What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?

[Roadgeekteen]

For the purposes of this topic, I'm not county a brief 3di bypass as "leaving the Interstate". So like a brief diversion onto a 3di bypass on a city would not county. Also for this topic, I'm mostly looking for routes that use the least of the actually interstate. Like for I-75 you take both the Florida's Turnpike and US 23 between Toledo and Flint but most of the route is I-75. But to go between Charleston and Erie, you don't use any I-79, you take I-77, OH 8, I-271, and I-90.

[Flint1979]

For the purposes of this topic, I'm not county a brief 3di bypass as "leaving the Interstate". So like a brief diversion onto a 3di bypass on a city would not county. Also for this topic, I'm mostly looking for routes that use the least of the actually interstate. Like for I-75 you take both the Florida's Turnpike and US 23 between Toledo and Flint but most of the route is I-75. But to go between Charleston and Erie, you don't use any I-79, you take I-77, OH 8, I-271, and I-90.

Actually if you want to shunpike you only take I-75 as far south as Knoxville then take I-40, I-26 and I-95. The only reason it'll still say, "this route has tolls" is because of the Mackinac Bridge. It's only 25 miles further to take the route south of Knoxville and you avoid Florida's Turnpike.

[dgolub]

I'd think that any of the semicircular interstates would qualify.  For example, rather than taking I-287 in NJ/NY or I-495 in MA, it would be more direct to just stay on I-95.  Also, taking the New Jersey Turnpike (NJ 700) is more direct than following I-95 through Wilmington and Philadelphia.

[Rothman]

I'd think that any of the semicircular interstates would qualify.  For example, rather than taking I-287 in NJ/NY or I-495 in MA, it would be more direct to just stay on I-95.  Also, taking the New Jersey Turnpike (NJ 700) is more direct than following I-95 through Wilmington and Philadelphia.

My father used to take bypasses, due to the general idea that they're supposed to be faster, but by the late 1980s, and due to AAA recommendations, he started just taking the direct route.  And now, online mapping services recommend direct routes over bypasses in a lot of cases today (NYC being a big one).

[pianocello]

According to Google one of the fastest ways from Port Huron, MI to Billings, MT only uses I-94 between the south suburbs of Chicago and Marshall, MI--only about 150 miles out of 1500.

Going east to west, it's I-69 -> I-94 -> I-80 -> I-380 -> US 20 -> I-29 -> I-90 -> US 212 -> I-90. As of now (11 am on a Saturday), it's a comparable to taking I-94 the whole way (even with the shortcuts of I-69, I-90 through Rockford, and I-694).

[Dirt Roads]

Baltimore -to- Cove Fort, Utah has several alternative routes that are faster than I-70, both of which don't even stay on the Interstate system.  The fastest route takes US-40 from Keyser's Ridge, Maryland; US-119 around Uniontown and then the Mon-Fayette (Toll PA-43) to return to I-70.  It only takes 2 minutes longer to stay on I-68 and take I-79 up to Little Washington.  I'm not surprised, since the National Road between Keysers Ridge and Uniontown was always my fastest route from points east up to Pittsburgh. 

Here's the math, assuming a flat 28 hours between Little Washington and Cove Fort:

     Baltimore -to- Cove Fort UT (via US-40 Keysers Ridge -to- Uniontown)  31h 58m
     Baltimore -to- Cove Fort UT (via I-68 and I-79 through Morgantown)  32h 00m
     Baltimore -to- Cove Fort UT (using I-70 all the way)  33h 12m (74 minutes longer)   

For comparison, the fastest route from Miami -to- Atlanta shaves off 73 minutes all by itself.

[Roadgeekteen]

I am seriously doubtful that I-43 is the fastest route between Beloit, WI and the Howard Interchange in the northwest corner of the Green Bay, WI area.

Mike

It's about tied for the fastest route.

[mgk920]

I am seriously doubtful that I-43 is the fastest route between Beloit, WI and the Howard Interchange in the northwest corner of the Green Bay, WI area.  Ditto that I-41 is the fastest route between Wadsworth , IL and the above mentioned Howard Interchange.

Mike

[webny99]

I-490, NY - It's about 5 to 10 minutes faster, depending on your speed and traffic, to take I-90. That's still the case even if you have to turn around at both ends, as you can see in the Maps link.

[SkyPesos]

The various faster NYC-Boston routings would qualify I-95 for this thread.

[Flint1979]

According to Google one of the fastest ways from Port Huron, MI to Billings, MT only uses I-94 between the south suburbs of Chicago and Marshall, MI--only about 150 miles out of 1500.

Going east to west, it's I-69 -> I-94 -> I-80 -> I-380 -> US 20 -> I-29 -> I-90 -> US 212 -> I-90. As of now (11 am on a Saturday), it's a comparable to taking I-94 the whole way (even with the shortcuts of I-69, I-90 through Rockford, and I-694).

The fastest way is 22 hours ,57 minutes taking I-69 > I-94 > I-90 > I-94 > I-90. The way you mentioned is 23 hours, 20 minutes.

[roadman65]

Staying on I-10 completely isn't the fastest way from Santa Monica to Jacksonville. Hence I-12 over I-10 in Louisiana.

[Roadgeekteen]

Most people in this thread are describing minor diversions from the route. Which is fine, but actually most interstates, especially long ones, don't seem to be the exact fastest way between the two termini. I'm more looking for examples like I-79 and I-94 where most of the route is not on the interstate, but onn other roads.

[ilpt4u]

I-55 clearly isn't, as I-57 (with a start on the Dan Ryan Expressway/I-90/94) is typically faster for the Chicago-Sikeston leg of the journey between Chi-town and NOLA

Google says it is, but I seriously question that I-65 is the fastest route between Gary, IN and Mobile, AL. US 41/IN 63->Pennyrile Pkwy->I-24->I-65 is listed by Google as 30 mins slower, but I have to question that

[US 89]

Per Google, the fastest route between I-40's endpoints does not follow I-40 anywhere east of Memphis. That connection is best made via I-22, I-20, I-95, and I/US 74.

[SkyPesos]

US 24/I-75/I-94 between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is faster than I-69.

I think we'll see a lot more examples of this on I-69 if the full routing down to Texas is completed. Will I-70/I-57/I-55 still remain faster than a finished I-69 between Indianapolis and Memphis? Same with I-40/I-30/I-369 between Memphis and Tenaha? And combining those two together, would the I-57 extension to Little Rock make the non-I-69 routing more compelling?

[sprjus4]

Google says it is, but I seriously question that I-65 is the fastest route between Gary, IN and Mobile, AL. US 41/IN 63->Pennyrile Pkwy->I-24->I-65 is listed by Google as 30 mins slower, but I have to question that

What's to question? It's only 19 miles longer over a distance of 400+ miles, and over 230 miles of the US-41 routing has a maximum speed limit of 60 mph and travels through a few various towns.

I-65 is posted at 70 mph through without a few short (in terms of the overall 400 miles) 55-65 mph sections through Louisville and Indianapolis.

Now, I can understand why the shorter route may be desired due to less truck traffic and traffic overall, but I wouldn't say it's the fastest route. If Indiana would allow a 65 mph or 70 mph speed limit on their four lane divided highways, then it might indeed be faster. But being limited, legally, to 60 mph for that long, can be frustrating especially on wide open, empty, highway.

US 24/I-75/I-94 between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is faster than I-69.

While true, I-69 also does serve as a long distance bypass of Detroit. If traveling through at any peak times, I would probably prefer I-69 over going through the whole Detroit metro on I-75 / I-94.

Will I-70/I-57/I-55 still remain faster than a finished I-69 between Indianapolis and Memphis?

According to Google Maps, from downtown Indianapolis to downtown Memphis, The I-69 routing is around 452 miles whereas I-70/57/55 is 465 miles.

There would be a mileage savings of 13 miles, plus with significantly less truck traffic and traffic overall than on I-70, I-57, and I-55, it will probably be the preferred routing.

[Flint1979]

US 24/I-75/I-94 between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is faster than I-69.

I think we'll see a lot more examples of this on I-69 if the full routing down to Texas is completed. Will I-70/I-57/I-55 still remain faster than a finished I-69 between Indianapolis and Memphis? Same with I-40/I-30/I-369 between Memphis and Tenaha? And combining those two together, would the I-57 extension to Little Rock make the non-I-69 routing more compelling?

It's faster by about 12-15 minutes but also saves you about 30 miles. But if you think you're going to be stuck in traffic in Detroit I think that 12-15 minutes you saved might not be worth it.  It has to be because of the east-west nature of I-69 east of Lansing.

Also keep in mind that I-75 is a mess with trucks between Toledo and Detroit and that I-94 can be the same way to Port Huron. But I-94 starts thinning out with traffic after you get into St. Clair County.

[fillup420]

Per Google, the fastest route between I-40's endpoints does not follow I-40 anywhere east of Memphis. That connection is best made via I-22, I-20, I-95, and I/US 74.

Which further solidifies my opinion that I-40 southeast of Raleigh should never have been I-40

I believe I-40 should've either ended at I-95 east of Raleigh, or followed US 74 corridor east from Asheville, through Charlotte to Wilmington.

[jp the roadgeek]

Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

[pianocello]

Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

Huh, interesting. Time of day and current traffic conditions must play a factor here, since upthread we found that I-90 was a faster route than I-94 from Billings to Tomah. At least it was at the time.

[Some one]

It is faster to take US 70/US 54/NM 219/US 84 from Las Cruces to Las Vegas, NM than I-25.

[webny99]

Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

Huh, interesting. Time of day and current traffic conditions must play a factor here, since upthread we found that I-90 was a faster route than I-94 from Billings to Tomah. At least it was at the time.

I'm currently showing a difference of only 10 minutes on a roughly ~15 hour trip, so no doubt it can vary which route is faster.

Even so, it seemed odd that the 10-minute difference favored I-94 despite that route being ~20 miles longer. Then I realized the I-90 alternative presented by Google was using US 212 from Crow Agency, MT to Belle Fourche, SD. I dragged the route back to I-90 and it added another 20 minutes, so the only thing I can figure is there's something like weather or construction affecting I-90.

[mgk920]

Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

That's why Big Rig Steve always uses I-94 when traveling between Billings. MT and Tomah, WI (except, of course, around the MSP metro area).

Mike

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I'd think that any of the semicircular interstates would qualify.  For example, rather than taking I-287 in NJ/NY or I-495 in MA, it would be more direct to just stay on I-95.  Also, taking the New Jersey Turnpike (NJ 700) is more direct than following I-95 through Wilmington and Philadelphia.

My father used to take bypasses, due to the general idea that they're supposed to be faster, but by the late 1980s, and due to AAA recommendations, he started just taking the direct route.  And now, online mapping services recommend direct routes over bypasses in a lot of cases today (NYC being a big one).

I was curious about I-94 vs. I-694 in MSP - it only saves you two minutes to take 694 when traffic conditions are equalized. Of course, in heavy traffic situations (or if you drive a hazmat truck) I would advise 694