Longest distance from exit ramp to control point city

[jbnati27]

This isn't the longest distance, but Atlanta via US 23 makes an appearance on I-40 in Western NC.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.547242,-82.8941241,3a,75y,269.1h,77.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQedUG8z80KmbdYs9cWDu0Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Buffaboy]

This isn't the longest distance, but Atlanta via US 23 makes an appearance on I-40 in Western NC.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.547242,-82.8941241,3a,75y,269.1h,77.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQedUG8z80KmbdYs9cWDu0Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Speaking of Atlanta, the distance from Atlanta to Tampa via I-75 is 460 miles, and that's a control city for the I-75/I-285 junction:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6323557,-84.4066591,3a,75y,75.56h,85.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_0mFrCyX55VsGRyIx4VgXg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Sub-Urbanite]

It's 420 miles from this exit on I-80 to Las Vegas.

[Pete from Boston]

The most distant destination I can think of in New England is New York in Copley Square, Boston, roughly 210 miles away.

[Fred Defender]

This may be a little off-topic, but what bothers me is not the distance but the reasoning for listing the cities the way Florida does:

I-75 in Columbia County at Exit 414 indicates Lake City/High Springs both north- and southbound, which is truly idiotic. Exit 414 is nearly halfway between High Springs and Lake City which are a good 25 miles apart. Exiting I-75 northbound for High Springs or southbound for Lake City would be foolish as one would be 12-15 miles PAST the given city resulting in 25-30 miles of unnecessary travel. Similarly, Exit 399 in Alachua is signed for High Springs in both directions when, again, southbound, you're a good seven miles PAST High Springs. Georgia had the sense to sign I-75 Exit #185 for Forsyth northbound and Gray southbound. Florida should do this at 414 - High Springs southbound and Lake City northbound.

Here's another one in the same area of North Florida that bothers me:

Exit #404 is signed for Lake Butler both  north- and southbound. The quickest and best route to Lake Butler southbound is Exit 414 north <1 mile to SR238 then east to Lake Butler. MUCH shorter and better quality roads than Alachua CR236. Even northbound, it might not be shorter but certainly quicker with better roads.

[The Nature Boy]

The most distant destination I can think of in New England is New York in Copley Square, Boston, roughly 210 miles away.

I've always wondered if the New York control city in Copley Square is New York City or State. I-90 goes directly to NY State but not the City but if one were going from Boston to NYC, it's the quickest route to get there.

[CapeCodder]

St. Louis is the WB control city for I-70 in Indianapolis. You'd think they'd sign for Effingham.

[PHLBOS]

The most distant destination I can think of in New England is New York in Copley Square, Boston, roughly 210 miles away.

I've always wondered if the New York control city in Copley Square is New York City or State. I-90 goes directly to NY State but not the City but if one were going from Boston to NYC, it's the quickest route to get there.

At this location, which is near a bus terminal, it could be inferred as both.  Prior to the current signage near & along the Pike, New York was used as a westbound I-90 control destination all the way through the Auburn interchange (Exit 10/I-290/395/MA 12). 

At the Sturbridge interchange (Exit 9/I-84 West); Albany is used for I-90 West & New York City is used for I-84 West (even though I-84 doesn't touch NYC, one uses it to reach CT 15 then to I-91 in Hartford then to I-95 in New Haven). 

[KEVIN_224]

Although it's not signed as such, you can also stay on I-84 to NY Exit 20 (in the town of Southeast) and use I-684 South.

[PHLBOS]

Although it's not signed as such, you can also stay on I-84 to NY Exit 20 (in the town of Southeast) and use I-684 South.

For coastal destinations beyond (south of) NYC; sure (I do I-84 to 684 on most of my Philly-Boston round-trips). 

For somebody heading to NYC itself; such is a bit out of the way, unless there's a major (i.e. worse than usual) traffic disaster in southwestern CT that one is avoiding.

[thenetwork]

The ultimate winner is in Pennsylvania.  I saw the photo on another thread (but I can't find it off-hand) so it is legit:

There is a BGS exit/on-ramp from one of PA's US routes to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/I-76) which has a control city of Denver, CO.  That one would clock in at well over 1500 Miles -- depending on what route(s) you use to get there.

The cool thing about this location is that technically, BOTH interstates listed here go to Denver -- despite the I-76 eastern & western segment gap.

[Sub-Urbanite]

That sign refers to Denver, Pennsylvania.

[tdindy88]

St. Louis is the WB control city for I-70 in Indianapolis. You'd think they'd sign for Effingham.

Nope. Indiana only signs big cities for their control points, so St. Louis it is. In (East) St. Louis they sign I-70 east for Indianapolis as it were.

[roadman65]

This may be a little off-topic, but what bothers me is not the distance but the reasoning for listing the cities the way Florida does:

I-75 in Columbia County at Exit 414 indicates Lake City/High Springs both north- and southbound, which is truly idiotic. Exit 414 is nearly halfway between High Springs and Lake City which are a good 25 miles apart. Exiting I-75 northbound for High Springs or southbound for Lake City would be foolish as one would be 12-15 miles PAST the given city resulting in 25-30 miles of unnecessary travel. Similarly, Exit 399 in Alachua is signed for High Springs in both directions when, again, southbound, you're a good seven miles PAST High Springs. Georgia had the sense to sign I-75 Exit #185 for Forsyth northbound and Gray southbound. Florida should do this at 414 - High Springs southbound and Lake City northbound.

Here's another one in the same area of North Florida that bothers me:

Exit #404 is signed for Lake Butler both  north- and southbound. The quickest and best route to Lake Butler southbound is Exit 414 north <1 mile to SR238 then east to Lake Butler. MUCH shorter and better quality roads than Alachua CR236. Even northbound, it might not be shorter but certainly quicker with better roads.

I am glad you said this.  Lake City on I-75 S Bound is very dumb to use as like you said is close to 15 miles back in the direction you came from.  Similar situation arises on I-95 half way between St Augustine and Bunnel on the east coast.  However,  FDOT (the same district that maintains the said interchange on I-75) signs SB for Bunnel only and NB for St. Augustine taking into consideration that St. Augustine going SB is a waste as one just came from there 17 miles ago, and not having Bunnel going NB is just as silly as you just passed it 15 miles ago.

Similar situations occur where I-75 and US 27 interchange near Weston, FL. The southbound US 27 control city was Miami for several years, when in fact "Miami" for northbound motorists was a city most through drivers originated from.  For Southbound I-75 it was bad in another way, as you are actually telling motorists to use a non freeway over a freeway to get to your final destination.  Plus with I-75's southern terminus not signing "Miami" leaves that interchange to be the only signed mention of Miami along I-75 for an exit leading there, made it worse.   However FDOT did change the control city last I saw to "Hialeah" which is still bad considering that I-75's southern terminus is there.

The NJTA dis the same for GSP Exit 130 in New Jersey using "Newark" for US 1 north when fifteen miles ago, the GSP just left Newark.  Woodbridge should be signed from there, or even Rahway, Linden, or Elizabeth which are the three other cities US 1 sees before entering Newark would be better suited for the signs.

As far as Lake Butler goes, I agree with you on that one totally.  For S Bound I-75 its best to exit the freeway at Exit 414 to go north one mile to head east.  In fact replace "Lake City" with "Lake Butler" and add it to the ramp signs.

[Pete from Boston]

The most distant destination I can think of in New England is New York in Copley Square, Boston, roughly 210 miles away.

I've always wondered if the New York control city in Copley Square is New York City or State. I-90 goes directly to NY State but not the City but if one were going from Boston to NYC, it's the quickest route to get there.

At this location, which is near a bus terminal, it could be inferred as both.  Prior to the current signage near & along the Pike, New York was used as a westbound I-90 control destination all the way through the Auburn interchange (Exit 10/I-290/395/MA 12). 

At the Sturbridge interchange (Exit 9/I-84 West); Albany is used for I-90 West & New York City is used for I-84 West (even though I-84 doesn't touch NYC, one uses it to reach CT 15 then to I-91 in Hartford then to I-95 in New Haven).

I've thought about this more than I probably should, but if I had to make an educated guess, I would say it's for the city, because signs of this vintage in Massachusetts don't generally list states alone.

I'm sure whoever approved the sign understood the ambiguity, but  probably understood as we all do that both are correct.

Does anyone know off the top of their head the easternmost point at which Albany is used as a destination for the Mass Pike westbound?

[KEVIN_224]

St. Louis is the WB control city for I-70 in Indianapolis. You'd think they'd sign for Effingham.

Nope. Indiana only signs big cities for their control points, so St. Louis it is. In (East) St. Louis they sign I-70 east for Indianapolis as it were.

While visiting Indianapolis in 2010, I noticed a BGS for I-70 East reading COLUMBUS, OH. I would think the sign would still say INDIANAPOLIS implying downtown, since I was on the west side, heading on a IndyGO shuttle bus towards the then-new airport (IND).

[PHLBOS]

The most distant destination I can think of in New England is New York in Copley Square, Boston, roughly 210 miles away.

I've always wondered if the New York control city in Copley Square is New York City or State. I-90 goes directly to NY State but not the City but if one were going from Boston to NYC, it's the quickest route to get there.

At this location, which is near a bus terminal, it could be inferred as both.  Prior to the current signage near & along the Pike, New York was used as a westbound I-90 control destination all the way through the Auburn interchange (Exit 10/I-290/395/MA 12). 

At the Sturbridge interchange (Exit 9/I-84 West); Albany is used for I-90 West & New York City is used for I-84 West (even though I-84 doesn't touch NYC, one uses it to reach CT 15 then to I-91 in Hartford then to I-95 in New Haven).

I've thought about this more than I probably should, but if I had to make an educated guess, I would say it's for the city, because signs of this vintage in Massachusetts don't generally list states alone.

For MassHighway spec'd signs of the era; yes.  OTOH, for Massachusetts Turnpike Commission spec'd signs (the Copley Square BGS falls in this category), no.  Listing states as destinations was still in vogue as far as the Turnpike Commission was concerned back then.

Does anyone know off the top of their head the easternmost point at which Albany is used as a destination for the Mass Pike westbound?

Presently, one sees this one along I-90 westbound itself in Weston.  Such is a fairly recent installation. 

The previous pull-through BGS listed Worcester and New York; note the erroneous capital T in the Worcester listing.

The first entrance ramp signage listing Albany for I-90 westbound is at the I-495 interchange in Hopkinton.

[KEVIN_224]

Disregard that streetlight pole on the right...

[Buffaboy]

In Chicago, I-57 is directed to Memphis, 550 miles away.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7201519,-87.6246729,3a,75y,203.39h,88.86t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shAf5B-c3grFmFMXrRu5bIQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DhAf5B-c3grFmFMXrRu5bIQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.TACTILE.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D392%26h%3D106%26yaw%3D227.34491%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

[MattCollopy]

On the I-10 and I-20 interchange in Fort Davis, Texas. There's a Control city of Ft. worth. That's just over 500 Miles or so.

[CtrlAltDel]

Aren't most of these going the wrong way? I thought the OP was looking for exits to destinations that are not all that close to the interstate. Like there's an exit and the sign says Exit 25: US-24 XYZVille, and then you take that exit, and there's a green sign at the top of the ramp that says there are still 50 miles to XYZVille. Most of the examples given seem to be just far away control cities.

[Sub-Urbanite]

Aren't most of these going the wrong way? I thought the OP was looking for exits to destinations that are not all that close to the interstate. Like there's an exit and the sign says Exit 25: US-24 XYZVille, and then you take that exit, and there's a green sign at the top of the ramp that says there are still 50 miles to XYZVille. Most of the examples given seem to be just far away control cities.

Well, then the US 95 signs to Reno in Vegas might take the cake, since US 95 clears Reno by about 60 miles and that's 375 miles up the pike as it is.

[Mapmikey]

That sign refers to Denver, Pennsylvania.

Here is the BGS location, 120 miles east of Breezewood:

https://goo.gl/maps/6uG1nY2RAU52

Definitely Denver, PA which is a couple miles left at the bottom of the ramp and I-76 is to the right.

[ftballfan]

This may be a little off-topic, but what bothers me is not the distance but the reasoning for listing the cities the way Florida does:

I-75 in Columbia County at Exit 414 indicates Lake City/High Springs both north- and southbound, which is truly idiotic. Exit 414 is nearly halfway between High Springs and Lake City which are a good 25 miles apart. Exiting I-75 northbound for High Springs or southbound for Lake City would be foolish as one would be 12-15 miles PAST the given city resulting in 25-30 miles of unnecessary travel. Similarly, Exit 399 in Alachua is signed for High Springs in both directions when, again, southbound, you're a good seven miles PAST High Springs. Georgia had the sense to sign I-75 Exit #185 for Forsyth northbound and Gray southbound. Florida should do this at 414 - High Springs southbound and Lake City northbound.

Here's another one in the same area of North Florida that bothers me:

Exit #404 is signed for Lake Butler both  north- and southbound. The quickest and best route to Lake Butler southbound is Exit 414 north <1 mile to SR238 then east to Lake Butler. MUCH shorter and better quality roads than Alachua CR236. Even northbound, it might not be shorter but certainly quicker with better roads.

US-31 exit 118 has Fremont as a control point both northbound and southbound. US-31 southbound traffic to Fremont should have exited at exit 140 or 131 and saved lots of miles

[chays]

Miami is still mentioned on I-95 and in a few other areas in Petersburg, at the I-85 interchange.

Thank-you StreetView.

A bit over 900 miles, although it's spoiled a bit by sharing billing with Rocky Mount, NC.

Here's a photo of that gantry:

Is there some sort of standard as to when a control city has its state listed as well (i.e. Rocky Mount, NC)?  For consistency, wouldn't Miami need to have "FL" included?  Maybe it is because Miami is so well-known relative to the smaller Rocky Mount.