Best Skyline Views from any Road

[jmd41280]

Though not from a freeway, the view of Downtown Pittsburgh coming down Bigelow Blvd. is very impressive...

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.448583,-79.983971,3a,75y,252.97h,82.3t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sn2nWGl_uSS0Xz7yOQ5Hhsw!2e0

The view of Harrisburg, PA from the I-83 bridge over the Susquehanna River is nice too...


Harrisburg, PA by jmd41280, on Flickr

Also not from a freeway, but there is also a nice view of Center City Philadelphia from the Baltimore Pike in nearby Lansdowne, PA...


Philadelphia, PA by jmd41280, on Flickr

[Zeffy]

Another really cool shot of New York City from New Jersey, this time on NJ 3 heading towards the Lincoln Tunnel: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.797812,-74.067315,3a,15.4y,121.27h,89.33t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1svkok2-LlZIyaHS_r4W-VQQ!2e0

[jmd41280]

I always enjoyed the view from the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 at Laurel Hill of the NYC skyline.  You can pretty much see the whole expanse of Manhattan from that point (as long as you don't mind all the powerline pylons and industrial sites in the foreground)...

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.757102,-74.090114,3a,75y,88.88h,86.18t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1soMpNYvRR_RLZgLdMG5nXoQ!2e0

[hm insulators]

Heading south on Arizona 51 approaching Northern Avenue, you get a brief view of downtown Phoenix off in the distance.

[theline]

Many have mentioned favorite views of Chicago. Mine is from several spots along Lake Shore Drive, like this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.866546,-87.619193,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sa5qfVc-kD_jU2hbhQMkckQ!2e0?hl=en

I almost always make sure any trip includes an approach along LSD. Regrettably, I'm usually driving and traffic is heavy, so I only get fleeting glances.

[Pete from Boston]

Many have mentioned favorite views of Chicago. Mine is from several spots along Lake Shore Drive, like this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.866546,-87.619193,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sa5qfVc-kD_jU2hbhQMkckQ!2e0?hl=en

I almost always make sure any trip includes an approach along LSD. Regrettably, I'm usually driving and traffic is heavy, so I only get fleeting glances.

You should never drive on LSD.  The car is liable to melt.

[jmd41280]

Many have mentioned favorite views of Chicago. Mine is from several spots along Lake Shore Drive, like this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.866546,-87.619193,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sa5qfVc-kD_jU2hbhQMkckQ!2e0?hl=en

I almost always make sure any trip includes an approach along LSD. Regrettably, I'm usually driving and traffic is heavy, so I only get fleeting glances.

You should never drive on LSD.  The car is liable to melt.

Plus, the road begins to sing to you...

[theline]

Many have mentioned favorite views of Chicago. Mine is from several spots along Lake Shore Drive, like this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.866546,-87.619193,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sa5qfVc-kD_jU2hbhQMkckQ!2e0?hl=en

I almost always make sure any trip includes an approach along LSD. Regrettably, I'm usually driving and traffic is heavy, so I only get fleeting glances.

You should never drive on LSD.  The car is liable to melt.

Plus, the road begins to sing to you...

The view can be groovy, unless you get a bad trip. 

I'll stop now.

[formulanone]

Many have mentioned favorite views of Chicago. Mine is from several spots along Lake Shore Drive, like this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.866546,-87.619193,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sa5qfVc-kD_jU2hbhQMkckQ!2e0?hl=en

I almost always make sure any trip includes an approach along LSD. Regrettably, I'm usually driving and traffic is heavy, so I only get fleeting glances.

You should never drive on LSD.  The car is liable to melt.

Plus, the road begins to sing to you...

Actually, the road melts, the traffic lights sing, and road signs laugh at you...so I'm told.

A nice view of Dallas from the I-35E northbound ramp from I-20 east:

[jmd41280]

Charlotte from the I-77/I-485 south junction...


Charlotte Skyline from I-77/I-485 South Junction by jmd41280, on Flickr

Charlotte from I-77...


Charlotte, NC by jmd41280, on Flickr

[Roadrunner75]

Also not from a freeway, but there is also a nice view of Center City Philadelphia from the Baltimore Pike in nearby Lansdowne, PA...


Philadelphia, PA by jmd41280, on Flickr

Nice shot.  I'm guessing that was taken from about here.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=39.93831,-75.271766&spn=0.000001,0.000649&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=39.93831,-75.271893&panoid=rkkwqpVmyoeQWjXooFaOFQ&cbp=12,85.06,,0,-5.94

[jmd41280]

Also not from a freeway, but there is also a nice view of Center City Philadelphia from the Baltimore Pike in nearby Lansdowne, PA...


Philadelphia, PA by jmd41280, on Flickr

Nice shot.  I'm guessing that was taken from about here.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=39.93831,-75.271766&spn=0.000001,0.000649&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=39.93831,-75.271893&panoid=rkkwqpVmyoeQWjXooFaOFQ&cbp=12,85.06,,0,-5.94

Thanks! That is exactly the spot where I took that photo.

[6a]

Charlotte from the I-77/I-485 south junction...


Charlotte Skyline from I-77/I-485 South Junction by jmd41280, on Flickr

Figures they're some idiot Ohioan clogging the road in front of you

[Bruce]

Overpasses are the best. For example, here's some from I-5 in Seattle:


I-5 north from Yesler Way by SounderBruce, on Flickr


I-5 from Lakeview Boulevard by SounderBruce, on Flickr


I-5 northbound from Holgate Street by SounderBruce, on Flickr


Seattle skyline from 45th Street by SounderBruce, on Flickr


I-5 southbound from Olive Way by SounderBruce, on Flickr

[rickmastfan67]

While you can't see anything here in StreetView ( http://goo.gl/maps/pF8TM ), this is one of my personal favorite locations to see the Toronto skyline when it's clear out on the QEW.  When you have a clear night, this view is spectacular.

[Bickendan]

First view of Portland's skyline on I-5 north, top of the Wells Fargo Tower:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.476472,-122.678709,3a,75y,346.68h,85.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7Q8mZbCKGuvFIORzH9KDng!2e0

Glimpse of the South Waterfront skyline (under the north half of the Corbett Ave overpass):
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.48843,-122.677056,3a,75y,37.51h,84.35t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1snxSCRwLVDY1rPpP6Ou-PuQ!2e0

South Waterfront skyline sweeps into view: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.489186,-122.676092,3a,75y,36.68h,84.52t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1skcRmFD5_1dNCzjKyHGuuHA!2e0

South Waterfront District, Portland:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.493048,-122.673548,3a,75y,23.05h,87.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1scOQ1f0H5dOXX45_ZecGmFA!2e0

While we're here... Can someone do a CalTrans mockup of this BGS?
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.49757,-122.67325,3a,75y,1.57h,87.43t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sOoLVqYktcLNNEVu3ZwS7yA!2e0

Wells Fargo and Koin Towers from the ramp to the Marquam Bridge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.502663,-122.67323,3a,75y,1.57h,87.43t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sSr3gg70IiJ__Im1dlkm7VA!2e0

[jmd41280]

Overpasses are the best. For example, here's some from I-5 in Seattle:

I've seen that same view from I-5 before, and it is very impressive indeed.  Although not from a *land* highway (and I am taking creative liberties w/ the concept of a road here), the view of the skyline from the Bainbridge Island ferry route is amazing as well.

[empirestate]

First view of Portland's skyline on I-5 north, top of the Wells Fargo Tower:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.476472,-122.678709,3a,75y,346.68h,85.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7Q8mZbCKGuvFIORzH9KDng!2e0

Which brings up an interesting side question: Where is the earliest (most distant) "first view" of a skyline from a particular road?

[rickmastfan67]

First view of Portland's skyline on I-5 north, top of the Wells Fargo Tower:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.476472,-122.678709,3a,75y,346.68h,85.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7Q8mZbCKGuvFIORzH9KDng!2e0

Which brings up an interesting side question: Where is the earliest (most distant) "first view" of a skyline from a particular road?

This is Toronto's along the QEW.

While you can't see anything here in StreetView ( http://goo.gl/maps/pF8TM ), this is one of my personal favorite locations to see the Toronto skyline when it's clear out on the QEW.  When you have a clear night, this view is spectacular.

[SSOWorld]

Vegas has many "distant views" (20-30 miles out) - especially from US-95 EB or from I-15 either way.

[MikeTheActuary]

I'm partial to the view of lower Manhattan from the BQE

Or, if you're in the mid-South, how about the view of Memphis sprouting from the floodplain and riverbank from I-40 or even I-55?

[wphiii]

Or, if you're in the mid-South, how about the view of Memphis sprouting from the floodplain and riverbank from I-40 or even I-55?

Along those lines, I've always liked the "Oz effect" of Winnipeg rising out of the Canadian prairie. Hard to find a good shot on Street View, but this photo (not mine) gives a good idea.

[TXtoNJ]

First view of Portland's skyline on I-5 north, top of the Wells Fargo Tower:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.476472,-122.678709,3a,75y,346.68h,85.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7Q8mZbCKGuvFIORzH9KDng!2e0

Which brings up an interesting side question: Where is the earliest (most distant) "first view" of a skyline from a particular road?

You can see Downtown Houston from an I-45 overpass about 30 miles north on a clear day (at the FM 2920 exit)

[slorydn1]

First view of Portland's skyline on I-5 north, top of the Wells Fargo Tower:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.476472,-122.678709,3a,75y,346.68h,85.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7Q8mZbCKGuvFIORzH9KDng!2e0

Which brings up an interesting side question: Where is the earliest (most distant) "first view" of a skyline from a particular road?

I can't speak to what it looks like now, but I do remember being able to see the tops of the Sears/Willis/Whateveritsgonnabenamednow Tower and the Hancock building from as far out as the I-290/IL-53 interchange on the Adams Tollway (I had to back space and retype Adams after I first typed Northwest Tollway, if that tells you how long it's been since I've been back home, LOL). 


Thinking back on it,that's gotta be pretty darn near 30 miles as the crow flies. 

[kkt]

Addams.  Think Addams Family, of which Jane is related.