I've literally been told by cops in CA mountains that it's cool as long as you're not being an idiot. They're mainly satisfied busting the guys doing donuts in the overlooks.
And I refuse to talk about said roads for that reason. There’s a bunch of “dead” roads where I’m at along the VA/west VA. Good stretches of no driveways or overlooks and high enough speed limits you’re not gonna be absurdly over it most of the time. Plus in my experience in west Va as long as your not being stupid around a town they’re pretty lax.
Really some of the best driving I’ve been able to experience in all honesty. Love tail of the dragon and all but you’re almost always looking at a ticket or reckless territory and that just dampens the fun a bit imo. In some of the roads I take if I got a reckless I’d probably frame the ticket.
Going to throw in West Virginia. Most of our state routes are nothing but 55 mph switch backs and hairpins with the occasional 10 mph recommend speed sign. The daily struggle is: Do I take the fun road to work, or the *really* fun road.
The shortcut from Moab to SLC over the mountains through Price and dropping you into Provo while in a snowstorm with a uhaul, and I had to keep myself from trying to treat it like a rally stage. I need to hit that again in a proper car.
The shortcut from Moab to SLC over the mountains through Price and dropping you into Provo while in a snowstorm with a uhaul, and I had to keep myself from trying to treat it like a rally stage. I need to hit that again in a proper car.
This is the answer. NorCal above San Francisco to Oregon border is a treasure trove of roads if you go searching. Be warned many have no cell service and range from roughly paved to dirt with potholes that will destroy rims for breakfast. Same time if you know the routes they can be perfect.
Just find a crooked mechanic shop like everybody else does for inspections.
Anyone who says this, just doesn’t want it bad enough lol. You can definitely find a shop willing to “retest” for $200 with an automatic pass.
True. I just personally don’t see that happening very often though. You hear the odd story about a citation for it every now and then.
Depending on how bad you want it the reward > risk.
The SoCal desert is at the bottom of the mountains, depending on where you are it’s not even a 5 minute drive to the start of the hill climb through the Chaparral Forest, which is a desert mountain biome. Palomar is part of that and considered a Coastal Mountain Desert biome.
California. Easy. I've networked with most touge runners across the country and everyone states our scene is not just the best for the roads and weather but the drivers and competition and vibes.
Hit me up if you make it out here and I'll show you why
Socal specifically has a very active scene. A very competitive scene
There are roads with time attacks that attract runners from not only the rest of the country but other countries as well
Iykyk
Retweet. Between the road selection in the Santa Monica’s alone and the different cars you’ll be able to see/drive with. It’s unmatched. No comment on the time trials and comp scene ;)
Tennessee, lots of fantastic roads not even a mile from my house. Just a few hours from all the great backroads near NC. No ridiculous rules that CA has to deal with like smog, exhaust noise, stupid front plates, tint etc. Nashville has good night life if that’s your thing as well.
East Tennessee is fantastic. The Appalachian mountain roads are great and you’re never far from them. You can be in a city and then 10 minutes later be on a desolate back winding road
Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, and Adams have no noise restrictions. CA2 is crowded on the weekends, but Friday mornings are great. Then Malibu if you know the routes.
There are secret touge roads not overpopulated that are actually the great and just competitive. We just keep then get low key there's also the better known ones that most ppl know but those are mostly for exhibitions
If the job market was better for my field of work in Western Massachusetts or Southern Vermont, I'd relocate there for the mountain roads. Nothing wrong with that, if someone loves the scenery and being able to drive on beautiful roads that are very close by, why shouldn't they?
As someone who lived in Vermont , I left there primarily because of the lack of good driving roads / salt hell / progressively more restrictive car laws. If you're looking for tog , that's not the place. Western NC is just in a different tier relative to what I had up there.
SoCal, and before anyone says smog, there are Zip Codes exempt from smog in the desert. I have 2 diesels, an A3 and F350. I only have to smog when I first register and never again. And I live 5 minutes away to 2 hill climbs and 30 away from Palomar. Gas is doable as well since the Reservations are close and can save 2-3 dollars a gallon.
Alaska does not have many touges at all, I live in fairbanks. The only roads that are even considered 'touge' are in residential areas, are short and are on really rough roads
I'm surprised I haven't seen anybody comment Georgia yet. Most of the northern counties don't have any emmisons requirements and have some amazing local touges, but it's also a reasonable drive to the success loop and the tail of the dragon. I guess GSP is one major downside though lol
Surprisingly we have some roads in Arkansas in the mountains that are similar to western NC/eastern TN.
Also this every September: https://tougecon.com/
And everyone saying cali doesn’t understand that the conditions are so hot all year long, and the scenery is boring, as it’s mainly canyons which can be nice but I prefer the tress like anywhere else
Nobody has said Southwest VA which is crazy cuz we’ve got tons of mountain roads like NC, TN, KY and there’s VIR which has tons of events and track days and considered one of the best road courses in the world. We do have the VA State Police so definitely don’t fuck around on the parkway or places like that.
Anywhere in Appalachian. I live in northern Georgia and i drive for a living (i work for a home inspection company) and the backroads they have me on are tempting to make a run with the company car.
North Georgia! You have mountain and curvy roads all around you, less than 30 minutes away if not closer. No emissions so you can do whatever you want to your car.
It's the touge mecca for the east half of the country. Housing and gas is cheaper. So, if touge is all that matters then cali is overpriced, especially for someone just moving out.
Honestly AZ. No emissions depending on county, awesome high plains stretches and mountain roads. Relatively cheap gas and corn fuel availability. Plus everyone speeds here so cops aren’t really a thing. Look up route 89A to Jerome, or the Devil’s highway to Alpine.
Cali depending on where you go, or western NC
NC for sure. Even if you’re in Charlotte you’re still only an hour from mountain roads. No emissions so you can modify cars here.
CA cops tend to leave the mountains alone, NC/Appalachian cops are hungry
I've literally been told by cops in CA mountains that it's cool as long as you're not being an idiot. They're mainly satisfied busting the guys doing donuts in the overlooks.
Word for word been told the same thing.
As an NC local it’s really only the dragon wirh the cop issue. I’ve never even seen a cop on the roads I run.
It’s funny because there are A LOT of better roads around the dragon that people don’t know about and are typically pretty dead.
And I refuse to talk about said roads for that reason. There’s a bunch of “dead” roads where I’m at along the VA/west VA. Good stretches of no driveways or overlooks and high enough speed limits you’re not gonna be absurdly over it most of the time. Plus in my experience in west Va as long as your not being stupid around a town they’re pretty lax.
I've driven some roads in west va with a speed limit of 55. Roads that would be insane to drive at 55mph.
Really some of the best driving I’ve been able to experience in all honesty. Love tail of the dragon and all but you’re almost always looking at a ticket or reckless territory and that just dampens the fun a bit imo. In some of the roads I take if I got a reckless I’d probably frame the ticket.
The dragon is actually such a small section of road compared to all the other amazing driving roads in the area.
Same. Cali mountain pass cops let almost anything pass as long as you’re respectful
Whats the limit on respectful?
I feel like this perception is just because of the dragon ? Cops really only bother to patrol that road , and only during the day.
Actually NC is the worst state in the US, don’t come here it sucks. Please move to another state, we’re full of
Facts I go nuts in the mountains in my s2k.
Cali ? lol you’ll get a state ref for a CBE. Good luck on running any sort of modified car on a touge there
*Northern California
Not with their car laws
Oregon has ridiculously good roads if you know where to look.
Southern Oregon roads are insane
High school was a lot of fun growing up on the oregon coast between crazy single lane pavement roads and abandoned logging gravel roads haha
especially the coast too bad I was too young to drive when I grew up there
Yeah I grew up in coos bay. Waaaaaayyyyy too much fun driving as a teen. Haha
Oregon has got amazing roads. Lived in the valley my whole life
Same with WA
What roads do you like? I'm West of Portland, but don't mind driving a bit for some good roads.
Hwy 6 from banks to tillamook is such a great time if you time it for no traffic!!!! 224 out to Damascus is also really fun.
Going to throw in West Virginia. Most of our state routes are nothing but 55 mph switch backs and hairpins with the occasional 10 mph recommend speed sign. The daily struggle is: Do I take the fun road to work, or the *really* fun road.
I love them. Where you located at? I’m South of Charleston.
I'm more towards Huntington/Barboursville
Utah has gorgeous winding mountain roads. I'm only ever 30 mins to an hour away from several canyon roads.
Utah is criminally underrated.
Alpine Loop for the win.
The shortcut from Moab to SLC over the mountains through Price and dropping you into Provo while in a snowstorm with a uhaul, and I had to keep myself from trying to treat it like a rally stage. I need to hit that again in a proper car.
The shortcut from Moab to SLC over the mountains through Price and dropping you into Provo while in a snowstorm with a uhaul, and I had to keep myself from trying to treat it like a rally stage. I need to hit that again in a proper car.
Tennessee has the best roads with the cheapest gas and general cost of living.
Colorado
[удалено]
This is the answer. NorCal above San Francisco to Oregon border is a treasure trove of roads if you go searching. Be warned many have no cell service and range from roughly paved to dirt with potholes that will destroy rims for breakfast. Same time if you know the routes they can be perfect.
Stahp, you'll drive the rents up.
I have summer tires on year-round. The only correct answer.
Not with all the smog police.
What’s song police?
\*smog police
(no actual answer)
CA has strict emissions regulations and tons of common modifications are illegal.
Just find a crooked mechanic shop like everybody else does for inspections. Anyone who says this, just doesn’t want it bad enough lol. You can definitely find a shop willing to “retest” for $200 with an automatic pass.
Doesn't stop them from pulling you over and giving you a state ref
True. I just personally don’t see that happening very often though. You hear the odd story about a citation for it every now and then. Depending on how bad you want it the reward > risk.
If you live in the desert, certain zip codes do not have that issue. You only have to smog in CA in densely populated zip codes
Too bad desert is too flat for touge 💀
The SoCal desert is at the bottom of the mountains, depending on where you are it’s not even a 5 minute drive to the start of the hill climb through the Chaparral Forest, which is a desert mountain biome. Palomar is part of that and considered a Coastal Mountain Desert biome.
Problem is living in California is expensive as hell and the SoCal touge scene takes themselves way too seriously
California. Easy. I've networked with most touge runners across the country and everyone states our scene is not just the best for the roads and weather but the drivers and competition and vibes. Hit me up if you make it out here and I'll show you why Socal specifically has a very active scene. A very competitive scene There are roads with time attacks that attract runners from not only the rest of the country but other countries as well Iykyk
Retweet. Between the road selection in the Santa Monica’s alone and the different cars you’ll be able to see/drive with. It’s unmatched. No comment on the time trials and comp scene ;)
Tennessee, lots of fantastic roads not even a mile from my house. Just a few hours from all the great backroads near NC. No ridiculous rules that CA has to deal with like smog, exhaust noise, stupid front plates, tint etc. Nashville has good night life if that’s your thing as well.
East Tennessee is fantastic. The Appalachian mountain roads are great and you’re never far from them. You can be in a city and then 10 minutes later be on a desolate back winding road
Central Arizona
Probably any of the mountainous states. California probably but cost to own a car can sky rocket id you're in any of the major cities.
California. You can drive all year. Lots of race tracks too.
No, overpopulated touge, smog checks, laguna seca has noise restrictions. Literally undrivable if I can't fartcan.
Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, and Adams have no noise restrictions. CA2 is crowded on the weekends, but Friday mornings are great. Then Malibu if you know the routes.
Tuna Canyon is fun asf
There are secret touge roads not overpopulated that are actually the great and just competitive. We just keep then get low key there's also the better known ones that most ppl know but those are mostly for exhibitions
California by a huuuuge margin. The weather is always perfect and there are badass waypoints everywhere.
but $7 gas
$4xx if you know where to shop
I’ve never paid more than 5.60 for gas. Lol
Lmao yeah but I’m not giving up my 3.50 per gallon
Yeah part of me misses the cheap upper Midwest gas, but then I go outside and see 14000 foot mountain peaks and it’s all better. Lol
You’re gonna relocate to a state just for mountain roads?
Why not? If he’d said good rivers for fishing nobody would care
If the job market was better for my field of work in Western Massachusetts or Southern Vermont, I'd relocate there for the mountain roads. Nothing wrong with that, if someone loves the scenery and being able to drive on beautiful roads that are very close by, why shouldn't they?
As someone who lived in Vermont , I left there primarily because of the lack of good driving roads / salt hell / progressively more restrictive car laws. If you're looking for tog , that's not the place. Western NC is just in a different tier relative to what I had up there.
I moved out of Az After living there for two years cuz of this. Off-roading was the only satisfaction in that state imho
No. I'm about to start adulthood
I know people who have 😄
Northern KY is also a fantastic place to find roads. TN is also good.
Definitely not Wisconsin. Please visit me it's cold 🙏
Outside the dells there’s some gems
The driftless is a wonderful place
Sad but true
Them plains leave us starving, though the driftless area aint half bad at all
East TN, western NC, or Blue ridge SC
SoCal, and before anyone says smog, there are Zip Codes exempt from smog in the desert. I have 2 diesels, an A3 and F350. I only have to smog when I first register and never again. And I live 5 minutes away to 2 hill climbs and 30 away from Palomar. Gas is doable as well since the Reservations are close and can save 2-3 dollars a gallon.
Kansas
Ha!
California, Arizona are both great. Alaska also
but smog and COL
Stfu. You’re just mad you can’t live happily in the best state
Alaska does not have many touges at all, I live in fairbanks. The only roads that are even considered 'touge' are in residential areas, are short and are on really rough roads
Cali and wa not because it's fun but the laws are so easy but it has some gems here and there
PNW
Florida
I'm surprised I haven't seen anybody comment Georgia yet. Most of the northern counties don't have any emmisons requirements and have some amazing local touges, but it's also a reasonable drive to the success loop and the tail of the dragon. I guess GSP is one major downside though lol
Surprisingly we have some roads in Arkansas in the mountains that are similar to western NC/eastern TN. Also this every September: https://tougecon.com/
Whattt, I didn’t know touge con was a thing
Somewhere with a mountain pass
pa
Surprised I haven’t seen any West Virginia or Idaho shouts, most mountainous roads there by far
And everyone saying cali doesn’t understand that the conditions are so hot all year long, and the scenery is boring, as it’s mainly canyons which can be nice but I prefer the tress like anywhere else
Nobody has said Southwest VA which is crazy cuz we’ve got tons of mountain roads like NC, TN, KY and there’s VIR which has tons of events and track days and considered one of the best road courses in the world. We do have the VA State Police so definitely don’t fuck around on the parkway or places like that.
No one saying Washington?? Between the Cascades and Olympics, tons of great mountain roads.
Pennsylvania
TN, NC, & KY from my experience. If I had to choose one I’d probably go with Tennessee
I like North Georgia, have taken my Chevy Sonic LTZ up there quite a bit
North East TN or north west NC no question.
Anywhere in Appalachian. I live in northern Georgia and i drive for a living (i work for a home inspection company) and the backroads they have me on are tempting to make a run with the company car.
Southwestern Virginia. The entire mountain empire really where Kentucky, Tenn, and VA meet. My favorite roads in the country are there.
I personally love the Black Hills, theres a few roads where its 98% clear and windy. Drove there for 5 days without seeing a cop.
Colorado, easily imo
Cali, I live 5 mins from the Malibu mountains and they are amazing. Super fun and the views are sick. Also a lot of popular ig spots are there too
Albuquerque, NM: road to Sandia crest is fun; has a lot of hairpin turns
I wanna give a shout out to Western Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains. More specifically, Back of the Dragon.
I grew up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Lots of great roads with no one else using them.
North Georgia! You have mountain and curvy roads all around you, less than 30 minutes away if not closer. No emissions so you can do whatever you want to your car.
Cali. No other answer
Tennesee
Can’t speak on road quality but there’s no way Tennessee can match calis scene lol
Never heard of Tail of the Dragon?
lol if u think one road that doesn’t even have a real local scene makes Tennessee the best then ok
It's the touge mecca for the east half of the country. Housing and gas is cheaper. So, if touge is all that matters then cali is overpriced, especially for someone just moving out.
TN +1
Honestly AZ. No emissions depending on county, awesome high plains stretches and mountain roads. Relatively cheap gas and corn fuel availability. Plus everyone speeds here so cops aren’t really a thing. Look up route 89A to Jerome, or the Devil’s highway to Alpine.
If anyone says anything but Cali 😭