Interstate 80 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Route information | |
| Length | 2,899.59 mi (4,666.44 km) |
| Existed | 1956–present |
| History | Completed in 1986 |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  US 101 in San Francisco, CA |
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| East end |  I-95 in Teaneck, NJ |
| Location | |
| States: | California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey |
| Highway system | |
| Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business |
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Interstate 80 (I-80) is a very long highway in the United States. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco, California, all the way to Teaneck, New Jersey, near New York City. This important road is about 2,900 miles (4,667 kilometers) long. It connects many parts of the country.
I-80 goes through 11 different states. These states are California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It is one of the longest Interstate Highways in the country.
Following Historic Paths
Interstate 80 follows the path of several important historical routes. It is the Interstate Highway that most closely matches the Lincoln Highway. The Lincoln Highway was the very first road built across America.
The highway also follows other famous routes in the western United States:
- The Oregon Trail across Wyoming and Nebraska.
- The California Trail across most of Nevada and California.
- Most of the First Transcontinental Railroad route. This railroad was a huge project that connected the east and west coasts.
Some parts of Interstate 80 are toll roads. This means drivers need to pay a fee to use them.
- From near Chicago, Illinois, east to near Youngstown, Ohio, I-80 is a toll road.
- This section includes most of the Indiana Toll Road and the Ohio Turnpike.
- A small part of the Illinois Tollway is also part of I-80.
Interstate 80 and Interstate 90 actually share the same road for a long distance. This shared section goes from near Portage, Indiana to Elyria, Ohio.
Eastern End of I-80
As I-80 continues east, it becomes known as the Keystone Shortway in Pennsylvania. This part of the highway is a modern freeway built through rural areas.
The eastern end of I-80 is in Teaneck, New Jersey. Here, it connects with the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 95. This spot is just west of the George Washington Bridge, which leads into New York City.
