Truckers’ Worst & Best Highways: Why I-40 and I-70 Get Avoided, and I-90 is Loved

Ask any long-haul driver about America’s highways and you’ll get real opinions fast. When you spend most of your life behind the wheel, you learn exactly which stretches of pavement make the day easier — and which ones make you question your career choices.

After listening to what drivers share most often, a pretty clear picture forms. Some highways feel built for the job. Others? They feel like punishment.

Here’s the landscape, straight from the people who know the roads best.

Highways Truckers Would Happily Avoid Forever

I-70, Indiana

For truckers, I-70 through Indiana is the “absolutely not” of highways. The pavement never seems to stay smooth, potholes show up like surprise obstacles, and the whole stretch feels tired. Drivers complain about it constantly — and honestly, they’re not wrong.

I-40, Arizona & New Mexico

If there’s one road that unites truckers in misery, it’s I-40 in the Southwest. Rough pavement, almost no decent places to stop, constant congestion, and way too many serious crashes. Ask drivers to name the worst highway in the country and this one comes up again and again.

I-10, Louisiana

Louisiana’s busiest interstate has a reputation that nobody envies. The road surface is rough, traffic is relentless, and crash numbers stay stubbornly high. Drivers who run this route regularly call it everything from “stressful” to “a straight-up hazard.”

I-20, Louisiana

Up north, I-20 doesn’t fare much better. It’s bumpy, it’s loud, and accidents send traffic into gridlock far too often. Shreveport in particular gets singled out for the kind of ride that rattles every bolt on a truck.

Highways Truckers Actually Enjoy Driving

I-90

America’s longest interstate also happens to be one of the most appreciated. It’s long, yes — but it’s predictable, dotted with good stopping points, and even scenic in places. When you’re hauling cross-country, that consistency matters.

I-5

Running down the West Coast, I-5 gets high marks for solid truck stops, plenty of parking, and years of improvements that drivers actually notice. It’s busy, but it’s manageable — and that alone puts it near the top.

I-44

Truckers who run between Texas and Missouri tend to have a soft spot for I-44. It’s not perfect, but it’s practical: reliable stops, generally reasonable pavement, and fewer daily surprises compared with neighboring routes.

I-15

If a highway could win for scenery alone, I-15 would be a frontrunner. From California deserts to mountain stretches, it makes long drives feel a little lighter. Add in good rest options, and it becomes a road many drivers genuinely like.

I-35

Texas depends heavily on I-35, and it shows — the state keeps pumping money into upgrades. It’s still crowded, but the amenities are solid and the improvements make a difference. For truckers, that puts it firmly in the “better than most” category.

The Simple Formula

Truckers don’t need a highway to be glamorous — just smooth, safe, and predictable. Give them decent pavement and places to pull over, and they’re happy. Ignore those basics, and a highway drops to the bottom of their list fast.