What state has the most miles of railroad track?

As of 2020, Texas was the U.S. state with the largest railroad mileage, reaching over 10,400 miles.



Texas consistently holds the title for the state with the most miles of railroad track in the United States. As of 2026, Texas maintains over 10,000 miles (16,000 km) of track, a vast network that reflects its massive geographic size and its role as a critical hub for international trade, particularly through its border crossings with Mexico. The Texas rail network is a vital artery for the transport of chemicals, agricultural products, and energy resources. Illinois ranks as a distant second with roughly 7,300 miles, largely due to Chicago being the primary rail interchange point for North America. While other states like Ohio and Pennsylvania have high densities of track, the sheer scale of the Lone Star State allows it to dominate the statistics. This rail dominance is a legacy of the 19th-century expansion when railroads were the primary tool for settling the West, and it remains a cornerstone of the Texas economy today, supporting one of the highest volumes of freight traffic in the world.

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