Corridors that reqiure exiting and reentering the Interstate system

[Alps]

I-35 to I-29: From Texas or Oklahoma, the best way to Omaha and points north is to head straight up I-335 to Topeka and off the freeway grid via US 75. I would call this I-33.

I-55 to I-35: From St. Louis and points south, the best way to Minneapolis is via US 61 and US 218, onto and back off of I-380 before heading over to I-35. I would call this I-41, as the next available number after 35.

I-80 to I-70: A familiar one; from California, the best way to Denver would be via US 50 to Salina, UT if it were upgraded. I would call this I-70 and make the rest to Cove Fort I-270 (or I-62, snarkily in the vein of I-86).

I-37 to I-27 to I-25: This one corridor has too many gaps. US 83 and 87 (or TX highways to US 84) bridge the first gap, and US 287 helps get traffic toward Denver. Call the whole thing I-27, and that frees up I-37 for my I-55 to I-35 gap.

I-17 to I-15: US 89 bridges this gap. Obviously an extension of I-17.

I-84 to I-90: Not a lot of ways to get across northern Idaho, but the best one to stay to the north involves I-82 to US 395. I'd call it I-282, but since it's as long as I-82 itself and in the same vein again as I-86, let's make it I-11.

I-83 to I-99: Another familiar one; from Harrisburg, the best way toward Rochester is via US 15, with an option for I-180 to get to future I-99. Call it an extension of 83.

I-40 to I-20: From New Mexico on west, the best way to Dallas and points east is via US 287. I would call it I-34.

More minor ones:

I-20 to I-44: I-10 west of El Paso is best off using I-25 to I-40, but east of El Paso, the best route to Oklahoma City and beyond involves US 277. Call it an extension of 44.

I-80 or I-70 to I-72: Use I-80 to I-74 or stay on I-70 to head to Indy, but use NE 2 and US 36 to fill the gap toward points in Illinois. Call it an extension of 72 to St. Joseph, and use I-429 along the NE 2 corridor. (Making NE 2 into I-72 would involve a multiplex on I-29 longer than this piece.)

I-49 to I-22: A future gap in the making, the best way from Kansas City to Birmingham involves US 60 to US 63 to get to I-55. Call it an extension of 22.

[Molandfreak]

I-55 to I-35: From St. Louis and points south, the best way to Minneapolis is via US 61 and US 218, onto and back off of I-380 before heading over to I-35. I would call this I-41, as the next available number after 35.

Actually, you'd get into quite the argument with Wisconsin

[NE2]

I-80 to I-70: for trucks, the best route is US 287 from Laramie.

I-95 to I-95:

Atlanta to Miami: Florida's Turnpike is shorter and faster.

[Alps]

I-55 to I-35: From St. Louis and points south, the best way to Minneapolis is via US 61 and US 218, onto and back off of I-380 before heading over to I-35. I would call this I-41, as the next available number after 35.

Actually, you'd get into quite the argument with Wisconsin

Good for them.

[jp the roadgeek]

Hartford to Providence.  Soo many different approaches to get to the same point, and all involve a state of US route.  This article gives em all:

http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/44ways.html

As far as exiting and re-entering a single interstate, I can think of a couple.  I-495 in Wilmington, DE is considered the through route for those traveling from Philly to Baltimore, so you exit I-95 at the DE border and re-enter it just before I-295 joins from the Delaware Bridge.  Also, the south end of the NJTP is considered de-facto I-95 for those traveling from NYC and points north to DE and points south, so that involves exiting and re-entering I-95 as well.

[1995hoo]

Florida's Space Coast area to southwestern Florida (Fort Myers, Naples)–going across to Orlando and taking I-4 to I-75 takes you too far west and usually involves heavy traffic (especially near Disney World), so it's often faster to go south to Fort Pierce and then west via FL-70, US-27, FL-29, and FL-80 to the Fort Myers area, where you pick up I-75 again. The risk is getting stuck behind a real slowpoke on FL-70 and being unable to pass.

Washington, DC, to Charlottesville: The all-Interstate routes go way too far out of the way, so most people use I-66 to US-29. I prefer a different route down I-95 and then west on VA-3, VA-20, US-15, VA-231/22, US-250, and finally I-64 because the US-29 route is out of the way from where I live. Either way, it makes no sense to use an all-Interstate route unless you have to make an out-of-the-way stop en route.

Buffalo to Washington, DC, or Baltimore: The most obvious all-Interstate route is I-90 to I-79 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Breezewood and then I-70/I-270. I've gone that way on the way home from Toronto. Didn't seem any faster than the far more direct route of heading down I-390 and then taking US-15 south through Corning and Williamsport to emerge at Harrisburg, where you take I-83 to Baltimore or US-15 and I-270 to DC. The latter was the more interesting drive, too.



I'm not sure about the following one, which also doesn't involve re-entering the Interstate System but does involve re-entering a freeway-grade portion of the Trans-Canada Highway that would be turned into an Interstate if it were south of the border.

Anywhere in the US to the Maritime Provinces: It's about 30 miles longer to take I-95 up to Houlton and the Trans-Canada Highway across through Fredericton than it is to exit the Interstate at Bangor and take ME-9 to Calais, then NB-1 through Saint John. On trips when I wasn't using the now-defunct ferry, or else stopping to visit friends in the Sullivan area, I've always used some version of the Calais route. But I also used to have a general overall disregard for speed limits and I no longer drive quite as fast as I used to, so I don't know whether that tendency plus the 75-mph speed limit on I-95 north of Bangor might make the route via Houlton the better option now.

[agentsteel53]

Los Angeles to San Jose - the quicker way is not via 580-680, but instead CA-152 and US-101.

[kphoger]

I-70 to I-72

I immediately thought of EB I-70 in Missouri to I-72 (not what you meant) via US-54.  I actually had started using this as a bypass of St Louis between KC and Chicago, due to a long-mounting hatred of St Louis at rush hour, before moving away from Chicago.  I still wouldn't call it the "best" corridor between KC and Chicago, though.

BTW, it's getting really annoying that Google Maps has dropped the route shields from US-54, instead just naming it US-54 Expy, especially on portions that aren't expressways.

[hbelkins]

I-65 to I-64/I-75 -- Using the Bluegrass Parkway and connecting routes to Lexington (US 60, KY 4, KY 922) or Frankfort (US 127). Only a roadgeek would use I-64 to get from Lexington or Frankfort to Elizabethtown. And yes, I've done it. 

I-81/I-40 to I-75 -- US 25E through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel is a better route from Corbin to the Morristown area than going through Knoxville.

I-64/I-77 to I-79 -- US 19 across the New River Gorge Bridge and through Speedtrapville is shorter and faster than taking the WV Turnpike to Charleston.

I-71 to I-71 -- I'd rather take OH 315 and I-270 instead of following I-71 through downtown Columbus.

[hbelkins]

use NE 2

Has he agreed to be used in this manner? 

[hobsini2]

Some I prefer personally are:

I-35/80 Des Moines to I-39/90 Madison - I-80 East to Iowa City. I-380 North to Cedar Rapids. IA 100 East to US 151 in Marion. US 151 North to US 12/18 Madison.  US 12/18 East to I-39/90.

I-465 Indianapolis to I-94/196 Benton Harbor - US 31 corridor the entire length.

I-80/94 Chicago to I-70 Columbus - I-65 South to Merrillville. US 30 East to Ft Wayne. I-69 North to I-469. I-496 East/South to US 30. US 30 East to OH 65 north of Lima.  OH 65 South to I-75 Lima. I-75 South to Wapakoneta. US 33 Southeast to I-270 Columbus.  I-270 South to I-70 Columbus.

[Takumi]

Raleigh-Norfolk.

[PurdueBill]

I-71 to I-71 -- I'd rather take OH 315 and I-270 instead of following I-71 through downtown Columbus.

On trips from NE Ohio to central Indiana, I do a similar bypass--I-71 SB to  270 WB and then down 315 to 670 WB finally on to 70 WB.  I've done this for a decade even when the 70/71 and 71/670 areas were "done"--even with multiple route numbers, it's a much easier way to go.  In cases where I go via Jeffersonville on I-71 and then over US 35 to head west and catch 70, I do the same exact 71 to 71 via 270 and 315 as you mention.

It's also very common to use OH 21 to go between I-76 and I-77 west of Akron; it's actually signed as an alternate for both routes to get to the other.  It cuts off a lot of distance and avoids downtown of course.

[DandyDan]

I-35 to I-29: From Texas or Oklahoma, the best way to Omaha and points north is to head straight up I-335 to Topeka and off the freeway grid via US 75. I would call this I-33.

I've been told by several people here in Omaha who have driven south to Texas or Oklahoma that the real best route is west on I-80 to US 81 at York, NE, US 81 south to I-70 at Salina, KS, and straight south on I-135 to I-35.  Your route would be shorter and actually the one I would take myself (at least one way), but involves more of the Kansas Turnpike.

Also, if your goal was I-29 north, you would take US 75 north to Nebraska City, and then take NE/IA 2 across the Missouri River to I-29.  Speaking of all that....

I-80 or I-70 to I-72: Use I-80 to I-74 or stay on I-70 to head to Indy, but use NE 2 and US 36 to fill the gap toward points in Illinois.... use I-429 along the NE 2 corridor. (Making NE 2 into I-72 would involve a multiplex on I-29 longer than this piece.)

....I'd make this a western I-78, similar to I-86.

[corco]

I-84 to I-90: Not a lot of ways to get across northern Idaho, but the best one to stay to the north involves I-82 to US 395. I'd call it I-282, but since it's as long as I-82 itself and in the same vein again as I-86, let's make it I-11.

More significantly than intra-Idaho traffic since it's faster to use US-95 is Portland to Spokane traffic

[jwolfer]

here is an infamous one... Jacksonville to Tampa via US 301 instead of I-75 to I-10... But with more development and the speed traps in Lawtey and Waldo less and less long distance travelers use 301

[kphoger]

I-35 to I-29: From Texas or Oklahoma, the best way to Omaha and points north is to head straight up I-335 to Topeka and off the freeway grid via US 75. I would call this I-33.

I've been told by several people here in Omaha who have driven south to Texas or Oklahoma that the real best route is west on I-80 to US 81 at York, NE, US 81 south to I-70 at Salina, KS, and straight south on I-135 to I-35.  Your route would be shorter and actually the one I would take myself (at least one way), but involves more of the Kansas Turnpike.

That's precisely how our employees get there (135 & 81).  We're based in Wichita, but we work in Omaha as well.

[roadman65]

How about I-77 to I-79 using US 19.  That is shorter than going through Charleston, WV even though you  have some stoplights and have to worry about the police in Summerville.

To bypass Orlando to get to Tampa many use from I-95 coming from points north, exit at FL 200 west to US 301 (both 200 and 301 are the same road just unsigned for FL 200), then US 301 either to FL 24 or FL 200 again (it never left) to I-75 to Tampa.  Many would rather slow down in Starke or Waldo than deal with I-4. 

Ditto on the one who mentioned Buffalo to Baltimore,. That is why many here would like to see an I-83 extension to Rochester, NY LOL.

[hbelkins]

here is an infamous one... Jacksonville to Tampa via US 301 instead of I-75 to I-10... But with more development and the speed traps in Lawtey and Waldo less and less long distance travelers use 301

I've never been to or through Waldo, but I know it's an infamous speed trap.

Which begs two questions. Why don't people either...

1.) buy a radar detector, or
2.) observe the speed limit in this known speedtrap area?

[NE2]

observe the speed limit in this known speedtrap area?

This. It's not a speed trap in the strict sense (abrupt badly-marked drop in speed limit). FDOT clearly posts sequential drops of 10 mph each, with two W3-5 yellow diamonds (reduced speed ahead) and two white speed limit signs, one on the right and one in the median. If you don't slow down and get ticketed, it's your own damn fault.

[corco]

 I-80 west to I-25 north in Wyoming, so Salt Lake City to Casper/Gillette (methane fields) traffic- I-80 to US-287 to WYO 220 to I-25

Here in Montana, I-90 east to I-15 north is most easily connected by US-12, so Missoula-Helena traffic would go that way

Or if you're headed from Salt Lake to Billings or up to the Bakken Shale, you'd take I-15 to US-20 to US-191 to I-90

[NE2]

I-25 to I-15: MT 3

[empirestate]

I-35 to I-29: From Texas or Oklahoma, the best way to Omaha and points north is to head straight up I-335 to Topeka and off the freeway grid via US 75. I would call this I-33.

I'd call it I-35. Grid-wise, this is the major N-S corridor for many hundreds of miles between the Twin Cities and the Rockies in the northern Plains. It's goofy that there isn't an I-x5 there, yet I-45 is relegated to a short intrastate. I-35 should go from Mexico to Canada through the Great Plains, while I-45 should go from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

I-17 to I-15: US 89 bridges this gap. Obviously an extension of I-17.

I-15 for me. Again, I-15's place in the grid is from Phoenix (or south of it) on up to the Canadian border. Stupid Grand Canyon gets in the way...

I-83 to I-99: Another familiar one; from Harrisburg, the best way toward Rochester is via US 15, with an option for I-180 to get to future I-99. Call it an extension of 83.

That's for certain. If US 15 wasn't already the best route 20 years ago, then the 2 or 3 most recent upgrade projects have brought it unequivocally to that status. Now, it's very quick, and the couple of bottlenecks remaining are as much a welcome diversion as they are an inconvenience.

And once again, grid-wise, I-81 really forms the corridor that I-85 should have, which would make I-83 a more proper number for the US 15 corridor. But then, I don't mean to make this into a thread about the I-x5's that should have been...

[roadman65]

Right now you can say that I-49 with US 71 in between both segments.  Until, LA and AR finish their sections ,you have to exit off each one and make the connection with either US 71, or US 71, I-30, I-40, I-540, and US 71 as some map sites will direct you via Little Rock to go between Fort Smith and Shreveport. 

[NE2]

A few I got looking at transcontinental etc. routes (what's the north-south analogue? I think I've seen transmeridional somewhere). Not all actually require re-entering the system but end at major cities so nerr.
*US 80/FLF: 20 Meridian to 16 Macon (saves about 50 miles over Atlanta)
*US 74: 74 Bolton to Wilmington
*US 58: 85 Emporia to Norfolk
*AZ 85: 8 Gila Bend to 10 Phoenix
*AZ 87/260/377: 10 Phoenix to 40 Holbrook
*CA 58: 5 Bakersfield to 40 Barstow
*US 287: 40 Amarillo to 20 Fort Worth (saves about 80 miles over I-10, along with the next one)
*US 49/98: 20 Jackson to 10 Mobile, 55 Jackson to Mobile
*NE 2: 80 Lincoln to 29 Nebraska City (saves about 40 miles over Denver)
*US 74: 26 Hendersonville to 74 Rockingham (saves about 40 miles over Columbia)
*US 19: 77 Beckley to 79 Sutton
*US 15: 270 Frederick to 99 Williamsport
*US 33/23: 77 Ravenswood to 75 Findlay
*US 63/60/MO 13/7: 55 Turrell to 49 Harrisonville - note that this is shorter than I-49 from New Orleans (even if you use the shorter I-10 to Lafayette)
*AOTS: 55 St. Louis to 35 Mason City
*US 287/87: 20 Fort Worth to 25 Raton
*US 550/64/491/191/6: 25 Albuquerque to 15 Provo
*US 75/69: 45 Dallas to 44 Vinita
*US 24: 69 Fort Wayne to 75 Toledo
*US 83/87 (or other routes): 10 Junction to 27 Lubbock
*US 84: Lubbock to 40 Santa Rosa
*US 75: 335 Topeka to 29 Nebraska City (unnecessary with the next instead)
*US 54/283/56/156/81/SD 50: El Paso to 29 Vermillion
*US 277: 20 Abilene to 44 Wichita Falls

Also: how the hell is going via Washington the best route from Seattle to Norfolk? You save only about 10 miles bumming off onto four-lane surface roads (AOTS and US 35).