The U.S. Numbered Highway System—often referred to as U.S. Routes or U.S. Highways—is a nationwide network of roads established in 1926 to improve long-distance automobile travel across the United States. Unlike the Interstate system, U.S. Highways predate freeways and often serve as main streets, scenic byways, or vital connectors through rural and urban communities alike. Many historic routes, including iconic roads like U.S. Route 66, trace their roots to this enduring network.
These highways use a grid system for numbering: odd-numbered routes run north–south, increasing from east to west, while even-numbered routes run east–west, increasing from north to south. Important cross-country highways typically end in “0” or “1” (like US 20 or US 1), and three-digit offshoots usually indicate spurs or loops branching from mainline routes.
Today, the U.S. Highway system continues to evolve—some segments have been decommissioned, realigned, or upgraded to freeways—but many routes remain essential for regional travel, trucking, and scenic exploration. This category explores the entire U.S. Numbered Highway network, from coast to coast and border to border.
Travel west along a forgotten stretch of U.S. Route 70 from Benton to Hot Springs, Arkansas. This archival drive captures the two-lane highway before it was modernized into a four-lane corridor—offering a nostalgic look at rural Arkansas and the winding route once known to generations of travelers.
Take a scenic drive along U.S. Route 67 from Pocahontas to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. This 13-mile journey reveals the transition from small-town roads to modern divided highway, with views of farmland, historic towns, and the roots of future I-57.
Take a 27-mile drive through northeast Arkansas along U.S. Route 62 from Corning to Pocahontas. Explore river towns, farmlands, and Delta history on this quiet but rewarding highway journey.
Take a short but vital drive down U.S. Route 67 from the Missouri State Line to Corning, Arkansas. Explore the agricultural landscape, regional infrastructure, and community connections that define this 7-mile stretch in Clay County.
Drive 22 miles south along U.S. Route 67 from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to the Arkansas state line. Explore this fast, modern corridor through rural farmland and small towns like Neelyville on Missouri’s Bootheel.
Travel 51 miles west on U.S. Route 60 from Sikeston to Poplar Bluff, Missouri. This at-grade divided highway—partially upgraded to interstate standards—is a key connector through the Bootheel’s farmland and small towns like Dexter and Fisk.
Drive 11 miles west along U.S. Route 62 from the Mississippi River at the Illinois state line to Interstate 57 in Charleston, Missouri. This flat and fertile route connects historic Cairo, Illinois with Missouri’s Bootheel farmland and I-57’s major north–south corridor.
Take a short but powerful drive along U.S. Route 62 from U.S. Highway 51 to Fort Defiance, Illinois, and on into Missouri. Explore the historic confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and cross the Cairo Mississippi River Bridge into the heart of America.
Take a scenic drive along U.S. Route 51 from Wickliffe, Kentucky to the Illinois state line, crossing the historic Ohio River bridge into Cairo. Discover river towns, trusswork, and a glimpse of America’s inland waterways.
Explore a scenic 22-mile drive along U.S. Route 62 and KY-286 from Paducah to Wickliffe, Kentucky. Discover river levees, farmland, and the historic charm of the Mississippi Valley’s edge.
Take a brief but pivotal ride along U.S. Route 41 from Interstate 69 in Evansville, Indiana to the Kentucky state line. This 1-mile drive showcases a vital cross-river connector between Indiana and Kentucky, leading directly to the famed twin bridges into Henderson.
Take a scenic ride through the high desert of north-central New Mexico as we follow U.S. Route 550 from the quiet village of San Ysidro to the growing town of Bernalillo. This 23-mile stretch showcases the stark beauty of the Southwest, weaving together rugged mesas,...