US 11

[PenguinXL2]

I traveled on I-81 to I-40 once while vacationing , and I noticed how US 11 runs along by I-40. Later the next day , I was traveling on I-59 and I-12 , and I saw a exit for US 11 again. But why I am writing this post because I LIVE along US 11 in PA.

[Arkansastravelguy]

US 11 IIRC runs pretty close to the I81-I75-I-59 diagonal alignment


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[hbelkins]

US 11 is one of my favorite routes. I have it clinched in Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Plus, I have the two suffixed branches in Tennessee clinched. In Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, what I don't have driven on 11, I have driven the parallel interstate, and also in New York along I-81 to Watertown. I would especially like to finish up US 11 in New York, especially from Watertown north.

[Duke87]

I would especially like to finish up US 11 in New York, especially from Watertown north.

You will need a passport. The route ends at the Canadian border and the US customs station is a good 3/4 mile south of the border itself, so there is no opportunity to U-turn without going through customs.

Interestingly, my experience somewhat mirrors yours. New York is the only state I have US 11 finished in. I have most of it in PA (from PA 581 west of Harrisburg to the NY line, and then the piece that connects I-81 with the PA Tpk near Carlisle). South of there... absolutely nothing, except where concurrent with another route I was driving.

And it's not likely to be a priority since if I am going to do off-interstate driving that far from home, I would prefer it be in a corridor that is not parallel to an interstate I've already driven, this way I may also clinch new counties.


It is kinda cool to be way up in Rouses Point, NY, though, and think "the other end of this road is in New Orleans". I wonder how many people who live around there realize that?

[Arkansastravelguy]

I don't think I've clinched any of US 11, but I've been on it in every state the road traverses. The only point I've been on US11 in NY? Rouses Point to the Canadian Border.


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[wphiii]

U.S. 11 is very high on my "bucket list" of routes that I'd like to someday drive in their entirety in one go. It's intriguing to me because it's been largely paralleled by Interstates for most of its length but is still holding strong, and (I'm guessing, largely because of said Interstates) it's not been made into a bypass in very many places, so in a vast majority of the towns it passes through, it still is the "Main Street" through the heart of the town.

[admtrap]

I once lived in Lexington VA, a block from Old US 11, and 2 blocks from US 11 Bypass.  There's at least one stretch I know of in Virginia, however, where US 11 is dumped onto I-81.  I believe it's where the wrong-way concurrency with I-77 is as well, but it's been a while since I've been there.

It amused me, however, that the junction of US 11 (a major north-south route) and US 60 (a major east-west route) was so tiny, just a pair of two-lane roads meeting at a simple traffic light. 

[Mapmikey]

I once lived in Lexington VA, a block from Old US 11, and 2 blocks from US 11 Bypass.  There's at least one stretch I know of in Virginia, however, where US 11 is dumped onto I-81.  I believe it's where the wrong-way concurrency with I-77 is as well, but it's been a while since I've been there.

It amused me, however, that the junction of US 11 (a major north-south route) and US 60 (a major east-west route) was so tiny, just a pair of two-lane roads meeting at a simple traffic light. 

US 11 is also concurrent with I-81 from Buchanan to Natural Bridge.

US 11 Business through Lexington was put on one-way splits, including where it crosses US 60, in 1982...so now there are 2 simple traffic lights...

Mapmikey

[bugo]

There's an AR 11!  It was largely replaced by US 63!  Which was a dumb extension!  What a country!

[agentsteel53]

It amused me, however, that the junction of US 11 (a major north-south route) and US 60 (a major east-west route) was so tiny, just a pair of two-lane roads meeting at a simple traffic light.

I believe US-14 and US-59 meet at a four-way stop.

other oddities on US-11 - there are places in Mississippi where it is barely signed, to the point of neglect.

this important turn was signed with a pre-1980 colored shield as late as 2006.

[froggie]

I believe US-14 and US-59 meet at a four-way stop.

They do.

[sbeaver44]

So questions for all of you who have clinched US 11 or intend to clinch US 11:  (I intend to for many reasons -- not the least of which is my first childhood home was located on US 11)

How do you deal with the Tennessee-Virginia split?  Do you follow US 11E or US 11W, or somehow do both, or do you not consider either necessary to clinch US 11?  Do you prefer US 11E over US 11W, or vis versa, and why?

Also, my longest continuous stretch of US 11 is from Winchester, VA to Nicholson, PA, so I've got a little ways to go.

[Mapmikey]

If you choose not to require both 11E and 11W to clinch US 11 but do require one of them, you should choose 11W because that was US 11 before 11E and 11W existed.


1929 Virginia Official Map

Mapmikey
US 11 clinched from Sweetwater TN to Northumberland PA (including both 11E and 11W); as well as Watertown NY to Canada

[hbelkins]

I've clinched both 11E and 11W. I had significant chunks of both (basically, everything east of US 25E on both routes) already under my belt, but a couple of years ago in December, I drove down to Tennessee and finished off what I needed.

I see Mike's post that US 11W was the original route of 11 before the route was split. I think it's actually the more direct route and probably has fewer traffic slowdowns. You only have Kingsport to deal with, while 11E runs through both Johnson City and Morristown. And there are red light cameras on 11E in the Bluff City area. 

I don't know how well the route is signed in downtown Knoxville. Tennessee signage practices in cities leave something to be desired. Last time I was there, for the I-40 Smartfix meet a few years ago, it was physically impossible to follow US 11 because part of the road was blocked off for the project work. I presume it's been reopened now that the work is done.

[froggie]

How do you deal with the Tennessee-Virginia split?  Do you follow US 11E or US 11W, or somehow do both, or do you not consider either necessary to clinch US 11?  Do you prefer US 11E over US 11W, or vis versa, and why?

For the record, Clinched Highway Mapping (as close to a "clinching club" as the hobby gets) includes all suffixed US routes.  Whether you personally consider US 11 clinched by doing one of the splits, both, or neither, is entirely up to you.

[jbnv]

US 11 south of I-12 will be very fascinating to those who don't live in the South. Especially south of I-10. Lots of water, a weathered fishing community, a camp that looks like a castle, and lots of places to dump a dead body. If you're in the mood for other forms of gambling, stop at the Irish Bayou Truck Stop and play a few hands of video poker. Last time I was there they had free candy.

Trivia: The main plot of the James Bond movie "Live and Let Die" takes place in and around New Orleans. Looks like part of it took place or or crossed US 11. Can anybody confirm this?

[froggie]

Lots of water, a weathered fishing community, a camp that looks like a castle, and lots of places to dump a dead body.

Loved passing by that castle house.  Also found it of interest that all of the bridges in Orleans Parish had full shoulders but the rest of the road was stupidly narrow.

[Avalanchez71]

It amused me, however, that the junction of US 11 (a major north-south route) and US 60 (a major east-west route) was so tiny, just a pair of two-lane roads meeting at a simple traffic light.

I believe US-14 and US-59 meet at a four-way stop.

other oddities on US-11 - there are places in Mississippi where it is barely signed, to the point of neglect.

this important turn was signed with a pre-1980 colored shield as late as 2006.

Cool I saw that a few year earlier.  I know where that is.

[adventurernumber1]

I live right near US 11. It was one of the first roads I remember driving on (we'd drive up to Chattanooga often for various things), and it'll always be a special road of mine. I've actually only clinched US 11 in southeastern TN, and a little in northwest GA, but once I get my license, that'll change 

I've been on I-59 in AL & GA, I-75 & I-40 in TN, and I-81 in TN & VA, so I've paralleled US 11 plenty of times, but I'd absolutely love to clinch the whole thing. As for US 11 W & E in Tennessee, I personally would count clinching both as a full clinch. That's my opinion, since they are both part of US 11.

[golden eagle]

U.S. 11 is very high on my "bucket list" of routes that I'd like to someday drive in their entirety in one go. It's intriguing to me because it's been largely paralleled by Interstates for most of its length but is still holding strong, and (I'm guessing, largely because of said Interstates) it's not been made into a bypass in very many places, so in a vast majority of the towns it passes through, it still is the "Main Street" through the heart of the town.

It's one of the main streets in Hattiesburg. The intersection with US 49 is one of the busier areas not along US 98.