A rock driveway is a visually appealing addition to any house. It’s also a great paving material, whether in the suburbs or the city.
The best rock driveways are not only long-lasting but also cheap and simple to install. They are environmentally beneficial and help lower the possibility of floods.
Gravel is a popular driveway choice since many homeowners find it affordable and practical.
Despite gravel’s more rustic image due to its popularity for country roads, there are many good reasons to consider using it in urban settings.
It is preferable to alternative options like paving for driveways since it lasts longer, costs less, and is easier to implement. Similarly, gravel may be aesthetically pleasing.
Choose a kind that works well with your driveway’s design. With this in mind, here is the best rock for the driveway…
1. Limestone
In the United States, crushed stone and gravel are often made from limestone.
Crushing machines can make fast work because they break neatly and easily. They’re accessible everywhere and have a great reputation for durability.
Limestone is probably the gray rock you imagine when you think of rocks for a driveway. Limestone mines often contain dolomite in their mining units.
In the United States, dolomite is sometimes blended with limestone to construct driveways. It is also known as dolostone or dolomitic limestone and is often misclassified as limestone.
It has much of the same chemical makeup as limestone but is significantly harder. Likewise, the two varieties are very similar, making identification challenging.
Limestone is one of the best rocks for a driveway when it comes to driveway rocks since it is inexpensive and long-lasting.
Pricing ranges from $35 to $54 per cubic yard. It may be less expensive when purchased in bulk.
2. Jersey Shore Gravel
Despite its excellent durability, Jersey Shore gravel is selected primarily for its visual appeal.
The glittering white stones, which display varying degrees of tan and yellow, have the potential to make your driveway stand out from others.
Since it looks like beach sand, Jersey Shore gravel is quite popular in New England and many other places. It is a great choice for creating a warmer ambiance for your driveway.
Size and texture similarities mean the gravel is just as stable as pea gravel. This implies that appropriate edging is required for safe driving on the gravel.
3. Shale
Crushed shale is often recommended as an alternative to crushed limestone for driveways.
The bluish-gray color sets it out visually from other common limestones. Since this one is softer and weaker, more durable crushed stone options exist.
This means that constant weight will compress and crush it. The finished product resembles asphalt more than a standard gravel driveway. If dust is a concern, you may be assured that it generates far less dust than limestone.
Since it’s lighter, crushed shale is cheaper to transport than limestone. Depending on the size of the stones, the price per cubic yard for crushed shale might range from $28 to $85.
4. Stone Dust
This is one of the best rocks for a driveway. Stone screenings is another name for it. This crushed stone is of the highest quality on the market.
To create this “stone dust,” stones are crushed until they become very small and powdered. It was versatile enough to be utilized alone or with other, bigger rocks.
It may be used to create a tough, water-proof surface. Combined with heavier stones, it makes a strong adhesive.
The top layer of rock driveways is often made of a combination of stone dust and larger stones.
Stone dust is also a key ingredient in asphalt or cement bindings for streets and walkways. It keeps driveways free of weeds and mold.
5. Granite
Crushed granite is less popular than crushed limestone but still a viable option for driveways.
Crushed granite has a special look because of the many colors and color veins that run through the rocks.
Crushed granite is the perfect material for a sturdy and visually appealing driveway. Water can easily drain and flow over crushed granite, so it may be used in driveways without causing too much disruption.
Its color remains unaffected by prolonged exposure to sunlight. Crushed granite is a relatively cheap stone (technically, stone) that might be used in a driveway. The price per cubic yard for crushed granite ranges widely, often between $38 and $75.
6. Pea Gravel
Pea gravel consists of rocks that have a natural, worn look. Since more vibrant colors and basic neutral tones are available, it has excellent decorative potential. Pea gravel has a soft and rather smooth texture.
Pea gravel is one of the best rocks for driveways because of its multicolored appearance. This gravel is also more durable than others, making it a practical option.
Pea gravel does an adequate job of draining water. Its natural roundness makes it better than choices like quarry stone.
Pea gravel may provide a good layer of stones for the driveway. If you’re considering using pea gravel, it’s important to note that you should also implement a solid edging method.
Driving on this type of gravel might be difficult unless the stones are confined. Pea gravel is among the best rocks for a driveway when considering aesthetics, texture, and drainage.
7. Recycled Asphalt
A rock driveway may also be made using recycled asphalt. The waste product of asphalt millings from paving roads and driveways is crushed and recycled.
Tar in crushed asphalt makes it a great choice for a compacted driveway.
This option is more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than an asphalt driveway. When completed and compacted, it looks like a rough asphalt driveway.
The average price per cubic yard of recycled asphalt is $25 to $50. However, you can save money by recycling the asphalt from your present driveway.
8. Quarry Stone
Driveways benefit greatly from the features of quarry stone gravel, a mixture of crushed stone and stone dust. The material was designed to adhere to itself and form a solid base. Quarry stone is one of the best rocks for the driveway.
The only major downside is its appearance, which is less desirable. If you can live with it, quarry stone is a very durable material.
This rock is distinguished by its smooth texture, which may be compacted into a semisolid surface thanks to the addition of dust.
Quarry stone gravel may be a problem in areas with heavy rainfall, so homeowners should be aware if water drainage is a top priority.
Crowning the driveway may help water flow off of it and prevent erosion. That’s why it’s important to have the center raised over the edges.
9. Seashells
Crushed seashells may stand for “rocks” on driveways in coastal areas. The most popular shells are oysters, scallops, and clam shells. As cars and people tramp over them, they eventually crumble completely.
They drain and shed water much like crushed stone. Together, these qualities provide a solid base that is easy to condense.
The color will be decided by the types of shells used. Driveways made of crushed seashells often have a range of colors, from white to brown.
The price of crushed seashells is low, often hovering around $40 per cubic yard. If you live near the seaside, where the shells can be easily found, the price drops to as little as $14 per yard.
10. Decomposed Granite
Driveways covered with weathered granite may have a pleasant texture. Decomposed granite’s sleek appearance makes it a fantastic choice, particularly considering its sleek tone.
A mixture of rust and brown colors creates a visually interesting driveway. Composing granite may be wise, considering the low cost per square foot. Decomposed granite will not let you down when it comes to durability.
This rock is often spread in many layers, compacting each layer to increase strength. Stabilizers may be useful additions to rocky mixtures since they assure that individual components will not fall apart.
For this reason, some homeowners strongly dislike this particular type of granite gravel because of its stickiness and ease with which it may be dragged inside.
11. Crushed Concrete
If you want a rock driveway on a tight budget, you may always use a crushed concrete driveway instead. Crushed or recycled concrete often comes from demolished concrete blocks and slabs.
In most cases, a crusher will produce concrete millings no bigger than three-quarters of an inch, making them more consistent in appearance than gravel. Stone dust is also included, making the driveway more water-resistant and cement-like.
Crushed concrete is often used as a driveway material due to its low cost. Pricing ranges from $16 to $75 per cubic yard, with discounts available for larger orders. This is one of the best rocks for a driveway.
12. Marble Chips
Marble chips could be the way to make your driveway stand out. This expensive type of rock is ideal for those homeowners who wish to make a grand statement with their driveways.
A full front yard redesign would also include laying down marble chips as a walkway if you can. This gravel produces tiny, polished stones that sparkle in the sun.
Stabilize them with dependable edging materials to keep things neat. Most marble chips are found in white and gray color combinations, which are quite striking.
Although some may find the price prohibitive, marble chips are more practical in warmer climates than darker colors since they do not absorb as much heat.
