Chicago to Salt Lake City to Big Sky!

Hello all!!

My girlfriend and I are taking a road trip from Chicago to Salt Lake City. We're making the trip out there to meet some buddies for a snowboarding trip, but figured we'd drive instead of fly and make a little trip out of it. We'll then be heading from there up to Big Sky Montana for a few days to visit some family.

We're planning on allowing for a few days to make it out to SLC, taking shifts driving, and possibly just sleeping in the back of the SUV here and there when needed.

We're wondering if anyone has any suggestions on places to stop on the way? Sight seeing, must-try restaurants, etc. Or, maybe some particular routes that wouldn't be suggested by Google Maps that might be a bit more scenic, etc?

Thanks so much in advance!!

Matt & Agnes

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

There's a reason there are phrases in the language such as "Live and learn." While I'd venture to say that all of the 'old hands' here have done something similar to what you're suggesting, the simple fact is that having done so, we would never recommend that anyone else do it. It's also true that professional long-haul drivers are forbidden by law from doing what you're contemplating. It's just too dangerous. 'Tag team' driving only works if you have three drivers and a completely noise and light isolated, dedicated cabin for the off duty driver to sleep and all three drivers are on well-established rotating sleep schedules. It does not seem that you have any of those.

At 1,400 miles, Chicago to Salt Lake City is nearly three full days of solid driving, leaving only time for a few short (hour or so) breaks for sight-seeing and/or detours. The same is true of the drive back from Big Sky. It's a little over 1,400 miles and three full days of driving. Add the better part of another day to get from SLC to Big Sky, and you're looking at nearly seven full days of driving, and that's before you actually see anything along the way, or spend any time in SLC or Big Sky. Now, assuming you're going to be spending a "few days" each for snowboarding and visiting family, you're looking at almost two weeks, minimum, to make this trip safely. If you have that much time, say 16 days (two weeks plus the 'extra' weekend), then you can start to make this trip enjoyably as well as safely. But from your description, it appears that you only plan to use nine days (one week plus the odd weekend). That's just not enough.

AZBuck

To add to what AZBuck stated, you also have winter weather to think about. If you're driving, it's always good to allow an extra day or two in either direction, for weather that closes the roads (or at least slows you down to about half the speed). If you were thinking about "sleeping in the back of the SUV" at a truck stop or similar, there are two issues: where are you going to put your travel gear, and how are you going to keep warm and still have ventilation?


Donna

I doubt that the two of you could sleep comfortably for 8 hours in a car without freezing after 30 minutes.

Idling your engine to run the heater could be deadly.

You can't sleep in your seats, even reclined. You need to lay flat and stretched out.

Also, few rest areas have security that walk the grounds at night.

A cheap motel will serve you better, and you'll get a "free" breakfast too. Grab some toasted bagels, cream cheese or peanut butter, yogurt, fruit etc for snacking later.

I have slept on a mattress in the rear of an SUV in summer, the front seats fully forward. Can't see how you could do it with two in winter. Best you have a few trial weekends and work out where you'd put your luggage and where you will get dressed, if that is the way you want to go. Bottom line is, you need your eight hours' sleep each and every night. You can't plan on stopping only here and there when needed.

Lifey