The 1,568-mile artery slicing through the American heartland

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Stretching from the Mexican border to the shores of Lake Superior, Interstate 35 is a massive north-south corridor. It is the third-longest of its kind, connecting major hubs like San Antonio and Minneapolis, yet its path has been shaped by local politics, farmer lawsuits, and unusual urban design.

Spanning 1,568 miles (2,523 km), Interstate 35 is a primary north-south artery in the central United States. It is the ninth-longest Interstate Highway overall and the third-longest in the north-south direction, trailing only I-75 and I-95. The route begins at a traffic signal in Laredo, Texas, just short of the Mexican border, and terminates in Duluth, Minnesota, at the intersection of Minnesota State Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East.

The highway's path has frequently been dictated by local interests rather than pure engineering. Wynnewood, Paoli and other Oklahoma towns secured a path near US 77 by leveraging Governor Henry Bellmon's warning that a toll road might be constructed instead. In Iowa, the highway's alignment was shifted in 1965 to bring it closer to Mason City, a move that sparked litigation from local farmers who objected to their properties being bisected into triangular shapes. This legal battle was not resolved until a November 1972 ruling allowed the project to proceed, with the final segment opening in 1975.

The infrastructure itself presents unique quirks. In Austin, Texas, the highway features an unusual at-grade railroad crossing. In Minnesota, the segment between MN 5 and I-94 was delayed until the late 1980s due to opposition from the historic Crocus Hill neighborhood, resulting in a 'parkway' design that bans trucks weighing over 9,000 pounds. In Duluth, the I-35/I-535/US 53 interchange is known locally as the 'Can of Worms' due to its complex layout of left exits and lane drops.

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