Covered bridges feel like windows into another era. Once common throughout the United States, only a fraction of these historic wooden structures remain today. Many are concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New England, though you can find memorable examples from California to South Carolina.
Some still carry cars across rivers and streams, while others have been preserved for pedestrians or simply admired from the roadside. Whether you’re planning a fall road trip, interested in American history, or looking for a beautiful place to photograph, these are 16 of the most beautiful covered bridges in the U.S.
Covered Bridges in the U.S. You Need to Visit
1. Humpback Covered Bridge, Covington, Virginia
Built in 1857, Humpback Covered Bridge is the oldest surviving covered bridge in Virginia. The 100-foot wooden structure crosses Dunlap Creek, rising approximately four feet higher at its center than at either end. That distinctive arch gave the bridge its memorable name.
The bridge no longer carries vehicles, but visitors can walk through it and enjoy the surrounding five-acre wayside park. Its location just west of Covington makes it an easy stop while traveling through Virginia’s Alleghany Highlands.
2. Bridgeport Covered Bridge, Penn Valley, California
Bridgeport Covered Bridge was constructed in 1862 as part of a toll road serving California’s mining communities. Located in South Yuba River State Park, the 225-foot bridge is recognized as the longest single-span covered bridge in the United States.
After closing for an extensive restoration project, the bridge reopened to pedestrians in November 2021. Visitors can now walk across the bridge and connect with nearby trails and historic sites within the park.
3. Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge, Colrain, Massachusetts
Colrain once had at least 12 covered bridges, but the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge is the last one remaining in town. Built in 1869, the 100-foot bridge uses a Burr truss design and crosses the North River.
After being closed to cars for several decades, the bridge reopened to local vehicle traffic following restoration. Its rural setting and traditional wooden construction make it a particularly scenic stop in western Massachusetts.
4. Gold Brook Covered Bridge, Stowe, Vermont
The Gold Brook Covered Bridge, often called Emily’s Bridge, is one of Vermont’s best-known covered bridges. Built in 1844, the approximately 50-foot bridge carries a single lane of traffic over Gold Brook and remains open to vehicles.
Its nickname comes from a local ghost story about a heartbroken young woman named Emily. Although the details of the story have never been verified, the legend has become part of the bridge’s identity. Historic construction, weathered wood and a quiet setting outside Stowe make it worth visiting even without the ghostly folklore.
5. Horton Bridge, Amnicon Falls State Park, Wisconsin
Horton Bridge spans the Amnicon River between the Upper and Lower Falls in Amnicon Falls State Park. The bridge uses an unusual bowstring design patented by Charles M. Horton, whose system relied on clips instead of bolts and rivets.
Originally located elsewhere, the bridge was moved to the park in 1930 and given its roof in 1939. Today, its woodland setting and proximity to the waterfalls make it one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks.
6. Roseman Covered Bridge, Winterset, Iowa
The 107-foot Roseman Covered Bridge was built in 1883 and still stands in its original location over the Middle River. It is one of the historic covered bridges that helped make Madison County famous.
Roseman Bridge gained an even wider audience through Robert James Waller’s novel The Bridges of Madison County and the movie adaptation starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. The bridge is closed to vehicles, but visitors can walk through it and view the structure up close.
7. Newfield Covered Bridge, Newfield, New York
Constructed between 1851 and 1853 for approximately $800, Newfield Covered Bridge spans the West Branch of Cayuga Inlet. At 115 feet long, it is New York’s oldest surviving covered bridge that remains open to daily vehicle traffic.
The bridge sits near the center of Newfield, south of Ithaca, and is easy to include in a Finger Lakes road trip. Drivers should pay attention to posted height and weight restrictions before crossing.
8. Sachs Covered Bridge, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Sachs Covered Bridge crosses Marsh Creek just outside Gettysburg. Built in the early 1850s, the approximately 100-foot bridge was used by both Union and Confederate forces during the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath.
The bridge has been closed to vehicles since 1968 but remains open to pedestrians. Its Civil War history, peaceful rural setting and reputation in local ghost stories have made it one of the Gettysburg area’s most visited covered bridges.
9. Cilley Covered Bridge, Tunbridge, Vermont
Built in 1883, Cilley Covered Bridge carries a single lane over the First Branch of the White River. The 66-foot bridge is one of several historic covered bridges found in Tunbridge.
The bridge was completely reconstructed with new lumber in 2009 while retaining its original king-post truss design. It remains open to local vehicle traffic, giving visitors a chance to experience a traditional Vermont covered bridge in use.
10. Short Covered Bridge, Cascadia, Oregon
Completed in 1945, Short Covered Bridge is one of the newer historic bridges on this list. The 105-foot Howe truss bridge crosses the South Santiam River east of Sweet Home and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Also known as the South Santiam River Covered Bridge, it remains open to vehicles and pedestrians. Its white siding and forested setting make it an appealing stop when traveling through Oregon’s Cascade foothills.
11. Wawona Covered Bridge, Yosemite National Park, California
Wawona Covered Bridge spans the South Fork of the Merced River inside Yosemite National Park. Galen Clark built the original uncovered bridge in 1857, and the structure was enclosed with a roof and siding in 1879 to protect its wooden components.
The bridge is now part of the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, where visitors can see historic buildings from different areas of the park. Because access and seasonal conditions within Yosemite can change, check current park information before visiting.
12. Sunday River Bridge, Newry, Maine
Sunday River Bridge was built in 1872 and is better known as Artist’s Bridge. Its nickname reflects its longstanding popularity with painters and photographers drawn to the classic wooden bridge and surrounding Maine landscape.
The bridge no longer carries vehicles, but visitors can walk through it. It is one of only a small number of historic covered bridges still standing in Maine and is especially photogenic when autumn colors arrive.
13. Campbell’s Covered Bridge, Greenville County, South Carolina
Constructed between 1909 and 1911, Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the last remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. The 38-foot pine structure crosses Beaverdam Creek in northern Greenville County, near Gowensville and Landrum.
The bridge is closed to vehicles and preserved as the centerpiece of a small public park. Visitors can walk around the property, view remnants of the former gristmill site and learn more from interpretive signs.
14. A.M. Foster Covered Bridge, Cabot, Vermont
Unlike most of the bridges on this list, A.M. Foster Covered Bridge is a modern replica rather than a surviving 19th-century crossing. Designed and built in 1998, it was modeled after the Orton Bridge, an approximately 1890 farm bridge that once crossed the Winooski River in nearby Marshfield.
The bridge sits on private farmland and crosses a small pond or ravine instead of carrying a public road. Its traditional construction and sweeping views of the Vermont countryside have nevertheless made it a favorite subject for photographers. Visitors should admire it from the public roadside and respect posted signs and private property.
15. Flume Covered Bridge, Lincoln, New Hampshire
Built in 1886, Flume Covered Bridge crosses the Pemigewasset River in Franconia Notch State Park. Its Paddleford truss construction and wooded setting make it one of New Hampshire’s most recognizable covered bridges.
The bridge is located along the route into the Flume Gorge attraction rather than at a typical roadside pull-off. Access may require admission during the operating season, so check current hours, ticket requirements and trail conditions before visiting.
16. Stark Covered Bridge, Stark, New Hampshire
Stark Covered Bridge has crossed the Upper Ammonoosuc River since 1862. The white, two-span bridge carries one lane of traffic and includes covered pedestrian walkways on both sides.
Its history includes a remarkable encounter with flooding in the 1890s, when the bridge was swept from its supports but remained largely intact and was returned to the crossing. Later structural work added a central pier and steel reinforcement. Today, the restored bridge remains a defining landmark in the small town of Stark.
Travel Without the Baggage
A covered-bridge road trip is better when you have room for the people and experiences that matter. Ship&Play can pick up your luggage, boxes and select sporting equipment from your home, office or hotel and deliver them to your destination. Ship ahead and enjoy the journey without hauling everything through the airport or packing it into the car.