How Roads Are Named; The Difference Between An Ave, St, Ln, Dr, Way, Blvd Etc.

Ever wondered how types of roads are determined? There are many acceptable definitions for these, this is just one set, it is highly likely you have seen something different. Different places will have different rules on whats what or no rules at all. There are literally dozens of right answers to this. Almost all of these should really be affixed with "is usually" but because of how long this has gotten, It can't include every exception and variation.

*A road has no special qualifiers. It connects point a to point b.

*A street connects buildings together, usually in a city, usually east to west, opposite of avenue.

*An avenue runs north south. Avenues and streets may be used interchangeably for directions, usually has median

*.A boulevard is a street with trees down the middle or on both sides

*.A lane is a narrow street usually lacking a median.

*A drive is a private, winding road

*A way is a small out of the way road

*A court usually ends in a cul de sac or similar little loop

*A plaza or square is usually a wide open space, but in modern definitons, one of the above probably fits better for a plaza as a road.

*A terrace is a raised flat area around a building. When used for a road it probably better fits one of the above.

*A close is similar to a court, a short road serving a few houses, may have cul de sac

*A run is usually located near a stream or other small body of water

*A place is similar to a court, or close, usually a short skinny dead end road, with or without cul de sac, sometimes p shaped

*A bay is a small road where both ends link to the same connecting road

*A crescentis a windy s like shape, or just a crescent shape, for the record, above definition of bay was also given for crescent

*A trail is usually in or near a wooded area

*A highway is a major public road, usually connecting multiple cities

*A motorway is similar to a highway, with the term more common. No stopping, no pedestrian or animal traffic allowed

*An interstate is a highway system connecting usually connecting multiple states, although some exist with no connections

*A turnpike is part of a highway, and usully has a toll, often located close to a city or commercial are

*A freeway is part of a highway with 2 or more lanes on each side, no tolls, sometimes termedexpressway, no intersections or cross streets.

*A parkway is a major public road, usually decorated, sometimes part of a highway, has traffic lights.

*A causeway combines roads and bridges, usually to cross a body of water

*Circuit and speedwayare used interchangeably, usually refers to a racing course, practically probably something above.

*As the name implies, gardenis usually a well decorated small road, but probably better fits an above

*A view is usually on a raised area of land, a hill or something similar.

*A byway is a minor road, usually a bit out of the way and not following main roads.

*A cove is a narrow road, can be sheltered, usually near a larger body of water or mountains

*A row is a street with a continuous line of close together houses on one or both sides, usually serving a specific function like a frat

*A beltway is a highway surrounding an urban area

*A quay is a concrete platform running along water

*A crossing is where two roads meet


*An alley is narrow path or road between buildings, sometimes connects streets, not always driveable

*A point is usually dead ends at a hill

*A grove is thickly sheltered by trees

*A driveway almost always private, short, leading to a single residence or a few related ones

*Aroundabout or traffic circlecircle around a traffic island with multiple connecting routes, a roundabout is usually smaller, with less room for crossing and passing, and safer
*

These aren't hard and fast rules. Most cities and such redefine them their own way about what road can be called what.