1. Highway 39 – Angeles National Forest, CA
Closed since a rockslide in 1978, this four-mile stretch of Highway 39 remains barricaded and unused. It once connected to Highway 2, offering a scenic route through the San Gabriel Mountains. Today, it’s a favorite for cyclists, hikers, and curious drivers who stop at the closure and explore on foot. The road is cracked, overgrown, and eerily quiet.
Despite calls to reopen it, the cost has kept it closed. Visitors come for the views and the vibe. It’s nature and nostalgia in equal measure. And the road? Still waiting.
2. Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike – Breezewood, PA
Once part of the original Pennsylvania Turnpike, this 13-mile stretch was bypassed in 1968 due to traffic bottlenecks in its narrow tunnels. It includes the eerie Sideling Hill and Rays Hill tunnels, now covered in graffiti and slowly reclaimed by nature. Though officially closed, it’s a magnet for urban explorers, cyclists, and hikers. The cracked pavement and rusting guardrails feel like a post-apocalyptic movie set.
Locals and tourists alike visit for the thrill of walking through dark, echoing tunnels and seeing what happens when infrastructure is left behind. It’s not maintained, but it’s not forgotten. The turnpike has become a symbol of American road-building ambition—and its limits. And yes, it’s still hauntingly beautiful.
3. Route 66 Ghost Sections – Southwest U.S.
America’s most iconic highway was decommissioned in 1985, but many stretches still exist—some abandoned, some barely drivable. In places like Arizona and New Mexico, old segments of Route 66 sit quietly beside modern interstates, lined with crumbling motels and rusted signs. These ghost sections attract nostalgia seekers, photographers, and road trip purists. It’s Americana frozen in time.
Though 85% of Route 66 is still technically drivable, the forgotten parts are the most evocative. They whisper stories of migration, adventure, and decline. Visitors come not for speed, but for sentiment. And the kicks? Still there—just slower.
4. Highway 60 and Claypool Tunnel – Superior, AZ
Built in 1919 and abandoned in 1952, this winding stretch of Highway 60 once climbed through rugged Arizona terrain before being replaced by a safer tunnel. The old road is narrow, steep, and flanked by sheer drops and rock walls. It’s now a favorite for hikers and climbers who want a taste of vintage engineering and desert solitude. The views are dramatic—and the silence is deep.
Nature has reclaimed much of the route, but the bones of the highway remain. It’s a reminder of how far road design has come—and how dangerous it used to be. Visitors walk the curves with caution and awe. And the tunnel? Still standing, but long retired.
5. Highway 80 – Across the Southern U.S.
Once a coast-to-coast route from Savannah to San Diego, Highway 80 was slowly replaced by interstates and forgotten by travelers. Today, many segments lie abandoned or underused, especially in Texas and New Mexico. These stretches are dotted with ghost towns, faded billboards, and empty gas stations. It’s a road trip through time.
Preservation efforts have saved some parts, but others remain untouched. Visitors come for the solitude and the scenery, not the speed. It’s a slower, quieter kind of travel. And the road still whispers its history.
6. Highway 95 and McPhaul Bridge – Yuma, AZ
This stretch of Highway 95 was rerouted in 1968, leaving behind the McPhaul Suspension Bridge—a mini Golden Gate stranded in the desert. The bridge is closed to traffic but still stands tall, attracting photographers and history buffs. The surrounding road is now a dirt path leading to nowhere. It’s surreal, scenic, and strangely poetic.
Built in 1929, the bridge once spanned a wild Gila River. Now, it spans memory. Visitors marvel at its resilience and isolation. And yes, it’s still a landmark—just not for driving.
7. I-44 Stub – Tulsa, OK
This 1.5-mile stub of I-44 was abandoned in 2002 after being deemed too dangerous due to merging patterns and curves. It’s now a forgotten stretch of pavement surrounded by trees and silence. Locals visit to walk, bike, or just explore the ghostly remains. It’s a slice of infrastructure that outlived its usefulness.
Though no longer part of the highway system, it remains a curiosity. Visitors come for the oddness and the quiet. It’s not scenic—but it’s strangely compelling. And the road signs? Still standing, pointing to nowhere.
8. “Goat Path Expressway” – Lancaster County, PA
This failed bypass of Pennsylvania Route 23 was halted in 1977 due to budget cuts. The graded path was never paved and was eventually used by local farmers—and their goats—to keep vegetation in check. It’s now a bizarre mix of rural land and ghost infrastructure. Visitors come to see the road that never was.
The path is visible from satellite maps and local trails. It’s a monument to planning gone awry. And yes, goats still roam it. Because sometimes, the road to nowhere is best left to nature.
This post 8 Abandoned U.S. Highways That Lead to Nowhere—but Still Get Visitors was first published on American Charm.
