Major Highway Grades in the United States
State or Territory |
Route |
Location |
Summit Elevation |
Coordinates |
Length |
Maximum Grade |
Runaway Truck Ramps |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona |
Interstate 17 |
Southbound from Munds Park |
6378 ft (1944 m) |
34°48'35.7"N 111°36'21.2"W |
18 miles (29.0 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Arizona |
Interstate 17 |
Northbound into Verde Valley |
4723 ft (1440 m) |
34°31'58.6"N 111°57'49.9"W |
7 miles (11.3 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Arizona |
U.S. Route 60 / State Route 77 |
Eastbound into Salt River Canyon |
4830 ft (1472 m) |
33°46'10.6"N 110°30'38.8"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Arizona |
U.S. Route 60 / State Route 77 |
Westbound into Salt River Canyon |
4927 ft (1502 m) |
33°49'39.0"N 110°27'23.9"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
6% |
0 |
|
Arizona |
State Route 89A |
Southbound into Oak Creek Canyon |
6545 ft (1995 m) |
35°02'19.6"N 111°44'00.7"W |
3 miles (4.8 km) |
7% |
0 |
Multiple sharp switchbacks |
California |
Interstate 5 |
Grapevine; Northbound from Tejon Pass |
4144 ft (1263 m) |
34°52'19.7"N 118°53'21.8"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
6% |
2 |
|
California |
Interstate 5 |
Five Mile Grade; Sounthbound from Violin Summit |
2589 ft (789 m) |
34°33'38.2"N 118°40'48.9"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
5% |
0 |
Unique left-hand driving configuration with crossovers and top and bottom of grade |
California |
Interstate 8 |
In-Ko-Pah Gorge; Eastbound from Jacumba Hot Springs |
3000 ft (914 m) |
32°38'13.2"N 116°06'51.6"W |
7 miles (11.3 km) |
6% |
1 |
Strong wind hazard. Westbound traffic ascends Devil's Canyon up to 1.5 miles away. |
California |
State Route 108 |
Eastbound from Sonora Pass |
9624 ft (2933 m) |
38°19'39.6"N 119°38'12.4"W |
12 miles (19.3 km) |
26% |
0 |
Subject to winter closures. Trucks over 38 feet from kingpin to rear axle prohibited, over 30 feet not advised. |
California |
State Route 4 |
Eastbound from Ebbets Pass |
8736 ft (2663 m) |
38°32'40.1"N 119°48'42.9"W |
25 miles (40.2 km) |
24% |
0 |
Single lane with turnouts. Not maintained in winter. Vehicles over 25 feet long not advised. |
Colorado |
Interstate 70 |
Clear Creek Canyon, eastbound from Eisenhower Tunnel |
11,112 ft (3387 m) |
39°40'54.0"N 105°53'39.4"W |
12 miles (19.3 km) |
6% |
1 |
Highest elevation on U.S. Interstate Highway system |
Colorado |
Interstate 70 |
Eastbound from Genesee Park |
7740 ft (2359 m) |
39°42'36.0"N 105°17'39.8"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Colorado |
Interstate 70 |
Westbound from Eisenhower Tunnel |
11,112 ft (3387 m) |
39°40'44.2"N 105°56'07.7"W |
6 miles (9.7 km) |
7% |
2 |
Highest elevation on U.S. Interstate Highway system |
Colorado |
U.S. Route 160 |
Eastbound from Wolf Creek Pass |
10,857 ft (3309 m) |
37°28'58.7"N 106°47'59.8"W |
8 miles (12.9 km) |
6% |
0 |
Includes a snow shed and the Wolf Creek Pass Tunnel |
Colorado |
U.S. Route 160 |
Westbound from Wolf Creek Pass |
10,857 ft (3309 m) |
37°28'58.7"N 106°47'59.8"W |
9 miles (14.5 km) |
7% |
2 |
Hairpin curve 6 miles (9.7 km) from summit |
Colorado |
U.S. Route 550 (Million Dollar Highway) |
Northbound from Red Mountain Pass to Ouray |
11,018 ft (3358 m) |
37°53'55.0"N 107°42'43.7"W |
13 miles (20.9 km) |
8% |
0 |
Narrow 2-lane highway with sharp curves and unguarded dropoffs, frequent avalanches |
Colorado |
U.S. Route 550 (Million Dollar Highway) |
Southbound from Red Mountain Pass |
11,018 ft (3358 m) |
37°53'55.0"N 107°42'43.7"W |
10 miles (16.1 km) |
8% |
0 |
Narrow 2-lane highway with sharp curves and unguarded dropoffs, frequent avalanches |
California |
Interstate 15 |
Southbound from Cajon Summit |
4260 ft (1298 m) |
32°38'13.2"N 116°06'51.6"W |
4 miles (6.4 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
California |
Interstate 80 |
Eastbound from Donner Summit |
7227 ft (2203 m) |
39°20'29.5"N 120°20'24.0"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
6% |
0 |
Subject to extreme snowfall |
California |
Interstate 80 |
Westbound from Donner Summit |
7227 ft (2203 m) |
39°20'29.5"N 120°20'24.0"W |
2 miles (3.2 km) |
5% |
0 |
Subject to extreme snowfall |
North Carolina |
Interstate 26 / U.S. Route 74 |
Eastbound from Howard Gap |
1900 ft (580 m) |
35°14'57.5"N 82°16'29.7"W |
3 miles (4.8 km) |
6% |
0 |
|
North Carolina |
Interstate 40 / U.S. Route 70 |
Old Fort Mountain, eastbound from Swannanoa Gap |
2657 ft (810 m) |
35°37'03.2"N 82°15'42.6"W |
6 miles (9.7 km) |
6% |
3 |
Mandatory brake check at summit |
Oregon |
Interstate 5 |
Northbound from Siskiyou Summit |
4310 ft (1314 m) |
42°03'43.1"N 122°36'21.4"W |
7 miles (11.3 km) |
6% |
2 |
Highest point on Interstate 5 |
Oregon |
Interstate 5 |
Southbound from Siskiyou Summit |
4310 ft (1314 m) |
42°03'43.1"N 122°36'21.4"W |
7 miles (11.3 km) |
6% |
1 |
Highest point on Interstate 5 |
Oregon |
Interstate 84 |
Cabbage Hill; Westbound from Deadman Pass |
3609 ft (1100 m) |
45°36′03″N 118°30′14″W |
6 miles (9.7 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Washington |
U.S. Route 2 |
Westbound from Stevens Pass |
4061 ft (1238 m) |
47°44'46.8"N 121°05'18.2"W |
7 miles (11.3 km) |
6% |
0 |
40 MPH hairpin curve 4 miles from summit |
Washington |
U.S. Route 12 |
Westbound from White Pass |
4500 ft (1372 m) |
46°38'14.8"N 121°23'33.8"W |
4 miles (6.4 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Wyoming |
U.S. Route 14 |
Shell Canyon, eastbound from Granite Pass |
9033 ft (2753 m) |
44°38'23.6"N 107°30'11.9"W |
11 miles (17.7 km) |
6% |
1 |
|
Wyoming |
U.S. Route 14 |
Eastbound from Sibley Lake |
7912 ft (2411 m) |
44°47'26.3"N 107°23'37.3"W |
12 miles (19.3 km) |
8% |
0 |
Mandatory brake check at summit. Multiple hairpin curves; trucks restricted to 20 MPH |
Wyoming |
U.S. Route 14A |
Medicine Wheel Passage, westbound from Burgess Junction |
9083 ft (2768 m) |
44°48'28.8"N 107°52'56.5"W |
13 miles (20.9 km) |
10% |
3 ramps and one brake cooling turnout |
Closed winters; Mandatory brake check at summit |
Wyoming |
U.S. Route 212 (Beartooth Highway) |
Eastbound from Beartooth Pass |
10,947 ft (3336 m) |
44°58'08.8"N 109°28'16.5"W |
14 miles (22.5 km) |
10% |
0 |
Closed winters. Commercial traffic prohibited |
Wyoming and Montana |
U.S. Route 212 (Beartooth Highway) |
Westbound from Beartooth Pass |
10,947 ft (3336 m) |
44°58'08.8"N 109°28'16.5"W |
18 miles (29.0 km) |
10% |
0 |
Closed winters. Commercial traffic prohibited |
Wyoming |
State Route 22 (Teton Pass Highway) |
Eastbound from Teton Pass |
8431 ft (2570 m) |
43°29'50.8"N 110°57'19.2"W |
5 miles (8.0 km) |
10% |
2 (one with mechanical arrestor system) |
Subject to winter closures at Idaho state line |