Long, but not important

[NWI_Irish96]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

My strategy is to pretend the CKC doesn't exist.

So my son and I are considering a trip to KC in August to see the White Sox play a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. According to Google Maps:

via CKC: 8 hours

via I-55/I-270/I-70: 7 hours, 42 minutes

via I-55/I-72/CKC: 7 hours, 29 minutes

[Sctvhound]

SC does a really good job assigning their state roads, so there really aren't a lot. All the ones in the Charleston area carry some level of importance.

The least important US highway in SC is probably US 178. Largest cities it serves are Greenwood, Orangeburg and Anderson, and it peels off before it goes up towards Clemson.

Ends at a non-descript stop sign west of Summerville with US 78.

SM-G998U

[SEWIGuy]

For Wisconsin state highways, I would nominate WI-27.  It is near 300 miles long, but spends a lot of time duplexing with other highways, doesn't really hit any major cities, and is a pretty narrow and windy for most of its route.

[webny99]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

My strategy is to pretend the CKC doesn't exist.

So my son and I are considering a trip to KC in August to see the White Sox play a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. According to Google Maps:

via CKC: 8 hours

via I-55/I-270/I-70: 7 hours, 42 minutes

via I-55/I-72/CKC: 7 hours, 29 minutes

What is US 36 like between I-35 and Hannibal (MO)?

[NWI_Irish96]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

My strategy is to pretend the CKC doesn't exist.

So my son and I are considering a trip to KC in August to see the White Sox play a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. According to Google Maps:

via CKC: 8 hours

via I-55/I-270/I-70: 7 hours, 42 minutes

via I-55/I-72/CKC: 7 hours, 29 minutes

What is US 36 like between I-35 and Hannibal (MO)?

Never driven it myself, others likely have. Aside from being the fastest route, that route appeals to me because I-72 west of I-55 is the biggest chunk of interstate in Illinois I have left to clinch and US 36 and I-35 in Missouri would be new for me as well.

[kphoger]

via I-55/I-72/CKCUS-36/I-35: 7 hours, 29 minutes

FTFY   

This is the route I would take, personally.  I haven't driven between the two cities since 2009, but I had planned a trip to Chicago for last fall–before our vehicle threw a rod and we no longer had vacation money–and that's the route I had planned.

I-80 → I-35 is a decent way to go, and it's the way I went last time I made the drive (starting from Lakeside, MI).  The Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott is worth a potty break, and downtown Des Moines is a surprisingly nice area to stop in if you have the extra time (I recommend Zombie Burger).

I-55 → I-70 is less of a decent way to go, just because of Saint Louis traffic.  About the only thing that makes up for it is the Missouri River Bridge.  The last time I drove the I-70 portion of that route was probably six years ago, and I haven't voluntarily been on I-55 in Illinois south of Springfield in probably 18 years–the latter specifically because of Saint Louis traffic issues.

But I have never driven US-36 between Chillicothe (MO) and Pittsfield (IL).  It appears to be a lot less trafficked and just as scenic as any of the other options mentioned.

[NWI_Irish96]

via I-55/I-72/CKCUS-36/I-35: 7 hours, 29 minutes

FTFY   

This is the route I would take, personally.  I haven't driven between the two cities since 2009, but I had planned a trip to Chicago for last fall–before our vehicle threw a rod and we no longer had vacation money–and that's the route I had planned.

I-80 → I-35 is a decent way to go, and it's the way I went last time I made the drive (starting from Lakeside, MI).  The Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott is worth a potty break, and downtown Des Moines is a surprisingly nice area to stop in if you have the extra time (I recommend Zombie Burger).

I-55 → I-70 is less of a decent way to go, just because of Saint Louis traffic.  About the only thing that makes up for it is the Missouri River Bridge.  The last time I drove the I-70 portion of that route was probably six years ago, and I haven't voluntarily been on I-55 in Illinois south of Springfield in probably 18 years–the latter specifically because of Saint Louis traffic issues.

But I have never driven US-36 between Chillicothe (MO) and Pittsfield (IL).  It appears to be a lot less trafficked and just as scenic as any of the other options mentioned.

First of all, the trip is dependent on the Sox getting their heads out of their asses and actually being worth watching in August.

The desire to clinch I-72 makes that definitely the route for one half of the trip if it happens.

I-80/I-35 would be a good candidate for the other half.

[hobsini2]

US-63

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also serves Waterloo Iowa, Columbia Mo, and Jonesboro Ark. Relative to their states, all important cities.

[hobsini2]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

Actually, if I am going to KC, I use I-80 and I-35. I think it is quicker.

[hobsini2]

Does I-40 in California count? 150+ miles but serves no major population centers.

I would say it is an important link for Old 66 traffic between LA and OKC.

[hobsini2]

US 83 has the Road to Nowhere nickname, and outside of South Texas probably fits this bill.

Minot, Bismarck, Pierre, North Platte are all important cities to their states and 83 serves them.

[hobsini2]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

My strategy is to pretend the CKC doesn't exist.

So my son and I are considering a trip to KC in August to see the White Sox play a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. According to Google Maps:

via CKC: 8 hours

via I-55/I-270/I-70: 7 hours, 42 minutes

via I-55/I-72/CKC: 7 hours, 29 minutes

My way to KC is 80 and 35. I can be in KC in 7 hours.

[kphoger]

Does I-40 in California count? 150+ miles but serves no major population centers.

|Max Rockatansky| would have to say for sure.  But, considering that this thread started as a companion to one whose OP specifically states So, please do not include "a portion of"  a highway as part of this, I think it doesn't really fit the spirit.

[SEWIGuy]

US-63

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also serves Waterloo Iowa, Columbia Mo, and Jonesboro Ark. Relative to their states, all important cities.

I believe that US-63 is the longest US route that doesn't serve a city of over 150,000 people.

[hobsini2]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

My strategy is to pretend the CKC doesn't exist.

So my son and I are considering a trip to KC in August to see the White Sox play a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. According to Google Maps:

via CKC: 8 hours

via I-55/I-270/I-70: 7 hours, 42 minutes

via I-55/I-72/CKC: 7 hours, 29 minutes

What is US 36 like between I-35 and Hannibal (MO)?

4 lane divided expressway with some cross traffic segments. In all, not a bad way.

[NWI_Irish96]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Chicago - Kansas City highway yet! It's literally just tacked onto other routes in Illinois, and most people would just take I-55 to I-70 anyways so it's limited access rather than drive down a bunch of surface level expressways through beautiful... Macomb?

My strategy is to pretend the CKC doesn't exist.

So my son and I are considering a trip to KC in August to see the White Sox play a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. According to Google Maps:

via CKC: 8 hours

via I-55/I-270/I-70: 7 hours, 42 minutes

via I-55/I-72/CKC: 7 hours, 29 minutes

My way to KC is 80 and 35. I can be in KC in 7 hours.

Google Maps pegs 80/35 as 17 minutes slower than 55/72/36/35. I'm starting about 15-20 minutes farther away than you and usually beat Google Maps times by about 5% so that sounds about right.

[kphoger]

US-63

US 183 perhaps? Other than going through Austin, there is nothing of consequence.

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also serves Waterloo Iowa, Columbia Mo, and Jonesboro Ark. Relative to their states, all important cities.

I believe that US-63 is the longest US route that doesn't serve a city of over 150,000 people.

[Preview]

[hobsini2]

US-63

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also serves Waterloo Iowa, Columbia Mo, and Jonesboro Ark. Relative to their states, all important cities.

I believe that US-63 is the longest US route that doesn't serve a city of over 150,000 people.

US 183, had it not been for Austin TX, doesn't serve any other cities over 70k. At least US 63 does.

[J N Winkler]

What is US 36 like between I-35 and Hannibal (MO)?

It is expressway with occasional interchanges and (I think) no traffic signals except at I-35.  However, it was developed from the original two-lane US 36 by laying down a new carriageway without revising the geometry of the existing one, so as you travel in a given direction, there is a noticeable alternation between modern and less modern alignments.  The speed limit is also lower--65 versus 70 for a typical rural Interstate in Missouri.  Overall, it is a very capable alternative to I-70 for Chicago-Kansas City trips, though to an extent this says more about how awful I-70 is.  ("Missouri loves company.")

The timings people have been quoting for this itinerary are variable and I-35/US 36/I-72/I-55 has less of an advantage over I-35/I-80 at some times of day than at others.  For example, Google Maps just now quotes 7 hours 54 minutes/510 miles for the former and 8 hours 3 minutes/526 miles for the latter.  There is also more slack to the design of I-80 in both Illinois and Iowa, so there is more scope for speeding; the tradeoff is having to deal with transcontinental truck traffic.

[zachary_amaryllis]

CO71. 224 miles long and the largest city served is Rocky Ford, population 3,957.

If you include NE71 and SD71, it runs 429 miles and the only city larger than Rocky Ford that it serves is Scottsbluff, NE, population 15,039.

It hits Limon also, and we established that's a pretty important control city.

*ducks*

[hobsini2]

CO71. 224 miles long and the largest city served is Rocky Ford, population 3,957.

If you include NE71 and SD71, it runs 429 miles and the only city larger than Rocky Ford that it serves is Scottsbluff, NE, population 15,039.

It hits Limon also, and we established that's a pretty important control city.

*ducks*

Todd from Control City Freak would like to see you in his office.

[kphoger]

There is also more slack to the design of I-80 in both Illinois and Iowa, so there is more scope for speeding; the tradeoff is having to deal with transcontinental truck traffic.

That last time I drove the route, it was on a Sunday morning, and the speed limit in Illinois was still 65 mph.  Except to occasionally slow down for a trucker to complete a passing maneuver, my speedometer needle never dipped below 80 the whole way from Morris (IL) to Newton (IA).

[SEWIGuy]

US-63

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also serves Waterloo Iowa, Columbia Mo, and Jonesboro Ark. Relative to their states, all important cities.

I believe that US-63 is the longest US route that doesn't serve a city of over 150,000 people.

US 183, had it not been for Austin TX, doesn't serve any other cities over 70k. At least US 63 does.

LOL, ok...  So outside of a city of a million people, US-183 doesn't go anywhere important.   

[hobsini2]

US-63

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also serves Waterloo Iowa, Columbia Mo, and Jonesboro Ark. Relative to their states, all important cities.

I believe that US-63 is the longest US route that doesn't serve a city of over 150,000 people.

US 183, had it not been for Austin TX, doesn't serve any other cities over 70k. At least US 63 does.

LOL, ok...  So outside of a city of a million people, US-183 doesn't go anywhere important.   

You did dismiss US 63 in Rochester for the same thing. 183 is not the important highway in Austin. That's 35 and 290. Just saying.

[US 89]

US-63

Serves Rochester, a pretty decent sized city.

Also a pretty major highway in Missouri and Arkansas, and part of the fastest route from Kansas City to Memphis and points beyond in both directions.