1. Route 66, Illinois to California
Route 66 is iconic, but much of it has faded into memory. Once a bustling corridor for travelers heading west, entire stretches now lie abandoned, with crumbling motels and gas stations slowly succumbing to nature. Towns that thrived off the road’s traffic have largely disappeared. Driving Route 66 today feels like stepping into a time capsule of mid-century America.
Many of the businesses that once dotted this highway are now empty shells. Neon signs flicker weakly or are gone entirely, leaving only rusted metal frames. Even roadside attractions, like the wigwam motels, are being reclaimed by weeds. It’s hauntingly beautiful, but it’s a reminder of how highways can define—and abandon—a region.
2. Highway 12, Utah
Highway 12 snakes through some of Utah’s most breathtaking landscapes, yet its communities are dwindling. Small towns like Boulder and Escalante rely on seasonal tourism, and when winter comes, it’s eerily quiet. Main streets are lined with shuttered shops and dusty diners. The natural beauty remains, but human presence is thinning fast.
Ranching and farming, once the backbone of these towns, are on the decline. Younger generations often leave for jobs in bigger cities. Roadside cabins and motels sit empty for months at a time. Driving here feels like a solitary pilgrimage, where nature is slowly reclaiming the land humans built on.
3. Highway 50, Nevada
Highway 50 is known as the “Loneliest Road in America,” and for good reason. Towns along the route, like Ely and Austin, have seen decades of population decline. Gas stations and motels that once served miners and travelers are shuttered. The landscape is vast and empty, with only the wind and the occasional car to keep you company.
Abandoned buildings dot the roadside, slowly succumbing to the desert heat. Local businesses struggle to stay afloat with a sparse customer base. Ghost towns aren’t just tourist attractions here—they’re part of daily life. Traveling Highway 50 feels like walking through a museum of what used to be.
4. US 61, Mississippi
US 61 is legendary for its blues history, but small towns along the route are disappearing. Cotton towns that were once vibrant are now shadows of themselves. The streets are quiet, and abandoned storefronts tell the story of economic decline. Music still echoes from some old juke joints, but it’s a fragile reminder of a lively past.
Farming mechanization and urban migration have hollowed out communities. Churches stand empty or host only a handful of parishioners. Roadside diners that served generations of locals are boarded up. The highway’s cultural significance remains, even as the towns themselves vanish.
5. Highway 2, Montana
Highway 2 stretches across northern Montana, a road that feels infinite and desolate. Towns along it have been losing population for decades. Gas stations and grocery stores shut down as residents leave for better opportunities. The highway seems endless, flanked by empty fields and abandoned homes.
Winter makes the emptiness even more palpable. Snow drifts cover forgotten structures, and the wind howls across the plains. Railroad towns that once thrived are nearly ghostly. Driving here is as much about solitude as it is about scenery.
6. Highway 191, Arizona
Highway 191 winds through southeastern Arizona, connecting sparse towns and desert landscapes. Some stretches feel abandoned even in daylight. Small communities like Clifton and Morenci have shrinking populations due to mining declines. Old motels and diners sit empty, their signs peeling in the sun.
Local businesses that depend on passing traffic struggle to survive. Seasonal visitors keep the economy barely afloat. You’ll find long stretches with no services at all, a reminder that not every highway is a lifeline. This route is disappearing piece by piece, quietly, into the desert.
7. Highway 395, California
Highway 395 cuts along California’s eastern Sierras, but its towns tell a story of gradual decline. Mining towns like Lone Pine are still tourist destinations, but other stops have been abandoned. Old cabins and motels along the road are crumbling or empty. It’s a route of natural beauty, yet the human footprint is fading.
Economic shifts have made it hard for local businesses to survive. Ski resorts and summer camps bring temporary life, but winters are silent. Gas stations sometimes close for weeks at a time. Traveling Highway 395 feels like witnessing communities slowly fade against a backdrop of mountains.
8. US 20, Wyoming
US 20 crosses vast stretches of Wyoming where towns are disappearing into the plains. Small farming communities like Shoshoni have dwindled populations. Historic buildings sit empty or slowly collapse. Driving here gives you a sense of scale—both of the land and of human impermanence.
The economy’s shift away from ranching has hollowed these towns. Grocery stores, diners, and gas stations have shuttered over the years. Roadside architecture tells stories of families who once called these towns home. It’s a quiet, contemplative stretch of highway, where the past feels very present.
9. Highway 160, Colorado
Highway 160 runs through southern Colorado, connecting small towns that are fading fast. Places like Trinidad still exist, but the main streets show clear signs of decline. Local shops and motels struggle, with some buildings boarded up. Even in summer, it can feel like the highway is mostly empty.
Economic changes hit these towns hard. Mining, ranching, and small-scale farming aren’t what they used to be. Seasonal tourism offers only brief relief. Driving this route, you can see how once-thriving communities slowly vanish from the map.
10. Highway 82, Arkansas
Highway 82 stretches across rural Arkansas, connecting small towns that have been quietly disappearing. Cotton farming towns like Crossett have seen their populations decline. Old storefronts and diners sit abandoned, while only a few families remain. The highway tells the story of rural America in slow motion.
Infrastructure like bridges and schools sometimes stand empty, relics of a busier time. The younger generation leaves for college or jobs elsewhere. Local economies struggle to maintain basic services. It’s a road where the landscape of human life is slowly eroding.
11. Highway 18, South Dakota
Highway 18 traverses the southern part of South Dakota, passing through towns losing residents yearly. Communities like Fairfax are shrinking, and empty storefronts line the main streets. Once-bustling highwayside motels now sit vacant. The prairie stretches endlessly, emphasizing the solitude.
Agriculture’s mechanization means fewer people live here year-round. Schools consolidate or close entirely, leaving students to commute long distances. Small businesses struggle to survive. Highway 18 feels like a corridor where time has slowed and communities vanish quietly.
12. US 2, Minnesota
US 2 crosses northern Minnesota, linking small towns along Lake Superior’s edge and the Iron Range. Many towns have shrunk with the decline of logging and mining. Main streets have fewer businesses, and some structures are abandoned. The highway is scenic, but the human presence is dwindling.
Cold winters accelerate the sense of isolation. Empty stores and gas stations stand frozen in time. Local economies rely on seasonal tourism, which doesn’t sustain communities year-round. Driving US 2 here feels like tracing a fading thread of northern life.
13. Highway 93, Nevada
Highway 93 in Nevada runs through desert landscapes where towns are slowly vanishing. Ely and Pioche once thrived from mining, but their populations are a fraction of what they were. Empty motels and boarded-up shops dot the roadside. The highway cuts through stark beauty, but human life is sparse.
Ghost towns along the route remind travelers of a booming past. Mining automation and economic shifts left towns struggling to survive. Some locals cling on, but the overall trend is decline. Traveling Highway 93 is a journey through both natural grandeur and human disappearance.
This post 13 American Highways Where Everything Is Slowly Disappearing was first published on American Charm.
