Interstate 78 facts for kids

Interstate 78 (often called I-78) is a major highway in the United States. It connects different states, helping people and goods travel across the country. This important road stretches from Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania all the way to New York City. It's about 143.56 miles (231.04 kilometers) long.

Quick facts for kids Interstate 78
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Route information
Length	143.56 mi (231.04 km)
Existed	1957–present
Major junctions
West end	I-81 in Union Township, PA
	PA 61 in Hamburg, PA I-476 / Penna Turnpike near Allentown, PA I-287 in Bedminster, NJ Route 24 in Springfield, NJ G.S. Parkway in Union/Hillside, NJ I-95 / N.J. Turnpike in Newark, NJ
East end	Canal Street in New York, NY
Highway system
Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business

Exploring Interstate 78

Where Does I-78 Go?

I-78 starts in Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. This is northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Its western end connects with Interstate 81. From there, it travels east.

The highway passes through Allentown, Pennsylvania. Then it goes across western and northern New Jersey. Finally, it enters New York City through the famous Holland Tunnel. It ends in Lower Manhattan.

Why Is I-78 Important?

I-78 is a very important road for trade. It connects big ports in the New York City and New Jersey areas to places farther west. These ports are busy places where ships bring in goods from all over the world.

Many trucks use I-78 every year. More than 4 million trucks travel on this highway annually. Trucks make up about 24% of all the vehicles on the road.

The number of trucks on I-78 is expected to grow. This is because the Panama Canal was made wider in 2015. A wider canal means more large ships from Asia can reach ports on the East Coast of the U.S. This will likely increase the amount of goods needing to be transported by truck on I-78.

Images for kids

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  The I-78 interchange approaching I-81 north in Union Township, Lebanon County

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  I-78 eastbound past the PA 33 interchange in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, in the Lehigh Valley

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  I-78 westbound in Warren Township, New Jersey

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  I-78 eastbound crossing Newark Bay at Newark Bay Bridge

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  I-78 leaving Jersey City and entering the Holland Tunnel to SoHo and New York City

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  Aerial photo of I-78 in New Jersey and New York City

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  1955 map of I-178 and I-378 in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania