Driving from Chicago area to California via I 70 or I 40

[lizbet10]

Thank you for that Crew Chief. Do you not recommend then 40 route? From south of chicago (I'm an hour south) through St. Louis, Oklahoma City et. al? And the reason why 80 to 84/15/10 would be better would be?...

Any negatives specifically on the 40 route as compared to the above 80 route?

I will get an exit guide. Seems like a great thing to have.

[lizbet10]

Looking at it -- it looks like 15 from 80 goes through the mountains or does it run alongside them.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by lizbet10

Looking at it -- it looks like 15 from 80 goes through the mountains or does it run alongside them.

You can't go from east to west across America without passing through the Rocky Mountains. Locally, they may be called other things, but the Rockies stretch from Mexico to Canada, so whatever route you take will be through them.

But, there's a difference between going through them and going over them. On both I-80 and I-40, you pass through gaps in the mountains without actually going over the tops. You'll see them alright. They'll be right there, but you stay down in the lower elevations.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by lizbet10

Thank you for that Crew Chief. Do you not recommend then 40 route? From south of chicago (I'm an hour south) through St. Louis, Oklahoma City et. al? And the reason why 80 to 84/15/10 would be better would be?...

Any negatives specifically on the 40 route as compared to the above 80 route?

I will get an exit guide. Seems like a great thing to have.

lizbet10, either route will be fine! There is plenty to see going thru MO, OK, NM & AZ, too. But I REALLY like I-15 for scenery. So it's really up to you. If you're interested, there's a huge cross on I-40 in Groom, TX (Just East of Amarillo) that makes for an interesting sight. At sunrise or sunset, it's especially beautiful.

[Oildog]

^^And you can try to eat the Big 72 at the Big Texan in Amarillo

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by Oildog

^^And you can try to eat the Big 72 at the Tall Texan in Amarillo

Thanks, Oildog! I'd fogotten about that big ol' 72 oz. steak! Eat it all (plus accompanying veggies, salads) and it's free. Cost $50 if you didn't finish it last time I was thru there.

[intelfan11315]

I've never been to any of the southwestern states so I decided to take I-40 to LA. (coming from Michigan)

[Oildog]

Saw the Big Texan again on Food channel yesterday. I have eaten there and it was good, but I didn't go for the 72. But 2 people tried while I was there...neither successful.