The Most Boring Stretches of Highway

[Flint1979]

I thought that I-80 from the Chicago area to Des Moines was pretty boring except for maybe the Quad Cities area. I haven't been any further west than Des Moines on 80 though.

[SSR_317]

I thought that I-80 from the Chicago area to Des Moines was pretty boring except for maybe the Quad Cities area. I haven't been any further west than Des Moines on 80 though.

You should've seen it back in the 1960s (when I-80 was still barely half done). My parents & I did a "National Lampoon's Vacation" trip from NE Indiana to southern Cali to see my mom's brother, and I can tell you that western IA was boring... until we experienced Nebraska! But I still remember that entire trip (I was 11 at the time) and it's one of the reasons I'm a Road Geek to this day. Anyone up for a trip to Wally World?

[MNHighwayMan]

I thought that I-80 from the Chicago area to Des Moines was pretty boring except for maybe the Quad Cities area. I haven't been any further west than Des Moines on 80 though.

It doesn't get better.

Edit: At least in Iowa.

[Flint1979]

I thought that I-80 from the Chicago area to Des Moines was pretty boring except for maybe the Quad Cities area. I haven't been any further west than Des Moines on 80 though.

It doesn't get better.

Edit: At least in Iowa.

I didn't think it would. I was in Ankeny 10 years ago and had to make that drive twice, it wasn't anymore fun the second time. I actually took I-180 south in Illinois all the way to the end in Hennepin and think I passed maybe 5 cars the whole time I was on it.

[SSOWorld]

at least the scenery changes as you go further west

Try going north-south!  Especially in Illinois!!!

[Flint1979]

at least the scenery changes as you go further west

Try going north-south!  Especially in Illinois!!!

Going down I-57 in Illinois didn't bother me as much as I-55 between I-57 and Memphis. I-55 was so boring that I was ready to ditch it and take another route.

[noelbotevera]

I-81 through PA can be a real bore. The traffic helps break things up, but it's mostly farmland and flat fields until you reach Harrisburg. Then, more farmland and fields...real exciting, isn't it? To be honest, I've never been north of I-78, so maybe there might be interesting stuff.

I-78 was my initial consideration, but the hectic drive and substandard design on the western half (west of Allentown/exit 51) helps keeps things interesting. At least it's something to get the blood pumping.

[adventurernumber1]

I-81 through PA can be a real bore. The traffic helps break things up, but it's mostly farmland and flat fields until you reach Harrisburg. Then, more farmland and fields...real exciting, isn't it? To be honest, I've never been north of I-78, so maybe there might be interesting stuff.

I-78 was my initial consideration, but the hectic drive and substandard design on the western half (west of Allentown/exit 51) helps keeps things interesting. At least it's something to get the blood pumping.

I've done a lot of GMSV (Google Maps Street-View) in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area, and I found it truly intriguing and beautiful. This included Interstate 81 through the area, and being able to see sights such as this. I cannot describe in words how highly I enjoyed doing street-view through the Scranton area. The scenery is incredible, the roads are fascinating, and there's history and industry to go around as well. One thing I find very interesting about Scranton is how many limited-access highways it has for a city of its size (though, its population is half of what it was almost a century ago) - it has I-81, I-476, I-380, I-84, and even US 11 and US 6 have some limited-access sections. Interstate 476 has a truly intriguing northern end at I-81, US 6, and US 11, that I have looked at on GMSV many, many times - and regarding that location, there is this absolutely epic, very tall overpass. I haven't seen Wilkes-Barre as much as Scranton, but I believe that provided some very interesting street-view as well, especially with views of scenery like this. Scranton is a real treat for roadgeeks, or it at least was for me personally. I know very well what I-81 looks like passing through the Scranton, PA area, but I couldn't tell you what it is like north of Scranton, or between I-78 and I-80. It may possibly be very interesting as well, though.

[djlynch]

I-10 between Las Cruces and roughly Cochise, AZ
US 77/I-69E between Robstown and Harlingen
I-27 (all of it)
US 84 between Lubbock and the western edge of the Llano Estacado a few miles west of Clovis

[Throckmorton]

   
Most of I-70 in Kansas/eastern Colorado has already been mentioned and it is truly monotonous.   
   
I-84 in Idaho.
   
US 20 in Oregon from Bend to...oh, say Buchanan.   
   
   

[MattCollopy]

I-80 in PA, pretty boring.

[texaskdog]

I-90 through South Dakota is filled with absolutely nothing but fields and the occasional high wind.  There's a reason the speed limit is set so high because basically everyone driving through there are tourists wanting to get to Yellowstone as fast as possible or long-distance truckers.  It's mind-numbing to be on that road for just a few hours let alone having to pass through the entire state to get to the far more interesting Montana or Wyoming.

Once you get past Chamberlian it is a nice road. 

[sparker]

Add to the list my avatar (I-40 in CA).  Unless you really, really like desert, this is flyover (or drive over as fast as feasible) country.  For much of the route, there's not even trains to look at to break the monotony. 

[Max Rockatansky]

Add to the list my avatar (I-40 in CA).  Unless you really, really like desert, this is flyover (or drive over as fast as feasible) country.  For much of the route, there's not even trains to look at to break the monotony.

Its a lot more interesting in the Bristol Range when you consider that the area is so remote that nuclear devices were considered briefly as a viable means of excavation.

[sparker]

Add to the list my avatar (I-40 in CA).  Unless you really, really like desert, this is flyover (or drive over as fast as feasible) country.  For much of the route, there's not even trains to look at to break the monotony.

Its a lot more interesting in the Bristol Range when you consider that the area is so remote that nuclear devices were considered briefly as a viable means of excavation.

At least then there would be some "historical monument" signage along that stretch of roadway!

[Max Rockatansky]

Add to the list my avatar (I-40 in CA).  Unless you really, really like desert, this is flyover (or drive over as fast as feasible) country.  For much of the route, there's not even trains to look at to break the monotony.

Its a lot more interesting in the Bristol Range when you consider that the area is so remote that nuclear devices were considered briefly as a viable means of excavation.

At least then there would be some "historical monument" signage along that stretch of roadway!

True, but that require Caltrans to open up a rest/parking for the purpose of reading historical information which isn't likely to happen.

[webny99]

Scranton is a real treat for roadgeeks, or it at least was for me personally. I know very well what I-81 looks like passing through the Scranton, PA area, but I couldn't tell you what it is like north of Scranton, or between I-78 and I-80. It may possibly be very interesting as well, though.

Most of my travels on I-81 have been north of Scranton (for obvious reasons  ). I'll attempt to outline the various segments:

Scranton to Binghamton: It's not super exciting, but definitely not "most boring" either. It's rarely flat, and passes through some fairly hilly and rocky terrain, with rock walls and such, which I find interesting. Being at the convergence of I-476, I-380, and I-84, as the main corridor to and from the north, it's quite busy, especially in summer. Unfortunately, PA is notorious for doing summer lane closures on this stretch. With the hills and heavy traffic and such, this creates horrific backups for literally miles on end  Of course, that's not to say it's a bad road - I quite enjoy it when its free flowing.

Binghamton to Syracuse: One of the more interesting segments of I-81, at least IMO. Fairly hilly, but with less dramatic grades (but better views) than south of Binghamton. Much more relaxing and less claustrophobic compared to much of the route through PA. Generally, there's a wider median, which adds to the effect. Less traffic, too, since I-86 siphons a lot of traffic bound for Western NY and Ontario. I really like the atmosphere and scenery on this segment.

Syracuse to Watertown: Here it gets a bit more boring, though still not necessarily a candidate for this thread. Beyond Syracuse's (relatively expansive) northern suburbia, I-81 is almost paper flat up towards Watertown. The landscape is primarily forested with a heavily treed median. As someone who likes to study opposing traffic, that's a drawback. There's noticeably a lot less traffic up here too - the lack of out-of-state plates is apparent, and the traffic flow isn't nearly as intense*. The landscape becomes more open (but still flat) closer to Watertown. I'd say it's comparable to Michigan's I-75 - very stereotypical for a north-south interstate corridor.

Watertown to Thousand Islands Crossing: This stretch is unbelievably rural in character. Open land, wide median, and low traffic volumes. A really enjoyable ride, especially the infamous two-lane bridge and antiquated cash-only toll. Wellesley Island is also interesting to explore, though that's hardly related to I-81 itself 


*Unlike the thruway and other segments of I-81, there's no 80 mph bandwagons, less passing on the right, and less schlock in general.

[webny99]

I-90 is a genuine snoozefest from Seattle to Chicago and also from Chicago to Boston.

FTFY 

[Max Rockatansky]

I-90 is a genuine snoozefest from Seattle to Chicago and also from Chicago to Boston.

FTFY 

I-90 is actually pretty damn scenic in Idaho and a good chunk of Montana. 

[webny99]

I-90 is a genuine snoozefest from Seattle to Chicago and also from Chicago to Boston.

FTFY.

I-90 is actually pretty damn scenic in Idaho and a good chunk of Montana.

Hence the emojis  I've actually clinched I-90 east of Rochester, MN, but I've never used it at all west of there.

[Jordanes]

I-81 through PA can be a real bore. The traffic helps break things up, but it's mostly farmland and flat fields until you reach Harrisburg. Then, more farmland and fields...real exciting, isn't it? To be honest, I've never been north of I-78, so maybe there might be interesting stuff.

I-78 was my initial consideration, but the hectic drive and substandard design on the western half (west of Allentown/exit 51) helps keeps things interesting. At least it's something to get the blood pumping.

I've done a lot of GMSV (Google Maps Street-View) in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area, and I found it truly intriguing and beautiful. This included Interstate 81 through the area, and being able to see sights such as this. I cannot describe in words how highly I enjoyed doing street-view through the Scranton area. The scenery is incredible, the roads are fascinating, and there's history and industry to go around as well. One thing I find very interesting about Scranton is how many limited-access highways it has for a city of its size (though, its population is half of what it was almost a century ago) - it has I-81, I-476, I-380, I-84, and even US 11 and US 6 have some limited-access sections. Interstate 476 has a truly intriguing northern end at I-81, US 6, and US 11, that I have looked at on GMSV many, many times - and regarding that location, there is this absolutely epic, very tall overpass. I haven't seen Wilkes-Barre as much as Scranton, but I believe that provided some very interesting street-view as well, especially with views of scenery like this. Scranton is a real treat for roadgeeks, or it at least was for me personally. I know very well what I-81 looks like passing through the Scranton, PA area, but I couldn't tell you what it is like north of Scranton, or between I-78 and I-80. It may possibly be very interesting as well, though.

I am a native of the Wyoming Valley. Thank you for the praise of my home town! 

[adventurernumber1]

I-81 through PA can be a real bore. The traffic helps break things up, but it's mostly farmland and flat fields until you reach Harrisburg. Then, more farmland and fields...real exciting, isn't it? To be honest, I've never been north of I-78, so maybe there might be interesting stuff.

I-78 was my initial consideration, but the hectic drive and substandard design on the western half (west of Allentown/exit 51) helps keeps things interesting. At least it's something to get the blood pumping.

I've done a lot of GMSV (Google Maps Street-View) in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area, and I found it truly intriguing and beautiful. This included Interstate 81 through the area, and being able to see sights such as this. I cannot describe in words how highly I enjoyed doing street-view through the Scranton area. The scenery is incredible, the roads are fascinating, and there's history and industry to go around as well. One thing I find very interesting about Scranton is how many limited-access highways it has for a city of its size (though, its population is half of what it was almost a century ago) - it has I-81, I-476, I-380, I-84, and even US 11 and US 6 have some limited-access sections. Interstate 476 has a truly intriguing northern end at I-81, US 6, and US 11, that I have looked at on GMSV many, many times - and regarding that location, there is this absolutely epic, very tall overpass. I haven't seen Wilkes-Barre as much as Scranton, but I believe that provided some very interesting street-view as well, especially with views of scenery like this. Scranton is a real treat for roadgeeks, or it at least was for me personally. I know very well what I-81 looks like passing through the Scranton, PA area, but I couldn't tell you what it is like north of Scranton, or between I-78 and I-80. It may possibly be very interesting as well, though.

I am a native of the Wyoming Valley. Thank you for the praise of my home town! 

No problem! When I saw what the Scranton area looked like on GMSV for the first time a couple of years back, it was a very, very nice treat. I truly enjoyed doing street-view through the area, and the roads sure are incredible. If I had to move somewhere in the Northeast, based on the knowledge I currently have from seeing what the area visually looks like, Scranton would probably be one of my top choices. That's how neat I thought it was. Scranton really is beautiful and interesting, that is for sure. 

[Jordanes]

No problem! When I saw what the Scranton area looked like on GMSV for the first time a couple of years back, it was a very, very nice treat. I truly enjoyed doing street-view through the area, and the roads sure are incredible. If I had to move somewhere in the Northeast, based on the knowledge I currently have from seeing what the area visually looks like, Scranton would probably be one of my top choices. That's how neat I thought it was. Scranton really is beautiful and interesting, that is for sure. 

I was actually born in Wilkes-Barre, and as close as the two cities are, Scranton is a place many Wilkes-Barreans do not go to, and vice-versa. People are generally trying to flee the area, so it is really refreshing to hear that someone would want to MOVE there. 

[bing101]

I-80 East of Reno to the Utah state line

[Rothman]

I-80 East of Reno to the Utah state line

Not when the tumbleweed are blowing.