Best, coolest, or most impressive stretches of highways

[Rothman]

Here are my top picks from all 50 states:

AL: I-20 EB/I-59 NB through Malfunction Junction towards downtown Birmingham
AK: Tok Cutoff/Glenn Highway from Tok to Anchorage
AZ: Old Route 66 from  Seligman to Kingman
AR: I-49 through the Bobby Hopper Tunnel
CA: I-5 SB going into Los Angeles
CO: I-25 SB going into Denver
CT: I-84 through Hartford
DE: I-295 across the Delaware Memorial Bridge
FL: I-275 across the Sunshine Skyway
GA: I-75/I-85 SB going into downtown Atlanta
HI: H-3
ID: ID 75, Shoshone to Challis
IL: I-90/I-94 going into downtown Chicago from either direction
IN: I-65/I-70 going into downtown Indianapolis from either direction
IA: I-74 across the IL-IA Memorial Bridge
KS: Kansas Turnpike
KY: I-71/I-75 NB in Covington down the Cut in the Hill towards Cincinnati
LA: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
ME: US 1 from Brunswick to Van Buren
MD: I-395 going into downtown Baltimore
MA: I-93 going towards the Big Dig in downtown Boston from either direction
MI: I-75 SB going into downtown Detroit
MN: I-94 EB through the Lowry Hill Tunnel and into downtown Minneapolis
MS: Natchez Trace Parkway
MO: I-70 across the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge in St. Louis
MT: US 212 from Joliet to Yellowstone National Park
NE: US 75 through downtown Omaha
NV: I-15 through downtown Las Vegas
NH: I-93 through Franconia Notch
NJ: NJTP, from Exit 6 north
NM: I-25 or I-40 through the Big I
NY: I-278 EB in Brooklyn or I-495 WB in Queens towards Manhattan
NC: Blue Ridge Parkway
ND: Bismarck Expressway
OH: I-90 WB going around Dead Man's Curve into downtown Cleveland
OK: Tulsa Dispersal Loop
OR: I-5 through Portland
PA: I-95 SB into Philadelphia
RI: RI 138 across the Newport Bridge
SC: US 17 across the Arthur Ravenel Bridge in Charleston
SD: US 385 through the Black Hills National Park
TN: I-24 through Monteagle Pass
TX: I-10 Katy Freeway west of downtown Houston
UT: I-80 past the Great Salt Lake
VT: US 7 through the Green Mountain National Forest
VA: US 13 through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
WA: I-5 going into downtown Seattle from either direction
WV: US 48
WI: I-794 in downtown Milwaukee (including the Blues Brothers ramps and the Hoan Bridge)
WY: I-180 into downtown Cheyenne

Have you traveled these?

[Bickendan]

I'm going to nominate NH 12/Belghoria Expressway's crossing of the Hooghly River (Ganges distributary) in Kolkata. At this point, the Hooghly's already about a half-mile wide.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QALYJCfEpxh1yv9z6

[Flint1979]

Here are my top picks from all 50 states:

AL: I-20 EB/I-59 NB through Malfunction Junction towards downtown Birmingham
AK: Tok Cutoff/Glenn Highway from Tok to Anchorage
AZ: Old Route 66 from  Seligman to Kingman
AR: I-49 through the Bobby Hopper Tunnel
CA: I-5 SB going into Los Angeles
CO: I-25 SB going into Denver
CT: I-84 through Hartford
DE: I-295 across the Delaware Memorial Bridge
FL: I-275 across the Sunshine Skyway
GA: I-75/I-85 SB going into downtown Atlanta
HI: H-3
ID: ID 75, Shoshone to Challis
IL: I-90/I-94 going into downtown Chicago from either direction
IN: I-65/I-70 going into downtown Indianapolis from either direction
IA: I-74 across the IL-IA Memorial Bridge
KS: Kansas Turnpike
KY: I-71/I-75 NB in Covington down the Cut in the Hill towards Cincinnati
LA: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
ME: US 1 from Brunswick to Van Buren
MD: I-395 going into downtown Baltimore
MA: I-93 going towards the Big Dig in downtown Boston from either direction
MI: I-75 SB going into downtown Detroit
MN: I-94 EB through the Lowry Hill Tunnel and into downtown Minneapolis
MS: Natchez Trace Parkway
MO: I-70 across the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge in St. Louis
MT: US 212 from Joliet to Yellowstone National Park
NE: US 75 through downtown Omaha
NV: I-15 through downtown Las Vegas
NH: I-93 through Franconia Notch
NJ: NJTP, from Exit 6 north
NM: I-25 or I-40 through the Big I
NY: I-278 EB in Brooklyn or I-495 WB in Queens towards Manhattan
NC: Blue Ridge Parkway
ND: Bismarck Expressway
OH: I-90 WB going around Dead Man's Curve into downtown Cleveland
OK: Tulsa Dispersal Loop
OR: I-5 through Portland
PA: I-95 SB into Philadelphia
RI: RI 138 across the Newport Bridge
SC: US 17 across the Arthur Ravenel Bridge in Charleston
SD: US 385 through the Black Hills National Park
TN: I-24 through Monteagle Pass
TX: I-10 Katy Freeway west of downtown Houston
UT: I-80 past the Great Salt Lake
VT: US 7 through the Green Mountain National Forest
VA: US 13 through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
WA: I-5 going into downtown Seattle from either direction
WV: US 48
WI: I-794 in downtown Milwaukee (including the Blues Brothers ramps and the Hoan Bridge)
WY: I-180 into downtown Cheyenne

I-75 NB going over the Rouge River bridge is cooler than going SB into downtown Detroit.

[mgk920]

Except for the part that is west of the Escarpment in the City of Fond du Lac itself, I have always liked the drive on WI 23 between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, WI, both directions.

Mike

[JayhawkCO]

Here's my favorite stretches of highway I've traveled (and can remember) by state:

AL: I-10 over Mobile Bay
AK: Denali Park Road
AZ: US60 at Salt River Canyon
AR: I-49 south of Fayetteville
CA: CA1 through Big Sur
CO: US550 between Silverton and Ouray
CT: I-95 over the Connecticut River
DE: DE16 by Broadkill Beach
FL: I-295 over the Dames Point Bridge
GA: I-75 just south of the Tennessee border
ID: ID55 between Cascade and Horseshoe Bend
IL: I-290 heading east into the Loop
IN: I-65 heading north into downtown Indy
IA: I-29 around Sioux Falls
KS: I-670 heading into downtown KC
KY: I-71/75 over the Spence Bridge heading into Cincy
LA: I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
ME: UA1A by York Beach
MD: I-68 between Hancock and Cumberland
MA: I-93 heading south into downtown Boston
MI: Smoky Lake Road in the UP
MN: US61 between Wabasha and Winona
MS: I-110 in Biloxi
MO: US169 heading south into downtown KC
MT: Going to the Sun Road in Glacier NP
NE: NE71 heading north into Scottsbluff
NV: Las Vegas Strip
NH: US302 through the White Mountains
NJ: I-95 over the GW Bridge
NM: NM17 north of Chama
NY: I-95 over the GW Bridge
NC: I-40 near the Tennessee border
ND: I-94 near Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park
OH: I-71/75 split in Cincy
OK: I-44 near the KS/MO/OK tripoint
OR: I-84 through Columbia Gorge
PA: I-376 exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel
RI: I-95 heading south into downtown Providence
SC: I-26 near the North Carolina border
SD: US16A
TN: I-24 near Lookout Mountain
TX: I-35E southbound into downtown Dallas
UT: UT9 heading westbound into Zion NP
VT: I-89 near Bolton
VA: US13 on the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel/Bridge
WA: 1) I-5 northbound in downtown Seattle and 2) I-90 through Issaquah Pass
WV: I-64/77 concurrency
WI: WI55 through the Menominee Reservation
WY: US212 (Beartooth Highway)

[Dough4872]

Of all the roads I have traveled on, I would have to say the most impressive stretch I've been on is US 36 heading west into Estes Park, Colorado.

[Henry]

Here's my favorite stretches of highway I've traveled (and can remember) by state:

AL: I-10 over Mobile Bay
AK: Denali Park Road
AZ: US60 at Salt River Canyon
AR: I-49 south of Fayetteville
CA: CA1 through Big Sur
CO: US550 between Silverton and Ouray
CT: I-95 over the Connecticut River
DE: DE16 by Broadkill Beach
FL: I-295 over the Dames Point Bridge
GA: I-75 just south of the Tennessee border
ID: ID55 between Cascade and Horseshoe Bend
IL: I-290 heading east into the Loop
IN: I-65 heading north into downtown Indy
IA: I-29 around Sioux Falls
KS: I-670 heading into downtown KC
KY: I-71/75 over the Spence Bridge heading into Cincy
LA: I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
ME: UA1A by York Beach
MD: I-68 between Hancock and Cumberland
MA: I-93 heading south into downtown Boston
MI: Smoky Lake Road in the UP
MN: US61 between Wabasha and Winona
MS: I-110 in Biloxi
MO: US169 heading south into downtown KC
MT: Going to the Sun Road in Glacier NP
NE: NE71 heading north into Scottsbluff
NV: Las Vegas Strip
NH: US302 through the White Mountains
NJ: I-95 over the GW Bridge
NM: NM17 north of Chama
NY: I-95 over the GW Bridge
NC: I-40 near the Tennessee border
ND: I-94 near Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park
OH: I-71/75 split in Cincy
OK: I-44 near the KS/MO/OK tripoint
OR: I-84 through Columbia Gorge
PA: I-376 exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel
RI: I-95 heading south into downtown Providence
SC: I-26 near the North Carolina border
SD: US16A
TN: I-24 near Lookout Mountain
TX: I-35E southbound into downtown Dallas
UT: UT9 heading westbound into Zion NP
VT: I-89 near Bolton
VA: US13 on the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel/Bridge
WA: 1) I-5 northbound in downtown Seattle and 2) I-90 through Issaquah Pass
WV: I-64/77 concurrency
WI: WI55 through the Menominee Reservation
WY: US212 (Beartooth Highway)

So all that's missing from your list is HI? That's not a bad list either!

[JayhawkCO]

So all that's missing from your list is HI? That's not a bad list either!

I've technically been to Hawaii, but only as a layover at HNL. I haven't driven or ridden in a car there alas.

[Max Rockatansky]

I would think most people here would pick H3 for Hawaii.  Me personally I was more impressed by Pali Highway since it had stunning overlook from the ruins of the original road.  Hana Highway is my personal favorite and feels like it is from an earlier era which barely clings to stability.

[webny99]

Is this the closest thing we have to a "favorite stretch of highway" thread?

I was going to mention the 407 ETR in Ontario, particularly from the south/western terminus at ON 403/QEW in Burlington to the ON 403 "bump" in Mississauga. Despite being tolled, this 24 km/15 mile stretch is one of my personal favorite freeways to drive due to the combination of six lanes built to modern design standards, good exit spacing, light but fast moving traffic, and an exurban/rural character that feels far removed from the concrete jungle of the GTA (and sharply contrasts with the congested section of ON 403/QEW that it bypasses).

[Max Rockatansky]

I'm not sure how NV 157, 158 and 156 looping around Mount Charleston doesn't make more of these lists.  Being able to go from desert to mountainous forest and back within 90 minutes is worth the detour on a Las Vegas trip.

[pderocco]

I'm not sure how NV 157, 158 and 156 looping around Mount Charleston doesn't make more of these lists.  Being able to go from desert to mountainous forest and back within 90 minutes is worth the detour on a Las Vegas trip.

There isn't much in the Great Basin that I find at all spectacular, although a lot of it is quite pleasant, especially in the eastern part of the state. But Mount Charleston is an exception. It's like a bit of Colorado in Nevada. I think Great Basin NP might also be like that, but I haven't been there yet.

I've thought of a few other roads that haven't been mentioned. Perhaps some would quibble with the "highway" designation, though:

CA I-5 from Castaic to Grapevine - the only 40-mile 8-line winding mountain road I've encountered. And it includes the longest crossover between the two sides that I'm aware of, about 4.5 miles. You can get a great view of it from the Old Ridge Route Rd.

CA I-8 where it drops out of the mountains into the low desert - fun to spot the various bits of the old US-80 pavement.

CA-70 Feather River Hwy - the railroad adds a lot to the scenery, especially where the road and tracks both cross the river at different angles.

CA-120 Mono Lake to Tioga Pass, and CA-108 Sonora Junction to Sonora Pass. Obviously.

CO-141 along the Dolores River. Not many places to pull over and take pictures, though.

Old US-40 over Donner Summit - eastbound is best.

The Spiral Hwy in Lewiston ID - former US-95 with a spectacular view across the city, where the Clearwater River merges into the Snake.

Pyramid Lake Rd - including parts of NV-445 and NV-446 along the west side of lake.

NY Taconic State Pkwy - the first exciting road I ever drove, when my college girlfriend let me drive it in her new Camaro that Daddy bought her.

WY-296 Chief Joseph Scenic Bwy - try to include this if you ever do the US-212 Beartooth Hwy.

[RobbieL2415]

Of roads I've driven on:

NC 12 from US 158 to Ocracoke. Up to 55mph on stretches built on nothing but sand with only hundreds of feet of land on each side.

[fillup420]

a recent trip to the Rockies took me along US 24 and CO-9, from Colorado Springs to I-70. The scenery was absolutely unreal. My passengers fell silent a few times just taking in the views. The summit of Wilkerson Pass was breathtaking.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I guess since we started doing lists of favorites...

AZ: I-40 in the national forest lands
CA: CA 1 from Santa Monica north
CO: US 550 from Durango to Montrose
IA: US 52
IL: Westbound 90/94 between their southern junction and the northern split
KS: US 283 in the Smoky Hills
ME: US 1 east of I-295
MD: I-68
MI: M-26 in Keweenaw County between the US 41 junctions
MN: TH 61 from above the Cut Face Creek rest area to Hovland
NM: NM 4
NV: Lake Mead scenic drive
ND: ND 16 north of I-94
TX: SH 16 in the Hill Country
WI: WIS 35 from Prescott to La Crosse

[Scott5114]

All of you listing things for AZ which aren't the Virgin River Gorge are insane.

[Rothman]

All of you listing things for AZ which aren't the Virgin River Gorge are insane.

Although I respect it as an engineering achievement, have to say that I found it overrated when I drove through it.  People gush over it like it's the Taj Mahal.  Raises expectations too high.

[Scott5114]

All of you listing things for AZ which aren't the Virgin River Gorge are insane.

Although I respect it as an engineering achievement, have to say that I found it overrated when I drove through it.  People gush over it like it's the Taj Mahal.  Raises expectations too high.

It actually exceeded my expectations. But even if it hadn't, the Route 66 corridor through AZ is kind of a snoozefest. Especially in comparison to I-15, but I wasn't too impressed by US-66/I-40 even before I did I-15.

[Terry Shea]

I always enjoy approaching and driving through downtown Grand Rapids from south of town via US-131.  I just don't enjoy the traffic and the bad drivers!  This stretch of US-131 is impressive in that it breaks all the rules for freeway building, interchanges and so on: numerous left-hand exits and entrances, a giant S-Curve followed by the corkscrew interchange at I-196.  And the way Hynes Avenue runs alongside it is rather unique. And the skyline, though not as tall as Detroit or Chicago is fairly impressive for a city this size.  It's amazing how the slightest little bend seems to make the whole city move, and some buildings seem to get taller while others seem to shrink in height. Then you get to the S-Curve and weave through the skyline while crossing the Grand River.  I imagine that the first time somebody takes this drive through town their first impression will be that they're going to end up mostly to the east of the skyline and that there would be no way you'd end up west of the tallest and westernmost building on the skyline.  And everything looks very different at night with all the lit bridges and glass tower buildings. 

[PNWRoadgeek]

I always enjoy approaching and driving through downtown Grand Rapids from south of town via US-131.  I just don't enjoy the traffic and the bad drivers!  This stretch of US-131 is impressive in that it breaks all the rules for freeway building, interchanges and so on: numerous left-hand exits and entrances, a giant S-Curve followed by the corkscrew interchange at I-196.  And the way Hynes Avenue runs alongside it is rather unique. And the skyline, though not as tall as Detroit or Chicago is fairly impressive for a city this size.  It's amazing how the slightest little bend seems to make the whole city move, and some buildings seem to get taller while others seem to shrink in height. Then you get to the S-Curve and weave through the skyline while crossing the Grand River.  I imagine that the first time somebody takes this drive through town their first impression will be that they're going to end up mostly to the east of the skyline and that there would be no way you'd end up west of the tallest and westernmost building on the skyline.  And everything looks very different at night with all the lit bridges and glass tower buildings. 

That seems like a great highway 

[pderocco]

CA-141 along the Dolores River. Not many places to pull over and take pictures, though.

Oops. I noticed a typo. That's CO-141.

[kphoger]

CA-141 along the Dolores River. Not many places to pull over and take pictures, though.

Oops. I noticed a typo. That's CO-141.

I found a spot to pull over when our car overheated.  Granted, it was just a spot off the pavement...

[CoreySamson]

Here are my answers for each state I have driven in, of the roads that I have driven on. Some are more interesting than others:

AL: I-10 Mobile tunnel
AR: I-49 through the Boston Mountains (or the I-430 Arkansas River bridge and approach)
CA: I-680 through the Diablo Range
FL: US 98 through the panhandle
KS: Uh, I guess the new US 166/400 freeway near Baxter Springs?
LA: I-10 Twin Span Lake Ponchartrain bridge (honorable mention to all the Mississippi River bridges... they do not get old)
MO: I-49 Bella Vista Bypass northern section
MS: US 90 where it goes along the beach
NM: US 82 between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft
OK: OK 2 between Antlers and Whitefield
TN: I-40 in Memphis
TX: North Central Expressway (US 75) in Dallas

[kphoger]

KS: Uh, I guess the new US 166/400 freeway near Baxter Springs?

Uff.  You really need to make a trip up to Kansas.  My top recommendations that are easy to get to when coming up from the south:

US-160 between Cedar Vale and Independence
K-177 between Cassoday and Council Grove (north of Strong City is currently closed)

Heck, even the Turnpike between Cassoday and Emporia is beautiful as long as you don't hit it during range burning season.