What is the longest, most desolate direct route between two major US cities?
Using the suggested routing from Google Maps, Portland to Las Vegas is a distance of 972 miles, and the biggest town you pass through (not in either city's MSA) is Prineville, OR, population 9,900. In fact, Prineville is one of only three incorporated places on the whole route; Winnemucca and Madras being the others (Burns and Hines are ever so slightly bypassed).
I can't think of anything to challenge that. Everything else is either shorter, and/or passes through larger cities.
Las Vegas to San Francisco is not even close, but I am always surprised when I realize that there is a 2 lane section on this route.
There's really not much on I-90 between Tomah, WI (the I-94 split) and Seattle. A few small-ish cities, but no large metros.
I don't believe anything can quite compete with the example in the OP - and certainly nothing in the eastern half of the country. Canada may have some good contenders, though. Toronto to Winnipeg, potentially?
Quote from: webny99 on February 01, 2018, 08:42:33 PM
There's really not much on I-90 between Tomah, WI (the I-94 split) and Seattle. A few small-ish cities, but no large metros.
I don't believe anything can quite compete with the example in the OP - and certainly nothing in the eastern half of the country. Canada may have some good contenders, though. Toronto to Winnipeg, potentially?
Or possibly a route in Alaska as well?
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on February 02, 2018, 01:56:04 AM
Or possibly a route in Alaska as well?
Possibly... but Anchorage to Fairbanks is much shorter than Portland to Vegas (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Fairbanks,+AK/Anchorage,+AK/@62.9678944,-153.4738725,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x5132454f67fd65a9:0xb3d805e009fef73a!2m2!1d-147.7163888!2d64.8377778!1m5!1m1!1s0x56c8917604b33f41:0x257dba5aa78468e3!2m2!1d-149.9002778!2d61.2180556!3e0). And with Juneau not accessible by road from either one, there's not really any other "big" cities in Alaska.
Salt Lake City to Calgary? I-15 + AB 4 + AB 2.
Quote from: catsynth on February 02, 2018, 02:23:55 PM
Salt Lake City to Calgary? I-15 + AB 4 + AB 2.
2nd longest (860 vs 972) but it still goes through incorporated cities often. Long between, yes. Desolate, by my definition, not until at least Great Falls.
If one considers the only sizeable city along the route to be a bit under 50K population, then Phoenix-Denver via the shortest mileage route -- via Payson, Holbrook, Gallup, Farmington [the city referenced above], Wolf Creek Pass, Saguache, Trout Creek Pass (there's a pattern developing here!), and Fairplay: 748 miles between the east I-10/17 junction and the US 85/285 junction -- might be considered reasonably desolate to us urban folks. However, while the absolute shortest (at least using state-maintained highways only), it's only marginally longer (by 15 miles) than I-17 to Flagstaff, then US 89 to US 160 and 160 to US 550 south of Durango, where it merges with the shorter route. But then Flagstaff is considerably larger than Farmington (and with much more in the way of amenities!), so that might be a disqualifying interim point.
Quote from: webny99 on February 02, 2018, 07:41:05 AM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on February 02, 2018, 01:56:04 AM
Or possibly a route in Alaska as well?
Possibly... but Anchorage to Fairbanks is much shorter than Portland to Vegas (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Fairbanks,+AK/Anchorage,+AK/@62.9678944,-153.4738725,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x5132454f67fd65a9:0xb3d805e009fef73a!2m2!1d-147.7163888!2d64.8377778!1m5!1m1!1s0x56c8917604b33f41:0x257dba5aa78468e3!2m2!1d-149.9002778!2d61.2180556!3e0). And with Juneau not accessible by road from either one, there's not really any other "big" cities in Alaska.
If you're willing to ignore the "in the U.S." part of the OP, Anchorage to Edmonton (about 1940 miles, via AK 1-AK 2-YT 1-BC 97-BC 2-AB 43-TCH 16) would be a candidate. From Anchorage, population thins out once you get past Palmer, and the only communities resembling "major" cities the rest of the way would be Whitehorse YT (population about 25,000) and Grande Prairie AB (about 63,000).
If you must have major U.S. cities at both ends of the route, Anchorage to Seattle would be a possibility. But the most direct route (not counting ferries, which would be on far-from-desolate routes) would take you near Vancouver BC, and through Prince George BC (population about 73,000), plus Whitehorse but not Grande Prairie.
Quote from: webny99 on February 01, 2018, 08:42:33 PM
There's really not much on I-90 between Tomah, WI (the I-94 split) and Seattle. A few small-ish cities, but no large metros.
Granted that Tomah isn't very big, but Sioux Falls, Billings, and Spokane would like to have a word with you.
BTW, welcome to west of the Mississippi, where cities aren't usually all that large as compared to out east.
Quote from: oscar on February 04, 2018, 01:09:25 AM
If you must have major U.S. cities at both ends of the route, Anchorage to Seattle would be a possibility. But the most direct route (not counting ferries, which would be on far-from-desolate routes) would take you near Vancouver BC, and through Prince George BC (population about 73,000).
Anchorage-Boise at least avoids Vancouver.
I-80, Cheyenne to Omaha. Boooring after the I-76 junction.
Quote from: Jordanes on February 04, 2018, 07:25:14 PM
I-80, Cheyenne to Omaha. Boooring after the I-76 junction.
Lincoln is bigger than Cheyenne. At that point you might as well say Omaha to Salt Lake.
Quote from: Brandon on February 04, 2018, 08:14:00 AM
Quote from: webny99 on February 01, 2018, 08:42:33 PM
There's really not much on I-90 between Tomah, WI (the I-94 split) and Seattle. A few small-ish cities, but no large metros.
Granted that Tomah isn't very big, but Sioux Falls, Billings, and Spokane would like to have a word with you.
BTW, welcome to west of the Mississippi, where cities aren't usually all that large as compared to out east.
You also forget LaCrosse, WI, which has 52,000 residents, and Onalaska, WI, right next door, with almost 18,000 residents. Rapid City, SD, with 68,000 residents, also has I-90 in its city limits.
Quote from: Brandon on February 04, 2018, 08:14:00 AM
Quote from: webny99 on February 01, 2018, 08:42:33 PM
There's really not much on I-90 between Tomah, WI (the I-94 split) and Seattle. A few small-ish cities, but no large metros.
Granted that Tomah isn't very big, but Sioux Falls, Billings, and Spokane would like to have a word with you.
BTW, welcome to west of the Mississippi, where cities aren't usually all that large as compared to out east.
Missoula would also like a word with you as well.
California and the sunbelt would like to disagree with the 2nd statement (although I know what you mean).
Quote from: JREwing78 on February 04, 2018, 09:56:23 PM
Quote from: Brandon on February 04, 2018, 08:14:00 AM
Quote from: webny99 on February 01, 2018, 08:42:33 PM
There's really not much on I-90 between Tomah, WI (the I-94 split) and Seattle. A few small-ish cities, but no large metros.
Granted that Tomah isn't very big, but Sioux Falls, Billings, and Spokane would like to have a word with you.
BTW, welcome to west of the Mississippi, where cities aren't usually all that large as compared to out east.
You also forget LaCrosse, WI, which has 52,000 residents, and Onalaska, WI, right next door, with almost 18,000 residents. Rapid City, SD, with 68,000 residents, also has I-90 in its city limits.
Rapid's up to 74000 now!
Anyway, I've been on I-90 from Spokane to Tomah (and points east); I would not call it desolate in the slightest. US 50 in Nevada (heck most of Nevada)? That's desolate. On I-90 I know I can stop for gas/snacks/stretch about every 40 miles or so (probably closer to 50 when you average it out).
Granted, this might be because I'm more used to smaller towns than most people...
What is the OP defining as "desolate"?
Also, it should be noted that the OP's example is not the shortest route between Portland and Las Vegas (that route goes through Salem and Reno), and there is also one segment of his example (east of Bend, OR) that is on an unnumbered road.
Quote from: froggie on February 05, 2018, 09:05:01 AM
What is the OP defining as "desolate"?
Also, it should be noted that the OP's example is not the shortest route between Portland and Las Vegas (that route goes through Salem and Reno), and there is also one segment of his example (east of Bend, OR) that is on an unnumbered road.
It is the shortest in mileage but not time (15hrs 34 min vs 15hrs 49 min). The unnumbered road is up for debate but even so, OR 27 lies 3 miles east (estimation). https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Portland,+Oregon/Las+Vegas,+Nevada/@43.2960192,-121.2778799,6.88z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x54950b0b7da97427:0x1c36b9e6f6d18591!2m2!1d-122.6764815!2d45.5230622!1m5!1m1!1s0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3!2m2!1d-115.1398296!2d36.1699412!3e0
Edit: How did I type 9?
Quote from: froggie on February 05, 2018, 09:05:01 AM
What is the OP defining as "desolate"?
My impression was no intermediate "metro areas" - maybe if the route passes through a city larger than 20,000 it doesn't count? But the OP could say.
Quoteand there is also one segment of his example (east of Bend, OR) that is on an unnumbered road.
NYC - Buffalo also uses an unnumbered route (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/New+York,+NY/Buffalo,+NY/@42.7428004,-77.936987,13z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62!2m2!1d-74.0059728!2d40.7127753!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d3126152dfe5a1:0x982304a5181f8171!2m2!1d-78.8783689!2d42.8864468!3e0). Well, it's technically Co 64, but there's no signage. In any case, I fail to see why it matters if the route uses an unnumbered route.
QuoteIt is the shortest in mileage but not time (9hrs 34 min vs 9hrs 49 min). The unnumbered road is up for debate but even so, OR 27 lies 3 miles east (estimation).
You're doing good if you can do it in that amount of time :-P I'm showing 15h40m and 15h52m respectively.
In SD the two largest cities, even though small cities compared to states like Texas, California, and Florida has I-90 that goes directly between them with hardly any population or development along its route. Most is all prairie the entire way. Some population east of the Missouri River, but still pretty desolate though.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 05, 2018, 07:05:57 PM
In SD the two largest cities, even though small cities compared to states like Texas, California, and Florida has I-90 that goes directly between them with hardly any population or development along its route. Most is all prairie the entire way. Some population east of the Missouri River, but still pretty desolate though.
Sioux Falls and Rapid City are each larger than anything along DC to Buffalo. (Including Frederick MD, which is arguably part of the DC metro.)
90 drops down to DC? I think you are mixing I-90 and I-70. :D
No, I'm comparing two separate routes: one along I-90 through South Dakota (which was already mentioned), and a completely separate route from DC to Buffalo, which has a smaller largest city and is also east of the Mississippi.
Well if your saying I-90, you have it go through Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Boston. Yes, Rapid City and Sioux Falls are big, but my point is that in SD they are really big and its really rural in between.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 05, 2018, 07:59:44 PM
Well if your saying I-90, you have it go through Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Boston.
You don't have to use whole routes; just pick your endpoints and whatever routes are used then so be it.
Quote from: 1 on February 05, 2018, 07:41:39 PM
Sioux Falls and Rapid City are each larger than anything along DC to Buffalo. (Including Frederick MD, which is arguably part of the DC metro.)
The lack of large cities on the DC-Buffalo corridor is probably a large part of the reason why there are no good freeways :banghead:
It's not exactly "desolate", but by east coast standards, I think it qualifies.
I-80 between Cleveland, OH and NYC at around 400 miles is pretty desolate for the Northeast
Quote from: roadman65 on February 05, 2018, 07:05:57 PM
In SD the two largest cities, even though small cities compared to states like Texas, California, and Florida has I-90 that goes directly between them with hardly any population or development along its route. Most is all prairie the entire way. Some population east of the Missouri River, but still pretty desolate though.
I guess it depends on your perspective. Coming at this from what East Coast people are used to, I could see how the ~200 mile gap with no Mickey D's from Chamberlain to Rapid could be considered desolate. From our view, as long as there's a gas station/convenience store every so often, that's pretty densely populated.
Also, what's wrong with prairie? There's nothing like stopping at the "Scenic Overlook" west of Kadoka and looking out over the majestic plains and badlands with the Hills in the distance (no, I don't have a lot of state pride, why do you ask?).
Clarification:
10,000 was my initial population cutoff, based on this routing. That's probably a bit too low. 20,000? 25,000? I was going off of the recommended routing by Google which unless there's a traffic condition in Portland, will always be via Madras, Winnemucca, etc. That and anecdotally, too, it always is a longer trip going via Reno. Right now Google says 15:41 through Madras and Winnemucca and 16:25 through Reno (even slower than Boise-Twin Falls-US-93 at 16:11). In practice, the best I've done is 14:46 from West LV to my home in Portland.
I really didn't care about if a road had to be numbered or not - the unnumbered road is a rural, mostly flat, desert highway at 55 mph, no different than any other roads nearby except for its lack of a number. It's certainly a better way than through Bend or OR-27. I don't know why that road isn't numbered.
Routes out of Anchorage I find it hard to ignore Whitehorse, being the only city in the entire Yukon, and Grand Prairie being far bigger than anything from Portland to LV. Population density of the routes would be interesting to look at.
Macon to Columbus, GA via US 80 is in the middle of nowhere. You pass through a couple small towns, but that's about it.
The most direct route from Kingsport, TN to Morgantown, WV runs right through the Appalachians, and the most populated place you'll pass by is a ski resort.
Quote from: pdx-wanderer on February 06, 2018, 03:16:12 PM
Routes out of Anchorage I find it hard to ignore Whitehorse, being the only city in the entire Yukon, and Grand Prairie being far bigger than anything from Portland to LV. Population density of the routes would be interesting to look at.
Of course, Anchorage-Whitehorse is by itself over 700 miles. And once you're past Palmer AK (population about 7000) in Anchorage's outer suburbs, no community with a population over 1300 until you get to Whitehorse.
Quote from: pdx-wanderer on February 06, 2018, 03:16:12 PM
Clarification:
10,000 was my initial population cutoff, based on this routing. That's probably a bit too low. 20,000? 25,000?
Then your example to Las Vegas would be disqualified very soon as Prineville is currently 9950 and will exceed 10000 in about 3 years if it grows slowly. It will be in a year if it is growing at the same rate. In that case, I would say an even 25,000 is a good point.
When I saw this thread, the first thing that popped into my head was Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada, but it looks like in terms of distance and such, that is easily beat by Las Vegas to Portland which was mentioned in the OP.
Quote from: froggie on February 05, 2018, 09:05:01 AM
What is the OP defining as "desolate"?
Regarding how we define desolate, we should probably go by the same criteria as was mentioned in this thread: (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=21990.0)
Quote from: roadguy2 on January 15, 2018, 12:27:00 AM
IMO, this is a good comparison between rural (https://goo.gl/maps/p2czvNncabn) and desolate (https://goo.gl/maps/EY32JspXVTC2).
The distinction I'd make is that rural areas have farms or ranches, or at least some sign of human activity. Truly desolate areas have absolutely nothing.
Quote from: webny99 on February 01, 2018, 08:42:33 PM
... Canada may have some good contenders, though. Toronto to Winnipeg, potentially?
The fastest route goes through Chicago and Minneapolis, plus a host of smaller cities (London, Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Rockford, Madison, etc.)
Even if you were to stay in Canada, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay are all sizable cities.
Tsk, if I-76 wasn't rolled, I would drive it all the time.
Quote from: SD Mapman on February 06, 2018, 02:43:38 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 05, 2018, 07:05:57 PM
In SD the two largest cities, even though small cities compared to states like Texas, California, and Florida has I-90 that goes directly between them with hardly any population or development along its route. Most is all prairie the entire way. Some population east of the Missouri River, but still pretty desolate though.
I guess it depends on your perspective. Coming at this from what East Coast people are used to, I could see how the ~200 mile gap with no Mickey D's from Chamberlain to Rapid could be considered desolate. From our view, as long as there's a gas station/convenience store every so often, that's pretty densely populated.
Also, what's wrong with prairie? There's nothing like stopping at the "Scenic Overlook" west of Kadoka and looking out over the majestic plains and badlands with the Hills in the distance (no, I don't have a lot of state pride, why do you ask?).
Absolutely nothing.
Just that when its quite around its considered desolate IMO. Even in Nevada, the Ring of Fire State Park, its pretty to look at but if you break down or get stranded you could be alone for a while. Desolation has nothing to do with looks or aesthetics when you drive. If you are a driver and do that task for over 6 hours and see no large cities for miles it can be quite lonely despite the scenery.
Just off the top of my head . (With desolate in my mind meaning low population density)
I would say i80 from Sacramento to Salt Lake City
Z981
Quote from: jwolfer on February 10, 2018, 02:49:01 AM
Just off the top of my head . (With desolate in my mind meaning low population density)
I would say i80 from Sacramento to Salt Lake City
Z981
Reno says hello.
Also, the wayside towns of Winnemucca and Elko aren't the one-light towns they once were.
Quote from: Rothman on February 10, 2018, 10:30:48 AM
Quote from: jwolfer on February 10, 2018, 02:49:01 AM
Just off the top of my head . (With desolate in my mind meaning low population density)
I would say i80 from Sacramento to Salt Lake City
Z981
Reno says hello.
Also, the wayside towns of Winnemucca and Elko aren't the one-light towns they once were.
You are right... Reno slipped my mind.
I 10 between El Paso and San Antonio is another one off the top of my head
Z981
I-49 in between Lafayette and Shreveport. That is why LADOTD allows it to be La's sole 75 mph roadway. Yes from Lafayette to Opalousas is not so desolate but most of the route that is is north of Opalousas has nothing except for a short stretch in Alexandria and only a few miles in between Lafayette and Opalousas.
I drove that part in 2012 and there is nothing outside of Alexandria or the short stretch from I-10 to US 190 that resembles civllization.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 10, 2018, 03:37:34 PM
I-49 in between Lafayette and Shreveport. That is why LADOTD allows it to be La's sole 75 mph roadway. Yes from Lafayette to Opalousas is not so desolate but most of the route that is is north of Opalousas has nothing except for a short stretch in Alexandria and only a few miles in between Lafayette and Opalousas.
I drove that part in 2012 and there is nothing outside of Alexandria or the short stretch from I-10 to US 190 that resembles civllization.
Despite the fact that I have never myself been on I-49 in Louisiana (or on the interstate at all to begin with, as of now), I highly doubt that too much of it would be considered desolate (things falling under that definition are simply much harder to find in the eastern half of the country), and I would think that Alexandria alone would immediately disqualify it as a contender for this thread.
It doesn't beat some of the others mentioned (Portland to Las Vegas is still the clear winner to me so far), but Boise to Butte, MT (I hesitate to call it major, but it's over the 25,000 mark some mentioned and by Montana standards it kind of is) is 425 miles and the only noteworthy cities it passes through are Mountain Home (13,800) and Dillon (4,300). I will be driving through this route in April, and from Dillon to Mountain Home is 314 miles with no fast food stops or other places like that, so we'll definitely have to plan for that. There's a handful of gas stations but not much else.
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on February 10, 2018, 06:11:08 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 10, 2018, 03:37:34 PM
I-49 in between Lafayette and Shreveport. That is why LADOTD allows it to be La's sole 75 mph roadway. Yes from Lafayette to Opalousas is not so desolate but most of the route that is is north of Opalousas has nothing except for a short stretch in Alexandria and only a few miles in between Lafayette and Opalousas.
I drove that part in 2012 and there is nothing outside of Alexandria or the short stretch from I-10 to US 190 that resembles civllization.
Despite the fact that I have never myself been on I-49 in Louisiana (or on the interstate at all to begin with, as of now), I highly doubt that too much of it would be considered desolate (things falling under that definition are simply much harder to find in the eastern half of the country), and I would think that Alexandria alone would immediately disqualify it as a contender for this thread.
That is why I said other than Alexandria and the stretch from US 190 to I-10. All the other stretches are desolate. In fact try finding gas in between Alexandria and Shreveport. Only the US 84 interchange has full services.
Also while on lack of gas and such, I-70 across the San Rafael Swells qualifies as desolate for civilization. 108 miles without an interchange that features anything directly. Although Alex found that one exit in between Salina and Green River did have fuel about 10 miles away from the interchange, still not directly on it. However, being on it the beauty of the swells prevents boredom so its got that to keep your mind occupied, but in La there is no beauty from Alexandria to Shreveport on I-49. Also Green River and Salina are not major cities, I just point them out because the word desolate can be ambiguous.
To follow, communities I could find population data for from Portland to Las Vegas (outside of the MSAs):
Oregon:
Warm Springs (2,431)
Madras (6,729)
Prineville (9,928)
Brothers (58)
Riley (113)
Crane (129)
Nevada:
McDermitt (513)
Orovada (155)
Winnemucca (7,866)
Golcoonda (214)
Valmy (37)
Battle Mountain (3,635)
Austin (192)
Tonopah (2,478)
Goldfield (268)
Beatty (1,010)
Amargosa Valley (1,456)
Indian Springs (991)
37,893 is the total population along this route (excluding the MSAs). That makes the "population density" about 39 people per mile.
Along the route, there is one Walmart location, four McDonalds locations and zero Starbucks locations.
Long distances with no gas of 93 (Beatty-Tonopah), 89 (Austin-Battle Mountain) and, if Burns is bypassed, 284 (!) miles (McDermitt-Prineville).
Edit: You also won't find any Dennys locations outside of Beatty.
Quote from: pdx-wanderer on February 13, 2018, 11:46:31 PM
To follow, communities I could find population data for from Portland to Las Vegas (outside of the MSAs):
Oregon:
Warm Springs (2,431)
Madras (6,729)
Prineville (9,928)
Brothers (58)
Riley (113)
Crane (129)
Nevada:
McDermitt (513)
Orovada (155)
Winnemucca (7,866)
Golcoonda (214)
Valmy (37)
Battle Mountain (3,635)
Austin (192)
Tonopah (2,478)
Goldfield (268)
Beatty (1,010)
Amargosa Valley (1,456)
Indian Springs (991)
37,893 is the total population along this route (excluding the MSAs). That makes the "population density" about 39 people per mile.
Along the route, there is one Walmart location, four McDonalds locations and zero Starbucks locations.
Long distances with no gas of 93 (Beatty-Tonopah), 89 (Austin-Battle Mountain) and, if Burns is bypassed, 284 (!) miles (McDermitt-Prineville).
That's extremely remote! Prineville does have a Starbucks, but it's on the other side of town than the portion the route goes through. Also, the one Walmart along a town on the route (Winnemucca) is on the opposite side of town as well. I find it unusual that Tonopah has a Tesla supercharger but not a McDonalds (they do have a Burger King in a gas station)
Quote from: ftballfan on February 14, 2018, 09:59:44 AM
I find it unusual that Tonopah has a Tesla supercharger but not a McDonalds (they do have a Burger King in a gas station)
Tonopah used to have a McDonalds, south of the US 6/95 junction near the high school. It closed down about 5-10 years ago, after the Burger King+Chevron opened on the north end (with a Subway later going inside the Chevron portion) and presumably stole away the business. After sitting vacant a few years, I believe the building is currently a locally-owned coffee shop.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 10, 2018, 03:37:34 PM
I-49 in between Lafayette and Shreveport. That is why LADOTD allows it to be La's sole 75 mph roadway. Yes from Lafayette to Opalousas is not so desolate but most of the route that is is north of Opalousas has nothing except for a short stretch in Alexandria and only a few miles in between Lafayette and Opalousas.
I drove that part in 2012 and there is nothing outside of Alexandria or the short stretch from I-10 to US 190 that resembles civllization.
Ummm...that would be
Opelousas.
It actually isn't that desolate once you get past Washington (LA 10 exit); it just feels lonely until you get to the rolling section between Meeker and Alexandria.
Haven't gone north of Alexandria, so can't comment on "desolation".
I'd nominate I-65 between Mobile and Birmingham into the mostly "desolate" category myself...but I-10 between San Antonio and El Paso wins hands down. 11 hours of sheer, sheer Hell, with only perhaps Kerville and Fort Stockton as relief. The Escarpment south of Kerrville, though, is pretty nice.
11 hours? Maybe back in the 55 mph days. :D
Quote from: Rothman on February 16, 2018, 08:21:19 AM
11 hours? Maybe back in the 55 mph days. :D
Much of that ~550-mile stretch has an 80mph speed limit. In Texas, that's one of the perks of "desolation", since low population density helps qualify for that limit.
You could drive from El Paso to San Antonio in roughly the same time it takes to go from Los Angeles to San Francisco, even though the former route is 120 miles longer than the latter.