Driving Cross Country

[Terryray]

Snow in Rockies can start last month. Dec-Feb worst times. Call 1-877-315-7623 for Colorado road conditions. CO DOT website sez:


"It is not uncommon for travel conditions around our state to vary significantly, not only between the plains and the mountains, but literally from mile to mile on the same road.

At times temperatures can hover in the fifties near Denver while snow is falling a short 30 minute drive west of town. High winds across the plains can limit visibility during snow storms or shaded areas on mountain and canyon roads can present icy conditions on otherwise dry highways. Although uncommon, Colorado has even had snow in the higher elevations on the 4th of July! All of these factors make Colorado a distinctive place to drive during the winter."


Kansas road conditions at 1-866-511-5368

You just check the USA weather forecast on 'net before you leave to see if any storms heading to midwest. Or view the "traveler's forecast" on the Weather Channel. Interstate driving forecasts here, here, and here .

No tolls on I-70. Tolls are basically an East Coast thing. Quite a shock for fellow like me growing up on West Coast and then hitting a few toll roads in KS, OK, IL, IN, and TX--then all over the place in the East!



USAToday, Feb 23 of this year, did an analysis of speeding tickets in USA last year and found not one ticket written for driving 5mph or less over the speed limit.

Gasbuddy shows gas cheaper in UT than Colo, and way cheaper than in NV---so fill up in UT entering and leaving.


I normally take a week or so to drive the trip nice and liesurely to see the sites and so forth. Very relaxing that way....Have a good and save drive!

 

[bjfinste]

Terryray- Do you do all the driving you do for work, or just visting? I remember you being all over the place a few times in the last year. You must log a hell of a lot of miles.

I, too, was stunned that Kansas had a tollway on my drive down. It wasn't much money (like $6 or so if I remember correctly), but how can you charge someone to drive through Kansas? The driver should be the one being paid, enduring that boring-ass stretch....

 

[Terryray]

Yup, if there are some storms in Midwest, then it's best if you take the southern route. Takes about 6 more driving hours than route over the Rockies.

That Southern route would be I-95 south to South Carolina and then I-20 thru Columbia SC (leaving on a monday means you can't eat BBQ at Sweatman's...oh well...) and continue I-20 thru Dallas, etc, until it ends on I-10 in W. TX.

I-10 then to Phoenix. Don't take the short route to Kingman AZ (hwy 93) it has bunch of stoplights and small towns and congested two-lane traffic. Longer but faster and way easier is I-17 to I-40.

And don't take Hwy 93 over Hoover Dam. It's a traffic bottle neck there with winding roads and they have been searching cars for terrorist threats.

Take I-40 to Hwy 95 into Las Vegas. It's about 100 miles longer, but not much shorter in time and much easier. Hoover Dam is worth seeing, but save that for a nice relaxing drive later after you get settled in LV. Tho I do sometimes take Hoover Dam route at night with less traffic and spectacular light panorama of the valley you see coming in. That's quite a sight for a fellow arriving to relocate there!


A few food ideas. I'd get off I-20 just past Birmingham AL and ask local for directions to Bob Sykes BBQ on Bessemer Super Highway--terrific BBQ! Tho even better is Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Much better food this route! For genuine Southern catfish, near Jackson MS, there's Jerry's Catfish House on E. side highway 49 almost 5 miles south of I-20. It's in a dome building.


Mariscos Chihuahua (1009 N. Grande Ave, a few blocks off I-10) in Tucson AZ has terrific mexican shrimp dishes very reasonably priced.
Yeah bjfinste, I do log alot of miles. Mostly visiting, but some work. I'll be done getting money here in Austin end of month. Then a few weeks in LV, then out to my Bro's in Maine for Thanksgiving.

That KTA toll road thru KS does go thru Chase Co, and I somehow digested a 600 page book on the place. You get excellent views of the Tall Grass Prairie from I-35. In Cottonwood Falls they have a terrific newly restored hotel and fine restaurant. North of town is the newest park in Nat'l Park system, the Tall Grass Prairie National Park.

also at the Matfield Green rest area off the toll road there is a plaque commemorating Knute Rockne, who died in place crash a few miles away. Notre Dame fans this time of year leave floweres and such at it.

you can go to that field the Fokker Tri-Motor he was in went down in 1931. The monument there has names of all who died in crash, not just Knute. The farmer who owned the field insisted on it.

Yup, lotta good stuff out there on the roads of the good ol' USA!

Have a safe trip!