St Paul MN to central FL coast.

Sitting here with the US map in front of me, I just can't see the way. No sightseeing or detours. I need to get to FL in an efficient manner, and figure that driving about 400 - 450 miles a day, it will take me four or five days. That's fine by me, but there seem to be so many roads crisscrossing every which way, I keep getting lost.... and that's just on the map.

So I need a bit of guidance.

Out of St Paul I will take 94 to 39 and then ??????

Was thinking at the other end to go through Birmingham, Montgomery to I-10, I-95, mainly because I have driven that bit several times now and 'know' it.

It's that in between bit that I am struggling with, especially trying to avoid, as much as possible, the major urban centres.

Someone, please point me in the right direction. Leaving tomorrow morning - Thursday 1st May. I will get on the internet along the way to check. Thanks in anticipation.

Lifey

I can't see any way to avoid some cities, but how about this:
Madison
Bloomington
Effingham (so you avoid St Louis)
Nashville
Chattanooga
Atlanta (ugh, sorry!)
Valdosta
Gainesville
Your destination

About 1600 miles.

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Out of St Paul I will take 94 to 39 and then ??????

Was thinking at the other end to go through Birmingham, Montgomery to I-10, I-95, mainly because I have driven that bit several times now and 'know' it.

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The way I've gone down to Tampa in the past is very much in line with what you were already thinking.

From I-39 at Bloomington, use I-74 to jog over to I-57 at Champaign and take that down to southern Illinois. Pick up I-24 and take it to Nashville, then head down I-65 into Alabama. From Montgomery, get on US-231 and take that down to Florida, and onto your final destination.

Nashville is the only real large city on the route, and even there, I've never had any traffic problems driving through.

You could look at stopping around Lasalle/Peru (Starved Rock State Park) or Bloomington. Clarksville (Land Between the Lakes and Fort Donaldson) or Nashville, and then Dothan, AL.

Somehow I figured you had mentioned this before, but I could not locate it at the time. When I look at it now, that is exactly what I did in reverse last year.

I knew someone would jog my memory.

Stayed at Starved Rock last year, but this time, it will be truckstops along the way, most of which I have stayed at before.

Lifey

This turned out to be a great leg of my trip. Even a trip'just to get there', can have wonderful surprises along the way. Much more than just a straight run down to FL.

I did of course strike all the construction in WI.... well, three sections. But this time I was more forgiving than that trip, half a decade ago. Having spent almost 10 days on the roads in MN, it was a sheer pleasure once I crossed the border. No more having to avoid the potholes, I could relax and enjoy the drive.

My first night spent in Peru IL - 395 miles. Having left St Paul quite late I did not feel like preparing something to eat for dinner. The sun had just disappeared over the horizon, and all I wanted was something to eat, and go to sleep. Chose the chain diner at the truck stop.

First surprise was the 'specials' board - Thursday, seniors 25% off anything on the menu. The fish looked nice, complete with sides and soup. I did so enjoy it. Brought some of my paper work up to date and went to the cashier to pay my bill. While she was still busy with another diner she looked at me and said "You're good to go". When I queried what she meant, she said my bill had been paid and I was 'good to go'. She was not at liberty to tell me who paid it, so I asked her to thank, whoever did. In my wildest imagination I can not see who it could be. I had not spoken to or interacted with a single person since I had stopped.

It was here also, when I asked if there were any restrictions on overnight parking, that I was told of the gent who works locally but lives a long way away. He sleeps there every weeknight in a campervan - "Even has a generator he runs all night".

Slept well that night.

The first (and last) place I stopped on day two was the rest area at Rend Lake IL - roughly mile post 88 on I-57 south bound. This is a large rest area with a staffed information booth, playground and ever so many picnic tables... lots of which were well used. The road goes a little ways along the lake, with ample parking to have a picnic by the lake. There were several travellers who had brought their fishing rods. I did not see anyone produce that night's dinner.

It was a great place to take a walk - even if it took me 10 mins for the short walk down to the lake. A rest area which is much more than a bathroom stop.

That night was in Oak Grove KY - 430 miles.

The next day it was down to Dothan AL - 440 miles. As is Michael's experience, there was no hassle at all going through Nashville, even though I was there at 8.30am.

The outstanding experience on day three was a procession of cars I encounted in Quincy. It was led by three police cars, one behind the other, all with their lights flashing as well as sirens from the front car. Then followed a long line of cars, two were black with dark windows (but they were not the front cars), and all had their headlights on. Another police car with lights flashing came up the rear. The vehicles in front of me pulled off the road, even though it was a divided road, and the procession was on the other side. I pulled off as well, not really knowing why.

None of the vehicles was a hearse, as I know it. At home funeral processions are the only ones where every car has its headlines on. Never before have I known traffic on the other side of the road to stop for such a procession. I'm still puzzled as to what it was. Maybe a funeral? Maybe a funeral of a law enforcement officer? Maybe those in front of me were locals and knew.

Maybe someone who reads this can tell me.

On the last day it was 231 to US90, and that to Tallahassee where I hopped onto I-10. I-75, route 40 and 17 then took me to De Leon Springs.

As I said, much more than a straight run, with lots of great memories.

Lifey

Ah....LaSalle/Peru/Ladd....those three Illinois towns spell "family" to me. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them there are now under the ground, sad to say. Starved Rock was the place of several family reunions, way back when.

Sounds to me that the two black, non-front cars, might have been the "hearse". But I could be wrong on this.


Donna

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Originally Posted by DonnaR57

Sounds to me that the two black, non-front cars, might have been the "hearse". But I could be wrong on this.

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They were ordinary sedans... albeit, luxury sedans.

Lifey

That is an odd one.

The only two things that I could think of would be Funeral Procession or Motorcade.

Typically a funeral procession doesn't get a police escort unless its an active duty military death, especially not with multiple police cars and lights/sirens. But "long line of cars" seems like it would be too big to be some kind of motorcade.

Michael, the only other thing I could think of was some dignitary arriving in town.... but it was a heck of a long line of cars for even that, and they were ordinary cars, not the sort you see when security accompanies anyone. And then, why the lights on? why did the cars in front, and behind me, all pull over, even though we were on the other side of the road.

It shall remain a mystery!

Wish I could find a town of Quincy in either AL or TN (which is where I am sure I would have had to be). None of my maps show it. Can't even think of why I was not on an interstate.

Lifey

FWIW Google Maps lists a "Quincy Cemetery" in Crockett County, Tennessee but it's in the middle of nowhere and not the name of a town, so I'd be amazed if that was it.

Reading back over the responses it came to mind.... maybe Quincy was the county. I have been caught out many a time mistaking cities and counties. So hard to get used to the way people use these terms. Could it have been county police?

Lifey

I've been on the case [;-)] and this is the only thing I can come up with.

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Wish I could find a town of Quincy in either AL or TN

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The outstanding experience on day three was a procession of cars I encounted in Quincy.

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On the last day it was 231 to US90, and that to Tallahassee

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The only town [no county] I can find named Quincy along your route is right on US90 in Florida to Tallahassee. I can't find anything linking it to the Motorcade though and it's only because I have had days and thoughts get confused myself that I ask. [Not questioning your sanity lol ]

Dave

Thanks Dave. Thanks for taking the trouble. I would never have thought to check FL, but of course, I should have known, it was the only time I was off freeways. Somehow I just lose track of the days when I am on the road. I should have written it down while I was waiting with the other vehicles. (I thought you had other matters occupying your mind right now.)

No problem questioning sanity.... I do myself, sometimes. :-p

Lifey

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(I thought you had other matters occupying your mind right now

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Indeed. Sometimes it's good to have a little distraction though. [It took all of about 10mins] lol

Dave.

Once again I am looking for a relatively efficient route, trying to avoid the urban centres and tolls, and taking in as many of the two and three digit US highways. Would like to stay within a shot of the interstates to find a truck stop now and then.

Starting in Henderson NC ending north of Portland ME.

I have studied my maps, but other than the many routes through PA and I-88 through some of NY, I am really lost at either end. Haven't thought of a timeframe, suffice to say that by 6th June I have to be in St Paul.

That other leg, ME to MN is basically already worked out, other than heading from ME to southwest NY, or maybe northwest PA.

So please, those of you who have a wider knowledge of this area, please design me an efficient - hopefully scenic - route. By efficient I mean not too many unnecessary miles. (I am low on funds, but shhush! don't tell anyone.)

Lifey

Does this road go from coast to coast? Studying my maps it seems to stop in Duluth, and I cannot find another sign of it till NH. Does it perhaps double up with another route which goes south of the Lakes and through NY State?

Lifey

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Originally Posted by Lifemagician

Does this road go from coast to coast?

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There are two separate sections. As usual, Wikipedia has the best information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_2

US-2 doesn't quite go coast to coast, in the US, because it is broken up by Canada. As John mentioned, it has 2 segments, but heading west to east it does go farther than Duluth, and restarts sooner than New Hampshire.

After Duluth, US-2 continues across Northern Wisconsin through Ashland, then cuts slightly southeast through the UP, towards the north shore of Lake Michigan, ending at I-75 just north of the Mackinaw Bridge.

It restarts in the Northeastern-most corner of New York State, heading immediately into Vermont, and then south down the middle of the islands in Lake Champlain, before turning back east towards Montpelier.

The easiest way to connect the two segments would be to head into Canada, from Sault Ste. Marie, toward Montreal and back down.

Thanks guys. (I thought Wikipedia isn't acceptable.) Still haven't found it on my maps, but at least I now know where it goes. Won't be heading into Canada this trip.

Lifey

Wikipedia should never been taken as fact all by itself, but it works for "quick and dirty" background, as long as you go and fact check it yourself. BTW, Jamie Jenson's Roadtrip USA book/site details US-2 pretty closely, calling it "the Great Northern Route."

What are you using for maps Lifey? US-2 is a major highway across Northern Wisconsin and the UP, and I'd be rather shocked if it isn't marked. Similarly, it's the only main highway through the section of islands in Lake Champlain in Vermont, although it is basically right alongside I-89 for much of the rest of Vermont, so that could be easily missed.

I know for a fact that it goes east of Duluth, because we were on it this summer. It's a beautiful route through MN and WI. At Hurley, WI, it heads into Michigan's UP. That's where it's broken up. We were on it from Hurley WI to Bemidji MN -- mostly forested, good road for the most part, not heavily traveled but you may have to pass some farm machinery.


Donna

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

... I'd be rather shocked if it isn't marked.

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Maybe I am just getting tired.

Lifey

Last year I drove on US 2 from St Ignace, MI to Escanaba, MI. on my counter clockwise trip around Lake Michigan. It was a highway I enjoyed because Lake Michigan could be seen more frequently than from other highways. There were signs saying something like "This is not a freeway". I assume to get drivers to observer the 55 mph speed limit. I was going westbound. Eastbound this section ends at I-75 in St Ignace where you would have to follow I-75 into Canada.

In 2012 I took a ferry from Plattsburgh, NY across Lake Champlain where I joined US-2 to get to Vermont. US-2 had come down the the chain of islands in the center of the lake from the Canadian border. After I went across the causeway to the mainland I went through Smugglers Notch to Stowe, Vermont so left US 2. Later I did get back on US 2 in New Hampshire and followed it to where it joins I-95 in Maine.

I had to chuckle to myself because I could remember the "jammer's" spiel on the Red Bus Tour going from the eastern entrance to the western entrance of Glacier National Park. He said US-2 was know as the highway that went from Portland (ME) to Portland (OR). Well not quite although US-2 certainly had been scenic wherever I have been on it.

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Originally Posted by Uncle Howie

... although US-2 certainly had been scenic wherever I have been on it.

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My experience as well, hence choosing it as a possible route back to Boston. But not going through Canada this year. Looking forward to taking it through MI though.

Lifey