AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: BigMattFromTexas on July 18, 2009, 09:27:02 PM

Title: The Final Stretch
Post by: BigMattFromTexas on July 18, 2009, 09:27:02 PM
What in yall opinions feel like the longest stretches but really aren't on road-trips? I have alot of em'.
Here they are:
US 87 - Eldorado, Tx to San Angelo
West Iowa 3 - I-35 till Clarion, Ia
More to come after i get my Texas map.
BigMatt
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: BigMattFromTexas on July 18, 2009, 10:35:13 PM
Okay so your in the car and you know you only have say 10 miles till your destination, but in the car it feels like hours. any easier for ya?
BigMatt
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: dislocatedkid on July 19, 2009, 06:48:37 AM
US-71 South from Blackduck, MN to Bemidji....ugh  :ded:
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Chris on July 19, 2009, 07:23:19 AM
Always the last 30 miles to home... because I've driven there numerous times and it's boring, and there isn't a freeway from the east and I have to pass through clogged towns the last 30 miles if I come from Germany.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Bryant5493 on July 19, 2009, 09:18:27 AM
I-20 east of Anniston to the Alabama-Georgia state line.
I-20 between Meridian and Tuscaloosa.


Be well,

Bryant
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Hellfighter on July 19, 2009, 12:16:42 PM
The Seney Stretch in the UP. M-28 between M-77 and M-94. 25 Miles long and flat at 55 makes it feel more than twice the difference.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Duke87 on July 19, 2009, 02:09:14 PM
Quote from: BigMatt on July 18, 2009, 10:35:13 PM
Okay so your in the car and you know you only have say 10 miles till your destination, but in the car it feels like hours.

Sooo... the Cross Bronx, then?  :spin:
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: njroadhorse on July 19, 2009, 04:29:07 PM
PA 512, PA 611, and NJ 94 between Bethlehem, PA and Newton, NJ
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Alps on July 19, 2009, 05:12:17 PM
I-80 coming back from PA.  Especially in PA, but also western Jersey, just drags on like the dickens.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: mefailenglish on July 19, 2009, 06:23:43 PM
I-10 between Lake City and Jacksonville.  That forest just seems to go on forever!
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: luokou on July 19, 2009, 08:27:56 PM
Any freeway in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. Not just because of the 24-hour traffic jams, but driving through such a sprawling sub/urban landscape feels like you're getting nowhere fast. This is especially true for I-5.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: mightyace on July 19, 2009, 10:30:29 PM
When heading to my dad's house, the stretch of I-80 between the rest area east of the PA 880 exit and US 15.  Since I'm usually traversing this at night, the beautiful trees just seems like a wall.  The only break is the no-services, no-nothing Mile Run exit.  Plus, blink and you'll miss it!
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Bryant5493 on July 19, 2009, 11:05:45 PM
I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile. By the Ancients!


Be well,

Bryant
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: mightyace on July 19, 2009, 11:12:45 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on July 19, 2009, 11:05:45 PM
I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile. By the Ancients!


Be well,

Bryant

I'll second that.

The trees come right up to the highways so there's not much you can see!
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Scott5114 on July 20, 2009, 04:26:32 AM
I-35 between Wichita and Emporia KS. Yes, the Flint Hills are lovely, but if you've been through them twice then they're just pretentiously dull. Add to the fact there is very little to read in the form of exit signs and you just get worn out. I always find myself staring at the mileposts mentally subtracting them from 127 (the exit number for the interchange where I-35 exits off the Kansas Turnpike and thus out of the Flint Hills).
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: jdb1234 on July 20, 2009, 10:44:06 PM
For me:

I-10 from Lake City to Pensacola

Florida's Turnpike from Orlando to Port St. Lucie

US 78/I-22 from Tupelo to Memphis
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: agentsteel53 on July 20, 2009, 11:09:41 PM
I-5 through the central valley gets awful long sometimes!
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: 74/171FAN on July 20, 2009, 11:17:34 PM
US 501 from Conway to Myrtle Beach
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Greybear on July 21, 2009, 12:14:13 AM
For me, going to my former home in Greenville, it was the stretch of I-30 Westbound from Sulphur Springs into Greenville itself.

When I drove to Little Rock to visit my grandparents, the stretch of I-30 Eastbound from Exit 106 (Old Military Road) to Exit 126 (County Line Road/Alexander) was the longest to me.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: TheStranger on July 22, 2009, 06:48:18 PM
I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento - about 6 or 7 miles but seems like an eternity.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Hellfighter on July 22, 2009, 07:01:19 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on July 19, 2009, 11:05:45 PM
I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile. By the Ancients!


Be well,

Bryant

You're quite right about that. I was on that stretch years ago and it felt like an eternity.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: corco on July 22, 2009, 07:04:19 PM
I-76 from E-470 to I-80.

I can't imagine a more boring two hours
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: BigMattFromTexas on July 22, 2009, 11:07:34 PM
Quote from: mightyace on July 19, 2009, 11:12:45 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on July 19, 2009, 11:05:45 PM
I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile. By the Ancients!


Be well,

Bryant

I'll second that.

The trees come right up to the highways so there's not much you can see!
I love when the trees are like right next to the highway
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Mr_Northside on July 23, 2009, 10:37:36 AM
In my limited personal experience (meaning stretches I've dealt with), I'm gonna say I-71 between the southern junction of I-270 @ Columbus, until you get near the development in the Cincy metro area.  (And if I find that to be quite tedious, I can just imagine how bored I'd be driving thru some of the Great Plains states)

It's been over a decade since I've been on it, but I recall I-90 between Erie & Buffalo to be fairly boring, once the novelty of being close to the lake wears off.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: exit322 on July 23, 2009, 02:56:03 PM
Quote from: Mr_Northside on July 23, 2009, 10:37:36 AM
In my limited personal experience (meaning stretches I've dealt with), I'm gonna say I-71 between the southern junction of I-270 @ Columbus, until you get near the development in the Cincy metro area.  (And if I find that to be quite tedious, I can just imagine how bored I'd be driving thru some of the Great Plains states)

It's been over a decade since I've been on it, but I recall I-90 between Erie & Buffalo to be fairly boring, once the novelty of being close to the lake wears off.

I tell you what, I've been on some of the roads on this list, and I-71 between Grove City and Kings Island is right up there on the "snoozefest."  For the most part, I-71 between Polaris and Medina is pretty boring, too.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: mightyace on July 23, 2009, 05:25:59 PM
Quote from: exit322 on July 23, 2009, 02:56:03 PM
For the most part, I-71 between Polaris and Medina is pretty boring, too.

At least there are a few hills in this stretch, the stretch between Grove City and Kings Island is MUCH flatter.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Alex on July 23, 2009, 11:35:12 PM
Quote from: mightyace on July 19, 2009, 11:12:45 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on July 19, 2009, 11:05:45 PM
I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile. By the Ancients!


Be well,

Bryant

I'll second that.

The trees come right up to the highways so there's not much you can see!

I'll third that, and to answer the question from Matt, no the trees are not close enough to the freeway to provide a variance in how it looks.

I'll add the 18-mile stretch between I-10 Exit 53 in AL and I-10 Exit 5 in FL.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: cu2010 on July 23, 2009, 11:52:06 PM
I-90 between Syracuse and Geneva, NY. It's only about 40 miles, but they seem to take forever...even at 75mph!  The 70 mile drive from Watertown to Syracuse on I-81 seems to go much quicker, even though it's a much less travelled road!  There is a complete lack of scenery on the Thruway...just cars, road, trees, cars, wildlife refuge, cars, open space, ugly signage, cars...

Of course, most of the Thruway is like that...it is one of the most boring highways in the entire state... :D
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: vdeane on July 24, 2009, 04:48:21 PM
That probably has to do with the fact that the average distance between exits on the Thruway is as long or longer than the maximum distance between exits on I-81 (12 miles; the average on I-81 is around four).
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: AZDude on July 25, 2009, 01:55:26 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 20, 2009, 11:09:41 PM
I-5 through the central valley gets awful long sometimes!

+1

While scenic, that is the most boring drive ever.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: CMHroads on July 30, 2009, 11:54:19 AM
Agree with the I-71 between Grove City and Cincy.  Also, US33 between I-270 and I-77 in WV.  That takes forever!  I drove that on my way to the Outer Banks from Columbus and it was, by far, the longest part of the trip.  33 can't decide if it wants to be a freeway, expressway, or 2 lane highway.  They need to 4-lane it clear to 77.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: City on July 31, 2009, 12:38:26 AM
US-98 from Hattiesburg, MS, to The MS/AL State Line

Trust me, one time, and you are bored to death. Nothing but fields and forests for miles. (And a couple of exits, but they don't help.) Fifty miles seems like five hours.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Hellfighter on July 31, 2009, 12:41:11 AM
I-94 between M-19 and BL-94. Long stretches and 12+ miles in between exits. ugh!
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: leifvanderwall on August 03, 2009, 01:57:12 PM
The longest stretch for me especially when I was kid was I-75 from Tifton, GA to Fl. State Line. Here's a really good one : I-90 from the Black Hills to Sioux City, SD.
US 51 from Hurley, WI. to Minoqua-Woodruff, WI is a good one also.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: hm insulators on August 03, 2009, 02:26:36 PM
I-10 between Desert Center and Blythe, California. Also parts of I-10 between Quartzsite, Arizona and the Phoenix area. The stretch between Phoenix and Tucson isn't all that exciting, either.

I-8 between Gila Bend and Yuma, Arizona.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Jim on August 03, 2009, 07:30:26 PM
The NY Thruway between Buffalo and the PA line always seems to take longer than I think it should.  I guess once I'm in Buffalo, I feel like I should be just about to PA.  But no.  That, and I-10 in the Florida panhandle, as mentioned by others.  That's a long road.

For me, any road I've never traveled, no matter how monotonous or boring, flat or deserted, is a good one.  I really like I-90 and I-94 in the northern plains, for example.  I'm sure I'd get bored of a lot of those monotonous routes if I traveled them frequently, but I don't think I could ever get tired of the great mountain rides, even on interstates like I-70 across the Rockies, or even the Adirondack Northway or the Mass Pike through the Berkshires back here in the east.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Terry Shea on August 04, 2009, 10:33:26 PM
Pretty much any highway that goes through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois or Ohio.  These drives are okay if you like flatness and corn...oh, and nothing but whiteness in the winter.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Ian on August 04, 2009, 10:43:02 PM
After coming home from my New England/New York trips, we come from the New Jersey Turnpike onto exit 6 and get to I-276/PA Turnpike. That stretch from the east end to the I-476 exit (where we get off) takes a really long time. It feels like it goes on and on.

When heading up to my aunts house near Albany, NY, we get into NJ from I-287 then onto the NY Thruway north. Once on it, it takes FOREVER. It says 106 miles to Albany from there, but I feel like stopping and adding a "0" to the end of it.

This isn't a final stretch, but going through Connecticut to my northeast trips feels like forever. I feel the same way about Massachusetts.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: allniter89 on August 13, 2009, 01:54:55 AM
I 10 in Florida from Jaxville to exit 56 in AL.  :wow:
I-16 from Macon to I 95 jct :sleep:
I-20 from Tuscaloosa, AL toMS line.  :no:
I 35 from San Antonio to Laredo, TX.  :ded:
I 80 from Lincoln,NE west to WY  :eyebrow:
I-94 in the high plains of eastern MT :crazy:
I-94 across ND :pan:
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Snappyjack on August 14, 2009, 05:18:25 PM
I would say the following:

The NY Thruway between the PA Line and Albany. The whole thing is just boring, save for when you pass through the cities.

I-10 from Tallahassee to Pensacola was a long stretch.

I-81 in Virginia is pretty long and in some spots boring, but I like the drive.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: City on August 14, 2009, 05:32:06 PM
It looks like quite a few people here don't like the NY Thruway.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Snappyjack on August 14, 2009, 05:56:51 PM
I don't like it because they raise the tolls and do nothing with the road. And it's just boring. Those are about it for me.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: vdeane on August 14, 2009, 06:28:23 PM
It's still one of the cheapest toll roads in the northeast.  I think the management finally discovered that, which may be the reason for the recent toll increases.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Snappyjack on August 15, 2009, 01:45:44 AM
yes, but for the lack of what gets done with that toll money, makes it feel like even more of a waste. I would rather pay for a road that is nice and well maintained and upgraded to handle traffic, then pay for a road that is still stuck in the 1950's.
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: Bryant5493 on August 15, 2009, 05:40:49 PM
Quote from: allniter89I-16 from Macon to I 95 jct :sleep:
I-20 from Tuscaloosa, AL toMS line.  :no:

I echo these. Not much to see, especially between Macon and I-95.


Be well,

Bryant 
Title: Re: The Final Stretch
Post by: vdeane on August 16, 2009, 07:53:13 PM
Quoteyes, but for the lack of what gets done with that toll money, makes it feel like even more of a waste. I would rather pay for a road that is nice and well maintained and upgraded to handle traffic, then pay for a road that is still stuck in the 1950's.

The Thruway is very well maintained compared to the rest of New York.  Unfortunately NYSTA maintains I-287 and the Erie Canal in addition to the Thruway.  They are doing stuff though - most of what is done these days is resurfacing (the only repairs you see in NY unless a road/bridge is at the very end of its life) but the eastbound lanes between exits 40 and 39 were recently reconstructed and reconstruction of the I-87/I-84 interchange is ongoing.  Since traffic moves above the speed limit (65), you won't see any lanes added any time soon, as in NY we don't get extra capacity on roads unless absolutely necessary.  Rush hour traffic does not count.