I think people would generally agree that some of the two lane highways in this country are more scenic than any of the interstates--examples are U.S. Highway one on the Pacific Coast, Highway 395 on the east side of the Sierras, and Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier Park. But those are out of the way roads that you only drive if you plan to use them as routes on a vacation trip. The interstates are the roads you actually drive most of the time, and, if you're actually the driver of the vehicle, you have more time to enjoy the scenery, because four land divided highways are easier to drive than the two-lane roads. And, of course, this is the summer driving season, and folks, myself included, will be going on vacation not far in the future.

So, I thought I'd start this thread to see if anybody has any favorite interstate highways or segments thereof. Myself, I think Interstate 15 is probably the most scenic of the interstates. Except when you are in river valleys, you are in sight of mountains practically all the time on I-15, all the way from where it starts in San Diego County, to where it reaches the Canadian border in Montana, within sight of the Front Range of the Rockies. The highway has the two famous canyon drives, through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona and the Missouri River Canyon in Montana. Of the two canyon drives, both are about fifteen miles long, with the best scenery near the mouths of the two canyons. I think most people would say that the Missouri River Canyon is more attractive--the rock formations are more majestic and interesting, and thie well-known Saint Peter's Overlook is on this stretch of highway. You cross the Missouri River something like six times in fifteen miles, and the mountains are forested in the area, in contrast to the Virgin River Gorge, which is desert. However, I'd have to say the Virgin River gorge is more impressive, because of the sheer cliffs and the fact that the cliff faces are right next to the road in the lower part of the canyon, and are hundreds of feet high in places. If you're coming from the north, the steep downslope drive near the mouth of the canyon is rather striking. Another interesting part of Interstate 15 is when you're in Utah, and you're driving along this flat area of farmland, which looks like flat farmland anywhere, and here you come to a sign on the roadside that says the elevation is almost six thousand feet.

Other interstates that are scenic include Interstate Five, which goes up the valleys and mountains something over a hundred miles inland from the Pacific Coast, in California, Oregon, and Washington. Interstate 70 has a stretch which some people consider the most scenic, where the highway goes up to over ten thousand feet in the Rockies in Colorado. I think there are also some scenic segments of I-95 along the east coast. I don't think that any of the eastern interstate highways have any extended scenic sections like those of the western interstates.

Sounds scenic, and Hot, Hot, Hot.

For a cooler time, try the 101

from the Ukiah to Orick and up to Priarie Creek State Park.

Tallest trees in the world. Cliffs with a highway carved in.

"Avenue of the Giants".

Rivers and large, wild Ocean waves.

And it is all easily seen and experienced from ' the 101'.

I like the area in Autumn because it will rain a little now and

then and if in the forest, the Banana Slugs venture out and if one

is very still, one can hear the Ents among the trees. But, only through

a mist, drizzle or Oregon Fog. Summer, okay, but the forest sleeps.

I like highway 49 this scenic two lane road in calif that winds through the mother load.It passes through towns like Jackson ,Snoria,Grass Valey.Downievill,Navdia City.Coloma.Dry Diggins to name a few.There is so much to see along the way it will take a few days to see all there is along this beautiful highway.

I-15 is a really good answer to your question, but i am going to put in a plug for i-40, mostly because of what is close by. In short, cheat by mixing in some two lane. At Needles, CA, take the long shortcut thru Oatman, AZ - a neat century old gold mining town. Then at Kingman, AZ, enjoy the scenery that is just classic Arizona western - but don't spend too long in the town. From there take the old Route 66 thru Hackberry to Seligman. Be sure to eat in Seligman (I like Westside Lilos best, but enjoy the other tourist traps that are so tacky I have to smile). At Williams the steam engines hauling passenger trains to the Grand Canyon give the town a whole different feeling when they are arriving or leaving. You can feel it. Flagstaff has all kinds of activities because of the mountains and various pre-historic ruins. It is a drudge heading east from there, but there is Meteor Crater, the Petrified Forest and, if you are into side trips, hit the Hopi Rez or Canyon de Chelly to the north. One of the most surprisingly beautiful little side trips I have found in my life is turn south at Gallup to the Zuni Pueblo, then east on a highway that brings you back to I-40 at Grants. At Albuquerque it is not that far north to Santa Fe and Taos. One thing that has surprised me is how much I like the high plains like around Amarillo. Normally I favor rugged western scenery like the 395 mentioned, but for some reason I just really like those high plains. Maybe there is a Texan in the woodpile.

Once you leave the high plains heading east, . . . . . oh, never mind.

Interstate highways people! He said Interstates - the American highways signed with the red, white, and blue shields. California 49 and US 101 are NOT interstates! Though I agree they are very nice drives...

For me the most scenic Interstates that I have driven myself are Interstate 90 just east of Seattle going over Snowqualamie pass and I-70 in Colorado where it goes through the Colorado river canyon (Glenwood canyon?), and was the last portion of Interstate 70 to be completed, thus completing that road. I believe this was the final section of the Interstate system that was completed from the original interstate plans. Completion date was around 1993 and the original plans were drawn up in the late 1940's.

The portion of Interstate 70 that crosses the continental divide near Georgetown, Colorado does so at an elevation of over 11,000 feet (3350 meters) above sea level, and actually crests the Rocky mountains in a tunnel.

Losethem (imported) wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:03 pm Interstate highways people! He said Interstates - the American highways signed with the red, white, and blue shields. California 49 and US 101 are NOT interstates! Though I agree they are very nice drives...

I seem to remember back in the draconian 55 MPH speed limit days, which may work well back East and maybe they should, forever, but not in the West.

101 and 5 were subject to the Fed rule but, not the 99.

101 and 5 being interstate and 99 being intrastate ?

BTW all youse seem to like the high desert if not the low desert.

I offer Northern Coastal Rain Forests on my 101 journey, above. Cool, crisp, clean air. Yes, I know the desert does have its nice couple of weeks or two a year. But, I would still push for the rain forests along the 101. Banana Slugs, deer and Roosevelt Elk over reptiles. Ferns, Lilies, alder, oak, old growth redwoods, newer forests. Everywhere, green. Creeks, Rivers, Lagoons, and wild Ocean. No snow - hardly.

Moi

I5 when you leave Tijuana, Mexico looks nice! Espically after being south of the border!

moi621 (imported) wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:59 pm I seem to remember back in the draconian 55 MPH speed limit days, which may work well back East and maybe they should, forever, but not in the West.

101 and 5 were subject to the Fed rule but, not the 99.

101 and 5 being interstate and 99 being intrastate ?

Again, US 101 and California 99 are *not* Interstates. Though 99 has been proposed to be upgraded to interstate status several times, the federal government (FHWA) has not approved any request. Which is odd since it functions like an Interstate between Sacramento and just south of Bakersfield, in California - a distance around 300 or so miles.

California 99 used to be US 99 before I-5 opened.

The only roads in the USA that are true interstates are those that's route number signs are Red, White and Blue shields.

Oh and back in the 70's and 80's, the 55 MPH rule applied to all highways. It didn't matter what or where the road was, it's designed maximum safe speed, etc. Nor did it matter who owned the road be they, federal, state, county, local, etc. The federal government mandated that the highest legal speed in the US at that time was 55 MPH.

Yes, I'm a road geek.

Losethem (imported) wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:52 pm Oh and back in the 70's and 80's, the 55 MPH rule applied to all highways. It didn't matter what or where the road was, it's designed maximum safe speed, etc. Nor did it matter who owned the road be they, federal, state, county, local, etc. The federal government mandated that the highest legal speed in the US at that time was 55 MPH.

A response (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_ ... vation_Act) to the 73 oil crisis.

Must rank amongst the most useless (http://www.heritage.org/Research/SmartGrowth/bg532.cfm) bit of Congressional legislation ever.

I suppose mandating that engines be more efficient would have been unwarranted interference in commerce and industry....

There are a host of beautiful state highways in this country.

One of my favorites is southern Wy. Hwy 80. You can see for miles and miles in any direction its rolling hills its void of trees and beautiful.

You of course know when you pass the state line into Nebraska. Nebraska is farm land, there is an access road on both sides of the highway and after a mile or so you notice a two story white farm house with a white pickup and a green tractor with several trees around the whole thing, then in a mile or so you will see a two story white farm house with a white pickup and a green tractor with several trees around the whole thing, and after several miles of seeing the same thing you notice a two story white farm house with a white pickup and a green tractor with several trees around the whole thing you look across the highway to see whats on the other side and you see a two story white farm house with a white pickup and a green tractor with several trees around the whole thing.

Now you may not have thought WY was beautiful but don't confuse beautiful with boring.

I remember getting off the highway for gas and then panicked what if I got on the highway going back the way I came? How would I know if I was going the right direction? Well lets see there is that two story white farm house with a white pickup and a green tractor with several trees around the whole thing and the other side of the road has the same two story white farm house with a white pickup and a green tractor with several trees around the whole thing.

I SCREAM

I think I am in the twilight zone.

After a full days driving I made it to Missouri.

Sigh

River