10 Most Iconic Bridges in the USA
The United States of America is the pinnacle of the Western world and the beating heart of the modern era. A crucial part of building America are its giant bridges, some of which have become symbols of the cities and states they reside in. Just like America's famous skyscrapers, these monumental bridges are an integral part of the identity and strength of the cities they inhabit, and some have become icons. In the United States, you have some of the most famous bridges in the world, such as the mighty Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco or the enormous Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, considered groundbreaking in architectural terms. On this page, we'll provide a list of all the well-known bridges in America that you must not miss during your trip.
These are the bridges we think you shouldn't miss on your trip to the USA:
- The Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco) – one of America's most iconic landmarks
- Brooklyn Bridge (New York City) – The heart of transport in the big city
- Seven Mile Bridge (Florida Keys) – The engineering marvel on the way to Key West
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge (St. Petersburg) – A masterpiece of postmodern architecture
- Bixby Bridge (Big Sur) – History and beauty above the Pacific coast
- Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (New Orleans) – Drive on water to the Big Easy
- Coronado Bridge (San Diego) – A particularly elegant crescent
- George Washington Bridge (New York City) – The stunning connection of Manhattan with New Jersey
- Newport or Claiborne Pell Bridge (Newport) – The elegance of New England
- Hoover Dam Bypass (Nevada) – Drive on top of the dam over the Colorado River
The list is based on the following parameters:
- Accessibility to the bridge, the ability to cross and stop, and convenient vantage points
- The bridge's significance to the history of American architecture
- The look and beauty of the bridge and its integration into the urban environment
- The presence of the bridge in popular culture
- How the bridge is regarded as a symbol or the symbol of the city
The Most Famous Bridges in America
1. The Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco
The Golden Gate Bridge is San Francisco's number one must-see and the most famous bridge in the USA (by far) and some say in the entire world. The bridge is named after the strait it spans, the Golden Gate Strait, which separates San Francisco Bay to the south and San Pablo Bay to the north from the Pacific Ocean. The strait was named in the mid-19th century in connection with the Gold Rush. The bridge is part of Highway 101 and spans from Fort Point at the northern tip of San Francisco to Lime Point and the small cities in the San Francisco metropolitan area belonging to Marin County.
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The Golden Gate Bridge was constructed in 1933 and inaugurated about four years later. The bridge is 2.7 kilometers long. It was part of governmental and federal projects initiated to create jobs and fight the rising unemployment due to the Great Depression. It was built simultaneously with the Bay Bridge, which connects downtown San Francisco with Oakland. The bridge was designed by the Jewish engineer Joseph Strauss in the style of a suspension bridge, which relies on giant cables to support the bridge and allows flexibility. Two massive towers hold the cables, standing approximately 1300 meters apart, and their height above sea level is about 230 meters.
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For those just looking to take in the sights of the bridge, there are plenty of popular lookout points in the Presidio, such as along the coast at Marine Drive and Torpedo Wharf. You can also sail with private companies under the bridge, hop on ferries as part of city routes to view the bridge or even observe it from the direction of the Fisherman's Wharf.
The toll for crossing the bridge is only for those traveling south into San Francisco, while northbound travel is free. The southbound toll is around $10, and prices tend to rise. Absolutely no stopping is allowed while driving on the bridge.
2. Brooklyn Bridge – New York
The Brooklyn Bridge is undoubtedly one of the beautiful and impressive icons of New York City. The bridge connects downtown Manhattan with downtown Brooklyn. You can access the bridge from both the City Hall Park and the FDR Drive, the highway on the east side of Manhattan that runs along the East River.
The giant steel bridge accompanies the story of the entire development of Manhattan. It was inaugurated in 1883 after 14 years of hard work. The bridge stretches almost 2 kilometers long and stands about eighty meters above the East River. The bridge allows the passage of cars and pedestrians. You can cross the bridge on foot in about half an hour.
When gazing at the Brooklyn Bridge, you can't ignore its sibling in the background, the beautiful Manhattan Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge opened about thirty years after the Brooklyn Bridge, in 1909. It was built as a complement to its impressive southern brother, mainly to direct subway traffic and connect routes to Brooklyn. The two adjacent bridges are known as the Two Bridges and are prominent landmarks of New York City.
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3. The Seven Mile Bridge – Florida Keys
The Seven Mile Bridge is the most iconic symbol of the Florida Keys, along with Ernest Hemingway and Key West. The bridge is named after its seemingly impossible length, seven miles of shallow waters along the coral line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The bridge connects Marathon at Boot Key with the popular Bahia Honda State Park, the gateway to the capital of the Keys, Key West. The bridge runs parallel to the historic railway bridge of the Keys – the Old Seven Mile Bridge, which stands as a monument to America's railway world before all of Florida became one huge highway.
4. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge – St. Petersburg, Florida
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, or the Skyway as it's called by Tampa Bay residents, is one of the symbols of modern Florida's rapid development. The current bridge was completed in 1987, replacing an old and dreary bridge that connected St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay with Manatee County to the south and the city of Sarasota. The base of the bridge itself is quite simple, resting on massive concrete pillars standing in the bay's waters. However, the main charm lies in the two enormous columns from which numerous steel cables descend. The bridge is nearly seven kilometers long and reaches a height of 130 meters at the peak of its columns.
5. Bixby Bridge – Big Sur in California
Bixby Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in California, and its main charm lies in its stunning location over a deep canyon that carves its way to the Pacific Ocean in the northern part of the wild and beautiful Big Sur coastline. The bridge is a twenty-minute drive south of Carmel, stretching 215 meters long and rising about eighty meters high. It was completed in 1932 and is considered the longest arch bridge in the world. The bridge is one of the major attractions in the popular scenic road trip along the Pacific coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
6. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – New Orleans
The Causeway is a set of two long bridges running low over Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, connecting New Orleans with Highway 12 that runs along the lake's northern shore. The Causeway is the longest bridge in the USA, stretching an amazing length of over 38 kilometers. The bridge is built on low concrete pillars above the lake. It consists of two parallel bridges, one for each direction of travel. The bridge's impressive length is remarkable, and in many parts during the journey, you can't see the lake's banks, so it truly feels like driving on water.
7. Coronado Bridge – San Diego
The bridge connecting San Diego with the resort city of Coronado is one of the icons of this unique metropolis in Southern California. The bridge, shaped like a crescent, elegantly stretches from the southern part of downtown into the city's resort district (technically a separate city), featuring large resorts and excellent beaches (and a huge military base). The length of the bridge is about three and a half kilometers over the waters of San Diego Bay. Its unique shape (which lengthens the route) stems from adjusting the approach angles of the roads onto the land. The curve of the bridge makes it one of the most beautiful bridges in the USA, although technically it is a fairly simple bridge built on concrete pillars.
8. George Washington Bridge – New York
The George Washington Bridge is the only aerial connection between Manhattan and New Jersey and is part of the I-95 highway route. It stretches over the Hudson River in the western part of the Little Dominican Republic neighborhood (part of Washington Heights) and connects with Fort Lee, New Jersey. The bridge was built in 1931, is almost a mile and a half long, and its towers rise about 184 meters above the river.
Originally, according to the engineer Othmar Amman's plan, the bridge's towers were supposed to be ornamented, but due to lack of funding, they remained exposed. Nonetheless, it is one of the most impressive bridges on America's Atlantic coast and one of New York's most important connectivity functions. Just beneath the bridge's eastern tower is the charming Little Red Lighthouse, a historic beacon.
9. Newport Bridge or Claiborne Pell Bridge – Newport, Rhode Island
The Newport Bridge is one of the most elegant bridges in New England and a symbol of the luxurious resort town of Newport. This suspension bridge connects Newport with the original Rhodes Island (Rhode Island) in the Narragansett Bay and the city of Jamestown to the west. The bridge is nearly three and a half kilometers long and was completed in 1969. Overlooking the beautiful city's eastern shoreline, it can be seen from anywhere in the heart of Newport.
10. Hoover Dam Bypass – Nevada
The great arch dam is a forty-minute drive southeast from the Las Vegas Strip. The dam is adjacent to Boulder City, a town originally built to house the dam's builders. This enormous arch dam, completed in 1935, is significant to the development of the neighboring city of Las Vegas.
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The dam diverts the waters of the Colorado River, creating the artificial Lake Mead. The height of the Hoover Dam is about 222 meters, and its length is approximately 340 meters. It might not be the largest dam in the USA, but it is certainly the most famous. Over the years, Hoover Dam has become a popular tourist destination. You can reach the dam via the I-11 highway heading south from Vegas. You can drive over the dam or park nearby and walk on sidewalks on both sides of the road. Near the dam, there are several viewpoints where you can park. The visit to the dam is very well organized, with a visitor center, souvenir shop, and more.
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