10 Bucket List Bridges to Travel

For some travelers, bridges can be a daunting obstacle en route to their destination. For others, these manmade structures can be among the many highlights of their journey.

Nonetheless, everyone can agree when a bridge becomes far more than a route to the other side. 

These 10 bridges stand out for offering a truly unique travel experience. 

Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened in 1952 as the world's longest continuous over-water steel structure and continues to intimidate travelers to this day, with businesses like the Kent Island Express taking advantage by offering transportation services for nervous travelers.

Deemed one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers, San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge opened nearly nine decades ago and was designated a California Historical Landmark 50 years later. The bridge is renowned for its beauty and is the most photographed in the world, drawing tourists from around the globe every year.

The Brooklyn Bridge will turn 142 next spring and is a monumental structure that is best experienced on foot. To make the most of your trek, start in the namesake borough and head into Manhattan to experience Times Square and bustling Broadway. Hamilton and other spectacular shows await travelers brave enough to traverse this singular bridge.

The Florida Keys' Overseas Highway is a spectacular drive and among its many highlights is the Seven Mile Bridge connecting Knight's Key in Marathon to Little Duck Key. The scenic bridge has been featured in movies, TV shows and even video games and is a bucket-list-worthy experience for anyone making the drive from South Florida to Key West.

Michigan is a strange state from a geographic standpoint. However, the Mackinac Bridge helps it make sense by connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas via a scenic route over the Straits of Mackinac connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

At over 26,300 feet long, this Great Lakes icon is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.

A tribute to General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr.—the first African American four-star general—this sensational bridge spanning Florida's Pensacola Bay lacks history as it was completed in the summer of 2023 but more than makes up for it with glorious views and stunning landscapes that make it a can't-miss landmark and prime location for running events and firework displays, among other activities.

Louisiana—known for its swamps— is no stranger to long bridges but the state's most iconic is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which boasts the distinction of being the longest continuous bridge over water, according to Guinness World Records.

The bridge—stretching nearly 24 miles across Lake Pontchartrain between New Orleans and Mandeville—will take drivers approximately 30 minutes to cross.

Head to Florida's Gulf Coast to travel the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay. This stretch of highway has a singular look only enhanced by the Florida sun. It also has an extensive history that includes multiple disasters. However, in the wake of recent major hurricanes, the bridge's perseverance mirrors that of the region, making it one of the more inspiring bridges to travel.

The London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona offers a bit of European history in the American Southwest. Originally built to span the River Thames in London nearly 200 years ago, the bridge was purchased in the late 1960s and cut and transported to Arizona. Pieces of the bridge even traversed the Panama Canal before arriving in Long Beach, California.

Jacksonville is a city of bridges, including can't-miss structures like the John T. Alsop Bridge, also known as the Main Street Bridge. It's the most recognizable lift bridge in the Florida city and is a crucial part of its singular skyline. Visitors can even experience a small replica of this bridge and others at the Cancer Survivor's Park of Jacksonville.