Nomination to the "Interstate from Hell" list. - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Nomination to the "Interstate from Hell" list.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

You have to come Waaaaay up North here to see what Really Bad Roads are....

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barb - totally agree, went through there just over a month ago. We're already trying to figure out how to avoid it next fall when we head back that direction. It was AWFUL, lost a hub cap on the road, had a window valence in the RV come lose out of the wall, don't even mention opening the pantry, fridge, etc. after that trip.

It did seem like the West bound side is worse than East bound, or maybe we just don't remember the east bound side from last fall.

pkhalin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not a FTer yet, but I'm going with Barb on this. Took the 5er down to Havasu last Memorial weekend and yes, kinda got beat to hell. Nasty!

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

I-10 in Louisiana! Horrible jolts the entire length!

karen948 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ughhhh!!! We are scheduled to go that way in less than 2 weeks. Does anyone have any suggestions to avoid it without going down to the 10?

dianneandsteve · RV-Dreams Family Member

The I-5 south Seattle is not much better. They don't know how to smoothly transition an overpass with the highway surface.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

dianneandsteve wrote:
The I-5 south Seattle is not much better. They don't know how to smoothly transition an overpass with the highway surface.

We get off of I-5 in Tacoma at Highway 512 and take that around Puyallup then up to I-405. Haven't driven the RV up I-5 through Seattle in years because it was pretty bad around Federal Way - and all of the traffic on the north side of Tacoma. Of course now there is that horrible traffic block around Joint Base Lewis-McCord and don't know how they are ever going to fix that.

Barb

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

DebbieM wrote:
I-10 in Louisiana! Horrible jolts the entire length!

The section from Flagstaff to Kingman gives the I-10 a good run for its money! While I think it is close, Louisiana still is probably worse - something to be proud of?

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

karen948 wrote:
Ughhhh!!! We are scheduled to go that way in less than 2 weeks. Does anyone have any suggestions to avoid it without going down to the 10?

Where are you going? Starting and stopping points?

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I-5 south of Seattle is certainly bad and part of I-5 through California have the same issue Steve mentioned about not being able to have a smooth transition over a bridge, but I'm still with Barb on the stretch of I-40 she mentioned is definitely the worst we've encountered after almost 2 years on the road.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here's some of ours up here...

http://www.cjme.com/story/photos-highways-rowans-ravine-closed-due-severe-surface-breaks/546401

I know this doesn't apply to your Interstate road but thought I'd share our hurts....

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I-205/I-580 between I-5 and I-680 in California is really bad westbound, at least it was last year. Really rough pavement. I-20 between Jackson MI and Shreveport LA was also bad going West in March, going over 50mph was tough. We have taken I-59 between Chattanooga TN and Birmingham AL a couple times and it was rough each time.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

It has been quite a few years since we have come up I-5 from Bakersfield north. Another candidate for the Hall of Shame - - in fact I think it is worse than the Flagstaff-Kingman stretch we did. Some places they have scraped most of the asphalt off down to the concrete - notice I said most. Of course no warning when we were going to hit such a section like that. Just enough patches left to create jarring - had the microwave fly open, etc. Of course it was when I was driving!

Barb

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

Karen,

A friend warned us just before we traveled it. We never had cabinets open, but I made sure to find a way to tie shut the cabinets with dishes/glasses. Find a way to spread out the stuff in the fridge so things can't move around. Put towels or wadded up newspaper. Just watch your breakables. Once you arrive at your destination, SLOWLY open your cabinets and fridge and watch for things that might fall out.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Over the past 9 years I've master the art of getting a hand up to catch things that have moved when opening a cabinet. Usually just a plastic container that was put in at the last minute. But this was the first time we shook enough for the microwave door to become unlatched.

Barb

Bill and Jodee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I-5 north through Stockton, CA, used to be the absolute worst I'd ever traveled, and was "known" by many to be miserable. Last time I drove it they had resurfaced it and it was sweet. At least there's hope

)))))

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

We came up from Patterson, through Stockton, to Red Bluff. Road was in good shape, very little bumps. The problem was the WIND! In fact we are staying another day in Red Bluff in so we don't have another day being buffeted by the 30 mph winds.

Barb

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, I've learned something from this thread. For a long time, I had the feeling that the Oklahoma roads were the worst in the nation, including the interstates. However, after reading all this, I guess I need to change my feelings.

Terry

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry - we've driven I-40 / I-44 and I-35 in OK, I'll take those highways any time over the stretch of I-40 Barb mentioned at the start of this thread. Knowing you have almost the same model / floor plan / year of your Mobile Suites that we have, can you ever recall the wooden window valence over the dresser coming out from the wall/ceiling? I think we've put a few more miles on our 5th wheel than yours and we had NEVER had that happen before.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Well, I've learned something from this thread. For a long time, I had the feeling that the Oklahoma roads were the worst in the nation, including the interstates. However, after reading all this, I guess I need to change my feelings.
Terry

Terry:

I truly wish Oklahoma roads were the worst in the US. But alas, after towing our rig in all states except NJ and Hawaii, I can tell you they are not. But for one example: I-76 NE of Denver makes me wishing to travel on Oklahoma roads.LOL

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

NWescapee wrote:
Terry - we've driven I-40 / I-44 and I-35 in OK, I'll take those highways any time over the stretch of I-40 Barb mentioned at the start of this thread. Knowing you have almost the same model / floor plan / year of your Mobile Suites that we have, can you ever recall the wooden window valence over the dresser coming out from the wall/ceiling? I think we've put a few more miles on our 5th wheel than yours and we had NEVER had that happen before.

Ruth,

We still aren't putting on miles yet. After 3 years in OKC with only a couple of short trips to rallies (less than 250 miles one way) and now almost a year in the Colorado Springs area (with perhaps another 2 years to stay here), we obviously aren't putting lots of miles on our rig. And yes, it is the same floor plan as yours, maybe even the same year.

However, after some time here in Colorado, we will be doing some traveling. So far, no definite plans on where yet, but I do want to hit the national parks in Utah.

Terry

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill and Linda wrote:

Terry:
I truly wish Oklahoma roads were the worst in the US. But alas, after towing our rig in all states except NJ and Hawaii, I can tell you they are not. But for one example: I-76 NE of Denver makes me wishing to travel on Oklahoma roads.LOL

Bill,

Be careful of what you wish for with regards as to where to travel. Right now, Oklahoma is not a good place due to the nasty weather. The tornado that went through the area the other night did a lot of damage at an RV park in Oklahoma City.

Over 20 Injured after OKC RV Park Takes Direct Hit from Storm

The Roadrunner RV park was a pretty nice park, but from my way of thinking, it was too close to the "track" that the Moore tornadoes tend to take.

Terry

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

I drove I-5 northbound from L.A. To Sacremental last night. Part of it is still "freshly plowed" if you know what I mean. The left lane isn't quite so bad!

Bill and Jodee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bummer Mark! It is so heavily traveled you'd think it would be a priority - although closures to repair would be a different kind of hell

Barb, don't even get me started on the wind!! Our last two trips were exhausting with the high winds, and I plan to sit them out from now on!!

Jodee

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Mark - we drove I-5 from just north of Bakersfield to Sacramento a week ago and it seemed a lot worse than last year. Obviously the construction they started has messed it up again. If you're in the area for the weekend, we'll be at El Dorado Hills Art & Wine Affaire all weekend!!

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Somewhere along that section of I-5 you will find one of our hubcaps. We came down I-5 last fall and I don't remember it being that bad. The section from Lost Hills to Patterson is really, really bad. Maybe we should all get T-shirts - "I survived I-5 2015!"

Barb

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

I do CA99 and I5 every day, sometimes twice. That's why I have this permanent vibrato in my voice. It's kind of annoying but it has helped with my singing career. 99 is actually better than I5 but more congested. Sometimes when it coughs the congestion clears out. Nobody talks about the highways in the Los Ang-hell-us area. We lost a truck in one of those craters. At first glance you'd think it was a sink hole but then you realize it is just California government functioning as normal. Road maintenance can wait.

A couple of years ago eastbound I40 going into OK City was a fun stretch to bounce along. They have fixed that. Still, nothing quite like testing your suspension in California.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Bill and Linda wrote:

Terry:
I truly wish Oklahoma roads were the worst in the US. But alas, after towing our rig in all states except NJ and Hawaii, I can tell you they are not. But for one example: I-76 NE of Denver makes me wishing to travel on Oklahoma roads.LOL

Bill,
Be careful of what you wish for with regards as to where to travel. Right now, Oklahoma is not a good place due to the nasty weather. The tornado that went through the area the other night did a lot of damage at an RV park in Oklahoma City.
Over 20 Injured after OKC RV Park Takes Direct Hit from Storm
The Roadrunner RV park was a pretty nice park, but from my way of thinking, it was too close to the "track" that the Moore tornadoes tend to take.
Terry

Terry, yes I agree about the weather situation. As we come through OK City at least twice a year we keep a close watch on the sky and always stop well west or east of that area. No place is totally safe, but statistics say OK City and Moore do seem like the center of the tracks.

Mark’s comments I agree with as pertains to a stretch of I-40 more or less around and east of the city. They have seriously improved that stretch as well as sections of I-40 in Arkansas which used to be more than terrible.

A little like Mark with some of our travels, when making a run from NC to AZ for mission work, not just camping, it’s just hard to avoid I-40 as the best way to go.

Bill

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

OK, opening this thread up again. I know Barb's original post was from when they traveled westbound on I-40 from Williams to Kingman. As we start planning our fall trip back to AZ I was trying to remember last year's trip across I-40 when we left Ft. Mohave AZ and traveled to Cottonwood via I-40 to I-17 and I'm just not remembering that the east bound travel on that highway was particularly bad.

Is it the west bound side that is truly terrible, not east bound? We were originally planning to avoid I-40 altogether and slowly meander through southern UT before heading south to Cottonwood, not sure we have that option now with the change in my job situation, might have to be looking for the fastest route again this year.

Offtosmelltheroses · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
I drove I-5 northbound from L.A. To Sacremental last night. Part of it is still "freshly plowed" if you know what I mean. The left lane isn't quite so bad!

That stretch gets my vote. Before we sold the house in Phoenix,we had to drive that miserable stretch of road twice a year for several years, including once SB in a Uhaul truck and once NB in the same type rig. I swore after that when we get our motorhome we'd never subject the poor thing to that awful 300 plus miles. To top it off, ya gotta deal with the Grapevine just north of LA.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Never have understood why people are so shook up by the Grapevine. Syskiyous much more of a formidable pass, especially since there are 5 total passes.

Ruth, since your coming from the north, make Las Vegas as travel point, going down to Kingman, then take I-40 to highway 93 and head south. Just south of Wickenburg cut over to I-17 on state route 74 and then back north to Cottonwood. I know the section from Kingman to Highway 93 is ok.

Offtosmelltheroses · RV-Dreams Family Member

For us, it's been the turrible winds...

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Barb, will look at that route for our late October travel.

And since you mentioned the Syskiyous which we have now driven multiple times, any advice if we were trying to avoid that series of passes in late December if we have to return to Seattle at that time? We were thinking of Hwy 101 but not sure how far south to cut over and where in OR was the best place to come back to I5 if we have limited travel days available. Dang this job and change in status for us teleworkers, but still looking forward to spending Nov/Dec in AZ even if we have to go back north for part of the winter.

BTW, will you be in Val Vista or Mesa Regal this winter? We're likely to be in one of those 2 parks in Nov for a while and hope to be in the Tempe Festival of the Arts in early December. Would love to meet you in person.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

We will be in Val Vista (in the Fiesta section, #315) from about October 15th until the first part of April.

If there isn't a major storm, 97 is a good run down clear to Weed. You can go I-84 up the Columbia to the US 97 crossing and then head south through Bend, down to Klamath Falls, down to Weed where you pick up I-5. But since it isn't an interstate, not as well maintained as I-5.

If going down 101, go clear down to where it meets the I-580 at San Raphael, across the Richmond bridge, and continue I-580 over to I-5 or US99, then head south, over the Grapevine, pick up I-210 around the north side of San Bernardino County until you run into I-10 then on to Phoenix.

Barb

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

To add to US101 avoiding the Siskiyous, SR126 from Eugene, Oregon is probably the best route between I-5 and US101 in Oregon, but take the Beltline Hwy, SR569, around Eugene. SR38 is also decent from Reedsport, as is US30 between Astoria and the bridge to Longview, WA. Other routes in California are SR20, though it is windy and has grades, and the Lakeville Hwy from Petaluma to SR37 east.

Note that I-10 is now a mess at Desert Center CA, where a bridge washed out and might not be fixed until after your trip. They are diverting traffic down to I-8 between Indio and Quartzsite.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Thursday 23rd of July 2015 09:18:40 AM

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill and Barb for the advice. Hoping we won't need and that we'll just get to hang out in AZ all winter, but at least this gives me good options from those of you who have "been there, done that".

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

2 years ago while travelling north from San Diego on I-15 around Murrietta we hit a bump on the freeway. My wife following behind in the car said all four tires of the 5th wheel came off of the ground.

Our hell road has always been on the western edge of Los Angeles, the I-405 from I-5 to the north to I-5 in the south you can count on bumper to bumper traffic from 7AM to 7PM nearly every day.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Once upon a time, 40+ years ago there used to be a rush hour in SoCal. You could work your arrival and departures times around it but no longer. As the Bear II said its bumper to bumper all day long.

Now that we we have been in all but a few states, IMHO LA has the worst traffic hands down. When we say LA traffic we mean from the valleys north of LA to San Diego.

Last time I checked there were 36 million people in California and I think 30 million of them are in SoCal. Too many people!

So the I-5 and its younger brother the I-405 get my vote for the worst freeways.

jjhoyle · RV-Dreams Community Member

We just got through with a trip on I-20 from Bermingham, GA back to Texas. Mississippi and Louisiana were terrible with the latter being the worst from Monroe to Shreveport. They deffinetly do not put a lot of money into their road systems.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

jjhoyle: I agree about I-20 Mississippi and Louisiana. We took that section from Jackson MI west in spring and had trouble going over 50mph.

sissys · RV-Dreams Family Member

Howdy, my 2 cents worth too... I 40 thus far for us. Came here to Camp Verde Az. and hope to Not go thru this again!!!!!! Hope going to Mesa will be a tad bit more smooth sailing.......But for now loving this area.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have been over too many bad roads to nominate just 1.
What I will comment about though is the more air and rubber you have between you and the road makes it better!
Air ride hitch, Moryde suspension on the RV, Air ride on the truck, air ride seats.
And going slower than I want to drive has made a big difference.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Alie and Jims Carrilite wrote:
We have been over too many bad roads to nominate just 1.
What I will comment about though is the more air and rubber you have between you and the road makes it better!
Air ride hitch, Moryde suspension on the RV, Air ride on the truck, air ride seats.
And going slower than I want to drive has made a big difference.

Jim, does your truck have air ride front suspension?

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Unfortunately no, but new shocks helped the ride. Our front is relatively light at 10k on a 12.5k front axle so we rarely hit the stops hard.
It took awhile to see the pot hole or bridge crack and know that the truck has passed over it, but not get jolted or the steering wheel wrenched around.
For the price we paid for the truck, I'll live with the old front end. I have seen a front end swap from a rollover that bolted right in, and also a homemade system where they replaced the front shock with airbags and it rode great as well.

gypsymaus · RV-Dreams Family Member

As of yesterday I-40 Westbound just before Gallup gets my vote. They road is under construction the left lane is closed. They placed huge round barrier cones so far into the right lane only a VW size car could stay in the lane. We were forced onto the shoulder which was grated to wake up the dead. We shook so badly latches broke and a piece of wood fell from the wall in the bedroom.