While non interstate highway IBA Rides are certainly possible most of us use Interstate or at least multi lane divided highways to cover much of the distance in our certified rides. This question/post is about finding the best choices for covering lots of miles on major roadways.
What interstate highways or major multi lane highways have you traveled and enjoyed either because they are scenic, low traffic, or pass through less dense areas (smaller cities)?
I will add a couple of good choices and a couple of poor choices from my own region.
Very poor choices (in my opinion);
I-65 From the Greater Nashville, TN area down through Montgomery, AL. Horrid traffic nearly any day of the week and especially on the weekends. Many days it is like a scene out of Mad Max with road raging drivers jockeying for position. Vast speed differentials and frequent rear end collisions as traffic ebbs and (fails to) flows. My last trip through I counted no less than 6 multi car rear end collisions including 4 on the North bound side I was traveling. One of which caused a near 1 hour delay as they cleared it.
Second poor choice is I-40 through Tennessee, primarily Nashville to Memphis. Again frequent high traffic, frequent major accidents causing significant slow downs or closures.
Dishonorable mention is anything within 100 miles of Atlanta. Just don't...
Very good choices in my opinion;
I-22 / Formerly Corridor X of the Appalachian Development Highway System. It is an extremely low volume interstate corridor connecting I-269 near Byhalia, Mississippi, to I-65 near Birmingham, Alabama. It is only 202 miles long but it is a very relaxing ride since it passes through mostly rural uncongested areas.
My second choice can be easily connected to the first choice by making a short but annoying jaunt through Birmingham to connect to I-59. I -59 covers 445 miles from I-10 and I-12 at Slidell, Louisiana, to I-24 near Wildwood, Georgia. I have not frequently traveled the section from Birmingham to Slidell but I have traveled the Birmingham to I-24 interchange near the Georgia Tennessee state line more times than I can count. Once you are past the outskirts of Birmingham it is a pleasant trip again with low density and low traffic.
Honorable mentions;
I-81 from Winchester, Virginia to Bristol, Virginia is very scenic and the couple of times I have traveled it it was also low traffic/density. At ~315 miles it is also a nice long stretch if you are trying to put together legs of a trip in the region.
I-40 from Newport, Tennessee to Hickory, North Carolina is also pretty scenic and curvy. While there are certainly many great roads through the mountains in this area If you have to travel interstate through the Appalachian Mountains you could certainly do worse. Not a long stretch at only ~140 miles but enjoyable.
Add your favorite stretches of major highways below. I would like to get out and try some of them. I know there are some great options out west but I have limited riding experience west of Kansas and Oklahoma.
What interstate highways or major multi lane highways have you traveled and enjoyed either because they are scenic, low traffic, or pass through less dense areas (smaller cities)?
I will add a couple of good choices and a couple of poor choices from my own region.
Very poor choices (in my opinion);
I-65 From the Greater Nashville, TN area down through Montgomery, AL. Horrid traffic nearly any day of the week and especially on the weekends. Many days it is like a scene out of Mad Max with road raging drivers jockeying for position. Vast speed differentials and frequent rear end collisions as traffic ebbs and (fails to) flows. My last trip through I counted no less than 6 multi car rear end collisions including 4 on the North bound side I was traveling. One of which caused a near 1 hour delay as they cleared it.
Second poor choice is I-40 through Tennessee, primarily Nashville to Memphis. Again frequent high traffic, frequent major accidents causing significant slow downs or closures.
Dishonorable mention is anything within 100 miles of Atlanta. Just don't...
Very good choices in my opinion;
I-22 / Formerly Corridor X of the Appalachian Development Highway System. It is an extremely low volume interstate corridor connecting I-269 near Byhalia, Mississippi, to I-65 near Birmingham, Alabama. It is only 202 miles long but it is a very relaxing ride since it passes through mostly rural uncongested areas.
My second choice can be easily connected to the first choice by making a short but annoying jaunt through Birmingham to connect to I-59. I -59 covers 445 miles from I-10 and I-12 at Slidell, Louisiana, to I-24 near Wildwood, Georgia. I have not frequently traveled the section from Birmingham to Slidell but I have traveled the Birmingham to I-24 interchange near the Georgia Tennessee state line more times than I can count. Once you are past the outskirts of Birmingham it is a pleasant trip again with low density and low traffic.
Honorable mentions;
I-81 from Winchester, Virginia to Bristol, Virginia is very scenic and the couple of times I have traveled it it was also low traffic/density. At ~315 miles it is also a nice long stretch if you are trying to put together legs of a trip in the region.
I-40 from Newport, Tennessee to Hickory, North Carolina is also pretty scenic and curvy. While there are certainly many great roads through the mountains in this area If you have to travel interstate through the Appalachian Mountains you could certainly do worse. Not a long stretch at only ~140 miles but enjoyable.
Add your favorite stretches of major highways below. I would like to get out and try some of them. I know there are some great options out west but I have limited riding experience west of Kansas and Oklahoma.
