The Oldest Road In America, Yellowstone Trail, Passes Right Through Indiana

The oldest road in America is known as the Yellowstone Trail, and it goes right through Indiana. Full of history, this extensive highway is actually part of the entire country and connects travelers to one of the nation's best natural wonders. Check it out:

Spanning 3,719 miles, the Yellowstone Trail stretches coast to coast from Seattle, Washington to Plymouth, Massachusetts, passing right through northern Indiana.

It is known as the first transcontinental automobile highway in the United States. Established in 1912, it is named for Yellowstone National Park as it follows the trails that people were taking to get to this natural wonder.

This was around the time when automobiles were becoming popular and people wanted the freedom and convenience of independent travel. Most roads were made of dirt, though, which made long-distance travel by car difficult.

Most people only traveled long distances by train at this time.

The original road was only designed to take up a 25-mile stretch of road in South Dakota. Nowadays, it is used to allow travelers to get from one ocean to the other.

There are several route markers along this road. Its slogan is "A Good Road from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound."

Throughout the county, the road passes through many different small towns and big cities. In Indiana, it goes right through Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Hobart, Gary, and a town called Hamlet that puts on a festival in celebration of the history of the road each year.

The highway enters the state from the northwest corner out of Chicagoland and goes straight across the northern half, making its way toward Fort Wayne before exiting into Ohio and heading toward Lake Eerie.

If you've ever driven the Yellowstone trial, we'd love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.

For more like this, check out these 13 county roads in Indiana that will give you an unforgettable scenic drive.