100 Years of Historic U.S. Route 20

From the West Coast to the East Coast

On November 11, 1926, the U.S. Highway System was established. As part of this initiative, U.S. Route 20 was created, though at that time it ran only from Boston to the eastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. So only this eastern segment is actually 100 years old. It wasn’t until 1940 that the route was extended from the western exit of Yellowstone to Newport, Oregon. This made it a true coast-to-coast route. The route is thus historically divided into two segments. Of course, there will be celebrations in 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 20, and with this flight, we can “join in the celebration,” so to speak. The celebrations will be organized locally primarily by the Historic Route 20 initiative. It is planning tours, community programs, and local events starting in the fall of 2025 and throughout the entire year of 2026.

The flight from Newport to Boston is more than just a route—it’s a cinematic journey through the full diversity of the northern United States. Anyone looking for a route in the simulator that combines scenic beauty, historical depth, and flying variety will find one of the most impressive flight experiences here. From the very first moment, as you rise above the Newport coastline, you’ll feel this blend of maritime elegance and colonial heritage. The route then takes you over forests, lakes, river valleys, the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, and the gently rolling hills of the interior—a landscape that unfolds in the simulator like a living relief map. US Route 20 serves as your guiding thread: a historic east-west axis that winds through small towns, over sparkling reservoirs, and along old industrial rivers. The further east you go, the denser the fabric becomes. Major transportation hubs like Worcester look like technical sculptures from the air, making New England’s modern mobility visible. And then the bay suddenly opens up: Boston, with its mix of brick, glass, history, and innovation, lies before you like an urban mosaic. The approach to Logan International (KBOS) is the perfect finale—maritime, dynamic, iconic. This trip is ideal for simulator pilots who want to experience scenic diversity (coast, forests, lakes, cities), appreciate historical depth (from colonial ports and towns to industrial rivers), enjoy challenging navigation sections (mountains, valleys, transportation hubs, urban approaches), and are looking for a true East-West coastal character flight.

Specifications:

• The weather, date, and times are freely selectable.
• A GPS course is available and can be obtained. Here is a guide: https://www.koschis-web.de/en-us/help-support#gps
• ATC as well as many other functions are enabled to allow you to customize your flight experience.
• The mission is machine-translated into all available languages in MSFS. As a result, translation errors may occur. If you have a better translation, feel free to send it to me.
• The mission is multiplayer-compatible and can be flown together with friends.
• You fly a Cessna 172 (G1000). PC users can swap out the aircraft with a little manual work. Instructions for this are available here: https://www.koschis-web.de/en-us/help-support#change