What do Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and Ushuaia, Argentina have in common? They're the beginning and the end of the world's longest road. Stretching from the northernmost tip of one continent to the southernmost tip of another, the Pan-American Highway connects 14 countries across two continents and, yes, you can drive it.
Originally, the Pan-American was conceived as a rail route. However, the idea was abandoned around the time the Panama Canal was being built. Instead, it would be a highway connecting the two continents.
Connecting The Continents
Following the worst years of the Great Depression, the countries involved agreed to build their sections, with Mexico becoming the first to complete construction in 1950. Officially, the highway begins at the Mexican-American border in Nuevo Laredo as no road in Canada or the United States is officially designated as the start.
Technically, the entire Interstate Highway System is part of the Pan-American Highway, even if the signage doesn't reflect it. The Alaska Highway section is the easiest to navigate in terms of options. You basically just drive south until you're out of the Canadian territories.
Once you get to Edmonton, the unofficial route splits in two. You can hang a Larry, as Canadians say, driving east from Winnipeg down through the Midwest. Or you can continue on to Calgary, following the highway down through the Great Plains and Southwest.
Both routes link up at San Antonio right before the official start of the Pan-American Highway. As an added bonus, you'll hit almost every capital city in Central America. If you want to visit all seven, you'll have to make a slight diversion in Honduras to reach Tegucigalpa.
There's just one bump in the road: the Darién Gap. The natural barrier between between Panama and Colombia is one of the last truly wild places on earth. For 60 miles, all roads completely stop, leaving you at the mercy of the elements.
Mind The Gap
Don't think that you can brave the bush. The Darién Gap is home to dense jungles, treacherous swamps, and some of the highest mountains in Panama. And that's just the landscape.
In addition to the rugged terrain, the Darién Gap is notoriously dangerous, filled with corrupt cops and warring gangs. It isn't uncommon for travelers to be kidnapped and held hostage crossing the gap—or worse. Thousands of migrants brave the gap every year, not because they want to, but because they have no choice.
During the construction of the Pan-American Highway, construction was halted around the Darién Gap due to concerns about disease, deforestation, and the livelihood of the area's indigenous populations. Construction was officially halted by the UN in 1994.
So, how do you get around it? It's actually quite easy. There are two options you can choose from.
Actually, it's more like one and a half options, as both require you to send your vehicle across via shipping container (we promise it's much easier than it sounds; thousands of people do it every year). Once you've secured transit for your transport, you can either sail or fly into Cartagena. Flying is generally easier, as booking a cruise takes more logistics and money.
Once you've crossed the Darién Gap, it's smooth sailing—er, driving—all the way to the southernmost city in the world. The original route for the Pan-American Highway takes a sharp turn in Chile, cutting east from Valparaíso to Buenos Aires. From there, you zig-zag down the coast of Argentina until you reach Ushuaia.
As you can imagine, driving this route is easier said than done. People who've completed it recommend taking at least six months to a year to do it properly, taking time to rest and explore. Also, a working knowledge of Spanish will help, as English will get scarcer as you go south.
