Longest straight-line stretch of road

[TheStranger]

Thought about this while taking a train trip down the Peninsula (given that rail travel does not have to factor in curvature as an antidote to "highway hypnosis") -

What's the longest single curveless stretch of road out there (in North America, in the world, etc.)? 

[sammi]

This article used to say the 123-mile (which is the entire length) ND 46 was the longest straight route in the country, but apparently it's been reduced to a 27-mile stretch of it.

That said, I nominate the 90 Mile Straight on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. It's likely not the longest though.

[cpzilliacus]

One of the longest sections of straight freeway I have ever driven is I-76 (the E-W Mainline of the Pennsylvania Turnpike) roughly between Pa. 997, Exit 201 (Blue Mountain); and U.S. 11 (a breezewood-type non connection to I-81), Exit 226 (Carlisle). 

The entire segment between Exits 201 and 226 is pretty straight, but the section that seems to have no curves at all is about 11.5 miles long (on Google here).

[TheStranger]

This article used to say the 123-mile (which is the entire length) ND 46 was the longest straight route in the country, but apparently it's been reduced to a 27-mile stretch of it.

Looking at Google Maps, the following stretches are currently perfectly straight:

1. from the western terminus to the west end of Gackle, 8 miles

2. from Gackle to 89th Avenue SE near the James River, about 26 miles

3. from 91st Avenue SE near the James River to 117th Avenue SE near Little Yellowstone Park, 27 miles

4. from east of Valley Road to east of the west junction with 164th Avenue SE in Kindred, 42 miles

5. from the east junction of 164th Avenue SE to the end of the route, 7.7 miles.   (54th Street Southeast continues another 2 miles to the state line where it curves)

[sammi]

Looking at Google Maps, the following stretches are currently perfectly straight:

1. from the western terminus to the west end of Gackle, 8 miles

2. from Gackle to 89th Avenue SE near the James River, about 26 miles

3. from 91st Avenue SE near the James River to 117th Avenue SE near Little Yellowstone Park, 27 miles

4. from east of Valley Road to east of the west junction with 164th Avenue SE in Kindred, 42 miles

5. from the east junction of 164th Avenue SE to the end of the route, 7.7 miles.   (54th Street Southeast continues another 2 miles to the state line where it curves)

Then the article was probably referring to #3.

[NE2]

Cape Canaveral to Moon Base.

[Brandon]

Thought about this while taking a train trip down the Peninsula (given that rail travel does not have to factor in curvature as an antidote to "highway hypnosis") -

What's the longest single curveless stretch of road out there (in North America, in the world, etc.)? 

For a freeway in North America, I'd go with the stretch of I-80 across the Great Salt Lake Desert.  Straight as an arrow from Exit 4 just east of Wendover to a curve just before Exit 49.  A total of approximately 45 miles of straight, flat freeway now signed for 80 mph.

[Brandon]

Cape Canaveral to Moon Base.

That's actually on a great curve.

[NE2]

Cape Canaveral to Moon Base.

That's actually on a great curve.

So is almost any "straight line" on the earth.

[Brandon]

Cape Canaveral to Moon Base.

That's actually on a great curve.

So is almost any "straight line" on the earth.

Fair enough, but the longer the distance, the more apparent the curve.

[jeffandnicole]

There's about a 17 mile stretch of US 1 in NJ which is extremely straight; unusual for a state where a road rarely doesn't have a curve at least once a mile.  A good portion of that US 1 stretch parallels the just-as-straight Northeast Corridor rail line.

[SD Mapman]

There's a 74-mile stretch on SD 44 between the Missouri River (almost) and the James River. Routes in eastern SD rarely veer from the N-S E-W local road grid. (but they do bend at 90 degree angles along them, which makes finding straight stretches hard).

[theline]

This has been discussed before, and I recall posting about how many arrow-straight E-W highways are in northern Indiana. For the life of me, I can't find my post, though I did find two other threads that discuss the subject: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5531.0 and https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=8045.0

[hotdogPi]

Are MA 28 (north of Boston) and MA 114 straight enough?

[Zeffy]

The New Jersey Turnpike looks to be pretty straight from East Brunswick down to East Windsor, then again from East Windsor to Bordentown.