Deceptively large states

[kphoger]

I count 23 states so far being "deceptively large."  I left out one or two that were mentioned but didn't specifically say they were deceptively large.  Wow, we must be stupid people!

Per what I've seen on Big Rig Travels, Nebraska. I though there would be more of a valley along the Platte river, but instead it's as flat as possible. It would be too boring for me to drive across NE on I-80.

Much of the Platte's water starts out in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  The water there in the mountains is fast flowing, carrying a lot of sediment.  When it reaches the plains of Nebraska, it slows down and therefore more of the sediment is deposited.  This has created an alluvial plain, which makes the Platte River wide and shallow.  It is known as a braided river, meaning it's more like a network of smaller streams than a single mighty river.

For what it's worth, I agree that Nebraska is a deceptively large state.  You might not have thought about it in terms of the north—south direction but, for example, you only pass through one town between McCook and Valentine on US-83 (not counting a few tiny towns of less than 400 people each), yet it's a 200-mile drive.  It's easy to look at a map and think, Oh, here's I-80, so we're halfway to South Dakota.  Nope!

[US 89]

It is known as a braided river, meaning it's more like a network of smaller streams than a single mighty river.

Is there a reason you linked to the Spanish Wikipedia page?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Maine is my vote. It's over 360 miles from Kittery to Fort Kent. I-95 on its own manages to squeeze in 305 miles by itself.

[kphoger]

It is known as a braided river, meaning it's more like a network of smaller streams than a single mighty river.

Is there a reason you linked to the Spanish Wikipedia page?

Because the person I was responding to is Spanish.

[StogieGuy7]

I count 23 states so far being "deceptively large."  I left out one or two that were mentioned but didn't specifically say they were deceptively large.  Wow, we must be stupid people!

Per what I've seen on Big Rig Travels, Nebraska. I though there would be more of a valley along the Platte river, but instead it's as flat as possible. It would be too boring for me to drive across NE on I-80.

Much of the Platte's water starts out in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  The water there in the mountains is fast flowing, carrying a lot of sediment.  When it reaches the plains of Nebraska, it slows down and therefore more of the sediment is deposited.  This has created an alluvial plain, which makes the Platte River wide and shallow.  It is known as a braided river, meaning it's more like a network of smaller streams than a single mighty river.

For what it's worth, I agree that Nebraska is a deceptively large state.  You might not have thought about it in terms of the north—south direction but, for example, you only pass through one town between McCook and Valentine on US-83 (not counting a few tiny towns of less than 400 people each), yet it's a 200-mile drive.  It's easy to look at a map and think, Oh, here's I-80, so we're halfway to South Dakota.  Nope!

I understand why I-80 was routed along the Platte River for much of Nebraska, but driving it also gives the traveler the impression that Nebraska is flat and boring.  That's far from the truth, as the Sand Hills cover much of the state and are rather scenic (in my opinion, at least).  The routing of I-80 seems to go out of it's way to avoid as much scenery as possible, but it also serves the various cities and towns that sprung up along the river so it makes total sense.

[webny99]

I count 23 states so far being "deceptively large."  I left out one or two that were mentioned but didn't specifically say they were deceptively large.  Wow, we must be stupid people!

Conventional wisdom assumes then, by default, that the other 27 are deceptively small  No one is going to have perfect perception of states they rarely/never visit, so it should split about 50/50. Generally, eastern states are perceived be smaller, as I've mentioned several times.

It's easy to look at a map and think, Oh, here's I-80, so we're halfway to South Dakota.  Nope!

I think that has more to do with the position of the I-80 corridor within the state, and less to do with the size of the state.

[formulanone]

Does anybody think that Rhode Island is deceptively large for its size?

I think there's the feeling it should be a 15-20 minute trip, like skirting Delaware via I-95.

Florida is funny because you can hit up both coasts in 2-3 hours: I've personally seen beach sunrises and sunsets in the same day because there aren't too many places in the US you can do that, and it's also really cool because it's emblematic of a great day if you fill it with things to do. And you think, hey...Florida isn't really that big, it almost fits in my backyard. Which makes sense; much of it is geologically only about 10,000 years old.

But then there's stuff like Brevard County taking an hour via I-95, the slog from Pensacola to Jacksonville, or the 5-7 hours from Miami to Jacksonville which you don't really deal with on the rest of the Eastern Seaboard, except for very specialized routes with specific endpoints. (I-80/I-76 in Pennsylvania, I-90 in New York, I-81 in Virginia, might be exceptions, based on traffic.)

[Henry]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

[webny99]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

[jeffandnicole]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

I totally agree with this.  North Carolina is 60% larger than South Carolina in total, yet 95 just happens to run thru at nearly it's longest North-South point.

It doesn't help that when I do my roadtrips to Florida, I'm in SC on the trip down usually between midnight and 6am.  On the way back, it's usually during the day.  However, 95 also narrows down to 2 lanes in SC when compared to Georgia's stretch of 95, so traffic can congested a bit more in SC, slowing my return trip down.

[triplemultiplex]

Much of the Platte's water starts out in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  The water there in the mountains is fast flowing, carrying a lot of sediment.  When it reaches the plains of Nebraska, it slows down and therefore more of the sediment is deposited.  This has created an alluvial plain, which makes the Platte River wide and shallow.  It is known as a braided river, meaning it's more like a network of smaller streams than a single mighty river.

The Platte River is more anastomosing than just braided.

[1995hoo]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

This might be just my view of the world, but when I'm out on the road, a 16-mile difference doesn't seem like much and doesn't matter much, especially in the context of a longer trip such as crossing both Carolinas on I-95 in one day. If you said I-95 is of "about equal length" in those two states–emphasis on the word "about" for purposes of this discussion–I wouldn't disagree with you.

But in the context of a deceptively large state, the point about South Carolina's I-95 in general is perfectly valid, especially when compared to South Carolina's I-85. I suppose in a sense Georgia is sort of similar, as has been noted above, because I-75 traverses the state at about its longest distance while I-95 goes through at roughly the shortest possible north—south area. If you're used to crossing Georgia on I-95 (or especially I-59 and I-24!), it'll seem like a much smaller state than it is.

[webny99]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

This might be just my view of the world, but when I'm out on the road, a 16-mile difference doesn't seem like much and doesn't matter much

That was my point, more or less.

But in the context of a deceptively large state, the point about South Carolina's I-95 in general is perfectly valid, especially when compared to South Carolina's I-85. I suppose in a sense Georgia is sort of similar, as has been noted above, because I-75 traverses the state at about its longest distance while I-95 goes through at roughly the shortest possible north—south area. If you're used to crossing Georgia on I-95 (or especially I-59 and I-24!), it'll seem like a much smaller state than it is.

Well, I suppose, but knowing, as a roadgeek, that I-95 goes through a wide cross-section of South Carolina meant in my case that the statistic was not particularly shocking. So while the population at large may be surprised by the distance on I-95 through South Carolina, I don't think I personally would be, as my expectations would probably be higher than average.

Of course, with that said, I'm not at all disputing the potential for South Carolina as a candidate.

[jwolfer]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

This might be just my view of the world, but when I'm out on the road, a 16-mile difference doesn't seem like much and doesn't matter much

That was my point, more or less.

But in the context of a deceptively large state, the point about South Carolina's I-95 in general is perfectly valid, especially when compared to South Carolina's I-85. I suppose in a sense Georgia is sort of similar, as has been noted above, because I-75 traverses the state at about its longest distance while I-95 goes through at roughly the shortest possible north—south area. If you're used to crossing Georgia on I-95 (or especially I-59 and I-24!), it'll seem like a much smaller state than it is.

Well, I suppose, but knowing, as a roadgeek, that I-95 goes through a wide cross-section of South Carolina meant in my case that the statistic was not particularly shocking. So while the population at large may be surprised by the distance on I-95 through South Carolina, I don't think I personally would be, as my expectations would probably be higher than average.

Of course, with that said, I'm not at all disputing the potential for South Carolina as a candidate.

South Carolina on 95 just feels a lot longer than NC.. I think because the road changes charache in NC more.. there are parts that are 1950s interstate with substandard exits spaced too close together.. then the late 60s concrete.. then the more modern Fayetteville bypass..

SC is pretty uniform, with exits farther apart with a long stretch with very little civilization from Florence to Lake Marion.

And driving south there are the advance billboards for South of the Border which offers some diversion and anticipation in NC

Z981

[kphoger]

I-80 ... gives the traveler the impression that Nebraska is flat and boring. 

As does I-70 to Kansas.

[cl94]

I-80 ... gives the traveler the impression that Nebraska is flat and boring. 

As does I-70 to Kansas.

Good to know for when I take I-70 across Kansas this summer. If I didn't want the clinch...

[formulanone]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

I-95 in NC: that's it? (it also seems to miss nearly everything interesting about the state)

I-95 in SC: we're still here?

[Max Rockatansky]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

I-95 in NC: that's it? (it also seems to miss nearly everything interesting about the state)

I-95 in SC: we're still here?

The real oddity is where does all the traffic go off I-95 once you get to South Carolina?  You'd swear you were driving 120 MPH with how many people pile onto I-95 in NC.

[Flint1979]

I-80 ... gives the traveler the impression that Nebraska is flat and boring. 

As does I-70 to Kansas.

Good to know for when I take I-70 across Kansas this summer. If I didn't want the clinch...

Kansas and Nebraska seem like they'd be pretty boring drives. Colorado would be fun because of the mountains though.

[cl94]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

I-95 in NC: that's it? (it also seems to miss nearly everything interesting about the state)

I-95 in SC: we're still here?

The real oddity is where does all the traffic go off I-95 once you get to South Carolina?  You'd swear you were driving 120 MPH with how many people pile onto I-95 in NC.

Myrtle Beach. Everyone heading there from the north gets off by the 4th exit.

[kphoger]

Kansas and Nebraska seem like they'd be pretty boring drives. Colorado would be fun because of the mountains though.

I-35 is beautiful between Emporia and Wichita, especially at the right times of year.  Some of the north-south roads in western Kansas are nice too, but hardly anyone outside Kansas has need to drive them, so they go unappreciated.

[renegade]

Iowa:  The last time I went across on I-80, the speed limit was 65.  Iowa earned the nickname, "The God-forsaken State."  It took waay too long to get from the Quads to Omaha.

[Sctvhound]

South Carolina is deceptively large when you look at the distance between say Charleston and Greenville. It's close to 200 miles of hard driving and 4 hours to get between the two cities.

Clemson, which thousands of people take trips to from here on football Saturdays, is over 250 miles from Charleston. It's 4 hours plus with no traffic. On a football Saturday (especially when both South Carolina and Clemson are home) you can add another 30 minutes to an hour to that.

It's closer to Jacksonville from my house than Clemson. The University of Florida in Gainesville is only 60 miles further than Clemson. From Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach it is 288 miles to Clemson.

When people visit coastal South Carolina, a lot of people like to "day trip"  from Myrtle Beach to Charleston. They don't realize that it is close to 2 hours down Highway 17 on a good day. I've seen some people think you can see lights in downtown Charleston from Myrtle when it is actually 100 miles away.

[RobbieL2415]

Does anybody think that Rhode Island is deceptively large for its size?

Not really. In fact, I was underwhelmed the time I drove through.
It's pretty common knowledge that you can drive through it in an hour. For those that know that, the range of possible expectations is very narrow.

Forget an hour.  I can get through RI during off-peak times in 40 mins.  RI 101 -> US6 -> I-195.

[jwolfer]

What about SC? I-95 is about 16 miles longer there compared to NC.

Maybe being a roadgeek influences my knowledge in this case, but I would have expected I-95 to be about equal length in both.

I-95 in NC: that's it? (it also seems to miss nearly everything interesting about the state)

I-95 in SC: we're still here?

The real oddity is where does all the traffic go off I-95 once you get to South Carolina?  You'd swear you were driving 120 MPH with how many people pile onto I-95 in NC.

Myrtle Beach. Everyone heading there from the north gets off by the 4th exit.

Fayetteville and the military bases contribute to traffic on i95 in southern NC

Z981