Need Advice: Driving cross-country CO to MA

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by hakhadbai

Thank you both. I have been looking at the map and also some weather maps. Though it will all depend on how the weather turns up on that weekend.

This is my plan for the trip so far:
Fort Collins to Kansas City (thru NE i80) approximately 11 hours
Kansas City to Columbus (thru i70) approximately 11 hours
Columbus to Cambridge (70, 76, 99, 80, 84) approximately 15 hours (may have to break this into two)

Do you think I am being ambitious?

You are not going to get to KC on I-80, as it is on I-70. You can get to KC in one day; maybe even a little farther into MO. I will warn you, there are not a lot of services on I-70 in KS and MO; you should decide where you're going to stop for the night and make a reservation.

If it's not snowing the day you leave, and no snow is predicted, I would suggest taking I-76 to I-80 and taking I-80 to Cleveland, then get on I-90. That is the way google maps recommends, too. I-80 has way more services across NE and IA than I-70 does in KS and MO.

Google Maps

[hollyt00]

Your plan is almost identical to the one my family did this summer to Philadelphia. We stopped in KC, Columbus, and then to Philly. We had about a two hour break in Pennsylvania to do some sightseeing.

On the way back we stopped once, in St. Louis. Now *that* was fun with a 7 year old and 3 year old!

Time-wise I think it is doable, but I cannot help as far as wintery roads. Just wish you the best!

[bostontopueblo]

I've driven from Pueblo to Boston in about 2 days, maybe a little less but there were two of us driving and an annoying cat. So it's possible but you're gonna need coffee.

Also at economy hotels, you can really talk them down on price. Just find the expedia rate, call the hotel, make a reservation and talk them down on the price. Remember expedia take anywhere from 5-15% so you can use that to get a better rate. Also just tell them you'll pay cash when you checkin if they have a crappy manager who is going to charge you if you can't make it.