I'm getting my MINI the beginning of June & then shoving off for a cross-country jaunt - I'm interested in learning everyone's favorite local road, so as to not miss out on anything super spectacular.

Also, I've been looking for a book that looks more at good driving experiences throughout the U.S., rather than good camping, lame tourist spots, monuments etc......does such a thing exist? Maybe the NAM community could put something together if it doesn't.

Looking for some good stuff, here people - pleaes help me out!

thanks
the bill

 

Where are you starting from? If you haven't driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, it certainly belongs on your list.

 

We're leaving from either New Haven, CT or Long Island. Skyline Drive through Shenandoah is the first "stop". The Dragon, of course, then from there to PCH, I've got nothing slated...any suggestions are huge.

the bill

 

Well, if you get out to the West Coast, specifically Northern California: Rt1 from SF to LA is a lot of fun. A couple other favorites are Rt9 from Saratoga to Santa Cruz and Rt35 (Skyline BLVD)... there are of course MANY others, but those should do for a start

 

If you are going through Yosemite, Route120 on the Nevada side has eome nice vistas and twisties.

 

The road to AMVIV.

 

The road going HOME from work. ;-)
Seriously, I enjoy the Palisades Interstate Parkway in NY from Bear Mountain down and into NJ and RT 9D in NY. I have a 46 mile one-way commute with some fun twisties. I just wish there were no police or nitwit drivers...

 

When in northern Arizona, 89A.

 

Yo "thebill"
I was driving through Gatlinburg over the weekend. Downtown roads are torn up! 1-lane in either direction. I do not know for how long. So when you get down to the bottom of the BRPkway avoid Gatlinburg. BG

 

My favorite road is Route 666 NW New Mexico to SW Colorado.

Don’t necessarily like the drive, but love the name!

Windows down going as fast as you can - blasting “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC !

 

I absolutely love rt 1 (PCH) in California. Haven't taken it all the way down to LA but from Big Sur to Pt. Reyes is a really cool drive.

I used to drive the 1 up to Pt. Reyes from the Bay Area at least once a month just for the drive when I was living out there.

 

>>My favorite road is Route 666 NW New Mexico to SW Colorado.<<

lol! I'd certainly drive that one with a smile on my face too... I wonder how many of the freaky religious types avoid that road, lol.
I'm on a hiiiiiiighway to hell!

 

just chiming in with PCH as well, though a couple of different spots. the huntington beach to san clemente is great, especially laguna beach and corona del mar which in my opinion have the best beaches in california.

i also like the oceanside to san diego leg, la jolla and del mar in particular.

it's a shame that camp pendelton sits smack dab in the middle of these two runs. i can't wait for the day when they open that up.

 

Ok, Well, I'm sure this site as floated around many times, but this will help. It's a California site so... read through and take notes! It breaks it down by sections of California with some great photos and descriptions... If you're in the Sacramento Area, let me know and we'll try and get a group run together...

http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm

 

I'll be driving south on the PCH from San Fran to LA at the end of April. We'd like to make it a 1 or two day excursion. Do you guys have any recommendations of where we should stop on the way? Is there a good place to stay about half way through?

 

I thought it was renumbered?

 

Montague, MA... Actually cross thru several tiny towns so forgive me if I don't call out the right town.

Start on Rt. 63 in Montague, turn East onto N. Leverett Rd. and follow it to Lake Wyola turn right onto Wendell Rd. once the lake is in view, follow this to its end, and turn right onto Leverett Rd. and follow it to Depot Rd. Turn right to get back to the start on Rt.63.

This route will make everyone feel like a rally champ! Very tight twisty well paved road that follows a small river from the base of the mountain up to its source at Lake Wyola. You then traverse along the top of this mountain range (which seperates the Quabbin reservoir from the Pioneer Valley) and turn back down ANOTHER twisty tight road to return to the start. Very tight turns which are all banked just the right way to make it fun. Not a lot of speed is needed (or recommended) to have a great time!
The scenery is typical New England, dense forest with lots of beautiful details.

Always wave and ALWAYS keep an eye out for wildlife (there are lots of deer/moose/racoons wandering around out here!).

ciao
Rm2k5

 

As nice as the Skyline Drive is, it's a slooow drive - speed limit is only 35, Park Rangers WILL enforce the law, and it seems most tourists, motorhomes, and Harleys can't keep up the 35 mph pace. Blue Ridge Parkway ups the speed to 45 and is not as heavily patrolled and seems to have less traffic. It gets nicer as you get to NC.

 

The last time I drove 666 was last summer, from Shiprock on into Colorado it still had the number 666 on some of the signs but since then I don’t know if they have changed those signs.

So, how about Zayante Road near Santa Cruz during the season, windows down or top down if you can….you will smell the difference

 

There was a road named Route 666 in southen Arizona, but they renamed it Route 191 a few years back. That road is a nice bit of driving from Clifton Arizona to Alpine Arizona. Route 180 in New Mexico, that runs along side it is also a nice piece of road and makes a fun loop.

 

The Richard B Russell scenic parkway in the GA mountains. 2 lanes, twisty as hell, few cops, gnarly dropoffs and little traffic. The surrounding roads (29, 60) get all the squid traffic, so RBR is usually lightly travelled.

-- mike

 

All the county roads and highways around San Luis Obispo (just north and east) are as nice as I've found. Perfect asphalt with great reflectors at night, curve after curve and swoopy grade changes. Little or no traffic. Few houses or farms. Locals will be dissapointed in my sharing, but I didn't see another Mini in several days of driving around, and more smiles are called for.

 

Dietchen's Inn (unsure of spelling) in Big Sur. A really cool inn with a great restaurant. You can also eat at Nepenthes (also unsure of spelling)...and sit overlooking the ocean.

 

This is 89A above Jerome.
[I just wanted to bump this thread]

 

Oh yeah - I've been to jerome quite a few times....but never in a ride as sweet as a MINI! Needless to say I'm psyched.
I forgot about that road. Will definately fit it in.