Best/Worst Cities To Drive Through

I do not like driving through LA, Chicago or Dallas. The traffic is horrendous in all 3 places. My favorite places to drive are the southern states from Georgia to Texas. It seems you can almost always find a hidden gem to stop and eat.

 

I like driving in Chicago...never cared for Nashville.

 

My plan as always is that if I have to drive thru places like Chicago, LA, Atlanta via 285, I choose 2-3am because it's obvious. Why tackle all that traffic especially when you are on the clock.
But I absolutely refuse to drive thru NYC, when I'm heading into NE. Even the locals don't drive thru it. The GWB is a joke even at 1am.
I go round, it's not all that further anyway.

 

ChIago is the worst.

 

Hate chicago traffic, I always try to time it to go by before 0500 or between 9-12 or after 8pm.

 

Chicago isn't too bad, as long as you stay on 294 or 355. I don't mind Dallas either. But Los Angeles and all of So Cal SUCKS.

Salt Lake City is my favorite. I hate Atlanta though. That traffic down there is out of control. And don't even get me started on Hartsfield-Jackson International.

 

Atlanta is a regular stop for me (2-3 times per week) and, depending on the time of day, can be an infuriating experience. I-285 is terrible during rush hour and I usually have stops inside the loop too, which is its own set of headaches.

My favorite stretch of highway is I-24 between Nashville and Chattanooga, over Monteagle and down into the Tennessee River Valley. If there is a more beautiful spot in the country, I have yet to find it.

 

Atlanta is bad for sure at certain times of the day but like DC lane choice is critical at various points around the loop. Pick the wrong lane a good ways out from each junction and it'll really raise the blood pressure.

DC gets my vote for the worst. NYC area a close 2nd. I ALWAYS go around. No matter what time of day.

Chicago is 3rd even going around the longer way. Whoever designed those bottleneck interchanges on 294/290/90 must have been a self-loathing masochist lol lately I've been running 88/39 to get up into Wisconsin where I run just to miss all of it if in there anytime other than the middle of the night.

 

Of all the large Cities,.. LA area,.. I use that loosely is probably the worst regarding traffic, and the entire west coast due to trucks being relegated to 55 mph with other traffic thats doing 70 - 75 mph can make it hazardous to travel. I told my wife,.. if I ever get a speeding ticket,.. it will probably be in California. Then there is Chicagoland and then pretty much anywhere in the Manhattan/North Jersey area. Oh,.. and anyone who has been through Miami during rush hour,.. it can be on par with LA.

As for worst areas to negotiate and deliver loads. Pittsburgh has low tunnels, streets with 5 - 10 ton limits, forcing you onto other narrow streets that are not much better,.. it can be a challenge to negotiate to get in or out. NYC,.. any of the boro's can be a challenge. Brooklyn is always a joy yo travel in. Chicagoland can be a challenge for a novice who has never been there. Its mainly the inner city, they have 10 ton streets and some low bridges to alter your route. I forgot to mention Boston. You can not blindly use your GPS with a semi truck in Boston. You really need a local map. I usually have my laptop open with google maps up when I'm in the Boston area. Atlanta during rush hour is to be avoided if possible. Much like parts of California,.. its best to park and take a break until later in the evening.The Washington DC metro area is a constant buzz of traffic 24/7. Traffic can back up and resemble rush hour at any moment. Tourist cities like Orlando can really screw up trucks.

Other notable areas, St Louis, Kansas City, Houston, Baton Rogue, Mobile, Minneapolis/St Paul, Hartford.

I dont really have any favorite cities to travel through. I do have some notable back routes that I like to take to avoid congested areas, some are very scenic and make the route that much more enjoyable.

Hurst