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. 

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