Once while driving in Florida late at night, I missed my exit to where I was staying thanks to some confusing lanes due to construction. Up to that point, all the exits had been maybe one or two miles apart, so I figured it’d be ok, until my map updated and I saw the next exit was a whole ten miles away. So a missed exit ended up being an extra 20 miles when I was just so ready to be in bed.
Pennsylvania Turnpike, 36 miles from Int. 110 Somerset to Int. 146 Bedford Massachusetts Turnpike, 31 miles from Int. 10 (Old 2) Lee to Int. 41 (Old 3) Westfield These are both toll roads that formerly operated as closed ticket systems. With AET cashless tolls, I might expect to see new interchanges built in some places.
Also in Florida, Everglades Parkway/Alligator Alley/ I75, there's 31 miles between the Snake Rd exit (Exit 49) at the Miccosukee Reservation and SR29 (Exit 80) in the middle of absolutely nowhere in the Big Cypress, its another 21 miles from there to civilization, food, fuel, and services at Exit 101 Collier Blvd, Naples. Although not built to freeway standards, similarly US41/Tamiami Trail through the Everglades is incredibly desolate as it traverses miles from Naples to Miami.
You missed the second longest one (maybe you were not looking for it), and it was right in front of you! Take the same road, the Florida Turnpike, in the other direction from Yeehaw Junction, and it is 41 more miles to the next exit! The 2 longest in the country and they are contiguous. 88 boring miles with nothing to look at, and one whole exit. Reason for all this is because, although the state has huge urban areas, this area is empty except for ranches. Florida produces more beef than most people know. Also, this toll road used to use a ticket system. When you got on the road you got a paper ticket indicating where you entered, and when you exited, you had to give this to a toll booth operator who used your ticket to determine how far you went, and what the toll would be. That meant it was expensive to create and man these exits. So they only built one in this stretch, just so it wouldn't be almost 100 miles between exits. It should be noted that both of these stretches have plazas, those in-the-middle-of-the-road left lane exits you see on tolled highways with a gas station, restrooms, a place or 2 to eat, etc. One final bit of trivia: Yeehaw Junction had a different name before this road was built, but the government would not put this on road signs, so they changed it. Original name was Jackass Junction.
If I'm not mistaken the largest contiguous private parcel of land in the country is in this area and is used for raising cattle. Ted Turner owns more land in Montana, but it is scattered around various federal lands.
That stretch between Fort Pierce Exit and the Kissimmee exit is mostly farm land. Fort Pierce to Yehaw Jct. is 2nd longest. Yehaw to Kisimmee/St. Cloud is the longest. Ticket system or SunPass.
Old toll roads built before automated tolling absolutely suck at giving you access. That's why they always use crappy trumpet interchanges to funnel all drivers to a manned (originally) toll booth.
another honorable mention is the Kansas turnpike (I-35/I-335) with 30 miles from Cassoday to Emporia and another 20 after that from Emporia to US 56 and then another 30 after that from US 56 to US 75/I-470 in Topeka
Heading north on I-25 from Cheyenne WY or maybe Casper WY there is a sign "Next services 77 miles". There are exits along that distance, but no services. And since you mentioned the toll road in Florida - not an interstate highway - in Alaska I think the road that goes north just past the Yukon River there's a sign "Next service 277 miles"! There are a few commjnities along the way,. but no services.
They will start construction on a new full interchange at Nolte Road in St. Cloud this year. When it opens in the late 2020s, the old Exit 240 will be demolished and replaced with this new interchange. By 2030, the gap between Yeehaw Junction and St. Cloud will be 47 miles without exits in both directions. Another exit will be built five miles south for southern St. Cloud. This will reduce the gap to 42 miles between exits on Florida's Turnpike.
The rural parkways in Kentucky have lots of distances of at least 20 miles between exits. Mountain parkway has a section that is 25 miles between exits.
Nice video dude. I'm impressed you did it by hunting around. I wonder if there's a way to programmatically do it with python and google maps or something alike. I've accidentally taken the wrong way on a highway before and ended up going 20 miles out of my way due to no exits but 48 miles is crazy.
I don’t want to imagine missing my St Cloud exit and adding an extra hour and a half to my commute. I’d probably try and find one of those police crossings and use that at that point
Indiana seems to build exits fairly far apart in general for some reason. Indianapolis does this too, every few arterials will have an exit, but definitely not every one. Phoenix kinda goes the opposite direction, builds exits at most arterials and builds a lot of frontage roads if needed to help get exits closer together. There are benefits and downsides to both approaches. The nice thing about spacing out exits more is that you can reduce the strain from local short-distance traffic that might otherwise take the highway and add to its traffic. The downside is of course that traffic on the surface streets increases as people have to travel farther to get to the freeway when they do want to go longer distances, and it does increase travel times for these drivers slightly (well, assuming equal congestion on the freeways, which isn't always the case. Shorter exit distances can increase congestion and lane weaving too.)
Many years ago, while traveling west on I-40, I saw a sign near Needles, California, warning that there were NO SERVICES for the next 150 miles. The sign was right. Although there were several exits between Needles and Barstow, there was no place to buy fuel or food.
Distance between exits isn't nearly as important as distance between services. When you're out west and you see a sign say "Next services 75 miles" take it seriously.
I thought this too for years until I discovered I (and you) are wrong. Freeway means free-flowing traffic. Regardless of tolls. This is how industry professionals, and websites devoted to these highways, use the term. It makes sense. If freeway meant free to use, almost every road and minor highway in the country would be one. You can look it up. The primary definition is the one I just described. Your definition is sometimes listed as a secondary definition only. The general public is typically unaware of this. So the video is correct, and there is no need for an apology from the creator.
Once while driving in Florida late at night, I missed my exit to where I was staying thanks to some confusing lanes due to construction. Up to that point, all the exits had been maybe one or two miles apart, so I figured it’d be ok, until my map updated and I saw the next exit was a whole ten miles away. So a missed exit ended up being an extra 20 miles when I was just so ready to be in bed.
Pennsylvania Turnpike, 36 miles from Int. 110 Somerset to Int. 146 Bedford
Massachusetts Turnpike, 31 miles from Int. 10 (Old 2) Lee to Int. 41 (Old 3) Westfield
These are both toll roads that formerly operated as closed ticket systems. With AET cashless tolls, I might expect to see new interchanges built in some places.
Came here to post the PA Turnpike.
Also in Florida, Everglades Parkway/Alligator Alley/ I75, there's 31 miles between the Snake Rd exit (Exit 49) at the Miccosukee Reservation and SR29 (Exit 80) in the middle of absolutely nowhere in the Big Cypress, its another 21 miles from there to civilization, food, fuel, and services at Exit 101 Collier Blvd, Naples. Although not built to freeway standards, similarly US41/Tamiami Trail through the Everglades is incredibly desolate as it traverses miles from Naples to Miami.
You missed the second longest one (maybe you were not looking for it), and it was right in front of you! Take the same road, the Florida Turnpike, in the other direction from Yeehaw Junction, and it is 41 more miles to the next exit! The 2 longest in the country and they are contiguous. 88 boring miles with nothing to look at, and one whole exit. Reason for all this is because, although the state has huge urban areas, this area is empty except for ranches. Florida produces more beef than most people know. Also, this toll road used to use a ticket system. When you got on the road you got a paper ticket indicating where you entered, and when you exited, you had to give this to a toll booth operator who used your ticket to determine how far you went, and what the toll would be. That meant it was expensive to create and man these exits. So they only built one in this stretch, just so it wouldn't be almost 100 miles between exits. It should be noted that both of these stretches have plazas, those in-the-middle-of-the-road left lane exits you see on tolled highways with a gas station, restrooms, a place or 2 to eat, etc. One final bit of trivia: Yeehaw Junction had a different name before this road was built, but the government would not put this on road signs, so they changed it. Original name was Jackass Junction.
If I'm not mistaken the largest contiguous private parcel of land in the country is in this area and is used for raising cattle. Ted Turner owns more land in Montana, but it is scattered around various federal lands.
I came here to say this about the second longest stretch. I'm glad other people know this.
That stretch between Fort Pierce Exit and the Kissimmee exit is mostly farm land. Fort Pierce to Yehaw Jct. is 2nd longest. Yehaw to Kisimmee/St. Cloud is the longest. Ticket system or SunPass.
@jimgorycki4013 Ticket system has been discontinued. It's just SunPass or Toll-by-Plate these days.
Old toll roads built before automated tolling absolutely suck at giving you access. That's why they always use crappy trumpet interchanges to funnel all drivers to a manned (originally) toll booth.
Didn't think I'd want to know, being non-american but youtube algorithm put me here.
glad to have you
another honorable mention is the Kansas turnpike (I-35/I-335) with 30 miles from Cassoday to Emporia and another 20 after that from Emporia to US 56 and then another 30 after that from US 56 to US 75/I-470 in Topeka
Massachusetts Turnpike(I 90) has far apart exits.
There is a 30 mile stretch between exits on the Mass Pike (exit 10 to exit 41, Lee to Westfield.)
I crossed Utah east on I-70 in 1979. I recall a sign that said "No Exit for 100 Miles." Halfway across there was a private exit, no services.
Heading north on I-25 from Cheyenne WY or maybe Casper WY there is a sign "Next services 77 miles". There are exits along that distance, but no services. And since you mentioned the toll road in Florida - not an interstate highway - in Alaska I think the road that goes north just past the Yukon River there's a sign "Next service 277 miles"! There are a few commjnities along the way,. but no services.
They will start construction on a new full interchange at Nolte Road in St. Cloud this year. When it opens in the late 2020s, the old Exit 240 will be demolished and replaced with this new interchange. By 2030, the gap between Yeehaw Junction and St. Cloud will be 47 miles without exits in both directions. Another exit will be built five miles south for southern St. Cloud. This will reduce the gap to 42 miles between exits on Florida's Turnpike.
The rural parkways in Kentucky have lots of distances of at least 20 miles between exits. Mountain parkway has a section that is 25 miles between exits.
Very interesting video!
Nice video dude. I'm impressed you did it by hunting around. I wonder if there's a way to programmatically do it with python and google maps or something alike. I've accidentally taken the wrong way on a highway before and ended up going 20 miles out of my way due to no exits but 48 miles is crazy.
I don’t want to imagine missing my St Cloud exit and adding an extra hour and a half to my commute. I’d probably try and find one of those police crossings and use that at that point
Somerset to Bedford on the PA Turnpike is 36 miles (I drive it every other week lol, so I know every inch of those 36 miles)
Indiana seems to build exits fairly far apart in general for some reason. Indianapolis does this too, every few arterials will have an exit, but definitely not every one. Phoenix kinda goes the opposite direction, builds exits at most arterials and builds a lot of frontage roads if needed to help get exits closer together.
There are benefits and downsides to both approaches. The nice thing about spacing out exits more is that you can reduce the strain from local short-distance traffic that might otherwise take the highway and add to its traffic. The downside is of course that traffic on the surface streets increases as people have to travel farther to get to the freeway when they do want to go longer distances, and it does increase travel times for these drivers slightly (well, assuming equal congestion on the freeways, which isn't always the case. Shorter exit distances can increase congestion and lane weaving too.)
Lucky I live in indiana
Many years ago, while traveling west on I-40, I saw a sign near Needles, California, warning that there were NO SERVICES for the next 150 miles. The sign was right. Although there were several exits between Needles and Barstow, there was no place to buy fuel or food.
How about I-15 in Utah south of I-70 excluding "Ranch Exit" ...
Distance between exits isn't nearly as important as distance between services. When you're out west and you see a sign say "Next services 75 miles" take it seriously.
That was interesting. I took the exit in Angola because it is easiest for me to then take 20 to 5. I have driven in Florida but not that road
wow that was really interesting
You do know that a toll road is not a freeway right? Freeways are free, by definition. Toll roads charge tolls
I think he meant distance by exits on major roads and I'm sure there are some that are a hundred miles to the next town, so relax a little
yeah I should've said roads with limited access (so most interstates, freeways, and toll roads)
I thought this too for years until I discovered I (and you) are wrong. Freeway means free-flowing traffic. Regardless of tolls. This is how industry professionals, and websites devoted to these highways, use the term. It makes sense. If freeway meant free to use, almost every road and minor highway in the country would be one. You can look it up. The primary definition is the one I just described. Your definition is sometimes listed as a secondary definition only. The general public is typically unaware of this. So the video is correct, and there is no need for an apology from the creator.
@@bgrimsle whatever. I'm sorry I ever watched this stupid video, let alone commented on it.
@@thelastpitboss Ouch it's not that deep :p