- I-10 across Louisiana
- I-10 across Florida
- I-29 (though I've already been on it for a short distance in Iowa)
- MN-1
- FL-A1A (also been on this one a few times)
Anything without mountains or appreciable differences in terrain for 100+ miles.
Quote from: thspfc on July 05, 2021, 05:58:46 PM
- MN-1
The part between MN 61 and Ely, perhaps all the way to US 53 for Lake Vermilion and the historic Iron Range towns is worth driving.
The rest of it, especially west of US 53, you won't miss anything.
I can't undo the two times I've driven I-10 across the country... Out of the stuff I haven't driven it probably would be mostly urban freeway mileage. There has to a historic hook or something scenic for me really to go out of my way for an unnecessary urban freeway.
And I agree, the segment of MN 1 east of US 53 is actually pretty damn nice.
I want to drive everything, but in my efforts to clinch nearby states, not exactly looking forward to:
1. WY450
2. WY136
3. NM39
4. NM1
5. US83 in Kansas
Chris
Quote from: Bruce on July 05, 2021, 06:05:21 PM
Anything without mountains or appreciable differences in terrain for 100+ miles.
I think this is unnecessarily myopic. There are a lot of roads with "no mountains or appreciable differences in terrain" that are still well worth the hour and a half that doing 100 miles on them would take.
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 05, 2021, 07:19:18 PM
Quote from: Bruce on July 05, 2021, 06:05:21 PM
Anything without mountains or appreciable differences in terrain for 100+ miles.
I think this is unnecessarily myopic. There are a lot of roads with "no mountains or appreciable differences in terrain" that are still well worth the hour and a half that doing 100 miles on them would take.
I mean, I don't
totally disagree with
Bruce. Living out west and doing clinching here is much more exciting to me than driving a random Indiana state route. (Sorry to pick on you Indiana.) My personal goals in clinching are states that have interesting terrain/scenery and additionally clinching the interstate system, just because I am relatively close (65.39% at the moment). I am looking forward to a remote Utah state route much more so than I am I-74 between Galesburg and Bloomington (which clinches "mainline" I-74 for me).
Chris
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 05, 2021, 07:19:18 PM
Quote from: Bruce on July 05, 2021, 06:05:21 PM
Anything without mountains or appreciable differences in terrain for 100+ miles.
I think this is unnecessarily myopic. There are a lot of roads with "no mountains or appreciable differences in terrain" that are still well worth the hour and a half that doing 100 miles on them would take.
One that comes to mind it the Tamiami Trail between Naples and Miami. CA 43 comes to mind also given it is pure rail porn and even has State Park ghost town.
I-495 (NY)
CA 91
I-610 (TX)
I-95 between DC and Savannah
I-29 between Fargo and Omaha
Anything in Jefferson County, Ky.
These first four are more of "wouldn't exactly care for":
- Any part of I-20
- TX-60
- US 77 between the RGV and Corpus Christi
- I-465 in Indianapolis
But the last one is a clear don't for me:
- The I-10 bridge in Lake Charles (I'll take I-210 instead, thank you very much)
I-95 between Petersburg and Miami is high on my list because I've driven it many times and I'm just plain flat-out bored with it, but I know I'll drive it again just because the alternate routes add enough distance that sooner or later I'll wind up using it.
I-81 in Virginia is another that's high on my list–I've clinched all of I-81 and I hate Virginia's part more than any other state's, but sometimes it's just the best way to get somewhere.
The FDR Drive in New York readily comes to mind as another I don't want to drive because it strikes me as a dangerous road (I've been on parts of it as a passenger, usually in cabs, but I've never driven any portion of it).
Beyond that, I don't know.
I-95 south of DC. Blech.
I-83. I know PA's working on it, but blech.
I-86. NYSDOT can't blame the bad condition in the western portion of Region 9 on anyone else but them, partially due to the Region switcheroo some years ago.
I-90 between Rochester and Buffalo. Boring.
I-70 across Kansas. Also boring.
I want to clinch everything
Free I-70 in SW Pennsylvania (west of New Stanton)
Any major freeway in NYC
I-70 in Kansas
I-40 in Texas
M-28
I-10 in Louisiana
I-405
US-50 in Nevada
US-6 in Nevada
I-80 in western Utah
I-81 in VA: While the scenery is nice it's a very boring road.
US 67 in IL
MO 32
- New York Thruway - arguably one of the most boring highways. Heavy traffic; east-west orientation between Buffalo and Albany make driving in the mornings and evenings a pain; flat; awful service plazas (although the new ones are getting better).
- I-95 south of Washington D.C. because of heavy traffic.
- Pennsylvania Turnpike because of the toll rates. The appendages (i.e. PA 43) are not as expensive per mile and worth the drive generally.
- Indiana Toll Road - a very boring highway with no landmarks; high toll rates; awful service plazas; awful pavement. Compare this to the Ohio Turnpike which is also generally flat but has great amenities.
- PA's two-lane routes, such as US 40 or US 30. Generally, the closer you get to cities, the densier the development is clustered along the road because of a lack of access control. Sprawling development for miles and miles.
Any straight 2 lane roads where there's going to be a car in front of you. Great way to fall asleep. Pick any five from this list, along with ANY rural interstate with a speed limit less than 70.
US 1 inbetween I-95 termini
I-95 south of Maine
US 75 in MN
I-405 (WA or CA)
PA Turnpike
US 1...in any state. Mad props to those who've clinched it through Connecticut, because I can't imagine slogging through 120 miles of sprawl. I-95 was painful enough.
I-79 north of Pittsburgh; I have little reason to head up to Erie. Even if I did, why would I take the least scenic route there?
I-81 in any state. Although I haven't been south of I-64 or north of Syracuse, my idea of fun does not involve large trucks.
I-78 in New Jersey. Why do Pennsylvania drivers instantly smash the gas the second they're in Jersey? They'll only reach the traffic jams in New York that much quicker. I-80 gets a pass because there's more lanes and thus less opportunities to observe the conservation of momentum in real time.
Interboro / JRP in New York. Why do expressways in NYC get slammed through cemeteries? Why would I want to drive a road that mostly traverses a cemetery? I've done it, and I've clinched it, and I never want to see it again.
Quote from: CapeCodder on July 05, 2021, 10:23:23 PM
I-81 in VA: While the scenery is nice it's a very boring road.
Agreed, plus the heavy truck traffic and traffic in general just ruins it.
I-64 west of I-81 is more interesting and nicer overall, IMO, and has very little traffic (under 10,000 AADT in most areas) to the point you can just set the cruise control at 70+ mph and not have to fluctuate every 5 miles because of a truck in the left lane going 62.5 mph passing the one on the right going 62.499 mph.
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 06, 2021, 12:18:54 AM
US 1...in any state. Mad props to those who've clinched it through Connecticut, because I can't imagine slogging through 120 miles of sprawl. I-95 was painful enough.
I-79 north of Pittsburgh; I have little reason to head up to Erie. Even if I did, why would I take the least scenic route there?
I-81 in any state. Although I haven't been south of I-64 or north of Syracuse, my idea of fun does not involve large trucks.
I-78 in New Jersey. Why do Pennsylvania drivers instantly smash the gas the second they're in Jersey? They'll only reach the traffic jams in New York that much quicker. I-80 gets a pass because there's more lanes and thus less opportunities to observe the conservation of momentum in real time.
Interboro / JRP in New York. Why do expressways in NYC get slammed through cemeteries? Why would I want to drive a road that mostly traverses a cemetery? I've done it, and I've clinched it, and I never want to see it again.
What's wrong wirh a highway that skirts a cemetery?
Quote from: seicer on July 05, 2021, 10:23:48 PM
- I-95 south of Washington D.C. because of heavy traffic.
Really? Because I kind of like it south of Fredericksburg.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on July 06, 2021, 07:57:34 AM
Quote from: seicer on July 05, 2021, 10:23:48 PM
- I-95 south of Washington D.C. because of heavy traffic.
Really? Because I kind of like it south of Fredericksburg.
If you hit it off peak. It's usually moving but quite thick. During peak times, it's nothing but stop and go.
I-295 around Richmond is a better ride. 8 lanes and is always moving 80+ mph, even during the busiest of weekends.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 08:04:05 AM
If you hit it off peak. It's usually moving but quite thick. During peak times, it's nothing but stop and go.
I-295 around Richmond is a better ride. 8 lanes and is always moving 80+ mph, even during the busiest of weekends.
You're absolutely right. South of that though, the only time I've really faced any traffic jams are during construction and maintenance... except in Jacksonville.
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 06, 2021, 12:18:54 AM
US 1...in any state. Mad props to those who've clinched it through Connecticut, because I can't imagine slogging through 120 miles of sprawl. I-95 was painful enough.
I-79 north of Pittsburgh; I have little reason to head up to Erie. Even if I did, why would I take the least scenic route there?
I-81 in any state. Although I haven't been south of I-64 or north of Syracuse, my idea of fun does not involve large trucks.
I-78 in New Jersey. Why do Pennsylvania drivers instantly smash the gas the second they're in Jersey? They'll only reach the traffic jams in New York that much quicker. I-80 gets a pass because there's more lanes and thus less opportunities to observe the conservation of momentum in real time.
Interboro / JRP in New York. Why do expressways in NYC get slammed through cemeteries? Why would I want to drive a road that mostly traverses a cemetery? I've done it, and I've clinched it, and I never want to see it again.
The Interboro/Jackie Robinson Parkway isn't an expressway it's a parkway. And seriously is it really that big of a deal that it goes through a cemetary?
Quote from: D-Dey65 on July 06, 2021, 09:27:57 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 08:04:05 AM
If you hit it off peak. It's usually moving but quite thick. During peak times, it's nothing but stop and go.
I-295 around Richmond is a better ride. 8 lanes and is always moving 80+ mph, even during the busiest of weekends.
You're absolutely right. South of that though, the only time I've really faced any traffic jams are during construction and maintenance... except in Jacksonville.
The segment in North Carolina and South Carolina (big emphasis on south of I-26) can be painful, especially during peak weekends.
I'm sure there are countless miles of highway that I haven't been on that I wouldn't enjoy, but I can't say there's any that I definitely don't want to do.
Some routes that I would prefer to never drive again:
80 between Des Moines and Joliet
Indiana Highway 16
The Ohio Turnpike
Any non-coastal, non-urban road in Florida outside of the Everglades
The portions of the QL1A in Vietnam that I have driven
The deepest layer of highway hell:
5 Central Valley
70 Independence to Wentzville
I-41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee
I-65 between Chicago and Indianapolis
I-80 between Chicagoland and Des Moines
I-57 between Champaign and I-24
I-290 in Illinois
Quote from: SEWIGuy on July 06, 2021, 05:02:21 PM
I-65 between Chicago and Indianapolis
Nobody should ever want to drive this, at least not until they get it six laned all the way.
Quote from: cabiness42 on July 06, 2021, 05:04:56 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on July 06, 2021, 05:02:21 PM
I-65 between Chicago and Indianapolis
Nobody should ever want to drive this, at least not until they get it six laned all the way.
My favorite alternate is US-421. But I need to have the time obviously!
Quote from: SEWIGuy on July 06, 2021, 05:02:21 PM
I-41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee
I-41 is okay in my opinion. The segment between Fond du Lac and Appleton is really nice. Through the Green Bay area it's one of my favorite small city urban freeways.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on July 06, 2021, 05:31:54 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on July 06, 2021, 05:04:56 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on July 06, 2021, 05:02:21 PM
I-65 between Chicago and Indianapolis
Nobody should ever want to drive this, at least not until they get it six laned all the way.
My favorite alternate is US-421. But I need to have the time obviously!
Personally I like US-41 to US-52 to IN-47 to US-421 going Chicago to Indy.
Quote from: jaehak on July 06, 2021, 01:51:32 PM
Indiana Highway 16
I clinched that highway by mistake once when I was county clinching in Indiana. From what I remember it's a boring highway and the highlight of the highway is a landfill along the concurrency with IN-119.
Quote from: CapeCodder on July 05, 2021, 10:23:23 PM
I-81 in VA: While the scenery is nice it's a very boring road.
US 67 in IL
MO 32
Yep. I remember when my friend and I used to drive from Baton Rouge to Woodstock Connecticut and we would have to drive Ih 81 from its southern terminus all the way to Scranton where we would switch to IH 84. That stretch though Virginia was the most boring part of the trip.
Quote from: thspfc on July 06, 2021, 08:14:40 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on July 06, 2021, 05:02:21 PM
I-41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee
I-41 is okay in my opinion. The segment between Fond du Lac and Appleton is really nice. Through the Green Bay area it's one of my favorite small city urban freeways.
Too much traffic until you get to De Pere.
Quote from: achilles765 on July 06, 2021, 10:03:28 PM
Quote from: CapeCodder on July 05, 2021, 10:23:23 PM
I-81 in VA: While the scenery is nice it's a very boring road.
US 67 in IL
MO 32
Yep. I remember when my friend and I used to drive from Baton Rouge to Woodstock Connecticut and we would have to drive Ih 81 from its southern terminus all the way to Scranton where we would switch to IH 84. That stretch though Virginia was the most boring part of the trip.
It does have some nice views of the mountains as you travel up the valley.
Quote from: Rothman on July 07, 2021, 07:10:56 AM
Quote from: achilles765 on July 06, 2021, 10:03:28 PM
Quote from: CapeCodder on July 05, 2021, 10:23:23 PM
I-81 in VA: While the scenery is nice it's a very boring road.
US 67 in IL
MO 32
Yep. I remember when my friend and I used to drive from Baton Rouge to Woodstock Connecticut and we would have to drive Ih 81 from its southern terminus all the way to Scranton where we would switch to IH 84. That stretch though Virginia was the most boring part of the trip.
It does have some nice views of the mountains as you travel up the valley.
I like the mountain that looms ahead of you as you come to the 84 interchange. What is the name of that mountain?
A few more:
NH 1A: If it were winter, I'd probably drive it. Summer time? forget it.
MO 21: This highway seems to be pretty dangerous south of the improved section. I've been on it as far south as Elephant Rocks SP.
IL 127: It seems like a boring highway.
Any toll roads that gOUgE the consumers. :pan:
I'm not too picky, but here's the main two for me.
1) Any highway that is cluttered with stop lights and/or tons of traffic.
2) Most rural interstates if there is a US or state highway alternative. As long as US or state Hwy isn't like example #1. I do enjoy driving through small towns and medium sized cities (<100K).
Quote from: CapeCodder on July 05, 2021, 10:23:23 PM
MO 32
Why this one? The section from Park Hills to MO 21 has some nice views (https://goo.gl/maps/xHBJoKdjcQUyUadv9) of the Ozarks.
Quote from: CapeCodder
MO 21: This highway seems to be pretty dangerous south of the improved section. I've been on it as far south as Elephant Rocks SP.
Also has some nice scenery near and south of Ironton (https://goo.gl/maps/2Y8CPB3CXtsUqcJL9). Definitely could be a candidate for more passing lanes though.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 09:45:49 AM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on July 06, 2021, 09:27:57 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 06, 2021, 08:04:05 AM
If you hit it off peak. It's usually moving but quite thick. During peak times, it's nothing but stop and go.
I-295 around Richmond is a better ride. 8 lanes and is always moving 80+ mph, even during the busiest of weekends.
You're absolutely right. South of that though, the only time I've really faced any traffic jams are during construction and maintenance... except in Jacksonville.
The segment in North Carolina and South Carolina (big emphasis on south of I-26) can be painful, especially during peak weekends.
I'm not saying it doesn't happen (because I know it does). I'm just saying I've never had to deal with it. Maybe it's just the fact that I usually arrive at the Georgia-South Carolina border around late-morning or early afternoon, but I usually have a fairly smooth ride through the Carolinas.
^ You've lucked out then. I've had my fair share of congestion-free trips, but I've also had some pretty nightmare-ish ones as well. It's really just hit or miss and when you travel (week vs. weekend)
I've traveled I-95 on a peak weekend, and it was still bumper to bumper stop-and-go approaching midnight.
Quote from: sprjus4 on July 08, 2021, 10:17:03 AM
^ You've lucked out then. I've had my fair share of congestion-free trips, but I've also had some pretty nightmare-ish ones as well. It's really just hit or miss and when you travel (week vs. weekend)
I've traveled I-95 on a peak weekend, and it was still bumper to bumper stop-and-go approaching midnight.
So have I. Last time I went through there on I-95 it was a nightmare from Jacksonville to I-26. Then I-26 was a nightmare to Columbia. I did all of this just to bypass Atlanta and Cincinnati and ended up spending more time on the road I think.
Quote from: Revive 755 on July 07, 2021, 10:22:57 PM
Quote from: CapeCodder on July 05, 2021, 10:23:23 PM
MO 32
Why this one? The section from Park Hills to MO 21 has some nice views (https://goo.gl/maps/xHBJoKdjcQUyUadv9) of the Ozarks.
Quote from: CapeCodder
MO 21: This highway seems to be pretty dangerous south of the improved section. I've been on it as far south as Elephant Rocks SP.
Also has some nice scenery near and south of Ironton (https://goo.gl/maps/2Y8CPB3CXtsUqcJL9). Definitely could be a candidate for more passing lanes though.
Ever been stuck behind an RV moving at old people speed? Take that and multiply that by 100.
I-40, I-440 in the Triangle metro in NC (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). Also, I-85 between Hillsborough and Durham.
Quote from: jayhawkco on July 05, 2021, 07:14:39 PM
I want to drive everything, but in my efforts to clinch nearby states, not exactly looking forward to:
1. WY450
2. WY136
3. NM39
4. NM1
5. US83 in Kansas
Chris
I've happened to travel 2 of your more obscure ones. WY450 is fine - I found the grasslands it crossed pretty in their own way, and the Rand McNally does donate it as a "scenic route." It does however also pass a few coal plants, which are less pretty.
NM39 I have less good things to say about. There's only 1 real climb on the highway, the rest of the road is flat, and all of Harding County gives off a bit of a weird vibe.
Thinking of roads I've driven, some pretty often.
1) most of I-95, but especially the Cross Bronx, perpetual construction area north of Philadelphia, and from Baltimore to Richmond.
2) I-70 across Missouri
3) I-90 through Chicago
4) I-10 through the Florida Panhandle
5) I-4
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 06, 2021, 09:31:37 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 06, 2021, 12:18:54 AM
Interboro / JRP in New York. Why do expressways in NYC get slammed through cemeteries? Why would I want to drive a road that mostly traverses a cemetery? I've done it, and I've clinched it, and I never want to see it again.
The Interboro/Jackie Robinson Parkway isn't an expressway it's a parkway. And seriously is it really that big of a deal that it goes through a cemetary?
Cemeteries make for compressed roads (it's impossible to expand the JRP right now). Compressed roads means narrow lanes, and in the case of the JRP - very narrow lanes which are unpleasant. Also, a cemetery is the least scenic thing that a parkway should run through.
Quote from: thspfc on July 05, 2021, 05:58:46 PM
- FL-A1A (also been on this one a few times)
There aren't too many roads where you can see folks legally walk around with minimal clothing, but hey...(swim)suit yourself.
My original answer for this was roads I don't want to drive for the first time. If it's just any road I don't want to drive ever again if I have the choice:
1) I-270 in Denver
2) I-70 from Denver to St. Louis
3) I-4
4) I-75 from Atlanta to Lake City
5) I-10 in Florida
Chris
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 09, 2021, 11:15:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 06, 2021, 09:31:37 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 06, 2021, 12:18:54 AM
Interboro / JRP in New York. Why do expressways in NYC get slammed through cemeteries? Why would I want to drive a road that mostly traverses a cemetery? I've done it, and I've clinched it, and I never want to see it again.
The Interboro/Jackie Robinson Parkway isn't an expressway it's a parkway. And seriously is it really that big of a deal that it goes through a cemetary?
Cemeteries make for compressed roads (it's impossible to expand the JRP right now). Compressed roads means narrow lanes, and in the case of the JRP - very narrow lanes which are unpleasant. Also, a cemetery is the least scenic thing that a parkway should run through.
Not all cemeteries lead to compressed roads. Weird absolutist association going on there.
Many cemeteries in large cities also double as arboretums. Lived for years next to the largest cemetery (and arboretum) in Cincinnati, which has been open to walkers, hikers, and cyclists for over a hundred years. It was great for my property values and the neighbors were quiet :)
I also don't get the... disdain for cemeteries either.
Hell, the only reason I want to visit Austin ever again is to drive TX 165 through the Texas State Cemetery.
I can't wait until the next time I drive down Woodward and have Woodlawn and Evergreen Cemeteries next to me. After I do that I'm going to drive down Mt. Elliott so I can drive next to Mt. Elliott and Elmwood Cemeteries. Then if I have time maybe I can swing out to Woodmere Cemetery off of Fort Street.
I-880 (CA)I-710(CA)I-495 (DC, VA, MD)TX-225I-610 (TX)