Freeways or Highways? What California Actually Has

California has both: freeways and highways. In common usage, especially in Southern California, people often say “freeway,” but legally a freeway is a type of highway—specifically, a controlled‑access road with no cross traffic. The state’s network mixes fully controlled freeways, limited‑access expressways, and conventional highways under one system maintained primarily by Caltrans.

Terminology and Legal Definitions

California uses specific terms that sometimes get blurred in everyday conversation. The distinctions matter for design, access, and how you drive on them. Here’s how the terms are defined and used in California law and practice.

• Highway: Any publicly maintained road open to vehicular travel. This is the broad umbrella that includes everything from two‑lane rural roads to multilane interstates. In California law, “highway” is a very general term.
• Freeway: A highway with full control of access—no at‑grade intersections or driveways, traffic enters and exits via ramps, and cross traffic is separated by interchanges. Pedestrians and bicycles are generally prohibited unless specifically allowed in rural areas.
• Expressway: A limited‑access roadway designed for higher speeds but not always fully controlled; it may have some at‑grade intersections or signals. Many county expressways (for example, in Santa Clara County) fit this category.

In short, all freeways are highways, but not all highways are freeways. Expressways sit between the two in terms of access control and speed.

The Network at a Glance

California’s numbered routes fall into several families, each with familiar shield signs and differing standards. Understanding these categories helps explain why some corridors are full freeways while others are conventional highways.

• Interstate Highways (I‑5, I‑405, I‑10, I‑80, etc.): Federally designated, almost entirely freeway standard in California, typically 65–70 mph where posted.
• U.S. Routes (US‑101, US‑50, US‑395, etc.): Mix of freeway and conventional highway segments, depending on the corridor and location.
• State Routes (SR‑1, SR‑99, SR‑49, SR‑58, etc.): Vary widely—from urban freeways to rural two‑lane highways; upgrades often occur in segments.
• County Routes and Local Expressways: Locally managed corridors (e.g., Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara County) that can be high‑speed but may include intersections.
• Toll Roads and Express Lanes: Facilities such as SR‑73/133/241/261 in Orange County and managed lanes on I‑10, I‑110, I‑405, I‑580, I‑680, and US‑101 that control access and pricing to manage congestion.

Together, these elements form the California State Highway System and related local networks, giving the state both extensive freeway mileage and many conventional highways serving regional and rural travel.

How These Roads Look on the Ground

Because corridors evolve over time, many routes transition between freeway, expressway, and conventional highway standards along their length. The following examples illustrate the mix you’ll encounter across the state.

• I‑5: A backbone north–south interstate that is freeway‑standard virtually end to end in California, from San Ysidro near the Mexican border to the Oregon line.
• US‑101: Freeway through much of Los Angeles and the Bay Area but reverts to expressway or conventional highway in the Central Coast and North Coast.
• SR‑99: Historically a conventional highway, now a patchwork with long freeway segments through the Central Valley and ongoing upgrades in urban areas.
• SR‑1 (Pacific Coast Highway): Largely a scenic conventional highway with occasional freeway‑like sections near urban centers; numerous two‑lane stretches with at‑grade intersections.
• Santa Clara County Expressways (e.g., Lawrence, San Tomas, Montague): High‑speed corridors with limited access and occasional signals—faster than typical arterials but not full freeways.

These variations reflect funding priorities, environmental constraints, and local needs—why one stretch may be a full freeway while another remains a conventional highway.

Language and Culture: Why Californians Say “The 405”

In Southern California, it’s common to add “the” before a route number (“the 405,” “the 10”), a linguistic habit tied to the region’s freeway‑centric travel culture. In Northern California, people are more likely to say “101” or “80” without the article, though usage is mixed. Regardless of phrasing, both regions drive on a blend of freeways and highways.

What It Means for Drivers

Knowing whether you’re on a freeway, expressway, or conventional highway can change how you navigate, your speed expectations, and your safety decisions. Keep these practical differences in mind.

• Access and Crossings: Freeways have on‑ramps/off‑ramps and grade separations; expressways may have some signals; conventional highways intersect local roads directly.
• Speed and Flow: Freeways typically post 65–70 mph where conditions permit; conventional highways can be lower, with more speed variation due to cross traffic.
• Rules of the Road: Pedestrians and bicycles are generally prohibited on freeways (with limited rural exceptions for bikes); they are allowed on conventional highways unless posted otherwise.
• Signage and Shields: Interstates use red‑white‑blue shields, U.S. Routes use black‑and‑white, and State Routes use the green spade; exit numbers are standard on freeways.
• Tolls and Managed Lanes: Expect dynamic tolling and occupancy rules on express lanes (e.g., I‑110, I‑10, I‑405 in Orange County, I‑580 in the East Bay, US‑101 on the Peninsula/South Bay), with FasTrak used widely.

These cues help you anticipate ramps, merges, signals, and potential tolls, making trips smoother and safer statewide.

Policy and Recent Developments

Caltrans and regional agencies continue to balance mobility, safety, and climate goals. The Road Repair and Accountability Act (SB 1) funds maintenance and upgrades; regions are expanding managed lanes to improve reliability without full corridor widenings. Recent changes include new express lanes on corridors like I‑405 in Orange County (opened in late 2023) and ongoing expansions on US‑101 in the Bay Area, while many rural state routes remain conventional highways to preserve context and cost efficiency.

Bottom Line

California has both freeways and highways—and the difference isn’t just semantics. A freeway is a fully controlled‑access type of highway, while “highway” covers everything from interstates to two‑lane rural roads. Day to day, drivers will encounter a dynamic mix: full freeways, limited‑access expressways, and conventional highways, all integral to how the state moves people and goods.

Summary

California’s road network includes a blend of facility types. Freeways are controlled‑access highways with ramps and no cross traffic; expressways are limited‑access with some intersections; conventional highways include at‑grade roads ranging from urban arterials to rural two‑lane routes. Interstates, U.S. Routes, and State Routes weave these standards together, with growing use of express lanes in major metros. So, does California have freeways or highways? It has both—by design.

What are highways called in California?

Each highway is assigned a Route (officially State Highway Route) number in the Streets and Highways Code (Sections 300–635). Most of these are numbered in a statewide system, and are known as State Route X (abbreviated SR X). United States Numbered Highways are labeled US X, and Interstate Highways are Interstate X.

Why do Californians say freeway instead of highway?

Especially given the rapid expansion of the state highway system during the 1950s. And60s by 1964. Two developments convinced Southern Californians to refer to freeways. By number rather than name in

What is the difference between a freeway and a highway in California?

In California, a highway is the general category for a major public road, while a freeway is a specific type of highway with controlled access, meaning it has no intersections at grade, traffic signals, or crossings, and vehicles can only enter or exit using ramps. Essentially, all freeways are highways, but not all highways are freeways. Highways that are not freeways may still be designed for high-speed travel but will include features like stop lights, cross-traffic, or pedestrian crossings.
 
Highways

• Definition: A broad term for a major road used for travel. 
• Characteristics:
  • Can be found in rural or urban areas. 
  • May have traffic lights, cross-traffic, and pedestrian or bike lanes. 
  • Can have varying speed limits and a mix of functions, connecting smaller roads. 

Freeways

• Definition: A specific type of highway with fully controlled access. 
• Characteristics:
  • Controlled access: No intersections at grade; entry and exit are only via ramps. 
  • No traffic lights: Traffic signals are not used on freeways. 
  • Separated directions: Traffic traveling in opposite directions is typically separated by a median. 
  • Overpasses and underpasses: Vehicles wanting to cross a freeway must use an overpass or underpass. 
  • High speed: Designed for high-speed, uninterrupted travel. 
  • Often numbered: In California, freeways are commonly referred to by their number, such as “the 101” or “the 405”. 

Key takeaway: A freeway offers a faster, uninterrupted travel experience due to its controlled access, while a highway is a broader term that can encompass various road types, including those with at-grade intersections and traffic signals.

Does LA have highways or freeways?

An extensive freeway system serves the City of Los Angeles. The major freeways in the City are described below: Interstate-5, the State’s main north-south highway. It carries major volumes of truck traffic between Los Angeles and Washington, Oregon, and the Central Valley of California, San Diego and Mexico.