Longest Time You Stayed on One Highway on a Given Trip

[TravelingBethelite]

Off the top of my head, US 50 comes to mind - from US 63 in Jefferson City to I-81 in Winchester, 886.66 miles. I-70 from Columbia to the US 6/191 split in Utah is another contender. I-95 from I-20 to New Hope, PA would be another long one.

Edit: my record actually would probably be I-40 from US 281 in Oklahoma to I-26 in NC - 1014.17 miles. Actually, my bad! I forgot I had taken I-840 around Nashville. US 50 would be my record then.

[SkyPesos]

My point is that every time someone posted I-75 as their longest, someone questioned whether or not they used I-475, but nobody ever questioned anybody on other interstates. It was as if that was the only spot where someone might shortcut a route.

Most 3di alternates are longer than their parent. I-475 is a notable exception in terms of being an actual "shortcut".

There's also I-275 in Detroit and I-295 in Maine; those haven't come up much yet but I'm sure they'll be questioned if/when they do. 

Let's create a list of potential freeway shortcuts that's shorter and/or more desirable to travel, and easy to miss, than the parent route then. I'll start...

I-10:
- I-12 Louisiana

I-70:
- I-670 KC
- I-270 St Louis (rare example of a beltway shorter than parent route between two points)
- I-470 Wheeling

I-75:
- I-475 Macon
- US 23 Toledo-Flint (and no, I don't think I-275 would be questioned, as it doesn't reconnect back with I-75)

I-95:
- B-W Parkway
- I-895 Baltimore
- NJ Turnpike unnumbered section
- I-295 Maine

[wanderer2575]

Embitterment sweetened and patheticness documented.

You're too kind, I think.   

[JayhawkCO]

My point is that every time someone posted I-75 as their longest, someone questioned whether or not they used I-475, but nobody ever questioned anybody on other interstates. It was as if that was the only spot where someone might shortcut a route.

Most 3di alternates are longer than their parent. I-475 is a notable exception in terms of being an actual "shortcut".

There's also I-275 in Detroit and I-295 in Maine; those haven't come up much yet but I'm sure they'll be questioned if/when they do. 

Let's create a list of potential freeway shortcuts that's shorter and/or more desirable to travel, and easy to miss, than the parent route then. I'll start...

I-10:
- I-12 Louisiana

I-70:
- I-670 KC
- I-270 St Louis (rare example of a beltway shorter than parent route between two points)
- I-470 Wheeling

I-75:
- I-475 Macon
- US 23 Toledo-Flint (and no, I don't think I-275 would be questioned, as it doesn't reconnect back with I-75)

I-95:
- B-W Parkway
- I-895 Baltimore
- NJ Turnpike unnumbered section
- I-295 Maine

Just off the top of my head:

I-235 is more often than not quicker than I-35/80 in Des Moines.

I-295 in Richmond.

I-694 in the Twin Cities.

FL9B (future I-795)/I-295 in Jacksonville.

Chris

[sprjus4]

My point is that every time someone posted I-75 as their longest, someone questioned whether or not they used I-475, but nobody ever questioned anybody on other interstates. It was as if that was the only spot where someone might shortcut a route.

Most 3di alternates are longer than their parent. I-475 is a notable exception in terms of being an actual "shortcut".

There's also I-275 in Detroit and I-295 in Maine; those haven't come up much yet but I'm sure they'll be questioned if/when they do. 

Let's create a list of potential freeway shortcuts that's shorter and/or more desirable to travel, and easy to miss, than the parent route then. I'll start...

I-10:
- I-12 Louisiana

I-70:
- I-670 KC
- I-270 St Louis (rare example of a beltway shorter than parent route between two points)
- I-470 Wheeling

I-75:
- I-475 Macon
- US 23 Toledo-Flint (and no, I don't think I-275 would be questioned, as it doesn't reconnect back with I-75)

I-95:
- B-W Parkway
- I-895 Baltimore
- NJ Turnpike unnumbered section
- I-295 Maine

^ Or I-270 vs. I-70 through St. Louis, I-295 vs. I-95 through Richmond-Petersburg, I-664 vs. I-64 through Norfolk, I-459 vs. I-59/20 through Birmingham, I-410/I-35 or Loop 1604 vs. I-10 through San Antonio, etc.

[Bruce]

I came somewhat close to breaking my record, with a trip up US-95 from Moscow to Bonners Ferry in northern Idaho. I made several diversions to hit up Washington's border routes, so sadly I can only count a 97-mile section from ID-58 instead of the full length from ID-60 (117 miles).

[Rothman]

sparker	2768		I-80
cpzilliacus	2150		I-70
Rothman	2049		I-80
ctkatz	2025		I-80
Mapmikey	1900		I-40
skluth	1799		I-80
Chris19001	1750		I-70
dfilpus	1750		I-40
fillup420	1682		I-40
Konza	1637		I-10
TheHighwayMan394	1587		I-90
wanderer2525	1540		US 24
jaehak	1460		I-5
hobsini2	1360		I-80
cabiness42	1215		I-40
CtrlAltDel	1209		I-40
jayhawkco	1174		I-80
Scott5114	1162		I-40
catch22	1150		I-75
paulthemapguy	1150		I-90
zzcarp	1107		I-80
DTComposer	1075		I-15
TravelingBethelite	1014		I-40
DJ Particle	1007		I-75
Occidental Tourist	984		I-5
odditude	966		I-95
sprjus4	962		I-64
Skye	960		I-75
I-55	955		I-75
US 89	940		I-80
webny99	915		I-90
Thing 342	900		I-95
Alex4897	899		I-95
SkyPesos	850		I-75
SEWIGuy	850		I-70
7/8	835		I-80
plain	816		I-90
ozarkman417	790		I-70
thsfpc	780		I-80
1995hoo	756		I-64
Ketchup99	751		I-95
kphoger	748		I-35
jlam	685		I-25
dlsterner	677		I-85
doorknob60	631		I-15
milbfan	620		I-20
achilles765	500		I-81
DandyDan	493		I-90
ftballfan	452		I-75
CoreySamson	445		I-10
hirothehero	432		I-90
epzik8	420		I-95
Tarkus	412		US 95
Bruce	109		I-84

[akotchi]

I-95, from Ewing/Hopewell NJ (at the time) to Boynton Beach, FL -- just under 1,200 miles.
I-40, from Wilmington, NC (terminus) to outside Little Rock, AR (I-30 junction) - about 960 miles.
I-75, from northern I-75/I-85 junction in Atlanta to Sunrise, FL (I-595 junction), via the I-16 junction! - about 710 miles.

[SkyPesos]

Regarding I-295 in Richmond, it's been stated as a bypass for I-95, but how effective is it as a bypass for I-64 too?

[FrCorySticha]

This got missed for the list:

For now, however, the longest trip I can recall with certainty on one highway is 785 miles on I-94 from Dickinson, ND to Madison, WI. I made this trip multiple times between ND and the Chicago area.

[sprjus4]

Regarding I-295 in Richmond, it's been stated as a bypass for I-95, but how effective is it as a bypass for I-64 too?

It's signed as a bypass for I-64, with Charlottesville and Norfolk as control cities on either end.

I've used it numerous times as a bypass when heading east-west, so I find it effective. It's roughly the same time as going through the city, however it's 70 mph throughout (65 mph near I-95), 6-8 lanes wide, and mainly rural design vs. I-64 through the city which varies between 55-65 mph, plus the I-95 overlap, some tight curves (going to/from I-95 and through Downtown), etc.

Google Maps routes you that way, unless there's an incident on I-295 which there rarely is. Given how well I-295 is designed (particularly 8 lanes on the part shared for I-95 and I-64 bypass traffic), there's never any congestion even on the busiest of weekends, unlike I-64 east of I-295 and I-95 north of I-295.

I took I-64 all the way through on this past trip, with the specific intent of hitting as much as I-64 as possible, but usually I'd just bypass. I used I-295 on the return when coming from Tennessee along I-81.

[Daniel Fiddler]

I-440 / I-24 is almost always faster than I-40 through Nashville

I-840 can be faster than I-40 through Nashville, especially during rush hour, definitely more pleasant, especially with the view of Castle Gwynn, and you can drive 75 - 80 mph most of the way and not have to slow down except for interchanges

Toll Florida 417 can be faster than I-4 through Orlando during rush hour

Never been on it, although I imagine Toll Texas 130 is faster since you can drive 85 - 90 on it and more pleasant than I-35 through Austin

[plain]

Regarding I-295 in Richmond, it's been stated as a bypass for I-95, but how effective is it as a bypass for I-64 too?

It's signed as a bypass for I-64, with Charlottesville and Norfolk as control cities on either end.

I've used it numerous times as a bypass when heading east-west, so I find it effective. It's roughly the same time as going through the city, however it's 70 mph throughout (65 mph near I-95), 6-8 lanes wide, and mainly rural design vs. I-64 through the city which varies between 55-65 mph, plus the I-95 overlap, some tight curves (going to/from I-95 and through Downtown), etc.

Google Maps routes you that way, unless there's an incident on I-295 which there rarely is. Given how well I-295 is designed (particularly 8 lanes on the part shared for I-95 and I-64 bypass traffic), there's never any congestion even on the busiest of weekends, unlike I-64 east of I-295 and I-95 north of I-295.

I took I-64 all the way through on this past trip, with the specific intent of hitting as much as I-64 as possible, but usually I'd just bypass. I used I-295 on the return when coming from Tennessee along I-81.

There's also this:

I-295 wasn't originally planned to go south of Petersburg

When the alignment was shifted to go south of Petersburg, it was to become the new alignment of I-95 (obviously VA changed their minds)

The segment between the two I-64 junctions open 12 years before the highway was completed to south of Petersburg. In other words, it functioned as an I-64 bypass before functioning as an I-95 bypass.

[ethanhopkin14]

I-440 / I-24 is almost always faster than I-40 through Nashville

I-840 can be faster than I-40 through Nashville, especially during rush hour, definitely more pleasant, especially with the view of Castle Gwynn, and you can drive 75 - 80 mph most of the way and not have to slow down except for interchanges

Toll Florida 417 can be faster than I-4 through Orlando during rush hour

Never been on it, although I imagine Toll Texas 130 is faster since you can drive 85 - 90 on it and more pleasant than I-35 through Austin

TX-130 is never faster.  It's too far out of the way and uses existing congested highways (I-10 from the eastern I-410 interchange in San Antonio to Seguin, plus using I-410's southeastern quadrant) to get to it to make it an effective bypass.  Even with the 85 mph speed limit it never works out.  Less stressful, yes, except a few places in Pflugerville.  They have electronic signs showing you the drive times to points beyond Austin using I-35 of TX-130 and the time for TX-130 is always slower.  Baring the roadway actually catching fire, it is always faster to sit through traffic on I-35 through Austin than drive 85 on TX-130.  I try to tell people that aren't from here that TX-130 is only useful if you are going to points on it.  If you are in downtown Austin and you need to get to Manor, Pflugerville or Hutto.  That's about it.  It doesn't work as an effective I-35 bypass.  I know people that live right by TX-130 that will still drive to I-35 so they can go to San Antonio.  It's too far out and takes too long. 

[Rothman]

sparker	2768		I-80
cpzilliacus	2150		I-70
Rothman	2049		I-80
ctkatz	2025		I-80
Mapmikey	1900		I-40
skluth	1799		I-80
Chris19001	1750		I-70
dfilpus	1750		I-40
fillup420	1682		I-40
Konza	1637		I-10
TheHighwayMan394	1587		I-90
wanderer2525	1540		US 24
jaehak	1460		I-5
hobsini2	1360		I-80
cabiness42	1215		I-40
CtrlAltDel	1209		I-40
akotchi	1199		I-95
jayhawkco	1174		I-80
Scott5114	1162		I-40
catch22	1150		I-75
paulthemapguy	1150		I-90
zzcarp	1107		I-80
DTComposer	1075		I-15
TravelingBethelite	1014		I-40
DJ Particle	1007		I-75
Occidental Tourist	984		I-5
odditude	966		I-95
sprjus4	962		I-64
Skye	960		I-75
I-55	955		I-75
US 89	940		I-80
webny99	915		I-90
Thing 342	900		I-95
Alex4897	899		I-95
SkyPesos	850		I-75
SEWIGuy	850		I-70
7/8	835		I-80
plain	816		I-90
ozarkman417	790		I-70
FrCorySticha	785		I-94
thsfpc	780		I-80
1995hoo	756		I-64
Ketchup99	751		I-95
kphoger	748		I-35
jlam	685		I-25
dlsterner	677		I-85
doorknob60	631		I-15
milbfan	620		I-20
achilles765	500		I-81
DandyDan	493		I-90
ftballfan	452		I-75
CoreySamson	445		I-10
hirothehero	432		I-90
epzik8	420		I-95
Tarkus	412		US 95
Bruce	109		I-84

[kphoger]

TX-130 is never faster.  It's too far out of the way and uses existing congested highways (I-10 from the eastern I-410 interchange in San Antonio to Seguin, plus using I-410's southeastern quadrant) to get to it to make it an effective bypass.  Even with the 85 mph speed limit it never works out.  Less stressful, yes, except a few places in Pflugerville.  They have electronic signs showing you the drive times to points beyond Austin using I-35 of TX-130 and the time for TX-130 is always slower.  Baring the roadway actually catching fire, it is always faster to sit through traffic on I-35 through Austin than drive 85 on TX-130.  I try to tell people that aren't from here that TX-130 is only useful if you are going to points on it.  If you are in downtown Austin and you need to get to Manor, Pflugerville or Hutto.  That's about it.  It doesn't work as an effective I-35 bypass.  I know people that live right by TX-130 that will still drive to I-35 so they can go to San Antonio.  It's too far out and takes too long. 

Depends on I-35 traffic in (1) Austin and (2) the north side of San Antonio.

The southwestern quadrant of I-410 is worlds better traffic-wise than, say, I-35 from Selma to Windcrest–at least at some times of the day/week.

For a trip from Jarrell to Lytle, Google Maps right now estimates that I-35 all the way through Austin and San Antonio only saves five minutes when compared to TX-130 and I-410.  And there's only the tiniest of delays right now, in Austin.  Add rush hour traffic, or even just a wreck or two, into that equation, and TX-130 can win on time.

[Daniel Fiddler]

Did I forget to post how far I travelled on one road?

Jackson, TN to Albuquerque, NM

1,090 miles

Pathetic compared to some, not bad considering I was 15 at the time (I was a passenger of course).

[sprjus4]

I-440 / I-24 is almost always faster than I-40 through Nashville

I-840 can be faster than I-40 through Nashville, especially during rush hour, definitely more pleasant, especially with the view of Castle Gwynn, and you can drive 75 - 80 mph most of the way and not have to slow down except for interchanges

Toll Florida 417 can be faster than I-4 through Orlando during rush hour

Never been on it, although I imagine Toll Texas 130 is faster since you can drive 85 - 90 on it and more pleasant than I-35 through Austin

TX-130 is never faster.  It's too far out of the way and uses existing congested highways (I-10 from the eastern I-410 interchange in San Antonio to Seguin, plus using I-410's southeastern quadrant) to get to it to make it an effective bypass.  Even with the 85 mph speed limit it never works out.  Less stressful, yes, except a few places in Pflugerville.  They have electronic signs showing you the drive times to points beyond Austin using I-35 of TX-130 and the time for TX-130 is always slower.  Baring the roadway actually catching fire, it is always faster to sit through traffic on I-35 through Austin than drive 85 on TX-130.  I try to tell people that aren't from here that TX-130 is only useful if you are going to points on it.  If you are in downtown Austin and you need to get to Manor, Pflugerville or Hutto.  That's about it.  It doesn't work as an effective I-35 bypass.  I know people that live right by TX-130 that will still drive to I-35 so they can go to San Antonio.  It's too far out and takes too long.

Funny, I've heard the exact opposite from people both that live in Austin and other places in the state that use that corridor on a more frequent basis.

I've never had any problem with congestion on SH-130, and it's better now with 6 lanes for the busiest part of it that was recently added.

If it's 5pm rush hour, and I'm heading from Temple to San Antonio, you can guarantee I'm 100% taking SH-130. I'm not going to subject myself to sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for 30-40 minutes just to save $10 or something. Especially on a long distance trip.

I-10 isn't much of a problem, it's busy but it's usually moving 70-80+ mph regardless. Widening it to 6 lanes over the next decade will make it significantly better.

I-410, from my experience, seems to move easily 70+ mph without any issues, even during peak hours.

SH-130 is a nice reliever after driving hours in busy traffic, just to get a nice long 40 mile desolate stretch you can safely and legally hit 85 mph, sometimes pushing it a little more. I-35 can be simply more stress inducing, even if there's no congestion, it's packed tight.

[DandyDan]

My point is that every time someone posted I-75 as their longest, someone questioned whether or not they used I-475, but nobody ever questioned anybody on other interstates. It was as if that was the only spot where someone might shortcut a route.

Most 3di alternates are longer than their parent. I-475 is a notable exception in terms of being an actual "shortcut".

There's also I-275 in Detroit and I-295 in Maine; those haven't come up much yet but I'm sure they'll be questioned if/when they do. 

Let's create a list of potential freeway shortcuts that's shorter and/or more desirable to travel, and easy to miss, than the parent route then. I'll start...

I-10:
- I-12 Louisiana

I-70:
- I-670 KC
- I-270 St Louis (rare example of a beltway shorter than parent route between two points)
- I-470 Wheeling

I-75:
- I-475 Macon
- US 23 Toledo-Flint (and no, I don't think I-275 would be questioned, as it doesn't reconnect back with I-75)

I-95:
- B-W Parkway
- I-895 Baltimore
- NJ Turnpike unnumbered section
- I-295 Maine

Just off the top of my head:

I-235 is more often than not quicker than I-35/80 in Des Moines.

I-295 in Richmond.

I-694 in the Twin Cities.

FL9B (future I-795)/I-295 in Jacksonville.

Chris

I've done both routes through Des Moines and I-235 generally has less traffic and it certainly has less truck traffic. Especially if it's not during the state fair week.

I would also add the Quad Cities I-280 as a bypass of I-80 to this list, if only to avoid going in a loop at the I-80/I-74 interchange.

[ethanhopkin14]

I-440 / I-24 is almost always faster than I-40 through Nashville

I-840 can be faster than I-40 through Nashville, especially during rush hour, definitely more pleasant, especially with the view of Castle Gwynn, and you can drive 75 - 80 mph most of the way and not have to slow down except for interchanges

Toll Florida 417 can be faster than I-4 through Orlando during rush hour

Never been on it, although I imagine Toll Texas 130 is faster since you can drive 85 - 90 on it and more pleasant than I-35 through Austin

TX-130 is never faster.  It's too far out of the way and uses existing congested highways (I-10 from the eastern I-410 interchange in San Antonio to Seguin, plus using I-410's southeastern quadrant) to get to it to make it an effective bypass.  Even with the 85 mph speed limit it never works out.  Less stressful, yes, except a few places in Pflugerville.  They have electronic signs showing you the drive times to points beyond Austin using I-35 of TX-130 and the time for TX-130 is always slower.  Baring the roadway actually catching fire, it is always faster to sit through traffic on I-35 through Austin than drive 85 on TX-130.  I try to tell people that aren't from here that TX-130 is only useful if you are going to points on it.  If you are in downtown Austin and you need to get to Manor, Pflugerville or Hutto.  That's about it.  It doesn't work as an effective I-35 bypass.  I know people that live right by TX-130 that will still drive to I-35 so they can go to San Antonio.  It's too far out and takes too long.

Funny, I've heard the exact opposite from people both that live in Austin and other places in the state that use that corridor on a more frequent basis.

I've never had any problem with congestion on SH-130, and it's better now with 6 lanes for the busiest part of it that was recently added.

If it's 5pm rush hour, and I'm heading from Temple to San Antonio, you can guarantee I'm 100% taking SH-130. I'm not going to subject myself to sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for 30-40 minutes just to save $10 or something. Especially on a long distance trip.

I-10 isn't much of a problem, it's busy but it's usually moving 70-80+ mph regardless. Widening it to 6 lanes over the next decade will make it significantly better.

I-410, from my experience, seems to move easily 70+ mph without any issues, even during peak hours.

SH-130 is a nice reliever after driving hours in busy traffic, just to get a nice long 40 mile desolate stretch you can safely and legally hit 85 mph, sometimes pushing it a little more. I-35 can be simply more stress inducing, even if there's no congestion, it's packed tight.

Yes for me living in Dripping Springs, using TX-130 is 100% not an option since I pass several better routes just to get to it, so I will say my opinion of it being a relief route is kinda moot. 

So I defer to the opinion of others.

I do have two friends who live near the intersection of TX-130 and Gattis School Road and they both would rather drive toll free down I-35 to points south than TX-130 just to get there in less time and pay for it, plus just be dumped out in Seguin (one of those friends has even said paying tolls is the convenience of getting somewhere quicker, but doesn't want to take the toll road). It is faster to go down I-35 most of the time on off-peak hours (and off peak hours on I-35 still means you are going to be at a stand still).  Maybe not much, but that to me speaks volumes that a route with an 85 mile per hour speed limit can't beat a freeway that has several choke points and completely stopped traffic.  To me that just shows how far out of the way it is.  Sure, if you are going through Austin to Laredo it's a great alternative if you want to pay for it and wan to get bounced out of your car northwest of Lockhart, but other than that its a waste as an alternate way to get to San Antonio from Austin or vis-versa.  It probably works great to get to San Antonio from Bastrop, but not Austin. 

Now, my other point is they really cheapened out when they had it dump on I-10 in Seguin.  They should have made it take it's own route back to I-35.  Instead you took all the traffic you wanted to get off I-35 and just slapped it on I-10.

Yes the southeast portion of I-410 is much better than it's northern counterpart in terms of traffic, but a separate freeways would have worked better.  Now I-410 has this stupid cosign with TX-130 to the I-35 intersection southwest of San Antonio.  I hate roads that terminate inside another route that continues (like U.S. 79 used to when it rode south down I-35 and terminated magically someplace in Austin).  Frankly it's more confusing than helpful. 

[davewiecking]

1.  I-70 from Baltimore, Maryland to the western terminus at I-15 in Millard County, Utah, about 2,150 miles (with appropriate stops).

I also have clinched I-70, but I started near Cove Fort in Utah (taking the loop ramp from SB I-15) at 10AM PDT on 9/22 However, depending on the timing, I think his trip could have been a bit longer than mine. I did my trip in September 2018; if CPZ did his trip prior to November 2014, I-70 extended to the Park and Ride Lot inside the Baltimore Beltway, whereas now it ends at the Beltway. (I did turn around in the Park and Ride in order to get on westbound I-70 to snag a photo of the "Cove Fort 2200" sign about a mile outside the Beltway-in the rain, at night (9/24; 6:30PM EDT)). Also, in February 2014, I-70 was rerouted over the new Stan Musial Bridge in St. Louis, making I-70 slightly shorter through Missouri/Illinois. Two motel stops, and assorted gas/food stops thrown in there, including a few minutes taking in the views from the Ghost Rock View Area and the Spotted Wolf Canyon View Area.

But the fact that the sign says "Cove Fort 2200" means I'm going to claim about 2200 miles on I-70, as should CPZ. But I'm not writing on his behalf...

[US 89]

But but... did you actually take I-70 all the way through Kansas City instead of 670? 

[sprjus4]

Yes for me living in Dripping Springs, using TX-130 is 100% not an option since I pass several better routes just to get to it, so I will say my opinion of it being a relief route is kinda moot.

Well in that case, than I'd say yeah, it's not going to be as effective being out there. At that rate, going to San Antonio, US-281 might be a viable alternative, if not the preferred route.

I do have two friends who live near the intersection of TX-130 and Gattis School Road and they both would rather drive toll free down I-35 to points south than TX-130 just to get there in less time and pay for it, plus just be dumped out in Seguin (one of those friends has even said paying tolls is the convenience of getting somewhere quicker, but doesn't want to take the toll road). It is faster to go down I-35 most of the time on off-peak hours (and off peak hours on I-35 still means you are going to be at a stand still).

Personal preference. If I'm driving through long distance, I'd much rather just pay to not deal with any mess. Local trips or down to San Antonio... I can understand not wanting to use the toll road.

Maybe not much, but that to me speaks volumes that a route with an 85 mile per hour speed limit can't beat a freeway that has several choke points and completely stopped traffic.

But it can... and most often does. I've plugged in routes on Google Maps numerous times, and 9 times out of 10, it's showing SH-130 is at least 10-15 minutes faster, sometimes 30 or more depending on how bad I-35 is.

SH-130 is a very effective bypass and avoids I-35 and Austin entirely. And skirts San Antonio as well.

Here's right now... a route from I-410 just south of I-10, ending at I-35 north of Georgetown.

I-35: 2 hours, 16 minutes, 109 miles
SH-130: 1 hour, 42 minutes, 123 miles

Vice versa, heading southbound...

I-35: 1 hour, 56 minutes, 109 miles
SH-130: 1 hour, 40 minutes, 123 miles

It's hard to argue it "can't beat"  I-35... because reality shows the exact opposite.

Now, my other point is they really cheapened out when they had it dump on I-10 in Seguin.  They should have made it take it's own route back to I-35.  Instead you took all the traffic you wanted to get off I-35 and just slapped it on I-10.

Can't argue there... I'd love to have a dedicated route continue around the southeast side of San Antonio and connect with I-37 and I-35, and avoid the I-10 overlap altogether.

But it's not that big of a deal... You mention Seguin and I-10... quite frankly never really had any major problems with that stretch. Sure it's busy, but it's always moving 70-80+ mph. Much better than some of I-35 can say.

TxDOT has plans to expand more of the highway to 6 lanes over the coming decade, along with currently building flyovers at the I-410 interchange. So whatever problems currently exist will be fixed. They recently opened up 6 lanes heading out towards Loop 1604 east of I-410, and it's real nice to drive on.

[kphoger]

Now I-410 has this stupid cosign with TX-130 to the I-35 intersection southwest of San Antonio.  I hate roads that terminate inside another route that continues (like U.S. 79 used to when it rode south down I-35 and terminated magically someplace in Austin).  Frankly it's more confusing than helpful. 

When I've driven TX-130, I was heading from Wichita (via Fort Worth) to Mexico.  In my opinion, it's less confusing to go ...

I-35  →  TX-130  →  I-35

... than to go ...

I-35  →  TX-130  →  I-10  →  I-410  →  I-35

... for the same driving route.  So I disagree:  I like the concurrency.

[Road Hog]

I got a wild hair once and drove old US 67 the whole length from the point where it split off of I-30 east of Sulphur Springs, TX to where it rejoined I-30 near Benton, AR. If you have a few hours to waste, it's an interesting drive.