Stretches of Highway That Are Difficult to Clinch for Your Travel Patterns

[sprjus4]

For Virginia, I-95 between US-58 and US-460, and I-85 between US-58 and I-95 are good examples.

From Hampton Roads, there's no good reason to drive on these segments, as traffic from the south would depart from either corridor at US-58 to head east to Hampton Roads, and traffic from the north would either depart I-95 / I-295 at I-64 or US-460 to head southeast to Hampton Roads.

I drove out of my way on a return trip from North Carolina in 2019 and took I-95 / I-295 / I-64 specifically to clinch that stretch of I-95 that is otherwise an hour out of the way, and then more recently took I-85 to US-460 (which only adds about 15-20 minutes) to clinch that stretch of I-85.

Additionally, similar to 1995hoo, I-77 between I-64 and I-81 is not a stretch I would naturally hit, and still have not gotten around to it. The only portion of I-77 I've driven on in Virginia is between US-58 and I-81 from a trip last year I chose to take US-58 across (I'd still rather use I-64 / I-81 due to 70 mph vs. 55-60 mph for 300 miles), and then the I-81 overlap from driving up-and-down I-81 numerous times.

[ahj2000]

I've never used the bit of 95 between US 1 in Alexandria VA and the bridge. Less than a mile. Going to the Northeast I always use the 301 bridge to bypass the Beltway as I've just given up on DMV traffic if i can help it.
Clinched all else in VA except the Hampton Roads area's interstates and the bit of 81 west of 77. Couldn't ever find a reason to use them.
In NC, I had done most of the state with the exception of the beltways in Raleigh, 795, 40 past Raleigh, a few snippets of 73/73 within the Triad, and a stretch of 40 from Black Mountain to Asheville that I never routed myself onto.
(Plus 285, but that's only been a thing very recently)

[sparker]

These days, if I were attempting to clinch CA's complement of Interstates, I-5 between CA 152 and the I-205 merge would be problematic, as if heading to SoCal (or beyond) from San Jose I'd take CA 152 over Pacheco Pass to I-5, and to head to the areas in the Sacramento area that make up my list of common destinations when heading "over the hill" on I-580/205, I certainly wouldn't be using either I-580 southeast of Altamont or the N-S segment of I-5 that constitutes the east side of the "Tracy Triangle".  I can be thankful that I actually clinched that portion of I-5 back in 1972! 

[oscar]

^ For similar reasons, it took me an unusually long time to clinch I-81 between I-66 and I-83, even though I live within 100 miles of that segment.

[hbelkins]

A bit farther away from me, the segment of I-77 (West Virginia Turnpike) between Beckley and Princeton, and between Bluefield and Wytheville. I have driven those routes multiple times, but they're a bit out of my way if I am going anywhere. If I'm traveling the US 460 (Corridor Q) route, I'll usually take US 52 and I-77 between the Bluefield and Princeton exits to avoid the signals along the US 19/460 concurrency.

Also, I-77 between Charleston and Ravenswood. I typically take WV 2 from Huntington instead of I-64 and I-77 through Charleston.

[SkyPesos]

I haven't used I-65 between Indianapolis and Louisville at all yet, but I used the section north of Indianapolis and section south of Louisville many times. That's because of where I live at.

And I have never used the section of I-76 between I-80 and I-70, but used both sides of I-76 from that segment. From Cincy to NYC, the best routings are either I-71/70/78 or I-71/80, and I used both routings before. The former routing involves the PA Turnpike, and the latter involves the free section of I-76 in Ohio.

A section in the Cincinnati metro area I've been on before, but normally difficult for me to get a use out of is I-74 between I-275 and I-75. Since I'm in around the Mason area of Cincinnati, I would use either I-275 or Reagan Hwy to get to I-74 west towards Indy.

Couple more for me:

I-70 between Indianapolis and Dayton: Have been on that section when I used to live in Columbus and St Louis, but now that I'm in Cincinnati, there's no use of that segment for me anymore. I have used I-70 between Dayton and Columbus a bit, however, because I-71 gets boring after a couple of trips (I have all the exits memorized on I-71 between Cincy and Columbus, which is saying something).

I-64 between Louisville and US 35, except I-75 concurrency in Lexington

Adding to I-76 above, all of the Ohio Turnpike: Now I think of it, I have never used the Ohio Turnpike at all before, despite living in Ohio for a good chunk of my life. Have an Ohio Turnpike E-Zpass, but its mainly used on the PA and WV turnpikes, and the various toll roads in Illinois.

All of I-69 in Indiana and Michigan, well at least until the concurrency on I-465 gets implemented.

[ilpt4u]

I-255, because with the absense of any Southwestern Illinois Expressway/Freeway to hit I-255 near Columbia - it just doesn't make much sense for me to approach the St Louis Metro Area from that corner

[epzik8]

As far as what I haven't driven:

• US 74 in North Carolina between Chadbourn and Leland. On all but one occasion coming from Maryland to Myrtle Beach I've taken NC 410 to US 701 to SC 9.
• I-95 between I-87 in the Bronx and the north end of I-287. Going to Boston, I've taken three different routes going north. The first time, in 2001, I actually spent the night at my dad's friends' house in Flemington, New Jersey on our way there, and the next day we made our way to I-287, thus bypassing I-95 through all of New York. The second time in 2002, we left the New Jersey Turnpike at the Garden State Parkway, followed that to 287, then took the Saw Mill River Parkway to I-684 to I-84 and went through Hartford. The third time in 2004, we made our way to I-76 to the Northeast Extension, picked up I-78 at Allentown, and followed that to 287 to its north end at 95.
• Most of I-295 north of the New Jersey Turnpike split. It's always been the Turnpike to New York City for me.
• MD 2 from its north end in downtown Baltimore to the south end of MD 10 in Pasadena, but particularly between I-695 and MD 10. Going to Annapolis I take the Harbor Tunnel to I-97.

For what I have driven:

• The Tydings Bridge northbound. Where I used to live, it was easy for me to avoid the toll by taking US 1 over the Conowingo Dam and following 273 to 274 to 272 to I-95. I have driven the bridge northbound once, for fun. I've driven it south much more often.
• I-95 south to SC 9, and SC 9 from Dillon to Loris. As mentioned above, I've almost always left I-95 at US 74 and taken 74 to 410 to 701. My dad took 95 to 9 one year just to try it out.
• I-95 through Wilmington, Delaware. Usually I take I-495, but have driven all of I-95 through Wilmington once going north, and the part from US 202 to the 495 split on two other occasions.

[Bruce]

Anything that requires a ferry ride, especially on reduced schedules. I'll have to knock out the entire Kitsap Peninsula over a single day.

[snowc]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

It can refer to several things, but usually used in the context of driving the entirety of a numbered route from one end to the other.

[snowc]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

It can refer to several things, but usually used in the context of driving the entirety of a numbered route from one end to the other.

Ohhhhhhhhh ok! So like driving I-540 for its entirety.

[paulthemapguy]

I'll almost certainly never end up clinching I-41 or I-94 in WI without setting out to do specfically that, because of the stretch in Racine and Kenosha counties. I can't think of a reason why I would drive first to Milwaukee, then to Chicago instead of just going straight to Chicago.

On a similar note, I haven't driven I-94 between Milwaukee (Zoo) and Madison, and it's very solidly a circumferential route with respect to my location.  If I want to go to the eastern 1/3 of Wisconsin, I go to Milwaukee first. If I go anywhere else in Wisconsin, I use I-39 and/or I-90.  There's no reason for anyone from Chicagoland to use that stretch of I-94.

[doorknob60]

I-80 between Winnemucca, NV and Salt Lake City. Unless I am on a weird multi-city route like Boise-SLC-Reno, which I don't think will ever happen (I'm more likely to make something like that into two separate trips), I have no reason to ever use this part of I-80. If I'm headed to Reno or California, I'll use US-95 then take I-80 west from there. If I'm heading to SLC or east of there, I'll take I-84. That said, I have crossed I-80 in this segment, at US-93 in Wells on my way back from Las Vegas. But no reason for me to actually use I-80 on that route either.

[1995hoo]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

It can refer to several things, but usually used in the context of driving the entirety of a numbered route from one end to the other.

Ohhhhhhhhh ok! So like driving I-540 for its entirety.

Also, just to make sure you understand, the way most of us use the term doesn't mean you have to drive a route all in one trip. If you think about how long some routes are (I-95, for example), you can easily understand the idea of keeping track of all your different trips until you've eventually travelled the whole route. Some forum members feel strongly that they have to be the driver; others of us do not feel that way (I figure if I get tired and I ask my wife to drive and I tell her where to go, that's equally valid towards a clinch).

In the context of this thread, the discussion doesn't refer to clinching a whole road, but rather refers to particular segments that make it difficult for you to complete a clinch of a full route due to where the segments are located compared to where your driving patterns normally take you. To give you an example, I live in Northern Virginia near Washington, DC, and earlier in the thread I referred to the portion of I-77 between I-81 in Virginia and I-64 in West Virginia. If you look at a map, you should be able to see why for me that segment has been elusive. I've driven most of the rest of I-77 (except for the part between Parkersburg, WV, and I-79), but that one piece between I-81 and I-64 is just a nuisance for me to find an opportunity to use it.

I hope that clarifies the concept behind this particular thread.

[Scott5114]

Pretty much anything in Kentucky is hard to justify as a natural routing for me. It's not on the way to anywhere; anything roughly in that direction would be better served by taking I-40 to I-81, or I-44 to I-70–the diagonals are just too damn convenient. To get any mileage in Kentucky I'd have to either have Kentucky or West Virginia as a destination, or go out of my way to make an L-shaped path with one leg through Kentucky to clinch it for clinching's sake.

[snowc]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

It can refer to several things, but usually used in the context of driving the entirety of a numbered route from one end to the other.

Ohhhhhhhhh ok! So like driving I-540 for its entirety.

Also, just to make sure you understand, the way most of us use the term doesn't mean you have to drive a route all in one trip. If you think about how long some routes are (I-95, for example), you can easily understand the idea of keeping track of all your different trips until you've eventually travelled the whole route. Some forum members feel strongly that they have to be the driver; others of us do not feel that way (I figure if I get tired and I ask my wife to drive and I tell her where to go, that's equally valid towards a clinch).

In the context of this thread, the discussion doesn't refer to clinching a whole road, but rather refers to particular segments that make it difficult for you to complete a clinch of a full route due to where the segments are located compared to where your driving patterns normally take you. To give you an example, I live in Northern Virginia near Washington, DC, and earlier in the thread I referred to the portion of I-77 between I-81 in Virginia and I-64 in West Virginia. If you look at a map, you should be able to see why for me that segment has been elusive. I've driven most of the rest of I-77 (except for the part between Parkersburg, WV, and I-79), but that one piece between I-81 and I-64 is just a nuisance for me to find an opportunity to use it.

I hope that clarifies the concept behind this particular thread.

I clinched I-295 numerous times. 04/10/20 was when I went from Allamericanexpressway to cliffdale rd then 08/22/20 i went over to the new segment from cliffdale to raeford rd. also went for a short time in 2005-2012 on future 295 from US 401 to I95. 

[ethanhopkin14]

I love this subject.  it was always hard, but with a family it becomes even harder.  Right now, I-40 between Amarillo and Little Rock (minus a few stretches and the whole route in Oklahoma City) is all I need to clinch I-40.  Basically that stretch has very little vacation opportunities, and living in central Texas there is no reason to drive this section.  Basically, if I am on I-40, I am traveling to the Grand Canyon or I am going east from the I-30 junction in Little Rock.  I basically have to plan a trip from Albuquerque to Memphis and make it plausible to the fam why we need to be in both places on the same trip.   

[TheGrassGuy]

WA-167 west of WA-512

[hotdogPi]

WA-167 west of WA-512

How exactly? You live in New Jersey.

[kphoger]

Well, technically, the OP didn't exclude highways on the other side of the country...

[roadman65]

If you want to get any express lane shots of I-80 from I-95 south in NJ, you can't if you access the highway from any point between the GWB and the interchange. Anyone from Broad Avenue or Fort Lee can only observe the signs from the local lanes.

Anyone who lives in this part of Bergen County will never drive on this part of I-95 unless they head into NY and drive past their place of residence as one who lives here needs to exit onto the local lanes from the GWB.

[webny99]

WA-167 west of WA-512

How exactly? You live in New Jersey.

Well, technically, the OP didn't exclude highways on the other side of the country...

And, maybe it's an area where he/she travels frequently.

I'd list the southern end of I-35E in Minnesota as a stretch of highway that's difficult to clinch for my travel patterns. I have done it, but it doesn't usually make sense.

[1995hoo]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

It can refer to several things, but usually used in the context of driving the entirety of a numbered route from one end to the other.

Ohhhhhhhhh ok! So like driving I-540 for its entirety.

Also, just to make sure you understand, the way most of us use the term doesn't mean you have to drive a route all in one trip. If you think about how long some routes are (I-95, for example), you can easily understand the idea of keeping track of all your different trips until you've eventually travelled the whole route. Some forum members feel strongly that they have to be the driver; others of us do not feel that way (I figure if I get tired and I ask my wife to drive and I tell her where to go, that's equally valid towards a clinch).

In the context of this thread, the discussion doesn't refer to clinching a whole road, but rather refers to particular segments that make it difficult for you to complete a clinch of a full route due to where the segments are located compared to where your driving patterns normally take you. To give you an example, I live in Northern Virginia near Washington, DC, and earlier in the thread I referred to the portion of I-77 between I-81 in Virginia and I-64 in West Virginia. If you look at a map, you should be able to see why for me that segment has been elusive. I've driven most of the rest of I-77 (except for the part between Parkersburg, WV, and I-79), but that one piece between I-81 and I-64 is just a nuisance for me to find an opportunity to use it.

I hope that clarifies the concept behind this particular thread.

I clinched I-295 numerous times. 04/10/20 was when I went from Allamericanexpressway to cliffdale rd then 08/22/20 i went over to the new segment from cliffdale to raeford rd. also went for a short time in 2005-2012 on future 295 from US 401 to I95. 

Right, but the point of this thread is to ask about stretches of highway that are hard to clinch because of your travel patterns. It sounds like you live somewhere near Fayetteville, North Carolina, based on the road references in your post. Conceivably that might mean that you could be less likely to use I-40/I-85 between Greensboro and Durham, for example, because you'd be more likely to use US-421 northwest to Greensboro or to go west to the US-220 corridor (the new I-73/I-74).

[snowc]

Newbie here
What is clinching? 

It can refer to several things, but usually used in the context of driving the entirety of a numbered route from one end to the other.

Ohhhhhhhhh ok! So like driving I-540 for its entirety.

Also, just to make sure you understand, the way most of us use the term doesn't mean you have to drive a route all in one trip. If you think about how long some routes are (I-95, for example), you can easily understand the idea of keeping track of all your different trips until you've eventually travelled the whole route. Some forum members feel strongly that they have to be the driver; others of us do not feel that way (I figure if I get tired and I ask my wife to drive and I tell her where to go, that's equally valid towards a clinch).

In the context of this thread, the discussion doesn't refer to clinching a whole road, but rather refers to particular segments that make it difficult for you to complete a clinch of a full route due to where the segments are located compared to where your driving patterns normally take you. To give you an example, I live in Northern Virginia near Washington, DC, and earlier in the thread I referred to the portion of I-77 between I-81 in Virginia and I-64 in West Virginia. If you look at a map, you should be able to see why for me that segment has been elusive. I've driven most of the rest of I-77 (except for the part between Parkersburg, WV, and I-79), but that one piece between I-81 and I-64 is just a nuisance for me to find an opportunity to use it.

I hope that clarifies the concept behind this particular thread.

I clinched I-295 numerous times. 04/10/20 was when I went from Allamericanexpressway to cliffdale rd then 08/22/20 i went over to the new segment from cliffdale to raeford rd. also went for a short time in 2005-2012 on future 295 from US 401 to I95. 

Right, but the point of this thread is to ask about stretches of highway that are hard to clinch because of your travel patterns. It sounds like you live somewhere near Fayetteville, North Carolina, based on the road references in your post. Conceivably that might mean that you could be less likely to use I-40/I-85 between Greensboro and Durham, for example, because you'd be more likely to use US-421 northwest to Greensboro or to go west to the US-220 corridor (the new I-73/I-74).

Yes, right. But I don't use US 421 to get to greensboro. I use I-40 to get over to Greensboro.