Travel with me to
Find the 45th Parallel North in the United States
Driving the 45th Parallel North: The Chief Blonde hanging out at the 45th Parallel sign in Gaylord, Michigan (along 1-75 expressway)
What is the 45th Parallel North?
According to Wikipedia:
The 45th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 45 degrees north of the Earth’s equatorial plane. The 45th parallel north is often called the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole.
Driving the 45th Parallel North in the United States
In the US, the 45th parallel crosses 11 states, (Oregon, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine) and would take about 65 hours non-stop to drive, a distance of 3700 miles. What a fun trip to drive!
Walt risks life and limb to hang out in the median of I-75 Northbound at the sign marking the 45th Parallel North.
Just like in Gaylord, MI, along I-75 North, where Walt and I stopped, across the US the 45th parallel North is marked in many places on highways by a sign proclaiming that the location is halfway between the North Pole and the Equator.
If you did want participate in the driving the 45th Parallel North trip, your course would proceed through these states, towns and villages in the United States:
| City | State |
| Rose Lodge | Oregon |
| Keizer | Oregon |
| Hayesville | Oregon |
| Silverton | Oregon |
| New Meadows | Idaho |
| Gardiner | Montana |
| Grant | Montana |
| Faith | South Dakota |
| Eagle Butte | South Dakota |
| North Eagle Butte | South Dakota |
| Gettysburg | South Dakota |
| Madison | Minnesota |
| Raymond | Minnesota |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| Colfax | Wisconsin |
| Dorchester | Wisconsin |
| Suring | Wisconsin |
| Leland | Michigan |
| Traverse City | Michigan |
| Gaylord | Michigan |
| Atlanta | Michigan |
| Alpena | Michigan |
| Lion’s head | Ontario |
| Bracebridge | Ontario |
| Cornwall | Ontario |
| Dundee | Quebec |
| Champlain | New York |
| Rouses Point | New York |
| Alburgh | Vermont |
| Richford | Vermont |
| North Troy | Vermont |
| Derby Line | Vermont |
| Highgate | Vermont |
| Clarksville | New Hampshire |
| Bingham | Maine |
| Rangeley | Maine |
| Dexter | Maine |
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That’s quite a trip. I’ve been to all those states but not along the 45th.
I want to be you and walt when I grow up! You two look as if you are enjoying the heck out of this chapter of your lives.
It’s true ALice. We enjoy every moment. Shelley