For most, probably the Pacific or Mountain states
For least, definitely the Midwest states. Are there any interesting roads in the Midwest?
Edit: This question asks for the regions separately.
I don't quite think we're at the point of being untied (sic) yet, although with increasing polarization...
So, the region with the most and least (quality) interesting roads, or the region with the most and least (quantity) interesting roads?
Quote from: interstatefan990 on March 26, 2021, 03:31:48 PM
So, the region with the most and least (quality) interesting roads, or the region with the most and least (quantity) interesting roads?
Quality. If it was quantity, it would be most and fewest.
Quote from: 1 on March 26, 2021, 03:07:25 PM
I don't quite think we're at the point of being untied (sic) yet, although with increasing polarization...
:banghead: Flashback to my 2017 8th grade spelling...
You could just use hyphens instead:
Region of the United States with the most- and least-interesting roads
Of course, that still leaves us with the fact that it only asks for a single region, not two. So which region has both the most- and also the least-interesting roads.
Quote from: kphoger on March 26, 2021, 04:04:46 PM
Of course, that still leaves us with the fact that it only asks for a single region, not two. So which region has both the most- and also the least-interesting roads.
Probably AZ/NV, with some in the mountains for most interesting and the boring Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Tucson suburbs for least interesting.
(Such a region would also include Utah, which also seems to have some of both types.)
Quote from: kphoger on March 26, 2021, 04:04:46 PM
You could just use hyphens instead:
Region of the United States with the most- and least-interesting roads
Of course, that still leaves us with the fact that it only asks for a single region, not two. So which region has both the most- and also the least-interesting roads.
Lol I meant regions.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on March 26, 2021, 03:05:09 PM
For least, definitely the Midwest states. Are there any interesting roads in the Midwest?
Maybe you should come out and see for yourself. Don't knock it until you try it. :D
50% of Colorado is plains, but no one seems to hold that against their roads.
(https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F39%2F2018%2F08%2F20223333%2F171023_2165_159074cf8f09b9da7c99d867aa1ed929463efb5b_w.jpg)
(https://www.exploreminnesota.com/sites/default/files/listing_images/8e7d72fd6594729a6308a7636815701544bcb53d_36.jpg)
Yes, there are interesting roads in the Midwest. However, I'd say they're few and far between.
The midwest is a large region. You have the great plains, the great lakes and some foothills for the Appalachians. Minnesota have a lot of lakes (after all, they're the land of 10000 lakes), so I assume there will be interesting and scenic roads there.
Quote from: SkyPesos on March 26, 2021, 05:06:21 PM
The midwest is a large region. You have the great plains, the great lakes and some foothills for the Appalachians. Minnesota have a lot of lakes (after all, they're the land of 10000 lakes), so I assume there will be interesting and scenic roads there.
Even in the plains, you have drastically different qualities of scenery. Southeastern Minnesota is gorgeous just driving through the fields. Southeastern Colorado is mind-numbing by and large.
To answer the question though, I'd biased but I'll take the West over any other region. I'll nominate the Deep South or Dust Bowl for the worst.
Chris
I wonder how long this thread will last.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on March 26, 2021, 03:05:09 PM
For most, probably the Pacific or Mountain states
I'd go with the northeast, personally.
Quote
For least, definitely the Midwest states.
I'd
probably agree, but....
Quote
Are there any interesting roads in the Midwest?
Yes, there are. Do you want me to list them all and explain why I find each of them interesting? We'd be here a while, but fortunately, I have a full vat of Folgers.
Quote from: jayhawkco on March 26, 2021, 05:11:49 PM
Southeastern Colorado is mind-numbing by and large.
And yet I quite enjoyed driving US-160 from Springfield to Trinidad last fall.
(https://i.imgur.com/wbpIt5y.png)
Quote from: kphoger on March 26, 2021, 06:24:03 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on March 26, 2021, 05:11:49 PM
Southeastern Colorado is mind-numbing by and large.
And yet I quite enjoyed driving US-160 from Springfield to Trinidad last fall.
(https://i.imgur.com/wbpIt5y.png)
I didn't find too much to excite me. There were only a few spots east of I-25 that I thought were pretty (CO71 north of CO14, CO63). Glad I got them all out of the way for clinching when I had some good audiobooks.
Chris
Rhode Island or the US territories. Because they don't even have that many roads to begin with.
Quote from: kphoger on March 26, 2021, 04:48:10 PM
Yes, there are interesting roads in the Midwest. However, I'd say they're few and far between.
I'm tempted to disagree, not because I think there are tons, but because they tend to be in bunches.
Quote from: interstatefan990 on March 26, 2021, 06:37:00 PM
Rhode Island or the US territories. Because they don't even have that many roads to begin with.
For places that don't have many roads to start off, I find Hawaii's freeways interesting, specifically H3. While most US freeways try to go around mountains in mountainous terrain, H3 goes through them on viaducts and tunnels, something I see frequently in Chinese and Japanese freeways, and I much prefer this over going around the mountains.
Quote from: webny99 on March 26, 2021, 07:36:44 PM
Quote from: kphoger on March 26, 2021, 04:48:10 PM
Yes, there are interesting roads in the Midwest. However, I'd say they're few and far between.
I'm tempted to disagree, not because I think there are tons, but because they tend to be in bunches.
Actually, my thought would be expressed better as "the bunches are few and far between".
Quote from: SkyPesos on March 26, 2021, 07:42:23 PM
Quote from: interstatefan990 on March 26, 2021, 06:37:00 PM
Rhode Island or the US territories. Because they don't even have that many roads to begin with.
For places that don't have many roads to start off, I find Hawaii's freeways interesting, specifically H3. While most US freeways try to go around mountains in mountainous terrain, H3 goes through them on viaducts and tunnels, something I see frequently in Chinese and Japanese freeways, and I much prefer this over going around the mountains.
Agree!! I got to drive it for the first time when I was there in 2018. Really fun and scenic drive.
Everyone seems to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Some areas of the Southeast (looking at you, LA, MS, AL, FL and GA), especially about 10-100 miles from the coast, are just featureless flat roads with endless amounts of trees on either side. At least in the Midwest you can usually see relatively far. The Southeast is just an endless wall.
Sample: (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4821874,-90.3100409,3a,37.8y,88.16h,87.72t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D108.88129%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
Quote from: CoreySamson on March 26, 2021, 11:11:43 PM
Everyone seems to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Some areas of the Southeast (looking at you, LA, MS, AL, FL and GA), especially about 10-100 miles from the coast, are just featureless flat roads with endless amounts of trees on either side. At least in the Midwest you can usually see relatively far. The Southeast is just an endless wall.
Sample: (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4821874,-90.3100409,3a,37.8y,88.16h,87.72t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D108.88129%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
I second this. However, this thread seems to be defining "regions" very broadly. All of the southeastern states are being grouped together, and when you include the southern Apps, that region would outdo the Midwest. But it's pretty obvious that, say, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan combined would beat Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina combined.
Quote from: thspfc on March 27, 2021, 01:17:19 PM
Quote from: CoreySamson on March 26, 2021, 11:11:43 PM
Everyone seems to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Some areas of the Southeast (looking at you, LA, MS, AL, FL and GA), especially about 10-100 miles from the coast, are just featureless flat roads with endless amounts of trees on either side. At least in the Midwest you can usually see relatively far. The Southeast is just an endless wall.
Sample: (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4821874,-90.3100409,3a,37.8y,88.16h,87.72t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D108.88129%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
I second this. However, this thread seems to be defining "regions" very broadly. All of the southeastern states are being grouped together, and when you include the southern Apps, that region would outdo the Midwest. But it's pretty obvious that, say, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan combined would beat Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina combined.
The Southern Apps count as the south.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on March 27, 2021, 01:30:16 PM
Quote from: thspfc on March 27, 2021, 01:17:19 PM
Quote from: CoreySamson on March 26, 2021, 11:11:43 PM
Everyone seems to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Some areas of the Southeast (looking at you, LA, MS, AL, FL and GA), especially about 10-100 miles from the coast, are just featureless flat roads with endless amounts of trees on either side. At least in the Midwest you can usually see relatively far. The Southeast is just an endless wall.
Sample: (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4821874,-90.3100409,3a,37.8y,88.16h,87.72t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DthkdqJjk4PGshdj9rmVyXQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D108.88129%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
I second this. However, this thread seems to be defining "regions" very broadly. All of the southeastern states are being grouped together, and when you include the southern Apps, that region would outdo the Midwest. But it's pretty obvious that, say, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan combined would beat Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina combined.
The Southern Apps count as the south.
You missed the point. We're defining regions too broadly. Tennessee and Florida are both in the southeast. But that's only if you are splitting the country up into four large regions, rather than eight or ten smaller ones. For this purpose, we shouldn't be including Tennessee and Florida in the same region, because that would be too large to give an accurate representation of what the roads in those states are actually like, since we would be defining an entire quarter of the country based on just a few states.
...and here we go with regional definitions. Wonder when the thread will be locked.
Quote from: Rothman on March 27, 2021, 02:21:45 PM
...and here we go with regional definitions. Wonder when the thread will be locked.
Why is this so hard to understand? It's not about regional definitions. I don't care what your definitions are. It's about breaking our existing definitions, no matter what they may be, down into smaller sub-regions specifically for this purpose. Never anywhere did I mention anything about regional definitions themselves that is not simply common sense.
Quote from: thspfc on March 27, 2021, 02:42:51 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 27, 2021, 02:21:45 PM
...and here we go with regional definitions. Wonder when the thread will be locked.
Why is this so hard to understand? It's not about regional definitions. I don't care what your definitions are. It's about breaking our existing definitions, no matter what they may be, down into smaller sub-regions specifically for this purpose. Never anywhere did I mention anything about regional definitions themselves that is not simply common sense.
Regions, subregions...doesn't matter. Once you get into geographic definitions, everyone's got an opinion and it turns into a crap show. :D
Define regions however you want I don't care
As someone who grew up in New a England and now lives out west, I found Utah to be the most interesting simply because everything was the opposite. Seeing wide surface streets, retroreflective borders on almost all the traffic signals and the grid system (100 N. 400, for example) were major changes. Utah's modern, concrete freeways with plenty of merge space and the overall topography of Salt Lake City also made for an unique trip. Contrast that to New England with narrow 2 lane roads, antiqued interstates from the 1950s, old traffic signals and signage, etc. It's interesting because it was new to me, but I'm sure those who lived mostly out west would find driving the roads on the east coast strange and be shocked at the short merge lanes (don't get me started with PA's STOP signs at on-ramps). Now when I'm back in my hometown I find it weird how the intersections aren't perfect 90 degree angles and I feel like I'm going to hit a tree every time I drive on a narrow 25mph back road with no shoulders.
iPhone
Sorry about a different type of regional definition, but the Alleghenies tend to have spectacular northeast-southwest diagonals running through the valleys, whereas the Blue Ridge tends to have spectacular crossings. I'm particularly fond of US-219 and US-220 in the former; US-211 and VA-56 in the latter. Some routes that buck those trends: WV/VA-39 across the Alleghenies and I-81 along the upper Shenandoah Valley.
In all honesty I think this is similar to a thread a while back about the regions with the most beautiful highways. To make a distinction though, if we mean "interesting" as in the road itself, more so than its surroundings, than I think the Northeast/Mid Atlantic is probabally the winner. Being the most settled part of the country, and having so many roads that had to be built as an afterthought or with odd constraints results in a fascinating array of designs, signage, intersections, etc. that the rest of the country does not really have to the same extent.
What are we defining as "interesting?" Scenery, or highway features?
Quote from: hbelkins on March 29, 2021, 12:59:22 PM
What are we defining as "interesting?" Scenery, or highway features?
For me at least, I'm going scenery with "fun to drive" a.k.a. curves, elevation changes, etc. I'm also not in the camp of roadgeeks that thinks a whole lot about interchange types and such.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on March 29, 2021, 03:00:45 PM
For me at least, I'm going scenery with "fun to drive" a.k.a. curves, elevation changes, etc. I'm also not in the camp of roadgeeks that thinks a whole lot about interchange types and such.
"Fun to drive" varies a lot from person to person, and it definitely varies from vehicle to vehicle.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 29, 2021, 12:59:22 PM
What are we defining as "interesting?" Scenery, or highway features?
Mostly scenery
Quote from: stridentweasel on March 29, 2021, 05:01:32 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on March 29, 2021, 03:00:45 PM
For me at least, I'm going scenery with "fun to drive" a.k.a. curves, elevation changes, etc. I'm also not in the camp of roadgeeks that thinks a whole lot about interchange types and such.
"Fun to drive" varies a lot from person to person, and it definitely varies from vehicle to vehicle.
Ditto. It is one thing to say what is more scenic, that is at least somewhat objective, or interesting from a road oddities standpoint, that is even more objective. "Fun to drive" is vague and very subjective. The above sounds like something to drive in a sports car, which incidentally is not a good vehicle for a long cruise, so we are looking at very different criteria here.
The eastern half.
Politicial discussion (and subsequent posts) removed.