For me I live in the Indy metro area and I've never been to Cincinnati before, Cincy is only 2 hrs away from me. I've been to the northern burbs, but never to the city proper. This will change this weekend because I have to go there to pick up a package. What are some of you guys example?
Somehow I've never been to Eugene despite being all over Oregon.
What would "major" mean in this scenario? Anyway, my answer is probably Memphis.
I've never been to Texarkana (227 miles), Shreveport (280 miles), or Houston (395 miles).
Probably Montreal for me.
St. Louis.
New Orleans. Closest I ever got was Laplace, LA.
I've never been to Dallas even though I live in Houston.
Springfield, Illinois would be the closest city to me which is also over 100K people.
Tuscon, Arizona is the largest and closest US city/metro area which I haven't been to.
Havana, Cuba is a little closer and even bigger, but driving to there is a bit of a nuisance.
Somehow I have never been to Las Vegas, despite having lived in Salt Lake City for the vast majority of my life.
The closest metro area that I've never been to is La Crosse, WI (230 miles). If that doesn't count as a "major city" then the answer would probably be Des Moines at 310 miles.
Honorable mention goes to Fargo. I've been to neighboring Moorhead, MN several times and finally decided to cross the border just for fun a couple weeks ago.
Overall: Winnipeg
US only: Columbus
Quote from: ozarkman417 on October 18, 2020, 07:29:13 PM
What would "major" mean in this scenario? Anyway, my answer is probably Memphis.
This is just my take but I consider anything over 100,000 residents to be a major community.
If 100,000 is the threshold then Visalia, California (719 miles - though I have possibly clipped the city limits on SR 99), but I'll be there in three and a half weeks. Once that's done, probably Regina Sask. (1,010 miles).
For me (living in central Maryland) the closest "major" city that I have never visited would be Atlantic City NJ. About 170 miles away, give or take.
(Even though the city itself falls short of the suggested 100,000 population threshold, the metro area is well above that mark, plus it's well known for many reasons)
Overall: Victoria, BC (60 miles as the crow flies, 100 miles by road and ferry)
US only: Eugene, OR (325 miles)
US major major cities only: San Francisco, CA (850 miles)
Toronto, just going by distance (I am in Central NY; biggest city in NY I haven't been to is Islip).
But staying in Lower 48...Winston-Salem, NC. After that, Decatur or Springfield IL.
Beaumont and Austin.
Probably Reno, Nevada 412.73 miles as the crow flies
At 127K as of the last census, Kelowna, BC would be the closest city that would meet the stated criteria. Been around it via TCH, but never actually made it to that particular town.
I think Raleigh, North Carolina.
I have never been to Duluth. I have also missed the whole complex of cities from Fond Du Lac to Green Bay (is there a name for that?). When I lived in Omaha, the closest city I missed was Wichita.
Charlotte, NC is the closest big city to me I've never been to. Omaha, NE is the next closest.
Not sure how you define major city so here are a few options (populations are 2019 est.)
Closest city > 500k: Boston, 963 miles
Closest city > 250k: Cleveland, 325 miles
Closest city > 100k: Peoria, 154 miles
Quote from: thspfc on October 18, 2020, 07:42:25 PM
St. Louis.
Hi! :colorful:
For me it's Indianapolis, ~225 miles.
Actually never being there, it would be Philadelphia.
Although there's other cities that are closer that I've only driven through/by, such as Youngstown, Pittsburg, Buffalo
Both Wilmingtons. Delaware’s is slightly closer to me than North Carolina’s.
I think Indianapolis is the closest major city that I've never been to. I'm in the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky.
For the question of what constitutes a "major city", I'd say 100,000+ is reasonable for the core city, but metro areas of 250,000+ could also be included (to include places like Albany, NY, for example).
For the question of what constitutes a "visit", I'd say you have to physically set foot in the city, or at the very least drive on one or more city streets, and can't just pass through on the freeway. (There's also the question of what to do about cases where you've spent time in the metro area, but not the city itself. For me, this applied to Cleveland, OH until last year, and currently applies to Albany, NY and Scranton, PA.)
Using those metrics, my answer is Kitchener/Waterloo, ON (3h 15min / 190 miles).
That edges out my original suspected answer, which was Pittsburgh, PA (4h 35 min / 300 miles).
And as it turns out, Springfield, MA is very comparable (4h 35 min / 305 miles).
In the mountain west, major cities are farther apart. I was going to say Casper, WY but it only has a 57k population. For the 100k+ rule, it is Provo, UT at 481 miles. I don't know if that counts as Salt Lake City metro which I also haven't visited, but SLC is only 488 miles from Denver using US 40 (the faster I-80 is 518 miles and I-70/US 6/I-15 is 525 miles).
I've been in Cook County, but not sure I have been within the city limits of Chicago.
I only moved to California two years ago, so I haven't explored much outside the LA/SD/SoCal area. This will probably change to something far more distant in a few years. There may be an LA/SD/Inland Empire suburb over 100K I haven't visited or passed through, but I won't worry about it.
Overall: Tijuana, though Mexicali would be a faster drive due to coastal mountains
US: Visalia, CA
Here's the most notable of them:
Spartanburg (76 miles)
Fayetteville (97 miles)
Augusta (140 miles)
Athens (176 miles)
Charlotte, NC
Quote from: cabiness42 on October 19, 2020, 07:28:20 AM
Not sure how you define major city so here are a few options (populations are 2019 est.)
Closest city > 500k: Boston, 963 miles
Closest city > 250k: Cleveland, 325 miles
Closest city > 100k: Peoria, 154 miles
I like your way. For U.S. cities only, using Google Maps:
>500,000 = Mesa, AZ, 2,330 miles (Toronto is 246 miles away)
>250,000 = Tulsa, OK, 1,280 miles
>100,000 = Sterling Heights, MI, 426 miles (cutting through Canada). Clinton, MI, 459 miles (staying in U.S.).
Still seems Winston-Salem (647 miles), my initial suggestion, is more "major" than those in MI that are closer -- Winston-Salem is just under 250,000.
Topeka, KS would be the closest for me at 297 miles (127K pop.)
If merely defining as any city over 100,000; then Terrassa (near Barcelona), home of the S.H.I.T. sign :sombrero:. However if it has to have some notoriety as well then Toulouse, France.
I live in Grand Rapids, MI. If 100,000 is the criteria then I believe the closest city I haven't been to would be Peoria, IL, which barely qualifies. Looks to be about 250 miles away.
Depends on what you define as a "visit", and whether or not the visit has to be to the city center/business district, within the city limits, and would involve getting out of the car. If we're using the city center definition, it would be almost a tie between Providence and Albany, NY (both about 90 miles as the crow flies; although I've driven through both). I've been to Colonie Center, which is within Albany city limits, but I've never got out of the car in Providence (closest would be TF Green or a shopping area on the Cranston/Warwick line). As far as a metropolitan area that I've never been to at all, the closest medium size city would be Scranton (about 160 miles away. I've never had the occasion to visit Dunder Mifflin). The largest major metropolitan area would be Pittsburgh (about 475 miles away).
My closest, if using one of the seasonal Lake Michigan ferries, is Milwaukee. Disregarding ferries, the closest major city I've never been to is also Milwaukee, even when taking into account driving through Chicago. Other contenders include Cleveland (never entered city limits but have driven around it on the Ohio Turnpike) and Cincinnati (been to Kings Island and flown through CVG, but never have been in the Cincinnati city limits), but Milwaukee (fully driving) is still closer than either of the two Ohio cities
Never been to Detroit (except for connecting flights). Also never been to Cleveland (I'm form NE Indiana).
Never went to Philly. Definitely want to get there sometime.
Quote from: Terry Shea on October 19, 2020, 05:07:21 PM
I live in Grand Rapids, MI. If 100,000 is the criteria then I believe the closest city I haven't been to would be Peoria, IL, which bare qualifies. Looks to be about 250 miles away.
For cities above 100k Peoria would be my closest.
And I can't see any reason I would be there.
I've never been to any town in Arkansas with more than 3000 population.
I've never been to Allentown or the Lehigh Valley, about 250 miles from me.
Quote from: kphoger on October 20, 2020, 03:42:00 PM
I've never been to any town in Arkansas with more than 3000 population.
I have to wonder where you went because most of the travel routes pass plenty of cities over that size. Was it Northern AR?
Quote from: I-55 on October 20, 2020, 04:42:20 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 20, 2020, 03:42:00 PM
I've never been to any town in Arkansas with more than 3000 population.
I have to wonder where you went because most of the travel routes pass plenty of cities over that size. Was it Northern AR?
I'm gonna back it up a step, and first ask if he's been to Arkansas at all? :-P
I think it was a "cross the border and turn around just to say I've entered it" type of thing.
Minneapolis-St. Paul. Figures I would have to go halfway across the continent to find the closest major city I have not been in...LOL!
Rick
Quote from: nexus73 on October 20, 2020, 06:13:24 PM
Minneapolis-St. Paul. Figures I would have to go halfway across the continent to find the closest major city I have not been in...LOL!
Rick
Mexicali and Hermosillo in Mexico are closer, as are several major Canadian cities. Have you been to those, too?
If we are measuring by not stepping foot or driving through in ANY form:
Closest city > 100K that I have not stepped foot in: Corona, California at 169K (422 miles)
Closest city > 250K/500K: Tijuana at 1.6 million (520 miles)
---
If it is counted specifically by stepping foot within city limits (and not merely driving through), Santa Ana at 332K is 409 miles from home.
Greater than 500K: Boston, 396
Between 250-500K: Raleigh, 387
Between 100-250K: Newport News, 281
Looks like my answer is Jacksonville, FL at just under 600 miles
Sherbrooke, QC
(US: Rochester, NY)
Depending on your definition of Major. Pittsburgh (about 7 hours away) or Virginia Beach (4 hours)
Yakima, followed by Victoria, Kelowna, Pocatello, Caspar, Cheyenne, then Denver for the dominant seventh.
I'm in Phoenix, AZ.
The closest major city I have never been to is Salt Lake City, UT at 663 miles.
Closest small city that I've never visited: St. Cloud, MN (417 mi)
Closest mid-sized city I've never visited: Evansville, IN (357 mi)
Closest major city I've never visited is: New Orleans, LA (987 mi)
The only other major US cities that I've never visited are Baton Rouge, Seattle and (oddly) Austin, TX. I've been to Texas dozens (if not hundreds) of times yet Austin has eluded me.
Pretty sure mine is Little Rock, Arkansas - the Future I-57 connection, at about 260 miles, for cities over 100K pop
I've been all over the Pacific and Mountain time zones but looking around there are a few conspicuous misses:
Spokane WA (817 miles) -- although I've been to Pullman for college football.
Vancouver BC (901 miles) -- sort of inexcusable; I've been to Seattle plenty and as far up as North Cascades National Park but don't think I've ever crossed the border at Blaine.
Albuquerque NM (1012 miles)
Quote from: I-55 on October 20, 2020, 12:46:49 AM
Quote from: Terry Shea on October 19, 2020, 05:07:21 PM
I live in Grand Rapids, MI. If 100,000 is the criteria then I believe the closest city I haven't been to would be Peoria, IL, which bare qualifies. Looks to be about 250 miles away.
Exactly.
For cities above 100k Peoria would be my closest.
And I can't see any reason I would be there.
I think it's Kansas City but I'm not sure if there is one closer.
Well since I am not sure of the parameters of what constitutes a major city for this, I will use 75k as a pop threshold and use the cardinal directions.
Eastish - Grand Rapids 200 mi
Southish - Jackson, Miss 743 mi
Westish - Colorado Springs 1,013 mi
Northish - Duluth 475 mi
Quote from: hbelkins on October 19, 2020, 02:33:26 PM
I've been in Cook County, but not sure I have been within the city limits of Chicago.
If you have ever been to O'Hare or on 294 between I-90 and Irving Park Rd (Illinois 19), then technically, you have been to Chicago.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicago,+IL/@41.8702814,-87.8947917,55093m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8713412ea1e6d22b:0x418eeb92f5e86b13!2sColorado+Springs,+CO!3b1!8m2!3d38.8338816!4d-104.8213634!3m4!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!8m2!3d41.8779971!4d-87.6296997?hl=en
Depends on your definition. Cheyenne WY is the closest small city I haven't been to, Grand Junction, CO is the closest medium city I haven't been to, and SLC is the nearest large city I haven't been to.
I currently live near Boston but I've never been to Springfield. D'oh!
Quote from: kernals12 on October 24, 2020, 10:51:12 PM
I currently live near Boston but I've never been to Springfield. D'oh!
Springfield is now Biff's Hill Valley, with MGM taking up the middle of it. It will remain that dark place that we do not go to.
Salem, OR or SLC, UT (proper).
As many times as I've driven cross-country on I-84/I-80, I have never been into SLC proper. And I have had zero reasons to drive I-5 between Willsonville and... Oceanside.
Quote from: hobsini2 on October 24, 2020, 05:16:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 19, 2020, 02:33:26 PM
I've been in Cook County, but not sure I have been within the city limits of Chicago.
If you have ever been to O'Hare or on 294 between I-90 and Irving Park Rd (Illinois 19), then technically, you have been to Chicago.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicago,+IL/@41.8702814,-87.8947917,55093m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8713412ea1e6d22b:0x418eeb92f5e86b13!2sColorado+Springs,+CO!3b1!8m2!3d38.8338816!4d-104.8213634!3m4!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!8m2!3d41.8779971!4d-87.6296997?hl=en
Nope. But I have been to Midway.
Off the top of my head, St. Louis and Winnipeg are ones that stand out...
Going by straight-line distances, mine would be Columbus, OH (166 miles). The runners up would be London, ON (201 miles) and Toledo, OH (207 miles).
Going by driving distances, mine would still be Columbus, OH (182 miles/2hr 49min). Runners up would be Dayton, OH (253 miles/3hr 54min) and Toledo, OH (271 miles/4hr 31min).
Quote from: hbelkins on October 25, 2020, 07:37:12 PM
Quote from: hobsini2 on October 24, 2020, 05:16:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 19, 2020, 02:33:26 PM
I've been in Cook County, but not sure I have been within the city limits of Chicago.
If you have ever been to O'Hare or on 294 between I-90 and Irving Park Rd (Illinois 19), then technically, you have been to Chicago.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicago,+IL/@41.8702814,-87.8947917,55093m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8713412ea1e6d22b:0x418eeb92f5e86b13!2sColorado+Springs,+CO!3b1!8m2!3d38.8338816!4d-104.8213634!3m4!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!8m2!3d41.8779971!4d-87.6296997?hl=en
Nope. But I have been to Midway.
Midway is definitely within the city limits of Chicago.
Depends what you mean by "major" but I'd go with Calgary offhand.
Las Vegas (US). Montreal (Canada).
When I drove for an expedited trucking company out of Cincinnati, I was afforded the chance to deliver/pickup/drive through many major cities in the US and to Toronto before 2001. I, however, never had the chance to go to Las Vegas. The closest I was to Las Vegas was on I-40 near Kingman, AZ.
Quote from: hobsini2 on October 25, 2020, 09:11:43 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 25, 2020, 07:37:12 PM
Quote from: hobsini2 on October 24, 2020, 05:16:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 19, 2020, 02:33:26 PM
I've been in Cook County, but not sure I have been within the city limits of Chicago.
If you have ever been to O'Hare or on 294 between I-90 and Irving Park Rd (Illinois 19), then technically, you have been to Chicago.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicago,+IL/@41.8702814,-87.8947917,55093m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8713412ea1e6d22b:0x418eeb92f5e86b13!2sColorado+Springs,+CO!3b1!8m2!3d38.8338816!4d-104.8213634!3m4!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!8m2!3d41.8779971!4d-87.6296997?hl=en
Nope. But I have been to Midway.
Midway is definitely within the city limits of Chicago.
Then my probable next possibility is Montgomery, Ala.
I believe using 100k as the standard that Baton Rouge, LA would be my answer.
I live near Denver. I have never been to Oklahoma City.
Quote from: COLORADOrk on October 27, 2020, 02:46:01 PM
I live near Denver. I have never been to Oklahoma City.
Also near Denver. I'm pretty sure my answer is Fort Worth. Been to Dallas, but not the west side of the metro.
Chris
Boston
From Lawrenceville, GA, near Atlanta: Myrtle Beach, 357 miles. If that doesn't count, Fayetteville NC, 376; Orlando, 461; then Cincinnati and Tampa, both 476. Not too bad How embarassing.
going by the 100k standard mine would be Lansing, MI
montreal
>500K: Mesa (been to Phoenix FWIW)
--(if we're not counting suburbs/etc. in larger metro areas, then Tucson)
>100K: Visalia (driven through, didn't stop)
The closest major metro (>1.5 million) I haven't been to would be Denver.
Grand rapids MI (as the crow flies)
For me, living in Cincinnati, it's Nashville. I have driven through on 65 but as far as I'm concerned that doesn't count.
100k: Rochester, MN
250k: Toledo, OH (unless you count driving by on the Ohio Turnpike)
500k: Detroit (unless you count the airport, which I don't since it's in Romulus)
Major city defined as:
A city that can be used in the dateline of an AP article without specifying its state: New Orleans
(List of such cities from http://www.gatehousenewsroom.com/2015/08/05/ap-stylebook-datelines-cities-that-stand-alone/ )
A city with multiple pro sports teams in NFL/MLB/NBA/NHL/MLS: Nashville
Defined by urbanized area population (2010 Census population figures):
500k: Nashville
250k: Nashville
100k: Rock Hill SC
Quote from: ran4sh on November 23, 2020, 07:35:37 PM
A city that can be used in the dateline of an AP article without specifying its state: New Orleans
(List of such cities from http://www.gatehousenewsroom.com/2015/08/05/ap-stylebook-datelines-cities-that-stand-alone/ )
This is a list of well-known cities, which favors the Rust Belt over the Sun Belt more than it should.
Quote from: 1 on November 23, 2020, 07:37:33 PM
Quote from: ran4sh on November 23, 2020, 07:35:37 PM
A city that can be used in the dateline of an AP article without specifying its state: New Orleans
(List of such cities from http://www.gatehousenewsroom.com/2015/08/05/ap-stylebook-datelines-cities-that-stand-alone/ )
This is a list of well-known cities, which favors the Rust Belt over the Sun Belt more than it should.
It's not just about city size, though, it's also about uniqueness. Indianapolis and Oklahoma City make that list over larger cities like San Jose, Jacksonville or Columbus because there's never going to be confusion about which state those cities are in.
Quote from: 1 on November 23, 2020, 07:37:33 PM
Quote from: ran4sh on November 23, 2020, 07:35:37 PM
A city that can be used in the dateline of an AP article without specifying its state: New Orleans
(List of such cities from http://www.gatehousenewsroom.com/2015/08/05/ap-stylebook-datelines-cities-that-stand-alone/ )
This is a list of well-known cities, which favors the Rust Belt over the Sun Belt more than it should.
While this list is a holdover from days when the Rust Belt had a much greater percentage of the nation's population, it's not that skewed: 12 cities on the list of 30 are in the Sun Belt vs 10 in the Rust Belt. This list does still represent 14 of the 20 largest cities and 20 of the 25 largest metro areas in the country.
They went to the trouble of making a web page for the AP Style cities that don't need a state, and didn't put the international cities that don't need countries on it as well? Nuts. Try this one. It does pop up annoying requests to join a mailing list, but you don't have to join to see the list of cities:
https://coschedule.com/blog/ap-style-cheat-sheet/#cities
For me in northern West Virginia, it would be Rochester, NY (350 miles by car).
Jackson, MS.
I live in a region of the US without a lot of cities over 100K, so it's not hard to visit them at some point. However, it looks like Boise, ID, is the closest major city that I've not visited.
Using the 100k standard, I get this:
100k: The Woodlands
250k: Corpus Christi
500k: Dallas
Quote from: Terry Shea on October 23, 2020, 11:57:13 PM
Quote from: I-55 on October 20, 2020, 12:46:49 AM
Quote from: Terry Shea on October 19, 2020, 05:07:21 PM
I live in Grand Rapids, MI. If 100,000 is the criteria then I believe the closest city I haven't been to would be Peoria, IL, which bare qualifies. Looks to be about 250 miles away.
Exactly.
For cities above 100k Peoria would be my closest.
And I can't see any reason I would be there.
I've been to Peoria twice just driving through and both times I had to use I-474 instead of I-74 due to construction at the Illinois River on I-74.
Quote from: CoreySamson on October 18, 2020, 08:48:08 PM
I've never been to Dallas even though I live in Houston.
Frankly I don't think you're missing anything. I've never been too impressed by Dallas.
I live in Houston too and I've never been to Austin.
I live in Tampa. If you mean major cities/metro areas it would be...
Nashville, TN
The other closer ones, I have been to.
Orlando
Jacksonville
Miami
Atlanta
Charlotte
New Orleans
For me, the closest technical city is Hallowell, Maine.
For a large city, Montreal I would guess. I've also never been in NYC outside of I-95 thru it.
I'm in VT...if we're going by cities that I've only driven through, then I think Columbus and Virginia Beach. For cities I've never gone to at all, then probably Wilmington or Chattanooga. It helps to have lived a number of places in the greater northeast before moving further north and east...
If 100k metro area population is the criteria, and cities driven through don't count, then it's Huntington, WV for me. For some reason, I-71 North to US 35 East is the fastest route from where I live in Cincy to Charleston, WV and points beyond than the AA Highway, which is how I skipped Huntington.
Quote from: SkyPesos on December 13, 2020, 09:54:25 PM
If 100k metro area population is the criteria, and cities driven through don't count, then it's Huntington, WV for me. For some reason, I-71 North to US 35 East is the fastest route from where I live in Cincy to Charleston, WV and points beyond than the AA Highway, which is how I skipped Huntington.
I-71 is faster than OH 32?
Quote from: hbelkins on December 14, 2020, 04:47:26 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on December 13, 2020, 09:54:25 PM
If 100k metro area population is the criteria, and cities driven through don't count, then it's Huntington, WV for me. For some reason, I-71 North to US 35 East is the fastest route from where I live in Cincy to Charleston, WV and points beyond than the AA Highway, which is how I skipped Huntington.
I-71 is faster than OH 32?
From where I start (19 miles north on I-71 from KY border), apparently, it is. I was surprised when google maps told me it was the faster route (3h 15m, vs 3h 30m via SR 32) to get to Charleston.
Pittsburgh, PA
Quote from: SkyPesos on December 14, 2020, 05:10:00 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on December 14, 2020, 04:47:26 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on December 13, 2020, 09:54:25 PM
If 100k metro area population is the criteria, and cities driven through don't count, then it's Huntington, WV for me. For some reason, I-71 North to US 35 East is the fastest route from where I live in Cincy to Charleston, WV and points beyond than the AA Highway, which is how I skipped Huntington.
I-71 is faster than OH 32?
From where I start (19 miles north on I-71 from KY border), apparently, it is. I was surprised when google maps told me it was the faster route (3h 15m, vs 3h 30m via SR 32) to get to Charleston.
SkyPesos is correct--especially since he says he lives near the Fields-Ertel/Mason-Montgomery interchange. From the I-275/I-71 interchange to the US 35/OH 32 interchange in Jackson, using I-275 and OH 32 the mileage is 115. Using I-71 and US 35, the mileage is 120. However, using OH 32 involves the "triplets and their distant cousin"--the traffic lights in Eastgate and Batavia--along with the other traffic lights along OH 32 and a 60 mph speed limit. The only traffic lights encountered using I-71/US 35 are the three on OH 435 when transitioning from I-71 to US 35 along with a 70 mph speed limit (used to be 65) for all but 13 miles between Richmond Dale and Jackson. I-71/US 35 is the way I would drive if I had a pickup in the northern Cincinnati area that had to be delivered to Virginia or northern North Carolina (when I was employed by a trucking company from 1999-2008). I found this was a bit faster, especially after the US 35 freeway between Chillicothe and Richmond Dale was completed.
Quote from: cabiness42 on October 19, 2020, 07:28:20 AM
Not sure how you define major city so here are a few options (populations are 2019 est.)
Closest city > 500k: Boston, 963 miles
Closest city > 250k: Cleveland, 325 miles
Closest city > 100k: Peoria, 154 miles
I finally got around to clinching the last section of I-74 I didn't have, which included Peoria, so my closest > 100k is now Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 250 miles away.
I enjoyed this exercise, had to look at the map for awhile to figure this one out.
> 500k: Tijuana - 473 miles
USA Only: El Paso - 979 miles
> 250k: Albuquerque, NM - 877 miles
> 100k: Lancaster, CA - 313 miles
If "major" = 100,000 or more people: Boise
If "major" = big city, including airports: Oklahoma City
If "major" = big city, excluding airports: Phoenix
My original answer to this was Fort Worth, but I'll be going on a road trip through there next week, so I decided to reexamine:
>500,000: Fresno (1,155 miles) (The only city of that size I haven't been to)
>250,000: Laredo (1,049 miles)
>100,000: Peoria (939 miles)
I've almost gotten them all within a 1,000 mile (driving) radius.
Chris
I'm not really sure of the right answer for myself, but if we were to count state capitals as de facto "major" because of their political significance, then the answer is probably Dover, Delaware. Never been there at all in any respect.
Of course, Dover is hardly a "major" place other than being the state capital and having a well-known speedway. If I set that aside, depending on how you count "been to," then the answer for me is probably Wilmington, Delaware–I've passed through it on I-95 and on US-202, been around it on I-495, and passed through many times on Amtrak and twice on charter buses over the years (of the bus trips, one was a school trip to Philadelphia in the 1980s, the other a group trip to a Capitals—Flyers game in Philadelphia in 2008 or so), but I've never stopped or gotten out of the vehicle except once in a heavy snowstorm when I stopped in the right lane of I-495 under an overpass to chip ice off my frozen windshield wipers so I could keep driving, and I don't know whether that was within the city limits (not that it really matters, as I wouldn't consider it a "substantive" stop that was related to Wilmington because I would have done it wherever I was, given the circumstances).
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 23, 2020, 08:46:05 AM
>500,000: Fresno (1,155 miles) (The only city of that size I haven't been to other than San Juan, PR)
San Juan is under 500,000, although that's mainly because Puerto Rico's municipalities are like New England's in that they can't expand into the suburbs or into (non-existent) unincorporated area.
Quote from: 1 on December 23, 2020, 09:46:35 AM
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 23, 2020, 08:46:05 AM
>500,000: Fresno (1,155 miles) (The only city of that size I haven't been to other than San Juan, PR)
San Juan is under 500,000, although that's mainly because Puerto Rico's municipalities are like New England's in that they can't expand into the suburbs or into (non-existent) unincorporated area.
I was actually just about to look it up. I knew that it was the largest metro area I hadn't been to, so I made assumptions. Good to know.
Chris
Quote from: cabiness42 on December 20, 2020, 10:05:13 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on October 19, 2020, 07:28:20 AM
Not sure how you define major city so here are a few options (populations are 2019 est.)
Closest city > 500k: Boston, 963 miles
Closest city > 250k: Cleveland, 325 miles
Closest city > 100k: Peoria, 154 miles
I finally got around to clinching the last section of I-74 I didn't have, which included Peoria, so my closest > 100k is now Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 250 miles away.
Got to Boston and Cleveland on my recent trip, so my answers now are:
Closest city > 500k: El Paso, TX, 1489 miles away
Closest city > 250k: Wichita, KS, 702 miles away
Closest city > 100k: Cedar Rapids, IA, 250 miles away
Depends on your criteria for "major," but it would probably be Buffalo for me (about 400 miles, but I'll be moving to Rochester for school in the fall). However, there are a few smaller cities closer to where I live that I've driven through but never actually stopped in, such as Hartford (just under 100 miles).
Roughly in order of distance (as a crow flies):
Des Moines
Anything in lower MI
Fargo
Omaha
Kansas City
St. Louis
Winnipeg
Quote from: Rothman on October 19, 2020, 03:36:07 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on October 19, 2020, 07:28:20 AM
Not sure how you define major city so here are a few options (populations are 2019 est.)
Closest city > 500k: Boston, 963 miles
Closest city > 250k: Cleveland, 325 miles
Closest city > 100k: Peoria, 154 miles
I like your way. For U.S. cities only, using Google Maps:
>500,000 = Mesa, AZ, 2,330 miles (Toronto is 246 miles away)
>250,000 = Tulsa, OK, 1,280 miles
>100,000 = Sterling Heights, MI, 426 miles (cutting through Canada). Clinton, MI, 459 miles (staying in U.S.).
Still seems Winston-Salem (647 miles), my initial suggestion, is more "major" than those in MI that are closer -- Winston-Salem is just under 250,000.
I've been to Clinton Township, MI. So, a minor update: Even going around the lake, Sterling Heights is a hundred miles shorter a trip than going to Winston-Salem, which is the next closest city I haven't been to that has Between 100,000 and 250,000 people.
Ottawa, Quebec City, Portland and Scranton.
Ensenada, BC: 180 miles distant.
If you stay in the U.S., it's Las Cruces, NM, at 750 miles.
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 18, 2020, 07:30:06 PM
I've never been to Texarkana (227 miles), Shreveport (280 miles), or Houston (395 miles).
I take that as a compliment that you put Texarkana on with Houston and even Shreveport. (Shreveport / Bossier is around 4X the size of Texarkana)
As to me. I have been to 3/4 of the world,
but have never Been to San Antonio. Yesterday, I drove to a point in SAT arriving at 10:00 pm and was back out of town in less than an hour. This somehow doesn't change much. Yes I was physically within the city. I still have not really
been to San Antonio.
The next closest is Saint Louis
Then Indianapolis and Tallahassee are almost identically the same distance.
Raleigh, North Carolina, 291 miles
Quote from: bwana39 on June 21, 2021, 12:31:04 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 18, 2020, 07:30:06 PM
I've never been to Texarkana (227 miles), Shreveport (280 miles), or Houston (395 miles).
I take that as a compliment that you put Texarkana on with Houston and even Shreveport. (Shreveport / Bossier is around 4X the size of Texarkana)
As to me. I have been to 3/4 of the world, but have never Been to San Antonio.
The next closest is Saint Louis
Then Indianapolis and Tallahassee are almost identically the same distance.
stop by indy and check out the 500!
Closest city (+100k pop) I haven't been to is San Angelo, TX
Closest large metro area I haven't been to is the Rio Grande Valley (never been south of Laredo or Corpus Christi)
I'll expand mine in the above format too, though I'll use metro population instead, and include ones I've never been inside the metro area boundaries.
2m+: Houston (920 mi, pop: 7.15m). If not including airport layovers, then it's Dallas.
1m-2m: Grand Rapids (260 mi, pop: 1.08m)
500k-1m: Lansing (230 mi, pop: 548k)
250k-500k: Huntington (120 mi, pop: 354K, see my post above). Ft Wayne, IN is a close second (130 mi, pop: 417k)
100k-250k: Bloomington, IN (115 mi, pop: 169k)
50k-100k: Either Columbus, IN or Frankfort, KY (both 90 mi)
Either Anderson, IN or Columbus, IN. Been all over the state but not to those towns just yet.
100k - Athens, GA
250k+ - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville FL
100k+ - Charleston, SC
Now that I live somewhere else:
- Any of the Tri-Cities
- Knoxville
- Roanoke
- Chattanooga
Technically, Mexicali, because I've never been to Mexico. In the US, Fresno. I see no reason to change that although Fresno is probably unavoidable whenever I finally visit Yosemite.
The closest 100K+ city that I have never been to is West Jordan, Utah, 370 miles away. However, I have been to nearby Salt Lake City. The closest 100K+ city that I have never been to aside from suburbs is Wichita, Kansas, clocking in at 437 miles away.
I've driven through Hartford but I've never left the car in it.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 25, 2021, 03:45:59 PM
I've driven through Hartford but I've never left the car in it.
If you leave the car in it, will it still be there when you get back? :-/
I would think it's Kansas City but I don't even know.
Quote from: dlsterner on October 19, 2020, 01:05:39 AM
For me (living in central Maryland) the closest "major" city that I have never visited would be Atlantic City NJ. About 170 miles away, give or take.
(Even though the city itself falls short of the suggested 100,000 population threshold, the metro area is well above that mark, plus it's well known for many reasons)
Back when I answered this early in the thread, there wasn't really any criteria for what made a city "major". So I went with "fame" - Atlantic City is a well known tourist spot and gambling mecca, and is known for their boardwalk, Miss America, and for being the inspiration for the Monopoly game board.
Since then others have broken it down by population, so I thought that I would give it a try as well. (FWIW, Atlantic City's population < 100K)
Over 1,000,000 population - Dallas TX
500,000 to 1,000,000 population - Milwaukee WI
250,000 to 500,000 population - Fort Wayne IN
100,000 to 250,000 population - Paterson NJ
(I used city population as stated in Wikipedia; using the 2020 estimate)
Definitely Detroit. Will probably stay that way.
Living in Birmingham, the closest cities I've never been to in each direction:
North: Fort Wayne (598 miles)
East: Savannah (394 miles)
South: West Palm Beach (743 miles)
West: Shreveport (452 miles)
Like silverback1065, I live in Indy but have never set foot, nor have I driven though, the Queen City of Ohio - Cincinnati (a mere 98 miles, as the airliners fly). Flown into & out of their airport dozens of times, but that's in Kentucky (the suburb called Hebron, I believe). Closet major city I've never seen with my own eyes (from the air or on the ground) would likely be Milwaukee, followed by Nashville, TN (though I've been to Nashville, IN and have seen the one on Tennessee from the air).
For visits to mid-sized cities, it would have to be Evansville, which will soon be connected to us via I-69 (once Phase 6 of SIU 3 is opened). Next would likely be Peoria and Springfield, over in Illinois.
Quote from: SSR_317 on June 27, 2021, 07:48:01 PM
Like silverback1065, I live in Indy but have never set foot, nor have I driven though, the Queen City of Ohio - Cincinnati (a mere 98 miles, as the airliners fly). Flown into & out of their airport dozens of times, but that's in Kentucky (the suburb called Hebron, I believe). Closet major city I've never seen with my own eyes (from the air or on the ground) would likely be Milwaukee, followed by Nashville, TN (though I've been to Nashville, IN and have seen the one on Tennessee from the air).
For visits to mid-sized cities, it would have to be Evansville, which will soon be connected to us via I-69 (once Phase 6 of SIU 3 is opened). Next would likely be Peoria and Springfield, over in Illinois.
I can see how living in Indianapolis and not driven through Cincinnati at all be possible for a lot of people, as I-74 pretty much dead ends in Cincinnati, and any options to go to the southeast US from Indianapolis (like US 35) doesn't involve Cincinnati. Even Indianapolis-Lexington is a bit faster going via Louisville than going via Cincinnati according to Google Maps, though there's tolls now in Louisville.
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 27, 2021, 07:58:38 PM
Quote from: SSR_317 on June 27, 2021, 07:48:01 PM
Like silverback1065, I live in Indy but have never set foot, nor have I driven though, the Queen City of Ohio - Cincinnati (a mere 98 miles, as the airliners fly). Flown into & out of their airport dozens of times, but that's in Kentucky (the suburb called Hebron, I believe). Closet major city I've never seen with my own eyes (from the air or on the ground) would likely be Milwaukee, followed by Nashville, TN (though I've been to Nashville, IN and have seen the one on Tennessee from the air).
For visits to mid-sized cities, it would have to be Evansville, which will soon be connected to us via I-69 (once Phase 6 of SIU 3 is opened). Next would likely be Peoria and Springfield, over in Illinois.
I can see how living in Indianapolis and not driven through Cincinnati at all be possible for a lot of people, as I-74 pretty much dead ends in Cincinnati, and any options to go to the southeast US from Indianapolis (like US 35) doesn't involve Cincinnati. Even Indianapolis-Lexington is a bit faster going via Louisville than going via Cincinnati according to Google Maps, though there's tolls now in Louisville.
I get that Cincinnati isn't a city that's on the way to many places from Indy, but it's a city that has enough to offer that you think most people would find their way there at least once over a period of several years.
Toronto.
Living in Phoenix it's probably
Reno, NV (739 miles)
If airports don't count then it's:
Salt Lake City, UT (663 miles)
Residing in northwest Georgia, the closest sizable city that I have never been to would be Huntsville, Alabama. The closest very large city that I have never been to would be Charlotte, North Carolina. Hopefully I'll get the chance to visit these cities sometime in the near future.
Quote from: Bruce on October 19, 2020, 01:35:51 AM
Overall: Victoria, BC (60 miles as the crow flies, 100 miles by road and ferry)
US only: Eugene, OR (325 miles)
US major major cities only: San Francisco, CA (850 miles)
And going by direction:
North: Kamloops, BC (190 miles)
East: Lewiston, ID (270 miles)
South: Bend, OR or Eugene, OR (285 miles)
West: Victoria, BC (60 miles)
By direction with a minimum population of 100k:
N - Thunder Bay ON (500 miles)
S - Peoria IL (200 miles)
E - Grand Rapids MI (340 miles by road, much less as the crow flies)
W - Sioux Falls SD (440 miles)
Quote from: wriddle082 on June 26, 2021, 12:26:58 AM
Definitely Detroit. Will probably stay that way.
That's pretty impressive for living in the Carolinas.
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 27, 2021, 07:58:38 PM
Quote from: SSR_317 on June 27, 2021, 07:48:01 PM
Like silverback1065, I live in Indy but have never set foot, nor have I driven though, the Queen City of Ohio - Cincinnati (a mere 98 miles, as the airliners fly). Flown into & out of their airport dozens of times, but that's in Kentucky (the suburb called Hebron, I believe). Closet major city I've never seen with my own eyes (from the air or on the ground) would likely be Milwaukee, followed by Nashville, TN (though I've been to Nashville, IN and have seen the one on Tennessee from the air).
For visits to mid-sized cities, it would have to be Evansville, which will soon be connected to us via I-69 (once Phase 6 of SIU 3 is opened). Next would likely be Peoria and Springfield, over in Illinois.
I can see how living in Indianapolis and not driven through Cincinnati at all be possible for a lot of people, as I-74 pretty much dead ends in Cincinnati, and any options to go to the southeast US from Indianapolis (like US 35) doesn't involve Cincinnati. Even Indianapolis-Lexington is a bit faster going via Louisville than going via Cincinnati according to Google Maps, though there's tolls now in Louisville.
Two things...
As for the tolls on I-65 in L.A. (Louisville area - an old joke from my college days), they're easy to avoid (as long as you're not in a huge rush) since you can hop off onto US 31 less than a mile from the river and use the Clark Bridge (until the bastards try to toll it) and get right back on I-65 south in downtown Louisville.
As for I-74 dead-ending in Cincy, I think the portion east of Indianapolis should be renamed I-68, then upon reaching Ohio, routed along I-275 to OH 32. At that point, OH 32 would be upgraded to Interstate standards until it meets US 50 southwest of Athens. From there it would follow an upgraded highway 50 to Parkersburg & Clarksville in WV before being multiplexed on I-79 to the current western terminus of I-68 in Morgantown. This would extend I-68 into a far more useful route, as well as eliminating the portion of I-74 that is out-of-grid. It may dash North Carolina's wet dream of having I-74, but that (IMHO) has always been ridiculous in the first place.
Quote from: SSR_317 on July 07, 2021, 06:04:07 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 27, 2021, 07:58:38 PM
Quote from: SSR_317 on June 27, 2021, 07:48:01 PM
Like silverback1065, I live in Indy but have never set foot, nor have I driven though, the Queen City of Ohio - Cincinnati (a mere 98 miles, as the airliners fly). Flown into & out of their airport dozens of times, but that's in Kentucky (the suburb called Hebron, I believe). Closet major city I've never seen with my own eyes (from the air or on the ground) would likely be Milwaukee, followed by Nashville, TN (though I've been to Nashville, IN and have seen the one on Tennessee from the air).
For visits to mid-sized cities, it would have to be Evansville, which will soon be connected to us via I-69 (once Phase 6 of SIU 3 is opened). Next would likely be Peoria and Springfield, over in Illinois.
I can see how living in Indianapolis and not driven through Cincinnati at all be possible for a lot of people, as I-74 pretty much dead ends in Cincinnati, and any options to go to the southeast US from Indianapolis (like US 35) doesn't involve Cincinnati. Even Indianapolis-Lexington is a bit faster going via Louisville than going via Cincinnati according to Google Maps, though there's tolls now in Louisville.
Two things...
As for the tolls on I-65 in L.A. (Louisville area - an old joke from my college days), they're easy to avoid (as long as you're not in a huge rush) since you can hop off onto US 31 less than a mile from the river and use the Clark Bridge (until the bastards try to toll it) and get right back on I-65 south in downtown Louisville.
As for I-74 dead-ending in Cincy, I think the portion east of Indianapolis should be renamed I-68, then upon reaching Ohio, routed along I-275 to OH 32. At that point, OH 32 would be upgraded to Interstate standards until it meets US 50 southwest of Athens. From there it would follow an upgraded highway 50 to Parkersburg & Clarksville in WV before being multiplexed on I-79 to the current western terminus of I-68 in Morgantown. This would extend I-68 into a far more useful route, as well as eliminating the portion of I-74 that is out-of-grid. It may dash North Carolina's wet dream of having I-74, but that (IMHO) has always been ridiculous in the first place.
Keep fictional crap out of here.
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 06:36:58 PM
Quote from: SSR_317 on July 07, 2021, 06:04:07 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 27, 2021, 07:58:38 PM
Quote from: SSR_317 on June 27, 2021, 07:48:01 PM
Like silverback1065, I live in Indy but have never set foot, nor have I driven though, the Queen City of Ohio - Cincinnati (a mere 98 miles, as the airliners fly). Flown into & out of their airport dozens of times, but that's in Kentucky (the suburb called Hebron, I believe). Closet major city I've never seen with my own eyes (from the air or on the ground) would likely be Milwaukee, followed by Nashville, TN (though I've been to Nashville, IN and have seen the one on Tennessee from the air).
For visits to mid-sized cities, it would have to be Evansville, which will soon be connected to us via I-69 (once Phase 6 of SIU 3 is opened). Next would likely be Peoria and Springfield, over in Illinois.
I can see how living in Indianapolis and not driven through Cincinnati at all be possible for a lot of people, as I-74 pretty much dead ends in Cincinnati, and any options to go to the southeast US from Indianapolis (like US 35) doesn't involve Cincinnati. Even Indianapolis-Lexington is a bit faster going via Louisville than going via Cincinnati according to Google Maps, though there's tolls now in Louisville.
Two things...
As for the tolls on I-65 in L.A. (Louisville area - an old joke from my college days), they're easy to avoid (as long as you're not in a huge rush) since you can hop off onto US 31 less than a mile from the river and use the Clark Bridge (until the bastards try to toll it) and get right back on I-65 south in downtown Louisville.
As for I-74 dead-ending in Cincy, I think the portion east of Indianapolis should be renamed I-68, then upon reaching Ohio, routed along I-275 to OH 32. At that point, OH 32 would be upgraded to Interstate standards until it meets US 50 southwest of Athens. From there it would follow an upgraded highway 50 to Parkersburg & Clarksville in WV before being multiplexed on I-79 to the current western terminus of I-68 in Morgantown. This would extend I-68 into a far more useful route, as well as eliminating the portion of I-74 that is out-of-grid. It may dash North Carolina's wet dream of having I-74, but that (IMHO) has always been ridiculous in the first place.
Keep fictional crap out of here.
Keep bad attitude out of here
For many years it was Grand Rapids but I finally got there in 2018. Now it's probably Fort Wayne.
Lansing, Flint, and Saginaw, Michigan are the closest for me from western Indiana.
I've been in South Bend and Elkhart city limits before on US 20 and on the IN Toll Road. However I've never actually drive through either of them despite living in this state my whole life.
Probably Bridgeport, CT.
The closest to my home in Cincinnati is possibly Detroit. I'm not sure if my family drove through it during our trip to Mackinack/Sault St Marie or if we took US 23 (I was a kid then so I don't remember). If not that then probably either Pittsburgh or Nashville.
Quote from: Bruce on July 02, 2021, 06:44:45 PM
Quote from: Bruce on October 19, 2020, 01:35:51 AM
Overall: Victoria, BC (60 miles as the crow flies, 100 miles by road and ferry)
US only: Eugene, OR (325 miles)
US major major cities only: San Francisco, CA (850 miles)
And going by direction:
North: Kamloops, BC (190 miles)
East: Lewiston, ID (270 miles)
South: Bend, OR or Eugene, OR (285 miles)
West: Victoria, BC (60 miles)
And now that I've been to Eugene, Bend is the sole owner of the South spot.