U.S. Route 20

U.S. Route 20 is a major east–west United States Numbered Highway that spans from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Extending approximately 3,365 miles, it is the longest road in the United States, connecting Boston to Newport, Oregon. The highway traverses a diverse array of landscapes and cultural regions, from the New England coast to the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.

Route description

Beginning at Kenmore Square in Boston, the route travels west through Massachusetts, passing historic towns like Worcester and the scenic Berkshires before entering New York. In New York, it runs parallel to the New York State Thruway for stretches, serving cities such as Albany and Buffalo near Niagara Falls. Crossing into the Midwest, it forms a vital corridor through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, linking Cleveland, South Bend, and the Chicago metropolitan area. West of Chicago, it serves as a primary artery across Iowa, passing through Waterloo and Sioux City. Through Nebraska, it follows the path of the historic Oregon Trail and the First Transcontinental Railroad, running near landmarks like Chimney Rock. In Wyoming, it crosses the Continental Divide at Yellowstone National Park, sharing a roadway with U.S. Route 14 and U.S. Route 16. Its western terminus is in Newport, Oregon, at an intersection with U.S. Route 101, just east of Yaquina Bay.

History

The highway was originally commissioned as part of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, consolidating numerous existing auto trails. Its eastern segment largely followed the former Boston Post Road and the Yellowstone Trail. Significant realignments occurred, particularly in the 1930s and 1950s, to bypass town centers and improve efficiency, often coinciding with the development of the Interstate Highway System. In Idaho, its path was shifted northward to traverse Craters of the Moon National Monument. The route's designation through Yellowstone National Park made it one of the first major highways to provide access to the park, significantly boosting tourism. The completion of segments like the Meredith B. Colket Bridge in Oregon in 1936 finalized its coastal connection.

Major intersections

From east to west, key junctions include its beginning at Massachusetts Route 2 in Boston and an interchange with Interstate 95 in Waltham. In New York, it meets Interstate 87 in Albany and Interstate 90 near Buffalo. A critical interchange with Interstate 80/Interstate 94 occurs in Gary, Indiana. In Illinois, it converges with Interstate 39 in Rockford. Western junctions include concurrent stretches with Interstate 25 in Wyoming and a terminus at U.S. Route 101 in Newport, Oregon. It also has notable intersections with other long-distance routes like U.S. Route 6 in Ohio and U.S. Route 83 in Nebraska.

Auxiliary routes

Several auxiliary routes, designated with three-digit numbers, serve specific cities and regions along the main highway. These include U.S. Route 120 in Pennsylvania and New York, which was a former alternate route. U.S. Route 220 provides a business route through Massachusetts. In the Midwest, U.S. Route 320 was a short-lived spur in Iowa, while U.S. Route 420 served as a business loop in Illinois. Other examples are U.S. Route 520 in Wyoming and U.S. Route 620, a former business route in Oregon. Many of these routes have since been decommissioned or renumbered in favor of state highway designations.

In popular culture

The highway's iconic status and length have made it a subject in American arts and media. It is famously mentioned as the "Main Street of America" in John Steinbeck's travel narrative Travels with Charley. Portions of the road feature prominently in the film The Music Man, set in Iowa. The television series Route 20 documented the people and places along its entire length. It also serves as a backdrop in songs by artists like Chuck Berry and is referenced in the poetry of William Least Heat-Moon, who wrote about his travels on American backroads. The highway's passage through Yellowstone National Park has been depicted in numerous documentaries, including those by Ken Burns.

Category:U.S. Route 20 Category:United States Numbered Highways Category:Transportation in the United States