# Theoretically, how far could somebody from the continental US drive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202 "2008-07-12T01:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/21 "2008-07-12T23:14:56Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] On a related note, I recall once hearing that there are no roads that span Russia - that it’s impossible to drive from Russia’s Pacific coast to its western border without leaving the country. Is that true? [/QUOTE] This is true; the [Amur Highway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Siberian_Highway) is pretty much a bureaucratic fiction in places, although it’s slated to be fully paved by 2010. What’s more, the closest you can get to the Bering Strait is to take the [Kolmya Highway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolyma_Highway) to Magadan, about 900 miles away as the crow flies — and you’d better have four-wheel drive. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/22 "2008-07-13T00:01:07Z")
The Zapp family drove a 1928 car from Buenos Aires to Alaska, had a kid on the way to boot. It is possible to drive almost to the tip of Argentina (ushuia in tierre del fuego) > **[LOS ZAPP](http://www.argentinaalaska.com/)** > > Tres Américas, una huella. Familia Zapp They are an interesting family (3 kids now) and are currently off with the same car driving around asia somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/23 "2008-07-13T00:22:27Z")
Ok Tierre del fuego is out, for driving, you have to take a ferry to get across the straits of magellan (on google earth you can see the wake of one of the ferrys) Cape Froward (53deg, 54´33´´S) in Chile, just a little south of Punta Arenas, is as far as you can go without taking a boat. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/24 "2008-07-13T00:44:56Z")
[QUOTE=Shamozzle] And isn’t crossing the Darien Gap as dangerous as living sin? [/QUOTE] Yeah, the FARC (Colombian guerrillas) is in the upper Tuira valley, as well as narcotrafficantes (drug runners) and plain old maleantes (bad guys/bandits). I’ve been to the Darien dozens of times, and even to the upper Tuira once; but I woudln’t go to the upper Tuira now. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/25 "2008-07-13T00:54:58Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] On a related note, I recall once hearing that there are no roads that span Russia - that it’s impossible to drive from Russia’s Pacific coast to its western border without leaving the country. [/QUOTE] Mainland Canada cannot be traversed by road. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/26 "2008-07-13T01:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] Mainland Canada cannot be traversed by road. [/QUOTE] Okay, I’ll bite: why not? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/27 "2008-07-13T01:26:47Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Okay, I’ll bite: why not? [/QUOTE] No connecting road in eastern Quebec along the Gulf, or in Labrador near Goose Bay. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/28 "2008-07-13T01:40:15Z")
[QUOTE=MLS] For a great read on the subject, try Tim Cahill’s [Road Fever](http://www.amazon.com/Road-Fever-Tim-Cahill/dp/0394758374/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215834919&sr=1-1) . ETA: They took a boat around the Darien Gap. [/QUOTE] Sounds like it would be the rally to end all rallies (a la the Targa Newfoundland). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/29 "2008-07-13T02:12:23Z")
> [@](#): > > No connecting road in eastern Quebec along the Gulf, or in Labrador near Goose Bay. But there are roads in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, so it is possible to drive from “sea to sea” in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/30 "2008-07-13T12:18:52Z")
Connecting roads from sea to sea to sea, yes, but connecting roads from east to west, no. Both Quebec and Labrador extend further east than mainland Nova Scotia. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/31 "2008-07-13T16:04:19Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] Connecting roads from sea to sea to sea, yes, but connecting roads from east to west, no. Both Quebec and Labrador extend further east than mainland Nova Scotia. [/QUOTE] Seems a very fine hair to split, but hokay. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/32 "2008-07-13T17:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] No connecting road in eastern Quebec along the Gulf, or in Labrador near Goose Bay. [/QUOTE] Until [next year,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Labrador_Highway) this is true. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/33 "2008-07-13T19:36:57Z")
So… Southwards to Yaviza, Panama (Key West and Cabo San Lucas, Bj.C.Sur being SE and SW termini) Northwesterly, Inuvik, Yukon, with Homer and Prudhoe Bay, AK apparently the other termini if one goes into Alaska Northeast, it would be Bay St. Lawrence, Cape Breton Island, NS, until next year when it will be Goose bay-Happy Valley, Nfd. With a ferry past the Darien Gap, one apparently can drive through the complete length of South America to Punta Arenas, Arg., and adding a ferry across the Straits of Magellan, to Ushuaia. Any other extremities that deserve discussion? ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/34 "2008-07-13T19:56:51Z")
So, just to be clear, you could leave Texas and head south until you hit the Darian Gap? Does anyone do this? Sounds like it would be quite an adventure. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/35 "2008-07-13T20:02:49Z")
On Google Earth the connection between Mexico and Guatemala is tenuous at best… ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/36 "2008-07-13T20:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=MikeS] Until [next year,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Labrador_Highway) this is true. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=MikeS] Until [next year,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Labrador_Highway) this is true. [/QUOTE] Natashquan is only a few villages away from Old Fort Bay. Presently, people travel by water between these neighbouring Quebec lower north shore villages. When the last link of the TLH is completed, it will mean that for the first time ever, a young buck from Natashquan can directly drive to Old Fort Bay for a date with his honey (assuming the road isn’t lost under snow). If he leaves at 6:00 p.m. to pick her up and bring her back to his place for four hours of whatever it is young couples do on a date in eastern Quebec, then drives her home and returns to his own home by midnight, he would only have to average 5,028 kilometers per hour. Hope his car is painted red so that it can go fast. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/37 "2008-07-13T20:12:51Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Seems a very fine hair to split, but hokay. [/QUOTE] You wanna see a split hair, get a load of this: the thread title asks “how far could somebody from the continental US drive?” Well, get a guy who was born in Yonkers, take him to Asia, give him a car, let him go nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/38 "2008-07-13T20:30:11Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Any other extremities that deserve discussion? [/QUOTE] If you abandon the automobile and take to the rails, the extremities for **contiguous** scheduled passenger trains would be: East: Halifax / Truro, NS (Truro is _slightly_ further east, but Halifax is on the Atlantic and is the end of the line). North: Churchill, MB (on Hudson Bay). West: Prince Rupert, BC. Southwest: San Diego, CA. Southeast: Miami, FL. _[There are no longer any passenger trains in Mexico that run near the border with the US.]_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/39 "2008-07-13T20:42:30Z")
[QUOTE=newcrasher] So, just to be clear, you could leave Texas and head south until you hit the Darian Gap? Does anyone do this? Sounds like it would be quite an adventure. [/QUOTE] Some people do. (I know a few people who have done so.) The Panamerican Highway is paved all the way from the US border to Panama City and a bit east of here. Some places it’s rather potholed, but it shouldn’t be a problem for an ordinary vehicle. The main hassle in driving your own vehicle would be all the border crossings. I’m not sure what the paperwork requirements are at present, but there are some restrictions in moving vehicles from country to country. There are fairly comfortable air conditioned Greyhound-type buses such as [Tica Bus](http://www.ticabus.com/ingles.html) from Panama City to to Guatemala and the Mexican border. I’m sure there are similar services in Mexico. Taking one of the first-class buses wouldn’t be that much of more of an adventure than taking a bus from New York to LA, aside from all the border crossings. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202/40 "2008-07-13T23:39:25Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] On a related note, I recall once hearing that there are no roads that span Russia - that it’s impossible to drive from Russia’s Pacific coast to its western border without leaving the country. Is that true? [/QUOTE] One of the adventure magazines had an article this month about a couple of guys who hitchhiked from Vladivostok to Moscow. It didn’t seem too bad, although the whole road isn’t paved yet. It seems it’s pretty big business to take a car from Japan to Vladivostok via ferry, and then drive it into Siberia and sell at a profit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretically-how-far-could-somebody-from-the-continental-us-drive/456202.md?page=3)