Ca -> dc

[YAN-3]

doods, so im about to make the trip from Northern California (Monterey) to Washington DC. Google gives me 2 options, one i to try and miss the upper states (snow) I-80E and then there is the I-40E which goes through texas, and the southern states.

any input if you have done the trip?

I have 9 days once i depart to make it to DC. Im even thinking of stopping by at home in CT to visit family before I drive down to DC if I can save some time somewhere.

[chadthestampede]

Personally, having driven both routes several times, I'd say I-40 is a nicer drive. I-80 would be quicker for you but boring as all hell. You get the endless nothingness of the salt flats as well as well as eye stabbingly boring drives through Nebraska and Iowa. If you take 80 you'd better like corn because you're going to be seeing a lot of it.

I-40 however, is in some places equally boring but personally I think the scenery is better. It was like 116 degrees when I drove through Needles on I-40 but that was in August so you should have an easier time. The Grand Canyon is about an hour and a half off of the 40 so it's worth a stop if you have time. Plus you get to go through a little bit of everything cool, you pass by historic route 66 and go by Winslow, Arizona so you can sing that Eagles song at the top of your lungs.

I'm not sure the way you'd take to D.C from there but we went through Oklahoma and Indiana and stuff, which is good for the last Jack in the Box stop before you reach hostile territory. I'd imagine you'd be going through Arkansas and Tennessee, which is cool. Nashville and Memphis are decent looking cities.

If you're willing to push it you could probably make it to CT and have time. Taking the I-40 to the 44 etc my girlfriend and I made it to Buffalo from LA in 3 days, and we visited the Grand Canyon on the first day. We also made it from Tulsa to Buffalo in 1 day of driving, about 19 or so hours.

Rereading your post 9 days should be plenty of time TBH.

[YAN-3]

thanks man, im thinking of taking I-40E as well as I dont want to drive through the snow with the e46...then again im gonna be home and in DC for the next 4 years os i better get used to it again. i dont care to stop by and see stuff, I just want to make it across as safe and quick as possible.

[scabzzzz]

Take 40E.
Lots of beautiful land to look at during these seasons. All of the trees look picture perfect and the roads should be better.
Ive only driven to Denver though.

[Charlie]

Did DC to Frisco in 3 days, using mostly I80 & I70. I wouldn't risk it at this time of the year, take 40.

-Charlie

[ZM Blue Devil]

I have 9 days once i depart to make it to DC. Im even thinking of stopping by Guten in NJ before I drive down to DC if I can save some time somewhere.

fixed

[YAN-3]

fixed

[3bvert]

Ive made several drives dc to the left coast and back, 3 or 4 days, you can do it
9 days is kind of long unless your making a bunch of stops
then again , that was the olden days, me and my vert ( at that time, 3times cross country in a tricked out 60 TR-3) a sleeping bag, coffee, smoke, a deadline and speed limits were reasonable, and so were the cops
my last one, oregon to hershey pa in a u-haul,pulling a horse trailer, 5 days (moving my son)
the big slow downs will be when you hit east of the big river and all the big cities. just dont hit them at rush hour
one of these days ill make the trip when I can slow down and look

[M-technik-3]

I have done the southern and the northern route twice each, North is far more scenic but weather will get you and you need chains for the mountain passes.

DC to CT is an easy 5 hour trip I used to commute from Alexandria to Springfield Mass twice a month round trip and it's 405 miles round trip, equates out to 6 hours with easy pass and knowing short cuts like the Merritt or Henry Hudson so on.

Whose truck are you renting? I have had the best luck with Budget.

Also if you go southern you might be able to hit a few bases for billeting over night AND cheap fuel!

[YAN-3]

I have done the southern and the northern route twice each, North is far more scenic but weather will get you and you need chains for the mountain passes.

DC to CT is an easy 5 hour trip I used to commute from Alexandria to Springfield Mass twice a month round trip and it's 405 miles round trip, equates out to 6 hours with easy pass and knowing short cuts like the Merritt or Henry Hudson so on.

Whose truck are you renting? I have had the best luck with Budget.

Also if you go southern you might be able to hit a few bases for billeting over night AND cheap fuel!

im not renting anything. Im doing a partial move in my e46 and claiming $.


on a side note, what did you all who made the trip drive a day, 8, 10, 12 or 12+hrs? Im doing the trip by myself so im not sure ill be able to do the 16 or 19hr driving. lol

[M-technik-3]

What I did was drove till I was hungry, sat and had a nice meal at say Sonic or Cracker Barrel. Then stretched a bit to be awake and then drove for another 7 hours. So all said I would get about 13 hours of driving on cruise in a day. I would also plan to hit a certain distance but would not drive while exhausted as there is no need.

A night of good rest really breaks the days up. Kinda like we do in the flying world work for 23 hours off 17 fly 23.

Don't kill yourself, maybe alter North at Oklahoma swing thru the flat lands see some stuff where you know it's not gonna snow.

[YAN-3]

from what im thinking, its gonna be a 12 hr a day trip. if i break it down to 70mph avg for 12hrs thats 840 miles a day and in 3 and a half days i should make it there... orrrr... since the AF is giving me 9 days, im thinking of driving home and seeing my family then still have 2 days before I have to be down in DC

[TexasTerp]

12hrs a day sounds about right. I've done the very long route which goes from San Diego to Houston which was about 23hours with stops and from Houston to DC which is about another 21 hours or so.

Like M-Technik said, CT isn't very far from this area, I made the drive from VT to DC in about 9 hours, CT is about a 6 hour drive without a lot of traffic.

[chadthestampede]

Take 40E.
Lots of beautiful land to look at during these seasons. All of the trees look picture perfect and the roads should be better.
Ive only driven to Denver though.

Umm...40 doesn't go to Denver. Am I missing something here?

from what im thinking, its gonna be a 12 hr a day trip. if i break it down to 70mph avg for 12hrs thats 840 miles a day and in 3 and a half days i should make it there... orrrr... since the AF is giving me 9 days, im thinking of driving home and seeing my family then still have 2 days before I have to be down in DC

You should be fine with 12 hours a day. I never want to stop to see anything either, but I assumed someone else might. The scenery is nice while you drive on 40 though, like I said. And it would be a little bit safer with the weather and all, I'd think.

[Eric]

I did the same thing as Greg. drive till i was hungry. eat a real meal, walk around a shopping area for 20 minutes or so then get back on the road.

I did charleston SC to Fresno CA in 2 1/2 days. it was a blast but way to fast. when i did fresno to sheppard AFB, i did it in 3 days and stopped more and liked it much better.

what's the point of hauling ass across the country if you can't enjoy it? your going to live close to your family now, so i wouldn't worry about missing a once in a lifetime opportunity to be paid to see the country for 2 days at home.