Looking for easiest route driving from Kansas to Washington State (cost, rental)

[Dall2015]

My wife and I will be moving from Kansas to Washington State in 2 weeks. We will be driving a 16' rental truck and my wife will be the only driver (we will have it for 10 days). What we are looking for, is the easiest route avoiding as many winding, mountain roads as possible (I know there is no avoiding the mountains, but it would be nice to limit it as much as possible).

Also, is there a site where we can plan stops for refueling etc?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[mikeyyc]

If you're a member, AAA will do a triptik for you that lays it all out part by part.

For ease of driving, take I70 to I25 to I80 to I84 to I82 to I90. That's assuming you're going to be in Seattle.

You don't specify where in Washington. If you're in the Spokane area you can just do the same route to I82 in Kennewick and take US395 North to I90 East.

[txfriend]

I70 to Denver, E470 Toll around Denver to I25, to Ft. Collins, Hwy 287 to Laramie, I80 to I84 in Utah, I84 to Washington. I have driven this many times with an 18 wheeler with the exception of the E470 Toll Rd. Denver traffic and I25 is bad and if your wife is driving would suggest the E470 bypass. The 287 Ft. Collins is not an interstate however, it is a shortcut with some hills and used by big trucks.

[Dall2015]

Thanks, we will be heading to Puyallup, so pretty close to Seattle.

[jtur88]

Driving the interstates is not so bad. Even the worst of them, your rental truck won't have any problems on hills and curves.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by txfriend

I70 to Denver, E470 Toll around Denver to I25, to Ft. Collins, Hwy 287 to Laramie, I80 to I84 in Utah, I84 to Washington. I have driven this many times with an 18 wheeler with the exception of the E470 Toll Rd. Denver traffic and I25 is bad and if your wife is driving would suggest the E470 bypass. The 287 Ft. Collins is not an interstate however, it is a shortcut with some hills and used by big trucks.

I agree with most of the route but I wouldn't recommend E-470 or US-287.

E-470 is extremely expensive. Taking it from I-70 to I-25 will cost over $10 in tolls, and the bill will go to the rental company instead of the OP. By the time the OP gets the final bill the rental agency could tack on their own "convenience fees." It's just not worth it.

US-287 is a pretty drive, but it's mostly 2-lane and it's packed with truckers and idiots in passenger cars who take unnecessary risks to get around said truckers. The stretch of highway between Fort Collins and Laramie is one of the worst in Colorado and Wyoming in regards to head-on collisions, and after you drive through Fort Collins traffic it'll only save you 10-15 minutes tops.

[StealthRabbit]

I70 to Denver, E470 Toll around Denver to I25, to Ft. Collins, Hwy 287 to Laramie, I80 to I84 in Utah, I84 to Washington. I have driven this many times with an 18 wheeler

My choice as well (32 yrs back and forth, WA to Colorado) Many 18 wheeler / Uhaul trips too.

I much prefer 287 from Ft Collins to Laramie to 'Sherman Pass' Cheyenne to Laramie.

consider taking I-84 on to Portland, then I-5 north to Puyallup (flatter, but longer (slightly)), very pretty in Columbia Gorge!

Take it slow and ez.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Dall2015

Thanks, we will be heading to Puyallup

Which the locals call Pile-Up

LINK to map

[Dall2015]

Thanks again for all the answers, it has been really helpful!

[RadioSilence]

I don't know where exactly you're starting in Kansas, but a co-worker moved two years ago from Kansas City to Seattle. He took the I-29/I-90 route.

I-84 in eastern Oregon has some of the steepest grades of any interstate, by the way.