Interstate Road Trip Tournament, Round 1, Heat 14.

[Rain Man]

Just a little offseason exercise. There are 80 different Interstate highways in the USA (including Puerto Rico). Which one would be best for a road trip?

I've set the rules as follows (in spoiler for those of you who've read them already]:

Spoiler!

I'm also including highways in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico that are essentially interstate highways, though they're not called that since they don't cross state boundaries.

It'll be a single-elimination tournament, though some will regain new life in wild-card spots to get the tournament bracket correct.

You get a minimum of 7 days on any highway, regardless of length. However, if the length requires more than 150 miles of travel per day, you'll get extra days until your daily mileage drops below 150 miles.

You may travel in either direction.

You may stop at attractions along the way, but at no point can you be more than 10 miles from the interstate.

You have the budget to stay at any hotel or dine at any restaurant within ten miles of the interstate.

You may spend multiple nights in any location but you cannot drive more than 250 miles in a single day. So you have to budget your driving time.

You may use any criteria you wish to make your vote. You can consider the driving lengths and conditions, scenery, attractions along the way, any outstanding warrants you have in that state, the likelihood of a Christie Brinkley clone waving at your from a Ferrari, or anything else you might wish to consider.

You can pick the time of year.

You can pick the vehicle that you drive. Assume that you're renting any vehicle that you could purchase for $50,000 or less (new or used). It can be different vehicles on different road trips, so you can customize to fit.

I'll post the basics of each route, but I don't see any specific website that provides a good description of the attractions that one would see along the route. You're on your own for that. Of course, you can do a google map view to see what your scenery is.

If you're reading this, mention the name of a battleship at Pearl Harbor without explanation.

Your next two competitors are:

Option 1 - I-66 from Front Royal, VA, to Washington, DC
7 Day Trip
76 miles, 11 miles per day on average
Passes through Manassas Battlefield

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_66

Option 2 - I-86 from Declo, ID, to Chubbuck, ID
7 Day Trip
63 miles, 9 miles per day on average
Passes through American Falls and the Snake River Valley

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_86_(Idaho)

Option 3 - I-97 from Annapolis, MD, to Glen Burnie, MD
7 Day Trip
18 miles, 3 miles per day on average
Passes through eastern Maryland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_97

Option 4 - I-35 from Laredo, TX, to Duluth, MN
11 Day Trip
1,568 miles, 143 miles per day on average
Passes through San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Kansas City, Des Moines, and St. Paul

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_35

[Rain Man]

Well, I've done I-86 and I don't think I'd spend a week there. I-97 is interesting because of Annapolis, but not much else. So it comes down to a short road trip through Virginia or a really long one across the middle of the country.

I've always wanted to visit Laredo and Duluth on the two ends of I-35. I've got friends in Austin and I could stop for a game in Kansas City. So it's intriguing, but man, that's a long drive.

Now, I-66 in Virginia is a very different trip. I bet there's interesting historic stuff along the route, and Manassas would be interesting. And of course we've go DC on one end, which is a great city to visit.

I think I'd do the slow and easy road trip along I-66, though I'd hate to miss I-35.

[Hydrae]

Living in Austin I have always wanted to take the trip north to Austin, MN so I have to go with I-35. Would love to spend the time in DC but how much of that is within 10 miles of the interstate?

[Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan]

I don't even know how I-97 qualifies as an INTERstate since it's completely within one state. Maybe an INTRAstate Hightway . . . (and it's boring. Nothing but subdivisions on either side all the way.)

I-66 isn't much more interesting Sure, there's Manassass, Fairfax, and DC, but don't let the length fool you. Depending on traffic, you might need the entire week just to get the hell out of the DC Metroplex . . .

I'd have to go with the I-35 drive just because it's a real interstate trip.

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Well, I've done I-86 and I don't think I'd spend a week there. I-97 is interesting because of Annapolis, but not much else. So it comes down to a short road trip through Virginia or a really long one across the middle of the country.

I've always wanted to visit Laredo and Duluth on the two ends of I-35. I've got friends in Austin and I could stop for a game in Kansas City. So it's intriguing, but man, that's a long drive.

Now, I-66 in Virginia is a very different trip. I bet there's interesting historic stuff along the route, and Manassas would be interesting. And of course we've go DC on one end, which is a great city to visit.

I think I'd do the slow and easy road trip along I-66, though I'd hate to miss I-35.

[displacedinMN]

When you end in Duluth, eat at Grandmas. Then head up the North shore.
Eat at Betty's Pies.
Stop here https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock
Play golf at Superior National.
Eat a pastie.
End at Grand Marias.

The best drive in the state.