From coast to coast, America’s most-iconic bridges are drawing more than just traffic—they are pulling in travelers, photographers, and architecture buffs with their sweeping vistas and striking designs.
A new study by car rental company SIXT ranked 200 bridges from around the world based on visual appeal and tourist experience; bridges in New York and California dominated the top 20 rankings of bridges with the most-scenic vistas in the United States.
Topping both the U.S. and global rankings is San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a crimson icon known as much for its dramatic setting as its art deco towers. “The Golden Gate doesn’t just connect two shores—it connects city and nature, engineering and emotion,” said Georgia Fowkes, a travel adviser for Altezza Travel, told Newsweek.
Fowkes said: “I praise this bridge for the mix of scale and setting. Those two art deco towers look engineered for drama—solid steel holding its ground against cliffs, ocean, and wind. The towers echo the rhythm of the city’s skyscrapers.”
The rankings were based on multiple factors, including height, length, architectural significance, traffic volume, pedestrian access, parking availability, and popularity across platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
“Bridges connect more than just places—they bring people together, whether through shared experiences or breathtaking views,” Joseph Gerbino, head of communications for SIXT North America, told Newsweek.
The Brooklyn Bridge, second on the U.S. list, is no less iconic. With over 4 million Instagram posts, its Gothic arches and skyline views make it a centerpiece of New York City.
Justin Goldsberry, a public policy fellow with Leadership Newark, told Newsweek that bridges such as the Brooklyn and Golden Gate “don’t just get us from point A to point B—they connect us to history, culture, and even pop culture.”
“Since most bridges are built near water, you’re almost guaranteed a stellar view—and it gets even better when city skylines and architecture come into the picture,” said Goldsberry.
But, beyond the views, he added, bridges have a symbolic pull. Goldsberry said: “They invite us to pause, look around, and take it all in—sometimes even sparking our imagination about what lies ahead as we cross from one side to the other.”
In third place is West Virginia’s New River Gorge Bridge, which rises above a lush ravine in the Appalachian Mountains. The study praised it for offering “a peaceful and uncrowded experience,” ideal for travelers seeking dramatic natural scenery without the urban noise.
Fourth is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which connects Virginia Beach to the state’s Eastern Shore. Its unusual blend of bridge and underwater tunnel offers a dramatic transition from open sky to beneath the bay.
Bridges in New York dominate the list, such as The George Washington Bridge, which ranks ninth. Connecting, New York to New Jersey over the Hudson River, it is one of the busiest bridges in the world, but also one of the most visually compelling.
The Manhattan Bridge (ranking 11th), Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (14th), and Williamsburg Bridge (17th) all earned high marks for their skyline views and design.
Other regional favorites include the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (12th) in New Mexico, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (13th) in South Carolina, and Sunshine Skyway Bridge (15th) in Florida.
Top 20 U.S. Bridges With the Most-Iconic Views
- Golden Gate Bridge — San Francisco, California
- Brooklyn Bridge — New York City, New York
- New River Gorge Bridge — Fayetteville, West Virginia
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel—Virginia Beach to Eastern Shore, Virginia
- Mike O’Callaghan—Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge—Near Hoover Dam, Nevada/Arizona
- Mackinac Bridge—Connecting Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas
- Foresthill Bridge — Auburn, California
- Oakland Bay Bridge — San Francisco to Oakland, California
- George Washington Bridge — New York City, New York, to Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Glen Canyon Bridge — Page, Arizona
- Manhattan Bridge — New York City, New York
- Rio Grande Gorge Bridge—Near Taos, New Mexico
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge — Charleston to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Verrazano-Narrows Bridge — Staten Island to Brooklyn, New York
- Skyway Bridge (Sunshine Skyway Bridge)—St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, Florida
- Perrine Bridge—Twin Falls, Idaho
- Williamsburg Bridge — New York City, New York
- Benjamin Franklin Bridge — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Camden, New Jersey
- Phil G. McDonald Memorial Bridge—Near Beckley, West Virginia
- Sidney Lanier Bridge—Brunswick, Georgia
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