Hierarchy of US Highways in your State

[frankenroad]

I did not see anyone ranking them for Ohio yet, so here's my take.

23
35
30
33
42
6
22
50
68
20
40
62
36
52
127
224
250
27
24
422
322
223

I chose to rank 20 and 40 are ranked lower than one might think because, in both cases, there is a close parallel Interstate that renders them somewhat obsolete (though not as obsolete as 21 and 25 which have gone away completely!!

[corco]

There's not very many in Washington.

2
101
395
195
97
197
730

730 is definitely more important than 197 - at least for me - I find myself driving 730 on purpose nearly annually. It's the fastest route from a lot of places to Portland - which I guess may not be that important for Washington.

In Montana:
2
12
93
212
87
287
89
191
20
310

Idaho
95
20
26
93
30 (focusing on its unique sections - if you count where it is concurrent with interstate, it rises probably to the top of the list)
2
91
195 (short but important)
12
89

[noelbotevera]

My thoughts on Pennsylvania. This is tricky, because most of the US Routes are in the northern part of the state, but the major population centers are in the south.

1. US 30
2. US 15
3. US 220
4. US 22
5. US 322
6. US 522
7. US 6
8. US 222
9. US 422 (east)
10. US 219
11. US 119
12. US 422 (west)
13. US 1
14. US 13
15. US 62
16. US 40
17. US 202
18. US 11
19. US 19
20. US 20
21. US 6N
22. US 224
23. US 209
24. US 206

[Revive 755]

My stab at Nebraska
1. US 81
2. US 275
3. US 77
4. US 20
5. US 30
6. US 6
7. US 281
8. US 34
9. US 83
10. US 385
11. US 136
12. US 26
13. US 183
14. US 283
15. US 73
16. US 159
17. US 138

I'm not seeing US 75 on your list.


For Missouri, I'm going to try the tiered approach

Tier 1
US 60
US 36
US 50
US 63 (tempted to demote to Tier 2)
US 61 (due to the Avenue of the Saints section; debating on putting it into a lower tier due to paralleling I-55 south of St. Louis)
US 67

Tier 2
US 24 (redundant to US 36)
US 54
US 65 (doesn't really seem important enough north of Springfield to warrant being in Tier 1)
US 136

Tier 3
US 59 (very close to Tier 4)
US 71
US 160
US 169
US 412

Tier 4
US 40
US 56
US 62 (redundant to US 60 and US 412, along with having a decent length multiplex with US 61 in Missouri)
US 69
US 275
US 166
US 400

[Pink Jazz]

Here is my attempt at Arizona:

1. US 60
2. US 93
3. US 89
4. US 180
5. US 191
6. US 70
7. US 95
8. US 89A
9. US 160
10. US 163
11. US 64

[sparker]

Got it pretty easy out here in CA:  only 7 to rank!  Here goes (w/brief [at least for me] rationale):

1.  US 101: Self-explanatory; by far the longest, interregional, serves several metro areas + significant tourist attractions.
T2.  US 395:  Also interregional, major bidirectional connector to populated part of NV, "back door" to recreational destinations.  Equal ranking to next entry, IMO.
T2.  US 50:  Major outlet to NV; major route to Tahoe recreational area, major Sacramento-area arterial.  Although much shorter than 395, its traffic volume alone puts it in a tie with that route.
4.  US 97:  While in-state mileage is short, it is major route from CA to interior Northwest and Northern Rockies; heavy commercial usage.
5.  US 95:  A few decades ago, this would have ranked last or next to last of the post-1964 "remainders"; now, with more & more traffic heading to Colorado River destinations for recreation or even residence, its importance has grown.
6.  US 199:  Still the major commercial outlet from the northern coast to Oregon and the I-5 corridor.
7.  US 6:  Not much traffic; no major out-of-state destinations until the lower Wasatch Valley, which is easier reached by almost any other route!

[cpzilliacus]

The logging argument could just as easily be made for 97 and 395- those areas are logging central, especially since those areas aren't as hampered by pesky National Parks.

Logging in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia is another reason why U.S. 48 (ADHS Corridor H) should be completed.  The tractor-trailer combinations that carry the massive loads of wood to market would be much better served with the four-lane ADHS corridor.

[cpzilliacus]

Maryland:

50
301
29
1
15
340
40
13
113
219
220
522
222
11

This is pretty darned good from 2015.  Comments regarding Alternates and Business routes:

I would add the eastern Alternate U.S. 40, and put it above U.S. 40 on the list (the part of U.S. 40 that is paralleled by the Alternate is mostly "in the  middle of nowhere," and Alternate U.S. 40 was the original U.S. 40,  and serves as the "main highway" for several towns and municipalities in Frederick and Washington Counties).

Similarly, western Alternate U.S. 40 (Keysers Ridge to Cumberland) is the original U.S. 40, and is important to the communities served by it.

I would also add Alternate U.S. 1 in Prince George's County.   Where it runs down Bladensburg Road, it's a pretty important  connection between Maryland and the District of Columbia (even though D.C. does not bother to sign Alternate U.S. 1, with one or two exceptions).

I would not bother with the bannered Business routes in Salisbury (13 and 50), nor Business U.S. 1 in Bel Air, nor truck U.S. 40 in Baltimore City, nor Scenic U.S. 40 between Hancock and Cumberland.

[Captain Jack]

Indiana:

1) US 31 - the northern half is the primary route between Indy and SB with no companion interstate (yet)
2) US 30 - connects NWI with Fort Wayne and serves many secondary cities (Plymouth, Warsaw, etc.) in between
3) US 41 - connects NWI with Terre Haute and Evansville
4) US 50 - primary E/W route in mid-southern part of the state
5) US 20 - very heavily traveled but also closely paralleled by I-80/90
6) US 231 - primary N/S route in SW part of state
7) US 24 - Fort Wayne to Logansport section very important
8) US 421 - primary route from Madison to I-74@Greensburg
9) US 150 - lots of vacation traffic between Louisville area and French Lick area
10) US 36 - Doesn't hit many big cities but crosses the entire state and not paralleled closely by an interstate
11) US 6 - Crosses entire state but closely paralleled by more heavily traveled US 20 and US 30
12) US 35 - Mostly relevant between Kokomo and Michigan City
13) US 33 - Elkhart-Fort Wayne connection
14) US 27 - Fort Wayne-Richmond connection
15) US 52 - paralleled mostly by I-65 and I-74
16) US 40 - very historic, but paralleled by I-70
17) US 136 - paralleled by I-74
18) US 12 - not very long and paralleled by I-94
19) US 224 - not very long and doesn't serve any significant cities
20) US 131 - don't blink or you'll miss it

Nice list. I would argue the order just a bit.  IMO, US 41 should be #1, with US 30 a very close second..both ahead of US 31. US 41 and US 30 are primary routes across the entire state, linking NWI with Evansville and Ft. Wayne respectively. I would also consider giving both 24 and 50 nods above 31 for the same reasons, but the traffic counts on those aren't nearly as high. US 31 is a primary route between Indy and South Bend, but a secondary route for the southern half between Indy and Louisville. 41 and 30 should get the nods because they are primary for the entire length they are in Indiana.

I would also place US 27 up quite a bit higher. A lot of traffic between Ft. Wayne, Richmond and Cincinnati use this route still. US 40 should always get honorary status due to it's significance. Still a wonderful route between Terre Haute and Richmond, with a lot of relics lining it. US 150 should be near the bottom. The route between New Albany and Shoals could be replaced with a decent state route, and the rest of it through Indiana is completely worthless, multiplexing with US 50 and 41.

[jemacedo9]

Here's my take on PA - and I'll steal the tier idea from earlier:

Tier 1 - significant freeway length and/or serves major cities/towns:  22, 202, 15, 422 east, 1, 30, 322, 222
Tier 2 - freeway length minimal but still serves some important towns:  422 west, 6, 219, 119, 522, 209, 220, 40, 62
Tier 3 - least significant (mainly parallel to interstate, or small distance):  11, 19, 20, 13, 6N, 224, 206

[DandyDan]

My stab at Nebraska
1. US 81
2. US 275
3. US 77
4. US 20
5. US 30
6. US 6
7. US 281
8. US 34
9. US 83
10. US 385
11. US 136
12. US 26
13. US 183
14. US 283
15. US 73
16. US 159
17. US 138

I'm not seeing US 75 on your list.


After 2 years, during which I moved to northern Iowa, it's nice to know someone is reading carefully.  It may be US 75 is most important, being it serves Omaha.  OTOH it is a minor road north of Omaha.  US 6 may deserve to rank higher because it serves Omaha and Lincoln. The problem with ranking Nebraska is that every highway which has an important section also has a less important section.

[cl94]

I'll do the tiers for New York. Because two long routes in particular have very distinct halves, I split them:

Tier 1: The major routes serving a significant amount of long-distance traffic or a significant length is limited access. These tend to be the only major roads in an area or contain major river/mountain crossings. 4, 6, 9 south of Albany, 11 north of Watertown, 15, 20, 219

Tier 2: Serve major cities but are generally bypassed by Interstates or are important routes serving a limited area. Many of these are here because there is a "better route". 1, 2, 9 north of Albany, 9W, 11 south of Watertown, 202, 209.

Tier 3: The "why are these even here" highways that are generally superseded by SRs and the like. Some should be demoted to state routes. 20A, 44, 62, 220.

[empirestate]

I'll do the tiers for New York. Because two long routes in particular have very distinct halves, I split them:

Tier 1: The major routes serving a significant amount of long-distance traffic or a significant length is limited access. These tend to be the only major roads in an area or contain major river/mountain crossings. 4, 6, 9 south of Albany, 11 north of Watertown, 15, 20, 219

Tier 2: Serve major cities but are generally bypassed by Interstates or are important routes serving a limited area. Many of these are here because there is a "better route". 1, 2, 9 north of Albany, 9W, 11 south of Watertown, 202, 209.

Tier 3: The "why are these even here" highways that are generally superseded by SRs and the like. Some should be demoted to state routes. 20A, 44, 62, 220.

If US 2 is in Tier 2, I'd put 220 there also. It's quite an important route as you head south into PA, probably more so than 2 is into Vermont.

[cl94]

I'll do the tiers for New York. Because two long routes in particular have very distinct halves, I split them:

Tier 1: The major routes serving a significant amount of long-distance traffic or a significant length is limited access. These tend to be the only major roads in an area or contain major river/mountain crossings. 4, 6, 9 south of Albany, 11 north of Watertown, 15, 20, 219

Tier 2: Serve major cities but are generally bypassed by Interstates or are important routes serving a limited area. Many of these are here because there is a "better route". 1, 2, 9 north of Albany, 9W, 11 south of Watertown, 202, 209.

Tier 3: The "why are these even here" highways that are generally superseded by SRs and the like. Some should be demoted to state routes. 20A, 44, 62, 220.

If US 2 is in Tier 2, I'd put 220 there also. It's quite an important route as you head south into PA, probably more so than 2 is into Vermont.

Being as the I-86/NY 17 interchange is in PA, I'd beg to differ. US 220 in New York is little more than a 400-foot stub at this point.

[jwolfer]

Florida:
1.  US 301 (Provides a direct, fairly fast route from Jacksonville to the Tampa Bay area, bypassing Orlando.)
2.  US 27 (An important trucking route right down the center of the peninsula to Miami.)
3.  US 1 (This was once the king of US highways.  It's still a major thoroughfare for all coastal towns from Jax to Key West.)
4.  US 441 (Another key interior highway.  A major street through the Orlando area and south Florida.)
5.  US 41 (From Tampa to Naples, this is the west coast equivalent of US 1.  Also serves as the most enjoyable route across the Everglades.)
6.  US 17 (Serves many cities and towns in the interior of the peninsula.  Bonus points for several scenic stretches.)
7.  US 98 (If I'm not mistaken this is the longest highway in the state.  Provides lovely scenery along the Panhandle.  Eventually slashes across the state to its terminus in WPB.)
8.  US 90 (Connects Jax to Pensacola.  Sure it's largely paralleled by I-10, but it is Main Street for many cities and towns.)
9.  US 231 (Panama City is the largest FL city without an interstate.  US 231 serves as its lifeline to points north.)
10. US 19 (Is largely multiplexed with others mentioned above, but from Spring Hill south, it is a major road.  Plus it was the original Sunshine Skyway.)

Honorable Mention: US 92 (Sure it parallels I-4 for most of its length and is multiplexed with 17 for over 80 miles, but it's a major route in Daytona, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.)

Man, do I miss those colored signs!

Florida has a few segments od us hwys that are not duplicated by interstates..  Your assesment is good

US1 in the keys
US301 fom i10 to Ocala
US231 into Panama City
US27 from i4 south

Honorable mention the 19(98) and 27 corridor between St Pete and Tallahassee, with toll 589

Most of the others are duplicated by interstates. They function as urban arterials or rural roads.

LGMS428

[empirestate]

I'll do the tiers for New York. Because two long routes in particular have very distinct halves, I split them:

Tier 1: The major routes serving a significant amount of long-distance traffic or a significant length is limited access. These tend to be the only major roads in an area or contain major river/mountain crossings. 4, 6, 9 south of Albany, 11 north of Watertown, 15, 20, 219

Tier 2: Serve major cities but are generally bypassed by Interstates or are important routes serving a limited area. Many of these are here because there is a "better route". 1, 2, 9 north of Albany, 9W, 11 south of Watertown, 202, 209.

Tier 3: The "why are these even here" highways that are generally superseded by SRs and the like. Some should be demoted to state routes. 20A, 44, 62, 220.

If US 2 is in Tier 2, I'd put 220 there also. It's quite an important route as you head south into PA, probably more so than 2 is into Vermont.

Being as the I-86/NY 17 interchange is in PA, I'd beg to differ. US 220 in New York is little more than a 400-foot stub at this point.

Sure, but then why is US 2 is in Tier 2?

[cl94]

I'll do the tiers for New York. Because two long routes in particular have very distinct halves, I split them:

Tier 1: The major routes serving a significant amount of long-distance traffic or a significant length is limited access. These tend to be the only major roads in an area or contain major river/mountain crossings. 4, 6, 9 south of Albany, 11 north of Watertown, 15, 20, 219

Tier 2: Serve major cities but are generally bypassed by Interstates or are important routes serving a limited area. Many of these are here because there is a "better route". 1, 2, 9 north of Albany, 9W, 11 south of Watertown, 202, 209.

Tier 3: The "why are these even here" highways that are generally superseded by SRs and the like. Some should be demoted to state routes. 20A, 44, 62, 220.

If US 2 is in Tier 2, I'd put 220 there also. It's quite an important route as you head south into PA, probably more so than 2 is into Vermont.

Being as the I-86/NY 17 interchange is in PA, I'd beg to differ. US 220 in New York is little more than a 400-foot stub at this point.

Sure, but then why is US 2 is in Tier 2?

Because it actually carries traffic in New York and is one of two land crossings north of US 4. That's why. US 220 in New York only carries local traffic.

[RobbieL2415]

I've ranked these based on the degree of utilization by thru traffic, not necessarily passive traffic using them after exiting an interstate to get to a local business.

CT:
6
44
7
5
1
202

MA:
20
1
3
6
7
5
44

RI:
1/6/44 (a three-way tie)
202

US 202 goes through Massachusetts. On the other hand, it does NOT go through Rhode Island.

My bad. Just a little typo.

[slorydn1]

For NC:

Once upon a time I would have had US-70 at the top of the list as it bound all the regions of NC to the capital, but I-40 has taken that duty away from it.

SO I'll just go with a top 5:

1) US-64 "From Murphy to Manteo...." as the radio commercial that I had forgotten about from years ago sang (I don't remember what the product/service was that was being advertised now).

2) US-17 THE coastal highway in Eastern NC, so it is a major north south corridor.

3) US-74 Slowly the life is being sucked out of it by I-74 which is showing up in pieces, but it is the only major east-west corridor across the southern part of the state, and as such is Charlotte's only true pathway to the state ports.

4) US-421 The diagonal crossroad of NC. It connects the NW mountain area of the state with the  SE coastal area near Wilmington. I-40 has stolen some of it's thunder, but not nearly as much as what it did to US-70

5) US-70 Still a somewhat important route, especially east of Raleigh-at least until I-42 is completed many many years from now. US-70 is second only to US-64 in distance across the state, and has managed to stay mostly away from it's companion interstates with only brief multiplexes: with I-40 down the Pisgah escarpment between Black Mountain and Old Fort, a short part of I-240 and I-26 in Asheville, and a 3 mile ride down I-40 between exits 306 and 309 SE of Raleigh.

After these you have US-1, which is sandwiched betwen I-85 and I-95 and really not all that important any more, the group of US-x21's in the mountains, and various short snippets of US-25, US-19, US-23 (many of which are all multiplexed with US-74 and US-74 Alt in various sections of the mountains) oh and lets not forget US-13 in the eastern part of the state, too. US-15 and US-29 too (can't believe I forgot these). If I was forced to pick a #6 for my list I'd go with US-158 as it is the way to get across the northern part of the state, at least from Winston Salem to the coast.

[ColossalBlocks]

Some of most importance:
1.  US 36, alternative to I-70.
2.  US 50, carries traffic from areas south of St Louis to Jefferson City.
3.  US 67, carries traffic from St Louis to Little Rock.
4.  US 60, carries traffic from Cape Girardeau/Sikeston to Springfield/Joplin.

Some of least importance:
1. US 71, just runs with I-49 for most of its time in Missouri.
2. US 160, Just plain barren for miles.
3. US 412, just too short to serve an importance.
4. US 24, 2 lane nothing.

[NWI_Irish96]

Nice list. I would argue the order just a bit.  IMO, US 41 should be #1, with US 30 a very close second..both ahead of US 31. US 41 and US 30 are primary routes across the entire state, linking NWI with Evansville and Ft. Wayne respectively. I would also consider giving both 24 and 50 nods above 31 for the same reasons, but the traffic counts on those aren't nearly as high. US 31 is a primary route between Indy and South Bend, but a secondary route for the southern half between Indy and Louisville. 41 and 30 should get the nods because they are primary for the entire length they are in Indiana.

I would also place US 27 up quite a bit higher. A lot of traffic between Ft. Wayne, Richmond and Cincinnati use this route still. US 40 should always get honorary status due to it's significance. Still a wonderful route between Terre Haute and Richmond, with a lot of relics lining it. US 150 should be near the bottom. The route between New Albany and Shoals could be replaced with a decent state route, and the rest of it through Indiana is completely worthless, multiplexing with US 50 and 41.

Even though only half of US 31 is a primary route, I have it #1 due to the immense volume of traffic.  Anytime I've ever driven the northern half of 41, it's been pretty light traffic (not to mention that IN 63 is a better route than 41 for part of the way).  30 might have an argument due to the Valpo-Ft Wayne connection.  Definitely can't see having 31 any farther down than 2nd.

I could see dropping 150 down a few notches, but a lot of people from Louisville/Southern Indiana visit French Lick so I wouldn't put it too low.

[TravelingBethelite]

My stab at Connecticut: (in descending importance)

Tier 1
U.S. 6
U.S. 1

Tier 2
U.S. 5
U.S. 202
U.S. 44
U.S. 1A (Stonington)

[cl94]

My stab at Connecticut: (in descending importance)

Tier 1
U.S. 6
U.S. 1

Tier 2
U.S. 5
U.S. 202
U.S. 44
U.S. 1A (Stonington)

You forgot US 7, which I would put first or second.

[formulanone]

Florida:
1.  US 301 (Provides a direct, fairly fast route from Jacksonville to the Tampa Bay area, bypassing Orlando.)
2.  US 27 (An important trucking route right down the center of the peninsula to Miami.)
3.  US 1 (This was once the king of US highways.  It's still a major thoroughfare for all coastal towns from Jax to Key West.)
4.  US 441 (Another key interior highway.  A major street through the Orlando area and south Florida.)
5.  US 41 (From Tampa to Naples, this is the west coast equivalent of US 1.  Also serves as the most enjoyable route across the Everglades.)
6.  US 17 (Serves many cities and towns in the interior of the peninsula.  Bonus points for several scenic stretches.)
7.  US 98 (If I'm not mistaken this is the longest highway in the state.  Provides lovely scenery along the Panhandle.  Eventually slashes across the state to its terminus in WPB.)
8.  US 90 (Connects Jax to Pensacola.  Sure it's largely paralleled by I-10, but it is Main Street for many cities and towns.)
9.  US 231 (Panama City is the largest FL city without an interstate.  US 231 serves as its lifeline to points north.)
10. US 19 (Is largely multiplexed with others mentioned above, but from Spring Hill south, it is a major road.  Plus it was the original Sunshine Skyway.)

Honorable Mention: US 92 (Sure it parallels I-4 for most of its length and is multiplexed with 17 for over 80 miles, but it's a major route in Daytona, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.)

Man, do I miss those colored signs!

Florida has a few segments od us hwys that are not duplicated by interstates..  Your assesment is good

US1 in the keys
US301 fom i10 to Ocala
US231 into Panama City
US27 from i4 south

Honorable mention the 19(98) and 27 corridor between St Pete and Tallahassee, with toll 589

Most of the others are duplicated by interstates. They function as urban arterials or rural roads.

LGMS428

From a historical perspective: US 1 would be first, since the east coast was populated before the west coast (so I'd put US 41 second), and then the center; US 27 (which came about later). Since US 1 and US 41 have really been supplanted by I-95 and I-75, US 27 as a more important route to the area they serve. And they're still important routes; traffic and businesses have never been lacking along the Dixie Highway and Tamiami Trail corridors, except through the Everglades/Preserves.

Much of the towns and communities along US 27 in Florida evolved independently of any interstate route, although there has been recent growth around the corridor between I-4 and I-75 (north towards Ocala). So I feel it's "more important" than US 301, since it's longer, although south of Sebring, it really doesn't serve much of anything fro 150 miles until approaching Hialeah and ending in Miami.

US Routes rarely multiplex with Interstates in Florida, they sort of act as support. Of course, that's easy to do when there's few terrain difficulties (Former US 94 as the big exception) and ROW was cheap 70-100 years ago.

US 92 is the one hardly anyone would notice if it disappeared; although, outside of larger cities, much of it has avoided much change over the years (Daytona, between Lakeland and Tampa). But where it winds its way though larger cities, it winds up multiplexed with US 17 or US 441 in the greater Orlando area, or forgotten by I-4.

[TravelingBethelite]

My stab at Connecticut: (in descending importance)

Tier 1
U.S. 6
U.S. 1

Tier 2
U.S. 5
U.S. 202
U.S. 44
U.S. 1A (Stonington)

You forgot US 7, which I would put first or second.

Whoops!

Tier 1
U.S. 6
U.S. 1
U.S. 7

Tier 2
U.S. 5
U.S. 202
U.S. 44
U.S. 1A (Stonington)