A right-of-way (ROW, not to be confused with "right of way" without hyphens) is a type of easement granted or reserved over the land for transportation purposes, such as a highway, public footpath, rail transport, canal, as well as electrical transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines.^[1] In the case of an easement, it may revert to its original owners if the facility is abandoned. In the United States, the term "right-of-way" is also used to denote the land itself, such as the strips of land along a railroad track on which railroad companies own a right-of-way easement.

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A right of way is granted or reserved over the land for transportation purposes, usually for private access to private land and, historically for a highway, public footpath, rail transport, canal, as well as electrical transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines.^[2] A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way.^{[further explanation needed]}

In the United States, railroad rights-of-way (ROW or R/O/W) are generally considered private property by the respective railroad owners and by applicable state laws. Most U.S. railroads employ their own police forces, who can arrest and prosecute trespassers found on their rights-of-way. Some railroad rights-of-way include recreational rail trails.

In Canada, railroad rights-of-way are regulated by federal law.

In the United Kingdom, railway companies received the right to resume land for a right-of-way by privates Act of Parliament.