Hey guys, what are the best roads to drive on in America? I'm talking about for pure pleasure, enjoying the scenery, the cities/towns on the route etc. I would like to drive some of these one day, here are a few that come to mind for me:
California 1
Florida A1A
Blue Ridge Pkwy
Natchez Trace Pkwy
What are some others?
The one time I drove the "Going to the Sun" Highway in Montana, I really enjoyed it. That was over 40 years ago, so I don't know how it may have changed; hopefully not much.
US 163 in Arizona and Utah
US 395 between Bishop and and the Bodie turnoff
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Brockway Mountain Drive, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
Lakeshore Drive (M-26), Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 26, 2017, 11:00:11 AM
This is going to be a long list for me so I'll start with two state and work my way around the country. I'll refrain from anything that might be considered a 4WD or high clearance road.
I think if the list is this long, it maybe misses the point of "best".
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on January 26, 2017, 01:07:03 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 26, 2017, 11:00:11 AM
This is going to be a long list for me so I'll start with two state and work my way around the country. I'll refrain from anything that might be considered a 4WD or high clearance road.
I think if the list is this long, it maybe misses the point of "best".
It appears he's ready to list every single road he's been on that is paved.
For me, I'd just cull through the list of roads that I have driven and pick five or ten of the absolute "best". Otherwise the thread would be called "list every scenic road you've ever driven".
I-395 because I use it every day. It's the best for my career and personal life.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 26, 2017, 01:32:44 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on January 26, 2017, 01:26:40 PM
For me, I'd just cull through the list of roads that I have driven and pick five or ten of the absolute "best". Otherwise the thread would be called "list every scenic road you've ever driven".
I'm game for something like that if the OP would like to clarify a cap. Hell we could probably separate this into ten best scenery and ten best driving challenge. I'd like to see what answers people would come up with, especially if they aren't the typical cliche stuff that might not be common knowledge. I'd even go back and give some more depth thought to the stuff I've listed if that's the direction we all want the thread to go.
The OP simply said What are the best roads. Most reasonable thinking people would list their favorite, or a few of their favorites.
You listed 82 ROADS IN ONE STATE. And you want clarification of how many roads the OP wants because you think 82 different drives qualifies as the best in a single state??
Seriously. Think about your drives. Pick one or 2 for each state. We don't need a volume of rules for a simple question.
Ask an open-ended question, get a long answer. Best can mean many different things.
^ Disagree. Best has a definition:
Quoteof the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality.
"the best pitcher in the league"
synonyms: finest, greatest, top, foremost, leading, preeminent, premier, prime, first, chief, principal, supreme, of the highest quality, superlative, par excellence, unrivaled, second to none, without equal, nonpareil, unsurpassed, peerless, matchless, unparalleled, unbeaten, unbeatable, optimum, optimal, ultimate, incomparable, ideal, perfect; More
If the expectation was to list thousands of them, then the question would have been "what are great roads in America"
Baseball has one best pitcher, but hundreds of great pitchers.
Yes but that definition does not include the particular circumstances of roads, nor individual preferences, nor cultural factors or elements.
For example I don't care about scenery, whereas some people highly value it. I care greatly effect on commerece, whereas other may prefer low congestion.
I suggest first categorizing by type. So the best:
Urban road
Suburban road
Rural road
Freeway
Highway
etc
etc
^ I don't disagree with that, but what I am saying is, listing hundreds of "best of" roads kind of defeats the purpose.
Moving on with the spirit of this thread, here are some roads that I've driven on that I think could definitely qualify. Some of these have already been mentioned, but I included them anyway since a lot I just did this past summer on my cross country road trip.
- CA 1 (PCH), especially between San Luis Obispo and Monterey
- CA 120 through Yosemite National Park
- US 163 (all of it)
- US 550 (all of it, although I only did the New Mexico portion)
- All of I-70 west of Denver
- US 6 in Utah between I-15 in Spanish Fork and I-70 near Green River
- US 1 along the coast of Maine north of Portland
- ME 9 between Brewer and Calais
- All of NH 16 north of Ossipee
- All of I-95 north of Bangor, ME
Woodard Avenue in Detroit is the quintessential road for cruising. The annual Woodward Dream Cruise has become the largest single day classic car event in the world, drawing millions of people to the Avenue each August. It is a road of many firsts: the first mile of concrete road, the first 4-way 3-section traffic signal, it crosses the first depressed urban freeway in America, and is home of Henry Ford's Highland Park factory which featured the first moving assembly line for the mass production of the automobile. Not to mention you can cruise over 20 miles down the Avenue without hitting a red light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRWyx0NtpSQ
Again, "best" is defined in the english language. The OP doesn't need to put a cap limit because he used the word "best".
I'm not trying to pick on you, but you do this in the "best of road photos" thread too, where you'll just put up the photos that you take over the weekend under the guise that they are the "best". You share this forum with thousands of other users. The ability to cull down is important. Imagine how ludicrous it would be if everybody posted a list of 200 best of roads. Who could read that?
Tone is lost on the internet, so I am trying to write this in a constructive tone.
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on January 26, 2017, 02:21:33 PM
^ Disagree. Best has a definition:
Quoteof the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality.
"the best pitcher in the league"
synonyms: finest, greatest, top, foremost, leading, preeminent, premier, prime, first, chief, principal, supreme, of the highest quality, superlative, par excellence, unrivaled, second to none, without equal, nonpareil, unsurpassed, peerless, matchless, unparalleled, unbeaten, unbeatable, optimum, optimal, ultimate, incomparable, ideal, perfect; More
If the expectation was to list thousands of them, then the question would have been "what are great roads in America"
Baseball has one best pitcher, but hundreds of great pitchers.
The point is that all those synonyms for "best" don't address by what criteria. To someone in a hurry, the best road is probably the most direct, highest speed limit, and least congested. To someone with more time, maybe it's a scenic coastline. To someone else, maybe the best scenery is mountains or desert. To a foodie, maybe it's lots of nice but little-known restaurants to stop at. To a trucker, wide lanes, gentle grades and low chance of snow. To a sport car driver, lots of twisties and not too many cops. Asking vague questions gets long answers that aren't necessarily very meaningful.
I'm going to keep this list as brief as possible, narrowing "best" down to "most scenic without having to put up with massive amounts of traffic". And, for the time being, I'm going to limit it to West Coast or Rocky Mountain facilities that I've made repeated trips on -- and continued to be impressed. Also, I'm dividing it into Interstates & all else.
INTERSTATES:
I-5, Redding, CA>Ashland, OR
I-80, Colfax, CA>Truckee, CA
I-84, Troutdale, OR>The Dalles, OR; Pendleton, OR>Baker, OR
I-90, Coeur d'Alene, ID>St. Regis, MT
OTHERS:
US 101, Willits, CA>Seaside, OR. Also, Aberdeen, WA>Sequim, WA.
US 395, Bishop, CA>Gardnerville, NV
CA 1, Cambria, CA>Carmel, CA
CA 33, Ojai, CA>S. jct. CA 166
CA 89 -- the whole damn thing!
OR 58, US 97>I-5
OR 42 -- again, in its entirety
WA 20 -- " " " " (this is my all-time overall favorite!)
ID-MT 200, Sandpoint, ID>Missoula, MT
That should do it for now. If you get the impression I like seacoasts & forested areas, you would be correct. Having decent roads through those areas just makes it infinitely better! :clap:
Quote from: kkt on January 26, 2017, 03:39:09 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on January 26, 2017, 02:21:33 PM
^ Disagree. Best has a definition:
Quoteof the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality.
"the best pitcher in the league"
synonyms: finest, greatest, top, foremost, leading, preeminent, premier, prime, first, chief, principal, supreme, of the highest quality, superlative, par excellence, unrivaled, second to none, without equal, nonpareil, unsurpassed, peerless, matchless, unparalleled, unbeaten, unbeatable, optimum, optimal, ultimate, incomparable, ideal, perfect; More
If the expectation was to list thousands of them, then the question would have been "what are great roads in America"
Baseball has one best pitcher, but hundreds of great pitchers.
The point is that all those synonyms for "best" don't address by what criteria. To someone in a hurry, the best road is probably the most direct, highest speed limit, and least congested. To someone with more time, maybe it's a scenic coastline. To someone else, maybe the best scenery is mountains or desert. To a foodie, maybe it's lots of nice but little-known restaurants to stop at. To a trucker, wide lanes, gentle grades and low chance of snow. To a sport car driver, lots of twisties and not too many cops. Asking vague questions gets long answers that aren't necessarily very meaningful.
Actually, the OP did clarify what he wanted. It was literally his 2nd sentence. And then he gave 4 examples of drives he enjoyed. His question wasn't vague. He certainly didn't want the fastest, or the most direct, or what a trucker would enjoy.
I just want a list of the best roads to drive on around the country, just a road that is full of great scenery, towns, and is just a pleasure to drive. basically a joyride, blow off steam, etc. more examples that come to mind are: M-22 the leelannau highway, and M-185 (you can only bike this one). if you want a limit, i guess 5 per state? I don't know anything about Canadian roads, but if there are any good ones there, list them. maybe canada 1 (trans canada highway)? also, if anyone has pictures, post them! i'd love to see the best parts to look out for when i try to drive some of these.
MA 2 - Mohawk Trail to NY 2 - Taconic Trail. The maples on the western side of the Taconics can make the hillside look like its on fire in the fall as the Sun falls towards sunset.
NH 112 - Kancamagus Highway
UT 9 / Floor of the Valley Road - Zion National Park. Although you have to hike to get up there, the view from the top of the Fin of Angels Landing is the only view I've experienced that literally made my jaw drop.
US 6, Ely to Tonopah, NV. Wonderful isolation. Loved the drive on it.
Natchez Trace Parkway in the Old Town area
I-70 through Glenwood Canyon
Always like I-68, too. For some reason, the old section through Cumberland holds a special place in my heart. Been on that road more times than I can count, heading between my childhood home and my grandparents' place in Kentucky.
Actually, over Thanksgiving, I rediscovered I-81 in far southern VA. Heads through a mountainous region that's really quite pretty.
...
I dunno. Lots of scenic drives out there.
Quote from: silverback1065 on January 26, 2017, 05:55:54 PM
I just want a list of the best roads to drive on around the country, just a road that is full of great scenery, towns, and is just a pleasure to drive. basically a joyride, blow off steam, etc. more examples that come to mind are: M-22 the leelannau highway, and M-185 (you can only bike this one). if you want a limit, i guess 5 per state? I don't know anything about Canadian roads, but if there are any good ones there, list them. maybe canada 1 (trans canada highway)? also, if anyone has pictures, post them! i'd love to see the best parts to look out for when i try to drive some of these.
Alright based off this criteria of 5 per state I'll do my five favorite states.
California
1. CA 120 (From CA 49 east to US 395) This is really difficult to beat a route that has the Priest Grades, Half Dome, Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass, and Lee Vining Canyon on it. Really this has the best of overall dynamics from scenery to driving challenge in one package. I would certainly rate it over the cliche pick of CA 1 through Big Sur due to a sense of solitude from tourists that 120 offers.
2. CA 4 (From CA 49 to CA 89) This is really a stunning section of highway over Pacific Grade Summit and Ebbets Pass. The driving challenge is very high with 24% downhill grades and single lane roadway.
3. CA 108 (From Sonora to US 395) Really this very similar to CA 4 like above. I would put the scenery slightly above CA 4 but the driving challenge behind it due it being a full two-lanes despite a brief 26% grade.
4. CA 1 (From CA 46 through Big Sur to CA 68) Really this is a beautiful highway through Big Sur. The driving is wonderful on off-peak tourist season on a weekday. I would have this much higher on the list but the tourists tend to really drag the driving fun down a large degree.
5. Sherman Pass Road/J41 (M99 to US 395) This is pretty good mix of what you get from CA 4 and CA 108 but nothing quite as good as those two. Upper Kern River Canyon, Mount Whitney, Kennedy Meadows, and Nine Mile Canyon are the highlights. The drive really isn't super difficult but gets very daunting on J41 down to US 395.
Arizona
1. CR 10/Oatman Highway and AZ 66 (Old US 66 from Topock to Ash Fork) This a great route with lots of variety from scenery, driving challenge, and the fact that it is all Old US 66. The Oatman Highway just got a fresh repaving over Sitgreaves Pass and probably is the baddest paved drive in all of Arizona. AZ 66 is a nice break with a simple drive chock full of scenery and history with stuff like the Hackberry General Store, Grand Canyon Caverns, Seligman in addition to a treasure trove of former alignments to be found.
2. AZ 89A: Really this is tough to beat with two big mountain grades through Oak Creek Canyon and the Black Mountains above Jerome. Sedona is beautiful due to the red rock scenery and Jerome is one of the best former mining towns to visit pretty much in the entire country.
3. Catalina Highway: This a really great driving road and a very scenic one which rises from the valley around Tucson to Summerhaven up on Mount Lemmon.
4. AZ 88: Not the best paved road for a drive but certainly one of the best dirt "superhighways" out there maintained on the state level. Basically this crosses the entirety of the Salt River Project up to the Roosevelt Dam...it doesn't hurt that Tortilla Flat has some decent food on the way also.
5. US 191 Coronado Trail: In terms of plain driving enjoyment this might be the absolute best current US Route in use. I want to say that there is some 500-600 curves from the US 180 split south to Morenci all within an area that is amount as remote as it gets in the White Mountains
Utah
1. UT 12: This is by far the best mix of scenery and driving challenge in the state. There is big grades, sharp curves, and high elevation intermixed with some scenic reliefs on the steps of the Grand Staircase. There is some wonderful views of Capitol Reef and the Canyonlands beyond to the east.
2. UT 9: Really this is stunning highway from I-15 through to the east exit of Zion National Park. The Mount Carmel Highway is not only scenic but an engineering sight to behold. The road does get way out of hand with the influx of people visiting Zion these days at times though.
3. I-70: Really this is the only Interstate section that is a must see (in my opinion at least) for scenery with the San Rafael Swell. The speed limit is very high and with hardly any cars on the road it can be a ton of fun. Some of the overviews, especially in the eastbound lanes are completely stunning.
4. UT 261: I would rate this over US 163 simply because it offers views of the Valley of the Gods and much higher a much higher driving challenge with the Moki Dugway. The Dugway is 10% grade but very well maintained, plus you general avoid the tourist glut that US 163 sees.
5. UT 24: I would say that 24 is criminally underrated due to it being wedged between UT 12 and I-70. 24 has some fantastic views of Capitol Reef and the San Rafael Swell. The driving challenge is moderate but very fast at times with wildly different terrain.
Nevada
1. NV 431: The Mount Rose Highway offers the best view of Lake Tahoe that can really be had in additions to some great views of the Reno Area. This is also the highest all-year pass in the Sierras and can be a lot of fun to drive on in the summer time.
2. NV 341: The Geiger Grade is a fun drive with some well graded roadway that offers a fun driving challenge with great views of Reno. Virginia City has a ton of scenic value that is very worthwhile stopping to see.
3. US 95 (Fallon to Las Vegas): This is a very fast road with 70 MPH speed limit, two sections of 94 miles between services, Walker Lake in addition to a really awesome ghost town with Goldfield. Goldfield is one of just a few mining and ghost town stops that can be made on US 95, so from that perspective it has a ton of historic value.
4. US 50: (Fallon to Ely): Much like US 95 there is vast swathes of desolation and ghost towns on the "Loneliest Road in America." The road is very foreboding with hardly a car or person to be seen.
5. Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive: Really this has some stunning views of the Snake Range and a really good challenge. Getting to Great Basin National Park can be difficult which really adds to a sense of feeling alone and a sense of accomplishment after completing the road.
Colorado
1. Pikes Peak Highway: Tons of scenic value from the unobstructed Pikes Peak, a huge challenge with the massive grade in both directions, and a ton of history with the motor races. I really don't understand why anyone would pick CO 5 over Pikes, it really is probably the most intimidating paved road in the country.
2. US 34 Trail Ridge: Beautiful drive over Rocky Mountain National Park through several 12,000 foot ridges. The dropoffs are sheer and can really instill a sense of dread in those that have a fear of heights.
3. US 550 (US 50 to US 160): The Million Dollar Highway and Molas Pass are really a sight to behold. The driving challenge is significant but nothing that I wouldn't say couldn't be managed by the average driver. Lots of history with the mines and ghost towns littered throughout the area.
4. CO 5: For much of the same reasons I listed Pikes Peak I would list the Mount Evans Highway. Mount Evans may be slightly higher but it is also less difficult, slightly less scenic, and certainly doesn't have the same caliber of history of Pikes.
5. US 6 (Loveland Pass) Really deciding on a number five was kind of difficult given how many routes there are that really worth seeing in Colorado. What puts US 6 over the top for me is that it is an all-year route despite being just below 12,000 feet. There are some wonderful views of I-70 before it disappears into the Eisenhower Tunnel.
For me I prefer a little bit of a sense of dread in my scenic highways, hence the glut of largely mountainous routes. Really it is tough sometimes to find a good balance between a challenging drive and what might be "scenic," so really I tried to think of what balanced those two criteria out. What kills a highway for me is traffic, hence why something like CA 1 I had so far down my list. In general I find freeways extremely boring along with urbanized driving. I view those as akin to something that is necessary for day-to-day driving rather than anything that would be enjoyed on it's own merit.
So with that in mind, hopefully that was a much more agreeable list than the previous one.
Any mixture of US-129 (Tail of the Dragon) US-441 (Smoky Mountain Parkway) NC-143/TN-165 (Cherohala Skyway) or the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive tandem should be a great start for you.
Drove US-129 / Tail of the Dragon a couple of months ago. A lot of the scenic views are marred by power lines. I like the views from the summits on MA 2 above and to the east of North Adams a lot better.
Quote from: slorydn1 on January 27, 2017, 02:44:24 AM
Any mixture of US-129 (Tail of the Dragon) US-441 (Smoky Mountain Parkway) NC-143/TN-165 (Cherohala Skyway) or the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive tandem should be a great start for you.
NC28 added on to a trip up to the Smokys I thought was a great prelude route to US 129. It felt like that 28 had almost just as many curves, was much longer, and certainly was much less patrolled. I took my Camaro through there the year I moved back to California during a minor snow storm in I want to say March? It was past opening weekend for the bikers so it was kind of nice to have the road to myself.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1255.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh630%2FMadMaxRockatansky73%2F61US129_zpsfjgu27th.jpg&hash=4089c0d94ed493e15950ac3557c333e8971482eb)
My vote goes to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The mainline, Northeast Extension and all the other components of the system.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 27, 2017, 08:12:54 AM
Quote from: slorydn1 on January 27, 2017, 02:44:24 AM
Any mixture of US-129 (Tail of the Dragon) US-441 (Smoky Mountain Parkway) NC-143/TN-165 (Cherohala Skyway) or the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive tandem should be a great start for you.
NC28 added on to a trip up to the Smokys I thought was a great prelude route to US 129. It felt like that 28 had almost just as many curves, was much longer, and certainly was much less patrolled. I took my Camaro through there the year I moved back to California during a minor snow storm in I want to say March? It was past opening weekend for the bikers so it was kind of nice to have the road to myself.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1255.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh630%2FMadMaxRockatansky73%2F61US129_zpsfjgu27th.jpg&hash=4089c0d94ed493e15950ac3557c333e8971482eb)
Strangely enough, I had typed NC-28 in my post and then deleted it before posting because I thought I had added to many routes already. Yes 28 is very interesting as well. NC-209, NC-215 (etc etc etc) too. Just did US-421 near Mountain Home, TN again 2 weeks ago-that was a hoot. Any of the roads in western NC/eastern TN/southwestern VA could qualify, actually.
Rothman, it sounds like I might have to visit North Adams some day!
Pine Hills Road, Wolf Lake, IL
IL-71 through Starved Rock State Park, IL
IL-84, Savanna, IL - Hanover, IL
US 20, Stockton IL to Galena, IL
AZ 88, Apache Highway
Minnesota:
MN 61
MN 95, I-94 to Taylors Falls
MN 16, Lanesboro to La Crescent
MN 11, Island View to Baudette
US 61, Hastings to La Crescent
HI 11/19, taking the ring around the entire island. Beautiful drive.
My top 5, probably:
Blue Ridge Pkwy/Skyline Dr
US 16A near Mt Rushmore
WA 20/North Cascades Hwy
WA 14 along the Columbia River
NC 28 (already mentioned)
Quote from: slorydn1 on January 27, 2017, 09:03:48 AM
Rothman, it sounds like I might have to visit North Adams some day!
Well, the town itself is pretty beat up (although MassMoCA helped it out). It is Willamstown's older, uglier sister. The surrounding area is quite scenic, though. Besides the Mohawk Trail's end, you can also go to Natural Bridge State Park (a marble natural bridge and home to one of the only (if not only) marble dams in the country) and drive or hike up Massachusetts' highest point, Mount Greylock (surprisingly, the Appalachian Trail is not the best route up the mountain; its routing has been bemoaned many times over. Other trails provide shorter and more enjoyable routes up to the summit).
Quote from: sbeaver44 on January 29, 2017, 02:40:13 AM
My top 5, probably:
Blue Ridge Pkwy/Skyline Dr
US 16A near Mt Rushmore
WA 20/North Cascades Hwy
WA 14 along the Columbia River
NC 28 (already mentioned)
Personally preference for me in the Black Hills would be SD 87/Needles Highway through Custer State Park. Lots narrow roadway near the peaks of the Black Hills just don't go there when the Sturgis Rally is being held. U.S. 14A through Deadwood and Spearfish Canyon is pretty nice also.
Quote from: frankenroad on January 26, 2017, 09:39:04 AM
The one time I drove the "Going to the Sun" Highway in Montana, I really enjoyed it. That was over 40 years ago, so I don't know how it may have changed; hopefully not much.
Doubt it, very natural!
Beartooth Highway. Natchez-Trace Pkwy
I have a list. These are my personal opinions.
I-22 from Birmingham to Tupelo.
US 67 from Festus, Missouri to Corning, Arkansas.
US 412 from Hayti, Missouri to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
I-55 from St Louis, Missouri to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, don't drive it at night though.
Missouri SR 19 for it's entire length.
US 36 in Missouri.
I-49 in Missouri.
I-44 in Missouri, in between Devils Elbow and St Robert, they have the Uranus Fudge Factory! :-D
US 50 in Missouri.
And that is it.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 26, 2017, 01:11:41 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on January 26, 2017, 01:07:03 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 26, 2017, 11:00:11 AM
This is going to be a long list for me so I'll start with two state and work my way around the country. I'll refrain from anything that might be considered a 4WD or high clearance road.
I think if the list is this long, it maybe misses the point of "best".
It appears he's ready to list every single road he's been on that is paved.
Like when I went to the "Yes" page and asked them to pick a few favorite songs lol
Quote from: texaskdog on February 03, 2017, 01:12:16 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 26, 2017, 01:11:41 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on January 26, 2017, 01:07:03 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 26, 2017, 11:00:11 AM
This is going to be a long list for me so I'll start with two state and work my way around the country. I'll refrain from anything that might be considered a 4WD or high clearance road.
I think if the list is this long, it maybe misses the point of "best".
It appears he's ready to list every single road he's been on that is paved.
Like when I went to the "Yes" page and asked them to pick a few favorite songs lol
I'm still fairly amused that the dirt/gravel roads I picked weren't noticed in that original lot. I still put AZ 88 in my Arizona top 5 picks and UT 261 for Utah. I definitely would have put Pikes Peak in even if it wasn't largely surfaced like it used to be.
Speaking of not-surfaced and best roads, here is my personal top 5 for Florida:
1. US 1 (Overseas Highway): This one is kind of cliche and obvious but really it is one of the best roads in the country for scenery and really transportation history. Aside from the modern Overseas Highway there is plenty older alignments from State Road 4a to find along with the wreckage of the Overseas Railway.
2. US 98 (Florida Panhandle from Perry to Pensacola): Really this route goes along some of the best coastal land on the Gulf of Mexico. There isn't really much in terms of major cities and largely it a scenic drive if you got the time to not use I-10.
3. FL A1A (north segment): The northern most segment of FL A1A crosses some good stuff like Amelia Island, the Mayport Ferry, all the beaches on the Atlantic near Jacksonville, St. Augustine, two National Monuments, and even Daytona Beach...which can be nice if you are into racing.
4. FL 19: Really this is a pretty road and really pretty much in the boons. The segment through Ocala National Forest is especially nice and was my personal favorite for traveling between Orlando to Jacksonville.
5. Everglades Loop Road: This is a 23 mile road just south of US 41/Tamami from the edge of Everglades National Park through to the Big Cypress preserve. Out of the 23 miles only 6 of it is paved but will take you past the ghost town of Pinecrest (Monroe County not the suburb of Miami) where Al Capone had a mansion. The dirt segment is very well maintained and can be traveled by car so long as it isn't too wet. Unlike US 41, FL 9336, US 27, and I-75 there is no obstruction for the wildlife in terms of accessing the roadway...so expect to see lots of gators looming about. Sadly Monroe County Station burned down recently, it was a nice old general store that was supposedly going to be restored that dated back to the early days of the Tamiami Trail. I don't have my old notes but I believe it was signed once as Monroe County Route 94 and was in competition with the Tamiami Trail to be on US 94.
In regards to "best" roads personally I don't think there really is a cap per se. I'm more into the scenic and challenging drive aspect in what I consider to be the "best." In that regard there is so many that yeah...I guess it got a little easy to go overboard. I was concerned the conversation that was here previously was going to detract from the this thread hence why I deleted it.
(1) I-70, the following sections (west to east):
- I-15 to Grand Junction;
- Glenwood Canyon to Denver;
- Limon to Topeka (yes, I really like this long section across eastern Colorado and most of Kansas);
- Through St. Louis and crossing the Mississippi River and;
- Breezewood to Frederick.
(2) I-95 (south to north):
- I-26 to I-20 in South Carolina (so empty for being near the Atlantic Coast);
- I-495 to I-695 (just how good can a "free" Interstate be?);
- New Jersey Turnpike from Exit 6 to the GWB (where else is there great freeway design (with "so much going on" through Elizabeth and passing EWR) followed by the reward of the big bridge?); and
- Augusta to Houlton (also long empty stretches, especially north of Bangor).
(3) I-405 (San Diego Freeway). No other road says Southern California like this one.
(4) Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, all of both.
(5) U.S. 13 crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia.
(6) U.S. 48 (ADHS Corridor H), eastern and western sections, eventually to become one highway with great scenery.
(7) I-68 (all of it).
(8) I-66 from I-81 to U.S. 15 at Haymarket.
There are a lot of nice and scenic roads in my area. If I had to pick one of the best in my immediate neck of the woods, it would be GA SR 2/GA SR 52 from Chatsworth to Ellijay. This is a
beautiful mountain drive, and this stretch of road alone gives Georgia Highway 52 the title of my all-time favorite state highway. This stretch of road actually used to carry US Highway 76's designation, until US 76 was rerouted to be safer for truck traffic. The current US 76/GA SR 282 road from Ramhurst (south of Chatsworth) to Ellijay is still nice, and it has alternating passing lanes, but it is nothing compared to the drive on GA 2/GA 52.
I would say that CA 1 is probably one of
the best roads in America, from what I have seen and heard.
I would also say that all of Interstate 17 in Arizona is one of the best stretches of interstate in this country, from what I have seen and heard - along with Interstate 70 in Colorado and Utah, as was mentioned upthread. Another stretch of interstate that comes to mind is Interstate 84 in Oregon, through the Columbia River Gorge. And there are so many more than even that.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on February 03, 2017, 12:52:56 PM
I-22 from Birmingham to Tupelo.
You wouldn't expect it by looking at a paper map, but Interstate 22 is actually quite scenic. It has beautiful rolling hills and such. I have found it to be an interesting-looking interstate when eyeing it on Google Maps Streetview.
- Last Edit before that was at 10:21:00 PM:- Last Edit before this was at 10:29:45 PM:
I-95 in Baltimore. I will never, EVER be tired of driving that stretch
Quote from: plain on February 13, 2017, 03:28:20 AM
I-95 in Baltimore. I will never, EVER be tired of driving that stretch
I used to love the Harbor Tunnel when i was a kid.. And then when i was in high school the Ft McHenry Tunnel opened.. Really cool as well
LGMS428
Have not got around to much, but I like Hawaii 200 across the big island.
These are roads that I've actually driven:
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (US 13), Cape Charles to Virginia Beach, VA. Always a crowd-pleaser.
New York State Thruway Mainline and Berkshire Extension (I-90). One of the US's first "superhighways". Just beautiful to watch the landscape and terrain change from mountainous to rolling plains over 250 miles.
New Jersey Turnpike (I-95 and NJ 700). This is the best in the sense of how it incredibly it moves a high volume of traffic. Really a gem of engineering IMO.
Best I've experienced is the street in front my house, which was patched two years ago as they did some water main repairs. It's as smooth as a baby's backside now. :bigass: