Where Have We Not Held a Roadmeet?

[Alex]

I have a map for all of you! I have compiled all of the roadmeet history in this thread, and I have mapped a graphical representation of it.  Perhaps we might want to fill in some of the larger gaps between past roadmeet locations as shown on the map?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1xTkSl778CivVg8TUIN4Nxvdo8iIVUaA&usp=sharing

Justin Cozart and I co-hosted a road meet in Orlando back on July 29, 2006. NE2, Rob D, Gene J (R.I.P) and his partner attended. The meet started at Alfonso's Pizza in College Park, Orlando.



Seeing the last original state named shield for Interstate 4 was one of the tour stops.

Should I ask Alex if I can claim the drive we went on around Tampa Bay back in March as a Tampa Bay Road Meet? 

(I do not think there has ever been a formal road meet there, but I am sure Alex, Brent, and others go on drives in the area all the time.)

There has not been a formal meet, I proposed a mini meet around Jeff Francis' plate show in 2015, and did meet with Oscar V there. Anytime a fellow road enthusiast is in town, I am willing to meet up and join or provide a tour of the area roads. The list includes Corey D, Cullen W, Tom V among regular get-togethers with I94RoadRunner and roadman65.

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

[Alps]

I have a map for all of you! I have compiled all of the roadmeet history in this thread, and I have mapped a graphical representation of it.  Perhaps we might want to fill in some of the larger gaps between past roadmeet locations as shown on the map?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1xTkSl778CivVg8TUIN4Nxvdo8iIVUaA&usp=sharing

Justin Cozart and I co-hosted a road meet in Orlando back on July 29, 2006. NE2, Rob D, Gene J (R.I.P) and his partner attended. The meet started at Alfonso's Pizza in College Park, Orlando.



Seeing the last original state named shield for Interstate 4 was one of the tour stops.

Should I ask Alex if I can claim the drive we went on around Tampa Bay back in March as a Tampa Bay Road Meet? 

(I do not think there has ever been a formal road meet there, but I am sure Alex, Brent, and others go on drives in the area all the time.)

There has not been a formal meet, I proposed a mini meet around Jeff Francis' plate show in 2015, and did meet with Oscar V there. Anytime a fellow road enthusiast is in town, I am willing to meet up and join or provide a tour of the area roads. The list includes Corey D, Cullen W, Tom V among regular get-togethers with I94RoadRunner and roadman65.

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

i'm in

[paulthemapguy]

Justin Cozart and I co-hosted a road meet in Orlando back on July 29, 2006. NE2, Rob D, Gene J (R.I.P) and his partner attended. The meet started at Alfonso's Pizza in College Park, Orlando.

I have added this to the map!

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

I don't think this puts you at much of a disadvantage at all! Even if a potential roadmeet host eats at restaurants often, they will likely have to step outside of their typical repertoire of restaurants to find one that is big enough and willing enough to seat 10-20 people at once. So sure, you'll be outside your comfort zone finding a place for everyone to eat, but I think most are stepping just as far outside their comfort zones to choose a roadmeet restaurant, too.

[froggie]

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

If you opted to host a meet without a meal involved, it wouldn't be the first time that occurred.  I've done that myself a few times.

[Max Rockatansky]

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

If you opted to host a meet without a meal involved, it wouldn't be the first time that occurred.  I've done that myself a few times.

We are pretty much lining up to do that in Bakersfield.  Last year in Fresno we just grabbed brunch at In-n-Out as everyone was meeting up.  Speaking for myself, I'm not really one for sitting down for a couple hours if there is territory to cover on the road. 

[cl94]

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

If you opted to host a meet without a meal involved, it wouldn't be the first time that occurred.  I've done that myself a few times.

We are pretty much lining up to do that in Bakersfield.  Last year in Fresno we just grabbed brunch at In-n-Out as everyone was meeting up.  Speaking for myself, I'm not really one for sitting down for a couple hours if there is territory to cover on the road. 

There are two schools of thought with meets. One is that the meal is the most important part, the other focuses on seeing things. The meal people will obviously want a sit-down meal.

Me? I'm fine with an informal meal. Some of the best meets I have been to had counter serve or informal meals. I'd rather be seeing stuff than sitting in a restaurant for 2 hours, plus there will be opportunities to socialize at stops. Part of the thought of walking stops at Reno is to provide opportunities to socialize without being tied to a restaurant for hours.

[Max Rockatansky]

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

If you opted to host a meet without a meal involved, it wouldn't be the first time that occurred.  I've done that myself a few times.

We are pretty much lining up to do that in Bakersfield.  Last year in Fresno we just grabbed brunch at In-n-Out as everyone was meeting up.  Speaking for myself, I'm not really one for sitting down for a couple hours if there is territory to cover on the road. 

There are two schools of thought with meets. One is that the meal is the most important part, the other focuses on seeing things. The meal people will obviously want a sit-down meal.

Me? I'm fine with an informal meal. Some of the best meets I have been to had counter serve or informal meals. I'd rather be seeing stuff than sitting in a restaurant for 2 hours, plus there will be opportunities to socialize at stops. Part of the thought of walking stops at Reno is to provide opportunities to socialize without being tied to a restaurant for hours.

Probably the longest conversation string last year was from when we got chased from the Fowler Sign to Fowler Depot at the end of the meet.  None of that planned but we had some time to kill and chat before everyone went their own way. 

I like a good sit-down meal as much as the next person.  I don't know how conducive factoring something like that in is going to work out this way unless it was in a tightly packed urban area. 

[dvferyance]

Has there ever been a roadmeet in Limon?

[oscar]

I have a road meet concept in mind, but picking a venue is problematic as I don't go out to eat that often. Would love to couple a meet with a stop at Busch Gardens as part of a weekend for any fellow coaster enthusiasts (I or Brent sometimes have free guest passes we could share).

If you opted to host a meet without a meal involved, it wouldn't be the first time that occurred.  I've done that myself a few times.

We are pretty much lining up to do that in Bakersfield.  Last year in Fresno we just grabbed brunch at In-n-Out as everyone was meeting up.  Speaking for myself, I'm not really one for sitting down for a couple hours if there is territory to cover on the road. 

OTOH, for the Bakersfield meet we wound up with a good sit-down meal in Lake Isabella mid-meet. Two tables of four, good conversations at each table even if not including everybody (a little hard to do even with just eight people). We also gathered at one table at the McDs at the I-5 Buttonwillow exit, while we were waiting for everybody to show up to start the meet.

Speaking of "sitting down", you might remember one stop where everybody stood around in the middle of a parking lot ... except I had to back away from the group so I could lean against my car, due to lower back pain. Standing in place, even with a walker to provide support, didn't work for me; keeping moving, or sitting someplace, would've been less painful. "Sitting down" has its advantages, especially for older members of the group.

[Max Rockatansky]

That reminds me, I need to add the Highway 178 Bar & Grill to the thread for highway themed businesses.  The Highway 178 burger essentially was just a giant California Burger.  I really liked the availability just sit down and chill, no doubt that was helped by the rural setting.

The marque was certainly interesting:

https://flic.kr/p/2pJZhqt

[Scott5114]

As a non-roadmeet participant, it's bewildering there hasn't been formal Phoenix and Las Vegas roadmeet(s) yet.

Now, there are a handful of mountain west meets planned or at least outlined, such as Reno this September. But these things work best with a local-ish host, something lacking in a lot of the west. We may finally have a critical mass out here to support regular western roadmeets as well as people willing to host.

I'd be willing to host a Las Vegas meet sometime (probably next year, by which time I hope to be familiar enough with the city to put together an itinerary that doesn't suck). Might be an opportunity to get a few of the eastern folks out this way, thanks to cheap flights and ease of finding something for significant others to do if they come along.

[Max Rockatansky]

The funny thing about Phoenix is that there aren't a ton of notable road items clustered together in a small space.  A meet there would basically comprise of Loop Freeway clinches.

I could see maybe being interested in doing Phoenix area something once the Apache Trail is fully reopened.  I did a car club event there once and it was well received.  I tend to think Flagstaff or Prescott would be better Arizona meet cities (I've mentioned Globe and Superior before).

[paulthemapguy]

The funny thing about Phoenix is that there aren't a ton of notable road items clustered together in a small space.  A meet there would basically comprise of Loop Freeway clinches.

If you like big, sprawling interchange configurations, and new freeways to nowhere, I have the Roadmeet idea for you!  Otherwise, Phoenix is a gigantic low-density suburb, many of which we have all seen before.

[on_wisconsin]

The funny thing about Phoenix is that there aren't a ton of notable road items clustered together in a small space.  A meet there would basically comprise of Loop Freeway clinches.

If you like big, sprawling interchange configurations, and new freeways to nowhere, I have the Roadmeet idea for you!

^ Plenty of successful road meets have consisted of mainly this.

[paulthemapguy]

The funny thing about Phoenix is that there aren't a ton of notable road items clustered together in a small space.  A meet there would basically comprise of Loop Freeway clinches.

If you like big, sprawling interchange configurations, and new freeways to nowhere, I have the Roadmeet idea for you!

^ Plenty of successful road meets have consisted of mainly this.

You're right. This actually sounds fine.  LOL

[Rothman]

I like Phoenix, due to it being one of the newest modern cities in the U.S.

Sad that the Big Apple closed down, though.  Sounds like management imploded.

[Max Rockatansky]

The funny thing about Phoenix is that there aren't a ton of notable road items clustered together in a small space.  A meet there would basically comprise of Loop Freeway clinches.

If you like big, sprawling interchange configurations, and new freeways to nowhere, I have the Roadmeet idea for you!

^ Plenty of successful road meets have consisted of mainly this.

You're right. This actually sounds fine.  LOL

Let me rephrase, it isn't necessarily my bag.  More so with Loop freeways I've all clinched dozens of times living in Phoenix for as long as I did.

If it were me (not saying it will be) doing a Phoenix Meet I'd probably do two/three freeways intermingled with old highway stuff and a notable mountain road.  The mix of different roads in Fresno and to some extent Bakersfield is probably something I'd try to emulate again with Arizona.  Maybe come winter 2026 I might be up for setting up something.

[Scott5114]

I think for a lot of people the draw of a roadmeet isn't necessarily anything on the meet itinerary itself, but a reason to go to a particular city, as well as a chance to not feel weird for liking road stuff for a change.

Case in point, if the Reno meet wasn't happening, I'd have Reno on my list of places to go eventually, because I'd like to clinch Washoe County if for no other reason. But I wouldn't have any timetable for doing it, so I may or may not ever actually get around to it. But since there is the Reno meet this September, I know exactly when I will be visiting Reno.

[cl94]

That. The roads themselves are rarely the sole attraction for me. It's being able to socialize with like-minded people and see cool things that would otherwise not be high on my radar, but maybe some of those things are roads.

I'm in the camp of "I'd prefer unique stuff over just clinching freeways on a meet", but others are different. That's okay. People are allowed to enjoy driving freeways all day, I'm allowed to find a full day of freeways boring. Part of why I was very upfront about "this meet may not be for everyone" for Reno. Not to say that freeways or new things won't be involved or that I don't occasionally like including a new/weird freeway segment on a tour (see Bakersfield), but they will not be the majority of the meet because I think this area has better (and more endangered) road attractions to offer. Others may be more interested in the regional freeways and that's fine; lucky for us, there's few enough that I can help you get partway there.

[Rothman]

Yeah, just including clinches of routes in a meet tour doesn't appeal to me, even though I am clinching Interstates.  When I have participated in the tours, I do like it when they just draw attention to unique infrastructure in the chosen area.

Then again, I've also just enjoyed meeting up for lunch for such.

[SSOWorld]

That. The roads themselves are rarely the sole attraction for me. It's being able to socialize with like-minded people and see cool things that would otherwise not be high on my radar, but maybe some of those things are roads.

I'm in the camp of "I'd prefer unique stuff over just clinching freeways on a meet", but others are different. That's okay. People are allowed to enjoy driving freeways all day, I'm allowed to find a full day of freeways boring. Part of why I was very upfront about "this meet may not be for everyone" for Reno. Not to say that freeways or new things won't be involved or that I don't occasionally like including a new/weird freeway segment on a tour (see Bakersfield), but they will not be the majority of the meet because I think this area has better (and more endangered) road attractions to offer. Others may be more interested in the regional freeways and that's fine; lucky for us, there's few enough that I can help you get partway there.

Clinching freeways ahead of time or on the way out on my own is an option I take.

[A.J. Bertin]

I think for a lot of people the draw of a roadmeet isn't necessarily anything on the meet itinerary itself, but a reason to go to a particular city, as well as a chance to not feel weird for liking road stuff for a change.

This really resonates with me.

[MikieTimT]

Northwest Arkansas.

US-71 (R.I.P) proposed one back in 2018, but it didn't get enough interest at the time.  There's a whole lot more moving parts now, and there are scores of road projects in the works coming up in the next 3-7 years mainly regarding the Springdale Northern Bypass and AR-112 with its 28 roundabouts in 26 miles along with the XNA Connector and likely Siloam Springs Bypass.  So maybe 2025-2026 would be a good time for one if you like lots of orange barrels along with the ever-present historical bridges and scenic roads that radiate from NWA.

Was there ever a Springfield (MO) one?

According to the map on the very next post, there was one back in 2018.

If we had an NWA one in 3 years time, Springfield is only a 2 hour drive away, and Buc-ee's should be built and operational by then.  Not to mention, the Springdale Northern Bypass will have the western leg completed and the XNA Connector road as well.  AR-112 will be in full upgrade still, especially north of US-412 in Tontitown.  Just about reaching the point of perpetual road construction projects with growth rate of the area.

The Springfield Buc-ee's has been up and running since early December. The Facebook links on this post shows what the contents of that two-day meet were.

As for NWA.. definitely worth a visit to look at the new projects going on there. The Golden Gate of AR at Beaver would make for a good side-trip.

That's always a route I like to try to take going to Branson.  That is without a doubt the coolest bridge within an hour of me.  If we did have an NWA roadmeet in 2026-2027 when more of the stuff around XNA is completed for those interested in finished roads and future interstates, it would ideally be in late October or the first week of November when leaves are changing and still on the trees, although you do get more vista viewing when the leaves drop.  There are so many scenic drives within 2-3 hours of NWA, that there are options like trips like this to Branson (and can add a segment over to Peel, AR from Harrison, AR for the free ferry across Bull Shoals Lake that I do annually and come back into Branson on US-160/MO-76), or, if some wanted to check out the I-49 progress around Ft. Smith (new I-49 River bridge) for a broader multi-day roadmeet, there are options like the Talimena Scenic Byway that are well within reason on the same trip that are spectacular this time of year.

[LilianaUwU]

I did mention the Magdalen Islands in Québec (my hometown) at one point... the perfect time would have been during the solar eclipse in 2024, where it was in the path of totality, but sadly I was in Québec City back then (and still am). In any case, it would be interesting due to the semi-isolated nature of the place.

[Rothman]

I did mention the Magdalen Islands in Québec (my hometown) at one point... the perfect time would have been during the solar eclipse in 2024, where it was in the path of totality, but sadly I was in Québec City back then (and still am). In any case, it would be interesting due to the semi-isolated nature of the place.

So, you lived out there on the islands?