# The most boring stretch of highway is ... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537 "2009-01-02T01:16:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![incidental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@incidental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/incidental)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/61 "2009-01-02T17:34:04Z")
What? No mention of the PA turnpike? As someone who used to regularly drive between St. Louis and Philadelphia via I-70 and the PA turnpike, the PA turnpike is by far the most terrible part of that drive. There are up to fifty miles between exits on that road! 50 miles of absolutely nothing, followed by the brief excitement of an exit sign…and then another 30-50 miles of nothing. It’s so boring, they have signs telling you what freaking watershed region you are in. Plus, you have to pay for the pleasure of driving on this road. Man, I hate the PA turnpike. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/62 "2009-01-02T18:00:14Z")
Even duller than Calgary to Winnipeg is the Yellowhead from Winnipeg to Yorkton. Not only is there nothing on the way, there’s nothing when you get there. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/63 "2009-01-02T18:50:05Z")
My vote is for I-80 across Iowa and Nebraska. Nothing but corn. Please kill me now before I even think about doing that again. The stretch across Wyoming was so desolate it was impressive as hell, but I decided that Iowa should have “300 Miles of Corn” as a state motto. Bleah. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/64 "2009-01-02T19:21:33Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I-5 between the Altamont Pass and the Grapevine. Those windmills in Livermore are the last interesting thing you’ll see (southbound) for the next couple hundred miles. Unless you’re really interested in lettuce fields. > > It’s true that taking CA-1 adds a couple hours to the trip, but it’s approximately 5 trillion times more scenic. Having driven the whole length of I-5 a few times, I agree. After the beauty of northern Cal, the southern stretch is particularly cruel in its sameness. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/65 "2009-01-02T19:42:08Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > I-70 through the entire state of Kansas. … in the winter. Mile after mile after mile of flat white. I did it in both directions within a week’s time. And lived to tell the tale… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/66 "2009-01-02T20:27:10Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > … in the winter. Mile after mile after mile of flat white. I did it in both directions within a week’s time. And lived to tell the tale… I used to drive across North Dakota in the winter years ago. Not only was it just endless flat white, you rarely saw another vehicle for hours on end. I swear, you could lock the steering wheel down and sleep until you hit Dickinson, it’s that arrow-straight. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/67 "2009-01-02T20:47:51Z")
I’m surprised no-one has mentioned the I-75 drive out of Florida. Once you leave South Florida it is boring, boring, boring all the way to Atlanta. ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/68 "2009-01-02T20:58:20Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I65 from just south of Gary to Indianapolis. Mind-numbingly boring, with the exception of some pretty scenery around Layafette. I totally agree!!! 3hours of the most boring, flat, cop-ridden stretch of road. Unfortunately, it’s really the only way to get outta Chicago and head to the South-East.. Ugg. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/69 "2009-01-02T21:07:54Z")
It doesn’t compare to the great desolate stretches of the midwest & west, but I-90 in Upstate NY, from the MA border (actually gets rather boring, if hilly from a point .1 inches west of Springfield), is the most boring I’ve found in my travels around the Northeast. CT just sucks for a multitude of reasons. The highways are just a start. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/70 "2009-01-02T22:06:58Z")
> [@incidental](#): > > What? No mention of the PA turnpike? > > As someone who used to regularly drive between St. Louis and Philadelphia via I-70 and the PA turnpike, the PA turnpike is by far the most terrible part of that drive. There are up to fifty miles between exits on that road! 50 miles of absolutely nothing, followed by the brief excitement of an exit sign…and then another 30-50 miles of nothing. It’s so boring, they have signs telling you what freaking watershed region you are in. > > Plus, you have to pay for the pleasure of driving on this road. Man, I hate the PA turnpike. I’m inclined to agree. That road saps my will to live. There are some pretty mountains in western PA, but the stretch from Harrisburg to NJ is tedious as hell. Now I’m back in the UK, I’d say the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh must be in with a shout. Also the M40 between London and Birmingham. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/71 "2009-01-02T23:07:09Z")
It might be easier to start with the least boring stretch of highway. ---
**Author:** ![Neeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@Neeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neeps)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/72 "2009-01-03T00:11:41Z")
Ooh, I will eleventh (or whatever) the I-70 through Kansas/Missouri. Not even the promise of a 5 legged cow could punctuate the boredom. > [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Now I’m back in the UK, I’d say the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh must be in with a shout. Also the M40 between London and Birmingham. To me, the M8 is just depressing. With a hint of uncertainty as to how long it is going to take you to reach your destination. A simple breakdown can really screw up a journey. An accident…well, might as well turn around and go home. Who thought a 2 lane motorway was sufficient between the two largest cities in Scotland…? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/73 "2009-01-03T01:59:33Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I wouldn’t say it’s boring - a lot more varied scenery than some of the other candidates here - but I agree that it somehow bends reality so that it packs roughly twice the length of the state into its lanes. . I’m glad I’m not the only one. Connecticut is about the size of Luxembourg and feels like it’s the size of Russia. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/74 "2009-01-03T02:13:16Z")
> [@incidental](#): > > What? No mention of the PA turnpike? > > As someone who used to regularly drive between St. Louis and Philadelphia via I-70 and the PA turnpike, the PA turnpike is by far the most terrible part of that drive. There are up to fifty miles between exits on that road! 50 miles of absolutely nothing, followed by the brief excitement of an exit sign…and then another 30-50 miles of nothing. It’s so boring, they have signs telling you what freaking watershed region you are in. > > Plus, you have to pay for the pleasure of driving on this road. Man, I hate the PA turnpike. You forgot service plazas. Otherwise, you’re dead on. I’ll also agree with I-10/I-20 in West Texas. Miles and miles of miles and miles. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/75 "2009-01-03T02:20:28Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’ve lived in Kansas/Missouri my entire life. I’ve travelled by car from coast to coast and made the trek from KC to Denver many times. I came into this thread thinking “well it’s clearly I-70 across Kansas. There’s just no comparisson for how utterly boring a drive it is.” But I didn’t think there’d be an overwhelming consensus before I even had my say. > > So sixthed. Seventhed. But not everybody has kept the count on this page, so I’m probably number 10 or 11. I have friends in Kansas, but that stretch of I-70 is almost enough to make me swear off ever visiting them again. If hell had a highway, Satan could hardly do better. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/76 "2009-01-03T03:49:10Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Can we just agree that it’s I-70? Oh yes. Another stretch of 70 that’s deadly is between Breezewood, Pennsylvania down to Hagerstown, Maryland. Twisty and some up and down hills, but 55 mile an hour speed limit, nothing at all to look at (trees, hills, occasional random buildings) and nothing on the radio but two country stations, a Bible study station and a local AM talk station that literally only talks about local issues. I used to long for an iPod or XM when i drove down there 6-8 times a year, and never had them. Now I have both, and haven’t been down there since. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/77 "2009-01-03T04:35:29Z")
> [@Caveat\_lector\_1](#): > > I’d say I-16 from Macon to Savannah. All it is trees and more trees. There is hardly any traffic most of the time too. > [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](#): > > God, yes. Even though it’s not a long distance, we always have to drive it in shifts because it puts us to sleep. I have to third this road. Since I started going to school in Savannah I have to drive this between Savannah and Atlanta whenever I want to go home to see my wife. It is the most boring, longest road ever! About the only thing that saves it a little it that there aren’t normally that many cops on it. The last time I drove it, coming home for Christmas, I was going 100mph for the entire length… I am not looking forward to driving it again Sunday to go back to school… Specially since my laptop which I use as my jukebox is still at the manufacturer’s getting fixed! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/78 "2009-01-03T04:59:53Z")
I’ve driven between Calgary and Regina, and I’ve driven across Kansas, and I must regretfully inform you US Americans that the #1 in Canada is more boring than the I-70 in Kansas. I believe my exact words when we hit Kansas were, “Yeah, this is pretty flat, but I’ve seen flatter.” 😃 One caveat, though - the highways are boring, but stopping and getting out to stretch your legs with nobody around, off the beaten path, is something eveyone should do regularly. So much sky - so much solitude. It’s good for your soul. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/79 "2009-01-03T05:34:57Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I just realized I needed to add one more route. I’ve driven [US 93 in Nevada between Ely and Wells](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=ely,+nv&daddr=wells,+nv&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=40.264857,-114.829102&sspn=1.483829,2.460937&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=8) four times now (twice each direction), and it has damn near put me to sleep each and every time. I have never suffered from road stare nearly as much anywhere else as on that stretch. I don’t know that stretch of US 93, but I have driven from Vegas to Ely on 93 several times. I have had the cruise control set at 135 mph and been bored stiff on that drive. At one point the road disappears into the horizon straight in front of you, and looking in the rear view mirror it goes straight back to the horizon. Straight as a string, flat as a board. I will also go for I70 in Kansas, or Eastern Colorado. It doesn’t look big on the map, but Kansas is one very wiiiiiiiiiide state. Then you cross the state line into Colorado, and find that Eastern Colorado looks just like Kansas. :smack: What an event it is when you finally crest that hill, and the front range of the Rockies comes into view. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/80 "2009-01-03T06:07:12Z")
Rt. 81 through Central N.Y. up to Canada is not a long trip, but it is tedious. Green shrubs on each side in the summer. Brown and gray sticks in the winter (or solid white snow if it’s blizzarding). There’s a brief time in the fall when it can be pretty, though it’s still boring. That’s OK with me, empty, undeveloped land without a McMansion, Taco Bell, water park, or Pep Boys Auto Parts Store in sight fills my heart with gladness. And tedium. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537.md?page=5)