The Longest Suspension Bridges In The United States

Suspension bridges are among the most impressive feats of engineering, crossing wide rivers and deep straits with roadways supported by massive steel cables. Across the United States, these structures connect major cities and regions while carrying millions of vehicles each year. The longest is New York's Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, with a main span of 4,260 feet (1,298 meters). Based on published engineering specifications from transportation agencies and bridge authorities, the ten suspension-bridge crossings below are ranked by their longest main span, measured between the two main towers. Parallel suspension bridges at the same crossing are counted as one entry.

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, New York

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge held the record for the world's longest suspension bridge main span from 1964 until 1981, when England's Humber Bridge opened. It remains the longest suspension bridge in the United States, with a main span of 4,260 feet (1,298 meters). It connects the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn, carrying Interstate 278 across the Narrows, the tidal strait that links Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay. The bridge has two roadway levels, with seven traffic lanes on the upper deck and six on the lower deck. Its steel structure responds to temperature changes, with the suspended roadway hanging lower in warm weather as the main cables expand. The bridge's towers are also engineered to accommodate movement caused by temperature changes and heavy traffic loads.

Golden Gate Bridge, California

With a main span of 4,200 feet (1,280 meters), the Golden Gate Bridge was the world's longest suspension bridge when it opened in 1937. It retained that distinction until the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge surpassed it in 1964. The bridge crosses the Golden Gate Strait, connecting San Francisco to Marin County at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. Excluding its concrete anchorages, the bridge weighs approximately 840 million pounds (381 million kilograms), making it heavier than the Empire State Building. Its roadway is supported by two enormous main cables, each containing 27,572 individual steel wires. The combined length of the wires in the two cables is approximately 80,000 miles (129,000 kilometers), enough to circle Earth's equator more than three times. The bridge's distinctive International Orange color also helps make the structure visible in the region's frequent fog.

Mackinac Bridge, Michigan

Although its main span measures 3,800 feet (1,158 meters), the Mackinac Bridge is especially notable for its total suspended length. At 8,614 feet (2,626 meters) between cable anchorages, it has one of the longest suspended roadways in the world. The bridge opened in 1957, crossing the Straits of Mackinac and connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It extends approximately five miles (eight kilometers) from shore to shore, making it considerably longer overall than its main span alone suggests. Each Labor Day, the Mackinac Bridge Authority organizes the Annual Bridge Walk, allowing pedestrians to cross between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. The bridge is temporarily closed to public vehicle traffic during the event. Depending on walking speed, participants typically need about two hours to complete the crossing.

George Washington Bridge, New York-New Jersey

The George Washington Bridge has a main span of 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) across the Hudson River, connecting Fort Lee, New Jersey, to Manhattan in New York City. It opened to traffic in 1931, and more than 5.5 million vehicles crossed during its first full year of operation in 1932. Today, it is widely recognized as the world's busiest vehicular bridge, carrying more than 100 million vehicle crossings in both directions combined annually. Its two roadway levels accommodate 14 traffic lanes. The bridge is supported by four main cables, each containing 26,474 steel wires arranged into 61 strands. These cables are secured in anchorages on either side of the Hudson River. Ongoing rehabilitation projects have included replacing the bridge's 592 suspender ropes, which connect the main cables to the roadway structure. That replacement work was completed in 2025 as part of a broader effort to preserve the bridge.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Washington

The Tacoma Narrows crossing has a history closely associated with the development of modern suspension bridge engineering. The original bridge opened in July 1940 but collapsed on November 7 of that year after severe wind-induced oscillations. Winds measured approximately 42 miles per hour (68 kilometers per hour) near the bridge, triggering torsional movements that eventually caused the structure to fail. Its collapse became an important case study in bridge aerodynamics. Construction of a replacement was delayed during World War II, and the new bridge opened in October 1950. It has a main span of 2,800 feet (853 meters), the same length as the original. As traffic increased, a second suspension bridge was constructed alongside the 1950 structure and opened in 2007. The newer bridge carries eastbound traffic, while the 1950 bridge carries westbound vehicles. The 2007 bridge also includes a separated path for pedestrians and cyclists.

Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, California

The Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge crosses the Carquinez Strait in California, connecting Crockett and Vallejo. Its main span measures 2,388 feet (728 meters), making it one of the longest suspension spans in the country. The bridge opened in 2003, replacing the original Carquinez Bridge, which had carried traffic across the strait since 1927. Today, the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge carries westbound Interstate 80 traffic alongside the 1958 Carquinez Bridge, a cantilever structure that accommodates eastbound vehicles. The suspension bridge is named after Alfred Zampa, a local ironworker who began his career on the original Carquinez Bridge in 1927. He later worked on several major Bay Area structures, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The bridge honors the contributions of the ironworkers who helped construct some of California's most recognizable landmarks.

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, California

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge connects San Francisco and Oakland through Yerba Buena Island. Its western crossing consists of two suspension spans, each with a main span of 2,310 feet (704 meters), supported by a central anchorage. This section opened in 1936 and remains one of the longest suspension bridge crossings in the United States. The eastern crossing, between Yerba Buena Island and Oakland, was replaced in 2013 with a single-tower, self-anchored suspension bridge and adjoining approach structures. Unlike a conventional suspension bridge, the newer structure anchors its main cable into the bridge deck rather than separate anchorages on land. Together, the eastern and western crossings form a major transportation corridor across San Francisco Bay, carrying Interstate 80 and handling a substantial share of the traffic using the Bay Area's state-owned toll bridges.

Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, New York

The Bronx-Whitestone Bridge crosses the East River, connecting the New York City boroughs of Queens and the Bronx. It opened on April 29, 1939, one day before the New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows. Its main span measures 2,300 feet (701 meters), placing it among the country's longest suspension bridges. The bridge was designed with a relatively slender roadway structure, but the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 raised concerns about the effects of wind on similar structures. Engineers subsequently added stiffening trusses to improve its stability. During a major rehabilitation beginning in 2003, these heavy trusses were removed and replaced with lightweight aerodynamic fairings designed to improve the bridge's performance in high winds. The modifications also reduced the weight carried by its main cables. The six-lane crossing continues to serve as a major route between Queens and the Bronx, handling approximately 50.9 million vehicle trips in 2022.

Delaware Memorial Bridge, Delaware-New Jersey

The Delaware Memorial Bridge consists of two parallel suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River between New Castle, Delaware, and Pennsville, New Jersey. Each bridge has a main span of 2,150 feet (655 meters). The first opened in August 1951, and growing traffic demand led to the construction of a second span, which opened in 1968. Together, the two bridges carry Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 40 between Delaware and New Jersey. More than 100,000 vehicles use the crossing on an average day, making it a key regional transportation route. The bridges also serve as a memorial to American service members who lost their lives in military conflicts, including World War II and the Korean War. The nearby Veterans Memorial Park provides a place for remembrance, with ceremonies organized to honor military service and sacrifice.

Walt Whitman Bridge, Pennsylvania-New Jersey

The Walt Whitman Bridge crosses the Delaware River between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Gloucester City, New Jersey. Its main span measures 2,000 feet (610 meters), placing it among the longest suspension bridge crossings in the United States. The bridge opened in 1957 and carries Interstate 76 across the river. Its seven traffic lanes include three in each direction and a center lane that can be reassigned using a movable barrier to accommodate changing traffic demands. The bridge was named in honor of American poet Walt Whitman, who spent his final years in nearby Camden, New Jersey. A bronze statue of the poet stands near the bridge's Philadelphia approach, at Broad Street and Packer Avenue. The crossing remains a vital connection between Philadelphia and the communities of southern New Jersey.

Engineering Across American Waterways

From New York's Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to Philadelphia's Walt Whitman Bridge, America's longest suspension bridges demonstrate how engineering has made major waterways easier to cross. Their steel cables support roadways over distances that would otherwise require lengthy detours. Many have also undergone substantial rehabilitation as engineers have developed better ways to manage wind and traffic loads and structural wear. Decades after their construction, these bridges remain essential transportation links and enduring examples of American engineering.