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10-20-2019, 06:44 PM
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#43
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 4
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We traveled the entire length of US 60 from Virginia Beach to the California state line where it merges with the interstate. Beautiful drive and you get to visit all the little towns that were forgotten when they were bypassed by the interstates. The roads are great and most are in better condition than interstates. We plan to do it again!
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10-20-2019, 06:49 PM
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#44
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
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Hwy 50 start in Va. and goes to Calf. Changes to Alt. routes sometimes then back to 50
Pretty neat, you get to see a lot.
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10-20-2019, 07:44 PM
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#45
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miamicamper
It has always been a dream of mine to drive from one side of the country without the use of an Interstate and wondered if anybody has done it or if it is even really possible? Just curious.
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We have done three trips cross country ( Oregon to Boston) and always traveled off interstates unless we had to make a short detour for some reason. Best part is no freeway traffic, slower speeds, and you have more choices for small local restaurants VS McDonalds. Down side is it takes a little longer and sometimes harder to find an RV campsite. Wouldn't do it any other way!
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10-20-2019, 08:52 PM
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#46
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
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Several decades ago a book was published that covered this very topic perfectly. It was written (if my memory hasn't' completely failed me) by William Least Heat Moon, a Native American, and is titled Blue Highways. Blue highways is a reference to old school hiwhway maps where primary routes were in red, secondary routes in blue, smaller roads in varying shades of black/gray etc. The author had undergone a personal, emotional traumatic event in his life and wanted to both avoid as much interaction and solitude as possible. It may be a difficult book to find as it is out of print, but I have found it at Powells City of Books in PORTLAND OR, and online from them and other sites. A major consideration is what you travel in, as many [I]Blue Highways[I] contain height and weight restrictions. Other than that, go for it as you will find the true joy of travel and discovery in our great country.
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10-20-2019, 09:12 PM
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#47
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 565
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We have taken several of the old federal highways. The speed is 55 max and will take you through may small towns with speeds down to 25mph. Slower travel, better roads, and not a bad way to go. Speed is up and down so not so many 55mph sections. My parents went rout 20 from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon. They loved seeing the small towns it takes you through and did not care how long it took. So it depends if you are time limited.
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10-20-2019, 09:12 PM
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#48
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: fulltime
Posts: 680
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Most of the 5000 plus miles we have done though 20 states over the last 7 months has been on rural routes. But we plan on finishing the last 5 states using the inter states
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10-20-2019, 10:05 PM
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#49
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 291
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Buy a decent road atlas (I use Rand McNally) and learn how to identify NON superhighways. I seek 2 lane roads as identified by color. I then learned to use GPS "via's" to make sure that my route from A to B, while being the quickest, keeps me on 2ndary roads.
Maine to Florida, Florida to Glacier National Park, Alaska highway thru Canada to Alaska, all through Alaska, down thru BC to Washington, then to 101 and down to San Franisco, inland to Reno, to Las Vegas then Grand Canyon. Only drove on one superhighway, Rt. 80 over Donner Pass to Reno.
Some of my trips have involved using 2 or 3 "via's" to avoid maor highways.
Yes, it CAN be done and it is (for me) the BEST way to travel. Seeing the small towns, the occsional stoplight, visiting the occasional roadside attraction is what makes our trip so much fun.
Bob '14 Winnebago Adventurer 37F, Jeep Toad
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10-20-2019, 10:18 PM
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#50
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Oregon occasionally, Baja often
Posts: 659
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We do it on dual-sport motorcycles. Intentional.
Stop at any motorcycle shop in Oregon.
We have maps of Oregon scenic by-ways.
Other than getting frazzled among a few thousand other frazzled travelers, I see no benefit to traveling Inter-State highways.
Oh, sure, I was intrigued by the (1976?) opening of The Pan-American Highway going Canada through Mexico, but that wore-off pretty quick.
Once is enough.
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10-21-2019, 01:12 AM
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#51
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miamicamper
It has always been a dream of mine to drive from one side of the country without the use of an Interstate and wondered if anybody has done it or if it is even really possible? Just curious.
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Unless I need to get from Point A to Point B in a hurry, I will set GPS to "Avoid Highways."
When going through cities though, I will use freeways.
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10-21-2019, 06:10 AM
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#52
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,944
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwk50
Several decades ago a book was published that covered this very topic perfectly. It was written (if my memory hasn't' completely failed me) by William Least Heat Moon, a Native American, and is titled Blue Highways. Blue highways is a reference to old school hiwhway maps where primary routes were in red, secondary routes in blue, smaller roads in varying shades of black/gray etc. <snip> It may be a difficult book to find as it is out of print, but I have found it at Powells City of Books in PORTLAND OR, and online from them and other sites.
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Thanks for the tip. My county library system has a dozen copies spread out over almost as many libraries, including mine which is walking distance, so I'll be checking it out. DW is more interested in 'backroading' as she calls it than I am, but that's because she really really doesn't like highways.
__________________
Tom & Jeri
2018 Coachmen Galleria 24T Li3
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10-21-2019, 06:33 AM
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#53
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: MN
Posts: 35
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Watch out for clearance off the freeways
Just a word of warning that if you are off the freeway, know the height of your rig and watch for low clearance bridges, signs, lighting, trees, etc.
Folding the top of your rig like a sardine can could spoil a good trip!
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 w Aisin transmission, 20k Sliding hitch
2018 Grand Design Solitude 310GK
ST235/80R16 SAILUN 14ply SAILUN tires+solid lugnuts
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10-21-2019, 07:39 AM
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#54
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1
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Google Maps has a setting in route options to avoid highways which is their way of identifying interstates.
You will go down some small roads that may make you pucker but, that's the fun of it.
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10-21-2019, 08:58 AM
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#55
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: White Mountains, Arizona
Posts: 33
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It's the only way we travel.
We have traveled from Arizona to Maine, then around the great lakes, west to the Oregon- Washington coast and back to Arizona. We avoid the interstates and big cities. We love the drive and seeing all there is to see. The trip usually takes us 4 or 5 months, but it's a great way to spend the end of the summer and fall. If you enjoy the traveling part of RVing I highly recommend doing a trip like that at least once. We are on the road now, and expecting to be home by Thanksgiving, this will be completing our 8th round trip and it has been awesome 👍.
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10-21-2019, 09:01 AM
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#56
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Junior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Parker/Elizabeth CO
Posts: 14
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There is an older book where a guy drove all over the US on secondary roads. It is called "Blue Highways" by William Least Heat Moon. What's neat about reading it is the way he searched out things to see. He did it in an old van.
I drive only on the Interstate when I am trying to get somewhere quick. I have driven trips where 90% is not interstate and loved it. I think you can find great articles about great highways that cover many states, some like Highway 50 have sections that include interstate highways but others like Highway 83 run from Texas to Canada as one road.
__________________
Dan 2021 Grand Design Imagine 22MLE
2018 Nissan Titan SV Crew 4WD
1928 Ford Model A Roadster
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