Parkway vs. Driveway — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
Parkway is a landscaped thoroughfare for vehicular traffic, while a driveway is a private road leading to a house or garage.
Difference Between Parkway and Driveway
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A parkway is typically a wider road often surrounded by greenery and designed for scenic, leisurely drives, whereas a driveway is a narrow road or path leading specifically to private property.
Parkways are designed to enhance the aesthetic experience of driving through parks or picturesque landscapes, while driveways are utilitarian, primarily focusing on providing access to a residence or building.
Traffic on parkways is usually regulated with speed limits suitable for both leisure and commute, on the other hand, driveways are private and traffic is limited to vehicles associated with the property.
Maintenance of parkways is usually handled by public authorities or governmental agencies, whereas the upkeep of a driveway is the responsibility of the property owner.
Parkways may have various lanes and traffic rules similar to major roads, facilitating smoother traffic flow; driveways are simpler, often just a single lane leading to and from a home or garage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Purpose
Public transportation and scenic drives
Private access to properties
Maintenance
Publicly maintained
Privately maintained
Traffic
Open to all vehicular traffic
Limited to property-related vehicles
Design
Landscaped and scenic
Functional, direct
Regulation
Subject to public road laws
No public regulations
Compare with Definitions
Parkway
A road in a park or a road resembling a park.
The newly opened parkway is lined with cherry trees.
Driveway
A short private road from the street to a house or garage.
Her driveway was covered with freshly fallen snow.
Parkway
A high-speed road.
They took the parkway to avoid the downtown traffic.
Driveway
A road within private property used for parking.
The driveway can accommodate four cars.
Parkway
Any road for driving on.
The national parkway system facilitates smooth interstate travel.
Driveway
A private access road.
He paved the driveway to reduce maintenance costs.
Parkway
A wide road decorated with trees and grass.
The city's new parkway has become a popular route for Sunday drives.
Driveway
A pathway for vehicles in a residential or commercial property.
The delivery truck blocked the driveway.
Parkway
A major public road, often scenic.
The coastal parkway offers breathtaking ocean views.
Driveway
Any small private roadway.
The mansion's driveway was lined with statues.
Parkway
A parkway is a landscaped thoroughfare. The term is particularly used for a roadway in a park or connecting to a park from which trucks and other heavy vehicles are excluded.Over the years, many different types of roads have been labeled parkways.
Driveway
A driveway (also called drive in UK English) is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group. Driveways rarely have traffic lights, but some that bear heavy traffic, especially those leading to commercial businesses and parks, do.
Parkway
A broad landscaped highway, often divided by a planted median strip.
Driveway
A private road that connects a house, garage, or other building with the street.
Parkway
(dated) A path, carriage-way, or road through a park or a landscaped right of way.
Driveway
A short private road that leads to a house or garage.
Parkway
(US) A scenic freeway.
Driveway
(US) A road that enters or circulates through a defined area, such as an institution, compound, land area, etc., for the purpose of private access, maintenance, or security.
Parkway
(US) A divided highway with a landscaped median.
Driveway
A passage or way along or through which a carriage may be driven.
Parkway
(Chicago) A tree lawn.
Driveway
A road leading up to a private house;
They parked in the driveway
Parkway
A railway station built on the edge of a town, typically with a large car park to function as a park and ride interchange.
Parkway
A wide scenic road planted with trees.
Parkway
A wide scenic road planted with trees;
The riverside drive offers many exciting scenic views
Common Curiosities
Can anyone use a parkway?
Yes, parkways are public roads that can be used by any motorist adhering to the local traffic regulations.
What is a driveway?
A driveway is a private road leading from a public way to a house or garage, primarily used for vehicle access to private property.
What is a parkway?
A parkway is a broad, landscaped highway designed for scenic and leisurely drives, often maintained by public authorities.
Do parkways have speed limits?
Yes, parkways typically have regulated speed limits to ensure safety and accommodate leisurely drives.
Can a driveway be shared by multiple homes?
Yes, some driveways can serve multiple homes, especially in townhouse complexes or shared estates.
Are driveways only found in residential areas?
No, driveways can be found in both residential and commercial properties.
Who is responsible for maintaining driveways?
Driveways are maintained by the property owner or the residents of the property.
What makes a parkway different from a regular road?
Parkways are often more scenic and landscaped compared to regular roads and might have restrictions on types of vehicles.
Are bicycles allowed on parkways?
It depends on the specific parkway; some allow bicycles while others may prohibit them.
What is the typical width of a driveway?
Driveways generally range from 8 to 12 feet wide, depending on the property and its use.
Do parkways connect major cities?
Some parkways, especially in urban areas, can connect major cities or facilitate suburban commuting.
Can driveways be used for parking?
Yes, driveways often serve dual purposes vehicle access and parking.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Fuzzy vs. Fussy
Next Comparison
Enterobacter vs. KlebsiellaAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
