Interstate 81 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Interstate 81
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Route information
Length	855 mi (1,376 km)
Major junctions
South end	I-40 in Dandridge, TN
	I-26 / US 23 near Kingsport, TN I-77 near Wytheville, VA I-64 from Lexington, VA to Staunton, VA I-70 at Hagerstown, MD I-76 / Penna Turnpike at Carlisle, PA I-78 at Union Township, PA I-80 near Hazleton, PA I-84 near Scranton, PA I-86 / NY 17 in Binghamton, NY I-90 / New York Thruway in Syracuse, NY
North end	Highway 137 at Thousand Islands Bridge in Wellesley Island, NY/ON (TO Highway 401)
Highway system
Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business

Interstate 81 is a very long highway in the eastern United States. It stretches for about 855 miles (1,376 kilometers). This important road runs from Dandridge, Tennessee in the south to Wellesley Island, New York in the north. For most of its journey, it follows the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.

Traveling Along Interstate 81
Working Together for the Highway
Major Connections
Images for kids
See also

Traveling Along Interstate 81

Interstate 81 passes through six different states. It starts in Tennessee and ends at the Canadian border in New York. Along the way, it connects many important cities and towns.

Through Tennessee and Virginia

Interstate 81 begins in Dandridge, Tennessee, where it connects with Interstate 40. As it travels north, it goes through much of Tennessee and Virginia. This part of the highway follows the Appalachian Mountains.

In Virginia, I-81 serves many cities. These include the twin cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia. It also passes through Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lexington, Staunton, Harrisonburg, and Winchester. In Harrisonburg, the highway even cuts through the James Madison University campus. For its entire length in Virginia, I-81 runs alongside an older road called U.S. Route 11.

Crossing West Virginia and Maryland

After Virginia, Interstate 81 briefly enters the eastern part of West Virginia. Here, it serves the city of Martinsburg.

Then, the highway crosses the state of Maryland at one of its narrowest points. It goes through Hagerstown, which is known as the "Hub City." In Hagerstown, I-81 connects with many other major roads.

Journey Through Pennsylvania

Interstate 81 is a very important road for travel through Pennsylvania. It serves towns like Chambersburg and Carlisle. Near Carlisle, it comes close to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. However, you cannot directly switch from I-81 to the Turnpike there. You need to use U.S. Route 11 to connect.

Around Harrisburg, the state capital, I-81 forms part of the city's Capital Beltway. The road then heads northeast towards the Wyoming Valley. Here, it serves the cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. After that, it continues north through the Endless Mountains region until it reaches the New York state line. Even though it is called a "north-south" highway, it often runs northeast-southwest or even east-west in Pennsylvania.

Into New York and the End of the Route

Interstate 81 enters New York state near Binghamton. It continues to follow U.S. Route 11 in a north-south direction for much of the state. It passes through important cities like Syracuse, where it crosses the New York State Thruway. It also goes through Watertown.

The journey of Interstate 81 ends at the Canadian border. It crosses the St. Lawrence River on the Thousand Islands Bridge. On the Canadian side, the highway continues as a short road called Highway 137. This Canadian highway connects to the Thousand Islands Parkway and Highway 401.

Working Together for the Highway

A group called the Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition was formed to help manage issues along the highway. This group includes six states that I-81 passes through. They work together on things like truck traffic and keeping the air clean.

Major Connections

Interstate 81 connects with many other major highways along its route. Here are some of the most important ones:

Interstate 40 near Dandridge, Tennessee
Interstate 26 between the Tri-Cities, Tennessee
Interstate 77 and Future Interstate 74 in Wytheville, Va.
Interstate 64 in Lexington, Va. and Staunton, Va.
Interstate 66 in Middletown, Va.
Interstate 70 in Hagerstown, Mary.
Interstate 76 near Carlisle, Pa.
Interstate 83 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Interstate 78 near Jonestown, Pa.
Interstate 80 near Hazleton, Pa.
Interstate 476/PA Tpk NE Ext. near Pittston, Pa.
Interstate 84 and Interstate 380 near Scranton, Pa.
Interstate 476/PA Tpk NE Ext. (again) in Clarks Summit, Pa.
Future Interstate 86/NY 17 in Binghamton, NY
Interstate 88 in Binghamton, NY
Interstate 690 in downtown Syracuse, NY
Interstate 90/New York State Thruway in North Syracuse, NY

Images for kids

I-81 looking southbound near milepost 245 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
I-81 looking southbound near milepost 245 in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Northbound on I-81 just after entering West Virginia
View north along I-81 just north of exit 5 at Halfway Boulevard in Halfway, Maryland
I-81 at I-690 in downtown Syracuse