Engineering marvels that span waterways often become beloved landmarks that define cities and regions across America. While many impressive bridges are restricted to vehicles, some of our nation’s most spectacular spans welcome pedestrians, offering unique perspectives impossible to appreciate at driving speeds.
These walkable structures provide both practical connections between communities and unforgettable experiences for visitors seeking unusual vantage points. Here is a list of 19 remarkable bridges across the United States where you can travel on foot and experience their grandeur up close.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York
This pioneering suspension bridge has connected Manhattan and Brooklyn since 1883. It features a dedicated pedestrian walkway elevated above vehicle traffic.
Wooden planks beneath your feet contrast with the massive stone towers and steel cables that surrounds you as you cross the East River. The bridge’s elevated promenade offers spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, making it as much a scenic destination as a transportation route.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Painted in its distinctive ‘International Orange’ color, this 1.7-mile suspension bridge has defined San Francisco’s skyline since 1937. The eastern sidewalk welcomes pedestrians year-round, offering breathtaking views of Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the city skyline.
Fog frequently rolls through the strait below, creating dramatic scenes as the bridge’s massive towers emerge from cloudy surroundings.
Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie
Once a crucial railroad bridge, this structure was transformed into the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge at 1.28 miles long. Standing 212 feet above the Hudson River, visitors experience sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains and the river valley below.
The conversion from abandoned railway to pedestrian path represents one of America’s most successful infrastructure reuse projects.
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Mackinac Bridge, Michigan
While primarily for vehicles, this five-mile suspension bridge connecting Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas hosts an annual bridge walk every Labor Day. Participants cross the mighty Straits of Mackinac, surrounded by the blue waters where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet.
The single-day pedestrian event draws approximately 25,000 people for this rare opportunity to walk the mighty “Mighty Mac.”
Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado
Standing 956 feet above the Arkansas River, this bridge held the title of the world’s highest bridge for over 70 years after its 1929 completion. The wooden plank walkway stretches 1,260 feet across the dramatic gorge, offering heart-stopping views for those brave enough to peer over its edges.
Surrounding attractions include a zipline and aerial gondola that provide alternative perspectives of this engineering marvel.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Maryland
During special events, pedestrians can traverse this normally vehicle-only crossing that spans four miles over the Chesapeake Bay. The annual ‘Bay Bridge Walk’ transforms this crucial transportation link into a community celebration with thousands experiencing maritime views.
Walkers gain a unique perspective of the massive shipping channel and understand why locals call this region “where land and water intertwine.”
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Mile High Swinging Bridge, North Carolina
Located at Grandfather Mountain, this 228-foot suspension bridge hangs exactly one mile above sea level—not one mile from the ground. The bridge gently sways with both wind and foot traffic, adding a thrilling element to the crossing for visitors seeking mountain views.
Recently renovated with galvanized steel, the structure provides accessibility while maintaining its historic character.
Roebling Suspension Bridge, Cincinnati
This historic crossing of the Ohio River served as the prototype for its more famous sibling, the Brooklyn Bridge, both designed by John Roebling. The distinctive blue paint and Gothic arches create an architectural landmark connecting Ohio and Kentucky since 1866.
Pedestrians walk alongside vehicles on narrow sidewalks, experiencing this engineering masterpiece as travelers did when it first opened.
Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, Tennessee
This cantilever bridge spans the mighty Mississippi River with a pedestrian walkway offering views of Memphis and river traffic below. Walkers gain a unique perspective of the essential waterway that has shaped American commerce and culture for centuries.
The bridge provides a physical connection between Tennessee and Arkansas while offering expansive views of downtown Memphis.
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St. Johns Bridge, Portland
Gothic towers and green paint make this suspension bridge one of Portland’s most distinctive landmarks across the Willamette River. Pedestrian sidewalks run alongside vehicle lanes, providing access to scenic Cathedral Park located directly beneath the soaring western end.
The bridge’s design marries engineering requirements with artistic flourishes, creating a structure both functional and beautiful.
Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys
The original Seven Mile Bridge, adjacent to the current vehicle span, offers a unique walking path through the Florida Keys. Though partially dismantled, accessible sections provide unparalleled views of the turquoise waters surrounding this island chain.
The old bridge has become a fishing pier and sunset-watching destination for those exploring the Keys without a car.
Newport Bridge, Rhode Island
The longest suspension bridge in New England offers rare pedestrian access during the annual ‘Bridge to Fitness’ event each fall. Walkers traverse the 11,247-foot span across Narragansett Bay for spectacular views of Newport Harbor and the surrounding coastal region.
The single-day event requires registration and draws participants eager to experience this normally vehicle-only crossing.
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Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis
This former railroad bridge has been repurposed as a pedestrian and cycling path crossing the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls. The curved structure comprises twenty-three arches made from native granite and limestone quarried nearby, representing remarkable 19th-century engineering.
The bridge now anchors the historic Mill District, connecting recreational trails and offering outstanding downtown skyline views.
Kinzua Bridge, Pennsylvania
After being partially destroyed by a tornado, this former railway viaduct was reinvented as a spectacular pedestrian skywalk extending 600 feet into the Kinzua Gorge. A glass-bottomed observation area at the end allows visitors to look down 301 feet to the valley floor through the remaining structure.
The visitor center explains how this marvel of engineering shaped transportation history before becoming a unique scenic overlook.
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Omaha
This 3,000-foot cable-stayed bridge across the Missouri River connects Nebraska and Iowa via an S-curved walkway. The bridge gently sways as pedestrians cross, adding a subtle dynamism to the experience of spanning this mighty river.
Evening illumination transforms the structure into a ribbon of light across the water, popular with photographers capturing nighttime city views.
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Pulaski Skyway, New Jersey
During special events, this normally vehicle-only crossing opens to pedestrians, offering unique views of the industrial landscape that inspired countless movies and songs. The 3.5-mile cantilever bridge provides unprecedented perspectives of the Meadowlands, Manhattan skyline, and working waterfront below.
Occasional pedestrian access transforms this utilitarian structure into a temporary public space above the New Jersey Turnpike.
Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma
This modest structure across the Alabama River gained international significance as the site of ‘Bloody Sunday’ during the 1965 voting rights march. Today, walking across the bridge follows in the footsteps of civil rights pioneers who faced violence while peacefully demonstrating for equality.
Annual commemorative walks keep the significance of this historic crossing alive for new generations.
Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, Nevada
Adjacent to the Hoover Dam, this concrete arch bridge stands 880 feet above the Colorado River, offering pedestrian access along one side. The walkway provides spectacular views of both the historic dam and the river canyon that necessitated its construction.
Informational panels explain both the engineering challenges and the individuals commemorated by this impressive structure.
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The Honorable Tom Lantos Tunnels, California
While technically containing tunnels, this engineering marvel includes beautiful bridges with pedestrian access along the coastal cliffs south of San Francisco. The pathway offers dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean crashing against the rocks hundreds of feet below the California coast.
The connecting bridges between tunnel sections showcase how infrastructure can enhance rather than detract from natural beauty.
Connecting Places and Perspectives
These walkable bridges represent more than just physical connections between places—they offer unique viewpoints accessible only to those willing to cross on foot. Each structure reveals its surrounding landscape from perspectives that are impossible to appreciate from land or water alone.
In an era of increasing vehicle dependence, these pedestrian-accessible spans remind us that sometimes the journey itself becomes the destination when we slow down to experience infrastructure at walking speed.
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