Bridges are something you either love or hate. However, some cool bridges across the country are easier to appreciate than others.

If you’re looking for future adventures, we have good news. We’ve found some cool bridges across the country that you’ll want to cross.

Today, we’re buckling your seat belts and taking you on an adventure to discover these epic destinations. Ready to get started?

Let’s hit the road!

While many famous bridges exist in the United States, the Golden Gate Bridge is the most famous. This well-known structure is in San Francisco, California. It is a suspension bridge with a bright orange-red color.

It’s become a symbol for the city and American engineering and innovation. Regardless, it’s more than a remarkable structure; it’s a vital transportation link. It allows drivers from neighboring communities to enter and exit the city.

The bridge gained recognition due to the late 1980s and early 1990s show Full House. It was a part of the opening credits, and it was a remarkably popular show decades ago. Many millennials first remember seeing it while watching this show. We won’t say much about this bridge because we’ll go into further detail later. 

Pro Tip: Forget about driving over this bridge, Will You Brave the Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge in Montana by foot?

The Frankford Avenue Bridge, also known as Holmesburg Bridge and Pennypack Creek Bridge, was built in 1697. This is a three-span bridge that measures 73 feet long. It is made of stone and resulted from William Penn’s appeal to the English Court to have it made. With a bridge, he could now access the up-and-coming city of Philadelphia.

In 1970, the bridge was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Officials later placed it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. In 2012, it received an additional Pennsylvania Historical Marker.

It was first designed at 18 feet wide, which was only enough for two teams of horses. Despite this, it was widened in 1893 for trolley cars, then again in the 1950s for automobiles. Estimates from PennDOT indicate the bridge services 14,000 vehicles every day.

The longest bridge in the United States is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It is in Southern Louisiana and connects Metairie (a Suburb of New Orleans) to the neighboring city of Mandeville. The bridge measures 23.83 miles long, so check your gas gauge before crossing it.

Not only is it the longest bridge in the United States, it’s also the longest continuous bridge over water worldwide. It’s an essential transportation route for commuters, tourists, and commercial traffic. On a typical day, this engineering marvel allows approximately 43,000 drivers to cross the lake.

Crossing an ordinary bridge isn’t anything exciting. Although, when you drive across these cool bridges, it can be an incredible experience. Let’s dive in!

As mentioned earlier, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the United States. Construction of the bridge wrapped up in 1937. It spans 1.7 miles and carries approximately 112,000 vehicles per day and 40 million vehicles annually. 

This suspension bridge uses two massive towers and cables to support the system. The bridge weighs 840 million pounds, which makes it heavier than the Empire State Building. The main lines supporting the bridge combine 27,572 individual wires.

If you find yourself in San Francisco, take a trip across it. It’s an epic view and one that you’ll remember for years to come. Find a spot to park on either side and enjoy the view. Some of the most popular viewpoints are the Fort Point National Historic Site, Baker Beach, and Fort Baker.

We’ll travel across the entire country to the Brooklyn Bridge for our next bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. It spans the East River, and construction finished in 1883. It features large Gothic towers and a cable system to support the structure.

Unlike many other bridges, the Brooklyn Bridge accommodates vehicular traffic and has room for pedestrians and cyclists. The New York City Department of Transportation estimates that more than 4,000 pedestrians, 3,100 bicyclists, and 120,000 vehicles use the bridge daily.

The Brooklyn Bridge offers one of the best views of the Manhattan skyline anywhere in the city. It’s been the subject of many postcards and is a popular photography spot. At night, elegant lighting illuminates the bridge and creates another photogenic opportunity. 

The next cool bridge on our list is the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Its official name is the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. It opened in 2010 and is a concrete arch bridge that spans the Colorado River. It connects Nevada and Arizona, allowing drivers to avoid the winding road over the Hoover Dam.

Estimates are that approximately 17,000 drivers cross the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge daily. It is one of the highest and longest arching bridges and provides an incredible view.

The Mackinac Bridge is a remarkable suspension bridge in Michigan. Depending on your direction, you’re either entering or leaving the Upper Peninsula when crossing it. In total, it’s 26,372 feet long, making it one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Its majestic towers and sweeping cables have been in operation since 1957. At its highest point, it is 155 feet above the water. Speaking of water, many consider the Mackinac Bridge to be the dividing point between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Weather can significantly impact the bridge. On windy days, it’s common for the bridge to swing and sway. It can move up to 35 east to west in high wind conditions. As a result, it’s one of the few bridges where you can hire transport services if you’re uncomfortable driving. This bridge caused some butterflies in our stomachs when approaching it.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is an incredible engineering marvel. It travels across Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay. It measures 17.6 miles long, making it one of the longest bridge-tunnel systems in the world.

Engineers designed it to accommodate ships passing overhead. It’s a mixture of tunnels and bridges as you cross the bay. The views above water are spectacular and make it easy to appreciate the coastal landscapes in the region. Drivers appreciate this vital transportation route as it saves them time. On the other hand, it can cause severe delays if there’s an accident. 

One of our favorite cool bridges is the Bixby Creek Bridge. This bridge is in Big Sur, California, and construction finished in 1932. Because of the incredible coastal views, it’s one of the most photographed landmarks along the West Coast. The panoramic views of the rocky cliffs are stunning.

It sits 260 feet above the bottom of the canyon created by Bixby Creek. Crossing this bridge is the icing on the cake for navigating the Pacific Coast Highway. The entire adventure is full of breathtaking views. If you take this route, ensure you have plenty of storage space to take pictures. You’ll take plenty.

The final cool bridge on our list is the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado. This suspension bridge was completed in 1929 and is one of the highest in the world. It sits 956 feet above the Arkansas River. Even if you’re not afraid of heights, this can be overwhelming.

As you approach the bridge, you’ll question the strength of the slender cables attached to the towering supports. Will they be enough to hold you and the others crossing the bridge? Each year, approximately 350,000 visitors cross the bridge. Thankfully, the odds are in your favor.

This isn’t a comprehensive list of all the cool bridges in the United States. Have you experienced a bridge that you thought was impressive? If so, we’d love to hear about it. We’re always up for an adventure and would love to add it to our list and share it with others. So, what cool bridges have you crossed during your travels?