Covered Bridges in America
America has 420 covered bridges still standing across 34 states. These historic wooden truss structures, some dating back to the early 1800s, represent an important part of American engineering and architectural heritage.
25
Before 1850
131
1850-1879
93
1880-1909
171
1910 & Later
Covered Bridge Locations
Click markers for bridge details. Most covered bridges are in the Northeast & Midwest.
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Oldest Covered Bridges
The oldest covered bridges in America date back to the early 1800s
Covered Bridges by State
Pennsylvania and Ohio lead the nation with the most covered bridges. Many states in the Northeast and Midwest have preserved these historic structures.
Top 20 Oldest Covered Bridges
Pre-Civil War structures still standing today, preserving centuries of American history.
| Rank | Bridge Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | C3010 is a 202-year-old covered bridge spanning MUDDY BRANCH in Vermont, built in 1824 during the Early Republic period, when covered bridge construction was just beginning in America. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #2 | RISHEL COV. BRDG. is a 196-year-old covered bridge spanning CHILLISQUAQUE CREEK in Pennsylvania, built in 1830 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #3 | ARLINGTON BLVD is a 195-year-old covered bridge spanning MAHONING RIVER E BRANCH in Ohio, built in 1831 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in poor condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #4 | WEST BATH ROAD is a 194-year-old covered bridge spanning AMMONOOSUC R NHRR(ABD) in New Hampshire, built in 1832 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #5 | MAIN STREET is a 194-year-old covered bridge spanning ASHUELOT RIVER in New Hampshire, built in 1832 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #6 | MILK HOUSE DRIVE is a 194-year-old covered bridge spanning DELAWARE CANAL in Pennsylvania, built in 1832 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. It is currently rated in fair condition. | |||||
| #7 | C2001 is a 193-year-old covered bridge spanning MAD RIVER in Vermont, built in 1833 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #8 | C3039 is a 190-year-old covered bridge spanning MILL RIVER in Vermont, built in 1836 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #9 | C2002 is a 190-year-old covered bridge spanning OTTAUQUECHEE RIVER in Vermont, built in 1836 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #10 | COOMBS BRIDGE RD is a 189-year-old covered bridge spanning ASHUELOT RIVER in New Hampshire, built in 1837 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. It is currently rated in fair condition. | |||||
| #11 | PARK ROAD is a 188-year-old covered bridge spanning NORTH FORK SALT CREEK in Indiana, built in 1838 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #12 | C2004 is a 188-year-old covered bridge spanning OTTER CREEK in Vermont, built in 1838 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in good condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #13 | NEW MARKET ROAD is a 186-year-old covered bridge spanning WARNER RIVER in New Hampshire, built in 1840 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #14 | C3026 is a 186-year-old covered bridge spanning WALLOOMSAC RIVER in Vermont, built in 1840 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #15 | C3008 is a 186-year-old covered bridge spanning WALLOOMSAC RIVER in Vermont, built in 1840 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. It is currently rated in fair condition. | |||||
| #16 | C3020 is a 186-year-old covered bridge spanning BLACK RIVER in Vermont, built in 1840 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in good condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #17 | WEHRS COVERED is a 185-year-old covered bridge spanning JORDAN CREEK in Pennsylvania, built in 1841 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #18 | C3006 is a 185-year-old covered bridge spanning OTTER CREEK in Vermont, built in 1841 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #19 | C3052 is a 182-year-old covered bridge spanning GOLD BROOK in Vermont, built in 1844 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
| #20 | CORBIN BRIDGE ROAD is a 181-year-old covered bridge spanning CROYDON BRANCH SUGAR R in New Hampshire, built in 1845 during the Antebellum era, during the early expansion of America's road network. This wooden truss structure features the enclosed design that protects its timbers from weather, allowing covered bridges to survive for centuries when properly maintained. Currently rated in fair condition, this bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |||||
About Covered Bridges
Covered bridges are wooden bridges with a roof and enclosed sides. The covering protects the wooden structural components from weather, significantly extending the bridge's lifespan from 10-15 years for an exposed wooden bridge to 80 years or more for a well-maintained covered structure. Most covered bridges use truss designs, with the roof and siding protecting the structural timbers from rain, snow, and direct sunlight that would otherwise cause rapid deterioration.
The golden age of covered bridge construction was the 19th century, when thousands were built across America to support the growing transportation network. Covered bridges served the turnpike roads, canal towpaths, and early rail lines that connected expanding communities. Local carpenters and timber framers developed regional building traditions, resulting in distinctive truss designs that varied by state and era. The Town lattice truss, Burr arch truss, and Howe truss were among the most popular configurations.
Today, approximately 800-900 covered bridges remain nationwide, with over 300 tracked in the National Bridge Inventory as public highway bridges. They are primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Oregon, and Vermont. Many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintained as local landmarks and tourist attractions. Covered bridge festivals draw thousands of visitors annually to regions like Parke County, Indiana (the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World") and Madison County, Iowa (made famous by the novel and film). Several states have active preservation societies that maintain historic covered bridges and occasionally construct new ones using traditional techniques.
How we identify covered bridges: We classify a bridge as "covered" if it uses wood/timber material (NBI code 7) and has a truss or arch design (NBI codes 09-12: deck truss, through truss, deck arch, or through arch). This methodology captures the traditional covered bridge designs while excluding modern timber structures with different configurations. Some covered bridges may be miscoded in the National Bridge Inventory or may have been rebuilt with steel trusses while retaining their historic appearance.
More Bridge Rankings
Data Source: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory 2024
Bridge inspection data is typically updated every 24 months. Conditions may have changed since the last inspection.
“Structurally deficient” does not mean a bridge is unsafe or likely to collapse. It indicates that one or more key structural elements are in poor or worse condition. Bridges are inspected regularly and may have load restrictions in place.
This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used for route clearance or vehicle weight decisions.