AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: Roadgeekteen on February 11, 2023, 01:57:06 AM

Title: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 11, 2023, 01:57:06 AM
For the purposes of this topic, I'm not county a brief 3di bypass as "leaving the Interstate". So like a brief diversion onto a 3di bypass on a city would not county. Also for this topic, I'm mostly looking for routes that use the least of the actually interstate. Like for I-75 you take both the Florida's Turnpike and US 23 between Toledo and Flint but most of the route is I-75. But to go between Charleston and Erie, you don't use any I-79, you take I-77, OH 8, I-271, and I-90.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Flint1979 on February 11, 2023, 07:57:47 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 11, 2023, 01:57:06 AM
For the purposes of this topic, I'm not county a brief 3di bypass as "leaving the Interstate". So like a brief diversion onto a 3di bypass on a city would not county. Also for this topic, I'm mostly looking for routes that use the least of the actually interstate. Like for I-75 you take both the Florida's Turnpike and US 23 between Toledo and Flint but most of the route is I-75. But to go between Charleston and Erie, you don't use any I-79, you take I-77, OH 8, I-271, and I-90.
Actually if you want to shunpike you only take I-75 as far south as Knoxville then take I-40, I-26 and I-95. The only reason it'll still say, "this route has tolls" is because of the Mackinac Bridge. It's only 25 miles further to take the route south of Knoxville and you avoid Florida's Turnpike.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: dgolub on February 11, 2023, 08:26:28 AM
I'd think that any of the semicircular interstates would qualify.  For example, rather than taking I-287 in NJ/NY or I-495 in MA, it would be more direct to just stay on I-95.  Also, taking the New Jersey Turnpike (NJ 700) is more direct than following I-95 through Wilmington and Philadelphia.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Rothman on February 11, 2023, 09:46:43 AM
Quote from: dgolub on February 11, 2023, 08:26:28 AM
I'd think that any of the semicircular interstates would qualify.  For example, rather than taking I-287 in NJ/NY or I-495 in MA, it would be more direct to just stay on I-95.  Also, taking the New Jersey Turnpike (NJ 700) is more direct than following I-95 through Wilmington and Philadelphia.
My father used to take bypasses, due to the general idea that they're supposed to be faster, but by the late 1980s, and due to AAA recommendations, he started just taking the direct route.  And now, online mapping services recommend direct routes over bypasses in a lot of cases today (NYC being a big one).
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: pianocello on February 11, 2023, 12:11:58 PM
According to Google one of the fastest ways from Port Huron, MI to Billings, MT only uses I-94 between the south suburbs of Chicago and Marshall, MI--only about 150 miles out of 1500.

Going east to west, it's I-69 -> I-94 -> I-80 -> I-380 -> US 20 -> I-29 -> I-90 -> US 212 -> I-90. As of now (11 am on a Saturday), it's a comparable to taking I-94 the whole way (even with the shortcuts of I-69, I-90 through Rockford, and I-694).
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Dirt Roads on February 11, 2023, 12:17:12 PM
Baltimore -to- Cove Fort, Utah has several alternative routes that are faster than I-70, both of which don't even stay on the Interstate system.  The fastest route takes US-40 from Keyser's Ridge, Maryland; US-119 around Uniontown and then the Mon-Fayette (Toll PA-43) to return to I-70.  It only takes 2 minutes longer to stay on I-68 and take I-79 up to Little Washington.  I'm not surprised, since the National Road between Keysers Ridge and Uniontown was always my fastest route from points east up to Pittsburgh. 

Here's the math, assuming a flat 28 hours between Little Washington and Cove Fort:

     Baltimore -to- Cove Fort UT (via US-40 Keysers Ridge -to- Uniontown)  31h 58m
     Baltimore -to- Cove Fort UT (via I-68 and I-79 through Morgantown)  32h 00m
     Baltimore -to- Cove Fort UT (using I-70 all the way)  33h 12m (74 minutes longer)   

For comparison, the fastest route from Miami -to- Atlanta shaves off 73 minutes all by itself.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 11, 2023, 01:33:45 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on February 11, 2023, 01:30:45 PM
I am seriously doubtful that I-43 is the fastest route between Beloit, WI and the Howard Interchange in the northwest corner of the Green Bay, WI area.

Mike
It's about tied for the fastest route.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: mgk920 on February 11, 2023, 01:34:16 PM
I am seriously doubtful that I-43 is the fastest route between Beloit, WI and the Howard Interchange in the northwest corner of the Green Bay, WI area.  Ditto that I-41 is the fastest route between Wadsworth , IL and the above mentioned Howard Interchange.

Mike
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: webny99 on February 11, 2023, 01:38:52 PM
I-490, NY (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43.0093503,-77.438406/43.0297012,-77.9654812/@43.0444576,-77.9602309,10.18z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0) - It's about 5 to 10 minutes faster, depending on your speed and traffic, to take I-90. That's still the case even if you have to turn around at both ends, as you can see in the Maps link.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: SkyPesos on February 11, 2023, 01:45:50 PM
The various faster NYC-Boston routings would qualify I-95 for this thread.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Flint1979 on February 11, 2023, 03:18:38 PM
Quote from: pianocello on February 11, 2023, 12:11:58 PM
According to Google one of the fastest ways from Port Huron, MI to Billings, MT only uses I-94 between the south suburbs of Chicago and Marshall, MI--only about 150 miles out of 1500.

Going east to west, it's I-69 -> I-94 -> I-80 -> I-380 -> US 20 -> I-29 -> I-90 -> US 212 -> I-90. As of now (11 am on a Saturday), it's a comparable to taking I-94 the whole way (even with the shortcuts of I-69, I-90 through Rockford, and I-694).
The fastest way is 22 hours ,57 minutes taking I-69 > I-94 > I-90 > I-94 > I-90. The way you mentioned is 23 hours, 20 minutes.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: roadman65 on February 11, 2023, 03:25:44 PM
Staying on I-10 completely isn't the fastest way from Santa Monica to Jacksonville. Hence I-12 over I-10 in Louisiana.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 11, 2023, 04:07:00 PM
Most people in this thread are describing minor diversions from the route. Which is fine, but actually most interstates, especially long ones, don't seem to be the exact fastest way between the two termini. I'm more looking for examples like I-79 and I-94 where most of the route is not on the interstate, but onn other roads.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: ilpt4u on February 11, 2023, 05:07:40 PM
I-55 clearly isn't, as I-57 (with a start on the Dan Ryan Expressway/I-90/94) is typically faster for the Chicago-Sikeston leg of the journey between Chi-town and NOLA

Google says it is, but I seriously question that I-65 is the fastest route between Gary, IN and Mobile, AL. US 41/IN 63->Pennyrile Pkwy->I-24->I-65 is listed by Google as 30 mins slower, but I have to question that
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: US 89 on February 11, 2023, 06:43:20 PM
Per Google, the fastest route between I-40's endpoints does not follow I-40 anywhere east of Memphis. That connection is best made via I-22, I-20, I-95, and I/US 74.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: SkyPesos on February 11, 2023, 08:50:50 PM
US 24/I-75/I-94 between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is faster than I-69.

I think we'll see a lot more examples of this on I-69 if the full routing down to Texas is completed. Will I-70/I-57/I-55 still remain faster than a finished I-69 between Indianapolis and Memphis? Same with I-40/I-30/I-369 between Memphis and Tenaha? And combining those two together, would the I-57 extension to Little Rock make the non-I-69 routing more compelling?
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: sprjus4 on February 11, 2023, 11:09:52 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on February 11, 2023, 05:07:40 PM
Google says it is, but I seriously question that I-65 is the fastest route between Gary, IN and Mobile, AL. US 41/IN 63->Pennyrile Pkwy->I-24->I-65 is listed by Google as 30 mins slower, but I have to question that
What's to question? It's only 19 miles longer over a distance of 400+ miles, and over 230 miles of the US-41 routing has a maximum speed limit of 60 mph and travels through a few various towns.

I-65 is posted at 70 mph through without a few short (in terms of the overall 400 miles) 55-65 mph sections through Louisville and Indianapolis.

Now, I can understand why the shorter route may be desired due to less truck traffic and traffic overall, but I wouldn't say it's the fastest route. If Indiana would allow a 65 mph or 70 mph speed limit on their four lane divided highways, then it might indeed be faster. But being limited, legally, to 60 mph for that long, can be frustrating especially on wide open, empty, highway.

Quote from: SkyPesos on February 11, 2023, 08:50:50 PM
US 24/I-75/I-94 between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is faster than I-69.
While true, I-69 also does serve as a long distance bypass of Detroit. If traveling through at any peak times, I would probably prefer I-69 over going through the whole Detroit metro on I-75 / I-94.

QuoteWill I-70/I-57/I-55 still remain faster than a finished I-69 between Indianapolis and Memphis?
According to Google Maps, from downtown Indianapolis to downtown Memphis, The I-69 routing is around 452 miles whereas I-70/57/55 is 465 miles.

There would be a mileage savings of 13 miles, plus with significantly less truck traffic and traffic overall than on I-70, I-57, and I-55, it will probably be the preferred routing.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Flint1979 on February 12, 2023, 07:38:26 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on February 11, 2023, 08:50:50 PM
US 24/I-75/I-94 between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is faster than I-69.

I think we'll see a lot more examples of this on I-69 if the full routing down to Texas is completed. Will I-70/I-57/I-55 still remain faster than a finished I-69 between Indianapolis and Memphis? Same with I-40/I-30/I-369 between Memphis and Tenaha? And combining those two together, would the I-57 extension to Little Rock make the non-I-69 routing more compelling?
It's faster by about 12-15 minutes but also saves you about 30 miles. But if you think you're going to be stuck in traffic in Detroit I think that 12-15 minutes you saved might not be worth it.  It has to be because of the east-west nature of I-69 east of Lansing.

Also keep in mind that I-75 is a mess with trucks between Toledo and Detroit and that I-94 can be the same way to Port Huron. But I-94 starts thinning out with traffic after you get into St. Clair County.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: fillup420 on February 12, 2023, 10:33:34 AM
Quote from: US 89 on February 11, 2023, 06:43:20 PM
Per Google, the fastest route between I-40's endpoints does not follow I-40 anywhere east of Memphis. That connection is best made via I-22, I-20, I-95, and I/US 74.

Which further solidifies my opinion that I-40 southeast of Raleigh should never have been I-40

I believe I-40 should've either ended at I-95 east of Raleigh, or followed US 74 corridor east from Asheville, through Charlotte to Wilmington.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: pianocello on February 12, 2023, 04:02:46 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

Huh, interesting. Time of day and current traffic conditions must play a factor here, since upthread we found that I-90 was a faster route than I-94 from Billings to Tomah. At least it was at the time.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Some one on February 12, 2023, 05:21:15 PM
It is faster to take US 70/US 54/NM 219/US 84 from Las Cruces to Las Vegas, NM than I-25.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: webny99 on February 12, 2023, 08:52:12 PM
Quote from: pianocello on February 12, 2023, 04:02:46 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

Huh, interesting. Time of day and current traffic conditions must play a factor here, since upthread we found that I-90 was a faster route than I-94 from Billings to Tomah. At least it was at the time.

I'm currently showing a difference of only 10 minutes on a roughly ~15 hour trip, so no doubt it can vary which route is faster.

Even so, it seemed odd that the 10-minute difference favored I-94 despite that route being ~20 miles longer. Then I realized the I-90 alternative presented by Google was using US 212 from Crow Agency, MT to Belle Fourche, SD. I dragged the route back to I-90 and it added another 20 minutes, so the only thing I can figure is there's something like weather or construction affecting I-90.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: mgk920 on February 12, 2023, 11:55:37 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

That's why Big Rig Steve always uses I-94 when traveling between Billings. MT and Tomah, WI (except, of course, around the MSP metro area).

Mike
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on February 13, 2023, 12:33:57 AM
Quote from: Rothman on February 11, 2023, 09:46:43 AM
Quote from: dgolub on February 11, 2023, 08:26:28 AM
I'd think that any of the semicircular interstates would qualify.  For example, rather than taking I-287 in NJ/NY or I-495 in MA, it would be more direct to just stay on I-95.  Also, taking the New Jersey Turnpike (NJ 700) is more direct than following I-95 through Wilmington and Philadelphia.
My father used to take bypasses, due to the general idea that they're supposed to be faster, but by the late 1980s, and due to AAA recommendations, he started just taking the direct route.  And now, online mapping services recommend direct routes over bypasses in a lot of cases today (NYC being a big one).

I was curious about I-94 vs. I-694 in MSP - it only saves you two minutes to take 694 when traffic conditions are equalized. Of course, in heavy traffic situations (or if you drive a hazmat truck) I would advise 694
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on February 13, 2023, 03:50:12 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on February 12, 2023, 11:55:37 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

That's why Big Rig Steve always uses I-94 when traveling between Billings. MT and Tomah, WI (except, of course, around the MSP metro area).

Mike

Not always. I remember one day he stopped in Billings, giving suspense over which one of the Dakotas he would drive through. At the start of the next day he decided to go through South Dakota. I said, oh no, the last two times he drove that state end to end he had serious breakdowns. But in the end nothing happened (except hitting a large pothole leaving the Love's near Sioux Falls). He hasn't been through South Dakota since then.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: mgk920 on February 13, 2023, 11:30:10 AM
that last several years, he has used I-94 exclusively (I just think that those times that he did use I-90 were to mix hings up and keep things interesting for the peanut gallery).  Also, he ALWAYS uses I-694 around the MSP area when he has no intermediate stops there.  He also ALWAYS uses I-285 to transit around the ATL area (through big rigs prohibited inside that beltway).

Mike
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: vdeane on February 13, 2023, 12:49:35 PM
Quote from: webny99 on February 12, 2023, 08:52:12 PM
Quote from: pianocello on February 12, 2023, 04:02:46 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

Huh, interesting. Time of day and current traffic conditions must play a factor here, since upthread we found that I-90 was a faster route than I-94 from Billings to Tomah. At least it was at the time.

I'm currently showing a difference of only 10 minutes on a roughly ~15 hour trip, so no doubt it can vary which route is faster.

Even so, it seemed odd that the 10-minute difference favored I-94 despite that route being ~20 miles longer. Then I realized the I-90 alternative presented by Google was using US 212 from Crow Agency, MT to Belle Fourche, SD. I dragged the route back to I-90 and it added another 20 minutes, so the only thing I can figure is there's something like weather or construction affecting I-90.
The I-94 route is not longer.  Taking I-90 the whole way is 1,039 miles.  Taking I-94 the whole way is only 1,007 miles.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: HighwayStar on February 13, 2023, 01:50:26 PM
I-90 if by no other virtue than US-212 being a slightly faster bypass of the Wyoming portion. Although in recent years with the reduction of the speed limit on US 212 and the raising of speed limits on I-90 this gap has narrowed.

When traffic is taken into account, I have generally found it faster to US I-29/US-20/I-380/I-80 to make the connection from Sioux Falls to Indiana as well.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: hotdogPi on February 13, 2023, 01:51:18 PM
Welcome back after almost a year!
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: HighwayStar on February 13, 2023, 02:07:50 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 13, 2023, 01:51:18 PM
Welcome back after almost a year!

Well thank you!
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: jp the roadgeek on February 13, 2023, 07:43:23 PM
Same can be said of 895 vs 95 in Baltimore.  895 might be a mile or two longer, but it takes you away from the direct path of Inner Harbor traffic, and is certainly the choice on Ravens game day.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: Flint1979 on February 13, 2023, 08:11:47 PM
Going through both Flint and Saginaw it's two miles longer on each I-475 and I-675 vs. taking I-75.
Title: Re: What Interstates are not the fastest route between their termini?
Post by: webny99 on February 14, 2023, 08:26:30 AM
Quote from: vdeane on February 13, 2023, 12:49:35 PM
Quote from: webny99 on February 12, 2023, 08:52:12 PM
Quote from: pianocello on February 12, 2023, 04:02:46 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 12, 2023, 10:54:22 AM
Per Google, the fastest way from Seattle to Boston involves diverting from I-90 and taking I-94 between Billings and Tomah, WI.

Huh, interesting. Time of day and current traffic conditions must play a factor here, since upthread we found that I-90 was a faster route than I-94 from Billings to Tomah. At least it was at the time.

I'm currently showing a difference of only 10 minutes on a roughly ~15 hour trip, so no doubt it can vary which route is faster.

Even so, it seemed odd that the 10-minute difference favored I-94 despite that route being ~20 miles longer. Then I realized the I-90 alternative presented by Google was using US 212 from Crow Agency, MT to Belle Fourche, SD. I dragged the route back to I-90 and it added another 20 minutes, so the only thing I can figure is there's something like weather or construction affecting I-90.
The I-94 route is not longer.  Taking I-90 the whole way is 1,039 miles.  Taking I-94 the whole way is only 1,007 miles.

Yes, I realize that now, but I initially overlooked that Google was using part of US 212, which made it only ~985 miles instead of 1039.