farmlands, forests and vineyards.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Longest Road Trips in the World You Could Drive

Everyone loves a road trip – out on the open road, free to explore wherever and whenever you want. with a classic playlist on shuffle, plenty of car snacks and a roughly drawn route into the unknown, there’s a reason why road trips feel synonymous with chasing adventure and freedom. with this list, we’re focusing on distance, drawing up some of the longest and most ambitious road trips we can think of. grab a bag, a map and some friends, and head for the sunset… .

London to Cape Town 

This one’s a classic, and many brave adventurers have crossed this monster journey off their list. One of the longest north to south journeys in the world, the fastest known completion of this route was 13 days, 8 hours and 48 minutes, as part of a publicity campaign for the new Ford Cortina. This beat the previous champions by 18 minutes! If, however, you’re keen to actually soak up the incredible sights, a month is likely the minimum time needed to cover this two-continent trip.

Starting with the Eurostar to Calais, passengers can enjoy scenic drives through rural France and Spain, take the ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar and down into the heart of Africa. For those that make it across the harsh Saharan Desert, the road evens out to provide breath-taking drives across countless National Parks, from the primate-filled rainforest reserve of Dja Faunal in Cameroon, to the lion and elephant filled landscape of Etosha National Park in Namibia. Pulling into Cape Town at the southern tip of South Africa, this drive will have covered 13,207km (8,207 miles) and 13 countries.

Australian Coastal Loop

Driving ‘The Big Lap’ is another adventure that is often planned and rarely attempted. With huge swathes of the continent uninhabited due to its searingly hot desert climate, Australian road trips can be lethal to those without a map and plenty of backup fuel. The best bet for anyone looking to cover the whole country is to stick to Highway 1, a 14,935km (9280 miles) long highway that essentially follows the entire Australian coast in one big loop. Starting in Sydney, drivers can follow the coastline up to Brisbane, past Cairns, Darwin, Port Hedland, Perth and Adelaide, before hitting the spectacular Great Ocean Road to Melbourne and finally, back to Sydney.

The drive is perfectly possible to do within a month, but three months will give drivers time to better explore each stop fully. Because of the size of Australia, it is important to also keep an eye on the seasons. It is recommended to start the north in winter and summer in the south, following the milder temperatures round as you go.

Europe to Ulaanbaatar

Centuries ago, nomadic settlers made their way along the central Asian steppe, seeking new lands and adventures. Now you can follow their route, making your way through Eastern Europe and down into Turkey. Crossing the Istanbul bridge, Europe slowly turns into Asia, swapping crumbling Christian churches for Islamic minarets and the sweeping rural expanse of Lake Van. From Turkey you have two choices, head down through the ancient Persian settlements of Iran, or up over the Caspian Sea into Russia. Both routes reconvene in the sweeping grasslands of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, before the Gobi Desert springs over the horizon.

In recent years, adventurers have made this journey into a challenge, dubbing it the Mongol Rally . Each year, participants sign up, buy a beaten-up old car and race from Europe to Mongolia. Generally broadcasting their progress (or non-progress) on social media, the challenge is designed to be as disaster-filled as possible, creating opportunity for “motoring stupidity on a global scale” and unexpected adventures. If this sounds like your cup of tea, sign up for the Mongol Rally 2022 , and start looking for your rubbish vehicle!

Pan-American Highway 

So you might have done a cross-US road trip, but how about dreaming a bit bigger? This mammoth road trip covers almost the entirety of the Americas, from northernmost Alaska, down through Canada and the US, into Colombia, coastal Peru and Chile. The only break to the journey is the Darien Gap , a roadless region preventing driving access between Panama and Colombia (and by extension the entirety of North America to South America). Though there have been several attempts to build a highway, the impenetrable dense rainforest and prevalence of tropical diseases (not to mention the importance of protecting the indigenous communities that remain in the forests), means a road crossing has never been possible.

The only option, bar a famously hellish 5-day ferry journey , is to take a flight, but once safely into Medellin or Bogota, the journey south can carry on unimpeded. Assuming one drives from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Panama City, and then Medellin in Colombia to Quellon in Chile, this insane road trip should clock up a cool 23,662km (14,703 miles). Assuming you drove for 8 hours a day, this trip would take you a month. Those who have done it, however, take anytime between 2 months to 2 years.

Trans-Eurasian Belt

Our final route on this list doesn’t actually exist yet. It is an imagined driving route that follows much the same path as the Mongol Rally – from London to Ulaanbaatar. Yet once it hits Mongolia, it carries on, heading up through the easternmost point of Siberia and crossing the Bering Strait into Alaska. From there, the entirety of the Americas is possible, even linking down to South America. This journey is not yet possible, since the Bering Strait remains unconnected. However, plans for a Trans-Eurasian Belt Development are in the works, and we may soon see a connecting bridge be built to truly connect the world.

Who knows what such a connecting bridge will do for global trade, as well as perceptions of East and West? All we know is, it sounds like an epic road trip.

If you're planning a road trip across multiple countries, remember to get yourself covered with adequate car insurance just in case.

Starting from Skratch? Here are a Few Tips to Get You Started:

https://www.outbackcrossing.com.au/Touring/How_Long_Does_it_Take_to_Travel_Around_Australia.shtml

https://medium.com/@katheryn.watson/mapped-the-longest-road-trips-f6cf454b967c

https://www.skratch.world

World's Longest Driving Routes at a Glance:

🇬🇧london to cape town🇿🇦.

Distance: 13,207 km (8,207 miles)

Number of Countries: 13

Time Taken: 17 days (assuming 8 hours a day driving)

🇦🇺Australian Coastal Loop🇦🇺

Distance: 14,935 km (9,280 miles)

Number of Countries: 1

Time Taken: 19 days (assuming 8 hours a day driving)

🇵🇹Lisbon to Ulaanbaatar🇲🇳

Distance: 13,000 km (8,077 miles)

Number of Countries: 16

🇺🇸Pan-American Highway🇨🇱

Distance: 23,662 km (14,703 miles)

Number of Countries: 12

Time Taken: 30 days (assuming 8 hours a day driving)

Share this post

Join our monthly digest

No spam! Just great stories

More like this

Grand Tour of Catalonia: An Iconic Regional Road Trip

First Time Backpacking South America? Here Are The Best Routes For Every Traveller

Underrated Summer Travel Destinations You Shouldn't Miss

Definitive Guide to Mexico's Copper Canyon Railway

8 Hidden Gem Destinations in Portugal that Tourists Miss

Ultimate Guide to Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro

Stunning Islands In The South Pacific That Aren't Bora Bora

South Pacific Island Hopping: First Timers Guide to Travelling Around These Islands

A Beginner's Guide to Southeast Asia

Ultimate Guide to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia

Chinese Destinations That Inspired the World of Kung Fu Panda

Is Symi Worth Visiting? Greece's Most Underrated Island

Nebraska Man Makes World’s Longest Journey by Pumpkin Boat

The trip down the Missouri River took some 12 hours

Michelle Harris

Late last month, Nebraska resident Duane Hansen celebrated his 60th birthday by setting sail in an 846-pound pumpkin and traveling 38 miles down the Missouri River.

The purpose of the trip, which began the morning of August 27 at the Bellevue Marina and culminated 12 hours later in Nebraska City at the Riverview Marina , was to earn the Guinness World Records title for the longest journey by pumpkin boat, per the Omaha World-Herald ’s Marjie Ducey. Before Hansen, the record holder was Rick Swenson , who sailed the Red River between Minnesota and North Dakota by pumpkin boat in 2016, according to Guinness World Records.

Hansen spent years on the project, eventually naming his prize pumpkin Berta, he told News Channel Nebraska ’s Dan Swanson. He was inspired to break the record after attending a three-day pumpkin growing seminar in Portland, Oregon, five years ago, when he met a woman who at the time held the record he sought.

“I asked her a lot of questions and that’s when I decided I wanted to do this,” he tells News Channel Nebraska.

With a circumference of around 146 inches, Hansen determined that the pumpkin was large enough for him to fit inside after he carved it out. Dubbed the S.S. Berta, the pumpkin was transported to the launching point atop a trailer, according to the Washington Post ’s María Luisa Paúl.

Hansen hopped inside and took off for the day-long journey, with family members and friends cheering him on from along the banks. Throughout the next 12 hours, he fought to stay afloat as an array of obstacles—including rocks, sand bars and waves—threatened to tip him over. “You’ve got to be on top of it the whole time,” he tells News Channel Nebraska.

To comply with the Guinness World Records’ rules, Hansen had asked non-family members to witness the event. Attendees included Bellevue City officials, who took photos and videos along the way to provide evidence .

The inspiration for the Guinness Book of Records , as it was originally called, came about after Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of  Guinness Brewery , went on a hunting trip to Ireland in 1951. After failing to shoot a golden plover, he debated with his hunting party over what the fastest game bird was, only to realize that they couldn’t find the answer in any reference book.

Unnerved by the group’s failure to arrive at a consensus during their pub argument, Beaver recruited fact-finding researchers, twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter, in 1954 and tasked them with putting together a reference book of facts and figures. The first edition was published on August 27, 1955—the same day that Hansen set sail for the pumpkin expedition 67 years later. Since then, Guinness World Records (it changed its name in 1999) has sold over 150 million books . From the longest human tunnel traveled through by a skateboarding dog to the longest fingernails on a pair of hands , over 60,000 records exist on the site’s database.

Hansen’s record isn’t official quite yet. Kylie Galloway, a spokesperson for Guinness World Records, tells CNN that the organization has received his application and is currently in the process of reviewing it.

Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Michelle Harris | READ MORE

Michelle Harris is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. Her work has appeared in Atlas Obscura , Mental Floss , and Audubon Magazine .

World’s Largest Map of the World’s Largest Roadside Attractions

Ask around the world and you’ll hear that everything is bigger in the United States. Perhaps that explains why there are at least 195 roadside attractions in the US that consider themselves the “world’s largest.” They aren’t all verified—some are outright wrong. But each makes its claim with the gusto of a carnival barker, another trait that could be considered very American.

Across 41 states, here is the World’s Largest Map of the World’s Largest Roadside Attractions. Or is it?

View World’s Largest Roadside Attractions in a full screen map

Click around, search for attractions near you, or filter based on these categories:

• Animals: fish, buffalo, and larger than life dinosaurs
• Things: thermometer, chairs, and the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
• Foods: artichoke, peanut, and a really big ketchup bottle
• Places: water towers, truck stops, and the World’s Largest Collection of World’s Smallest Versions of World’s Largest
• People: Abe Lincoln, Paul Bunyan, and the giantest Jolly Green Giant
• Plants: a catchall for trees, vines, and stumps

Nation’s Most of the World’s Largest

At first glance, you’ll see these attractions are well distributed across the country. Sure, they get a little sparse in the open fields of the west, but everything does. There are six states that have more than 10 of these attractions, with California and Ohio leading the way.

California (14)

The Golden State tops out 48 other states with more than a dozen “World’s Greatest” to explore. Perhaps best known are the dinosaur statues of Cabazon, California. These creatures off the I-10 were featured in the 1985 film Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. The Brontoosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex weigh a combined 250 tons.

Other California attractions include a thermometer, an artichoke, and the famous donut at Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood.

Midwest stalwart Ohio hangs with the coastal elites when it comes to roadside attractions. The Buckeye State is tied with California, though perhaps not with the acclaim of some of the west coast locations. Still, the list includes a crystal ball, a cuckoo clock, a cheese wheel and — not just a pumpkin, but also a pumpkin pie. Each one claiming to be the world’s largest.

Illinois (11)

If you find yourself driving through Illinois toward St Louis, you really owe yourself a stop at the World’s Largest Ketchup Bottle. You can’t miss the big red water tower with a white cap and an old timey looking “CATSUP” spelled across a green label.

The Ketchup (or Catsup) Bottle is joined by 10 other world’s largest people, places, and things. They include the largest statue of the state’s native son, Abraham Lincoln, a wind chime, and rocking chair. Notably, seven of the 11 are located in the city of Casey, by far more than any other single city.

Michigan (11)

From a crucifix to a lugnut, Michigan has you covered. The state’s two cherry pie champions are detailed in the disputed records below, but there’s still fun to be seen without desserts. For example: Ishpeming, Michigan, is home to both the World’s Largest Running Chain Saw and the World’s Largest Working Rifle. That sounds like the World’s Largest Liability.

Minnesota (11)

The land of lakes pays homage to, among other things, its state bird . The World’s Largest Loon in Vergas welcomes visitors each August for Looney Dayz. Of course, you can find it any time of year, sitting near highways 4 and 228, standing nearly 20 feet tall.

Seven of the 11 Minnesota roadside attractions are animals. In addition to the loon, there’s a Fish, Prairie Chicken, Pelican, Turkey, Tiger Muskie, and Walleye.

Not to mention that ball of twine.

Finally, the biggest state in the contiguous United States weighs in at 11 world’s largest roadside attractions. And this Texas list is so folksy, we just can’t help but share the whole darn thing: World’s Largest Caterpillar, Fire Hydrant, Jackrabbit, Muleshoe, Pecan, Rattlesnake, Roadrunner, Watermelon, Patio Chair, Peanut, and Strawberry.

Most of these are outside the state’s largest cities. But if you find yourself in Dallas, you might as well go check out that patio chair. It comfortably seats two.

Disputed Records Abound

The veracity of the claim “world’s largest” is not always respected. Indeed, there are many duplicate and disputed examples on the map. In fact, the Wikipedia article from which we created this map is under review, as editors has out which are the real world’s largest. In the meantime, these roadside attractions are likely delighting those who see them. Does it really matter which cherry pie is largest?

There are competing claims for these attractions:

• World’s Largest Cross (Orlando and Louisiana)
• World’s Largest Peanut (Ashburn, Georgia; Pearsall, Texas)
• World’s Largest Rocking Chair (Casey, Illinois; Fanning, Missouri)
• World’s Largest Egg (Mentone, Indiana; Winlock, Washington)
• World’s Largest Pencil (Glen Burnie, Maryland; St. Louis)
• World’s Largest Pecan (Brunswick, Missouri; Seguin, Texas)
• World’s Largest Fire Hydrant (Columbia, South Carolina; Beaumont, Texas)
• World’s Largest Strawberry (Ellerbe, North Carolina; Poteet, Texas; Strawberry Point, Iowa)

Can you believe it? Three world’s largest strawberries. I think the others should concede it to a city with “strawberry” in the name.

Orlando gladly gives World’s Largest McDonald’s to Vinita, Oklahoma. That’s because the Florida city proudly claims the second-largest location of the popular fast food restaurant.

Oh, and that cherry pie? It matters to some folks in two Michigan towns. When the record was set in 1976 by the town of Charlevoix, Michigan. At 17,420 pounds, you’d think nobody would try to break it. After all, the Charlevoix pie was made with cement mixers, dump trucks, and required a helicopter to sprinkle the sugar on top. Yet, just 11 years later, Traverse City, Michigan, just 50 miles away, eclipsed the record with its own 28,000 pound pie. This article traces the history of that rivalry, though both have since been beat by a city in British Columbia.

Unique Enough to Not Be Questioned

Some claims are so specific or unwanted, that they deserve every commendation.

• The Berkeley Pit in Montana is a former copper mine that is now the Worlds Largest Man Made Body of Toxic Water. You can have that one, Montana.
• While Minnesota does not have the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, it does have the largest one created by one man, which makes it notable. Cawker City can keep their record, as the entire community continues to add twine.
• World’s Largest Collection of World’s Smallest Versions of World’s Largest is also the longest name of any on the map.
• And finally, the World’s Largest Squirting Clam in Long Beach, Washington, doesn’t really need the “squirting” qualifier. Though sometimes called a Spitting Clam, there appears to be nobody else claiming the World’s Largest Non-Squirting Clam.

Explore more of our World’s Largest Roadside Attractions Map in a full window. See what unique and wonderful things you can find. And when you’re ready to add your own strange locations to a map, check out our super simple map building tool .

Helpful How-To Posts

• How to Plot Latitude and Longitude on a Map
• How to Enter Latitude and Longitude into Google Maps
• How to Format Your Addresses for BatchGeo

Recent Posts

• New York Landmarks Mapped
• The Population of the World’s Capitals on a Map
• American Celebrities Born 100 Years Ago on a Map
• A Map of What Happened 100 Years Ago in 1924
• 120 of the World’s National Birds on a Map

• About BatchGeo
• Example Maps
• Map Excel Data
• Embedding Maps
• Store Locators

• Photo Gallery
• Travel Videos
• Destinations
• Travel Blogger Press Kit
• Marketing Tools
• Work With Us

Subscribe to the Road Tripper newsletter and receive a copy the “52 Tips to a Perfect Get-Away” e-booklet absolutely FREE!

Travel Tips

The longest road trip roads in the world.

If you dream of epic adventures you should definitely consider traveling down one of the longest road trip roads in the world. Whether you’re in search of some good ol’ American fun, or looking to experience other countries, or even entire continents, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most unique and longest highways systems on earth.

At nearly 3200 miles (5200km) U.S. Route 6 is the second longest road trip road in the United States

Also known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, U.S. Route 6 is a main route of the United States Highway system. Battling U.S. Route 20 for the title of the longest “continuous” transcontinental highway in America, this road will take drivers through fourteen different states starting in California and ending in Massachusetts.

At over 3300 miles (5400km) U.S. Route 20 is the longest road trip road in the United States

U.S. Route 20 covers 3,365 miles, from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon. In 1926, it officially became a U.S. Highway, and during its early years, terminated at Yellow Stone National Park. Now U.S. Route 20 is the longest highway in the country, it crosses through twelve states of America’s beautiful landscape.

The Golden Quadrilateral Highway is the longest road trip road in India at 3600 miles (6000km)

The Golden Quadrilateral Highway in India is a network of highways connecting India’s four top metropolitan cities; Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, forming a quadrilateral. Launched in 2001 as part of India’s National Highways Development Project, it is the largest highway project in India. Overall the quadrilateral consists of four, six lane express highways.

The Trans-Canada Highway is the longest road trip roads in North America

Crossing through six time zones, this once-in-a-life time road trip starts at one end of Canada and ends at the other. Commenced in 1962, the Trans-Canada Highway takes you through ten Canadian provinces and crosses the Pacific Ocean on the west and to the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

The Trans-Siberian Highway runs the entire length of Russia and is the third longest road trip roads in the world

Spanning from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian Highway is a network of federal highways. As one of the more dangerous roads on this list, it has some of the toughest environments and uneasy terrain, from the Baltic Sea of the Atlantic Ocean to the Japan Sea of the Pacific Ocean.

Highway 1 in Australia, also known as the “Big Lap,” is the second longest road trip roads in the world

As the second largest road in the world, it joins all the mainland capitals of Australia. Constructed almost half a century ago, the first section of the route was signposted between Brisbane and Adelaide in 1955. At the time is was Australia’s only true national highway. Now there are more direct routes that crisscross throughout the country, none of them are more scenic than Australia’s Highway One.

At nearly 30,000 miles, The Pan American Highway is by far and away the longest road trip roads in the world

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Pan American Highway is the longest designated road in the world. At its fullest extent it links most of the nations of North and South America. Stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, but briefly interrupted by the 100-mile Darien Gap between Central and South America.

You’ll notice that two of the world’s longest highways are located in the United States, however there are many other scenic and unique systems in other parts of the world. When you’re considering your next family vacation or solo adventure, consider road tripping down one of the longest road trip roads in the world.

If you’re looking to travel one of these longest road trip roads and need a vehicle, check out Car Rentals for a great deal.

What's the farthest distance you can drive in North America?

The Pan American Highway, almost 30,000 miles away, is by far the longest win streak trip in the world. Also, Pan American Highway is the longest designated highway throughout the globe, and as per the Guinness Book of World Records. This unites almost all of the nations of North and South America to its greatest extent.

What are the best US road trip routes?

While planning a great American road trip, you must wonder the best of bests road trips in the USA. The list of incredible USA road trips includes Route 66, Pan American Highway, Great River Road, Pacific Coast Highway, Overseas Highway, Hill Country and many more.

What are the longest road trip roads in the world?

The United States boasts of some of the world's longest highways. The Pan-American Highway is the world's longest 'motorable road,' according to Guinness Book of World Records. At over 3300 miles (5400km) U.S. Route 20 is the longest road trip road in the United States of America.

Mike Shubic

Tags: longest road trip roads , Longest road trip roads in the world , longest road trips , longest road trips in the world , What are the longest road trip roads in the world

17 Comments

Bill and I travelled Hwy 6 and 20 in our travels.

Hi Jan…is that right? Did you do the entire length?

I would love to do the longest road trip in the world, but I just don’t like the countries it goes though.

It would be epic indeed.

Hey, Mike! I noticed on the Pan Am Highway, coming south from Alaska, it veers into two sections in Canada. When one fork enters the U.S., is it I-35? Thanks a lot, I enjoyed your blog!

Hi Mike…thanks for stopping by. That’s a good question, I’m not sure. Alaska is actually the only state I have not yet road tripped around. Are you thinking of driving this Pan Am Highway soon? Cheers, Mike

I am looking for travel companions to go anywhere. In some languages I am fluent, in some not, but even I do not speak Spanish I travel every winter in Mexico without any problems so far. From Maharaj to Germany I can communicate with locals, and many of them speak English as well.

Regardless of what the Guinness book of records states, the Darian gap separates the road, pretending otherwise is ridiculous.

Thank you for your thoughts.

The farthest you can drive in Alaska is Prudhoe Bay, which is a full 5335 miles from Miami, FL.

Thank you for sharing, and, for stopping by. Cheers, Mike

Wow, can you imagine road tripping one of these. Very interesting.

Epic indeed.

Such an interesting post. Your blog is amazing!

Glad you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by.

I would like to thank you for the efforts, this is a great post.

My pleasure. Thank you.

Comments are closed.

Novel: Lines, Signs & Forks

Featured road trips, roadside attractions, travel experiences, most road tripped man in the world, latest posts.

• Single Trip
• Annual Multi-Trip
• Winter Sports & Ski
• Collision Damage Waiver
• Sport & Leisure
• Medical Conditions
• Travel Insurance for Non-UK Residents
• Group Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance for Couples
• Covid-19 travel insurance
• About Our Travel Insurance
• Holiday Cancellation Insurance
• Emergency Medical Assistance Cover
• Emergency Medical Cover for Travel Insurance
• Repatriation Insurance
• Baggage Cover
• Travel Insurance for Under 18s
• Comprehensive
• What's Covered
• Excluded Vehicles
• Range Rover
• Car Hire Excess Insurance
• Policy Information
• File a Claim
• Insurance Glossary
• Coronavirus - Annual Multi-trip Policy

The world's longest and greatest road trips

Road-trips are the perfect way to experience many different countries, cultures and landmarks all in one epic journey.

Being in control of your destiny and the freedom that comes with jumping in the car and driving wherever you see fit can be liberating. Whilst road-trips do need a decent period of time to undertake there are plenty of options to suit whether you’ve got a long weekend or taking a year to travel the world.

We’re concentrating today on those longer trips, those inspirational life affirming journeys that take you from one side of the world to the other by looking at the world’s longest road trips.

Sagres to Talon: The Longest Overland Road Trip

The furthest that you can drive without the need of ferries or trains is from Sagres in Portugal to Talon in eastern Russia.

This 9,414 mile (15,151km) journey will take around 200 hours of continuous driving. Clearly you’ll be wanting to break up the journey, doing so means you’ll be able to explore a number of wonderful countries from the start point in Portugal, through Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus and across the breadth of Russia via Moscow, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and to Talon.

Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia: Pan American Highway

The Pan American Highway spans the North and South American continents, from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to the southernmost city in the world Ushuaia in Argentina.

It’s a distance of 19,000 miles (30,000km) making it the longest road in the world. It would take an estimated 720 hours to drive the length of the Pan American Highway – which is a solid 3 months of driving, but most people choose to take a much more leisurely approach over the course of 6-12 months.

The journey takes you through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, United States and Canada – which gives you plenty of places to explore and enjoy along the way. From the Patagonian icefields to the Atacama Desert and the Rockies mountains.

We should be honest and admit that this isn’t fully achievable by car alone, the Darien Gap, which separates South America and Central America is a region of mountainous rainforest and swampland which can only be covered by boat.

Highway 1 in Australia: The Big Lap

Australia’s Big Lap is essentially the world’s biggest ring road. The 9,000 mile (14,500km) Highway 1 connects the capitals of Australia’s states (except Hobart and Canberra) by joining Perth (Western Australia), Darwin (Northern Territories), Brisbane (Queensland), Sydney (New South Wales), Melbourne (Victoria) and Adelaide (South Australia). 

In doing so it becomes the second largest road in the world. It showcases all that Australia has to offer from the Great Ocean Road between Melbourne and Adelaide to the isolation of the north eastern coasts with swamps, deserts and scrubland in between.

Although the record for the Big Lap is a remarkable 6 days, those of us with more time could enjoy the journey over the course of 3-6 months. Taking in all that Australia has to offer in that time.

St. Petersburg to Vladivostok: The Trans-Siberian Highway 

Many would have heard of the Trans-Siberian Railway, but did you know there was a highway as well?

Running the length of Russia from St Petersburg in the north west to Vladivostok in the south east it covers 7,000 miles (11,000km) making it the third longest road in the world.

The journey takes goes from the Baltic Sea coast to the Sea of Japan, through some inhospitable terrain making it one of the toughest road trips you can choose to do.

Driving constantly and going at full tilt will still take around 14 days to make it from one side to the other. Happily though, if you allow 4-6 weeks you can make the journey in a more manageable way and enjoy the cities of Moscow, Kazan and Irkutsk whilst the natural wonder of Lake Baikal. 

St John’s to Vancouver: The Trans-Canada Highway 

Canada is the second biggest country in the world, so it’s not a surprise to see it on a list of the world’s longest road trips. The Trans-Canada Highway meanders from St John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador in the east to Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia on Canada’s west coast.

The journey is 5,000 miles (7,000km) takes you through ten Canadian provinces and takes you from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Coast in the west. In total, it would take around 120 hours of pure driving, but more realistically a 2-month trip would allow you to leisurely journey where you can take in all that Canada has to offer.

Along the route, stop in the beautiful Quebec City, explore the lakes and mountains of Alberta and try whale watching in Vancouver Bay.

Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata: The Golden Quadrilateral Highway 

India’s longest road trip in 3,600 miles (6,000km) long and connects 4 of India’s largest cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

In doing so it forms a quadrilateral where the highway gets its name. It is the newest highway on this list having been completed in 2001

2-4 weeks driving this route around India would be able to provide good time to explore each city and immerse yourself in some of India’s most famous landmarks including the world-famous Taj Mahal. 

Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon: U.S. Route 20

America and road trips go hand in hand, although Route 66 is probably the famous road trip in the world, the longest road trip in the United States is actually Route 20 which connects Boston, Massachusetts on the east coast with Newport, Oregon on the Pacific coast in the north west of the country.

Covering 3,365 miles (5,415km) it runs through 12 different states and some fascinating cities including Cleveland – where you can visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Minneapolis - for some retail therapy at the Mall of America, and Chicago - The Windy City. Aside from cities you can also experience the USAs natural beauty including Yellowstone National Park, Craters of the Moon National Preserve and, if you’re willing take a 2-hour detour, you can see Mount Rushmore.

The 60 hours of driving that it will take can make for an excellent 3-week journey across the route, giving you enough time for a leisurely drive and multiple night stays along the way. 

Istanbul to Tokyo: Asian Highway 1

The longest road trip across Asia spans 12,774 (20,557km) from Istanbul in Turkey – known as the gateway to Asia – to Tokyo in Japan.

Asian Highway 1 takes around 125 hours to complete, but given the number of different countries through which it runs you’ll likely want to allow yourself 4-6 weeks to fully appreciate everything that this route has to offer.

The route runs through South Korea, North Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. Whilst some of these countries may not be the easiest to navigate through geo-politically speaking the routes does hold some magnificent treasures throughout south east Asian and parts of the Indian sub-continent.

If you’re not sick of driving by the time you arrive in Istanbul, it is possible to continue the trip via the E80 which will lead you across Europe to Lisbon in Portugal. 

John O’Groats, UK to Cape Town: The Longest Euro-African Road Trip

Here’s one that is perfect for us Brits. A 200 hour drive takes us 9,100 miles (14,650km) from the UK’s most northerly mainland point – John O’Groats to Cape Town in South Africa.

It would take just over a week of solid driving to make the distance, but a much more sensible timescale will be 2 to 3 months – that way you can enjoy your trip through Europe and down the length of Africa.

This unique journey travels through France, Spain, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Namibia and South Africa – allowing you to get up close and personal with the wildlife of Africa in the various deserts, game reserves and national parks with the Algerian Sahara and Deadvlei and Etosha National Park in Namibia being particular highlights.

Serai, Indonesia to Cape Town, South Africa: The Longest Land Route with Ferries

If you’re willing to push the definition of a road trip a bit further and are happy to use a number of ferries, then the longest land route you can do with ferries is between Cape Town and Serai, North Sulawesi in Indonesia.

The longest road trip covers a distance of 20,885 (33,612km) through Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Kazakhstan, Russia and then across Europe from Belarus to Spain. Then head over to north Africa and travel through Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and more.

This is a mammoth journey that with constant driving would take 550 hours – the equivalent of 23 days straight!

Ready to hit the road for your next adventure?

Have we inspired to take a road trip? Even if you don’t have the time or the willing to travel tens of thousands of miles there are some excellent road trips closer to home including:

• North Coast 500 – Scotland
• Wild Atlantic Way – Ireland
• Ring Road - Iceland
• The Amalfi Coast - Italy
• Atlantic Road – Norway

If you are planning a driving adventure this year, remember to get yourself covered with travel insurance and car hire excess cover and breakdown cover to make sure you’re fully protected before you hit the open road.

These ‘World’s Largest’ roadside attractions prove that sometimes, bigger really is better

From a giant pistachio to an entire town dedicated to big things, here are 10 larger-than-life objects worth braking for

By Roadtrippers

While there are plenty of larger-than-life roadside attractions, only a few can truly hold the title of “World’s Largest.” It’s often a lengthy and costly process to become a world-record holder (Guinness outlines the process here ), and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be on top for long. But even if an object’s height or weight is eventually eclipsed by something taller or heavier, its outsized proportions are still likely to impress. 

Built along popular routes and in small towns across the U.S. to capture the attention of travelers with limited time and money, these 10 former, current, or simply aspirational World’s Largest attractions—one of which is made up of more than 40,000 really small things—prove that sometimes, bigger really is better.

Here are 10 of the best places to brake for big things across the U.S.

1. World’s Largest Pistachio

The World’s Largest Pistachio is not a real pistachio, but the 30-foot-tall green-and-white concrete sculpture in Alamogordo is nutty enough to attract travelers on their way through Albuquerque, Roswell, or Las Cruces, New Mexico. McGinn’s Pistachioland is an 111-acre pistachio farm, vineyard, and souvenir shop billed as “the nuttiest place in New Mexico.”

The big pistachio is dedicated to the ranch’s founder, Thomas McGinn, who died in 2007. A plaque explains: “Tom dreamed big, expected big, and accomplished big things. He would have said this monument is not big enough. His legacy lives on.” After the towering tree nut lures you in, stop and stretch your legs in the extensive gift shop, which sells everything from custom squished pennies to pistachio-printed socks, and, of course, sacks of McGinn’s signature nuts (a sign in the parking lot reads “Parking for nuts only, all others will be cracked”).

2. World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock

Built in 1972, and featured on the cover of The Guinness Book of World Records in 1977, Ohio’s World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock has since been eclipsed by others (the current record holder is a clock in Germany featuring a 330-pound cuckoo bird). The working clock was commissioned for the Alpine Alpa Restaurant in Wilmot, Ohio, but when the restaurant closed in 2009, it was moved to Sugarcreek, a town in the heart of Amish country known as “The Little Switzerland of Ohio.” The 23-foot-tall, brightly-painted clock is located outside at the corner of N. Broadway and E. Main streets; every half hour, a cuckoo bird pops out along with a Swiss polka band and a dancing couple.

3. World’s Largest Ball of Sisal Twine

Started by Frank Stoeber in 1953, the World’s Largest Ball of Sisal Twine has a circumference of 46 feet and weighs 27,017 pounds (as of March 2022). Located 30 miles south of the (oft-disputed) geographic center of the U.S. in Cawker City, Kansas, since 1961, the ball is a constant work in progress, currently comprising more than 8.5 million feet of sisal twine. Visitors wishing to contribute to the record-holding ball can stop in to Cawker City’s newest attraction, Eyegore’s Odditorium and Monster Museum , located just across Lake Drive, for a length of twine and instructions on how to properly contribute to the community landmark.

4. Casey, Illinois

Featuring more than 30 larger-than-life objects (including 12 world-record holders), Casey, Illinois, has fully embraced its reputation as a small town full of big things. Mail a letter from the World’s Largest Mailbox , play 18 holes at the Casey Country Club—home of the World’s Largest Golf Tee —and watch the World’s Largest Barber Pole spin slowly while you get trim at Tina’s Barber Shop on West Main Street. The World’s Largest Rocking Chair is too large to sit in (except in special circumstances ), but several of the installations are interactive photo ops, including the big baseball bat and an oversized mouse trap (slip under the metal bar beneath a sign that says, “Help me! I’m trapped in Casey, Illinois”).

5. World’s Largest Miniature Circus

The Ringling campus in Sarasota, Florida, includes museums dedicated to fine art and circus artifacts, a theater, education center, and Ca’ d’Zan, the Venetian Gothic former home of John Ringling, one of several famous Ringling brothers. The circus museum is home to posters, costumes, and props from the Greatest Show on Earth, but the crown jewel of the collection is The Howard Bros. Circus. 

Named for its creator, Howard Tibbals, the 3,800-square-foot model of miniatures is staggering in both its sprawling scope and diminutive scale (each three-fourths of an inch equals a foot). The 44,000-piece recreation of a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus took Tibbals more than 50 years to construct, and it includes everything you’d expect and more, including billboards, trains, trapeze artists, clowns, ticket booths, elephants, zebras, tigers, and, of course, a big top.

6. World’s Largest Teapot

The World’s Largest Teapot started its life as a wooden root beer barrel advertising Hire’s Root Beer. In 1938, the barrel was sold to William Devon, who then added a spout and handle, and covered it in tin. Reimagined as a teapot, the structure stood in front of Devon’s teapot store selling souvenirs and concessions. After it was abandoned in the 1980s, the 14-foot-high teapot was restored and moved to Chester, West Virginia, in the early ‘90s (just across the border from East Liverpool, Ohio). Despite still advertising candy, hotdogs, and pop, the red-and-white teapot is no longer in operation; its current location—next to the Jennings Randolph Bridge Ramp, at the junction of State Route 2 and U.S. Route 30—isn’t ideal for much more than a quick photo op. 

7. World’s Largest Basket

Driving down State Route 16 in Newark, Ohio, it’s hard to miss the former headquarters of the Longaberger basket company. The 9,000-ton basket-shaped building was dreamed up by founder Dave Longaberger and modeled after his company’s best-selling Market Basket. Longaberger died not long after its completion, and his once-billion-dollar company declared bankruptcy and abandoned the basket in 2015. 

The 180,000-square-foot, seven-story structure has a surprisingly subdued interior featuring a 30,000-square-foot atrium topped with a glass ceiling and 150-ton handles. For sale intermittently over the past several years, the basket is currently off the market ; previous plans had been to possibly convert the space into another corporate headquarters, a boutique hotel, communal offices, or market-rate housing. 

Related Longaberger’s bizarre headquarters is for sale again

8. World’s Largest Operational Frying Pan

There are several frying pans vying for the title of World’s Largest, leading would-be competitors to add hyper-specific qualifiers or spelling quirks to their entries, such as the World’s Largest Nonstick Frying Pan and Iowa’s Largest Fryin’ Pan. Rose Hill, North Carolina, boasts its own variation, the World’s Largest Operational Frying Pan : The 2-ton pan, which has a circumference of 45 feet and a 6-foot handle, can hold 200 gallons of cooking oil. 

Built in 1963 by the Ramsey Feed Company, the pan comprises several separate wedges and sits on 40 gas burners. With a cooking capacity of 365 chickens, the pan is used during the North Carolina poultry jubilee as well as for community fundraising events.

9. World’s Largest Czech Egg

Located in Wilson, “The Czech Capital of Kansas,” the 20-foot-tall, 15-foot-wide World’s Largest Czech Egg sits upright under a dedicated pavilion in Ed & LaVange Shiroky Park. The fiberglass egg was built in 2012, painted in a traditional black, red, and yellow Czech pattern by local artist Christine Slechta, and erected in its current location in 2016. Wilson, a tiny town with a population of under 1,000, attracts visitors from all over at the end of July for its annual After Harvest Czech Festival, which features a parade, arts and crafts vendors, and the Miss Kansas Czech/Slovak Queen Pageant.

Related The ‘Czech Capital of Kansas’ celebrates its heritage with a larger-than-life egg

10. World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant

Several fire hydrants line the square in front of Beaumont’s Fire Museum of Texas, but only one held the title of World’s Largest for 2 years after it was built. Eclipsed by subsequent hydrants in Canada and South Carolina, Beaumont’s black-and-white-spotted big thing was donated to the city in 1999 by the Walt Disney Company to celebrate the re-release of 101 Dalmatians . The 4,500-pound fiberglass-and-steel hydrant was assembled in Anaheim, California, at Disneyland; now qualified as the World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant, the structure is capable of spraying 1,500 gallons of water a minute.

Meet the Author

Roadtrippers

Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detours—from roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond.

• Related Articles
• Latest Articles

The shoe must go on: After one owner’s sudden passing, the Haines Shoe House changes ownership

Ohio’s Longaberger basket-shaped building faces an uncertain future after the company’s bankruptcy

12 of the ‘World’s Largest’ things tower over the small town of Casey, Illinois

What to Expect When Replacing Your RV Roof

Staying connected on the road: A guide to RV WiFi

30 years after ‘Shawshank Redemption,’ fans still flock to the Ohio State Reformatory

Get the most inspiring stories from the road sent directly to your inbox..

• Trip guides
• Voices from the Road
• Destinations
• Trip Planner
• Sign up Log in Sign out
• Log in Sign out
• ROADTRIPPERS MEMBERSHIP

Plan your journey, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with our app.

We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. Please try signing in with another option or create a new account with Roadpass.

We need your email address to send you trip itineraries and other updates.

How the supersonic Concorde jet broke the record for the longest total solar eclipse in history

F lying a plane into the moon's shadow during a total solar eclipse is a hot topic thanks to the upcoming solar eclipse . JSX has a dedicated eclipse flight over Dallas, and both United Airlines and Delta have long sold out tickets for scheduled flights through the path of totality on journeys from Texas to the Northeast. 

But none will come close to achieving what Concorde 001 did on June 30, 1973 , when it raced the moon's shadow along the Tropic of Cancer during a total solar eclipse . 

Flying at 55,000 feet (17,000 meters), the world's fastest supersonic jet extended the duration of totality from a maximum of 7 minutes, 4 seconds on the ground to a stunning 74 minutes.

Related: How fast will April's total solar eclipse travel?

For the seven observers from France, Britain and the U.S., the flight broke the record for the longest total solar eclipse in human history. With the supersonic jet long retired from service, Concorde's historic 1973 flight remains legendary for eclipse chasers. 

Record-breaking flight

On June 30, 1973, Concorde took off from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, in the Spanish Canary Islands.

The path of totality that day was about 156 miles (251 kilometers) wide where Concorde intercepted it, with the moon's shadow moving at about 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h). Concorde flew at 1,350 mph (2,200 km/h)  — Mach 2 — along the path of totality in the same direction as the moon's shadow, thereby keeping up with it as long as possible.

The scientists on board came from Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Paris Observatory, the Kitt Peak National Observatory, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Aberdeen, and the French National Center for Scientific Research. 

Concorde 001 was modified just for them, with rooftop portholes created for observation equipment. The extra-long totality allowed these scientists to study the sun's corona, its chromosphere and the intensity of the sun's light from above much of Earth's atmosphere .  

"We intercepted the totality and stayed within it for 74 minutes before descending and landing in the African nation of Chad," Donald Liebenberg, a scientist from Los Alamos National Laboratory who was on board the flight, wrote for NBC News . "At 74 minutes, our group aboard the Concorde set a record for the amount of time spent in totality that has never been broken. It was an experience I will never forget."

Concorde took off at 1008 GMT and raced above Mauritania as the moon's shadow caught up with it. Over the next four minutes, it flew across the Sahara in Mali, Nigeria and Niger before the moon's shadow overtook it. It landed in Chad. 

In addition to experiencing the long totality, the scientists saw a seven-minute "first contact" and a 12-minute "third contact" — the beginning and end of the eclipse when viewers on the ground see a brief display of Baily's beads and the "diamond ring effect ." 

The 1973 flight wasn't the last time Concorde entered the moon's shadow during a total solar eclipse. Twenty-six years later, on Aug. 11, 1999 , three Concordes — one from France and two from the U.K. — entered the moon's shadow, carrying tourists, as documented by French eclipse expert Xavier Jubier . Each paid $2,400 ( $4,457 in today's dollars ), though totality lasted only four or five minutes, compared with about two minutes on the ground. However, the passengers had problems seeing totality for more than 30 seconds because of the small windows and the sun's height. 

It's a reminder that intercepting the moon's shadow in a plane isn't easy.

The 1999 trips were Concorde's last into the path of totality. After the fatal crash of Air France Flight 4590 on July 25, 2000, just after takeoff, a planned eclipse flight on June 21, 2001 , was canceled. 

The most successful eclipse flight in recent years was E-Flight 2019-MAX , which on July 2, 2019, doubled the totality duration from 4 minutes, 32 seconds to 9 minutes. On board the LATAM Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner were 43 eclipse chasers, each of whom had paid $6,750.

Eclipse flights continue to spark the imagination, but it will be a long time until it's possible to surpass Concorde 001's 1973 achievement. 

Submit your photos! If you capture a photo of the April 8 total solar eclipse and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send photos, videos, comments, and your name, location and content usage permission release to [email protected].

• Weird But True
• Sex & Relationships
• Viral Trends
• Human Interest
• Fashion & Beauty
• Food & Drink

trending now in Lifestyle

Kate Middleton and family are about to face their most serious...

Surprising time of day you should be exercising for biggest...

WFH employee fired after boss tracked her laptop activity breaks...

My teenage son asked me to dress more modestly because his...

Delta Air Lines announces plans to change how passengers board

Experts say this NYC airport is the most luxurious in America —...

Personal trainer slammed for going scorched earth on gymgoer who...

The one compliment men frequently give to women that needs to stop

When is the next total solar eclipse.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

As we all move through the wake/emotional wreckage and ‘from the fray’ opportunities of today’s total solar eclipse we’re looking ahead to the next time the moon blots out the sun, the stars shine at midday and crickets cry.

Many reports incorrectly state that the next North American total solar eclipse won’t happen for twenty years, until August 23, 2044.

Not so, folks. The next one will fall across our fair continent on March 30, 2033, nine years from now.

The fault of fake news might fall on NASA who reported on their website that the next eclipse visible from the contiguous US won’t be until August 23, 2044.

The hitch in the giddy-up is that contiguous bit as it refers to the 48 states that border one another plus that weird politics-ravaged outlier with the high-to-the-sky phallic symbol, ladies and gentlemen D.C.

What is the next total solar eclipse in the United States?

The eclipse happening on March 30, 2033 will be visible from Alaska just after sunrise and coincides with the peak season for the aurora borealis. The path of totality also includes Siberia.

The August 23, 2044 eclipse will be visible in Montana and North Dakota. The path of totality for this eclipse includes Greenland and parts of Canada.

Yet, the next time we’ll experience a total solar eclipse equivalent in length and mass visibility to the April 8, 2024 eclipse will be August 12, 2045.

In 2K45 the path of totality will include Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Florida.

Next total solar eclipse

We’re a self-centric country but the heavens don’t discriminate, folks.

Total solar eclipses actually happen every 18 months or so. The next time the WORLD will witness this phenomenon will be on August 12, 2026. The path of totality will fall over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a few scant feet of Portugal.

Wishing you clarity and courage in the face of change, today and always.

Astrologer  Reda Wigle  researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girl’s guide” to strip clubs, and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.

Share this article:

Advertisement

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes

This Is the No. 1 U.S. City People Want to Move to in 2024 — and It Has the Largest Retirement Community in the World

Hint: it's in the Sunshine State.

Michael Warren/Getty Images

Americans are on the move. Over eight million people relocated to a different state in 2022, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau . And a new report by relocation company MoveBuddha sheds more light on where Americans are headed in 2024. Based on customer search data, the company identified the most desirable destinations with the highest migration rates, and a city in the Sunshine State topped the list.

The Villages in Central Florida, known as the largest retirement community in the world, had the highest in-to-out ratio, 4.38, meaning that for every one hundred people who leave the city, another 438 move in.

“The Villages is a racehorse that’s outpacing every other city in the country for growth. Fueled by a ‘silver tsunami,’ this Baby Boomtown has been on the rise for a decade and shows no signs of slowing down in 2024. With baby boomers reaching retirement age through 2031, the Florida destination is poised for even more growth in years to come,” the report stated, noting that the community offers a mix of good weather and activities.

MoveBuddha’s analysis also shows that while housing costs are a consideration, Americans are willing to relocate to a destination where real estate prices are not necessarily the lowest. In The Villages, for example, the median home value is $407,528, which is more than the nation’s average of $347,716.

Another destination popular with senior adults that made it to the top three is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where over a fifth of the population is aged 65 and over. The oceanfront community ranked third with an in-to-out ratio of 3.22.

However, MoveBuddha noted that cities with bustling art scenes located in natural settings draw the most interest overall. Asheville, North Carolina, for example, which takes the No. 2 spot with an in-to-out ratio of 3.29, is one of them. Similarly, Billings, Montana; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Boulder, Colorado; and Burlington, Vermont; are in the top 10 most desirable places to move to in 2024.

But if you are looking for affordability, the report also points out that five of the 25 winning cities have median home values of under $200,000, and those are Dayton, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa; and Champaign, Illinois.

Another significant outtake from the report is that Americans are no longer leaving urban areas — a trend that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. People favor mid-size cities of about 200,000 residents, with Boston being the most populous of all on the list.

You can read the full report at movebuddha.com .