Difference in mood/feel while crossing state line

[adventurernumber1]

Crossing into Virginia from North Carolina on Interstate 77, there is a rapid geographic shift in feel, as the road becomes fully immersed in (and climbing up) the Blue Ridge Mountains right after entering the state, whereas before it was more hilly with views of mountains in the distance. Road-wise, crossing the state line doesn't bring a huge difference in road quality, but does in road feel, as it goes from a concrete road to an asphalt road with advisory-type lane markings (I forget what these are officially called, that are often used on interstates climbing hills and mountains, and in other advisory situations, such as high-risk fog areas such as Interstate 75 in Tennessee near the Hiwassee River). https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5615575,-80.7447048,3a,75y,353.59h,92.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sv8qRSbm31BgdgUaI-uvKTA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e4

[StogieGuy7]

Rural Vermont has noticeably better property upkeep and maintainance than Northern NY.

The change in mood/feel between Vermont and NY may be one of the most profound anywhere.  Certainly in the northeast. Driving through NY, it's hilly with small towns and roads that are not maintained in the greatest.  The communities you drive through (and homes in them) are pretty average looking and not particularly scenic.  Many are quite dumpy.  And you could just as easily be in PA, NJ or parts of eastern OH as where you really are.  Generic northeast.

As soon as you hit Vermont, you start getting into the Green Mountains, all of the towns have a colonial feel.  It looks like "New England" in a way that upstate NY does not. The roads are better.  Overall, it's far more scenic.  That's not to say it's more prosperous; it's just that Vermont does a better job of hiding it's hippie trailer parks in the woods, down a side road, than New York does.

Nah.  VT/NY just isn't that dramatic.  Crossed that border many, many times.

Been to 48 states and have lived in 10 from coast to coast, so I think that my perspective on this one is pretty objective. Nor am I a particular fan of VT (actually have family in NH - and we look down on VT).  That said: of all the state border crossings I can think of, VT/NY is one of the largest changes.  It is that different. The scenery changes because the Green Mountains begin pretty quickly after you cross the state line; but culturally and developmentally the two states are very different. And it's funny because NY doesn't seem bad as you drive in from the west, but then you cross the border and it's suddenly very beautiful. Conversely, driving from VT->NY is a huge letdown.  And, I apply this to crossings I've made from Bennington to the Hoosick area, Fairhaven/Whitehall, etc.  Pattern is always the same. Perhaps it wouldn't be so geographically stark farther north but Lake Champlain precludes the possibility of a land border and the architecture and cultural development are still very different.

California and Nevada used to have a hugely different mood (although the scenery doesn't tend to change at the border itself), because NV had gambling when nobody else did. And those stateline casinos had flamboyant neon signage, etc. But that's no longer true, as there is legalized gaming in CA (tribal casinos, etc) and the casino signage isn't what it used to be. So the cultural difference isn't quite as much as it used to be.

[tigerwings]

Anywhere on the Michigan - Ohio border from Lake Erie to west of Sylvania

[kphoger]

I-35, going from Oklahoma into Texas.  Suddenly there are frontage roads, and there are exits every mile or two.

[I-55]

Anywhere on the Michigan - Ohio border from Lake Erie to west of Sylvania

Just about anywhere leaving Michigan is an instant pavement improvement.

[Rothman]

Rural Vermont has noticeably better property upkeep and maintainance than Northern NY.

The change in mood/feel between Vermont and NY may be one of the most profound anywhere.  Certainly in the northeast. Driving through NY, it's hilly with small towns and roads that are not maintained in the greatest.  The communities you drive through (and homes in them) are pretty average looking and not particularly scenic.  Many are quite dumpy.  And you could just as easily be in PA, NJ or parts of eastern OH as where you really are.  Generic northeast.

As soon as you hit Vermont, you start getting into the Green Mountains, all of the towns have a colonial feel.  It looks like "New England" in a way that upstate NY does not. The roads are better.  Overall, it's far more scenic.  That's not to say it's more prosperous; it's just that Vermont does a better job of hiding it's hippie trailer parks in the woods, down a side road, than New York does.

Nah.  VT/NY just isn't that dramatic.  Crossed that border many, many times.

Been to 48 states and have lived in 10 from coast to coast, so I think that my perspective on this one is pretty objective.

Oh ho ho, look at you.  What rubbish.

Well, I've been to 49 states, I'll have you know.  And, I have lived in 9 states and Russia.  So, get off your high horse.

Objective?  You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

[westerninterloper]

Anywhere on the Michigan - Ohio border from Lake Erie to west of Sylvania

The roads are enormous differences between the roads in MI and OH as well as IN and OH. I travel between those three states the most. Michigan had great roads, but they've deteriorated immensely. Indiana has always had pretty cruddy roads, and they continue to live up to that low standard. The trash accumulates along roads in those states, their DoTs don't seem to sweep the highways much at all. Ohio spends about twice per capita on roads what Michigan does, and probably a similar difference with Indiana. Ohio roads, at least where I am in the northwest, are in excellent condition, from interstates, state and federal routes to country roads. Debris is quickly removed and the freeway shoulders are frequently swept clean. There are exceptions, mostly along less traveled city streets in Toledo.

[SkyPesos]

Anywhere on the Michigan - Ohio border from Lake Erie to west of Sylvania

The roads are enormous differences between the roads in MI and OH as well as IN and OH. I travel between those three states the most. Michigan had great roads, but they've deteriorated immensely. Indiana has always had pretty cruddy roads, and they continue to live up to that low standard. The trash accumulates along roads in those states, their DoTs don't seem to sweep the highways much at all. Ohio spends about twice per capita on roads what Michigan does, and probably a similar difference with Indiana. Ohio roads, at least where I am in the northwest, are in excellent condition, from interstates, state and federal routes to country roads. Debris is quickly removed and the freeway shoulders are frequently swept clean. There are exceptions, mostly along less traveled city streets in Toledo.

Ohio's freeway quality is generally good in recent years. The state repaved a bunch of freeways, at least in Cincinnati and Columbus, and the rural stretch of I-71 between those two cities. Indiana has been improving too. I drove on I-74 between Cincy and Indy last month, and the road quality was so smooth that I was questioning if I was even in Indiana.

Illinois takes the cake for bad road quality imo.

[Alps]

Rural Vermont has noticeably better property upkeep and maintainance than Northern NY.

The change in mood/feel between Vermont and NY may be one of the most profound anywhere.  Certainly in the northeast. Driving through NY, it's hilly with small towns and roads that are not maintained in the greatest.  The communities you drive through (and homes in them) are pretty average looking and not particularly scenic.  Many are quite dumpy.  And you could just as easily be in PA, NJ or parts of eastern OH as where you really are.  Generic northeast.

As soon as you hit Vermont, you start getting into the Green Mountains, all of the towns have a colonial feel.  It looks like "New England" in a way that upstate NY does not. The roads are better.  Overall, it's far more scenic.  That's not to say it's more prosperous; it's just that Vermont does a better job of hiding it's hippie trailer parks in the woods, down a side road, than New York does.

Nah.  VT/NY just isn't that dramatic.  Crossed that border many, many times.

Been to 48 states and have lived in 10 from coast to coast, so I think that my perspective on this one is pretty objective.

Oh ho ho, look at you.  What rubbish.

Well, I've been to 49 states, I'll have you know.  And, I have lived in 9 states and Russia.  So, get off your high horse.

Objective?  You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

VT is a dramatic change from all the states around it. Come at me.

[Flint1979]

I walked across the Purple People Bridge tonight and didn't feel any difference between Ohio and Kentucky.

[MinecraftNinja]

I-95 SB from MA to RI.

[Roadgeekteen]

I-95 SB from MA to RI.

Yes, the speed limit drops from 65 to 55 immediately.

[LM117]

Going into NC on VA/NC-86 from Danville. As soon as you cross into NC, you're in the boonies. Going the other way, civilization pops up out of nowhere as soon as you cross the VA state line. 

On NC-86, there ain't jackshit between Danville and Yanceyville, and between Yanceyville and Hillsborough.

[webny99]

You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

To be fair, this is about mood/feel, which makes sense for VT-NY since many of the changes aren't necessarily tangible, like scenery. Vermont does have a much more prosperous and colonial mood/feel, while NY has the dumpy and redneck vibes. It's not just about the scenery: You can even notice the difference just from looking at the houses and the way people maintain their properties.

[Rothman]

You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

To be fair, this is about mood/feel, which makes sense for VT-NY since many of the changes aren't necessarily tangible, like scenery. Vermont does have a much more prosperous and colonial mood/feel, while NY has the dumpy and redneck vibes. It's not just about the scenery: You can even notice the difference just from looking at the houses and the way people maintain their properties.

I still think a whole lot of other borders are more dramatic in that sense.  Perhaps there is some selection bias going on since VT's borders are probably more frequently crossed by members of this group than others, particularly out west.

And, because this is all quite subjective, everybody is simultaneously correct and wrong.

[webny99]

You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

To be fair, this is about mood/feel, which makes sense for VT-NY since many of the changes aren't necessarily tangible, like scenery. Vermont does have a much more prosperous and colonial mood/feel, while NY has the dumpy and redneck vibes. It's not just about the scenery: You can even notice the difference just from looking at the houses and the way people maintain their properties.

I still think a whole lot of other borders are more dramatic in that sense.  Perhaps there is some selection bias going on since VT's borders are probably more frequently crossed by members of this group than others, particularly out west.

And, because this is all quite subjective, everybody is simultaneously correct and wrong.

Yes, and the fact that many of the western states are so sparsely populated that you might not see any homes or people for miles doesn't help their case.

[Rothman]

You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

To be fair, this is about mood/feel, which makes sense for VT-NY since many of the changes aren't necessarily tangible, like scenery. Vermont does have a much more prosperous and colonial mood/feel, while NY has the dumpy and redneck vibes. It's not just about the scenery: You can even notice the difference just from looking at the houses and the way people maintain their properties.

I still think a whole lot of other borders are more dramatic in that sense.  Perhaps there is some selection bias going on since VT's borders are probably more frequently crossed by members of this group than others, particularly out west.

And, because this is all quite subjective, everybody is simultaneously correct and wrong.

Yes, and the fact that many of the western states are so sparsely populated that you might not see any homes or people for miles doesn't help their case.

Just thought of CO/AZ (cutting through NM on US 160).  That's a pretty stark jump.

[JoePCool14]

Jumping the border between Iowa and Wisconsin on US-61/US-151 is a stark difference, going between the rolling hills of the Driftless Area in Southwest Wisconsin into the urban feel of Dubuque in Iowa. And then just as quickly, if you stay on US-61/US-151, you'll be right back into open lands again.

US-20 with Illinois is kind of similar, but much more gradual of a difference thanks to East Dubuque.

[kphoger]

I notice a difference when crossing from Texas into Coahuila.

[US 89]

Just thought of CO/AZ (cutting through NM on US 160).  That's a pretty stark jump.

Meh, I’ve done that and I don’t think there’s all that much of a difference. If you go all the way up to Cortez, maybe, but most of that southwest part of 160 is in the Ute Mountain reservation and feels pretty similar to the Navajo reservation in NM/AZ.

If you asked me the one thing I remembered about 160 in Colorado west of 491, my answer would be all the beer bottles and various other broken glass and trash along the sides of the road. Unfortunately, that sort of describes what most roads in the area feel like in my experience (other than that CO and AZ do a much better job maintaining the actual pavement than NM does).

[StogieGuy7]

Rural Vermont has noticeably better property upkeep and maintainance than Northern NY.

The change in mood/feel between Vermont and NY may be one of the most profound anywhere.  Certainly in the northeast. Driving through NY, it's hilly with small towns and roads that are not maintained in the greatest.  The communities you drive through (and homes in them) are pretty average looking and not particularly scenic.  Many are quite dumpy.  And you could just as easily be in PA, NJ or parts of eastern OH as where you really are.  Generic northeast.

As soon as you hit Vermont, you start getting into the Green Mountains, all of the towns have a colonial feel.  It looks like "New England" in a way that upstate NY does not. The roads are better.  Overall, it's far more scenic.  That's not to say it's more prosperous; it's just that Vermont does a better job of hiding it's hippie trailer parks in the woods, down a side road, than New York does.

Nah.  VT/NY just isn't that dramatic.  Crossed that border many, many times.

Been to 48 states and have lived in 10 from coast to coast, so I think that my perspective on this one is pretty objective.

Oh ho ho, look at you.  What rubbish.

Well, I've been to 49 states, I'll have you know.  And, I have lived in 9 states and Russia.  So, get off your high horse.

Objective?  You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

Disagree on every single count.  And your bias is that you appear to be a New Yorker.  Sorry, but your state isn't as pretty as New England.  Not even close. The Green Mountains have colonial towns, and bucolic farmland; the Catskills have dumpy midcentury diners and motels, communes and ugly trailer camps.  But you can salve your snowflake feelings in the knowledge that it's more scenic that Illinois.

[kphoger]

it's more scenic that Illinois.

I rather enjoy Illinois scenery.

[Rothman]

Rural Vermont has noticeably better property upkeep and maintainance than Northern NY.

The change in mood/feel between Vermont and NY may be one of the most profound anywhere.  Certainly in the northeast. Driving through NY, it's hilly with small towns and roads that are not maintained in the greatest.  The communities you drive through (and homes in them) are pretty average looking and not particularly scenic.  Many are quite dumpy.  And you could just as easily be in PA, NJ or parts of eastern OH as where you really are.  Generic northeast.

As soon as you hit Vermont, you start getting into the Green Mountains, all of the towns have a colonial feel.  It looks like "New England" in a way that upstate NY does not. The roads are better.  Overall, it's far more scenic.  That's not to say it's more prosperous; it's just that Vermont does a better job of hiding it's hippie trailer parks in the woods, down a side road, than New York does.

Nah.  VT/NY just isn't that dramatic.  Crossed that border many, many times.

Been to 48 states and have lived in 10 from coast to coast, so I think that my perspective on this one is pretty objective.

Oh ho ho, look at you.  What rubbish.

Well, I've been to 49 states, I'll have you know.  And, I have lived in 9 states and Russia.  So, get off your high horse.

Objective?  You started blabbing about beauty and whatnot, which is the definition of subjective.

Which also means, you are still wrong.  Heck, MT to WY has more contrast then VT-NY.

Disagree on every single count.  And your bias is that you appear to be a New Yorker.  Sorry, but your state isn't as pretty as New England.  Not even close. The Green Mountains have colonial towns, and bucolic farmland; the Catskills have dumpy midcentury diners and motels, communes and ugly trailer camps.  But you can salve your snowflake feelings in the knowledge that it's more scenic that Illinois.

Hit a nerve there, did I?  Made you pull out the big snowflake guns on that one.

I don't care if NY is as pretty as New England (I grew up in western MA).  We're talking about contrast.

[hbelkins]

Are we talking about highway features? Many people here seem to be bringing that up.

The two crossings with which I was most familiar growing up were I-64 into West Virginia and I-75 into Tennessee. Neither were dramatic. Road design was similar and the terrain was as well.

Sometimes border crossings involving streams can seem to be more stark, especially if the body of water is wide.

But to me, changes seem to be more attitudinal than anything else. I don't get any particularly different "feels" when crossing from Kentucky into West Virginia or Virginia. However, crossing the Ohio River into Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois gives the feeling that I"m leaving the south (even though Kentucky isn't really southern) and entering the midwest. Tennessee is truly more southern than Kentucky, but I don't really get the vibe that I'm entering the south. I do, however, acutely perceive that everything is going to cost more in Tennessee because of their outrageous sales taxes.

I don't think you can set someone down along the border of Kentucky and Tennessee, without signage, and them be able to discern there are two different states. Similarly, if you were on the banks of one of the forks of the Big Sandy River below Louisa, you wouldn't know if you were on the border of Kentucky and West Virginia, or merely on one side or the other of a fork that's entirely in Kentucky.

[jdbx]

I would argue that crossing the border between California and Nevada on I-80 is a pretty stark difference.  On the California side, you have the steep high-elevation mountain pass that you begin climbing just east of the state line, as you pass through boreal forests.  On the Nevada side, you are in range-and-basin country and a wide-open desert.

3 miles East of the state line in Nevada:  https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5142228,-119.9842203,3a,75y,94.71h,92.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sKO0rjezEicpmVCXWLeAJfg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Similar distance West of the state line in California:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4422238,-120.013181,3a,75y,228.09h,91.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1Ol7HIjF4KiIMrHlazY_HQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192