Quickest Driving Route from Maryland to Denver? (Frederick, Marble: restaurant, shop)

[fun4mj]

Any suggestions on the quickest route to take from Frederick, Maryland to Denver, Colorado?

[Mike from back east]

I-70, straight from Frederick to Denver, that's it, did it in 2005 when we moved here. We did 550 miles for days 1 & 2, and 600 miles the 3rd day as Kansas is wide open and flat with few slowdowns. Can be done in two VERY long days if you're in a huge hurry and weather co-operates. If you like BBQ, just off I-70 in Kansas City is Arthur Bryant's, a legend, seen on many Food Network shows.

[fun4mj]

Wow! Great. Thanks. I suppose you really can't get any easier than that. I wonder why the mapping software defaults up I-80? It seems quite a bit out of the way.

Any other suggestions for good stops along the way would be great. Kid friendly..

[oberon]

I-80 is only 10 miles longer, according to Google Maps. Both are likely about the same amount of time, plus or minus an hour. I don't think there is any major advantage to one route over the other.. both are very long drives with about the same amount of desolate stretches. So it just depends where you might be interested in stopping, I'd say.

[denverian]

Don't forget to see the world's largest Prarie Dog and Five Legged Cow in western Kansas. I think the place is called "Prarie Dog Town". I'm half joking, but it's the only thing to see on I-70 in western KS.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by fun4mj

Wow! Great. Thanks. I suppose you really can't get any easier than that. I wonder why the mapping software defaults up I-80? It seems quite a bit out of the way.

Any other suggestions for good stops along the way would be great. Kid friendly..

We have driven to Pittsburgh (between I-70 and I-80) many times. We finally decided we like I-80 better. There are more towns in Nebraska along I-80 than there are correspondingly in KS on 70, (the better to find something to eat), the speed limits are higher in Nebraska and Iowa on I-80 than along 70 through KS and MO (this may have changed recently), you avoid Kansas City and St. Louis on I-80. The corresponding cities are Omaha and the Quad Cities area of Illinois/Iowa. Smaller, less traffic.

[formercalifornian]

We made the drive from Ellicott City to Denver in July 2006, and there is no need for a map. Just take I-70 all the way.

Depending on your tolerance for driving, consider stopping in Indianapolis, which has a terrific children's museum & St. Louis, where you can have a great day at the Gateway Arch and learn a little frontier history while you're at it. The museum under the arch is not to be missed. Fabulous for the entire family. Consider staying in the town of St. Charles, a bit west of St. Louis. The quaint downtown is a lovely place for browsing. Lewis & Clark's is a good place to get dinner. Very fun setting. A wonderful diversion on your third driving day is the Moon Marble Shop. It's the only thing that makes the drive through Kansas tolerable, especially if you have kids. Give them each $20 and set them loose. You won't hear a peep from the backseat for the rest of the trip as they pore over their treasures. Love that place. Really, we LOVE that place! It's well worth the trip.

Enjoy your cross-country adventure...FC