States with the most scenic roads? States with the least scenic roads?

[silverback1065]

Worst in Michigan. Even though I mentioned earlier that M-25 around the rim of the thumb is scenic the inland areas of the thumb are boring.

Save from maybe St. Clair County if you count that as the thumb some of it does have a lot in common with the thumb area.

M-57 is a boring highway west of M-52. M-52 itself I find boring between Perry and Stockbridge.

M-28 on the Seney Stretch.  I just rode this on Monday of this week and it's 25 miles of straightness. Everyone was doing 70 mph through there no problem and what seemed like about 45 minutes was really about 20 minutes.

how could you forget M-22?! my favorite scenic route.

[michravera]

The three northern New England states have some really nice roads. For least scenic, Rhode Island beats out Connecticut because Connecticut has the Merritt parkway. Other states can have nice roads too, but they can also have tons of boring ones.

How in the world do you beat CASR-1/CASR-35/CASR-92 and I-280 in the same hour? And all of that is within an hour or so of my house. Well, maybe you beat it with I-405/US-101 and CASR-1 again in LA County? Or maybe you beat it with I-5, the Coronado Bridge and a few others in San Diego County. Or maybe you beat it with US-101 and CASR-41 in San Luis Obispo County. Or maybe you beat it with CASR-1 and US-101 in Santa Barbara County. Or maybe you beat it with the view from US-50 in El Dorado County. Or maybe you beat it with .... in California.

Puerto Rico has some very nice scenery, but not much of it is visible from the roads (at least not near San Juan).

Maybe along Av. Viera Souto to Av. Niemeyer to Cam. Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, but those are all local streets.

I was talking about the states I've traveled by road in.

So, this is limited to Roadgeekteen's experience?

[Max Rockatansky]

Worst in Michigan. Even though I mentioned earlier that M-25 around the rim of the thumb is scenic the inland areas of the thumb are boring.

Save from maybe St. Clair County if you count that as the thumb some of it does have a lot in common with the thumb area.

M-57 is a boring highway west of M-52. M-52 itself I find boring between Perry and Stockbridge.

M-28 on the Seney Stretch.  I just rode this on Monday of this week and it's 25 miles of straightness. Everyone was doing 70 mph through there no problem and what seemed like about 45 minutes was really about 20 minutes.

how could you forget M-22?! my favorite scenic route.

M-22 is pretty top notch but I prefer M-26 because of the scenery and cool mining town backdrops. 

[Roadgeekteen]

The three northern New England states have some really nice roads. For least scenic, Rhode Island beats out Connecticut because Connecticut has the Merritt parkway. Other states can have nice roads too, but they can also have tons of boring ones.

How in the world do you beat CASR-1/CASR-35/CASR-92 and I-280 in the same hour? And all of that is within an hour or so of my house. Well, maybe you beat it with I-405/US-101 and CASR-1 again in LA County? Or maybe you beat it with I-5, the Coronado Bridge and a few others in San Diego County. Or maybe you beat it with US-101 and CASR-41 in San Luis Obispo County. Or maybe you beat it with CASR-1 and US-101 in Santa Barbara County. Or maybe you beat it with the view from US-50 in El Dorado County. Or maybe you beat it with .... in California.

Puerto Rico has some very nice scenery, but not much of it is visible from the roads (at least not near San Juan).

Maybe along Av. Viera Souto to Av. Niemeyer to Cam. Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, but those are all local streets.

I was talking about the states I've traveled by road in.

So, this is limited to Roadgeekteen's experience?

No, but my answer kinda was.

[Flint1979]

Worst in Michigan. Even though I mentioned earlier that M-25 around the rim of the thumb is scenic the inland areas of the thumb are boring.

Save from maybe St. Clair County if you count that as the thumb some of it does have a lot in common with the thumb area.

M-57 is a boring highway west of M-52. M-52 itself I find boring between Perry and Stockbridge.

M-28 on the Seney Stretch.  I just rode this on Monday of this week and it's 25 miles of straightness. Everyone was doing 70 mph through there no problem and what seemed like about 45 minutes was really about 20 minutes.

how could you forget M-22?! my favorite scenic route.

M-22 would be on the best list along with M-26. The ones I mentioned here are the worst ones.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minnesota's one issue (in my view) is extending some scenic byway designations too far, such as the St. Croix Scenic Byway, which could probably end at Taylors Falls or Wild River State Park but for some reason extends another 45 miles west and north on MN 95 and old US 61 to Hinckley beyond that, even though you move inland from the river and there's nothing to see. The Waters of the Dancing Sky byway heading west could similarly end at about Warroad, but continues on MN 11/US 59/MN 175 all the way to the ND border even though Kittson and Roseau counties are boring as hell.

The Minnesota River Valley byway is underrated, especially the MN 7 sections along Big Stone Lake and MN 68 from New Ulm to Mankato.

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding California I've been having a hard time coming up with a highway that really doesn't offer any subjectively scenery that one might want to see.  That said CA 137 came to mind as probably one of the lowest tier rural highways in terms of scenic value.  Aside from odd 90 degree turns and a jog through downtown Tulare rest of the Highway is featureless farm land.  At least nearby CA 43 has the advantage of being a fantastic rail fanning and ghost towning corridor.   Even the most vanilla urban surface highways tend to have value given they are usually a gold mine for odd signage or convoluted legislative histories. 

With Arizona the most bland State Highway I can think of is AZ 72.  The only thing AZ 72 has going for it is a tank memorial in Bouse. 

[Flint1979]

Worst in Michigan. Even though I mentioned earlier that M-25 around the rim of the thumb is scenic the inland areas of the thumb are boring.

Save from maybe St. Clair County if you count that as the thumb some of it does have a lot in common with the thumb area.

M-57 is a boring highway west of M-52. M-52 itself I find boring between Perry and Stockbridge.

M-28 on the Seney Stretch.  I just rode this on Monday of this week and it's 25 miles of straightness. Everyone was doing 70 mph through there no problem and what seemed like about 45 minutes was really about 20 minutes.

how could you forget M-22?! my favorite scenic route.

M-22 is pretty top notch but I prefer M-26 because of the scenery and cool mining town backdrops.

I prefer M-26 over M-22 as well. I love those old mining towns. When I went to the northern terminus of US-41 I took M-26 back to Phoenix and then rejoined US-41 there. It's a bit longer but I like the scenery better along M-26.

[CoreySamson]

I definitely think Louisiana would be the least scenic. I decided to find the most scenic area I could there in street view, here is what I came up with. As a challenge, see if you can find anything better.

Here's my best I can think of:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9406561,-90.3749306,3a,75y,246.7h,83.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHK9LyZjNfMJG6GTptx6jGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e4

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.7194649,-91.3543363,3a,75y,72.04h,99.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUFMnhYX6zuChWD-Fk0bawQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1972033,-93.5724435,3a,75y,252.65h,82.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sC3R3wrcTtE5GQHtszOpYMg!2e0!7i3328!8i1664!5m1!1e4
(almost not even Louisiana here)

[STLmapboy]

I definitely think Louisiana would be the least scenic. I decided to find the most scenic area I could there in street view, here is what I came up with. As a challenge, see if you can find anything better.

Here's my best I can think of:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9406561,-90.3749306,3a,75y,246.7h,83.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHK9LyZjNfMJG6GTptx6jGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e4

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.7194649,-91.3543363,3a,75y,72.04h,99.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUFMnhYX6zuChWD-Fk0bawQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1972033,-93.5724435,3a,75y,252.65h,82.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sC3R3wrcTtE5GQHtszOpYMg!2e0!7i3328!8i1664!5m1!1e4
(almost not even Louisiana here)

IMO places don't need hills to be scenic. As someone who lives nowhere near an ocean, I would consider this scenic. A sunset would be even more gorgeous. My Boy Scout troop went on a president's day outing to Dauphin Island, AL, and it was breathtaking. The oil rigs did mar the sunset view a bit, though.

[webny99]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads™. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

[Roadgeekteen]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads™. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

[kphoger]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads™. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

Where is that coast visible from the road, other than atop the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

[Roadgeekteen]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads™. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

Where is that coast visible from the road, other than atop the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

I-295, although it might be considered a river.

[Flint1979]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads[emoji769]. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

Where is that coast visible from the road, other than atop the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

I-295, although it might be considered a river.

I-295 goes over the Delaware River. That's not a coast.

[Roadgeekteen]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads[emoji769]. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

Where is that coast visible from the road, other than atop the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

I-295, although it might be considered a river.

I-295 goes over the Delaware River. That's not a coast.

I think that US 9 also goes right to the ocean, and I think DE 1 is next to it to.

[Flint1979]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads[emoji769]. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

Where is that coast visible from the road, other than atop the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

I-295, although it might be considered a river.

I-295 goes over the Delaware River. That's not a coast.

I think that US 9 also goes right to the ocean, and I think DE 1 is next to it to.

The US-9 ferry goes over the entrance to the Delaware Bay which is the outlet of the Delaware River. I guess you could say Delaware has about 20 miles or so of coast but the only highway that goes along it is DE-1.

[Roadgeekteen]

Why do you hate Delaware so much? Or are you just being difficult for the sake of being difficult?

Neither one.  I simply realized nobody had challenged the suggestion that Delaware has the least scenic roads, and I didn't think "it has the ocean" was a legitimate counter-argument, considering that the ocean isn't really visible from the state's roads.

So, I was following this conversation last week knowing there was a decent chance I could drive some of Delaware's roads this weekend, and sure enough, it happened.

I have no issues with Delaware being designated State With The Least Scenic Roads[emoji769]. I didn't see anything of particular interest throughout the entire length of the state. Just boring landscape, stoplights, strip malls, and plenty out-of-state license plates.

There is some coast that might be nice if you don't live near the ocean.

Where is that coast visible from the road, other than atop the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

I-295, although it might be considered a river.

I-295 goes over the Delaware River. That's not a coast.

I think that US 9 also goes right to the ocean, and I think DE 1 is next to it to.

The US-9 ferry goes over the entrance to the Delaware Bay which is the outlet of the Delaware River. I guess you could say Delaware has about 20 miles or so of coast but the only highway that goes along it is DE-1.

Is the Delaware Bay fresh or salt water?

[kphoger]

Even if all of those edge cases are accepted, we're still only up to three individual points at which the "ocean" or "coast" or whatever is visible from the road.

[Roadgeekteen]

Even if all of those edge cases are accepted, we're still only up to three individual points at which the "ocean" or "coast" or whatever is visible from the road.

Yeah, I think that Deleware clearly wins the worst contest.

[kphoger]

As for the best...  I haven't been to California in years, and I only saw its roads by bus window, but I think it would be hard to beat Colorado for scenery.

[Roadgeekteen]

As for the best...  I haven't been to California in years, and I only saw its roads by bus window, but I think it would be hard to beat Colorado for scenery.

I might put California first simply because it has more variety.

[kphoger]

As for the best...  I haven't been to California in years, and I only saw its roads by bus window, but I think it would be hard to beat Colorado for scenery.

I might put California first simply because it has more variety.

Yeah, Colorado has mountains, grassland, semi-desert, lakes, farmland, and fun geological features.

But so does California.  And it has this, which Colorado doesn't.

[webny99]

New York has almost as much variety of California and/or Colorado, but a lot of it is not as dramatic.

The only thing California has that New York doesn't is desert.

[Roadgeekteen]

New York has almost as much variety of California and/or Colorado, but a lot of it is not as dramatic.

The only thing California has that New York doesn't is desert.

New York's coastline is kinda lame, although seeing skyscrapers over the water is kinda cool.