These Are The 7 Longest Roads in The World
Driving down endless roads is unarguably one of the highlights of any great road trip. Check out the longest road in the world, as well as six runner-ups that are nearly as long!
Your international travel plans have probably come to a halt due to the ever-changing restrictions caused by COVID-19. However, that should not stop you from learning about potential destinations for the coming years.
Take a look at this map to see where the world’s longest roads are located.
These are the longest roads in the world (click to jump to each section):
- US Route 6
- US Route 20
- Golden Quadrilateral Highway
- Trans-Canada Highway
- Trans-Siberian Highway
- Highway One
- Pan-American Highway
Continue reading to find out more about each of the world’s longest roads!
U.S. Route 6
Total length: 5 100 km/3 100 miles
Starting point: Long Beach, California
Finishing point: Provincetown, Massachusetts
Road trip duration: 2 weeks+
Apart from being one of the longest roads in the world, the U.S. Route 6 is also one of the best cross-country US road trips. Afterall, is there a better way to explore the United States than by traversing the entire country?
As covering this much distance can be challenging, it is recommended to spend at least 2 weeks on the road to complete this road trip. Get on the US-6 in the small town of Provincetown, Massachusets. You will pass through nearly 15 states in total before reaching the destination in Long Beach, California.
With the Rocky Mountain National Park, Utah’s spectacular natural beauty, Nevada and its hidden gems, as well as countless other points of interest along the way, this truly makes one of the best road trips you could ever take.
U.S. Route 20
Total length: 5 500 km/3 400 miles
Starting point: Newport, Oregon
Finishing point: Boston, Massachusetts
Road trip duration: 2 weeks+
Looking for an alternative cross-country road trip that goes along just one single highway? The US Route 20 may just be the perfect pick for you. This journey would be 500 kilometers shorter than the previously mentioned US Route 6.
This 5500-kilometer (3400 miles) long road stretches from Newport in Oregon all the way to Boston over on the East Coast. From all the attractions that you’ll see along the way, the unarguable highlight is the Yellowstone National Park.
As this is one of the longest roads in the world, it is recommended to spend at least 2 weeks on the road to make the most out of each destination. Much like the US Route 6, GPS navigation won’t be needed for this road trip. Just follow the same road from start to finish!
Golden Quadrilateral Highway- India
Total length: 6 000 km/3 600 miles
Starting point: Delhi, India
Finishing point: Delhi, India
Road trip duration: 2 weeks+
The Golden Quadrilateral Highway is the second-longest road in all of Asia. This road is crucial for India, as it connects the four main cities in the country- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Travelers who plan to complete the loop around the Golden Quadrilateral Highway should think twice about driving in Delhi and Mumbai, two of the largest cities in India. Each of these cities is home to around 20 million people. Can you imagine what rush hour traffic must look like in such an enormous city?
Nonetheless, driving down the Golden Quadrilateral Highway is bound to be an unforgettable adventure. Apart from seeing some of the largest urban populations on the planet, travelers will also visit landmarks such as the Taj Mahal. Be sure to stop by Belgaum and admire some of the breathtaking waterfalls around the area.
Trans-Canada Highway
Total length: 7 000 km/5 000 miles
Starting point: Victoria, British Columbia
Finishing point: St. John, Newfoundland and Labrador
Road trip duration: 2 weeks+
Although not the longest road on the planet, the Trans-Canada Highway is considered the longest national highway on Earth.
Those who decide to drive across this lengthy scenic route are in for a real treat, as the Trans Canada Highway will take them right through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country. Don’t forget to plan stops in some of the country’s fascinating National Parks, Gros Morne and Glacier to name a few.
Expect to spend at least 2 weeks on the road to complete this road trip across one of the longest roads in the world. Accommodate some extra time for stops at scenic overlooks, as you’ll surely find yourself stopping to take in the views rather often.
Trans-Siberian Highway- Russia
Total length: 11 000 km/7 000 miles
Starting point: St. Petersburg, Russia
Finishing point: Vladivostok, Russia
Road trip duration: 1 month+
The third-longest road in the world is the Trans-Siberian Highway. This 11 000-kilometer highway connects St. Petersburg by the Baltic Sea with Vladivostok, a Russian city just 3 hours north of the North Korean border.
The Trans-Siberian Highway became fully paved in 2015. However, this does not mean that crossing this route has become easy. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
Harsh weather conditions and a remote location both make passing the Trans-Siberian Highway challenging, to say the least. Parts of the road can quickly become impassable during the road, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere.
That’s not to say that a road trip across the Trans-Siberian wouldn’t be the adventure of a lifetime. Some of the attractions along the way include a visit to Moscow, passing Lake Baikal, and getting close to North Korea as you approach Vladivostok. You’ll drive across seemingly endless plains of Northern Asia, coniferous forests, and tall mountains.
This journey would take at least a month to complete, given that there are no delays due to unpredictable weather conditions.
Highway 1- Australia
Total length: 14 500 km/9 000 miles
Starting point: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Finishing point: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Road trip duration: 2 months+
Apart from being the second-longest roadway in the world, Australia’s Highway 1 takes the trophy as the world’s longest national highway! Driving down this enormous 14 500 km (9000 miles) loop is one of the best ways to see the best of what Australia has got to offer.
Australia’s Highway 1 will take you across all states of the country. You can begin the journey in Sydney and head south towards Melbourne. This chunk of the journey alone makes for a great road trip idea already, check it out.
A segment of Highway 1 just south of Sydney is named the Grand Pacific Drive. The 140 scenic coastal route is considered to be one of the most scenic driving roads in the world!
You could also detour in Melbourne and head down the Great Ocean Road, which is yet another scenic coastal drive. Check out the itinerary here. All in all, there are plenty of attractions worth visiting along the way.
The recommended duration for this road trip is at least 2 months. That way you can make the most out of each stop along the way, and won’t feel like you’ve rushed through too quickly.
Pan-American Highway
Total length: 48 000 km/30 000 miles
Starting point: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Finishing point: Ushuaia, Argentina
Road trip duration: 6months+
Driving across the Pan-American Highway is on the bucket list of travelers around the globe. Many consider the Pan-American Highway to be the ultimate road trip in the world. While we all have different visions of the perfect road trip, there is no doubt that this is the longest one of them all.
According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world’s longest “motorable road”.
The entire journey from the northern tip in Alaska all the way to the south of Argentina spans nearly 50 000 kilometers (30 000 miles) in total. Those who decide to complete this fascinating journey will pass through 14 countries on 2 continents, as well as 6 different time zones before reaching the end. Although the Panamericana is considered to be the longest road in the world, not all of it can be passed by car. In fact, the road disconnects for about 100 miles nearly in the middle of the journey.
Darien Gap
There is a 100-mile stretch of remote wilderness in Panama and Colombia which is known as the Darien Gap, and the Pan-American Highway does not pass through this jungle. Instead, the road cuts off in Yaviza in Panama and resumes in Turbo, Colombia. There have been plans to build a road through the infamous Darien Gap, though with no success yet.
The Darien Gap is widely regarded as one of the most remote locations on the planet, even though it’s only around 60 miles long. This stretch of vibrant jungle doubles as one of the most dangerous places in the world, thanks to both dangerous wildlife as well as criminal activity.
As the jungle is the only way to cross from Colombia to Panama by land, Darien Gap has become the road of choice for illegal immigrants who want to get to North America. Add in the lack of law enforcement that makes the spot ideal for cartels and other criminals, and you end up with a quite dangerous area.
The dangerous Darien Gap does not mean that completing this road trip is impossible. In fact, most travelers choose to ship their vehicles over from Panama City to Cartagena and resume the road trip from there. There used to be a ferry crossing, though it is no longer in service.
As the two roads aren’t connected to one other, it is debatable whether the Pan-American Highway can really be considered as the world’s longest road.
Discussions aside, crossing the Pan-American Highway would definitely make for a long adventure! Most travelers need at least half a year to complete this journey.
Have you driven on any of these roads? Post photos from the longest road you’ve seen on Instagram using #Rentalmoose for a chance to have your work featured in our upcoming articles!
Don’t forget to check out our curated travel guides for more travel inspiration. You don’t have to drive the longest road in the world to have an unforgettable adventure!
