The World’s Longest Road Trip: Inside the Epic Pan-American Highway
The World’s Longest Road Trip: Inside the Epic Pan-American Highway
With an astonishing length of 30,600 kilometers (about 19,000 miles), the Pan-American Highway is recognized as the longest motorable road in the world. Stretching from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentina, the highway connects two continents, cutting across 14 countries and a vast range of terrains.
The Darién Gap: A Natural Obstacle
Despite its expansive reach, the Pan-American Highway isn’t entirely continuous. Between Panama and Colombia lies a 100-kilometer stretch of jungle and swampland known as the Darién Gap. Construction in this region was stopped in 1975 following opposition from environmentalists and Indigenous communities concerned about damage to fragile ecosystems. Although the ban was lifted in 1992, resistance continues to keep the region road-free, making this the only major break in the highway.
To bypass this section, travelers must transport their vehicles across the gap—typically by ship—while they fly separately to resume their journey in South America.
More Than Just a Road: A Symbol of Continental Unity
The idea of the Pan-American Highway dates back to the early 1920s, driven by a vision of fostering unity and economic cooperation across the Americas. This ambition came to life in 1937, when 14 nations signed the Convention of the Pan-American Highway, agreeing to build and maintain their respective segments. By the 1960s, most of the highway was complete, with the Darién Gap remaining the lone exception.
Driving the Distance
The sheer scale of the Pan-American Highway is a challenge in itself. Travelers covering 500 kilometers a day would need around 60 days to complete the entire route—excluding sightseeing or rest stops. Some segments of the highway are remarkably linear, running straight for hundreds or even thousands of kilometers, with no major turns or detours.
Countries Along the Route
This transcontinental road winds through a diverse mix of landscapes and cultures, touching:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Chile
- Argentina
Each country contributed to building the massive network, which remains a symbol of regional collaboration.
Cultural and Scenic Riches
Beyond its engineering marvel, the Pan-American Highway offers a deep dive into cultural diversity. From towering mountains and arid deserts to dense jungles and scenic coastlines, it delivers a constantly changing backdrop to the road trip of a lifetime.
Why It Costs More Than Time
Operating and maintaining such a vast road network is no small feat. Each country along the route bears the responsibility of funding and caring for their sections of the highway, often in difficult conditions that require significant investment.
