longest road to travel in the world

From Cape Town To Magadan, The Longest Road In The World You Can Walk

• The road from Cape Town to Magadan is the longest – and arguably the most dangerous – one accessible by walking.
• This journey promises hordes of experiences: from multiple seasons to unknown dangers in 16 countries.
• Anybody brave enough to go up this road must be ready to at least scale Mount Everest as this trip is equivalent to at least 13 of that.

Human beings are always looking for adventures and exciting things to do. For fitness buffs and outdoor adventurers, Cape Magadan offers a thrilling experience.

Besides, the road promises the best, longest, and possibly most dangerous trekking trip ever—an uninterrupted walking path from Cape Town to Magadan which goes over 22 thousand km in total.

To be exact, this path from Cape Town, South Africa to Vladivostok, Russia measures 22,387 kilometers.

A user on Reddit previously tagged the trip at about 21,212 kilometers but the post quickly received corrections from others who pointed out that the trip to Magadan in Russia easily adds another 1,175km to the journey.

Well before rushing to get your buddies to this fantastic walk across 16 different countries, here are some facts that you should know first:

According to Google Maps, you will need 4,492 hours or 187 days of non-stop walking for this journey. If you walk only eight hours per day, then that would be equivalent to 562 days – or more than one year – of walking.

#2. Physical fitness

If you think scaling Mount Everest is a challenge, try imagining thirteen trips up and down and you’ll pretty much have a mental image of how this trip is going to be. You will ascend an estimated 117,693 meters and descend 117,686 meters as you walk from Cape Town to Magadan.

#3. Packing skills

If you are a first-timer, walking from Cape Town to Magadan can be extremely difficult. It is recommended that you pack lightly but efficiently, as you can expect to experience different climates and seasons across 16 different countries.

So, is anybody up for a hike ?

More Stories

Man’s Epic Proposal Included 16 Adorable Dogs To Surprise His Girlfriend

50 Epic Baby Face Swaps That Turned Out To Be Hilariously Horrific!

6 Incredible Ancient Legends That Are Inspired by Real Historic Events

16 Expert Trolls Who Took Humor To The Next Level

Taiwanese Teacher Stuns Students With Epic Chalkboard Drawing Skills

‘Stairway to Heaven’ Is Real, But Will It Be Closing Soon?

March 14th Holiday – Pi Day or Something Else?

Mystery Of Missing Pages

Bees Kill Penguins by Stinging Them in the Eyes

2000 Kilogram Sunfish Caught Off North African Coast

Man Embezzles $57K in COVID-19 Relief to Buy Pokemon Cards

Florida Man Catches and “Recycles” Alligator in Driveway

Man Shocks Reporter on How He’d Spend the Lottery Winnings

Man Joins Search Operation Not Realizing He’s the One Missing

World’s Oldest Rhino Dies in Italian Zoo at 54 Years Old

Meet Quilty – Cat Escape Artist Helping Other Cats Jailbreak

Man Iced Neighbor Who Repeatedly Asked Him “When Are You Getting Married?”

Do You Live in One of These 15 Countries With The Most Beautiful Women on Earth?

The Secret Meaning of Anklets And Why Some Wives Wear Them

Waking Up Between 3 to 5 AM Could Mean You’re Experiencing Spiritual Awakening

Divorced Man Wrote 20 Epic Marriage Advice He Wished He Could Have Had

Haunting Photos of Two Tourists Snapped Just Before They Mysteriously Disappeared

Pork Fat Is Officially One of the World’s Most Nutritious Foods

Some Stranger Padlocked This Guy’s Earlobe And Ran Away With The Key

Three-Month-Old Baby Left Blind in One Eye After Family Friend Took His Picture

Performance Artist Stood Still For 6 Hours to Let People Do What They Wanted to Her Body

Brilliant Maps

Making Sense Of The World, One Map At A Time

The Pan American Highway: The Longest Road In The World

At its fullest extent the Pan-American Highway is a network of roads stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres (30,000 miles).

According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world’s longest “motorable road” . However it is not readily possible to drive all the way since the route is interrupted by the 160 kilometre-wide (100 mile) Darién Gap between Central and South America.

The Highway consists of both official and unofficial elements. The official section, which is referred to in Spanish variously as the Autopista / Carretera / Ruta Panamericana, runs from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on the U.S. Border to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

However, as shown on the map there are extensive unofficial sections to both the north and south of this.

The route shown on the map runs through 14 countries:

• The United States
• El Salvador

It also has links to a number of other countries. In the process it passes through all the major climate zones and many varied landscapes including arctic tundra, boreal forest, mountains, prairies, arid deserts and tropical jungles.

Moving from north to south, the route starts at Deadhorse, Alaska near the Prudhoe Bay oilfields and for the first 662 kilometres (414 miles) follows the Dalton Highway to Fairbanks.

The Dalton Highway was constructed in 1974 as a supply road to support the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. It is a challenging drive, with no services of any kind on one 384 kilometre (240 mile) stretch, and was the first road to be featured in the BBC’s World’s Most Dangerous Roads .

From Fairbanks there is a 155 kilometre (96 mile) link to Delta Junction at the northern end of the Alaska Highway, the next part of the route.

The Alaska Highway was constructed in 1942 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, as a wartime project using around 10,000 troops . Its purpose was to link Alaska with the 48 contiguous states through Canada to help defend against a possible Japanese attack.

It was originally around 2,700 kilometres long but as of 2012 had been shortened to 2,232 kilometres (1,387 miles) and is now paved over its entire length.

The Alaska Highway terminates at Dawson Creek, B.C. from where the route shown continues to Edmonton, Alberta. After Edmonton the map identifies two possible routes.

The first goes through Minneapolis after which it follows the Interstate 35 through Dallas/Fort-Worth to the Mexican border at Laredo, Texas.

The second route runs through Calgary, Alberta and Billings, Montana and then connects with the Interstate 25 through Denver, Colorado to Las Cruces, New Mexico and from there on the Interstate 10 to San Antonio, Texas, where it joins the first route.

In practice, given the unofficial status of the routes through Canada and the United States, many other alternatives are possible.

The Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo, just across the border from Laredo marks the start of the official section of the Pan-American Highway.

From there it runs to Mexico City along Mexican Federal Highway 45 and on to the border with Guatemala along Mexican Federal Highway 190.

It then proceeds through Central America, passing through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. With the exception of Honduras, its route takes it through the capital cities of each of these countries, namely:

• Guatemala City (Guatemala)
• San Salvador (El Salvador)
• Managua (Nicaragua)
• San José (Costa Rica)
• Panama City (Panama)

One of the most challenging sections of the route lies in Costa Rica, where it rises to 3,335 metres (10,942 feet) at the ominously named Summit of Death (Cerro de la Muerte).

This summit marks the highest elevation on the Pan-American Highway in Central America. Indeed, following the completion of the Christ the Redeemer Tunnel between Chile and Argentina (see below), it may well be the highest elevation along the entire route.

The route through Central America terminates abruptly at Yaviza, at the edge of the Darién Gap and resumes on the other side at Turbo, Colombia in South America.

All but the most intrepid circumvent the Gap by taking one of the ferries that go from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador, from where they can reconnect with the Pan-American Highway.

In Colombia the route runs through Medellin and Cali before crossing the border into Ecuador at Tulcán.

In Ecuador the highway goes through the capital, Quito. At 2,850 metres (9,350 feet) Quito is the world’s second highest capital city , exceeded in elevation only by La Paz, Bolivia. From there the route heads south to Peru, where it follows Peru Highway 1, which runs the length of the country and connects all major cities in the coastal area, including the capital, Lima.

On crossing from Peru into Chile the highway enters the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar location in the world . The highway then follows Chile Route 5 through Antofagasta to Valparaiso.

As shown on the map, there is an unofficial branch of the highway that continues on down the Chilean coast on Route 5 terminating in Quellón on Chiloé Island.

At Valparaiso the official route heads east following Chile Route 60 across the Andes Mountains to Argentina, where it becomes Argentina National Route 7 and crosses the Pampas to Buenos Aires.

Before 1980, the border used to be at the Upsallata Pass, which at 3,832 metres (12, 572 feet) made it the highest point on the Pan-American Highway. However, 1980 saw the opening of the Christ the Redeemer Tunnel (Túnel Cristo Redentor) at 3,200 metres (10,499 feet), which became the new crossing point.

The final (unofficial) leg of the Pan-American Highway runs for 3,045 kilometres (1,892 miles) from Buenos Aires on Argentina National Route 3 to Ushuaia passing through Bahía Blanca and Comodoro Rivadavia.

Near its southern end the route goes back into Chile and crosses the Straits of Magellan via a short ferry ride before going back into Argentina and on to Ushuaia, which is located on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the largest island of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

Argentina claims Ushuaia as the world’s most southerly city , a fact that is disputed by Chile which claims Puerto Williams for this distinction. While the Chilean town of Puerto Williams is indeed farther south , Ushuaia has a much larger population (71,000 vs. 3,000) , so take your pick.

The record for the fastest trip by car from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay (mostly on the Pan-American Highway) is credited to Tim Cahill and Garry Sowerby in the astonishing time of twenty-three days, twenty-two hours, and forty-three minutes .

Tim wrote about his experience in his book Road Fever . In 2003 Kevin Sanders broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest traversal of the highway by motorcycle , taking 34 days.

No account of the Pan-American Highway would be complete without a discussion of its missing link, the Darién Gap .

This area of undeveloped swampland, forest and mountain straddles the border between Panama and Colombia. Thus far, plans to build a road through the Gap have come to nothing .

There are a number of reasons for this including:

• The sheer difficulty and cost of building a road through such difficult terrain.
• Pressure to protect the rainforest environment
• Concerns by indigenous groups, such as the Embera-Wounaan and Kuna that a road would pose a threat to their traditional cultures.
• And concerns that a road would make it easier for foot and mouth disease to enter North America.

Over the years, the enormous challenge of traversing the Gap has attracted a number of diehard souls.

The first vehicular crossing of the Gap was by the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa (The Affectionate Cockroach) and a Jeep of the international Trans-Darién Expedition of 1959–60, which took 136 days!

The first crossing by a standard two wheel drive passenger car took place in 1961 with three Chevrolet Corvairs, only two of which made it out of the jungle.

Up to this point, the expeditions had used river boats for some sections. The first fully overland wheeled crossing of the Gap was that of British cyclist Ian Hibell, who rode from Cape Horn to Alaska between 1971 and 1973.

The first motorcycle crossing was by Robert L. Webb in March 1975.

The first all-land auto crossing was in 1985–87 by Loren Upton and Patty Mercier in a Jeep, taking an incredible 741 days to travel 201 kilometres (125 miles).

Ed Culberson was the first to follow the entire Pan-American Highway including the Darién Gap on a motorcycle.

There have also been a number of crossings on foot, including that of George Meegan in 1981, who walked the entire distance from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska over a period of 2,425 days !

The most unusual walker was evangelist Arthur Blessitt who traversed the Gap in 1979 while carrying a 12-foot wooden cross as part of what Guinness World Records recognized as “the longest round the world pilgrimage”.

Principal References:

• Pan-American Highway
• Dalton Highway
• Alaska Highway
• Pan-American Highway (South America)
• Atacama Desert
• National Route 3 (Argentina)
• The southernmost settlements in the world

Tim Cahill, Road Fever (1991) Ed Culberson, Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan-American Highway’s Jungle Gap (1966) George Meegan, The Longest Walk (1988) Russell Braddon, The Hundred Days of Darien (1974) John Blashford-Snell, Something Lost Behind the Ranges (1994) Ian Hibell, Into the Remote Places (1984) Mark A Smith, Driven by a Dream (2004) Wade Davis, The Rucksack Man (1976) Arthur Blessitt, The Cross (2009) Joseph R. Yogerst, Long Road South: The Pan American Highway (1999) Raymond and Audrey Pritchard, Driving the Pan-American Highway to Mexico and Central America (1998) Brad and Sheena Van Orden, Drive Nacho Drive: A Journey from the American Dream to the End of the World (2013) Ben Cunningham, The Longest Road: An Irish Pan-American Cycling Adventure (2009)

Enjoy this post? Then please help us by sharing it:

Get Our Latest Brilliant Maps Weekly:

Other popular maps.

The 28 Best Map Based Strategy Board Games You’ve Probably Never Played

60+ reasons to stay: uk would lose eu free trade deals.

The Mediterranean Swapped With Scandinavia

CENTO: One of The Cold War’s Weirdest & Least Successful Alliances

A Hurricane By Any Other Name: What Tropical Cyclones Are Called Around The World

10 Pandemic Board Game Versions & Expansions Ranked Best To Worst

2016 US Presidential Election Maps By Population Vs Land Area

Google Map Style Game of Thrones Westeros

Nicolás Valencia says

May 20, 2016 at 7:57 pm

I would like to clarify a point related to Chile. In our country it’s known as Route 5, but instead of arriving to Valparaiso, it goes to Santiago. In fact, in a short section, Route 5 is crossed by Route 60 (Valparaiso – Buenos Aires), before arriving Santiago, capital of Chile.

Route 5 cross Santiago as a north-south axis (well-known as “La Norte-Sur”), then continues on down to Puerto Montt. Then, you have to sail the Chacao Channel from Puerto Montt to Quellon, the southernmost city on Chiloe Island.

GeoNie says

November 2, 2021 at 10:14 pm

It’s on the internet dude!! Geez

November 2, 2021 at 10:18 pm

Hey NicolásValencia. Chile looks so beautiful in its beach front glory to that big wall separating Argentina. I envy you guys and will land in Santiago soon

Veronica Philips says

July 9, 2017 at 8:47 pm

Image what can happen on a family road trip, when your son asks the innocent question, “What’s the longest road in the world?” This was a great read, and I’m thinking it needs to be a bucket list item..

Tom Swinburn says

August 13, 2018 at 7:53 am

Meegan traversed 12 miles a day for YEARS to make his journey. Almost seven years in fact. So there were no sick days, no breaks of any kind? I guess I’m going to have to buy his book. The 12 miles a day was the average, but some days he could have walked much further, other days, like in the Darien gap a mile a day would have been tough. And the elevation changes! The feat seems almost superhuman.

August 10, 2019 at 10:06 pm

Without modern technology, navigating, writing and Reading about this would not be possible. Someday like the Jetsons someone will just be able to fly their own personal vehicle the whole way !!

Ian Sarad says

September 27, 2019 at 5:00 pm

I just did a little research and discovered that it’s actually 30,000 km (not miles).

Muhammad Naeem Khalid says

October 28, 2019 at 6:01 pm

Pan American Highway is 30000 KM or 30000 Miles please clarify

Bill Emerson says

February 23, 2020 at 9:57 pm

In 1998 I drove from my home in Kansas City to Panama…..It was a great trip! To return I put my car on a ship to Florida, and then drove back home. Even though I do not speak Spanish, I did not find language to be a problem. In fact, I had virtually no problems. I have always wanted to do another trip thru South America to southern Chile. Is there anything more that I should know?

Regards, Bill Emerson

Andrus says

September 11, 2020 at 3:51 pm

For a trip to south america, Route 40 in Argentina is far more interesting than the pan-american highway. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Route_40_(Argentina)

September 12, 2020 at 10:21 pm

In Argentina, the 5000 km of Route 40 are much more scenic that panamerica highway.

wayne winzer says

April 7, 2023 at 4:00 am

follow transmigratoty route. easier now than then. I drive Wichita to Guatemala every year

Jane Carpenter says

June 16, 2020 at 9:10 pm

Muhammad I think you’ll find your answer here in this article. Although you may not – it’s still slightly confusing! 🙂 https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/4638-pan-american-highway.html

joana galarza johnson says

April 4, 2020 at 1:51 pm

What an interesting article, thank you. I would like to offer one more reason why the Darian Gap’s closure has come to nothing. Colombian drug lords. Colombia’s notorious Pablo Escobar and countless other drug cartel leaders, hid (and had drug distillation industries) at the northernmost tip of South America. In the rainforests.

Also, there is a new book, To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins (2019) about traversing the Pan American Highway on bicycle, from Oregon south to Patagonia. Lovely book.

Stefan White says

April 5, 2020 at 7:01 am

My stepfather was the mechanic of an Inter-American Expedition in 1953 that drove a Sunbeam Alpine non-stop from Fairbanks, Alaska to the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego, using rafts to cross the Gap and sleeping with headhunters in Central America. That would be preceding the claim made here.

June 13, 2020 at 2:43 am

I just came up with about 22,000 kilometers on Google Maps, depending on the specific routes chosen. Clearly, 30,000 kilometers, or miles, is incorrect, since the straight line pole-to-pole distance is only 20,000 kilometers, as measured on Google Earth.

stephen morrow says

March 7, 2021 at 12:59 am

Mileage stated here is way off…19,000 miles is more like it.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-American_Highway

V CLEVE WALSTROM says

August 9, 2021 at 8:38 pm

Danny Liska of Niobrara, Nebraska rode a BWM motor cycle the length of the Pan American Highway (he hiked the Darien Gap) in the early 1960’s . His book Two Wheels to Adventure is a classic that out shines all.

Cleve Walstrom

Waithumbi says

October 3, 2021 at 1:34 pm

It’s a Wonderful article to read, like now when the migrants from Haiti are WALKING through the Darien Gap Jungle.

Gerard Deveau says

February 6, 2023 at 6:15 pm

Great article and comments as well! A Bucket List Adventure for sure God willing.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

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

• 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.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

The 10 Longest Road Trips in the World

By Nick Mafi

There are perhaps few things more liberating than a road trip. With miles and miles of concrete ahead of you, the only two obstacles are the gas in your tank and the end of the road. While the former can easily be handled with intermittent stops at a gas station, the latter will eventually end, effectively stopping the road trip. So why not consider the longest roads so as prolonging the experience? Modern technology and government collaborations have allowed, for example, for one strip of road to span from the northern tip of North America to the southern expanse of South America—a feat, no doubt, that would've left Magellan speechless. As such, this summer, as you prepare to plan your next road trip, consider the ten longest highways in the world (just make sure you have enough gas money).

Interstate 80

Spanning 2,899 miles, Interstate 80 is roughly 120 miles shorter than I-90. Starting in Teaneck, New Jersey, the highway stretches across 11 states before arriving in San Francisco. I-80 runs a similar route to the Lincoln Highway. Built in 1913, the Lincoln Highway was among the earliest transcontinental highways for automobiles to cross the country.

Interstate 90

Barely surpassing 3,000 miles, Interstate 90 is the longest interstate highway in the United States. Beginning in Boston, the road travels across the northern half of the country, continually uninterrupted until it runs through Seattle. Between those two cities, I-90 spans some 11 states.

U.S. Route 6

Almost running the entirety of the country, U.S. Route 6 begins in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and ends in Bishop, California (near the Nevada border). In total the highway stretches 3,199 miles, at one point going through the Loveland Pass, where it crosses the Continental Divide.

U.S. Route 20

Spanning 3,365 miles, U.S. Route 20 runs east to west, covering some 12 states. Completed in 1926, the road begins in Boston and ends in Newport, Oregon. Pictured here is the Julien Dubuque Bridge, which is a part of U.S. Route 20, and runs over the Mississippi River, connecting Dubuque, Iowa, and East Dubuque, Illinois.

By Rachel Wallace

By Katherine McLaughlin

By David Sokol

China National Highway

Ranging some 3,541 miles, the China National Highway is the longest road in the country. It runs from Tongjiang in the eastern edge of the country all the way to Sanya, on the southern tip next to the South China Sea.

Golden Quadrilateral National Highway

The Golden Quadrilateral National Highway is India's largest highway project, and one that connects many of the major cities in the country. Spanning 3,632 miles, the concrete road connects Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Surat and Bengaluru, and more, effectively linking many of the major industrial, agricultural, and cultural centers of India.

Trans-Canada Highway

The 4,860-mile-long Trans-Canada Highway crosses the entirety of Canada from east to west. If ever one finds themselves on a long stretch of road in Canada and wonders if it's the Trans-Canada Highway, it's easily identifiable by a distinctive white-on-green maple leaf route marker on its signs.

Trans-Siberian Highway

The Trans-Siberian Highway, which starts in metropolitan St. Petersburg, runs 6,835 miles through the heart of Russia before ending in Vladivostok, on the far eastern end of the country, next to the Pacific Ocean.

Australia's Highway 1 circles around the entire country/continent, totaling some 9,000 miles. Passing through all the major cities, the road covers a wide range of terrain such as tropical swamps, deserts, and ocean coastlines.

Pan-American Highway

Spanning some 19,000 miles, the Pan-American Highway is the longest roadway in the world. Starting in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the road moves south, passing through Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America. There, the road hits a small bump, where travelers have to pass a gap connecting Central and South America briefly by sea before moving through Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, and ultimately ending in the southern tip of Argentina.

By Rachel Gallaher

By Laura May Todd

The Longest Road in the World: Driving the Pan-American Highway

A scenic adventure that allows explorers to travel the longest road in the world, stretching around 15,000 miles from alaska in north america down to argentina in south america. this is the journey of a lifetime, not only for the overall experience but for the amount of time you will need to take out of day-to-day life to enjoy this excursion. this is nothing like route 66 or a safari around africa; this is so so so different., history of the route, in 1889 at the first international conference of american states, the usa proposed closer links to its neighbours via a continent-spanning railroad. nothing came of this to begin with; however, at the fifth international conference held in chile in 1923, a pan-american highway was proposed. this time the idea received a more enthusiastic response from the participating nations, though it wasn’t until the sixth conference in cuba in 1928 that the proposal was approved. this is where the pah was devised and developed., creating the pah was a slow process, with war, money and lack of governmental cooperation providing constant issues, but it’s now possible to travel the length of the americas (more or less) by car..

Route & Map 🗺️

The pan-american highway is a network of roads that start in prudhoe bay, alaska and travel south through north america and south america until its ending point in ushuaia, argentina. it’s the longest road in the world because it connects two continents, north to south. passing through 14 countries along the 15,000 miles, you are in for a real treat when looking at different sites and exploring the world., north american destinations include; the us, canada, mexico, guatemala, el salvador, honduras, nicaragua, costa rica, and panama. in the south, the pan-american highway passes through: colombia, ecuador, peru, chile and argentina. this trip is excellent for ticking off those bucket list destinations, despite the route being mapped out to be 15,000 miles, no adventurer sticks directly to the suggested route. most tend to take detours and venture out to these destinations to enjoy some time to explore and enjoy the culture, location and all they have to offer. on average, most people end up driving around 30,000 miles during their pan-american road trip. despite the trip stating to start in alaska, most start in canada due to the remoteness and distance to travel for alaska., (see the bottom of the page for the map itself).

How Long Does It Take? ⏰ 📅

A trip across the pan-american highway can really take as long as you have time (or money) for it. most people that we met travelling along the pan-american route do it anywhere from 9 months to 2 years. it all depends on your travelling style as an individual, and whether you want to stop and enjoy particular countries and their sites., how much does it cost 💰, just like the duration of the trip, the cost of travelling the pan-american highway is completely dependent on the person and their style of travel. it depends on what you want to splurge your cash on e.g. fine dining meals when travelling, the finest hotels, or tickets to every tourist site., the biggest one-off expense of the pan-american highway for most is shipping your car/van across the darien gap which can cost over $1000., crossing the darien gap 🛥️, although the pan-american highway is known as the longest road in the world, there is a section between panama and colombia that is not drivable. this section is called the darien gap. visitors are not allowed to travel into this section due to political and environmental reasons. the only way to get your car across the darien gap is on a ship. this ship typically takes a few days to get your car across from panama into colombia (or vice versa) and costs anywhere from $1000 to a few thousand, depending on your car size., places of interest along the way 👀, lake atitlan, guatemala - with breathtaking scenery, looming volcanoes, the long list of things to do, traditional culture and intriguing villages all make this a very unique place to visit. what better than to snap a shot for your memory book than a clear lake, surrounded by volcanos and the most scenic sunsets in all of central america. you can hop on boat taxis from his dock to visit the other towns around the lake. check out our guide to visiting guatemala for more inspo..

San Ignacio Bay, Mexico - When travelling for days on end, whether that being in a car or van, you are going to want to stretch your legs and burn some of that energy inside of you! At San Ignacio, visitors can partake in the oceanside activities of this top Mexican resort destination. Whether you want to go swimming, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, sport fishing, or scuba diving, there is something for everyone here. One top tourist attraction here, is the opportunity to go whale spotting. A large number of whales migrate here each year meaning tourists can experience a surreal and once in a lifetime experience. Plus, you can't go wrong with food in Mexico can you?

Ostional Beach, Costa Rica - Known as a top surf and relax location, this beach is starting to gain some popularity due to the fact that it is a Turtle Sanctuary! For the past 60 years or so, tens of thousands of sea turtles have been coming to this 7km long beach to lay their eggs and, if you're lucky enough to be there at the right time, you can watch the babies hatch!

The Monarch Butterfly Migration, Michoacan State, Mexico - After migrating from Canada, to a small catholic town high up in the mountains of this Michoacan state in Mexico, tourists who are willing to take on the 2 hour hike to the village, are able to watch the flight of hundreds of beautiful butterflies. At midday when the sun is at its warmest they lift up into the sky and swirl all around you in an incredible dance. Orange wings against a bright blue sky. A ONCE in a lifetime experience!

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

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/the-pan-american-highway-the-ultimate-road-trip

https://funlifecrisis.com/pan-american-highway-guide/

Tips For A Road Trip

💤 get plenty of sleep before your drive. think about exhaustion before you begin your journey, not after., 🍌 bring healthy road trip snacks - avoid feeling sluggish., 💧stay hydrated., ✋ plan your rest stops., 🎼 keep passengers entertained., share this post.

Join our monthly digest

No spam! Just great stories

More like this

World's Top Destinations for a Scuba Diving Trip

Best Cruises for Your Spring Break Getaway

Chasing Sunsets: The World's Top 10 Sunset Locations

Experience Volcano Boarding on Nicaragua's Cerro Negro

10 Best US Ski Resorts for Your Next Vacation

5 Epic Alternatives to Koh Phangan's Full Moon Party

Day Trip to Waiheke Island: The Hamptons of New Zealand

Tomorrowland: Best Towns to Visit After The Festival Fun

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

The Longest Roads in the World

February 6, 2024

Ellie Hanagan

The oldest known paved road was constructed in Egypt between 2600 and 2200 BC. However, rudimentary roads date back much further than this, with some believing that the very first roads began with humans creating pathways by following animal trails.

Today, almost 40 million miles of paved and unpaved roads exist to transport food, goods, equipment, and people all over the world. But what are the top 10 longest roads in the world? Keep reading to find out.

Table of Contents

1. Pan-American Highway

The world’s longest road is the Pan-American Highway, which stretches for 30,000 kilometers from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska through the entire Americas to Quellón in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina.

The initial proposal in 1923 was to connect North, Central, and South America via a railroad, but with an increasing number of automobiles and other vehicles transporting passengers and goods, it was decided two years later that a highway would be constructed instead. In 1937, the countries signed the Convention on the Pan-American Highway, and construction began.

Passing through 14 countries on two continents, the landscape and climate along the Pan-American Highway is extremely diverse, ranging from arid deserts and barren tundra to dense jungles and rugged mountains. Some areas of the road are only travelable during the dry season, and one stretch — the Darién Gap, from Turbo in Colombia to Yaviza in Panama — cannot be passed by vehicle. The only way to travel this 66-mile stretch of marshland is by hiking. However, as one of the rainiest areas on the planet, this is both difficult and dangerous. A safer way to travel from Colombia to Panama is by boat.

2. Asian Highway 1

Stretching for more than 20,500 kilometers, the second-longest highway in the world is Asian Highway 1.

The road forms part of the Asian Highway Network — a network of highways connecting 32 countries across Asia. It is one of five Asian Highway Network roads to appear on this list.

Asian Highway 1 crosses South Asia, beginning in Tokyo in Japan and ending in Istanbul in Turkey. Along the way, it passes through the countries of South Korea, North Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran before joining the Trans-European Motorway E80, which continues all the way to Portugal.

3. Highway 1

The third-longest road in the world is Australia’s Highway 1, measuring 14,500 kilometers in length. 

Also known as the “Big Lap”, the road runs around the entire circumference of the continent, making it the world’s longest national highway. Passing through the state capitals of Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart, it connects seven of Australia’s eight states. The exception is the Australian Capital Territory, of which Canberra is the capital. 

Highway 1 was created in 1955 to link up a system of local and national roads that already existed, and today, an estimated one million people use the road on a daily basis.

From multi-lane freeways in cities like Sydney and Melbourne to single-lane roads in rural areas like northern Queensland, Highway 1’s conditions are varied. While there are some beautiful stretches — such as the Grand Pacific Drive, which is considered to be one of the world’s most scenic drives — huge parts of Highway 1 are extremely remote, and vast distances between destinations, as well as limited rest areas, can cause driver fatigue, which has led to the road being called a “death trap”.

4. Asian Highway 2

With a length of nearly 13,200 kilometers, Asian Highway 2 is the world’s fourth-longest road.

Like Asian Highway 1, it forms part of the Asian Highway Network, connecting the countries of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Iran. Some of the large cities the road passes through include its starting point of Denpasar, then Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Mandalay, Imphal, Dhaka, Narayangarh, Delhi, Lahore and Khosravi where it ends.

5. Trans-Siberian Highway

Measuring 11,000 kilometers, Russia’s Trans-Siberian Highway is the fifth-longest road in the world.

Following the route of the famous Trans-Siberian Railway , the road connects Vladivostok to Moscow, then heads north to St. Petersburg.

Some parts of the Trans-Siberian Highway were built before the railroads, having been constructed by prison inmates around the 1870s. In 2010, roadwork was completed on the section between Chita and Khabarovsk, which, historically, was problematic due to potholes, mud, marsh, sand, gravel, and rocks. The road became fully paved in 2015, yet this hasn’t made it an easy route to travel. As well as passing through the most remote regions of Siberia, harsh weather conditions make it one of the most challenging roads on this list. Those who do brave it, though, are rewarded with scenic views of lush green forests, soaring mountains, and glittering lakes.

6. Asian Highway 6

Sixth on the list of the world’s longest roads is Asian Highway 6, which stretches for almost 10,500 kilometers.

Another road that forms part of the Asian Highway Network, it passes through the Asian countries of South Korea, North Korea, Russia, China, and Kazakhstan as it makes its way from Busan in South Korea to the Belarusian border in Russia.

Much of the stretch that travels through Russia coincides with the slightly longer Trans-Siberian Highway. 

7. Asian Highway 5

Asian Highway 5 is almost 10,400 kilometers long, putting it seventh on the world’s longest roads list. 

Again, it makes up part of the Asian Highway Network, but it is 95 kilometers shorter than Asian Highway 6. This means it is the fourth-longest of the 88 routes that form the network.

Running from east to west, it passes through the countries of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.

8. National Highway 219

At 10,000 kilometers long, China’s National Highway 219 is the eighth-longest road in the world.

From Kom-Kanas, in Xinjiang to Dongxing in Guangxi, it runs along the whole southern and western border of China.

Construction of National Highway 219 began in 1955, and it is ongoing. The road is being upgraded and extended as part of the Chinese Ministry of Transport’s plans to expand the country’s highway network significantly. Once completed, it will surpass Australia’s Highway 1 as the longest national highway.

The Chinese government has started to promote tourism along National Highway 219, but while the scenery in some stretches is breathtaking, it also has some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain.  Domar township, for example, is one of the bleakest and most isolated outposts of the People’s Liberation Army, and there is a dangerous 5,050-meter-high pass near the Xinjiang border.

9. Asian Highway 9

The world’s ninth-longest road is Asian Highway 9, again with a length of 10,000 kilometers.

The final Asian Highway Network road to feature on this list, it passes through the cities of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Ulyanovsk, Toliatti, Samara, and Orenburg in Russia; the cities of Aktobe, Kyzylorda, Shymkent, Taraz, and Almaty in Kazakhstan; and the cities of Khorgas, Urumqi, and Lianyungang in China.

10. National Highway 331

The final road to appear on this list is National Highway 331, which — once fully completed — will stretch for 9,200 kilometers across China.

It runs from Dandong in Liaoning to Altay in Xinjiang, along the northern Chinese border. 

Also known as the “King of Highways” by people living in North China, it passes through all of the region’s provinces and ports. People traveling the route can enjoy its diverse and beautiful scenery, which includes views of numerous forests, lush grasslands, and the Gobi Desert.

We have emailed you a PDF version of the article you requested.

Can't find the email?

Please check your spam or junk folder

You can also add [email protected] to your safe senders list to ensure you never miss a message from us.

What's The Longest Road In The World?

Complete the form below and we will email you a PDF version

Cancel and go back

IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out our Privacy Policy

Complete the form below to listen to the audio version of this article

Advertisement

Sign up today to get weekly science coverage direct to your inbox

© 2024 IFLScience. All Rights Reserved

Newsletters  in your inbox!

Subscribe today for our  Weekly Newsletter  in your inbox!

Road trip, anyone?

Senior Journalist

Tom is a writer in London with a Master's degree in Journalism whose editorial work covers anything from health and the environment to technology and archaeology.

Book View full profile

Book Read IFLScience Editorial Policy

Francesca Benson

Copy Editor and Staff Writer

Francesca Benson is a Copy Editor and Staff Writer with a MSci in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham.

DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION

A picturesque stretch of the Pan-American Highway along the Pacific coast in Cañete, Perú.

Image credit: rjankovsky/Shutterstock.com

According to the record books, the Pan-American Highway is the longest road in the world, stretching some 30,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. However, depending on who you ask, a few people might take issue with that assertion.

The vision of the Pan-American Highway was first proposed in 1923 by the US. Although it was pitched as a fraternal and idealistic venture to bind distant nations, some argue that it was essentially a ploy to boost sales of US-made cars and other exports to Latin America. 

In 1924, US officials invited 37 delegates from Latin America to Washington DC to hear their sales pitch and, after years of wrangling, an agreement was reached. The Convention on the Pan-American Highway was signed in 1937 by Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the US.

Progress wasn’t quick, though. In the early 1970s, President Nixon boasted that the continent-crossing mega-highway would be completed imminently, but numerous gaps and dead ends remained.

In fact, even today, the Pan-American Highway isn’t fully connected and you can't drive its full length. A glaring break in the road can be found in Darién Gap, the skinny 160-kilometer-long (100-mile-long) strand of land that connects Panama to Colombia. 

Enveloped in dense jungle and seasonal rains, no road passes through the Darién Gap at all, not even a dirt road.

There was a push to build the Pan-American Highway through the gap in the 1970s, which the US pledged to fund the majority of, but it was hotly opposed by environmentalists who argued it would spell disaster for the region's biodiversity and Indigenous communities. 

To top it off, the region is frequented by armed militias, dangerous gangs, and drug traffickers, making it an extremely dangerous place to cross. 

Despite this gap, the Pan-American Highway still holds the Guinness World Record for the “longest motorable road.” 

A worthy competitor of the title is Asian Highway 1 (AH1), the longest route of the Asian Highway Network that runs for 20,557 km (12,774 miles) from the Japanese capital of Tokyo to the Turkish-Bulgarian border, traveling through Korea, China, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Iran.

However, once again, you’ll probably notice that this isn’t continuous either. Over 942 kilometers (585 miles) of sea separates Japan and South Korea, plus it’s not possible for most civilians to cross the Demilitarized Zone that separates South Korea and North Korea. 

Australia's Highway 1 is arguably the longest fully drivable road and longest national road, circling the outer edge of the whole island for around 14,500 kilometers (9,000 miles). It holds the Guinness World Record for the "Longest continuous road". A group of guys called the "Highway 1 to Hell" team set the record for completing this route a few years ago, circumnavigating the whole of Australia in 5 days, 13 hours, and 43 minutes.

In other words, the answer to “What's The Longest Road In The World?” probably depends on who you ask – and how forgiving they are of gigantic gaps in supposedly continuous roads.

ARTICLE POSTED IN

Engineering,

More Humans Stories

Engraved Bone Of Prehistoric Bear Is The Oldest Example Of Neanderthal Culture

Newly Discovered Prehistoric Snake May Be Largest To Ever Exist, Vaccine Breakthrough Could Mean Future-Proof Shots, And Much More This Week

Lava Tube Cave In Arabian Desert Hosted Ancient Humans For 7,000 Years

Does The Word "Avocado" Have A Double Meaning?

Is Orange Cat Behavior A Real Thing?

Ligers V Tigons: What's The Difference?

7 Longest Roads In The World: From The U.S. To Australia

• Share on Facebook Facebook
• Share on Twitter Twitter
• Share on Reddit Reddit
• Share on WhatsApp WhatsApp
• Share via Email Email

The longest roads in the world cross countries, span continents, and even cross continents:

They range in terrain, with some being concrete stretches built for commerce, while others span remote locations and beautiful scenery.

First up is U.S. Route 20:

7. Route 20, United States – 3,417 Miles

Starting at Newport in Oregon and ending in Boston, Massachusetts, Route 20 is the longest road in the U.S. and one of the world’s longest roads.

This route provides the best two-week cross-country road trip with a total length of 5,500km:

And one of the most famous attractions you can see while traveling on this route is Yellowstone National Park .

CHECK OUT: The 5 Strangest Days Ever In Human History

6. Golden Quadrilateral Highway, India – 3,633 Miles

Spanning around 3,633 miles, the Golden Quadrilateral Highway is the second-longest road in Asia:

This road connects the four major cities of India – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. You can undertake a road trip of two weeks to start in New Delhi and return to New Delhi itself while completing a loop around the country.

You can check out some of the significant landmarks of India while driving on this highway, including the famous Taj Mahal .

CHECK OUT: 10 Unexplained Ancient Artifacts From Around The World

5. Trans-Canada Highway – 4,350 Miles

Having a total length of 4,350 miles, the Trans-Canada Highway starts in Victoria, British Columbia, and ends at St. John in Newfoundland and Labrador:

This is also one of the most scenic drives globally as it takes you through the gorgeous landscapes in Canada. On a two-week road trip to cross this highway, you can plan to stop at any of the major cities the route takes you through, including Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Quebec City, and many others.

4. Western Europe-Western China Highway – 5,245 Miles

Commonly referred to as the New Silk Road , the Western Europe-Western China Highway (WE-WC) is a transcontinental highway that connects the Yellow Sea Coast of China with Western Europe.

This new expressway stretches for 5,245 miles and links the Port of Lianyungang in China with St. Petersburg in Russia.

The route connects major cities in China, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and you can complete a road trip on this highway in just ten days.

CHECK OUT: The 7 Weirdest Planes, Helicopters, And Aviation Cross-Overs

3. Trans-Siberian Highway, Russia – 6,835 Miles

The Trans-Siberian Highway is the third-longest road in the world. It spans 6,835 miles and connects St. Petersburg in Russia to Vladivostok, also in Russia.

The Trans-Siberian Highway was fully paved in 2015, though this has not made crossing this route any easier. A road trip across the Trans-Siberian Highway takes around a month, but be ready to face challenging circumstances while on the route:

You will be faced with harsh weather conditions and remote locations. Some parts of the road become impassable, especially in the winters, leading to you being potentially stranded in remote places.

Some of the places to check out along the highway include Moscow, Lake Baikal, and the border of North Korea as you reach the endpoint of Vladivostok.

2. Highway 1, Australia – 9,009 Miles

With a total length of 9,009 miles, Highway One in Australia starts in Sydney and finishes in Sydney itself. If you want to embark on a road trip on this highway, it will take you around two months to complete the journey.

Driving down this route is said to be one of the best ways to see the sights and sounds of Australia. The road takes you through all states.

CHECK OUT: The 7 Most Dangerous Roads In The United States

1. Pan-American Highway – 18,641 Miles

The Pan-American Highway has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest road in the world. Spanning 14 countries, this route is often referred to as the ‘Mother of all Road Trips.’

The starting point of this long road is in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and stretches to the tip of Argentina in Tierra de Fuego.

The highway runs through 14 countries and connects North and South America, but you will need to board a ferry when you reach the Darien Gap.

A trip on this highway offers some of the most spectacular and diverse views on the planet, and there are many exciting and beautiful sights to check out along the way.

This ultimate road trip reaches its highest point at 11,322 above sea level at Cerro de la Muerte in Costa Rica.

The highway is roughly 18,641 miles.

Subscribe For Weekly Updates

Sign up for our bi-weekly Nerdable recap, including technology, gadgets, collectibles, and more.

Orbit's Travel Blog - 12.04.2022.

Top 10 Longest Roads In The World

If you're looking for an epic road trip, look no further! Here's a list of the ten longest roads in the world, perfect for the adventure-seeker in you.

There are many long roads globally, but some are longer than others. Here is a list of the ten longest routes in the world, ordered from longest to shortest.

• Pan American Highway – Several countries – 30000km
• Highway 1 – Australia – 14500km
• Trans-Siberian Highway – Several – 11000km
• WE-WC Highway – Several – 8445km
• Trans-Canada Highway – Canada – 7821km
• Golden Quadrilateral Hway – India – 5846km
• China Nation Hway 010 – China – 5700km
• US Route 20 – USA – 5415km
• US Route 6 – USA – 5158km
• Interstate 90 (I-90) – USA – 4860km

The Pan American Highway

The Pan-American Highway is a road network that stretches from Alaska to Argentina. It is the most extended road network globally and has a total length of about 30.000 kilometres. Therefore, the highway is also known as the Pan American Freeway or Pan American Road.

The Pan-American Highway was first proposed in 1915 and took more than 50 years to complete. The highway officially ended in October 1971, when a final section between Panama and Colombia was opened. Today, the route is used by millions of people every year.

The Pan-American Highway is an important transport link for North and South American countries. It enables the fast and efficient transport of people and goods between different countries. The highway has also played a role in promoting economic development and cultural exchange between countries in the Americas.

Highway 1 in Australia

Highway 1 is one of the most popular tourist routes in Australia. Stretching from Sydney to Perth , the highway passes through some of the country's most beautiful and scenic areas. There is plenty to see and do along the route, making it the perfect destination for a road trip. Highlights include the dramatic coastline of Victoria, the vineyards and wineries of South Australia and the rugged beauty of Western Australia. There are also many small towns and villages to discover, each with its unique character. 

The Trans-Siberian Highway 

The Trans-Siberian Highway is a highway system in Russia that stretches from St. Petersburg in the west to Vladivostok in the east. At over 11.000 kilometres, it is the longest highway in the world. The route passes through some of Russia's most remote and beautiful areas, including Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Construction of the highway began in the early 20th century and finished in the 1950s. Today, the motorway is an essential link between western and eastern Russia and a popular tourist destination.

The Western Europe-Western China Highway 

One of the world's longest roads takes 8.445km to go from China to St.Petersburg in Russia.

The Western Europe-Western China Highway was designed to promote trade and economic cooperation between Europe and Asia. However, the highway has also become an important transport route for people and goods between the two regions. In recent years, traffic on the road has increased significantly as more and more people and businesses take advantage of the convenient and cost-effective route. The Western Europe - Western China motorway is an essential link in the global transport network. It is sure to play a crucial role in the future growth of the worldwide economy. 

The Trans-Canada Highway

The Trans-Canada Highway is a 7,821-kilometre highway that crosses the entire country of Canada. It connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, making it one of the longest highways in the world. The route splits into 20 sections, each with its unique features. Some branches are mountainous, while others are in rural areas. There is always something to see and do no matter where you are on the highway.

The Trans-Canada Highway is a popular tourist destination for a good reason. There is so much to see and do along the route. Whether you are interested in nature, history or culture, you will find something that appeals to you. The scenery is also breathtaking, especially in the Rocky Mountains section.

Suppose you plan a trip to Canada , including the Trans-Canada Highway in your itinerary. It's an experience you will not soon forget.

The Golden Quadrilateral Highway

The Golden Quadrilateral Highway is a highway system in India that connects the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The highway was built in the early 2000s and has helped improve traffic. The road is 6,853 kilometres long and has been a great boon to the Indian economy. Travelling on the Golden Quadrilateral is faster and more efficient than trains or buses. The highway has helped reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in cities. We recommend travelling on the Golden Quadrilateral Highway when you visit India! 

China National Highway 010

China National Highway 010, commonly referred to as G10, is the second-longest national highway in China. It stretches 5,854 kilometres (3,644 miles) from west to east across the country, connecting nine provinces between Lanzhou, Gansu in the west and Hangzhou, Zhejiang in the east. It also passes through five autonomous regions: Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet and Qinghai.

The highway crosses some of China's most remote and least developed areas. However, it also crosses some of the country's most beautiful landscapes, including the Qinling Mountains, the Greater Khingan Range and the Yellow Mountains.

The G10 is one of China's busiest highways, carrying a significant number of passengers and freight traffic. It is also an essential link for trade between the west and east of the country. As a result, the Chinese government has invested heavily in upgrading the G10 and building several new motorways and tunnels to improve its safety and efficiency. 

US Route 20 

Route 20 is a scenic route that begins in Boston, Massachusetts and ends in Newport, Oregon. This route passes through some of the most beautiful areas in the United States, including the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, the Catskill Mountains in New York, and Oregon's Rocky Mountains. There are many interesting towns and attractions along the way, including Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. Travelling on Route 20 is a great way to see some of America's most stunning scenery.

US Route 6 

Route 6 is a historic highway in the United States that stretches from coast to coast. The route was named in 1926 and has been in use ever since. Today, Route 6 is a major thoroughfare for tourists and locals alike.

The western terminus of Route 6 is in Bishop, California, on US Highway 395, from where the highway heads east through Death Valley and across the Mojave Desert. Route 6 crosses the Colorado River near Needles, California, and continues through Arizona and New Mexico before ending at its eastern terminus in Galveston, Texas. 

Motorists can enjoy some of America's most beautiful scenery along the route. From the deserts of California and Arizona to the rolling hills of New Mexico and Texas, Route 6 offers something for everyone. And with so many towns along the way, there's always somewhere to stop for a bite to eat or spend the night.

Interstate 90 (I-90) 

Interstate 90 (I-90) is a major east-west interstate highway in the United States. I-90 stretches from Boston, Massachusetts, in the east to Seattle, Washington, in the west. At 3,101 miles (4,989 km), I-90 is the longest highway in the United States.

I-90 passes through or near major cities such as Albany, New York; Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Spokane, Washington. Much of I-90 follows the old routes of US Route 10 and US 12.

In many places along its route, I-90 is recognised by other names, such as the Ohio Turnpike and the Indiana Toll Road. I-90 has some sections with fast lanes. The shortest section of I-90 is between Youngstown, Ohio, and Cleveland, Ohio, where the speed limit is 70 mph (113 km/h). 

I-90 was initially proposed in 1956. It was approved in 1957, and construction began in 1958, with the original route running from Boston to San Francisco. In 1973, a section of I-90

Orbit's Travel Blog

What you also might like...

Summit quest: exploring the top 6 hiking destinations.

Embark on an adventure with our guide to the top 6 hiking destinations. From breathtaking…

Discover Croatia's Gems: A Guide to Split & Island-Hopping Adventures

Embark on a Croatian adventure! Explore Split & idyllic islands like Hvar, Brac…

Car Hire Without a Deposit

Embark on a deposit-free adventure! Your guide to carefree car rentals—seamless,…

Driving in Austria: Exploring Alpine Majesty on the Open Road

Explore scenic routes, cultural gems, and local tips for an unforgettable drive…

Driving in Cyprus - 10 Tips You Need To Know

Explore the joys and challenges of driving in Cyprus with our comprehensive guide.…

Driving in Gran Canaria: Car Rental Tips and Tricks

Discover the beauty of Gran Canaria with our car hire guide. Explore the island…

What is The Best Insurance For Car Hire

One of the things that can be difficult to understand is insuring your hire car.…

Portugal Toll Roads - An Informational Guide

Embark on a Journey: Navigating Portugal's Toll Roads for an Unforgettable Adventure…

Driving in Portugal: Travelling around Portugal With A Rental Car

Discover the scenic wonders of driving in Portugal. From coastal routes to charming…

We use cookies to give you a better experience. If you accept that, just keep browsing. You can find out more or switch it off.  Read More About Cookies

Roadstotravel

Find the best roads, the ten longest roads in the world, do you know them, what is the longest road in the world .

When you love driving, you want the road to be endless! This article brings together the longest roads in the world: they are not endless but still, some are almost.

Some of these routes cross several countries and even several continents and are therefore several thousand kilometers. If you are looking for long road trip ideas, just read the article!

We let you discover here the 10 longest roads on the earth:

10. Tarim Desert Road in China

About 550 kilometers (340 miles) through China.

This road is situated in China and passes through the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Region.

If the length of the road seems short, the feeling of being far away from civilization will be there. Indeed this road doesn’t cross any town or village and it will be just you and the desert. It’s the longest road in the world without crossing any civilization signs.

9. Road 66 in the USA

About 3500 kilometers (2175 miles) through the USA.

Road 66 is maybe not the longest road in the US but it is definitely the most iconic one!

The road traverses the country from Chicago in Illinois and goes to Santa Monica in California.

Many people choose this road for their road trips in the US because it gives a great overview of the country and allows travelers to discover many different areas, states, and towns along the route. It’s indeed one of the longest drivable road in the world.

8. Road 40 in Argentina, a long road through the country

About 5000 kilometers (3100 miles) through Argentina.

This road links La Quiaca near the Bolivian border with La Quiaca in the south of the country. This road is a perfect road trip idea if you want to discover Argentina from the south to the north!

Indeed, the road offers a great diversity of landscapes. On the itinerary, you will climb a mountain pass that is higher than 5000 meters (16404 feet) above the sea level, cross glaciers, vineyards but also deserts and cactus forests.

Also, this road is a mix of Asphalted and non-paved roads (only 30% is asphalted). It’s one of the longest drivable road in the world.

7. Road 20 in the USA

About 5400 kilometers (3350 miles) through the USA.

Road 20 is as iconic as road 66 is in the United States, it crosses all the country from east coast to west coast. It starts in Boston and ends in Newport.

You will need a lot of time to drive this road and enjoy all the steps on this road like Lake Michigan or the Yellow Stone National Park! It’s one of the longest highway in the world.

6. Tongsan Expressway in China

About 5700 kilometers (3500 miles) through China.

This road passes through well known Chinese regions, and you will discover amazing and various landscapes on your way: forests, mountains, and rice terraces.

Today the Tongsan Expressway (also known as the national road 010) is composed of the different roads so it’s quite difficult to find the itinerary.

Here is a map which roughly traces the route:

5. Trans-Canada Highway, the longest road in Canada

About 8000 kilometers (5000 miles) trough Canada.

You will need several days to cross the country from Victoria on the Pacific coast to Saint-Jean de Terre-Neuve on the Atlantic coast. This road crosses the 10 provinces of Canada and the main cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec.

The Trans-Canadian road passes through mountains, lakes, rivers, canyons, and also other dope landscapes!

4. Trans-Siberian road in Russia, a road through two continents.

About 11000 kilometers (6800 miles) crossing Russia.

Russians started to build this road at the end of the 19th century. You will drive from the capital of the Tsars, Saint Petersburg on the baltic sea to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast!

One the most mythical road in the world, you will pass Moscow, the Oural mountains, then in Asia, you’ll drive near the Lake Baikal and near the Mongolian and Chinese border.

On your way, you’ll find big plains, forests, mountains, steppes, rivers and other natural treasures.

3. Highway 1 in Australia, the longest road without interruption

About 14500 kilometers (9000 miles) around Australia.

Highway 1 makes the full turn off the country so, it is the longest national road in the world! The road crosses different landscapes: cities, forests, deserts. It will be an amazing experience!

You will drive through the main cities of the country such as Adelaïde, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairn, Darwin, and Perth.

It is one of the longest roads in the world that you can drive without any interruption.

2. Asian Highway 1 , an utopia road

About 20000 kilometers (12500 miles) through all Asian continent.

This a mythical itinerary that is quite a utopia, indeed you’ll need to drive through such countries as North Korea or Afganistan that is impossible today. You can still travel a portion of this road.

1. Pan-American Highway, the longest road in the World.

About 30000 kilometers (18600 miles) through all the American continent.

Also known as the Trans-American, it is the longest road trip in the world and the perfect itinerary if you are planning a long road trip. You will start in Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and will drive across North, Central, and then South America to Quellón in Chilli.

There is only one passage in Panama where there are tropical forests and swamps where you can’t drive so, you should “transfer” your car or bike on the other side of the Darien Gap .

As you just read in this article the 10th longest roads in the world are located everywhere on earth and on all continents. So if you are looking for the road trip of your life you know now where you can pick up one!

You can also read our article about one of the widest road in the world.

If you like our blog please share it on your social media!

Discover our article about the most known roads in the world: click here or see our road map!

Pictures credit: By Pravit – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons. wikimedia .org/w/index.php?curid=3575961 / Par Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30298357 / By Dario Alpern – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5406542 / Par Fredddie — USA map(GIS data), roads (GIS data), maps to help locate the route in GIS data, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12499286 / google maps / palestrina55 flickr / By Evad37Original author of GIS data:© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2013. – Own work;GIS data sources: “GEODATA TOPO 5M 2004” from Geoscience Australia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33124065 / By Created by en:User:Seaweege and released to PD – Own work, Copyrighted free use, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1503793

Related 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.

We’ve rebranded. We’re now Jurni.

Visit our new jurni website for new quotes on lease deals, to get in touch & more info on our new brand and more..

For upkeep, Maintenance, Service, Tyres and Roadside Assistance contact info.

The Longest Roads in the World

Enjoy a road trip? The roads listed in this article are the longest in the world and are not for the faint-hearted. When factoring in stops, some of these routes could take you months to complete and will see you driving through a range of the planet's toughest conditions.

7. US Route 20

US Route 20, also known as US Highway 20, is the longest road in the United States and is around 5,500 km (3,400 miles) in length.

The route covers twelve states in total and stretches from Boston, Massachusetts in the east to Newport, Oregon in the west. In comparison, the famous Route 66 is just under 4,000 km (2,400 miles) in length.

6. China National Highway G318

Also known as the Shanghai Tibet Highway, the China National Highway G318 is around 5,500 km (3,400 miles) long.

The road runs from Shanghai in the east, to Zhangmu at the Nepal border in the west.

5. Golden Quadrilateral National Highway

The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) Highway was an ambitious project that was completed in 2012 connecting the four major cities of India; Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Chennai (south) and Mumbai (west).

The GQ highway measures just short of 6,000 km (3,600 miles) and links the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centres of India.

4. Trans-Canada Highway

By area, Canada is the second largest country in the world and, as a result, the 8,000 km (5,000-mile) cross-country trip along the Trans-Canada Highway is no small obstacle for travellers.

The route stretches from east to west, covering six different time zones in the process. The highway is marked by green and white maple leaf signs as you travel from Victoria, British Columbia to St John’s, Newfoundland.

3. Trans-Siberian Highway

The Trans-Siberian Highway is the unofficial name given to the network of roads that stretch across Russia. The route goes from Vladivostok in the east to Saint Petersburg in the west, covering a distance of around 11,000 km (6,800 miles).

The highway is the second longest national highway in the world and much of the route mirrors the old Trans-Siberian Railway.

2. Highway 1

Highway 1 is a network of roads that links together all of Australia’s state capitals, except Canberra, and covers just over 14,000 km (9,000 miles). It’s the longest national highway in the world and is essentially a giant ring road that follows most of Australia’s coastline.

The road is so long that it would take any motorist weeks to complete, however, it does offer the opportunity to see a lot of Australia’s main attractions.

1. Pan American Highway

The longest road in the world is the Pan American Highway which begins in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and stretches all the way down to Ushuaia, Argentina. All in all, the road covers 30,000 km (19,000 miles).

The highway is credited by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest “motorable road”, however, there is a 106 km (66-mile) rainforest break that separates South and Central America. This area is known as the Darien Gap and requires a four-day hike if you want to travel the distance by land. To pass the gap by car you’ll need to take the ferry to get from Panama to Colombia.

Driving the complete 30,000 km route will see you pass through an array of diverse climates from barren tundra and arid deserts to dense jungles and wet rainforests. In total there are 14 countries that the Pan American Highway passes through. Brave travellers who attempt the world's longest road will need several months to complete the journey. 

Looking to lease a new car for your next road trip? See our special offers here!

More articles

• 91% of New Cars Come Without a Manual Handbrake
• New Electric Toyota Land Cruiser Concept
• DS Adds ChatGPT to Its Line-up
• New Citroen e-C3 Targets Affordable EV Driving
• Kia Reveals Three New Electric Cars
• New car (95)
• Guides (37)

Need help choosing the right deal? Call us on 01993 226 225

10 Longest Roads In The World

Are you curious to learn about how many longest roads in the world are there? Roads are a common sight in almost all parts of the world. Sometimes, roads are the only way to reach remote rural areas. But what is the longest road in the world ?  How far will it take you? Here, in this article, we will talk about the longest roads in the world based on length.  

List Of 10 Longest Roads In The World

The longest roads in the world are listed below as per the length of roads.

• Pan-America Highway 

Asian Highway 1

• Trans-Siberian 
• Europen Route E-40 
• Trans-Canada 

Golden Quadrilateral National Highway

Interstate 90, interstate 80, saudi arabia highway 10.

Click here – 10 Longest Rivers In The US

Top 10 Longest Roads In The World  

From the above list, there are the 10 longest roads in the world so now let us find out more about these longest roads.

Pan-America Highway

Length – 19,000 miles(30,000km)

Pan-America is the longest drivable road in the world. Beginning in Prudhoe Bay , Alaska, The road moves south, passing via Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America

Length – 12,744 miles(20,557 km)

It is the longest road in the world map and a part of the Asian highway network also called the great Asian highway. It extends from Turkey to Japan.

Length – 9,000 miles(14,500km)

It is one of the longest roads in the world in km. This is an Australian road, it travels around the country and connects all the capital of the mainland and Darwin.

Trance-Siberian

Length – 6,835 miles (100999.87 km)

This road is the longest non-loop road in the country, which starts in metropolitan St. Petersburg and ends in Vladivostok.

Europen Route E – 40

Length – 5,281 miles (8498.946 km)

Europen route E – 40 is the longest road in Europe, more than 8,000 km long. It flows between Farace and Kazakhstan.

Trance-Canada

Length – 4,860 miles (7821.412 km)

The trance-Canada road crosses the whole of Canada from east to west. This way starts in Victoria and ends in St. John’s.

Length – 3,632 miles (5845.137 km)

The golden quadrilateral national highway is the longest highway project in India and connects several major cities in the country. It is one of the longest roads in the world to drive.

Length – 3,000 miles (4838.032 km)

Interstate 90 highway is the longest interstate highway in the united state and also it is the longest continuous road in the world beginning in Boston and ending in Seattle.

Length – 2,899 miles (4667.488 km)

interstate 80 is approximately 120 miles shorter than the I-90. I-80 is the longest single road in the world built-in 1913.

For interesting information you can visit https://doesaz.com/

Length – 161.557 miles (260 km)

Saudi Arabia Highway 10 is the longest road in the world without turns, it is a straight road. Which starts in the AI Haradh area and ends in AI Batha.

What Is The Longest Road In The World To Walk?

The longest road in the world to walk is from cape town, south Africa to Magadan, Russia. It is about  22,387 km long is considered to be the longest walking route in the world .

Longest Road Tunnel In The World

The Laerdal tunnel is the world’s longest tunnel , and the distance of this tunnel is 24.5 km.   

Visit  Longests  to know about longest things in the world.

What Is The Longest Road In The World 2022?

Highway 1 (Australia)

It is the world’s longest Highway, approximately 14,500 km (9,000 miles). The Highway was established in 1955 and is the only route to reach all Australian states, including the Northern Territory.

Which Is The Most Difficult Road In The World?

Running from the high-altitude Andean city of La Paz to the subtropical Yungas valleys and the Amazonian lowlands beyond, the 64km Yungas Road involves a sharp 3,500m descent.

What Is The Safest Road In The World?

The safest roads in the world can be found in Norway. Scoring an impressive 8.21 out of 10, the research found Norway the safest country to drive in.

Which Country Is Famous For Roads?

UAE. The emirates, according to the words of the experts, is the country with the best roads in the world. All highways have at least three lanes each way, potentially hazardous areas are enclosed by dividers, and layout is as comfortable and safe as it is just possible for drivers.

Which City Has Bad Traffic In India?

Bengaluru tops the chart of India’s most traffic-congested cities, followed by Pune (ranked 6), New Delhi (34) and Mumbai (47). TomTom Traffic Index ranks cities around the world by their average travel time and provides free access to city-by-city information.

What Are The Longest Streets In The United States?

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

Conclusion  

We looked 10 longest roads in this article. We discussed their length and where they start and end. We sawwhich is the longest road in the world that man can walk , also you see which tunnel is long. The above information was all about the longest roads in the world .

Click here – Top 10 Longest-Running Sitcom

To Know Some Great Stuff Do Visit LetBecome

To Know Some Great Stuff Do Visit clearchit

To Know Some Great Stuff Do Visit giveve

To Know Some Great Stuff Do Visit searchitz

To Know Some Great Stuff Do Visit restartto

What is the 10 longest road in the world

What is the longest road in the US?

Comancheria: The Almost Empire of the Great Plains

The Art and Utility of Makeup in Ancient Egypt

Julius Caesar and the Pirates: A Tale of Bravado and Revenge

Happiest Places in the World to Live – 2024

• Yellowknife
• world travel

The Longest Walkable Road in the World – 14,000 Miles Long!

The longest walkable road in the world is over 14,000 Miles long and it has never been completed. This route, which spans from Cape Town, South Africa, to Magadan, Russia, may be the longest walk in the world, and it certainly sounds arduous.

Ever wondered what it might be like to take a lengthy, uninterrupted walk? The world’s longest walkable road begins all the way in the southern hemisphere and ends in frozen Siberia.

If you decide to embark on this difficult trail, it will take 587 days to complete if you walk for eight hours each day.

Three continents, Asia, Europe, and Africa, 16 countries, six time zones, and an experience spanning different seasons and climates will all be encountered on the journey.

This recently found longest walkable road has been compared to 13 trips up and down Mount Everest in terms of distance.

A Closer Look at the Trip

This unbroken trail travels through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Romania, and Belarus after beginning in Cape Town, South Africa.

The walk starts in the coastal community of L’Agulhas and travels through South Africa, passing a few fairly hazardous areas (with high crime rates).

The prospect of visiting Zimbabwe, a nation renowned for its diverse wildlife and difficult geography, is both exciting and difficult to consider.

Mozambique and Zambia are the next countries on the way. You must hike a long distance through national parks to get to Uganda.

You will then enter South Sudan. The difficult reality is that there is no operational road connecting Sudan to Egypt, so entering Sudan from there would require traveling through the Sahara desert.

The trail first enters Jordan, then Israel, and then Syria after traversing the entirety of Egypt.

After leaving Syria, your journey to Magadan will take you through Turkey, Georgia, and finally Russia, where you will pass through the harsh Siberian winter.

Although Russia is the last destination on the route, you still have eight more months to travel! Not to mention that the journey is about to become much more difficult in terms of climate and environmental factors.

The air gets colder, the landscape gets more desolate, and there are fewer and farther between signs of civilization the further north you walk.

Following somewhat along the Kazakhstan border, you will briefly float over Mongolia before turning northeast to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Is completing the trail humanly possible?

Adventurers and famous long-distance walkers have achieved incredible feats while traversing the globe, but the recently discovered longest walkable trail from South Africa to Russia remains untraveled and may remain so for some time to come.

There has never been anyone who has used this route to walk around the globe. As intriguing as it may sound, some of the destinations along the way have historically unstable governments, additional visa requirements, and even civil war situations.

In addition, an exceptional set of survival skills may be required due to changing temperatures, terrains, and food availability along the way.

How to Plan

You would be traveling through 16 different nations, so you would require entry visas or permits for each. Visa on arrival is not available in every country, and each one will have different vaccination requirements.

Furthermore, just because a route was created on Google Maps doesn’t automatically qualify as a border crossing.

You cannot simply enter a foreign country. You need to go to a border crossing, and you probably need to deviate from your planned path.

How about the survival tools you intend to bring, such as a satellite phone, hatchet, knife, and fire starter?

These would be necessary items due to changing terrain, temperatures, and food availability along the way. But which nations will actually permit you to own them?

That is research on a different level. This would require a significant amount of preparation and logistics.

What to Pack

You would need to bring a lot of equipment in order to do this. In the Russian tundra, what you’ll need for shelter will be very different from what you’ll need in the African Sahara.

How do you transport enough medical supplies to protect yourself from the wide range of potential emergencies?

Anytime you travel to a remote location, minor mishaps can quickly escalate into problems. Simply put, it will be very tricky to bring all the supplies and equipment necessary to handle every potential problem.

Keep in mind that you’ll likely be traveling for weeks at a time through incredibly large empty spaces.

If you decide to make this brave journey, you’ll need to pack a few different outfits because you’ll have to endure everything from sweltering desert heat to trudging through icy Siberia.

Given the drastically different weather along the route, hikers will probably need to purchase new clothing along the way. The hikers will likely need passports, visas, and to register with the authorities.

They will need to exercise caution as they travel through the area. Hikers can perhaps concentrate on the sections that are safe right now and hope that the hazardous sections get safer in the future if they want to make hiking the route a lifelong goal.

This walk can be a little risky, and some parts are in conflict-ridden areas of the world. Even visa restrictions are a significant thing to consider in this situation.

In order for a traveler’s body to withstand fluctuating temperatures, they must have strong survival skills and a healthy immune system.

Numerous long-distance road walkers have set numerous world records, but no one had ever attempted this one before.

You will be the first person to have ever completed the longest world route on foot if you are successful in finishing the trip and making it to Magadan!

**Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. When booking through one of our links, we earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running.

Related Posts

7 Signs You Are Suffering From Post Travel Depression

• Inspiration

The 6 Worst Travel Mistakes (and how to avoid them)

10 Unwritten Rules For Airplane Etiquette

• North America

18 Awesome Things to do in Mexico City in 2024

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

This Couple Is Breaking the Record for the World's Longest Road Trip in One Country

They've already driven 29,500 miles across the U.S.

Greg Cayea and Heather Thompson are on out to break the record for the world’s longest road trip in one country. The previous record is 22,406.66 miles, and was set in India.

The couple has already covered 29,500 miles over 103 days, passing the 22,406.66-mile mark on September 20.

They started their trip in Tempe, Arizona, and are weaving through America's 48 contiguous states, with only 11 states to go.

Cayea got the idea while listening to a Tony Robbins' audio book, and seeing a writing exercise about setting a world record. He looked into various records, and decided the longest journey completed by car could be good for the two of them to try because they were preparing to move to Philadelphia. And because “being on the road has been such a big part of my life,” Cayea told Travel + Leisure.

“Every chance I could, I would get on the road, because that’s where I felt most at home,” said Cayea, who wrote a book on his experience, “No Direction Home: The Drifter Chronicles Volume One” , which is how he and Thompson are funding their trip.

Cayea and Thompson have been to 22 national parks, and said their favorites have been Yellowstone National Park , Zion National Park , and Crater Lake National Park .

They have also discovered unexpected tourist attractions, like outdoor animal safaris in South Dakota, and have visited quirky spots like the ghost own of Bayhorse , Idaho.

Of all the roads they’ve driven, they said the Beartooth Pass on the Beartooth Highway was the most scenic.

“It’s an insanely beautiful drive that goes around lakes that look like melted glaciers, just like the ones of out Glacier National Park,” Cayea said.

To break the record, they have a set of rules they must follow, which includes no round-trips, no backtracking more than 10 percent of the total mileage, recording every stop, keeping a log book along the trip, recording at least 10 minutes of video footage of the journey per day, and making sure not to cross country borders.

They’re allowed to take two weeks of resting time, and have spent around 35 days of their trip so far on stops, sleeping in their 2008 Subaru Outback the majority of the time.

While being on the road can be tough, the two have found ways to take advantage of the lifestyle, using national park grills to make food, and parking in truck stops, rest stops, or Walmart parking lots before prepping their mattress and watching Netflix in the back of their car.

The couple is currently heading to the Hudson Valley in New York and will most likely be on the road for one more month.

• Celebrities
• Beauty & Health
• Relationships & Weddings
• Food, Travel, Arts & Culture
• International
• Pulse Picks
• Celebrity Picks
• Pulse Influencer Awards

Do you want to travel on the longest road in the world? It is very dangerous

Travelling along this monumental highway requires your full attention and caution.

The Pan-American Highway, stretching across two continents and thousands of kilometres, is the longest road in the world.

Recommended articles

This impressive route can be completed in one unforgettable journey , provided that you manage to avoid its most dangerous section.

While other long-distance routes allow you to immerse yourself in the rhythm of your favourite music and enjoy snacks, travelling along this monumental highway requires your full attention and caution.

Starting at the very top of Alaska (Prudhoe Bay) and ending at the tip of Tierra del Fuego in South America (Ushuaia), it is over 30,000 kilometres. The Pan-American Route runs through both American continents, passing many countries and famous cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The concept of creating this epic route was born in the United States in 1923. The goal was to bring nations together and perhaps also increase sales of cars manufactured in the USA and their exports.

After reaching an agreement, the countries involved— Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the United States —signed the Pan American Highway Convention in 1937.

Construction of the road began, but as could be predicted, it did not proceed quickly. The highway's original route runs from Laredo in northern Mexico to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with various branches to continue the journey.

ALSO READ: 5 African countries to travel to by road from Nigeria

Since the road covers so many miles, there are naturally areas that make the journey more appealing than others, offering scenic views and amazing stops along the way.

However, the Pan-American Highway passes through one particularly dangerous region: the Isthmus of Darién, which connects Panama with Colombia.

This approximately 160 km long area is densely covered with jungle, rich in diverse fauna and inhabited by indigenous communities, making it a risky place for a grand tour.

As a result, even though the Isthmus of Darién is located in the middle of the Pan-American Highway, it is impossible to drive through this section - forcing travelers to make a detour.

While it may seem disappointing to have to avoid this region, it is the best option due to the risks it carries . The area is frequented by armed militias, dangerous gangs and drug-trafficking groups, which means it's not a place you'd want to stop for a roadside picnic.

Still, if you are determined to proceed, you can fly over the troublesome region, with the car delivered by container on the ship.

Despite the gap in the road, the Guinness Book of Records still recognises the Pan-American Highway as the longest route that can be traversed by car.

This article was originally published on Onet Travel .

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

Get rewards worth up to $20 when selected to participate in our exclusive focus group. Your input will help us to make informed decisions that align with your needs and preferences.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: [email protected]

Woman finds out after 20 years her husband stalked her years before they met

Doctor wants you to stop drinking alcohol at this age — if you love yourself, here are 8 signs you have the 'eldest daughter syndrome', is drinking water right before you sleep healthy the answer is not so simple, japa story: i left my privileged life in lagos to become a gateman in canada, 10 small habits that will earn you respect, 10 creative ways to ask for money from your boyfriend if you're shy, pulse hot takes: 4 reasons paternity fraud is popular in nigeria, 50 birthday prayers and wishes to make a loved one feel special, ask pulse: my man’s friends want us to break up because i sent nudes to another man, buying red wallet and 9 other superstitious beliefs that can make you rich, the sexual benefits, health perks and side effects of manuka honey, pulse sports, lionel messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for inter miami, naija stars abroad: onyedika, boniface, and osimhen shine across europe, victor osimhen and tobi amusan make list of forbes’ 30 under 30 class of 2024.

Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!

Discover the Wild Atlantic Way, a majestic coastline road trip along Ireland

Ireland's wild atlantic way, the world's longest coastal route, is celebrating its 10th birthday. irishcentral readers can also enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on car rental with europcar.

Picture yourself cruising along Ireland's stunning west coast, where every turn reveals breathtaking views and charming villages waiting to be explored.

The Wild Atlantic Way is the world's longest coastal touring route stretching 2,500 kilometers. The epic drive hugs the rugged Irish coastline and offers a front-row seat to some of Ireland's most breathtaking vistas. 

Start planning your Irish adventure with Europcar and enjoy a 10% discount on your car rental!

From the majestic cliffs of Malin Head to the picturesque beaches of County Cork, buckle up for an unforgettable adventure through Ireland's wild and wonderful landscapes, steeped in history and ready to welcome you with open arms.

As the Wild Atlantic Way celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024, there's never been a better time to plan your visit. Plus, take the stress out of your road trip with Europcar , Ireland’s leading car rental company . 

Fanad Lighthouse, Co Donegal

Find the hidden gems 

Take a scenic drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, chosen as National Geographic Traveller’s ‘Cool List 2024', and discover the hidden gems that served as the backdrop for some of the most memorable scenes in Irish cinematic history .  

Dursey Islands, Co Cork

Visit Dursey Island, a hidden gem off the southwest coast of Ireland. Accessible by Ireland's only cable car which crosses the open waters. A 10-minute ride across and you can see Europe's last sunset! 

Dursey Island, Co Cork

Aran Islands, Co Galway

The Aran Islands, go back in time and visit the largest island, Inishmore, to see a true marvel of ancient Ireland, the Dún Aonghasa perched atop a 100-meter cliff top. Dating back over 3,000 years, it’s one of the oldest Iron Age forts in Ireland. The Banshees of Inisherin movie was filmed on the island!

There are three Aran islands to visit from the mouth of Galway Bay, all accessible by passenger ferry. Visit to experience the Irish culture and hear the Irish language which is widely spoken around the islands.

Dún Aonghasa, Inishmore, Aran Islands

Connemara National Park, Co Galway

The Connemara National Park offers scenic mountains, little coves, fishing villages, and a picturesque circular driving route. For panoramic views of Clifden Bay and offshore islands, take the Upper Sky road; there is a parking lot at the highest point. While in Connemara, make sure to take the boat trip across Killary Fjord. Dolphins also frequent the waters, especially around the small island towards the mouth of the fjord.

Killary Fjord, Connemara, Co Galway

Sturrall, Co Donegal

The Sturrall hike is a spectacular coastal trail that winds its way along the rugged cliffs of County Donegal's Wild Atlantic Way. Starting from the village of Glencolmcille, this hike offers views of towering sea stacks, hidden sea caves, and the dramatic coastline below. 

Fanad Head, Co Donegal

Fanad Head in the north coast of Donegal offers splendid views over Ballymastocker Bay, miles of golden, sandy beach which was previously voted the 2nd most beautiful beach in the world. Take a guided tour of the Fanad Head Lighthouse and climb to the top for the views.

How long does it take to travel the Wild Atlantic Way?

Beara Peninsula, Co Cork

While you can do the 2,500km trip in a few days, we recommend you take your time and spend a week or two to enjoy the scenery and soak up the local culture. 

You’ll find plenty of places to stay along the way, where you’ll always be greeted with a warm Irish welcome. If you travel from south to north, you’ll sit alongside the Atlantic Ocean for much of the journey as Ireland drives on the left.

Whether you're looking for a quick road trip or a more immersive adventure, there's something for everyone along this spectacular coastal route.

Who is Europcar?

Plan your Irish adventure with Europcar, Ireland’s leading car rental company

Europcar has locations all over Ireland, with international airports such as Dublin Airport, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport, and Knock Airport serviced by staff dedicated to ensuring you start and finish your vacation the best way.

You can also find Europcar along the Wild Atlantic Way such as Cork, Kerry Airport, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, and Letterkenny ensuring you can access their vehicles wherever you need them when you need them. 

At each location throughout Ireland, Europcar offers a wide range of vehicles, including compact cars, SUVs, electric vehicles, and luxury models. With comprehensive insurance coverage available and 24/7 roadside assistance, you can explore Ireland's breathtaking landscape with peace of mind.

Visit Europcar.ie to reserve your vehicle and start planning your Irish adventure today, with a 10% discount on your Europcar rental . You can also follow them on Facebook and X .

Related: Wild Atlantic Way , Aran Islands , Ring of Kerry , The Beara Peninsula

Ireland in spring - your guide to bucket list travel and spectacular festivals

KILDARE CALLING: County Kildare wants to hear from YOU, the global Irish diaspora

WATCH: Castlegregory - the "Gold Coast" of the Dingle Peninsula

WWII ship where five brave Sullivan brothers died discovered on St. Patrick's Day

The intersection of Saint Patrick and paganism in Ireland

TUNE IN: St. Patrick’s Day Parade LIVE from Dublin today!

US leprechauns versus Irish fairies - a St. Patrick’s Day death match

NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade announces line of march ahead of March 16

St Patrick's Festival is here! Your guide to the Dublin City celebrations

Sober St. Patrick’s Day to “reclaim the day” today in NYC

“Walking in the footsteps” of your Irish ancestors

2-FOR-1 GA TICKETS WITH OUTSIDE+

Don’t miss Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, and more at the Outside Festival.

GET TICKETS

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

The 11 Best Road Trips in the World

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road on an epic adventure, especially on these incredible stretches of highway

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

I love a good road trip, especially in the mountains of Colorado, where I live. It’s when I do some of the best creative thinking, and it feels like the possibilities for exploration are endless. Should I hike a fourteener tomorrow? Cross the border into Utah to go mountain biking?

I scoured the globe to put together this list of the most stunning drives you could imagine, from the snowcapped peaks of Chilean Patagonia to the windswept west coast of Ireland. I’ve completed a handful, driven parts of many of them, and the rest are on my bucket list. I also chose these road trips for their proximity to adventure, and include essential details like the best hikes, beaches, and accommodations along the way. Buckle up.

The Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean, Canada

Miles: 550 Road terrain: Mostly gravel Best time to go: The Dempster Highway is open year-round, but traditional summer festivals in the Arctic towns and the aurora borealis viewing in winter are seasonal highlights.

Truly rugged and remote, this overland expedition traverses dramatic tundra landscapes, boreal forests, and mountain ranges en route to the Arctic Sea. Begin in the gold-rush outpost of Dawson City, Yukon, and load up on supplies—the unpaved gravel road is a known tire eater, so be sure you have a spare and a four-wheel drive car. From there the Dempster Highway heads north through the historic Klondike region, crosses the Arctic Circle, and enters the Northwest Territories, where you’ll have panoramas of what’s known as the polar Serengeti, a wide-open wilderness teeming with caribou, moose, and grizzlies.

Along the way, you’ll pass through Indigenous communities such as Tsiigehtchic, reached by ferry in summer after the snow melts. If you’re traveling during August, you can watch canoe races and listen to traditional music during Tsiigehtchic’s Canoe Days celebration. By the time you arrive in Inuvik, Canada’s largest community north of the Arctic Circle, you’ll have logged 457 miles. Pitch your tent or park your teardrop at Happy Valley Territorial Park (from $28), perched on a bluff overlooking the Richardson Mountains and the nation’s largest river, the Mackenzie.

Pick up the final stretch of the trip in town, the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway, an 86-mile gravel road that winds past the Pingo Canadian Landmark, a collection of pingo (mounds of earth-covered ice) more than 100 feet high, and ends in the Inuit shorefront hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk.

Scenic Byway 12, Utah

Miles: 122 Road terrain: Paved Best time to go: Early spring and early fall

This expanse of highway connects Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef National Parks , traveling through Dixie National Forest and the northern part of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. The whole thing could be completed in three hours, but given its proximity to so many perfect playgrounds for hiking, paddling, biking, and fishing, I suggest a four-day road trip. Bookended by Panguitch to the west and Torrey to the east, this designated All-American Road bisects multiple ecosystems,  from sage flats to slickrock deserts, and sleepy rural communities like Boulder, where you should stop for a meal at Hell’s Backbone Grill . The photo opps are endless, but Powell Point Vista, between the towns of Henrieville and Escalante, affords some of the best views of the area’s distinct Wasatch Limestone formations. If I could overnight in one place along the way it’d be Ofland Escalante , which has a drive-in theater, a pool, and a food truck (from $99).

The Romantic Road, Germany

Miles: 220 Road terrain: Paved Best time to go: Spring or fall

Germany’s Romantische Strasse, or Romantic Road, could be the backdrop of a Grimm’s fairy tale, with its turreted and crenelated castles, red-roofed villages, and lake-dotted countryside in the Alpine foothills. This scenic byway across Bavaria connects the baroque town of Würzburg with the pastel-hued town of Füssen. The former is home to the Unesco-designated Würzburg Residence, one of the nation’s most opulent palaces, while Füssen is five minutes from what many consider the route’s highlight, King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle , which was the inspiration for the palace in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty . If you want to stretch your legs, you can tackle the hike to Mount Tegel, located behind the castle, or take the cable car up and explore the trail network at the top.

Along the way you’ll pass plenty of beer gardens—the riverfront Lechgarten in the hamlet of Landsberg am Lech is a must-stop—the vineyards of the Franconia wine region (pick up a bottle of dry, white Silvaner), and spend a few hours rejuvenating in the historic spa town of Bad Mergentheim; at the Best Western Premier Parkhotel ($150), you can take advantage of the indoor pool, spa, and gardens.

The Explorers Way, Australia

Miles: 1,864 Road terrain: Paved (and remember, Aussies drive on the left-hand side) Best time to go: Australia’s fall, March through May The ultimate outback odyssey, the Explorers Way is a road trip through Australia’s Red Centre. Much of the drive follows the Stuart Highway, named after 19th-century explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. Stuart’s expedition took nearly a year, but two weeks is ample time to complete the journey from Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

I highly recommend detours to Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park to stand in awe of the 2,831-foot-high monolith sacred to Aboriginals and to Litchfield National Park, teeming with waterfalls and wildlife like dingo and wallaby. Dedicate at least a day to explore the Aboriginal art galleries of Alice Springs, the Northern Territory’s second largest city and the approximate midway point of the route. When you reach the Top End, toast your trip with a bush negroni at Willing Distillery in Darwin or celebrate with a bush safari at Bamurru Plains Eco Lodge (from $2,425, all-inclusive), just northwest of Kakadu National Park, home to more than two dozen walking trails .

Atlantic Road, Norway

Miles: 22 Road terrain: Narrow, paved Best time to go: The coast is most dramatic in September and October

Norway has 18 designated national scenic routes, but the fact that the Atlantic Road was selected as the stage for the James Bond film No Time to Die is a testament to its wow-factor beauty. Officially known as Atlanterhavsvegen , this drive links the village of Kårvåg on Averøy Island with the fishing village of Bud on the mainland via an archipelago connected by eight low-lying bridges. Few roads bring you so close to the ocean: roll down your window and you’ll likely be kissed by sea mist.

Essential detours include the coastal path at Vevang to see Jan Freuchen’s “ Columna Transatlantica ,” a sculpture scattered across the rocks and heath-covered hills, and the glass-walled viewing platform at Askevågen, which affords spectacular mountain and ocean vistas. Strømsholmen Seasport, located between the towns of Kristiansun and Molde, offers scuba diving, fishing excursions, and wildlife safaris on the water. It also has four waterfront cabins that sleep up to ten people (from $55).

The Ring Road, Iceland

Miles: 820 Road terrain: Mostly paved, with some stretches of gravel Best time to go: Late spring or early fall

Stretch after stretch of otherworldly landscapes unfold along this famed 820-mile loop , also known as Route 1. It shows off vast lava fields, tumbling waterfalls, spouting glaciers, and bubbling geysers. You’ll want at least seven days to enjoy all the attractions and adventures along the way, and if you do the drive in May, June, or July, you can take advantage of nearly 24 hours of sun.

Most road-trippers start in the capital, Reykjavík, the city closest to Keflavík International Airport. You can tackle it counterclockwise or clockwise, but if you do the latter first, the scenery crescendos from pretty to jaw-droppingly gorgeous. If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss, it’s a detour to the northern Troll Peninsula, which loops around the headlands past the end of the Skagafjörður fjord.

On the southeastern coast of Iceland , take time to explore Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon studded with icebergs, and nearby Diamond Beach, named for the brilliant chunks of ice that sparkle like gems against its black sands. The geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon, just 20 minutes from the airport, are the perfect final stop. Or tack on an adventure—maybe kayak in a glacial lagoon or ride an ATV along the beach—with outfitter Icelandic Mountain Guides .

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Miles: 1,600 Road terrain: Narrow, winding, and paved (you’ll also driving on the left-hand side here) Best time to go: summer to take advantage of longer day-light hours

One of the longest coastal routes in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way hugs the Emerald Isle’s rugged and spectacular west coast for miles, from its northern terminus on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to its southern terminus in the town of Kinsale in County Cork. The route is broken into 14 stages, and you’ll want to budget a minimum of five days to complete it.

There are loads of opportunities to stretch your legs on untouched swaths of beach near soaring sea cliffs. Those at Slieve League jut up 1,972 feet at their highest point; follow the Pilgrim’s Path from Teelin village 1.5 miles to the tops, and after pop into town for lunch. You’ll have plenty of options, but I highly recommend the award-winning Rusty Mackerel pub (rooms are also available from $54). The iconic Cliffs of Moher, in the lunar-like Burren region, are one of the natural treasures of Ireland, with a five-mile (one-way) coastal walk that connects the charming villages of Liscannor and Doolin.

On Achill Island, explore Keel Beach, a nearly two-mile stretch of golden sand. When I visited, the waves were pumping and I rented a board and a thick wetsuit from Soundwave Surf School . If the water’s calm, you can rent a stand-up-paddleboard. If your final destination is County Cork, celebrate with a pint at Levis Corner House , a pub in Ballydehob that’s been run by the same family for a century.

Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Oregon

Miles: 363 Road terrain: Paved Best time to go: Late spring, early fall, or winter

Most people associate the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, with California, but the storied road spans from Canada to Mexico. Some of the best lengths, in my opinion, are in Oregon, where the road skirts virgin beaches, craggy mountains, and rocky coves, through a series of quirky seaside resorts and sleepy fishing villages. You could zip along all of it in 10 to 12 hours, but five days is the better plan, stopping at the many parks and public lands along the route. Ecola State Park (sea stacks, tidepooling, wildlife-watching) and Oregon Dunes Recreation Area (whose sweeping sandy expanses are said to have been the inspiration for Dune’ s planet Arrakis) are both top of my list.

About 30 miles northwest of the city of Bandon is Cape Arago; this short detour off the byway takes you through the South Slough National Estuarine Reserve, home to more than 150 kinds of birds and many good hiking trails . In the town of Coos Bay, I like to overnight at the modern cabins at Bay Point Landing ($235). The next day, you can drive 24 miles east to the remote Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area and hike 1.4 miles to the top of Golden Falls for an eagle’s-eye view of the cascading waterfall and old-growth firs. Schedule your journey for spring and winter and bring your binocs—you can often spot the blows from migrating gray whales as they surface off the coast.

The Garden Route, South Africa

Miles: 124 Road terrain: Paved Best time to go: June to December, when you can spot whales from shore

This ocean-hugging highway showcases the Western Cape’s outrageously beautiful beaches, lush forests, national forests, and abundant marine life. Just under two hours’ drive from Cape Town, the former fishing village of Hermanus Bay is the gateway for the Garden Route. I always stop here to take advantage of the excellent land-based whale-watching between June and December. Continue three and a half hours east on the N2 highway to the harbor town of Mossel Bay, the route’s official starting point. Spend some time trekking around before heading out on your drive; my favorite is the 2.5-mile out-and-back trail from Pinnacle Point to Oyster Bay.

Wilderness National Park , approximately midroute, is a great spot for birdwatching and kayaking and has accommodations that include campsites (from $20), cabins (from $50), and a bed-and-breakfast (from $90). A half-hour farther east is Plettenberg Bay, nicknamed the Saint Tropez of South Africa for its palatial beach homes. Just south is Robberg Nature Reserve , a nice picnic spot where you can observe seal colonies. Spend a day exploring Tsitsikamma National Park , which boasts a 50-mile-long shoreline and an interior with 500-year-old trees. Looking to burn off some energy after hours in the car? I suggest the Otter Trail. South Africa’s oldest hiking trail takes five days to complete and begins near the Garden Route’s eastern terminus at Storms River rest camp.

Queenstown to Milford Sound, New Zealand

Miles: 180 Road terrain: Paved, two-lane highway Best time to go: New Zealand’s fall, March through May, is perfect for hiking Described by Rudyard Kipling as the “eighth wonder of the world,” Milford Sound is big nature on steroids. The drive on the South Island from Queenstown along State Highway 6 (a.k.a. the Southern Scenic Highway) and then State Highway 94 (Milford Sound Highway) will get you there  in just over four hours, but slow down to marvel at the waterfalls and alpine lakes framed by mountains. Te Anau is the halfway point of the drive and an ideal place to overnight, refuel, and stock up on food as there are no services farther en route to the sound. The lakeside town is also the gateway to the glacier-carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park and the jumping-off point for the Milford Track, arguably one of New Zealand’s most famous Great Walks , so consider tacking on a few extra days.

The Carretera Austral, Chile

Miles: 770 Road terrain: Rugged, pock-marked dirt, requiring four-wheel drive Best time to go: Austral spring and summer, November to March  

Waterfalls tumbling from hanging glaciers. Forests of lengua trees and turquoise lagoons. Ancient marble caves and flamingo-filled lakes. The wild backdrop of Chile’s Southern Highway (Route 7) is an adventurer’s fantasy. Also known as the Carretera Austral , this road cuts through remote, mountainous wilderness in northern Patagonia. Set aside at least two weeks so you can take time to visit Queulat National Park and Pumalín National Park , both located along the route.

Puerto Montt, a bustling town in the Chilean Lake District, is your starting point. It’s considered Chile’s seafood capital, so attempt to score a table at Pa Mar Adentro Restaurant and try the caldo curanto , a traditional seafood stew, before starting your journey south.

Coyhaique, the capital of Chile’s Aysén region, marks the route’s midway point. Take a day here to trek the trails of Reserva Nacional Coyhaique, home to two beautiful lakes, Los Sapos and Venus. Campsites are available in the Casa Bruja section of the reserve ($5), or continue a couple hours south to General Carrera Lake and hole up at the family-run  Mallin Colorado Ecolodge ($170). The owners serve terrific farm-to-table meals and partner with local guides who lead kayak trips to the Marble Caves and treks across Exploradores Glacier.

Rumbo Sur Hotel ($190), in the isolated terminus town of Villa O’Higgins, is a comfy final base surrounded by hiking trails and glaciers. A 4×4 is recommended, as most of the road is unpaved.

Outside travel columnist Jen Murphy hates driving but will happily sit shotgun on any road trip. Last fall she navigated on a weeklong mother-daughter road trip through southwest Colorado.

• New Zealand
• Northwest Territories
• South Africa

Popular on Outside Online

Enjoy coverage of racing, history, food, culture, travel, and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands.

Healthy Living

• Clean Eating
• Vegetarian Times
• Yoga Journal
• Fly Fishing Film Tour
• National Park Trips
• Warren Miller
• Fastest Known Time
• Trail Runner
• Women's Running
• Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
• FinisherPix
• Outside Events Cycling Series
• Outside Shop

© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc

The Longest Bridges in Europe

Europe is the place you go when you seek historic architecture, but the talent for art and erecting pieces that are meant to stand the test of time is in its blood. Its longest bridges are real engineering feats, marvelous to the eyes, and must-experiences when in the country to learn more about their construction and function. These feats of engineering are highly celebrated landmarks with tons of tourist allure.

Discover the symbolic meanings, like the freedom of movement or the speed at which the trains whizz along the sleek tracks, akin to futurism. The longest bridge in Europe today is located in Russia , with quite a few more in Portugal and Germany , as well as in the Nordic countries of Denmark and Sweden . You will also notice that Italy is the country of many bridges for a reason, featuring some of the longest ones in Europe in the attached list of 25.

1. Crimean Bridge (Kerch Strait), Russia: 18.1 km

The Crimean Bridge, opened with fanfare by Russia's President Vladimir Putin in 2018, is the longest bridge in Europe. With a clearance below 35 meters and the longest span of 227 meters (745 ft), the railroad bridge totals 18.1 km in length (11.25 mi), and the road bridge is 16.9 km (10.5 mi) long. The construction of this double parallel railroad-road truss arch bridge started in February 2016 and was designed for road and rail paths over the Kerch Strait, where the water depth is up to 9 m (30 ft).

Some regard Putin's gesture of a grand opening as a symbol of taking over Ukraine and binding it with Russia forever, as the bridge is a vital connection to supply the country's military in Crimea. Having annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014—an act deemed illegal by many Western countries—the bridge became a target of increased air and sea drone attacks by Ukraine following the start of the war between the two countries. With suspensions and reopenings, the bridge closed again on Sunday, September 3rd, but according to the administration, this is a temporary closure.

2. Vasco da Gama Bridge, Portugal: 17.2 km

The highway-purposed Vasco da Gama Bridge in the northern region of Lisbon, Portugal, is the second-longest bridge in Europe, stretching for over 17.2 km (10.7 mi). It was initially planned to alleviate the congestion on the other bridges in the city, and this bridge also prevents traffic between the north and south of the country by allowing access to multiple road sections. At that time, the bridge cost a whopping USD 1.1 billion and took 3,300 workers 36 months to build. It was completed in 1998 under the official name Ponte Vasco da Gama and the ownership of the Portuguese Republic.

Thanks to the immense planning during construction, the Vasco da Gama Bridge holds six road lanes and has a life expectancy of 120 years. Moreover, it can withstand wind speeds of up to 250 km/h and allows vehicles to drive at up to 120 km/h. Thus, the Vasco da Gama Bridge is a feat of engineering and one of the country’s most famous landmarks.

3. Emsland Test Facility, Germany: 12 km

The Emsland Test Facility is the third longest bridge in Europe, spanning 12 km (7.5 mi); however, it is a bit different from the other bridges on this list. This is because instead of an active road or rail bridge, it is a defunct testing site for Transrapid maglev trains, a single-track line between Dörpen and Lathen in Emsland, Germany. The elevated track, so as not to interfere with the surrounding farmland and grazing, also features turning loops at each end. Built by the German company Transrapid International, the construction began in 1980 and ended in 1984, after which operations began. By 1987, the 31.5 km-long test line was a regular tourist attraction for the curious to "test" these new trains, which reached speeds up to 420 km/h.

While the train started as a success, a freak accident led to its subsequent closure. The accident took place on September 22, 2006, when the workers didn't get a response after checking for garbage along the line before the first morning train. They also needed to be made aware that an additional test run was planned with tourists, including employees of the Transrapid company. The dispatcher also failed to remember the workers and a 60-ton diesel service machine on the track when Transrapid 08 started as usual and hit the obstacle at 162 km/h. Thus, due to human error, 23 people were killed, and 11 were seriously injured. The facility closed at the end of 2011 due to the expiration of the operation license and was approved for demolition in early 2012.

4. Leziria Bridge, Portugal: 11.67 km

Leziria Bridge, northeast of Lisbon , crosses two rivers: the bigger Tagus River and the smaller Sorraia River, in a connection between the cities of Carregado and Benavente. At 11.67 km (7.25 mi) long, this box girder bridge and viaduct bridge is the fourth longest bridge in Europe, with the longest span of 972 m (3,189 ft). The construction began in July 2005 and took 23 months to complete using the balanced cantilever method by 2007. For construction, 400,000 cubic meters of concrete, 45,000 tons of steel, and 52,300 cubic meters of foundation piles were used.

The bridge cost 220 million euros (USD 260 million) by the time it opened on July 8, 2007, under the official name of Ponte da Leziria. Maintained by Brisa, this two-way, 6-lane high-speed bridge hosts motorways with a speed limit of 120 km/h. Its renowned, innovative toll collection system is technologically advanced to reduce manual charging and make it more efficient for the vehicles on site, with a toll fee of 1.25 euros northbound and southbound.

5. Öresund Bridge, Denmark/Sweden: 7.845 km

Comprising almost half of the nearly 16 km (9.9 mi) of direct link over the Öresund (the Sound) between Denmark and Sweden, this toll bridge is the longest in Denmark and the fifth longest bridge in Europe. Designed by the leading architect Georg K.S. Rotne, the Öresund Bridge was completed in 1999 and opened in 2000 for highway and rail. Spanning 7.845 km (4.87 mi) in length, the bridge, the connected Drogden Tunnel, and the artificial island of Peberholmen connect the two countries.

With a long and convoluted history as a witness to many events in Nordic cooperation in the economy and engineering, the bridge is a symbolic link in cross-border relationships. From freedom of movement in the past to a physical connection between continental Europe and the removed Nordic countries, hundreds of thousands of cars and trains have used the bridge, a globally renowned icon, to this day. The toll booths are on the Swedish part of the bridge, and there are more recently policed borders with identification checks.

6. Great Belt Bridge (Eastern), Denmark: 6.79 km

The Great Belt Bridge is the sixth-longest in Europe and the second-longest bridge in Denmark. Built in 1998, its two 254-meter (833 ft) towers are the highest points in the country, bearing cables with a free span of 1,624 meters (5,328 ft)—the second-longest in the world. The mammoth work put into its construction in Denmark makes getting around the country's regions much easier. Ode to this, the 6.79 km (4.21 mi) long Eastern Bridge hosts over 27,000 cars on average and up to 40,000 vehicles a day in the peak summer season.

The Great Belt Bridge's characteristic cable profile with a passage height of 65 meters (213 ft) and its massive pylons make it a popular symbol of Danish expertise and sound craftsmanship. This bridge is part of the 18-kilometer-long Great Belt Fixed Link between the Zealand and Funen regions, built between 1988 and 1998. The total link comprises the suspension Eastern Bridge, the low-level Western Bridge, and the under-the-sea Eastern Tunnel for the railway, which, at 8,024 meters long, is the second-longest bored tunnel in Europe. There is a toll fee to get across, including to the little island of Sprogø with its lighthouse in the link where the bridges and the tunnel meet.

7. Great Belt Bridge (Western), Denmark: 6.61 km

The Great Belt Bridge (Western) is Europe's seventh-longest bridge and Denmark's third-longest at 6.611 km (4.1 mi). This 25-meter-wide bridge features 62 piers and 63 spans, each for one road and railway girder, 51 measuring 110 meters, and 12 spans measuring 82 meters. It was built between 1988 and 1994 and opened with the link for rail and road traffic in 1998.

Both the superstructure and substructure are made of concrete from the factory Lindholm on Funen, and the elements were transported to the bridge by the floating crane, Svanen. The aforementioned little island of Sprogø offers an unusual way to experience the bridge on a guided foot journey, narrating its history and seeing the bridge close at hand.

8. Saale-Elster Viaduct, Germany: 6.465 km

The railway bridge of the Saale-Elster Viaduct, part of the connection between the cities of Munich and Berlin, runs along the Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle line for high-speed trains in Central Germany, just south of Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. Built between 2006 and 2013, it opened in 2015 and is the eighth-longest bridge in Europe at 6.465 km (4 mi) in length. Built for Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express (ICE), this prestressed concrete railway bridge comprises regular spans of 44 m and an arch bridge with a span of 110 m at the confluence of the Saale and White Elster rivers.

Featuring a 2,112-meter (6,929-foot) branch that connects to the parallel Halle-Bebra railway line over the valley, the total length of over 8.6 km would make it the country's longest overall bridge structure. The bridge hosts the new DB line across the floodplain landscapes of the Saale and Weißen Elster. With a 300 km/h design speed, this first German railroad network-tied arch bridge is recognized as part of the future high-speed railway. It features an exposed aesthetic profile—a real engineering marvel highlighting the entire structure. The fatigue-resistant details for all connectors, among other features, are based on the aerodynamic design for high-speed railway traffic. Moreover, the bridge spans several nature reserves, bird sanctuaries, and water protection zone III of the Halle-Beesen waterworks, south of Halle.

9. Öland Bridge, Sweden: 6.07 km

Öland Bridge is a long-planned permanent link between Öland and Sweden’s mainland, with a history of parliamentary motions and inquiries and the first concrete proposal in 1932. On November 18, 1966, the Swedish government officially accepted Öland Bridge as part of the construction of long bridges in the country. The then Minister for Communications, Svante Lundkvist, turned the first sod the day before the New Year's celebration in 1967, and almost five years later, Öland Bridge opened on September 30, 1972. Spanning 6.072 km (3.77 mi), it was the longest bridge in Europe until 1998, when the Vasco da Gama Bridge was constructed. Moreover, it is the longest bridge in Sweden since the longer Öresund Bridge mentioned above only partially lies in the country.

The bridge features 155 spans made from reinforced concrete and six spans that measure 130 meters each along the highest section. It is also large in other dimensions, with a width of 13 meters, a vertical clearance of 36 meters, and a peak height of 41.69 meters. Ode to this, it is a highly functional and celebrated landmark hosting the secondary road 137, which connects to the E22 on the mainland and the secondary road 136 on Öland. Along with connectivity, the 6-kilometer-long bridge is a popular tourist destination providing an aesthetic experience with nearby recreation, entertainment, and even nature opportunities. Thus, this toll-free bridge is an iconic art piece and famous traffic solution with loads of history, having just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.

10. President Bridge, Russia: 5.825 km

Located in Ulyanovsk Province in central Russia, the President Bridge is one of the country's most popular and longest bridges. Completing the list as the tenth longest in Europe, it spans across the two banks of the Volga River , connecting the province's capital city with the eastern part of the province over 5.825 km (3.62 mi). With construction beginning in late 1980, due to the problems in the country, it has taken over two decades to complete the bridge, bringing it into the post-Soviet Russia era when it finally opened in 2009. Upon completion, the truss bridge significantly boosted local infrastructure and transportation. Featuring 25 spans, President Bridge handles some 40 thousand vehicles a day, which is its average traffic volume. To this end, it is one of the most used bridges in the world and a feat of engineering.

The girth these bridges withhold while upholding a prolific scene for the country's pride and the joy of tourists is admirable. Seemingly defying all natural forces with captivating profiles, courtesy of creative designers, witty engineers, and hardworking constructors, it is a vision and functionality brought to life. Doing seemingly unnatural tasks akin to time travel, these bridges cut the journey for locals between regions to mere minutes. Do your due diligence when in the country to speed along one of these marvels, and you will get a spark in your eye along these welcomed miles after your routing traffic horror or mundane driving days back home.

More in Places

7 Serene Towns in The Rockies for a Weekend Retreat

The Northern United States' 7 Most Underrated Towns To Visit In 2024

7 Most Inviting Towns on the Pacific Coast

These 7 Towns in North Carolina Have Beautiful Architecture

8 of the Most Charming Small Towns to Visit in New Mexico

7 Most Affordable Towns to Retire in Wyoming

6 Most Inviting Towns in Washington

8 Of The Most Charming Small Towns To Visit In Colorado

Simple Flying

What are the longest airbus a350 routes in the world.

The Airbus A350 serves the world's longest non-stop route.

• The Airbus A350 is deployed on the world's longest non-stop flight.
• Singapore Airlines and three other carriers dominate the top ten longest A350 routes.
• Qatar Airways operates the third-longest non-stop route, connecting Doha to Auckland.

The Airbus A350 is one of the most modern and fuel-efficient widebody aircraft on the market. It features some of the latest technologies and carbon-fiber composite structures. The passenger Airbus A350 family comes in two versions: the A350-900 and the longer fuselage A350-1000.

Since the widebody's maiden flight over a decade ago , it has proved to be a reliable long-haul aircraft, with Airbus receiving up to 1,239 orders as of February 2024. The A350 operates with over 35 airlines worldwide, deploying it on some of the world's longest routes. Today, we will look at the A350's longest non-stop routes as of April 2024, based on data from Cirium , an aviation analytics company.

The world's longest non-stop flight

The world's top 10 non-stop A350 routes are dominated by Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, the largest and second-largest operators of the type. In fact, the Doha-based carrier was the launch customer, operating the type's first commercial flight between Doha and Frankfurt in 2015.

Without aircraft types considered, the A350 is responsible for the world's longest route , connecting Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) with New York John F Kennedy Airport (JFK). The 8,287-nautical mile (NM) route is operated by Singapore Airlines, with daily flights each way. The flight has a block time of 18 hrs 40 min . The other routes in the top ten are as follows:

Singapore Changi-Newark Liberty International (EWR) also happens to be the world's second-longest route. It also sees daily flights with Singapore Airlines' A350-900s. It is only three nautical miles shorter than SIN-JFK, with a block time of 18 hr 25 min .

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 Business Class: What You Get For Your Money

Other routes from asia and the middle east.

Qatar Airways operates the world's third-longest non-stop route, connecting Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Auckland Airport (AKL) in New Zealand . This month, the route is served daily with the A350-1000, making it the longest flight for this particular variant. It has a block time of 15 hr 55 min . All other A350 routes on the list are not among the world's top five longest routes.

The fourth-longest route for the Airbus widebody is another Singapore Airlines service, this time connecting Singapore's capital to Los Angeles on the West Coast. The route sees up to 10 weekly flights, with a daily service on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and twice daily on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. It also has a block time of 15 hr 55 min . The first flight (SQ36) departs Singapore at 18:40, arriving in Los Angeles at 19:35 local time, while the second (SQ38) departs at 20:45 and arrives at 21:40.

Philippine Airlines currently has two Airbus A350-900s in its fleet. Its longest route with the type is from Manila to New York, with an average of three weekly flights this month. The block time is 16 hr 10 min . However, the airline deploys the Boeing 777 on certain days. The other Philippine Airlines route in the top ten is from Manila to Toronto (YYZ). It also sees an average of three weekly flights with a block time of 15 hr 25 min .

Singapore Airlines currently has five nonstop routes from Singapore to the US, operating up to 42 weekly flights (one way) with its A350s. The Singapore-San Francisco route is the busiest this month, with up to 14 weekly/two daily flights. At 7,339 NM, it takes up to 15 hr 25 min. United Airlines also serves the Route, flying twice a day on its 787 Dreamliners.

9 Years Of Flight: Which Airbus A350s Have Flown The Most Cycles?

Qatar Airways has 11 non-stop routes to the US this month, with Doha-Los Angeles being the longest. At 7,217 NM, the flight takes up to 16 hrs . It is also the second-longest route for the A350-1000 variant. Qatar Airways flies twice daily between the two destinations. Its second and third-longest routes are as follows:

• Doha-San Francisco: 7,027 NM (13,014 km)
• Doha-Houston (IAH): 6,993 NM (12,952 km)

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Longest routes from the US to Africa

The seventh longest A350 route is from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB), the busiest airport in Sub-Saharan Africa. ATL-JNB is also the longest non-stop route between Africa and the US . At 8,439 mi, it has a block time of 15 hr 15 min. Delta serves it daily and is one of the airline's two non-stop services to South Africa.

The airline's second route is from Atlanta to Cape Town (CPT), one of Africa's most famous tourist destinations. Last year, the airport broke its all-time record for international passengers passing through its terminal. Although it is the tenth longest A350 route, ATL-CPT is the second longest US-Africa flight, with a distance of 7,064 NM and a 14 hr 45-min block time. The route sees up to three weekly flights.

The Airbus A350-900 At Delta Air Lines: The US Legacy Carrier's 5 Longest Routes With The Type

According to ch-aviation , there are approximately 542 active A350s worldwide. While these four airlines have the top 10 longest routes, some other notable operators include Air France, British Airways, Air China, Cathay Pacific, and Ethiopian Airlines.

What are your thoughts on the Airbus A350's longest routes? Perhaps you have flown on some of them before. Please let us know in the comments!

16 Largest Caves In The World, Ranked By Size

• The Kazumura Cave in Hawaii is the longest and deepest lava tube in the world, measuring 40.7 miles long and 3,614 feet deep. Tourists cannot enter the cave, but there are tours available in the surrounding area.
• Fingal's Cave in Scotland is known for its impressive acoustics and is accessible by boat. The cave's length varies between 227 and 270 feet, with its arched roof reaching up to 72 feet above the sea. Visit during low tide for the best access.
• The Clearwater Cave System in Malaysia is over 30 miles long and exists within Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features an underground river and unique rock formations. The cave system is still being explored.

Serving as a gateway into the past and an example of the way our planet has evolved, the world's incredible caves have always sparked human interest. While some are inaccessible to tourists, many of the world’s most famous caves contain distinct rock formations, underground bodies of water, and other fascinating highlights, making them major attractions for locals and visitors alike. It’s humbling to think that there are some caves large enough to house New York City's epic skyscrapers and entire city blocks within them. Here are the largest caves in the world and where tourists can find them.

UPDATE: 2023/09/28 14:36 EST BY NOAH STAATS

There Are Two More Massive Caves To Check Out

This article has been refreshed with two new caves to see this year and helpful information on existing locations. Whether someone wants to cave dive, take a tour of an active volcanic site, or simply do some research, the planet is filled with incredible cave systems worth understanding. Be safe, and have fun!

Related: Explore Ancient Caves In Aruba's Arikok National Park (& More)

Kazumura Cave, Hawaii

• This is the longest and deepest lava tube in the world.

For anyone in Hawaii, the Kazumura Cave is one not to miss. Here lies the lava tube, which has been surveyed at 40.7 miles long and 3,614 feet deep, making it the longest and deepest lava tube in the world. The Kazumura Cave in Hawaii is located on the island of Hawaiʻi on the eastern slope of Kīlauea and is one of the more recently active in the area. Tourists are unable to go inside the cave as it is an active volcanic site, but there are tours in the surrounding area. After all, Hawaii is filled with stunning scenery (volcanoes and beyond), so this is a hidden gem.

Fingal's Cave, Scotland

• This cave is known for its impressive acoustics.

Another massive cave worth exploring is Fingal's Cave in Scotland. This cave is not only on the uninhabited island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, but is also known for its natural acoustics. Many tourists will venture to the cave to scream, sing, and hear the vast echoes of afar. Fingal's Cave is accessible by boat, making it a nice sight for those willing to get on the water. Moreover, this cave's length varies between 227 feet (69 meters) and 270 feet (82 meters), and its arched roof is said to reach between 66 feet (20 meters) and 72 feet (22 meters) above the sea.

During low tide, guests have the best access to Fingal's Cave.

Clearwater Cave System, Malaysia

• This cave system runs 30+ miles and exists in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Situated in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, the limestone Clearwater Cave System consists of a series of interconnected caves rather than just a single one. Clearwater - on its own - has been mapped to just above 30 miles; however, Clearwater Cave System is more than just its longest member. Discovered in the late 1970s, the cave system exists within Gunung Mulu National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

In the Clearwater Cave System, people will find an underground river, as well as a plethora of unique rock formations. Containing an exceptionally large passage, the Clearwater Cave System is one of the longest of its kind in Southeast Asia and serves as a major tourist attraction. The amazing thing about caves is that nobody knows their true size. Clearwater is still being explored to this very day.

Hölloch Cave, Switzerland

• This is one of the biggest caves in the world that tourists can enter.

Tourists can enter the Hölloch, one of the biggest caves in the world. This enormous underground marvel is 124.5 miles long and impressively deep at 3079.3 feet. The Hölloch is a natural wonder not to be missed, with its striking limestone structures and subterranean waterways.

Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico

• Located within the Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Lechuguilla Cave is located within Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico . A limestone and gypsum cave spanning more than 138 miles , Lechguilla is full of interesting mineral formations that have attracted the interest of geologists around the world. While discovered in the 1950s, approximately three decades would pass before Colorado would permit the cave to be explored further. Since the decade of hair metal, explorers have investigated Lechuguilla Cave while marveling at its beauty.

Wind Cave, South Dakota

• This is one of the oldest National Park cave attractions in the United States.

Wind Cave National Park is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. Another cave that’s classified as a “maze cave” due to its convoluted structure and many underground passages, Wind Cave's density is staggering, even compared to other caves on this list. Those visiting the cave should also take some time to explore the national park in which it resides.

Wind Cave National Park is brimming with picturesque views and serves as a protective habitat for the local wildlife.

Related: Visit Ontario's Largest-Known Cavern: The Tyendinaga Caves

Shuanghedong Cave Network, China

• This is the longest cave network in China and the continent of Asia.

The Shuanghedong Cave Network is the longest cave in China and Asia , situated in Guizhou. Running for more than 150 miles, the network was discovered in 1987 and is a fine example of underground ecosystems. There are at least three rivers in the lower levels of the cave, as well as a number of waterfalls.

Within these bodies of water live creatures such as fish and salamanders. Since its discovery in the late 1980s, various expeditions have been carried out in an attempt to map the passages and discover the cave's secrets.

Optymistychna Cave, Ukraine

• Ukraine boasts the longest gypsum cave in the world.

Earning the crown for the longest gypsum cave, Optymistychna Cave in Ukraine extends for over 161 miles and is divided into 10 different areas. These are based on the various passage structures and gypsum varieties found within. Optymistychna Cave, located in Korolivka, Ukraine, is widely known as a maze cave due to the fact that it is extremely elaborate and a little complicated to navigate.

Visitors should be prepared for a lot of mud, especially in the depths of the cave.

Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Mexico

• This cave runs within a 30-mile radius of Mexico's other largest cave system.

Mexico’s Sistema Ox Bel Ha is located within a 30-mile radius of the country’s other largest cave system, Sistema Dos Ojos. Discovered in 1996 and spanning over 160 miles , Ox Bel Ha is thought to have begun forming approximately 18,000 years ago. The name Ox Bel Ha comes from the Yucatec Maya language and translates to “Three Paths of Water” in English.

Since its formation, Ox Bel Ha has become flooded due to the effects of global warming. Today, the system is valued as one of the prominent sources of freshwater in the region.

Mulu Caves, Borneo

• These caves are home to the Sarawak and Deer Chambers and hundreds of bats.

Home to the Sarawak and Deer Chambers, Mulu Caves houses hundreds of bats and one of the world's most impressive and largest cave formations. Some of the most stunning cave formations may be seen at the Mulu Caves, situated in the Gunung Mulu National Park on the island of Borneo (home to some of the biggest cave systems in the world) .

The Deer Chamber is one of the biggest underground tunnels on Earth, while the Sarawak Chamber, with a surface size of 1.66 million square feet, is the largest cave overall. Tourists may take guided excursions to explore their maze-like pathways.

Related: The World's Largest Geode Is This Ohio Crystal Cave

Jewel Cave, South Dakota

• This Jewel Cave is one of the most beautiful in the United States.

As far as aesthetically pleasing caves go, South Dakota’s Jewel Cave is not to be missed. Nestled in the Black Hills National Forest, this gem boasts beautiful scenery below the ground as well as above. The name Jewel Cave comes from the colorful crystals that can be found adorning the inner corners of the cave.

There are a number of tours visitors can take to truly experience Jewel Cave in all its splendor, whether they want to trek to the cave system underground or enjoy the trails on the land above ground.

Sistema Dos Ojos, Mexico

• This cave network runs for over 200 miles and is connected to other underwater caves.

Located in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Sistema Dos Ojos was discovered in 1987 and has hooked the interest of explorers ever since. Running for over 200 miles , this limestone cave is connected to the underwater cave of Sistema Sac Atun.

According to Largest.org , Sistema Dos Ojos is considered a prime archeological site. Archaeologists have discovered information within this cave system that has led to many discoveries about a number of cultures. After the channel connecting Sistema Dos Ojos with Sistema Sac Atun was discovered, this cave system became known as the largest underwater cave in existence.

Sac Actun, Mexico

• This is the largest cave system in Mexico.

The greatest cave system in Mexico is an underwater one, and new parts of it are constantly being found and investigated. Sac Actun is one of the world's largest underwater cave systems; it presently extends over 228 miles as new caverns are found. Sac Actun won't let down adventurers with all the beauty and majesty that a cave of this size involves.

Related: 20 Unique Caves Around The World Only The Brave Should Explore

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

• Mammoth Cave is not fully understood or mapped yet.

It’s unknown how far Mammoth Cave actually extends, but to date, it has been recorded that the underground system stretched at least 365 miles . New caves in the network are constantly being discovered, so there’s no telling just how expansive the system really is - some believe it could be the biggest cave in the world, given that nobody knows its true size yet.

Humans have been exploring Mammoth Cave for over 4,000 years, and today, it’s still a major tourist attraction in Kentucky. A particularly stunning cave, it hosts a variety of stalactite formations. These were created through water that leaked through the limestone ceiling of the cave over the millennia.

People can visit Mammoth Cave National Park and see the cave for real .

Miao Room Cave, China

• This cave is only reachable via its underground stream.

The Miao Room is undoubtedly one of the largest caverns in the world. This chamber, 380,700,000 cu ft in volume , is only reachable via its underground stream. These measurements were discovered during a laser-mapping trip that was supported by the National Geographic Society, and they were then presented at the national caving conference in the UK.

Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

• The Son Doong Cave is one of the largest in the world, forcing guests to drop 260 feet to enter.

With caverns large enough to house a 40-story skyscraper, the recently discovered Son Doong Cave in Vietnam is the largest cave in the world and forces visitors to descend 260 feet just to enter its perimeters. Son Doong was discovered in 1991 by a man named Ho Khanh, who was living in the nearby jungle.

The first expedition to the cave was led by the British Cave Research Association in 2009. They found that Son Doong is more than 400 million years old . For those wanting to visit, Oxalis Adventures is the only company to run tours into the Son Doong Caves . Overall, this beast dwarfs many of the other largest caverns in the world, so it's a must-see for any cave enthusiast looking for their next adventure.