Exploring Interstate 90 - The Nation's Longest Interstate Freeway

Interstate 90, commonly referred to as I-90, stretchesthe Mississippi River while in Minnesota and runs close
from Boston, Massachusetts to Seattle, Washington,to, and parallel to, the Iowa state border. The freeway
over 3,000 miles - and all of it is non-stop driving if thatruns for 275 miles in Minnesota before it enters South
is what you want. No stoplights, no cross streets, andDakota near Sioux Falls.
no designed delays at all. I-90 runs through thirteenI-90 spends its second highest amount of miles in one
different states, some for shorter stretches thanstate in South Dakota, stretching 412 miles from the
others, but a trip on I-90 will let you see quite aeast and west borders of the state. The freeway
cross-section of the United States. Some of the majorenters Wyoming just after passing through Rapid City
cities you'll see on a trip across the country via I-90and Sturgis, South Dakota. After passing through the
are: Boston, Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland,cities of Gillette and Sheridan, the roadway turns
Toledo, Chicago, Madison, Rapid City, Sheridan, Billings,northwest and heads towards Montana. Interstate 90
Missoula, Spokane, and Seattle.is inside the State of Wyoming for a total of 208 miles.
I-90 begins in the east in Boston, Massachusetts andThe Interstate covers more miles inside the borders of
heads west through Worcester, Springfield, andMontana than in any other state with a total of 551
Pittsfield (traveling over 123 miles) before entering themiles covered from the time it leaves Wyoming to the
state of New York. Nearly all of I-5 in New York is atime it enters Idaho. For a time, while in Montana the
toll road as it forms the eastern west portion of thespeed limit on I-90 was officially "reasonable and
New York State Thruway. A spur route connecting toprudent". Following the freeway through Montana will
I-90 here and given the number I-990 is the highesttake you through Billings, Bozeman, Butte, and Missoula
numbered Intersate in the country. I-90 in New Yorkbefore exiting the state via Lookout Pass and entering
runs for over 385 miles and takes you through Albany,Idaho. I-90 only travels 73 miles through Idaho but
Schenectady, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalobecause it cuts across what is known as the Idaho
and then takes you into Pennsylvania.Panhandle you can say that it crosses the entire state
Its shortest stretch in any of the states it passesfrom east to west. Inside Idaho I-90 passes through
through, I-90 is only inside the borders of the State ofWallace, Kellogg, Coeur d'Alene, and Post Falls before
Pennsylvania for a little over 46 miles. I-90 does takeentering Washington State. The original plan for the
you through Erie, Pennsylvlania before it readies itselffreeway intended for the town of Wallace to be
for a 244 mile long march across the State of Ohio.wiped out by the roadway. Town leaders took the
While in Ohio, the freeway speeds through Clevelandstep of getting the town and its historic buildings listed
and Toledo before depositing travelers in Indiana. As iton the National Register of Historic Places, thus forcing
goes through Cleveland I-90 forms part of the Innerbeltthe government to move the freeway north and
freeway system, including the corner known aselevate it above portions of the town. Wallace, Idaho
Deadman's Curve - an almost 90 degree.was home to the last stop light on I-90, it was
I-90 stays in Indiana for 156 miles and drives throughremoved in 1991 to make the Interstate truly non-stop
South Bend (home of the University of Notre Dame)travel from coast to coast.
and Gary before entering the State of Illinois. While it isWashington State is the end of the road for I-90, but
driving across the northern part of Indiana, it is only athere is still almost 297 miles to go before the freeway
short ways from the Michigan border. Illinois is home toends in Seattle. I-90 enters the eastern portion of
only 123 miles of I-90, but the Interstate does goWashington near Spokane and then takes a gentle
through its largest city here; Chicago. I-90 continuesturn southwest towards the center of the state
through Rockford, Illinois before running north for thebefore turning northwest again to cross the Cascade
first time into Wisconsin.Mountains and reach Seattle on the other side.
I-90 stays in Wisconsin for almost 190 miles andOver 3,000 miles and 13 states are covered by I-90,
passes through the communities of Beloit, Janesville,the longest stretch of Interstate Freeway in the
Madison, Wisconsin Dells, and La Crosse before takingcountry.
a long run across the State of Minnesota. I-90 Crosses