Fun Driving Roads

The Kancamagus Highway is NH Route 112 between Lincoln,NH and Conway, NH. It is one of the most gorgeous roads you will ever drive on, esp. in the fall (provided you don't get snarled up with the leaf-peepers). It's more of a cruising road than a B-road you attack, but it's great nonetheless. Along the route there are covered bridges, waterfalls, scenic outlooks, and not a trace of anything commercial.

I also had a blast on the Pacific Coast Highway during my road trip earlier this year. Spaghetti roads with lots of elevation changes, sheer rock walls to one side, the Pacific Ocean to the other. For me, it was easily the highlight of the trip.

benzbaron wrote: I got a couple in california. Highway 84 to skyline blvd. in the hills around the bay area. Good road, a bit of traffic though. You can also take woodside road to kings mountain road, a really tight road with a few hairpins to test the suspension. Very little traffic. The road to the lick observatory above san jose is wild, tight, steep, and bumpy. Great way to test new suspension components. You can even go over the other side and end up in pleasanton. I won't even mention the PCH between san simeon and big sur or mulholland drive as they are a given.

I can add to this...

Highway 9 is a lot of fun, but you have to catch it when there is not a lot of traffic. Bear Creek road is the same way, don't drive Bear Creek on the weekend though, there are too many flatlanders heading up to the wineries at the top. They drive 10 mph and don't use the turn outs.

Page Mill road and alpine are a lot of fun too.

The road up Mt Hamilton is scary, I like driving winding mountain roads, heck I commute on one every day to work, but that road is so narrow and the consequence of going "off" is so severe, I was sweating the whole time. I had this image of being punted off of the road by some kid in an evo, understeering wide around a blind corner..... it doesn’t help that the bottom section of the road is littered with accident debris. Beautiful drive though

4cylndrfury wrote:

cxhb wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: theres a stretch of Kings mills road in Mason, Ohio that crosses a river and climbs a steep hill on either side, has a wicked 180° hairpin that climbs probably 10 feet or so at a 30' radius, a sever S turn on a tight corner of the bridge with a quick drop off at the end, and lots of twisties both on and off camber for extra hooliganism. it would make for a fun 40 seconds or so when driven in anger. You could combine several miles of street in the area into a real fun road course - all within 5 or ten minutes of each other...the only downside is theres several miles of straight in between each zone. Could be a cool TT course if you started and stopped the clock when entering/exiting the challenging spots.

nice to see someone from sw ohio. Another good set of roads is West Kemper. It leads to Old Colerain, lots of fast sweepers that really keep you on your toes. Right before that road gets twisty, there is a cut off to the right called Dunlap. Dunlap is downhill starting from Old Colerain and will scare you to death, very steep grades, blind off camber turns, good on cambers, and one spot that is ALWAYS slicked with gravel so you have to be careful. Really works your brakes... from there you keep that will eventually lead to River Rd. basically anything from there is good.... Bank Rd. Stonemill, and Yeatman... ughh... just as scary as Dunlap but one lane and the grades arent as steep. These roads are fun but i definitely dont push anything hard on them. just spirited little trips... and I would avoid them in the dark.

I know that spot, youre right, its fun in the afternoon, at 9pm, not so much. Another fun spot is in west chester, Barrett road where it comes off West Chester road, and heads up to Grinn st (yes, there is a corner of Grinn and Barrett ). A fun twisty that takes you through a roling S turn, down a pretty steep on camber long turn, through and then shoots you up through the trees by Kheener park

We need to meet up and go for a cruise sometime when the weather is nicer. Like a small SW Ohio tour lol. It's funny, anything north of Dayton is about as boring and flat as can be, but once you get near our little corner its not too bad.

More Cali stuff.

I'm a big fan of highway 32 from Butte Meadows to where it dead-ends at highway 36... this is probably my favorite stretch of public road. Nothing too intense, but a good 20 miles that's banked really well for 60mph. In the winter there's a couple shady corners that see black ice, though.

Highway 36 between Red Bluff and the Coast has some very interesting sections... particularly the single lane bit, and the two high-percent grades (the steeper/longer of which is the only place I've experienced brake fade on the street).

The hopland grade is pretty awesome, that's highway 175 from Hopland to Lakeport. I've only driven it once, and that was in the Bronco, but I'm just looking to go back in something with a lower COG.

Other one I'm thinking of off the top of my head is Honeyrun between Chico and Paradise. Not really for the faint of heart, it's lane-and-a-half at best, follows a canyon wall,and I don't think there's much in the way of guardrails. I've never driven it in anger, and the hardest I've hit it was maybe 6/10ths. I don't think I'd ever push it any harder than that, I'd rather not end up a fireball on the valley floor.

"road to hana" in hawaii. (maui).

leave mid-morning, and you wont follow i pile of other tourists.

rent the smallest best handling car you can. great thrill.

killed a set of brake pads in a week in maui. LOTS of great roads there

Highway 178 out of Pickens SC from Highway 11 to Rosman NC. I haven't driven it in a lot of years, but it's at the top of my list. Whenever I'm in the area I try to drive it from one end to the other. Last trip was in a E150. One of these days I'll have to haul the RX-7 up for some mountain fun. Living on the coast sucks.

Good suggestion Reverend and Capt Slow. 36 is a gnarley road, awesome. I hit it a couple months ago on my bike. We actually hit I think A16 from redding to 36, A16 goes through Uno and Ono and Plattina. What a road that is also. A wild ride it was. I had met with my old man and uncle up in Burney and then we drove to the Redding to the Coast. Actually they chased me in a car while I rode my bike, I think it was the longest 180miles I have ever driven. Mountain range after mountain range until you end up in the redwoods.

I actually hit snow driving my bike on 89 through lassen. You should have seen me when I talked to the rangers at the Lassen park entrance, I asked, "what elevetion does this road go to?" 8500ft through snow on a bike with street tires. Damn I almost froze. What a wild trip that was! The funny part is it was the north side of the road that was worse than the peak, I swear it took me 7 hours to do 200miles.

Another one since y'all got me started. Take highway 49 from 80 east. That is another wild ride. Especially past 89 when you get to the dank side of the mountain and it is all wet. My mom actually lives right off 49 in North San Juan if any of y'all want to know where bitchin roads are there just ask.

Glendora Ridge Road, from Mt Baldy West to Azusa. I (figuratively, of course) PIITB of my rental Stratus out there, made three end-to-end runs and there was not much left of the front tires by the end of the third.

type "Mt Baldy" into google maps, and look at the satellite images. sweet.

In NW Ohio the locals freak if there is a 5 degree bend in the road, of course there are very few of these so nobody gets too afraid.....

aussiesmg wrote: In NW Ohio the locals freak if there is a 5 degree bend in the road, of course there are very few of these so nobody gets too afraid.....

Thats what im sayin! we need to set up a drive... bummer your in NW, the roads down here arent so bad...

PA 220. It gets good about 20 miles south of the NY/PA border. Nice on 2 wheels

The road to Hana, boy that takes me back, August 1983. I rented a Toyota Tercel, fried the brakes and the clutch (due to a balky shifter) great road. Even discovered that George Harrison had a house there, discovered it by accident. My wife and I stopped on the side of the road to take some pics of some nice flowers and a security guard showed up, wanting to know what we were doing. Until he brought it up we had no idea who's house it was, we just liked the flowers. He was nice enough to take some pics of us standing in front of the entrance with these hanging flowers.

Mass Route 2 between charlemont and North Adams... Not the best but real fun for the big 180 hair pin.

Probably Bear Mountain Parkway, or Saw Mill Parkway.

yeah..they're good :D

Ohio has quite a few good driving roads, you just have to be east of 71 and or south of 70.

One good one that has shown up in a few mag "best driving road" articles is State Route 83. The best part is south of Coshoction to McConnelsville and driving it will make you tires in a good way. Quite a lot of it was repaved this year so it is nice and smooth.

I would be up for an Ohio drive. The roads around Columbus are about the only thing I don't like, too boring.

cxhb wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote:

cxhb wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: theres a stretch of Kings mills road in Mason, Ohio that crosses a river and climbs a steep hill on either side, has a wicked 180° hairpin that climbs probably 10 feet or so at a 30' radius, a sever S turn on a tight corner of the bridge with a quick drop off at the end, and lots of twisties both on and off camber for extra hooliganism. it would make for a fun 40 seconds or so when driven in anger. You could combine several miles of street in the area into a real fun road course - all within 5 or ten minutes of each other...the only downside is theres several miles of straight in between each zone. Could be a cool TT course if you started and stopped the clock when entering/exiting the challenging spots.

nice to see someone from sw ohio. Another good set of roads is West Kemper. It leads to Old Colerain, lots of fast sweepers that really keep you on your toes. Right before that road gets twisty, there is a cut off to the right called Dunlap. Dunlap is downhill starting from Old Colerain and will scare you to death, very steep grades, blind off camber turns, good on cambers, and one spot that is ALWAYS slicked with gravel so you have to be careful. Really works your brakes... from there you keep that will eventually lead to River Rd. basically anything from there is good.... Bank Rd. Stonemill, and Yeatman... ughh... just as scary as Dunlap but one lane and the grades arent as steep. These roads are fun but i definitely dont push anything hard on them. just spirited little trips... and I would avoid them in the dark.

I know that spot, youre right, its fun in the afternoon, at 9pm, not so much. Another fun spot is in west chester, Barrett road where it comes off West Chester road, and heads up to Grinn st (yes, there is a corner of Grinn and Barrett ). A fun twisty that takes you through a roling S turn, down a pretty steep on camber long turn, through and then shoots you up through the trees by Kheener park

We need to meet up and go for a cruise sometime when the weather is nicer. Like a small SW Ohio tour lol. It's funny, anything north of Dayton is about as boring and flat as can be, but once you get near our little corner its not too bad.

Agreed. Ive often thought about what kind of a touring course you could come up with. Theres so much to choose from between Cincinnati and Lebanon. Id prefer a good half hour to hour on side streets, staying off the freeway if possible, and hit as many places as the route and time would allow. Id also prefer a start/stop thats the same place - it would be cool if that place were a cool spot like quaker steak and lube. I may get creative with google maps and see what I get! Who knows, the first inaugural South West Ohio Grass Roots Rally (SWOGRR ) may take place in autumn 2010!

Any Canadians on here? Prettiest road I know is #118 ... goes through Haliburton, past lakes and rock cuts, Port Carling, water on both sides and up to Parry Sound, blasted through steep granite with inukshuks standing sentinel on every rockface.

Toyman01 wrote: Highway 178 out of Pickens SC from Highway 11 to Rosman NC. I haven't driven it in a lot of years, but it's at the top of my list. Whenever I'm in the area I try to drive it from one end to the other. Last trip was in a E150. One of these days I'll have to haul the RX-7 up for some mountain fun. Living on the coast sucks.

That's a great road. Have you seen the place with all the old B series Mack trucks?

US Highway 276 over Ceasar's Head to or from Brevard is pretty good too.

Capt Slow, Reverend Dex, benzbaron, and AngryCovair, you are making me so homesick for Cali. It's almost impossible to not find great roads there. I loved the Mt Hamilton Rd.

AL hwy 27 out of Enterprise north to Ozark is not bad. It ain't hwy 130 though.

spitfirebill wrote:

Toyman01 wrote: Highway 178 out of Pickens SC from Highway 11 to Rosman NC. I haven't driven it in a lot of years, but it's at the top of my list. Whenever I'm in the area I try to drive it from one end to the other. Last trip was in a E150. One of these days I'll have to haul the RX-7 up for some mountain fun. Living on the coast sucks.

That's a great road. Have you seen the place with all the old B series Mack trucks? US Highway 276 over Ceasar's Head to or from Brevard is pretty good too.

and continuing from Brevard to Waynesville

another is from Landrum to Saluda

Mulholland and other connecting roads in the Santa Monica mtns. Angeles Crest hwy+ many more in the Angeles Natl Forest. Hwy 33 in the Los Padres Natl Forest...

A couple more just to rub it in.

The road to Mt. Wilson in LA. The road to lake arrowhead out of san bernadino. The road to Palomar mountain outside of san diego. This one is actually really cool because you can go through the Pala valley to the indian casino, and in indian country you gotta watch out for injuns! There is also 94 in san diego that goes to the border town of tecate.

4cylndrfury wrote:

cxhb wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote:

cxhb wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: theres a stretch of Kings mills road in Mason, Ohio that crosses a river and climbs a steep hill on either side, has a wicked 180° hairpin that climbs probably 10 feet or so at a 30' radius, a sever S turn on a tight corner of the bridge with a quick drop off at the end, and lots of twisties both on and off camber for extra hooliganism. it would make for a fun 40 seconds or so when driven in anger. You could combine several miles of street in the area into a real fun road course - all within 5 or ten minutes of each other...the only downside is theres several miles of straight in between each zone. Could be a cool TT course if you started and stopped the clock when entering/exiting the challenging spots.

nice to see someone from sw ohio. Another good set of roads is West Kemper. It leads to Old Colerain, lots of fast sweepers that really keep you on your toes. Right before that road gets twisty, there is a cut off to the right called Dunlap. Dunlap is downhill starting from Old Colerain and will scare you to death, very steep grades, blind off camber turns, good on cambers, and one spot that is ALWAYS slicked with gravel so you have to be careful. Really works your brakes... from there you keep that will eventually lead to River Rd. basically anything from there is good.... Bank Rd. Stonemill, and Yeatman... ughh... just as scary as Dunlap but one lane and the grades arent as steep. These roads are fun but i definitely dont push anything hard on them. just spirited little trips... and I would avoid them in the dark.

I know that spot, youre right, its fun in the afternoon, at 9pm, not so much. Another fun spot is in west chester, Barrett road where it comes off West Chester road, and heads up to Grinn st (yes, there is a corner of Grinn and Barrett ). A fun twisty that takes you through a roling S turn, down a pretty steep on camber long turn, through and then shoots you up through the trees by Kheener park

We need to meet up and go for a cruise sometime when the weather is nicer. Like a small SW Ohio tour lol. It's funny, anything north of Dayton is about as boring and flat as can be, but once you get near our little corner its not too bad.

Agreed. Ive often thought about what kind of a touring course you could come up with. Theres so much to choose from between Cincinnati and Lebanon. Id prefer a good half hour to hour on side streets, staying off the freeway if possible, and hit as many places as the route and time would allow. Id also prefer a start/stop thats the same place - it would be cool if that place were a cool spot like quaker steak and lube. I may get creative with google maps and see what I get! Who knows, the first inaugural South West Ohio Grass Roots Rally (SWOGRR ) may take place in autumn 2010!

Ha, we should make it happen. The first annual SWOGRR run. There are a couple of people around here that I used to go on little drives like that with that are readers but do not post and im sure they would love to come along. We do tend to throw some start/stops in there along the way, and there IS a new Quaker Steak & Lube close by among all the roads I have mentioned.

ignorant wrote: Mass Route 2 between charlemont and North Adams... Not the best but real fun for the big 180 hair pin.

That just BEGS to be driven in a spirited manner... NICE

Oh, I forgot Highway 29 from Calistoga to the Napa county line. That's a fun little section