Hard-to-Reach Counties (2)

(Nebraska to Wyoming)
.....

  • Nebraska: CHERRY
    You can cut the corner of CHerry in the southeast. Turn north from SR-2 at Halsey, a paved road to Purdom (a real town still in Blaine County). There, turn east and follow the main course of a sandy road north to Elsmere (just an old school). There, get back onto blacktop eastward to SR-7, about 20 miles south of Ainsworth.
  • Nebraska: GARDEN
    SR-2 does not enter Garden County, but there's a good turnoff at Bingham that does. In Bingham, take the decent gravel road south past a lake with houses visible on the opposite side. When you reach the first road to the right (accessing the houses)you're in Garden County. No sign, but driving back to Bingham, you'll see an ancient official sign confirming "Sheridan County", about 2 miles from SR-2.
  • Nevada: LINCOLN
    I-15 just misses. Take Exit 122 north on West Pioneer Bvd, which curves left. After less than a mile, turn right on Turtleback, which also curves left. After less than a mile, turn right on Mesquite Heights Road, which meanders about 1.5 miles north to dead-end at the Lincoln County line. (According to MapQuest. Anyone tried it?)
  • New Jersey: HUDSON/PASSAIC
    Hard enough to find their boundaries on a map--harder still to get them both. A route that gets all 5 NE NJ counties is George Washington Bridge to I-95 (Eastern spur) to NJ-3 west, then Garden State Parkway south.
  • New York: SUFFOLK
    The ferries from Connecticut are rather pricey, even without your car ($16 regular, $25 fast, without car. Autos are $36 one way). From NYC, it's a 50-mile round trip out to Melville, the county line, and it goes fairly fast even during rush hour.
  • North Carolina: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
    An excellent county sweep. The Parkway drifts back and forth over the watershed, to include every county on both sides, in both NC (17)and VA (18). Caution: Often, long detours on the Parkway. Inquire.
  • North Dakota: EMMONS
    No way in or out from the west. There are no Missouri River crossings between Bismarck and Mobridge SD.
  • Oklahoma: SR-34/6
    This north-south drive through Oklahoma will net 12 counties. Change 34/6 at Elk City.
  • Oregon: WALLOWA
    Probably the most difficult county to get in the lower 48.
    Option A: If you don't want to go all the way through, it's 31 miles in from LaGrande, and 14 miles back out to Elgin.
    Option B: The route through is rewarding. SR-71 from Cambridge ID, then OR-86 towards Baker. About 5 miles into Oregon, just across a bridge, turn right onto a good road that may be signposted Route 39, towards Imnana or Joseph. The unmarked Wallowa COunty line will be in about ten miles, before you reach the Snake River Canyon overloook. If continuing on, be sure to follow roads to Joseph, not Imnaha.
  • South Dakota: ARMSTRONG
    For the Purists, the extinct county of Armstrong is now the southern part of Dewey. Go east from Parade 5.2 miles and turn south where you see hog chalets on the north side. This blacktop is not on Rand McNally maps, and the old Armstrong border is about 3 miles down. Going west, the turnoff is 11.0 miles west of the Ridgeview elevator.
  • Tennessee: TIPTON
    From US-61 in Wilson AR, to one mile south on Union Ave. Go left on CR-1006, and go 1.5 miles. The road forks in Tennessee.
  • Tennessee: I-40
    One of the most cunty-efficient Interstates, Memphis to Nashville passes through 14 counties in 210 miles.
  • Texas: SR-115
    This road passes through both Martin and Gaines Counties. In fact, you can pull off in Andrews county and see down the road, at once, the welcome signs for Martin, Gaines and Dawson.
  • Texas: WARD
    It's not worth trying to reach Ward from Loving County. There are roads back there, but you'll never find your way back again, and won't ever know if you're in Ward.
  • Utah: BEAVER
    The I-15/I-70 ramps do not touch Beaver. If you did not go through it on I-15, the next exit south on I-15 is 3 miles (exit 129) from where you can backtrack. Easier is to use the SR-161 link between the two interstates, through Cove Fort. Beaver line is just under a mile south of I-70 on SR-161.
  • Utah: DAGGETT
    No shortcut. From Vernal, it's 25 miles up to the Daggett line, (at the summit pass), then 25 back. From Wyoming, Exit 91 (Green River) from I-80. Drive to Manila UT, and continue to Exit 34 (Fort Bridger). That's 106 miles, instead of 57 on the interstate, adding 50 miles that way, too. There is a decent 20-mile gravel road connecting the Colorado line (SR-318 with US-191 a half mile south of SWEETWATER Wyoming--a possible option if you need that county, too.
  • Utah: RICH
    According to MapQuest---anyone willing to try it? Exit 193 North from I-80, and follow the parallel road back east until it ends, maybe a half mile. Then walk a couple of hundred yards along the railroad track. There the track splits, take the left spur and walk another 150 yards. That should be the Rich County line. Otherwise, I-80 misses Rich completely.
  • Virginia: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
    See North Carolina
  • Virginia: Independent Cities. In general, bypasses lie OUTSIDE the city limits, where the map appears to show a congruency. Often, the bypass was built, and then the city annexed up to (but not across) the bypass. Interstates do NOT enter Fairfax or Falls Church.
  • Washington: OKANOGAN
    The nicely-situated towns around Grand Coulee are within a couple of miles of 4 Washington counties, and only ten miles from FERRY.
  • Washington: SAN JUAN
    The only way is by boat, but Washington ferries are cheap. Park at the docks in Anacortes--it's free, but can be along walk from the boat. Ferries leave often, so no need for a schedule. Buy a ticket for the first island, get off, and wait for the return boat.
  • Washington: WAHKIAKUM
    Also accessible by ferry from Westport OR, on US-30.
  • Washington: WHITMAN
    There's a little industrial loop through this county, from US-12 in Lewiston (SR-128) to Clarkson (SR-193).
  • Washington: YAKIMA
    Can be reached from SR-243 (Grant Co.) only by crossing the Priest Rapids Dam. Technically prohibited---it is sign-posted "restricted" but not gated, as there is an Indian village on the Yakima side. At worst, you can walk to the county line at the center of the dam.
  • West Virginia: RALEIGH
    A little hook of Raleigh extends down to Hinton. Cross the bridge southbound on SR-20, and take the first right. After 100 yards, cross a creek and take the first right. Follow River Street a half block, until it curves left along the riverbank, in Raleigh COunty.
  • Wisconsin: CALUMET
    No need to leave the freeway to visit this county. SR-441 is the alternate loop of US-41, going around the other side of Appleton. It's in Calumet from the KK exit to the US-10 exit.
  • Wisconsin: CHIPPEWA
    I-94 doesn't pass through Chippewa, but US-12 does. Take US-12 between exits 52 and 59.
  • Wyoming: CONVERSE
    Most maps show a road from Campbell south from SR-387 into Converse, but I was unable to find anything except gated tracks.
    ...
    Alabama to Montana

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