I'll go first: Skyline Drive (in Shenandoah NP).
I clinched it during the past week, and while it's certainly tranquil and scenic, and the views from every overlook are majestic, I must admit I didn't expect the road to be essentially forested throughout. I don't know why, but my expectation was that the road ran literally along the ridgeline of relatively treeless hills, with long views in every direction from the road itself. Of course that doesn't make a lot of sense, since being a conserved areas, it is obviously not (or no longer) clear-cut. But for whatever reason, that's what I was expecting!
WY211 (between Cheyenne and Chugwater (the long way)). I basically just took the road so that I could start getting all of SE Wyoming clinched, and I expected it to just travel through some flat ranchland. But, I drove it right after Memorial Day so everything was nice and green and it was actually a pretty road.
Chris
I-70 in MO. Note that I've been on it a long time ago, but two weeks ago was my first time driving it myself between StL and KC.
Expectation (from this forum): Bumper to bumper trucks on both lanes, very unlikely to drive even a bit above the speed limit of 70 mph.
Reality: Frequent passing opportunities, though there's still a lot of trucks compared to other rural interstates, was able to cruise control at 78 mph most of the way.
^ I've had the same experience with I-70 recently, along with I-40 across Arkansas. Granted, they were both evening time, so traffic would be less, but I was mainly able to hold cruise at around 80 mph throughout with only slowing down a few times because of trucks.
In Kentucky, I drove through Land Between the Lakes, and it wasn't scenic at all. Of course, the fact that it was during the middle of a drought could have something to do with that...
US 129/The Dragon was nowhere as beastly and curvy as what I had driven out west. It really was tame compared to US 191 over the Coronado Trail in particular.
US 2 in Northwest Vermont was more boring than I expected.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 09, 2021, 02:56:44 PM
US 129/The Dragon was nowhere as beastly and curvy as what I had driven out west. It really was tame compared to US 191 over the Coronado Trail in particular.
Hm. Wonder if there's an objective way of comparing the two, like number of curves within a certain distance or something like that.
Quote from: Rothman on August 09, 2021, 03:40:18 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 09, 2021, 02:56:44 PM
US 129/The Dragon was nowhere as beastly and curvy as what I had driven out west. It really was tame compared to US 191 over the Coronado Trail in particular.
Hm. Wonder if there's an objective way of comparing the two, like number of curves within a certain distance or something like that.
I'm sure it can be measured. US 129 on The Dragon segment definitely has more curves per mile. The Coronado Trail is far longer with somewhat straight segments interlacing the numerous curvy parts. What really pushes the Coronado Trail over The Dragon for me is the remoteness and the surprisingly high elevation of the White Mountains. The Coronado Trail is one of the few US Route segments that felt to me like a true remote mountain back road. I feel like the only other US Route segment I can only say the same is the Beartooth Highway segment of US 212. US 550 in Red Mountain Pass is close but the crowds blunt the experience if you want something ominous feeling.
For context; the first time I did The Dragon segment of US 129 was alone on a snowy day.
When I took my first couple of road trips to New England with a couple of friends a few years ago, I was not expecting I 95 in New York to be only six lanes and in such bad shape. Coming from texas, it was a shock because the roads looked more like Louisiana than what I expected from the largest city in the country.
Interstate 93 in Boston also wasn't as cool as I expected. The big dig was cool enough but I expected something else. I don't know what exactly but it wasn't what I was thinking it would be like.
Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania was more interesting than I expected though. And so were 95 and 76 in Philly.
US-27 in Lake County, FL; actually kind of pretty, especially compared to the Turnpike which is one of the dullest freeways in the nation.
I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, WY; expected more of the same gently rolling grassland, like western Nebraska, but it's quite mountainous.
A short stretch of US-45 near Mass City, MI; almost all of US-45 is flat, but the stretch between Burma Road and M-38 is hilly, especially the near the Ontonagon River.
WI-60 between I-39/90/94 and Lodi; only about 20 miles from where I live, but it always surprises me just how quickly the terrain gets more vertical once you get west of Madison. Same thing with US-12, US-14, and US-18/151 westward from Madison.
Getting into extreme irrelevancy: Loveland Road, which connects WI-22 and US-51 near Poynette, has this view right here, which surprised me: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.3762499,-89.3553292,3a,53.8y,286.44h,84.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPzyBjrDrmmNS-xkpu0cjbw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
GSV doesn't really do it justice though.
I'm pretty sure that I was only on that road in the first place due to US-51 being closed for resurfacing in early October 2020.
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2021, 04:57:19 PM
I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, WY; expected more of the same gently rolling grassland, like western Nebraska, but it's quite mountainous.
Of course, that’s the most mountainous part of I-80 in all of Wyoming. Most of 80 through the rest of the state is either flat or gently rolling hills - especially around where it crosses the continental divide, where you might expect the biggest mountains to be!
Quote from: US 89 on August 09, 2021, 05:09:27 PM
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2021, 04:57:19 PM
I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, WY; expected more of the same gently rolling grassland, like western Nebraska, but it's quite mountainous.
Of course, that's the most mountainous part of I-80 in all of Wyoming. Most of 80 through the rest of the state is either flat or gently rolling hills - especially around where it crosses the continental divide, where you might expect the biggest mountains to be!
I've driven I-80 westbound across Nebraska three times. Two of them I split onto I-76 at the Colorado border, the third I continued on I-80 to near Laramie. The drive across Nebraska is infamous to begin with, but I couldn't imagine doing effectively two I-80 Nebraskas back-to-back, as it has almost as much mileage in Wyoming - but also fewer cars, fewer services, and no cities to the scale of Omaha or Lincoln.
For some reason, I thought Alligator Alley would be more interesting than it is.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 05:24:15 PM
For some reason, I thought Alligator Alley would be more interesting than it is.
It's a swamp what do you expect
Lots of alligators crossing the highway, I imagine.
Quote from: kphoger on August 09, 2021, 06:28:13 PM
Lots of alligators crossing the highway, I imagine.
Which can be found (I wouldn't say "lots" though) on any of the following:
- US 41/Tamiami Trail
- Everglades Loop Road
- Main Park Road
In general I think most people are expecting something far more aggressive with alligators and not the sedentary reality.
Another I'll add in the category of scenic byways: Kancamagus Highway.
Maybe the weather wasn't quite the best, or I did it too long after peak foliage, but it didn't seem particularly more impressive than many other New England mountain drives. I guess it was, but just not to the scale of the publicity it receives.
Quote from: empirestate on August 09, 2021, 06:40:00 PM
Another I'll add in the category of scenic byways: Kancamagus Highway.
Maybe the weather wasn't quite the best, or I did it too long after peak foliage, but it didn't seem particularly more impressive than many other New England mountain drives. I guess it was, but just not to the scale of the publicity it receives.
What are you comparing it to that is better?
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 06:23:58 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 05:24:15 PM
For some reason, I thought Alligator Alley would be more interesting than it is.
It's a swamp what do you expect
Something more interesting obviously.
US 101 in Washington: The inland sections were fairly boring and not all that much different from driving a foothills road closer to home. I do not regret diverting to SR 109 for the full coastal experience.
Georgia's SR 190 seems to have a miniature mountain range; I wasn't expecting that so far south in the state.
Similarly, Alabama's SR 187 is quite hilly, narrow, and curvy; it seems to be the very last part of the Cumberland Plateau.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 07:47:42 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 06:23:58 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 05:24:15 PM
For some reason, I thought Alligator Alley would be more interesting than it is.
It's a swamp what do you expect
Something more interesting obviously.
I've seen it on street view it's unique I guess.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 09:01:54 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 07:47:42 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 06:23:58 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 05:24:15 PM
For some reason, I thought Alligator Alley would be more interesting than it is.
It's a swamp what do you expect
Something more interesting obviously.
I've seen it on street view it's unique I guess.
This was 20 years ago.
Quote from: Rothman on August 09, 2021, 06:41:12 PM
Quote from: empirestate on August 09, 2021, 06:40:00 PM
Another I'll add in the category of scenic byways: Kancamagus Highway.
Maybe the weather wasn't quite the best, or I did it too long after peak foliage, but it didn't seem particularly more impressive than many other New England mountain drives. I guess it was, but just not to the scale of the publicity it receives.
What are you comparing it to that is better?
Nothing (other than my preconception of it). I'm comparing it to roads that are, if not as impressive, then substantially closer than I'd have guessed. For example, I'm not sure the Kanc is much more spectacular than US 302 or the Franconia Notch Parkway. And while it might be twice as nice as VT 9 in the Green Mountains, it isn't, say, four times as good.
I was expecting I-84 in eastern Oregon to be a lot flatter than it actually was. (Also, I expected I-84 in Idaho to be a lot less flat!)
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
US 20 in Iowa, basically a second interstate though nothing.
I-68 in WV/Maryland, very scenic.
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
US 20 in Iowa, basically a second interstate though nothing.
I-68 in WV/Maryland, very scenic.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7927747,-77.0379453,18z :bigass:
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I guess you missed the signs :bigass:
https://goo.gl/maps/thhEGJcogNgVZZUZ6
https://goo.gl/maps/SFH2BSFLjNdQX2mD8
https://goo.gl/maps/AJ4MVRKfE4Z1ofNg8
https://goo.gl/maps/aFWtsjWbKSkN1Q8y6
https://goo.gl/maps/adi4qe9dcCwGWUbCA
https://goo.gl/maps/3La97HYjJp5pUvpd9
https://goo.gl/maps/ZMWEWDGqPAxHhTtY8
https://goo.gl/maps/fgLZagS3wKtuNbgz6
It's quite easy to get to Baltimore following the interstate highway system, and it is well signed.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 11:38:41 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
US 20 in Iowa, basically a second interstate though nothing.
I-68 in WV/Maryland, very scenic.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7927747,-77.0379453,18z :bigass:
Hardly what I would call DC, no capital building or white house there.
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I don't believe that happened to you.
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 02:01:53 AM
no capital building or white house there.
What's a capital building? Do you mean BUILDING?
Quote from: kphoger on August 10, 2021, 10:03:51 AM
What's a capital building?
It's the principle structure in town.
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 02:01:53 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 11:38:41 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7927747,-77.0379453,18z :bigass:
Hardly what I would call DC, no capital building or white house there.
Speak for yourself, I can see the Capit
ol facade and Washington Monument (and I could probably make out the White House if I tried hard enough) from here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7929196,-77.0380935,3a,15y,8.31h,89.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXPUKWM_yYhBC5fblqIwwfw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)!
Also, surely you must feel the same way about I-95 in Boston? For as much as you rant about I-95 hitching a ride on I-495 in
DC Central Maryland & Northern Virginia, you've stayed oddly silent about I-95 doing the same with MA 128 in
Boston Eastern Massachusetts.
Quote from: kphoger on August 10, 2021, 10:03:51 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I don't believe that happened to you.
sprjus4 already did a wonderful job explaining upthread, but to add a little more...once you reach I-695, the signs do
NOT say I-70 takes you to Baltimore, they say "Security Blvd/Park & Ride (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3070896,-76.7535156,3a,15y,85.61h,99.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siu7wC9klbqzs-6RkLN-HCQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)" (or, from I-695, "Local Traffic (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.302295,-76.7426042,3a,75y,15.54h,87.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEP1pp9I4R3huLmfYfJ7dgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)"). So if you truly arrived at the Park & Ride genuinely shocked that the road ended and didn't take you to
Downtown Baltimore...well, you can't say the signs didn't warn you!
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
Whaddya mean it didn't take you to Baltimore? (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3011478,-76.7114209,3a,75y,88.42h,93.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sT61VxpP4J6cIN-fghsdXUg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Since I-70 is on everyone's mind I thought Glenwood Canyon and the San Rafael Swell were nice but didn't have the "wow" factor something like UT 12 had. Speaking of UT 12, it is beyond my comprehension how that doesn't appear near the top of every list of scenic byways.
Quote from: jmacswimmer on August 10, 2021, 10:33:25 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 02:01:53 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 11:38:41 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7927747,-77.0379453,18z :bigass:
Hardly what I would call DC, no capital building or white house there.
Speak for yourself, I can see the Capitol facade and Washington Monument (and I could probably make out the White House if I tried hard enough) from here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7929196,-77.0380935,3a,15y,8.31h,89.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXPUKWM_yYhBC5fblqIwwfw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)!
Also, surely you must feel the same way about I-95 in Boston? For as much as you rant about I-95 hitching a ride on I-495 in DC Central Maryland & Northern Virginia, you've stayed oddly silent about I-95 doing the same with MA 128 in Boston Eastern Massachusetts.
Quote from: kphoger on August 10, 2021, 10:03:51 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I don't believe that happened to you.
sprjus4 already did a wonderful job explaining upthread, but to add a little more...once you reach I-695, the signs do NOT say I-70 takes you to Baltimore, they say "Security Blvd/Park & Ride (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3070896,-76.7535156,3a,15y,85.61h,99.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siu7wC9klbqzs-6RkLN-HCQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)" (or, from I-695, "Local Traffic (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.302295,-76.7426042,3a,75y,15.54h,87.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEP1pp9I4R3huLmfYfJ7dgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)"). So if you truly arrived at the Park & Ride genuinely shocked that the road ended and didn't take you to Downtown Baltimore...well, you can't say the signs didn't warn you!
I mean sure you can see it in the Google street view picture zoomed in, but when fighting that kind of traffic I don't usually stare out the side window with binoculars.
I-95 in Boston is also a disgrace, but not having lived there I am not as familiar with that case and hence its not usually at the top of my mind.
Those signs say some other road goes to Baltimore, but signs on I-70 before those imply I-70 will go there. The threat is about roads that were not what I expected, I-695 lives up to what I would expect, but that dismal park and ride was not the Baltimore I was promised in Fredrick or Hagerstown.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on August 09, 2021, 05:24:15 PM
For some reason, I thought Alligator Alley would be more interesting than it is.
I will agree that the first time I travelled them, Alligator Alley, and the portion of US-41 I've been on in the Everglades (the part between Krome Avenue and Shark Valley), surprised me in terms of the scenery (such as it is) being very different than I expected. I knew the Everglades was a swamp, but I think I mentally envisioned a bayou or other stereotypical Southern swamp with large trees, Spanish moss, etc., whereas the Everglades looks more like scrub as far as the eye can see–in some ways, the Everglades reminds me more of some of semi-tundra places I've visited in Canada (the terrain along the boardwalk portion of the trail to Western Brook Pond being a good example (https://goo.gl/maps/zNNLPbYXnrj42z878)).
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 10:43:46 AM
Quote from: jmacswimmer on August 10, 2021, 10:33:25 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 02:01:53 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 11:38:41 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7927747,-77.0379453,18z :bigass:
Hardly what I would call DC, no capital building or white house there.
Speak for yourself, I can see the Capitol facade and Washington Monument (and I could probably make out the White House if I tried hard enough) from here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7929196,-77.0380935,3a,15y,8.31h,89.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXPUKWM_yYhBC5fblqIwwfw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)!
Also, surely you must feel the same way about I-95 in Boston? For as much as you rant about I-95 hitching a ride on I-495 in DC Central Maryland & Northern Virginia, you've stayed oddly silent about I-95 doing the same with MA 128 in Boston Eastern Massachusetts.
Quote from: kphoger on August 10, 2021, 10:03:51 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I don't believe that happened to you.
sprjus4 already did a wonderful job explaining upthread, but to add a little more...once you reach I-695, the signs do NOT say I-70 takes you to Baltimore, they say "Security Blvd/Park & Ride (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3070896,-76.7535156,3a,15y,85.61h,99.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siu7wC9klbqzs-6RkLN-HCQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)" (or, from I-695, "Local Traffic (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.302295,-76.7426042,3a,75y,15.54h,87.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEP1pp9I4R3huLmfYfJ7dgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)"). So if you truly arrived at the Park & Ride genuinely shocked that the road ended and didn't take you to Downtown Baltimore...well, you can't say the signs didn't warn you!
I mean sure you can see it in the Google street view picture zoomed in, but when fighting that kind of traffic I don't usually stare out the side window with binoculars.
I-95 in Boston is also a disgrace, but not having lived there I am not as familiar with that case and hence its not usually at the top of my mind.
Those signs say some other road goes to Baltimore, but signs on I-70 before those imply I-70 will go there. The threat is about roads that were not what I expected, I-695 lives up to what I would expect, but that dismal park and ride was not the Baltimore I was promised in Fredrick or Hagerstown.
You need binoculars to see the large overhead sign that says Park and Ride Only?
If you took I-95 North hoping to see the Statue of Liberty because the signs said New York, you'll be very upset.
The cities are nothing more than a way to guide you towards a location. They aren't promising you anything.
If I went by what people on this forum say, I would expect I-80 in Pennsylvania to be a vast expanse of nothing. Actually, I quite enjoy the eastern 3/4ths of it.
I guess I'll be finding out in the next couple of weeks if Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Moki Dugway are all they're cracked up to be, along with US 163 through Monument Valley.
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 10:43:46 AM
Quote from: jmacswimmer on August 10, 2021, 10:33:25 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 10, 2021, 02:01:53 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 09, 2021, 11:38:41 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-95 in Maryland, said it would go to DC, never ended up in DC.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7927747,-77.0379453,18z :bigass:
Hardly what I would call DC, no capital building or white house there.
Speak for yourself, I can see the Capitol facade and Washington Monument (and I could probably make out the White House if I tried hard enough) from here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7929196,-77.0380935,3a,15y,8.31h,89.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXPUKWM_yYhBC5fblqIwwfw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)!
Also, surely you must feel the same way about I-95 in Boston? For as much as you rant about I-95 hitching a ride on I-495 in DC Central Maryland & Northern Virginia, you've stayed oddly silent about I-95 doing the same with MA 128 in Boston Eastern Massachusetts.
Quote from: kphoger on August 10, 2021, 10:03:51 AM
Quote from: HighwayStar on August 09, 2021, 11:37:28 PM
I-70 in Maryland, signs said it would take me to Baltimore, but I ended up in a deserted park and ride in the woods.
I don't believe that happened to you.
sprjus4 already did a wonderful job explaining upthread, but to add a little more...once you reach I-695, the signs do NOT say I-70 takes you to Baltimore, they say "Security Blvd/Park & Ride (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3070896,-76.7535156,3a,15y,85.61h,99.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siu7wC9klbqzs-6RkLN-HCQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)" (or, from I-695, "Local Traffic (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.302295,-76.7426042,3a,75y,15.54h,87.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEP1pp9I4R3huLmfYfJ7dgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)"). So if you truly arrived at the Park & Ride genuinely shocked that the road ended and didn't take you to Downtown Baltimore...well, you can't say the signs didn't warn you!
I mean sure you can see it in the Google street view picture zoomed in, but when fighting that kind of traffic I don't usually stare out the side window with binoculars.
I-95 in Boston is also a disgrace, but not having lived there I am not as familiar with that case and hence its not usually at the top of my mind.
Those signs say some other road goes to Baltimore, but signs on I-70 before those imply I-70 will go there. The threat is about roads that were not what I expected, I-695 lives up to what I would expect, but that dismal park and ride was not the Baltimore I was promised in Fredrick or Hagerstown.
We
DON'T need to argue this for the 20th time!
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 10:41:33 AM
Since I-70 is on everyone's mind I thought Glenwood Canyon and the San Rafael Swell were nice but didn't have the "wow" factor something like UT 12 had. Speaking of UT 12, it is beyond my comprehension how that doesn't appear near the top of every list of scenic byways.
UT-12 is decidedly awesome. I think it's not at the top of everyone's list simply because they don't know about it.
But Glenwood Canyon? No wow factor? Man...
Same highway, different opinion: I expected everything on I-70 between Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs to be fairly uninteresting, but I was quite pleasantly surprised by the
De Beque Canyon scenery (https://goo.gl/maps/m4XAdz2Q66xhcvuD6).
Quote from: kphoger on August 10, 2021, 11:40:47 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 10:41:33 AM
Since I-70 is on everyone's mind I thought Glenwood Canyon and the San Rafael Swell were nice but didn't have the "wow" factor something like UT 12 had. Speaking of UT 12, it is beyond my comprehension how that doesn't appear near the top of every list of scenic byways.
UT-12 is decidedly awesome. I think it's not at the top of everyone's list simply because they don't know about it.
But Glenwood Canyon? No wow factor? Man...
Same highway, different opinion: I expected everything on I-70 between Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs to be fairly uninteresting, but I was quite pleasantly surprised by the De Beque Canyon scenery (https://goo.gl/maps/m4XAdz2Q66xhcvuD6).
Regarding Glenwood I think it was just way over hyped in advance of me driving it. I recall the first time I went through the Virgin River Gorge on I-15 in 2002 I hadn't heard anything about it. Suffice to say there was quite the surprise witnessing a sudden shift to from the Mojave Desert to a scenic river canyon. For context when I drove Glenwood Canyon for the first time about a decade later I had heard so much about it from the road community that things just didn't match up the expectation I had in my head. This was even more pronounced considering by then I had nearly clinched the Arizona State Highway system and had been on most well know State Highway/US Route segments in the Southwest.
Notably I found I-70 between Green River and Grand Junction to be scenic as well. The Book Cliffs in particular are interesting to look at.
Quote from: hbelkins on August 10, 2021, 11:26:56 AM
If I went by what people on this forum say, I would expect I-80 in Pennsylvania to be a vast expanse of nothing. Actually, I quite enjoy the eastern 3/4ths of it.
Thing with I-80 is just that as Pennsylvania goes, it's on the humdrum side. Moreover, it's uninspiring compared to other routes within the very same corridor.
The first time I was on I-40 and AZ-89A in Flagstaff I was blown away. Before I visited there I had no idea there was a heavily forested area in Arizona (and logging industry too).
Quote from: ethanhopkin14 on August 10, 2021, 01:16:25 PM
The first time I was on I-40 and AZ-89A in Flagstaff I was blown away. Before I visited there I had no idea there was a heavily forested area in Arizona (and logging industry too).
Had the same feeling when I cut down I-17 from Flagstaff when I was moving to Phoenix. I had been to Sedona with my brother before but we didn't go as far as the pine forest on 89A. The true extent only became apparent when we took AZ 260 a couple weeks later to a campground near Show Low.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 12:01:14 PM
Notably I found I-70 between Green River and Grand Junction to be scenic as well. The Book Cliffs in particular are interesting to look at.
See I disagree with that. I suppose there is some terrain in Colorado west of Grand Jct, but I've always viewed the part of 70 between Green River and the Colorado line to be the most boring interstate in Utah.
Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge are probably tied for me in terms of most scenic interstate I've ever been on. The San Rafael Swell on 70 isn't far behind.
I've always been surprised I-95 in Connecticut isn't wider, including the one time I drove a long stretch of it coming from New York. I guess I expected Connecticut to be "the other New Jersey."
Quote from: empirestate on August 10, 2021, 12:43:55 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 10, 2021, 11:26:56 AM
If I went by what people on this forum say, I would expect I-80 in Pennsylvania to be a vast expanse of nothing. Actually, I quite enjoy the eastern 3/4ths of it.
Thing with I-80 is just that as Pennsylvania goes, it's on the humdrum side. Moreover, it's uninspiring compared to other routes within the very same corridor.
I'm guessing the knock on I-80 in Pennsylvania is that it doesn't directly connect to any major cities.
It has nice views and varied terrain almost all the way around, though unlike Turnpike/I-70 and I-76 it doesn't have any tunnels. Personally I'll trade that, the confining concrete median, tolls, excessive access control for I-80.
Quote from: formulanone on August 11, 2021, 06:06:36 AM
Quote from: empirestate on August 10, 2021, 12:43:55 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 10, 2021, 11:26:56 AM
If I went by what people on this forum say, I would expect I-80 in Pennsylvania to be a vast expanse of nothing. Actually, I quite enjoy the eastern 3/4ths of it.
Thing with I-80 is just that as Pennsylvania goes, it's on the humdrum side. Moreover, it's uninspiring compared to other routes within the very same corridor.
I'm guessing the knock on I-80 in Pennsylvania is that it doesn't directly connect to any major cities.
It has nice views and varied terrain almost all the way around, though unlike Turnpike/I-70 and I-76 it doesn't have any tunnels. Personally I'll trade that, the confining concrete median, tolls, excessive access control for I-80.
I don't find I-80 in PA to have varied terrain or having particularly nice views (at least with enough frequency to engage my interest). The terrain is actually quite unvaired to me: Rolling forested hills that are neverending.
There are duller stretches of interstate out there, but the drive across PA I-80 -- especially I-81 west to Ohio, which I've done a whole lot of times -- is still pretty darn boring.
That said, there are a ton of beautiful drives in PA -- almost too many to list. That also affects my view of I-80.
Quote from: US 89 on August 11, 2021, 12:56:17 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 12:01:14 PM
Notably I found I-70 between Green River and Grand Junction to be scenic as well. The Book Cliffs in particular are interesting to look at.
See I disagree with that. I suppose there is some terrain in Colorado west of Grand Jct, but I've always viewed the part of 70 between Green River and the Colorado line to be the most boring interstate in Utah.
Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge are probably tied for me in terms of most scenic interstate I've ever been on. The San Rafael Swell on 70 isn't far behind.
That whole area is amazing in the winter if there has been a big snow (rare occurrence on a large scale). There is a vista point somewhere near Green River that I stopped at in 2013 that made the whole area feel like it was some sort Hoth-like landscape.
I agree that those are the big three scenic Interstate segments. One that I don't think gets talked about enough is I-5 over Tejon Pass. Grapevine Canyon in particular is pretty neat to see, especially when it's green from rain or snow.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 01:33:59 PM
Quote from: ethanhopkin14 on August 10, 2021, 01:16:25 PM
The first time I was on I-40 and AZ-89A in Flagstaff I was blown away. Before I visited there I had no idea there was a heavily forested area in Arizona (and logging industry too).
Had the same feeling when I cut down I-17 from Flagstaff when I was moving to Phoenix. I had been to Sedona with my brother before but we didn't go as far as the pine forest on 89A. The true extent only became apparent when we took AZ 260 a couple weeks later to a campground near Show Low.
Agreed about AZ 260; a couple of decades ago I came down 377/277 from Holbrook en route from Albuquerque to Phoenix; expected something of a cliffside route on 260 but found something more like CA 20 from I-80 to Grass Valley. Payson was nice, but with what's been happening climate/fire-wise recently, in retrospect seems like something of a firetrap.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 11, 2021, 07:36:23 AM
Quote from: US 89 on August 11, 2021, 12:56:17 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 12:01:14 PM
Notably I found I-70 between Green River and Grand Junction to be scenic as well. The Book Cliffs in particular are interesting to look at.
See I disagree with that. I suppose there is some terrain in Colorado west of Grand Jct, but I've always viewed the part of 70 between Green River and the Colorado line to be the most boring interstate in Utah.
Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge are probably tied for me in terms of most scenic interstate I've ever been on. The San Rafael Swell on 70 isn't far behind.
That whole area is amazing in the winter if there has been a big snow (rare occurrence on a large scale). There is a vista point somewhere near Green River that I stopped at in 2013 that made the whole area feel like it was some sort Hoth-like landscape.
I agree that those are the big three scenic Interstate segments. One that I don't think gets talked about enough is I-5 over Tejon Pass. Grapevine Canyon in particular is pretty neat to see, especially when it's green from rain or snow.
IMO, something that would warrant inclusion in any "Big 3" would be I-84 from Troutdale east to The Dalles along the Columbia River. Maybe not making the final cut but an honorable mention in any case would be I-5 from Redding through Ashland, OR -- pretty much one memorable landscape after another (even if the old CA concrete pavement sucks!).
Quote from: Rothman on August 11, 2021, 06:40:49 AM
I don't find I-80 in PA to have varied terrain or having particularly nice views (at least with enough frequency to engage my interest). The terrain is actually quite unvaired to me: Rolling forested hills that are neverending.
There are duller stretches of interstate out there, but the drive across PA I-80 -- especially I-81 west to Ohio, which I've done a whole lot of times -- is still pretty darn boring.
That said, there are a ton of beautiful drives in PA -- almost too many to list. That also affects my view of I-80.
Another way to look at it is that I-80 is surprisingly boring for as pretty as it is.
Quote from: sparker on August 11, 2021, 09:24:32 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 01:33:59 PM
Quote from: ethanhopkin14 on August 10, 2021, 01:16:25 PM
The first time I was on I-40 and AZ-89A in Flagstaff I was blown away. Before I visited there I had no idea there was a heavily forested area in Arizona (and logging industry too).
Had the same feeling when I cut down I-17 from Flagstaff when I was moving to Phoenix. I had been to Sedona with my brother before but we didn't go as far as the pine forest on 89A. The true extent only became apparent when we took AZ 260 a couple weeks later to a campground near Show Low.
Agreed about AZ 260; a couple of decades ago I came down 377/277 from Holbrook en route from Albuquerque to Phoenix; expected something of a cliffside route on 260 but found something more like CA 20 from I-80 to Grass Valley. Payson was nice, but with what's been happening climate/fire-wise recently, in retrospect seems like something of a firetrap.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 11, 2021, 07:36:23 AM
Quote from: US 89 on August 11, 2021, 12:56:17 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 10, 2021, 12:01:14 PM
Notably I found I-70 between Green River and Grand Junction to be scenic as well. The Book Cliffs in particular are interesting to look at.
See I disagree with that. I suppose there is some terrain in Colorado west of Grand Jct, but I've always viewed the part of 70 between Green River and the Colorado line to be the most boring interstate in Utah.
Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge are probably tied for me in terms of most scenic interstate I've ever been on. The San Rafael Swell on 70 isn't far behind.
That whole area is amazing in the winter if there has been a big snow (rare occurrence on a large scale). There is a vista point somewhere near Green River that I stopped at in 2013 that made the whole area feel like it was some sort Hoth-like landscape.
I agree that those are the big three scenic Interstate segments. One that I don't think gets talked about enough is I-5 over Tejon Pass. Grapevine Canyon in particular is pretty neat to see, especially when it's green from rain or snow.
IMO, something that would warrant inclusion in any "Big 3" would be I-84 from Troutdale east to The Dalles along the Columbia River. Maybe not making the final cut but an honorable mention in any case would be I-5 from Redding through Ashland, OR -- pretty much one memorable landscape after another (even if the old CA concrete pavement sucks!).
Amusingly I was going to mention I-5 in the Sacramento River Canyon and Lake Shasta. I don't know if it would make a top five scenic Interstate segment but it certainly would the top ten. I wouldn't disagree with I-84 along the Columbia River being a top five scenic Interstate segment. The only that corridor has is the Historic Columbia River Highway is a strong contender for the most scenic highway in Oregon.
Interestingly a lot of AZ 260 at the top of the Mogollon Rim has burned in this past decade. The Forest Service let of the larger fires spread purposely to uninhabited areas as kind of a take advantage-semi controlled burn. West of the Mogollon Rim near Payson I don't recall when the last big fire occurred but it is probably due. At least that area gets hit several times every summer but a decent size monsoon rain storm.
A-4 from Metz to Paris was flat farm and oil land. Kinda remined me of many Texas triangle drives I have taken. I don't know if I had any preconceived notions going into that drive, but I didn't expect it to be a dead ringer for Texas.
NC-105 from Boone, North Carolina to Linville is surprisingly straight with relatively easy grades. It crosses the Eastern Continental Divide up on the ridge at the west edge of Boone (Hodeges Gap, elevation 3294 at the junction with Truck US-321/Truck US-421), drops down to the Watauga River (about 2750 elevation) then runs back up to cross the Eastern Continental Divide again at Linville Gap (elevation 4012).
Even being much longer and steeper, I prefer this route over the mountains to the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee. Except for late night travel, there's no way to make the 1 hr 45 min trip time from Wilkesboro to Elizabethton via US-421//US-321 (77 miles), but I can always beat the 2 hr 02 min trip time over US-421//NC-105//NC-181//US-19E (84 miles). None of the map engines even dare suggest travelling this far south to cross the mountains, even though the mileage and time is shorter than the other alternatives through Banner Elk.
I-55 between I-40 and I-555, I never expected to be straight as an arrow.
I can also add I-10 in Florida. I didn't realize that it would be one of the most boring stretches of highway in the country.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 11, 2021, 12:17:32 PM
I can also add I-10 in Florida. I didn't realize that it would be one of the most boring stretches of highway in the country.
At least they provide you with a nice little ditty to hum (and get stuck in your head)!
Quote from: empirestate on August 11, 2021, 12:26:09 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 11, 2021, 12:17:32 PM
I can also add I-10 in Florida. I didn't realize that it would be one of the most boring stretches of highway in the country.
At least they provide you with a nice little ditty to hum (and get stuck in your head)!
I used to cutoff most of I-10 via US 27 and US 19. I-10 can be sadistically bland in the Panhandle. It really is pretty bland all the way west to San Antonio.
I didn't expect US-60 across southeastern Missouri to be so flat (https://goo.gl/maps/fqWzoTm12H23BdiB8).
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 11, 2021, 12:29:46 PM
Quote from: empirestate on August 11, 2021, 12:26:09 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 11, 2021, 12:17:32 PM
I can also add I-10 in Florida. I didn't realize that it would be one of the most boring stretches of highway in the country.
At least they provide you with a nice little ditty to hum (and get stuck in your head)!
I used to cutoff most of I-10 via US 27 and US 19. I-10 can be sadistically bland in the Panhandle. It really is pretty bland all the way west to San Antonio.
I've just driven it very late at night too many times and with the Southern pines in the median so you can't even see oncoming traffic, you are stuck staring at the same taillights with nothing else to look at for 15 miles at a time until you come up on the next rural exit. It's brutal.
Chris
I never expected US 63 to be so hilly south of Jefferson City and well into Arkansas.
The main one that comes to mind is actually a place, not a road, though I suppose the sentiment could also be applied to the roads in the area, and that's Mount Rushmore. I was shocked to find that it had a parking garage, and equally shocked by how legitimate the "hills" in the area are; I guess I set the bar pretty low considering what qualifies as "hills" elsewhere in the Midwest!
Another one would be I-64 between Hampton Roads and Richmond. I figured it was probably a low-lying, swampy area because of the river basins, so I was expecting it to be flat (as it is), but also very open, somewhat similar to I-90 in the Montezuma refuge. Instead, much of it had a densely treed median, and that made it feel much more like the Deep South than adjacent areas of Maryland/Delaware that I was familiar with.
Quote from: empirestate on August 09, 2021, 02:37:57 PM
I'll go first: Skyline Drive (in Shenandoah NP).
I don't know why, but my expectation was that the road ran literally along the ridgeline of relatively treeless hills, with long views in every direction from the road itself. ...
I agree with you here, although there are some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway (south of Shenandoah) that are a bit more like what you describe - maybe
this (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4523436,-82.6919175,3a,48.9y,167.49h,89.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxXC5b_5Xy_A1cZJpaPIT4w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) or
this (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9399472,-81.9556015,3a,90y,185.41h,81.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJsQI43TWUjzahEFMxC3a_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) would have been a bit more in line with your expectations.
Quote from: sparker on August 11, 2021, 09:24:32 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 11, 2021, 07:36:23 AM
Quote from: US 89 on August 11, 2021, 12:56:17 AM
Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge are probably tied for me in terms of most scenic interstate I've ever been on. The San Rafael Swell on 70 isn't far behind.
... I agree that those are the big three scenic Interstate segments. One that I don't think gets talked about enough is I-5 over Tejon Pass. Grapevine Canyon in particular is pretty neat to see, especially when it's green from rain or snow.
IMO, something that would warrant inclusion in any "Big 3" would be I-84 from Troutdale east to The Dalles along the Columbia River. Maybe not making the final cut but an honorable mention in any case would be I-5 from Redding through Ashland, OR -- pretty much one memorable landscape after another (even if the old CA concrete pavement sucks!).
This got me thinking: Would
any of the top 10 be east of the Mississippi?
Would I-87 north of Albany be in the top 20?
Quote from: webny99 on August 11, 2021, 03:30:56 PM
Quote from: sparker on August 11, 2021, 09:24:32 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 11, 2021, 07:36:23 AM
Quote from: US 89 on August 11, 2021, 12:56:17 AM
Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge are probably tied for me in terms of most scenic interstate I've ever been on. The San Rafael Swell on 70 isn't far behind.
... I agree that those are the big three scenic Interstate segments. One that I don't think gets talked about enough is I-5 over Tejon Pass. Grapevine Canyon in particular is pretty neat to see, especially when it's green from rain or snow.
IMO, something that would warrant inclusion in any "Big 3" would be I-84 from Troutdale east to The Dalles along the Columbia River. Maybe not making the final cut but an honorable mention in any case would be I-5 from Redding through Ashland, OR -- pretty much one memorable landscape after another (even if the old CA concrete pavement sucks!).
This got me thinking: Would any of the top 10 be east of the Mississippi?
Would I-87 north of Albany be in the top 20?
I-93 at Franconia Notch.
Quote from: kphoger on August 11, 2021, 12:35:36 PM
I didn't expect US-60 across southeastern Missouri to be so flat (https://goo.gl/maps/fqWzoTm12H23BdiB8).
Well, it is close to Illinois.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on August 11, 2021, 12:09:57 PM
NC-105 from Boone, North Carolina to Linville is surprisingly straight with relatively easy grades. It crosses the Eastern Continental Divide up on the ridge at the west edge of Boone (Hodeges Gap, elevation 3294 at the junction with Truck US-321/Truck US-421), drops down to the Watauga River (about 2750 elevation) then runs back up to cross the Eastern Continental Divide again at Linville Gap (elevation 4012).
Even being much longer and steeper, I prefer this route over the mountains to the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee. Except for late night travel, there's no way to make the 1 hr 45 min trip time from Wilkesboro to Elizabethton via US-421//US-321 (77 miles), but I can always beat the 2 hr 02 min trip time over US-421//NC-105//NC-181//US-19E (84 miles). None of the map engines even dare suggest travelling this far south to cross the mountains, even though the mileage and time is shorter than the other alternatives through Banner Elk.
My preferred route west to east is US 421 to Mountain City, then TN/VA 91 to Damascus, then US 58 to Abingdon.
I was surprised to see so much rolling hills on I-80 in Iowa, at least east of Des Moines. That was the farthest west I've driven from home without flying and I was expecting it to be Illinois. That's code word for flat.
Quote from: JoePCool14 on August 11, 2021, 04:16:02 PM
I was surprised to see so much rolling hills on I-80 in Iowa, at least east of Des Moines. That was the farthest west I've driven from home without flying and I was expecting it to be Illinois. That's code word for flat.
I was similarly surprised when I drove that part of I-80. I don't know why, considering I-35 in southern Iowa has plenty of hills, but I guess I expected I-80 in Iowa to be more like I-80 in Nebraska.
N-420 North of Teruel, Aragon, Spain (a town often said not to exist). I expected it to be more forested and hillier, instead it has a High Plains feel (and indeed, it is high).
Driving north on WI 35 from Prairie du Chien to La Crosse (over 30 years ago) I certainly wasn't expecting to be stuck between the river and very high bluffs to the east; thought it would be gently rolling hills and a wide river valley. Looking across the river (when islands weren't in the way), it was pretty much the same thing on the west side! At least my train enthusiast persona was satisfied with literally dozens of BN freights speeding by between the road and the river. Really liked that drive -- quite a change from the usual Midwest idioms!
I-70 between Green River and Grand Junction. I didn't expect it to be so barren.
I always envisioned the whole of Oklahoma being flat, but I was pleasantly surprised that the US 259/US 59 corridor in the (extreme) eastern part of the state was so hilly/mountainous. It made the drive from New Orleans to Fayetteville a bit more fun.
Also never expected the Solomons Bridge that carries MD 4 over the Patuxent River to be so tall. It's not the tallest bridge, sure, but when I saw the bridge in the distance I was fairly stunned. I was envisioning something flatter like the Choptank River Bridge which carries US 50 into Cambridge.