Best downtown freeways

[STLmapboy]

I-35 in Duluth has some really nice stretches of interstate near Lake Superior in downtown. It was built a bit later than most downtown interstates (opened 1992) and it shows. It is mostly in a trench with several freeway-cap parks and tunnels, virtually nil in the way of graffiti, and modern interchanges (like a SPUI at Lake Avenue). Also in MN, I-35E in St Paul has a nice downtown stretch (modern bridges, smart signage, and plants in the median south of downtown).

Any other above-par stretches of urban interstate?

[Max Rockatansky]

I-405 and US 26 in Portland have some scenic downtown views. 

[silverback1065]

Some of California's interstates have really nice plants on the slopes

[texaskdog]

I-35 in Duluth has some really nice stretches of interstate near Lake Superior in downtown. It was built a bit later than most downtown interstates (opened 1992) and it shows. It is mostly in a trench with several freeway-cap parks and tunnels, virtually nil in the way of graffiti, and modern interchanges (like a SPUI at Lake Avenue). Also in MN, I-35W in St Paul has a nice downtown stretch (modern bridges, smart signage, and plants in the median south of downtown).

Any other above-par stretches of urban interstate?

When I saw the post I was going to say I-35 in Duluth first.

You mean 35E in Saint Paul, which is the practice freeway

[Concrete Bob]

For general driving pleasure and design, I-10 through downtown Phoenix is one of my favorites.  For beautiful views of a city skyline, the final stretch of I-280 in San Francisco before the Sixth Street exit. 

[thspfc]

I-25 though Denver
I-90/94 through Chicago
I-71 through Cincinnati
I-94 through St. Paul and Minneapolis
I-376 through Pittsburgh
I-5 through Seattle

[webny99]

Setting aside the 40 mph speed limit, I think this section of I-490 in Downtown Rochester, bridge included, is an all-time classic. It's a short, sweet and all-encompassing view of downtown, where the old saying "blink and you miss it" actually applies quite literally.

I've been to many cities - both driving through and visiting - and come away wishing they had a nice, clean, snapshot view of their city from the freeway just like this one. But that's why there's no place like home, I guess. 

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

I-376 does really fit the bill. There's a reason Pittsburgh is called "The only city with an entrance."

[ari-s-drives]

I-376 does really fit the bill. There's a reason Pittsburgh is called "The only city with an entrance."

^ 100% this. Coming in at night and seeing everything lit up is very cool (a lot cooler than coming down the Grapevine and seeing just miles of taillights :-) ).

[STLmapboy]

I-376 does really fit the bill. There's a reason Pittsburgh is called "The only city with an entrance."

Well the tunnel and subsequent yellow bridge certainly don't hurt.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/7ps914/the_best_entrance_to_any_city/

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

I-376 does really fit the bill. There's a reason Pittsburgh is called "The only city with an entrance."

^ 100% this. Coming in at night and seeing everything lit up is very cool (a lot cooler than coming down the Grapevine and seeing just miles of taillights :-) ).

I haven't been to Pittsburgh, but I really enjoyed how it was conveyed in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (the film). One gripe was that it was set in the 1990s, but the Fort Pitt Bridge had I-376 signs with modern numbering. I understand that it would be expensive and confusing to accurately resign it, however.

[Max Rockatansky]

Some of California's interstates have really nice plants on the slopes

I would say I-80 in San Francisco and CA 110 on the Arroyo Seco Parkway are the only two that make you feel like you are driving through downtown.  CA 163 enters downtown very suddenly at it's terminus which is quite visually striking.

[STLmapboy]

Some of California's interstates have really nice plants on the slopes

I would say I-80 in San Francisco and CA 110 on the Arroyo Seco Parkway are the only two that make you feel like you are driving through downtown.  CA 163 enters downtown very suddenly at it's terminus which is quite visually striking.

163 is one of the few CA freeways that doesn't look like a hellhole of despair approaching downtown (read: everything radiating from Los Angeles). The arched bridges, treed-in setting, planted median, and 4-lane form certainly help.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

Some of California's interstates have really nice plants on the slopes

I would say I-80 in San Francisco and CA 110 on the Arroyo Seco Parkway are the only two that make you feel like you are driving through downtown.  CA 163 enters downtown very suddenly at it's terminus which is quite visually striking.

163 is one of the few CA freeways that doesn't look like a hellhole of despair approaching downtown (read: everything radiating from Los Angeles). The arched bridges, treed-in setting, planted median, and 4-lane form certainly help.

You could really call it more of a parkway anyway.

[keithvh]

I-25 though Denver
I-90/94 through Chicago
I-71 through Cincinnati
I-94 through St. Paul and Minneapolis
I-376 through Pittsburgh
I-5 through Seattle

I've lived in both Denver and Cincinnati.  71 yes --- 25 no.  I hate 25 actually.

[Roadgeekteen]

My favorite in Boston is I-90 inside 128 simply because of nostalgia.

[Max Rockatansky]

Some of California's interstates have really nice plants on the slopes

I would say I-80 in San Francisco and CA 110 on the Arroyo Seco Parkway are the only two that make you feel like you are driving through downtown.  CA 163 enters downtown very suddenly at it's terminus which is quite visually striking.

163 is one of the few CA freeways that doesn't look like a hellhole of despair approaching downtown (read: everything radiating from Los Angeles). The arched bridges, treed-in setting, planted median, and 4-lane form certainly help.

You could really call it more of a parkway anyway.

But it is fully limited access and thus a freeway.  Even wild stuff like CA 18 climbing to CA 138 on the Rim of the World Highway are technically freeways in extreme form. 

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

If I-490 is one of the best downtown freeways, why is the Inner Spur Loop so terrible-looking?

[DJ Particle]

My favorite in Boston is I-90 inside 128 simply because of nostalgia.

I feel the same way about Storrow Drive.

[Scott5114]

How about I-40 Oklahoma City (opened January 5, 2012)?

[Ned Weasel]

I think so many downtown freeways are downright awful in so many ways that the "best" ones are automatically a minority.

But for ones there were at least designed well as freeways and integrated well with the connecting street network, I'm going to nominate the US 54/400/Kellogg Avenue Freeway in Wichita.  I think this one had the benefit of learning from the mistakes of older downtown freeways, so it lacks the design flaws of so many of them (sharp curves, left entrance and exit ramps, closely spaced ramps, poorly executed "loop" configurations that don't quite function in the "ring road" fashion some designers intended, etc.).  The Kellogg also has high aesthetic value where many other downtown freeways do not.

Furthermore, instead of being built on a wholly invented alignment, it was built over an existing arterial highway (US 54/400/Kellogg Avenue existed there long before the freeway came along), which minimized disruption to the existing physical context.  Whether it was ultimately justified as opposed to other alternatives, however, will likely be a matter of debate for a long time to come.

[webny99]

If I-490 is one of the best downtown freeways, why is the Inner Spur Loop so terrible-looking?

Because it's depressed. (Double-meaning, but both are true!  )

Keep in mind too that about 1/3 of the Inner Loop has now been removed, and the entire non-I-490 portion has lacked investment over the years. It essentially goes around the back side of the city, so it's not too surprising that the front side (I-490) is much better both functionally and aesthetically.

[jmacswimmer]

My favorite in Boston is I-90 inside 128 simply because of nostalgia.

Even if it's not the best-designed downtown freeway, I have to agree with the nostalgia aspect.  Back in my college days of driving back & forth between Worcester & Logan, my favorite part of 90 was all the tunnels (unless it was rush hour).

From a design perspective, I think I-95 thru Baltimore is a top contender.  Mostly 8 lanes (brief exception within exit 53) with full shoulders, well-designed interchanges with proper merge areas, elevated (and recently redecked), tunnel carrying all 8 lanes under the harbor, and direct access into downtown via the short I-395.  Good view of downtown and the sports stadiums while passing thru as well.

[kphoger]

How about I-40 Oklahoma City (opened January 5, 2012)?

It's certainly wide enough to accommodate traffic, at least every time I've used it.  But it isn't exactly scenic.

[Henry]

I-25 though Denver
I-90/94 through Chicago
I-71 through Cincinnati
I-94 through St. Paul and Minneapolis
I-376 through Pittsburgh
I-5 through Seattle

Agreed on both I-90/I-94 and I-5!

I'd also like to add to the list the Downtown Connector in Atlanta, I-278 through New York, I-95 in Philadelphia, I-77 in Cleveland, I-45 in Houston and any 2di in St. Louis (two words: Gateway Arch).