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Questions about driving across the US (almost)

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DERS.
Posts: 6299 - Karma: 1,293
sometime next week I am driving from DC to Colorado and I was wondering if any others have driven a similar route. And if so which route they took. Right now we are trying to decide between taking

1) I-70 all the way going through Columbus, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Kansas City
OR
2) I-70 to I-80 passing by Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, and Lincoln.

any advice from anyone who has taken this route on which is a more interesting drive as well as interesting places to check out that are relatively close to the highway

also post anything that you guys like to do when on road trips that help time go by faster besides starring out the window..

thanks in advance
as always +k for help.
Jun 30 2011 12:54PM
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DsMoK3
Posts: 467 - Karma: 198
I've taken I-80 from Omaha to Denver, its a really boring drive all the way through Nebraska, about 5 hours in NE and about 3 in eastern CO, which is also really boring, pretty much nothing interesting the entire stretch (possibly the museum of military vehicles, cant remember, but that is the only thing). The speed limit is 75 almost the entire way so you can drive pretty fast (Ive averaged about 85 without a radar, and 95 with). Hope this helps, overall the drive is boring as fuck and driving west into the sun gets annoying, but its necessary when driving from MN to CO.
Jun 30 2011 1:04PM
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Tha_Wizard
Posts: 836 - Karma: 1,249
damn thats such a shitty drive. i went from San Fran to CT which was beautiful but after denver it was fields and more fields. awful.
Jun 30 2011 1:07PM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
my buddy is doing that drive right now actually, although he headed down to tennessee and is then going up to chicago. If ya see a seriously busted, overloaded, rusted, full of kayaks old toyota then you just passed messy Jesse.
Jun 30 2011 1:11PM
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KAS
Posts: 1417 - Karma: 68
I'm driving with my friend in July from Maine to Colorado to go back to school. Not sure what way were gonna take either, possibly go through Chicago because one of out friends lives there so we have a place to stay for free for a night.
Jun 30 2011 1:15PM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
Couldn't agree more dude I do that drive 4x every year. Also the traffic in Chicago is absolutely terrible
Jun 30 2011 1:19PM
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[cmyk]
Posts: 261 - Karma: 177
yah you cant really win either way. i drove i80 and it was fine till NE and eastern CO. I got some chicks to show me their tits on the way out... that helped the time go by...so try that.
Jun 30 2011 1:21PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I think I80 is a bit more interesting cause Kansas is slightly more interesting than Nebraska... But Nebraska has Ogallala to drive through. Nothing like stopping at the truck stop in Ogallala, NE to make one's day.
Jun 30 2011 1:31PM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
I got really sick eating there lol. Really sick. Never eat at that arbys kids
Jun 30 2011 1:34PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I'm all about the DQ. They have chocolate at that one. Chocolate cone with cherry dip = heaven.
Jun 30 2011 1:37PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
I drove from pa to denver in three days and took 80 until it became a toll and then dropped down to 70, i think you should take 70 you avoid going through chicago which will be horiable traffic depending on when you get there. i never stopped once because of traffic. kansas will be the most boring state to drive through there is absolutly nothing but some rolling hills, and make sure you have gas when driving through because some of the exits of 70 are to dirt roads with no gas stations in sight. i stopped in mays kansas, as is was the only city before wtih hotels before Colorado.
Jun 30 2011 1:53PM
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snowdon
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 391
I've done Utah to New Jersey and back. We took 80 one way and 70 the other. 80 was faster and, in my opinion, slightly more interesting. Nebraska is awful to drive through, but then again so is Kansas (which 70 goes through). There's just literally nothing around but corn, and I remember praying for a tornado just to spice up the drive a bit. The rest of the drive was really not that bad, but I kinda like road trips.
Jun 30 2011 2:09PM
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RIP_leos_shack
Posts: 710 - Karma: 3,200
I did that a while back but went on I-89 I think through w va and then I-64 to st louis and then back to I-70. It's really pretty through west virginia and Kentucky and you miss I-70 through pa which I think is all a toll road.
Jun 30 2011 2:24PM
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UncleGerry
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 1,377

Either route sucks. I've driven from Boston to Colorado, NJ to California, and i also did a random ass trip that went up into North Dakota and that northern area. Anyways, the only cool part of the trip is stopping in Chicago and partying hard. I wish I had the money to drive down the east coast through the Carolinas, go to New Orleans, and then head west to Texas and up to Colorado. That would be pricey though in terms of gas and cost of fun.

Done rambling, but hopefully you get the idea.

Jun 30 2011 3:25PM
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DERS.
Posts: 6299 - Karma: 1,293
i think i am leaning towards taking 70 all the way there. any places/towns that you guys have stopped at that you would recommend either semi-interesting stuff to see/eat or hotels y'all stayed at? thanks all of this has been super helpful.
Jun 30 2011 6:17PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
in kansas there is an exit for the worlds largest prarie dog...
Jun 30 2011 6:53PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
you and your group should switch off driving so you can smoke/etc to make it go by faster
Jun 30 2011 6:55PM
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T.R.
Posts: 147 - Karma: 10
is it not cheaper to fly?
Jun 30 2011 6:57PM
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Raz.
Posts: 7456 - Karma: 1,611
Just so you know, kansas is the most boring state known too man.
Jun 30 2011 6:59PM
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DERS.
Posts: 6299 - Karma: 1,293
driving so me and my sister can has a car at school in the fall.
Jun 30 2011 7:02PM
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CSpruit
Posts: 368 - Karma: 55
I have taken I-80 a couple of times. It is extremely long and boning to drive through Nebraska and there's really nothing to look at out the window so I would suggest just sleeping through it if you can. Driving through Chicago can get frustrating too because there are so many people and its super busy, but it is a cool and fun place to stop.
Jun 30 2011 7:25PM
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CSpruit
Posts: 368 - Karma: 55
and you can stop at the worlds largest truck stop on I-80
Jun 30 2011 7:27PM
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skiingpimp
Posts: 1176 - Karma: 31
I did jersey to denver in 32 hours once. I used to drive for a dealership and had a nice fast car. There is a store in omaha off I80 that sells stuff supper cheap from trucks that flip. Some weird and cool shit in there.
Jun 30 2011 8:44PM
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Raz.
Posts: 7456 - Karma: 1,611
well if you drive through saint louis and have a few hours, i cannot recommend the saint louis city museum enough.

the fucking funnest place i have ever been in my entire life!

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Jun 30 2011 9:05PM
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deathcookie
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 1,196
Does anybody have any ideas for other things to do when driving across the country? I am leaving for BC in a bit less than a week and I am going the southern route through kansas to denver, and then I think I am going to go up through Montana. I am basically going to be on I70 for a really long time.
Aug 18 2011 9:13AM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
i have driven both of those roots both from central NJ to Colorado, and from Colorado back to central NJ.

multiple times both ways. (i went to school at CU)


Anyway i would do 80, to 70. It just seems faster and driving through kansas and missouri sucks ass. especially kansas. it's awful. I've done the drive and stopped in st. louis to see the gateway arch (not worth it) and all that stuff.

Advice for passing time....ipod....ipod with movies to listen to is a good idea, and driving with a friend helps and is safer.

hit me up with other questions if you need.
Aug 18 2011 9:35AM
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DERS.
Posts: 6299 - Karma: 1,293
yea like techno said take i80. i did 70 after i made this thread and it was pretty fucking boring. what i would do would be like i80 up to chicago then try and work your way north and go through like south dakota and northern wyoming and west.
Aug 18 2011 9:38AM
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.spaghetticat.
Posts: 4283 - Karma: 890
yes sir but just incase ill post the menu

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Aug 18 2011 9:42AM
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