The world’s longest continuous road passes through deserts, mountains, forests, coastlines and massive cities. It connects nearly every part of an entire country and is used by over a million people every single day. Spanning more than 9,000 miles, the impressive stretch of tarmac doesn’t just link a few towns or regions – it goes around the whole continent.
According to Guinness World Records, Australia’s Highway 1 is the longest continuous road in the world, stretching approximately 14,500km (9,024 miles). It travels through every mainland state and territory, forming a complete loop around the country. Originally created in 1955 under the National Route Numbering system, the highway is a network of interconnected roads and highways. It links all the major mainland capitals – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin – and even extends to parts of Tasmania, ending in the town of Burnie on the island’s north coast.
Unlike some other famous highways, Highway 1 doesn’t follow a single road.
Instead, it uses multiple routes like the Princes Highway, Pacific Highway, and Stuart Highway, depending on the region.
While it shares parts of its track with the Australian National Highway, Highway 1 tends to hug the coast, offering scenic drives along beaches and bays.
Its huge length means it easily beats other long roads, such as the Trans-Siberian Highway and Trans-Canada Highway, both of which are several thousand miles shorter.
While the Pan-American Highway is technically longer, it is broken by the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia, making Highway 1 the longest unbroken road network on Earth.
But the route isn’t just a road trip dream – it’s a very important part of Australia’s transport system.
According to estimates, more than a million people use it daily, either for local travel, long-distance journeys or freight.
Highway 1 also passes many different landscapes. In Queensland, it runs through lush, tropical lands, while in Western Australia, it crosses arid deserts.
Some stretches are remote and sparsely populated, while others cut straight through busy cities.
Over the years, signage has reportedly changed. In most places it’s marked with the route number 1, although in some states it may appear as M1, A1, or B1, depending on road quality and classification.
In Tasmania, it still retains the original “National Route 1” shield.