Rank Your States Border Crossings in order of volume of travel crossed

Started by Roadgeekteen, December 22, 2024, 02:51:07 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Roadgeekteen

You probably don't have actual numbers for this. I'd be impressed if you do, so do your best guess. You can divide this into travel to/from the state itself as well as net travel everyone over the border even if they drive straight through the state without stopping. For Massachusetts this doesn't make much of a difference.

For Massachusetts:

1. New Hampshire: tons of tourist traffic going up as well to Maine even Vermont in all seasons of the year. Lots of cross border traffic. Lots of commuters and shoppers as well

2. Rhode Island: Less long-distance travel besides New Yorkers going to the Cape, but with Providence right across the border and a lot of density nearby.

3. Connecticut: Probably the most long-distance travel, lots of New York travel and Hartford/Springfield area traffic. Not higher as the area near the border isn't that dense besides Springfield.

4. New York: Long-distance travel from the state to Upstate New York and the Midwest. There is not a whole ton of traffic on the border on I-90. Also New Yorkers going to the Berkshires

5. Vermont: Most Massachusetts-Vermont travel goes through New Hampshire. Mostly traffic between Western Mass and Vermont, which isn't much. Also some New York tourist traffic to Vermont though many probably take I-87.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it


Great Lakes Roads

For Indiana:

1. Illinois- I-80/94 and the Indiana Toll Road to Chicago. Loads of semis, tourist and commuter traffic on one highway.

2. Michigan- mainly I-94 with semi and tourist traffic!

3. Ohio- I-70 (truck traffic) and the Ohio Turnpike!

4. Kentucky- Bridge crossings (Louisville mainly).
-Jay Seaburg

pderocco

You can often find AADT data from state highway departments. If you're looking for the highest numbers, they're likely to be state highways. For California, here are the data from 2022, the latest I could find:

  100 CA-167 NV
  110 CA-299 NV
  140 CA-266 NV north
  300 CA-266 NV south
  380 CA-182 NV
  790 CA-127 NV
  820 US-395 OR
  950 CA-178 NV
 1270 US-6 NV
 2450 CA-905 Mexico
 2650 US-95 NV
 3250 CA-139 OR
 3400 CA-186 Mexico
 3700 US-97 OR
 4200 US-395 NV Topaz Lake
 4450 CA-88 NV
 4700 US-199 OR
 7800 CA-188 Mexico
 8000 CA-62 AZ
 8930 US-101 OR
10400 CA-28 NV
12600 US-395 NV Truckee River
17000 I-40 AZ
17300 I-5 OR
17600 CA-7 Mexico
23000 US-50 NV
31000 CA-111 Mexico
34000 I-10/US-95 AZ
35000 I-8 AZ
35500 I-80 NV
46000 I-15 NV
56000 I-5 Mexico

These are all entry counts; the exit counts would have to be gotten from the other state's entry counts, but they're likely almost the same.

Route 167 is the desolate road that connects Mono Lake to NV-359 to Hawthorne. Don't break down on that road.

I'm not surprised I-5's Mexico crossing is the winner. Also, I-15 is high because it includes weekend Vegas traffic. I-8, I-10, and I-80 are lower but all in the same ballpark. CA-111 is another busy Mexico crossing.

The other major roads in and out have a lot less, I guess because there are quite a few alternatives.

Rothman

Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

mgk920

 don't have the numbers handy but I'm thinking that the top three for Wisconsin are

1 - I-41/94 to Illinois (near Kenosha)
2 - I-94 to Minnesota (Saint Croix River at Hudson)
3 - I-39/90 to Illinois (at Beloit)

Mike

webny99

Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

NJ 1st
PA 2nd
CT 3rd
MA 4th
VT 5th

You could maybe swap the last two, since I-90 is carrying a lot of weight there, but I don't see much scope for gut feels in the top three.

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: pderocco on December 22, 2024, 03:39:01 AMYou can often find AADT data from state highway departments. If you're looking for the highest numbers, they're likely to be state highways. For California, here are the data from 2022, the latest I could find:

  100 CA-167 NV
  110 CA-299 NV
  140 CA-266 NV north
  300 CA-266 NV south
  380 CA-182 NV
  790 CA-127 NV
  820 US-395 OR
  950 CA-178 NV
 1270 US-6 NV
 2450 CA-905 Mexico
 2650 US-95 NV
 3250 CA-139 OR
 3400 CA-186 Mexico
 3700 US-97 OR
 4200 US-395 NV Topaz Lake
 4450 CA-88 NV
 4700 US-199 OR
 7800 CA-188 Mexico
 8000 CA-62 AZ
 8930 US-101 OR
10400 CA-28 NV
12600 US-395 NV Truckee River
17000 I-40 AZ
17300 I-5 OR
17600 CA-7 Mexico
23000 US-50 NV
31000 CA-111 Mexico
34000 I-10/US-95 AZ
35000 I-8 AZ
35500 I-80 NV
46000 I-15 NV
56000 I-5 Mexico

These are all entry counts; the exit counts would have to be gotten from the other state's entry counts, but they're likely almost the same.

Route 167 is the desolate road that connects Mono Lake to NV-359 to Hawthorne. Don't break down on that road.

I'm not surprised I-5's Mexico crossing is the winner. Also, I-15 is high because it includes weekend Vegas traffic. I-8, I-10, and I-80 are lower but all in the same ballpark. CA-111 is another busy Mexico crossing.

The other major roads in and out have a lot less, I guess because there are quite a few alternatives.

I'd imagine Bodie Road has a lofty AADT of maybe 2-5 during the summer.  I'd speculate that I'd the least used state line crossing into California.

JayhawkCO

HighwayStateAADT
I-25WY26000
I-25NM12000
I-70KS10000
US550NM9800
I-70UT9000
I-76NE8400
US287WY4300
US491NM4200
US287/385OK3900
US85WY3400
US491UT2800
US40UT2200
CO140NM2000
US160NM1800
US50/400KS1800
US385NE1600
CO113NE1500
US84NM1400
US285NM1300
US34NE1200
CO13WY1200
CO71NE1000
CO41UT990
CO127WY950
CO159NM890
US6NE830
US40KS780
US138NE630
CO125WY560
CO11NE550
CO96KS520
CO23NE460
CO17NM450
US36KS420
CO172NM400
US160KS330
CO90UT260
CO116KS200
CO389NM130
CO318UT110

WY: 36,410
NM: 34,370
NE: 16,170
UT: 15,360
KS: 14,050
OK: 3,900

Rothman

Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

NJ 1st
PA 2nd
CT 3rd
MA 4th
VT 5th

You could maybe swap the last two, since I-90 is carrying a lot of weight there, but I don't see much scope for gut feels in the top three.

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

mgk920

Also, no numbers handy, but my sense for the busiest NYS state line crossing points are I-95 - NJ and I-95 - CT.

Mike

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*
If you don't have anything meaningful to add to the discussion you don't have to post anything.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it

webny99

Quote from: mgk920 on December 22, 2024, 11:49:45 AMAlso, no numbers handy, but my sense for the busiest NYS state line crossing points are I-95 - NJ and I-95 - CT.

Mike

The Verrazzano Bridge and Lincoln and Holland Tunnels round out the top five. That's 4 NY/NJ and 1 NY/CT.

Even so, PA easily outweighs CT in terms of total crossings.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 12:51:37 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on December 22, 2024, 11:49:45 AMAlso, no numbers handy, but my sense for the busiest NYS state line crossing points are I-95 - NJ and I-95 - CT.

Mike

The Verrazzano Bridge and Lincoln and Holland Tunnels round out the top five.

PA still handily exceeds CT though because of sheer distance.
I think it's closer than you think. Sure it's long but the area near the border is not very dense at all, while the CT border is super dense and heavily traveled.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it

GaryV

From Michigan:

1. Ohio
2. Indiana
3. Ontario
4. Wisconsin
5. Minnesota (via Isle Royale ferries)
6. Illinois (incidentally by water)

The busiest roads are most likely I-75 to Ohio and I-94 to Indiana.

webny99

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 22, 2024, 12:52:44 PM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 12:51:37 PM...

PA still handily exceeds CT though because of sheer distance.
I think it's closer than you think. Sure it's long but the area near the border is not very dense at all, while the CT border is super dense and heavily traveled.

I'll work on compiling some numbers later when I have a good chance.

I-84 adds a decent amount for NY/PA, missing NJ by less than 50 feet. And remember too that all I-86 traffic crosses twice near Sayre.

Then again, if we're getting technical, I suppose I-684 crosses twice too, but there's no exit so I'm not sure it should count.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 01:10:03 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 22, 2024, 12:52:44 PM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 12:51:37 PM...

PA still handily exceeds CT though because of sheer distance.
I think it's closer than you think. Sure it's long but the area near the border is not very dense at all, while the CT border is super dense and heavily traveled.

I'll work on compiling some numbers later when I have a good chance.

I-84 adds a decent amount for NY/PA, missing NJ by less than 50 feet. And remember too that all I-86 traffic crosses twice near Sayre.

Then again, if we're getting technical, I suppose I-684 crosses twice too, but there's no exit so I'm not sure it should count.
It does, many long distance traffic, but just the shear number of commuter traffic to Connecticut is so high. And most NYC to PA traffic goes through New Jersey first.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it

Bruce

For Washington:

1. Oregon. The flow of traffic between Vancouver and Portland is massive due to everyday commuting as well as shopping, commerce, and leisure travel.

2. Idaho. Spokane-Coeur d'Alene and Pullman-Moscow (WSU-UoI) both are paired clusters with plenty of crossover commuting.

3. British Columbia. While there are very few cross-border commuters, there's still plenty of shopping and commerce that happens over it. Canadians routinely travel stateside for cheaper gas and groceries, to pick up parcels at a forwarding or mailbox service (many are 24-hours, even in small towns like Sumas), or go shop at an outlet mall. Roughly 32,000 crossings a day between BC and WA.
Wikipedia - TravelMapping (100% of WA SRs)

Photos

US 89

Went through Utah's state AADT data, pulled the data from the segment of each route closest to the border, and came up with this. Utah has data from not only state highways, but also from the federal-aid highway network, which are local roads but have 4-digit numbers that are unique within the state and occasionally will have some small CR-type pentagon signs in rural areas.

Route   State   AADT
15      AZ   30951
80      WY   17747
15      ID   12879
84      ID   11904
91      ID   9523
80      NV   8962
70      CO   8738
59      AZ   7000
89A      AZ   5308
89      AZ   4965
40      CO   3766
89      ID   3578
491      CO   3558
58      NV   3035
163      AZ   2798
162      CO   2205
191      AZ   2047
43      WY   1991
16      WY   1681
200      ID   1598
23      ID   1463
191      WY   1438
43      WY   1402
3140   AZ   1183
30      WY   987
2414   CO   887
2410   AZ   820
2022   ID   797
3225   AZ   661
56      NV   653
1064   ID   616
30      NV   475
46      CO   469
150      WY   458
6      NV   457
42      ID   287
2422   CO   284
3214   NV   263
2610   WY   225
21      NV   185
1851   AZ   125
1364   WY   122
1130   ID   98
1364   CO   84

Adding the individual states up:

AZ   55858
ID   42743
WY   26051
CO   19991
NV   14030

I actually am surprised Arizona is so high - I figured it would be second place behind Idaho. I-15 to Arizona is far and away the busiest state line crossing in Utah, which is less surprising, but SR 59 and the US 89 and 89A crossings are all busy enough to add up as well.

I would have guessed Nevada at the bottom, but would not have been too surprised if Colorado had been closer to the bottom than it is.

vdeane

Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

NJ 1st
PA 2nd
CT 3rd
MA 4th
VT 5th

You could maybe swap the last two, since I-90 is carrying a lot of weight there, but I don't see much scope for gut feels in the top three.

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Indeed.  Behold... THE DATA!  Because NY's border crossings are many and not all have counts, I only included the ones that have a route mapped in Travel Mapping on at least one side, except for a few that I included because state routes get very close (namely former US 15 and the NY 427 bounce) and the US/Canada border (those are fairly important).

New Jersey - 888,151
The fact that NJ is #1 does not surprise me.  The fact that it manages to surpass PA even when the Port Authority crossings are excluded did, however.
NJ 23 5,359
NY 284/NJ 284* 1,478
NY 94/NJ 94 6,977
NY 210 3,095
I-287/NY 17/NJ 17 69,951
US 202 8,447
NY 45 9,826
Garden State Parkway 60,893
NY 304 10,868
NY 303 12,586
NY 340 3,825
Palisades Interstate Parkway 44,957
US 9W 9,613
I-95/US 1/US 9/US 46 258,440
NY 495/NJ 495 108,112
I-78 84,948
NY 440/NJ 440 (Bayonne) 31,397
I-278 71,662
NY 440/NJ 440 (Outerbridge) 85,717

Connecticut - 542,259 (including I-684 and NY 120A dips); 359,654 (excluding I-684 and NY 120A)
The NY/CT border may not be the biggest, but it's still on the Northeast Corridor and southwest CT is still NYC exurbs.
NY 25 3,073
I-95* 128,300
US 1 30,990
Hutchinson River Parkway/CT 15 56,159
NY 120A (south) 13,227
NY 120A (middle south) 11,688
NY 120A (middle north) 11,688
NY 120A (north) 3,900
I-684 (south) 71,051
I-684 (north) 71,051
NY 433 5,558
CT 184 6,743
NY 137/CT 137 3,674
CT 124 4,315
NY 123/CT 123 7,410
NY 35/CT 35 7,038
NY 116/CT 116 3,637
I-84 73,370
US 6/US 202 11,795
NY 55/CT 55 4,156
CT 341 956
CT 41* 1,200
NY 343/CT 343 5,391
CT 361 1,647
US 44 4,242

Pennsylvania - 232,257 (including I-86 dip into PA); 198,351 (excluding I-86 traffic)
The PA border may be NY's longest land border by far, but the length does not make up for the sheer traffic of the NYC area.
NY 5/PA 5 1,251
I-90 16,295
US 20 2,629
NY 426/PA 426 (north) 570
I-86 9,585
NY 430/PA 430 956
NY 474/PA 474 752
NY 426/PA 426 (south) 762
PA 958 463
PA 69 1,920
US 62 4,255
NY 280/PA 346 557
US 219 9,763
NY 16/PA 646 1,553
PA 546 475
NY 305/PA 446 3,025
PA 44* 2,700
NY 19/PA 449 2,040
NY 248A/PA 244 701
NY 36/PA 249 771
I-99/US 15 13,161
PA 287** 2,132
NY 328/PA 328 4,830
NY 14/PA 14 2,911
NY 367 3,055
NY 427** 783
I-86 (west of exit 60) 24,929
US 220 (local) 5,820
US 220 (PA side)* 13,822
I-86 (east of exit 60) 16,979
NY 34/PA 199* 11,126
NY 282/PA 187 2,630
PA 858 2,616
NY 26/PA 267 4,456
PA 167* 481
NY 7/PA 29 2,225
NY 7A 1,639
US 11 2,879
I-81 20,655
NY 79/PA 92 560
PA 191 2,953
PA 371 1,449
NY 52/PA 652 2,958
NY 55/PA 434* 2,176
US 6/US 209 9,331
I-84 28,500

Vermont - 47,806 (including NY 373); 46,494 (excluding the "temporarily closed" ferry crossing at NY 373)
The VT crossings may be relatively quiet, but in this case the length of the border is important.
NY 346/VT 346 1,330
NY 7/VT 9 3,037
VT 279 8,324
NY 67/VT 67 3,436
NY 313/VT 313 1,765
VT 153 656
NY 149/VT 149 4,346
VT 31 726
NY 22A/VT 22A 2,798
US 4 7,972
NY 74/VT 74 503
NY 185/VT 17 3,618
VT F5* 1,200
NY 373 1,312
VT 314** 2,637
US 2 4,146

Ontario - 46,137
The NY/ON border may be all water, but most of the bridges are busy, particularly around the Niagara Falls area.
Seaway International Bridge 5,272
NY 812 2,060
I-81/ON 137 5,429
Wolfe Island-Cape Vincent Ferry 315
I-190/ON 405* 10,100
Whirlpool Bridge 1,397
NY 384 6,764
Queen Elizabeth Way* 14,800

Massachusetts - 39,486
One may think the NY/MA border would rank higher, but the I-90 traffic (far outstripping any individual crossing on the NY/VT border) does not make up for the short length.
NY 344 84
NY 23/MA 23 3,356
NY 71/MA 71 1,766
I-90 21,790
MA 102 1,745
NY 295/MA 295 2,726
US 20 5,132
NY 43/MA 43 1,781
NY 2/MA 2 1,106

Québec - 9,333
This being the least-traveled land border does not surprise me, but the sheer lack of volume is nonetheless impressive.  I guess most people don't feel like traversing the Adirondacks and northern flatland just to speak French.  At least it's not last!
US 11/QC 223 461
QC 221* 590
I-87/A-15* 6,300
QC 219 396
QC 203 94
NY 189/QC 209 255
CR 52 386
NY 30/QC 138 351
QC 132 500

Rhode Island - 0
With the only crossing on this border being the Block Island Ferry, there wasn't much of anything to measure here.

*Either NYSDOT didn't have data or there were reasons to not use it, so I used PennDOT, NJDOT, CTDOT, VTrans, MTQ, or MTO data.
**Route doesn't actually cross but comes close.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

Roadgeekteen

That's probably what I would have expected, I knew CT was over PA. I would have guessed Ontario over Vermont due to the popularity of Niagara Falls, but not super surprised.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it

webny99

Quote from: vdeane on December 22, 2024, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

...

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Indeed.  Behold... THE DATA!

I am thoroughly confused as to how this is somehow being weaponized as a representation of anecdotes and gut feels. If anything, the data and everything else posted so far shows that NY DOES have clear tiers (despite my whiff on CT vs. PA), but I hope another thread devolving into pettiness makes everyone else feel better.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 06:51:48 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 22, 2024, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

...

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Indeed.  Behold... THE DATA!

I am thoroughly confused as to how this is somehow being weaponized as a representation of anecdotes and gut feels. If anything, the data and everything else posted so far shows that NY DOES have clear tiers (despite my whiff on CT vs. PA), but I hope another thread devolving into pettiness makes everyone else feel better.
Eh it's just Rothman being Rothman. Let him be.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it

Rothman

Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 06:51:48 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 22, 2024, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

...

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Indeed.  Behold... THE DATA!

I am thoroughly confused as to how this is somehow being weaponized as a representation of anecdotes and gut feels. If anything, the data and everything else posted so far shows that NY DOES have clear tiers (despite my whiff on CT vs. PA), but I hope another thread devolving into pettiness makes everyone else feel better.
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 06:51:48 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 22, 2024, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

...

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Indeed.  Behold... THE DATA!

I am thoroughly confused as to how this is somehow being weaponized as a representation of anecdotes and gut feels. If anything, the data and everything else posted so far shows that NY DOES have clear tiers (despite my whiff on CT vs. PA), but I hope another thread devolving into pettiness makes everyone else feel better.

Your whiff was exactly why I said what I said...which gave what I said quite a meaning.

Glad those have popped up with the AADT numbers.  The rest of the thread fits the description I provided.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

vdeane

Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 06:51:48 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 22, 2024, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: webny99 on December 22, 2024, 10:56:02 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 22, 2024, 10:12:08 AM*looks forward to mostly anecdotes and gut feelings*

And yet, New York is... actually pretty cut and dry?

...

If this isn't a case in point, I don't know what is.
Indeed.  Behold... THE DATA!

I am thoroughly confused as to how this is somehow being weaponized as a representation of anecdotes and gut feels. If anything, the data and everything else posted so far shows that NY DOES have clear tiers (despite my whiff on CT vs. PA), but I hope another thread devolving into pettiness makes everyone else feel better.
You were 1/5 on the ranking.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

TBKS1

I actually looked at some ARDOT county maps out of curiosity, the I-55 and I-40 river bridges are pretty handedly the busiest state border crossings in Arkansas, with I-30 at Texarkana shortly behind. I-55 and I-49 have a similar AADT crossing the state line into Missouri, and I-40 of course is the highest for crossing in and out of Oklahoma. The lowest number I could find is probably AR 251 crossing into Missouri (Randolph County) which had an AADT of about 200.
I take pictures of road signs, that's about it.

General rule of thumb: Just stay in the "Traffic Control" section of the forum and you'll be fine.



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.