I was originally going to ask this just in the Midwest board. But upon searching, I saw there hasn't been a thread about this topic before that I could find. So, let's expand this search nationwide.
I've been on a route clinching kick for a few months now. It's a fun pastime that gets me out of the house and exploring. Plus, I get to listen to music, relax, and take a break from life. Most of you already know that about clinching. :-P
One thing I want is to find any interesting routes to see that I don't know about or haven't seen yet. I enjoy clinching the roads that are closest to me, given their convenience. But I would love to venture out a bit further one of these days to see something different. It would be a nice bonus to also have a destination in mind instead of picking routes aimlessly. The entire route doesn't need to be super interesting, so even if there's just a few miles that stand out, that's still cool.
I originally was going to propose a challenge to find routes within a 75-mile radius of Chicago, since that's roughly where I live. But let's change that to a 50-mile radius of the nearest major city. That way, anyone who lives there could see something interesting without having to make it a very long trip. It doesn't have to meet that goal; you just get "bonus points" if it does.
Lastly, keep in mind the title of the thread is Underrated Routes. We all already know about the Loneliest Road or the Pacific Coast Hwy. Let's hear about those hidden gems you've found on your travels and what makes them special.
Maybe once we get a few down, I'll edit this post with a good list should anyone come across this topic later.
In Florida it's SR 471 in Polk and Sumter. It's a straight line shortcut from Lakeland to the north along the I-75 corridor and has minimal traffic, great sight distance, and will never ever be developed due to its alignment through wetlands.
CA 49 is probably the second most scenic state highway in California pound for pound after CA 1 but somehow is massively overlooked.
Some other underrated scenic state highways in California that come to mind as rarely being discussed:
- CA 198 in Warthan Canyon
- CA 25/Airline Highway south of Hollister
- CA 180 east of Grant Grove into Kings Canyon
- CA 33 north of Ojai on the Maricopa Highway
IL 2 along the Rock River in Ogle County
US 12 in Indiana between 6th Street and Ogden Dunes, and between Mineral Springs Rd and Beverly Shores
I'm definitely using the "few miles clause". Illinois 83 is mostly a crowded suburban arterial, but the stretch between Palos Park and Illinois 171 (Archer Avenue) almost completely runs through forest preserves. It's very pretty (although not as much as 107th Street on the other side of the Cal - Sag), and I remember it very fondly from the times my mom had to drive me from our home in Tinley Park to the Quinlan and Fabish store up in Burr Ridge.
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on October 07, 2022, 12:41:59 PM
IL 2 along the Rock River in Ogle County
US 12 in Indiana between 6th Street and Ogden Dunes, and between Mineral Springs Rd and Beverly Shores
I second US-12. I've had to drive it between US Steel's Gary Works and their Midwest Plant, and the stretch between Miller Beach and the Marathon right by Ogden Dunes was always very scenic and enjoyable.
Within 50 miles of Denver, I'll put up a few:
CO74 - the back way to Evergreen and nice foothills scenery
CO105 - a far more scenic (with mountain views and horse ranches) drive from Denver to Colorado Springs (there is a gap in the route)
CO67 - very scenic little drive even more the back way down the Colorado Springs (with a rougher dirt road gap in the route)
I would say in Michigan M-134 is a pretty underrated route. It starts about 20 miles north of the Mackinac Bridge and goes through the Les Cheneaux Islands area filled with cottages and boats. It then takes you to De Tour Village where you hop aboard a ferry to continue onto Drummond Island. Drummond Island is cool and in some areas you will feel like you're still on the mainland but instead you are on an actual island with the Canadian border jutting around it. I know this route well as my summer house in Cedarville is along the route.
US-2 from St. Ignace to Manistique is pretty well known to Michiganians but to people outside of Michigan it might not as well known. It follows the Lake Michigan shoreline with views of the lake all along the route.
I'm sure most people have heard of M-22 and US-23 along the shoreline but I think a rather underrated route is M-25 as well. It follows the rim of the thumb along the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron shorelines starting in Bay City and ending in Port Huron it has several places to stop with beaches and state parks along the way.
I remember last summer I was at a Culver's in Saginaw and got talking to this older guy and a lady who had a couple of kids with her. She mentioned that they were on vacation from California and were thinking about what to do for a vacation so they got the idea let's go see the Great Lakes. As I was talking to them they mentioned that they were staying in Bay City and wanted to go to Port Huron for the next day of their trip. The older guy says just get on 75 south and then take 69 over to Port Huron, then I said well I think they want a little more of a scenic trip then getting their the quickest way so I told them if you want to see the Great Lakes you won't see anything between here and Port Huron taking 75 to 69 but you'll see plenty if you take M-25 which is a bit longer but much more scenic and I told them they can start on M-25 right in Bay City and keep following it until it ends in Port Huron. With all that said I'd love to help anyone that wants to travel to Michigan and see this state.
One that is quite scenic but doesn't get talked about enough is NY 86 between Lake Placid and Wilmington.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 07, 2022, 12:50:56 PM
Within 50 miles of Denver, I'll put up a few:
CO74 - the back way to Evergreen and nice foothills scenery
CO105 - a far more scenic (with mountain views and horse ranches) drive from Denver to Colorado Springs (there is a gap in the route)
CO67 - very scenic little drive even more the back way down the Colorado Springs (with a rougher dirt road gap in the route)
My top pick for underrated Colorado route: 141
Quote from: kphoger on October 07, 2022, 02:11:12 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 07, 2022, 12:50:56 PM
Within 50 miles of Denver, I'll put up a few:
CO74 - the back way to Evergreen and nice foothills scenery
CO105 - a far more scenic (with mountain views and horse ranches) drive from Denver to Colorado Springs (there is a gap in the route)
CO67 - very scenic little drive even more the back way down the Colorado Springs (with a rougher dirt road gap in the route)
My top pick for underrated Colorado route: 141
Sure, but the OP request routes within 50 miles of a major city. Grand Junction being a major city is a bit hyperbole, plus the prettiest parts of CO141 are more than 50 miles away from GJ.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 07, 2022, 02:14:39 PM
Sure, but the OP request routes within 50 miles of a major city. Grand Junction being a major city is a bit hyperbole, plus the prettiest parts of CO141 are more than 50 miles away from GJ.
Fair enough. The stretch between GJ and Gateway is quite picturesque, but it does pale in comparison to what's farther south.
TX-16 between Bandera and Kerrville–the former being approximately 50 miles west of San Antonio.
Quote from: kphoger on October 07, 2022, 02:26:03 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 07, 2022, 02:14:39 PM
Sure, but the OP request routes within 50 miles of a major city. Grand Junction being a major city is a bit hyperbole, plus the prettiest parts of CO141 are more than 50 miles away from GJ.
Fair enough. The stretch between GJ and Gateway is quite picturesque, but it does pale in comparison to what's farther south.
Just a reminder that if it's further than 50 miles, it's still fair game. I was just saying to focus on routes that are close to cities. Feel free to still post about other ones.
Quote from: JoePCool14 on October 07, 2022, 02:44:55 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 07, 2022, 02:26:03 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 07, 2022, 02:14:39 PM
Sure, but the OP request routes within 50 miles of a major city. Grand Junction being a major city is a bit hyperbole, plus the prettiest parts of CO141 are more than 50 miles away from GJ.
Fair enough. The stretch between GJ and Gateway is quite picturesque, but it does pale in comparison to what's farther south.
Just a reminder that if it's further than 50 miles, it's still fair game. I was just saying to focus on routes that are close to cities. Feel free to still post about other ones.
Sure. Best underrepresented routes on this board in Colorado farther away are:
CO141 (as
kphoger brought up)
CO12 - I love Southern Colorado and the area around Cuchara is probably the place I'd most like to buy land out here
CO145 - the portion between Dolores and Telluride is probably known as scenic, but I liked the part from Placerville and Norwood too
CO139 - Douglas Pass is gorgeous, especially in spring when the vegetation is really green
CO149 - Feels like the most remote in Colorado (which, other than some stuff in the plains, it pretty much is)
CO65 - Grand Mesa is gorgeous
CO92 - Right along the Black Canyon near the southern terminus is really nice
Really off the beaten path:
CO142 - Looks just like a straight road in the San Luis Valley, but has nice vistas all along the way, especially heading eastbound
Quote from: roadman65 on October 07, 2022, 12:30:49 PM
In Florida it's SR 471 in Polk and Sumter. It's a straight line shortcut from Lakeland to the north along the I-75 corridor and has minimal traffic, great sight distance, and will never ever be developed due to its alignment through wetlands.
I had this exact route in mind for this thread.
TN SR 12 from Nashville to Clarksville is a nice alternative that isn't very busy and has some scenery. That part of Nashville isn't as developed as other corridors with the exception of the section close to SR 155.
MN 38
MN 6 from MN 18 to MN 200
MN 7 along Big Stone Lake
MN 11 from International Falls to Baudette
MN 95 from I-94 to US 8
MN 1 from MN 61 to US 53
MN 135
Now to be fair, most of these are part of state-designated scenic byways, but little-regarded for the most part nonetheless.
California:
46 between Cambria and Paso Robles. I had to take this route due to the closure of CA-1 through Big Sur, and I'm glad I did. Gains elevation and offers some very scenic views.
33 from Meiner Oaks to the 41 junction. The Maricopa Highway is very pretty, and the alignment through the Central Valley offers kind of an "old world" tour of the area. This is how you would have traveled through the west side of the valley in the days before Interstate 5. Then you can connect to 41 and travel towards Fresno and the Sierra.
169 (eastern segment). Kind of an obscure route to reach, as its only connection to the rest of the state network is 96, although you can also take Bald Hills Road from the Redwood Curtain to reach it. This follows the course of the Klamath River, was originally intended to be part of 96, and in general is another very beautiful drive.
One might say QC 199 is underrated, even though the 100k tourists on the Magdalen Islands every year disagree.
While QC 132 in the Bellechasse area is much more scenic (and is advertised as such), one can also catch pretty good views from A-20 itself.
Another underrated Michigan route is M-29 between Port Huron and New Baltimore. It falls the St Clair River south of Port Huron.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 07, 2022, 02:59:47 PM
CO65 - Grand Mesa is gorgeous
CO92 - Right along the Black Canyon near the southern terminus is really nice
Fully agreed. I've clinched both, they were awesome, and there was almost nobody else on them.
I'll submit Utah 39 and Utah 167 for overlooked roads near Salt Lake. Everyone always talks about stuff further south like the Cottonwoods and Timpanogos areas. To be fair, the mountains down there are higher, but 167 is really hard to beat in spring when it's green and the mountains to the west still have snow on them. 39 takes you through basically everything northern Utah has to offer - flat wide open farmland, urban hellscape (not really, Ogden is cool), awesome narrow canyon, mountain valley, more canyon, some high rolling hills, smaller canyons, and a wide river valley. Best in fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 10, 2022, 11:48:54 PM
Another underrated Michigan route is M-29 between Port Huron and New Baltimore. It falls the St Clair River south of Port Huron.
That sounds like a really good one for the Detroit area.
These are some great suggestions so far, and hopefully they get people's minds going. Anyone have any other ones for the Midwest in particular?
Quote from: Hobart on October 07, 2022, 12:50:01 PM
I'm definitely using the "few miles clause". Illinois 83 is mostly a crowded suburban arterial, but the stretch between Palos Park and Illinois 171 (Archer Avenue) almost completely runs through forest preserves. It's very pretty (although not as much as 107th Street on the other side of the Cal - Sag), and I remember it very fondly from the times my mom had to drive me from our home in Tinley Park to the Quinlan and Fabish store up in Burr Ridge.
That's a good one to keep in mind. I'm actually going to be in the area later this week for work, but I won't have the time then to drive it though.
A couple for Ontario:
- Highway 7A has decent hills (for southern Ontario) through farm country and some views of Lake Scugog
- Highway 26 has good views of Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment (including a few ski hills)
- Highway 89, similar to Highway 7A minus the lake
I'd nominate PA-32 along the Delaware River from Morrisville to the north. You go through Washington's Crossing, New Hope, and a ton of cute small river towns while following the old canal. The road isn't the quickest way, and it pales in comparison to some of the Colorado routes mentioned, but its probably the prettiest way to get form Trenton, NJ to Easton, PA.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4064143,-75.0370583,3a,75y,309.77h,92.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGfyi2pvZ3Jl6BPB1MT8VkQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Quote from: Quillz on October 07, 2022, 04:59:25 PM
California:
46 between Cambria and Paso Robles. I had to take this route due to the closure of CA-1 through Big Sur, and I'm glad I did. Gains elevation and offers some very scenic views.
33 from Meiner Oaks to the 41 junction. The Maricopa Highway is very pretty, and the alignment through the Central Valley offers kind of an "old world" tour of the area. This is how you would have traveled through the west side of the valley in the days before Interstate 5. Then you can connect to 41 and travel towards Fresno and the Sierra.
169 (eastern segment). Kind of an obscure route to reach, as its only connection to the rest of the state network is 96, although you can also take Bald Hills Road from the Redwood Curtain to reach it. This follows the course of the Klamath River, was originally intended to be part of 96, and in general is another very beautiful drive.
The segment of 46 west of US 101 has some killer views of Morro Rock and the ocean on clear days. Trouble is getting a clear enough day to see the coastline. I tend to prefer the original alignments of 41 and 46 on Santa Rosa Creek Road to Cambria.
US 35 from Dayton OH to I-64. Drove from Chicago to NC using that and the WV turnpike. Excellent drive.
US 301 from DE 1 to US 50 along with US 50 to I-95. That is a good way to bypass Baltimore from the north as no toll WB on the William Preston Lane Jr. ( aka The Bay Bridge), coming down the Seaboard. Too bad Delaware doesn't offer a free alternate to their toll, as if they connected Old US 301 to the mainline at the DE-MD state line, putting up with local traffic in Middletown would still be viable if you don't want to shell out 4 bucks.
Quote from: fillup420 on October 13, 2022, 10:00:15 PM
US 35 from Dayton OH to I-64. Drove from Chicago to NC using that and the WV turnpike. Excellent drive.
Sounds like a good one to keep in mind if I ever travel to the east coast again. I'd love to try some other routes that aren't I-65 and I-64.
Quote from: JoePCool14 on October 14, 2022, 10:17:41 AM
Quote from: fillup420 on October 13, 2022, 10:00:15 PM
US 35 from Dayton OH to I-64. Drove from Chicago to NC using that and the WV turnpike. Excellent drive.
Sounds like a good one to keep in mind if I ever travel to the east coast again. I'd love to try some other routes that aren't I-65 and I-64.
From I-75 in Dayton to the WV line its mostly a 70mph freeway. Once in WV its a 60mph expressway with good grading. I was pleasantly surprised, since i was anticipating at least some two-lane segments and stoplights
Quote from: fillup420 on October 16, 2022, 03:31:23 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on October 14, 2022, 10:17:41 AM
Quote from: fillup420 on October 13, 2022, 10:00:15 PM
US 35 from Dayton OH to I-64. Drove from Chicago to NC using that and the WV turnpike. Excellent drive.
Sounds like a good one to keep in mind if I ever travel to the east coast again. I'd love to try some other routes that aren't I-65 and I-64.
From I-75 in Dayton to the WV line its mostly a 70mph freeway. Once in WV its a 60mph expressway with good grading. I was pleasantly surprised, since i was anticipating at least some two-lane segments and stoplights
This would make a great candidate for an interstate. Too bad it's too far south to continue I-68 westward into OH as many hope on here. :sombrero:
Quote from: roadman65 on October 16, 2022, 03:34:29 PM
Quote from: fillup420 on October 16, 2022, 03:31:23 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on October 14, 2022, 10:17:41 AM
Quote from: fillup420 on October 13, 2022, 10:00:15 PM
US 35 from Dayton OH to I-64. Drove from Chicago to NC using that and the WV turnpike. Excellent drive.
Sounds like a good one to keep in mind if I ever travel to the east coast again. I'd love to try some other routes that aren't I-65 and I-64.
From I-75 in Dayton to the WV line its mostly a 70mph freeway. Once in WV its a 60mph expressway with good grading. I was pleasantly surprised, since i was anticipating at least some two-lane segments and stoplights
This would make a great candidate for an interstate. Too bad it's too far south to continue I-68 westward into OH as many hope on here. :sombrero:
I-74 would make sense... despite how i feel about that number, it would work. If it uses I-465 around Indy, then overlaps I-70 to Dayton. then it follows US 35 to I-64 in WV. Follow I-64/I-77 all the way to the current I-77/I-74 split in northern NC
What about underrated sections of interstate?
I-40 between Henryetta and Little Rock is a really nice section of interstate. Generally really nice pavement quality, mostly 75 mph speed limits, scenic hills nearly the entire way, and not too much truck traffic (as opposed to I-40 east of Little Rock).
For my underrated interstate, I'd suggest I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. You start above 7,000 feet with pine trees and descend to just above 1,000 feet with cacti. In between are mesas and canyons, plus a neat countdown of each 1,000 feet of elevation change.
Quote from: zzcarp on December 09, 2022, 01:53:20 PM
For my underrated interstate, I'd suggest I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. You start above 7,000 feet with pine trees and descend to just above 1,000 feet with cacti. In between are mesas and canyons, plus a neat countdown of each 1,000 feet of elevation change.
Most people are too busy complaining about it not being a 3d or the weird mile markers to notice how scenic it is. How or why more road sites don't feature I-17 bewilders me.
Quote from: zzcarp on December 09, 2022, 01:53:20 PM
For my underrated interstate, I'd suggest I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. You start above 7,000 feet with pine trees and descend to just above 1,000 feet with cacti. In between are mesas and canyons, plus a neat countdown of each 1,000 feet of elevation change.
I did it the other way around, starting in Phoenix and heading for Flagstaff. Quite impressive for my first look at Arizona.
Underrated means different things to different people. I'll add these four lane highways as they are both pretty and relaxing to drive. (Not including popular scenic four lane highways like I-70 through Glenwood Canyon and I-86 in NY.) I haven't been on many of these in over a decade and sometimes a few decades so things may have changed. But I do remember these highways as very relaxing and I rarely see them shown as scenic drives though I feel they are. For those looking for challenging, this is not your list.
Cumberland Parkway
I-70 west of Green River to I-15
I-80 in Pennsylvania
I-90 between Buffalo and Connaught
I-196 between Saugatuck and I-94
OH 32 east of Williamsburg
US 17 between Port Royal and Yorktown
US 58 between South Hill and Stuart
US 67 between Fredericktown and Poplar Bluff
US 98/MS 63 from Hattiesburg to Moss Point
US 151 between Verona and Dubuque
US 460 between Roanoke and Petersburg
WI 29 between Elk Mound and Green Bay
^Who on earth is saying Route 17 is scenic???
For I-90, I can only comment on Exit 57A to Buffalo, which is not scenic at all. Do you get lake views down by Westfield?
Also, it's Conneaut, not Connaught. And I-90 doesn't go through it. Unless you mean like Cherry Hill (north of Conneaut), but the area around Erie is almost always busy and entirely tree-lined, apart from occasional views of arterials and fast-food restaurants. I can't imagine that is relaxing or scenic.
Quote from: zzcarp on December 09, 2022, 01:53:20 PM
For my underrated interstate, I'd suggest I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. You start above 7,000 feet with pine trees and descend to just above 1,000 feet with cacti. In between are mesas and canyons, plus a neat countdown of each 1,000 feet of elevation change.
I love the idea of signing elevation changes. I wish more highways featured such signs. There are definitely a few US and state routes in the east that would be worthy of it.
Quote from: kirbykart on December 10, 2022, 12:38:40 PM
^Who on earth is saying Route 17 is scenic???
For I-90, I can only comment on Exit 57A to Buffalo, which is not scenic at all. Do you get lake views down by Westfield?
Also, it's Conneaut, not Connaught. And I-90 doesn't go through it. Unless you mean like Cherry Hill (north of Conneaut), but the area around Erie is almost always busy and entirely tree-lined, apart from occasional views of arterials and fast-food restaurants. I can't imagine that is relaxing or scenic.
This article (https://www.observertoday.com/opinion/commentary/2021/07/interstate-86-offers-plenty-of-scenic-views/) thinks I-86 is scenic, for one. (First return using a Google Search of "i-86 scenic.") I found it quite scenic. I only drove it once, in 1994 on my way back from Massachusetts to the Midwest, but I thought it was a lovely drive. You do not. I also thought I-88 from Schenectady to Binghamton through the Catskills was scenic, but I figured that would probably make a few scenic drive lists.
Sorry for misspelling Conneaut but my I was spelling from memory and what I wrote wasn't flagged by my spell checker so I figured that was right. I-90 doesn't enter Buffalo either, but you knew what I meant; that's just pedantic.
Quote from: skluth on December 10, 2022, 01:58:26 PM
Quote from: kirbykart on December 10, 2022, 12:38:40 PM
^Who on earth is saying Route 17 is scenic???
...
This article (https://www.observertoday.com/opinion/commentary/2021/07/interstate-86-offers-plenty-of-scenic-views/) thinks I-86 is scenic, for one. (First return using a Google Search of "i-86 scenic.") I found it quite scenic. I only drove it once, in 1994 on my way back from Massachusetts to the Midwest, but I thought it was a lovely drive. You do not. I also thought I-88 from Schenectady to Binghamton through the Catskills was scenic, but I figured that would probably make a few scenic drive lists.
I fully agree that NY 17/I-86 would qualify as scenic under most definitions. It's not breathtaking like anything through the Rockies or anything, but I think it's one of the more scenic interstates east of the Mississippi -- probably more scenic than
any interstate in a dozen or more states -- and it's even better in the fall when foliage peaks. The better question would probably be, who
doesn't think it's scenic, because that's a very high standard of scenic.
Quote from: kirbykart on December 10, 2022, 12:38:40 PM
For I-90, I can only comment on Exit 57A to Buffalo, which is not scenic at all. Do you get lake views down by Westfield?
So, two things here. I would say the Thruway from Buffalo to the PA line qualifies as a "pretty and relaxing drive", which was the context of the OP . It's not exactly "scenic", but certainly more interesting than Buffalo-Syracuse, with less traffic, some hills off to the south, and generally a wide median contributing to a rural, remote feel. However, this does not apply to I-90 through PA, which is a flat, mostly boring and generic interstate with the terrible 55 mph section through the Erie area.
As for lake views, I am not aware of any on I-90 in NY. However, there are a few spots in PA near the NY line, such as
here (https://goo.gl/maps/rM5dqyvxEajLYvZZ6) and at the
PA Welcome Center (https://goo.gl/maps/2eRM6MhdyvXFsHj96) westbound.
US 220 in PA is very scenic whether is it around I-99 or not.
VA 6. Once you get out of the Richmond sprawl it's just as scenic as VA 5 on the other side of the city, especially as it goes into the mountains. The climb up Afton Mountain is fun too. It doesn't get talked about as much as the mountainous stretch of VA 151 to the south.
Quote from: fillup420 on December 10, 2022, 01:15:14 PM
Quote from: zzcarp on December 09, 2022, 01:53:20 PM
For my underrated interstate, I'd suggest I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. You start above 7,000 feet with pine trees and descend to just above 1,000 feet with cacti. In between are mesas and canyons, plus a neat countdown of each 1,000 feet of elevation change.
I love the idea of signing elevation changes. I wish more highways featured such signs. There are definitely a few US and state routes in the east that would be worthy of it.
This is a feature that I-40 in Arizona has too, except since it kind of goes up and down it's kind of hard to remember whether you're seeing "Elevation 5000" because you just came down from 6000 or up from 4000.
I can get behind I-17 being a scenic route. I prefer starting in Phoenix and working your way out to Flagstaff though.
Quote from: skluth on December 10, 2022, 12:26:24 PM
Cumberland Parkway
It's relaxing because there's little traffic on it. To me, it's 88 miles of boredom, and it seems to take forever to get from Somerset to I-65.