Forum Discussion

clikrf8's avatar
clikrf8
Explorer
Dec 20, 2013

Worst roads you have traveled?

I was reviewing my photos for a best of category which brought back fond memories of our travels. Then, some not so fond ones.

1. This past fall, we drove Hwy 191 south from Rock Springs, WY to vernal, UT. Omg, the 8 or 9 switchbacks and steep grades combined with speeding Simplot company trucks and dump trucks had me wanting Valium. Gorgeous scenery and when we return in 2014 we will take it slow and make many stops to catch our breath. A young guy in a white Chevy Z71 (not Simplot) was in a very big hurry passing on blind curves. He almost wiped out a family after passing us then the MH in front of us. Fortunately, there was a pullout or there would have been a nasty head on.

2. This was after surviving I80 from Cheyenne to Rock Springs dodging swaying semis and gusty winds (3/10 windiest cities in US are on that stretch).

3. California 299 from Alturas to the coast: winding, fast drivers, construction, large rocks to dodge in the center lane, steep grades, etc. Beautiful scenery though.

My favorites are BLM or USFS roads; there may be washboards but you usually have the road to yourself.
  • How about this road that our GPS sent us down:

    I'm careful with GPS directions, but the unit put one over on me this time. It lead us down this nice paved road for 10 or 15 miles. I was trying to get from I15 to Tecopa Hot Springs and the map showed a paved road. But the GPS led us down a road a few miles east of the one we thought that we were on. So after 15 miles of paved road it turned into what I called a high speed dirt road-wide and graded. And then it started to get dark and the road got narrower and not graded, rutted in fact and it was going UP and at the top of the up was that photo.

    Heh Tecopa was down in that photo about another 10-15 miles. Oh and the CG we were going to gets a 2 on a scale of 10...heh.

    BK
  • Apparently none of you have travelled Rt. 129 in Billerica lately.
  • The Alaska Highway from Haines Junction north to the Alaska border. Bumps, ruts, and potholes from hell.

    Interstate 5 through Stockton, California. See above.

    The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Narrow, very winding, steep drop offs with no guard rails. Beautiful scenery though.
  • well, I have to agree with amandasgramma and say california, they have the worst roads of all the roads I have traveled. esp since I haven't been on I-10 in Louisiana yet. the last road I travel led calif was on , is it 93 or 95 south of vegas going toward needles, speed limit 55 for trucks and there were so many trucks to pass and no passing lanes any way, plus so many pot holes, I think 20 per mile if I added right, so the trucks had to drive 35 mile per hour so they wouldn't destroy their payloads and it was horrible. I decided to take the long way around from now on. I am going to kingman and then over to Lake Havashu. worth not blowing a tire or two with no where to park to change it.
  • Worst road I drove a car on was the Road to Hana on Maui; just not worth the effort... wife actually got sick from all the switchbacks. Worst road I towed a TT on was the Blue Ridge Parkway. Up, down; up down, around the the corner; then down up. Just couldn't enjoy it. Amazed anyone finds it enjoyable. Best road for towing was the Natchez Parkway. Flat, no traffic, speed limit of 50 mph, picturesque, counted 12 cars in either direction for the first 50 miles from Natchez in late March or early April ..... most relaxing, enjoyable TV + TT drive ever.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    amandasgramma wrote:
    California....ALL of California


    Oh, please!

    For me, it was a section of the I-10 through Louisiana.
  • Shelter Cove Road west of Garberville CA nearly gave my wife grey hair and religion. She was driving with our fiver behind us, there was no place to pull off or turn around. That is one steep mother with lots of switchbacks, we call it OH S**T hill. The roughest was CA 86 into Westmorland, the washboard nearly shook our fillings loose and I was taking it slow. I-5 north of Grapevine had to be the most boring.
  • TexasShadow:
    Your first 2 routes have some hairy switchbacks. Even though I drove to the Mt Baker Ski area when I was younger which had innumerable switchbacks, they still give me anxiety attacks and I'm not the driver.

    All your routes are a part of our itineraries in 2014. Did you drive the Moki Dugway (Utah) in your Toad?

    I am glad we have a TC that has a low profile.
  • the Beartooth Pass descent to Red Lodge, MT.

    the WY 14A (oh my God hill) from Lovell, WY up to Burgess Junction (or down, either way is memorable)

    highway 261 in southeast Utah, between highway 163 and 95

    NONE of these are big rig friendly :) and your brakes better be in good shape
    for the first two and your vehicle for the last one shouldn't be wider than a regular pickup.

    but, boy howdy, they are great roads to travel.