McHenry Ave, Modesto

McHenry Avenue runs through Modesto from north to south, perpendicular to Bangs Avenue. Its most distinguishing feature is that it has tons of car dealerships. If you keep on heading north, you can run into some open areas, but there was what looked like a power station. This street can get very congested, and the Modesto reputation as a city that has even worse air quality than LA can be believed. We did find some decent Chinese food at the Orient House on McHenry, though.

This street is one of the main streets that takes you thru Modesto. It is famous for the movie American Graffiti. The beginning of the street (close to downtown) there are alot of older business', as you go down the street it becomes wider and new business' appear. It does have some traffic but its one of the main roads. Its a nice scenic drive to get to know Modesto.

Let's get this out there straight away - McHenry Ave is a big road. It's wide, it's open, and it can get real busy depending on when you try to use it.

I visit Modesto a few times a year on business, and several of my clients are on McHenry. One thing I've noted, more so in the summer, is that it "feels" like you're somewhere else. There are days when it feels like Venice Blvd, just more ... open. Other days, it feels like you're in Pheonix. That could just be the heat there though ;)

All that aside, you should probably go eat at the Orient House Restaurant. Good food, good prices, friendly staff. Just what the hungry traveller should aspire to ;)

The most famous street in Modesto due to the Graffiti Night legacy of George Lucas’ acclaimed film American Graffiti. McHenry is a bear to navigate but has an enormous cultural importance to any longtime Modestan. Though mostly home to businesses, McHenry has a substantial nightlife of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.