Back roads vs interstate

[sonofcy]

I would like to get opinions on the back roads vs interstate travel differences.
Although I can see the charm and possibilities of serendipitous discovery that back roads offer, the issue I have with back roads is the road is not divided so the chance of a head on collision is infinitely higher. A smaller problem is the likelihood of encountering RV specific issue re clearances and road issues like construction zones. I try to use 3 or more routing tools like a properly (fastest time) configured RV specific GPS, google maps, RV Trip Wizard and a host of RV specific Apps (currently 44).

[cliff]

We have had a Rand GPS properly configured, take us down some really bad back roads with lots of switchbacks and hairpins. Examples are CA 111, CA1, and tried to take us into a subdivison. So, the back roads even with the thought of a possibility of seeing the biggest ball of string aren't worth it. The other part of back roads is that they do not have the less than 8% grades and are really hard on the engine and transmission. The more it shifts, the more it heats and wears. Then you have the fun of having to back up to a turn around place because you can't fit. not all back roads have all of the low points registered. So drive the interstates and when you unhook spend a day or two exploring the back roads. Besides a good GPS has the sights along the way nd you can pick and chose your stops to see them. Forgot to mention when we went down CA 1 from Monterey to Morrow Bay, at the end of the trip my arms, shoulders, back, and head ached from the stress and turns.

[sonofcy]

Originally Posted by cliff

We have had a Rand GPS properly configured, take us down some really bad back roads with lots of switchbacks and hairpins. Examples are CA 111, CA1, and tried to take us into a subdivison. So, the back roads even with the thought of a possibility of seeing the biggest ball of string aren't worth it. The other part of back roads is that they do not have the less than 8% grades and are really hard on the engine and transmission. The more it shifts, the more it heats and wears. Then you have the fun of having to back up to a turn around place because you can't fit. not all back roads have all of the low points registered. So drive the interstates and when you unhook spend a day or two exploring the back roads. Besides a good GPS has the sights along the way nd you can pick and chose your stops to see them. Forgot to mention when we went down CA 1 from Monterey to Morrow Bay, at the end of the trip my arms, shoulders, back, and head ached from the stress and turns.

By properly configured I mean the GPS is set to 'Fastest Time'. In any case I have seen several cases of bad routing where the GPS was still at the default 'Shortest Distance' setting. If yours is set to Fastest Time please send me the end point waypoints so I can see how my GPS routes that trip. As far as hills, I drive a F450. The engine has never been over 2,000 rpm since standard rear end is 4.30 with the 6.7 diesel. I plugged in your Monterey to Morro Bay trip on google maps and it does look like a nice oceanside trip. Elevation varies between 13 and 932 ft with some steep sections and some twisty bits but maybe I would cut the trip in half based on your comments re how tiring it is. One thing I do is use google maps satellite view to see what the road really looks like. That has saved me from backing up more than once. Thanks for your insight and advice.

[roadglide]

I stay away from the Interstate as much as possible but interstates are easier to find fuel most the time easier to pull off for a break. I hate the heavy interstate trucking traffic and vehicles traffic as a whole. I have found a lot of state roads are divided and easer to find fuel . I have driven some secondary roads like 60 from Missouri going west to I 25 in New Mexico there is not a lot traffic along With fewer Places to pull over. I have 96 gallons of diesel fuel on board .

[Ken / Claudia]

My RV travels has been limited to OR, WA, CA. Normally to get from point A to B. The destination being the fun part. So, I mostly use the fast route which is the interstate freeways most of the time.
I agree there is a big beautiful USA that will never be seen on a freeway.
My main point coming from 26 years working State Police and several more with a Sheriffs Dept. in the Portland metro area. Yes, head on crashes are the worst. Many times they have death involved when we are talking about highways. So, I worked both mostly at night and read, learned and was involved in stats about crashes. I no longer have access to current data at my finger tip. But, most deadly crashes involving cross overs have to do with #1 DUII at night, #2 weather. You will might even the odds if you avoid those times. I think its about 4 or 5 to 1 deaths on highways vs freeways at least here. Bottom line freeways are safer to travel on than highways for many reasons. Is that a reason not to travel on them, you decide.

[sonofcy]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

My RV travels has been limited to OR, WA, CA. Normally to get from point A to B. The destination being the fun part. So, I mostly use the fast route which is the interstate freeways most of the time.
I agree there is a big beautiful USA that will never be seen on a freeway.
My main point coming from 26 years working State Police and several more with a Sheriffs Dept. in the Portland metro area. Yes, head on crashes are the worst. Many times they have death involved when we are talking about highways. So, I worked both mostly at night and read, learned and was involved in stats about crashes. I no longer have access to current data at my finger tip. But, most deadly crashes involving cross overs have to do with #1 DUII at night, #2 weather. You will might even the odds if you avoid those times. I think its about 4 or 5 to 1 deaths on highways vs freeways at least here. Bottom line freeways are safer to travel on than highways for many reasons. Is that a reason not to travel on them, you decide.

Good points re DUI and night. I don't travel at night unless it is some sort of emergency like fleeing a hurricane. One interesting thing I have noticed is that truck involved crashes seem to cluster at 7am. I have seen a few and several on one trip. I think it is due to truckers driving all night and falling asleep at the wheel. My travel window now is no earlier than 8 am and 9 am where possible for 4 to 6 hours of drive time. Thanks for the insight, I will probably adopt a strategy of selective use of non-interstate. Thanks.

[JRTJH]

In the past 10 days we've had two "wrong way on the interstate" head on crashes on I-75 in the local area. One resulted in two deaths (both vehicles had only the driver onboard) and the other resulted in multiple serious injuries, but no deaths, at least not yet. That said, I can't remember the last "head on fatality" on the "state side roads" that connect the state east/west. All of the "state highways" around this area are 2 lane roads, most with 65MPH speed limits and frequent "passing lanes".

As for towing, we use the Ford navigation system and a 2 year old Rand McNally road atlas. I prefer not to travel the interstate system when towing the Cougar, but when triple towing (frequently) I do prefer the "space and normal separation between vehicles" afforded by the divided, multi lane system.

Like Marshall, I'm more concerned with the "idiot darting between lanes to get to his exit" than I am the "head on crash potential".

I will say that when I was learning to drive, there was an "experience level" associated with how much time and how much distance was required to pass a vehicle. I've noticed that in the past 15-20 years, most "younger drivers" (at my age that's almost everybody who's driving) has lost that "seat of the pants experience" on how to judge how safe it is to pass a vehicle on a two lane road.

[sonofcy]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

In the past 10 days we've had two "wrong way on the interstate" head on crashes on I-75 in the local area. One resulted in two deaths (both vehicles had only the driver onboard) and the other resulted in multiple serious injuries, but no deaths, at least not yet. That said, I can't remember the last "head on fatality" on the "state side roads" that connect the state east/west. All of the "state highways" around this area are 2 lane roads, most with 65MPH speed limits and frequent "passing lanes".

As for towing, we use the Ford navigation system and a 2 year old Rand McNally road atlas. I prefer not to travel the interstate system when towing the Cougar, but when triple towing (frequently) I do prefer the "space and normal separation between vehicles" afforded by the divided, multi lane system.

Like Marshall, I'm more concerned with the "idiot darting between lanes to get to his exit" than I am the "head on crash potential".

I will say that when I was learning to drive, there was an "experience level" associated with how much time and how much distance was required to pass a vehicle. I've noticed that in the past 15-20 years, most "younger drivers" (at my age that's almost everybody who's driving) has lost that "seat of the pants experience" on how to judge how safe it is to pass a vehicle on a two lane road.

WOW, 2 of them is really weird. I think here in Canada every one we ever have is national news and they are extremely rare. As far as the other interstate dangers with dartigmorons, yes that is a valid concern. I will try to remember that and stay in the leftmost but 1 lane to avoid them.

While I am here, if you visit Canada keep in mind we had some idiots design our roads a while back (they may still) with disappearing right lanes. Do NOT drive a big rig in the rightmost lane, it only leads to an exit most of the time. From what I remember your interstates are safe to remain in the right lane but I prefer a few lanes to the left.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by sonofcy

WOW, 2 of them is really weird. I think here in Canada every one we ever have is national news and they are extremely rare. As far as the other interstate dangers with dartigmorons, yes that is a valid concern. I will try to remember that and stay in the leftmost but 1 lane to avoid them.

While I am here, if you visit Canada keep in mind we had some idiots design our roads a while back (they may still) with disappearing right lanes. Do NOT drive a big rig in the rightmost lane, it only leads to an exit most of the time. From what I remember your interstates are safe to remain in the right lane but I prefer a few lanes to the left.

Most of our interstates are pretty clearly marked if there's an "ending lane" Most have a yellow overhead "EXIT ONLY" sign over the lane that ends with ample warning to "merge left". Once the lane is "designated exit only" if you notice, almost always, the white interrupted lane markings change from "narrow interrupted white" to "thick interrupted white" and the last couple of hundred yards, they are "thick solid white"....

If you're paying attention to the big green exit signs and the yellow "EXIT ONLY" signs, it's pretty difficult to get "trapped in an exit lane" ….. But, if you're "fiddling with the TPMS" and "resetting the GPS" and "checking that new rear view camera monitor"..... well...…

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by sonofcy

WOW, 2 of them is really weird. I think here in Canada every one we ever have is national news and they are extremely rare. As far as the other interstate dangers with dartigmorons, yes that is a valid concern. I will try to remember that and stay in the leftmost but 1 lane to avoid them.

While I am here, if you visit Canada keep in mind we had some idiots design our roads a while back (they may still) with disappearing right lanes. Do NOT drive a big rig in the rightmost lane, it only leads to an exit most of the time. From what I remember your interstates are safe to remain in the right lane but I prefer a few lanes to the left.

I think Canada has about 27 million drivers all in(cars, commercial vehicle's etc). Come south and you'll encounter that many just In NY and NJ. The US has around 225 million licensed drivers. The numbers are from 2016.

I think the US may have shared some of their highway engineers with Canada!

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by sonofcy

WOW, 2 of them is really weird. I think here in Canada every one we ever have is national news and they are extremely rare. As far as the other interstate dangers with dartigmorons, yes that is a valid concern. I will try to remember that and stay in the leftmost but 1 lane to avoid them.

While I am here, if you visit Canada keep in mind we had some idiots design our roads a while back (they may still) with disappearing right lanes. Do NOT drive a big rig in the rightmost lane, it only leads to an exit most of the time. From what I remember your interstates are safe to remain in the right lane but I prefer a few lanes to the left.

Here in Texas, and I presume many other states, it is illegal to drive in the left lane. It is designated for passing only. It isn't always enforced but I wish it was. Forcing people to use the right lane for passing gets dangerous as they drive into blind spots.

[flybouy]

I had a Rand McNally RV GPS when they first came out with the RV specific unit. It was horrendous. I chalked it up to the "new tech". The Garmin's I have had and currently have are far superior to that experience. The Garmin will route me around sharp turns, steep grades, low bridges, weight and propane restrictions, etc.

As for taking the "back roads" I enjoy the slower pace and the scenery. Not having a barrier between lanes is less of a hazard in my mind than the jokers cutting me off and jamming on the brakes to make an exit ramp. But being retired, I have the luxury of time.

Only you know what your priorities, preferences and limitations are. The most important thing to me is choosing the least stressful most enjoyable experience.

[CedarCreekWoody]

"Hope to spend a decent amount of time in Texas basically in November 2021 for a month, so any tips would be appreciated."

We'll keep the lights on for you! November should be a great time to visit. Weather is usually good that time of year. Do be aware there is a lot difference between north and south Texas so plan carefully.

[sonofcy]

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

"Hope to spend a decent amount of time in Texas basically in November 2021 for a month, so any tips would be appreciated."

We'll keep the lights on for you! November should be a great time to visit. Weather is usually good that time of year. Do be aware there is a lot difference between north and south Texas so plan carefully.

Uh oh, which ones are the white hats?

[gearhead]

I'll drive in the left lane if the right is all beat up from truck traffic.
Y'all be careful when you come down here. We have a lot of roads with 75MPH speed limits, not just interstates but 2 lane state roads as well.

[kksfish]

Originally Posted by gearhead

I'll drive in the left lane if the right is all beat up from truck traffic.
Y'all be careful when you come down here. We have a lot of roads with 75MPH speed limits, not just interstates but 2 lane state roads as well.

Couldn’t agree more! Here in the south I95 Georgia,Carolinas, Florida the right lane will destroy your trailer and your kidneys when driving the truck w/o trailer.
I have gotten a lot of one finger waves while towing in the left lane even though I relax my normal 70 MPH limit and increase my speed based on conditions....

[CedarCreekWoody]

In California the motorcycles driving in between the lanes of traffic blow my mind (and nerves!)

[linux3]

U.S. routes like US 30 and US 5 and such are truck routes and many are divided and clearance is fine.
We much prefer US routes but that's just us.

In NY state the law is "slower traffic keep right" and "keep right except to pass". However, I do wish it was enforced more.

[rhagfo]

While towing on interstates is easier, straighter, gentler hills easy to pass, I still like driving on secondary highways, I have the TV with the necessary power to keep up with traffic.

[Roscommon48]

Don't over think your travels. Using 3 or more tools to figure out what route? Too much.


Driving always has risks.



Do both ways in driving, the interstate and the 'back roads' ....enjoy life.