Driving from Northeast to Denver (construction, horses, cities)

[jacoby23]

In preparation of our departure I was wondering if anyone has ever driven from the Northeast to Colorado. I figure it will take a few days and we will be stopping to rest. We are going to stop in Ohio and Chicago the first few days. But I am looking for suggestions for the rest of the trip.

Is going through ST Louis and Kansas City a good option? Or just going straight through Des Moines and Omaha? We would probably be staying in either Kansas City or Omaha before the last leg to Denver.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by jacoby23

In preparation of our departure I was wondering if anyone has ever driven from the Northeast to Colorado. I figure it will take a few days and we will be stopping to rest. We are going to stop in Ohio and Chicago the first few days. But I am looking for suggestions for the rest of the trip.

Is going through ST Louis and Kansas City a good option? Or just going straight through Des Moines and Omaha? We would probably be staying in either Kansas City or Omaha before the last leg to Denver.

I think it might be just a bit shorter to go through Omaha, but then looking at the map, it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Either route would be equally as boring. Although you might find St. Louis and Kansas City more interesting than Des Moines and Omaha.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by jacoby23

In preparation of our departure I was wondering if anyone has ever driven from the Northeast to Colorado. I figure it will take a few days and we will be stopping to rest. We are going to stop in Ohio and Chicago the first few days. But I am looking for suggestions for the rest of the trip.

Is going through ST Louis and Kansas City a good option? Or just going straight through Des Moines and Omaha? We would probably be staying in either Kansas City or Omaha before the last leg to Denver.

Do Des Moines/Omaha, especially if you are going to Chicago. Just take I-80 out of Chicago, all the way to Ogallala (sp?), then get on I-76 into Denver. We've done both, and there's much less traffic through those cities than St. Louis/KC. There are also more services on I-80; it's the old Oregon Trail roadway.

[davebarnes]

St Louis
http://www.youtube.com/v/BRJnEbt89w8

[BarryK123]

Did the drive from Phila to Denver 3 years ago. Took the NE Ext of PA Tpk to I-80, then I-80 almost the whole way until I-76 in Nebraska to Denver.

We stopped first night in western Indiana and the second night in the Omaha Area.

If you have an EZPass, it's good through Illinois, then you can mail it back to once you're settled in here. Have a good trip.

[reed303]

Leaving Chicago, take I-88 to Davenport area, pickup I-80, overnite in Omaha area, then I-80 to I-76.

I-55 & I-70 route thru St Louis/KC is 150 miles longer, and worse big-city traffic. Also Kansas is actually more boring than Nebraska, with less services enroute.

[BarryK123]

Originally Posted by reed303

Also Kansas is actually more boring than Nebraska, with less services enroute.

Hard to imagine! I remember how bad it was driving across Pennsylvania, but then there was Nebraska!

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Hard to imagine! I remember how bad it was driving across Pennsylvania, but then there was Nebraska!

Pennsylvania is bad? How so? I-80 goes through beautiful country in PA! Seriously, mountains, forests, little towns.

I have driven across Nebraska at least twice a year for 30 years now, some years more often. I enjoy it. I like looking at the farms, and the baby cows and horses. I love the neat names of towns, like "War Axe" and "Red Cloud". And it's easy! The speed limit is about 80 outside of Lincoln and Omaha, and it's fairly flat. You can just turn on the cruise control and cruise. The only drawback is all the big trucks on the road with you.

[BarryK123]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Pennsylvania is bad? How so?

It was just long. That's all. Each state line is an indicator of progress. IIRC, PA was about 8 hours from near the NJ border to OH. We did half of the I-80 drive in PA several times in the past when daughter was at Penn State.

[Belle_w]

We just arrived in Denver from Stamford, CT yesterday (via I-70). There is currently a major I-70 (westbound) road construction at western Kansas, so I-80 may be a better way for you.