What's your favorite Interstate Highway?

[SolEX01]

My personal favorite Interstate Highway is I-81 between I-66 in VA to the Tennessee State Line.  Car & Driver named I-81 one of the top 10 Scenic Interstates back in the 1990's.  A close 2^nd would be I-70 between Denver and Vail Colorado.

For foreign posters, any highway you think is scenic is OK.   

[Elisha]

When visiting my grandma when she still lived in Rhode Island, I remember I-93 being rather scenic while on a trip to New Hampshire.  In CA?  Hmmm.....nowhere really.  I-80 through the Sierra's isn't bad.  I-5 north of Redding is ok too.  Elsewhere?  Nope.

[Justinian]

Highway 101. Most scenic trip I ever took.

[PeterTheAleut]

Highway 101. Most scenic trip I ever took.

If you're talking about the U.S. Highway 101 that runs along the entire U.S. West Coast, I'm not sure that counts for the sake of this thread, since it's not part of the Interstate Highway System.   Very scenic highway, nonetheless.  The Interstate System parallel to U.S. 101, FWIW, is I-5 from San Diego through Seattle to the Canadian border.

[Elisha]

Highway 101. Most scenic trip I ever took.

As PtA said - NOT an Interstate.  Plus, I don't think it is really that scenic either.  There are few nice places, but nothing that special south of the Santa Rosa where I live (well, I guess a few places directly on the coast but that's it.)

[Fr. George]

I too like the I-81 drive, although I've only been on the stretch between I-76 and I-84 (Between Harrisburg & Scranton).  I-80 is pretty beautiful in OH & PA when the leaves are still on the trees - the areas near the Cuyahoga River valley in the Cleveland area can be quite stunning.  I don't like I-95, but I-93 can be great, too, both in NH and ME.

[EofK]

Bits of I-44 used to be really pretty until they straightened the curves and flattened the hills.  There are still some pieces of it that follow historic route 66, though, and those are really nice.

[minasoliman]

Another I-81 fan here as well.  I've been on I-81 from it's junction in I-78 in PA all the way down to Roanoke, VA.  I also like I-64 for scenic WV/VA.  The most scenic road I took however was a highway route, not an interstate.

[FrChris]

I-81 is beautiful. I used to live in Roanoke, and would travel up and down the Shenandoah, viewing the rolling green hills from my car. Where possible and time permitted I would travel on the Blue Ridge Parkway, taking in the scenery and investigating the history of the area.

But still, my favorite Interstate is on the 'north shore' area of Louisiana, on the stretch of I-55 north of its termination at I-10 and south of Manchac. You drive on an elevated highway with Lake Pontchartrain on one side and Lake Maurepas on the other. The Maurepas side also has the typical bayou scenes with cypress trees, Spanish moss, stilted homes and shallow water. At sunrise the sun glistens off Lake Pontchartrain; at sunset the sun gives a fiery glow to Lake Maurepas.

It always brings back the memories of me and my friends being in each other's pirogues while fishing or crabbing there in the bayou. Of days where time really wasn't a factor and you were there catching your dinner and spending time with friends.

I was on that stretch of highway not too long ago. Katrina left many scars, not all of which will heal.

[Tallitot]

I-81 going to Roanoke is nice...sometimes I also exit and take 460 especially in the autumn.

[Fr. George]

I-81 is beautiful. I used to live in Roanoke, and would travel up and down the Shenandoah, viewing the rolling green hills from my car.

I've always wanted to drive the Shenandoah.

[scamandrius]

I-29 from Omaha down to KC. It's not very scenic, but there's hardly any traffic and it's a very smooth ride (thanks to all the construction finishing up)!

[Ian Lazarus]

I -10.

Speed traps and crashes galore!

[PeterTheAleut]

I've been on I-80 through Nebraska and Wyoming.

I-80 through the eastern 2/3 of Nebraska?  BOR-ING!   Nothing but corn fields and soybean fields as far as the eye can see.

As you drive west through the Nebraska panhandle into Wyoming, though, the scenery of the Rockies becomes quite a sight to see.

[Pravoslavbob]

My favourite major highway is Autoroute 20 in Quebec.....If you spend time at some little villages on the lower St. Lawrence River, you can see lots of indications of the earliest European presence in North America....if you drive quickly down the 20 you can access the Gaspe region via the 132, see the magnificent beginning of the  Appalachains (at Parc de la Gaspesie)  or just go all the way to Forillon National Park on the Gulf of the St.  Lawrence.   Fantastic cliffs, seals and whales abound...not to mention the charm of the local francophone population.    A great summer excursion, and only a 10 hour drive from Montreal.

[Keble]

I-68 going out through western Maryland is really lovely, not to mention the Sideling Hill cut:



It's even more spectacular in the winter, when there are great cascades of ice issuing from the sides of the cut.

[Tzimis]

I've bin on I-81 north of Scranton heading towards Honesdale PA where I-81 merges with Route 6. What a hill. I wish I could skate board down. 

[Quinault]

I-90 is pretty thru Idaho and Montana
I-82 is pretty beautiful also
I-84 is pretty if you like high desert

[Quinault]

Highway 101 isn't an interstate but in runs WA thru CA.

[SolEX01]

I-68 going out through western Maryland is really lovely, not to mention the Sideling Hill cut:....

I find that 13 mile downhill grade on EB I-68 from the Allegheny Mountains to be an adventure along with the sharp curves, no merge lanes and 40 MPH speed limit through Cumberland, MD.  I always pray that there's no runaway truck with smoking brakes behind me.   

[ytterbiumanalyst]

I really like I-540 between Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Arkansas. The traveler can see the beauty of the land in a way that most Interstates miss. My favourite highways, though, are not Interstates. US-63 between Jefferson City and Rolla is beautiful; it winds through the old German towns and along French vineyards planted in the days of Napoleon.

But the most beautiful highway scenery I've ever experienced is along MO/AR Hwy 59 between Neosho, MO and Siloam Springs, AR. I had family in the Siloam area when I was growing up, and we traveled that way at least a couple of times a year. I remember very clearly one stretch of road that went underneath an overhanging limestone formation that gave way to a small steel-truss bridge at a right angle with the road. One had to slow down to about 15 mph to make the turn and the subsequent right angle after the bridge to continue south. The slow speed allowed the traveler to take in the awesome spectacle. That highway very early on instilled in me the beauty of the Ozarks.

[EofK]

I can't remember what state highway (or federal maybe) it was we used to go through Minnesota, but going south through Minnesota, you'll know why they call it the land of 10,000 lakes. 

US 63 from Jeff City to Rolla is pretty, but not so good for the easily car sick.  It's all hills and curves, usually at the same time.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

I can't remember what state highway (or federal maybe) it was we used to go through Minnesota, but going south through Minnesota, you'll know why they call it the land of 10,000 lakes. 

It was MN-61 from the Canadian border to Duluth, then I-35 to Kansas City.

[EofK]

That's it, thanks.  Pretty country up north.

[Fr. David]

I-77 through W. Virginia is lovely.

So is I-65 through Kentucky.

[Alveus Lacuna]

The NAFTA Superhighway.  New World Order!  Paranoia!

[minasoliman]

The NAFTA Superhighway.  New World Order!  Paranoia!

Man, I dream of a superhighway with speed limit 100

[GiC]

My personal favorite Interstate Highway is I-81 between I-66 in VA to the Tennessee State Line.  Car & Driver named I-81 one of the top 10 Scenic Interstates back in the 1990's.  A close 2^nd would be I-70 between Denver and Vail Colorado.

For foreign posters, any highway you think is scenic is OK.   

I would say I-70 from Glenwood Springs to Denver is the nicest stretch of highway (the scenery from Glenwood Springs to Vail is arguably even more spectacular than from Vail to Denver...and the Engineering most certainly is). The stretch of I-81 you mention is probably a close second, but only during the right time of the year, it's not all that great in the winter, especially north of Lexington...I-70 through the Rockies is beautiful year round, though I don't much enjoy driving it in the winter, especially during storms (though it's better than I-80 through Wyoming during a blizzard...winds arn't as bad).

However, as a whole, I'd have to say that I-81 is my favourite interstate from start to finish, followed closely by I-25 (but, then again, I like the desert, I even enjoy I-80 through Nevada and Wyoming, so everyone might not agree). My favourite transcontinental highway is I-40...least favourite is I-80, it has no redeeming qualities after you leave Cheyenne.

[Irish Melkite]

When visiting my grandma when she still lived in Rhode Island, I remember I-93 being rather scenic while on a trip to New Hampshire.

Elisha,

Must have been a while back - or you were pretty far north into NH, the lower end of I-93 is pretty sparse these days when it comes to being scenic.  I-95 in parts of Maine can be nice - when one gets beyond Portland.

Many years,

Neil

[Elisha]

When visiting my grandma when she still lived in Rhode Island, I remember I-93 being rather scenic while on a trip to New Hampshire.

Elisha,

Must have been a while back - or you were pretty far north into NH, the lower end of I-93 is pretty sparse these days when it comes to being scenic.  I-95 in parts of Maine can be nice - when one gets beyond Portland.

Many years,

Neil

Yeah, like 20 years ago.     I think it was north of Lake Winnepesaukee where it seemed to be pretty scenic.

[Irish Melkite]

It does get better up there, although the effort to make all medians bland stretches of mowed grass that rival your lawn continues unabated.

[Elisha]

It does get better up there, although the effort to make all medians bland stretches of mowed grass that rival your lawn continues unabated.

What, were there miles of flowers in the median prior?  Out in the west a "stretch of mowed grass" would look rather scenic!

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Man, I dream of a superhighway with speed limit 100

We've already got them! All you have to do is look at your kph speedometer, and presto! You're driving 100.

[username!]

The NAFTA Superhighway.  New World Order!  Paranoia!

no no, no more politics in the other forum --username! section moderator

[ialmisry]

My favourite major highway is Autoroute 20 in Quebec.....If you spend time at some little villages on the lower St. Lawrence River, you can see lots of indications of the earliest European presence in North America....if you drive quickly down the 20 you can access the Gaspe region via the 132, see the magnificent beginning of the  Appalachains (at Parc de la Gaspesie)  or just go all the way to Forillon National Park on the Gulf of the St.  Lawrence.   Fantastic cliffs, seals and whales abound...not to mention the charm of the local francophone population.    A great summer excursion, and only a 10 hour drive from Montreal.

I have to agree: we went in June and were just charmed by petites villes Quebec.  I found a number of small gas stations that you rarely find now in the US, and road side shrines and momunents to forebares.

[minasoliman]

Man, I dream of a superhighway with speed limit 100

We've already got them! All you have to do is look at your kph speedometer, and presto! You're driving 100.

lol

Touche

[Pravoslavbob]

My favourite major highway is Autoroute 20 in Quebec.....If you spend time at some little villages on the lower St. Lawrence River, you can see lots of indications of the earliest European presence in North America....if you drive quickly down the 20 you can access the Gaspe region via the 132, see the magnificent beginning of the  Appalachains (at Parc de la Gaspesie)  or just go all the way to Forillon National Park on the Gulf of the St.  Lawrence.   Fantastic cliffs, seals and whales abound...not to mention the charm of the local francophone population.    A great summer excursion, and only a 10 hour drive from Montreal.

I have to agree: we went in June and were just charmed by petites villes Quebec.  I found a number of small gas stations that you rarely find now in the US, and road side shrines and momunents to forebares.

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