Roads

Driving in the USA and Canada

Interstates are almost universally divided highways with controlled access (i.e. motorways).

The standard of US highways and state highways vary very considerably, from divided highway/controlled access (motorways), through divided highway/not controlled access (dual carriageways) to a normal two-lane highway. Even two lane highways tend to have wide hard shoulders.

County roads tend naturally to be mainly two-lane.

In Texas the equivalent of county roads are called farm roads; I don't know if Louisiana, which is divided into parishes instead of counties, has a different name for its county roads.

The slip roads of controlled access highways are often called on ramps and off ramps.

There are no emergency telephones on Interstate highways. You used to see notices indicating that a certain Citizens' Band radio channel was monitored for emergency messages, but nowadays the signs say to ring 911 on your cellular phone. Our advice for travellers from abroad would be to hail another motorist, or preferably if you see one a police car if you need help.

In all states the Interstate highways have mile markers, with the distance being measured from a state boundary or the start of the road. Some states also have mile markers on their US Highways and their state roads.

The exits on Interstates are usually given numbers within each state based on the mile markers, rather than sequentially. If there are two exits in the same mile, they are given a letter suffix, for example Exit 35A and Exit 35B.

A freeway is a toll-free divided highway with controlled access, i.e. a motorway, almost always in a large city such as Los Angeles. A freeway might be an Interstate, US highway, state highway or (very occasionally if ever) a county road.

A turnpike is a toll road, usually of motorway standard.

The term "parkway" covers two types of road: on the one hand a toll road (usually of motorway standard), or on the other hand a outstanding scenic road such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Natchez Trace Parkway, or the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper in Alberta.

A "frontage road" is a relatively minor road running alongside a main highway, for local traffic. There is often a frontage road on each side of a highway. Out in the country frontage roads service farms, etc., while in towns they service motels, restaurants and other businesses. Frontage roads are normally two-way.

It's important to remember that frontage roads and roads in large car parks, such as at shopping malls, are still subject to the same rules and regulations as normal roads. For example, be sure to obey stop signs on these roads.

In the USA and Canada toll-free Interstate highways don't have services in special areas reserved solely for motorway traffic as in Europe. Instead, services are found in the form of normal restaurants, garages, shops, etc., open to all traffic and located at the junctions with roads leading into towns, or some distance along those approach roads.

Some turnpikes (toll roads) have European style service areas. Such an area is called an Oasis.

Interstates and US highways are indicated on road signs in every state and on maps by the same two designs of distinctive shields containing their numbers. Picture (21KB)

On road signs, each state uses a different design of shield for its state highways and county roads. The shields for state roads are in most cases outlines of the state's shape on a map, a symbol associated with the state, or a simple geometrical shape.

On maps, state highways are usually indicated by a circle or oval containing the number, and county roads by a rectangle containing the number.

Tolls, both for toll roads and toll bridges, tunnels, etc., tend to be very low. It isn't usually worth considering taking an alternative route just because of a toll.

If a road passes through a US National Park then you must pay the park entrance fee. Usually roads through National Monuments are free unless you stop to visit. You can buy a Golden Eagle pass which allows unlimited access to all US National Parks and National Monuments for the rest of the calendar year. In Canada you usually only need to pay an entrance fee to a National Park if you stop within the park.

Lines marking the separation of two-way traffic are yellow; lines separating lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction are white.

The vast majority of roads are normal, paved roads. However, there are some unpaved minor roads in both the USA and Canada. Most car rental companies include clauses in their rental agreements prohibiting the use of their vehicles on unpaved roads. Unpaved roads are usually clearly marked on maps, often by dashed lines. Unpaved roads may also be referred to as gravel roads, dirt roads or unsealed roads. This web site uses the term unpaved roads to cover all of these.