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A lot of roads that look straight, like I-80 across Nebraska, are pretty straight but have subtle curves. I've never driven the stretch across Bonneville Salt Flats. US Hwy 54 from Logan to Liberal isn't even close to straight.
I see we share the same absolute, non-compromising definition of the phrase "straight road".
Merrium-Webster defines straight as " free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities."
I mean, you can start allowing any old road that has a few bends and curves, but is "pretty" or "mostly" straight into this elite group. But before you know it, every road will think it can join.
There is a long running active thread on the Travel forum about the most desolate highways in the nation that may be of interest. Long straightest is not the same as most desolate, but the two are certainly related, in fact, some stretches have been mentioned on both threads. Am quite fond of driving these types of roads and enjoy the isolation and remoteness. Top pick is still 93 from Twin Falls, Id to Las Vegas. Liked the relatively short trip on 80 from I-15 to Wendover the one time I drove it. The highlight was spotting a small herd of pronghorn close to the highway.
Originally Posted by Gnutella View Post
There's a segment of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Blue Mountain and Carlisle that's about 12 miles long with no curves.
To have a section of road run through the Appalachians and be anywhere near straight for any distance at all is no mean feat!
Actually this stretch of highway is in the valley between Blue Mtn. and South Mtn. It is certainly hilly but not going through any mountaineous terrain.
For the Upper Midwest, the most infamous is the "Seney Stretch" in Upper Michigan. "Michigan's most boring route," 25 miles (40 km) of "straight-as-an-arrow highway" on "one of the longest stretches of curveless highway east of the Mississippi." I've been on it many times, and there isn't a single wiggle in the road, which also never rises or falls. This contrasts mightily from the usual beauty in the Upper Peninsula. And it truly does seem like an hour whenever you have to travel it. At least there are trees, I guess.
Going west from St. Louis, Interstate 70 runs almost perfectly straight starting from about Wentzville almost all the way to the middle of Kansas. Also, from about Indianapolis to Breezewood, Pennsylavania, Interstate 70 runs straight for well over 200 miles. Interstate 80 from Omaha to New York is very straight given how far apart those two are. As far as straight transcontinental interstates go, the two straightest IMO would have to be I-70 and I-40. I-80 would be the straightest except it connects San Francisco to Salt Lake City, which in terms of latitude is far from a straight line. San Francisco in terms of latitude is roughly almost 300 miles south of Salt Lake City.
I'd have to say this is incorrect. I-70 "seems" straight quite a bit but it has enough minor deviations.
In addition, I-70 curves in and around Columbus a bit. It makes for more interesting driving than usual and makes for some good views of the city.
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