The "Perfect" U.S. Road Trip

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 03/25/2015 at 18:06 • Filed to: road trip

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And one alternate, according to this guy:

Randy Olson, a fourth-year graduate research assistant at Michigan State University, previously used a genetic algorithm to figure out the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Now Olson is back and he's using that same algorithm to map out the perfect U.S. road trip. Actually he created two perfect road trips, with help from Tracy Staedter.

The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! hits 50 major national landmarks, historical sites, parks, and monuments. Drivers get to travel across all 48 contiguous states, covering 13,699 miles in a bare minimum of 9.33 days (although Olson recommends 2-3 months to really take it all in).

Meanwhile, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! focuses on hitting major cities in every state but North Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. It can be completed in a mere 12,290 miles.

via BoingBoing, via The Bold Italic

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/25/2015 at 18:13

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I'll trust an algorithm to plan my road trips when it's the one driving the car.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/25/2015 at 18:18

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Don't get me wrong, it's always sunny in Philadelphia, but there's so much more interesting stuff outside that tiny segment of this glorious state. This is probably true for most states, but it looks like you spend about 30 miles in PA down by Philly, then about 30 more up by Erie (where it doesn't even have a stop). Pretty big oversight for a state of 12.8 million.

Looks like Nevada got the shaft too, with just the nugget by Las Vegas being represented.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 03/25/2015 at 18:18

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How convenient for you - ha!

revrseat70 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/25/2015 at 18:25

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Now can we get the perfect enthusiast's road trip: hit all the curviest, most scenic roads and iconic automotive places/tracks?

ttyymmnn > vdub_nut: scooter snob 03/25/2015 at 18:28

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Well, the trick is touching every state, not getting a comprehensive view of it. I'm prefer western PA, myself.

ttyymmnn > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/25/2015 at 18:29

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I would love to make that trip. When I saw that article a few weeks ago, I got the itch to drive it. If not all at once, then in three or four segments. And I would definitely take the drive through Canada. Once through OH should be enough for anybody.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > ttyymmnn 03/25/2015 at 18:35

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There's definitely some cool stuff out there, but I'm an eastern half guy myself.

Plus, we're closer to the beach... err, shore.

472CID > vdub_nut: scooter snob 03/25/2015 at 18:44

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There really isn't much in Nevada besides Las Vegas, especially if you consider Tahoe all California.

benjrblant > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/25/2015 at 18:55

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All 48? All 48 excluding North Dakota.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > benjrblant 03/25/2015 at 19:29

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The first one catches the west edge.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/25/2015 at 22:38

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If you go to Montana and don't take the beartooth highway you are dumb.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > vdub_nut: scooter snob 03/25/2015 at 23:22

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I agree. I'm just south of Erie myself. And you're missing a lot of great stuff in PA just swinging through on I-90.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 03/26/2015 at 08:29

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True statement.

See also: Glacier National Park