For some, there’s nothing more enjoyavble than driving on a long stretch of road with no interruptions, while others prefer the twists and turns of a scenic, winding country road. For those who prefer the former – that is, getting from A to B with little concentration required, the world’s longest and straightest roads have been revealed, with one spanning more than 500 miles long through the Middle East.
According to the list, both Saudi Arabia and the USA have the longest roads in the world which feature in the top 10. Saudi Arabia is home to the longest road in the world and features a total of three in the top 10, with the US being home to four.
Located in the heart of Saudi Arabia, Highway 85 has been found to be the world’s longest straight road with a whopping 510 miles (822 km) of straightness that lies close to the border with Jordan.
It’s a straight road running right through the desert for 8 hr 45 min and runs from Jubail (a city in the Eastern province on the Arabian Gulf coast) to Qurayat (a city in Al Jawf Province, in northern Saudi Arabia).
The second longest straight road in the world also can be found in Saudi Arabia with Highway 10 stretching for a massive 158 miles (255 km) of straightness. This straight road runs through the desert with a journey time of 2h 1 min.
The Highway 10 was originally built as a private road for King Fahd (SAU) and connects Highway 75 in the Haradh area to Highway 95 in the west of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is well known for its many long, straight roads which is due to the country’s flat and vast desert landscapes.
Another country well known for its vastness is the USA with a number of long, straight roads which is due to the country’s grid system of land surveying which was established back in the 18th century.
The aim of this system was for ease of development and efficiency including the strategic military considerations during the Cold War.
In the UK, the longest stretch of straight road is a section of the A15 between Scampton and the M180, which lasts for about 18 miles with minimal curves.
The top 10 longest and straightest roads in the world include:
- Highway 85 in Saudi Arabia – 510 miles
- Highway 10 in Saudi Arabia – 158 miles
- Lagerenza-Estigarribia in Paraguay – 128 miles
- ND-46 W in USA – 121 miles
- B71- Mitchell Highway in Australia – 118 miles
- US-54 W in USA – 108 miles
- México 1 in Mexico – 105 miles
- US-136 E in USA – 102 miles
- Highway 50 in Saudi Arabia – 95 miles
- US-83 S in USA – 92 miles