Atlanta to Denver route (new home, tornado, vs.)

[denvercobound]

I'll be driving from Atlanta to Denver in a month or so. I'd like some advice on the route.

It seems the most popular would be:

1) North through Chatanooga, Nashville, KY, IL, MO, the I-70 to Denver.
2) West to Birmingham, up to Memphis, across AR and OK, through Amarillo up through NM and I-25 to Denver.

I'm thinking the second (southern route) will be the least boring.

What are some good stopping points. Advice on making it a 2 day vs. 3 day drive?

[CruisingUSA]

Originally Posted by denvercobound

through Amarillo up through NM and I-25 to Denver.

I'm thinking the second (southern route) will be the least boring.

What are some good stopping points. Advice on making it a 2 day vs. 3 day drive?

If you go thru Amarillo...you'd want to get off and go north on the country road to 70. Going all the way to NM and Alberqurque is out of the way.

And plus, be prepared to have no signal if you go out that way...

[Brian_M]

We pretty much always go your norther route (in-laws are in Atlanta). From ATL, we spend the first night in Kansas City, and day 2 gets to be shorter. The reason for that is because it's shorter/faster... but the secondary reason is because I moved from DC to Phoenix by way of Atlanta via the southern route. I will NEVER do that section again if I can possibly help it. Even if that means spending more time on the road.

No reason to make it 3 days unless you particularly like being on the road more than absolutely necessary for traveling point to point. If you're doing sight-seeing along the way, then make it as many nights as you want.

[Snikt]

Originally Posted by denvercobound

I'll be driving from Atlanta to Denver in a month or so. I'd like some advice on the route.

It seems the most popular would be:

1) North through Chatanooga, Nashville, KY, IL, MO, the I-70 to Denver.
2) West to Birmingham, up to Memphis, across AR and OK, through Amarillo up through NM and I-25 to Denver.

I'm thinking the second (southern route) will be the least boring.

What are some good stopping points. Advice on making it a 2 day vs. 3 day drive?

I went from Central FL along that #1 route, you could probably do it in 2 days. I did 2 14 hours days and then had 2-3 hrs left on the 3rd day.

I didn't really feel like stopping off anywhere since I wanted to get to my new home, but the route through Chatanooga was kinda cool. KY/IL and MO are mildly boring and then once you hit KS it's incredibly boring for a long ways. Pretty much right up until you get to Denver

[movinginatl]

I agree. Do the 2 day trip on route #1. It's quite the journey, so take some 5 hour energy with you. Kansas City is a good place to stop for the night.

[CruisingUSA]

Originally Posted by Snikt

then once you hit KS it's incredibly boring for a long ways. Pretty much right up until you get to Denver

Maybe its just me, but on my 1st drive thru Kansas from KC last month...I felt it to be quite thrilling.

Most of the way the clouds were very dark and the wind was relentless. It would literally try to push you off the road. I kept anticipating seeing a tornado like in the OZ, or Twister...but alas none came, but I think I did see some trying to form in the distance.

[Snikt]

Originally Posted by CruisingUSA

Maybe its just me, but on my 1st drive thru Kansas from KC last month...I felt it to be quite thrilling.

Most of the way the clouds were very dark and the wind was relentless. It would literally try to push you off the road. I kept anticipating seeing a tornado like in the OZ, or Twister...but alas none came, but I think I did see some trying to form in the distance.

I went in August, all I saw was blue skies and stupid heat. I don't think my outside temp on my car went below 104 when I got to Kansas. Only place I've ever seen a toll on a regular interstate too

Some of the sunflower fields were pretty cool though

[denvercobound]

Thanks for the replies. What about snow across the northern route in early November. Am I going to get hammered with snow in Kansas?

[Brian_M]

Snow can come anytime (it's already here above 10k'), but generally speaking, the early storms are hear and gone. We saw nothing on our drive back last Christmas till pulling into our driveway (north facing), even towed a trailer back without issue. Watch the weather a few days before you're planning on leaving and see what it looks like.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by denvercobound

I'll be driving from Atlanta to Denver in a month or so. I'd like some advice on the route.

It seems the most popular would be:

1) North through Chatanooga, Nashville, KY, IL, MO, the I-70 to Denver.
2) West to Birmingham, up to Memphis, across AR and OK, through Amarillo up through NM and I-25 to Denver.

I'm thinking the second (southern route) will be the least boring.

What are some good stopping points. Advice on making it a 2 day vs. 3 day drive?

Option 1. is two 12 hr. driving days.

Option 2. should be done in three days, unless you want to kill yourself.