U.S. Route 191
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 191 is a spur of U.S. Route 91
that has two branches. The southern branch runs for 1,465 miles (2,358 km) from Douglas, Arizona
on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park
. The northern branch runs for 440 miles (708 km) from the northern part of Yellowstone National Park
to Loring, Montana
, at the Canadian border. There is an implied route through Yellowstone National Park to connect the two branches. The highway passes through the states of Arizona
, Utah
, Wyoming
, and Montana
.
The highway was designated in 1926 and its routing has changed drastically through the years. The modern US 191 bears almost no resemblance to the original route, which was primarily in the state of Idaho
. Most of the current route of US 191 was formed in 1981. Since the extensions in the 1980s and 90s, U.S. Route 191 is longer than its parent route, and one of the longest U.S. three-digit routes.
|AZ
|491.07
|790.30
|-
|UT
|404.17
|650.45
|-
|WY
|290.91
|468.45
|-
|MT
|437.82
|705.02
|}
border in Douglas
. US 191 has a 10 miles (16.1 km) layover with US 70 east of Safford
. The route links to AZ 366
and AZ 266
to the south of Safford. US 191 intersects Interstate 10
in Cochise County
. The route between Springerville
and Morenci
was designated a National Scenic Byway
and given the name of Coronado Trail Scenic Byway, as this approximates the path taken by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
between 1540 and 1542. This is a very dangerous mountain road with many sharp curves and little or no shoulders on steep cliffs. The highway is the primary route to access Canyon de Chelly National Monument
. US 191 traverses the Navajo Nation
before entering Utah.
. The highway passes through mostly desolate areas of eastern Utah
. Several portions are National
or Utah Scenic Byways. It passes through Moab
, the largest city in southeastern Utah and the seat of Grand County
. In addition to linking many rural towns in Utah to Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40, the highway served to interconnect several national and state parks for tourism. The highway exits Utah just after crossing the Flaming Gorge Reservoir
.
. The route proceeds north through rugged desert country following an alignment mostly constructed during the 1970s, to a junction with Interstate 80 at Exit 99, just west of Rock Springs
. This segment of the route is known locally as "East Flaming Gorge Road."
The route is then concurrent
with Interstate 80 eastward for approximately 5 miles (8 km), passing just north of Rock Springs. US 191 diverges northward at Exit 104, following the former route of US 187. Traveling through high desert country, the route passes through Eden
, Farson
, and Pinedale
before meeting US 189 at Daniel Junction. Continuing north, the road traverses increasingly mountainous terrain, entering the Bridger-Teton National Forest
and passing through the small community of Bondurant
before descending through the narrow Hoback River Canyon to an intersection with US 26 and US 89 at Hoback Junction. The route than follows the Snake River
valley northward to Jackson
. US 191 is concurrent with US 189 between Daniel Junction and Jackson, and with US 26 and US 89 between Hoback Junction and Jackson.
North of Jackson, US 191 soon enters Grand Teton National Park
, running concurrently with US 26 and US 89. The highway meets US 287 at Moran Junction, inside the park; US 191, US 89, and US 287 are concurrent north of Moran, but the highways are not signed. Continuing through forested, mountainous country, the route passes through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
, and then enters Yellowstone National Park
at the park's South Entrance. No official routing of US 191 through Yellowstone has been designated.
canyon. The route travels northward through the narrow canyon, past the resort community of Big Sky
, before entering the Gallatin Valley near the town of Gallatin Gateway, Montana. US 191 travels north and east through the valley to the city of Bozeman. Bozeman, with a 2000 census population of 29,459, is the largest city on the entire US 191 route.
From Bozeman, US 191 is concurrent with Interstate 90
eastward 58 miles (93.3 km) to Big Timber, where it proceeds north. The road travels through hilly ranch country near the eastern edge of the Crazy Mountains
to Harlowton
, where US 191 is briefly concurrent with US 12
. North of Harlowton, US 191 is concurrent with Montana Highway 3 for 37 miles (59.5 km), to Eddie's Corner. US 191 proceeds eastward from Eddie's Corner to Lewistown
, on a roadway shared with US 87
and Montana 200
. Interestingly, each of the three routes here is signed with a different compass direction—traveling towards Lewistown, US 191 is northbound, US 87 is southbound, and Montana 200 is eastbound.
US 191 reaches the Canadian
Border after going through Lewistown, across the Missouri River
at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
, and through Malta. Its northern terminus at the international border is called Port Morgan, and the road continues into Canada as Saskatchewan Highway 4
, toward Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
, to West Yellowstone, Montana
along the route now numbered U.S. Route 20
. West Yellowstone is the only town that has been continuously served by the highway since its commissioning. As US 191 has mostly been extended while US 91 has largely been truncated, US 191 is now ten times longer than its parent.
At one time US 191 connected to its parent, US 91
, twice: at Idaho Falls, Idaho
and Brigham City, Utah
. Today the highway does not connect to its parent, or even enter Idaho. In Utah, there have been 2 completely different iterations of U.S. 191 serving different areas of the state. The original iteration is now State Route 13
, which is mostly a frontage road
for Interstate 15
.
and extension of other U.S. Highway designations, US 191 had been truncated to a route between West Yellowstone and Malta, Montana
. Utah
and Wyoming
lobbied AASHTO to create a single highway that would connect several National Parks in their states to facilitate tourism. The initial proposal was to extend U.S. Route 163
north into Wyoming. However it was later decided to add Arizona
to this proposal for a new highway and instead extend US 191 south. Most of the southern extension recycled existing U.S. and state highways. However, some new sections were constructed. When the 1981 extension was finished, US 191 reached Interstate 40
in Arizona.
In Wyoming, the new US 191 absorbed what was U.S. Route 187, formed in 1926 as a branch from US 87W (now US 287) at Jackson Lake Junction, Wyoming south to US 30 in Rock Springs. Although it became part of US 191 in 1981, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
still lists it in their latest log (1989), with a short independent section in Rock Springs between former US 30 (now US 30 Business) and I-80.
A combination of new construction and the upgrading of county roads created a more direct route between Interstate 80 in Wyoming and Flaming Gorge Reservoir
.
Through Utah, US-191 absorbed SR-33, SR-260, and most of SR-44. From Crescent Junction
to Bluff
was previously numbered U.S. Route 163, eliminating all but a short segment of that route.
A new route was constructed for US 191 from Bluff, Utah
to a junction with U.S. Route 160
in Arizona.
The 1981 extension caused US 191 to enter Arizona for the first time in its history. Between US 160 and I-40 the highway absorbed the route of former State Route 63.
requested a new number for its portion of U.S. Route 666, arguing the road signs on this highway were the most frequently stolen in the state. As a result, US 191 was extended again to the Mexican border at Douglas, Arizona
. In 1996 it became the latest U.S. highway to run from border to border, with the extension from Malta, Montana
to the Canadian border, absorbing former Montana Secondary Highway 242. In 2003 New Mexico
asked AASHTO to renumber its portion of US 666. This time all of then US 666 was renumbered U.S. Route 491
, the x91 number was decided because the road meets US 191 in Monticello, Utah
.
U.S. Route 91
U.S. Route 91 is a north–south United States highway. The highway currently serves as a connection between the Cache Valley area of Utah and Idaho to the Salt Lake and Idaho Falls population centers. Prior the mid-1970s, U.S. 91 was an international commerce route from Long Beach, California...
that has two branches. The southern branch runs for 1,465 miles (2,358 km) from Douglas, Arizona
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. The northern branch runs for 440 miles (708 km) from the northern part of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
to Loring, Montana
Loring, Montana
Loring is an unincorporated community in Phillips County, Montana, United States. Loring is located on U.S. Route 191 north of Malta. Loring has a post office with ZIP code 59537....
, at the Canadian border. There is an implied route through Yellowstone National Park to connect the two branches. The highway passes through the states of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
The highway was designated in 1926 and its routing has changed drastically through the years. The modern US 191 bears almost no resemblance to the original route, which was primarily in the state of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Most of the current route of US 191 was formed in 1981. Since the extensions in the 1980s and 90s, U.S. Route 191 is longer than its parent route, and one of the longest U.S. three-digit routes.
Route description
|-|AZ
|491.07
|790.30
|-
|UT
|404.17
|650.45
|-
|WY
|290.91
|468.45
|-
|MT
|437.82
|705.02
|}
Arizona
US 191 begins near the MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border in Douglas
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
. US 191 has a 10 miles (16.1 km) layover with US 70 east of Safford
Safford, Arizona
- History :Safford was founded by Joshua Eaton Bailey, Hiram Kennedy and Edward Tuttle, who came from Gila Bend, in southwestern Arizona. They left Gila Bend in the winter of 1873-74; their work on canals and dams having been destroyed by high water the previous summer...
. The route links to AZ 366
Arizona State Route 366
State Route 366 is a highway in Graham County, Arizona that runs from its junction with US 191 south of Safford to near the summit of Mount Graham...
and AZ 266
Arizona State Route 266
State Route 266 is a highway in Graham County, Arizona that runs from its junction with US 191 south of Safford to Fort Grant. It is an east–west route.-Route description:...
to the south of Safford. US 191 intersects Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
in Cochise County
Cochise County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. The route between Springerville
Springerville, Arizona
Springerville is a town in Apache County, Arizona, United States within the White Mountains. Its postal ZIP code is 85938. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 1,956.Springerville sits at an elevation of 6,974 feet...
and Morenci
Morenci, Arizona
Morenci is a census-designated place in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,879 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area...
was designated a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
and given the name of Coronado Trail Scenic Byway, as this approximates the path taken by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján was a Spanish conquistador, who visited New Mexico and other parts of what are now the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542...
between 1540 and 1542. This is a very dangerous mountain road with many sharp curves and little or no shoulders on steep cliffs. The highway is the primary route to access Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established on April 1, 1931 as a unit of the National Park Service. It is located in northeastern Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation...
. US 191 traverses the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
before entering Utah.
Utah
US 191 serves the eastern half of the state. The road enters Utah in a remote portion of the Navajo NationNavajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
. The highway passes through mostly desolate areas of eastern Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Several portions are National
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
or Utah Scenic Byways. It passes through Moab
Moab, Utah
Moab is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, in the western United States. The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks...
, the largest city in southeastern Utah and the seat of Grand County
Grand County, Utah
Grand County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 8,485, and by 2005 had been estimated at 8,743. It was named for the Colorado River, which at the time of statehood was known as the Grand River. Its county seat and largest city is Moab.-Geography:According...
. In addition to linking many rural towns in Utah to Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40, the highway served to interconnect several national and state parks for tourism. The highway exits Utah just after crossing the Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a reservoir in Wyoming and Utah, on the Green River, created by Flaming Gorge Dam. Construction on the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964...
.
Wyoming
US 191 enters Wyoming near a geographical feature known as Minnie's Gap, just east of Flaming Gorge National Recreation AreaFlaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a reservoir in Wyoming and Utah, on the Green River, created by Flaming Gorge Dam. Construction on the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964...
. The route proceeds north through rugged desert country following an alignment mostly constructed during the 1970s, to a junction with Interstate 80 at Exit 99, just west of Rock Springs
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 18,708 at the 2000 census. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 37,975....
. This segment of the route is known locally as "East Flaming Gorge Road."
The route is then concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with Interstate 80 eastward for approximately 5 miles (8 km), passing just north of Rock Springs. US 191 diverges northward at Exit 104, following the former route of US 187. Traveling through high desert country, the route passes through Eden
Eden, Wyoming
Eden is a census-designated place in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 388 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Eden is located at ....
, Farson
Farson, Wyoming
Farson is a census-designated place in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Farson is located at ....
, and Pinedale
Pinedale, Wyoming
Pinedale is a town in and the county seat of Sublette County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,412 at the 2000 census. Pinedale is an important hunting outfitting town and a gateway to the Wind River Mountains. It is also a major gateway to the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming. Pinedale is...
before meeting US 189 at Daniel Junction. Continuing north, the road traverses increasingly mountainous terrain, entering the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest is located in western Wyoming, United States. The forest consists of , making it the second largest National Forest outside of Alaska. The forest stretches from Yellowstone National Park, along the eastern boundary of Grand Teton National Park and from there rides...
and passing through the small community of Bondurant
Bondurant, Wyoming
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155 people, 75 households, and 45 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2.0 people per square mile . There were 128 housing units at an average density of 1.6/sq mi . The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.06% White, 1.94% from...
before descending through the narrow Hoback River Canyon to an intersection with US 26 and US 89 at Hoback Junction. The route than follows the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
valley northward to Jackson
Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson is a town located in the Jackson Hole valley of Teton County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 8,647 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Teton County....
. US 191 is concurrent with US 189 between Daniel Junction and Jackson, and with US 26 and US 89 between Hoback Junction and Jackson.
North of Jackson, US 191 soon enters Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
, running concurrently with US 26 and US 89. The highway meets US 287 at Moran Junction, inside the park; US 191, US 89, and US 287 are concurrent north of Moran, but the highways are not signed. Continuing through forested, mountainous country, the route passes through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is a scenic road that connects Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. It is federally owned and managed by the National Park Service. It is named in remembrance of John D...
, and then enters Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
at the park's South Entrance. No official routing of US 191 through Yellowstone has been designated.
Montana
US 191 in Montana begins at the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, at the edge of the town of West Yellowstone. The highway heads north, running concurrently with US 287 for eight miles (13 km) before veering slightly east and re-entering Yellowstone. US 191 continues northward through Yellowstone, traversing forested, mountainous terrain and briefly looping into the state of Wyoming, before leaving the park in the upper reaches of the Gallatin RiverGallatin River
The Gallatin River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 120 mi , in the U.S. states of Wyoming and Montana...
canyon. The route travels northward through the narrow canyon, past the resort community of Big Sky
Big Sky, Montana
Big Sky is a census-designated place in Gallatin and Madison counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. This unincorporated community straddles the two counties, is not considered a town, and has no town government. The primary industry of the area is tourism.Big Sky is...
, before entering the Gallatin Valley near the town of Gallatin Gateway, Montana. US 191 travels north and east through the valley to the city of Bozeman. Bozeman, with a 2000 census population of 29,459, is the largest city on the entire US 191 route.
From Bozeman, US 191 is concurrent with Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
eastward 58 miles (93.3 km) to Big Timber, where it proceeds north. The road travels through hilly ranch country near the eastern edge of the Crazy Mountains
Crazy Mountains
The Crazy Mountains, often called the Crazies, are a mountain range in the northern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana.-Geography:...
to Harlowton
Harlowton, Montana
Harlowton is a city in and the county seat of Wheatland County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census. The city was once the eastern terminus of electric operations of the Milwaukee Road railroad's "Pacific Extension" route, which went all the way to Avery, Idaho. ...
, where US 191 is briefly concurrent with US 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
. North of Harlowton, US 191 is concurrent with Montana Highway 3 for 37 miles (59.5 km), to Eddie's Corner. US 191 proceeds eastward from Eddie's Corner to Lewistown
Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
, on a roadway shared with US 87
U.S. Route 87
U.S. Highway 87 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,998 miles from northern Montana to southern Texas. Most of the portion from Billings, Montana, to Raton, New Mexico, is co-signed along Interstates 90 and 25...
and Montana 200
Montana Highway 200
Highway 200 in the U.S. State of Montana is a route running westerly covering the entire state of Montana, from the starting point of ND 200 near Fairview, Montana to ID 200, near Heron, Montana...
. Interestingly, each of the three routes here is signed with a different compass direction—traveling towards Lewistown, US 191 is northbound, US 87 is southbound, and Montana 200 is eastbound.
US 191 reaches the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Border after going through Lewistown, across the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Reservoir and at 1,100,000 acres is the largest refuge in Montana, United States. Created in 1936, the refuge was named after famed painter of the American West, Charles M. Russell...
, and through Malta. Its northern terminus at the international border is called Port Morgan, and the road continues into Canada as Saskatchewan Highway 4
Saskatchewan Highway 4
Highway 4 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from U.S. Route 191 at the United States border near Monchy to Highway 224/Highway 904 at Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Highway 4 is about 653 km long....
, toward Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Background
The routing of US 191 has drastically changed through the years having been extended and shortened several times. The original route designated in 1926 ran from Idaho Falls, IdahoIdaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
, to West Yellowstone, Montana
West Yellowstone, Montana
West Yellowstone is a town in Gallatin County, Montana, adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. The population was 1,177 at the 2000 census. The town is served by Yellowstone Airport...
along the route now numbered U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
. West Yellowstone is the only town that has been continuously served by the highway since its commissioning. As US 191 has mostly been extended while US 91 has largely been truncated, US 191 is now ten times longer than its parent.
At one time US 191 connected to its parent, US 91
U.S. Route 91
U.S. Route 91 is a north–south United States highway. The highway currently serves as a connection between the Cache Valley area of Utah and Idaho to the Salt Lake and Idaho Falls population centers. Prior the mid-1970s, U.S. 91 was an international commerce route from Long Beach, California...
, twice: at Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
and Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 17,899 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon...
. Today the highway does not connect to its parent, or even enter Idaho. In Utah, there have been 2 completely different iterations of U.S. 191 serving different areas of the state. The original iteration is now State Route 13
Utah State Route 13
State Route 13 is a state highway in northern Utah, running parallel to I-15 in Box Elder County from Brigham City to Riverside. Most of SR-13 is a former routing of U.S...
, which is mostly a frontage road
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
for Interstate 15
Interstate 15 in Utah
In the U.S. state of Utah, Interstate 15 runs north–south through the southwestern and central portions of the state, passing through many of the population centers of that state, including St. George, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, the latter three being part of the urban area known as...
.
1981 extension
By 1981, due to the construction of Interstate 15Interstate 15
Interstate 15 is the fourth-longest north–south Interstate Highway in the United States, traveling through the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Montana from San Diego to the Canadian border...
and extension of other U.S. Highway designations, US 191 had been truncated to a route between West Yellowstone and Malta, Montana
Malta, Montana
Malta is a city in and the county seat of Phillips County, Montana, United States, located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 2 and 191. The population was 2,120 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
lobbied AASHTO to create a single highway that would connect several National Parks in their states to facilitate tourism. The initial proposal was to extend U.S. Route 163
U.S. Route 163
U.S. Route 163 is a U.S. Highway that runs from US 160 northward to US 191 in the U.S. states of Arizona and Utah. The southernmost of its length is within the Navajo Nation. The highway forms part of the Trail of the Ancients, a National Scenic Byway...
north into Wyoming. However it was later decided to add Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
to this proposal for a new highway and instead extend US 191 south. Most of the southern extension recycled existing U.S. and state highways. However, some new sections were constructed. When the 1981 extension was finished, US 191 reached Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
in Arizona.
In Wyoming, the new US 191 absorbed what was U.S. Route 187, formed in 1926 as a branch from US 87W (now US 287) at Jackson Lake Junction, Wyoming south to US 30 in Rock Springs. Although it became part of US 191 in 1981, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
still lists it in their latest log (1989), with a short independent section in Rock Springs between former US 30 (now US 30 Business) and I-80.
A combination of new construction and the upgrading of county roads created a more direct route between Interstate 80 in Wyoming and Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a reservoir in Wyoming and Utah, on the Green River, created by Flaming Gorge Dam. Construction on the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964...
.
Through Utah, US-191 absorbed SR-33, SR-260, and most of SR-44. From Crescent Junction
Crescent Junction, Utah
Crescent Junction is a small unincorporated community within Grand County in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Utah. The community is located at above sea level. Most highway maps use the name Crescent Junction, as the name given to the junction of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 191...
to Bluff
Bluff, Utah
Bluff is a census-designated place in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 320 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bluff is located at , in the scenic and very sparsely populated southeastern Utah canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau.According to the United States Census Bureau, the...
was previously numbered U.S. Route 163, eliminating all but a short segment of that route.
A new route was constructed for US 191 from Bluff, Utah
Bluff, Utah
Bluff is a census-designated place in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 320 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bluff is located at , in the scenic and very sparsely populated southeastern Utah canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau.According to the United States Census Bureau, the...
to a junction with U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160 is a 1,465 mile long east–west United States highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 89 five miles west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
in Arizona.
The 1981 extension caused US 191 to enter Arizona for the first time in its history. Between US 160 and I-40 the highway absorbed the route of former State Route 63.
Later extensions
In 1992, ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
requested a new number for its portion of U.S. Route 666, arguing the road signs on this highway were the most frequently stolen in the state. As a result, US 191 was extended again to the Mexican border at Douglas, Arizona
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
. In 1996 it became the latest U.S. highway to run from border to border, with the extension from Malta, Montana
Malta, Montana
Malta is a city in and the county seat of Phillips County, Montana, United States, located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 2 and 191. The population was 2,120 at the 2000 census.-History:...
to the Canadian border, absorbing former Montana Secondary Highway 242. In 2003 New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
asked AASHTO to renumber its portion of US 666. This time all of then US 666 was renumbered U.S. Route 491
U.S. Route 491
U.S. Route 491 is a north–south U.S. Highway serving the Four Corners region of the United States. One of the newest designations in the U.S. Highway System, it was created in 2003 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 666...
, the x91 number was decided because the road meets US 191 in Monticello, Utah
Monticello, Utah
Monticello is a city located in San Juan County, Utah, and is the county seat. It is the second most populous city in San Juan County, with a population of 1,958 at the 2000 census. The Monticello area was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.