Highway vs. Expressway — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
A highway is a main road intended for travel between cities and towns. An expressway is a high-speed, limited-access highway designed for faster and more efficient travel, often with no traffic lights and restricted entry and exit points.
Difference Between Highway and Expressway
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Both highways and expressways serve as major roadways intended for long-distance travel, but they differ in design and usage.
Highways can have varying numbers of lanes and may include stoplights, intersections, and more frequent access points. Expressways, on the other hand, are specifically designed for higher speed limits and usually have controlled access, which means limited entry and exit points.
Highways often pass through both rural and urban areas, facilitating both local and long-distance travel. Expressways, however, are generally aimed at bypassing congested urban areas to allow for more efficient, faster travel between larger cities or regions.It is not uncommon for portions of a highway to become an expressway under certain conditions. For example, a highway may become an expressway as it approaches and bypasses a major city.
Generally, expressways are more likely to be toll roads, whereas highways are usually free. This is not a universal rule, but it tends to be a frequent characteristic. While expressways aim to facilitate high-speed, uninterrupted travel, highways serve a broader range of transportation needs, including local travel.
Comparison Chart
Design
Varies, can have stoplights
High-speed, no stoplights
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Access Points
More frequent
Restricted, limited entry/exit
Speed Limit
Generally lower
Higher
Area Served
Rural and urban
Often bypasses urban areas
Tolling
Less common
More likely to be toll roads
Compare with Definitions
Highway
Can have multiple lanes and stoplights.
The highway through town had several stoplights.
Expressway
A high-speed highway with limited access.
The expressway helps us avoid city traffic.
Highway
Often managed by state or federal agencies.
The highway is undergoing repairs by the state department.
Expressway
Often requires toll payments.
You'll need a toll pass for the expressway.
Highway
A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks.
Expressway
Usually has no stoplights.
The expressway allows for faster travel.
Highway
A main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities
The highway to success
A six-lane highway
Expressway
Meant for long-distance, uninterrupted travel.
The expressway connects several major cities.
Highway
A main public road, especially one connecting towns and cities.
Expressway
Generally has multiple lanes for each direction.
The expressway has four lanes going each way.
Highway
(historical) A road that is higher than the surrounding land and has drainage ditches at the sides
Expressway
An urban motorway.
Highway
A main public road, especially a multi-lane, high-speed thoroughfare.
Expressway
A major divided highway designed for high-speed travel, having few or no intersections. Also called freeway, limited access highway, superhighway, thruway.
Highway
(figurative) A way; a path that leads to a certain destiny
You're on a highway to greatness.
Expressway
A divided highway, especially one whose intersections and direct access to adjacent properties have been eliminated.
Highway
Any public road for vehicular traffic.
Expressway
A road built to freeway standards.
Highway
(computing) bus
Expressway
A road built for high speed traffic, but not up to motorway standards or designated a motorway.
Highway
To travel on a highway
Expressway
A broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
Highway
A road or way open to the use of the public, especially a paved main road or thoroughfare between towns; in the latter sense it contrasts with local street; as, on the highways and byways.
Highway
A major road for any form of motor transport
Highway
A main road for travel between cities.
We took the highway to visit grandma.
Highway
Serves both local and long-distance travel.
The highway was busy with both local and out-of-town traffic.
Highway
May or may not be a toll road.
This highway is toll-free.
Common Curiosities
Can a road be both a highway and an expressway?
Yes, portions of a highway can meet the criteria of an expressway.
Do expressways have stoplights?
Generally no, expressways are designed for uninterrupted flow.
Are highways usually toll roads?
Highways are less commonly toll roads compared to expressways.
What is an expressway?
An expressway is a high-speed, limited-access highway.
Can a highway have intersections?
Yes, highways can have intersections and stoplights.
Do expressways bypass cities?
Often, expressways are designed to bypass congested areas.
What’s the speed limit on an expressway?
Speed limits on expressways are generally higher than on highways.
Can local traffic use the highway?
Yes, highways often serve both local and long-distance travel.
What is a highway?
A highway is a main road designed for travel between cities and towns.
Who manages highways?
Highways are usually managed by state or federal agencies.
Can an expressway become a highway?
If an expressway gains intersections or stoplights, it may lose its expressway status.
What's the main purpose of an expressway?
The main purpose is to facilitate high-speed, long-distance travel.
Do all expressways require a toll?
No, but tolls are more common on expressways than on highways.
Are highways rural or urban?
Highways can go through both rural and urban areas.
Are expressways safer than highways?
Safety varies, but expressways often have design features aimed at reducing accidents.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
