Best route from San Francisco to Raleigh

[Solipsist]

Hey all,
I just quit my job and am moving from California to Raleigh, North Carolina. Per the title, I'm looking for advice on the best route to take out there. I'm more concerned with speed than sidetrips, but the nicer the views, the better. I drove the 10 out to Pensacola and back a few years ago, so I have experience with 13 hour driving days. From mapping software, it seems either Highway 40 or 80 to start out and I'm planning on three to five days. I've read through much of the great information on speed trips and safety on this site, but haven't found a route choice for my particular trip. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Mike

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.

If I were just out to make tracks, I'd drop down via I-5 to CA-58 and I-40 cross country to Raleigh. It's about 2850 miles. If you start out on I-80 and continue on I-29, I-70, I-64, I-77, US-52, and I-40, that's 2885 miles. That's only a 35 mile difference, but taking into account the extra bit of mountain driving on the northern route and the directness of the southern route, I'd opt for I-5 and I-40

AZBuck

[Midwest Michael]

I would probably start on I-80, but cut down to I-70 at Salt Lake City via U.S. 6. The route would be a little longer, but I-70 through Utah and Colorado is probably my favorite stretch of Interstate because of the mountains.

[Solipsist]

Thank you both for the advice. The 80 between Reno and Salt Lake is a hell of a boring drive but I'd be interested in seeing 70 into Colorado. I've been leaning towards taking 40 only because of the more direct route, but I found out tonight that I may have a few extra days to kill before I should be in Raleigh. Any suggestions for a one or two day MUST SEE on the way? I've spent sometime in flagstaff and around the grand canyon, as well as a few spring breaks in Utah seeing the national/state parks, so I'd be interested in a diversion somewhere more easterly, possibly closer to my new home. The trip is commencing just after Easter, so I doubt there will be a lot crowds where ever I go. Thanks again for the help.

-Mike

[AZBuck]

If I were leaving the western US for a while, the things that I'd want to make sure that I had seen include the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Given that you've been to the Grand Canyon and that you can't do everything, I think I'd opt for Michael's suggestion and take I-80 to Salt Lake and then head down US-6. After a stop at Arches National Park, you can use US-191 to tour Monument Valley, US-160 to hit Mesa Verde and continue over Wolf Creek Pass for a Rocky Mountain fix, and finally head on down I-25 and US-87 to join I-40 in Amarillo

AZBuck

[PNW Judy]

I'm concerned about your time frame. 2800+ miles can easily take you about 50 hours to drive. If you're truly used to and up to long driving days, you can squeeze in some sight-seeing but don't over-extend yourself for safety reasons, OK? In other words, I wouldn't make any detours but just figure out the route that takes you right past, or very near, what you want to see so you don't have to add miles going way off-route in order to see a few more things.

AZBuck has given you some great routing advice.