How Much Does It Cost to Build a Road on My Property? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $3,000 - $23,000
Building a road on your property costs around $9,600 per square foot, but prices can range from $600 up to $45,000 per square foot depending on the material.
If you’re building a custom home, tiny home, or remote rural home, you may be considering adding a private road to your property. The cost of building a road typically ranges from $3,000 to $23,000, depending on if it’s gravel, asphalt, or concrete. Careful planning and budgeting go into building a road to ensure it meets local code, holds up to traffic and weather, and lasts for decades to come. Let’s pave the way by breaking down the costs, below.
- Average
- $9,600
- Low end
- $600
- high end
- $45,000
Building a Road Cost Factors
Building a road on your property involves much more than pushing gravel rocks around or pouring concrete. Here are the main components of road construction.
Size
The size of the road you build will be one of the largest cost factors, as this will also affect permit cost, the cost to prepare the land, and the cost of labor. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $1.25 and $15 per square foot, which means the standard 12-foot wide private road would cost between $750 and $9,000 for every 100 feet of road you need. Longer and wider roads will, of course, be more expensive.
The table below includes some average costs based on the length of your road. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust these numbers if your road is wider or slimmer than 12 feet wide.
| Road Length (Linear Feet) | Average Cost | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $400 | $750–$9,000 |
| 100 | $800 | $1,500–$18,000 |
| 150 | $1,200 | $2,300–$27,000 |
| 200 | $1,600 | $3,000–$36,000 |
| 250 | $2,000 | $3,800–$45,000 |
| 300 | $2,400 | $4,500–$54,000 |
Permits
Before building a road, you’ll need approval from your city or county and pull a permit, which can range from $500 to $2,000. You’ll likely need to put together a private road maintenance agreement that specifies the maintenance you’re responsible for. You should also check with your local fire department to see if they have road guidelines to follow. You want to ensure emergency vehicles can make it to your home.
Site Preparation
If you need to remove an existing driveway, expect to pay between $2 and $6 per square foot for removal. For a 100-foot stretch of road at the standard width, that’s a typical cost of somewhere between $2,400 and $7,200. If you need to remove trees, budget for $400 to $1,200 per tree depending on the size and height. Clearing your land for a road costs about $250 to $1,000 per acre.
Grading or Resloping
Depending on where you’re building your road, you may need to reslope or grade your land. Water should be directed away from your home’s foundation, and you may need to grade the land away from your road, as well, to reduce the risk of damage and flooding. Resloping work ranges from $400 to $5,000, with $1,900 being the average. These prices will, of course, depend on the size of your road.
Depth and Width
The depth and width of your driveway play a role in how expensive your materials and labor will be. Talk with a driveway professional or structural engineer about what’s best for your road depending on what you’ll use it for and the weather conditions in your area.
The typical width for a private road is around 12 feet, but you can customize it based on your needs. Depth can vary based on your material and intended purpose, with 4 inches being standard for normal vehicle traffic, and 6 inches with reinforcements being a better option if you plan on heavy vehicle traffic.
Materials
The materials for your driveway play a huge role in the final cost and range widely based on the specific gravel stones or concrete you choose. You may get a discount for buying large quantities—lowering the cost per square foot.
The table below provides some average costs per square foot (installed) for the different private road materials.
| Road Material | Typical Cost Per Sq Ft |
|---|---|
| Asphalt | $7–$13 |
| Concrete | $4–$15 |
| Gravel | $1.25–$3 |
| Stabilized gravel | $2–$12 |
Apron Installation
If you don’t already have an apron installed that leads from the public road to your private road, you’ll need to install one. You will need planning permission for this as well, and, depending on your municipality, you might need to hire the city to cut the curb and install the apron. Expect to pay around $4,400 for this service, or anywhere from $1,300 to $7,800 for the cost of a driveway apron.
Labor
Labor will make up the majority of the cost to build a private road on your property, as land grading, land preparation, and the actual construction of the road are all quite labor intensive. In most cases, the labor will account for around 80% of the total cost, or an average of $7,700. Included in that number are average costs for the following professionals:
Civil engineer: $100 to $200 per hour
Land preparation specialist: $120 to $250 per hour
Paver: $50 to $80 per hour
The labor price for actually constructing your road depends on what type of material you use:
| Material | Average Labor Cost per Sq Ft |
|---|---|
| Gravel | $1 to $2 |
| Asphalt | $5 to $7 |
| Concrete | $2 to $3 |
Road Drainage
You want to ensure you have a proper drainage system to prevent property damage and potholes, and that your project meets local codes. The cost of a drainage system typically falls between $2,000 and $5,500. Keep in mind that this might not be necessary for your project, depending on the natural slope and layout of your property.
Tools and Supplies
If you decide to tackle building a road yourself, you’ll need specialized tools and supplies. Concrete and asphalt roads are not recommended for DIYers, but if you’re experienced, you may wish to build a gravel road yourself. You’ll need a sledgehammer, perforated pipe, geotextile fabrics, wood stakes, and erosion control mats, plus some other tools for excavation.
On average, you can expect to pay around $1,000 for the tools and supplies to build a gravel road yourself.
Cost to Build a Road by Type
The type of road you build is another big cost factor to consider because material costs and labor costs can vary widely based on road type. Laying down a gravel road, for example, will require much less work and more affordable materials than installing an asphalt or concrete road.
Gravel Road
A gravel road is the least expensive option, coming in at an average of $2,500 and usually falling between $1,500 and $3,600, depending on local gravel prices. The cost depends on if you lay the gravel yourself and if you add stabilization. If farm equipment or commercial vehicles will use your road, stabilization is recommended.
In general, gravel roads are easy to repair, available in a variety of colors, and last up to 100 years. But like gravel driveways, gravel roads are not suited for areas where it snows. Plus, they involve more maintenance over time, so ongoing costs will be higher.
You need at least a few layers of gravel rocks in different sizes along with a layer of geotextile fabric underneath. Depending on your property and type of soil, you may need a road depth of anywhere from three to 12 inches. You may also want to install a border or retaining wall to keep your rocks inside the driveway to reduce ongoing maintenance.
| Material | Cost |
|---|---|
| Gravel | $1.25 to $3 per square foot (including labor) |
| Stabilized gravel | $2 to $12 per square foot (including labor) |
Asphalt Road
Paving an asphalt road is a similar cost to paving an asphalt driveway—about $7 to $13 per square foot. The average cost sits around $12,000, and most homeowners pay between $8,400 to $15,600 for a 100-foot asphalt road.
An asphalt road is a type of paved road that’s black and softens in the heat. Asphalt is great even in locations where it snows and typically costs less than a concrete road. Asphalt usually lasts 10 to 30 years, and is easy to maintain.
It requires special equipment and heavy lifting, so it’s best to hire an asphalt driveway pro for the job.
Concrete Road
A concrete road is often the most expensive option, running about $4 to $15 per square foot. The typical cost for a 100-foot concrete road sits around $14,400, and most projects fall somewhere between $4,800 and $18,000.
The upside of concrete is that it offers high durability and lasts 30 to 50 years. The higher cost of pouring concrete is due to the fact that it’s a complex job. Hire a local driveway paving expert for your project to ensure your concrete road is poured properly and lasts for as long as possible.
Ongoing Expenses to Consider
The upfront cost to build a road on your property is an important consideration, but you should also think about the ongoing cost of maintenance and repairs for your roadway. A gravel road, for example, has the benefit of a long lifespan, but the ongoing costs can be a considerable downside.
Maintenance
Public roads are usually maintained by your local Department of Transportation, but the same can’t be said for private roads, so you’ll be on the hook for ongoing maintenance costs. The level of maintenance will depend on the type of road you have, the weather in your area, your soil content, and more.
You can expect more ongoing maintenance for a gravel road, and minimal maintenance for asphalt and concrete roads.
Repairs
On the other hand, you likely won’t ever need to repair a gravel road, whereas you will need to budget for future repairs for an asphalt and concrete road. Remember, you’re responsible for ensuring your private road provides safe, easy access to your home for emergency responders and the people that live on your property.
Repairs can include the following:
Patching potholes: $30 to $50 each
Sealing cracks: $150 to $500
Sealcoating: $0.10 to $0.40 per square foot
Resurfacing: $3 to $5 per square foot
Concrete leveling: $3 to $25 per square foot
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Private Road Yourself?
Building a road yourself takes careful planning, preparation, execution, and physical labor. If you are comfortable tackling the project yourself, you’re looking at an average cost of around $600, or somewhere between $300 and $1,000 for the materials to install a gravel road.
You’ll also need specialized tools and vehicles. If you’re an experienced DIYer, you may be able to build a gravel road yourself, but your road needs to meet local guidelines and have proper drainage. You’ll also need at least one other adult to help you with the project.
Asphalt and concrete roads are even more complex and an expert is recommended in order to ensure your road lasts and is built to code.
Cost to Build It Yourself vs. Hiring a Contractor
If you install a gravel road yourself, you’ll likely save around $1 per square foot, or an average of $1,200, but you’ll need the skills, tools, and time to do the work. Building a gravel driveway takes an average of 50 hours of work. You can expect many more hours to build a road as a DIY project.
How You Can Save Money While Building a Road
There are a few key ways you can reduce costs when building a road on your property:
Choose gravel over asphalt or concrete if you live in an area without snow and harsh winters.
Shop around for the best material prices, especially if you’re planning a long road.
Talk with at least three driveway contractors to get quotes and compare prices.
Keep the width of the road to the standard 12 feet, as a wider road will drive up your cost.
Plan ahead and prep the land and drainage beforehand. This will help keep repairs and ongoing maintenance to a minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your city or county will have guidelines about the minimum and maximum width and length of private roads. The average private road is 12 feet wide, and length, of course, depends on your property. Requirements also depend on the amount of traffic and types of vehicles your road experiences. Check with local ordinances before planning a road on your property.
Building a road on a slope requires careful planning and will usually require a drainage system underneath to prevent flooding and damage to the road over time. Your professional may lengthen your road to create switchbacks if the slope directly to your home is too steep, as there are regulations for maximum road slope. The drainage system will help prevent runoff from the higher side of the slope from damaging the asphalt or concrete. Keep in mind that building a road on a slope isn’t a good DIY project, as a lot can go wrong.
The material that’s best for your private road depends on your property, the climate in your area, and your personal preferences. Gravel is an affordable option, but some homeowners don’t like how it looks, it can be a pain to remove snow from, and it requires more ongoing maintenance than asphalt or concrete. However, while these other options require less maintenance and make snow removal a breeze, they’re more expensive and will need repairs from time to time. Ultimately, you’ll have to choose the road material that suits you and your property best.