Printable View
Hi All!
I'd like your advice. We're moving from Chicago to Los Angeles in late August, and will be driving a 16' truck and a car. We'd like a route that's scenic without adding extra hours to the drive, as well as a route that's easily navigated by our mini-caravan.
I've come across a few routes - one relies heavily upon route 80, the other upon route 40 (possibly the most dull?), and I believe I saw one that involved route 70.
Feedback is VERY appreciated! Thank you!
Angie
I think that I-40 is very scenic -- not dull at all. You would also find I-70 to I-15 a very beautiful route, if a bit more mountainous across Colorado, but it won't be a problem for either one of your vehicles. Bob
Angie, I am assuming when you refer to "route 80" you are intending to say Interstate Highway 80? The confusion arises because there are a couple of route 40's and an Interstate 40. In any case, given that this is a move and you probably don't want to have to deal with mountain passes, I would suggest that Interstate 40 would be your best choice. It is very scenic and still offers a relatively mild passage over the continental divide.Quote:
We're moving from Chicago to Los Angeles in late August, and will be driving a 16' truck and a car. We'd like a route that's scenic without adding extra hours to the drive, as well as a route that's easily navigated by our mini-caravan.
Mark
Yes, apologies for not being clearer, and thanks for your (very!) prompt feedback!
Right now I have a tentative route that goes as follows: I-80 to I-70, then I-15. Does that sound OK?
I think I'm leaning towards the northern route as opposed to taking 40, since I haven't yet done a drive that involves mountains.
Thanks again,
Angie
That is a very pretty route -- but it involves crossing some SERIOUS mountains. Your vehicles will do fine, but it will be slow going up over the steepest section of the Colorado Rockies.Quote:
Right now I have a tentative route that goes as follows: I-80 to I-70, then I-15. Does that sound OK?
If you are interested in AVOIDING mountain passes -- you need to reconsider I-40. It has some low passes, but nothing on the scale of I-70. If you stay on I-80 all the way through Wyoming to I-15 in Idaho, you will, again, miss the moutains of Colorado. But again, I-40 is is the preferred route for most truckers (because of the absence of mountains)
Mark
Would staying on I-80, instead of using I-70, add considerably to the drive time? By looking at the map, it seems like the drive time might be longer, but as you said, it's slow going using I-80 anyway... If staying on I-80 would still be a pretty drive, maybe I'll nix the I-70 to I-80 idea and then choose between just I-80 and I-40....
I'd recommend I-70 because of the mountain scenery. A little over a year ago I made the trip in a 17 ft UHaul, pulling my car on a trailer. It was a little slow going over the mountains, but I didn't think it was too bad. Even in the steepest stretches I think I was still able to plod along around 30 mph.
I-80 is quite a bit less scenic, but it wouldn't take you much extra time. I-80 is a little longer, but the mountains, and more importantly, Denver traffic can also slow you down quite a bit on I-70.
I've done I-55 to I-44 to I-40 to go Chicago to Flagstaff. You could stay on
I-40 to I-15 to I-10 to get to LA. The drive on I-44 through Missouri was nice. I-44 is a toll road in Oklahoma.
I checked maps.yahoo.com and it suggested I-80 (1240 mi) to I-15 (643 mi) to I-10 (41 mil). Regardless of your choice, enjoy the move.
It's hard to give you a reliable advice, I need to know more details about your move. I can suggest you some good LA movers, they helped me a lot last year when I moved out of Denver, I had no complains about the services.