# What's the longest continuously straight road in the US? The world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059 "2012-10-27T18:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/41 "2012-10-28T17:51:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If I’m looking at the right thing (your link doesn’t work correctly), there’s a bit of a bend at I-10. Chicago’s Western Avenue goes 23.5 miles from one end of the city to the other, and is pretty much dead-straight, too, with a bend near I-55 where the Avenue and Boulevard cross over. I’ve driven that chunk of Western and I don’t recall any bends near I10. When I get home I will look again. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/42 "2012-10-28T18:11:44Z")
If you visit Griffith Observatory one of the most fascinating views from there is Western Ave, straight as an arrow, disappearing into infinity (or what the locals call Whittier.) Andromeda’s not too bad either… ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/43 "2012-10-28T18:17:42Z")
Baseline Road in Phoenix goes east through Tempe, Mesa and Apache Junction- over 40 miles in a straight line. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/44 "2012-10-28T18:43:26Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > If you visit Griffith Observatory one of the most fascinating views from there is Western Ave, straight as an arrow, disappearing into infinity (or what the locals call Whittier.) Andromeda’s not too bad either… Actually, I think it’s Imperial Hwy, not Western, that I’m thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/45 "2012-10-28T18:55:55Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Actually, I think it’s Imperial Hwy, not Western, that I’m thinking about. You can’t fool me you were just thinking about that big nasty red head at your side. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/46 "2012-10-28T19:48:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I assume Lombard Street is out of the running. Lombard street is actually straight. They just put planters to force drivers to slow down and go in a S curve. Vermont street is the actual winner but the neighborhood there has a very strong lobby, they dont want tourists driving down their street. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/47 "2012-10-28T20:31:21Z")
Isn’t this a deliberate feature of highway design? A distraction every once in a while, to keep drivers from zoning out completely? ---
**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:** [October 28, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/48 "2012-10-28T20:38:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Lombard street is actually straight. They just put planters to force drivers to slow down and go in a S curve. > > Vermont street is the actual winner but the neighborhood there has a very strong lobby, they dont want tourists driving down their street. But what they do have is the annual [BYOBW](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_xWVqBsn-8&feature=related) race that combines the best of Grand Prix open wheel racing with the worst of NASCAR crashes. Put competing in this on your bucket list. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/49 "2012-10-28T21:17:44Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Due to the curvature of the Earth, would a tunnel like the Chunnel be a better pick? 🙂 I know this wasn’t a serious suggestion, but the Channel Tunnel is a rail tunnel, not a road tunnel. (But you can take your car on the train.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/50 "2012-10-28T23:49:58Z")
Lombard Street **IS** very straight, for about 17/18ths of it’s length. By “[some accounts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Bus#Desert_Bus),” US-93 is VERY straight, for 360 miles. But cars on that road seem to experience some spontaneous alignment problems. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/51 "2012-10-29T00:12:00Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I’ve driven that chunk of Western and I don’t recall any bends near I10. When I get home I will look again. It’s not really significant, and I’m sure for the OP’s purposes, it wouldn’t count. [See here.](http://goo.gl/maps/zyWiF) The one in Chicago is a [bit more significant](http://goo.gl/maps/IfwB5). ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/52 "2012-10-29T00:29:16Z")
I’d guess one of [these.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lowell_Mars_channels.jpg) Oh, wait, you said on _Earth_. nm. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/53 "2012-10-29T00:42:26Z")
Interstate 30 going between Texarkana and Dallas, about 170 miles. Very, very mind numbing straight. I’ve driven it too many times. It’s easy to daydream driving I-30. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/54 "2012-10-29T01:08:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s not really significant, and I’m sure for the OP’s purposes, it wouldn’t count. [See here.](http://goo.gl/maps/zyWiF) The one in Chicago is a [bit more significant](http://goo.gl/maps/IfwB5). I’d say those both count as straight, in my mind. The latter is a bit iffy, but I’m feeling generous. 😃 Seriously, it looks like in both cases the right of way is straight, and the engineers just got a bit fancy weaving things around a bit at the road intersections. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/55 "2012-10-29T01:12:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Interstate 30 going between Texarkana and Dallas, about 170 miles. Very, very mind numbing straight. I’ve driven it too many times. It’s easy to daydream driving I-30. Waaaaaay too much wobble to be a contender. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/56 "2012-10-29T02:43:53Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Isn’t this a deliberate feature of highway design? A distraction every once in a while, to keep drivers from zoning out completely? It is not. Most of the time, if you see a noticeable deviation in the road for no apparent reason, it probably has to do with property lines. Adding a little jog can increase the cost of the road by hundreds of dollars, not to mention the maintenance inconveniences it would present. Engineers are paid to draw up and implement the most efficient solution to a problem, which means they will draw the shortest (straightest) road the conditions allow. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/57 "2012-10-29T03:22:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Waaaaaay too much wobble to be a contender. This thread is more fascinating for me to see the wide range of interpretations of the word “straight.” ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/58 "2012-10-29T08:18:35Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This thread is more fascinating for me to see the wide range of interpretations of the word “straight.” Oh shit, now ya done it. Somebody will be starting a thread soon about what is the gayest road :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/59 "2012-10-29T08:26:28Z")
The longest road in the US is the Highway To Hell. Once you arrive, I’m told it never ends! ---
**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:** [October 29, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059/60 "2012-10-29T13:11:45Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Oh shit, now ya done it. Somebody will be starting a thread soon about what is the gayest road :eek: Yonge St., once the longest street in the world, but certainly not the straightest, and once home of the [St. Charles Tavern](http://youtu.be/P0_OPFDqxUw). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-longest-continuously-straight-road-in-the-us-the-world/639059.md?page=4)