The 6 Best Gravel Driveway Ideas

Nothing says customization like gravel driveways. Unlike concrete or asphalt driveways, gravel driveways can be combined with all kinds of materials to boost your curb appeal and give your driveway a unique look. You can also choose from different types of gravel to get the exact style you want for a driveway. With all the possibilities, we’ve rounded up some of the best gravel driveway ideas to help you get started on your project.

1. Loose Gravel Driveway

Installing a loose gravel driveway is a budget-friendly gravel driveway idea that just so happens to be one of the easiest methods for having a gravel driveway. Gravel driveways cost around $500 to $3,500 on average, which is $2,200 to $11,000 cheaper than concrete driveway costs for comparison. So it’s no surprise that loose gravel is a popular choice for DIY gravel driveway projects. 

By spreading the gravel evenly across the driveway dimensions, you have an effective method for water drainage and snow buildup prevention. At the same time, loose gravel doesn’t stay put. It spreads and gets into turf, gardens, shoes, and pretty much everything it can. Loose gravel also requires more maintenance to smooth over holes and ruts over time. This can be a great workout with your new best friend—your handy rake—but it can also be a major pain.

2. Permeable Paver and Gravel Driveway

The best way to avoid loose gravel is by using a permeable paver to install your gravel driveway. Permeable pavers for driveways can resemble black honeycombs and are made of durable plastic like high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Installing pavers is simple—ensure you have the right size pavers, lay them on the driveway, pour the gravel over the pavers, distribute the gravel evenly over the pavers until they’re full, and then voila, enjoy your new driveway.

3. Gravel and Brick Paver Driveway

Another method for avoiding loose gravel is installing brick pavers as the edging material. The bricks effectively ward off disturbed gravel, helping to keep your hard-earned labor where it belongs. It also adds a stunning stylistic element to yards—especially if combined with garden elements like flower beds, a well-manicured lawn, or xeriscaping. Consider hiring a landscaper to help revamp your landscaping after installing a new driveway using gravel and pavers.

4. Gravel Driveway French Drain

A gravel driveway French drain uses asphalt or concrete as the main part of the driveway. On the sides, however, are channels of gravel. These channels aid in drainage while adding charm to your driveway, making them attractive and functional for homes on slopes. Like the loose gravel driveway, gravel French drains have a reputation for spreading beyond the edges without proper edging, so be sure to use garden edging to contain your driveway’s gravel French drains.

5. Resin-Bound Gravel Driveway

Want the gravel driveway look without the gravel driveway maintenance? A resin-bound gravel driveway may be the right option for your new driveway. The strong, durable, and permeable surface has the best of both worlds—it won’t wiggle around, but it’s also porous enough to provide some drainage during a storm. 

Mixing the materials requires experience, so if you want this type of driveway, it’s best to work with a local gravel driveway company that knows how to make a gravel driveway using resin.

6. Gravel Driveway Extension

Whether your household size increased or you finally purchased that brand-new ride, it’s not difficult to outgrow the size of a smaller one- or two-car garage. If your existing driveway is in good shape but is just too small, then a gravel driveway extension is one way to extend your driveway. Gravel driveway extensions go next to your old driveway. You can use pavers or edging to contain the new driveway and add more style to this gravel driveway idea. 

Gravel driveway extensions are a low-cost solution for enlarging a driveway. The average cost of gravel is between $1 and $3 per square foot compared to concrete costs of $8 to $18 per square foot and asphalt costs of $7 to $15 per square foot.