The Historic National Road was the nation s first federally funded interstate highway. It opened the nation to the west and became a corridor for the movement of goods and people. Today, visitors experience a physical timeline, including classic inns, tollhouses, diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history.
- Length
- 824.15 mi / 1326.3 km
- Time to allow
- Use daytrips or multi-day itineraries to enjoy portions, or allow 2.5 days to simply drive the entire byway.
- Fees
- None
Who looks after this road
- Indiana National Road Association · 765-478-3172 · their site
- National Road Association of Illinois · 217-849-3188, 888-268-0042 · their site
- Maryland National Road Association · 410-489-9100 · their site
- Ohio National Road Association · 937-324-7752 · their site
We publish 32 places that sit on this road, across 6 states, listed in the order you meet them. This is not a route and not a drive time — it is the names, so you can put them into whatever navigation you already use.
Of those, 5 are roadside oddities — the sort of thing you would drive past without knowing it was there.
“Off” is a straight line from the place to the road, rounded. It is not a driving distance, and the road itself is a simplified centre line, so treat a mile or two as noise.
The Illinois stretch
St. LouisMO1 mile off
In our guide: 6 animal attractions · 1 park
Saint Louis ZooMO6 miles offAnimals
General admission free; some attractions charge
- Hours
- 9am-4pm (current day listing)
- Child
- Free
- Season
- year-round
Fair Saint LouisMOon the roadAnnual event
cultural festival at Gateway Arch National Park
- When
- July (Independence Day)
- Since
- First held 1981 (as V.P. Fair)
- Runs for
- more than one day
The Indiana stretch
Twisted HouseIN8 miles offRoadside oddity
Walk-through cottage sculpture that warps as you enter.
IndianapolisIN1 mile off
In our guide: 3 animal attractions
Indianapolis ZooINon the roadAnimals
Hours reflect fall event schedule; online purchase advertised as cheaper
- Hours
- Mon-Tue 9am-4pm; Wed/Thu/Sun 9am-7pm; Fri-Sat 9am-9pm (during ZooBoo, through Nov 1)
- Season
- year-round
Brickyard 400 (NASCAR Cup)IN3 miles offAnnual event
sports-motorsport at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- When
- Late July or early August
- Since
- First held 1994
- Runs for
- more than one day
Indianapolis 500IN3 miles offAnnual event
sports-motorsport at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- When
- May (Memorial Day weekend)
- Since
- First held 1911
- Runs for
- more than one day
The Maryland stretch
BaltimoreMDon the road
In our guide: 3 animal attractions · 1 park
Witch Board MuseumMD3 miles offRoadside oddity
Ouija board collection
National AquariumMDon the roadAnimals
Inner Harbor
- Hours
- 9am-9pm (as shown for one day)
The Maryland Zoo in BaltimoreMD3 miles offAnimals
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; winter ticket $25 from Nov 9, 2026 while African Watering Hole is off exhibit; closed to public Nov 7, 2026 for private event
- Hours
- 10am-4pm; last entry 3:30pm
- Adult
- 33
- Child
- $33 (ages 2+ pay general rate)
- Season
- year-round (daily Mar-Dec; Fri-Mon only Jan-Feb)
- Parking
- free
FrederickMDon the road
In our guide: 2 animal attractions · 1 park
Antietam National BattlefieldMD7 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
Greenbrier LakeMD3 miles offLake
reservoir (man-made)
- Swimming
- yes - white sand beach, lifeguards 11am-6pm Memorial Day-Labor Day
- Boating
- Personal boats electric trolling motors only
- Fishing
- yes - trout (stocked), largemouth bass, bluegill
- Camping
- 164-165 sites (40 electric); parkreservations.maryland.gov
- Cost
- Summer $3/person weekdays, $5 weekends; off-season $3/vehicle; summer weekend day-use reservations
Whitetail ResortPA6 miles offSki or bike
Closest big hill to DC; Vail-owned
- Kind
- Ski Areas
Lake HabeebMD1 mile offLake
reservoir (man-made)
- Swimming
- yes - two lifeguarded day-use beaches in summer; campground beach
- Boating
- No gasoline motors (electric only); boating 24/7, navigation lights after sunset; inspect/clean for AIS
- Fishing
- yes - largemouth & smallmouth bass, crappie, rainbow & brown trout, catfish, sunfish
- Camping
- 278 sites + mini cabins/yurt; CAMPGROUND CLOSED for renovation Oct 13, 2026-Dec 31, 2027; parkreservations.maryland.gov
- Cost
- Day-use reservations required summer weekends/holidays (parkdayuse.maryland.gov); fee amounts not listed
The Ohio stretch
The WildsOH10 miles offAnimals
Visits are by guided safari vehicle tour; advance reservations required
- Season
- year-round (fall/winter safaris offered)
Longaberger Basket BuildingOH7 miles offRoadside oddity
Seven-story office building shaped like a picnic basket; exterior only.
Newark EarthworksOH6 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
Buckeye LakeOH3 miles offLake
reservoir
- Swimming
- yes - Fairfield Beach (south) and Crystal Beach (north)
- Boating
- Unlimited horsepower; three launch ramps
- Fishing
- yes - perch, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, catfish; fishing pier
- Camping
- Two boat/swim/camp areas: Lieb's Island, east of Cranberry Bog
- Season
- Beaches open Memorial Day to Labor Day, daylight hours only
ColumbusOHon the road
In our guide: 1 animal attraction · 1 park
Sonic Temple Art + Music FestivalOH3 miles offAnnual event
music festival at Historic Crew Stadium
- When
- May
- Since
- First held 2019 (successor to Rock on the Range)
- Runs for
- more than one day
Sword in the StoneOH7 miles offRoadside oddity
Rusty sword wedged in a boulder outside a dentist.
Field of CornOH10 miles offRoadside oddity
109 six-foot concrete corn ears standing in a field.
Yellow SpringsOH8 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
DaytonOH8 miles off
In our guide: 2 lakes · 1 animal attraction
Boonshoft Museum of DiscoveryOH6 miles offAnimals
- Hours
- Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm
- Adult
- 16.00
- Child
- $13.00 (ages 3-12)
- Season
- year-round
The Pennsylvania stretch
Ohiopyle State ParkPA7 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
FallingwaterPA8 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
Kentuck KnobPA5 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
The West Virginia stretch
Oglebay ResortWVon the roadSki or bike
City park resort with small ski hill
- Kind
- Ski Areas