The Alaskan Road to Nowhere is a lonely drive out in the middle of nowhere
Usa, north-america
5.1 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Alaska, in the Alexander Archipelago to be exact, cruising down a gravel road. Locals jokingly call it the "Road to Nowhere," which is officially the Gravina Island Highway. It stretches for about 3.2 miles, and you can open her up to 35 mph...if you dare.
Here's the backstory: this highway was supposed to be part of a grand plan to link Ketchikan International Airport to the city of Ketchikan with a fancy bridge. But, plot twist, the bridge got scrapped! So, what's left? A beautifully paved road surrounded by Alaskan wilderness—muskeg and scrub forest as far as the eye can see. It even has wide shoulders and curves, all ready for the traffic that never came.
Now, this isn't your typical scenic route. It doesn't connect anything major or lead to any must-see attractions. It's just...there. Construction finished in 2008, and despite the bridge being canceled, the highway got built anyway. The end result? A $25 million road that stops abruptly where the bridge should have been. Hence, the "Road to Nowhere" moniker. It's a bit of a head-scratcher, but hey, at least the scenery is pretty!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 5.1 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
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