I was coming home from Cincinnati on I-675. When I got to Beavercreek, just for fun, I took US 35.
Much to my surprise, when I got home and googled it, it's only one mile more than if I had continued on I-675. The map fools you. It looks like you're going too far south to pick up I-71, but you must save mileage going diagonally on I-71.
Of course, this depends on where you're going and in my case it was the east side of Columbus.
Another surprise, around the Jamestown area, there were parts of that road that were a little rough.
Quote from: TempoNick on July 10, 2023, 08:57:37 PM
I was coming home from Cincinnati on I-675. When I got to Beavercreek, just for fun, I took US 35.
Much to my surprise, when I got home and googled it, it's only one mile more than if I had continued on I-675. The map fools you. It looks like you're going too far south to pick up I-71, but you must save mileage going diagonally on I-71.
Of course, this depends on where you're going and in my case it was the east side of Columbus.
Another surprise, around the Jamestown area, there were parts of that road that were a little rough.
OK, I'm confused. US 35 goes nowhere near Columbus.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 10, 2023, 09:27:05 PM
OK, I'm confused. US 35 goes nowhere near Columbus.
I-675 N to
US 35 E to
Ohio 435 to
I-71 N
Quote from: TempoNick on July 10, 2023, 09:40:16 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 10, 2023, 09:27:05 PM
OK, I'm confused. US 35 goes nowhere near Columbus.
I-675 N to
US 35 E to
Ohio 435 to
I-71 N
As opposed to 675 north to 70 east?
Quote from: hbelkins on July 11, 2023, 02:33:28 PM
Quote from: TempoNick on July 10, 2023, 09:40:16 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 10, 2023, 09:27:05 PM
OK, I'm confused. US 35 goes nowhere near Columbus.
I-675 N to
US 35 E to
Ohio 435 to
I-71 N
As opposed to 675 north to 70 east?
Yes. I was surprised that it's basically the same length.
Here's Google from Beavercreek, Ohio to Mount Carmel East.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TEU3UU5knMViCbb78
We had a similar discussion some years back–and I note the OP here was the OP in that thread as well–in a thread about whether I-68 or I-70 is a better route from Columbus to DC and I suggested using US-33 southeast to Athens, then US-50 to Clarksburg, then I-79 to I-68. As noted below, I found it was nine miles longer than the all-Interstate route:
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 12, 2021, 08:20:36 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 11, 2021, 08:18:40 PM
Other than the roadgeekery aspect of it, I don't understand why anyone in Columbus would use US 33 and US 50 to reach Morgantown. I-70 is pretty much a straight shot east, and I-79 a straight shot south. You're traveling southeast on US 33 to get to a point where you go east on US 50 -- and Corridor D is curvier than you might expect -- only to have to drive 25 or so miles north on I-79 to get to I-68.
The time we did it, one major reason was a big construction project at the junction of I-70 and I-77 that was slowing the traffic down big-time. I'm sure that construction is done by now, of course. Another reason was just boredom with the Interstate.
As I noted, nine miles' difference (Google says 19 minutes' travel time difference) between the all-Interstate route and the US-33 > US-50 route. Aside from generally having a speed limit that's 5 mph higher between Columbus and Morgantown (mostly 70 mph versus mostly 65 mph), what's so much better about the Interstate?
I recognize I likely have some ingrained preference for getting off the Interstate because my father–who was by no means a roadgeek–often liked to get off the highway just to reduce some of the sense of sameness you get on the Interstate, though he did so judiciously to balance seeing something new with making reasonable time (so he would be unlikely to go 100 miles out of the way just to use a different route). In my mind, a difference of 20 minutes' travel time in a drive of 400+ miles is trivial, whereas of course I recognize if it were a short local drive that would be a totally different matter.
hbelkins, in turn, noted some surprise at the mere nine-mile difference because he felt the map made the US-33 > US-50 route look considerably longer:
Quote from: hbelkins on May 12, 2021, 12:39:22 PM
....
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 12, 2021, 08:20:36 AM
As I noted, nine miles' difference (Google says 19 minutes' travel time difference) between the all-Interstate route and the US-33 > US-50 route. Aside from generally having a speed limit that's 5 mph higher between Columbus and Morgantown (mostly 70 mph versus mostly 65 mph), what's so much better about the Interstate?
That's one of those things that doesn't logically compute if you look at a map. Going basically due east on I-70 and then due south on I-79, vs. a long southeastward angle on US 33, followed by an eastward jaunt on US 50, then more or less due north to slightly northeastward on I-79 to get to the terminus of I-68.
Granted, I've been known to take WV 2, I-77, and US 50 to Clarksburg instead of I-64 and I-79 just for a change of pace, and I will typically default to WV 2 over the interstate between Parkersburg and Huntington, but that's mostly due to roadgeekery interests.
It's not that much different than driving from St Louis to Chicago. It's only 15 more miles between the two cities using I-57 and I-70 than it is using I-55. Add in the bad weekend traffic on I-55, it can be quicker (or at least significantly less stressful) going via Effingham. It's an even better routing if going to Chicago's South Side though I've never had that as a destination.
The Xenia-Jamestown segment was finished c. 2000 (my best recollection), and that concrete pavement is in dire need of full-depth repairs. It really hasn't had any work done on it since then, other than the asphalt/tar patches that aren't holding up well.
Quote from: seicer on July 11, 2023, 08:08:57 PM
The Xenia-Jamestown segment was finished c. 2000 (my best recollection), and that concrete pavement is in dire need of full-depth repairs. It really hasn't had any work done on it since then, other than the asphalt/tar patches that aren't holding up well.
I think it was 1998 because we were going to Kil-Kare Raceway a lot then and switched from using the old 2-lane alignment to the new road that year.
This thread, with the replies are going, could easily be retitled "surprisingly good alternate routes." lol
And yeah, that I-57/I-70 thing about trips from Chicago to St. Louis is no joke. I like the suggestion of I-71/US35 between Dayton and Columbus.
In a similar manner, the fastest route from parts of Cincinnati to Charleston WV is I-71 to US 35. It may seem counter-intuitive by going north before going back south, but both the OH 32 and KY 9 routings have their own issues too.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 11, 2023, 04:12:38 PM
hbelkins, in turn, noted some surprise at the mere nine-mile difference because he felt the map made the US-33 > US-50 route look considerably longer:
Quote from: hbelkins on May 12, 2021, 12:39:22 PM
....
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 12, 2021, 08:20:36 AM
As I noted, nine miles' difference (Google says 19 minutes' travel time difference) between the all-Interstate route and the US-33 > US-50 route. Aside from generally having a speed limit that's 5 mph higher between Columbus and Morgantown (mostly 70 mph versus mostly 65 mph), what's so much better about the Interstate?
That's one of those things that doesn't logically compute if you look at a map. Going basically due east on I-70 and then due south on I-79, vs. a long southeastward angle on US 33, followed by an eastward jaunt on US 50, then more or less due north to slightly northeastward on I-79 to get to the terminus of I-68.
Granted, I've been known to take WV 2, I-77, and US 50 to Clarksburg instead of I-64 and I-79 just for a change of pace, and I will typically default to WV 2 over the interstate between Parkersburg and Huntington, but that's mostly due to roadgeekery interests.
I remember hbelkins mention something similar about the I-70 to I-74 routing for St Louis-Cincinnati looking longer than I-64 to I-71 on a map, something about going a bit far north before heading south (I don't remember the exact wording).
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 11, 2023, 10:26:45 PM
In a similar manner, the fastest route from parts of Cincinnati to Charleston WV is I-71 to US 35. It may seem counter-intuitive by going north before going back south, but both the OH 32 and KY 9 routings have their own issues too.
Cincinnati to Huntington/Charleston is a slog on I-64/I-75, AA Highway, US-52, and US-52>OH-73>OH-32. It's easy to see why Cincinnati and West Virginia have poor cultural exchange.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 11, 2023, 04:12:38 PM
We had a similar discussion some years back–and I note the OP here was the OP in that thread as well–in a thread about whether I-68 or I-70 is a better route from Columbus to DC and I suggested using US-33 southeast to Athens, then US-50 to Clarksburg, then I-79 to I-68. As noted below, I found it was nine miles longer than the all-Interstate route:
I remember that, but since I've never been on Interstate 68 before, if I ever head in that direction again, that's the road I choose next.
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 11, 2023, 10:26:45 PM
In a similar manner, the fastest route from parts of Cincinnati to Charleston WV is I-71 to US 35. It may seem counter-intuitive by going north before going back south, but both the OH 32 and KY 9 routings have their own issues too.
Now I'm going to go to Google and start playing with the maps. Yeah, I never would have guessed that one in a million years.
^ I think the US-35 / I-71 routing between Cincinnati and Jackson, OH is comparable travel time / more preferable is due to the continuous 70 mph speed limit on that highway vs. the two hour 60 mph slog along OH-32, even if it's more direct.
If Ohio posted the speed limit at 65 mph or 70 mph, as they do on other four lane highways in the western part of the state, OH-32 would be more preferable for speed.
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 11, 2023, 10:26:45 PM
In a similar manner, the fastest route from parts of Cincinnati to Charleston WV is I-71 to US 35. It may seem counter-intuitive by going north before going back south, but both the OH 32 and KY 9 routings have their own issues too.
Well, I played around on the computer and you are correct. From Loveland, Mason, Sharonville, Fairfield, Hamilton, Harrison and even Dent (Green Twp.), mileage via I-71 / US 35 to Jackson is within a few miles or sometimes even less than it is using Ohio 32. You learn something new everyday.
I know thus isn't Midwest, but for me to go from my home in Columbia, SC to certain parts of Greater Atlanta, it's faster for me to take I-26 west, I-385 north, SC 418 west, SC 8 west, and I-85 south, than it is to take I-20 west. If my destination is in Gwinnett County or along GA 400, then Waze will usually route me that way to avoid I-285 as much as possible. But if my destination is in Fulton or Cobb County, it'll route me to take I-20 west. I-20's traffic is generally a lot more pleasant than that of I-26 and I-85 (Augusta generally has no traffic issues), but I-285 is usually unbearable enough that it tries to keep me off of it as much as possible. Most of the time if I'm passing through Atlanta going to Tennessee, I'll go right through Downtown Atlanta on 20 and 75 rather than take 285.
It really is amazing how some unexpected routes can add not much in the way of mileage but can be much more pleasant, and can be worth it most of the time.
A lot of the time, it depends on what part of the metro area one is going to. Years ago, some friends of mine and I were going from the Far West Suburbs of Chicago to Downtown Indy. We found it to be much quicker taking US 52 from Kankakee to Lafayette than taking I-80/94 to 65 by about 20 minutes.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 12, 2023, 12:31:04 AM
^ I think the US-35 / I-71 routing between Cincinnati and Jackson, OH is comparable travel time / more preferable is due to the continuous 70 mph speed limit on that highway vs. the two hour 60 mph slog along OH-32, even if it's more direct.
If Ohio posted the speed limit at 65 mph or 70 mph, as they do on other four lane highways in the western part of the state, OH-32 would be more preferable for speed.
You get an equally weird situation coming from the Jackson area to Ironton. The most direct route is to take OH 93, but because of the 70 MPH limits on OH 823 and US 52, it is almost as fast (within 2 minutes but 9 miles longer) to go further west and do a more complicated route. And the moment you get behind a slow vehicle on OH 93, the other route becomes much more preferable.
I have to say I definitely appreciate Ohio's posting of 70-mph speed limits on four-lane US highways that may have some at-grade intersections but that have excellent sight lines and relatively light traffic. One thing I noted in the other thread I quoted above, but that I didn't quote here, is that in connection with my recommendation to connect from Columbus to I-68 via US-33 > US-50 > I-79, it's often not clear from mapping software which US highways let you travel at higher speeds like an Interstate (even if they're not Interstate-grade) and which ones don't.
Quote from: wriddle082 on July 12, 2023, 06:03:28 AM
I know thus isn't Midwest, but for me to go from my home in Columbia, SC to certain parts of Greater Atlanta, it's faster for me to take I-26 west, I-385 north, SC 418 west, SC 8 west, and I-85 south, than it is to take I-20 west. If my destination is in Gwinnett County or along GA 400, then Waze will usually route me that way to avoid I-285 as much as possible. But if my destination is in Fulton or Cobb County, it'll route me to take I-20 west. I-20's traffic is generally a lot more pleasant than that of I-26 and I-85 (Augusta generally has no traffic issues), but I-285 is usually unbearable enough that it tries to keep me off of it as much as possible. Most of the time if I'm passing through Atlanta going to Tennessee, I'll go right through Downtown Atlanta on 20 and 75 rather than take 285.
It really is amazing how some unexpected routes can add not much in the way of mileage but can be much more pleasant, and can be worth it most of the time.
I used to do something similar and this was before Google maps. I found that I-77/I-20/I-26/I-95 and I-75 from Central Ohio to Florida both took roughly the same amount of time. I forgot how the same trip turned out the last time I mapped it out on Google, but I seem to remember my impression being mostly correct. The South Carolina segments were very congested, but the rest of the trip was a nice change of pace.
Quote from: seicer on July 12, 2023, 10:09:33 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 12, 2023, 12:31:04 AM
^ I think the US-35 / I-71 routing between Cincinnati and Jackson, OH is comparable travel time / more preferable is due to the continuous 70 mph speed limit on that highway vs. the two hour 60 mph slog along OH-32, even if it's more direct.
If Ohio posted the speed limit at 65 mph or 70 mph, as they do on other four lane highways in the western part of the state, OH-32 would be more preferable for speed.
You get an equally weird situation coming from the Jackson area to Ironton. The most direct route is to take OH 93, but because of the 70 MPH limits on OH 823 and US 52, it is almost as fast (within 2 minutes but 9 miles longer) to go further west and do a more complicated route. And the moment you get behind a slow vehicle on OH 93, the other route becomes much more preferable.
What route would you recommend from Ironton to Jackson? The Portsmouth bypass to OH 32?
I drove the OH 93 route last year and it seemed agonizingly slow.
For Cincinnati to Charleston, WV I think taking KY-9 to I-64 would be faster but then again it probably depends on where you are starting and ending. I would agree with I-71 to US-35 if you were coming from like Mason around Kings Island and in that area.
The only problem with KY-9 that I can see is that it's a pretty dangerous highway being only two lanes in a rural area that is sparsely populated. I know it provides the quickest way between Cincinnati and Ashland, KY.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 12, 2023, 12:38:27 PM
For Cincinnati to Charleston, WV I think taking KY-9 to I-64 would be faster but then again it probably depends on where you are starting and ending. I would agree with I-71 to US-35 if you were coming from like Mason around Kings Island and in that area.
The only problem with KY-9 that I can see is that it's a pretty dangerous highway being only two lanes in a rural area that is sparsely populated. I know it provides the quickest way between Cincinnati and Ashland, KY.
It also depends if you want to slog along at 55 mph on two lane road the whole way, or stay on divided highway that's mostly 70 mph with some brief 65 mph / 60 mph segments.
Based on some more playing around with Google, it looks like you lose 14 miles straight line. You go 7+ miles south between US 35 at I-675 and Ohio 435 at I-71. (Straight line distance and calculated in terms of "latitude", not actual distance driven.) That's a lot of mileage you lose that you have to pick back up. Surprised it's so close.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 12, 2023, 01:10:57 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 12, 2023, 12:38:27 PM
For Cincinnati to Charleston, WV I think taking KY-9 to I-64 would be faster but then again it probably depends on where you are starting and ending. I would agree with I-71 to US-35 if you were coming from like Mason around Kings Island and in that area.
The only problem with KY-9 that I can see is that it's a pretty dangerous highway being only two lanes in a rural area that is sparsely populated. I know it provides the quickest way between Cincinnati and Ashland, KY.
It also depends if you want to slog along at 55 mph on two lane road the whole way, or stay on divided highway that's mostly 70 mph with some brief 65 mph / 60 mph segments.
The route I suggested is the quickest way from downtown Cincinnati to Charleston, WV. Taking I-71 to US-35 adds on 22 miles as well as about 5 minutes.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 12, 2023, 12:09:07 PM
Quote from: seicer on July 12, 2023, 10:09:33 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 12, 2023, 12:31:04 AM
^ I think the US-35 / I-71 routing between Cincinnati and Jackson, OH is comparable travel time / more preferable is due to the continuous 70 mph speed limit on that highway vs. the two hour 60 mph slog along OH-32, even if it's more direct.
If Ohio posted the speed limit at 65 mph or 70 mph, as they do on other four lane highways in the western part of the state, OH-32 would be more preferable for speed.
You get an equally weird situation coming from the Jackson area to Ironton. The most direct route is to take OH 93, but because of the 70 MPH limits on OH 823 and US 52, it is almost as fast (within 2 minutes but 9 miles longer) to go further west and do a more complicated route. And the moment you get behind a slow vehicle on OH 93, the other route becomes much more preferable.
What route would you recommend from Ironton to Jackson? The Portsmouth bypass to OH 32?
I drove the OH 93 route last year and it seemed agonizingly slow.
OH-93 looks like the way to go, it's slower but there really isn't a faster way to get from Ironton to Jackson. Every route I put in takes about an hour.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 12, 2023, 01:10:57 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 12, 2023, 12:38:27 PM
For Cincinnati to Charleston, WV I think taking KY-9 to I-64 would be faster but then again it probably depends on where you are starting and ending. I would agree with I-71 to US-35 if you were coming from like Mason around Kings Island and in that area.
The only problem with KY-9 that I can see is that it's a pretty dangerous highway being only two lanes in a rural area that is sparsely populated. I know it provides the quickest way between Cincinnati and Ashland, KY.
It also depends if you want to slog along at 55 mph on two lane road the whole way, or stay on divided highway that's mostly 70 mph with some brief 65 mph / 60 mph segments.
It's not that bad. Four lanes at its western end and around Maysville but generally two-lanes with plenty of passing lanes on the hills and passing areas elsewhere. The worst part is west of Maysville where the grades are steep and the passing lanes are too brief. It doesn't record that much higher accident rates than comparable roadways.
I travel between Cincinnati and Ashland frequently. I can generally notch almost two hours on the dot via the AA Highway/KY 9, 2.2 hours via US 52-OH 73-OH 32, and 2.3 hours via US 52-OH 823-US 23-OH 32. That's going about 65 MPH on the AA Highway/KY 9, 70 MPH on any four-lane segment in Ohio, and 55-60 MPH on other two-lane roads.
If you are going Cincinnati to Charleston, it's now preferable to go OH 32-US 35. It's all four-lane and limited access.
Quote from: seicer on July 12, 2023, 03:11:42 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 12, 2023, 01:10:57 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 12, 2023, 12:38:27 PM
For Cincinnati to Charleston, WV I think taking KY-9 to I-64 would be faster but then again it probably depends on where you are starting and ending. I would agree with I-71 to US-35 if you were coming from like Mason around Kings Island and in that area.
The only problem with KY-9 that I can see is that it's a pretty dangerous highway being only two lanes in a rural area that is sparsely populated. I know it provides the quickest way between Cincinnati and Ashland, KY.
It also depends if you want to slog along at 55 mph on two lane road the whole way, or stay on divided highway that's mostly 70 mph with some brief 65 mph / 60 mph segments.
It's not that bad. Four lanes at its western end and around Maysville but generally two-lanes with plenty of passing lanes on the hills and passing areas elsewhere. The worst part is west of Maysville where the grades are steep and the passing lanes are too brief. It doesn't record that much higher accident rates than comparable roadways.
I travel between Cincinnati and Ashland frequently. I can generally notch almost two hours on the dot via the AA Highway/KY 9, 2.2 hours via US 52-OH 73-OH 32, and 2.3 hours via US 52-OH 823-US 23-OH 32. That's going about 65 MPH on the AA Highway/KY 9, 70 MPH on any four-lane segment in Ohio, and 55-60 MPH on other two-lane roads.
If you are going Cincinnati to Charleston, it's now preferable to go OH 32-US 35. It's all four-lane and limited access.
For Cincinnati to Charleston, WV I think it's about the same time wise whatever way you decide to go it's just shorter to go through Kentucky on AA Highway/KY-9 and about the same time so you're saving the miles.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 12, 2023, 02:52:03 PM
The route I suggested is the quickest way from downtown Cincinnati to Charleston, WV. Taking I-71 to US-35 adds on 22 miles as well as about 5 minutes.
Ohio 32 only adds 5 mi or so to the trip. I think I'd rather take that from downtown Cincinnati.
Quote from: TempoNick on July 12, 2023, 10:57:59 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 12, 2023, 02:52:03 PM
The route I suggested is the quickest way from downtown Cincinnati to Charleston, WV. Taking I-71 to US-35 adds on 22 miles as well as about 5 minutes.
Ohio 32 only adds 5 mi or so to the trip. I think I'd rather take that from downtown Cincinnati.
They are all about the same I guess it depends on your mood. I'd probably take AA Highway/KY-9 just because I could get to I-64 faster.
I noticed one other anomaly today. From Columbus to Indianapolis, going through Cincinnati via I-71, I-275 and I-74 is only 25 minutes longer. Crazy to even think about it.
Quote from: TempoNick on August 21, 2023, 11:46:56 PM
I noticed one other anomaly today. From Columbus to Indianapolis, going through Cincinnati via I-71, I-275 and I-74 is only 25 minutes longer. Crazy to even think about it.
About two years ago one of my dad's friends from California had some meetings in Richmond, Indiana and he knows that I know the states of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio pretty well. I drove down there to pick him up from the airport in Dayton and the hotel we were staying at was by the Dayton Mall on the south end of I-675 so I had to drive from that area all the way to Richmond, Indiana but only had to go to Richmond once and then back to the Dayton Mall area. I googled it and the route tells me to get on I-75 and take that up to I-70 west, I'm thinking wouldn't it be shorter to take US-35 the whole way since 35 goes through Richmond and Dayton?
So this is what I did, I got on 675 south, took that to 75 south like I was going toward Cincinnati and right away I hear we're not going to Cincinnati I said I know, I got a better route. I got off in Franklin and took a series of state highways before I got to US-35 in Eaton. Then west of there 35 starts to run NW-SE going toward I-70. It only ended up adding about 10 minutes to my trip but saved me about 9 miles and it was an enjoyable ride rather than staying on the Interstate and having to go through downtown Dayton around all those curves.