A backage road is a similar concept to a frontage road, but lies on the back side of the land parcels that abut the controlled access's right of way. Like the frontage road, it serves mainly to provide access to those parcels as an alternative to a frontage road. Regardless of which direction the businesses face, the difference is that backage roads will be sandwiched between businesses and be separated from the freeway, whereas frontage roads will be right beside a freeway.

Some make a distinction between frontage roads and parallel