*Busiest* Desolate Stretches Of Interstates

[briantroutman]

The challenge with finding desolation in the East is that–in addition to the fact that cities and towns are more numerous and closer together than in the West–the land itself is more naturally habitable. Rainfall is plentiful, terrain tends to be more hilly than mountainous, and it was fairly easy for settlers to dig a well, build a homestead, and begin growing crops to sustain themselves. In Pennsylvania, with the exception of protected state and national forests, it seems virtually impossible to drive a few miles in even the most rural parts of the state and not run into a homestead here, a farm there, etc.

I-76 and I-80 across central PA are among the best you'll get in the east.

More specifically, the closest I-80 gets to crossing an area devoid of development is due south of Williamsport. Westbound, after passing the interchange with US 15 at New Columbia, I-80 passes through a swath of the Bald Eagle State Forest that is virtually free of humans except for I-80 itself. The stretch includes an interchange with a road that reverts to gravel just beyond the interchange–the only one (to my knowledge) that PennDOT has felt the need to label "NO SERVICES" .

[SeriesE]

That being the case I-5 between CA 99/Wheeler Ridge and I-580 probably meets the criteria.  Its definitely the preferred route for Bay Area-Los Angeles traffic.

I believe I-5 from Castaic to CA-99 (Tejon Pass/Grapevine) counts too.

[formulanone]

I-75 and I-95 for all of FL pretty much, especially in season.

You have an idea of how busy Alligator Alley is? That may be the best example for a busy freeway and using the op's strict standard for desolate (no exits to gas stations/restaurants/convenience stores) here in the east.

Alligator Alley on a Sunday afternoon or a holiday weekend is surprisingly busy. Not quite bumper to bumper, but plenty of traffic for 2 exits and 80 miles of nearly uninhabited land. Exit 80 (SR 29) has no services but there's large gas station at Exit 49 (CR 833).

Though not an Interstate, Florida's Turnpike northbound from FL 70 to Kissimmee is full of weekend travelers and the exits are also sparsely populated at best. At least there's a service plaza in the middle.

[sparker]

I-80 between Fernley and Lovelock in NV; about the only meaningful exit is that for US 95 south at about the midpoint.  Desolate desert, alkali flats -- even the Humboldt Sink -- all as roadside "attractions".  But full of traffic -- dominated by trucks -- nevertheless.   

[Bickendan]

I-5 between Eugene and Albany... especially on Beavers or Ducks games.

[thenetwork]

I-15 between SoCal and Las Vegas
I-75 and I-95 for all of FL pretty much, especially in season.
I-95 south of Richmond
I-35 between San Antonio and DFW
I-5 in the Central Valley

I would also include I-15 through Arizona/Virgin River Gorge because of the amount of traffic and limited facilities and the fact to get to the rest of Arizona from there, you have to leave the state.

I'd love to include I-70 in Utah, but the traffic counts are nowhere near what they see on I-15.

[The Nature Boy]

I-76 and I-80 across central PA are among the best you'll get in the east.

Nothing in northern New England gets enough traffic to qualify. Everything remotely desolate in NY is pretty dead.

Would I-89 between Burlington and the Canadian border qualify? I feel like it carries a lot of Montreal bound traffic from both Burlington and Boston.

[SkyPesos]

I-76 and I-80 across central PA are among the best you'll get in the east.

Nothing in northern New England gets enough traffic to qualify. Everything remotely desolate in NY is pretty dead.

Would I-89 between Burlington and the Canadian border qualify? I feel like it carries a lot of Montreal bound traffic from both Burlington and Boston.

To the op's  standard, no. I'm not familiar with the area, but with a quick search on google maps, it seems like every exit lands you in a town or have a gas station, which disqualifies the freeway based on the op's standard of desolate.

[plain]

I-65 between Birmingham and Huntsville. A lot of trucks.

[Avalanchez71]

I-24 between Monteagle and Manchester, TN.  Also from Jasper to near Chattanooga, TN.

[texaskdog]

I 39 in Illinois.  30 years in still nothing on it.  BOOOORRRRING

[webny99]

Westbound, after passing the interchange with US 15 at New Columbia, I-80 passes through a swath of the Bald Eagle State Forest that is virtually free of humans except for I-80 itself. The stretch includes an interchange with a road that reverts to gravel just beyond the interchange–the only one (to my knowledge) that PennDOT has felt the need to label "NO SERVICES" .

This is the most comparable example I've seen so far to I-90 through Montezuma. It's maybe even a bit more desolate, although in a very different and less traditional way, and it's almost identical in length at about 17 miles. Traffic volumes are significantly lower, though: 20-22K according to PennDOT's most recent data, just over half of the 37K on I-90.

[kphoger]

I 39 in Illinois.  30 years in still nothing on it.  BOOOORRRRING

South of Rochelle, AADT stays in the 15k-21k range.  That surprised me:  I figured it would be lower.

[thspfc]

I-70 from Denver to around Vail.

Idaho Springs is hardly "nothing".  Might even through Georgetown in there too.

If I-70 through there is not "desolate", then there are like five truly desolate Interstate stretches in the country. And Silverthorne, Dillon, Frisco, Copper Mountain, and Vail are all more notable than Idaho Springs anyways . . .

Well, I've personally had multiple reasons to get off I-70 at Idaho Springs, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Not counting access to hike St Mary's Glacier, which uses a nearby exit instead)...  My family got off the highway there during one of our recent road trips to fill up with gas and eat lunch.  At the west end, there's a big Kum & Go, plus two other smaller gas stations.  At the east end, there's a big Phillips 66 station, plus a smaller Exxon, as well as McDonald's and Carl's Jr.  In between is a whole host of gift shops, hotels/motels, local restaurants (I recommend Smokin Yard's BBQ) and cafés, a hot spring pool and spa, and various other tourist draws.

https://thisisidahosprings.com/idaho-springs-colorado-tourism/

It's a very neat place. I always enjoy driving through there. But normally we stop at Silverthorne or Frisco.

[ethanhopkin14]

I-35 between San Antonio and DFW

Ummm.... I-35 between San Antonio and DFW goes through a town every 10-15 miles the entire stretch, where even the littlest town has 3 exits.  Not to mention there is a metro area of 2.5 million people on that route you skipped over.  That portion of interstate is basically a 290 mile urban corridor. 

[kphoger]

I-35 between San Antonio and DFW

Ummm.... I-35 between San Antonio and DFW goes through a town every 10-15 miles the entire stretch, where even the littlest town has 3 exits.  Not to mention there is a metro area of 2.5 million people on that route you skipped over.  That portion of interstate is basically a 290 mile urban corridor. 

  Desolate!  Yeah, right!

[ethanhopkin14]

I-70 in Western Colorado I think qualifies. 
I-30 between Texarkana and Little Rock is interesting to me.  Driving on it, it feels very desolate.  The tall trees block off any vision of life and exits are very far apart.  I didn't really think about it until I was low on gas and felt like I was going to be walking because of these two reasons.

I think I-40 between Memphis and Nashville has this feeling.  I know it is not as desolate as it feels, but the vegetation makes it feel like I am driving through the woods, but there is a lot of traffic.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minneapolis: I-35W northeast of Lexington Avenue and I-35E north of County E. The desolate feelings have been reduced by the additions of MnPass lanes on 35E and the ongoing construction of ones on 35W. On I-35E between County E and County 96, you can look down from an overpass and see a lonely rural-type restaurant sitting on a corner. That to me is a rural feeling.

[Mark68]

I-80 in Wyoming. Pretty much the entire state outside of Cheyenne & Laramie (because they're not desolate). All the trucks. All of them. And all of the wind.

[hotdogPi]

I-80 in Wyoming. Pretty much the entire state outside of Cheyenne & Laramie (because they're not desolate). All the trucks. All of them. And all of the wind.

Did you read the OP?

[thspfc]

I-80 in Wyoming. Pretty much the entire state outside of Cheyenne & Laramie (because they're not desolate). All the trucks. All of them. And all of the wind.

There's a lot of truck traffic but it has never struck me as busy.

[hotdogPi]

I-80 in Wyoming. Pretty much the entire state outside of Cheyenne & Laramie (because they're not desolate). All the trucks. All of them. And all of the wind.

There's a lot of truck traffic but it has never struck me as busy.

So you're saying the OP's own example doesn't qualify.

[Takumi]

I-95 between Petersburg and...well, Florida.

I'd say I-64 on both sides of Richmond counts as well.

Yeah, though the east side is a relatively short stretch in comparison with west of Richmond. Between 295 and around VA 30 it's quiet, then you start running into Williamsburg and Hampton Roads development.

[ahj2000]

Interstate 81 in VA doesn't go through all that much, with its largest city being the Roanoke area. I'd look for the highest combination of desolate and heavily traveled to be either between the two 64 interchanges or the stretch north of Harrisonburg. Between Gainesville and Front Royal on I-66 has some traffic to it too, with almost nothing in between.

My other suggestion would be to find a place on I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis. There's some decently desolate spots there.

[webny99]

Given that *busiest* is the word emphasized in the thread title, has there been any examples that are truly busy in an objective sense, and not just "heavy truck traffic" or "lots of long distance traffic"? I'm thinking volumes of at least 50-60K.