How have I never heard of Route 20?

In reply to rdmx:

There are a number of state routes with the same numbers. For example, there's US2 that goes from Maine to Idaho, but a few hundred miles south, there's also a Rt 2 in Mass that traverses the northern part of the state. On a map, the US route numbers are shown in shields and state route numbers are in circles.

Each state often has stylized signs for state routes. In PA, the state route numbers are in a keystone.

I've spent more time pouring over maps than I care to admit. A side effect of my father being a military historian and growing up looking at battlefield maps. Now I spend time panning around Googlemaps, looking at different possible driving and biking routes...

I've drive most of 20 across NY and Mass. I don't know if I'd ever have enough vacation time to go cross country on it. We have taken route 1 most of the way between Key West and NJ. It was a nice ride but there are some real dead spots along the way.

Looking at maps can often find a better way.

I used to visit a friend in Bethany Beach DE.

First,I-87, Garden State Parkway, Lots of toll booths, then the ferry.

I-87, Jersey turn pike and the bridge.

I-88, I-81, I-476 then some connecting '95's. A little bit farther but minimum traffic and tolls. a more relaxing drive.

iceracer wrote: Looking at maps can often find a better way. I used to visit a friend in Bethany Beach DE. First,I-87, Garden State Parkway, Lots of toll booths, then the ferry. I-87, Jersey turn pike and the bridge. I-88, I-81, I-476 then some connecting '95's. A little bit farther but minimum traffic and tolls. a more relaxing drive.

once you get below Toms River, the parkway gets a lot more relaxing with a lot few tolls (tens of miles between instead of ever couple of feet) and the Ferry, while expsneive (almost $40 one way) Is VERY relaxing. It's how I go to DC and such

I was just talking to my dad about this thread. Rt20 has been part of his whole life basically. From growing up in Cleveland, going to college, to living in central MA, he's always been less than 10 miles from Rt20, and every building he worked in was ON 20.

Just a coincidence that you are talking about US 20 because I am reading a book called Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen. In his book he plots out and critiques 8 different road trips across the US, 4 going east/west and 4 going north/south. The northern most route is US 20 from the Oregon coast to Provincetown, Ma. He consumes about 110 pages just to this route. Very detailed the whole length of the trip. I'm sure some of it could be quite frustrating but to see that part of Americana from coast to coast he has it all. He avoids detours from Rt 20 at all cost.

Ian F wrote: In reply to rdmx: There are a number of state routes with the same numbers. For example, there's US2 that goes from Maine to Idaho, but a few hundred miles south, there's also a Rt 2 in Mass that traverses the northern part of the state. On a map, the US route numbers are shown in shields and state route numbers are in circles. Each state often has stylized signs for state routes. In PA, the state route numbers are in a keystone. I've spent more time pouring over maps than I care to admit. A side effect of my father being a military historian and growing up looking at battlefield maps. Now I spend time panning around Googlemaps, looking at different possible driving and biking routes...

There's a sign on Interstate 70 for an exit for Maryland Route 68 that very clearly states that this is MARYLAND Route 68, and NOT the interchange to pick up INTERSTATE 68 (which happens some 20 miles later). Every time I pass this sign, I chuckle thinking how many people screwed up and got irritated before they put that sign up on the highway.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: There's a sign on Interstate 70 for an exit for Maryland Route 68 that very clearly states that this is MARYLAND Route 68, and NOT the interchange to pick up INTERSTATE 68 (which happens some 20 miles later). Every time I pass this sign, I chuckle thinking how many people screwed up and got irritated before they put that sign up on the highway.

Yep, thinking you are going to Cumberland and ending up in beautiful downtown Clear Spring might be irritating!

My wife and I drove past the Dee Wright Observatory this summer. Camped at Lava Lake in fact! That is a fab road for sure, I particularly like the super tight McKenzie river size of the hill. An amazing variety of geology, flora, and fauna to pass through in 50 miles as well. Oregon has fantastic secondary roads as you well know.

Trackmouse wrote: Hey I live on hwy 20, here in Sisters,Oregon. If you are ever out this way, take a detour to hwy 126 up to Dee Wright Observatory. During daylight it's cyclists city, but after the sun goes down, we car people run them streets. It's the sweetest touge I've ever ran in Oregon.

Thought I knew most every cool road in the US, but that was new to me too.

Shaun wrote: My wife and I drove past the Dee Wright Observatory this summer. Camped at Lava Lake in fact! That is a fab road for sure, I particularly like the super tight McKenzie river size of the hill. An amazing variety of geology, flora, and fauna to pass through in 50 miles as well. Oregon has fantastic secondary roads as you well know.

Trackmouse wrote: Hey I live on hwy 20, here in Sisters,Oregon. If you are ever out this way, take a detour to hwy 126 up to Dee Wright Observatory. During daylight it's cyclists city, but after the sun goes down, we car people run them streets. It's the sweetest touge I've ever ran in Oregon.

The funnest part is knowing that you are surrounded by a lava field that is devoid of large, car damaging animals. You're also barricaded in on both sides by the lava field walls that are 10ft high. At night you can see someone coming several turns away, even on the hairpins, if you wreck you simply hit a rock wall, no cyclist, no deer, no oncoming past 10:30pm (hint hint) it's so dark up there because of The black lava that you can't even really take pics. I went up one night on a full moon, you couldn't even see the car. Nonetheless, an incredible, and exhilarating drive after ten PM.

Click this for a drone tour of the top

cmcgregor wrote: In reply to volvoclearinghouse: I always knew it as five and twenty too! I grew up in Geneva, 5 and 20 is more or less main Street.

Same here, I'm from Keuka Lake. Always dreamed about taking it all the way across the US. Would be fun to see Old America towns.

In my neck of the woods here in NE Ohio, 6 is much more scenic than 20.

In reply to Esoteric Nixon:n my neck of the woods here in NE Ohio, 6 is much more scenic than 20.

Yeh, I agree, Rt 6 is scenic, but what I think is special about Rt 20 is that you can follow it from Sea to Shining Sea.