I was reading "The Most Boring Stretches of Highway" (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=8951.0) thread, and the opposite topic came to my mind (the most interesting roads). So, after doing a thorough checking (and I apologize if that check turns out to not have been adequate, if this ends up being a duplicate thread), I decided to create a thread on the most interesting stretches of highway.
There really are a lot of great, intriguing candidates for this thread, so it is hard for me to think on and pick just a few. These are the first things that come to my mind at the moment:
- pretty much the entirety of Interstate 17 (a very scenic interstate in the state of Arizona)
- two separate, very significant, incredibly scenic sections of Interstate 84 in Oregon - The Columbia River Gorge and Cabbage Hill
- Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona
- most of Interstate 70 between Utah and Denver, CO
- Interstate 90 through Snoqualmie Pass in Washington
- Interstate 26 near the Tennessee/North Carolina border
- Interstate 93 in Franconia Notch in New Hampshire
- Interstate 77 in Virginia and North Carolina between Interstate 81 and where future I-74 splits off to go southeast to Winston-Salem
- Interstate 40 near the Tennessee/North Carolina border
- much of Interstate 24 in Tennessee (and briefly in Georgia) between Murfreesboro and Chattanooga
- Interstate 10 through the El Paso, Texas area
- Interstate 15 through Las Vegas, Nevada
- much of the NJ Turnpike (I-95), especially when seeing the views of the city
- I-90/I-94 in downtown Chicago, Illinois
- US 75 through downtown Dallas, Texas, and some of its northern suburbs, including through the "High Five Interchange"
- both US 101 and CA SR 110 in downtown Los Angeles, California (which even cross each other in the first stack interchange (1949)!)
- US 101 through San Francisco, California (including over the Golden Gate Bridge and through South San Francisco)
- I-75/I-85 in downtown Atlanta, Georgia (it's notorious for traffic congestion, but it is also a very interesting stretch of city interstate IMHO)
- Interstate 5 through the Portland, Oregon area (including on that epic bridge crossing into Washington)
- Interstate 5 through downtown Seattle, Washington
- both Interstate 90 and interstate 93 through downtown Boston, Massachusetts
- much of Interstate 8 just east of San Diego, California
- much of US 550 in Colorado, especially close to Telluride
- Interstate 15, Interstate 84, and Interstate 80 through the Salt Lake City, Utah Metro Area
- much of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe area
- all of Interstate 580 in Nevada
- and of course, the indescribably beautiful and interesting CA 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), for much of its route! :hyper:
I ended up mentioning a lot of stretches of highway, but the list could still go on forever!! :nod:
As for which one of these is my favorite, I truly, genuinely cannot decide. They are all just so absolutely wonderful and enjoyable that I cannot pick just one. But regarding what interstate is the most interesting for the highest percentage of its total length, I-17 would have to be the winner, as at least IMO, pretty much its entire length (which isn't even that long) is incredibly interesting, from the Phoenix Metro Area to the mesmerizing Arizona mountain scenery to more. I-17, as a whole, is truly a spectacular, very interesting interstate.
What are the most interesting stretches of highway for all of y'all?
We all kind of agree on which types of highways are "boring", but this thread allows for a little more subjectivity (which isn't a bad thing).
In my own territory, looking at the freeways: I-390 and I-86 probably have the most character. I-490 is somewhere in the middle, hardly interesting to me anymore, but probably would be to someone from outside the area.
For non-freeways, I've always found NY 28 enjoyable. US 15 in PA also has a fairly unique character. Never had a boring trip down that way.
For the states I regular frequent....
CA 4 from CA 207 east to CA 89 via Ebbetts Pass for California. Can't get much more interesting than a single lane paved road with 24% down hill grades. AZ 88 in Arizona along the Apache Trail is probably the grand champion of interesting for the state. The route is curvy as all hell with one-lane bridges even before the pavement ends. For Florida the Overseas Highway on US 1 is by far the most interesting given the island environment. UT 12 has the best mix of scenery on the Grand Staircase and driving dynamics in the entire state. US 6 in Nevada is so massively desolate between Tonopah and Ely that it can't help but be fascinating. M-26 has such a large swath of mining ruins and scenery amid Lake Superior that would rank it above M-22. US 550 in Colorado is daunting as all hell south of Ouray and some of the best scenery in the state...although Pikes Peak Highway is probably more unique.
MN 23 east of I-35 running through a lot of historic logging activity in eastern MN, then dramatically cresting on the far side of the St. Louis River Valley before descending into Duluth.
MN 6 from Deer River to US 71. The 65 miles without services might be the longest such stretch of any MN state highway. The pine trees get up close and personal, and the sky gets a little wider and bluer, and there's almost no one else out there.
MN 26 completes the path from the Mississippi to the Iowa line, but doesn't get as much love as US 61 and MN 16 in that area.
I've always found the CA state routes in the Sacramento Delta region to be quite interesting: the "main" road, CA 160, hops from one side of the main Sacramento River channel to the other via some very old drawbridges which aren't wide enough to accommodate trucks in both directions. The gold-ochre paint on those spans is actually quite attractive. The other two routes, the sporadically-signed CA 84 (northern segment) and the cross-Delta connector, CA 220, feature the two remaining ferries on the state system; the former crosses the Sacramento ship channel, so occasionally large oceangoing vessels can be seen on the canal. Those roads, and the adjoining county routes (J9, E13, and others) make for a nice day trip from either the Bay area or Sacramento. Just be prepared for relatively narrow roadways mostly atop levees.
Quote from: webny99 on May 04, 2018, 11:43:23 PM
We all kind of agree on which types of highways are "boring", but this thread allows for a little more subjectivity (which isn't a bad thing).
In my own territory, looking at the freeways: I-390 and I-86 probably have the most character. I-490 is somewhere in the middle, hardly interesting to me anymore, but probably would be to someone from outside the area.
For non-freeways, I've always found NY 28 enjoyable. US 15 in PA also has a fairly unique character. Never had a boring trip down that way.
Looks like I'll be going down that way in June. What luck!
Here's my nominations:
-US 15 between I-81 to the NY state line
-US 322 between Harrisburg to State College
-I-99/US 220 between Tyrone to State College
-US 48 between Wardensville to I-79
-US 19 between I-79 to Fayetteville
-I-64 between I-77 to I-81
-I-79 between I-77 to US 19
-I-68 between I-70 to Cumberland
-PA 26 between Huntingdon to Pine Grove Mills
-US 30 between Chambersburg to Breezewood
Virginia would include the bridge-tunnels --
I-664 MMMBT
I-64 HRBT
US-13 CBBT
Maryland would include I-95 thru Baltimore and the Fort McHenry Tunnel
Quote from: sparker on May 05, 2018, 03:49:00 PM
I've always found the CA state routes in the Sacramento Delta region to be quite interesting.
I second this. I went there last Monday and did the ferries for the first time. The islands are beautiful.
I find NY 73 and NY 74 to be quite interesting. NY 22 and NY 86 also have their highlights. I'd list NY 431, but that's basically cheating since it's actually a mountain climb that just happens to have a numbered touring route on it.
- Ocean Parkway on the south shore of Long Island
- The FDR Drive on the east side of Manhattan- a death trap but a very scenic drive on the river
- NY 218 north of West Point, very narrow and winding with a scenic overlook on Storm King Mountain, used to be the original alignment of US-9W
- The Taconic State Parkway is scenic in the fall
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 04, 2018, 06:38:14 PM
- Interstate 40 near the Tennessee/North Carolina border
You got that right. In the daytime, it's very scenic but demanding. At night, it's like being in a simulator.
I always find the urban areas of interstates to be much more interesting than rural interstates. However, any highway with a great view from a mountain (whether rural or urban) is always interesting to me.
My two cents. First those roads I've seen through Big Rig Steve:
- I-15 Southwest of Baker CA. It's more interesting than I thought. Also around Salt Lake City, as already mentioned (I liked it through most of Utah, but I think it's more impressive in the SLC area).
- I-44 through Missouri. I prefer those rolling hills over the boring plains further North.
- I-80 in SW Wyoming. Another road that has suprised me.
- I actually got tired of I-70 through Western Colorado.
And for roads I've actually driven, all in Spain:
- A-2 Southwest of Zaragoza, going through several mountain ridges. It also includes a section where mileposts (kmposts, actually) are closer than they should...
- A-23 South of Zaragoza. Especially that moment when it goes through vineyards and the mountains are right in front (this happens just past exit 245 Southbound).
- N-111 South of Logroño. Even though I've been there only once, I was impressed by the transition from a suburban setting into a narrow valley.
- I can't wait until A-23 North of me is completed.
And in general, any downhill where the mountains end and the plains begin. In those it appears like one is flying. There are several examples along the aforementioned A-2 and A-23 freeways, and also I-70 into Denver.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on May 07, 2018, 05:33:17 PM
- I-15 Also around Salt Lake City, as already mentioned (I liked it through most of Utah, but I think it's more impressive in the SLC area).
Why, just because it has a lot of lanes, or because of the high mountains to the east?
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on May 07, 2018, 05:33:17 PM
- I-80 in SW Wyoming. Another road that has suprised me.
I'd say I-80 west of Evanston is far more interesting than east of it. Going east from Evanston, IMO it's pretty boring for the next 300 miles across the state. That's the part where you have to count how many windmills you see to keep yourself entertained. I-80 is actually more interesting in SE Wyoming, because there's an 8000 foot mountain pass between Laramie and Cheyenne.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on May 07, 2018, 05:33:17 PM
And in general, any downhill where the mountains end and the plains begin. In those it appears like one is flying. There are several examples along the aforementioned A-2 and A-23 freeways, and also I-70 into Denver.
I love these. I-80 into Salt Lake City from the east and I-40 into Albuquerque from the east are like this as well. I-40 coming into Albuquerque from the west is also cool, especially at night. You can see the light from the city in the sky ahead of you, but not the city itself. Then you go over a hill and the city explodes into view.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on May 07, 2018, 05:33:17 PM
- I-44 through Missouri. I prefer those rolling hills over the boring plains further North.
And, if I recall correctly, both Interstate 44 and Interstate 70 through Missouri are very pleasant drives, because both of them, IIRC, traverse rolling hills, go through many rock cuts, and more. Much of Missouri really is hilly, with there being even mountains and plateaus in some places as well. It can indeed be quite beautiful! :nod:
Besides some obvious ones: Million Dollar Hwy US 550 in Colorado, Utah 12, Beartooth Highway, anything in Yellowstone, Going to the Sun Road, anything in Alaska..... i love US 14 & 14 A in Wyoming from Cody to the Bighorn Mountains, Needles Hwy in SD, I-10 in west Texas in a beautiful underrated highway, I like I 90 in western South Dakota, US 101 Oregon Coast
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 04, 2018, 06:38:14 PM
There really are a lot of great, intriguing candidates for this thread, so it is hard for me to think on and pick just a few. These are the first things that come to my mind at the moment:
<...>
- much of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe area
- all of Interstate 580 in Nevada
I think you'll have to better define "interesting"...
I agree with the assessment of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe region. CA/NV 28 and CA 89 are both great contenders for the scenic elements around the other sides of the lake.
I'm curious about your thoughts on I-580 in Nevada. Portions of it are a somewhat scenic (the Washoe Valley area), and there is engineering interest with the Galena Creek Bridge, but there's nothing super special or interesting about the stretches in Reno or Carson City.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 05, 2018, 05:50:15 AM
MN 26 completes the path from the Mississippi to the Iowa line, but doesn't get as much love as US 61 and MN 16 in that area.
I drove MN-26 (and IA-26) once and it was gorgeous. Really underrated, as you suggest.
Maybe this is a personal quirk, but I love MN-200 and find it really interesting, especially if you drive it entirely from west to east (I suppose the opposite could be true too, but I've not done that) because of how the scenery changes. It's a 201 mile road but goes nowhere really in particular (Itasca State Park and Walker, but that's about it), and I dunno why, but that appeals to me in some way.
Nearby to 200 is MN-113, and I loved driving the part east of US-59 because of its twistiness. MN-38 is the same way, but is much more scenic.
The unpaved portion of MN-74 is pretty sweet, too. I drove it once on an early August morning and the combination of slight fog and pretty much no traffic, plus the stretches where it's right up against a river (https://i.imgur.com/Ebqbiao.jpg), is just so cool. Kind of hard to believe it's a state highway when you're driving on gravel in that kind of terrain.
Some of the more interesting routes I've observed in Washington:
WA 20: includes a ferry segment and a pass of the Cascades on the North Cascades Highway.
WA 304: The military ship yard and ferry route to downtown Seattle are a pretty nice combo of interesting.
WA 99: Tracking US 99 has been kind of fun for me this past week but the really intriguing part is the oddity that is he Alaskan Way Viaduct.
NC 226 from the Blue Ridge Parkway south to US 221 is a blast to drive. It features a gnarly mountain descent with a 15mph truck speed limit. Also, 226A splits off right at the top of the descent, and that is a fun drive as well. Somewhere along 226A there is a church parking lot cut in half by the roadway.
VA-6 between US 250 and VA-151, where it drops down the mountain.
US-15 between I-64 and Gordonsville.
I-95 driving through Richmond.
The entire length of I-81 in Virginia. Very scenic. Also many parts of US-11 in Virginia
US-460 between Lynchburg and Roanoke.
US-29 between Charlottesville and Amherst
US-13 between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles; Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
US-33 crossing over the mountain at the West Virginia- Virginia line. And also US-33 crossing the mountain at Skyline Drive.
SM-G930V
IL-71 through Starved Rock State Park
Quote from: steveutz87 on May 14, 2018, 07:31:31 AM
VA-6 between US 250 and VA-151, where it drops down the mountain.
US-15 between I-64 and Gordonsville.
I-95 driving through Richmond.
The entire length of I-81 in Virginia. Very scenic. Also many parts of US-11 in Virginia
US-460 between Lynchburg and Roanoke.
US-29 between Charlottesville and Amherst
US-13 between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles; Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
US-33 crossing over the mountain at the West Virginia- Virginia line. And also US-33 crossing the mountain at Skyline Drive.
SM-G930V
US 250 in the Crozet area and I-64 on Afton Mountain are also quite scenic.
I-70 west from Denver
Central City Parkway
Quote from: roadfro on May 13, 2018, 02:06:11 PM
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 04, 2018, 06:38:14 PM
There really are a lot of great, intriguing candidates for this thread, so it is hard for me to think on and pick just a few. These are the first things that come to my mind at the moment:
<...>
- much of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe area
- all of Interstate 580 in Nevada
I think you'll have to better define "interesting"...
I agree with the assessment of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe region. CA/NV 28 and CA 89 are both great contenders for the scenic elements around the other sides of the lake.
I'm curious about your thoughts on I-580 in Nevada. Portions of it are a somewhat scenic (the Washoe Valley area), and there is engineering interest with the Galena Creek Bridge, but there's nothing super special or interesting about the stretches in Reno or Carson City.
It is probably hard to define interesting, since it is indeed, as someone noted upthread, quite subjective.
From what I've seen of I-580 on the internet (road videos, pictures, GMSV), I found it to be a mesmerizing interstate that was incredibly interesting. The best part of it was, of course, the utmost scenic areas and that bridge, but I really found all of it intriguing. I found I-580 in Reno to be an interesting stretch of city interstate with some great mountain scenery - and Carson City provided some beautiful scenery as well within its area. I wouldn't put I-580 on exactly the same tier as, say, I-84 through the Columbia Gorge, but I do love it, and it definitely made the list for me personally.
But it is indeed hard to define interesting, since interesting is different for everyone.
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 14, 2018, 04:40:04 PM
Quote from: roadfro on May 13, 2018, 02:06:11 PM
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 04, 2018, 06:38:14 PM
There really are a lot of great, intriguing candidates for this thread, so it is hard for me to think on and pick just a few. These are the first things that come to my mind at the moment:
<...>
- much of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe area
- all of Interstate 580 in Nevada
I think you'll have to better define "interesting"...
I agree with the assessment of US 50 in the Lake Tahoe region. CA/NV 28 and CA 89 are both great contenders for the scenic elements around the other sides of the lake.
I'm curious about your thoughts on I-580 in Nevada. Portions of it are a somewhat scenic (the Washoe Valley area), and there is engineering interest with the Galena Creek Bridge, but there's nothing super special or interesting about the stretches in Reno or Carson City.
It is probably hard to define interesting, since it is indeed, as someone noted upthread, quite subjective.
From what I've seen of I-580 on the internet (road videos, pictures, GMSV), I found it to be a mesmerizing interstate that was incredibly interesting. The best part of it was, of course, the utmost scenic areas and that bridge, but I really found all of it intriguing. I found I-580 in Reno to be an interesting stretch of city interstate with some great mountain scenery - and Carson City provided some beautiful scenery as well within its area. I wouldn't put I-580 on exactly the same tier as, say, I-84 through the Columbia Gorge, but I do love it, and it definitely made the list for me personally.
But it is indeed hard to define interesting, since interesting is different for everyone.
Most of I-580 through Carson City is either sunken or hemmed in by soundwalls. I guess I've driven it enough that the thought of it being "interesting" in any way hasn't occurred to me in a while, but maybe I'm just too familiar with it. There is a nice view of Eagle Valley, where Carson City is situated, as you're coming southbound over the low hill from Washoe Valley and crossing from Washoe County into Carson City.
Honestly, for the out-of-town roadgeek looking for interesting drives in the area, I would exit I-580 in south Reno and take NV 431 over the Mount Rose Summit to Lake Tahoe at Incline Village. The short stretches of highway in the immediate lake vicinity which should not be missed are CA 89 around Emerald Bay, featured in countless television commercials and print ads, and also US 50 between Meyers and Echo Summit, which hangs off a dramatic cliff. That section of US 50 should be driven eastbound, coming downhill toward the lake, for the best views.
A little further distant, CA 4 Ebbetts Pass as Max mentions and its nearby sister CA 108 Sonora Pass have the finest high mountain scenery without the extra traffic and expense of going through Yosemite National Park.
ETA: The Amgen Tour of California bicycle race is being run this week, and the telecast gives you some great live views, both helicopter and ground level, of California highways. As to our local portion, they're running from Folsom to Lake Tahoe on Friday 5/18, going along side roads from Folsom to Sly Park, cutting over to CA 88 on Mormon Emigrant Trail, then CA 88 over Carson Pass and into Nevada and up and over Kingsbury Grade NV 207 to the finish in South Lake Tahoe. The telecast is from 5 PM to 7 PM Eastern time/2 PM to 4 PM Pacific on NBCSN, so they will probably join the race on Mormon Emigrant Trail or CA 88. We have a whole schedule of rolling road closures and it's something of a traffic nightmare for a couple hours, but brings money to the area in an otherwise dead part of the year for tourism.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on May 05, 2018, 12:12:32 AM
UT 12 has the best mix of scenery on the Grand Staircase and driving dynamics in the entire state. ... US 550 in Colorado is daunting as all hell south of Ouray and some of the best scenery in the state.
I got on this thread specifically to read your answer. And I give a BIG thumbs-up to both of these answers.
US-50 across Colorado deserves honorable mention, in my opinion.
My favorite drive in Texas: US-277 between Sonora and Del Rio. 90 miles of awesome, with no towns and a single abandoned gas station along the way.
My favorite drive in Illinois: IL-3 from Chester on south.
Quote from: kphoger on May 15, 2018, 12:56:45 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on May 05, 2018, 12:12:32 AM
UT 12 has the best mix of scenery on the Grand Staircase and driving dynamics in the entire state. ... US 550 in Colorado is daunting as all hell south of Ouray and some of the best scenery in the state.
I got on this thread specifically to read your answer. And I give a BIG thumbs-up to both of these answers.
US-50 across Colorado deserves honorable mention, in my opinion.
My favorite drive in Texas: US-277 between Sonora and Del Rio. 90 miles of awesome, with no towns and a single abandoned gas station along the way.
My favorite drive in Illinois: IL-3 from Chester on south.
Once you get west of I-25 any route that goes into the Rockies usually has something worth while or at least interesting to see on it. I'm really hoping to get back out to Colorado and Utah next year, really they are probably two of the better states for scenery.
Since you mentioned Texas and Illinois I'll chime in as well. I personally really enjoy heading east out of El Paso on US 62/180. The road is absolutely desolate but fast as all hell. The views approaching the Guadalupe Range are great to look at sunrise. With Illinois I'm really partial to US 41 on Lake Shore Drive. I used to drive that section of 41 every weekend, it's quite the sight seeing all those skyscrapers.
I have had the opportunity to ride on some of US 550 in Colorado, and it truly was amazing (and interesting, which is why it was one of the many routes I mentioned in the OP of this thread).
This was on a trip to Telluride, Colorado in Spring 2015. If I recall correctly, we flew into Montrose, and I had the chance to see US 550 all the way from there to probably at CO 62. The real meat of US 550 is, of course, actually south of Ridgway - an absolutely mesmerizing stretch of road which I have seen only on the internet. I was very glad I at least to see much of US 550 north of Ridgway, and that alone was an incredible stretch of road. And actually, it was so great, that when I get the chance to upload those old photos to the computer somehow, I have pondered that a few of those photos I took may have actually been good candidates for the "Best of Road Pictures" thread. US 550 is no doubt one of the best roads I have ever been on in my entire life, and I am so glad I had the chance to see much of it.
I don't have any vivid memories of seeing what US 50 in Colorado looks like (even on the internet), but I would not be surprised at all if it, too, is a great contender for this thread, because 1) it goes through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and 2) after all, it gave birth to US 550 - one of the best roads in the country (at least for that section). :-P
There is definitely a huge number of very interesting roads out west. The region is home to some incredible roads, that is for sure! :nod:
Portions of the two-lane US-41 in west-central Indiana are quite scenic, particularly between Veedersburg and Rockville.
It appears that "interesting" has become conflated with "scenic." :rolleyes: I like highways with visible historical quirks. I-85 in the Carolinas used to be good in that way, though it's becoming too homogenized of late. The double-deck section of I-35 in Austin is an extreme example, with pre-Interstate structures still intact. And if I won the lottery (I don't play!), I'd hit the road for NYC.
Quote from: Tom958 on May 16, 2018, 02:18:01 PM
It appears that "interesting" has become conflated with "scenic." :rolleyes: I like highways with visible historical quirks. I-85 in the Carolinas used to be good in that way, though it's becoming too homogenized of late. The double-deck section of I-35 in Austin is an extreme example, with pre-Interstate structures still intact. And if I won the lottery (I don't play!), I'd hit the road for NYC.
I have to kinda agree. For me, scenic doesn't always mean interesting. For example, one could argue that I-81 through Virginia is scenic along parts of it, but if I had to choose between the scenic parts of I-81 and I-65 through Birmingham, I'd take I-65 through Birmingham over those scenic parts of I-81 any day of the week.
My nominations from the Northwest:
Most importantly: Going-to-the sun rd/highway
I-5 from Roseburg to Redding except for Medford to Ashland and between mp 294 (oregon) and MP 2 (Washington), downtown Seattle
I-90 Snoqualmie Pass, Wallace to St. Regis
I-84 in the Gorge (mp 18-129 is my definition), Pendelton to La Grande, mp 330 to mp 355
OR 38/138
Timberline highway
Coast highways (US 101 and what I've heard from CA 1)
OR 99W from Newberg to Sherwood (Okay, I'm biased here)
Cascade Lakes Highway
I-205 between mp 3-6
WA 123
WA 410
MT 135
That is probably too much but those are my favs, clinching the west half of WA 20 this Summer.
Oops: forgot OR 242 and Rim drive (have not been on Rim Drive though)
Quote from: Tom958 on May 16, 2018, 02:18:01 PM
It appears that "interesting" has become conflated with "scenic." :rolleyes: I like highways with visible historical quirks. I-85 in the Carolinas used to be good in that way, though it's becoming too homogenized of late. The double-deck section of I-35 in Austin is an extreme example, with pre-Interstate structures still intact. And if I won the lottery (I don't play!), I'd hit the road for NYC.
That's why I left MN 61 and MN 16 off my post.
Quote from: Tom958 on May 16, 2018, 02:18:01 PM
It appears that "interesting" has become conflated with "scenic." :rolleyes: I like highways with visible historical quirks. I-85 in the Carolinas used to be good in that way, though it's becoming too homogenized of late. The double-deck section of I-35 in Austin is an extreme example, with pre-Interstate structures still intact. And if I won the lottery (I don't play!), I'd hit the road for NYC.
Leaving scenery aside, I'd say I-70 through Colorado still qualifies. There are fascinating highway structures (Glenwood Canyon!), various interchange designs, unique signage, tunnels, multiple mountain passes, chain-up/down parking areas for trucks, interesting towns along the way, even rest areas with trailheads to waterfalls. And that's not to mention the history of its construction. Once you get east of Denver, the land opens up to rolling grasslands and then eventually flattens out to farmland.
Quote from: kphoger on May 18, 2018, 01:36:58 PM
Quote from: Tom958 on May 16, 2018, 02:18:01 PM
It appears that "interesting" has become conflated with "scenic." :rolleyes: I like highways with visible historical quirks. I-85 in the Carolinas used to be good in that way, though it's becoming too homogenized of late. The double-deck section of I-35 in Austin is an extreme example, with pre-Interstate structures still intact. And if I won the lottery (I don't play!), I'd hit the road for NYC.
Leaving scenery aside, I'd say I-70 through Colorado still qualifies. There are fascinating highway structures (Glenwood Canyon!), various interchange designs, unique signage, tunnels, multiple mountain passes, chain-up/down parking areas for trucks, interesting towns along the way, even rest areas with trailheads to waterfalls. And that's not to mention the history of its construction. Once you get east of Denver, the land opens up to rolling grasslands and then eventually flattens out to farmland.
That's true. And the great thing about Glenwood Canyon is that it is an incredible fusion between very interesting scenery and very interesting infrastructure. Sometimes scenery, and roads that are very interesting in themselves, can indeed be interconnected, such as the example of I-70 in much of Colorado that you mentioned.
Leaving the scenic designation for interesting behind, Chicago's Lower Wacker Dr. is a very interesting stretch of road.
Quote from: inkyatari on May 18, 2018, 04:23:16 PM
Leaving the scenic designation for interesting behind, Chicago's Lower Wacker Dr. is a very interesting stretch of road.
Calling it a highway, OTOH, is a stretch.
Quote from: kphoger on May 18, 2018, 04:56:52 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on May 18, 2018, 04:23:16 PM
Leaving the scenic designation for interesting behind, Chicago's Lower Wacker Dr. is a very interesting stretch of road.
Calling it a highway, OTOH, is a stretch.
Hence one of my reasons I listed US 41/Lakeshore Drive. You do get a viaduct type structure with the Outer Drive Drawbridge which is quite unique:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4364/36826084155_1463f12224_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Y7ciPr)IMG_6081 (https://flic.kr/p/Y7ciPr) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
Quote from: gonealookin on May 14, 2018, 05:42:42 PM
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 14, 2018, 04:40:04 PM
Quote from: roadfro on May 13, 2018, 02:06:11 PM
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on May 04, 2018, 06:38:14 PM
- all of Interstate 580 in Nevada
I'm curious about your thoughts on I-580 in Nevada. Portions of it are a somewhat scenic (the Washoe Valley area), and there is engineering interest with the Galena Creek Bridge, but there's nothing super special or interesting about the stretches in Reno or Carson City.
It is probably hard to define interesting, since it is indeed, as someone noted upthread, quite subjective.
From what I've seen of I-580 on the internet (road videos, pictures, GMSV), I found it to be a mesmerizing interstate that was incredibly interesting. The best part of it was, of course, the utmost scenic areas and that bridge, but I really found all of it intriguing. I found I-580 in Reno to be an interesting stretch of city interstate with some great mountain scenery - and Carson City provided some beautiful scenery as well within its area. I wouldn't put I-580 on exactly the same tier as, say, I-84 through the Columbia Gorge, but I do love it, and it definitely made the list for me personally.
But it is indeed hard to define interesting, since interesting is different for everyone.
Most of I-580 through Carson City is either sunken or hemmed in by soundwalls. I guess I've driven it enough that the thought of it being "interesting" in any way hasn't occurred to me in a while, but maybe I'm just too familiar with it. There is a nice view of Eagle Valley, where Carson City is situated, as you're coming southbound over the low hill from Washoe Valley and crossing from Washoe County into Carson City.
Honestly, for the out-of-town roadgeek looking for interesting drives in the area, I would exit I-580 in south Reno and take NV 431 over the Mount Rose Summit to Lake Tahoe at Incline Village. The short stretches of highway in the immediate lake vicinity which should not be missed are CA 89 around Emerald Bay, featured in countless television commercials and print ads, and also US 50 between Meyers and Echo Summit, which hangs off a dramatic cliff. That section of US 50 should be driven eastbound, coming downhill toward the lake, for the best views.
Thanks for expanding your thoughts, adventurernumber1. I guess I'm in the same boat as gonealookin in that, since I live in Reno, I've driven I-580 enough for it to be familiar enough to me so as I don't really regard it as interesting (Washoe Valley and the entry to Carson City not withstanding). But you're right in that it does stay pretty close to the Sierra Nevada mountains, so it can have scenic quality from multiple vantage points, especially when there's still snow on the mountains.
In that regard though, I'd echo gonealookin's thoughts on some of the highways surrounding Lake Tahoe. Even I-80 crossing from Nevada into California up until you get well past Donner Summit I find interesting for scenic value–I've even always liked the gradual shift that takes place over about an hours worth of driving from the high elevation at Donner Summit to lower open valley and increasing civilization.
Quote from: kphoger on May 18, 2018, 04:56:52 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on May 18, 2018, 04:23:16 PM
Leaving the scenic designation for interesting behind, Chicago's Lower Wacker Dr. is a very interesting stretch of road.
Calling it a highway, OTOH, is a stretch.
Perhaps, but it is interesting none the less.
The Pig Trail (Ar 23 from Brashears to Ozark)
21 Scenic Byway north of Clarksville
and, of course, Scenic Hwy 7
I highly apologize for the bump, but I have a very significant drive to add to this thread/list:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TgTXmuk6DZM
In watching the mentioned video, I have just seen this very interesting stretch of US 6 in Utah southeast of I-15 (including through the Price and Spanish Fork Canyons) for the first time. I was nothing short of utterly mesmerized. I had definitely heard about how great this drive was in the roadgeek community in the past, so I came in knowing I was about to see something incredible, but I was still absolutely blown away nonetheless. In the video (by Freewayjim), he also talks about how upgrading this road to an interstate highway could help with the current status of the road being deadly and dangerous (due to such high traffic volumes, including lots of trucks, and lots of curves). This is a very interesting prospect, and while it was mentioned it would be very expensive and might take time to complete, it could very well be worth it in the name of safety and traffic relief. There's no doubt that US 6 in Utah from I-70 to I-15 has quite a bit of traffic (especially truck traffic) for a road its size–this being especially true since, IIRC, this is basically part of the route people take going from Denver to Salt Lake City and vice versa. It is undoubtedly a very significant and important road. This road is very interesting, extraordinarily scenic, and also has some interesting components such as a stretch(s) that is basically a super-two (a limited-access road with exits/interchanges that is only two lanes total–one in each direction). And I didn't realize how many interchanges in total this road had, which is quite a bit. This has quickly become one of my favorite drives I have seen, and I will probably be dreaming about it tonight. :)
My favorite stretches of Interstate highway are I-90 from Missoula, MT pretty much all the way to Spokane, WA and I-49 from Alma, AR to Fayetteville, AR. That stretch of I-90 has the only places of all the states I've been in that would make me consider moving from Northwest Arkansas, especially around the Wallace, ID area. I have been in all of the states other than the Northeast except for North Dakota and Hawaii, so I've seen quite a bit of scenery. I-49 north of Alma is the most scenic Interstate in mid-America as far as I'm concerned. Mountains, almost no billboards, the only road tunnel in mid-America, and cresting the hill just before Fayetteville unfolds before your eyes is almost magical. Same goes southward just past the Rudy exit when the wide Arkansas River valley and the Ouachita Mtns. way off to the south unfold as you crest the last hill as you're coming out of the Ozarks.
US-24 in Colorado between Colorado Springs and Florissant contains about the only other scenery that might pry me from Arkansas eventually.
My favorite twisty roads to drive with my WRX hatchback are AR-16, AR-23 (Pig Trail), AR-59, and old US-71 from Alma to Greenland now that it doesn't have trucks on it anymore to impede, so you can actually enjoy the scenery and catch apexes on curves. US-412 from Huntsville to Portia is a great drive as well if you time around traffic peaks in Harrison and Mtn. Home. AR-10 from Greenwood to Little Rock is also great through the Ouachitas and next to the Tri-Peaks of the River Valley.
To me, there are a lot of things that make certain roads interesting -- scenery, unique configuration features, controversies about routings -- and even unforeseen results of the decisions regarding routings and areas to be served. If you think my replies can get a bit wordy, trying to address this in one gulp might be a bit over the edge in that regard. So look forward to one little bite at a time down the road as I think of these things. Ciao for now!
I-75 in Michigan between mile markers 338 and 343 seem pretty cool to me.
I've only gotten to travel it a few times in the time I've had a car but I really enjoy US 40 between I-70 and Boonville, MO.
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on February 01, 2020, 07:26:38 PM
I've only gotten to travel it a few times in the time I've had a car but I really enjoy US 40 between I-70 and Boonville, MO.
Now
that road has memories for me; it was part of my first cross-country drive with my folks when I was ten years old -- in mid-June 1960, just after school let out for the summer. Our destination was Florissant, MO, where my great-aunt lived (she was along for the ride as well), and I was navigating as usual from the shotgun seat. We had overnighted in Kit Carson, CO, and the adults elected to forego another motel night in KC and instead drive straight through to Florissant, a St. Louis 'burb. Got burgers at a coffee shop east of KC on US 40, and headed east. I was using a Gousha atlas to navigate, and it showed a new section of I-70 open between south of Boonville and Columbia. But lo and behold, when we got to where US 40 turned north, the freeway section ahead of us wasn't open yet, with barriers blocking our way and directing us on to the old road. So we headed north, crossing a narrow through truss bridge into Boonville. It was twilight by that time, but i could see a train on a parallel RR bridge (it turned out to be a M-K-T train ostensibly heading to St. Louis along the north bank of the Missouri). I remember quite a bit of traffic from Boonville into Columbia, which thinned out east of town. The rest of US 40 was still 2-lane highway with periodic divided 4-lane stretches. Fortunately, I-70
was completed -- and signed -- from Wentzville all the way to Bypass US 66, which we took into Florissant, getting there, IIRC, between 1 & 2 a.m. 29 years later I was on a later trip and decided to revisit Boonville; the RR bridge was gone, but US 40 was (and is) still using the old road, while I-70 takes a relative beeline south of there. It's actually pretty scenic in the daytime; I'm glad I checked it out for a 2nd round!
To me, interesting can mean scenic and/or historical. In Oklahoma, US259 north from Broken Bow to Heavener has it all. Lakes, forests, big hills, the Heavener runestone, and so on. If you thought that Oklahoma is flat and dry, this road will change your mind.
For pure scenery, the Talimena Driver is hard to beat. Another very scenic drive is OK 20 from Salina to Jay.
Former US66 is of course on the top of my list :bigass:
On the whole, Indiana's highways are not terribly interesting. A few that do rise at least a bit above the mundane:
US 12 between US 20 and IN 249, through Dunes National Lakeshore
IN 135 between IN 46 and IN 58 through Hoosier National Forest
IN 156 between IN 101 and IN 262 along the Ohio River
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 03, 2020, 07:58:25 AM
On the whole, Indiana's highways are not terribly interesting.
They're still pretty boring, but I have developed a little affection for some of the rural roads in NE Indiana, e.g. US 6 & 20. I've always found them to be pleasant drives, with a mix of farmland and town centers, everything from rural 2-lane to urban 4-lane freeway cross sections as you go west, and a surprisingly high volume of horses & buggies.
Maybe they're only interesting in comparison to the mind-numbing dullness of the Toll Road though...
SD 44 west of Rapid City, despite being surrounded by houses most of the way, is still a nice scenic route. Then there's US 16A- despite never driving it, I still find it interesting, especially the one-lane tunnels and the tunnel that frames Mount Rushmore. As for routes I've actually driven other than 44, Moon Meadows Drive and Norris Peak Road are pretty high on my list.
Metro Manila Skyway, Philippines (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Metro+Manila+Skyway,+Metro+Manila,+Philippines/@14.5386775,121.0156473,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3397b6878e266bc9:0x62a14af40a74debe!8m2!3d14.5386723!4d121.017836). Specifically the section south of Buendia Avenue. 3 sets of lanes per direction: a set of express controlled-access lanes (which don't show up on Google Maps but do on GSV due to it being kind of outdated), a set of local controlled-access lanes, and a set of at-grade service roads. Expressways that divide into two sets of carriageways are very common (I-95 section of NJTP, I-78 from NJ-24 to the NJTP, GSP in Monmouth County), but examples of them being accompanied by service roads are very rare, being mostly confined to Texas (I-90/94 south of I-55 in Chicago is the only other example that comes to mind). And even in Texas, it usually only goes up to 2 and a half per direction, as over there (at least in Dallas and Houston) they tend to cram the express (really HOV or HOT) lanes into one striped or reversible lane.
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on February 04, 2020, 03:46:03 PM
And even in Texas, it usually only goes up to 2 and a half per direction, as over there (at least in Dallas and Houston) they tend to cram the express (really HOV or HOT) lanes into one striped or reversible lane.
Austin, TX, jumped immediately to mind. I-35 just north of downtown has elevated express lanes, sunken local lanes, and at-grade frontage lanes. I-35 in San Antonio, too, has a similar setup on the north side of downtown.
Quote from: kphoger on February 04, 2020, 04:33:03 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on February 04, 2020, 03:46:03 PM
And even in Texas, it usually only goes up to 2 and a half per direction, as over there (at least in Dallas and Houston) they tend to cram the express (really HOV or HOT) lanes into one striped or reversible lane.
Austin, TX, jumped immediately to mind. I-35 just north of downtown has elevated express lanes, sunken local lanes, and at-grade frontage lanes. I-35 in San Antonio, too, has a similar setup on the north side of downtown.
Up in NYC, there's a similar arrangement for how the upper and lower levels of the GW Bridge (I-95, US-1, US-9) are arranged, only without the service roads.
I've always enjoyed US 23 from Ashland, KY down thru Duffield, VA and beyond. US 119 in eastern Kentucky has always been a favorite. US 64 & US 74 West of Ashville, NC has very pretty scenery too along with some roadside waterfalls. US60 from Charleston, WV to White Sulphur Springs, WV is a good one too. As well as US 219 and US 33 in West Virginia.
One that I still want to do is US460 in its entirety.
US 74 from Chattanooga to Asheville is a great drive. lots of scenery, neat towns, and a plethora of other route concurrencies. US 19, 129, 64, 23, 441, and NC 28.
Quote from: fillup420 on February 14, 2020, 10:37:20 AM
US 74 from Chattanooga to Asheville is a great drive. lots of scenery, neat towns, and a plethora of other route concurrencies. US 19, 129, 64, 23, 441, and NC 28.
NC-28 west of US 19 to US 129 is an awesome mountain road. I kind of prefer to the Dragon part of US 129 since it doesn't have that whole Biker Boyz crowd on it usually.
Colorado's I-70 tops my list.
In my own area, I-90/94 from WI-60 at Lodi to WI-33 at Cascade Mountain is a surprisingly beautiful drive. Especially around sunset on clear days, when the sun dropping below the rolling hills casts a dramatic shadow on the highway.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on February 03, 2020, 09:29:49 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 03, 2020, 07:58:25 AM
On the whole, Indiana's highways are not terribly interesting.
They're still pretty boring, but I have developed a little affection for some of the rural roads in NE Indiana, e.g. US 6 & 20. I've always found them to be pleasant drives, with a mix of farmland and town centers, everything from rural 2-lane to urban 4-lane freeway cross sections as you go west, and a surprisingly high volume of horses & buggies.
Maybe they're only interesting in comparison to the mind-numbing dullness of the Toll Road though...
US 30 from Mansfield, OH to Valparaiso is a nice drive in the same vein.
I always used to enjoy US Route 20, heading west out of Pittsfield, MA and into Columbia County, NY...on the way to Albany.
Personally I love NJ-3 heading inbound towards Manhattan. Always lots of activity, all the businesses along the side of the road (including Tick Tock Diner!) and then you breach the hill right before the Passaic Road exit and you have the entire Manhattan skyline laid out in front of you, and it's especially beautiful at night. Then you still get to see Metlife/American Dream, the Meadowlands, and of course the Helix and associated Manhattan views. Not as nature-oriented but I'm a huge city-nerd so it really hits the right spot for me!
I-90 from Seattle to Cle Elum has it all.
The floating bridges and tunnels on both sides are engineering feats. Great views of the dual skylines of Seattle and Bellevue. Some complex interchanges with I-5, Bellevue Way, and I-405. Plenty of activity thanks to light rail construction happening on this section.
And then, beyond North Bend, it's pure natural beauty with a sprinkling of mountain engineering.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on May 16, 2018, 11:51:54 PM
I have to kinda agree. For me, scenic doesn't always mean interesting. For example, one could argue that I-81 through Virginia is scenic along parts of it, but if I had to choose between the scenic parts of I-81 and I-65 through Birmingham, I'd take I-65 through Birmingham over those scenic parts of I-81 any day of the week.
I've never been on I-65 anywhere, let alone in Birmingham. But the one thing I noticed and like about I-81 in Virginia is the opportunity to drive above the clouds.
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on February 16, 2020, 12:17:29 AM
US 30 from Mansfield, OH to Valparaiso is a nice drive in the same vein.
Yeah but it really badly needs bypasses of the 3 towns between Valpo and Fort Wayne. And the Ohio portion moves nicely (70 mph on a non-freeway!) but can be a bit of a snoozefest.
Quote from: Bruce on February 16, 2020, 10:29:33 PM
I-90 from Seattle to Cle Elum has it all.
The floating bridges and tunnels on both sides are engineering feats. Great views of the dual skylines of Seattle and Bellevue. Some complex interchanges with I-5, Bellevue Way, and I-405. Plenty of activity thanks to light rail construction happening on this section.
And then, beyond North Bend, it's pure natural beauty with a sprinkling of mountain engineering.
I have driven to Seattle and back one time. I would love to do it again since it would give me the chance of driving in Washington again. I loved that.
US 19 & 98 from Lebanon Station to Chiefland in Levy County, FL. It goes over 20 miles without a curve and good sight lines to see the entire way. There is, though, one curve 3 miles north of Lebanon.
US 27 in the Everglades is interesting to me as it is straight for sections and perfect grade.
US 202 from Somerville, NJ to Flemington, NJ was once nice to drive before all the extra stoplights got added from 1987 to the present. It was great to drive that without stopping as in NJ it is hard to find non freeways that go for miles without stopping at a light! US 46 from Buttzville to Hackettstown though is neat as it is only two lanes (as most of US 46 is either divided and heavily used or two lanes with slow traffic, hence Rockaway) and its an 11 mile signal free route (unless recently they added more stoplights in Great Meadows or Vienna).
Quote from: roadman65 on February 19, 2020, 10:08:27 PM
US 19 & 98 from Lebanon Station to Chiefland in Levy County, FL. It goes over 20 miles without a curve and good sight lines to see the entire way. There is, though, one curve 3 miles north of Lebanon.
Is that tree-lined median still intact? And is that old steam locomotive in Gulf Hammock still on display on the northwest corner of CR 326?
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on February 16, 2020, 12:17:29 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on February 03, 2020, 09:29:49 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 03, 2020, 07:58:25 AM
On the whole, Indiana's highways are not terribly interesting.
They're still pretty boring, but I have developed a little affection for some of the rural roads in NE Indiana, e.g. US 6 & 20. I've always found them to be pleasant drives, with a mix of farmland and town centers, everything from rural 2-lane to urban 4-lane freeway cross sections as you go west, and a surprisingly high volume of horses & buggies.
Maybe they're only interesting in comparison to the mind-numbing dullness of the Toll Road though...
US 30 from Mansfield, OH to Valparaiso is a nice drive in the same vein.
I like the section of SR 234 where it goes through Shades State Park. I also have an affection for old 47 between Crawfordsville and Garfield, and old 55 from Crawfordsville to Wingate. Also, SR 59 through Waveland and its concurrence with SR 236.
I have found US-160 Between MO-125 and MO-13 to be one of the most interesting roads in the state of Missouri. In this section, it is elevated on a ridge, so the Boston Mountains can be seen in the distance in places, and the road is quite crooked. This section is often is located next to bluffs of the White River, especially near Forsyth, which is excessively monitored by the cops.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 19, 2020, 10:08:27 PM
US 27 in the Everglades is interesting to me as it is straight for sections and perfect grade.
Speaking of levee roads one that is criminally underrated for scenery and scenic as all hell is CA 160 from I-5 south to CA 4. The leeve system along the Sacramento River is pretty much ancient and almost every life bridge is barely wide enough for two vehicles.
TN 52 and TN 111 have to be up there after driving on stretches of them last week
For me, I would say that the most interesting highways in Wisconsin include US 10 between I-41 and I-94, WI 23 east of Fond du Lac and all of WI 35 and US 151. WI 29 between I-41 and I-94 is also a very interesting drive.
Mike