# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/101 "2010-08-16T01:00:14Z")
I don’t know how many people have nominated I-70 through Kansas, but here’s another vote. Nothing to see except bugs splatting against the windshield. My mom loves car trips and she has said she’d rather shoot herself than take I-70 through Kansas again. I-80 through Iowa also sucks. Soybeans! Soybeans! Truck stop! Kill me now! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/102 "2010-08-16T01:02:20Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > [Just before the crossing](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=48.999457,-110.217034&panoid=Dx5NXRN_RPUkT1gtraqzrw&cbp=12,92.9,,0,-10.65&ll=48.999459,-110.217176&spn=0.257903,0.408897&z=12), the road runs parallel to the border for a while. The actual border is the wire fence on the right. The Canadian inspection station is just ahead, then the road makes a right-angle turn across the line, and the US inspection station is just beyond. See, they built a fence along the Canadian border! Why can’t they build one along the Mexican border?!? 😕 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/103 "2010-08-16T01:34:11Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I’ll add Alberta 41, south from the Trans-Canada to the Montana border. Except I found it beautiful. This is also where we passed the infamous NO SERVICE OR RESIDENCES NEXT 134 km sign. If you broke down on this road in the winter, you’d probably die. Links edited out by me; link back to **Sunspace** ’s post if you wish to follow them. Interestingly, there are a few border crossings here in southern Alberta that are not open 24/7/365. There is simply not enough traffic to support them at odd hours of the night, or between certain months of the year. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to pull up at one and see a sign that says “Closed.” The United States is _closed_? 😃 In fairness, the Canadian border stations at these places are closed when their US counterparts are, so an American would similarly think that Canada was closed. But I’d be approaching the US border from the Canadian side, so to me, the US would be closed. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/104 "2010-08-16T01:46:41Z")
The stretch of Highway 17 between Mattawa and Deep River, Ontario, can get pretty lonely, especially at night; although in some spots, you can look across the Ottawa River and see Quebec. ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/105 "2010-08-16T01:56:20Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > The stretch of Highway 17 between Mattawa and Deep River, Ontario, can get pretty lonely, especially at night; although in some spots, you can look across the Ottawa River and see Quebec. I just drove from Ottawa to Sault Ste Marie through Highway 17 a few weeks ago. It’s certainly quite remote in a few stretches. I was surprised that in a few places, there was NOTHING on the radio. Not even AM stations! I wouldn’t call the highway boring by any means though. ---
**Author:** ![kodabear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kodabear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kodabear)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/106 "2010-08-16T02:35:35Z")
I-81 through Virginia. Man, that part of the state is boring! ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/107 "2010-08-16T02:42:41Z")
Wow, so much hate for I-80 across Iowa. That’s not even close to the worst drive in Iowa! At least it goes through some major cities (well, in context anyway – Des Moines, Quad Cities) and there are places to stop. You wouldn’t possibly diss the attraction of the [World’s Largest Truck Stop!!!](http://iowa80truckstop.com/), would you? Okay, yeah, it’s…not great, but really, it gets a lot worse. A LOT worse. Try Highway 20 in Iowa, for example. The most exciting part between Fort Dodge and Dubuque is crossing I-35. Seriously, there is so little out there that I have to plan where to gas up so I don’t end up driving 15 miles off the highway to some shitty small town with rusted out farm equipment everywhere, 3 houses, and a Casey’s General Store. Nothing to look at for miles and miles and miles and miles. I-80 is riveting in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/108 "2010-08-16T02:44:04Z")
I think we should ask Congress to extend I-27 north from Amarillo to the Canadian border, basically running up the western border of Kansas. Looking at the route, I can see about 10 highways worth building interchanges along the entire route, no towns, and two National Grasslands. Not National Parks, not National Monuments, not National Forests – National Grasslands. ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/109 "2010-08-16T02:53:57Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > Wow, so much hate for I-80 across Iowa. That’s not even close to the worst drive in Iowa! At least it goes through some major cities (well, in context anyway – Des Moines, Quad Cities) and there are places to stop. You wouldn’t possibly diss the attraction of the [World’s Largest Truck Stop!!!](http://iowa80truckstop.com/), would you? I think it’s hilarious that their website has links for “Career Opportunities” and, more importantly, “Media Inquiries”. For a truck stop in Bumfuck, Iowa. Really? ---
**Author:** ![Eggerhaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@Eggerhaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eggerhaus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/110 "2010-08-16T03:18:19Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > I-70 through the entire state of Kansas. Lordy, yes. I drove there once and there was a silo ahead on the horizon. An hour later it hadn’t gotten any bigger. :eek: That’s flat. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/111 "2010-08-16T03:40:51Z")
If I-80 is the _interesting_ drive across Iowa, I am well and truly terrified. I-20 between Augusta and Atlanta is pretty boring but it has nothing on 300 miles of fields. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/112 "2010-08-16T04:36:25Z")
While I will agree that I70 through Kansas is boring and long, it pales to some of the roads in Nevada. If you drive North out of Vegas headed to Ely Nevada the after you turn off the Interstate, the road is dead straight, dead flat and long. did I mention long? At one point the road disappears into the distance both in front of you and behind you with nothing else to see. Is it any wonder I have set the cruise control at 135 MPH on this road and been bored? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/113 "2010-08-16T06:02:25Z")
Did anyone mention the 401 between Windsor and London, Ontario? The only scenery of interest are huge blue signs every 10 km or so, with bilingual English/French warnings of speeding fines and “demerits”, not to tailgate, and to take a break if you’re falling asleep behind the wheel. It’s certainly no Nullabor or Great Empty, but it’s incredibly dull for being in an area that is just a couple of hours from several major cities. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/114 "2010-08-16T06:56:06Z")
I-80 across Nebraska is an absolute killer. It’s not that it’s particularly boring, but that there is **so much** of it. And it’s boring. I don’t believe there is a truly boring road in the west. I was raised out here and love the scenery to no end. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/115 "2010-08-16T07:01:43Z")
From a few miles south of Karima, Sudan to Atbara, Sudan is about 200 miles with almost no vegetation and no towns. I was on this highway last December and is easily the loneliest piece of tarmac I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/116 "2010-08-16T07:12:22Z")
> [@superwombat](#): > > Mackenzie Hwy, Manning to High Level, then High Level to the NWT border. > > Straight. Fields. Then trees. Roughly four hours worth. Hit the border and you finally get some twisty excitement. An obscure yet excellent choice. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/117 "2010-08-16T07:26:06Z")
> [@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. Wow, you saw lettuce fields!? All I got was the theme from _High Plains Drifter_ warbling out of the air. And I think I saw some of my dead ancestors beckoning me. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/118 "2010-08-16T07:27:40Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > [ul] > [li]Interstate 40 from just before Needles, California, west to Barstow and then Highway 58 to Bakersfield.[/li][/ul] I was going to say this one. I can remember driving with Germans in the car from Laughlin - at first, they were giddy with delight at the “open space” and took photos. After about two hours, they were beginning to wonder if we would EVER see civilization again. However, that road in Australia makes me think the I40 might be a stroll through the park in comparison. Geez - can you imagine being stuck on that highway in the middle of the night?! Wow - Stephen King, get that typewriter out… ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/119 "2010-08-16T18:00:11Z")
Haven’t done the drive from Regina to Calgary, but have done the drive from Regina to PA and PA to Edmonton. It is truly soul-sucking. Regina to PA is only a 4 hour drive, but I can’t do it without stopping in Saskatoon and stopping for a bite to eat. I hate driving. ---
**Author:** ![silk1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@silk1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silk1976)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537/120 "2010-08-16T18:24:19Z")
Between Nashville and Memphis, I think its I-40, at night. Thats a looooong road. Also - I-10 across Texas. Nothing like driving 24 hours straight and still being in the same state (which I personally have a severe disliking for). But I have to admit that in W Texas you get some more interesting scenary. I-95 through CT is an interesting choice. It _does_ make you feel like the state is twice as long because it’s just a depressing-as-hell drive. Industrial, construction, crazy drivers, Bridgeport, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-stretch-of-highway-is/479537.md?page=7)