| State-Named Roadways | |
|---|---|
 Streets named after states are in red | |
| Street names | |
| North–south streets: | Numbered |
| East–west streets: | Lettered, then alphabetical naming |
| Diagonal avenues: | U.S. states andPuerto Rico |
| System links | |
As the capital of the United States,Washington, D.C. has 51 roadways which are named after each state and the territory ofPuerto Rico. Many of these roadways are major avenues that serve as the city's principal traffic arteries. Every state-named roadway is an avenue except for California Street andOhio Drive.
While streets in Washington, D.C. are generally laid out in a grid pattern, the state-named avenues often form diagonal connections between the city's many traffic circles and squares as envisioned in theL'Enfant Plan for the city. However, avenues named for Arizona, Hawaii, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Puerto Rico connect to no other state-named roadways. Avenues named for Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin continue into neighboringMaryland, often as state highways, but none of the state-named avenues continue into Virginia. Most avenues exist in one or two quadrants, except forMassachusetts and Virginia Avenues, which travel through three of the four quadrants; it is geometrically impossible for a straight street to exist in all four quadrants, though they exist in multiple sections.
| Name | Quadrant(s) | Details | Total length (in the District) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Avenue | SE | Part-primary road and part-residential street which runs from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue inCongress Heights to E Street inBenning Ridge, following a winding path. | 5.0 mi (8.0 km)[1][2] |
| Alaska Avenue | NW | Secondary road runs from 16th Street to Kalmia Road and Georgia Avenue inShepherd Park, built in 1911.[3] | 0.8 mi (1.3 km)[4] |
| Arizona Avenue | NW | Secondary road that runs from Canal to Loughboro Roads inKent. One of four state-named roadways that does not connect to another state-named roadway. In 1947, SenatorCarl Hayden proposed to build a four-lane divided highway called Arizona Avenue through theGlover-Archbold Park, from Canal Street in Georgetown to Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights.[5] Hayden's proposed highway was not built; the path is now the Glover-Archbold Trail and the Massachusetts-39th Trail. Instead Weaver Street and Weaver Place were renamed Arizona Avenue in 1954[6] after a suggestion by theAmerican University Park Citizens' Association.[7] | 0.9 mi (1.4 km)[8][9] |
| Arkansas Avenue | NW | Secondary road that runs from 16th Street to Georgia Avenue / Gallatin Street, running along the border inPetworth andSixteenth Street Heights. | 1.0 mi (1.6 km)[10] |
| California Street | NW | Residential street inKalorama andEmbassy Row. The main segment runs from Massachusetts Avenue to Columbia Road, but another short segment runs from 19th Street to Florida Avenue, one block east from the main segment. The longer street was originally T Street until it was renamed in 1901.[11] The shorter segment was originally V Street until it was renamed in 1911.[12] There used to be a California Avenue located inBurleith.[11] | 0.7 mi (1.1 km)[13][14] |
| Colorado Avenue | NW | Residential street that runs from a cul-de-sac inCrestwood to Georgia and Missouri Avenues inBrightwood. | 1.6 mi (2.6 km)[15] |
| Connecticut Avenue | NW | Arterial street that runs from K Street inDowntown Washington toChevy Chase Circle, continuing north asMaryland State Route 185. The road runs for one block between H and I Streets, betweenFarragut andLafayette Square. | 5.0 mi (8.0 km)[16][17] |
| Delaware Avenue | SW,NE | Residential street that is one of the four avenues centered on theCapitol. The street has several intermittent segments: one runs in from Canal to H Streets inSouthwest Waterfront. Another section in the same neighborhood exists for one block from Washington Avenue to C Street in front of theRayburn House Office Building. A stretch north of the Capitol exists betweenConstitution Avenue andColumbus Circle. The trajectory is occupied byNortheast Corridor andRed Line tracks, except for one block between L and M Streets. | 0.9 mi (1.4 km)[18][19][20] |
| Florida Avenue | NW,NE | Major street in that was originally known as Boundary Street, the northern boundary of Pierre L'Enfant's original plan for the Federal City. In 1890, the city expanded beyond the borders of the original plan, and the street was renamed. The road runs from an intersection with Massachusetts Avenue and 22nd and Q Streets inEmbassy Row along a winding path due to the city's topography, until 9th Street where the road follows a straight trajectory. The road terminates at an intersection with H Street NE near the Starburst Plaza intersection inTrinidad. | 4.0 mi (6.4 km)[21][22][23] |
| Georgia Avenue | NW | A major north–south artery that carriesU.S. Route 29 in the District of Columbia and continues outside the District asMaryland State Route 97. Georgia Avenue begins inColumbia Heights north of Florida Avenue NW, which was the boundary of the Old City and is a continuation of 7th Street NW. Traveling northward, the street passes Howard University and Fort Stevens intoMontgomery County, Maryland, where it carries. The total length of the road is about 24 miles (39 km), of which 5 miles (8.0 km) are in Washington, D.C. Georgia Avenue was originally named 7th Street Extended, and later Brightwood Avenue, before receiving its present name. Prior to this, Potomac Avenue in Southeast Washington was called Georgia Avenue. | 5 miles (8.0 km) |
| Hawaii Avenue | NE | Residential street inFort Totten. Runs from North Capitol Street to Taylor Street NE along the athletic fields atThe Catholic University of America. One of four state-named roadways that does not connect to another state-named roadway. Built in 1939,[24] after a request from then-territorial delegateSamuel W. King.[25] | 0.6 miles (0.97 km) |
| Idaho Avenue | NW | Residential street inMcLean Gardens. Runs from Cathedral Avenue to Rodman Street. There is also a discontinuous dead-end Idaho Avenue off of Tilden Street. | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |
| Illinois Avenue | NW | Street inPetworth. Begins at Rock Creek Church Road, passes through Grant and Sherman Circles, and ends at Georgia Avenue and Longfellow Street. | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Indiana Avenue | NW | Street inJudiciary Square. Runs from 7th Street to 3rd Street. Previously ran from 12th Street, but portions were obliterated by theFederal Triangle complex. This street was originally named Louisiana Avenue. The original Indiana Avenue ran from 3rd Street to 1st Street and was demolished in the mid-1960s to construct the headquarters of theUnited States Department of Labor and theCenter Leg Freeway. A short, noncontiguous portion of Indiana Avenue near the intersection of First Street and C Street is all that remains of the original route. | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) |
| Iowa Avenue | NW | Street inSixteenth Street Heights. Runs from 14th and Emerson Streets to Georgia Avenue and Varnum Street. There is also a nearby stretch from Piney Branch Road to Gallatin Road near 16th Street. | 0.6 miles (0.97 km) |
| Kansas Avenue | NW,NE | A key thoroughfare that runs from throughPetworth. It begins at Eastern Avenue, then crosses Blair Road. Later it crosses Missouri Avenue before meeting Sherman Circle, where Crittenden Street, Illinois Avenue, and 7th Street intersect. It crosses Georgia Avenue, where it exits the Petworth neighborhood. After crossing 13th Street it ends at Spring Road, right near the northern part ofColumbia Heights. It runs parallel to New Hampshire Avenue. | 2.6 miles (4.2 km) |
| Kentucky Avenue | SE | A street that begins at East Capitol Street SE inLincoln Park toBarney Circle near Pennsylvania Avenue andI-695 toRFK Stadium. | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |
| Louisiana Avenue | NW,NE | The northern counterpart to Washington Avenue. Though only a few blocks from the capitol, was not in L’Enfant’s original plan. Runs from 2nd Street andConstitution Avenue toColumbus Circle. In the 19th century, much of present-day Indiana Avenue was named Louisiana Avenue. | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) |
| Maine Avenue | SW | A diagonal avenue that begins Independence Avenue and 17th Street, runs along theSouthwest Waterfront, has an interchange withInterstate 395, and ends at 6th and M Streets. | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) |
| Maryland Avenue | SW,NE | Along with Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey Avenues, Maryland Avenue is one of four avenues centered on theU.S. Capitol. It exists in several intermittent sections, including one running from 12th Street SW one block in a cul-de-sac in a development built over railroad tracks, from 7th to 1st Streets SW, in front of the Capitol, and as a major street running from 1st Street NE throughCapitol Hill and the Starburst Intersection toCarver Langston. The portion from Constitution Avenue NE to Bladensburg Road NE once carriedU.S. 1. There are plans to make the section along the railroad tracks continuous within the Federal Center Southwest neighborhood. Until 1992, an entrance to theNational Arboretum existed at the easternmost terminus of Maryland Avenue.[26] | 2.8 miles (4.5 km) |
| Massachusetts Avenue | SE,NE,NW | Major traffic-carrying artery. One of only two avenues in the District to go through three of the four quadrants and only state-named roadway to touch two of the District's borders. The largest segment begins at 19th Street SE in theHill East neighborhood, passes through many of the major circles and squares in Washington and runs alongEmbassy Row, before leaving Washington at Westmoreland Circle, where it continues into Maryland asMaryland State Route 396. This main segment runs 8.4 miles in Washington and an additional 2.3 miles in Maryland. A smaller segment (1.6 miles) runs east of theAnacostia River from 30th Street inGreenway to Southern Avenue. | 10 miles (16 km) |
| Michigan Avenue | NW,NE | Major street that begins at Warder Street near theMcMillan Reservoir, winds its way through theBrookland neighborhood past various hospitals and colleges, ending at Eastern Avenue in theMichigan Park neighborhood, where it becomes Queens Chapel Road (Maryland State Route 500). Formerly named Bunker Hill Road, after nearbyFort Bunker Hill. | 2.8 miles (4.5 km) |
| Minnesota Avenue | SE,NE | Major street that begins at Good Hope Road inAnacostia, runs parallel to theAnacostia River and theAnacostia Freeway, and ends at Sheriff and Benning Roads inDeanwood. A shorter segment (0.4 miles) exists near theDeanwood Metro station. | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) |
| Mississippi Avenue | SE | Street that runs fromSouth Capitol Street inCongress Heights to Southern Avenue in Oxon Run Park, generally parallel to Alabama Avenue. One of four state-named roadways that does not connect to another state-named roadway. Before 1908, it was named Hamilton Road.[27] | 2.4 miles (3.9 km) |
| Missouri Avenue | NW | Street that runs from Military Road and 14th Street inBrightwood to North Capitol Street and Riggs Road inPetworth. Until 1937, it was named Concord Avenue.[28] In the mid-19th century, Missouri Avenue was located near the Capitol Building.[29] | 1.4 miles (2.3 km) |
| Montana Avenue | NE | Street inLangdon that runs from Rhode Island Avenue to Bladensburg Road. There is also a discontinuous dead-end Montana Avenue off of Franklin Street, between 5th and 6th streets. | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Nebraska Avenue | NW | A thoroughfare that runs from Oregon Avenue inChevy Chase, passes several circles andAmerican University, and transitions to Loughboro Road at an intersection with Chain Bridge Road. Named Chain Bridge Road until 1906.[30] A short non-contiguous section, which lies southwest of the main route of Nebraska Avenue extends off MacArthur Boulevard NW and connects with Sherier Place NW. | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) |
| Nevada Avenue | NW | Street in Chevy Chase that winds from Western Avenue to Broad Branch Road. | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| New Hampshire Avenue | NW | Street in Northwest Washington. Begins at F St NW inFoggy Bottom outside theKennedy Center and continues to 15th Street NW and Florida Avenue NW inColumbia Heights. A second section, parallel to Kansas Avenue, runs from Park Road NW in Columbia Heights to Eastern Avenue NE inLamond Riggs, where it continues asMaryland State Route 650. The southern section is 1.9 miles, and the northern section has 2.8 miles in D.C. and an additional 20+ miles in Maryland. | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) |
| New Jersey Avenue | SE,NW | Along with Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, one of four avenues centered on the U.S. Capitol. Segmented into two sections: one runs from Florida Avenue inShaw, Washington, D.C. to Constitution Avenue outside the Capitol. The other runs between Independence Avenue and N Street near theNavy Yard. | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| New Mexico Avenue | NW | Street inWesley Heights. Runs from 42nd Street and Tunlaw Road to Nebraska Avenue. Named Tunlaw Street until 1906.[30] | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |
| New York Avenue | NW,NE | Major avenue whose main section runs from 15th Street near theWhite House into Maryland, where it becomes theJohn Hanson Highway. From 6th Street to Maryland, it carriesU.S. Route 50. A smaller one-block section exists on the west side of the White House inFoggy Bottom. | 5.3 miles (8.5 km) |
| North Carolina Avenue | SE,NE | Street that runs from E Street and New Jersey Avenue inCapitol Hill to 16th and C Streets inKingman Park. | 1.6 miles (2.6 km) |
| North Dakota Avenue | NW | A residential road inManor Park that is not as long or as heavily used as South Dakota Avenue. Runs from an intersection with Kansas Avenue and Blair Road to an intersection with Sheridan and 3rd Streets. Originally continued northwest to Georgia Avenue, but a Senate bill eliminated that portion in 1912.[31] | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) |
| Ohio Drive | SW | A road that loops aroundWest Potomac andEast Potomac Parks between theLincoln,Jefferson andFDR memorials. In the 19th century, Ohio Avenue was a street in the Federal Triangle area. Formerly Riverside Drive, the road was renamed Ohio Drive in 1950.[32] | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) |
| Oklahoma Avenue | NE | Street inKingman Park that runs from 21st Street to Benning Road. One of four state-named roadways that does not connect to another state-named roadway. | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) |
| Oregon Avenue | NW | Street in NorthChevy Chase that runs from Military Road, along the west side ofRock Creek Park to Western Avenue. Until 1938, it was named Daniel Road.[33] The original Oregon Avenue was in Shaw and was renamed Swann Street NW in 1938.[33] | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | NW,SE | Along with Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, one of four avenues that radiates from theU.S. Capitol. Forms theFederal Triangle and connects the Capitol with theWhite House, which is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The western segment begins at M Street inGeorgetown, runs in front of the White House, jogs at 15th Street, is interrupted by theU.S. Capitol, but continues intoSoutheast, crossing theAnacostia River over theJohn Philip Sousa Bridge into theFairlawn neighborhood. Pennsylvania Avenue continues about 2 miles toSouthern Avenue where it crosses intoPrince George's County,Maryland and continues asMaryland Route 4. | 6.1 miles (9.8 km) |
| Puerto Rico Avenue | NE | A short road along theMetro tracks which stretches for about five blocks from Taylor Street to the intersection of 6th and Buchanan Streets. At one time street signs named the street ""Porto Rico Avenue"". | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) |
| Rhode Island Avenue | NW,NE | A major artery that begins at M Street and Connecticut Avenue inDowntown, goes through Logan Circle, exits the District in Woodridge, and continues for a couple miles in Maryland. For much of its length, it carriesU.S. 1. | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) |
| South Carolina Avenue | SE | Street that runs from 2nd and F Streets into Independence Avenue,15th Street, and Massachusetts Avenue. | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) |
| South Dakota Avenue | NE | A thoroughfare in that runs from Riggs Road inLamond Riggs to at New York Avenue inFort Lincoln. A short non-contiguous section, which lies northwest of the main route of South Dakota Avenue extends off New Hampshire Avenue and terminates at a cul-de-sac. | 3.6 miles (5.8 km) |
| Tennessee Avenue | NE | The counterpart to Kentucky Avenue. The road begins atLincoln Park and ends at 15th Street. | 0.6 miles (0.97 km) |
| Texas Avenue | SE | Street inBenning Ridge that is segmented into three sections: from Ridge Road to East Capitol Street, from Nash Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, and from 29th to 27th Streets. | 1.4 miles (2.3 km) |
| Utah Avenue | NW | Street inUpper Chevy Chase that runs from 27th Street to Western Avenue. | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Vermont Avenue | NW | The counterpart to Connecticut Avenue. The road begins atLafayette Square, passes throughMcPherson Square in addition toThomas andLogan Circles, and ends at Florida Avenue nearHoward University. | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Virginia Avenue | NW,SW,SE | One of only two avenues to go through three of the four quadrants, which exists in several intermittent segments. One runs inFoggy Bottom from theRock Creek and Potomac Parkway to Constitution Avenue. Another section runs from 7th Street to 2nd Street, and one final section from South Capitol Street to 9th Street, alongside theSoutheast Freeway and the CSX tracks. | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| Washington Avenue | SW | Street which like its counterpart, Louisiana Avenue, is near the Capitol but not in L’Enfant’s parade. The avenue was originally occupied by a canal, but now runs from Independence Avenue and E Street, and serves as a connection between Capitol Hill and Interstate 395. At one time, it was called Canal Street, while a street named Washington Drive existed along a part of the National Mall. Along with Adams Drive, it was converted to a dirt path from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. | 0.4 miles (0.64 km) |
| West Virginia Avenue | NE | Street running from K Street NE to New York Avenue NE. It runs through theNear NortheastTrinidad andIvy City neighbourhoods. It forms the eastern boundary forGallaudet University and the western boundary forMount Olivet Cemetery. | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) |
| Wisconsin Avenue | NW | Major artery in that begins atGeorgetown Waterfront Park on the bank of thePotomac River then continues northward intoFriendship Heights, crossing into Maryland asMaryland State Route 355 (where it eventually changes names to Rockville Pike). Prior to 1906, Wisconsin Avenue was current-day 37th Street inBurleith.[30] In 1906, Tenley Road was renamed Wisconsin Avenue.[30] | 4.3 miles (6.9 km) |
| Wyoming Avenue | NW | Residential street inKalorama that runs from Kalorama Road to 18th Street. | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |