Strange Maps

February 13, 2007

75 - A Diagram of the Eisenhower Interstate System

Filed under: Uncategorized — strangemaps @

fullinterstatemap-web.jpg

The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (Eisenhower Interstate System for short) spans the entire USA, including Alaska and Hawaii. The EIS serves all major American cities and has a total length of 75.376 km (2004). And yet most of it is represented here in this diagram so simple that it looks rather more like a subway map than a road map.

Some interesting bits of info about the EIS:

  • The EIS was initiated by Eisenhower in 1956, partly because he was impressed with the German system of Autobahns., which provided easy transport also for military purposes.
  • The system was considered complete in as of September 15, 1991, when the last traffic signal was removed from I-90 in Wallace, Idaho.
  • The accumulated cost of the EIS was $114 billion (original estimate: $25 billion).
  • Interstates are funded and regulated federally, but owned by the states. The only exception is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Capital Beltway (I-95/I-495), which is federally owned.
  • The name ‘Interstate’ does not refer to the fact that these Highways cross state lines, but to the fact that they were funded federally. In fact, many don’t cross state lines. Best example: the Interstates on the island state of Hawaii.
  • Most Interstates have two numbers (I-4, I-5 and I-8 are the only single-digit Interstates). Three-digit Interstates are auxiliary highways.
  • Highways running east-west are given even numbers, those running north-south are assigned odd uneven. As a general rule, odd-numbered highways increase from west to east, and even-numbered ones from south to north. And highways divisible by 5 generally are bigger and longer than others.
  • A widespread urban legend states that one out of every five miles of the Interstate Highway System must be built straight and flat so as to be usable by aircraft during times of war; this is not true.
  • The most heavily traveled area of the Interstate Highway system is the 405 Freeway in Seal Beach, California, with a 2002 estimate of 377.000 vehicles a day. The least traveled section is I-95 just north of Houlton, Maine, with 1,880 vehicles a day (2001 estimate).

For info on the provenance of this picture, see first comment on previous post.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

59 Comments »

  1. this is interesting, but where was this map first published?

    Also i notied that are are no Wisconsen cities shown in this map plus I-94W going to Madison and beyond from Chicago aren’t shown either.

    Comment by David Schwartz — February 13, 2007 @

  2. Apparently, it’s sold via the website mentioned in the first comment in the previous post. I don’t know where the map originated.

    Comment by strangemaps — February 13, 2007 @

  3. David: I see I-94 westbound from Chicago.

    Comment by Silus Grok — February 13, 2007 @

  4. It’s a little-known fact that Buffalo, New York was moved to Montana in a massive 1977 engineering effort.

    Comment by Sartorius — February 13, 2007 @

  5. I thought you’d like that map. I had no idea the 1 straight for every 5 miles rule was a myth.

    Although in retrospect, I should have known. The numerous low overpasses make it impossible to land larger planes. Plus, the roads would be destroyed by the impact of landing jets.

    Comment by cabbage — February 13, 2007 @

  6. Indeed, the Buffalo of the Bills has gone missing. But it seems that the map only shows those cities where two or more interstates meet ??

    Comment by F.Baube — February 13, 2007 @

  7. The Providence Journal published an article in today’s (Tues. Jan 13) paper concerning the collection of maps rediscovered at Brown University. They appear to have quite a collection. Some of the maps will be on display in the John Hay Library from March 26 till April 25.

    For a little more information you can read about the exhibit the Library’s news page.

    Comment by Ed M — February 13, 2007 @

  8. i love this map. saw it a few days ago, printed it out and it now hangs on my wall =)

    Comment by spatulated — February 14, 2007 @

  9. How very orange indeed.

    I love this site. I’m not sure why. just glancing at your links; I never realised there was such a map community on the web.

    It’s only a matter of time before someone does “Crap Maps”, surely.

    Comment by peterandthehare — February 14, 2007 @

  10. bah

    Comment by watex — February 14, 2007 @

  11. In fact, many don’t cross state lines. Best example: the Interstates on the island state of Hawaii.

    Primary interstates have 2 numbers (except for the ones below I-10) - an interstate branch that connects 2 interstates will have 3 numbers - the 2 digits of one of the primary interstate, plus an even number in front. An interstate branch that only connects with a primary interstate at one end will have 3 numbers - the 2 digits of the primary, plus an odd number in front.

    Except for the Hawaii/Alaska ones (which by definition don’t run into other states) - the only primary/2 digit interstates that I can think of that are completely in one state are I-4 (FLA), I-86 and I-88 (NY) and I-97 (MD). Many of the 3 digit ones are within one state, but I can’t think of any other primary/2 digits entirely within one state. Anybody???

    The EIS serves all major American cities

    Bonus TRIVIA - the largest continental US city not on an Interstate? Fresno, CA

    Comment by Andy — February 15, 2007 @

  12. I-99 is entirely within Pennsylvania, it also appears to not be on this map.

    Comment by woneffe — February 15, 2007 @

  13. Thank you Andy for your comments about three digit interstates. I was told that three digit interstates are loops that go around the city; and that they are numbered after the major interstate going through that city. Kind of true, but not exactly.

    Comment by Amol Dalvi — February 15, 2007 @

  14. The beltway-type loops are ususally 3 digit with an even number - ex. I-695 around Baltimore - each end connects to I-95. Odd 3 digits are generally spurs that lead off an interstate into a nearby city and then just die. Examples would be I-395 in DC, I-195 (Trenton) and I-189 (Burlington, VT).

    The numbering system doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to - theoretically both I-195 and I-395 in New England, for example, should be even numbered as they both connect at I-95 at one end, and other interstates at the other.
    Wikipedia does a pretty exhaustive and emarkable list of each interstate, where it is and where each exit connects to.

    Comment by Andy — February 15, 2007 @

  15. The Buffalo Montana/ Billings Wyoming mix up and the 90/94 intersection needs to be reworked.

    Comment by mplsk — February 15, 2007 @

  16. [...] 2007 Maps , Roads I found an excellent diagram of the U.S. Interstate highway system on strangemaps’ blog. Although nobody seems to be able to say who originated the diagram, the discussion is excellent. [...]

    Pingback by Interstate highway system map « Gochi Sanfrid — February 16, 2007 @

  17. I love the concept; I used to think of drawing this back in the days before the internet…

    There are many, many errors and omissions, so I have posted a new version at http://gochisanfrid.wordpress.com/2007/02/16/interstate-highway-system-map/

    Comment by Gochi Sanfrid — February 16, 2007 @

  18. That’s a hard work but cool diagram here

    Comment by PBB — February 17, 2007 @

  19. I can’t think of any other primary/2 digits entirely within one state. Anybody???

    two more are I-19 in Arizona and I-12 in Louisiana.

    Comment by Andy — February 17, 2007 @

  20. Here are the errors I can spot, including ones listed by others above:

    The following interstate highways are missing: 39, 43, 57, 73, 93, 97, 99, 24, 26, 72, 74, 82, both 86s, both 88s. But many of those are itty-bitty.

    Chicago-Grand Rapids is I-196, not I-65

    I-75 through alligator alley is missing

    I-25 shouldn’t exist N of I-90, and their junction point is in WY, not at Billings, MT.

    Buffalo, MT is used as the jct of I-25 and I-94, but no interstate or freeway of any kind goes through that town.

    But not trying to knock it - this is way cool.

    Comment by Jon — February 18, 2007 @

  21. …and the missing section of I-94, btwn Chicago and Minneapolis, as noted above.

    Comment by Jon — February 18, 2007 @

  22. Well, It’s okay for what it is. Sometimes simplification is good (that’s the difference between a map and a terrain), and this does get the idea of the interstate system across.

    While I could have done without some of the odd mistakes (I-65 to Grand Rapids? I wish…I-25 goes into Canada????), I can understand the stylized simplicity. Just don’t use it as an actual guide.

    Comment by Don H. — February 19, 2007 @

  23. [...] Ever go traveling cross country and bust out several or one [HUGE] map every time you crossed the next state border? Well, how about an easy way to travel from LA to Washington, DC, with a single 8.5×11″ sheet of paper? Possible, of course! Thanks to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, travel across the US is easy. So hop into your car (*ahem* onto your motobike) and go traveling. For more info: A Diagram of the Eisenhower Interstate System [...]

    Pingback by noah → on Hold » Genius! Interstate travel — February 19, 2007 @

  24. I can’t think of any other primary/2 digits entirely within one state. Anybody???

    I-45 in Texas; Houston - Dallas

    Comment by Jiri Selig — February 20, 2007 @

  25. A complete list of “one-state interstates” is listed in Wikipedia at:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_intrastate_Interstate_Highways

    And, I-25’s northern end at I-90 is in Buffalo, WYOMING — great little town near the spectacular Big Horn Mountains.

    Man, road geeks are everywhere!

    Comment by Tom — February 20, 2007 @

  26. I don’t know if anybody else will think this interesting, but I-97 is not only completely inside Maryland, it is completely inside a single county; it doesn’t quite reach Baltimore.

    Comment by taleswapper — February 22, 2007 @

  27. I-4, I-5 and I-8 are the only single-digit Interstates

    The Hawaii interstates are H-1, H-2, and H-3.

    Comment by bifyu — February 22, 2007 @

  28. I-4 would technically be an “intrastate” highway then, wouldn’t it?

    Comment by James Craig — February 23, 2007 @

  29. “The name ‘Interstate’ does not refer to the fact that these Highways cross state lines, but to the fact that they were funded federally.”

    Doh, that’ll teach me not to read… Or will it?

    Comment by James Craig — February 23, 2007 @

  30. [...] Strange Maps entry linked to Chris Yates’ interpretive map of the Eisenhower Interstate System.  This graphic [...]

    Pingback by The Tyranny of Google Maps « Lookabout Cycle Tours — February 25, 2007 @

  31. It seems that they always intended it to be a big pain in the ass to get from Minneapolis to St. Louis. Maybe they figured we’d just take the Mississippi river instead.

    Comment by ss — February 28, 2007 @

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    Comment by realshinyshylady — March 2, 2007 @

  33. For the record, I believe this map was drawn by Chris Yates for the 2/5/07 issue of his online comic Reprographics.

    http://www.chrisyates.net/reprographics/index.php?page=424

    Comment by colin roald — March 4, 2007 @

  34. For the record the eastern end of I-20 at I-95 is at Florence SC not Columbia SC (there is a McDonalds at the end)(I-95 does not go through Columbia

    Comment by L Nettles — March 5, 2007 @

  35. One more thing where is I-26? Asheville NC to Charleston SC

    Comment by L Nettles — March 5, 2007 @

  36. Winston Salem, NC is no where near the 77/85 junction. Its about an hour east. Statesville, NC is where they truly intersect. Being picky perhaps.

    Also, I have heard more than once that the complete Eisenhower system was not finished until recently when the Big Dig finished in Boston. Evidently one of the underground extensions was never done until then, but existed in Eisenhower’s original plan. Not sure the validity of this, but one of the sources was a Discovery Channel piece.

    Comment by Jak — March 5, 2007 @

  37. [...] Subway-style map of the Eisenhower interstate system (Picture) [...]

    Pingback by Miscellaneous Debris » Blog Archive » Linkdump — March 8, 2007 @

  38. Where are I-59 and I-24? I know they exist! LOL

    Comment by Soulshine — March 12, 2007 @

  39. [...] also particularly like the post entitled A Diagram of the Eisenhower Interstate System, but the site has so many other wonderful diagrams that it’s hard to choose a favourite. Look [...]

    Pingback by View from the Potting Shed » Blog Archive » Strange Maps — March 15, 2007 @

  40. Another thing: Erie PA is on I-90, not I-80. Ditto for Cleveland.

    Comment by kgb — March 26, 2007 @

  41. This is a really cool concept for a map.

    Clearification on 3 digit Interstates:
    Odd or even, I heard has less to do with whether it is a loop than that an even first digit means it is a spur around a city, and odd first digit means a spur into a city.

    Also I-86 in western NY does cross into PA and connect to I-90 just north of Erie.

    Comment by steve — March 26, 2007 @

  42. I must have missed the memo - when did our Interstate system start getting called “the Eisenhower interstate system”? Heck - he stole the idea from the Germans! :0

    Comment by Robert — April 4, 2007 @

  43. 80 does not gothrough Wilkes-Barre, and missing 84 from Hartford to Boston, (have stood at both ends of 80 - and driven it in three days - San Fransisco to New Jersey)

    Comment by dan — April 5, 2007 @

  44. [...] A Diagram of the Eisenhower Interstate System Tagged as: map cool [...]

    Pingback by Rue Plumet » Interesting Sites For This Week — April 9, 2007 @

  45. Believe it or not, Hawaii has three “Interstate” highways, paid under the same program, H1, H2, and H3. H3 was the last Interstate Highway completed in the US, and is the most expensive per mile, as much of it is elevated as it wraps around the cliffs on the Windward side, then plunges through long tunnels to a long valley on the Honolulu side.

    Comment by Chris Terry — April 12, 2007 @

  46. [...] http://www.motorwaymap.co.uk for an elaborate diagram of Great Britain’s motorways, along the lines of post #75 on this blog, showing a streamlined diagram of the Eisenhower Interstate System reminiscent of [...]

    Pingback by 113 - The Postcode Map of Great Britain « strange maps — May 16, 2007 @

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  49. I-72 runs entirely within Illinois between Springfield and Champaign. A rework of this excellent concept with accurate corrections would be nice. The I-94 deal is particularly goofed up - the real road is over 1600 miles long!

    Comment by TBone — June 23, 2007 @

  50. Inspired by this map (see http://www.cartotalk.com/index.php?showtopic=1671&hl= ), I made a somewhat different topological map of the interstate system. You can see it at http://www.hedbergmaps.com/store/catalog/10667 .), and a larger screenshot of it at http://www.cartotalk.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=715 .

    Enjoy!

    Comment by Nat Case — August 9, 2007 @

  51. I noticed another minor omission: I-64 should extend east of Richmond to the Hampton Roads region, similar to how I-80 extends west past Sacramento to San Francisco. Still, an interesting map.

    Comment by Kyle O from VA — August 16, 2007 @

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  53. There are 2 I-76’s??!! One in PA and one in CO/NE.

    Comment by Randall — December 31, 2007 @

  54. I’ve completed a non-simplified version (yes, all 220+ interchanges), which you can view here:

    http://flickr.com/photos/rebeccacbrown13/2164780426/

    Comment by Rebecca C. — January 4, 2008 @

  55. What do you mean ?

    Comment by music — January 30, 2008 @

  56. I can’t think of any other primary/2 digits entirely within one state. Anybody???

    I-45 in Texas; Houston - Dallas

    Comment by music man — February 23, 2008 @

  57. Very remarkable map! It not only perfectly looks, but it also convenient

    Comment by music artist — June 16, 2008 @

  58. [...] Recommended Reading:  While doing a bit of research for this, I came upon a really cool map blog.  I love maps…maybe you do, too.  Put this one on your list.  And read the super-cool Interstate entry!! [...]

    Pingback by Road Scholars, Celebrate!!! « Today’s History Lesson — June 29, 2008 @

  59. ..been on the section of I95 north of Houlton, Maine since I live in the state. ..probably has a higher travel rate than recorded ..if you count the moose.

    Comment by steve heathcote — July 7, 2008 @

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