State Highways

Explore America's diverse network of state highways—regional routes managed by individual states that connect towns, cities, parks, and scenic landscapes.

State highways form the backbone of regional travel across the United States, offering essential connections between cities, rural communities, and major national routes. Managed by individual state departments of transportation, these highways vary widely in scale—from narrow rural byways to multi-lane expressways rivaling interstates in traffic and speed. While numbering systems and signage conventions differ from state to state, each network plays a critical role in local mobility and economic development.

Unlike the federally designated Interstate and U.S. Highway systems, state highways are developed and maintained at the state level, giving them a unique character and flexibility. Some follow historic paths and scenic corridors, while others serve as modern commuter routes or urban spurs. Many are vital links to state parks, natural attractions, and lesser-known destinations that don't fall within the national systems.

On this site, we highlight a growing collection of notable state highways, organized by region and state. Whether you're tracing a scenic loop through the mountains, navigating a fast-moving corridor through a metro area, or exploring forgotten rural routes, our guides offer detailed overviews, and video journeys to help you plan your next adventure.

State Highway vs Route vs Road...

State Departments of Transportation use different terminology for their designated road systems, with some states using "state highway," others "state road," and still others "state route." These distinctions, though seemingly minor, often reflect historical and legislative traditions within each state. The choice of a particular term can be tied to the legal language used when the road network was first established or expanded. For example, a state might have initially defined its network as a "system of highways" for commerce and travel, while another may have focused on creating a "system of roads" for local and inter-city connections. The term "state route" is often a more modern designation that emphasizes a specific numbered path for navigation rather than the physical characteristics or purpose of the road itself. While the exact reasoning for each state's choice is complex and rooted in its unique history, the map on the right provides a visual guide to which term is used where.

Explore State Routes

Arkansas Highway 7: Arkadelphia to Bismarck

Arkansas Highway 7: Arkadelphia to Bismarck

Take a 16-mile journey along Arkansas Highway 7 from Arkadelphia to Bismarck, passing Ouachita Baptist University, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, and the wooded beauty of Caddo Valley.

Arkansas Highway 7: Mt Olive to Arkadelphia

Arkansas Highway 7: Mt Olive to Arkadelphia

Follow Arkansas Highway 7 from Mt. Olive to Arkadelphia on a 14-mile journey through pine woods and rural junctions. See where AR-8 and AR-51 join the route and learn about recent highway realignments near Arkadelphia.

Arkansas Highway 8: Princeton to Mt  Olive

Arkansas Highway 8: Princeton to Mt Olive

Travel 17 quiet miles west on Arkansas Highway 8 from Princeton to Mt. Olive. Discover the pine woods, farmland, and forgotten crossroads of south-central Arkansas in this peaceful rural drive.

Arkansas Highway 46: Leola

Arkansas Highway 46: Leola

Take a scenic 10-mile drive along Arkansas Highway 46 from Jenkins Ferry State Park to Highway 9 near Leola. This peaceful route winds through historical battlegrounds, forests, and rural farmland in southern Grant County, Arkansas.

Missouri Route 86: Eagle Rock to Branson

Missouri Route 86: Eagle Rock to Branson

Take a scenic journey across the Missouri Ozarks on State Route 86 from Eagle Rock to Branson. This 32-mile drive explores lake valleys, wooded ridges, and charming backroads before ending just south of Missouri’s entertainment capital.

Missouri Route 96: Halltown to Carthage

Missouri Route 96: Halltown to Carthage

Take a scenic ride across the heart of the Missouri Ozarks as we follow a quietly iconic stretch of Missouri Route 96, a modern roadway bearing the spirit and path of Historic Route 66. Our 41-mile journey begins at Halltown, where this local...

Missouri Routes 13 and 413 Through Springfield

Missouri Routes 13 and 413 Through Springfield

Explore Missouri Routes 13 and 413 in Springfield, Missouri, with this short but essential city drive. We travel north on MO-13 from US-60 before continuing west on MO-413 to the MO-360/US-60 interchange.

Dallas North Tollway: Plano to Dallas – Texas

Dallas North Tollway: Plano to Dallas – Texas

Cruise 8.5 miles south on the Dallas North Tollway from Plano to I-635 in Dallas. Explore the Tollway’s transition from suburb to city with exits at Willow Bend, Addison, and the Galleria.