Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada
Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada: The Trans-Canada Highway is the longest national highway in Canada. It is also considered one of the longest highways in the World. It extends from east to west across Canada between Victoria, British Columbia, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The highway passes through all ten Canadian provinces and it links the major cities of Canada. Construction of the Trans-Canada Highway began in the year 1950 under the Trans-Canada Highway Act.
Today in this article, we are going to discuss the Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada in detail with their specification and interesting information attached to it.
Let us discuss.
Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada – Overview
Canada has over a million kilometers of roads which is equivalent to two lanes. In this, a total of 38,000 kilometers is considered as the National Highway System (NHS). There are no “national highways” in Canada. Officially, every highway is a provincial highway or a territorial highway. Here are the Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada as mentioned below.
Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada – Overview |
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Highway |
Highway Number |
Length (km) |
Provinces/Territories Connected |
Trans-Canada Highway |
TC-1 |
7,821 |
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. |
Alaska Highway |
Alaska Highway |
2,232 |
British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Alaska (United States). |
Dempster Highway |
Highway 5 |
737 |
Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories. |
Stewart-Cassiar Highway |
Highway 37 |
724 |
British Columbia. |
Yellowhead Highway |
Highway 16 |
2,960 |
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba. |
Trans-Labrador Highway |
Highway 500 |
1,109 |
Newfoundland and Labrador. |
James Bay Road |
Route du Nord |
620 |
Quebec. |
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway |
Highway 10 |
138 |
Northwest Territories. |
Trans-Taiga Road |
666 |
Quebec |
|
Icefields Parkway |
Highway 93 |
232 |
Alberta, British Columbia |
10. Icefields Parkway – Length 232 Kilometers
The Icefields Parkway is a long road in Alberta, Canada, that links Lake Louise in Banff National Park to Jasper in Jasper National Park. People also call it Highway 93 North. Driving on the Icefields Parkway takes around three hours, starting from Lake Louise and finishing in Jasper, with the Columbia Icefield about halfway. You can drive on it any time of the year, and many people think it is one of the most beautiful roads globally. It is also special because it is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The road gets its name from places like the Columbia Icefield, which you can see from it.
Icefields Parkway – Length 232 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Location |
Alberta, Canada |
Length |
230 Kilometers |
Connections |
Lake Louise in Banff National Park to Jasper in Jasper National Park. |
Alternate Name |
Highway 93 North |
Driving Time |
Approximately 3 hours |
Major Attraction |
Columbia Icefield |
Accessibility |
Open year-round |
Recognition |
UNESCO World Heritage Site |
Notable Features |
Stunning scenery, glaciers, mountains |
Read More: Top 10 Most Famous Mountains in Canada
9. Trans-Taiga Road – Length 666 Kilometers
The Trans-Taiga Road is a faraway, rough dirt road in the northern part of Quebec, Canada. It stretches 666 kilometers to the east from close to the top of the James Bay Road. The road is 582 kilometers until you reach Centrale Brisay, and then it is 84 kilometers alongside the Caniapiscau Reservoir. The Trans-Taiga Road links up with dams and power plants along the La Grande River. It is the farthest north road in the eastern part of North America, around 2,000 kilometers north of Montreal.
Trans-Taiga Road – Length 666 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Location |
Northern Quebec, Canada |
Length |
666 Kilometers |
Terminus |
Near the top of the James Bay Road |
Length to Centrale Brisay |
582 Kilometers |
Length along Caniapiscau Reservoir |
84 Kilometers |
Connectivity |
Dams and generating stations along La Grande River |
Northernmost Road |
Yes, in Eastern North America |
Distance from Montreal |
Approximately 2,000 kilometers north |
Read More: List of Countries Bordering Canada
8. Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway – Length 138 Kilometers
The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH) is a 138 kilometer road that joins Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It opened on November 15th, 2017. It is the first road that can be used all year round to reach the Canadian Arctic. This road replaced the Tuktoyaktuk Winter Highway, which was made of ice. The ITH is also called Northwest Territories Highway 10. The Dempster Highway is the toughest part for the amazing road trip. But if you manage to reach Inuvik, you only have another 140 kilometers of rough dirt road to go to get to Tuktoyaktuk.
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway – Length 138 Kilometers |
|
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Length |
138 Kilometers |
Location |
Northwest Territories, Canada |
Opening Date |
November 15th, 2017 |
Purpose Connects |
Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk |
Type |
All-weather Road |
Previous Highway |
Tuktoyaktuk Winter Highway (ice road) |
Also Known As |
Northwest Territories Highway 10 |
Notable Feature |
First road to Canadian Arctic usable year-round |
Challenging Section |
Dempster Highway |
Remaining Distance |
140 Kilometers of dirt road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk |
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7. James Bay Road – Length 620 Kilometers
The James Bay Road, also called the Route Billy-Diamond Highway, is a long and distant 620 km (388 miles) road in the far northwest part of Quebec, Canada. It stretches from Matagami to Radisson, going through rocky landscapes and into the James Bay area. The road is covered with smooth pavement all along, and it has broad sides, easy turns, and slopes. Initially, it was constructed to handle massive weights of up to 300 tons.
James Bay Road – Length 620 Kilometers |
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---|---|
Official Name |
Route Billy-Diamond Highway |
Length |
620 Km (388 miles) |
Location |
Northwestern Quebec, Canada |
Connects |
Matagami to Radisson |
Terrain |
Canadian Shield and James Bay Region |
Surface |
Paved |
Capacity |
Originally built for loads up to 300 tons |
Features |
Wide shoulders, gentle curves, hills |
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6. Trans-Labrador Highway – Length 1,109 Kilometers
The Trans-Labrador Highway is a really long road in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is like the main road in Labrador which is part of the province’s mainland. This road goes all the way from where Quebec meets Labrador City to the Atlantic coast. People also call it Expedition 51. It is famous for being a tough and adventurous road trip because it is far away and challenging. There is no phone service on the road, and you would not find many places to get gas. The part of the journey that is about 340 miles long from Baie-Comeau to the Labrador border takes around eight hours to drive. And a lot of it is on bumpy gravel roads.
Trans-Labrador Highway – Length 1,109 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Location |
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
Length |
1,149 Kilometers (about 714 miles) |
Start Point |
Near Labrador City, at the Québec border |
End Point |
Atlantic coast |
Alternate Name |
Expedition 51 |
Characteristics |
Challenging, remote, legendary |
Road Surface |
Mainly gravel |
Amenities |
Few petrol stations, no phone reception |
Typical Time |
About 8 hours for the 566 km stretch from Baie-Comeau to the Labrador border |
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5. Yellowhead Highway – Length 2,960 Kilometers
The Yellowhead Highway is a really long road in Western Canada, stretching 2,859 kilometers from Winnipeg to Graham Island, which is part of British Columbia. It was finished in 1970 and is a big part of the National Highway System. The highway gets its name from the Yellowhead Pass, which is a path through the Canadian Rockies. This pass and the road itself are named after Pierre Bostonais, a fur trader and explorer who people called “Tête Jaune” (Yellowhead). Sometimes it is called BC Highway 5, and it’s located south of Kamloops, BC. This road links the North Thompson Valley to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies.
Yellowhead Highway – Length 2,960 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Length |
2,859 Kilometers |
Location |
Western Canada, from Winnipeg to Graham Island |
Completion Year |
1970 |
Significance |
Part of National Highway System |
Namesake |
Named after Yellowhead Pass, Pierre Bostonais |
Alternative Name |
BC Highway 5 |
Location Detail |
South of Kamloops, BC |
Connects |
North Thompson Valley to Vancouver and Canadian Rockies |
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4. Stewart-Cassiar Highway – Length 724 Kilometers
The Stewart-Cassiar Highway is a long road in the northern part of British Columbia, Canada. It is almost 875 kilometers long. People also call it the Dease Lake Highway, the Stikine Highway, and the Thornhill–Kitimat Highway. This highway became ready for driving in 1975 and is part of the main roads in British Columbia. This road, also known as Highway 37, is one of two ways you can go from British Columbia to the Yukon Territory and Alaska. Most of the time, it is a smooth ride because it is made of pavement, but there is a tiny stretch that is just gravel, about one kilometer long. The road can change depending on the time of year and the weather.
Stewart-Cassiar Highway – Length 724 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Length |
874.8 Kilometers |
Location |
Northern British Columbia, Canada |
Alternate Names |
Dease Lake Highway, Stikine Highway, Thornhill–Kitimat Highway |
Completion Year |
1975 |
Route |
Part of British Columbia’s provincial highways; Highway 37 (Stewart-Cassiar Scenic Route) |
Road Surface |
Mostly paved with approximately 1 kilometer of gravel |
Features |
Mountains, glaciers, rivers |
Travel Recommendations |
Keep headlights on at all times due to varying road conditions by season and weather. |
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3. Dempster Highway – Length 737 Kilometers
The Dempster Highway is a really long road in Canada, stretching about 737.5 kilometers. It goes from Dawson City to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. People also call it Yukon Highway 5 and Northwest Territories Highway 8. This highway is special because it is the only one in Canada that goes over the Arctic Circle all the time. Most of it is made of gravel, except for the last 10 kilometers, which are paved. Along the way, you will pass by places like Fort McPherson at kilometer 85 and Tsiigehtchic at kilometer 142.6. They named the Dempster Highway after a guy named William Dempster. He was a police officer and he found out what happened to a group of lost police officers back in 1911. The government’s engineers planned the highway, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs paid for it, and the Canadian army built it as part of their training between 1976 and 1977.
Dempster Highway – Length 737 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Length |
737.5 Kilometers |
Location |
Canada, from Dawson City to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories |
Other Names |
Yukon Highway 5, Northwest Territories Highway 8 |
Features |
Crosses the Arctic Circle year-round, mostly gravel road with a paved section at the end |
Landmarks |
Passes by Fort McPherson (kilometer 85) and Tsiigehtchic (kilometer 142.6) |
Namesake |
Named after William Dempster, a North-West Mounted Police officer |
Construction |
Designed by engineers from the Department of Public Works, funded by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, built by the Canadian army (1976-1977) |
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2. Alaska Highway – Length 2,232 Kilometers
The Alaska Highway is a really long road, about 1,387 miles (2,232 kilometers) in total. It goes through places called British Columbia, Yukon, and Alaska. This road starts at a place called Milepost 0 in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and goes all the way to Delta Junction in Alaska. The Alaska Highway is like a big road that connects Canada with the lower 48 states of America. People built it during World War II to make it easier for folks to travel from one place to another. They started building it on March 11, 1942, which was not long after a big event called the bombing of Pearl Harbor happened. At first, they called it the Alaskan International Highway, but sometimes people just call it the “Alcan”. Lots of people love going on adventures by driving on the Alaska Highway. They go in cars, RVs (which are like big camping vehicles), and camper vans.
Alaska Highway – Length 2,232 Kilometers |
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Length |
1,387 miles (2,232 kilometers) |
Location |
British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska |
Start Point |
Milepost 0, Dawson Creek, British Columbia |
End Point |
Delta Junction, Alaska |
Construction |
Started on March 11th, 1942 |
Purpose |
Built during World War II for transportation |
Nickname |
Sometimes called the “Alcan” |
Popular Activity |
Road trip adventure |
1. Trans-Canada Highway – Length 7,821 Kilometers
The Trans-Canada Highway is a big road that goes all the way across Canada, from the west coast to the east coast. It is the longest road in Canada and one of the longest in the world. This highway goes from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, passing through all the provinces of Canada. It was finished in 1962. If you drive the whole Trans-Canada Highway, it will take you at least 100 hours, not counting the time you spend waiting for ferries. The Trans-Canada Highway is really important for business and vacations. Lots of Canadians and people from other countries drive on it each year. It is a favorite road for long trips across the country. Along the way, there are tons of cool places to visit like the Bay of Fundy, Niagara Falls, and the Rocky Mountains. Whether you want to see beautiful nature or big cities, the Trans-Canada Highway has it all.
Trans-Canada Highway – Length 7,821 Kilometers |
|
---|---|
Length |
7,821 Km |
Main Route |
From Victoria and Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador |
Existed |
July 30, 1962 – present |
Major Cities |
Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Greater Sudbury, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, St. John’s |
Route Markers |
White-on-green maple leaf markers |
System |
Federal-provincial highway system spanning all ten provinces of Canada |
Main Route |
Consists of various highways including Highway 1, Highways 17 and 417, Autoroutes 40, 25, 20 and 85, Highway 2, Highways 104 and 105 |
Parallel Routes |
Several parallel routes exist, considered either secondary routes or different highways altogether |
Notable Mention |
Highway 16 in Western Canada, also part of TCH system but commonly known as the Yellowhead Highway; Highway 1 in Western Canada is usually considered part of the main Trans-Canada Highway route |
Network |
Forms part of Canada’s National Highway System, connecting to Northwest Territories, Yukon, and the US border |
Unsigned Parts |
Most of the National Highway System (apart from the TCH sections) is unsigned |
Longest Road in the World in Km
The Pan-American Highway is often considered the longest road system in the world. It stretches from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in the northernmost part of North America, to Ushuaia, Argentina, in the southernmost part of South America. The total length of the Pan-American Highway, including all its branches and spurs, is estimated to be around 30,000 kilometers (approximately 19,000 miles). However, it’s important to note that the Pan-American Highway is not a single continuous road but rather a network of roads connecting various countries in the Americas.
Longest Highway in Asia
The Asian Highway Network is a cooperative project among countries in Asia and Europe to improve the highway systems in the region. The Asian Highway Network spans across multiple countries and includes various highways, but if we consider the longest continuous highway within Asia, one notable example is the Trans-Siberian Highway in Russia.
The Trans-Siberian Highway, also known as the M58 highway, is one of the longest highways in the world. It stretches approximately 11,000 kilometers (about 6,835 miles) across Russia, from St. Petersburg in the west to Vladivostok in the east, near the border with China and North Korea. This highway traverses through the vast expanse of Siberia, connecting numerous cities, towns, and regions along its route.
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FAQs – Top 10 Longest Highways in Canada
Which is the longest highway in Canada?
The Trans-Canada Highway is Canada’s longest national road. It extends east-west across Canada between Victoria, British Columbia and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, passing through all ten Canadian provinces and linking Canada’s major cities.
How long is Highway 1 in Canada?
Highway 1 is a provincial highway in British Columbia, Canada, that carries the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH). The highway is 1,047 kilometres (651 mi) long and connects Vancouver Island, the Greater Vancouver region in the Lower Mainland, and the Interior.
What is Canada’s biggest road?
Trans-Canada Highway, principal highway of Canada and the world’s longest national road.
What is the coldest city in Canada?
The coldest place in Canada based on average yearly temperature is Eureka, Nunavut, where the temperature averages at −19.7 °C or −3.5 °F for the year.
What is the main Canadian highway?
The Trans-Canada Highway is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast.
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