Driving from Dallas to Washington D.C. area, do you guys have any advice? (Rockwall: HOA, hotel)

[Moorhen3]

We'll be leaving first weekend of July. It's us the parents and four young children. I expect we will stop somewhere overnight but have no idea where. Any advice you can impart would be great!

[ggolf]

Originally Posted by Moorhen3

We'll be leaving first weekend of July. It's us the parents and four young children. I expect we will stop somewhere overnight but have no idea where. Any advice you can impart would be great!

try mapquest or googlemaps

Not only will you get directions, but I'm sure they will point out places to stay along the way

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

If you can come over form Denver on I-70 and then up I-15, then you can see some of Utah. The largest open-pit mine in the world is just outside Salt Lake City. It is visible from space without a telescope and you can peer down into it from the top. Go up to Park City where the Sundance Festival is held in the winter. Charming old mining town.

I-15 runs along the base of the Wasatch Mtns and it is a pretty drive.
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[Moorhen3]

Originally Posted by ggolf

try mapquest or googlemaps

Not only will you get directions, but I'm sure they will point out places to stay along the way

Yeap, I've done that. I am hoping to get some tips from people who have already driven. Thanks for your post.

[Moorhen3]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

If you can come over form Denver on I-70 and then up I-15, then you can see some of Utah. The largest open-pit mine in the world is just outside Salt Lake City. It is visible from space without a telescope and you can peer down into it from the top. Go up to Park City where the Sundance Festival is held in the winter. Charming old mining town.

I-15 runs along the base of the Wasatch Mtns and it is a pretty drive.
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Going to Utah would be really nice particularly since my husband has family over there. Unfortunately for us, my husband is working in the Northern Virginia area so since it is the summer, we'll be staying over there for a few weeks.

[mami2emily]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

If you can come over form Denver on I-70 and then up I-15, then you can see some of Utah

I think they are driving to Washington D.C., not Washington state.

Not sure what route you will take, but if it takes you anywhere near Chattanooga, TN you should plan a stop there. They have a wonderful aquarium and IMAX theatre, nice children's museum, a beautiful riverfront area, Coolidge Park with an old-timey carrousel and a very long pedestrian bridge over the river, Ruby Falls and Rock City are nearby as well. If you want to catch some baseball, the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts have a great ballpark right downtown and tix are super cheap. When I lived in GA we would try to make it a few times a year to Chattanooga since there is so much to do.

Best shrimp & grits I ever ate was at Big River Grille Brewery...I can still taste that dish!

[Spade]

I think the best route is I30 from Dallas to Little Rock. Than I40 from Little Rock to Knoxville, TN. Than I81 from Knoxville to I66 just to the west of Front Royal. From there, it takes you into the city of Washington DC. You travel through many mountains in Tennessee and Virginia. Nice little ride. You'll go through Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Bristol, Blacksburgh, on the outskirts of Roanoke, and the smoky mountains.

[Moorhen3]

Originally Posted by mami2emily

I think they are driving to Washington D.C., not Washington state.

Not sure what route you will take, but if it takes you anywhere near Chattanooga, TN you should plan a stop there. They have a wonderful aquarium and IMAX theatre, nice children's museum, a beautiful riverfront area, Coolidge Park with an old-timey carrousel and a very long pedestrian bridge over the river, Ruby Falls and Rock City are nearby as well. If you want to catch some baseball, the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts have a great ballpark right downtown and tix are super cheap. When I lived in GA we would try to make it a few times a year to Chattanooga since there is so much to do.

Best shrimp & grits I ever ate was at Big River Grille Brewery...I can still taste that dish!

Thanks mami2emily. I know we'll probably be driving through Tennessee so hopefully we'll have time to look at some of those spots-they sound fun.

[5stones]

I will add my 2 cents since we moved from NOVA and I have driven out twice since then.

I think the best route is I30 from Dallas to Little Rock. Than I40 from Little Rock to Knoxville, TN.

This part is right on...it's our route and we usually stop in Knoxville...it's a long 1 day drive but we try to leave DFW by 5:30 then you clear downtown traffic, Rockwall etc before the morning rush. ( My kids are older, but when we lived on the East and drove to CO we would keep them in thier PJ's until we stopped for breakfast)

Take 81 out of Knoxville (although I hate 81 because of truck traffic..it's the fastest route)
Now this gets tricky are you going to NOVA (what part?) or DC? AVOID 66 in Fairfax county during RUSH AVOID 95. comming in 66 may look quicker more direct but traffic is horrible (it Also becomes HOA only inside 495 during rush hour in and out of DC)
I take 81 up to Winchesteer since I am going to Leesburg etc...
Otherwise if you are going into Fairfax county take 66 to 495...
I also cut over in Charlottsville to 64 and take 29/17 up

[Moorhen3]

Originally Posted by Spade

I think the best route is I30 from Dallas to Little Rock. Than I40 from Little Rock to Knoxville, TN. Than I81 from Knoxville to I66 just to the west of Front Royal. From there, it takes you into the city of Washington DC. You travel through many mountains in Tennessee and Virginia. Nice little ride. You'll go through Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Bristol, Blacksburgh, on the outskirts of Roanoke, and the smoky mountains.

Thank you Spade. Nice to know that we'll get to see mountains. Haven't driven anywhere with mountains. LOL

Originally Posted by 5stones

I will add my 2 cents since we moved from NOVA and I have driven out twice since then.


This part is right on...it's our route and we usually stop in Knoxville...it's a long 1 day drive but we try to leave DFW by 5:30 then you clear downtown traffic, Rockwall etc before the morning rush. ( My kids are older, but when we lived on the East and drove to CO we would keep them in thier PJ's until we stopped for breakfast)

Take 81 out of Knoxville (although I hate 81 because of truck traffic..it's the fastest route)
Now this gets tricky are you going to NOVA (what part?) or DC? AVOID 66 in Fairfax county during RUSH AVOID 95. comming in 66 may look quicker more direct but traffic is horrible (it Also becomes HOA only inside 495 during rush hour in and out of DC)
I take 81 up to Winchesteer since I am going to Leesburg etc...
Otherwise if you are going into Fairfax county take 66 to 495...
I also cut over in Charlottsville to 64 and take 29/17 up

Thanks 5Stones. We will be staying right north of Dulles airport. We plan on staying at some hotel in Tennessee and then drive the rest of the 2nd day to Reston. I've researched about traffic over there and will try my hardest to avoid 66. Thanks again!