How many lanes does Summoner's Rift have?

Summoner’s Rift has three lanes: top, middle, and bottom.

These lanes are the main routes connecting the bases of the two teams. Minions regularly emerge from each Nexus and march along the top, middle, and bottom lanes toward the enemy base. Turrets and inhibitors defend the routes, so controlling lanes is central to attacking, farming, and protecting objectives.

A standard Summoner’s Rift team has five players, but the five players do not correspond to five lanes. The usual arrangement is one champion in top lane, one in mid lane, one jungler moving through the spaces between lanes, and two champions in bottom lane. The jungle is a separate region, not an additional lane.

Players sometimes confuse lanes with other map features, especially the river or jungle. The river crosses the map and contains major objectives such as dragons and Baron Nashor, while the jungle lies between the lanes. Summoner’s Rift also has three inhibitors per team, one associated with each lane, but inhibitors are structures—not extra lanes.