US 50 -- September 2007

[Midwest Michael]

Wow, I don't think I'd recommend your travel company to your friends. It certainly sounds like they have a pretty poor grasp on the US.

Just for some clarification, The "I" in a highway number stands for Interstate, the 4+ lane superslab freeways that criss cross the US. There actually is no Interstate 50. There is a US-50, which we've been talking about. US highways are generally speaking secondary routes to the Interstates. They often are 2 lane highways, and are slower because they go through cities and towns. That said, they can also be ideal routes for roadtrips because they allow you to get a much more realistic feel of america than what you often see just off the interstate.

If I were you, I'd find a few things that you'd consider "must sees" and then build your route around it. For example, between the boneyard and Tombstone (among many other great places), it sounds like Southern Arizona would have lots of things you'd be interested in seeing, but they would be difficult to do if you limited yourself to following just one highway.

[Mark Sedenquist]

The original confusion over I-50 is ours, the hire Company suggested 50 all the way to the West then head North and finish in Vegas, we wrongly assumed I-50 headed North but it don't as we found out.

There is still some confusion here. Route 50 is actually US Highway 50. The "I" seen on maps refers to Interstate Highway # and denotes four-lane+ limited access "superslab" highways. There is no I-50 in America. Only US-50.

Mark

[Robert Schaller]

Expanding on Michael's explanation, & for comparison and contrast:

"I" highways in the USA (such as I-40, or I-35) are similar in nature to the "M" routes in the UK. They are "controlled access," commonly called expressways or freeways, etc.

US highways (such as US50) are similar to the UK "A" routes. From the 1930s to the 1960s, these were our main federal highways. The interstate system largely replaced them as major transcontinental routes, although some of us still use them that way. They are slower going than the interstates.

State Routes are similar to the UK "B" routes.

Bob

[The Taco Monster]

Mlisbo,

September is a great month to drive most anywhere in the States, as long as you watch out for the Labor Day weeend (containing the first Monday of the month). That traffic will be much heavier Friday afternoon, a good part of Saturday, and Monday.

US-50 begins in Ocean City, Maryland (a favorite end of summer destination for people who like to swim, dip in the ocean, take in the boardwalk, and a possible carnival), runs through Annapolis (Maryland's Capital), Washington, DC, and then into the hills of W. Va. You'll miss it, though, by starting in Washington, and moving Westward.

If you are interested in side trips along quiet two lane roads, and a well developed Cavern tour, I have more suggestions.

-ttm
Maybe 3 hours on 50, from DC, you'll hit the West Virginia border. The state is full of vast, mountain/valley scenery -- a nice contrast to flatter sections in the midwest.

The last Westward vestige I can find of US-50 in my MS S&T program is in Sacramento California where the road merges with I-80 towards San Francisco. Someone from California can tell us how well marked 50 is after that.

If the graveyard was meant to be the example of the very unusual, perhaps this book will have a few things near US-50. But first let me ask any other forum readers ...

Anyone who's read this book: would you be able to recommend this book for items you've seen near US-50: Lost America: The Abandoned Roadside West (by Troy Paiva)?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Anyone who's read this book: would you be able to recommend this book for items you've seen near US-50

Troy and I are colleagues and while I think his world view is little darker than my own, he is a master at evoking and capturing emotion through his viewfinder. Here is my review of that book.

Mark

[The Taco Monster]

Thanks for the link, Mark.

After seeing the book's review, I think the "Lost" part of the title had a different connotation than I first assumed. I was originally wondering if anyone who's read the book saw items of interest in it along or near route US-50. -ttm

[Mark Sedenquist]

After seeing the book's review, I think the "Lost" part of the title had a different connotation than I first assumed. I was originally wondering if anyone who's read the book saw items of interest in it along or near route US-50.-ttm

I can't find my copy of the book and I so I can't look that up. But Jamie Jensen has re-done his classic "RoadTrip USA" (my review is online here) and Hwy-50 is one of the routes he profiles and I think it would be far more helpful than Troy's book. The other book that we have reviewed and use ourselves for Hwy-50 info is LG's "RoadTripping USA" -- the review is here.

Does that help?

Mark

[The Taco Monster]

Yes, Mark, it helps ... in spades! :-)

[mlisbo]

looking for advice on attractions,diversions of interest and on the basic logistics of motor biking washington to L A. Start date about 15-9-07. wouldn't mind catching a Rodeo along the way, any suggestions?

[Mark Sedenquist]

looking for advice on attractions,diversions of interest and on the basic logistics of motor biking washington to L A. Start date about 15-9-07. wouldn't mind catching a Rodeo along the way, any suggestions?

As a first suggestion, I assume you mean -- Washington DC? One of the best travel journals I have ever seen on the Web was compiled by a solo motorcyclist -- Dusty Davis -- has some great routing tips and suggestions and some truly awesome photography.

For starters, look at the route on Dusty's map here. Because it goes right though Washington DC and might be a more interesting route than staying on US-50 as you have planned thus far!

Mark