Driving across country, route/must see area?

cossie1600 · 05-19-2013, 12:40 AM

I will be driving from CT to SF with my two dogs. I have 7 days to do this trip on a rental. I have to decide on what route to take. DO you guys have any suggestions? The fastest route is I-80 all the way through, but that's a boring drive. I am thinking about driving through CO and head into Bryce Canyon and Yosemites. Yellowstone might be too far. Keep in mind I have to do mostly driving trips as I have the two dogs and valuable items with me in the car. What do you guys think?

StLRedrider · 05-19-2013, 03:08 AM

Sorry, wish I could help. Sounds fun. Take some pics

370Zsteve · 05-19-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I will be driving from CT to SF with my two dogs. I have 7 days to do this trip on a rental. I have to decide on what route to take. DO you guys have any suggestions? The fastest route is I-80 all the way through, but that's a boring drive. I am thinking about driving through CO and head into Bryce Canyon and Yosemites. Yellowstone might be too far. Keep in mind I have to do mostly driving trips as I have the two dogs and valuable items with me in the car. What do you guys think?

Early on, Route 6 in northern PA is a sweet ride on my motorcycle. You hook into it around Scranton.

Once you get to the midwest, the old Route 66 has some cool stuff here and there.

Is that a Hartford Whalers logo? Did you just wake up from a coma?

Red__Zed · 05-19-2013, 09:54 AM

Hop on 70 and take it to 24 through southern colorado--you can hit pike's peak and then Vail & Breck on the way back up.

You could also take 50 through San Isabel.

SLC is worth a stop as well IMO. Moab is neat as well.

If you hop on 70 early, you can hit Pitt, Indianapolis, STL, and Kansas City.

Red__Zed · 05-19-2013, 09:55 AM

There's a lot to do in denver as well, but if you're going for outdoors stuff it's better to detour around.

cossie1600 · 05-20-2013, 07:21 PM

I will give it a look, thanks.

Yes it is, I am stuck in 1997.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

Early on, Route 6 in northern PA is a sweet ride on my motorcycle. You hook into it around Scranton.

Once you get to the midwest, the old Route 66 has some cool stuff here and there.

Is that a Hartford Whalers logo? Did you just wake up from a coma?

I will give it a look, going up Pikes Peak might be tough in a rental van

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Hop on 70 and take it to 24 through southern colorado--you can hit pike's peak and then Vail & Breck on the way back up.

You could also take 50 through San Isabel.

SLC is worth a stop as well IMO. Moab is neat as well.

If you hop on 70 early, you can hit Pitt, Indianapolis, STL, and Kansas City.

Red__Zed · 05-20-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I will give it a look, thanks.

Yes it is, I am stuck in 1997.

I will give it a look, going up Pikes Peak might be tough in a rental van

There's a trolley you can take as well

N8GTOL · 05-21-2013, 12:02 PM

Wait, are you driving a van or the Z?

Yosemite is a great detour and also has some killer roads if traffic doesn't suck.

If you do travel the easy I-80 route though Utah, then a high speed run on the salt flats would be a fun stop (in the Z that is). Other spots on my future list in UT are Zion and Bryce but those maybe too out of the way when going to SF.

You also mentioned Yellowstone which is great. If you do detour more North then you can swing by Mount Rushmore outside of Rapid City in South Dakota.

I would go this approximate route (the outdoor sites should be more dog friendly):

CT > Chicago, IL > Rapid City, SD > Yellowstone National Park, WY > Salt Lake City, UT (salt flats

) > Yosemite National Park, CA > San Fran

cossie1600 · 05-21-2013, 01:03 PM

I will be driving a mid sized SUV, I changed it from the van as the Grand Caravans are horrible to drive. They are not comfortable. Hopefully they give me a GL350

kenchan · 05-21-2013, 03:10 PM

there's a mc'ds on your left-hand side about 3hrs past grand island in nebraska where a pretty girl works.

but that was 15yrs ago so may not be very pretty any more...

have a safe trip, cossie!

fonzo179 · 05-21-2013, 03:29 PM

Have a great trip friend!

In my 3x cross country trips, I took the same route: VA to KY to TX to So Cal then to WA. It was UBER boring, so by all means stick to 80 West. You get to see South Cleveland, Shy Town, Des Moines and Omaha.

I'm up here in Fargo, and I'll tell ya, the Northern Plains just dont have that much to offer past Lincoln, Nebraska. If you're looking for more grasslands, we've got what you need.

But if desert is more your style (mine personally), take 81 South to Knoxville, then to Nashville and through Little Rock and I-40 onward to Dallas. You can see alot of old school broke down cars in people's yards, ranches, "world's biggest" things, etc.

05-19-2013, 12:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Driving across country, route/must see area? I will be driving from CT to SF with my two dogs. I have 7 days to do this trip on a rental. I have to decide on what route to take. DO you guys have any suggestions? The fastest route is I-80 all the way through, but that's a boring drive. I am thinking about driving through CO and head into Bryce Canyon and Yosemites. Yellowstone might be too far. Keep in mind I have to do mostly driving trips as I have the two dogs and valuable items with me in the car. What do you guys think?

05-19-2013, 03:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
StLRedrider A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: St.louis,Mo Posts: 17,755 Drives: O9Sprt/Touring,p-51 Rep Power: 60	Sorry, wish I could help. Sounds fun. Take some pics __________________ Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today J.Dean

05-19-2013, 09:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	Hop on 70 and take it to 24 through southern colorado--you can hit pike's peak and then Vail & Breck on the way back up. You could also take 50 through San Isabel. SLC is worth a stop as well IMO. Moab is neat as well. If you hop on 70 early, you can hit Pitt, Indianapolis, STL, and Kansas City. 370Zsteve likes this.

05-21-2013, 03:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	there's a mc'ds on your left-hand side about 3hrs past grand island in nebraska where a pretty girl works. but that was 15yrs ago so may not be very pretty any more... have a safe trip, cossie! 370Zsteve likes this.

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05-19-2013, 09:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	There's a lot to do in denver as well, but if you're going for outdoors stuff it's better to detour around.

05-21-2013, 12:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
N8GTOL Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 228 Drives: and flies Rep Power: 22	Wait, are you driving a van or the Z? Yosemite is a great detour and also has some killer roads if traffic doesn't suck. If you do travel the easy I-80 route though Utah, then a high speed run on the salt flats would be a fun stop (in the Z that is). Other spots on my future list in UT are Zion and Bryce but those maybe too out of the way when going to SF. You also mentioned Yellowstone which is great. If you do detour more North then you can swing by Mount Rushmore outside of Rapid City in South Dakota. I would go this approximate route (the outdoor sites should be more dog friendly): CT > Chicago, IL > Rapid City, SD > Yellowstone National Park, WY > Salt Lake City, UT (salt flats ) > Yosemite National Park, CA > San Fran

05-21-2013, 01:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	I will be driving a mid sized SUV, I changed it from the van as the Grand Caravans are horrible to drive. They are not comfortable. Hopefully they give me a GL350

05-21-2013, 03:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
fonzo179 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: A Fantasy World Posts: 1,707 Drives: 2014 Audi Q5 3.0T Rep Power: 20	Have a great trip friend! In my 3x cross country trips, I took the same route: VA to KY to TX to So Cal then to WA. It was UBER boring, so by all means stick to 80 West. You get to see South Cleveland, Shy Town, Des Moines and Omaha. I'm up here in Fargo, and I'll tell ya, the Northern Plains just dont have that much to offer past Lincoln, Nebraska. If you're looking for more grasslands, we've got what you need. But if desert is more your style (mine personally), take 81 South to Knoxville, then to Nashville and through Little Rock and I-40 onward to Dallas. You can see alot of old school broke down cars in people's yards, ranches, "world's biggest" things, etc.