If there’s one thing that sets California in general, and Los Angeles in particular, apart (besides its landscapes, food scene, and entertainment industry), it’s undoubtedly the heavy traffic that has become part of the cultural DNA. However, there’s a corner of the state, far from the cities where getting around is a challenge, that tops the national ranking for tranquility.
California’s quietest road
According to a study published by GPS solutions provider Geotab, State Route 139 is the fifth least-traveled road in the country and the clear winner within California. Only 1,437 cars travel this road each day, a number you could see pass by in just a few minutes at any highway intersection in L.A.!
This road stretches about 143 miles and skirts around the beautiful blue Eagle Lake before cutting through Modoc National Forest. It begins in Susanville, the only incorporated community in Lassen County, and ends north at Oregon Route 39.
Travelers along this stretch should still come prepared: services are limited outside the small towns along the route, and cell service can be spotty deep within the forested sections. The peace and solitude that make SR 139 so unique also mean long runs between gas stations, eateries, and other amenities. But beyond Route 139, the full ranking of the loneliest roads in the country is as follows:
- Alaska – State Route 11 (Dalton Highway)
- Utah – US Route 50
- Maine – US Route 201 (Old Canada Road)
- Arizona – US Route 160
- California – State Route 139
- Virginia – State Route 90003 (Colonial Parkway)
- Louisiana – US Route 65
- Wyoming – US Route 212 (Beartooth Highway)
- New Hampshire – US Route 2
- Pennsylvania – State Route 32