The most boring U.S. state

[Kropotkin]

As a non-American, it looks to me like a toss-up between Fugue State and State of Ennui

[Jackmannii]

@Kropotkin

As a non-American, it looks to me like a toss-up between Fugue State and State of Ennui

So which is it in your view - Kansas or Connecticut?

[pulykamell]

@Kovitlac

My area has a huge Mexican population. You’re almost expected to look Mexican in some parts, lol. Maybe you mean more central or east Iowa.

It’s a reference to a news story from the last couple days of a woman in Iowa running over someone for looking Mexican.

I actually quite like Iowa, or at least the eastern part of it. Iowa City is a fine college town; Decorah is a lovely place to get away to and home of Seedsavers (an organization that preserves heirloom plants). Dubuque has its funicular and gambling on the Mississippi if you’re into that. OK, I know I’m not selling it hard, but Iowa is AOK with me, or at least that part. Heck, I even like the Quad Cities (split between Iowa and Illinois). I don’t know much about the rest. I do know that driving I-80 west of there does get quite dull. For me, it would have to be Nebraska, I think – at least of the states I’ve been to (I think I still haven’t visited about six.)

[Aspenglow]

@Bullitt

Last month I was in Boring, Oregon. Just driving through…

Was it as Boring as it purports to be? (I think it’s kind of pretty there!)

@Bullitt

Yes, they both are. Also, the Central Valley of California on I-5 between Santa Nella and Grapevine is very boring.

Map: Google Maps

That spot is bad, for sure, but at least the traffic keeps you from getting too bored. (!!!)

I maintain that the bit between Redding and Woodland enters a time/space wormhole that expands the 140-ish miles to about 1,000. Honestly, I can drive the rest of the way from Sacto to LA in less time than that stretch. :dubious:

[Cartooniverse]

@Alpha_Twit

I’m a Kansas native currently residing in Nebraska.

Not really gonna argue with this but I might throw out Utah IF (strong emphasis here) you’re not into outdoorsey type recreation.

Also, North Dakota sucks unless you like buying your crystal meth from vending machines.

I’m in Kansas right now. I happen to adore Nebraska, especially Lincoln and the Norfolk/ Meadow Grove area.

Kansas? Kansas is like standing in line to be hired as an extra in D.W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation”, only to discover that everyone around you really believes it.

-shudder-

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[Cartooniverse]

@Hedda_Rosa

The further you drive into Kansas on I-70 the further you have to go. Scientific fact. You drive all day and then it turns out you have a whole next day to drive. Eventually you arrive somewhere that is not Kansas but it took longer than it had any right to.

Yeah. You wind up in Goodland.
Realizing that you still have a LONG way to go, battling the tumbleweeds, until you hit Colorado.

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[Alpha_Twit]

@Cartooniverse

Kansas? Kansas is like standing in line to be hired as an extra in D.W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation”, only to discover that everyone around you really believes it.

-shudder-

“Boring” isn’t the term I would use to describe that feeling.

[Chefguy]

North Dakota and Nebraska are tied for me. I’ve driven across ND on the freeway more times than I can remember, summer and winter, and I’ve driven across the northern tier also. Wrist-slitting boredom. I only drove across Nebraska once, and admittedly it was on the freeway, but it was unendingly flat and featureless, as I recall.

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

Indiana is Bleak.

[Kropotkin]

@Jackmannii

So which is it in your view - Kansas or Connecticut?

Well played, sir, well played!

[Bullitt]

@Aspenglow

Was it as Boring as it purports to be? (I think it’s kind of pretty there!)

I was just driving through, but based on that I should’ve stayed a bit.

That spot is bad, for sure, but at least the traffic keeps you from getting too bored. (!!!)

I maintain that the bit between Redding and Woodland enters a time/space wormhole that expands the 140-ish miles to about 1,000. Honestly, I can drive the rest of the way from Sacto to LA in less time than that stretch. :dubious:

Most definitely. I did that stretch last month (Vacaville to Redding, actually). It looked like Kansas.

[carrps]

@Slow_Moving_Vehicle

What,are you kidding me?

My vote is Kansas. Never been there, but some geographers published an IgNobel study that compared the topological profile of Kansas and a breakfast pastry, and proved that Kansas is, indeed, flatter than a pancake.

My dad’s favorite basic training story was about his fellow recruit from Kansas. The Kansan was taking a lot of ribbing about Kansas being so flat. He finally blurted out: “Kansas has mountains! Kansas has mountains as tall as these barracks!”

I’ve been through Kansas twice as a kid, and it was seriously boring.

[Bullitt]

You ain’t seen flat ‘til you’ve seen Florida.

[Mean_Mr.Mustard]

@guizot

The problem for North Dakota is that North Dakota and South Dakota should really just be one state. I mean, who do they think they’re fooling?

You love them like a rock, don’t you.

[Slow_Moving_Vehicle]

@Aspenglow

Was it as Boring as it purports to be? (I think it’s kind of pretty there!)

That spot is bad, for sure, but at least the traffic keeps you from getting too bored. (!!!)

I maintain that the bit between Redding and Woodland enters a time/space wormhole that expands the 140-ish miles to about 1,000. Honestly, I can drive the rest of the way from Sacto to LA in less time than that stretch. :dubious:

There’s a similar wormhole on I-85 between Charlotte, NC and the Virginia state line. Takes about fifteen hours to drive through the state. And I like North Carolina.

[What_Exit]

@Bullitt

You ain’t seen flat ‘til you’ve seen Florida.

I’ve been in Florida a lot, all over the state. It is far less boring then Kansas or Nebraska. Also so much coast and swamps. Kansas had stretches of highway so long and straight that a curve was surprising and trees were rare.

[mack]

I always liked going through Kansas on my way to Colorado. It was kind of like the transition to “the west”. By the time you get to the border you’re at around 4000 feet and headed into Colorado. Coming the other way, not so exciting.

I remember parts of Iowa that were rather pretty and idyllic so not totally boring IMO.

The states I have no real memory of are Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio despite being through them several times.

[squeegee]

I’d say Nevada, based on a drive I took on 80 through the place long ago. Wow, desolate and not that scenic. OTOH, half of Lake Tahoe is in the state, so there’s that. And there’s Las Vegas, but I loathe Las Vegas.

[Kimstu]

@TriPolar

and a big blue bug watches over the highway for us.

And his name is Nibbles Woodaway!! Funny, I used to live in RI and I was thinking about good ol’ Nibbles just the other day, don’t remember why.

Earworm alert! “New Eng-land Pest Control,
Home of the big blue bug!”
Also, I’m not sure I agree with what appears to be the general consensus of the thread that “boring” is defined as “seems boring based on what you can see from the interstate driving straight through it”.

[squeegee]

@Kimstu

Also, I’m not sure I agree with what appears to be the general consensus of the thread that “boring” is defined as “seems boring based on what you can see from the interstate driving straight through it”.

Ha! That’s fair. And yeah, I’m not sure what other criteria to use, since everything thinks their own state is interesting as hell (as also seen in this thread), and you pretty much see the other states by driving through them or flying to some hub city and not seeing the state.