As I'm part way through driving across the country, as we speak, I really liked texas. Speedlimits high (75, I pushed 80-85 from Wichita Falls to the boarder, the people were nice, the roads of questionable quality, and all of the two-lane, no median type (it adds excitement). None were particular great driving roads, but I'm sure if you look hard enough they're there.
@Schm wishes he could bring back the funny. .: (Edit: Most of the country. Missouri to Arizona) And make that border, not boarder. What can I say, I'm typing this laying in a cheap motel 8 in the dark in Nowhere's ville (Aka Carlsbad, NM) in the dark.
Edited by Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. . at 08/19/09 11:36 PM
Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. . was starred
Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. . was unstarred
I have to stand up and say that any highway prefixed with an I isn't the best road through any state. Surface roads and old US highways only when scenery and experience matter.
@Al Navarro: Man, nice work on all these, that's a huge amount of comments to tackle. I'd say you deserve this for this thread alone: [bmxmuseum.com] (sorry couldn't get the image URL dealie to work me.)
I have to really try and take a long road trip next year to experience these roads. And, I might have a little bias here, but New York State minus Long Island, NYC, and Westchester, has some really good roads away from the interstates.
Best and most diverse senery... Highway's 1,2,3 in Alaska...
Go from Coastal rainforest with bay so the North Pac. to the Alaska Mnt. range to the rolling tundra near Danali Nat park.
Only down falls Retarded Moose and $5.00+ a gallon gas.
Spiral Highway down into Lewiston ID plusthe magnificent Rattlesnake Grade. Two of the best drives (and apparently rides) most people have never heard of (mainly due to their remote location in SE Washington)
Oregon is a great road-state. Ocean, desert, mountain, roads in decent shape (especially compared to Eastern states), majority of the terra sparsely populated. Motorcycle, car, bicycle, you can't really go wrong.
No. 7 is a shot of the Columbia Gorge, btw, from Crown Point. Just FYI....
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Though said in previous comments, this is well-written and non-douchey. Also, polite corrections of content are always welcome and warranted.]
@ChaoZ: [OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: I agree in terms of actual driving enjoyment/scenery. TOTD is more like an autocross in its relentlessness. Vids always welcome. But be careful you don't lapse into "Hey, look how awesome a car I have/driver I am" mode, because that gets tiresome quickly.]
*I-80* through Utah!? Really? When there's Highways 12 and 95? I-80 is an INTERSTATE. Maybe a little more scenic than most, but what an awful suggested route through an incredibly beautiful state. I couldn't read any further after that.
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Thanks for not being entirely douchey in your dismissing of Utah's inclusion/write-up. Hopefully you got over yourself and read the other state's blurbs. Thank you and have a nice day.]
@UglyDuckCar: I was wondering if I was the only one to notice...
Now if I could only find a low hour Swoop owned by a little old Bith who only used it once a standard time cycle to worship with the B'omarrs, that said, I'd also take a SoroSuub X-34 if anyone has a good line on one, I do miss having a convertible.
@UglyDuckCar:
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Congratulations, you are the 1,000,000 person to make this joke in one post. Please read/scan/try to read other comments before commenting? I think this is truly the thing that bothers me most (besides d-baggery), the redundant post.]
@Al Navarro:
Congratulations, you sound like a troll. Apparently being the only other person to have mentioned it makes me the one millionth person. And that person I don't think posted his post before me, so that actually makes me the original one. And it was so briefly mentioned at the very end of the post that a quick scan that I normally do didn't pick up on it. Oh boo. You know stuck up commentators is the thing that bothers me the most.
@UglyDuckCar:
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: (I can't even dignify your comment by commenting as my actual screen name.) No, you were the 4th person to mention it. THE FOURTH. Use the "See Older Thread" and "See all threads" settings and you'll be able to count 4, including yourself. Sure, I exaggerated for effect. It's called hyperbole.]
@Al Navarro:
I apologize for being a normal human and assuming that "show all threads" actually means, "show ALL threads." So when I saw what I thought was "all threads" and did not see any commentary on it, I thought it would be nice to point out. My honest mistake. But really, you have to give us your approval on what's ok and not ok to comment? Really? No sense of smug superiority detected there or anything. If you weren't on jalopnik and if I was forced to make an assumption, I'd say you were a prius driver.
@UglyDuckCar: Dude, did you really not notice the OMBUDSMAN tag? Al was asked to help clean up the comments, and is doing so via advice/criticism. As you'll see from his 100 other critiques in the comments for this same article, it's not a personal attack on you. I can understand not seeing the "Older threads" button, it's rather new, but no need to get smarmy.
And as a champion of the Caliber, which I applaud you for, I'm surprised by the condescension toward the Prius and Prius drivers. That little orange pic of his old Caterham Seven should clue you in, too. Every car is sacred, every car is good (bad Monty Python reference.)
@eggwich, galvenized:
Eh, I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the "OMBUDSMAN" tag. Someone care explain this to me? Also the prius driver thing was a reference to our hatred of "smug" prius drivers, not the actual vehicle itself. Not saying all prius drivers are either, but the point was I thought he was being as smug as the ones we generalize.
Tennessee's pretty nice, especially N-S on back roads around Nashville. And just meandering around Crossville. After that, I like most of Virginia, and paradoxically most of Delaware. Oldest state in the union, Delaware. If you don't mind flat and enjoy tourist traps crowding in on your history, Delaware has a lot to offer.
@Elhigh:
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: There's a reason you're a star, boss. Well done. Non-stars, this here is an excellent non-one-liner/non epic daily-driver comment. More like this, please.]
@I gotta job, I'm gonna pay the rent: [OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Al is getting very very crispy. And your comment has nothing to do with it. BTW, is the drive up to Estes Park from Denver all it is cracked up to be?]
@I gotta job, I'm gonna pay the rent: I was also dissapointed that Colorado didn't make the list. My favorite is I-70 from Denver to Glennwood Springs. Or maybe some of the roads around Grand Junction. Or some of the southern mountains around Canon City.
@Al Navarro: It's a nice drive for sure. Lots of twisties, good scenery (mostly pine and aspen forests), and lots of elk and deer around. There are better roads in my opinion, but it's really hard to find a bad mountain road in Colorado.
@I gotta job, I'm gonna pay the rent: Denver is the Mile High City. However higher you get here is your own business. 5,250 ft IIRC. Eastern Colorado is lower. Lots of 13,000ft peaks. Lots of mountain valleys above 7,000 ft. 8,500ft is a rareified set of places. I once traveled with some Texarkanans who rode their dirt bikes up Pike's Peak until there wasn't any more oxygen for their engines.
I have to agree with I-90 across Washington. I used to ride the bus/hitch-hike from Seattle to Walla Walla and back. Spring and around late September were the best time to drive through there.
@MaWeiTao:
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Where you been, brother/sister (I can't tell from your screen name). Your comments are always well articulated and welcome. Come back more often. Your employer can wait. Ding!]
No Texas? Insane. Watch Fandango, and then take an aimless and wonderful trip anywhere in the state. Barbeque, ghost towns, big cities, little towns, and the greatest concentration of roadside distractions imaginable.
@snapoversteer:
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: You know Hardigree lives there (transplanted)? I think he probs didn't want to show home-state-ism or favoritism or whatever. Good point though, and well stated.]
Hawaii doesn't count cause you can't drive across it, but I thought I'd add to the galleryage and support its suggestion in the qotd.
Kauai is nice, but Maui has Haleakala, the Crowded Road to Hana, the potholey road on the north side of the left boob, and quite a few dirt roads if you can find awd.
@mr_dude:
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Dude, you are one of my favorite new Stars. But double posts, ayiyiiiiii!!!!!! FWIW that road that connects Honolulu with the North Shore, over the Koolau...nail-biting!]
@Al Navarro: The H3, Wilson tunnel or the Pali? Yeah roads in Hawaii are short bursts of scenery, which is good since over exposure may leave one jaded.
IMHO, the volcanic scenery of the Big Island would make for an awesome rally.
@Al Navarro: The Pali Hwy? I live on the windward side of the Pali. All three roads- Pali, Likelike, and H-3 have mindblowing views when you come out of their respective tunnels on the windward side.
My favorite for driving is the Big Island, though. Lots of road, not a lot of people. And some great scenery.
@Public Hotdog:
I think it is the Pali...that's the one with the main overlook where you can see the original road, right? The on/off ramp up there is dicey, especially in a rental mini-van.
08/19/09
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Gotta love the free Wifi. Jalop on da go!
08/20/09
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[bmxmuseum.com] (sorry couldn't get the image URL dealie to work me.)
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[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Good comment. However, please change your screen name. I think even the "victims" would agree with me.]
08/19/09
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Go from Coastal rainforest with bay so the North Pac. to the Alaska Mnt. range to the rolling tundra near Danali Nat park.
Only down falls Retarded Moose and $5.00+ a gallon gas.
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: See below for A) previous mention of Alaska, B) my POV on use of the word "retarded". In short, it's stupid.]
08/20/09
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[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Excellent use of supporting YouTube footage.]
08/19/09
No. 7 is a shot of the Columbia Gorge, btw, from Crown Point. Just FYI....
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Though said in previous comments, this is well-written and non-douchey. Also, polite corrections of content are always welcome and warranted.]
08/19/09
Above is an excerpt of my run of the Skyway.
08/19/09
08/19/09
BTW, good job keeping everyone civil today.
08/20/09
Also, I'm not usually a fan of techno either, but it kinda works with Samuel Barber for some reason.
08/19/09
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Thanks for not being entirely douchey in your dismissing of Utah's inclusion/write-up. Hopefully you got over yourself and read the other state's blurbs. Thank you and have a nice day.]
08/19/09
08/19/09
Now if I could only find a low hour Swoop owned by a little old Bith who only used it once a standard time cycle to worship with the B'omarrs, that said, I'd also take a SoroSuub X-34 if anyone has a good line on one, I do miss having a convertible.
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Congratulations, you are the 1,000,000 person to make this joke in one post. Please read/scan/try to read other comments before commenting? I think this is truly the thing that bothers me most (besides d-baggery), the redundant post.]
08/20/09
Congratulations, you sound like a troll. Apparently being the only other person to have mentioned it makes me the one millionth person. And that person I don't think posted his post before me, so that actually makes me the original one. And it was so briefly mentioned at the very end of the post that a quick scan that I normally do didn't pick up on it. Oh boo. You know stuck up commentators is the thing that bothers me the most.
08/20/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: (I can't even dignify your comment by commenting as my actual screen name.) No, you were the 4th person to mention it. THE FOURTH. Use the "See Older Thread" and "See all threads" settings and you'll be able to count 4, including yourself. Sure, I exaggerated for effect. It's called hyperbole.]
08/20/09
I apologize for being a normal human and assuming that "show all threads" actually means, "show ALL threads." So when I saw what I thought was "all threads" and did not see any commentary on it, I thought it would be nice to point out. My honest mistake. But really, you have to give us your approval on what's ok and not ok to comment? Really? No sense of smug superiority detected there or anything. If you weren't on jalopnik and if I was forced to make an assumption, I'd say you were a prius driver.
08/20/09
And as a champion of the Caliber, which I applaud you for, I'm surprised by the condescension toward the Prius and Prius drivers. That little orange pic of his old Caterham Seven should clue you in, too. Every car is sacred, every car is good (bad Monty Python reference.)
08/20/09
@eggwich, galvenized: Also, just in case anyone is interested, I present the AT-ATs of Oakland, said to be George's inspiration by many...
08/20/09
Eh, I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the "OMBUDSMAN" tag. Someone care explain this to me? Also the prius driver thing was a reference to our hatred of "smug" prius drivers, not the actual vehicle itself. Not saying all prius drivers are either, but the point was I thought he was being as smug as the ones we generalize.
08/19/09
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: There's a reason you're a star, boss. Well done. Non-stars, this here is an excellent non-one-liner/non epic daily-driver comment. More like this, please.]
08/19/09
If you're going N-S, make sure to drive along the east side of the Continental Divide, and visit the divide, itself, whenever possible.
Cottonwood Canyon road, FTW! Perfectly cambered, dirt on the far side, so no traffic to speak of because it doesn't really go anywhere.
08/19/09
08/19/09
@Al Navarro: It's a nice drive for sure. Lots of twisties, good scenery (mostly pine and aspen forests), and lots of elk and deer around. There are better roads in my opinion, but it's really hard to find a bad mountain road in Colorado.
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[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Good comment, but you could have latched on to a previous shout out to WA.]
08/19/09
Actually, when it comes down to it you can find nice scenic roads anywhere. The mountain states out west, however, probably do have an advantage.
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Where you been, brother/sister (I can't tell from your screen name). Your comments are always well articulated and welcome. Come back more often. Your employer can wait. Ding!]
08/19/09
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: You know Hardigree lives there (transplanted)? I think he probs didn't want to show home-state-ism or favoritism or whatever. Good point though, and well stated.]
08/19/09
Thanks.
08/19/09
Hawaii doesn't count cause you can't drive across it, but I thought I'd add to the galleryage and support its suggestion in the qotd.
Kauai is nice, but Maui has Haleakala, the Crowded Road to Hana, the potholey road on the north side of the left boob, and quite a few dirt roads if you can find awd.
08/19/09
@mr_dude: Moar.
08/19/09
Okay I give up. Sorry for the double post.
08/19/09
[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Dude, you are one of my favorite new Stars. But double posts, ayiyiiiiii!!!!!! FWIW that road that connects Honolulu with the North Shore, over the Koolau...nail-biting!]
08/19/09
Haven't been to Oahu since being of driving age but I'll have to check it out, might do the big isle saddle road first though.
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08/19/09
IMHO, the volcanic scenery of the Big Island would make for an awesome rally.
08/19/09
My favorite for driving is the Big Island, though. Lots of road, not a lot of people. And some great scenery.
08/20/09
I think it is the Pali...that's the one with the main overlook where you can see the original road, right? The on/off ramp up there is dicey, especially in a rental mini-van.