what is your favorite interstate highways

[Astroman 0]

To day i just had a thought,I notice thier is a lot of people in Simpolise who create custom transportation system for Simtorpolis and who are just in to transportation systems so i came up with this thread so i am just wondering what is your favorite intersate.

[dogma555 187]

I guess the NJ Turnpike would be my favorite interstate.. because its such a breath of fresh air compared to all the NYC highways i put up with for years. Outrageous congestion (expect 90 minutes to cross through NJ->NYC at rush hour), potholes galore, and speed limits are way too low.

Turnpike is pretty well maintained, trucks and cars are separated, all the roads are constantly being repaired , and traffic is usually flowing very well due to its design. And of course, the views of NYC from the turnpike are outstanding. But ive never been further than Atlantic City and Philly.. so i dont know how these highways stack up to other areas.. but I like the turnpikes design.

[WillG_75 19]

For me, Interstate 70 going from Columbus, Ohio to Mid-Pennsylvania and I 77/81 from Cambridge to Bristol. Very scenic

[Duke87 1,070]

What's a shame is that some of the stretches of I highway that I really like are highways that I've never been on, that I only know from pictures. But hey, given that said highways are on the other side of the country, it's really not surprising that I lack firsthand experience with them.

Still, I have been places. Continuously, my extent of experience goes as far north as Burlington (Vermont), as far east as Bangor/Bar Harbor (Maine), as far south as Norfolk (Virginia), and as far west as Cleveland (Ohio). I've also seen bits around Orlando and Tampa/St Petersburg (Florida) and Denver (Colorado), but those were places I flew to and then drove around there, not that I drove to.

Okay, that out of the way there are two different aspects that can make highways appealing to me: natural scenic views and manmade scenic views. Generally that means rural highways and urban highways.

From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, I find the Cross Bronx Expressway absolutely fascinating. Nitty gritty urban environment, and lots of interesting engineering involved. Unfortunately, that's the very same highway that often gets named as the worst in the country (and, from a strictly functional standpoint, it may very well be) due to traffic nightmares that cause it to get called "The Double Cross Bronx" or "The Cross Bronx Parking Lot". (these are uncommon; most locals simply call it "The Cross Bronx").

Now, on the other side of things, it's hard to make a choice of one that I've actually been on- especially considering we're limiting ourselves to interstates here. If you said name any road, it would be a no-brainer: Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. But that's not an interstate. Hell, it's not even a highway- it's a two lane road with double yellow lines.

I-80 through Pennsylvania offers some nice mountain views... of the Appalachians. Obviously, an interstate in the Rockies would blow it out of the water, but I've never actually been on any of those.

[vilbe 6]

for official interstates....

I-91 north of springfeild, MA to vermont. its a pleasent low-key drive. 395 in CT can be said like such, a different view of the turnpike but you can still tell the "dated" effect in its age.

I-10 west of SD, CA is cool, going over the mountains into the desert, and the I-5 into mexico is a trip.

but if we just count highways, while gritty, outdated, and in some places downright dangerous especially in the rain, the bronx river parkway is a highway everyone should drive start to finish ONCE in their lives. that being said, the Merrit Parkway has to be my all time favorite highway i drive semi-regularly. its a historic road, and they've done their best keeping it as such.

[JaWood 194]

For me, it had GOT to be I-70 between Denver and Grand Junction Co. Some of the most stunning natural scenery this world had to offer, and the Eisenhower Tunnel under the continental divide is a modern marvel you really have to see for yourself to appreciate.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: vilbe

I-91 north of springfeild, MA to vermont. its a pleasent low-key drive. quote>

Really? Seemed like just a bunch of trees to me. Sure, trees are nice, but we've all seen them before and they get monotonous real quick. I'd say I-91 is actually more interesting in Vermont. There you get some mountains. Still not as interesting as I-91 through Hartford, though. But I'm an engineer and a fan of urban scenery. People who only like scenes of nature don't have anything for them there.

the Merrit Parkway has to be my all time favorite highway i drive semi-regularly. its a historic road, and they've done their best keeping it as such.quote>

You know, it's interesting. I always hear about how amazing and beautiful a road it is... but I've never quite looked at it that way. I guess the key here is that I'm on it regularly and have been all my life, so it seems routine and normal to me. I'm used to it, so it can't possibly amaze me. We only truly appreciate beauty in things which are new and unfamiliar to us. The grass is always greener, you know?

[The_Hutt 11]

I-80 up the Donner Pass is pretty spectacular.

[david1314 44]

I'm with JaWood with I-70 (the ONLY nice portion!)

[Odainsaker 2,135]

It may not really qualify as an "interstate" as it is landlocked on an island serving the most isolated major metropolitan area in the world, but I always look fondly on Oahu's Kamehameha Highway.  I love the name.  The other major road is an ugly multi-decker scar cutting through Honolulu and around Pearl Harbor, which for many decades was Hawaii's only interstate highway, and so amusingly was enumerated as the Interstate "H1." Our Number One highway!

Of course, progress continues, and the comparatively densely-populated Oahu has recently opened an "H2" and "H3" cutting across the rainforested mountain ranges to connect Honolulu with some of the outlying cities and bases. Travelling the long away around the mountains, I always got a heart attack on those 2-lane windward coastal roads winding along the jagged cliffedges of the ancient volcanic mountain range perilously overlooking the raging shark-filled surf below. The popular blowhole with its shaved ice stand is cool and all, but those roadside guardrails along the road going there just looked too flimsy!  Now with the "H3", you can go right through the mountains in a mutlitude of tunnels and then across lush valleys by travelling over the many viaducts.  I can't say the concrete highway does much to improve the natural landscape, but the stunning landscape of Paradise certainly enlivens the "H3."

[politicman 1]

nice pictures

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Odainsaker I always look fondly on Oahu's Kamehameha Highway.  I love the name. quote>

Do you love it... over nine thousand!?  *shot*

[simphonian 0]

It doesn't compare in beauty to the stretch of I-70 in Colorado referred to earlier, but Interstate 81 through western Virginia is also a very scenic drive.

Simphonian

Edit:  I've never been on it but I understand the Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful drive.  Also, although it's not an interstate by definition, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a nice ride too

[david1314 44]

The problem with interstates is that unlike their Autobahn / motorway predecessors, there was no concept of scenic drive. They were purely utilitarian straight-line roads...

The only nice sections of interstate highways are those that are FORCED to be nice by necessities of the terrain. And most parts of the nation where people want to lay interstates there are cheap, flat, boring lines to take it on.

I also remember some very nice sections of I-15 when it (briefly) goes through Arizona.

I also think the I-70 / I-55 interchange in St. Louis probably should qualify for a nice stretch too. It is the only place I can think of that I have missed a turn on an interstate because I was looking at the scenery (the Arch at 3am ). Not to mention, after the East Colo/Kansas stretch, ANYTHING would look nice.

[JaWood 194]

Oh yes, I-15 through Arizona is pretty cool too. I've done that drive. It's a 30 mile drive, give or take, that cuts the corner of Arizona going between UT and NV. The whole thing goes through these really steep desert canyons and is very curvy.

There are many other interstates I've driven and think are pretty cool as well. I-64 through West Virginia has breathtaking, lush mountain panoramas. It's so green up there!

I also found I-64 through Indiana to be very picturesque with it's farming fields separated by tree buffers. Lots of stately barns and farm houses. Almost like something straight out of a countryside CJ. Lol!

I-70 through the Green River area has some incredible vistas as well. I stopped at a lookout point along the route and was greeted by an incredible expansive valley dotted with rock formations and mesas.

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Pacific Coast Highway is excellent. It doesn't feel like a highway at all.

[Need4Camaro 50]

ilikehotdogsalot - Thats because it's NOT... or atleast for many portions. It's marked as an at-grade road.... Some of it is Freeway but unless that highway shown there has exit ramps while remaining in a double yellow line format, it's an at-grade road...

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Potato, potatoe. It's got 'highway' in it's name and that's good enough for me

[Need4Camaro 50]

ilikehotdogsalot - Well, atleast by that logic, the road above is clear of traffic... Here, we have what they call PARKINGLOTS... they need to rename all of the roads ending with highway into Parkinglot...

[Psycho_Teddy 25]

For Ohio, State Route 4 just past I-70 heading towards Springfield is pretty, erm... Tempting

Map of Route 4

[david1314 44]

Uh.... people, the thread is about Interstate Highways.

[Psycho_Teddy 25]

Originally posted by: david1314 Uh.... people, the thread is about Interstate Highways.quote>

Dear Lord, its a median-divided four lane highway...  Calm down...

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Originally posted by: Psycho_Teddy

Originally posted by: david1314 Uh.... people, the thread is about Interstate Highways.quote>

Dear Lord, its a median-divided four lane highway...  Calm down...quote>

I'm pretty sure he was talking to me.

[masssc4 3]

Originally posted by: ilikehotdogsalot Pacific Coast Highway is excellent. It doesn't feel like a highway at all.

quote>

 

Wow that road is sooo beautiful although I'd be scared to drive it considering it is right beside the Pacific Ocean in CA and more than likely I be alone on that road.

[tjh876 31]

Originally posted by: dogma555 I guess the NJ Turnpike would be my favorite interstate.. because its such a breath of fresh air compared to all the NYC highways i put up with for years. Outrageous congestion (expect 90 minutes to cross through NJ->NYC at rush hour), potholes galore, and speed limits are way too low.

Turnpike is pretty well maintained, trucks and cars are separated, all the roads are constantly being repaired , and traffic is usually flowing very well due to its design. And of course, the views of NYC from the turnpike are outstanding. But ive never been further than Atlantic City and Philly.. so i dont know how these highways stack up to other areas.. but I like the turnpikes design.

quote>

 

I would agree. i live in jersey, and the turnpike is nice. not also that, but the expressway (ac) and the parkway. but my favorite is 95, and my most favorite part of 95 is the newark airport (side by side) its cool. but i think that interstate highways aren't going to offer you the best of the best. now if you watch any british car shows, top gear has an episode that is about fiding the best road in europe (if you see or have seen the episode, you would understand why) and i think that the u.s. doesn't have the best "intersates". but the forum is devoded to the dumb interstate highways, adn that well, i made my point!

Edit: Well, i wanted to add something. That top picture is 95 AT newark airport. and that yeah, well i live in south jersy, 30 min from philly, and that sometimes, the road are terrible, and sometimes the roads are "good"

[Maxis92 11]

By far, my favorite is I-75. It takes you all te way from the northern border of the USA to the souther border-tip.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Maxis92 By far, my favorite is I-75. It takes you all te way from the northern border of the USA to the souther border-tip. quote>

Okay, but I-5 and I-95 also go the full height of the country. And I-15 comes pretty close, too. So that doesn't in and of itself make I-75 special.

Although that's not to say that I-75 isn't without it's interesting points. The crossing of the everglades, a.k.a. "Alligator Alley", and the Straits of Mackinac Bridge are two key highlights (one at either end, heh).

And because I'm in that kind of mood, let's look at some interstate superlatives:

Longest route: I-90 (3099.07 miles)

Longest north-south route: I-95 (1924.55 miles)

Shortest route: I-878, New York (0.70 miles)

Shortest signed route: I-375, Michigan (1.06 miles)

Shortest main route: I-H2 (8.33 miles)

Shortest continental main route: I-97 (17.62 miles)

Longest three digit route: I-476, Pennsylvania (129.61 miles)

Longest route that does not cross a state line: I-87 (333.49 miles, all in New York)

Longest unsigned route: I-595, Maryland (19.97 miles)

Main route with most three digit routes: I-95 (33 three digit routes)

Most separate instances of a single route number: I-295 (7 instances)

Most states passed through by a single route: I-95 (15 states+DC)

Highest elevation: I-70 in Eisenhower Tunnel, Colorado (11192 feet above sea level)

Lowest elevation: I-95 in Fort McHenry Tunnel, Maryland (107 feet below sea level)

Lowest above ground elevation: I-8 near El Centro, California (52 feet below sea level)

Most heavily trafficked segment: I-405 in Los Angeles (382000 vehicles per day)

Least heavily trafficked segment (continental): I-95 at the Canadian border in Maine (1880 vehicles per day)

Northernmost point: I-A2 and I-A4 in Fairbanks, Alaska (64.83°N)

Northernmost point (continental): Tie- I-5, I-5, or I-29 at Canadian border (49°N)

Southernmost point: I-H1 in Honolulu (21.3°N)

Southernmost point (continental): I-95 in Miami (25.8°N)

Easternmost point: I-95 at Canadian border (67.8° W)

Westernmost point: I-H1 in Kapolei, Hawaii (158.06° W)

Westernmost point (continental): I-5 near Wolf Creek, Oregon (123.23°W)

[TEG24601 32]

With all the driving I've done, my favorite stretches of the Interstate Highway Systems include:

I-5 - From Olympia, WA to Portland, OR

I-5 - From Marysville, WA to Blane, WA (and onward to Vancouver, BC on BC-99)

I-84 - From Hood River, OR to Portland, OR

I-82 - From Yakima, WA to Ellensburg, WA

I-90 - From Seattle, WA to Ellensburg, WA

I-90 - Through Wallace, ID

I-90 - From Butte, MT to Bozeman, MT

I-90/25 - From Billings, MT to Casper, WY

I-94 - From Billings, MI to Bismack, ND

I-39/90/94 - Through Wisconson

I-474 - Around Peoria, IL

I-80 - From the Quad Cities, IA/IL to Chicago, IL

I-75 - From Auburn Hills, MI to Flint, MI

I-69 - From Charlotte, MI to Coldwater, MI

I-96 - From Brighton, MI to Novi, MI

TEG

[Physbo 1]

Originally posted by: TEG24601 With all the driving I've done, my favorite stretches of the Interstate Highway Systems include:

I-5 - From Olympia, WA to Portland, OR

I-5 - From Marysville, WA to Blane, WA (and onward to Vancouver, BC on BC-99)

I-84 - From Hood River, OR to Portland, OR

I-82 - From Yakima, WA to Ellensburg, WA

I-90 - From Seattle, WA to Ellensburg, WA

I-90 - Through Wallace, ID

I-90 - From Butte, MT to Bozeman, MT

I-25 - From Gillette, WY to Casper, WY

I-94 - From Billings, MI to Bismack, ND

I-39/90/94 - Through Wisconson

I-474 - Around Peoria, IL

I-80 - From the Quad Cities, IA/IL to Chicago, IL

I-75 - From Auburn Hills, MI to Flint, MI

I-69 - From Charlotte, MI to Coldwater, MI

I-96 - From Brighton, MI to Novi, MI

TEG

quote>

The I-25 Drive from Casper dosen't go to Gillette, you would have to go to Buffalo and cut over on I-90, i do the drive on I-25 and skip to gillette by taking a an highway WY-387 then cut up WY-50 or WY-59 lol. The drive is nice, if you like wide open spaces of nothing, then again i do the drive at least 6 or 8 times during the summer

[carson775 10]

I personally like I-5 in california and I-80 from california all the way to the east coast, but if i had to pick 1 it would be I-5

goes through beautiful San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Stockton, Sacramento, and goes to oregon and seattle washington.

its really clean, and well maintained, maybe not in los angeles, but near the bay area its pretty clean and open with a speed limit of 70.