A driveway is a path that connects a private property to a public road. The word "driveway" is typically used in America. Some of the most well-known driveways are located on The White House's South Lawn. For a driveway to exist, there must be an opening in a fence, usually near one side of the house, which gives access to the path that leads to the public street or road. The driveway will typically lead up towards whichever entrance door leads off it, and an exit gate on either end. The driveway is typically paved with a material such as smooth stone or asphalt.

Driveways can also be built to accommodate cars, trucks, and other motorized vehicles. These driveways are often referred to as hard surfaces and are typically concrete or asphalt. Some driveways do not use paving materials, such as double-pitched wooden planks that can be laid over a dirt or grass field to allow for car access (called a slip-off driveway). The versatility of these types of driveways has allowed for various "drive-in" theaters, restaurant parking lots, boat docks, and miniature golf courses, among other uses.

Although driveways are often built for a specific purpose, they can be used differently. For example, a driveway can be used for turning vehicles around or leaving the keys in the ignition to give the driver access to the car without having to walk back through the house. When this occurs, drivers typically park their vehicles in the driveway and leave them unattended. Driveways may also be used as a parking spaces during parties or gatherings at one's home. To prevent damage to one's driveway or surrounding landscape, driveway maintenance is usually carried out by professionals such as landscape contractors or handypersons.

In America, driveways are sometimes used as an alternative to trails for hikers and walkers. A driveway is typically built long enough for hikers to hike through to reach the end of it. Once there, a driveway is often routed into a different type of path that will lead further into the forest or jungle from where the driveway began. This type of driveway may be referred to as a trailhead or an access point.

A driveway can also be used extensively when building homes and other structures on one's property. In America, one of the primary responsibilities that the owner must carry out is to maintain their driveway since the driveway will be used so often by others. This can be accomplished through a standard process known as "fallout sweep" or "fluffing," in which a professional walks along the edge of one's driveway and carefully smooths out any rocks and dirt that may have been disturbed during its construction. This is done to prevent the debris from falling onto a passing car or truck.

In addition to being used for cars, driveways are also often used for bikes. When this occurs, various bike racks can be used to secure bicycles and make them more easily accessible to their owners. There are many models of bike racks, the most common of which is the vertical or upright bike rack. These racks can be purchased in various sizes and materials, including wood, metal, steel, and plastic. However, a driveway may not be referred to as a driveway in some areas of the world. In this case, it would be called a private road.