Many of the diagonal roads in Washington, D.C., are named after U.S. states. Except for California and Ohio, every state provides the name for an avenue (California is a street, and Ohio is a drive). There is also a Puerto Rico Avenue. Many of these avenues are major traffic-carrying streets that connect the various squares and circles in Washington, per Pierre Charles L'Enfant’s plan for Washington, D.C. However, a handful of avenues (Arizona, Hawaii, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Texas) connect to no other state-named avenues. Several avenues continue into Maryland, often as state highways, but none continue into Virginia.
| Name | Details | Approximate length |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Avenue | Street in Southeast Washington, partially a primary road. Runs from Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE in Congress Heights to E Street SE in Benning Ridge, following a winding path rather than a straight diagonal path. | 5.1 miles |
| Alaska Avenue | Street in Shepherd Park in far Northwest Washington. Runs from 16th Street NW to Kalmia Road NW and Georgia Avenue NW. | 0.8 miles |
| Arizona Avenue | Secondary road in Kent, Northwest Washington. Runs from Canal Road NW to Loughboro Road, NW. One of a handful of state-named roadways that does not connect to another state-named roadway. | 0.8 miles |
| Arkansas Avenue | Street in Petworth and Sixteenth Street Heights, Northwest Washington. Runs from 16th Street NW to Georgia Avenue NW and Gallitan Street NW. | 1 mile |
| California Street | Residential street in Kalorama and Embassy Row, Northwest Washington. Runs from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Connecticut Avenue NW and Columbia Road NW. Another short segment runs from 19th Street NW to Florida Avenue NW, one block away from the longer segment. | 0.5 miles |
| Colorado Avenue | Residential street in Northwest Washington. Runs from a cul-de-sac near Rock Creek Park to Georgia Avenue NW and Missouri Avenue NW in Brightwood. | 1.5 miles |
| Connecticut Avenue | Arterial street in Northwest Washington. Runs for one block between H and I Streets, NW, then blocked by Farragut Square. Continues from K Street NW in Downtown to Chevy Chase Circle (passing under Dupont Circle), then continues as Maryland State Highway 185 into Aspen Hill. Continues for an additional 9.3 miles in Maryland. | 5.0 miles |
| Delaware Avenue | Residential street in Northeast and Southwest Washington. Along with New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, one of four avenues centered around the Capitol. Has several intermittent segments|one runs in the Southwest Waterfront from (0.6 miles)|a one block-long cul-de-sac north of D Street SW and Washington Avenue SW, and a 0.3 mile stretch between Constitution Avenue NE and Columbus Circle. North of Columbus Circle, the space where Delaware Avenue would have been is occupied by railroad and Red Line tracks, except for one block between L Street NE and M Street NE, where it runs concurrent with 2nd Street NE. | 0.9 miles |
| Florida Avenue | Major street in Northwest and Northeast Washington. Originally named Boundary Street because it formed the northern boundary of Pierre L'Enfant's original plan for the Federal City. In 1890, since the city had grown beyond the borders of the original plan, Boundary Street was renamed. The western terminus of Florida Avenue is at Massachusetts Avenue NW, 22nd Street NW, and Q Street NW in Embassy Row. From that terminus to 9th Street NW, Florida Avenue follows a winding path due to the city's topography. From 9th Street NW, Florida Avenue follows a straight line to its eastern terminus at H Street NE, near the intersection of 15th Street NE, H Street NE, Maryland Avenue NE, Benning Road NE, and Bladensburg Road NE in Trinidad. | 4.2 miles |
| Georgia Avenue | A major north-south artery in Northwest Washington, D.C. Within the District of Columbia, Georgia Avenue is also U.S. Route 29 and Maryland State Route 97. Georgia Avenue begins in Columbia Heights north of Florida Avenue NW, which was the boundary of the Old City and is a continuation of 7th Street NW. Traveling northward, the street passes Howard University and Fort Stevens into Montgomery County, Maryland, where it carries. The total length of the road is about 24 miles (39 km), of which 5 miles (8.0 km) are in Washington, D.C. Georgia Avenue was originally named 7th Street Extended, and later Brightwood Avenue, before receiving its present name. Prior to this, Potomac Avenue in Southeast Washington was called Georgia Avenue. | 5 miles |
| Hawaii Avenue | Residential street in Fort Totten, Northeast Washington. Runs from N Capitol Street to Taylor Street NE. One of a handful of state-named roadways that connects to no other state-named roadways. | 0.6 miles |
| Idaho Avenue | Residential street in McLean Gardens in Northwest Washington. Runs from Cathedral Avenue NW to Rodman Street NW. | 0.8 miles |
| Illinois Avenue | Street in Petworth. Begins at Rock Creek Church Road NW, passes through Grant and Sherman Circles, and ends at Georgia Avenue NW and Longfellow Street NW. | 1.5 miles |
| Indiana Avenue | Street in Judiciary Square, Northwest Washington. Runs from 7th Street NW to 4th Street NW. Was once longer, but portions were obliterated by the Federal Triangle complex. At one point, the street was once named Louisiana Avenue. | 0.3 miles |
| Iowa Avenue | Street in Sixteenth Street Heights, Northwest Washington. Runs from 14th Street NW and Emerson St NW to Georgia Avenue NW and Varnum Street NW. | 0.6 miles |
| Kansas Avenue | A key thoroughfare that runs from Takoma Park through Petworth. It begins at Eastern Avenue NE, then crosses Blair Road. Later it crosses Missouri Avenue NW before meeting Sherman Circle, where Crittenden Street NW, Illinois Avenue NW, and 7th Street NW come together. It crosses Georgia Avenue NW, where it exits the Petworth Neighborhood. After crossing 13th Street NW it ends at Spring Road NW, right near the northern part of Columbia Heights. It runs parallel to New Hampshire Avenue NW. | 2.6 miles |
| Kentucky Avenue | A street in Southeast Washington. It begins at East Capitol Street SE in Lincoln Park to Barney Circle near Pennsylvania Avenue SE and the spur of I-295 to RFK Stadium. | 0.8 miles |
| Louisiana Avenue | A street in Northwest and Northeast Washington, the northern counterpart to Washington Avenue. Though only a few blocks from the capitol, was not in L’Enfant’s original plan. Runs from 2nd Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW to Columbus Circle. In the 19th century, present-day Indiana Avenue was named Louisiana Avenue. | 0.4 miles |
| Maine Avenue | A diagonal avenue in Southwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., U.S.A. It begins at Independence Avenue SW and 17th Street SW, runs along the Southwest Waterfront, has an interchange with Interstate 395, and ends at 6th and M Streets, SW. | 1.2 miles |
| Maryland Avenue | Street in Southwest and Northeast Washington. Along with Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, one of four avenues centered around the U.S. Capitol. Exists in several intermittent sections, including one running from 12th Street SW one block in a cul-de-sac in a development built over railroad tracks (0.1 miles), from 7th to 1st Streets, SW, in front of the Capitol (0.6 miles), and as a major street running from 1st Street NE in Carver Langston (approx 2.1 miles). The portion from Constitution Avenue NE to Bladensburg Road NE once carried U.S. 1. | 2.8 miles |
| Massachusetts Avenue | Major traffic-carrying artery in Northwest, Northeast and Southeast Washington. Begins at 19th Street SE in the Barney Circle neighborhood, passes through many of the major circles and squares in Washington and runs along Embassy Row, before leaving Washington at Westmoreland Circle, where it continues into Maryland as Maryland State Route 396. The main segment runs 8.4 miles in Washington and an additional 2.3 miles in Maryland. A smaller segment (1.6 miles) runs east of the Anacostia River between 30th Street SE in Greenway to Southern Avenue SE. | 8.4 miles |
| Michigan Avenue | Street in Northwest and Northeast Washington. Begins at Harvard Street NW near Howard University, winds its way around various hospitals and colleges, and ends at Eastern Avenue NEin the Michigan Park neighborhood, where it becomes Maryland State Route 500. Formerly named Bunker Hill Road, after nearby Fort Bunker Hill. | 2.8 miles |
| Minnesota Avenue | Major street in Northeast and Southeast Washington. Begins at Good Hope Road SE in Anacostia, runs parallel to the Anacostia River and the Anacostia Freeway, and ends at Sheriff and Benning Roads NE in Deanwood. A shorter segment (0.4 miles) exists near the Deanwood Metro Station. | 3.5 miles |
| Mississippi Avenue | Street in Southeast Washington. Runs from South Capitol Street in Congress Heights to Southern Avenue SE in Oxon Run Park, generally parallel to Alabama Avenue SE. One of the few state-named avenues that connect to no other state avenues. | 2.4 miles |
| Missouri Avenue | Street in Northwest Washington. Runs from Military Road NW and 14th Street NW in Brightwood to N Capitol Street and Riggs Road NE in Petworth. | 1.4 miles |
| Montana Avenue | Street in Langdon, Northeast Washington. Runs from Rhode Island Avenue NE to Bladensburg Road NE. | 1.0 mile |
| Nebraska Avenue | A thoroughfare in northwest Washington. Runs from Oregon Avenue NW in Chevy Chase, passes several circles and American University, and turns into Loughboro Road NW at Chain Bridge Road NW. | 3.5 miles |
| Nevada Avenue | Street in Chevy Chase, Northwest Washington. Winds from Western Avenue NW to Broad Branch Road NW. | 1.0 mile |
| New Hampshire Avenue | Street in Northwest Washington. Begins at F St NWin Foggy Bottom outside the Kennedy Center and continues to 15th Street NW and Florida Avenue NW in Columbia Heights. A second section, parallel to Kansas Avenue, runs from Park Road NW in Columbia Heights to Eastern Avenue NE in Lamond Riggs, where it continues as Maryland State Route 650. The southern section is 1.9 miles, and the northern section has 2.8 miles in D.C. and an additional 20+ miles in Maryland. | 4.7 miles |
| New Jersey Avenue | Along with Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, one of four avenues centered around the U.S. Capitol. Segmented into several sections. One runs from Florida Avenue NW in Shaw, Washington, D.C. to Constitution Avenue NW outside the Capitol (1.6 miles), and between Independence Avenue SE and N Street SE at the Navy Yard (0.9 miles) | 2.5 miles |
| New Mexico Avenue | Street in Wesley Heights. Runs from 42nd Street NW and Tunlaw Road NW to Nebraska Avenue NW. | 0.8 miles |
| New York Avenue | Street in Northwest and Northeast Washington. Runs for one block in Foggy Bottom, and then from 15th Avenue NW near the White House into Maryland, where it becomes the John Hanson Highway. From 6th Street NW into Maryland, it carries U.S. Route 50. | 5.3 miles |
| North Carolina Avenue | Street in Southeast and Northeast Washington Runs from E Street SE and New Jersey Avenue SE in Capitol Hill to 16th and C Streets, NE in Kingman Park. | 1.6 miles |
| North Dakota Avenue | A residential road in Manor Park, Northwest Washington, D.C. It is not as heavily used as South Dakota Avenue, and it is not as long, only three blocks (0.4 miles). Its southern terminus is at the intersection of Kansas Avenue NW and Blair Road and its northern terminus is at the intersection of Sheridan and 3rd Streets, NW. | 0.4 miles |
| Ohio Drive | A road that loops around West Potomac and East Potomac Parks between the Lincoln, Jefferson and FDR Memorials. In the 19th century, Ohio Avenue was a street in the Federal Triangle area. | 5.1 miles |
| Oklahoma Avenue | Street in Kingman Park, Northeast Washington. Runs from 21st Street NE to Benning Road NE. | 0.4 miles |
| Oregon Avenue | Street in North Chevy Chase. Runs from Military Road NW, along the west side of Rock Creek Park, and ends at Western Avenue NW. | 1.7 miles |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | Along with Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, one of four avenues that radiates from the U.S. Capitol. Forms the Federal Triangle and connects the Capitol with the White House, which is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The western segment begins at M Street NW in Georgetown, runs in front of the White House, jogs at 15th Street NW, is interrupted by the U.S. Capitol, but continues into Southeast Washington, crosses the Anacostia over the John Philip Sousa Bridge. 2.6 mi in NW Washington, 3.5 mi in SE Washington, and 14.4 miles in Maryland. | 6.1 miles |
| Puerto Rico Avenue | A short road along the Metro railway in NE Washington. Strechs for about five blocks from Taylor Street NE to the intersection of 6th and Buchanan Streets, NE. | |
| Rhode Island Avenue | A major artery in Northwest and Northeast Washington. Runs from M Street NW and Connecticut Avenue NW in Downtown Washington, D.C., goes through Logan Circle, exits the District in Woodridge, and continues for a couple miles in Maryland. For much of its length, it carries U.S. 1. 4.7 miles in D.C. and an additional 1.7 miles in Maryland. | 4.7 miles |
| South Carolina Avenue | Street in Southeast Washington. Runs from 2nd and F Streets, SE in to Independence Avenue SE, 15th Street SE, and Massachusetts Avenue SE. | 1.2 miles |
| South Dakota Avenue | A thoroughfare in Northeast Washington, D.C. It traverses through Wards 4 and 5. It begins at Riggs Road NE in the Lamond Riggs neighborhood and terminates at New York Avenue NE in the Fort Lincoln, Washington, D.C. neighborhood. A short non-contiguous section of South Dakota Avenue NE extends off New Hampshire Avenue NE ending at a cul-de-sac. This segment lies northwest of the main route. | 3.6 miles |
| Tennessee Avenue | Street in Northeast Washington, the counterpart to Kentucky Avenue NE. Begins at Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. and ends at 15th Street NE. | 0.6 miles |
| Texas Avenue | Street in Benning Ridge, Southeast Washington. Runs from Ridge Road SE to Benning Road SE and East Capitol Street SE. | 0.8 miles |
| Utah Avenue | Street in Upper Chevy Chase, Northwest Washington. Runs from 27th Street NW to Western Avenue NW. | 1 mile |
| Vermont Avenue | Street in NW Washington and the counterpart to Connecticut Avenue. Begins at Lafayette Square, passes through McPherson Square and Thomas and Logan Circiles, and ends at Florida Avenue NW near Howard University. | 1.5 miles |
| Virginia Avenue | Street in Northwest, Southwest and Southeast Washington. Has several intermittent segments. One runs in Foggy Bottom from Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW to Constitution Avenue NW (1.1 miles), from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW (0.5 miles), and from S Capitol Street to 9th Street SE, alongside the Southeast Freeway and the CSX tracks (0.9 miles). The Watergate Hotel is on Virginia Avenue. | 2.5 miles |
| Washington Avenue | Street in Southwest Washington. Like its counterpart Louisiana Avenue, is near the Capitol but not in L’Enfant’s parade (A canal originally occupied the path). Runs between Independence Avenue SW and E Street SW, and serves as a connection between Capitol Hill and Interstate 395. | 0.4 mile |
| West Virginia Avenue | Street in Trinidad and Ivy City, Northeast Washington. Runs from K Street NE to New York Avenue NE. | 1.3 miles |
| Wisconsin Avenue | Major artery in Northwest Washington. Begins at Georgetown Waterfront Park on the bank of the Potomac River then continues northward into Chevy Chase, and then into Maryland as Maryland State Route 355. Runs for 4.3 miles in D.C. and an additional 2.6 miles in Maryland. | 4.3 miles |
| Wyoming Avenue | Street in Kalorama. Runs from Kalorama Road NW to 18th Street NW. | 0.8 miles |
Washington's state named avenues
Interactive map highlighting these roads