DC to Fresno

We will be moving from DC to Fresno mid-August. I will be driving most of the trip but my girlfriend would help for at least a couple of hours every day. I expect to make the trip in about 5/6 days. We are both not from the US (although we spent the last 5 years here) and would like to use this opportunity to explore America. I am considering between taking I - 80 and stopping over at Chicago but could take an alternative route like I - 40 if there are convenient little stop overs and interesting small towns. We are looking for suggestions about interesting cities/towns to stop over for the night if a 5/6 day trip. Good food suggestions alongside would be great, as we would like to avoid the food chains.

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

If you want to do any exploring, then 6 days is really going to be the bare minimum for your trip. You could make the trip in 5, but it would require being on the road for 10+ hours a day with only time for some very brief stops along the way.

There are interesting towns and attractions no matter which route you take. Based on your desire to see Chicago, you might look at something like stops in Elkhart IN, Dixon IL (spending much of the day in Chicago), Kearney NE, Glenwood Springs CO, and St. George UT. That would allow a chance for a quick detour to one or maybe 2 of the several national parks that are very near that route. Of course, this is just one example, there are several other ways you could tweek things, and certainly if you'd rather stick to I-80 or use I-40, those are certainly reasonable options too.

Thank you for the suggestions.
If I take I-80, and stop at or around Elkart IN, Kearney NE, Glenwood Springs CO and St. George UT, would anyone of have recommendations for interesting sights to see around each or any of these spots. Any food hot spots along the way?

From DC, I wouldn't take I-80.

Fastest route is I-270/I-70/I-68/I-79/I-70/I-44/I-40/CA-58/CA-99. This is a 5 day trip with stops in Richmond IN, Springfield MO, Amarillo TX, and Flagstaff AZ.

If you have 6 days, visit the Grand Canyon and spend the next night in Williams or Kingman.

For food, I can recommend the Big Texan steakhouse in Amarillo. They also have an on-premises motel done up in Old West decor. The rooms are OK.

Another option is stay on I-70 after STL, overnights in KC, Denver, and Richfield UT. You could spend a day going through Bryce Canyon and possibly Zion, and spend the next night in St. George.

We considered I 80 as we would have liked to see Chicago. Nothing set in stone, I think I 70 via Denver, and driving by Bryce Canyon/Zion would be good route.
Tentatively,
1st day - DC to Columbus OH
2nd day - Columbus to St. Louis MO
3rd day - St. Louis to Kansas City (or Salina KS) [any recommendations where to stop?]
4th day - From (____) to Denver CO
5th day - Denver to St. George UT
6th day - St. George to Fresno

I was wondering if there are any national park recommendations to stay rather than at St. George UT. If we could organize our route so that we go by (or stay at) Las Vegas at night - that might be interesting, as well?
Any suggestions, to smoothen the driving distance everyday, with the Las Vegas at night and the stay in the Bryce/Zion or surrounding national park area as interests? I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to get lodging cabin's for a night at one of these parks?

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Originally Posted by easttowest

I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to get lodging cabin's for a night at one of these parks?

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If you do not already have bookings, there may be a very, very slim chance, but I wouldn't count on it.

Lifey

The route I originally suggested was created with your goal of stopping in Chicago in mind, but it did still go through Denver and past Arches/Bryce/Zion via I-70/I-15 as you are now considering.

It would be extremely difficult to get a cabin inside any national park at this late date, although it doesn't hurt to check and see if there's been a cancellation. Lodging options outside the parks might offer more availablity.

It would be tough to be in Vegas at night, unless you actually spend the night there. Its around a 6-7 hour drive from Vegas to Fresno, so that would set up a relatively short final day as it is. If you want your last day on the road to be a full one, you'd be driving through in the morning.

In order to have any time at all to see Bryce and/or Zion, you need to extend your previous days -

Richmond IN
KC
Denver
Richfield UT

After Zion, you may be able to find a room in Springdale, right outside the park.

Since Vegas is only 6 hrs from Fresno, we could do it at a later date from Fresno. But Chicago may be harder to get to, so I'll put it back on the map.

DC -
Cleveland OH -
Chicago IL -
Lincoln NE -
Denver CO -
Richfield UT -
Springdale/Vegas
Fresno.

Are there any big tolls (other warnings) that should be avoided on the route?

Did you add another day to your plans? It looks like this would be a 7 day trip now?

You'll see significant tolls basically all the way to Chicago. If you have an EZ-Pass, it will work all the way to Illinois and will save you several dollars. West of Illinois, you're basically toll free.

Yes, I could not keep it down to 6 days (but might revert back to your original 6 day route, after consultation with my companion).
How do I get an EZ - pass?

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Originally Posted by easttowest

How do I get an EZ - pass?

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They have offices on or near all toll roads. The addresses are on their site. Or you can go online. Make sure you get it a few days before you leave, as it will only work in the State in which you get it, for the first few days. Since you are covering several States, you will want it to work in all.

Lifey

If you're in DC, then you'll want to pick up an EZ-Pass in Maryland. Details are on their website.

7 days will make your trip even nicer, although keep in mind, you certainly don't have to stop in large cities. In fact, a lot of times you can find better lodging deals by staying in smaller and more mid-sized locations.

If you are moving to Fresno, an EZ-Pass won't be of any use to you when you get out there. You will have roughly a $50 investment to get it - $10 deposit and $40 prepaid tolls - which you won't use up on this trip. You can pay cash all the way.