Another one of my little brain games that I sometimes use to kill time:
From each state's capital, which of the bordering states' capitals can be reached by way of a single Interstate route? Which capitals are connected in this way to all of their neighboring capitals?
For those that don't satisfy the above, how about capitals connected by a single US route? Or connected by Interstate, but not a single route? Or those not connected by Interstate at all, despite being on the system (so, forget Pierre...) and realistically connectable by road (so, forget Juneau).
Metro areas served is fine; no need to be city-limit precise. (So for example, I-40 serves Little Rock.)
EDIT: Re-worded to clarify the rules.
Massachusetts comes close to having its capital connected to all of its neighbors. It's just missing a connection to Connecticut and Vermont. If only I-93's numbering continued up the current I-89 corridor, then it'd be connected to Montpelier.
I-93 will get you from Boston, MA to Concord, NH
I-90 will get you from Boston, MA to Albany, NY
I-95 will get you from Boston, MA to Providence, RI
Quote from: The Nature Boy on December 29, 2014, 12:13:37 AM
Massachusetts comes close to having its capital connected to all of its neighbors. It's just missing a connection to Connecticut and Vermont. If only I-93's numbering continued up the current I-89 corridor, then it'd be connected to Montpelier.
I-93 will get you from Boston, MA to Concord, NH
I-90 will get you from Boston, MA to Albany, NY
I-95 will get you from Boston, MA to Providence, RI
While I wouldn't call 3 out of 5, or 60%, "close", I do appreciate that the connections it does have are by three different routes. In other words, each of the Interstates out of Boston connects to a neighboring capital.
Quote from: The Nature Boy on December 29, 2014, 12:13:37 AM
Massachusetts comes close to having its capital connected to all of its neighbors. It's just missing a connection to Connecticut and Vermont. If only I-93's numbering continued up the current I-89 corridor, then it'd be connected to Montpelier.
I-93 will get you from Boston, MA to Concord, NH
I-90 will get you from Boston, MA to Albany, NY
I-95 will get you from Boston, MA to Providence, RI
US 50 will get you from Sacramento, CA to Carson City, NV.
I-80 will get you from Salt Lake City, UT to Cheyenne, WY to Lincoln, NE to Des Moines, IA
I-5 will get you from Sacramento, CA to Salem, OR to Olympia, WA
I-25 connects Santa Fe to Denver to Cheyenne.
If metro areas count, I-84 connects Boise to Salt Lake.
Other bordering states (looking to minimize the number of route numbers, not distance) from Boise:
- Helena via I-84 and I-15
- Cheyenne via I-84 and I-80
- Carson City via I-84 to I-80 to I-580
- Salem via I-84 and I-5
- Olympia via I-84 and I-5
For Helena:
- Boise via I-15 and I-84
- Cheyenne via I-15 and I-80
- Pierre via haha
- Bismarck via I-15 to I-90 to I-94
You know, this is sort of a digression/expansion (because Pierre), but Pierre and Bismarck are both on US 83 (Yeah, that's the best I can do. Not my fault they're off the grid).
I don't mean to subvert the thread, so... Carson City -
Sacramento via I-580 and I-80
SLC via I-580 and I-80
Salem via I-580, I-80, and I-5
Boise via I-580, I-80, I-5/I-15, and I-84
Phoenix via I-580, I-80, I-5/I-15, and I-10
From the metro area of Lansing, Michigan:
- The metro area of Indianapolis, Indiana, on I-69
- The metro area of Columbus, Ohio, on the future I-73
There are no direct connections from Lansing to Springfield, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; St. Paul, Minnesota; or Toronto, Ontario. The other states are blocked by Lake Michigan, and even if we assumed I-69 and Highway 402 were the same highway, Hwy 402 ends and traffic has to use Hwy 401 to continue on to Toronto.
Quote from: bulldog1979 on December 29, 2014, 02:19:13 AM
There are no direct connections from Lansing to Springfield, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; St. Paul, Minnesota; or Toronto, Ontario. The other states are blocked by Lake Michigan, and even if we assumed I-69 and Highway 402 were the same highway, Hwy 402 ends and traffic has to use Hwy 401 to continue on to Toronto.
I-96 and 401 could be the same highway once the new bridge is built, and probably would be if Canada were part of the U.S.
Interstate 35 gets you Austin, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minnesota. Only one missing is Topeka, Kansas which is on 335.
From Atlanta, Georgia:
- I-85 to Montgomerey, Alabama
- I-20 to Columbia, South Carolina
- US 41 to Nashville, Tennessee
(Tallahassee, Florida almost made it, but US 19 just barely misses it; there's just nothin' to Raleigh, NC)
From Nashville, Tennessee:
- US 41 to Atlanta, Georgia
- I-65 to Montgomerey, Alabama
- Natchez Trace Parkway is all I got for Jackson, Mississippi :-D
- I-40 to Little Rock, Arkansas
- I-40 to Raleigh, North Carolina
(Got nothin for St. Louis, Frankfort, or Richmond)
For those two capitols (Atlanta & Nashville), as for the capitols connected by interstate but not a single route:
From Atlanta, Georgia:
- I-75 & I-10 to Tallahassee, Florida
- I-75 & I-40 to Raleigh, North Carolina
From Nashville, Tennessee:
- I-40 & I-55 to St. Louis, Missouri
- I-65 & I-64 to Frankfort, Kentucky
- I-40 & I-95 to Richmond, Virginia
I believe Jefferson City, MO, used to connect to Springfield, IL, via US 54, but then US 54 was truncated. US 50 eventually connects to Carson City and Sacramento, and as far as I can tell, that's the only direct connection it has to any other capitals (besides the nation's capital, also on US 50).
Quote from: NE2 on December 29, 2014, 02:40:43 AM
Quote from: bulldog1979 on December 29, 2014, 02:19:13 AM
There are no direct connections from Lansing to Springfield, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; St. Paul, Minnesota; or Toronto, Ontario. The other states are blocked by Lake Michigan, and even if we assumed I-69 and Highway 402 were the same highway, Hwy 402 ends and traffic has to use Hwy 401 to continue on to Toronto.
I-96 and 401 could be the same highway once the new bridge is built, and probably would be if Canada were part of the U.S.
The New International Transit Crossing won't connect to I-96 at all. It's the Ambassador Bridge that "connects" with I-96.
From Indianapolis:
-Lansing, Michigan via I-69
-Columbus, Ohio via I-70
-Frankfort, Kentucky via US 421 (or I-65 and I-64)
-Springfield, Illinois via US 36 (or I-74, I-57 and I-72, or I-74 and I-55, or just stick with 36)
Quote from: bulldog1979 on December 29, 2014, 04:15:24 AM
The New International Transit Crossing won't connect to I-96 at all. It's the Ambassador Bridge that "connects" with I-96.
Ever hear of an overlap? They won't add one, but if the 401 was I-96 they would.
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on December 29, 2014, 03:55:15 AM
From Atlanta, Georgia:
- I-85 to Montgomerey, Alabama
- I-20 to Columbia, South Carolina
- US 41 to Nashville, Tennessee
(Tallahassee, Florida almost made it, but US 19 just barely misses it; there's just nothin' to Raleigh, NC)
I-85 goes through Durham and the western half of the Raleigh/Durham metro area. I think it's fair to claim a link between Atlanta and Raleigh via I-85.
The only one that Vermont has is I-89 between Montpelier, VT and Concord, NH.
Concord, NH, meanwhile, does directly connect to all of its US neighbors if one includes US routes: I-89 to Montpelier, VT; I-93 to Boston, MA; and US 202 to Augusta, ME. Conversely, Augusta, ME connects to its only US neighbor via the aforementioned US 202.
Richmond, VA directly connects to most of its neighbors (Tennessee being the only exception): US 1 to Raleigh, NC; I-64 to both Charleston, WV and Frankfort, KY; I-95 to DC; and US 301 to Annapolis, MD.
St. Paul, MN directly connects to 3 of its 4 US neighbors (but not South Dakota): I-35 to Des Moines, IA; and I-94 to both Madison, WI and Bismarck, ND.
Jackson, MS only directly connects to 1 of its neighbors: US 80 to Montgomery, AL.
Quote from: DevalDragon on December 29, 2014, 03:53:04 AM
Interstate 35 gets you Austin, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minnesota. Only one missing is Topeka, Kansas which is on 335.
That's the only direct connection for Texas, though. I-35 (or US 290) south to I-10 east for Baton Rouge LA (and on to Tallahassee FL) (or west to Phoenix AZ). I-35 north to DFW to I-30 for Little Rock AR. Santa Fe NM from Austin can't even be done reasonably directly without adding TX highways to the US highway sequences - or - the somewhat indirect I-10 west to I-25.
That said, there seems to be enough growth in central Texas along the I-35 corridor to foresee considering Austin a "suburb" of San Antonio in the not-too-distant future such that Texas (Austin) would be more legitimately connected to other US capitals.
As a reminder, the question to look at first and foremost is whether a capital connects to each of its bordering states' capitals by a single Interstate route. If "yes", great, you're done; and special prizes to those states that are all "yes"es.
If "no", then we can start looking at the sub-questions: a US route? multiple Interstates? on the system but doesn't connect anyway?
Other capitals in non-neighboring states along an Interstate route aren't considered here; that's a future thread. ;-)
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 08:48:38 AM
The only one that Vermont has is I-89 between Montpelier, VT and Concord, NH.
Concord, NH, meanwhile, does directly connect to all of its US neighbors if one includes US routes: I-89 to Montpelier, VT; I-93 to Boston, MA; and US 202 to Augusta, ME. Conversely, Augusta, ME connects to its only US neighbor via the aforementioned US 202.
I-89 just barely misses Concord. It gets close, but it doesn't touch it.
I don't think Trenton has anything here. If you count the Morrisville, Pennsylvania area as part of Trenton's metro area (which theoretically is part of New York City's metro area...) then I guess US 13 from there to Dover, Delaware is the only thing Trenton has remotely going for it.
Quote from: 1 on December 29, 2014, 09:40:11 AM
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 08:48:38 AM
The only one that Vermont has is I-89 between Montpelier, VT and Concord, NH.
Concord, NH, meanwhile, does directly connect to all of its US neighbors if one includes US routes: I-89 to Montpelier, VT; I-93 to Boston, MA; and US 202 to Augusta, ME. Conversely, Augusta, ME connects to its only US neighbor via the aforementioned US 202.
I-89 just barely misses Concord. It gets close, but it doesn't touch it.
It ends in Bow, which may be considered Concord's metro area.
Quote from: Zeffy on December 29, 2014, 09:47:38 AM
I don't think Trenton has anything here. If you count the Morrisville, Pennsylvania area as part of Trenton's metro area (which theoretically is part of New York City's metro area...) then I guess US 13 from there to Dover, Delaware is the only thing Trenton has remotely going for it.
Pennsylvania Turnpike to Harrisburg if you count metro areas and non-number designations.
QuoteAs a reminder, the question to look at first and foremost is whether a capital connects to each of its bordering states' capitals by a single Interstate route. If "yes", great, you're done; and special prizes to those states that are all "yes"es.
The way you worded your OP suggested that in the case of "connecting to
all neighboring states", US routes could be included.
Also, how would you clarify "multiple Interstates" versus "on-the-system-but-doesn't-connect"? For example, sure you could get from Concord, NH to Augusta, ME via an all-Interstate route, but it would require dipping into Massachusetts and nobody in their right mind would follow such a route.
Columbia, SC wins by virtue of SC bordering only two other states:
Atlanta, GA via I-20
Raleigh, NC via US-1
CT is a joke as far as connecting to other state capitals from Hartford. No case of one direct interstate route at all.
Boston: 84 to 90
Albany: 91 to 90
Providence: We all know that one :ded:
Louisiana:
Baton Rouge to Austin, TX: I-10 west to I-35 north, or to US 290 or TX 71
Baton Rouge to Little Rock, AR: quickest way is US 61 north, US 425 north and I-530. (US 425 was created to make this corridor more of a single route between the capitals although it doesn't connect them completely. Poor choice of a number, too). Staying purely in the interstate system it's either 10-49-30 or 12-55-40
Baton Rouge to Jackson, MS: I-12 east to I-55 north. No single route between these two cities either. The only other option is US 61 north to I-20 east or to the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 11:24:27 AM
QuoteAs a reminder, the question to look at first and foremost is whether a capital connects to each of its bordering states' capitals by a single Interstate route. If "yes", great, you're done; and special prizes to those states that are all "yes"es.
The way you worded your OP suggested that in the case of "connecting to all neighboring states", US routes could be included.
Then consider it hereby clarified that a capital only "wins" if it's connected by single-numbered Interstates to every neighboring capital. (I've also clarified this in the OP.) Single US-route connections, or multiple Interstate connections, count merely as "consolation prizes".
QuoteAlso, how would you clarify "multiple Interstates" versus "on-the-system-but-doesn't-connect"? For example, sure you could get from Concord, NH to Augusta, ME via an all-Interstate route, but it would require dipping into Massachusetts and nobody in their right mind would follow such a route.
Well, that's pretty much your answer: if you find yourself devising a route that nobody in his right mind would follow, I'd count that as "on-the-system-but-doesn't-connect". Use your own judgement; I have no hard-and-fast rule for this (since I usually stop thinking about it if the primary question isn't satisfied.)
QuoteThen consider it hereby clarified that a capital only "wins" if it's connected by single-numbered Interstates to every neighboring capital.
Probably a safe bet, given the responses thus far plus a quick rudimentary search, that there are no winners in this case...
Quote from: tdindy88 on December 29, 2014, 04:55:09 AM
From Indianapolis:
-Frankfort, Kentucky via US 421 (or I-65 and I-64)
I hadn't even thought of that, and I've done most of the Indy-to-Frankfort route in one sitting.
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 08:48:38 AM
Richmond, VA directly connects to most of its neighbors ...I-64 to both Charleston, WV and Frankfort, KY
Beat me to it.
Des Moines has only 1/3 of the way to "winning": It's a straight shot up I-35 to St. Paul (for the purposes of this thread, I-35E and I-35 would be considered one route), and I-80 hits Lincoln.
There is no direct connection between Des Moines and Springfield, Pierre, Madison, or Jefferson City, but I noticed that the original 1926 routing of US 63 went between Des Moines between Jefferson City. That routing only lasted 8 years before it was rerouted and extended northward, so there's not even a consolation prize there.
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 10:24:40 PM
QuoteThen consider it hereby clarified that a capital only "wins" if it's connected by single-numbered Interstates to every neighboring capital.
Probably a safe bet, given the responses thus far plus a quick rudimentary search, that there are no winners in this case...
Did a little more detailed of a check. If "winning" is strictly defined as a capital connecting via a single Interstate to each of its neighbors, then there are no winners. A few come close, but none connect to all of their neighbors in this way.
Going strictly with US routes only, there are a couple winners (namely Maine and Rhode Island). Going with an either/or of Interstate and US routes adds a few more (IN, NH, and SC). The "multiple-Interstate" option yields several (IN, MA, NC, SC, VA, WA, CA is arguable).
I've been trying to find any city (not just capitals) that directly connects Interstates to capitals of neighboring states, but I can't. Vancouver, WA comes close (Salem by I-5, Boise by I-84, but I-84 is on the wrong side of the river in Oregon instead of in Washington).
Quote from: 1 on December 29, 2014, 11:26:49 PM
I've been trying to find any city (not just capitals) that directly connects Interstates to capitals of neighboring states, but I can't. Vancouver, WA comes close (Salem by I-5, Boise by I-84, but I-84 is on the wrong side of the river in Oregon instead of in Washington).
Spartanburg (or pretty much any city along I-85 in SC) would work if one stretches the Raleigh metro area to include Durham, as both it and Atlanta are along I-85.
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 08:48:38 AM
St. Paul, MN directly connects to 3 of its 4 US neighbors (but not South Dakota): I-35 to Des Moines, IA; and I-94 to both Madison, WI and Bismarck, ND.
What about Lansing? :bigass:
QuoteWhat about Lansing?
OP basically excluded large bodies of water (specifically excluding Juneau). As MN/MI is a large-body-of-water-only border, I excluded it.
Quote from: froggie on December 30, 2014, 05:29:02 PM
QuoteWhat about Lansing?
OP basically excluded large bodies of water (specifically excluding Juneau). As MN/MI is a large-body-of-water-only border, I excluded it.
Yes, MN would "win" if it weren't otherwise disqualified by SD. However, Lansing-Madison
would be required for MI to win, since it does have a land border with WI, even though the connection between the capitals isn't much more plausible than Juneau.
Quote from: The Nature Boy on December 29, 2014, 10:01:37 AM
Quote from: 1 on December 29, 2014, 09:40:11 AM
Quote from: froggie on December 29, 2014, 08:48:38 AM
The only one that Vermont has is I-89 between Montpelier, VT and Concord, NH.
Concord, NH, meanwhile, does directly connect to all of its US neighbors if one includes US routes: I-89 to Montpelier, VT; I-93 to Boston, MA; and US 202 to Augusta, ME. Conversely, Augusta, ME connects to its only US neighbor via the aforementioned US 202.
I-89 just barely misses Concord. It gets close, but it doesn't touch it.
It ends in Bow, which may be considered Concord's metro area.
I-89 does dip into the southwest corner of the city, with exits 2 and 3 being within the city limits. I'd say that qualifies 89 as going directly to Burlington from Concord.
Montgomery, Alabama has three out of four.
I-85 to Atlanta
I-65 to Nashville
US-80 to Jackson
US-231 and I-10 to Tallahassee
Quote from: SD Mapman on December 29, 2014, 01:08:59 AM
Carson City -
Boise via I-580, I-80, I-5/I-15, and I-84
I see why you're doing this, but I don't think that can count (although for the specific purpose of this thread, maybe it's OK? I don't like it though). The "proper way" (US-95) is 449 miles. Going on I-15 is 888 miles. That's twice as long! But still better than I-5, which is 1053 miles. I don't think it's fair to say that there is an Interstate Highway connection between Carson City and Boise.
If it was something more reasonable like Carson City to Salem (518 mi vs 677 mi) I'd let it slide, but that can't count in my opinion.
With that said, I think Oregon can count:
Washington: I-5
California: I-5
Idaho: I-5 and I-84 (not the shortest route, but arguably a better route; even Google suggests this route first)
Nevada: I-5, I-80 and I-580 (this is the questionable one but it's not double the mileage or anything close to that so it's OK)
Quote from: doorknob60 on January 01, 2015, 02:09:52 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on December 29, 2014, 01:08:59 AM
Carson City -
Boise via I-580, I-80, I-5/I-15, and I-84
I see why you're doing this, but I don't think that can count (although for the specific purpose of this thread, maybe it's OK? I don't like it though). The "proper way" (US-95) is 449 miles. Going on I-15 is 888 miles. That's twice as long! But still better than I-5, which is 1053 miles. I don't think it's fair to say that there is an Interstate Highway connection between Carson City and Boise.
If it was something more reasonable like Carson City to Salem (518 mi vs 677 mi) I'd let it slide, but that can't count in my opinion.
This is a definite case of "on the system but no connection".