Asphalt Millings vs Gravel for a Driveway
What millings are, how they compare with stone according to federal and industry sources, and the other options for a long lane.
The Federal Highway Administration says millings, or reclaimed asphalt pavement, are well-graded aggregate coated by asphalt cement once crushed and screened, but that on their own they may have a somewhat lower bearing capacity than a conventional aggregate base. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says any base aggregate should be spread evenly and compacted.
What millings are
The Federal Highway Administration says reclaimed asphalt pavement is generated when asphalt pavement is removed, either by milling, which takes off up to 2 inches in a single pass, or by full-depth removal. It says that when properly crushed and screened, it consists of high-quality, well-graded aggregates coated by asphalt cement. The National Asphalt Pavement Association notes asphalt is 100% recyclable.
Millings compared with stone
The Federal Highway Administration says reclaimed asphalt by itself may exhibit a somewhat lower bearing capacity than conventional granular aggregate bases, and that for most load-bearing uses it is blended with conventional aggregate. It also says that because reclaimed asphalt can come from any number of old pavements, its quality can vary.
Compaction and drainage
The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says base aggregate should be spread evenly to the proper thickness, line and grade and compacted with suitable rollers and compactors, and that drainage, crown and slopes need to be addressed. The National Asphalt Pavement Association calls standing water the leading cause of driveway failure.
Tar and chip as a middle option
Pavement Interactive, a pavement engineering reference, describes chip seal as a thin wearing surface of asphalt covered with a single layer of aggregate, and says two to four years of service life is common on roads, with five achievable.
Hot-mix asphalt
For a fully paved surface, the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says a residential driveway should have a 2-inch bottom course and a 1.5-inch surface course over 6 to 8 inches of crushed aggregate. South State Paving installs gravel, tar and chip and asphalt driveways and does milling, so all three can be priced at one estimate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Federal Highway Administration describes reclaimed asphalt pavement, sold as millings, as well-graded aggregate coated by asphalt cement once it has been properly crushed and screened.
Not on their own, according to the Federal Highway Administration, which says reclaimed asphalt by itself may have a somewhat lower bearing capacity than conventional aggregate base.
The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says base aggregate should be spread evenly and compacted with suitable rollers and compactors.
Sources
The figures on this page come from these sources, read on 2026-09-25. None of them is South State Paving's own claim.
- Federal Highway Administration, User Guidelines for Waste and Byproduct Materials in Pavement Construction: Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement
- National Asphalt Pavement Association, Hiring an Asphalt Contractor for Driveways
- Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association (published by the Asphalt Institute), Best Practices for the Use of Asphalt Driveways, technical brief
- Pavement Interactive, Bituminous Surface Treatments (chip seals)