Most miserable road you drive

[Goin camping]

This is the road you hate to drive on but seem to use it anyway and why.

I despise interstate 5 in Ca. where it goes through the San Jaquin valley. No offense to anyone who lives there but it's ugly,dreary and stinks. Especially near that cattle yard. Yet I take it several times a year on my way to Oregon. How about you?

[overlander63]

I-95. We have to take it when we go North to visit relatives in the Northeast. It always seems to be under construction, and traffic is horrible, but there is really no alternative, if you want to get there in a reasonable time.

[SilverRanger]

I have to agree with Terry about I-95. It doesn't seem to matter where you're going, there are parts that are perpetually under construction, overcrowded, or in a state of disrepair. Rt. 27 from Miami to outside of Orlando is still one of my favorite rides. Flat, straight, with an occasional armadillo.

[thecatsandi]

New Jersey Tunrpike. My all time dis liked road. Genreally any Interstate.

[walter1]

Been from Alaska to Mexico...through Canada and from California Redwood forests to the New York Islands with Airstream.

Absolute WORST road (including gravel Alcan Hiway) is 20 miles North of Seattle Washington to 20 miles South on I-5......thought I would die or just bounce and rattle apart.

even tried it at midnight last time and still horrendous traffic and "Road From Hell". I don't know how anyone could live with that daily.

Have a bake sale...fix the road!!!

[audiobox]

I-80 in western Iowa and again in several spots crossing Wyoming. Nasty washboard. Drive slower and it's Mike Tyson pounding on your lower back, drive faster and you suffer high-speed three stooges slaps. An absolute treat everytime I drive between Oregon and Indiana.

[clancy_boy]

ANYWHERE inside the beltway around DC. Has to be the worst roads and ease of figuring out the directions is poor. Not enough signs and early warning to get to the exits.

[Toasty's Dad]

My most miserable roads are the ones that terrify me. I'm always amazed that people who obsess over losing their lives in low-probability tragedies like terrorism or (in most locales) violent crime, cheerfully hop into their cars and casually subject themselves to the single most likely cause of their accidental deaths (50,000/yr). Anyway off the soapbox...

I've got to nominate:

US23 from where it leaves I75 near Toledo, OH through it's rejoining I75 and on through Flint, MI. Heavy traffic, and absolutely insane tailgaters, who seem to enjoy forming long chains of vehicles in the fast lane, all travelling at 75 MPH or better, spaced about 15 feet apart. I'm the guy in the slow lane, leading my own train at the speed limit, biting my nails and estimating my chances of survival in case of an emergency stop.

Cheers,
jon

[Mel]

Originally Posted by walter1

Absolute WORST road (including gravel Alcan Hiway) is 20 miles North of Seattle Washington to 20 miles South on I-5......thought I would die or just bounce and rattle apart.

even tried it at midnight last time and still horrendous traffic and "Road From Hell". I don't know how anyone could live with that daily.

I agree! I've gotten used to the daily commute, but the thing I hate is when we're coming back from a relaxing weekend of camping, and then hit I-5 in that area. I immediately tense up, traffic is terrible, and people driving that corridor love to cut right in front of you when you're towing - happens every time.

[Pick]

I-77 from just south of Canton, Ohio up into Akron. Always under construction, always lousy traffic and drivers.

I-75 between Ocala and Gainesville. It's a nice road, but traffic is crazy, and the nicer the weather, the more likely you will see traffic tied up because of some kind of crazy accident.

I-271 bypass east of Cleveland, and I-480 are really lousy, especially in the winter.

[maxandgeorgia]

"I-80 in western Iowa and again in several spots crossing Wyoming. . ."
Audiobox, how about trying I-90, just up a notch. When we drove part of it a couple of summers ago, we commented on how much better than that "thump, thump, thump, bump, bump, bump" of I80. Just a thought. Maybe other drivers of the two roads would chime in here to compare. ~G

[audiobox]

I-90 is a big improvement, for sure. However, if you're headed to Portland from NE Indiana, I-80 is (unfortunately) the the most direct route.

[Over59]

What we need is good intel on alt routes off the Interstates. The Interstates just beat the hell out of you and you are exhausted when you get there if it's more than a couple hours. Alt route is interesting and we are ready to go on arrival.
I-495 north of Boston is really awful. Hugh bumps at the the bridges.
Anyone out I-84 Ct to I81 lately. Is it still construction hell.

[jcanavera]

I have two road criteria that I use in earmarking a road as being bad. First are those roads with multiple dips in them. You know those dips that cause your trailer to porpoise up and down to the point where you think the trailer will pop off the ball. In that category I-55 in Illinois in the northbound and southbound lanes just prior to crossing Lake Springfield outside of Springfield Illinois tops my bad road list.

The other criteria is traffic safety, and I-44 from St. Louis down to the Oklahoma boarder scares me. The 70 mph speed limit is mostly ignored by TT traffic and having one of those guys pass you at 80-90 mph is absolutely frightening. You better have good sway control and give these cowboys a little extra space as they come barreling by you.

Jack

[uwe]

My least favorites are the freeways around Los Angeles. They are bumpy, congested and in poor overall condition. Many miles of washboard type concrete surface that give terrible trailer hop. Makes stuff wander all over the inside of your trailer, regardless of axle condition....
101 through Camarillo is pretty bad and choppy, although not ugly by any means.
I-40 through the Texas panhandle and east of there was pretty terrifying a few years back, but I have not been there since, might be repaired by now. Not much to look at tehre, besides Cadillac Ranch.
Some section of Mexican Hwy 5 from Mexicali to San Felipe are in pretty bad condition as well, but the I find the drive there at a slower pace quite interesting.
Sections of Wolf Creek pass in Colorado gooing East were pretty torn up, turning to gravel road in places - love/hate. Love the scenery, hate the road conditions

495 around Washington DC. If your driving either North or South on 95 you'll end up on it. At rush hour it will take forever to get through it. I think it's rated as one of the most congested in the U.S.

[maxandgeorgia]

I don't remember the number (Thank God, the mind heals!), but the freeway loop around Atlanta, at dusk, 14+ lanes, all going at least 75 MPH and cutting in front of you, with headlight glare! Never again. I don't care if all roads lead to Atlanta, we're not going there.

[joe hall]

Going north out of Florida, or the last 75 as you are heading south out of Georgia. Under construction to widen it to 3 lanes in each direction. The tourists heading south can smell Florida after driving with a load of tired, hot kids towards Disneyworld from Michigan or somewhere. The north-bound are eager to get the hell out of hot, steamy Florida and back home. It is a shooting gallery, and as dangerous as road in America.....and I've been on most of them, to include I-5, I-95, Jersey Turnpike, etc. Take your time, and maybe you can survive it for another day.

[Killo1]

Originally Posted by Goin camping

This is the road you hate to drive on but seem to use it anyway and why.

I despise interstate 5 in Ca. where it goes through the San Jaquin valley. No offense to anyone who lives there but it's ugly,dreary and stinks. Especially near that cattle yard. Yet I take it several times a year on my way to Oregon. How about you?

I have to agree with you. That's pretty BLAH!

[Tin Diesel]

I-10 around Beaumont. Its been under construction forever. Concrete barriers placed right smack on the left and right stripes - ZERO room for sway if an 18-wheeler passes you fast.

Get off onto the feeder is the only answer.