Did you know? U.S. Route 20

Did you know?

U.S. Route 20 is the longest road in the United States, stretching approximately 3,365 miles (5,415 km) from Newport, Oregon, on the Pacific coast, all the way to Boston, Massachusetts, on the Atlantic coast.

Key Facts about Route 20

1 - Length: About 3,365 miles — truly a coast-to-coast adventure!

2 - Endpoints:

West: Newport, Oregon (junction with U.S. 101)

East: Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts (junction with Route 2)

3 - States crossed: 12 in total — Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts.

4 - Yellowstone gap: The highway has a short discontinuity inside Yellowstone National Park, where the road continues unnumbered through the park.

5 - The meaning of “20”: The number ends with “0,” which traditionally marks a major east–west route in the U.S. Highway System.

6 - History: Route 20 was officially established in 1926, but many of its sections trace back to old post roads and early pioneer trails used long before cars existed.

7 - Scenery: Traveling along U.S. 20 feels like crossing an entire country of landscapes — from Pacific beaches and mountain ranges to prairies, Great Lakes, and the rolling hills of New England.

Fun Fact

In Boston’s Kenmore Square, there’s a sign that reads:

“Route 20 — 3,365 miles to Newport, Oregon.”

A perfect symbol of how one single road connects the two opposite coasts of America.