20 roads you should drive in your life time

[DesertDog]

https://autos.yahoo.com/photos/20-roads-you-should-drive-in-your-lifetime-1406312257-slideshow/

The only American road haven't been on that is listed is Hawaii.  I don't know...I agree with a couple of the roads but I find a list that has any Interstate on it to be dubious at best.  What do you guys all think? 

[Duke87]

Somehow I don't see myself driving a road which links China and Pakistan.

Try something less in a warzone, and that's not in a part of the world where people hate Americans, for starters.

[Scott5114]

I don't know, I think an Interstate can have merit, but I find the list dubious due to the inclusion of US-1 in the Keys. I have heard from more than one person here that it's one of those drives you do once just to say you've done it and then never again, because the traffic is so unbearable.

[corco]

The inclusion of I-70 in Utah is just...weird. It's probably not even one of the top 20 drives in Utah or even the most scenic interstate in Utah, let alone one of the top 20 drives in the world. I-70 in western Colorado could maybe, maybe be included but Utah? What?

[The Nature Boy]

From the looks of the list, I think the author just used Google to find pretty pictures, found the road that runs nearest to them and included that.

[oscar]

I agree with a couple of the roads but I find a list that has any Interstate on it (and I've driven both I-15 and I-70 completely Utah to base my opinion on) to be dubious at best.  What do you guys all think?

I think I-70 through Utah west of Green River is impressive for the scenery along what otherwise would be an unexciting drive, but just a little behind both I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in CO (which would be my first choice), and maybe Interstate H-3 in Hawaii (demerit points for the parts passing a rock quarry and the state prison).

Four lanes and lack of tight curves ought not be disqualifiers, though the latter puts Interstates at a disadvantage for people who like something more exciting. 

Hawaii's Hana Highway is definitely a once in a lifetime thing.  More than a dozen times, as I've done, it get kind of old.

I've driven almost all the "top 20" in the U.S. and Canada, but none elsewhere.  I haven't driven through Nevada's Valley of Fire.  While confirming that, I noticed the ironic strict fire restrictions now in effect for the Valley of Fire state park. 

[Duke87]

I don't know, I think an Interstate can have merit, but I find the list dubious due to the inclusion of US-1 in the Keys. I have heard from more than one person here that it's one of those drives you do once just to say you've done it and then never again, because the traffic is so unbearable.

It's not so much the traffic as it is simply that it is a loooong drive and one which, really, isn't all that scenic. The old bridges are interesting from an infrastructure perspective but the terrain is boring and the manmade attractions are all just touristy crap.

That, and it suffers from the long dead end problem. Once you've driven all the way down to Key West, there is no other way back besides the same road you took there until you get to Card Sound. Blech. You don't even get to legitimately say you drove to the end of the Florida Keys since there is no way to get a car to Dry Tortugas.

[realjd]

The inclusion of I-70 in Utah is just...weird. It's probably not even one of the top 20 drives in Utah or even the most scenic interstate in Utah, let alone one of the top 20 drives in the world. I-70 in western Colorado could maybe, maybe be included but Utah? What?

These lists intentionally include weird things and intentionally leave out obvious choices. Why? Advertising revenue. They want people to link and discuss the list.

[SSOWorld]

Somehow I don't see myself driving a road which links China and Pakistan.

Try something less in a warzone, and that's not in a part of the world where people hate Americans, for starters.

Due to brainwashing by governments (and organizations nowadays).

[formulanone]

Having taken three drives on Overseas Highway, I count myself lucky not to see major traffic snarls in my direction. One major accident can ruin the entire drive (hope you're near a bar or something scenic). Then, again I'd seemed to avoid the worst times of year, and never really found myself being rapidly overtaken nor feeling the need to travel too fast along that route. Perhaps that's after the hammer-and-tongs trip from the mainland is taken into account, with US1 beforehand having too many stops and the Turnpike Extension's higher speeds and traffic demands. It is a long drive, probably about an hour too much, and best to accomplish it in the other direction after a night's stay in Key West. The bluest of vast waters along those bridges are the real treat...nothing like them.

[jeffandnicole]

One of the problems with these surveys is that the picture isn't taken from the prespective of the motorist, but from an airplane or lookout point.  Many drivers won't get the view that made it supposedly one of the drives you oughta do in your lifetime.

[1995hoo]

One of the problems with these surveys is that the picture isn't taken from the prespective of the motorist, but from an airplace or lookout point.  Many drivers won't get the view that made it supposedly one of the drives you oughta do in your lifetime.

The Cabot Trail is one road on that list that's an exception to the principle you cite. I took this in July 2008 at the overlook north of Cheticamp facing south. Lots of other great scenery on that road, but this overlook is generally considered "the" classic photo spot.

[roadman65]

I think the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys is a must.  Do it early in the day to avoid the rush as most is two lanes.

The PA Turnpike from Carlisle to New Stanton is a must as it is scenic and you have the tunnels to drive through.

GA 17 north of Wrens, GA is a very neat highway with rolling hills with long straightaways downward and then a long way up so you see the top of the next hill which is almost two miles in front of you.

The Blue Ridge Parkway in NC is a must.  However, do not use it to make time.  You need a good part of the day to drive it as it takes a long time to use it as its maximum speed is 45 mph and slow drivers.  The scenery is awesome!  Plus if you like hiking, plenty of pull offs with miles of trails to clinch.

I-77 in WV between VA and Charleston is neat to drive.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
The Lake Ponchartrain Causeway in LA.
The Angeles Crest Highway (CA 2) from I-210 to its eastern terminus.
I-24 over Monteagle Grade.
US 54 between Wichita and Tucumcari, NM.

I will list the other ten later.

[Ned Weasel]

I think the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys is a must.  Do it early in the day to avoid the rush as most is two lanes.

I really hope I have time to do this someday.

The PA Turnpike from Carlisle to New Stanton is a must as it is scenic and you have the tunnels to drive through.

I 100% agree with this choice.  This is probably my favorite natural landscape in the U.S., and the tunnels make this drive all the more special.  A trip to the northeast just doesn't feel complete without driving this stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

US 54 between Wichita and Tucumcari, NM.

Someone actually likes that!?  Well, more power to you!

I don't have a Top 20 yet, but here are some of my opinions on roads that haven't been mentioned here yet.  All of these are from the U.S., as I have absolutely zero experience driving outside of the U.S.:

No list of "roads you should drive" is complete without the New Jersey Turnpike.  At least do Exit 6 and north.  (I haven't even technically clinched the NJTP yet because I haven't finished the Eastern Spur, and I have yet to do the Newark Bay Extension.)

I-75 from I-475 north of Macon, GA to I-24.  This perhaps gives the best sense of what Atlanta is "about," but then, I haven't driven I-85 (except for its duplex with I-75, of course) (debate, anyone?).  Also, you really need to approach Atlanta from I-20 for the best view of the dispersed skyline.

I feel that a freeway from the Los Angeles Area/Southern California should be on this list, but which one?  US 101/Hollywood Freeway?  I-5/Golden State Freeway?  I-405/San Diego Freeway?  My experience is mostly limited to the 405, so I can't properly choose.

I-10/Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas.  Full disclosure: I haven't personally driven any portion of this one.  But it's one of the world's widest freeways, and it seems to rival the New Jersey Turnpike in intricacy, plus it should give a good sense of what a Texas freeway and its surrounding development are like.

All of the above are freeways, and, frankly, I don't really have much non-freeway roadgeek experience.  But here are a couple of thoughts:

M-102/8 Mile Road.  I know this will be controversial, and perhaps it shouldn't be considered touristy.  But it certainly gives an interesting perspective of Detroit and its suburbs, it's full of Michigan Lefts and has a few funky interchange designs (modified volleyballs?), and Eminem named his movie after it.  (I've only driven the portion between M-10 and I-75.)

I feel that another road in New Jersey should be listed--one with plenty of jughandles and New Jersey-style commercial strips.  I'm guessing US 1 is the best nominee, but I actually haven't driven US 1 in New Jersey.  Or perhaps US 9 should be nominated.  Any thoughts here?

I can't nominate anything from my home state in good faith, but I-35/The Kansas Turnpike between Exit 76 and Exit 127 deserves honorable mention.

[Scott5114]

If we're adding our own suggestions, OK-325 is a personal favorite of mine. As you go from east to west you transition from flat prairie to more NM-like mesa country. And the road is basically empty. A hidden gem, in my opinion.

[roadman65]

The I-35 in Kansas where it is concurrent with the KTA between Emporia and El Dorado.  Driving it through the Flint Hills region is so nice especially the 34 mile section of road without exits.

US 27 in Marion County, FL west of I-75 is awesome with the horse ranches.
US 40 in NJ west of Mays Landing and east of the Delaware River.
US 322 between Ephratta, PA and Hershey, PA.
US 211 through Shenandoah National Park.
I-81 in Virginia.
I-81 in New York between Binghamton and Syracuse.
US 20 in New York east of LaFayette and west of Casenova.
US 9W from Bear Mountain, NY to Newburgh, NY.
US 6 across Orange County, NY.
NY 25 in Eastern Suffolk, NY (Long Island)

I know I did 21, but I was on a roll!

[vdeane]

I-81/ON 137 between NY 12 and ON 401
NY 73
NY 74
NY 431

[ghYHZ]

The Cabot Trail is one road on that list that's an exception to the principle you cite. I took this in July 2008 at the overlook north of Cheticamp facing south. Lots of other great scenery on that road, but this overlook is generally considered "the" classic photo spot.

Thanks for posting that. I have to "do the trail"  several times a year for work as "hidden"  NS30 is the only way to get there......but if I have the time and usually in the fall, I'll pay my National Parks fee and stop along the way at the look-offs and hike several of the walking trails.

And then there's the winter and I have to go then too but you certainly get a different perspective:

[BigManFromAFRICA88]

The stretch of I-15 through Virgin River Gorge is pretty beautiful, considering that it is way more tightly constructed than I-70, and the sun bounces off the red rocks in the evening. Pretty epic.

[Duke87]

I drove both Glenwood Canyon and Virgin River Gorge on my trip out west in 2012 and while I found the former to be quite impressive the latter struck me as "it's nice, but nothing particularly amazing".

Seeing the above photo makes me question that conclusion, though. I drove through Virgin River Gorge at midday in late June and it struck me as rather bland, a bunch of plain rocks devoid of any color or flair:


But it looks a lot more visually appealing in your dusk photo.


Of course, I took that picture only a few hours after I took these, in Monument Valley:



So it's all relative, I suppose!

[D-Dey65]

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

No list should exclude that.

US 27 in Marion County, FL west of I-75 is awesome with the horse ranches.

I drove between Williston and Ocala along that route for some reason, but I can't remember why.

I-81 in Virginia.

June 2013 on the way up to New York.

US 9W from Bear Mountain, NY to Newburgh, NY.

Part of a family vacation to Vermont, Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Suburban Cleveland from the Summer of '78.

US 6 across Orange County, NY.

Ehh, I've only been there between the Thruway and I-84 about nine years ago. I'd really like to take the Long Mountain Parkway, though.

NY 25 in Eastern Suffolk, NY (Long Island)

The last time I went there was the summer of 2008. Not the first time, but hopefully not the last.

Hey, with everybody mentioning the Blue Ridge Parkway, has anybody considered the Skyline Drive?

The Pennsylvania Turnpike west of Breezewood was nice in 1982. I look at the website for the toll rates today, and the damn thing is expensive as all hell!

[mrsman]

I feel that a freeway from the Los Angeles Area/Southern California should be on this list, but which one?  US 101/Hollywood Freeway?  I-5/Golden State Freeway?  I-405/San Diego Freeway?  My experience is mostly limited to the 405, so I can't properly choose.

If I had to pick only one, I'd go for the 110 freeway, especially northbound.  The southern end is your basic So Cal freeway.  Then you pass through the giant and foreboding 105/110 interchange, the section through South Central where the freeway goes under the streets but the HOT lanes go over the streets, Downtown LA, the historic 4-level interchange, the tunnels near Dodger Stadium, and the windy historic Arroyo Seco Parkway.

[Bruce]

I-90 from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass is full of interesting feats of engineering: the world's longest soft-clay tunnels, two of the five longest floating bridges, park lids on Mercer Island, and reversible express lanes that are being turned into light rail tracks in the next decade (clinch them while you can!). The rest of the drive to the pass is quite scenic as well, designated as the Mountains to Sound National Scenic Byway.

[Mdcastle]

I'd have to agree with liking the Overseas Highway. I stayed in Marathon, since it seemed to have the only chain hotel that didn't appear to be extremely expensive and/or a dump, so I didn't have to drive it all in one stretch. I just wish there were 4 lanes to Key Largo. It looks like the recently rebuilt the road but didn't widen it.

[Beeper1]

SD-87 (Needles Highway) in the Black Hills.
US-212 (Beartooth Highway) leading into Yellowstone.  (And the Chief Joseph highway WY-296)
Going to the Sun Road
US-6 over Loveland Pass and US-34 through Rocky Mtn National Park
Old US-66 Kingman to the CA line
NH-112 Kancamagus Highway
VT-100
I-87 through the Adirondacks
US-1 on the coast of Maine