Did You Know The World’s Longest Road Passes Through Washington?

What is the longest highway in the world?

The longest highway in the world is the Pan-American Highway, stretching approximately 19,000 miles (30,000 km) across multiple countries, from Alaska (USA) to Argentina. It holds the Guinness World Record for the longest motorable road.

The Pan-American Highway travels through 14 countries. That includes passing through Washington State and Oregon. Wikivoyage notes:

US Highway 97 is the continuation of BC-Hwy 97 into the United States from the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek. It runs parallel with the I-5 corridor from Oroville, WA to Weed, CA where it ends at the I-5 corridor.

It passes through Wenatchee, North Cascades National Park, Ellensburg and Yakima in Eastern Washington; and through The Dalles, Redmond, Bend, Crater Lake National Park and Klamath Falls in Central Oregon.

 

The Pan-American Highway is the longest driveable road in the world

In 1966 the U.S. Federal Highway Administration designated the entire Interstate Highway System as part of the Pan-American Highway System.

Though it's considered the ultimate road trip, a journey along the Pan-American Highway is challenging. Travelers should plan for varying road conditions, from well-maintained highways to rough, unpaved stretches.  In fact, it is necessary to bypass the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia by ferry.

Climate's also a factor, as you will be going from far in the northern hemisphere to the far southern hemisphere. You'll pass through snowy tundra and parched deserts from one end to the other, and humidity will also vary intensely. There's also steep terrain, as Sixt describes:

Other challenges could come in the form of navigating steep terrain – most notably driving up the 11,318-foot Cerro de la Muerte Mountain peak in Costa Rica – as well as criminal activity.

If you don't speak the language - that's "The Mountain of Death."

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How the idea of the Pan-American Highway came about

Originally proposed as a railroad in 1884, Congress passed a bill to build an inter-American rail system. However, construction never started. The concept of one road connecting the American continents was officially conceived in 1923.

From thetravelbible.com:

The idea was to create a continuous network of roads that would facilitate travel, trade, and cultural exchange across the Americas. Construction began in the 1930s, and over the decades, various sections were built and improved, though the project has never been fully completed.

Now while you may not have a car, or the budget, to plan a full road trip along the Pan-American Highway, consider these other road trip alternatives closer to home.