Your favorite non-major US routes

[mcdonaat]

What are your favorite non-major US routes? US 66, 90, 1, and 99 don't count... just the smaller routes that go through smaller towns.

My three favorite have to be US 84 in Louisiana, US 65 in Louisiana, and US 82 in Arkansas. Scenic courthouses along the way, and mostly two lanes.

[Alps]

US 44 is a very scenic drive through northern CT and the upper edge of "downstate" NY.
US 62. Particular notes: KY where it winds among the farms, OK where it has old concrete alignments all over. 62 is just such an oddball and changes so dramatically from south to north.
In hindsight, I've probably enjoyed US 119, but I took it in so many pieces that it's hard to evaluate whether it's a "favorite."

[cpzilliacus]

What are your favorite non-major US routes? US 66, 90, 1, and 99 don't count... just the smaller routes that go through smaller towns.

My three favorite have to be US 84 in Louisiana, US 65 in Louisiana, and US 82 in Arkansas. Scenic courthouses along the way, and mostly two lanes.

Concentrated in the East:

U.S. 13 between Virginia Beach and Salisbury, Md.

U.S. 15 between Haymarket, Va. and Gettysburg, Penna.

U.S. 17 between Fredericksburg, Va. and Newport News.

U.S. 29 between Greensboro, N.C. and Gainesville, Va.

U.S. 48 all of it

U.S. 522 between Powhatan, Va. and Lewistown, Penna.

[amroad17]

US 35 between Dayton, OH and I-64 in WV.

US 127 from Hamilton, OH to Lansing, MI.

US 460 from Princeton, WV to Chesapeake, VA.

[Sanctimoniously]

Even though in that area, it is kind of a major route, I like US 17 between New Bern and Washington, and Washington and Williamston. Very quiet and scenic. I would say US 70 from Beaufort to its eastern terminus as well, but that would probably be considered a "major route".

[Ian]

-US 4 between Rutland and White River Junction, VT
-all of US 302
-US 20 between Westfield and Pittsfield, MA

[Road Hog]

US 281 through the Texas Hill Country. Sometimes I take that route coming back from San Antonio and after I leave it, I always stop for BBQ in Stephenville.

[US81]

US 281 through the Texas Hill Country. Sometimes I take that route coming back from San Antonio and after I leave it, I always stop for BBQ in Stephenville.

Seconded!

[AsphaltPlanet]

I'd say:

US 20A east of Buffalo.  The highway goes through several large and pretty spectacular valleys.

US 6 in Northern PA.  That road winds like a top -- though it doesn't have the same scenic appeal as US-20A to the north.

[Scott5114]

Outside Oklahoma, the largest amount of travel I've done on one US route is US 82 in Texas. I really like it, although it mostly meanders through small towns and ranch country.

US 69 in Kansas may be a bit too "major" to include, being that it's a freeway, but it's a great driving experience. It runs parallel to I-49, meaning it has little traffic, and a lot of the guide sign destinations for exits are in Missouri.

[Takumi]

US 301 between Petersburg and Rocky Mount, especially south of VA 35
US 360
US 211
US 17 between VA 33 and US 360

[Duke87]

US 163. Monument Valley is utterly gorgeous.

[hbelkins]

Several of these that have been posted, I'd consider major.

Especially US 13 up the Delmarva Peninsula, US 460 across Virginia and US 35 from Dayton to West Virginia.

[corco]

US-36 across Kansas is really a nice drive that no longer is really a through route.

How about US-189 as an underrated but awesome drive? At this point it's kind of a cobbled together pile of corridors, but the drive on a whole is pretty nice.

[mjb2002]

US 278 is my favorite, between Beech Island and South Carolina Route 68.

[roadman65]

US 211 Skyline Drive to I-81
US 98 in Polk County, FL.
US 6 from Milford, PA to Carbondale, PA
US 400 from Mullenville, KS to Dodge City, KS
US 283 from Dodge City, KS to Minneola, KS.

[Mark68]

US 550 in Colorado.

Montrose
Ouray
Silverton
Durango

The most beautiful scenery in the Southwest.

[NE2]

US 98 in Polk County, FL.

Yet you hate OBT. Go figure.

[motorway]

US 206 in NJ pretty much captures the best in the state: the Pine Barrens in the south, then up through the farms of Burlington County, the few nice bits of downtown Trenton, the stately manors and academic-tinged downtowns of Lawrenceville and Princeton, horse country up through Somerset and Morris Counties, and then up into the Skylands in Sussex.

[nexus73]

US 199 showcases the redwoods, a rocky canyon carved out by the Smith River and the Collier Tunnel in the California section.  Be sure to stop at She-She's cafe in Gasquet for an old fashioned burger, fries and shakes as they were made in the Fifties.  The French Burger is my favorite.  On the Oregon side of 199 the scenery is less interesting but some of the people are out of a 1960's time warp as there is a largish concentration of hippies, artists and marijuana growers.

US 189 from Provo to Heber highlights the Provo River Canyon and the Deer Creek Dam.  Should the Heber Creeper still be in operation, then check that out too  A road leads to Robert Redford's Sundance resort but he's a real NIMBY who opposed the 4-laning of 189 so no need to stop there...LOL!  The converting of 189 from a narrow crooked 2 lane road to a gorgeous freeway/expressway is one of the great road engineering feats you will see.  That canyon was quite narrow.  You drive through it and you'll think you're in the Swiss Alps.  Summertime temps are in the 70's when they are in the 90's in Provo/Orem, so you get some fine natural air conditioning when taking this drive.

Rick

[oscar]

US 550 in Colorado.

Montrose
Ouray
Silverton
Durango

The most beautiful scenery in the Southwest.

I agree.  US 285 between Alamosa CO and Santa Fe NM is also gorgeous in a different way.  Especially in New Mexico, the scenery reminds you of the desert landscapes in the old Road Runner cartoons.

My favorite would be US 395 along the east side of the Sierra Nevadas, between Carson City NV and Bishop CA.  But the route comes close to being "major", extending from north of San Bernadino CA to the Canadian border. 

[Jim]

Maybe I'm biased by the excellent skiing at the top, but US 160 over Wolf Creek Pass is one of my favorite rides anywhere.

[InterstateNG]

US 281 through the Texas Hill Country. Sometimes I take that route coming back from San Antonio and after I leave it, I always stop for BBQ in Stephenville.

Seconded!

Thirded.  I much prefer 281 if I need to go to San Antonio than 35.

[Mark68]

US 550 in Colorado.

Montrose
Ouray
Silverton
Durango

The most beautiful scenery in the Southwest.

I agree.  US 285 between Alamosa CO and Santa Fe NM is also gorgeous in a different way.  Especially in New Mexico, the scenery reminds you of the desert landscapes in the old Road Runner cartoons.

My favorite would be US 395 along the east side of the Sierra Nevadas, between Carson City NV and Bishop CA.  But the route comes close to being "major", extending from north of San Bernadino CA to the Canadian border. 

Yeah, I didn't mention 395 for exactly the reasons you mentioned. I love the drive from I-15 north to Reno, especially the section north of the SR 14 split.

[dfilpus]

US 23 from Rogers City MI to the Mackinac Bridge.