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List of Interstate Highways facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Interstate 90 marker Eisenhower Interstate System sign
Highway shield for Interstate 90 and the Eisenhower Interstate System
Quick facts for kids
System information
Formed: June 29, 1956
Highway names
Interstates: Interstate X (I-X)
System links

The Interstate Highway System is a huge network of freeways across the United States. These special roads help people travel easily from one state to another. There are 70 main Interstate Highways.

Each main highway has a one- or two-digit number. For example, you might see signs for I-10 or I-95. Smaller roads that connect to these main ones have three-digit numbers.

Usually, odd-numbered Interstates run from south to north. The lower numbers are in the west, and higher numbers are in the east. Even-numbered Interstates run from west to east. Lower numbers are in the south, and higher numbers are in the north.

Highways with numbers ending in 0 or 5 are often very long routes. They might go all the way across the country or from one border to another. For example, I-10 goes from Santa Monica, California to Jacksonville, Florida. This means it connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans!

Sometimes, a few highways have the same number. But don't worry, they are in different parts of the country, so it's not confusing. Besides the main 48 states, there are also Interstates in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.

Interstates in the Main United States

There are 70 main Interstate highways in the 48 states that touch each other. This list does not include the smaller connecting roads. Here are some examples of these important highways:

Number Length (mi) Length (km) Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Formed Removed Notes
I-2 46.80 75.32 BL US 83 in Peñitas, Texas I-69E/US 77/US 83 in Harlingen, Texas 2013 current Still being built in Texas
Only in Texas
I-4 132.30 212.92 I-275 in Tampa, Florida I-95/SR 400 in Daytona Beach, Florida 1959 current Only in Florida
I-8 348.25 560.45 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard/Nimitz Boulevard in San Diego, California I-10 in Casa Grande, Arizona 1964 current Goes through California and Arizona
I-11 22.60 36.37 US 93 at the Arizona state line near Boulder City, Nevada I-215/I-515/US 93/US 95/SR 564 in Henderson, Nevada 2017 current Still being built in Nevada
Only in Nevada; will also go through Arizona
I-12 85.59 137.74 I-10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana I-10/I-59 in Slidell, Louisiana 1967 current Only in Louisiana
I-14 25.10 40.39 US 190/US 190 Bus in Copperas Cove, Texas I-35/US 190 in Belton, Texas 2017 current Still being built in Texas
Only in Texas; will also go through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
I-16 166.81 268.45 I-75/SR 540 in Macon, Georgia Montgomery Street in Savannah, Georgia 1966 current Only in Georgia
I-17 145.76 234.58 I-10/US 60 in Phoenix, Arizona I-40/SR 89A in Flagstaff, Arizona 1961 current Only in Arizona
I-19 63.35 101.95 I-19 Bus. in Nogales, Arizona I-10 in Tucson, Arizona 1972 current Only in Arizona
Uses kilometers instead of miles for distance
I-22 202.22 325.44 I-269/US 78/MS 304 near Byhalia, Mississippi I-65 in Birmingham, Alabama 2012 current Still being built in Alabama
Goes through Mississippi and Alabama
I-24 316.36 509.13 I-57 in Pulley's Mill, Illinois I-75 in Chattanooga, Tennessee 1962 current Goes through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia
I-25 1,061.67 1,708.59 I-10/US 85/US 180 in Las Cruces, New Mexico I-90/US 87 in Buffalo, Wyoming 1957 current Goes through New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming
I-26 304.64 490.27 US 11W/US 23/SR 137 in Kingsport, Tennessee US 17 in Charleston, South Carolina 1960 current Still being built in North Carolina
Goes through Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina
I-27 124.13 199.77 US 87/Loop 289 in Lubbock, Texas I-40/US 87/US 287/US 60 in Amarillo, Texas 1969 current Still being built in Texas
Only in Texas; will also go through New Mexico
I-30 366.76 590.24 I-20 in Fort Worth, Texas I-40/US 65/US 67/US 167 in North Little Rock, Arkansas 1957 current Goes through Texas and Arkansas
I-37 143.00 230.14 US 181 in Corpus Christi, Texas I-35/US 281 in San Antonio, Texas 1959 current Only in Texas
I-39 306.14 492.68 I-55 in Normal, Illinois WIS 29/US 51 in Wausau, Wisconsin 1984 current Goes through Illinois and Wisconsin
I-41 175.00 281.64 I-94/US 41 in Russell, Illinois I-43/US 41/US 141 in Howard, Wisconsin 2015 current Goes through Illinois and Wisconsin
I-42 142.00 228.53 I-40/US 70 in Garner, North Carolina US 70 in Morehead City, North Carolina proposed — This is a future Interstate, only in North Carolina
I-43 191.55 308.27 I-39/I-90 in Beloit, Wisconsin I-41/US 41/US 141 in Howard, Wisconsin 1981 current Only in Wisconsin
I-44 636.69 1,024.65 US 82/US 277/US 281/US 287 in Wichita Falls, Texas I-70 in St. Louis, Missouri 1958 current Goes through Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri
I-45 284.91 458.52 SH 87 in Galveston, Texas I-30/US 67/US 75 in Dallas, Texas 1971 current Only in Texas
I-49 528.02 849.77 I-10/US 167/LA 182 in Lafayette, Louisiana I-435/I-470/US 50/US 71 in Kansas City, Missouri 1984 current Still being built in Arkansas and Louisiana
Goes through Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri; will also go through Texas
I-57 386.12 621.40 I-55 in Miner, Missouri I-94 in Chicago, Illinois 1965 current Still being built in Missouri
Goes through Missouri and Illinois; will also go through Arkansas
I-59 445.23 716.53 I-10/I-12 in Slidell, Louisiana I-24 in Wildwood, Georgia 1960 current Goes through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia
I-66 76.28 122.76 I-81 in Front Royal, Virginia US 29 in Washington, D.C. 1961 current Goes through Washington, D.C. and Virginia
I-68 113.15 182.10 I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia I-70 in Hancock, Maryland 1991 current Goes through West Virginia and Maryland
I-71 345.57 556.14 I-64 in Louisville, Kentucky I-90 in Cleveland, Ohio 1959 current Goes through Kentucky and Ohio
I-72 179.29 288.54 US 61 in Hannibal, Missouri Church Street and University Avenue in Champaign, Illinois 1970 current Goes through Missouri and Illinois
I-73 99.43 160.02 US 220 near Stokesdale, North Carolina I‑74 and US 220 in Randleman, North Carolina 1997 current Still being built in North Carolina
Only in North Carolina; will also go through South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan
I-74 491.74 791.38 I-80 in Bettendorf, Iowa US 74/NC 41 near Lumberton, North Carolina 1974 current Still being built in Ohio and North Carolina
Goes through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina; will also go through West Virginia, Virginia, and South Carolina
I-76 186.48 300.11 I-70 at Denver, Colorado I-80 at Big Springs, Nebraska 1975 current Goes through Colorado and Nebraska
I-76 435.66 701.13 I-71 in Westfield Center, Ohio I-295 at Bellmawr, New Jersey 1964 current Goes through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
I-78 146.28 235.41 I-81 at Jonestown, Pennsylvania Canal Street in New York City 1957 current Goes through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York
I-79 343.46 552.75 I-77 in Charleston, West Virginia PA 5 in Erie, Pennsylvania 1967 current Goes through West Virginia and Pennsylvania
I-81 855.02 1,376.02 I-40 in Dandridge, Tennessee Hwy 137 at the Canadian border on Wellesley Island, New York 1961 current Goes through six states: Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York
I-82 143.58 231.07 I-90 in Ellensburg, Washington I-84 in Hermiston, Oregon 1957 current Goes through Washington and Oregon
I-83 85.03 136.84 President Street and Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland I-81 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1959 current Goes through Maryland and Pennsylvania
I-84 769.62 1,238.58 I-5 in Portland, Oregon I-80 in Echo, Utah 1980 current Goes through Oregon, Idaho, and Utah
I-84 232.71 374.51 I-81 in Scranton, Pennsylvania I-90 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts 1963 current Goes through four states: Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts
I-86 62.85 101.15 I-84 near Declo, Idaho I-15 in Chubbuck, Idaho 1980 current Only in Idaho
I-86 223.39 359.51 I-90 near North East, Pennsylvania NY 17/NY 79 in Windsor, New York 1999 current Still being built in New York
Goes through Pennsylvania and New York
I-87 12.90 20.76 I-440/US 64/US 264 in Raleigh, North Carolina US 64/US 264 in Wendell, North Carolina 2017 current Still being built in North Carolina
Only in North Carolina; will also go through Virginia
This is the shortest Interstate highway in the main United States
I-87 333.49 536.70 I-278 in New York City A-15 at the Canadian border in Champlain, New York 1957 current Only in New York
I-88 140.60 226.27 I-80/IL 92 in East Moline, Illinois I-290/IL 110 in Hillside, Illinois 1987 current Only in Illinois
I-88 117.75 189.50 I-81 in Binghamton, New York I-90 in Schenectady, New York 1968 current Only in New York
I-89 191.12 307.58 I-93/SR 3A in Bow, New Hampshire Route 133/Future A-35 at the Canadian border in Highgate, Vermont 1960 current Goes through New Hampshire and Vermont
I-93 189.95 305.69 I-95/US 1 in Canton, Massachusetts I-91 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1957 current Goes through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont
I-96 192.06 309.09 US 31 in Norton Shores, Michigan I-75 in Detroit, Michigan 1959 current Only in Michigan
I-97 17.62 28.36 US 50 in Annapolis, Maryland I-695/I-895 in Glen Burnie, Maryland 1987 current Only in Maryland
I-99 98.34 158.26 I-70/I-76 in Bedford, Pennsylvania I-86/NY 17 in Painted Post, New York 1998 current Still being built in Pennsylvania
Goes through Pennsylvania and New York
  •       Former
  •       Future

Interstate Highways in Other Regions

Besides the 48 main states, you can also find Interstate Highways in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The government helps pay for these roads, just like the others. However, they don't have to follow all the same strict rules as the highways on the mainland.

Hawaii's Interstate Highways

The Interstate Highways in Oʻahu, Hawaii, have signs that look like the standard Interstate shield. But they have an "H-" before the number, like H-1. These roads are built to the same high standards as the mainland Interstates.

Number Length (mi) Length (km) Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Formed Removed Notes
H-1 27.16 43.71 Route 93 in Kapolei Route 72 in Honolulu 1960 current
H-2 8.33 13.41 H-1 in Pearl City Route 99 in Wahiawa 1960 current
H-3 15.32 24.66 H-1/H-201 in Halawa Marine Corps Base Hawaii 1997 current

Alaska's Interstate Highways

Main article: List of Interstate Highways in Alaska

Alaska's Interstate Highways don't have the usual Interstate signs. Instead, they use their own state highway numbers. These numbers don't match the Interstate numbers.

Number Length (mi) Length (km) Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Formed Removed Notes
A‑1 408.23 656.98 Anchorage Canadian border in Alcan Border 1976 current Also known as Glenn Highway, Richardson Highway, Tok Cut-Off, Alaska Highway
A‑2 202.18 325.38 Tok Fairbanks 1976 current Also known as Alaska Highway, Richardson Highway
A‑3 148.12 238.38 Anchorage Soldotna 1976 current Also known as Seward Highway, Sterling Highway
A‑4 323.69 520.93 Gateway, near Palmer Fairbanks 1976 current Also known as Parks Highway

Puerto Rico's Interstate Highways

Main article: List of highways in Puerto Rico § Interstates
Puerto Rico Interstates
Map of the Interstates in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico also has Interstate Highways. They are signed as local roads, and their numbers don't match the official Interstate numbers. Many of these roads are freeways where you have to pay a toll.

Number Length (mi) Length (km) Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Formed Removed Notes
PR-1 71.08 114.39 PR-2 in Ponce PR-2 in San Juan 1976 current Follows PR-52
PR-2 138.13 222.30 PR-1 in Ponce PR-3 in San Juan 1976 current Follows PR-22
PR-3 40.56 65.27 PR-3 in Humacao PR-2 in San Juan 1976 current Follows PR-66

Images for kids

  • MUTCD M1-10

    Eisenhower Interstate System sign

See also

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