I'm not looking for a specific answer here, more just looking for locations on the road where you can see very far in both directions.
I'll start with one of my favorites, in one of the most remote parts of the country: US 95 in southeastern Oregon (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6890754,-117.8629707,3a,53.1y,1.87h,86.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDzQJiO6ADBfkmYFu64j3xQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)
Oh, and I should add: bonus points for being able to see the road itself and not just land/sea/etc.
Here? (https://goo.gl/maps/xPb97taYek22ivy27) :biggrin:
Here? (https://goo.gl/maps/8Gr5TqtxkxDrGpqw6) :bigass:
Maybe here?
https://goo.gl/maps/zcdtHQQBQKdKBLoG9
Seems to me like any old long-distance rural Interstate would qualify for this thread.
How about a different sort of location, a road I've personally driven?
Imogene Pass, Colorado (https://goo.gl/maps/mG4Px1sfrsF1nRYx7)
Quote from: interstatefan990 on February 25, 2021, 01:27:22 PM
Seems to me like any old long-distance rural Interstate would qualify for this thread.
Not necessarily. Many in the Midwest might, but anything with a lot of curvature (over hills/mountains) wouldn't, and anything that runs through dense vegetation, (like many of the interstates in the Carolinas) also wouldn't.
Quote from: kphoger on February 25, 2021, 01:39:04 PM
How about a different sort of location, a road I've personally driven?
Imogene Pass, Colorado (https://goo.gl/maps/mG4Px1sfrsF1nRYx7)
I was mostly thinking of views from the road, but sure.
I can't compete with Colorado, but
Whiteface Mountain (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.367328,-73.9065077,3a,75y,235.6h,76.05t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipNFnxVZoM3CCx2C6UPcnv7c8ZgK0BRW4rkwyjp8!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNFnxVZoM3CCx2C6UPcnv7c8ZgK0BRW4rkwyjp8%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi0-ya316.17422-ro-0-fo100!7i8704!8i4352!5m1!1e1) isn't too shabby.
Quote from: webny99 on February 25, 2021, 01:42:40 PM
Quote from: kphoger on February 25, 2021, 01:39:04 PM
How about a different sort of location, a road I've personally driven?
Imogene Pass, Colorado (https://goo.gl/maps/mG4Px1sfrsF1nRYx7)
I was mostly thinking of views from the road, but sure.
That photo sphere was taken quite close to the actual mountain pass.
This vehicle (https://goo.gl/maps/VSUs6DrNUcrdhWEA6) is barely even off the road, for example. The wooden sign next to it is right here:
(https://i.imgur.com/PoLtEap.png)
So yeah, you can see quite a way in either direction from the road.
Or another in Colorado, the end of CO5. (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5877271,-105.6421544,3a,75y,54.92h,95.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxp3O5fO8S3b7qkjd7Vuoyw!2e0!7i3328!8i1664!5m1!1e1)
Chris
Quote from: kphoger on February 25, 2021, 02:01:56 PM
Quote from: webny99 on February 25, 2021, 01:42:40 PM
I was mostly thinking of views from the road, but sure.
That photo sphere was taken quite close to the actual mountain pass.
This vehicle (https://goo.gl/maps/VSUs6DrNUcrdhWEA6) is barely even off the road, for example. The wooden sign next to it is right here:
[img snipped]
So yeah, you can see quite a way in either direction from the road.
It's not paved, and it doesn't look like a road that just any vehicle could travel, so that's a little different, but, it does certainly fit in spirit.
Curvature of the Earth means that a rural plains Interstate (or US 1 connecting the Keys) will not be the highest. You have to look downhill.
Quote from: webny99 on February 25, 2021, 02:58:10 PM
It's not paved, and it doesn't look like a road that just any vehicle could travel, so that's a little different, but, it does certainly fit in spirit.
Oh, is this only for paved roads?
(I drove it in a rented Jeep Wrangler.)
Quote from: kphoger on February 25, 2021, 03:01:15 PM
Quote from: webny99 on February 25, 2021, 02:58:10 PM
It's not paved, and it doesn't look like a road that just any vehicle could travel, so that's a little different, but, it does certainly fit in spirit.
Oh, is this only for paved roads?
(I drove it in a rented Jeep Wrangler.)
No, unpaved is fine. :pan:
Quote from: 1 on February 25, 2021, 03:00:29 PM
Curvature of the Earth means that a rural plains Interstate (or US 1 connecting the Keys) will not be the highest. You have to look downhill.
The furthest I've ever seen in any one direction on flat land (https://www.google.com/maps/@26.4232261,-80.5499093,11.6z) while driving was about 3 miles, based on flashing beacons while travelling 60 mph and using a stopwatch.
The winner so probably some tall hill or gentle mountain-like rise on a very straight road, if the need to see the road continuously applies towards this search.
Quote from: jayhawkco on February 25, 2021, 02:08:02 PM
Or another in Colorado, the end of CO5. (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5877271,-105.6421544,3a,75y,54.92h,95.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxp3O5fO8S3b7qkjd7Vuoyw!2e0!7i3328!8i1664!5m1!1e1)
Chris
Been there. Frickin' awesome.
Quote from: formulanone on February 25, 2021, 03:22:31 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 25, 2021, 03:00:29 PM
Curvature of the Earth means that a rural plains Interstate (or US 1 connecting the Keys) will not be the highest. You have to look downhill.
...
The winner so probably some tall hill or gentle mountain-like rise on a very straight road, if the need to see the road continuously applies towards this search.
Ahem:
Quote from: webny99 on February 25, 2021, 01:10:30 PM
I'll start with one of my favorites, in one of the most remote parts of the country: US 95 in southeastern Oregon (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6890754,-117.8629707,3a,53.1y,1.87h,86.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDzQJiO6ADBfkmYFu64j3xQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)
Quote from: webny99 on February 25, 2021, 01:39:35 PM
Quote from: interstatefan990 on February 25, 2021, 01:27:22 PM
Seems to me like any old long-distance rural Interstate would qualify for this thread.
Not necessarily. Many in the Midwest might, but anything with a lot of curvature (over hills/mountains) wouldn't, and anything that runs through dense vegetation, (like many of the interstates in the Carolinas) also wouldn't.
When you said "farthest you can see in both directions" did you mean the physical roadway or the landscape in general? Because even on mountainous and curvy routes, there can still be a lot of visibility due to higher elevation and/or the overall rural area the highway runs through.
US 50/I-70 in Salina, Utah:
https://goo.gl/maps/95bQF4anWikPqUXP6
Quote from: interstatefan990 on February 25, 2021, 03:48:11 PM
When you said "farthest you can see in both directions" did you mean the physical roadway or the landscape in general? Because even on mountainous and curvy routes, there can still be a lot of visibility due to higher elevation and/or the overall rural area the highway runs through.
US 50/I-70 in Salina, Utah:
https://goo.gl/maps/95bQF4anWikPqUXP6
I originally had in mind the physical roadway (see the OP example) but either way is fine.
I immediately thought about my ride on US 93 through southeastern Nevada.
Midspan of the 17.5 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, you can see land on both ends. https://goo.gl/maps/d8XgbQzzNutBaMbUA
Quote from: formulanone on February 25, 2021, 03:22:31 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 25, 2021, 03:00:29 PM
Curvature of the Earth means that a rural plains Interstate (or US 1 connecting the Keys) will not be the highest. You have to look downhill.
The furthest I've ever seen in any one direction on flat land (https://www.google.com/maps/@26.4232261,-80.5499093,11.6z) while driving was about 3 miles, based on flashing beacons while travelling 60 mph and using a stopwatch.
The winner so probably some tall hill or gentle mountain-like rise on a very straight road, if the need to see the road continuously applies towards this search.
Or a situation with mountains in the distance as they will overcome the curvature of the earth to be visible, so you don't need to look downhill.
Chris
From many points in Seattle and Everett, one can see both Tahoma (Mount Rainier) and Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker). If driving on I-5 north of Everett, that's about 81 miles to Tahoma and 57 miles to Kulshan. In fact, the lowest part of Tahoma is cut off from that distance due to the curvature of the earth's surface.
This would be the perfect thread for someone to post a GMSV link that points towards the ground. :spin:
Quote from: Bruce on February 25, 2021, 04:19:41 PM
From many points in Seattle and Everett, one can see both Tahoma (Mount Rainier) and Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker). If driving on I-5 north of Everett, that's about 81 miles to Tahoma and 57 miles to Kulshan. In fact, the lowest part of Tahoma is cut off from that distance due to the curvature of the earth's surface.
Another one from Colorado. (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8414562,-105.0462603,3a,75y,287.12h,92.01t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D282.73383%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) On clear days, you can see both Wyoming and Kansas, so upwards of 150 miles to the north and east. And according to this (https://www.peakfinder.org/?lat=38.8407&lng=-105.0427&azi=250&zoom=5&ele=4283&cfg=sm&date=2021-02-25T21:23Z&name=38.8404643%2C-105.0441825), you can see the summit of Mount Antero which is about 73 miles away to the west.
Chris
I think we need a few parameters set here, because being able to see mountain peaks off in the distance is not the same as having 1 long continuous view.
Quote from: Terry Shea on February 25, 2021, 04:49:45 PM
I think we need a few parameters set here, because being able to see mountain peaks off in the distance is not the same as having 1 long continuous view.
I second this.
Seeing mountains can be a continuous view if you count the foothills.
Limiting to a completely flat plain would exclude a pretty good chunk of the country.
Quote from: Bruce on February 25, 2021, 05:41:20 PM
Seeing mountains can be a continuous view if you count the foothills.
Limiting to a completely flat plain would exclude a pretty good chunk of the country.
Yes, but seeing Mount Ranier off in 1 direction and seeing Mount Hood the other way (not sure if that's possible but just using an extreme example) is not the same as seeing 1 long continuous land mass. And I'm not saying that either scenario should be discounted. I'm just not sure what the criteria is.
South Dakota is very flat for this kind of thing.
this sort of pales in comparison... but if you look to the left of the truck, you can just barely see the foothills of the mountains. this point is 24 miles east of ault, which is 20 miles east of fort collins, and probably 4-5 more miles to the foothills from foco. almost 50 miles.
https://goo.gl/maps/tSWY3B3KfV4hmQrv9 (https://goo.gl/maps/tSWY3B3KfV4hmQrv9)
Quote from: jayhawkco on February 25, 2021, 04:32:09 PM
Quote from: Bruce on February 25, 2021, 04:19:41 PM
From many points in Seattle and Everett, one can see both Tahoma (Mount Rainier) and Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker). If driving on I-5 north of Everett, that's about 81 miles to Tahoma and 57 miles to Kulshan. In fact, the lowest part of Tahoma is cut off from that distance due to the curvature of the earth's surface.
Another one from Colorado. (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8414562,-105.0462603,3a,75y,287.12h,92.01t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D282.73383%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) On clear days, you can see both Wyoming and Kansas, so upwards of 150 miles to the north and east. And according to this (https://www.peakfinder.org/?lat=38.8407&lng=-105.0427&azi=250&zoom=5&ele=4283&cfg=sm&date=2021-02-25T21:23Z&name=38.8404643%2C-105.0441825), you can see the summit of Mount Antero which is about 73 miles away to the west.
I don't think you can actually see Kansas from Pikes Peak even on the clearest day thanks to Earth's curvature:
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/?view=SRRNJIQK
Quote from: Terry Shea on February 25, 2021, 09:41:35 PM
Quote from: Bruce on February 25, 2021, 05:41:20 PM
Seeing mountains can be a continuous view if you count the foothills.
Limiting to a completely flat plain would exclude a pretty good chunk of the country.
Yes, but seeing Mount Ranier off in 1 direction and seeing Mount Hood the other way (not sure if that's possible but just using an extreme example) is not the same as seeing 1 long continuous land mass. And I'm not saying that either scenario should be discounted. I'm just not sure what the criteria is.
Emphasis on being able to see the road itself a long ways into the distance, or at least being able to see land continuously unblocked by trees/hills/etc. That doesn't exclude mountains in the background - again, see my example in the OP.
Quote from: US 89 on February 26, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
Quote from: jayhawkco on February 25, 2021, 04:32:09 PM
Quote from: Bruce on February 25, 2021, 04:19:41 PM
From many points in Seattle and Everett, one can see both Tahoma (Mount Rainier) and Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker). If driving on I-5 north of Everett, that's about 81 miles to Tahoma and 57 miles to Kulshan. In fact, the lowest part of Tahoma is cut off from that distance due to the curvature of the earth's surface.
Another one from Colorado. (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8414562,-105.0462603,3a,75y,287.12h,92.01t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D282.73383%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) On clear days, you can see both Wyoming and Kansas, so upwards of 150 miles to the north and east. And according to this (https://www.peakfinder.org/?lat=38.8407&lng=-105.0427&azi=250&zoom=5&ele=4283&cfg=sm&date=2021-02-25T21:23Z&name=38.8404643%2C-105.0441825), you can see the summit of Mount Antero which is about 73 miles away to the west.
I don't think you can actually see Kansas from Pikes Peak even on the clearest day thanks to Earth's curvature:
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/?view=SRRNJIQK
Ok. How about this. You can see Wyoming. You can see New Mexico. You can see within 15 miles of Kansas. You can see within 5 miles of Nebraska. That's still pretty remarkable.
Chris
Quote from: US 89 on February 26, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
Quote from: jayhawkco on February 25, 2021, 04:32:09 PM
Quote from: Bruce on February 25, 2021, 04:19:41 PM
From many points in Seattle and Everett, one can see both Tahoma (Mount Rainier) and Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker). If driving on I-5 north of Everett, that's about 81 miles to Tahoma and 57 miles to Kulshan. In fact, the lowest part of Tahoma is cut off from that distance due to the curvature of the earth's surface.
Another one from Colorado. (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8414562,-105.0462603,3a,75y,287.12h,92.01t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DHWjsdchxXl7b1WGqykRfww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D282.73383%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) On clear days, you can see both Wyoming and Kansas, so upwards of 150 miles to the north and east. And according to this (https://www.peakfinder.org/?lat=38.8407&lng=-105.0427&azi=250&zoom=5&ele=4283&cfg=sm&date=2021-02-25T21:23Z&name=38.8404643%2C-105.0441825), you can see the summit of Mount Antero which is about 73 miles away to the west.
I don't think you can actually see Kansas from Pikes Peak even on the clearest day thanks to Earth's curvature:
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/?view=SRRNJIQK
You are right, and I've said this for a long time. But, the local tourism folks in Colorado Springs have been maintaining for decades that (on a clear day) you can see CO, WY, NM and KS from the top of Pikes Peak. KS is too far. Back when I lived in COS, I drove to the top of Pikes Peak and was geeky enough to tune around on my FM radio. Denver, Cheyenne, Ft. Collins signals all loud and clear. Farthest east I could identify was from Burlington, CO; I received some stations from places like Vail and Aspen (which are never heard on the Front Range) but no Grand Junction/Montrose ones.
Why is this relevant? Because FM signals primarily travel in a straight line (yes there are exceptions like tropospheric ducting) and are usually transmitted from some form of a tower. If you could actually "see" Kansas, you'd likely receive a decent signal from a station in Goodland, KS - which doesn't even mean that you can "see" Goodland, but does mean that the elevated transmitter site is within line of sight. Of course, in more humid parts of the county this isn't nearly as definitive because you get ducting at times which is why I often pick up signals from west Michigan here in southern WI - and they're not within line of sight, the signals are ducted to me over the lake under such conditions.
Away from the mountains, and just a rise on an otherwise flat area: https://goo.gl/maps/dYHGE9AqdnDVm4H96
That reminds me of another long bridge in Louisiana:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3653686,-91.6382205,3a,15y,253.05h,88.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s70f6FX_4vZ5k2h_41-qfug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656