America's Five Widest Main Streets

Ranking the Broadest Main Streets

These five U.S. cities boast the widest streets named "Main Street," a legacy of 19th-century urban planning that anticipated future growth or accommodated railroad rights-of-way.

1. Boise, Idaho – 277 feet (84 m) wide
2. Grand Junction, Colorado – 234 feet (71 m)
3. Pueblo, Colorado – 200 feet (61 m)
4. Cheyenne, Wyoming – 194 feet (59 m)
5. Salt Lake City, Utah – 184 feet (56 m)

Historical Context

Many western towns platted extraordinarily wide main streets to allow ox-drawn wagons and horse teams to turn around without unhitching. Some, like Salt Lake City, followed Brigham Young's directive for 132-foot streets; others exceeded that for commercial prominence or railroad access.

Modern Use

Today, these expansive corridors often host angled parking, median landscaping, bike lanes, farmers markets, and parade routes, preserving their civic function while adapting to contemporary needs.