The Busiest Freeway In North America: Highway 401

March 31, 2011

Just where is the busiest freeway in North America?

While the United States may have the largest road network in the world, the title of the busiest freeway on the continent belongs to their neighbors up north in Canada with its Ontario Highway 401.

Known as King’s Highway 401, the freeway also goes by its official name of the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway. A 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, the 401 stretches from Windsor to the Quebec border. The segment of Highway 401 passing through Toronto is not only the busiest highway in North America but also one of the widest and busiest in the world.

So, what makes this freeway so busy? According to a report from the Federal Highway Administration, the annual average daily traffic (AADT) count between Weston Road and Highway 400 in Toronto was estimated at 431,900. On some days, the number exceeds 500,000 vehicles.

Those stats make the 401 the the busiest roadway in North America, surpassing those in the U.S., including the Santa Monica Freeway in Los Angeles, Interstate 10 (I-10) in Houston, and I-75 in Atlanta.

Have you driven on Ontario Highway 401? What was your experience like? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Image: Danielle Scott, PLTam

  • Guest

    the 401 is hell…Its unimaginable in rush hours…but whats even worse is your can constantly get stuck in traffic at off peak hours too, which just buids up the frustration.

  • MoralesCanada

    To avoid traffic I drive the 401 between highway 400 and Leslie St. everyday before 7am and before 4:00pm and the traffic usually flows.

  • Me

    I don’t live far from the 401. Really pretty at night the headlights make it light up as it has 20 lanes. Don’ t go if you want good bumper to bumper traffic. Are government has spent billions on it. I don’t live far from the 401 as its walking distance for me. It less busy in London Ontario with 3 lanes.

  • http://twitter.com/torontomyway Toronto My Way

    It’s the busiest highway due to inept planning. Much bigger cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles do not cram as many cars on any single highway because they have more public transit as well as more higher-speed roadways. There just aren’t enough alternatives to the 401, whether in terms of other high speed roadways or public transit. It’s NOT because we have more people, because we don’t.

    http://torontomyway.blogspot.com