[CedarDave]

#2nd Most Feared: California’s Death Valley Road (SR-190)
#3rd Most Feared: Texas’ US Route 90
#4th Most Feared: Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)
#5th Most Feared: Nevada’s US Route 50

And, yes, I have broken down with a blown radiator on 285 north of Roswell.

[CedarDave]

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[desertsolitaire]

I wonder if limited services also means no cell phone service connections?

[ConservativeMind]

I have travelled three of those.

Yes, they start to creep you out—especially when losing cell coverage.

[Jane Long]

Just take I25.

[texas booster]

#3rd Most Feared: Texas’ US Route 90

Well, I have driven almost the entire Route 90m from Jacksonville FL to Del Rio and beyond.

The most dangerous stretch was in New Orleans and in south Houston, but for reasons not related to the road.

[Wuli]

The longest most lonely section of U,S. 295 in New Mexico seems to from Vaugn south to Roswell. North of Vaugn and south of Roswell are more connecting highways and towns.

[ansel12]

Before immigration kicked in and cars improved about overheating and batteries, and with better tires, lots of travel was somewhat challenging.

Interstate 10 was sparse in the 60s with those small-town gas stations closing at night, there were water barrels on inclines to refill all the overheated radiators on passenger cars.

Females traveling cross country without a man was very rare, with all the breakdowns, flats, long stretches, gas cans, water pouches for drinking water hanging from the hood ornament to cool, brakes overheating, vapor lock, having to spend a night in a gas station parking lot waiting for it to open in the morning so that you could fill up to continue, pay phones and towns few and far between, no air conditioning and the open car windows air frying you,

[Political Junkie Too]

The most feared route among American roadtrippers is along US Route 285 in New Mexico.

The only time I drove this route was in the summer of 1985 in my 1983 Toyota Celica GT hatch-back 5-speed manual.

Route 285 is the only road to visit Carlsbad Caverns.

I had no problems and I didn't know it was the "most feared" road. I was more concerned about driving through the Mojave Desert on I-40.

-PJ

[Bounced2X]

Yep. Breakdowns, no services, no cell coverage can be ruff...;O)

[rellic]

#4th Most Feared: Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)

I drove that road when it was BAD! for 9 years or so.
They have rebuilt it and is now as good as most interstates.
so this is kind of undeserved.
Yes it is desolate and no services.
But that is common on many Big island roads.

[ansel12]

Things boomers know.

For the younger members, those bags hanging from the car are for your drinking water, the canvas bags allowed evaporation which cooled the water some.

[Seruzawa]

I don’t fear desert roads because of two things;
1- We do our desert travel trips in the spring or fall.
2- We use a Toyota.

[Paladin2]

The 5G Phone tech hype notwithstanding, there’s no shortage of US Highway miles without cell phone coverage.

That seems to be a potential issue these days.

[P-Marlowe]

I accidentally got off the Freeway in St. Louis one time and the road back to the next on-ramp was truly terrifying.

[Freedumb]

Somehow they missed South Martin Luther King Drive through the south side of Chicago.

[stevio]

I’m sure there are plenty of EV stations.

[Crusher138]

My son lives near Liberty Hill, TX and we’ve driven 285 several times. It always seems to fall towards the end of a tank of gas, too. Makes it a nail biter.

[Crusher138]

My son lives near Liberty Hill, TX and we’ve driven 285 several times. It always seems to fall towards the end of a tank of gas, too. Makes it a nail biter.

[linMcHlp]

In places, quick ascent or descent or odd banking of the road - so there are such sections where you cannot relax unless you have experience with the road.

Carry extra water, a jug of water plus a jug of coolant for the engine, flashlights, and a couple compasses. Also, a flat piece of wood - upon which, you can place the base of the tire jack stand.

The southwest is still the old wild west, including, that you may plan for what to do in self-defense, the weather may suddenly turn cold or wet in a flash, and tires do not last as long as they would on pavement with less, loose grit and sand.

Snakes may be in the shade. Cactus needles await your ankles. Coyotes, lions, wolves, and bears show up where “experts” say they won’t, or “experts” say something eco-nut-ical to the effect, that: You can reason with and/or have time to deal with the situation.

[dakine]

Drove the ALCAN in the early 80s in a ‘78 Mercury...

Pulled over on the side of the road one night in Yukon Terr. to get some sleep. Too quiet, too dark. Decided to continue driving all night.

How did we drive pre cellphone days?!!