Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west
Interstate Highway
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, or the Eisenhower Interstate System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Hi ...
in the United States that runs from
I-15 near
Cove Fort, Utah
Cove Fort is a fort, unincorporated community, and historical site located in Millard County, Utah. It was founded in 1867 by Ira Hinckley (the paternal grandfather of Gordon B. Hinckley) at the request of Brigham Young. One of its distincti ...
, to
I-695 and
Maryland Route 570
Interstate 70 (I-70) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Cove Fort, Utah, to Woodlawn just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. In Maryland, the Interstate Highway runs from the Pennsylvania state line in Hancock east ...
(MD 570) in
Woodlawn, just outside
Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
.
I-70 approximately traces the path of
U.S. Route 40 (US 40; the old
National Road
The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main tran ...
) east of the
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in great-circle distance, straight-line distance from the northernmost part of Western Can ...
. West of the Rocky Mountains, the route of I-70 was derived from multiple sources. The Interstate runs through or near many major U.S. cities, including
Denver
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
,
Topeka
Topeka ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeaste ...
,
Kansas City
The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...
,
St. Louis
St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
,
Indianapolis
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
,
Columbus,
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
, and
Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
. The sections of the Interstate in
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
and
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
have laid claim to be the first Interstate in the United States.
The
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program a ...
(FHWA) has claimed the section of I-70 through
Glenwood Canyon in
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...
, completed in 1992, to be the last piece of the
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, or the Eisenhower Interstate System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Hi ...
, as originally planned, to open to traffic.
The construction of I-70 in Colorado and
Utah
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...
is considered an engineering marvel, as the route passes through the
Eisenhower Tunnel
The Eisenhower Tunnel, officially the Eisenhower–Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel, is a dual-bore, four-lane vehicular tunnel in the western United States, approximately west of Denver, Colorado. The tunnel carries Interstate 70 (I-70) under ...
, Glenwood Canyon, and the
San Rafael Swell
The San Rafael Swell is a large geologic feature located in south-central Utah, United States about west of Green River. Measuring approximately , the swell consists of a giant dome-shaped anticline of sandstone, shale, and limestone that wa ...
. The Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest point along the Interstate Highway System, with an elevation of .
Route description
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CO
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KS
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MO
,
, -
,
IL
,
, -
,
IN
,
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,
OH
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WV
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PA
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Utah
I-70 begins at an
interchange with
I-15 near
Cove Fort. Heading east, I-70 crosses between the Tushar and
Pahvant ranges via
Clear Creek Canyon and descends into the
Sevier Valley, where I-70 serves
Richfield, one of two towns of more than a few hundred people along I-70's path in Utah. The second town with more than a few hundred people served by I-70 is
Salina. Upon leaving the valley near Salina, I-70 crosses the Salina Summit and then crosses a large geologic formation called the
San Rafael Swell
The San Rafael Swell is a large geologic feature located in south-central Utah, United States about west of Green River. Measuring approximately , the swell consists of a giant dome-shaped anticline of sandstone, shale, and limestone that wa ...
.

Prior to the construction of I-70, the swell was inaccessible via paved roads and relatively undiscovered. Once this section was opened to traffic in 1970, it became the longest stretch of Interstate Highway with no services and the first highway in the U.S. built over a completely new route since the
Alaska Highway.
It also became the longest piece of Interstate Highway to be opened at one time.
Although opened in 1970, this section was not formally complete until 1990, when a second steel arch bridge spanning Eagle Canyon was opened to traffic.
Since I-70's construction, the swell has been noted for its desolate beauty. The swell has since been nominated for
national park
A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...
or
national monument
A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a sp ...
status on multiple occasions. If the swell is granted this status, it arguably would be the first time a national park owes its existence to an Interstate Highway. Most of the exits in this span are rest areas, brake check areas, and
runaway truck ramp
A runaway truck ramp, runaway truck lane, escape lane, safety ramp, emergency escape ramp, or truck arrester bed is a traffic device that enables vehicles which are having braking problems to stop safely. It is typically a long, sand- or gravel- ...
s with few traditional freeway exits.
I-70 exits the swell near
Green River. From Green River to the Colorado state line, I-70 follows the southern edge of the
Book Cliffs
The Book Cliffs are a series of desert mountains and cliffs in western Colorado and eastern Utah in the Western United States. They are so named because the cliffs of Cretaceous sandstone capping many of the south-facing buttes appear simila ...
.
Colorado
Entering from Utah, I-70 descends into the
Grand Valley, where it meets the
Colorado River
The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...
, which provides its path up the
western slope of the
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in great-circle distance, straight-line distance from the northernmost part of Western Can ...
. Here, I-70 serves the
Grand Junction metropolitan area before traversing more mountainous terrain.

The last section of I-70 to be completed was the
Glenwood Canyon. This stretch was completed in 1992 and was an
engineering
Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...
marvel due to the extremely difficult terrain and narrow space in the
canyon
A canyon (; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency t ...
, which requires corners that are sharper than normal
Interstate standards
Standards for Interstate Highways in the United States are defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in the publication ''A Policy on Design Standards: Interstate System''. For a certain highway t ...
. Construction was delayed for many years due to environmental concerns. The difficulties in building the road in the canyon were compounded by the fact the
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to ''Rio Grande'', D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow-gauge line running south fr ...
occupied the south bank, and many temporary construction projects took place to keep
US 6 open, at the time the only east–west road in the area. Much of the highway is elevated above the
Colorado River
The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...
. The speed limit in this section is due to the limited sight distance and sharp corners.

The
Eisenhower Tunnel
The Eisenhower Tunnel, officially the Eisenhower–Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel, is a dual-bore, four-lane vehicular tunnel in the western United States, approximately west of Denver, Colorado. The tunnel carries Interstate 70 (I-70) under ...
, the highest vehicular tunnel in North America and the longest tunnel built under the Interstate program, passes through the
Continental Divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not ...
.

Because of the rugged and narrow terrain of the
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in great-circle distance, straight-line distance from the northernmost part of Western Can ...
, I-70 is one of few roads connecting Colorado's ski resorts with
Denver
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
.
Descending through the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, one can see the Denver skyline on a clear day. This can fool truckers and other unsuspecting drivers because one must still traverse of steep grade road before reaching the city. A series of signs warns truckers of the steep grade. As I-70 leaves the foothills, it goes through Denver and intersects
I-25
Interstate 25 (I-25), also known as the Pan-American Freeway, is a major Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway, serving as the main route through New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. I-25 st ...
, serving as the central east–west artery through the city. Leaving Denver, I-70 levels out and traverses the wide plains through eastern Colorado. East of Denver, I-70 makes a broad turn to the south-southeast for , before reaching
Limon and resuming its eastward journey toward Kansas.
Kansas
Coming from Colorado, I-70 enters the prairie, farmlands, and rolling hills of Kansas. This portion of I-70 was the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. It is given the nickname "Main Street of Kansas", as the Interstate extends from the western border to the eastern border of the state, covering and passing through most of the state's principal cities in the process.

In
Salina, I-70 intersects with the north terminus of
I-135. In
Topeka
Topeka ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeaste ...
, I-70 intersects
I-470, twice. At the eastern intersection, I-70 joins the
Kansas Turnpike and becomes a
toll road
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road for which a fee (or ''Toll (fee), toll'') is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented to help recoup the costs of road construction and ...
. This is one of only two sections of I-70 that are tolled, the other being I-70's concurrency with I-76 on the
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, sometimes shortened to Penna Turnpike or PA Turnpike, is a controlled-access toll road which is operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in Pennsylvania. It runs for across the southern part of the st ...
in southwest Pennsylvania. I-70 carries this designation from Topeka to Kansas City, the eastern terminus of the turnpike. About halfway between Topeka and
Kansas City
The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...
, I-70 passes through
Lawrence (home to the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...
). The tolled portion of the turnpike ends near
Bonner Springs, just west of Kansas City. There is also a third auxiliary route in Topeka,
I-335, which runs from I-470 south to meet up with I-35 in the
Flint Hills town of
Emporia. Just past the Bonner Springs Toll Plaza, I-70 crosses
I-435 for the first time, which allows travelers to bypass the downtown traffic via I-435, which encircles the
Kansas City metropolitan area
The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...
. Further down the highway in Kansas City, approximately before the 18th Street Expressway, I-70 is intersected again by another auxiliary route. This route,
I-635, runs from
I-35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexico–Uni ...
at its southern terminus up to
I-29, just about across the
Missouri River
The Missouri River is a river in the Central United States, Central and Mountain states, Mountain West regions of the United States. The nation's longest, it rises in the eastern Centennial Mountains of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Moun ...
, at its northern terminus. From I-635 to just past the
US 169 (7th Street) exit, I-70 runs adjacent
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Railroad classes, Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United Stat ...
's Armourdale Yard. Here,
I-670 (also designated "Alternate 70" on some signs) diverges, providing a more direct route that rejoins I-70 proper a few miles east in Missouri. The highway passes over the former stockyards and railyard when it crosses the
Kansas River
The Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, is a meandering river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is potentially the southwestern most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is sometimes in turn the northwesternmost portion of ...
on the
Intercity Viaduct into
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
Missouri

After crossing the
Intercity Viaduct, I-70 enters Missouri. It encounters a loop of freeways, called the
Downtown Loop, which contains I-70 as well as
I-35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexico–Uni ...
,
I-670,
US 24,
US 40,
US 71, and
US 169. In the southern part of this loop, I-670 cuts directly through the downtown while I-70 bypasses the taller buildings a few blocks north near the
Missouri River
The Missouri River is a river in the Central United States, Central and Mountain states, Mountain West regions of the United States. The nation's longest, it rises in the eastern Centennial Mountains of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Moun ...
. Westbound I-670 is also designated Alternate I-70. Most of the Interstates in this loop are in their second mile, so all exits (no matter which Interstate the road carries) are numbered 2 and suffixed with every letter of the alphabet except for I, O, and Z, leading to the loop's nickname, the Alphabet Loop.
The section of I-70 in
Downtown Kansas City is approximately the southern city limits of "City of Kansas" when it was incorporated in 1853. The first two auto bridges in Missouri mark the city's original boundaries with the
Buck O'Neil Bridge (US 169) being the west boundary while the
Heart of America Bridge (
Route 9) is the east boundary. Another intersection of note is the second traverse of
I-435. This is primarily notable because it immediately precedes the
Truman Sports Complex
The Truman Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility in Kansas City, Missouri. It includes two major league sports venues: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is home to the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, and ...
(home of both
Arrowhead
An arrowhead or point is the usually sharpened and hardened tip of an arrow, which contributes a majority of the projectile mass and is responsible for impacting and penetrating a target, or sometimes for special purposes such as signaling.
...
and
Kauffman stadiums) and also because the entrance ramps from I-435 northbound onto I-70 eastbound also serve as the exit ramps from I-70 into the Truman Sports Complex parking lots. This section of the Interstate is marked as the "
George Brett
George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953) is an American former professional baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.
Brett's 3,154 career hit ( ...
Super Highway", named after the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
third-base player who played the entirety of his career (1973–1993) at Kauffman Stadium. The last Interstate intersection in the immediate Kansas City metro area is with
I-470 in
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
.
After passing Kansas City, I-70 traverses the length of Missouri, west to east. It passes through the largest city between Kansas City and St. Louis,
Columbia, which is about halfway between the two major cities and the home of the
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...
. The terrain is rolling with some hills and bluffs near rivers. I-70 also crosses the Missouri River twice (as did the original US 40)—at
Rocheport, about west of Columbia, and at
St. Charles, about northwest of St. Louis. Most of the highway on this stretch is four lanes. Various proposals have been made to widen it (at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion) including turning it into a toll road.
I-70 eventually gets into
Greater St. Louis, and US 40 splits to the south, along with
US 61, which does not have a
concurrency with I-70. In late 2009, the intersecting road was upgraded to
Interstate standards
Standards for Interstate Highways in the United States are defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in the publication ''A Policy on Design Standards: Interstate System''. For a certain highway t ...
along with the completion of the overhaul of
I-64.
After this interchange, I-70 intersects two auxiliary routes,
I-270 and
I-170. After passing several
bedroom communities in north
St. Louis County, I-70 enters the city limits of St. Louis. It turns east to cross the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
on the
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, connecting with an extension of
I-44, which takes the former I-70 route through
Downtown St. Louis to meet
I-55 at its connection to the
Poplar Street Bridge.
The
1985 World Series between the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
and
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
was nicknamed the "I-70 Series" because St. Louis and Kansas City are the two endpoints of I-70 in
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
, and the highway passes within sight of both the Royals'
Kauffman Stadium
Kauffman Stadium () (nicknamed "The K") is a ballpark located in Kansas City, Missouri, and the home of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals. It is next door to Arrowhead Stadium, home of National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Bo ...
and, at the time, the Cardinals'
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III") is a baseball stadium located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the home of Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals. It has a seating capacity of 44,383, ...
.
Illinois
After crossing the
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, I-70 merges with I-55, while I-64 splits off I-55. When the routes intersect I-270, I-55 stays on its own pavement using the mileposts from the Poplar Street Bridge, while I-70 heads east on I-270's pavement using I-270's mileposts. Because of this arrangement, when I-55/I-70 intersects I-270 from the southeast, the exit number is 20 and, in the opposite direction, it is exit 15.
I-70 was rerouted from the Poplar Street Bridge to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge north of Downtown St. Louis, which opened in February 2014.
I-70 passes through numerous
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
s in Illinois, among them
Vandalia, the state capital from 1818 to 1839. It
runs concurrently with
I-57 around
Effingham and then proceeds east toward Indiana.
Indiana

I-70 enters Indiana just to the west of
Terre Haute and then crosses the
Wabash River
The Wabash River () is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed May 13, 2011 river that drains most of the state of Indiana, and a significant part of Illinois, in the United ...
before skirting the city's south side. After passing through miles of gently rolling terrain in rural west-central Indiana, the freeway approaches the major
Indianapolis metropolitan area
The Indianapolis metropolitan area is an 11-county metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Indiana. Its principal cities are Indianapolis, Carmel, Indiana, Carmel, Greenwood, Indiana, Greenwood, and Anderson, Indiana, Anderson. Other primary cit ...
.
The main entrance to
Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport is an international airport located southwest of Downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority, and the airport serves over 5 ...
was relocated to I-70's exit 68 on November 11, 2008. Upon nearing the
central business district
A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...
of Indiana's capital city, the visages of
Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in downtown Indianapolis, downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). It opened on August ...
and the
JW Marriott Indianapolis hotel, with the city's skyline as their backdrop, now dominate the view to the north from the freeway. After passing just to the south of the world headquarters for
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company, Trade name, doing business as Lilly, is an American multinational Medication, pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with offices in 18 countries. Its products are sold in approximately 125 count ...
, I-70 and
I-65 have a brief
concurrency through the eastern side of
Downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis is a neighborhood area in and the central business district of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Downtown is bordered by Interstate 65 in Indiana, Interstate 65, Interstate 70 in Indiana, Interstate 70, and the White ...
. The junction points of these two major routes are known locally as the "South Split" and "North Split", respectively.
The
I-465 beltway provides access to
Fishers via
Interstate 69
Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of eight unconnected segments. The longest segment runs from Evansville, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and includ ...
, which is concurrent with I-465 at the eastern interchange with I-70.
I-74
Interstate 74 (I-74) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an interchange with I-80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an interchange with I-75 ...
meets I-70 at the western interchange with I-465, eastern access to I-74 can take place via its concurrency around the southern portion of the I-465 loop.
After passing through much of the near northeast side of
Indianapolis
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
, I-70 again encounters the I-465 beltway, which carries a multitude of unsigned U.S. Highways and Indiana state roads. I-70 continues on nearly due east from this point, first traveling through suburban
Indianapolis
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
and then transitioning into rural east central Indiana, where it passes just to the south of
New Castle. Upon reaching the
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, a city in the United States
* Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...
area,
US 35 joins I-70 just before both routes leave Indiana together and enter Ohio.
Ohio
I-70 enters
Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
just east of the interchange with US 40 at
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond () is a city in eastern Wayne County, Indiana, United States. Bordering the state of Ohio, it is the county seat of Wayne County. In the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 35,720. It is the principal c ...
. Immediately to the east of this border, travelers notice a unique teal-blue arch that spans the width of the freeway, with a "Welcome to Ohio" greeting sign above the eastbound lanes. A sign thanking travelers for visiting Ohio is mounted on the other side of the arch for westbound travelers. Continuing eastbound, I-70 intersects
I-75
Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes and Southeastern United States, Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end ...
north of
Dayton
Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...
, followed by
I-675 on the east side of Dayton.
Springfield is the next city, the site of
Buck Creek State Park.
I-70 then encounters
Columbus. Columbus is bounded by
I-270 and is roughly centered on the intersection of I-70 and
I-71
Interstate 71 (I-71) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the midwestern and Southeastern United States, southeastern regions of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 64, I-64 and Interstate 65, ...
, which share the same asphalt through a notoriously congested stretch locally known as the "South Innerbelt" or, more commonly, "The Split". This stretch has I-71 concurrent with I-70, where I-71 enters and exits from opposite sides of I-70, causing traffic getting on I-70 from I-71 northbound to have to cross four lanes of I-70 traffic to continue on I-71. A similar issue is present for southbound I-71 traffic as well. The Split is being reconstructed ($1.4 billion) and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2026.
I-670 connects
John Glenn Columbus International Airport with I-270, I-71, and I-70. East of Columbus, I-70 passes through
Zanesville and on to
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
, where it intersects
I-77. Continuing on toward
West Virginia
West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...
, I-70 intersects
I-470 just east of
St. Clairsville. I-470 is primarily used for through traffic and to avoid The Winter Festival of Lights traffic during the
Christmas season
The Christmas season or the festive season, also known as the holiday season or the holidays, is an annual period generally spanning from November or December to early January. Incorporating Christmas Day and New Year's Day, the various celebrat ...
from
Oglebay Park. In March 1995, a hole (from a former coal mine) opened up on the eastbound side of I-70 in
Guernsey County near
Old Washington and caused traffic to be rerouted onto US 40 between Old Washington and Cambridge for several months.
West Virginia
The portion of I-70 in West Virginia crosses the
Ohio River
The Ohio River () is a river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing in a southwesterly direction from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to its river mouth, mouth on the Mississippi Riv ...
at
Wheeling and runs through the
Wheeling Tunnel. I-70 has only one throughlane in each direction at the tunnel. A major interchange was planned but never completed on the east side of the Wheeling Tunnel. Upon merging with I-470, I-70 goes uphill toward Dallas Pike. This part of the road is called "Two Mile Hill", which is known locally for the many accidents at the bottom of the hill. I-70 has brought major development in
Ohio County, the only county the route passes through in West Virginia, in the past few years. On the north side of the highway, a former strip mine was developed into a retail area called
The Highlands. This stretch of I-70 is the shortest that I-70 is in any state, traveling only from the Ohio River to the Pennsylvania border.
Pennsylvania

I-70 was initially envisioned to go through
Downtown Pittsburgh
Downtown Pittsburgh, colloquially referred to as the Golden Triangle, and officially the Central Business District, is the urban downtown center of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Allegheny River an ...
but now goes south of it. Its originally planned route was later incorporated into
I-376, as well as parts of I-76 and
I-79. I-70 also overlaps I-79 near the Pittsburgh suburb of
Washington for .
The of I-70 between
Washington and
New Stanton is a
substandard section of the highway. This section of I-70 used to be
Pennsylvania Route 71 (PA 71). It is characterized by sharp curves, limited sight distance, narrow shoulders, and lack of merge lanes at interchanges. Traffic on cloverleaf ramps must weave in the right throughlane of traffic due to the lack of a third lane for entering and exiting traffic. Other on- and offramps effectively function as
right-in/right-out
Right-in/right-out (RIRO) and left-in/left-out (LILO) refer to a type of three-way road intersection where turning movements of vehicles are restricted. A RIRO permits only right turns and a LILO permits only left turns. "Right-in" and "left-in" r ...
interchanges, forcing vehicles to weave in and out of the exit lane. The speed limit on this stretch is .
At New Stanton, I-70 joins the
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, sometimes shortened to Penna Turnpike or PA Turnpike, is a controlled-access toll road which is operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in Pennsylvania. It runs for across the southern part of the st ...
and runs
concurrent with
I-76 to
Breezewood. This is one of only two tolled sections of I-70, the other being on the
Kansas Turnpike between Topeka and Kansas City.
At Breezewood, I-70 leaves the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and travels over part of
an old turnpike alignment to a trumpet interchange. Here, I-70 travels west for a few blocks on
US 30 past several
traffic-lights, before heading south on its own alignment. This stretch of I-70 is one of the few
gaps on the Interstate Highway System.
I-70 continues on almost due south from Breezewood to the Maryland state line. This section is posted at and is heavily patrolled. After the border, it meets
I-68's eastern end and turns east toward Baltimore and
Washington DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
.
Maryland

In
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, I-70 runs from the
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
state line near
Hancock east across the central portion of the state toward
Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
, following the route of the
National Road
The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main tran ...
, now known as
US 40. It is a major east–west highway in the state, serving the cities of
Hagerstown and
Frederick Frederick may refer to:
People
* Frederick (given name), the name
Given name
Nobility
= Anhalt-Harzgerode =
* Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670)
= Austria =
* Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria fro ...
and bypassing
Ellicott City. East of Frederick, the route was originally designated Interstate 70N (I-70N). The highway serves
Washington DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
, via
I-270, which was once designated Interstate 70S (I-70S). Uniquely, I-70 indirectly serves a branch of the
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ...
at
Shady Grove station
Shady Grove station is a Washington Metro station in Redland, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The station opened on December 15, 1984 as part of a four-stop extension of the Red Line from station to Shady Grove. The station is o ...
via
I-370, which only connects to I-270.
I-70 was planned to end at
I-95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, north to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the ...
in Baltimore, but, due to local opposition, it was only built to
MD 122. The section east of
I-695 is now
MD 570.
History
Besides being the first Interstate to receive a contract for pavement, other oddities happened with I-70 as well.
As first proposed, the western terminus of I-70 was to be
Denver
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
. Utah and Colorado, however, pressured the federal government to extend the planned freeway farther west, arguing a direct link between Denver and
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...
was vital for an effective highway system. The proposal was to follow what is now
US 6 west and connect to
I-15 at
Spanish Fork, Utah
Spanish Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem metropolitan area. The 2020 census reported a population of 42,602. Spanish Fork is the 20th largest city in Utah based on official 2017 estimates from the ...
. Federal planners, influenced by the military, agreed to extend the proposed route of I-70, but not to serve Salt Lake City; the military wanted to better connect
Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...
with the
Northeastern U.S. This led to I-70's constructed route through the San Rafael Swell terminating at Cove Fort. Many motorists include I-70 as part of their cross-country drives between
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
(which are accessible to I-70 via other Interstates).
Completed in 1992, the freeway through Glenwood Canyon Colorado was the last major section of freeway on I-70 to be completed and widely heralded as an environmental and engineering success.
As a result of
freeway revolts in the Baltimore area, I-70 was not completed east of
MD 122 to its planned terminus at
I-95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, north to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the ...
within the city of Baltimore, and it now ends at a four-way symmetrical stack interchange with
I-695, the Baltimore Beltway. Until November 2014, I-70 ended at a
park-and-ride lot at MD 122 as the freeway enters the city of Baltimore at exit 94. Commuters park on the pavement where high-speed freeway lanes were to be. The former freeway from I-695 to MD 122 is being converted into a two-lane parkway to be renamed Cooks Boulevard, maintained by the
Maryland State Highway Administration
The Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA, MDOT SHA, or simply SHA) is the state mode responsible for maintaining Maryland's Maryland highway system, numbered highways outside Baltimore. Formed originally under authority of the Maryland ...
.
The highway gave its name to the
I-70 killer, a
serial killer
A serial killer (also called a serial murderer) is a person who murders three or more people,An offender can be anyone:
*
*
*
*
* (This source only requires two people) with the killings taking place over a significant period of time in separat ...
who committed a string of murders within a few miles of it in several
Midwestern
The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
states in the early 1990s. No suspect has ever been apprehended despite the widespread publicity the murders generated, including their being featured several times on the television show ''
America's Most Wanted
''America's Most Wanted'' (often abbreviated as ''AMW'') is an American television program whose first run was produced by 20th Television, and second run is under the Fox Entertainment#Fox Alternative Entertainment, Fox Alternative Entertain ...
'' and ''
Unsolved Mysteries''.
John Allen Muhammad and
Lee Boyd Malvo, the duo responsible for the
DC sniper attacks, were apprehended at a rest stop on I-70 near
Myersville, Maryland, in 2002.
The
1985 World Series was a contest between the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
and the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
and won by the Royals. As these cities are primarily connected by I-70, the media has often called the series and the two teams'
interleague rivalry the I-70 Series.
Junction list

;Utah
: south-southwest of
Cove Fort
: north-northeast of
Sevier. The highways travel concurrently to
Salina.
: in Salina. I-70/US 50 travels concurrently to south-southwest of
Mack, Colorado.
: west of
Green River. I-70/US 6 travels concurrently to south-southwest of Mack, Colorado. I-70/US 191 travels concurrently to west-southwest of
Thompson Springs.
;Colorado
: in
Grand Junction
: northeast of
Palisade
A palisade, sometimes called a stakewall or a paling, is typically a row of closely placed, high vertical standing tree trunks or wooden or iron stakes used as a fence for enclosure or as a defensive wall. Palisades can form a stockade.
Etymo ...
. The highways travel concurrently to
Rifle
A rifle is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting and higher stopping power, with a gun barrel, barrel that has a helical or spiralling pattern of grooves (rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus o ...
.
: in
Chacra. The highways travel concurrently to
Gypsum
Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate Hydrate, dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, drywall and blackboard or sidewalk ...
.
: in
Eagle-Vail
: northwest of
Minturn. I-70/US 6 travels concurrently to
Silverthorne.
: north-northeast of
Keystone. The highways travel concurrently to east of
Idaho Springs.
: east of
Empire
An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
. The highways travel concurrently to east of Idaho Springs.
: north of
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...
: north of Evergreen. The highways travel concurrently to north-northwest of
Genesee.
: on the
Golden–
West Pleasant View line
: in West Pleasant View
: in
Arvada
: in
Denver
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
: in Denver. I-70/US 6/US 85 travels concurrently through Denver.
: in Denver. I-70/US 36 travels concurrently to
Byers.
: on the Denver–
Aurora
An aurora ( aurorae or auroras),
also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly observed in high-latitude regions (around the Arc ...
city line
: in Aurora. The highways travel concurrently to
Limon.
: in Limon
: east of Limon. I-70/US 24 travels concurrently to
Seibert.
: in
Burlington
: in Burlington. The highways travel concurrently to south-southwest of
Levant, Kansas.
;Kansas
: north-northwest of
Oakley
: in Oakley. The highways travel concurrently to
Topeka
Topeka ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeaste ...
.
: in
WaKeeney
: in
Hays
: south of
Russell
: northwest of
Salina
: in
Junction City
: in Topeka. I-70/US 75 travels concurrently through Topeka.
: in
Tecumseh
Tecumseh ( ; (March 9, 1768October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the Territorial evolution of the United States, expansion of the United States onto Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...
: in
Lawrence
: in
Bonner Springs. I-70/US 24/US 40 travels concurrently to
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City (commonly known as KCK) is the third-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As ...
.
: on the
Edwardsville–Kansas City city line
: in Kansas City
: in Kansas City.
: in Kansas City
: in Kansas City. I-70/US 169 travels concurrently to
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...
.
;Missouri
: in Kansas City. The highways travel concurrently through Kansas City.
: in Kansas City. I-70/US 71 travels concurrently through Kansas City.
: in Kansas City
: on the Kansas City–
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
city line
: in Independence
: in
Grain Valley. The highways travel concurrently to
Boonville.
: south of Marshall, Missouri, Marshall
: west of
Columbia. The highways travel concurrently to Wentzville, Missouri, Wentzville.
: in Columbia
: in Kingdom City, Missouri, Kingdom City
: in Wentzville
: in Bridgeton, Missouri, Bridgeton
: in Bridgeton
: in Berkeley, Missouri, Berkeley
: in
St. Louis
St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
;Illinois
: in East St. Louis, Illinois, East St. Louis. I-55/I-70 travels concurrently to northwest of Troy, Illinois, Troy. I-70/US 40 travels concurrently to Troy.
: in Collinsville, Illinois, Collinsville
: northwest of Troy
: northeast of Highland, Illinois, Highland. The highways travel concurrently to north of Pocahontas, Illinois, Pocahontas.
: northeast of Stubblefield, Illinois, Stubblefield
: in
Vandalia
: in Vandalia
: southwest of Brownstown, Illinois, Brownstown
: southwest of
Effingham. The highways travel concurrently to Effingham.
: in Effingham
: east-northeast of Marshall, Illinois, Marshall. The highways travel concurrently to Terre Haute, Indiana.
;Indiana
: in Terre Haute
: in Cloverdale, Indiana, Cloverdale
: in
Indianapolis
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
: in Indianapolis. The highways travel concurrently through Indianapolis.
: in Indianapolis
: in
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, a city in the United States
* Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...
. The highways travel concurrently to north-northwest of Campbellstown, Ohio.
: in Richmond
: in Richmond
;Ohio
: west-southwest of Lewisburg, Ohio, Lewisburg
: in Vandalia, Ohio, Vandalia
: northwest of Holiday Valley, Ohio, Holiday Valley
: southwest of
Springfield
: east of Springfield
: southwest of Gillivan, Ohio, Gillivan
: in
Columbus
: in Columbus
: in Columbus
: in Columbus
: in Columbus. The highways travel concurrently through Columbus.
: in Columbus
: in Columbus
: in Columbus
: in Columbus
: southwest of Gratiot, Ohio, Gratiot
: west-northwest of
Zanesville
: west-southwest of Norwich, Ohio, Norwich
: south-southeast of
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
: south of
Old Washington. The highways travel concurrently to west-southwest of Morristown, Ohio, Morristown.
: west-southwest of
St. Clairsville
: west of St. Clairsville
: east-southeast of St. Clairsville
: east-southeast of St. Clairsville
: in Bridgeport, Ohio, Bridgeport
;West Virginia
: on Wheeling Island. The highways travel concurrently to
Wheeling.
: in Wheeling
: in Wheeling
: in Wheeling
: in Wheeling
;Pennsylvania
: southwest of
Washington
: north of Washington. The highways travel concurrently to east-southeast of Washington.
: northeast of Washington
: in
New Stanton. The highways travel concurrently to southwest of
Breezewood.
: in Somerset, Pennsylvania, Somerset
: north-northwest of Bedford, Pennsylvania, Bedford
: in Breezewood. The highways travel concurrently through Breezewood.
: north of Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, Warfordsburg. The highways travel concurrently to Hancock, Maryland.
;Maryland
: north-northwest of Hancock. I-70/US 40 travels concurrently to south-southwest of Pecktonville, Maryland, Pecktonville.
: in Halfway, Maryland, Halfway
: south-southeast of
Hagerstown
: in Braddock Heights, Maryland, Braddock Heights
: in Ballenger Creek, Maryland, Ballenger Creek
: in
Frederick Frederick may refer to:
People
* Frederick (given name), the name
Given name
Nobility
= Anhalt-Harzgerode =
* Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670)
= Austria =
* Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria fro ...
. I-70/US 40 travels concurrently to West Friendship, Maryland, West Friendship.
: in
Ellicott City
: in
Woodlawn. Freeway continues as Maryland Route 570, MD 570 to
Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
city line.
Auxiliary routes
A breakdown of I-70's auxiliary routes follows:
* Interstate 270 (Colorado), I-270 is a short connector between I-70 and
I-25
Interstate 25 (I-25), also known as the Pan-American Freeway, is a major Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway, serving as the main route through New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. I-25 st ...
in Denver, Colorado. It also carries U.S. Route 36, US 36 along its entire length.
*
I-470 is a loop around the south side of Topeka, Kansas.
*
I-670 is an alternate route of I-70 in
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City (commonly known as KCK) is the third-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As ...
, and
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...
.
*
I-470 is a connector between I-70 and
I-435 in southeastern Kansas City and
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
, Missouri.
*
I-170 is a connector between
I-64 and I-270 in St. Louis County, Missouri.
*
I-270 loops around the St. Louis, city and county of St. Louis, Missouri. It is supplemented by Interstate 255, I-255 to the east.
*
I-270 is a beltway around Columbus, Ohio.
*
I-670 is a highway beginning at I-70 west of Downtown Columbus, Ohio, and terminating at I-270 in eastern Columbus that also provides direct access to
John Glenn Columbus International Airport from downtown.
*
I-470 is a southern bypass around Wheeling, West Virginia.
*
I-270 is a spur to
Washington DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
. It was formerly designated I-70S.
*
I-370 is a spur to Gaithersburg, Maryland, Gaithersburg and Rockville, Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, from I-270. It never connects to I-70.
* Interstate 170 (Maryland), I-170 was to have been a spur into downtown Baltimore, Maryland, but the short part that opened never connected to I-70 or to any other Interstate Highway. It was decommissioned in 1989, and
US 40 is the current designation for the freeway.
References
*
External links
*
Route of Interstate 70 overlaid on Google Maps{{Interstates
Interstate 70,
Interstate Highway System, 70
U.S. Route 40, 70