Ilan is proud of its culture, and with the opening of the expressway, the county's traditional foods and Chiaohsi hot springs area have grown in popularity, even starting to challenge Taipei County's own hot springs areas of Chinshan and Wulai.
對自我定位為「文化大縣」、「觀光大縣」的宜蘭而言，北宜高開通後，礁溪溫泉及宜蘭傳統美食將會是熱門賣點，並將衝擊台北縣原有的溫泉勝地 — — 金山和烏來。