Different routes between 2 metro areas depending where you leave/arrive

[KCRoadFan]

As far as going from the KC metro to Emporia (and by extension, Wichita and any points further south on I-35): from most of the metro, the most practical route is to follow I-35 south through Johnson County (or in the case of eastern Jackson County, 435 to 35 south). However, for parts of the metro west of 635 and north of I-70 (this includes much of west KCK and most of Platte County), it probably makes more sense to take the Turnpike through Lawrence and Topeka instead. Does that seem about right?

[Sctvhound]

Charleston to anywhere west (Augusta/Atlanta/Birmingham). You can take I-26 to US 301 at Orangeburg to SC 4 to SC 39 to US 278 to Augusta, or go US 17 to SC 64 to US 301 to GA 23 to GA 24 to GA 80 to US 278 to I-20 at Exit 154. You can avoid Columbia and Augusta that way.

Most people in metro Charleston go through Orangeburg, up SC 4 to SC 389/39 to I-20 at Exit 33, or just do the basic I-26 to I-20. Others get off I-26 at US 1 or 378, cut through Lexington to get to I-20 there. South of US 21 you could just go through Savannah to I-16.

Same way Charleston to Nashville. You can either take 26 up to Asheville to I-40 to I-75 to I-40 into Nashville, or get off at Orangeburg, go through Atlanta on I-20/75, then get I-24 in Chattanooga. Both take almost exactly the same amount of time.

[hbelkins]

Depending on your destination in Indianapolis, from Lexington, the choices of I-64/I-65 or I-75/I-275/I-74 would certainly fit this thread.

[doorknob60]

There are two main routes between Bend, OR and Portland, depending on where you're going. From downtown to downtown, based on current traffic (looks minimal):

1. 169 miles, 3h24m via US-97 and US-26
2. 175 miles, 3h16m via US-20, OR-22, and I-5

Since I used to live in Bend, we made this trip somewhat often. Usually if our destination was east of I-205 or the airport, or anywhere on the Vancouver, WA side, we'd use US-26. And if it was west of I-5 eg. Beaverton we'd use the second option. Another factor is in the winter sometimes one pass has better weather conditions than the other, and US-26 is often packed on winter weekends due to the ski resorts on Mt. Hood so it can be helpful to avoid that.

There are also multiple routes between Bend and Eugene, using US-20 and OR-126, or using US-97, Crescent Cutoff Rd, and OR-58, which is about 11 miles longer. But for this one the choice is usually less related to where your destination is (actually, origin/destination probably matters more on the Bend side for this one), and more related to winter weather, as Eugene has decent freeways and not too much traffic. In the summer OR-242 is the shortest but is curvy so may not be any faster.

[skluth]

I have three options to get into central LA from Palm Springs. If there's no traffic, CA 60 is the most direct route. However, it's often congested through the I-215 and CA 57 concurrencies so the few extra miles using I-10 is often quicker. I-210 usually has the least traffic, so I've also taken CA/I-210 to CA 134 to CA 2 (though I was going to Griffith Observatory so it was pretty direct). I also use CA 91 to get to Orange County, the south end of the LA/Long Beach metro. The Inland Empire of San Bernardino-Riverside is a separate metro from LA, so this works for for anyone from the IE and points east and north. All four routes are options when going to LAX and Santa Monica depending on traffic, though it's rare for any option to be without jams.

I also have several options to get from Palm Springs to the Central Valley and points north (SF, Sacramento) depending on traffic. The most direct way is using I-210 as the bulk of the route around the north side of LA (I-10; CA/I-210; I-5). It's almost as fast taking a combination of highways to Cajon Pass on I-15 then either US 395 or CA 138/CA 14 to CA 58 to Bakersfield and I-5 (or just CA 138 to I-5). Finally, when all traffic from Cabazon west is a giant cluster (a frequent problem), it's usually easier - and significantly less stressful - to take CA 62 up to Yucca Valley, then CA 247 to I-15 to CA 58 to Bakersfield and I-5.

[sparker]

I have three options to get into central LA from Palm Springs. If there's no traffic, CA 60 is the most direct route. However, it's often congested through the I-215 and CA 57 concurrencies so the few extra miles using I-10 is often quicker. I-210 usually has the least traffic, so I've also taken CA/I-210 to CA 134 to CA 2 (though I was going to Griffith Observatory so it was pretty direct). I also use CA 91 to get to Orange County, the south end of the LA/Long Beach metro. The Inland Empire of San Bernardino-Riverside is a separate metro from LA, so this works for for anyone from the IE and points east and north. All four routes are options when going to LAX and Santa Monica depending on traffic, though it's rare for any option to be without jams.

I also have several options to get from Palm Springs to the Central Valley and points north (SF, Sacramento) depending on traffic. The most direct way is using I-210 as the bulk of the route around the north side of LA (I-10; CA/I-210; I-5). It's almost as fast taking a combination of highways to Cajon Pass on I-15 then either US 395 or CA 138/CA 14 to CA 58 to Bakersfield and I-5 (or just CA 138 to I-5). Finally, when all traffic from Cabazon west is a giant cluster (a frequent problem), it's usually easier - and significantly less stressful - to take CA 62 up to Yucca Valley, then CA 247 to I-15 to CA 58 to Bakersfield and I-5.

When I was living in Hesperia and was visiting relatives in the La Quinta/Indio area, I always used the "all-desert" route via Yucca Valley.  Much less hassle, much less CHP presence, and no backups in Yucaipa (common for I-10 on weekends).  The only time I'd opt for 10-210-215-15 would be to stop in Redlands for Chinese food on Orange St./CA 38 just south of the I-10 interchange. 

[tdindy88]

Interstate 69 and Indiana 37 are now the quickest way between Indianapolis and Evansville. But according to Google Maps I-70 and US 41 via Indiana 641 is only eight miles and 15 minutes longer (and with the upcoming 2021 closure in Martinsville that may be enough to close the gap.)

Growing up there was also the I-65/I-265/I-64 route via the Louisville area. Now that route is 25 minutes longer than the I-70/US 41 option but back when you had to go through multiple stoplights south of Terre Haute that difference may have been much closer. It seemed as if either routing was about the same time.

[hbelkins]

Interstate 69 and Indiana 37 are now the quickest way between Indianapolis and Evansville. But according to Google Maps I-70 and US 41 via Indiana 641 is only eight miles and 15 minutes longer (and with the upcoming 2021 closure in Martinsville that may be enough to close the gap.)

The primary argument against building I-69 was that a decent alternative (I-70 and US 41) already existed. And that was before IN 641.

[SkyPesos]

Interstate 69 and Indiana 37 are now the quickest way between Indianapolis and Evansville. But according to Google Maps I-70 and US 41 via Indiana 641 is only eight miles and 15 minutes longer (and with the upcoming 2021 closure in Martinsville that may be enough to close the gap.)

The primary argument against building I-69 was that a decent alternative (I-70 and US 41) already existed. And that was before IN 641.

I-69 also serve Bloomington, which is where Indiana University is. I think Bloomington was also one of the largest cities in the US not served by Interstate before I-69. So unless the people opposing think that Bloomington is not important enough for an interstate and that the IN 37 expressway was enough, they probably only thought about Indy-Evansville traffic.

Though this brings up an interesting potential new thread topic: What are some large universities not served by Interstate, or even a 4 lane expressway?

[ran4sh]

Atlanta to Raleigh can be either I-85 and I-40, or I-20 to I-95 to I-40.

There are three routes between Atlanta and Athens, GA. I-85 and GA 316 is best for the north side and for downtown except at rush hour. I-20, GA 138 and US 78 is best for the south side including Hartsfield, and US 78 alone is best for a fair chunk of the east side.

A fourth route, which is often the 2nd-best route from the northern Atlanta suburbs, is I-85 and US 129.

[ran4sh]

What are some large universities not served by Interstate, or even a 4 lane expressway?

Depending on the definition of "served", the University of Georgia didn't get a 4 lane route until the 80s or early 90s, when US 78 was widened. Then it got an expressway when SR 316 was built. However it is already within about 20-25 miles of I-85 anyway (via US 129, which wasn't widened to 4-lane until 2009).

[SkyPesos]

What are some large universities not served by Interstate, or even a 4 lane expressway?

Depending on the definition of "served", the University of Georgia didn't get a 4 lane route until the 80s or early 90s, when US 78 was widened. Then it got an expressway when SR 316 was built. However it is already within about 20-25 miles of I-85 anyway (via US 129, which wasn't widened to 4-lane until 2009).

Btw someone made a thread for that in the off topic section a week ago

[hbelkins]

How about St. Louis to DC? You can either take I-70 and I-270, or you can take I-64 to Charleston, where you have a choice of I-79/I-68/I-70/I-270, or I-64/I-81/I-66.

In fact, those latter choices begin manifesting themselves at Louisville along I-64.

I saw some reports earlier in the week that the Apple Maps app wasn't providing any driving directions to DC because of the planned rally. So I tested it. The app, and Google Maps, gave me three options: the two listed above that diverge at Charleston, and also KY 52/KY 15/US 119/US 23/Alt. US 58/I-81/I-66 through Hazard, Norton, and Abingdon. That was the preferred route from here to DC for years until enough of then US 48/now I-68 was completed to make it viable.

[dvferyance]

Going from Milwaukee to Green Bay if your basically anywhere in Washington County I-41 is quicker. Anywhere else in metro Milwaukee I-43 is quicker.

[SeriesE]

or if one is even more daring, 80-580-132-99.

Anything particularly bad regarding 132? I drove it the other day and it feels like a normal 2 lane road, and much safer than 152 from 101 to 156.

[TheStranger]

or if one is even more daring, 80-580-132-99.

Anything particularly bad regarding 132? I drove it the other day and it feels like a normal 2 lane road, and much safer than 152 from 101 to 156.

I feel like in the past, Caltrans  specifically advised against it due to concerns about head on accidents on the two lane section between 5 and Modesto.

May be different now, though I have yet to take that route myself.  I do wonder how far west the 132 expressway (along what originally was planned as 5W) will ultimately go.

SM-G973U1

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore or Washington, D.C. to the St. Louis area (miles below assume starting near the east end of I-70 at Woodlawn, Maryland).  I-270 is if starting from most of the Washington area.

1.  [I-270] to I-70 (about 800 miles).

2.  [I-270] to I-70 to I-68 to I-79 to I-64 (about 840 miles).

[Revive 755]

Growing up there was also the I-65/I-265/I-64 route via the Louisville area. Now that route is 25 minutes longer than the I-70/US 41 option but back when you had to go through multiple stoplights south of Terre Haute that difference may have been much closer. It seemed as if either routing was about the same time.

There's still 9 stoplights and 3 railroad crossings on US 41 between the south end of IN 641 and I-64.

[michravera]

or if one is even more daring, 80-580-132-99.

Anything particularly bad regarding 132? I drove it the other day and it feels like a normal 2 lane road, and much safer than 152 from 101 to 156.

I feel like in the past, Caltrans  specifically advised against it due to concerns about head on accidents on the two lane section between 5 and Modesto.

May be different now, though I have yet to take that route myself.  I do wonder how far west the 132 expressway (along what originally was planned as 5W) will ultimately go.

SM-G973U1

When I was there abut 18 months ago, it was hard to tell where CASR-132 ended and I-580 began. Westbound, the road kept improving until you were mysteriously on I-580.

[hbelkins]

Baltimore or Washington, D.C. to the St. Louis area (miles below assume starting near the east end of I-70 at Woodlawn, Maryland).  I-270 is if starting from most of the Washington area.

1.  [I-270] to I-70 (about 800 miles).

2.  [I-270] to I-70 to I-68 to I-79 to I-64 (about 840 miles).

One advantage the southern route has over the northern route is the number of metro areas the route traverses, and their size and the traffic issues therein. Going north you have Indianapolis, Dayton (if only on the periphery), Columbus, and Wheeling. The southern route offers only Louisville, Lexington, and Charleston.

Plus, there are the tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. And Breezewood.

[SkyPesos]

Plus, there are the tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. And Breezewood.

From what I see, Google maps always recommends PA 43/US 40/I-68 over the PA Turnpike routing for all directions that involve I-70 on both ends of said routing. I've seen I-79/I-68 talked about a lot on the forum as a Breezewood bypass, but not what I have here