Simple enough question: What five highways do you want to drive in your lifetime? For me:
-Blue Ridge Parkway in its entirety
-I-95 in its entirety
-US 6/50 through Nevada
-I-40 in its entirety
-I-90 in its entirety
What's so special about i-40? [emoji848]
Pixel 5
What comes to mind off the top of my head. I'm equally inclined to try some of these on a mountain bike, OHV vehicle or just plain old hiking:
1. The Yungas Road
2. Highway 1 Australia
3. The Trans-Siberian Highway
4. The Trans-Canada Highway
5. Black Bear Pass Road
Some of my wish list just for California which I haven't done yet:
- The Bradshaw Trail
- Titus Canyon Road
- The entirety of White Mountain Road
- Rock Creek Road
- Mendocino Pass Road
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 05, 2021, 04:54:30 PM
What's so special about i-40? [emoji848]
Pixel 5
It's probably among the more interesting of the x0s. Actually makes it to coastal states on both ends, unlike 20 or 30, probably more interesting scenery than 10 or 80, doesn't send you through the congested northeast like 90. I want to clinch it sometime too (I'm a little over halfway there at this point).
The entire Alaska/Alcan Highway, plus the Dalton Highway to the north edge of the continent.
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 05, 2021, 05:15:36 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 05, 2021, 04:54:30 PM
What's so special about i-40? [emoji848]
Pixel 5
It's probably among the more interesting of the x0s. Actually makes it to coastal states on both ends, unlike 20 or 30, probably more interesting scenery than 10 or 80, doesn't send you through the congested northeast like 90. I want to clinch it sometime too (I'm a little over halfway there at this point).
I finished I-40 a couple years back. I like the scenery in places like the Colorado Plateau and Mojave Desert quite a bit. It's still hard to take I-40 over more scenic stuff like National Old Trails Road, Oatman Highway and AZ 66.
I-70 and I-170 in Baltimore :bigass:
Natchez Trace Parkway
US-83 (called "The Road to Nowhere" in Jamie Jensen's Road Trip USA)
New Jersey Turnpike
US-101 in Oregon and Washington
Trans-Canada Highway
United States:
- Clinch US-20
- I-17
- I-5
- I-95 (already driven a little bit of it in Florida but I want to drive it in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic)
- I-376
Outside of the United States:
- BC-99
- Ontario 401
- German autobahns
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 05, 2021, 05:46:13 PM
I-70 and I-170 in Baltimore :bigass:
No such thing. :awesomeface:
Quote from: thspfc on July 05, 2021, 05:55:02 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 05, 2021, 05:46:13 PM
I-70 and I-170 in Baltimore :bigass:
No such thing. :awesomeface:
Well, technically, I've driven on I-170. The completed part, anyways.
I'll stick with just North American countries for this exercise.
1. Dempster Highway
2. Apache Trail
3. Hana Highway
4. Cabot Trail
5. Viking Trail
Chris
All of these except CA 1 I've driven varying portions of.
CA 1
US 50
US 101
US 212
US 16
CA 1 entire length
US 101 entire length
Interstate 80 from San Francisco to Omaha
Interstate 5 from border to border
Interstate 15 from San Diego to the Canadian border
Quote from: xcellntbuy on July 05, 2021, 06:23:16 PM
CA 1 entire length
US 101 entire length
Interstate 80 from San Francisco to Denver
Interstate 5 from border to border
Interstate 15 from San Diego to the Canadian border
Skip I-5, the Central Valley segment is basically unbearable and a snooze fest. Go for something more worth it like US 395.
I-366
The Hypotenuse
Whichever highway goes (and doesn't go) to Alanland
Highway to Hell
Rainbow Road
Now seriously:
CL-101 + CM-101, as an alternate way to Madrid. I started that a few days ago.
Former N618 in France, especially between Laruns and Arreau (a day trip for me, has several mythical Tour de France passes: Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin).
B180 south of Aschersleben, Saxony Anhalt, Germany just to stop on that food truck bus along the way (Yes, a food bus (https://www.google.es/maps/place/Hahndorf's+Bus+Gulasch+Kanonen/@51.6739664,11.4617544,748a,35y,1.05h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47a5c42b49a3887f:0x32c023d35afc73c7!8m2!3d51.67379!4d11.4638847)).
Interstates of the USA
Expressways of China
17 mile drive
Overseas Hwy
Blue Ridge Pkwy
HI 360
AK 3
All of the following in their entirety (note that I've already driven parts of some of them):
US 1 in New Jersey
US 9 in New Jersey
US 24 in Michigan
US 1 south of Miami, Florida
US 101
Quote from: thspfc on July 05, 2021, 05:54:23 PM
United States:
...
- I-95 (already driven a little bit of it in Florida but I want to drive it in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic)
To do it right, go from Boston to DC (or vice versa) during a weekday. Sit in congestion like a local.
In no particular order:
US 60, end-to-end (I have from near the OK/MO border to its eastern terminus in Virginia Beach).
US 50, end-to-end (I have from near the KS/MO border to its eastern terminus in Maryland, and other bits in Kansas and Colorado.)
Moki Dugway (probably getting this one next month)
US 23, end to end (I have from I-985 to Ann Arbor).
I'll have to think about the fifth one.
In no particular order:
- Transpeninsular Highway (MEX-1 in Baja California)- will complete that this winter if all goes as planned
- Alaska Highway
- Trans-Labrador Highway to Newfoundland from Quebec
- MEX 180 from Matamoros to Cancun
- Autopista Mazatlan - Durango (MEX-40D)- Completed in NOV 2017
Overall my goal is to drive in every US state, except Hawaii; every Canadian province and territory, except Nunavut; and every Mexican estado. I hate flying, and I don't ever plan on ever getting on a plane again.
In no particular order:
- All of I-10
- I-635 TEXpress Lanes
- All of I-40
- I-376 approach into Pittsburgh
- I-70 in Colorado
Bonus would be Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
Blue Ridge Parkway
US 1
US 40
US 66
Garden State Parkway
And for extra credit
I-70 from the Baltimore Beltway into Baltimore
Dalton Hwy
The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Hwy
Trying to clinch all the Interstates, so that covers the rest.
I-70 west of Denver
CA 1 in the Big Sur
US 50 or US 6 in Nevada
Dalton Highway
Pam American Highway
Anything else really
US-2
MN-61
Dalton Highway
US-1
US-40 (screw I-70)
In no particular order:
BC 99 Sea to Sky Hwy
CA 1
I-70 west of Denver
Any of the Sierra or Cascades interstate highway passes
China G50 expressway
1. US 97/BC 97-YK 1:Alaska Highway/AK 2. Weed to Fairbanks in one fell swoop (I'll wait until Weed stops burning, though!)
2. Trans-Canada from St. Johns to Victoria, again in one session.
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
4. Old (1950's) MSR 789, Nogales-Sweetgrass. Done a lot of sections, but would like to do one straight shot.
5. US 62, EB (NB?): The weirdest, but arguably most interesting, of the few true diagonals.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Trans-Canada Highway
Alaska Highway
Somewhere in Georgia
Millau Viaduct
Speed Limit 80+
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
That route is 2 hours longer and over 100 miles longer than the I-44 / I-70 / I-76 / I-276 / I-95 routing.
Quote from: thspfc on July 05, 2021, 05:54:23 PM
United States:
- Clinch US-20
- I-17
- I-5
- I-95 (already driven a little bit of it in Florida but I want to drive it in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic)
- I-376
Outside of the United States:
- BC-99
- Ontario 401
- German autobahns
i-17 is a fun drive. especially if you drive south. some of the steepest grades i have ever driven.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
That route is 2 hours longer and over 100 miles longer than the I-44 / I-70 / I-76 / I-276 / I-95 routing.
Does the I-44 route go through more big cities?
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 05, 2021, 05:15:36 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 05, 2021, 04:54:30 PM
What's so special about i-40? [emoji848]
Pixel 5
It's probably among the more interesting of the x0s. Actually makes it to coastal states on both ends, unlike 20 or 30, probably more interesting scenery than 10 or 80, doesn't send you through the congested northeast like 90. I want to clinch it sometime too (I'm a little over halfway there at this point).
Not that it makes an interstate worse, but doesn't I-40 go through the least metro area population of the x0s? Unless the LA area goes all the way to where I-40 is, there's not that many large metro areas on 40 compared to 10, 20, 70, 80 and 90.
Expressways in China and Japan.
California Highway 1 along the Pacific coast.
Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia
US-199 in Oregon / NORCAL (one of eight US routes I've never driven - guess the others)
US-730 in Oregon / Washington
US-285 in New Mexico / Colorado
US-491 in Colorado / Arizona / New Mexico
US-57 in Texas
US-181 in Texas
US-310 in Wyoming
US-212 in Montana
Blue Ridge Parkway / Skyline Drive in their entirety (I've been on parts of both)
U.S. 2 in Michigan's U.P.
I-10 in its entirety (so I can have the full coast-to-coast experience)
I-81 in its entirety (only been on part of it)
I-68 in its entirety (only been on part of it)
To properly enjoy california 1 you have to go south, and also not be the driver!
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on July 06, 2021, 11:35:53 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
That route is 2 hours longer and over 100 miles longer than the I-44 / I-70 / I-76 / I-276 / I-95 routing.
Does the I-44 route go through more big cities?
To keep my post reasonably short, I omitted some interim connections: 270/255 around St. Louis, potentially 465 around Indy, 270 around Columbus (depending upon when in the day they were to be traversed), and, definitely, 470 around Wheeling. I've actually done the run in segments, so there's a bit of leeway necessary rather than just plow through the various cities on the principal trunk route. Hey, if the Kilpatrick around OKC was an Interstate, I'd probably use it as well.
1. All of IH 10 from coast to coast (done from San Antonio to Jacksonville but only remember San Antonio to about gulfport
2. All of IH 90
3. IH 70 through Colorado
4. All of IH 35
5. IH H3
Going to the sun road
US 191 (alll)
BQE (been on part of it but I dig urban substandard freeways) or GWB
Here (Saigon) to Hanoi without using the QL1A
That one super dangerous highway in Bolivia
I've done a lot of the roads mentioned on this thread. 70 west is awesome, exceeds its hype. So does Big Sur. 50 in Nevada was a good time. Don't get all the 40 love, it's ok in CA, AZ, NM but boring by CA, AZ, and NM standards, boring as hell in OK and TX, and while the scenery from Nashville to Statesville was nice, traffic was abysmal the one time I was on that stretch.
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 06, 2021, 12:46:24 PM
To properly enjoy california 1 you have to go south, and also not be the driver!
Depends on what day, if you do 1 on weekdays and outside of the summer season you ought to be fine in both directions. CA 1 also has some incredible driving segments which I wouldn't want to miss as a person who likes fun roads. Amusingly on Gribblenation we have most of CA 1 logged going northbound instead of south.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
That route is 2 hours longer and over 100 miles longer than the I-44 / I-70 / I-76 / I-276 / I-95 routing.
Then why do the trucks take the more southerly route heading east out of OKC? The cost of the tolls in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania?
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 04:09:17 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
That route is 2 hours longer and over 100 miles longer than the I-44 / I-70 / I-76 / I-276 / I-95 routing.
Then why do the trucks take the more southerly route heading east out of OKC? The cost of the tolls in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania?
Diesel in Tennessee is 23 cents cheaper than Illinois, 24 cents cheaper than Indiana and Ohio. Would that be enough to make it worth a route that's 100 miles longer?
Australia Hwy 1 and the Iceland ring road. "Some" roads in Japan.
I already did US 6 from CA to MA, but might be fun to do US 50, even though it goes to some of the same places.
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 06, 2021, 11:48:38 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 05, 2021, 05:15:36 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 05, 2021, 04:54:30 PM
What's so special about i-40? [emoji848]
Pixel 5
It's probably among the more interesting of the x0s. Actually makes it to coastal states on both ends, unlike 20 or 30, probably more interesting scenery than 10 or 80, doesn't send you through the congested northeast like 90. I want to clinch it sometime too (I'm a little over halfway there at this point).
Not that it makes an interstate worse, but doesn't I-40 go through the least metro area population of the x0s? Unless the LA area goes all the way to where I-40 is, there's not that many large metro areas on 40 compared to 10, 20, 70, 80 and 90.
I'd argue that, unless cities are the attraction of a particular journey, avoiding large metros is a good thing. I'm not particularly fond of gridlock, construction, and aggressive driver concentrations. I've done all of I-40 west of I-81 and all of I-70 west of I-35, I-80 and I-90 west of I-29, I-82, I-84 between I-80 and I-82 and other than I-70 between Denver and I-15, and I-90 through the Panhandle of Idaho and the Bitterroots of Montana, I-40 is the most interesting of the E/W Interstates and is much less likely to close in winter than any north of it.
These are my bucket list roads:
1). Pan-American Highway - North/South America from tip to tip (except the Darien Gap. Don't have a deathwish)
2). Going-to-the-Sun Road - Glacier Natl. Park before the glaciers disappear
3). US-101
4). US-395
5). US-62 - El Paso to Niagara Falls on a single trip would be pretty epic
Also in I-40's favor: green chiles. Though I-10 does go a lot closer to Hatch.
Quote from: MikieTimT on July 06, 2021, 05:22:24 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 06, 2021, 11:48:38 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 05, 2021, 05:15:36 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 05, 2021, 04:54:30 PM
What's so special about i-40? [emoji848]
Pixel 5
It's probably among the more interesting of the x0s. Actually makes it to coastal states on both ends, unlike 20 or 30, probably more interesting scenery than 10 or 80, doesn't send you through the congested northeast like 90. I want to clinch it sometime too (I'm a little over halfway there at this point).
Not that it makes an interstate worse, but doesn't I-40 go through the least metro area population of the x0s? Unless the LA area goes all the way to where I-40 is, there's not that many large metro areas on 40 compared to 10, 20, 70, 80 and 90.
I'd argue that, unless cities are the attraction of a particular journey, avoiding large metros is a good thing. I'm not particularly fond of gridlock, construction, and aggressive driver concentrations. I've done all of I-40 west of I-81 and all of I-70 west of I-35, I-80 and I-90 west of I-29, I-82, I-84 between I-80 and I-82 and other than I-70 between Denver and I-15, and I-90 through the Panhandle of Idaho and the Bitterroots of Montana, I-40 is the most interesting of the E/W Interstates and is much less likely to close in winter than any north of it.
These are my bucket list roads:
1). Pan-American Highway - North/South America from tip to tip (except the Darien Gap. Don't have a deathwish)
2). Going-to-the-Sun Road - Glacier Natl. Park before the glaciers disappear
3). US-101
4). US-395
5). US-62 - El Paso to Niagara Falls on a single trip would be pretty epic
That's what, in my mind, makes I-40 to I-81 a better route than I-44 to I-70, for LA to NY traffic.
After you leave OKC, here's what you encounter on the southern route:
Little Rock (and I-40 just grazes the north side of the city)
Memphis (DeSoto bridge woes notwithstanding)
Nashville
Knoxville
Roanoke (outskirts)
Harrisburg (outskirts)
The northern route:
Tulsa
Springfield (outskirts)
STL
Indy
Dayton (outskirts)
Columbus
Wheeling (outskirts if you take I-470)
Harrisburg (outskirts)
Philly (outskirts)
Plus, if you're driving the routes for pleasure, I prefer the scenery on the southern route. I-40 east of Cookeville to the Knoxville area and all of I-81 in Virginia are, to me, pretty scenic routes. There's really nothing to recommend the northern route in terms of the views until you get to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Metros are cool to drive through if there isn't much traffic.
Just out of curiosity. A couple people at least have the Yungas Road (Death Road) listed. Has anyone other than me been on it?
Chris
US 191 for sure. Hits a lot of parks I like and that Arizona stretch is appealling
Quote from: sparker on July 06, 2021, 12:57:21 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on July 06, 2021, 11:35:53 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 05, 2021, 11:07:10 PM
3. The direct all-Interstate L.A.-N.Y. run in one trip (I-10/15/40/44/55/70/76/276/95)*.
*yeah, I know getting off 76 onto 283/83/81/78's technically shorter, but Harrisburg's a PITA; and if PennDOT and PTC can't get their shit together to build a direct 76/81 interchange near Middlesex, screw 'em!
Huh? The well-known trucking route is 15-40-81-78.
That route is 2 hours longer and over 100 miles longer than the I-44 / I-70 / I-76 / I-276 / I-95 routing.
Does the I-44 route go through more big cities?
To keep my post reasonably short, I omitted some interim connections: 270/255 around St. Louis, potentially 465 around Indy, 270 around Columbus (depending upon when in the day they were to be traversed), and, definitely, 470 around Wheeling. I've actually done the run in segments, so there's a bit of leeway necessary rather than just plow through the various cities on the principal trunk route. Hey, if the Kilpatrick around OKC was an Interstate, I'd probably use it as well.
Just because it's not an interstate, does it mean it can't be used?
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Part of the reason I created the top five challenging roads thread was to due to the phenomenon you describe above in this thread. I'm always kind of surprised how many people in the road community rather clinch a lengthy Interstate rather than something like a fun/infamous road. To each their own, but to me freeway driving on the whole is probably the most boring thing I can think to do behind the wheel.
That said, it is kind of neat to see so people have US 191 on their list. I didn't expect it to be ranked so highly in the community and getting recognition for how awesome it is.
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
But isn't thinking of fully limited access freeways above all other types of highways kind of an equally limiting train of thought?
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:01:52 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
But isn't thinking of fully limited access freeways above all other types of highways kind of an equally limiting train of thought?
Nah. It's just how most people think of the term and therefore it isn't surprising that a lot of preferences lean that way in this thread.
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 09:05:14 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:01:52 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
But isn't thinking of fully limited access freeways above all other types of highways kind of an equally limiting train of thought?
Nah. It's just how most people think of the term and therefore it isn't surprising that a lot of preferences lean that way in this thread.
Hence my continued surprise at the phenomenon. Example; if time wasn't a factor I probably would always take UT 9, US 89, UT 12 and UT 24 across southern Utah (or even former US 91 over the Beaver Sam Mountains than I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge). By the logic of this thread a lot of people would just simply take I-70 across the San Rafael Swell because it is their dream. As far as a freeway goes the Swell segment of I-70 is beautiful, but it offers nothing interesting aside that scenery. I guess what surprises me is that there so many who want an unchallenging experience as their dream drive. I would think all time great roads the likes of UT 9 and UT 12 would rank far more highly than an Interstate, but that's not proving to be the case.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:11:49 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 09:05:14 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:01:52 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
But isn't thinking of fully limited access freeways above all other types of highways kind of an equally limiting train of thought?
Nah. It's just how most people think of the term and therefore it isn't surprising that a lot of preferences lean that way in this thread.
Hence my continued surprise at the phenomenon. Example; if time wasn't a factor I probably would always take UT 9, US 89, UT 12 and UT 24 across southern Utah (or even former US 91 over the Beaver Sam Mountains than I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge). By the logic of this thread a lot of people would just simply take I-70 across the San Rafael Swell because it is their dream. As far as a freeway goes the Swell segment of I-70 is beautiful, but it offers nothing interesting aside that scenery. I guess what surprises me is that there so many who want an unchallenging experience as their dream drive. I would think all time great roads the likes of UT 9 and UT 12 would rank far more highly than an Interstate, but that's not proving to be the case.
The flip side of this is that the two-laner advocates' sticking their noses up in the air can be more nauseating than persuasive. Let people have their fun.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:11:49 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 09:05:14 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:01:52 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
But isn't thinking of fully limited access freeways above all other types of highways kind of an equally limiting train of thought?
Nah. It's just how most people think of the term and therefore it isn't surprising that a lot of preferences lean that way in this thread.
Hence my continued surprise at the phenomenon. Example; if time wasn't a factor I probably would always take UT 9, US 89, UT 12 and UT 24 across southern Utah (or even former US 91 over the Beaver Sam Mountains than I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge). By the logic of this thread a lot of people would just simply take I-70 across the San Rafael Swell because it is their dream. As far as a freeway goes the Swell segment of I-70 is beautiful, but it offers nothing interesting aside that scenery. I guess what surprises me is that there so many who want an unchallenging experience as their dream drive. I would think all time great roads the likes of UT 9 and UT 12 would rank far more highly than an Interstate, but that's not proving to be the case.
I think part of it is because a lot of us started our roadgeekery with interstates, or at least I did. When I was a kid, those were the roads that took me to
new places, such exciting spots as Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma. When I got my first road atlas, I highlighted trips trying to stay on interstates the most, and then when I found out about CHM, I really started to look how I could finish them off. If you're interested in interstates, then I-70 through Colorado/Utah is arguably the highlight of the interstate system.
Now that I have to drive over 7 hours away to get on interstate mileage I haven't been on, the side roads take more importance and I look to clinch those, but if I flew to a state out east that I haven't traveled much, I'd probably lean towards trying to knock out the interstates unless there was a "bucket list" road just so I can get closer to completeness. (And I can travel more mileage in less time obviously.)
Chris
I increasingly prefer not to drive on interstates when possible. Sometimes they're necessary to get from one point to another in a hurry, but it comes to a point where even the more interesting ones you've driven frequently (in my case, I-79 in West Virginia and the entirety of I-68) become a chore.
And there are some stretches I try to avoid with a passion, such as I-75 between Knoxville and Corbin. Heavy traffic and slow-moving trucks aren't very fun.
The two-lane roads generally get you more scenery, interesting places (such as small towns), and a wide variety of signage. The only drawback is having to slog through a community with a lot of traffic lights.
And I really don't like urban areas at all, because the interstates are often congested and it takes forever to get through them on signal-infested surface routes.
I-70 west of Denver (Continental Divide and Eisenhower Tunnel)
I-95 (main freeway of the east coast)
Pennsylvania Turnpike (oldest? toll road of the country and supposedly scenic)
US-491 (novelty to see what it's all about because it used to be US-666)
US-395 (scenic)
Others:
I-10 Katy Freeway (width and architecture)
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (longest bridge over water)
Highway 401 in Toronto (width)
I-93 in Boston (Big Dig)
Quote from: SeriesE on July 07, 2021, 01:47:08 PM
I-10 Katy Freeway
Interesting. Any particular reason?
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on July 07, 2021, 02:34:16 PM
Quote from: SeriesE on July 07, 2021, 01:47:08 PM
I-10 Katy Freeway
Interesting. Any particular reason?
Chris
Mostly because of the width and the grand looking freeway-to-freeway interchanges.
The above reply popped up when I was typing this and what I am more or less getting at.
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 09:17:13 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:11:49 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 09:05:14 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 09:01:52 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Well, the thread is about highways, which most people think of as more than a two-lane road.
But isn't thinking of fully limited access freeways above all other types of highways kind of an equally limiting train of thought?
Nah. It's just how most people think of the term and therefore it isn't surprising that a lot of preferences lean that way in this thread.
Hence my continued surprise at the phenomenon. Example; if time wasn't a factor I probably would always take UT 9, US 89, UT 12 and UT 24 across southern Utah (or even former US 91 over the Beaver Sam Mountains than I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge). By the logic of this thread a lot of people would just simply take I-70 across the San Rafael Swell because it is their dream. As far as a freeway goes the Swell segment of I-70 is beautiful, but it offers nothing interesting aside that scenery. I guess what surprises me is that there so many who want an unchallenging experience as their dream drive. I would think all time great roads the likes of UT 9 and UT 12 would rank far more highly than an Interstate, but that's not proving to be the case.
The flip side of this is that the two-laner advocates' sticking their noses up in the air can be more nauseating than persuasive. Let people have their fun.
But there must be a quantifiable reason, there certain are for the choices I made. This thread would be all the more interesting to hear what those reasons are. Some of the reasoning I usually go for finding roads to interest me usually come from the following:
- Is this a fun road to drive?
- Is this a scenic road?
- Are there things to do that are interesting on said road?
- Is there substantial history on said road?
- Is there anything that makes this road unique? Some of the common thins I look for usually are; an old highway alignment, there is an interesting bridge, nostalgia, or even the road offers some sort of element of danger like a high grade profile or a paved surface.
Cherohala Skyway (in the fall)
The Cabot Trail (in the fall)
The Pacific Coast Highway
Interstate 70 from Denver to its western terminus
Vermont 100 (in the fall)
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country.
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 26, 2021, 03:04:36 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 26, 2021, 01:17:52 PM
The overwhelming majority of freeways are boring to drive on.
So are the overwhelming majority of conventional roads, for that matter. The argument for conventional roads is you get to "see more", by which they usually mean more small towns. Small towns are more or less interchangeable and have nothing unique to them that isn't a historic event (which probably isn't going on while you're passing through on the state highway) or some local business (sure, Nellie's Diner makes fantastic fried chicken, but so does Glenda's Diner in a town about the same size that's 50 miles down the road, and about 20 different restaurants in an actual city).
And let's face it, when you're on a trip, you don't have the time to stop in every single small town and learn all about the Oak Resin Rebellion of 1917 (when Jeridida Sawfunkler climbed the grain elevator and declared "No man should have to parallel park on the streets of Goltry!"), or which of the anonymous historic buildings on Main Street (or is it Broadway?) makes the best fried paperclips, or whatever. Most of them are just going to represent a 25 mph zone in between two 65 mph zones that you have to slow down for as you make your way through the historic downtown that will look exactly like the historic downtown of the next 25 mph zone you will encounter eighteen miles down the road.
Freeways at least give you the opportunity to cover distance so you get to actually interesting places faster.
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
They're also way more relaxing to drive on.
If you think it's relaxing getting stuck behind a farm implement or pickup truck with a negative Kelly Blue Book value and hoping oncoming traffic will clear long enough you won't die, or hoping that the local sheriff's deputy is too busy coming up with new ethnic slurs to pull you over for doing 26 in a 25, then sure, I guess.
I recall several 2,000 mile plus trips that didn't include a single mile of freeway. Speaking for myself those old downtown areas/older highway alignments are definitely way more interesting than a freeway blowing through the terrain and conforming to a uniform standard. Even now I'm pretty much in the center of west coast agriculture, usually I just pass the farm machinery and call it a day. Granted, it helps that I'm this side of the country and not somewhere with a more congested populace.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 08:54:43 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Part of the reason I created the top five challenging roads thread was to due to the phenomenon you describe above in this thread. I'm always kind of surprised how many people in the road community rather clinch a lengthy Interstate rather than something like a fun/infamous road. To each their own, but to me freeway driving on the whole is probably the most boring thing I can think to do behind the wheel.
That said, it is kind of neat to see so people have US 191 on their list. I didn't expect it to be ranked so highly in the community and getting recognition for how awesome it is.
I'm in that too where I think clinching a lengthy Interstate doesn't mean much to me. I've already clinched I-75 and lemme tell you that was a drag to clinch especially the stretches through Georgia and Florida that seem like they go on forever. I'd love to clinch some US highways even using some of their old routing if I can as well as state highways. Interstate's are mostly all the same to me, you're driving at 70 mph or so and don't get to see as much from an Interstate.
I'm in the boat where I'd rather take US-23 between Standish and Mackinaw City than I-75. That is about 43 miles longer and about an hour and 40 minutes longer.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 08, 2021, 10:36:35 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 08:54:43 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Part of the reason I created the top five challenging roads thread was to due to the phenomenon you describe above in this thread. I'm always kind of surprised how many people in the road community rather clinch a lengthy Interstate rather than something like a fun/infamous road. To each their own, but to me freeway driving on the whole is probably the most boring thing I can think to do behind the wheel.
That said, it is kind of neat to see so people have US 191 on their list. I didn't expect it to be ranked so highly in the community and getting recognition for how awesome it is.
I'm in that too where I think clinching a lengthy Interstate doesn't mean much to me. I've already clinched I-75 and lemme tell you that was a drag to clinch especially the stretches through Georgia and Florida that seem like they go on forever. I'd love to clinch some US highways even using some of their old routing if I can as well as state highways. Interstate's are mostly all the same to me, you're driving at 70 mph or so and don't get to see as much from an Interstate.
I'm in the boat where I'd rather take US-23 between Standish and Mackinaw City than I-75. That is about 43 miles longer and about an hour and 40 minutes longer.
Ironically I just recommended US 23 to a friend from Asheville, NC who wanted to take something different than the standard I-75 trip to Michigan.
Put it this way, clinching US 27 and I-75 piecemeal over the years were two totally different experiences. US 27 isn't constantly interesting but it definitely is more laid back and does have more interesting things to see on it. I-75 just has Alligator Alley and the Mackinac Bridge, the rest is easily skipped.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 08, 2021, 11:00:18 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 08, 2021, 10:36:35 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 07, 2021, 08:54:43 AM
Quote from: US 41 on July 07, 2021, 07:40:06 AM
Hopefully no one takes this the wrong way, but some of you seem to be too obsessed with taking interstates everywhere. There's nothing wrong with taking them, but I can tell you that some of the most memorable road trip experiences I've had were taking rural 2 lane highways. They're just way more scenic and you truly get to see the country. They're also way more relaxing to drive on. In the eastern half of the country interstates are way overcrowded and there are too many idiots on the roads, and a lot of them drive big trucks.
I actually drive a truck and I try to stay to stay off of the interstates as much as possible so I can see lots of new things and because it's more relaxing. I also think it's safer.
When I'm no longer truck driving, I probably won't take an interstate anywhere unless I'm driving through some big city or there's no other option (like out west in some places for example).
If I was going to drive cross country I'd want to take US and maybe even state Routes as much as possible. I know not everyone has time for that, but I can assure you that it would be worth it and way more memorable.
Part of the reason I created the top five challenging roads thread was to due to the phenomenon you describe above in this thread. I'm always kind of surprised how many people in the road community rather clinch a lengthy Interstate rather than something like a fun/infamous road. To each their own, but to me freeway driving on the whole is probably the most boring thing I can think to do behind the wheel.
That said, it is kind of neat to see so people have US 191 on their list. I didn't expect it to be ranked so highly in the community and getting recognition for how awesome it is.
I'm in that too where I think clinching a lengthy Interstate doesn't mean much to me. I've already clinched I-75 and lemme tell you that was a drag to clinch especially the stretches through Georgia and Florida that seem like they go on forever. I'd love to clinch some US highways even using some of their old routing if I can as well as state highways. Interstate's are mostly all the same to me, you're driving at 70 mph or so and don't get to see as much from an Interstate.
I'm in the boat where I'd rather take US-23 between Standish and Mackinaw City than I-75. That is about 43 miles longer and about an hour and 40 minutes longer.
Ironically I just recommended US 23 to a friend from Asheville, NC who wanted to take something different than the standard I-75 trip to Michigan.
Put it this way, clinching US 27 and I-75 piecemeal over the years were two totally different experiences. US 27 isn't constantly interesting but it definitely is more laid back and does have more interesting things to see on it. I-75 just has Alligator Alley and the Mackinac Bridge, the rest is easily skipped.
Taking US-27 has always been good to me. I like how you can bypass Atlanta by taking it and it's an ok road to take. It does shift to the east more between Lexington and Cincinnati though. I would just opt for I-75 in that area until Cincinnati and then rejoin it there.
^^^
I have the opposite opinion of US 27 in Kentucky. I prefer it as an alternative to I-75, accessing it at Paris via KY 627 from Winchester.
And my preferred route to Columbus is to hit US 23 at Greenup and take it north, instead of using I-75 and I-71.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 08, 2021, 07:57:37 PM
^^^
I have the opposite opinion of US 27 in Kentucky. I prefer it as an alternative to I-75, accessing it at Paris via KY 627 from Winchester.
And my preferred route to Columbus is to hit US 23 at Greenup and take it north, instead of using I-75 and I-71.
The weird thing is that I got US 27 in Michigan before it was truncated, largely because I lived on it near Lansing. I never tried to replicate the full scale from the Mackinac Bridge into the UP. Sometimes it was just easier for us to take US 27 than trying to get onto I-75. I'll give you Kentucky for I-75 as being favorable in said state.
QuoteDoes the I-44 route go through more big cities?
I-44 in Missouri is awful. Much of it was built over the old US 66 expressways, and it is just a terrible road from about Springfield to St Louis. It is curvy and slow, and if you try to pass slower traffic, big trucks will almost swerve into the lane in front of you so they can micropass the truck in the right hand lane. It isn't one of those freeways where you can put the cruise control on, kick back and relax. I would drive 200 miles out of the way just to avoid that stretch of highway. One night I was driving westbound out of St Louis (I was in town for the roadmeet, which I believe was in 2014) and it started raining, then sleeting and eventually snowing the further west I got. When I passed a truck, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of the hood. If anybody had been stopped or going slowly in that lane, I wouldn't have had a chance. It was late and Chloe and I just wanted to get home. That was a hellride.
Quote from: bugo on July 09, 2021, 08:45:13 AM
QuoteDoes the I-44 route go through more big cities?
I-44 in Missouri is awful. Much of it was built over the old US 66 expressways, and it is just a terrible road from about Springfield to St Louis. It is curvy and slow, and if you try to pass slower traffic, big trucks will almost swerve into the lane in front of you so they can micropass the truck in the right hand lane. It isn't one of those freeways where you can put the cruise control on, kick back and relax. I would drive 200 miles out of the way just to avoid that stretch of highway. One night I was driving westbound out of St Louis (I was in town for the roadmeet, which I believe was in 2014) and it started raining, then sleeting and eventually snowing the further west I got. When I passed a truck, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of the hood. If anybody had been stopped or going slowly in that lane, I wouldn't have had a chance. It was late and Chloe and I just wanted to get home. That was a hellride.
I-70 in MO isn't that great either. I'm going be driving from StL to KC later this month, and I'm debating whether to take US 50 at least one way to avoid I-70 or to stick to the interstate both ways.
Quote from: jayhawkco on July 05, 2021, 06:08:47 PM
I'll stick with just North American countries for this exercise.
1. Dempster Highway
2. Apache Trail
3. Hana Highway
4. Cabot Trail
5. Viking Trail
Chris
Just booked a trip in October to the Maritimes. Looks like I'll get to knock out Cabot Trail at peak color (or close to).
Chris
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 09, 2021, 11:47:24 AM
Quote from: bugo on July 09, 2021, 08:45:13 AM
QuoteDoes the I-44 route go through more big cities?
I-44 in Missouri is awful. Much of it was built over the old US 66 expressways, and it is just a terrible road from about Springfield to St Louis. It is curvy and slow, and if you try to pass slower traffic, big trucks will almost swerve into the lane in front of you so they can micropass the truck in the right hand lane. It isn't one of those freeways where you can put the cruise control on, kick back and relax. I would drive 200 miles out of the way just to avoid that stretch of highway. One night I was driving westbound out of St Louis (I was in town for the roadmeet, which I believe was in 2014) and it started raining, then sleeting and eventually snowing the further west I got. When I passed a truck, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of the hood. If anybody had been stopped or going slowly in that lane, I wouldn't have had a chance. It was late and Chloe and I just wanted to get home. That was a hellride.
I-70 in MO isn't that great either. I'm going be driving from StL to KC later this month, and I'm debating whether to take US 50 at least one way to avoid I-70 or to stick to the interstate both ways.
As a former St Louis resident, I'll say I-70 is better than I-44. Both have issues, but the hills and curves on I-44 between Lebanon and US 50 can be a nightmare. I-70 is mostly straight; it's just overcrowded and usually not in great shape. I have taken US 50 across the state a few times. It's a lot more relaxing and I recommend taking MO 94 between Jeff City and I-64 if you have the time since US 50 is mostly two lanes east of the Osage River bridge.
Making US 50 four lanes across the state even as an expressway would be almost as useful as making I-70 six lanes across the state. Though I might be biased in that because I always lived in South City or South County.
Quote from: bugo on July 09, 2021, 08:45:13 AM
QuoteDoes the I-44 route go through more big cities?
I-44 in Missouri is awful. Much of it was built over the old US 66 expressways, and it is just a terrible road from about Springfield to St Louis. It is curvy and slow, and if you try to pass slower traffic, big trucks will almost swerve into the lane in front of you so they can micropass the truck in the right hand lane. It isn't one of those freeways where you can put the cruise control on, kick back and relax. I would drive 200 miles out of the way just to avoid that stretch of highway. One night I was driving westbound out of St Louis (I was in town for the roadmeet, which I believe was in 2014) and it started raining, then sleeting and eventually snowing the further west I got. When I passed a truck, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of the hood. If anybody had been stopped or going slowly in that lane, I wouldn't have had a chance. It was late and Chloe and I just wanted to get home. That was a hellride.
I've driven it once, on my way back from the OKC meet eons ago. What really struck me about the route was the amount of speed enforcement for a Sunday morning. There were at least three cops parked on various overpasses running laser (my V1 alerted me). It struck me as a long route, and probably one that would get old after you'd driven it several times. (Like I-79 in West Virginia has become for me).
I-76 east clinch (I-71 to I-680 in Ohio)
I-84 east clinch (I-81 to I-380 split in Pennsylvania; Port Jervis to Brewster, New York)
I-10
I-22
Any non-multiplexed segment of I-77
La Bajada Hill
MacArthur Bridge
Abandoned Will Rogers Turnpike
Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike
Chain of Rocks bridge
None of these are open to traffic. I would have to have a time machine to be able to drive on these legendary roads. But they must have been interesting to drive on when they were still in service.
Quote from: bugo on July 23, 2021, 09:15:36 PM
Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike
Didn't drive it, but was a passenger in a vehicle that drove it a few years ago as part of a meet.
Quote from: planxtymcgillicuddy on July 05, 2021, 04:49:39 PM
Simple enough question: What five highways do you want to drive in your lifetime? For me:
-Blue Ridge Parkway in its entirety
Make sure you start on the north end and go south from there. I did that a while back. Other advice I can give you is take your time. I gave myself four days, with stops in Roanoke (Day 1), Boone (Day 2), Asheville (Day 3), finish on Day 4. If you have the opportunity, do it in the fall, with the foliage color change...it is awesome.
Anthony Henday Drive - Edmonton, AB
Stoney Trail/TsuuT'ina Trail - Calgary, AB
Loop 202 and 303 - Maricopa County, AZ
Grand Parkway - Houston, TX (When completed)
Overseas Highway, FL Keys
Bluegrass Parkway in it's entirely as a driver.
Quote from: XamotCGC on July 25, 2021, 05:18:09 PM
Bluegrass Parkway in it's entirely as a driver.
Why?
Quote from: Rothman on July 25, 2021, 09:32:07 PM
Quote from: XamotCGC on July 25, 2021, 05:18:09 PM
Bluegrass Parkway in it's entirely as a driver.
Why?
That is, in my opinion, one long boring stretch of route, passing through what I call "scrub country" -- rolling terrain that isn't even really that hilly, with lots of little cedar trees dotting the slopes. At least it has some traffic now. When it was tolled, there didn't seem to be much traffic on it at all. There also isn't really much at all along the route between Bardstown and Versailles. Even the US 127 exit doesn't have a lot of services, you have to drive a few miles north to Lawrenceburg to find restaurants.
Quote from: Rothman on July 25, 2021, 09:32:07 PM
Quote from: XamotCGC on July 25, 2021, 05:18:09 PM
Bluegrass Parkway in it's entirely as a driver.
Why?
Nostalgia. My father used to use drive on the BG a lot when I was a child.
I would also like to drive the entire length of
US 68
US 31 (That includes 31W and 31E)
US150
US 60
Quote from: XamotCGC on July 27, 2021, 01:26:58 AM
I would also like to drive the entire length of
US 68
Done it.
QuoteUS 31 (That includes 31W and 31E)
I have both splits, and mainline 31 from where the two splits come together all the way north to I-75.
QuoteUS150
I've done this route.
QuoteUS 60
I'd love to clinch this route. I have it from just west of the OK/MO border all the way to Virginia Beach. I have no great desire to drive the stretch between Lexington, Va., and the eastern terminus again, however.
I-75 from Cincinnati to Canada (shortest distance needed to fully clinch a major interstate)
NV 375 aka the Extraterrestrial Hwy (goes past Area 51)
Quote from: Skye on August 15, 2021, 09:29:40 PM
I-75 from Cincinnati to Canada (shortest distance needed to fully clinch a major interstate)
NV 375 aka the Extraterrestrial Hwy (goes past Area 51)
Michigan gets real scenic the further north you go, at exit 202 is where the true Up North Michigan feeling starts to kick in. The scenery between the bridge and the Soo is kind of dull though. The Lower Peninsula is better, a lot of people get off and head west on US-2, that's a nice ride.