Vermont or New Hampshire IMO.
It's hard to beat Colorado. But I haven't been to New England since I was a wee tyke.
Montana is pretty cool. 94 goes through a lot of badlands and follows the Yellowstone River. 90 has the bloody history alongside it south of Billings, mountains pretty much all the way west of Billings.
California is pretty up there until one gets to the kick-in-the-nuts Central Valley part of I-5. Utah, Arizona, and Colorado are high on the list too.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 04, 2020, 04:44:53 PM
Utah
I would have nominated Utah based on I-70 alone, but I've never driven the Interstates anywhere else in Utah except for the small bit of I-15 south of Cedar City. In general, though, Utah ranks right up there with Colorado for scenery in my opinion.
NY. Great mix of rural and urban. :D
Although Colorado is up there, I'd put Utah above us. I think maybe the best would be Hawaii however.
Chris
Quote from: Rothman on December 04, 2020, 04:51:33 PM
NY. Great mix of rural and urban. :D
I sense a touch of sarcasm, but we do have several Interstates that are great in the fall, including I-86 and the Northway section of I-87, among others.
I'll nominate Arizona.
Mountains, deserts, and even both at the same time. Add the Virgin River stretch of I-15 in the NW corner of the state. Pine forests near Flagstaff.
The completion of I-11 will even enhance this as the current US 93 passes by saguaros and joshua trees.
My biased answer would be Minnesota. It is a biome transition state so you can see the deciduous forest transitions along all of the main interstates, but you also see the open plains on I-90 and the northern coniferous forests on I-35 into Duluth. Unbiased answer is between Montana and Colorado. I think I-70 is the best mountain pass, but eastern Montana's interstates definitely beat Eastern Colorado. Plus I-94 follows a river valley.
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 04, 2020, 04:52:12 PM
Although Colorado is up there, I'd put Utah above us. I think maybe the best would be Hawaii however.
Hawaii has one really scenic Interstate, Interstate H-3, if you don't count the parts passing by the state prison and a large quarry. The others are pretty ordinary. Utah and Colorado both have Hawaii beat. The long stretch of I-84 in Oregon along the Columbia River, and I-5 near Grants Pass, also rank high with me. I-84 in eastern Oregon, not so much.
Colorado or Utah, but I-70 from Denver to Grand Junction is my favorite Interstate drive by far. So I'd probably choose Colorado.
Quote from: oscar on December 04, 2020, 05:20:01 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 04, 2020, 04:52:12 PM
Although Colorado is up there, I'd put Utah above us. I think maybe the best would be Hawaii however.
Hawaii has one really scenic Interstate, Interstate H-3, if you don't count the parts passing by the state prison and a large quarry. The others are pretty ordinary. Utah and Colorado both have Hawaii beat. The long stretch of I-84 in Oregon along the Columbia River, and I-5 near Grants Pass, also rank high with me. I-84 in eastern Oregon, not so much.
You would know best. I think people are rating Colorado so high because of the GJ-Denver stretch of I-70 while ignoring that the rest of I-70, all of I-76, and portions of I-25 aren't exciting. If we're "rating" the states by the best portion, then I-H3 would get Hawaii near to the top. If, however, we're including all the interstates in a state, I think Utah overall is better than Colorado. There isn't really a bit of mileage there that isn't at least somewhat pretty.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 04, 2020, 05:33:15 PM
Quote from: oscar on December 04, 2020, 05:20:01 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 04, 2020, 04:52:12 PM
Although Colorado is up there, I'd put Utah above us. I think maybe the best would be Hawaii however.
Hawaii has one really scenic Interstate, Interstate H-3, if you don't count the parts passing by the state prison and a large quarry. The others are pretty ordinary. Utah and Colorado both have Hawaii beat. The long stretch of I-84 in Oregon along the Columbia River, and I-5 near Grants Pass, also rank high with me. I-84 in eastern Oregon, not so much.
You would know best. I think people are rating Colorado so high because of the GJ-Denver stretch of I-70 while ignoring that the rest of I-70, all of I-76, and portions of I-25 aren't exciting. If we're "rating" the states by the best portion, then I-H3 would get Hawaii near to the top. If, however, we're including all the interstates in a state, I think Utah overall is better than Colorado. There isn't really a bit of mileage there that isn't at least somewhat pretty.
Chris
I-215 in SLC? Never been on it though.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 04, 2020, 06:52:09 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 04, 2020, 05:33:15 PM
Quote from: oscar on December 04, 2020, 05:20:01 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 04, 2020, 04:52:12 PM
Although Colorado is up there, I'd put Utah above us. I think maybe the best would be Hawaii however.
Hawaii has one really scenic Interstate, Interstate H-3, if you don't count the parts passing by the state prison and a large quarry. The others are pretty ordinary. Utah and Colorado both have Hawaii beat. The long stretch of I-84 in Oregon along the Columbia River, and I-5 near Grants Pass, also rank high with me. I-84 in eastern Oregon, not so much.
You would know best. I think people are rating Colorado so high because of the GJ-Denver stretch of I-70 while ignoring that the rest of I-70, all of I-76, and portions of I-25 aren't exciting. If we're "rating" the states by the best portion, then I-H3 would get Hawaii near to the top. If, however, we're including all the interstates in a state, I think Utah overall is better than Colorado. There isn't really a bit of mileage there that isn't at least somewhat pretty.
Chris
I-215 in SLC? Never been on it though.
Views of the mountains in the distance on the west side and goes right up against the foothills on the east side. Still, for me being a mountain guy, scenic, especially in comparison to other more "elevationally challenged" areas of the country.
Chris
Of the states I've been to, I'd say California or Arizona.
I rode 8 in San Diego out towards La Mesa once and I remember that was pretty.
Also, I like Arizona's atmosphere.
Colorado is very polarized. I-70 and I-76 east of Denver are snoozers. The only remotely interesting thing is when the mountains appear on the horizon, but even that gets old quickly. But then you have I-70 west of Denver. I can't comment on I-25, only driven a small portion. But overall I'd say Colorado would rank in the top five.
For sheer scenery -- over much of the routes -- Montana is difficult to beat. The Yellowstone Valley west of Billings on I-90, I-15 through the canyons either side of Helena, the Clark Fork section of 90 -- even I-94, with a decided lack of "greenery" is interesting in the Yellowstone Valley. But not too far down the list is Oregon, with I-5 being decidedly scenic except for the Eugene-Albany stretch, and I-84, of course, through the Gorge but also over the Blue Mountains (but do keep an eye on that road!). Now, I will admit that I-70 from Golden west to Grand Junction pretty much has everything else beat -- but CO's a "one trick pony" in that regard; I-25's sashay through the foothills isn't all that interesting, and everything else east of it (I-70 & 76) fits that category as well. And I-70's trek through Utah is no slouch, either -- but again, unless you like ultra-flat deserts (I-80's western segment) or a long run through desert and/or semi-arid territory (I-15), that state's also a mixed bag (OK, 80 gets interesting east of SLC, but I-84's main attraction is for rail buffs).
But in the East, I've always liked I-91 through the Connecticut River valley!
Quote from: webny99 on December 04, 2020, 04:57:08 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 04, 2020, 04:51:33 PM
NY. Great mix of rural and urban. :D
I sense a touch of sarcasm, but we do have several Interstates that are great in the fall, including I-86 and the Northway section of I-87, among others.
Thruway west of Utica is very dull.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is very scenic. In fact the 36 mile stretch from Somerset to Bedford is so interesting you forget you are on a long exit less stretch.
I-99 is not bad either. I-80 has its moments, though being a long way from Stroudsburg to Sharon it can be that state's boring alley in some places.
Quote from: roadman65 on December 04, 2020, 11:22:07 PM
Pennsylvania Turnpike is very scenic. In fact the 36 mile stretch from Somerset to Bedford is so interesting you forget you are on a long exit less stretch.
I-99 is not bad either. I-80 has its moments, though being a long way from Stroudsburg to Sharon it can be that state's boring alley in some places.
I think Pennsylvania also counts for
most interesting Interstates because two of them have traffic signals.
I'm sure I'm biased here but I like my state's interstates (Texas). Especially IH 10. You come in from Louisiana through swampland and petrochemical plants then go through a long and flat stretch before the massiveness of Houston where every major road junction is a massive 5 level stack, then you pass through the widest freeway on earth at up to 24 lanes before settling into the southern hill country. Then you hit San Antonio and from there you watch as the green starts to fade and you slowly enter the desert. Then comes El Paso which is nestled among the mountains.
Quote from: stridentweasel on December 05, 2020, 12:42:13 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on December 04, 2020, 11:22:07 PM
Pennsylvania Turnpike is very scenic. In fact the 36 mile stretch from Somerset to Bedford is so interesting you forget you are on a long exit less stretch.
I-99 is not bad either. I-80 has its moments, though being a long way from Stroudsburg to Sharon it can be that state's boring alley in some places.
I think Pennsylvania also counts for most interesting Interstates because two of them have traffic signals.
What's the other? I-376?
Quote from: thspfc on December 05, 2020, 08:14:04 AM
Quote from: stridentweasel on December 05, 2020, 12:42:13 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on December 04, 2020, 11:22:07 PM
Pennsylvania Turnpike is very scenic. In fact the 36 mile stretch from Somerset to Bedford is so interesting you forget you are on a long exit less stretch.
I-99 is not bad either. I-80 has its moments, though being a long way from Stroudsburg to Sharon it can be that state's boring alley in some places.
I think Pennsylvania also counts for most interesting Interstates because two of them have traffic signals.
What's the other? I-376?
I-676
New Hampshire or Vermont might have the best Interstates. For New Hampshire, I-89 and I-93 are both scenic, and I-293, I-393, and I-95 aren't long enough to subtract much. Vermont is similar, with the entire state being in the mountains.
What about New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment? Haven't seen it mentioned much, positively or negatively, in these threads.
I've never been out west but here in the east I agree with NY and PA. I would also throw WV in the mix. After all, it is the Mountain State :-D
It's pretty hard to drive WV's interstates without seeing some kind of scenery. I-77 north of Ripley is probably the state's dullest stretch, which to me is still pretty scenic.
EDIT: Actually, cancel I-77. I-81 is the dullest stretch in WV.
Quote from: plain on December 06, 2020, 11:47:38 AM
I've never been out west but here in the east I agree with NY and PA. I would also throw WV in the mix. After all, it is the Mountain State :-D
It's pretty hard to drive WV's interstates without seeing some kind of scenery. I-77 north of Ripley is probably the state's dullest stretch, which to me is still pretty scenic.
EDIT: Actually, cancel I-77. I-81 is the dullest stretch in WV.
What about I-70 and I-470?
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2020, 11:53:27 AM
Quote from: plain on December 06, 2020, 11:47:38 AM
I've never been out west but here in the east I agree with NY and PA. I would also throw WV in the mix. After all, it is the Mountain State :-D
It's pretty hard to drive WV's interstates without seeing some kind of scenery. I-77 north of Ripley is probably the state's dullest stretch, which to me is still pretty scenic.
EDIT: Actually, cancel I-77. I-81 is the dullest stretch in WV.
What about I-70 and I-470?
I've driven both and they're definitely more scenic than I-81.
How are Alaska's paper interstates?
Quote from: webny99 on December 06, 2020, 10:43:05 AM
What about New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment? Haven't seen it mentioned much, positively or negatively, in these threads.
I-25 around Raton Pass is super pretty. I-10 between Las Cruces and El Paso I remember being nice. The rest is pretty desolate.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 06, 2020, 07:01:02 PM
Quote from: webny99 on December 06, 2020, 10:43:05 AM
What about New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment? Haven't seen it mentioned much, positively or negatively, in these threads.
I-25 around Raton Pass is super pretty. I-10 between Las Cruces and El Paso I remember being nice. The rest is pretty desolate.
Chris
What about I-40 east of Albuquerque?
Quote from: webny99 on December 06, 2020, 10:43:05 AM
What about New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment? Haven't seen it mentioned much, positively or negatively, in these threads.
New Mexico signage is a joke that makes OkDOT look competent.
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 06, 2020, 10:17:49 PM
Quote from: webny99 on December 06, 2020, 10:43:05 AM
What about New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment? Haven't seen it mentioned much, positively or negatively, in these threads.
New Mexico signage is a joke that makes OkDOT look competent.
That I knew... and obviously that affects the quality of the overall experience, but I was thinking more in terms of the scenery.
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 06, 2020, 07:01:02 PM
I-25 around Raton Pass is super pretty.
Yeah, that does look like a nice drive. Added to my bucket list! :thumbsup:
Quote from: thspfc on December 06, 2020, 07:56:23 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 06, 2020, 07:01:02 PM
Quote from: webny99 on December 06, 2020, 10:43:05 AM
What about New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment? Haven't seen it mentioned much, positively or negatively, in these threads.
I-25 around Raton Pass is super pretty. I-10 between Las Cruces and El Paso I remember being nice. The rest is pretty desolate.
Chris
What about I-40 east of Albuquerque?
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40
west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:21:01 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
disclaimer: I have never been to Pittsburgh. Perhaps I should have specified approaches I've actually done.
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:43:25 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:21:01 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
disclaimer: I have never been to Pittsburgh. Perhaps I should have specified approaches I've actually done.
I've never done Albuquerque. I am curious, now
I'll join the consensus on AZ, with the mountains up north and the desert down south, and both meeting in the middle. For that matter, I-17 covers both terrains pretty well.
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:59:00 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:43:25 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:21:01 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
disclaimer: I have never been to Pittsburgh. Perhaps I should have specified approaches I've actually done.
I've never done Albuquerque. I am curious, now
My other favorite city approach (especially at night) is I-80 heading west into Salt Lake City. Windy mountain roads and then all of a sudden it opens up and you see the whole valley.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 08, 2020, 08:42:33 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:59:00 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:43:25 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:21:01 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
disclaimer: I have never been to Pittsburgh. Perhaps I should have specified approaches I've actually done.
I've never done Albuquerque. I am curious, now
My other favorite city approach (especially at night) is I-80 heading west into Salt Lake City. Windy mountain roads and then all of a sudden it opens up and you see the whole valley.
Absolutely. Of course I'm biased since I grew up in Salt Lake, but I think that's my all time favorite. I-70 into Denver also comes to mind, but it just doesn't have the same effect as 80 into SLC in my opinion.
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:21:01 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
Seeing Pittsburgh jump out of nowhere in front of my eyes after exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel for the first time is definitely my favorite Interstate driving memory.
I'm going to second Arizona, especially I-17, though I find the Ohio interstates (aside from I-90 through Cleveland) easiest for driving. VT and NH are fine- the scenery is beautiful, sure, but they're not exactly flat pedal to the medal roads.
Quote from: dkblake on December 10, 2020, 09:49:09 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 07, 2020, 12:21:01 AM
Quote from: US 89 on December 07, 2020, 12:18:32 AM
Surprisingly cool at night is I-40 west of Albuquerque. Relatively boring drive otherwise, but at night driving east you can see the city light ahead gradually get brighter and brighter...but you don't see the city itself, until you crest a hill near the west Central Ave intersection. One of the coolest interstate approaches to a city I know of.
Better than Pittsburgh? From the south in the Fort Pitt Tunnel or from the north on I-279?
Seeing Pittsburgh jump out of nowhere in front of my eyes after exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel for the first time is definitely my favorite Interstate driving memory.
I did it the first few time coming down I-279 off the PA Turnpike, and while you are driving thru the northern Pittsburgh suburban area, due to the hilly/mountainy terrain all around the freeway, you appear to be driving in a remote mountain valley. Then you reach the BGS for the Downtown Pittsburgh interstate junctions, while it still looks like you are in a remote mountain valley. Then you bend around one of those large hills, and Downtown Pittsburgh is just a few miles ahead of you, seemingly out of nowhere
The Fort Pitt Tunnel exit is cool, too. But the experience on a surface freeway like I-279 and getting a similar effect is pretty cool, at least this flat-lander thinks, anyway
The approach from I-70->I-79->I-376 to get to the Fort Pitt Tunnel, feels like a much more suburban/built-up area, approaching Downtown from the south. I felt like driving it, that it built up more like a standard city - from rural to exurbs to suburbs to the city - just have the Fort Pitt Tunnel as the last piece to dump you into downtown
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2020, 01:00:53 PM
How are Alaska's paper interstates?
Because they are all unsigned and not generally referred to by their highway numbers. They are also not constructed to Interstate standards and are basically the same thing as a rural two lane undivided State or US highway. Some of them are built to Interstate standards though like around Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 11, 2020, 01:03:03 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2020, 01:00:53 PM
How are Alaska's paper interstates?
Because they are all unsigned and not generally referred to by their highway numbers. They are also not constructed to Interstate standards and are basically the same thing as a rural two lane undivided State or US highway. Some of them are built to Interstate standards though like around Anchorage and Fairbanks.
But that doesn't really answer the question. How are they? Are they good? Are they interesting?
Quote from: kphoger on December 11, 2020, 01:48:07 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 11, 2020, 01:03:03 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2020, 01:00:53 PM
How are Alaska's paper interstates?
Because they are all unsigned and not generally referred to by their highway numbers. They are also not constructed to Interstate standards and are basically the same thing as a rural two lane undivided State or US highway. Some of them are built to Interstate standards though like around Anchorage and Fairbanks.
But that doesn't really answer the question. How are they? Are they good? Are they interesting?
I'm sure Oscar will be around to answer more definitively, but as someone who knows far too much about Alaskan, Yukon, NWT, etc. roads despite never having been there, the most exciting state highways in Alaska are not the ones that have been selected for the paper interstates. That said, I'd guess on average Alaska would rank in the top 10 states for sure, if nothing else because you're far less likely to see a moose or a grizzly on any other state's interstates. The views on those roads just aren't quite what they are on the Seward Highway, etc.
Chris
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 11, 2020, 02:00:35 PM
... the most exciting state highways in Alaska are not the ones that have been selected for the paper interstates ... The views on those roads just aren't quite what they are on the Seward Highway, etc.
That was my suspicion.
Quote from: jayhawkco on December 11, 2020, 02:00:35 PM
I'm sure Oscar will be around to answer more definitively, but as someone who knows far too much about Alaskan, Yukon, NWT, etc. roads despite never having been there, the most exciting state highways in Alaska are not the ones that have been selected for the paper interstates. That said, I'd guess on average Alaska would rank in the top 10 states for sure, if nothing else because you're far less likely to see a moose or a grizzly on any other state's interstates. The views on those roads just aren't quite what they are on the Seward Highway, etc.
The Seward Highway from Anchorage to the Sterling Highway split is one of the paper interstates (iI-A3). Running along the Turnagain Arm, it is a most impressive drive. We drove it as the tide was going out and saw dozens of Bald Eagles sitting along the beaches hunting for food. This segment of the highway was as interesting as the segment from Sterling to Seward, which is not a paper interstate.
Hawaii has scenic interstates in Oahu.
Quote from: oscar on December 04, 2020, 05:20:01 PM
Hawaii has one really scenic Interstate, Interstate H-3, if you don't count the parts passing by the state prison and a large quarry. The others are pretty ordinary.
Quote from: bing101 on December 11, 2020, 05:01:05 PM
Hawaii has scenic interstates in Oahu.
:fight:
Another interesting interstate approach is SB I-15 heading into Vegas. Again, driving through rolling desert, cresting a hill and then all of a sudden a sea of neon and high-rise buildings out of nowhere. The NB I-15 approach into Sin City isn't as exciting as you can see it coming for miilles.
Quote from: kphoger on December 11, 2020, 05:05:49 PM
Quote from: oscar on December 04, 2020, 05:20:01 PM
Hawaii has one really scenic Interstate, Interstate H-3, if you don't count the parts passing by the state prison and a large quarry. The others are pretty ordinary.
Quote from: bing101 on December 11, 2020, 05:01:05 PM
Hawaii has scenic interstates in Oahu.
:fight:
What?
In Tennessee, I-40 from the Tennessee River crossing all the way to the NC line is very interesting. So is most of I-65 and any part of I-75 north of I-40. The rest of TN's interstates are decent, but I-40 in West TN and parts of I-24, I-75, and I-81 can be snoozefests.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 11, 2020, 07:59:58 PM
What?
Either Oahu has scenic Interstates, or else all but one are rather ordinary.