Avoiding Tunnels at all costs

August 31, 2015 9:24 AM

I'll be driving by myself from DC to Erie, PA in a few weeks. I am terrified of driving through tunnels. Help me choose a non-panic inducing route.

Google maps gives me 3 basic options:

South via routes 68, 51, 76 to 79
Middle via routes 70, 76 to 79
North via 70, 99, 80 to 79

Are these tunnel-free? Should I consider other routes? I'm willing to drive a bit longer and/or pay more tolls to avoid the avoidable.

posted by grateful to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

You'll find a list of all tunnels on the interstate highway system here. Scroll halfway down the long page to 2 lists: Underground Tunnels and Tunnels Underwater. This appears to include even relatively short tunnels.
posted by beagle at 9:46 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

70 has a tunnel at Wheeling, WV.
posted by irisclara at 9:48 AM on August 31, 2015

Best answer: The middle route has a tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) at Allegheny Mountain.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:03 AM on August 31, 2015

Best answer: If you're taking 70 to 99 you won't pass through any tunnels, I drive from DC to State College, PA via that route. Same for 99 to 80. I don't believe there are any tunnels on 80.

76 is the PA Turnpike. I know the PA Turnpike has tunnels, but I'm not sure if there are any between 70 and 79, but I would avoid the Middle just to be sure.

So this former Central PA person now living in DC recommends your North route.
posted by Rob Rockets at 10:04 AM on August 31, 2015

Chrysostom: "The middle route has a tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) at Allegheny Mountain."

This tunnel is a mile long, btw. (It is a very cool tunnel, but probably not ideal for the tunnel-phobic.)

irisclara: "70 has a tunnel at Wheeling, WV."

Quarter-mile, feels a bit more like an urban underpass than a tunnel-tunnel.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:33 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: 70 to breezewood one more stop westward to bedford
99 north to 22 west
22 west to 422 west/north
422 west/north to 79 north
posted by splen at 11:33 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

I don't have an answer for this question, but if you'd like to be able to answer it for yourself easily on the road, get a road atlas aimed at truck drivers. They identify all tunnels (and anything else you'd have to route around if you were driving an oversized vehicle or hazardous materials.) Definitely a useful thing to keep in the car with you.
posted by asperity at 12:09 PM on August 31, 2015 [5 favorites]

I would recommend one of the two following truly scenic routes: Start by taking I-66W to I-81N to Winchester, VA then either:

1) Rte. 522 N to Rte. 70W (through Berkely Springs, WV) to Rte. 70W to I-68 (near Hancock, MD); or

2) Route 50 from Winchester to Romney, WV and then Rte. 28N to Cumberland (where 28 meets I-68, also).

You then take Rte. 68W to Morgantown, WV, where you catch I-79 N all the way to Erie. Beautiful mountain scenery through MD and WV and no tunnels that I can recall. And, as a bonus, you completely avoid the PA Turnpike.
posted by flyingrock at 12:19 PM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The North route looks best, with the added advantage of keeping you off of the PA turnpike.

That road is the double black diamond of highways. The last time I was on it, I was almost hit by a state police car (missed by inches) who was driving against traffic. That sort of thing is a regular occurrence, or at least it has been for me.

It's not for beginners.

Really, you can't go wrong meandering through rural PA. It's a very pretty state.
posted by builderofscience at 2:24 PM on August 31, 2015

I'd pick 70 to 68 to 79 if I wanted to avoid tunnels. Yes, 70 has a tunnel, but you'll be off of 70 well before that tunnel. 76 has a tunnel in PA.
posted by tckma at 10:54 AM on September 1, 2015