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The I-40 belongs on here but not that stretch. The stretch that belongs on there is inbetween ABQ, NM (backside of Sandias) and Oklahoma City, OK. West Texas (minus El Paso) is honestly ugly. Nothing but flat brown grass with the most interesting thing being a wind turbine. And wind turbines are designed to be not interesting, for aerodynamics.
Now if you didn't want to triple down on the empty strip like the I-10 and the I-70 both do here, if you made the I-40 Needles to Barstow in California that would be more accepting. But rolling hills and forested mountains of Northern Arizona, yes even west of Flagstaff, isn't ugly. I mean Kingman is I'll concede to that but just don't go into Kingman further than a gas station or lunch at the In-N-Out on the access road and you'll be ok.
I have driven on the I-10 all the way from Santa Monica to Jacksonville and the majority of the I-40 from in California all the way to Memphis and I will tell you right now the stretch I mentioned previously on the I-40 is uglier than the stretch of the I-10 listed on this poll. I really disliked the Amarillo area. And to me it is so far the ugliest stretch of Interstate I have been on.
The I-8 belongs on here with the exclusion of the section between Gila Bend AZ and Casa Grande AZ. There is a section of the I-8 in between these two that go through the Saguaro Desert National Monument and it looks pretty nice, especially in the spring. The dunes just west of Yuma are kinda interesting but yeah you won't catch me defending Yuma or Dateland, AZ . But you will want to cut off before Alpine, in Ocotillo, CA just before it starts turning into this, before entering Alpine limits. So Gila Bend, AZ to Ocotillo, CA... ugly stretch definitely.
I've driven the entire length of I-8 many times, and it's one of my favorite interstates, and I do not like interstates by default. It doesn't belong on this poll. The OP called out pretty much the entire highway. It doesn't deserve that fate. S/he correctly didn't include the stretch from Alpine to San Diego, which, in contrast, I would say is one of the most epic stretches of freeway in the country as one descends from hours of desert driving into the San Diego orbit. One feels like they are entering the garden of Eden on that final 25 miles. Also, from Coyote Wells on I-8 (just west of El Centro) up into Cleveland National Forest, I would contend is one of the more noteworthy scenic areas as you ascend into the forest you are surrounded by moonscape boulders. https://goo.gl/maps/MSdoiV977m9b2RKq7
I-8 is on the short list of great interstates.
Are Drowsy Driving Advisory Zones only an Alabama thing? In retrospect, I think I only remember them there (though I wouldn't say the Chilton county one is among the most boring interstate drives compared to some others I've done. Greenville on the other hand...). If they were nationwide, counting those up might be a good metric to deciding a "most boring drive."
Apparently Alabama is #2, but this article doesn't say what state is #1.
Are Drowsy Driving Advisory Zones only an Alabama thing? In retrospect, I think I only remember them there (though I wouldn't say the Chilton county one is among the most boring interstate drives compared to some others I've done. Greenville on the other hand...). If they were nationwide, counting those up might be a good metric to deciding a "most boring drive."
In California and Nevada I've seen signs for "turn on headlights, next 48 miles" --- presumably to make sure you're as visible as possible during boring highway stretches.
In California and Nevada I've seen signs for "turn on headlights, next 48 miles" --- presumably to make sure you're as visible as possible during boring highway stretches.
It's for visibility, but boring highway stretches have nothing to do with it. To the contrary daylight headlight zones are generally two lane hilly and curved roads. The purpose is to make your car more visible to oncoming drivers who might be contemplating passing another vehicle. Which could result in them running head on into you, if they don't see you in time.
Are Drowsy Driving Advisory Zones only an Alabama thing? In retrospect, I think I only remember them there (though I wouldn't say the Chilton county one is among the most boring interstate drives compared to some others I've done. Greenville on the other hand...). If they were nationwide, counting those up might be a good metric to deciding a "most boring drive."
Utah has them as well, with this sign coming shortly after the long, 40-mile curveless stretch that's part of a long stretch without services:
Granted, that sign have easily could have just said "Rest Area 5 Miles", but when you've gone a grand total of 50 miles with just a single short curve, you need to stay alert. I'm surprised there's no turn on headlights sign for this stretch.
Granted, that sign have easily could have just said "Rest Area 5 Miles", but when you've gone a grand total of 50 miles with just a single short curve, you need to stay alert. I'm surprised there's no turn on headlights sign for this stretch.
The sign should say "Drowsy Drivers Use Rest Area 1 Mile". Are they trying to encourage drowsy drivers not to use the rest area and instead continue to the next exit in 5 miles? They haven't put a lot of thought into those signs.
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