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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Vote For The State With The Best and Worst Roads

Conversations around the campfire often lead to the topic of which state has the worst roads. The states with the best roads don’t come up in discussion because the good roads don’t make a lasting impression in our memories. It isn’t until we are jolted, thrown and undulated on cranky roads that our memory kicks in and marks that road in our brain’s hard drive. Therefore, in the spirit of fairness I would like you to nominate the state you think has the best roads and the one with the worst roads. My personal nomination for best roads (including, smoothness, rest areas, signage, passing lanes and beauty) is the state of Oregon. My nomination of the state with the worst roads is Missouri. Click on “Comments” below and tell us your choices.

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posted by Jim Twamley at 4/24/2007 11:36:00 AM

77 Comments:

  • Have traveled this great country coast-to-coast. Western Pennsylvania has the absolute worst roads of all. Interstate and secondary roads are in a constant state of disrepair and yet all we see are the traffic cones indicating roadwork. Interesting...

    By Anonymous Freetime, at April 24, 2007 4:31:00 AM PDT  

  • I nominate Tennessee for the best roads and Illinois for the worst roads. Whatever you do, don't get on the Illinois Tri-State Toll Road if you have kidney stones. It'll jolt them loose!

    By Blogger Peter, at April 24, 2007 2:10:00 PM PDT  

  • I've not been in too many states yet, but the Oregon roads were almost all nice, and the roads in California have a lot to be desired. I-80 to Reno, though being worked on in stretches, is embarassing for a state that used to take real pride in the top quality of its highway system

    By Blogger Joe, at April 24, 2007 10:03:00 PM PDT  

  • My vote for worst roads has to be Alaska. You haven't lived til you've seen springtime frostheave on Alaska roads.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 3:32:00 AM PDT  

  • Our favorite roads have been in Nevada (thanks, gamblers!). The worst have been in Missouri, with PA coming in second.

    Galen

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 4:36:00 AM PDT  

  • Arkansas has the aboslute worst roads. No one,in the State,owns a level.
    Pennsylvania is also bad. Always doing construction but not improving.
    Florida gets my nod as having good roads as does my state of Delaware.
    US95,from Florence,SC north/south
    is in horrible condition.
    Have not found ANY state with the best roads.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 5:05:00 AM PDT  

  • Definitely Arkansas. On an 8-week, 22-state trip last summer they won hands-down. On I-40 we could find the state lines by the change in road quality.

    The welcome center was pretty good, though.

    By Anonymous Jeff G., at April 28, 2007 6:03:00 AM PDT  

  • We have driven professional(cdl) tractor trailor and recreational over past 40 years and seen many highways in our driving in all 50 states,Canada, Mexico, Europe, Caribbean,logging over several million miles and by the far the best US road is in Florida and the worst in New York . The most FRIENDLY DRIVERS in Pennsylvania,the WORST DRIVERS in florida ,but most of their tags indicate that they are from other states.Remember drive friendly it pays with smiles and miles.Have a great day.

    By Anonymous Hank & Darlene, at April 28, 2007 6:10:00 AM PDT  

  • Arkansas has terrible Interstates unless they have done a lot of work in the last two years, especiallt around Little Rock.
    Texas has the best roads, a lot of room on the roadsides and in good repair.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 6:23:00 AM PDT  

  • My nomination for the worst roads is Arkansas. The best roads - well, Arizona and Oregon.
    Granny

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 6:27:00 AM PDT  

  • We have crisscrossed much of the USA, and Pennsylvania has the worst roads in memory. The west has the rest of the country beat as far as RV travel goes - I vote Arizona as #1!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 6:30:00 AM PDT  

  • Illinois has the absolutely worst roads!!! Don't even try going near the big cities. I thought we'd literally fall apart driving in and out of the chicago from the western suburbs! I think New Mexico has the best roads. They are wide and mostly uncrowded, if you stay off the interstates. Arizona isn't bad, but again, stay away from the big cities.

    By Blogger nyacking, at April 28, 2007 7:01:00 AM PDT  

  • I-40 east and west of OKC have to be some of the worst. We traveled it last weekend and drawers were shaken open, shades fell down. A relative was pulling his boat on I-40 and shook the tail lights loose. We think someone's brother-in-law must have inspected it for the engineer and that legislators should have to drive over it every day.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 7:02:00 AM PDT  

  • I live in California, and I have to vote for my own state as having the worst roads. We don't have freeze thaw cycles for the most part, but finding a smooth stretch of highway is very rare. When we travel I'm always anxious to leave California roads behind.

    By Blogger Dave, at April 28, 2007 7:09:00 AM PDT  

  • So far, the winner in the "worst roads" category is Michigan. The "best" category is more difficult - many states seem to have very good roads, at least where we go with our 35ft. fiver.

    By Anonymous John, at April 28, 2007 7:15:00 AM PDT  

  • On a recent 8403 mile trip from Washington state to the middle Florida Keys and back over the southern route, Louisiana had absolutely the worst primary and especially secondary roads of the entire trip. On the other end of the spectrum was Texas at the best, especially West Texas with its beautiful wide fast 80 MPH freeways.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 7:30:00 AM PDT  

  • IN THE SOUTH, TEXAS RANKS VERY HIGH WHILE LA, MS (I-10, I-12) ARE AXLE BUSTERS. OUT WEST, ARIZONA IS MY NUMBER ONE. BACK EAST -FORGET IT!

    By Anonymous Travelin' A's, at April 28, 2007 7:30:00 AM PDT  

  • Illinois has the worst roads, where are all the high tax dollars? Michigan is a close second.

    By Blogger Joey, at April 28, 2007 7:32:00 AM PDT  

  • Arkasas has the absolute worst roads. We hit a pot hole so large that our black holding tank split - right then & there! Avoid the state!!

    By Blogger Barry, at April 28, 2007 7:32:00 AM PDT  

  • I think California & Illinois have the worst roads. IL, besides the jarring & jolting, has a 55 mph speed limit for trucks & RV's, while everyone else is buzzing along at 65. I'm sure they have their reasons, but it's not "user friendly" in my opinion. The roads we've traveled in Arizona have been good. Wisconsin's not too bad, either.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 7:47:00 AM PDT  

  • Louisiana has the worst roads for RV's, particularly I10,and New Mexico has some of the best.

    By Anonymous Virgil, at April 28, 2007 7:53:00 AM PDT  

  • Best: Texas

    Worst: Manitoba, especially the TrnsCanada.

    By Anonymous GeeksRUs, at April 28, 2007 7:59:00 AM PDT  

  • I-10 in Louisiana is the worst intestate in the U.S. California's I-80 and I-5 are runners up.
    Many of our nation's highways are going to pot as less and less of the budget is spent on roads.
    Ed W.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 8:06:00 AM PDT  

  • After traveling with a motorhome in 14 states from Washington to Louisiana recently by far the worst roads were in California, (particularly the 680 and 99 freeways and I-5)and Washington (all of I-5 mostly from Everett to Fife plus I-90 from Seattle to Cle Elum). I was pleasantly surprised by Texas highways but the best were probably Oregon and New Mexico.

    By Anonymous Bart, at April 28, 2007 8:24:00 AM PDT  

  • I nominate Missouri for having the worst roads and Kansas for having the best roads. Or maybe after driving in Missouri, Kansas just seemed better. No, I think Kansas has very good roads, especially the turnpikes. It's a pleasure to drive in Kansas. Ann

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 8:47:00 AM PDT  

  • We have travel 47 of the 48 continental US, Oregon has by far the best roads, and New York the worst.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 9:25:00 AM PDT  

  • I would have to say Wyoming has the worst roads. When they do work on the road they completely remove it & you have to drive for miles on dirt. As far as the best roads I would have to say Arizona.

    By Blogger Marge & John, at April 28, 2007 9:33:00 AM PDT  

  • I-40 in OK is the worst! I feel beat up everytime I drive it and I have to use it to get to my in-laws. Texas interstates are crowded & always under repair but the US and state Hwys are wide and smooth sailing.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 9:41:00 AM PDT  

  • There just cannot be a worse state than California If there was, one would need a half/track. And, California has one of the highest road tax on fuel.

    By Anonymous Willard, at April 28, 2007 9:44:00 AM PDT  

  • I was surprised no one mentioned 190 across South Dakota. Miles and miles of cupped pavement sectionsm, Bone jarring and endless. If you don't slow waaaaaaaay down you'll completely rearrange the interior of your RV!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 9:51:00 AM PDT  

  • Best by far: Tennessee

    Worst of the worst: Illinois

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 9:57:00 AM PDT  

  • I picked up a Class A in Austin Texas and drove it north through Dallas into Kansas and I have to say that TEXAS has the worst roads that I have ever driven on, the roughest roads and the one with the most pot holes.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 10:02:00 AM PDT  

  • US 69 in OK has to be the worst road we travel. We'll detour a lot of miles to aviod that road.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 10:38:00 AM PDT  

  • Alaska is clearly the worst.
    New Jersey was pretty bad too.
    I realy can't remember the best, but i have only done about 75000 miles in the last 5 years.

    By Anonymous Bob, at April 28, 2007 10:52:00 AM PDT  

  • Oregon roads were great. Texas I10 & I20 were the worst along with Louisianna.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 11:09:00 AM PDT  

  • We have traveled the North to South Corridors and the worst are in South Carolina and Pennsylvania.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 12:11:00 PM PDT  

  • Flordia has the best roads and Minnesota the worst!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 12:41:00 PM PDT  

  • Michigan has the absolute worst roads in the country. They know how to handle the snow, but they haven't figured out chuckholes(potholes for you more modern folk). Ohio has the best roads. Well marked and they seem to be proactive in their paving and widening programs.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 12:45:00 PM PDT  

  • Tennessee for the best - and getting better.

    Louisiana for the worst - and not getting better.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 1:04:00 PM PDT  

  • Louisiana (my home state) has the worst roads of which I-10 is in the #1 position. I vote Florida I-10 as the best because of smoothness and rest stops every 30-40 miles!

    By Anonymous Brimstone, at April 28, 2007 1:38:00 PM PDT  

  • I-10 in Louisiana is the worst intestate in the U.S. Oregon roads are the best

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 1:55:00 PM PDT  

  • I think I5 roads in Oregon are bad because the big trucks have literally worn groves in the concrete and worn the concrete down so far that the tires ride on the bigger stones. And during the summer is it rare to be able to travel very far on I5 in Oregon without coming to a reduced speed, one-lane portion of the road. So many so that one gets angry at the massive delays. Still, they are better than Chicago.
    That said, where I live in the San Francisco bay are probably has the worst roads. 101, 17, 80 & 680 are all bad for a motorhome.

    Ohio seems to have fairly good roads although I've yet to drive an RV on them. Last weekend, in Toledo, except for the high winds, the road was exceptionally smooth and wide (Turnpike).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 3:10:00 PM PDT  

  • I-35 between Dallas and Austin is the worst but I-10 between Houston and Lafayette,La come in second.

    By Blogger Jacque, at April 28, 2007 3:15:00 PM PDT  

  • Oregon and Texas best. Arkansas by far the worst.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 4:14:00 PM PDT  

  • We try to avoid both the north and south interstates in Louisiana. Absolutely horrible, bumpy and rut-filled roads!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 4:57:00 PM PDT  

  • I find that all roads within 50 miles of a capital city in any state are great....go figure!

    The worst states are Arkansas and Mississippi.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 5:04:00 PM PDT  

  • Idaho east of Boise is so bad that we will never travel that route again. It is mostly in the open field areas. Immigrant pass CA. very bad. Best roads are the ones travelled with no incidents.

    By Anonymous teepee2, at April 28, 2007 5:42:00 PM PDT  

  • I vote for Pa. as having the worst roads, some of them are kidney killers.
    The best in my opinion was Az and New Mexico.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 6:19:00 PM PDT  

  • As a former RV transporter who covered the 'Lower 48' regularly, I have to give my overall vote for the best roads to Florida. Now I'm a fulltime RVer. Most of these comments are referring to primary roads, but we RVers take a lot of back roads - and many of us stay off the Interstates whenever possible. Florida's back roads are more RV-friendly.
    Worst? Virginia back roads are narrow and have drop-off shoulders. Parts of West Virginia back roads are literally eroding and there are no warnings. Illinois, along the TriState and Michigan's Interstates are always offering 'job security' with non-stop repairs . . . really great for cleaning out holding tanks!
    ANd what the heck are so many of you doing driving as fast as you can with your RVs? One, you're throwing away a lot of fuel and Two - you're placing a lot of other lives in danger if you have to stop fast.

    By Anonymous TravlynWomyn, at April 28, 2007 7:46:00 PM PDT  

  • All companies that build rv's might want to travel pennsylvania's interstates. I think mine was damaged traveling on them. I don't know about Maryland's side roads but their interstates were freshly paved and a pleasure to drive on.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2007 10:39:00 PM PDT  

  • I-10 thru New Orleans, Lousy-ana has to be the worst road I've ever driven. (4 years ago) My pickup/camper were nearly hammered to death, even at 45 mph, and my poor boat was mostly airborne.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2007 5:13:00 AM PDT  

  • I-10 in la.and miss. worst. Vote Nev. the best.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2007 8:05:00 AM PDT  

  • Worst road-I-10 through Louisiana
    Best roads - most of Texas and New Mexico

    By Blogger Sandra, at April 29, 2007 10:01:00 AM PDT  

  • The worst is I-40 east of the Mississippi. US 1 (the PCH) on the west coast is beautiful, but really tough with a motorhome; especially in northern California.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2007 10:23:00 AM PDT  

  • Louisiana

    By Blogger waynephyl, at April 29, 2007 3:52:00 PM PDT  

  • Worst hands down is PA.

    Best that I ahve seen would be Idaho, or Arizona.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2007 5:02:00 PM PDT  

  • States are a tie for worse - Missouri and Alaska. Canada has to be Brittish Columbia.

    Best roads we found to be in North Carolina.

    Every RV'er should write to each states DOT and advise them about not haveing dump sites at rest areas. Sad to say by our State Florida is at the top of this catagbory.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2007 5:24:00 PM PDT  

  • Best: Tennessee
    Worst: Illinois

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2007 7:52:00 PM PDT  

  • I think it might be unfair to paste an entire state with a bad section of road. I agree with the previous writer that Oklahoma near OK City is dreadful, and that's being generous. Also bad: the 'top of the world highway' in Alaska (it isn't a highway, is barely a road, is not actually paved, and isn't even wide enough for one vehicle in each direction.), Some of the other roads in Alaska weren't very nice either, but some had just been done as of last summer and were great. Minnesota has it's share of nasty roads, I 35 from Faribault (near Cabellas) will make you look for a flat tire, I35 through Forest Lake north of the cities, both nasty. Never driven in NY but I can honestly say, unless it's not a road at all, it cannot compare with that road in Alaska, top of the world. You gotta try it (use a jeep).

    Best roads? I found some of the state highways, were surprisingly good compared to the interestates, like in West Texas from near Balmhorhea north to Carlsbad Caverns, NM, further north to I25. That road was surprisingly wonderful to drive, but very barren of any services or other inhabitations.

    I never did like the roads around Kansas City much, either.

    Fun thread

    By Anonymous Trish, at April 29, 2007 9:51:00 PM PDT  

  • This pretty much says it all about Pennsylvania roads:I can't paste the pictur of actual newspaper column here, but this is what it says: ("Yes, the operator should have seen the deer, and yes, it should have been removed." Walter Bortree of the Pennsyvania Department of Transportation, on a road repair crew that paved over a dead deer.)

    By Blogger Daddio, at April 30, 2007 8:03:00 AM PDT  

  • Pennsylvania is horrible. Toll roads all over, but the roads are still bad. Also, one section of the highway in Alaska due to frost heaves.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 8:49:00 AM PDT  

  • PENNSYLVANIA is the worst. Narrow shoulders, always under constsruction and apparently don't believe in directional signage (try finding the Penn turnpike from I-79 South before driving past it). Plus, it's nothing but hills. I know they can't help the frequent fog. Maybe when I-99 is complete , I can get out of Western New York without passing through Hades.

    By Anonymous chiefkief, at April 30, 2007 9:14:00 AM PDT  

  • Several years ago on the Alaska Highway, through Northern British Columbia; the anchors for our pickup camper pulled the floor of the bed up about 2 inches. (Fortunately, they didn't pull all the way out) This was on a PAVED section and we were only doing about 35 mph.

    In the lower 48, Pennsylvania takes the cake. They seem to have endless construction, with nothing ever getting completed. They are probably busy paving the supervisor's long driveway, up to his big house on the hilltop.

    Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona all have good superhighways and interstates, at least out in the wide-open country, away from the cities.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 12:14:00 PM PDT  

  • Worst roads Pennsylvania and Lousiana.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 12:51:00 PM PDT  

  • The worst roads - my home state of Pa and I-95 all the way through North & South Carolina.
    Our new A class has taken a beating the last few months.
    The best? Florida has nice roads but terrible drivers.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 2:42:00 PM PDT  

  • Our vote is California for the worst roads and Oregon for the best. Returning north from Palm Desert to Canada it was so nice tobe in Oregon again. However we do love that California sun. (And the wine!)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 4:33:00 PM PDT  

  • #1 Worst state - my own state of Pennsylvania, even the tollroads are bad. Stay off.
    #2 Worst state - Illinois
    Best state (all considerations) - Wisconsin

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 4:43:00 PM PDT  

  • I choose Oregon and Tennessee as best. I-40 in Oklahoma and Arkansas are the worst. We were driving on I-40 last fall and finally had enough. Got off the interstate and took secondary roads east to Tennessee the rest of the way. Secondaries were slower, but much better on equipment and our bodies.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2007 6:32:00 PM PDT  

  • Louisania not only I-10 but many of the back roads are really ugly.
    Utah has great interstate and back roads.

    By Anonymous Ratman, at April 30, 2007 8:08:00 PM PDT  

  • By far Illinois has the worst roads in the country and in some areas, they throw salt in your wound by charging you high tolls every 10 miles.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2007 6:17:00 AM PDT  

  • I vote for Pennsylvania and as a second, for Louisiana.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2007 12:48:00 PM PDT  

  • The Stte of Michigan has the worst roads on I 75 going to Florida and the State of Georgia the best.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2007 11:03:00 AM PDT  

  • THE 559 MILE NEW YOUR STATE THRUWAY AS ONE
    OF THE BEST

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2007 7:16:00 AM PDT  

  • All interstates with original concrete exposed are rough and jarring. The ones that have been paved over with asphalt are smoother.

    Best roads overall is Texas..interstates excluded. Except I-10 west from San Antonio.
    New Mexico is 2nd best overall.

    Worst are Louisiana and Missouri.
    Arkansas is getting right up there.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 10, 2007 6:41:00 PM PDT  

  • Taking a state as a whole, not just one or two highways, Pennsylvania has the worst roads for an RV. Narrow, winding original cow paths for the most part on the back roads. Fine for a car, but not an RV. Oregon does have good roads, but by and large so does Washington. California's freeways are horrible, but the back roads are usually fine. What a shock getting off 20 and onto I80 eastbound! Same with I5 through Sacramento. So, pick and choose, bumpy freeway or reasonably smooth byway.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 12, 2007 8:57:00 AM PDT  

  • Hank and Darlene, we live in Florida and roads are not bad BUT don't blame all the tourist or people from other States for the bad driving because they have out of State license plates. They actually live in Florda but think they can get away with out renewing there licence plates AND usually do!!! Florida does have the worst drivers, rude, crude, they come here from other places to escape the crime in their "tropical paradise" and bring it all here. You have heard about our crime rate????

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 19, 2007 5:33:00 PM PDT  

  • We live in CA and the interstates are bad. Our road taxes go into the general fund instead of road improvements. We pay about 45 cents in taxes for diesel. The best, I have to agree, seem to be OR & NV.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at June 24, 2007 3:49:00 PM PDT  

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